city council research paper

City councils evolution: a socio-inspired metaheuristic optimization algorithm

• Original Research
• Published: 01 March 2022
• Volume 14 , pages 12207–12256, ( 2023 )

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• Einollah Pira 1  

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The supreme council of a city is usually formed by the evolution of councils from the smallest neighborhoods to the largest ones, regions, and finally the whole city. Council members of a region try to improve their performance to be selected as the boss of the council in the future election, and also a member of the larger region council. This fact motivates us to propose a socio-inspired metaheuristic optimization algorithm [named as city councils evolution (CCE)] inspired by the evolution of city councils. To analyze the effectiveness of CCE, it is applied to solve 20 general test functions and 29 benchmark functions from CEC 2017. Results of CCE are compared with the effectiveness of nine popular and new optimization algorithms belonging to different classes: SHADE and LSHADE-cnEpSin as optimization algorithms with high performance and winners of IEEE CEC competitions (2013 and 2017), and EO, BWO, PO, BMO, CHOA, AO, and WHO as newly developed algorithms (2020 and 2021). According to the average rank of Friedman test, for all 49 test functions, CCE outperforms EO, BWO, PO, BMO, CHOA, AO, and WHO by 65%, 95%, 64%, 68%, 80%, 74%, and 71%, respectively, whereas it is outperformed by SHADE and LSHADE-cnEpSin by 49% and 65%, respectively. Finally, the obtained results of solving real-world constrained optimization problems by the proposed algorithm show that it has better performance compared to some good algorithms in the literature. The source code of the CCE algorithm is publicly available at https://github.com/EinPira/City-Councils-Evolution-Algorithm .

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Abbreviations.

City councils evolution

Success-history based adaptive DE

Ensemble sinusoidal differential covariance matrix adaptation with Euclidean neighborhood

Equilibrium optimizer

Black widow optimization algorithm

Political optimizer

Barnacles mating optimizer

Chimp optimization algorithm

Aquila optimizer

Wild horse optimizer

Root-mean-square error

Iterated local search

Simulated annealing algorithm

Vortex search algorithm

Tabu search

Genetic algorithm

Particle swarm optimization

Ant colony optimization

Multi-objective salp swarm algorithm

Multi-objective emperor penguin optimizer

Multi-objective gravitational search algorithm and BAT algorithm

Genetic programming

Differential evolution

Memetic algorithm

Black hole algorithm

Gradient-based optimizer

Teaching–learning-based optimization

Parliamentary optimization algorithm

Greedy politics optimization

Election campaign optimization algorithm

Thermal exchange optimization

Water evaporation optimization

Lightning search algorithm

Optics inspired optimization

Cuckoo search

Dolphin echolocation

Whale optimization algorithm

Grey wolf optimizer

Salp swarm algorithm

Bat algorithm

Migrating birds optimization

Group search optimizer

Modified flower pollination algorithm

Horse herd optimization algorithm

Gravitational search algorithm

Big-bang crunch

Gravitational interaction optimization

One way analysis of variance

Ludo game-based swarm intelligence

Moth flame optimization

Grass-hopper optimization algorithm

Sine cosine algorithm

Gray wolf optimization

Poor and rich optimization

Social group optimization

A performance improvement criterion

Smallest neighborhood

Councils tree

A dimension of a given test function

The population size

An array with size N to implement the councils tree

The height of the councils tree

The number of performance improvement criteria

A function that returns the input with the highest fitness

A random value and coefficients of two current solutions in the applied formula in the improve function

A fitness of an individual

Number of council members

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Acknowledgements

We would like to thank Dr. Afshin Faramarzi and Dr. Ali Sadollah for providing us the Matlab codes of CEC 2017 test functions and the constrained version of the water cycle algorithm.

