Category: Crime

MIL-OSI USA: Senator Murray Statement on Trump Revoking Lifesaving EMTALA Guidance

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator for Washington State Patty Murray

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), a senior member and former Chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, issued the following statement in response to the Trump administration rescinding CMS guidance from July 2022 reaffirming that the Emergency Medical Treatment & Labor Act (EMTALA), signed into law in 1986, requires providers offer necessary stabilizing care for patients suffering emergency medical conditions, which might include abortion care in certain situations. While this move doesn’t change federal law and the requirements on hospitals to provide life-saving care, it adds further confusion for hospitals already navigating a thicket of state abortion laws and could jeopardize lifesaving care for patients.

“The Trump administration doesn’t want you to know it, but they just quietly erased guidance that informed hospitals of their obligation to provide lifesaving care for pregnant women facing health care emergencies, like severe hemorrhage or sepsis—circumstances where the only option to save a woman’s life may be emergency abortion care.

“Once again, the Trump administration is sending a clear message that they do not care about women’s lives, and they don’t care how many pregnant women they force into health care crises so long as they can continue to advance their extreme anti-abortion agenda.

“Make no mistake: EMTALA is still the law, and Trump rescinding this guidance does not change the fact that pregnant women who need emergency abortion care to save their life or health are still legally entitled to this care.”

Since the overturn of Roe v. Wade almost three years ago, nearly two dozen US states led by Republicans have passed, banned, or severely restricted access to abortion. These strict laws have created confusion around the treatment doctors can provide even when a pregnant patient’s life is in danger, as physicians fear that they may lose their medical license, be sued, or even charged with a felony if they perform life-saving emergency care. Despite the federal Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act’s (EMTALA) requirements that Medicare-participating hospitals treat and stabilize pregnant patients in need of emergency medical care, women are being turned away from emergency rooms following the Dobbs decision.

In September, Senator Murray introduced a resolution expressing the sense of the Senate that every patient has the basic right to emergency health care, including abortion care, regardless of where they live. In March 2024, Senator Murray led 258 Members of Congress in submitting an amicus brief to the U.S. Supreme Court in Moyle v. United States and Idaho v. United States—two consolidated cases concerning EMTALA—arguing that the congressional intent, text, and history of EMTALA make clear that covered hospitals must provide abortion care when it is the necessary stabilizing treatment for a patient’s emergency medical condition.

Senator Murray is a longtime leader in the fight to protect and expand access to reproductive health care and abortion rights, and she has led Congressional efforts to fight back after the Supreme Court’s disastrous decision overturning Roe v. Wade. Murray has introduced more than a dozen pieces of legislation to protect reproductive rights from further attacks, protect providers, and help ensure women get the care they need; Murray has led efforts to push for passage of these bills on the floor multiple times. Last January, on the anniversary of Roe v. Wade, Murray led her colleagues in hosting a “State of Abortion Rights” briefing with women who have suffered firsthand from Republican abortion bans, and last June, she chaired a HELP Committee hearing titled “The Assault on Women’s Freedoms: How Abortion Bans Have Created a Health Care Nightmare Across America.” Recently, Murray helped lead efforts to force Republicans on the record on votes to protect access to contraception and access to IVF (twice), and she led her colleagues in raising the alarm about the threat a second Trump administration poses to reproductive rights and abortion access in every state, as outlined in Project 2025.

MIL OSI USA News –

June 4, 2025
MIL-OSI Australia: Devonport man charged with trafficking

Source: New South Wales Community and Justice

Devonport man charged with trafficking

Wednesday, 4 June 2025 – 3:15 pm.

A man has been charged with major trafficking and police have seized significant quantities of ice and cannabis as part of an ongoing operation in the North West.
The 43 year old Devonport man was charged yesterday after members from Western Drugs and Firearms Unit and Task Force Scelus, with the support of specialist police resources, executed a search warrant at a Devonport address.
During the search police located and seized 25 grams of ice, 350 grams of cannabis, ammunition, and a chainsaw believed to have been stolen.
The Devonport man was charged in relation to yesterday’s search as well as trafficking alleged to have occurred between December 2024 and June 2025.
As part of the targeted operation, police have now seized a total of 65 grams of ice, and 1 kilogram of cannabis.
The man has been charged with two counts of trafficking in controlled substance, possessing a controlled drug, dealing with proceeds of crime, possessing ammunition when not the holder of a firearms licence and unlawful possession of property.
He was remanded in custody to appear in the Devonport Magistrates Court this afternoon.
Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 131 444 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or at crimestopperstas.com.au. Information can be provided anonymously.

MIL OSI News –

June 4, 2025
MIL-OSI Australia: Serious Financial Crime Taskforce case studies
Source: New places to play in Gungahlin

Most people comply with their tax obligations. However, there are a small number of people who deliberately do the wrong thing. The ATO-led SFCT was established to respond to this, targeting the more serious financial crimes in Australia.

The case studies on this page reinforce that those who deliberately cheat the system will be held to account.

Stay up to date on the latest SFCT outcomes by subscribing to general email updates. Subscribers will receive updates on all new general content on our website, including the latest SFCT case studies.

Government fraudster sentenced to jail

Paolo Esmaquel was sentenced on 28 May 2025 in the Melbourne County Court to 18 months of imprisonment in addition to the jail time previously imposed for similar federal offences in November 2024.

She was charged with 3 categories of offending against Government at both federal and state levels: tax fraud, identity and counterfeiting fraud, and social security fraud.

The ATO worked collaboratively with other partner agencies across Government to hold Ms Esmaquel to account for her actions.

An operation conducted by the ATO-led SFCT uncovered her elaborate scheme to commit tax fraud by stealing the identities of 3 different individuals.

One of the assumed identities was registered by Ms Esmaquel as a tax practitioner with the Tax Practitioners Board (TPB). To do this, she submitted forged documents to the TPB that falsely claimed she completed the required tertiary education to become a tax agent and forged a declaration from a chartered accountant.

Following this, she set up a tax agent profile on ATO Online Services and linked several taxpayers to her account. Ms Esmaquel then lodged 10 fraudulent business activity statements on behalf of these taxpayers without their knowledge or consent.

As a result of the investigation, the TPB cancelled her tax agent registration.

Acting Deputy Commissioner and Serious Financial Crime Taskforce (SFCT) Chief Kath Anderson acknowledges the prevalence of identity crime, saying ‘With a rise in scammers and cyber criminals out in the community, it’s more important than ever to protect your personal identifying information. This case shows how far criminals will go to commit identity fraud and exploit the tax and super system.’

