The U.S. Department of Justice has unsealed an indictment against three Iranian nationals linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
Masoud Jalili, Seyyed Ali Aghamiri, and Yaser Balaghi are charged with cybercrimes aimed at undermining the integrity of the 2024 U.S. presidential election.
The indictment reveals a sophisticated “hack-and-leak” operation targeting current and former U.S. officials, media representatives, and political campaign associates.
Beginning in January 2020, the accused allegedly hacked personal accounts to steal sensitive information.
They sought to weaponize this data by leaking it to influence electoral outcomes.
In response, the State Department is offering a reward of up to $10 million for information leading to their arrest or conviction.
Attorney General Merrick B. Garland condemned these actions as direct assaults on American democracy.
He emphasized the Justice Department’s commitment to countering foreign interference in elections.
FBI Director Christopher Wray stated that this case exemplifies Iran’s attempts to meddle in American affairs through cyber means.
The indictment highlights ongoing concerns about foreign interference, underscoring the need for vigilance in protecting democratic processes.
Chevron, one of the country’s long-standing and biggest US investors, together with the American Chamber of Commerce, (AmCham) recently hosted top students from leading universities to a leadership talk with the General Managers of Chevron Philippines Inc. (CPI) and Chevron Holdings Inc. (CHI).
The students are part of the AmCham Business Leadership Program (BLP) which provides Filipino students with high levels of access and interaction with executives of top companies in the Philippines. BLP enhances the students’ understanding of the role of business in national development and provides a broader perspective on key global business and economic issues. AmCham exclusively invites top university students to participate in the BLP and to familiarize them with the contributions of American multinational companies to the country.
Chevron, one of the “Best Companies to Work for” awarded at the recently held HR Asia Awards 2023, has been a steadfast supporter and sponsor of BLP for the past 20 years.
Ethan Flowers, general manager of CHI, imparted insights on his journey at Chevron and strategies for effective team management. He was followed by Billy Liu, general manager of CPI, with a discussion on achieving work-life balance.
“Intellectual curiosity, problem-solving, and analytical skills serve really well in your career, if you end up working in big companies like Chevron or other multinational companies. This will help you contribute to the team,” Ethan Flowers, general manager of Chevron Holdings Inc. shared.
“We must know our priorities and we should be taking good care of our health because how can we deliver good outputs if we are not feeling well? We should always learn to have a work-life balance,” said Billy Liu, general manager of Chevron Philippines Inc.
Also, BLP alumni Tonie Miclat and Eds Bernardo shared how the BLP helped them in their journey towards getting hired at Chevron and how it strengthened their career growth. The talk inspires and motivates the students of BLP, encouraging them to persevere in pursuing their career goals.
“We are delighted with this activity, where our students have the opportunity to engage with Chevron executives, gaining valuable insights that will inspire and motivate them in their journey toward building a career. We are truly grateful to Chevron for being our partner over the years and for inviting us to participate in this event exclusively for our students,” said Pinky Jamili, business leadership program project manager, AmCham Philippines.
“At Chevron, we are thrilled to celebrate our 20-year partnership with this program. Both CPI and CHI have engaged in meaningful discussions with hundreds of exemplary, bright young Filipino students who have participated in the BLP. We are also pleased to host events like this, where we meet students who are curious and ask insightful questions. We take great joy in sharing our experiences and imparting leadership insights because we believe this can significantly benefit them in their career journey,” said Ethan Flowers
Also present at the event were the Chevron scholars from the University of the Philippines – Diliman. The event concluded with an office tour of Chevron facilities where students had the opportunity to see the various departments of Chevron and meet some of the employees.
The European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) recently hosted the first in-person operational meeting of the G7 Sub-Working Group on Export Control Enforcement in Brussels on April 16-17, 2024.
This gathering brought together experts from the Group of Seven countries and OLAF to exchange information, operational results, and discuss the latest trends in research and analysis to strengthen the fight against sanctions circumvention against Russia and Belarus.
The primary objective of this group is to address the illicit trade of battlefield products. Participants from Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States shared operational intelligence and the latest knowledge on evasion patterns and outreach efforts in third countries to improve enforcement of existing rules.
Ville Itälä, Director-General of OLAF, emphasized the importance of this collaboration: “We are glad to be able to support our partners in such a sensitive and crucial effort as the enforcement of the EU’s export sanctions. We are helping to provide, collect, and exchange intelligence and data analysis so that national customs authorities can intercept any suspicious shipments. In some cases, there are clear red flags that set investigators into motion. Other cases require more in-depth analysis, which OLAF can provide efficiently, as this has been part of our work against smuggling, counterfeiting, and other kinds of customs fraud for decades”.