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Pira, E. City councils evolution: a socio-inspired metaheuristic optimization algorithm. J Ambient Intell Human Comput 14 , 12207–12256 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12652-022-03765-5

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Received : 03 April 2021

Accepted : 09 February 2022

Published : 01 March 2022

Issue Date : September 2023

DOI : https://doi.org/10.1007/s12652-022-03765-5

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City Managers’ Policy Leadership in Council-Manager Cities

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Yahong Zhang, Richard C. Feiock, City Managers’ Policy Leadership in Council-Manager Cities, Journal of Public Administration Research and Theory , Volume 20, Issue 2, April 2010, Pages 461–476, https://doi.org/10.1093/jopart/mup015

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City managers’ policy leadership has drawn great attention from scholars of public administration. However, what factors explain variation in managers’ policy-making roles has not been systematically explored. This study investigates the mechanisms leading elected officials to defer to the manager in policy making. Survey data from Florida council-manager cities indicate that noninstitutional factors—such as mayors’ political experience, managers’ professionalism, and concordance of manager and council preferences—influence the likelihood that a council will allow a manager to exercise policy influence. The data reveal that city managers earn policy-making leadership at the expense of their administrative authority. Thus, managers must reconcile inherent tensions between responsibility and compliance.

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ROLE AND IMPORTANCE OF CITY COUNCILS FOR LOCAL GOVERNANCE

The process of change in the management approaches of cities encourages stakeholder participation. Multi-actor, transparent and controllable urban administrations should be the basic vision of modern cities. Because the heterogeneous structure is like a symbol of cities. It is important for the governance approach to have environments where different interest groups can come together for social reconciliation. City councils are examples of this situation. In the understanding of local government, there is a flow in favor of locality. This situation is valuable for local democracy. Effective and efficient participation of urban people in decisions contributes to accountability, social solidarity, and citizen awareness. Members of public, private, and non-governmental organizations can participate in city councils. It is therefore strong in terms of governance. The aim of this study is to examine the place and importance of city councils in terms of urban democracy. First of all, the conceptual framework of the phenomena is emphasized. Then, the roles in the establishment of local democracy through the structure of city councils are discussed. It is possible to realize the principles of governance in the functioning of city councils. Governance and city councils will play an active role in bringing a positive vision to cities. Therefore, city council activities that can work efficiently should be supported.

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The purpose of this research was to find out how far the society of Muaro Sebo district in Muaro Jambi Regency understands the preservation and conservation of Muaro Jambi temple complex.  This research was qualitative research. The research was conducted in Muaro Sebo district, Muaro Jambi Regency, Jambi Province. The informants in this research were: 1) Indigenous Village Leaders of Muaro Sebo Village, 2) Management Group of Muaro Jambi Temple Complex, 3) Employees in the Department of Tourism Heritage, Jambi Province. 4) Non-Governmental Organizations, and 5) Muaro Sebo society of Muaro Jambi Regency. Data were collected by using interview, observation, and documentation studies. Data analysis techniques in this research were data reduction, data display / data presentation, conclusions and then verified. Based on the research findings and discussion, it can be concluded as follows. First, Performance of Cultural Heritage Conservation Management Group Muaro Jambi temple Complex has been arranged in the form of legal recognition by the Muaro Jambi District Government. Second, the utilization of Muaro Jambi temple complex as a superior tourism object that must be maintained and cared for by all people, especially, Muaro Sebo District society of Muaro Jambi Regency, with performance and local wisdom one form of values, attitudes, perceptions, behaviors and responses of the local community that interacts with a system of life with nature and the environment. Third, the obstacles in managing the utilization of this temple complex were very little awareness of the surrounding society to maintain and care to this temple sites. So, it takes hard work to continue and to increase awareness of the surrounding society to guard this temple site. Fourth, need active role of academics to assist in providing understanding, so that the Muaro Jambi enshrinement sites are getting better organized.