‘We have strengthened our systems against fraud and financial crime through prevention, early detection, containment and consequences, such as the jail time Ms Esmaquel received’.

Read more in the media release.

Former registered liquidator sentenced to prison

Former liquidator Peter Amos has been sentenced to 4 years imprisonment for dishonestly gaining an advantage for his business and himself contrary to the Corporations Act.

Mr Amos was a registered liquidator and business owner of Amos Insolvency Pty Ltd (Amos Insolvency).

Between 6 October 2016 and 31 December 2022, Mr Amos transferred $2,498,546 from the accounts of Mikcon Employment Services Pty Ltd, TPC (Vic) Pty Ltd, P O W 4X4 Pty Ltd, A-Force Electrics Pty Ltd, and Conomi Group Pty Ltd to Amos Insolvency.

ATO Deputy Commissioner and Serious Financial Crime Taskforce Chief John Ford welcomed the court’s decision, saying the sentencing is a warning to those looking to use their position to exploit the system.

‘This outcome sends a clear message to those who look to game the system to gain an unfair advantage – you will be caught,’ Mr Ford said.

Read more about the outcome in the media releaseExternal Link.

Woman sentenced for false claims and forged documents
On 1 October 2024, Ashmita Sharma appeared before the Downing Centre Local Court in NSW for sentence.

Ms Sharma received two 18-month suspended sentences, to be served concurrently. She pleaded guilty to committing GST fraud, JobKeeper fraud and attempting to pervert the course of justice, contrary to sections 134.2(1) of the Criminal Code (Cth) and 43(1) of the Crimes Act 1914 (Cth) respectively.

Ms Sharma was also ordered to be of good behaviour for 3 years and repay the remaining $26,426 in stolen funds to us.

In August 2020, Ms Sharma lodged:
- a false COVID-19 JobKeeper application on behalf of a dormant company that listed her father as the sole director, without his knowledge or authorisation
- 3 separate business activity statements
- a false claim for a Cashflow Boost Stimulus which was taken into account on sentence.
In total, Ms Sharma received $30,926 as a result of the offending.

During the course of the matter, Ms Sharma was also charged with one count of attempting to pervert the course of justice by forging a medical certificate to avoid attending court.

Operation Hyacinth is part of a broader investigation by the SFCT into the misuse of government funds. Our message is clear; those who think they can steal and cheat the system for their own financial gain will be caught. Attempting to avoid these consequences can make the situation worse.

This SFCT matter was prosecuted by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (Cth) (CDPP) following a referral from the ATO.

To report any known or suspected illegal behaviour you can either complete the tip-off form or phone us on our tip-off hotline on 1800 060 062.
Find out more about the Serious Financial Crime Taskforce.

Attempts to commit gold bullion fraud didn’t have the outcome 2 fraudsters had planned.

The investigation, conducted under the ATO-led SFCT, revealed that Cedric Adrian Millner and Jonatan Kelu purchased GST-free gold bullion, refashioned it into scrap and then sold it inclusive of GST to a refiner. Millner and Kelu claimed GST input tax credits by falsely stating that the GST-free gold bullion was purchased inclusive of GST under the GST second-hand rules.

The reward for engaging in this complex $40 million fraud activity was a sentence of 8 years in jail for both men, handed down in the Supreme Court of NSW.

These criminals thought their actions would go undetected, but our expert team of investigators uncovered the fraud and worked to solve the case, bringing together thousands of documents and multiple data sets to form a solid brief that would ultimately be their downfall.

Operation Nosean was established to look at network participants in the gold bullion and precious metals industry. This included refiners, bullion dealers, gold kiosks, dealers and buyers within established supply chains involved in gold recycling arrangements, seeking to exploit the GST rules in relation to precious metals.

New laws were introduced in April 2017 to combat fraud in the gold bullion and precious metals industry.

Our message is clear to those who seek to evade or cheat the tax system: there is no place for you to hide and we will not tolerate this behaviour.

For more information see:

Second sentencing for Australia’s largest tax fraud case

On 29 March 2018, Michael Issakidis faced the Supreme Court of NSW for his involvement in the largest prosecuted tax fraud case in Australia’s history.

Alongside his co-conspirator Anthony Dickson, Issakidis deliberately absorbed $450 million of otherwise assessable income. He did this using complex domestic and international trust and tax evasion structures. This caused a loss to the Commonwealth of $135 million. By creating a web of false identities and siphoning money offshore, the pair acquired approximately $63 million.

Issakidis was sentenced to 10 years and 3 months jail for his involvement in the operation. This followed the 2015 sentencing of Dickson, whose original 11-year sentence was increased to 14 years on appeal.

The significant penalties handed down to both Issakidis and Dickson demonstrate the success of the SFCT in dealing with those who deliberately cheat the system. As a member of the SFCT, we are equipped with the resources, data-matching capability and international and domestic intelligence-sharing relationships to uncover even the most complex tax evasion schemes.

People who deliberately avoid paying the correct amount of tax will be caught and will face the full force of the law.

For more information see:

MIL OSI News –
June 4, 2025
MIL-Evening Report: Young people who witness domestic violence are more likely to be victims of it. Here’s how we can help them

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kristin Diemer, Associate Professor of Sociology, The University of Melbourne

In our national discussions on domestic and family violence, much of the focus is rightly on the women experiencing the violence and how best to help them.

But another vital, less acknowledged part of the puzzle is the impact on children.

Children and young people exposed to, or witnessing domestic violence between their parents or primary caregivers is widely recognised as a form of child abuse.

They can be placed in otherwise unthinkable scenarios. These include being forced to spy on a parent, defending a parent, intervening to stop the violence, or being used as a hostage.

After the event, young people can be the ones assisting with injuries, calling for emergency services and witnessing police intervention. Sometimes, they’re forced to leave the home and seek refuge.

As we seek to end violence in a generation under the national plan, focusing on children will be key.

The extent of the problem

Evidence shows children living with domestic violence have greater rates of learning difficulties, poor health and wellbeing and may exhibit challenging behaviours.

The Australian Personal Safety Survey (2021–2022) identified one in eight adults (13%) witnessed violence between their parents or caregivers before the age of 15.

People were twice as likely to have witnessed violence towards their mother than their father.

There is also emerging evidence children and young people exposed to domestic violence are more likely to be victims of multiple forms of maltreatment.

The Australian Child Maltreatment Study invited people aged 16 and older to participate. Four out of ten young people (aged 16–24) who responded to the survey and experienced childhood abuse, also reported more than one type of abuse.