OLAF has been coordinating an operation since the summer of 2023 that targets prohibited exports from the EU of dual-use goods, which are items that have a normal civilian use but can also be used as components for the battlefield. Customs authorities from the EU’s Member States participate in the operation, which also receives support from third countries such as the U.S., Canada, and Ukraine.
The OLAF operation has resulted in the interception of 233,000 items, including telecommunication equipment, electrical circuits, computer chips, and routing devices, with a current total value exceeding 2.3 million euros. OLAF’s investigators and data analysts have also identified several suspicious companies and shipments to be tracked, ensured cooperation with third countries, and established the most frequent modi operandi.
According to the European Commission, the EU has imposed several sanctions on Russia since 2014, including restrictions on economic activities, diplomatic measures, and individual restrictive measures. The EU has also imposed sanctions on Belarus since 2021, including economic restrictions and individual restrictive measures.
These sanctions aim to address the EU’s concerns about the situation in Ukraine and Belarus, including human rights violations, the annexation of Crimea, and the destabilization of eastern Ukraine.
The G7 Sub-Working Group on Export Control Enforcement’s efforts to combat sanctions circumvention and the illicit trade of battlefield products are essential to ensuring the effectiveness of these sanctions.
By sharing operational intelligence and the latest knowledge on evasion patterns and outreach efforts in third countries, the group can improve the enforcement of existing rules and prevent the circumvention of sanctions.
In addition to the G7 Sub-Working Group on Export Control Enforcement, several other international organizations and initiatives are working to combat sanctions circumvention and the illicit trade of battlefield products.
For example, the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) is an international organization that sets standards for combating money laundering and terrorist financing. The FATF has identified several countries and territories with strategic deficiencies in their anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing regimes, including Iran, North Korea, and Myanmar.
The Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI) is another international initiative that aims to prevent the spread of weapons of mass destruction and their delivery systems. The PSI has over 100 participating countries and has conducted several exercises and operations to interdict suspicious shipments.
The G7 Sub-Working Group on Export Control Enforcement’s efforts are part of a broader international effort to combat sanctions circumvention and the illicit trade of battlefield products. By working together, these organizations and initiatives can help ensure the effectiveness of sanctions and prevent the spread of weapons of mass destruction and their delivery systems.
Chevron, one of the country’s oldest and most prominent investors, together with American Chambers Foundation Philippines, Inc. (ACFPI) or AmCham, recently co-presented the annual AmCham Foundation ScholaCOLORrun at Liwasang Ulalim, CCP Complex, Pasay City.
This year marks the event’s 10th year, a run-for-a-cause campaign organized by ACFPI to raise funds for the formal education of underprivileged but deserving youths.
ACFPI is a private and non-profit association that aims to help Philippine and American businesses contribute to the country’s civic and economic development. This year, a total of 3,247 runners participated in the colorful event, alongside 190 employees from Chevron Philippines Inc. (CPI) and Chevron Holdings Inc. (CHI).
The event featured a 3-km, 5-km, 10-km, and 15-km run, as well as a 200-meter dash for kids 7 years old and below. The proceeds of the run will help send 10 scholars to various colleges and universities across the country. The foundation has helped over 2,800 beneficiaries throughout its 38-year run.
Participants were provided race kits consisting of a race shirt, sunglasses, and a complimentary loot bag, with finishers taking home a medal. At the awards ceremony, CPI HR Manager Marife Jose received a plaque of appreciation as AmCham’s co-presenter of the 10th ScholaRUN.
Chevron has been a long-time supporter of AmCham Foundation’s education programs. The success of the ScholaCOLORrun demonstrates that people will come together for a fun and healthy activity while serving a larger social purpose.
Beyond financial support, Chevron aims to foster an environment where every young mind has the opportunity to thrive, regardless of their upbringing. The company thanks Chevron for its generous sponsorship of the event and its continued support in their educational endeavors.
Chevron has a long history of fruitful partnership with the AmCham Foundation. AmCham espouses youth education, and their collaboration for this event aligns well with Chevron’s company’s thrust of bringing out the full potential of people.
In addition to helping scholars via the ScholaRUN, Chevron also promotes wellness to its employees by supporting their participation in this annual run. Chevron and AmCham have helped host communities in Batangas acquire skills that help with employment both here and abroad.
The two organizations have also partnered for Chevron’s institutional Fuel Your School program nationwide, in training voc-tech scholars at Don Bosco Pugad, and co-presented the ScholaRUN since its inception 10 years ago.
The ScholaCOLORrun is a testament to the power of collaboration between private organizations and non-profit foundations in promoting education and wellness in the country. Chevron and AmCham’s partnership continues to make a significant impact on the lives of underprivileged youths, providing them with opportunities to thrive and reach their full potential.
As the country continues to face challenges in education, particularly for underprivileged youths, the ScholaCOLORrun serves as a reminder of the importance of corporate social responsibility and the impact that private organizations and foundations can make in promoting access to education.