Peran Stakeholders dalam Konservasi Penyu Belimbing di Pantai Peneluran Jamursba Medi Kabupaten Tambrauw Provinsi Papua Barat

The conservation potential of Leatherback Sea Turtle in Jamursba Medi Spawning Beach is for ecotourism attraction. This research was conducted at PeneluranJamursbaMedi Beach. This research was conducted to find out the potential of Leatherback Sea Turtle at JamursbaMediSpawningBeach as ecotourism attraction in Tambrauw Regency and also to find out the form of cooperation of Stakeholders in the area of Jamursba Medi Spawning Beach, Regency of Tambrauw, Province of West Papua. The type of data being used in this research was qualitative and quantitative with primary and secondary data source obtained through data sampling technique of depth interview observation, literature study with informant determination technique of purposive sampling and data analysis technique of descriptive qualitative. The result of research shows that in the area of Spawning Beach, Leatherback Sea Turtles have a potential to support tourism development in the form of natural, cultural and human. These three potencies are the assets to give contribution for tourism development and management of coastal park and has potential for ecotourism sector. So participation and active role of stakeholders namely Government, Population, and non-governmental organizations / WWF (World Wildlife Fund) is required for advancement and development in the area of Jamursba Medi Spawning Beach.   Key words: Potency, Ecotourism Conservation, Stakeholder.

Keeping Camouflage Out of the Classroom: The Safe Schools Declaration and the Guidelines for Protecting Schools and Universities from Military Use During Armed Conflict

Abstract This article discusses the ‘Safe Schools Declaration’ and the ‘Guidelines for Protecting Schools and Universities from Military use during Armed Conflict’. The latter are set of non-binding guidelines that aim to improve the protection of schools and universities during armed conflict. The former is a political declaration through which States can endorse the Guidelines. The article looks at the drafting process of the two documents, which involved non-governmental organizations (NGOs), international organizations and States. The article argues that the involvement of NGOs can be seen as reflective of a trend in which NGOs are increasingly involved in normative International Humanitarian Law (IHL) development. The role of international organizations was less pronounced, but nevertheless notable because international organizations traditionally do not have an active role in the field of IHL. The article contains an analysis of the Declaration and Guidelines, against the background of the applicable legal framework to the protection of schools and universities during armed conflict. It concludes that the principal focus of the Guidelines is the prevention of the use of schools and universities by armed forces in support of the military effort. IHL does not contain a rule prohibiting such use, but it can have far-reaching negative consequences for education. Other guidelines relate to, inter alia (limitations to), destroying or attacking schools and universities. These guidelines, while sometimes using phraseology from provisions of IHL treaty law, also largely go beyond existing obligations under IHL.

Forests and UNCED ′92: A Foundation for the Future

The conservation and protection of the world's forests has become a critical international environmental issue in recent years as the demand for forest products has increased significantly, and population growth and the rate of deforestation have reached perilous levels. These realities are challenging our stewardship of the resource.Strictly regarded in economic use terms for centuries, forests are increasingly being recognized for the social, cultural, spiritual and recreational values and benefits they furnish to humankind. At the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED ′92), convened in June 1992 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, significant global progress was achieved in altering the outdated approach to forest management reflected in the concept and practice of "sustainable yield", substituting it with the futuristic vision inherent in "sustainable forest development" (based on the paradigm envisioned in the report of the Brundt-land Commission, 1987).Canada has played an active role in advancing this change with respect to forests in the discussions leading up to and including the Conference. The key priorities expressed in Canada's National Forest Strategy, the domestic action plan which is underpinned by the shared vision of Canadian industry, labour, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and governments on sustainable forests, were advanced as our negotiating pillars in Rio. The outputs which emerged from the "Earth Summit" proceedings in the Conventions on Climate Change and Biological Diversity, Agenda 21, and particularly, the Guiding Principles on Forests, are all intimately linked with this Canadian position and constitute the groundwork for future dialogue and action on sustaining the planet's forests.