What does this mean for them as adults?

Australians who witness violence against their mother as a young person are 2.5 times more likely to become victims of intimate partner domestic violence from the age of 15, compared to people who are not exposed to domestic violence during childhood.

We don’t know why they are at greater risk, but one theory is that children who grow up in a domestic violence household may minimise or normalise the behaviour.

The Australian National Community Attitudes Survey on Violence Against Women shows a quarter of Australians (23%) minimise domestic violence, believing it’s is an overreaction to day to day stress.

We don’t know how many people in Australia who witness domestic violence as a child become perpetrators of intimate partner abuse as adults.

Howeve, global studies have found witnessing parental violence as a young person is the highest risk factor associated with likelihood of perpetrating violence in adult relationships (28%). This is closely followed by permissive attitudes on violence against women (24%).

New data released by the Australian Institute of Family Studies further reveals men who grow up with positive father figure role models expressing affection are 48% less likely to become perpetrators of family violence in adulthood.

Do childhood victims become adult victims?

While there is a real increased risk of adult domestic violence among children who witness parental domestic violence, it is not the majority.

One in three (34%) Australian women who witness parental domestic violence against their mother become victims of adult domestic violence themselves. It’s one in seven (14%) men.

As researchers, we are usually identifying a problem, rather than examining positive outcomes. This means less attention has been paid to understanding resilience and what protects young people.

Our research team has conducted two projects in which we spoke with young people about their experience of living with fathers who abused their mothers.

While we focused on amplifying their voices and asking what they wanted to say to their fathers, it was common for them to mention they were fearful of forming their own intimate partner relationships.

They had heard of cycles of intergenerational violence and did not want to become like their fathers.

Can we break the cycle?

An evaluation of a pilot project working directly with children and young people in the western suburbs of Melbourne found children living with domestic violence experienced present fear, overwhelming worry about their future, and an inability to form positive friendships.

Receiving one-on-one, intensive support helped them with improved confidence, decreased fear and overall increased happiness.

Both of these example studies with children and young people are small. Conducting research with children and young people involves greater attention to risk, ethics and safety, and often requires a greater amount of time for the whole process. Many projects are not sufficiently funded to include the voices of young people.

The available research shows the concerning long-term impact of childhood exposure to domestic violence, but it also shows hope.

It is a minority of children in these circumstances who become victims in adulthood, and we estimate also a minority who go on to perpetrate violence.

Reparative work with children does show their lives can be greatly improved. The participation of young people in research and the recent Australia’s National Research Organisation for Women’s Safety conference also shows they can clearly articulate an understanding of their experiences, what has worked for them, and importantly, what is not effective.

We have good evidence for what can work to prevent and end family violence if there is sufficient long-term investment.

But children’s needs have been under investigated. We would benefit from better understanding of what can help young people exposed to domestic violence and the positive impact of early intervention.

The National Sexual Assault, Family and Domestic Violence Counselling Line – 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) – is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week for any Australian who has experienced, or is at risk of, family and domestic violence and/or sexual assault.

Kristin Diemer holds a joint appointment at the University of Melbourne and Australia’s National Research Organisation for Women’s Safety (ANROWS). She is a member of the Advisory Panels for the Australian Personal Safety Survey, and the National Community Attitudes Survey on violence against women.

– ref. Young people who witness domestic violence are more likely to be victims of it. Here’s how we can help them – https://theconversation.com/young-people-who-witness-domestic-violence-are-more-likely-to-be-victims-of-it-heres-how-we-can-help-them-257463

MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

June 4, 2025
MIL-OSI New Zealand: Name release: Tokoroa homicide

Source: New Zealand Police

Police can now release the name of the man who died after sustaining serious injuries in Tokoroa on 27 May.

He was 30-year-old Rapana (Raaps) Tukuru Tahana-Heretini, of Tokoroa.

Police are still seeking any information from witnesses, including CCTV footage from Abercorn Place at around 4:15am on Tuesday 27 May.

If you can help, please get in touch with us via our 105 service, quoting reference number 250527/7868.

You can also provide information anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre

MIL OSI New Zealand News –

June 4, 2025
MIL-OSI Australia: UPDATE #2 – Death in custody – Alice Springs

Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

The Northern Territory Police Force is continuing to investigate the death of a 24-year-old man in police custody in Alice Springs.

This incident is being investigated by the Major Crime Section, which operates under strict protocols and with full transparency.

In consultation with the Northern Territory Coroner, the coronial investigation has been paused, while the criminal investigation into the man’s death is undertaken to determine whether any criminality was involved.

The coroner has requested, and will be provided, with regular updates as the criminal investigation progresses.

All evidence collected in relation to the death, including CCTV, cannot be released until the criminal investigation is concluded.

The timeline for this investigation is unknown at this early stage.

The cause of the man’s death remains undetermined.

An independent examination of the initial undetermined findings of the autopsy is also being undertaken

The forensic pathologist is in the process of completing further investigation to ascertain the cause of death.

The NTPF is aware of the public interest in this investigation and further updates will be provided through a media release as relevant information becomes available.

MIL OSI News –

June 4, 2025
MIL-OSI Australia: Keep up to date with the taskforce
Source: New places to play in Gungahlin
Taskforce results
The Serious Financial Crime Taskforce (SFCT) started operation on 1 July 2015.

From this date until 31 March 2025, the Taskforce has progressed cases that have resulted in:

completion of 2,526 audits and reviews

conviction and sentencing of 71 people

raised over $2.9 billion in liabilities

collected more than $1 billion.
Guidance and resources

The SFCT has valuable resources to warn taxpayers of the risks of getting involved in these kinds of behaviours, including:
- GST refund fraud – an Intelligence Bulletin warning businesses against using related-party structuring and false invoicing, and entering into artificial and contrived arrangements to cheat the tax and super systems.
- False invoicing – an Intelligence Bulletin warning businesses against false invoicing arrangements. These schemes involve issuing invoices where no goods or services are provided.
- Electronic sales suppression tools (ESSTs) – a new Intelligence Bulletin warning businesses against using ESSTs. Businesses use ESSTs to illegally manipulate transaction records and avoid their tax obligations.
- Fraud in the precious metals refining industry – The illegal manipulation of the government’s interpretation of precious metals has been a focus for SFCT, which has investigated participants alleged to have been involved in gold bullion fraud.
Case studies and tax crime prosecution results

Case studies show that those who deliberately cheat the system will be held to account:

Read our past SFCT media releases and listen to the audio grabs.
MIL OSI News –
June 4, 2025