Transformation from Below in Bangladesh: Decentralization, local governance, and systemic change

AbstractI examine decentralization through the lens of the local dynamics it unleashed in Bangladesh. I argue that the national effects of decentralization are largely the sum of its local-level effects. Hence, to understand decentralization, we must first understand how local government works. This implies analysing not only decentralization, but also democracy, from the bottom up. I present a model of local government responsiveness as the product of political openness and substantive competition. The quality of politics, in turn, emerges endogenously as a joint product of the lobbying and political engagement of local firms/interests, and the organizational density and ability of civil society. I then test these ideas using qualitative data from Bangladesh. The evidence shows that civic organizations worked with non-governmental organizations and local governments to effect transformative change from the grass roots upwards—not just to public budgets and outputs, but to the underlying behaviours and ideas that underpin social development. In the aggregate, these effects were powerful. The result, key development indicators show, is Bangladesh leap-frogging past much wealthier India between 1990 and 2015.

Non-governmental organizations as subjects of social development of communities: the experience of the international charity fund «necessary»

The article analyzes the current trends in the development of public institutions in Ukraine. The role of non-governmental public organizations in providing social services is considered. The main trends in the development of the private sector have been studied. The role of grant projects is highlighted. The role and place of the private sector in the provision of social services has been considered. Examples of implementation of local initiatives and receiving grant support have been analyzed. The importance and urgency of the problems of non-governmental organizations in the field of social services have been highlighted. Youth organizations that join socially-oriented initiatives are developing. Directing relevant initiatives and work of youth organizations activates young people in local communities, involves in the advisory bodies formation, localization of relevant projects implemented at the level of united territorial communities of villages and small towns, where in previous years youth activity was low. In a decentralized environment, no matter how capable the community is, there are always issues that are difficult to solve at the expense of the local budget. As practice shows, several issues of local importance, which cannot be solved by the budget of the united territorial community, can be successfully solved at the expense of other resources, including grants. Most of the international projects were implemented territorially in Uman and adjacent territorial communities. Their success depended on fruitful intersectoral cooperation with the Faculty of Social and Psychological Pedagogy, which provided organizationally, volunteer and psychological support, and the Department of Labor and Social Protection of Uman City Council, which provided effective communication between all branches of government, information and financial support.

The Role of Claim-Makers in Media Coverage of Environmental Problems in Pakistan

Media coverage plays an important role in social construction of environmental issues all over the world. The coverage is often triggered by the claim-makers who play an active role in highlighting the environmental issues in media. In this context, this study is aimed at analyzing the role of claim-makers in media coverage of the environmental problems in Pakistan. The region of Indus Delta is selected as a case study for this research because this deltaic area is considered as one of the most highly productive eco-region of the country that is facing several environmental threats. The study provides the perspective of journalists covering the Indus Delta about the role of non-governmental organizations, political parties, community groups and concerned governmental bodies and departments in making the environmental problems of the region more news worthy for local and national media. Then the main themes of the data were analyzed and interpreted to answer the research questions of the study.

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New York City Council passes legislation that combats building collapses with new inspection program

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Proactive Policy

New York City Council members proposed legislation recently that would establish a proactive inspection program for buildings. The legislation augments Local Law 11, the Facade Inspection and Safety Program, that requires buildings over 6 stories to be inspected and implement necessary repairs every 5 years.

The new bill ( Intro. 904-A ) requires DOB to “create a risk-based inspection program to identify hazardous buildings, using a predictive model to weigh factors including but not limited to building data, violation history, and prior facade inspection reports.”

The Committee on Housing and Buildings shepherded Intro. 904-A. It was sponsored by 11 city councilors including Crystal Hudson, Christopher Marte, and Tiffany Cabán. It is supported by Mayor Eric Adams , who has final say over whether it becomes local law.

The announcement comes after a series of dangerous residential building collapses in East Harlem , Little Italy , and the Bronx, including last year’s disaster at 1915 Billingsley Terrace in Morris Heights which displaced 170 people from their homes.

Illegal construction, aging building stock, and deregulation all contribute to New York’s building collapse problem. At many buildings, violations piled up for years before collapses happened, as there wasn’t legislation in place that pressured building owners to quickly address the issues, or penalize them for negligence.

With this new legislation, DOB will conduct proactive inspections to determine the likelihood of structural collapse using the predictive model mentioned above. If the predictive model determines that a given building might collapse, the owner will receive a notice of violation and be required to submit a corrective action plan within 10 days. The building owner will also be excluded from receiving any non-emergency permits until all facade defects are corrected.

The corrective plan must be implemented within 30 days. If that doesn’t happen, DOB officials will impose escalating penalties for any violation centered on an unsafe condition that was present during the prior facade inspection program cycle.

New York City councilor Pierina Sanchez’s jurisdiction includes 1915 Billingsley Terrace, which collapsed in 2023. Sanchez brought Intro. 904-A across the finish line together with the 10 other city councilors.

“There were warning signs here,” Sanchez told local reporters . “[DOB] had issued over 350 violations in this building. Eighty-three alone were in 2023. Many of these were class C and class B violations, which means that they were dangerous to the health and safety of the residents.”

“If we’re honing in on the worst actors, then maybe we’re catching things a little bit earlier,” Sanchez continued. “Maybe that heightened scrutiny doesn’t allow them to hire whoever is more likely to make a mistake. So this is really about elevating the standard of how we’re taking care of our buildings.”

In Arizona, Johnston Marklee unveils Ray Phoenix—Dasha Zhukova’s third “arts-inspired” housing venture

Foster + Partners unveils latest design for 350 Park Avenue

In Vancouver, Public Architecture makes a case for single-stair access in multi-unit residential buildings

City of Alexandria, VA

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Short-Term Residential Rentals Study

What are short-term residential rentals?

‘Home sharing’ (or short-term residential rentals) refers to the rental of houses, condos, or apartments to short-term guests, which has become a popular way for owners to earn extra income across the United States. Short-term residential rentals typically occur through online home-sharing platforms, such as Airbnb, Expedia, FlipKey, HomeAway, TripAdvisor, and VRBO.  

Why a Study?

In 2017, the Virginia General Assembly adopted a law that allows a locality to adopt an ordinance to establish a local short-term residential rental registry. In 2018, Alexandria established its short-term rental registry which is maintained by the Department of Finance. At the time of the registry adoption, the City Council determined that regulation of short-term rentals should be handled via existing City Code and Zoning Ordinance regulations.

Due to recent calls for additional regulation of short-term rentals, the City Council directed staff to research the topic, provide a report and presentation, and begin a study to include community engagement. Below are the report and presentation shared with City Council this spring:

• Alexandria Short-Term Rental Data and Proposed Study Memorandum to City Council (May 2, 2024)
• Presentation to City Council (May 28, 2024)

Timeline and Community Engagement

Below is the anticipated timeline for the continued study and opportunities for community input. This schedule may be extended if initial engagement suggests additional time will help resolve the issues identified. Information will be updated as it becomes available.

• May/June: Continue research on short-term rental regulations implemented in other jurisdictions.
• Share information with community and gather initial feedback.
• Draft recommended regulations based on public comments and develop draft Zoning Ordinance text amendment language.
• Planning Commission workshop on proposed text amendment language
• Community engagement following Planning Commission workshop
• November (dates TBD): Planning Commission and City Council public hearings on recommendations and proposed text amendment.

Further Resources and Information

• Short-Term Residential Rental Registry
• City of Alexandria Business Tax Division

Contact zoning staff at [email protected] or 703.746.4666.

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Linkage between Wage and Price Inflation in Japan

June 28, 2024 Yoichi Ueno *

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This paper investigates changes in the linkage between wages and prices in Japan by using a dynamic factor model of disaggregated wages and prices with heteroscedasticity- and autocorrelation-robust inference. The empirical results show that the model is better at identifying the underlying trends in wage and price inflation than models using only aggregate data. In addition, the trend component of services price inflation is the best indicator to gauge the underlying trend in price inflation among indicators examined in this paper. Further, wages and prices decoupled around 1998, but they have recoupled to some extent in the post-COVID-19 era. Lastly, the volatility of the common trend component of wage and price inflation determines the strength of the linkage between wages and prices, and it closely tracks an indicator which shows importance on price inflation when firms revise wages in negotiations.