MIL-OSI USA: AI and Flow Cytometry Workshop

Source: US Government research organizations

Monday, June 9, 2025
10:30 am – 10:45 am EDT 7:30 am – 7:45 am PDT	Welcome • Lili Wang, NIST, Flow cytometry standardization enabling the production of high-quality cytometric datasets • Dawei Lin, NIAID/NIH, AI and immunology as a new research paradigm • Judith Arcidiacono, FDA, CBER standards recognition program and stakeholder engagement on standards
10:45 am – 11:45 am EDT 7:45 am – 8:45 am PDT	Setting the stage • Max Qian, J. Craig Venter Institute, Featured Presentation, The evolution of computational cytometry: milestones, challenges and opportunities • Thomas Liechti, ISAC, The potential of high-dimensional flow cytometry in human immunology research
12:00 pm – 1:00 pm EDT 9:00 am – 10:00 am PDT
1:00 pm – 3:00 pm EDT 10:00 am – 12:00 pm PDT	Flow cytometry in research and the clinic • John Quinn, BD Life Sciences, Data-Driven Insights and Future Trends in Cytometry: AI, Automation, and Beyond • Guang Fan, Oregon Health & Science University, Development and Clinical Validation of Artificial Intelligence-Assisted Flow Cytometry for Acute Leukemia Diagnosis • Yu-Fen (Andrea) Wang, AHEAD Medicine, From noise to insights: translating speech AI advances for automated flow cytometry analysis • Kamila Czechowska-Kusio, Metafora Biosystems, Transforming Flow Cytometry with AI: Achieving Standardization and Reproducibility • Jansen Seheult, Mayo Clinic, Validating, Deploying, and Monitoring Flow Cytometry Pipelines for Minimal Residual Disease (MRD) Quantification in Blood Cancers • Panel Discussion
3:00 pm – 3:30 pm EDT 12:00 pm – 12:30 pm PDT
3:30 pm – 5:00 pm EDT 12:30 pm – 2:00 pm PDT	Challenges and potential solutions for AI/ML applications • Holden Maecker, Stanford University, Featured Presentation, Methods for producing high-quality flow cytometry data • Ryan Brinkman, Dotmatics, SOULCAP: Enabling Trustworthy AI in Flow Cytometry Through Standardization and Objective Algorithm Evaluation • Santosh Putta, Revvity, Learning cell types across diverse flow cytometry data sets • Xing Qiu, University of Rochester, FastMix: Integrating Flow-cytometry, Gene Expression, and Clinical Data with Robust Mixed-Effects Models
Tuesday, June 10, 2025
10:30 am – 10:45 am EDT 7:30 am – 7:45 am PDT	Welcome, Day 2
10:45 am – 12:00 pm EDT 7:45 am – 9:00 am PDT	Flow data repositories and AI resources • Varun Chandola, National Science Foundation, Accelerating AI Innovation and Discovery through the National AI Research Resource (NAIRR) Pilot • Steven Kleinstein, Yale University, ImmPort: Enabling AI-Driven Analyses of Large-Scale Cytometry Data • Jonathan Irish, University of Colorado, ISAC Cytometry Data Repository (FlowRepository): Seeking, Identifying, & Targeting Clinically Significant Cells with Cytometry and Machine Learning
12:00 pm – 1:00 pm EDT 9:00 am – 10:00 am PDT
1:00 pm – 3:00 pm EDT 10:00 am – 12:00 pm PDT	Updates on NIST FCSC interlaboratory studies and centralized data analysis • Lili Wang, NIST, Overview of TBMNK Cell Assay Interlaboratory Study • John Elliott, NIST, Update on the FCSC Interlaboratory Study Data Repository and Dissemination System (NIST-LabCAS) • Santosh Putta et al, Revvity, Centralized Data Analyses from Interlaboratory Studies • Panel Discussion
3:00 pm – 3:30 pm EDT 12:00 pm – 12:30 pm PDT
3:30 pm – 4:30 pm EDT 12:30 pm – 1:30 pm PDT	Advanced technologies showcase presentations • Melvin Lye, Curiox, Automating Antibody Master Mix Preparation with C-FREE™ Pluto: Standardization for the Efficiency-Seeking Flow Cytometrist • John Nolan, Cellarcus Biosciences, Quantitative Analysis of Gene Delivery Vehicles Using Single Vesicle Flow Cytometry • Sean Hart, LumaCyte, Quantitative Cellular Analysis with Laser Force Cytology: Machine Learning for Predictive Bioprocessing • Willem Westra, ThinkCyte, Morphology Matters: Go Beyond Markers with VisionSort™ • Vidya Venkatachalam, Cytek Biosciences, Accessible Image Analysis: Learn, Adapt, and Conquer with Amnis® AI • Jason Lowery, Beckman Coulter Life Sciences, Advancing Flow Cytometry: An Overview of the Latest CytoFLEX mosaic Innovation • Sumona Sarkar, NIST, Standards for Cell Counting and Therapy Characterization • Paul DeRose, NIST, Reference Values for Fluorophore Concentration and Absolute Fluorescence Intensity • Edward Kwee/Jamie Almeida, NIST, Reference Data from Gene Delivery Systems Interlaboratory Studies to Support AI Models Predicting Function
4:30 pm – 4:45 pm EDT 1:30 pm – 1:45 pm PDT	Conclusion

MIL OSI USA News –

June 4, 2025

MIL-OSI: North America high-net-worth individual population surges, while Europe and Middle East shrink
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

Press contact:
Fahd Pasha
Tel.: +1 647 860 3777
E-mail: Fahd.Pasha@capgemini.com

North America high-net-worth individual population surges, while Europe and Middle East shrink
- U.S. led the world in growth in its millionaire population, adding 562,000 to reach 7.9 million
- Ultra-high net worth individual population rises by 6.2% worldwide
- High-net-worth individuals now allocate 15% of their portfolios to alternative investments, including cryptocurrencies
Paris, June 4, 2025 – The Capgemini Research Institute’s World Wealth Report 2025, published today, reveals the global high-net-worth individuals¹(HNWIs) population rose by 2.6% in 2024. Now in its 29^thedition, the report finds this increase was driven by the growth in the population of ultra-high-net-worth individuals (UHNWIs), which grew by 6.2%, as strong stock markets and AI optimism boosted portfolio returns. The data indicates that alternative investments², such as private equity and cryptocurrencies, are now an established presence in HNWI holdings, representing 15% of their portfolios.

Bullish stock market performance in the U.S. fuels wealth increase
A favorable interest rate environment and strong U.S. equity market returns helped boost wealth creation in 2024. North America saw the biggest gains, with the HNWI population rising by 7.3%. In contrast, Europe, Latin America and the Middle East saw declines in their HNWI populations, as macroeconomic challenges weighed.

At the end of 2024, according to Capgemini’s research:
- Europe’s HNWI population declined 2.1% due to economic stagnation in major countries, with United Kingdom, France and Germany losing 14,000, 21,000 and 41,000 millionaires, respectively. In contrast, Europe’s UHNWI population rose 3.5%, reflecting increased wealth concentration.
- Asia-Pacific’s HNWI population increased 2.7%, with notable variability across the region.
- Latin America’s HNWI population declined 8.5%, due to currency depreciation and fiscal instability. Brazil (-13.3%) and Mexico (-13.5%) witnessed the biggest population declines.
- The Middle East’s HNWI population declined 2.1%, driven by lower oil prices.
Within the largest individual markets, the U.S. was the clear leader, adding 562,000 millionaires as the country’s HNWI population grew by 7.6% to 7.9 million. India and Japan were standouts in the Asia-Pacific region, with both countries registering 5.6% growth, adding 20,000 and 210,000 millionaires, respectively. In contrast, growth in China was negative, with HNWI population declining by 1.0%.

Next-gen HNWIs seek wealth management firms that align with investment priorities
Wealth management firms are actively preparing for a new era of wealth transfer in which 83.5 trillion USD³ will change hands over the next two decades, creating the next generation of HNWIs⁴. According to the report, this handover will unfold in three phases: 30% of HNWIs will receive an inheritance by the end of 2030, 63% will inherit wealth by the end of 2035, and 84% by 2040.

“The great wealth transfer will be a defining moment for the industry. Despite global wealth on the rise, 81% of inheritors plan to switch firms within one to two years of inheritance. Potentially losing these unsatisfied clients is going to create significant risk for the global wealth management sector,” said Kartik Ramakrishnan, CEO of Capgemini’s Financial Services Strategic Business Unit and Group Executive Board Member. “The next-generation of high-net-worth individuals arrive with vastly different expectations to their parents. This necessitates an urgent shift away from traditional strategies to effectively cater to their evolving needs on this wealth journey. Firms must also prepare to equip advisors with the digital capabilities, potentially augmented with agentic or generative AI, to mitigate the risk of losing both clients and key employees.”

As of January 2025, HNWI investors parked 15% of their portfolios in alternative investments, including private equity and cryptocurrencies. They are willing to take more risks to expand their wealth – allocating capital to higher growth asset classes and niche product offerings, notably by 61% of millennial and Gen Z HNWIs.

To attract next-gen HNWIs, wealth management firms must rethink
The report highlights that wealth management firms need to refresh and revamp their services and offerings to resonate with the next-gen HNWI customer base. Including:
- Private equity and cryptocurrencies: 88% of advisors observe a greater interest in alternative assets amongst this group of investors over baby boomers
- New offshore booking centers: 50% of advisors indicate their lack of capabilities in emerging wealth hubs – Singapore, Hong Kong, UAE and Saudi Arabia – will drive these clients to alternate firms, as they seek diversification, better returns and a favorable regulatory environment
- Tailored services: concierge services such as luxury travel, medical care, and safeguarding against cyber threats, rank as the top non-financial value-added service most sought after
- Digital interactions: advisors rank a digital platform providing a holistic client view and actionable insights as the most important capability to effectively serve next-gen HNWIs, followed by intelligent automation of operational tasks like meeting summaries and emails
Insufficient support from wealth management firms makes advisors a flight risk
According to the report, one-in-three advisors express dissatisfaction with their firms’ lack of digital capabilities, negatively impacting their productivity, and creating a technological divide. In addition, 62% of next-gen HNWIs say they would follow their advisor if they moved to a different firm. Altogether, this directly impacts retention, as advisors struggle to engage these digital-native clients.

Beyond digital resources, the industry is on the cusp of a talent shortage amid an unprecedented transfer of wealth to Gen X, millennial, and Gen Z inheritors. In the next 12 months, one in four advisors plan to be on the move, with a majority transitioning to a competitor firm and a few starting their own ventures. Additionally, 20% of advisors say they will retire by 2035, with 48% planning to retire by 2040.

As the great wealth transfer unfolds, the wealth management industry will need to reimagine product offerings through tailored investment options for next-gen HNWIs. Firms must empower and engage advisors with an intuitive digital experience across all channels to secure their loyalty, the report concludes.

Read the full report: Sailing through the Great Wealth Transfer

Report Methodology
The World Wealth Report 2025 market-sizing model covers 71 countries, accounting for more than 98% of global gross national income and 99% of world stock market capitalization. The Capgemini 2025 Global HNW Insights Survey questioned 6,472 HNWIs including 5,473 Next-gen HNWIs across four regions: Americas, Europe, and Asia-Pacific and Middle East. The 2025 Wealth Management Executive Survey includes 141 responses across 10 markets, with representation from pure WM firms, universal banks, independent broker/dealer firms, and family offices. The 2025 Relationship Manager Survey, executed by Phronesis Partners, includes 1,306 responses across twelve markets.

About Capgemini
Capgemini is a global business and technology transformation partner, helping organizations to accelerate their dual transition to a digital and sustainable world, while creating tangible impact for enterprises and society. It is a responsible and diverse group of 340,000 team members in more than 50 countries. With its strong over 55-year heritage, Capgemini is trusted by its clients to unlock the value of technology to address the entire breadth of their business needs. It delivers end-to-end services and solutions leveraging strengths from strategy and design to engineering, all fueled by its market leading capabilities in AI, generative AI, cloud and data, combined with its deep industry expertise and partner ecosystem. The Group reported 2024 global revenues of €22.1 billion.