The author is grateful to Kosuke Aoki, Takeo Hoshi, Shigenori Shiratsuka, Toyoichiro Shirota, and colleagues at the Bank of Japan for comments and discussions. Any remaining errors are the author's own. Views expressed in the paper are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the Bank of Japan.

• * Research and Statistics Department (currently Nagoya Branch) E-mail : [email protected]

Papers in the Bank of Japan Working Paper Series are circulated to stimulate discussion and comment. Views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the Bank. If you have any comments or questions on a paper in the Working Paper Series, please contact the author. When making a copy or reproduction of the content for commercial purposes, please contact the Public Relations Department ([email protected]) at the Bank in advance to request permission. When making a copy or reproduction, the Bank of Japan Working Paper Series should explicitly be credited as the source.

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Here are the results from Columbus council's yearlong immigration research with Ohio State

Making new places feel like home is the ultimate goal for immigrant communities. Although this is often done by prioritizing opportunities for integration, new research says fostering a sense of belonging may be more important.

Results from a yearlong research project by the Columbus City Council and Ohio State College of Social Work revealed Tuesday in a community briefing that successful integration and perceived quality of life for new American communities highly depends on their sense of belonging.

Arati Maleku, lead researcher and associate professor at the Ohio State College of Social Work, asked policymakers to use this data to better cater to Columbus' growing immigrant population.

"The sense of belonging, as well as the challenges to the sense of belonging, have been a very understated study," Maleku said. "So, when successful immigrant integration is a goal for many municipalities, the degree to which immigrants have the sense of belonging is becoming a major policy issue."

Columbus is  Ohio’s fastest-growing metro area . As The Dispatch previously reported , international immigrants accounted for more than half of the population growth between 2020 and 2023,  according to the U.S. Census Bureau , with about 10% of the population being foreign-born.

City Council member Lourdes Barroso de Padilla said the research points to a need to better facilitate a sense of belonging for new immigrant populations — who bring with them a diverse set of skills — to better access opportunities to enhance society.

Here's what researchers said are barriers to immigrant's sense of belonging:

• Language and cultural interpretation
• Invalidation of foreign credentials
• Discrimination
• Navigating the legal system
• Lack of transportation options
• Limited access to green spaces
• Issues accessing the labor market

A look at the results from the 'Immigrants make Columbus' project

With a total of 144 participants from Columbus representing 23 countries, the series of community surveys, town hall meetings, photo documentations and discussion with policy stakeholders — which took place over the course of a year — looks into whether immigrant communities experienced a sense of belonging.

More : Columbus wants to hear from immigrants, migrants and refugees at town hall meetings

The study shows that while programs exist to aid in the integration process for new Americans, what most affects their quality of life is whether they feel included.

Hosted at Ohio State's Fawcett Center, the leaders of the project, " Immigrants make Columbus ," seated a panel of four community advisory council members to discuss community-grounded solutions based on the findings to improve the quality of life for immigrant, migrant and refugee communities.

Barroso de Padilla said the research will influence policy related to new American communities to ensure immigrants' sense of belonging is prioritized. As a start, she announced City Council will establish its first Commission on Immigration and Refugee Affairs in January.

This commission will cater to the range of needs from the immigrant community, specifically with language interpretation and allowing those with qualified degrees from their homeland to maintain their credentials in the U.S.

"We need to have a consistent voice coming from the community that represents the community and can help to inform our decisions," Barroso de Padilla said. "And so it became very clear that the only way we could really do that is to have a commission."

Community members like Joseline Martinez-Cortez, 23, said her experiences as a Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals recipient allowed her to relate to the findings.

"I came from a family of immigrants from Mexico," she said. "I think it's super impactful to be in a space filled with people that might share a common thread of their own history with me."

Here are the community's recommendations to improve immigrant's sense of belonging:

• Create opportunities for immigrants to participate in/support society.
• Investment in immigrant and refugee leadership
• Culturally responsive services
• A variety of transportation options and green spaces
• Improve K-12 curriculum.