Get The Future You Want | www.capgemini.com

About the Capgemini Research Institute
The Capgemini Research Institute is Capgemini’s in-house think-tank on all things digital. The Institute publishes research on the impact of digital technologies on large traditional businesses. The team draws on the worldwide network of Capgemini experts and works closely with academic and technology partners. The Institute has dedicated research centers in India, Singapore, the United Kingdom, and the United States. It was ranked #1 in the world for the quality of its research by independent analysts for six consecutive times – an industry first.
Visit us at www.capgemini.com/researchinstitute

¹ HNWIs are high-net-worth individuals with investable assets of USD1 million or more, excluding their primary residence, collectibles, consumables, and consumer durables. HNWIs are segmented into three categories based on wealth bands: Ultra-HNWIs (USD30 million or more), Mid-Tier Millionaires (USD5-30M) and Millionaires Next Door (USD1-5M).
² Alternative investments include commodities, currencies, private equity, hedge funds, structured products, and digital assets
³ UBS, “Global Wealth Report 2024”
⁴ Gen X (aged 44 to 59 years as of 2025), millennial (aged 28-43 years as of 2025), and Gen Z (12 to 27 years as of 2025) inheritors are referenced as “next-gen HNWIs” to signify the generational shift in HNWI wealth

Attachment
- 06_04_World Wealth Report 2025 Press Release
The MIL Network –
June 4, 2025
MIL-OSI Australia: CCTV focus in Bellerive investigation

Source: New South Wales Community and Justice

CCTV focus in Bellerive investigation

Wednesday, 4 June 2025 – 12:26 pm.

Detectives reviewing CCTV footage from the Bellerive area have identified two people they believe could assist with the ongoing investigation into the death of a 45-year-old man.
The body of Luke Jon Telega was found in an industrial-sized garbage bin on Monday morning, at the rear of a business premises in Percy Street.
Police would like to speak with the woman pictured standing at a shopfront, (Photo 1) who was on Percy Street, Bellerive, around 7:50pm on Sunday, June 1.
Police believe the member of the public may have spoken with someone in Percy Street at the time and may be able to assist with inquiries. The woman was driving what is believed to be a light-coloured Toyota Prado.
Police would also like to speak with the woman pictured at the front of a car, (Photo 2) who was in Percy Street about 8:05pm on Sunday and who may be able to assist detectives. The woman was driving a red SUV at the time.
Further, police would like to speak with anyone who was in the area of Percy Street, Scott Street and Cambridge Road on the evening of Sunday through to 8am on Monday, and may have seen either someone on foot, or riding a bicycle, in these areas.
Anyone with information is asked to contact police of 131 444 or contact Crime Stoppers anonymously on 1800 333 000 or online at crimestopperstas.com.au

MIL OSI News –

June 4, 2025
MIL-OSI Australia: Taskforce Artemis
Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

A joint South Australian (SA) and Northern Territory (NT) Police Taskforce has charged a man with historical child abuse offences against young people from the Northern Territory that occurred in South Australia.

Taskforce Artemis was launched in October 2023 shortly after a now 65-year-old man was arrested by SA Police for 2 historical child abuse offences allegedly committed in South Australia.

The charges relate to 30 victims, with the alleged offending occurring between 1990 to 2023 in South Australia.

SA and NT Police, along with South Australian ODPP Witness Assistance officers have continued to engage with all victims and witnesses to provide support and assistance.

The 65-year-old man is currently on remand and has now been charged with:
- 12 x Sexual Abuse of a Child
- 8 x Indecent Assault
- 6 x Unlawful Sexual Intercourse
- 4 x Assault
- 3 x Aggravated Indecent Assault
- 3 x Possess Child Exploitation Material
- 2 x Aggravated Incite or procure Child to Commit Indecent Act
- 2 x Aggravated Assault
- 1 x Aggravated Compelled Sexual Manipulation
- 1 x Attempt Indecent Assault
- 1 x Attempt Aggravated Incite or Procure Child to Commit Indecent Act
- 1 x Gross Indecency
He appeared in SA District Court today.

South Australian Police Acting Assistant Commissioner Crime Service Catherine Hilliard said “Operation Artemis has been a complex and incredibly confronting investigation.

“The SA Police have been working closing with the NTPF as we conducted investigations into this offending.

“The privacy and safety of the victims, remains our number one priority. We have been providing updates, along with support, to everyone effected.”

Northern Territory Police Force Assistant Commissioner Michael White said “While the scale of the alleged offending discovered during investigations by Task Force Artemis is disturbing, it is important the community be aware that these investigations have been methodical and not resulted in any other person being charged with respect to the alleged offending.

“The NTPF is working closely with those effected.”

Members of the public who have any information about people involved in child abuse and exploitation are urged to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or https://crimestoppers.com.au/ or to contact NTPF Police on 131 444.

You can also make a report online by alerting the Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation via the ‘Report Abuse’ button at www.accce.gov.au/report.

MIL OSI News –
June 4, 2025
MIL-OSI Australia: Joint taskforce leads to further charges of child abuse

Source: New South Wales – News

A joint South Australia and Northern Territory Police Taskforce has charged a man with historical child abuse offences against young people from the Northern Territory that occurred in South Australia.

Taskforce Artemis was launched in October 2023, shortly after a now 65-year-old man was arrested by SA Police for two historical child abuse offences allegedly committed in South Australia.

The charges relate to 30 victims, with the alleged offending occurring between 1990 to 2023 in South Australia.

SA and NT Police, along with South Australian ODPP Witness Assistance officers have continued to engage with all victims and witnesses to provide support and assistance.

The 65-year-old man is currently on remand and has now been charged with:

* 12 counts of sexual abuse of a child

* 8 counts of indecent assault

* 6 counts of unlawful sexual intercourse

* 4 counts of assault

* 3 counts of aggravated indecent assault

* 3 counts of possess child exploitation material

* 2 counts of aggravated incite or procure child to commit indecent act

* 2 counts of aggravated assault

* 1 count of aggravated compelled sexual manipulation

* 1 count of attempt indecent assault

* 1 count of attempt aggravated incite or procure child to commit indecent act

* 1 count of gross indecency

He appeared in the SA District Court today.

South Australian Police Acting Assistant Commissioner Crime Service Catherine Hilliard said, “Operation Artemis has been a complex and incredibly confronting investigation.

“The SA Police have been working closely with the NTPF as we conduct investigations into this offending.

“The privacy and safety of the victims remains our number one priority. We have been providing updates, along with support, to everyone effected.”

Northern Territory Police Force Assistant Commissioner Michael White said, “While the scale of the alleged offending discovered during investigations by Task Force Artemis is disturbing, it is important the community be aware that these investigations have been methodical and not resulted in any other person being charged with respect to the alleged offending.

“The NTPF is working closely with those effected.”

Members of the public who have any information about people involved in child abuse and exploitation are urged to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or https://crimestopperssa.com.au/ You can remain anonymous.

You can also make a report online by alerting the Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation via the ‘Report Abuse’ button at www.accce.gov.au/report

MIL OSI News –

June 4, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Governor Polis Signs Bills into Law Supporting Service Members, Veterans, and Military Connected Coloradans and Families
Source: US State of Colorado

DENVER – Today, Governor Polis bills into law to support members of the military, veterans, and military connected families.