Panelist Ibrahima Sow, program director of United Way of Central Ohio , also suggested the research findings point to the need to make resources more accessible to parents, who often rely on their children as interpreters and caretakers and to expand immigrant-made enclaves — like Morse Road's migrant hub .

"The findings that really hit home for me as this idea of the need to belong everywhere, rather than belonging somewhere else," he said. "Instead of feeling anchored in some pace in the city, how do we make the whole city our home?"

Maleku said a full report of the findings will be available on the "Immigrants make Columbus" website in mid-July.

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Research expert tells UN it has 'irrefutably' established missile debris in Ukraine is North Korean

Edith M. Lederer

Associated Press

Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

North Korean ambassador to the United Natiopns Song Kim finishes speaking during a Security Council meeting at United Nations headquarters, Friday, June 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

TANZANIA – The head of a research organization that has been tracing weapons used in attacks in Ukraine since 2018 told the United Nations Security Council on Friday it has “irrefutably” established that ballistic missile remnants found in Ukraine came from North Korea.

The United States and its Western allies clashed with Russia and North Korea at the meeting, saying both countries violated a U.N. embargo on arms exports from the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, the country’s official name. Russia dismissed the “baseless accusations,” and the DPRK dismissed the meeting as “an extremely brazen act” to discuss “someone’s alleged 'weapon transfers.’”

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Jonah Leff, executive director of Conflict Armament Research, gave the council a detailed analysis of the remnants of the missile that struck Ukraine’s second-largest city, Kharkiv , on Jan. 2.

He said the organization documented the missile’s rocket motor, its tail section and almost 300 components manufactured by 26 companies from eight countries and territories, and it determined the missile was either a KN-23 or KN-24 manufactured in 2023 in the DPRK.

The organization reached its conclusion based on the missile’s unique characteristics — its diameter, distinct jet vane actuators that direct the missile’s thrust and trajectory, the pattern around the igniter, the presence of Korean characters on some rocket components, and other marks and components dating back to 2023, he said.

“Following the initial documentation, our teams inspected three additional identical DPRK missiles that struck Kyiv and Zaporizhzhia earlier this year,” Leff said. They also observed additional conventional weapons, including an artillery rocket produced in 1977, “that had been seized on the front lines and had not been observed on the battlefield previously in Ukraine” that were manufactured by the DPRK, and might have been part of a recent larger consignment of rockets.

The council discussed illegal arms transfers from North Korea at the request of France, Japan, South Korea, the United Kingdom and the United States.

The meeting followed Russia’s March 28 veto that ended the monitoring of sanctions against North Korea over its expanding nuclear program by a U.N. panel of experts. The U.S. and its European and Asian allies accused Moscow of seeking to avoid scrutiny as it allegedly violates sanctions to buy weapons from Pyongyang for its war in Ukraine .

U.N. disarmament chief Izumi Nakamitsu told the council Friday that before its mandate expired, the panel of experts was reviewing a report from Ukraine on missile debris it recovered “following information about short-range ballistic missiles manufactured in the DPRK and used by Russian armed forces in Ukraine.”

While the mandate of the experts, which had been extended since 2009 with Russia’s support, was terminated, Nakamitsu said “it is important to note” that the Security Council committee responsible for monitoring the implementation of sanctions against the DPRK “continues its work and will oversee the implementation of the sanctions regime.”

U.S. deputy ambassador Robert Wood called Leff’s presentation with its many technical details “quite compelling,” and told the council that while Russia may have ended the panel’s monitoring with China’s “tacit support,” the briefing showed that Moscow and Beijing “cannot prevent the public from learning about the unlawful arms transfers occurring between the DPRK and Russia.”

He said the independent findings by Leff’s research organization corroborate open-source reports and analyses. And he said that, in addition to the dozens of missiles Russia has transferred from the DPRK, it has also unlawfully transferred over 11,000 containers of munitions.

“As a permanent member of the Security Council, Russia has a responsibility to uphold and strengthen international peace and security,” Wood said. “Yet, Russia is launching ballistic missiles, which it unlawfully procured from the DPRK, against the Ukrainian people.”

Russian Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia accused the meeting's Western sponsors of attempting to use the Security Council “to trot out an anti-Russian and anti-North Korean narrative and to disseminate baseless accusations in order to detract attention from their own destructive actions which foment escalation in the region.”

He called the claims that Russia is using DPRK missiles in Ukraine “absolutely false,” questioning the professionalism and expertise of those who examined the wreckage in Ukraine.

Nebenzia accused the United States of constantly stepping up the militarization of the Asia-Pacific region and said Washington’s policy of “extended deterrence” on Russia’s eastern border “poses a real threat not just for the DPRK but also for our country.”

He said the purpose of the June 19 strategic partnership agreement signed by Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un “is to play a stabilizing role in northeast Asia amidst an unprecedented escalation of tensions.” As for Article 4 of the agreement, providing for the delivery of mutual military assistance if either country is subject to an armed attack, he said this should not arouse “national security-related concerns” for countries that don’t plan to attack the DPRK.

North Korean Ambassador Kim Song called the United States “the world’s biggest arms exporter,” and accused the Western countries that called the council meeting of being “the main culprits” of disturbing global peace. They have caused “tragic bloodshed by extensive shipment of weapons " and have cast “a cloud of war in every corner of the world.”

Song detailed U.S. arms shipments to South Korea and Japan and accused the U.S. and its followers of trying to obstruct the development of DPRK-Russia relations. He defended those relations as “completely of a peace-loving and defensive nature.”

China's deputy U.N. ambassador, Geng Shuang, warned that peace and security in all of northeast Asia will be affected if there is “more chaos” on the Korean peninsula .

He called on all parties to be “rational and pragmatic” and “work together to cool down the situation.”

China will play “a constructive role” to realize long-term peace and stability on the Korean peninsula, Geng said, and he called on the United States to end its pressure campaign against the DPRK and “the myth of deterrence,” and demonstrate its sincerity in holding an unconditional dialogue “through concrete action.”

U.S. envoy Wood retorted: “If, indeed, China is so concerned about the security situation on the Korean peninsula, then it needs to use its influence with the DPRK to persuade it from undermining regional and global security.”

“It should also use its influence that it has with Russia through its new 'No Limits’ partnership to end this increasingly dangerous military cooperation between DPRK and Russia,” he said.

Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

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Longest-serving Chicago City Council member gets 2 years in prison for corruption

The Associated Press

June 24, 2024, 6:06 PM

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CHICAGO (AP) — Ed Burke, the longest-serving City Council member in Chicago history, was sentenced to two years in prison Monday for squeezing developers who needed his help for permits.

It was far short of the eight-year term recommended by federal prosecutors. With credit for good behavior, Burke will likely spend less than two years in custody.

Burke, 80, was an alderman for 54 years until he left office a year ago and a giant in local Democratic politics. As the longtime chairman of the Finance Committee, he had unrivaled authority at the council over certain city affairs.

Prosecutors said he used that power illegally by strong-arming developers to use his law firm for property tax business while they sought his blessing on projects. Burke was convicted of racketeering, bribery and attempted extortion.

Burke “abused his power and exploited his office for private gain, again and again and again and again and again, over a period of years,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Streicker said in court.

When it was his time to speak, Burke expressed regret for the “pain and the sorrow that I have caused my family and my dear friends.” He had denied wrongdoing when charged in 2019.

Burke’s lawyers argued that his five decades in public life outweighed a long punishment. U.S. District Judge Virginia Kendall was inundated with letters supporting him, including one from former Chicago federal prosecutor Dan Webb.

“I have never in all my career seen the letters I have received for Mr. Burke,” Kendall said.

Indeed, defense attorney Chuck Sklarsky called Burke a “priest without a collar.”

“Ed has used his political power for good, for the city and for all the people who live here,” Sklarsky said.

Besides the prison term, Burke was ordered to pay $2 million.

He was first elected to the City Council in 1969. Burke’s wife, Anne, is a former Illinois Supreme Court justice.

Copyright © 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, written or redistributed.

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