Governor Polis signed the following bills into law:
- SB25-279 – Colorado Code of Military Justice Updates, sponsored by Senators Matt Ball Byron Pelton, and Representatives Monica Duran and Andrew Hartsook
- SB25-282 – Protections for Veterans Seeking Benefits, sponsored by Senators Matt Ball and Byron Pelton, and Representatives Lisa Feret and Ryan Armagost
- HB25-1083 – Vehicle Transactions Deployed Military Families, sponsored by Representatives Eliza Hamrick and Marry Bradfield, and Senators Lisa Frizell and Dafna Michaelson Jenet
“Military families and veterans have long called Colorado home, and we are committed to continuing our work to expand resources for military connected Colordans by protecting veterans benefits, creating more transportation options for military families, and ensuring mission readiness for active military personnel,” said Governor Polis.

Governor Polis also signed SB25-304 – Measures to Address Sexual Assault Kit Backlog, sponsored by Representatives Willford and Froelich, and Senator Weissman.

“Everyone who has experienced sexual assault deserves justice and this new law moves us closer to ensuring that. I thank the bill sponsors for their work to address this urgent situation and help hold perpetrators accountable,” said Governor Polis.

Governor Polis also signed the following bills into law administratively:
- HB25-1031 – Law Enforcement Whistleblower Protection, sponsored by Representatives Bacon and Clifford, and Senators Roberts and B. Pelton
- HB25-1198– Regional Planning Roundtable Commission, sponsored by Representatives Froelich and Brown, and Senator Winter
- HB25-1313 – Modify Laws Within Purview of the Capital Development Committee, sponsored by Representatives Story and Lindsay, and Senators Mullica and Hinrichsen
- HB25-1322 – Enforce Insurer Compliance Requests Insurance Policy, sponsored by Representatives Carter and Espenoza, and Senators Exum and Roberts
- HB25-1329 – Foreign Third-Party Litigation Financing, sponsored by Representatives Mabrey and Soper, and Senators Frizell and Gonzales
- SB25-083 – Limitations on Restrictive Employment Agreements, sponsored by Senators Daugherty and Frizell, and Representatives Brown and Garcia Sander
- SB25-142 – Changes to Wildfire Resiliency Code Board, sponsored by Senators Baisley and Cutter, and Representative Velasco
- SB25-145 – Online Cancellation of Automatic Renewal Contracts, sponsored by Senator Kipp, and Representative Lindsay and Zokaie
- SB25-147 – Modify Board Management Public Employees’ Retirement Association, sponsored by Senators B. Pelton and Kolker, and Representatives Garcia Sander and Lukens
- SB25-165 – Licensure of Electricians, sponsored by Senators B. Pelton and Daugherty, and Representatives Lindstedt and Woog
- SB25-193 – Sunset Primary Care Payment Reform Collaborative, sponsored by Senators Ball and Mullica, and Representatives Garcia Sander and McCormick
- SB25-214 – Healthy School Meals Program For All, sponsored by Senators Bridges and Amabile, and Representatives Sirota and Taggart
- SB25-262 – Changes to Money in the Capital Construction Fund, sponsored by Senators Amabile and Kirkmeyer, and Representatives Bird and Taggart
- SB25-268 – Changes to Money in the Marijuana Tax Cash Fund, sponsored by Senators Bridges and Kirkmeyer, and Representatives Bird and Sirota
- SB25-271 – Repeal Obsolete Family & Medical Leave Study, sponsored by Senators Ball and Rich, and Representatives Espenoza and Luck
- SB25-274 – Amend Delivery Requirements Wine Direct Shipping, sponsored by Senators Rodriguez and Lundeen, and Representatives Lindstedt and Hartsook
- SB25-275 – Nonsubstantive Relocation of Definitions in Colorado Revised Statutes, sponsored by Senators Ball and Catlin, and Representatives Luck and Espenoza
- SB25-287 – Capitol Building Advisory Committee Modifications, sponsored by Senator Michaelson Jenet and Representative Lindstedt
- SB25-291 Division Criminal Justice Spending Authority Community Corrections, sponsored by Senators Amabile and Kirkmeyer, and Representatives Sirota and Taggart
- SB25-293 – Transfers from License Plate Cash Fund, sponsored by Senators Bridges and Kirkmeyer, and Representatives Bird and Sirota
- SB25-307 – Decarbonization Tax Credits Administration Cash Fund, sponsored by Senators Amabile and Bridges, and Representatives Sirota and Bird
- SB25-311 – Inactive Cash Funds, sponsored by Senators Amabile and Kirkmeyer, and Representatives Bird and Taggart
- SB25-314 – Recovery Audit Contractor Program, sponsored by Senators Kirkmeyer and Bridges, and Representatives Bird and Sirota
- SB25-320 – Commercial Motor Vehicle Transportation, sponsored by Senators Bridges and Kirkmeyer, and Representatives Bird and Taggart
- SB25-321 – Motor Vehicle Emissions Inspection Facilities, sponsored by Senators Kirkmeyer and Rodriguez, and Representatives Joseph and Gonzalez
- SB25-317 – Transfer Cash Fund Investment Earnings to General Fund, sponsored by Senators Kirkmeyer and Bridges, and Representatives Bird and Taggart
- HB25-1038 – Postsecondary Credit Transfer Website, sponsored by Representatives Hamrick and Johnson, and Senators Marchman and Baisley
- HB25-1121 – Permanent Trailer Registration, sponsored by Representatives Suckla and Lukens, and Senators R. Pelton and Marchman
- HB25-1189 – Motor Vehicle Registration Reform & Fees, sponsored by Representatives Mauro and Weinberg, and Senator Wallace
- HB25-1014 – Increasing Efficiency Division of Water Resources, sponsored by Representatives Johnson and Lukens, and Senators Roberts and Simpson
- HB25-1236 – Residential Tenant Screening, sponsored by Representatives Lindsay and Zokaie, and Senators Weissman and Jodeh
- HB25-1249 – Tenant Security Deposit Protections, sponsored by Representatives Ricks and Bacon, and Senators Exum and Danielson
- HB25-1289 – Metropolitan District Leases & Property Tax Exemptions, sponsored by Representatives Zokaie and Richardson, and Senators Weissman and Frizell
- HB25-1333 – Legislative Human Resources Division, sponsored by Speaker McCluskie and Majority Leader Duran, and Senate President Coleman and Majority Leader Rodriguez
- HB25-1335 – Tax Credit Availability, sponsored by Representatives Sirota and Taggart, and Senators Bridges and Kirkmeyer
- SB25-018 – Online Search of Sales & Use Tax, sponsored by Senators Bridges and Kipp, and Representative Taggart
- SB25-026 – Adjusting Certain Tax Expenditures, sponsored by Senator Mullica, and Representatives Marshall and Joseph
- SB25-027 – Trauma-Informed School Safety Practices, sponsored by Senators Marchman and Representatives Joseph and Gonzalez
- SB25-037 – Coal Transition Grants, sponsored by Senators Roberts and Kirkmeyer, and Representatives Taggart and Mauro
- HB25-1149 – Comprehensive Black History & Culture Education in K-12, sponsored by Representative English, and Senator Exum
- HB25-1117 – Vehicle Immobilization Company Regulation, sponsored by Representatives Joseph and Boesenecker, and Senators Gonzales and Weissman
- SB25-297 – Implementation of Colorado Natural Medicine Initiative, sponsored by Senator Ball, and Representative Feret
- HB25-1209 – Marijuana Regulation Streamline, sponsored by Representatives Lindstedt and Willford, and Senator Gonzales and Majority Leader Rodriguez
- HB25-1245 – Heating Ventilation & Air Conditioning Improvement Projects in Schools, sponsored by Representatives Lieder and Hamrick, and Senators Kipp and Danielson
- HB25-1130 – Labor Requirements for Government Construction Projects, sponsored by Representative Carter and Majority Leader Monica Duran, and Senators Danielson and Kolker
- HB25-1284 – Regulating Apprentices in Licensed Trades, sponsored by Majority Leader Duran and Senator Sullivan
- SB25-048 – Diabetes Prevention & Obesity Treatment Act, sponsored by Senators Michaelson Jenet and Mullica, and Representatives Brown and Mabrey
- HB25-1208 – Local Governments Tip Offsets for Tipped Employees, sponsored by Representatives Woodrow and Valdez, and Senators Amabile and Daugherty
- HB25-1330 – Exempting Quantum Computing Equipment Right to Repair, sponsored by Representatives Titone and Soper, and Senators Hinrichsen and Baisley
- HB25-1274 – Healthy School Meals for All Program, sponsored by Representative Garcia, and Senators Michaelson Jenet and Wallace
###

MIL OSI USA News –
June 4, 2025
MIL-OSI New Zealand: Prolific shoplifter sentenced to two years’ imprisonment

Source: New Zealand Police

A prolific Tauranga shoplifter has been sentenced to two years in prison after being convicted of 37 shoplifting charges dating back to 2024.

Police Commissioner Richard Chambers said it was the result of outstanding investigative work by an officer in the Tauranga Retail Crime Unit.

The officer began his investigation based on a single shoplifting report that came through Auror, with no offender identified and no real lines of enquiry.

From that single report, the officer was able to build a picture of a serial shoplifter, who was offending on an almost daily basis.

A 45-year-old woman was arrested in February 2025, and charged with offending dating back to September 2024. She appeared in Tauranga District Court on 21 May and was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment.

“This was the result of meticulous and painstaking work by the officer in the Tauranga Retail Crime Unit,” Commissioner Chambers said.

“The exceptional work of the officer has meant a serial shoplifter has been held to account for her actions. It highlights the importance of monitoring and following up on what might initially seem like low-level offending.

“We know how devastating this type of offending is for our retail community, and holding people to account for shoplifting and retail theft remains a priority for NZ Police.

“The convictions in this case were a result of not only outstanding investigative work, but also of the great rapport that the officer has built with local retailers.

“Each region is different and policing Districts much continue to have the leeway to decide how their resources are best used, and what their priorities need to be.

“However, the case does highlight just how effective the dedicated retail crime unit in Tauranga can be.

“It provides a good model for other Districts to consider when deciding how to tackle retail crime.”

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre.

MIL OSI New Zealand News –

June 4, 2025
MIL-OSI Australia: Two men arrested and youths spoken to after drug dog patrols in Glenorchy

Source: New South Wales Community and Justice

Two men arrested and youths spoken to after drug dog patrols in Glenorchy

Wednesday, 4 June 2025 – 9:34 am.

Tasmania Police continues to focus on reducing anti-social behaviour and retail crime in the Glenorchy municipality with high visibility patrols supported by police dog handlers yesterday afternoon resulting in several arrests and formal directions being made.
Sergeant Iain Shepherd from the Tasmania Police Dog Handlers Unit said that during the patrols, dog handlers searched 12 people resulting in the seizure of drugs such as methylamphetamine and cannabis, and three people were found in possession of knives or other weapons.
“A 48-year-old man from Bridgewater wanted on stealing charges was located and interviewed and another 48-year-old man from Bridgewater was arrested for consuming alcohol and engaging in disorderly conduct.”
“The man was bailed before being arrested again a short time later for attempted stealing.”
“He was banned from entering all Coles stores for one year and will appear in court at a later date.”
“Five other individuals also received formal directions to leave the Glenorchy CBD due to their behaviour.”
“In addition, several youths were spoken to, and those found in possession of drugs will be dealt with through youth diversion programs,” said Sergeant Shepherd.
Police would like to thank the community for their support and assistance, and encourage anyone with information about drugs and anti-social behaviour to contact police at 131 444 or Crime Stoppers Tasmania at 1800 333 000 or via crimestopperstas.com.au. Information can be provided anonymously.

MIL OSI News –

June 4, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: Ukraine’s drone attacks on Russian airfields could derail Russia’s war efforts

Source: The Conversation – Canada – By James Horncastle, Assistant Professor and Edward and Emily McWhinney Professor in International Relations, Simon Fraser University

The drone attacks by Ukrainian Operation Spider’s Web forces on Russian airfields have called into question Russia’s supposed military strength.

Russian authorities have acknowledged damage from the June 1 attacks — an unusual admission that suggests the strikes were probably effective, given Russia’s usual pattern of downplaying or denying the success of Ukrainian operations.

The operation’s most significant target was the Belaya air base, north of Mongolia. Belaya, like the other bases targeted, is a critical component in the Russian Air Force’s strategic strike capabilities because it houses planes capable of long-range nuclear and conventional strikes.

It’s also in Irkutsk, approximately 4,500 kilometres from the front lines in Ukraine.

Read more:
Ukraine drone strikes on Russian airbase reveal any country is vulnerable to the same kind of attack

Ukraine’s ability to successfully strike Belaya — an attempted strike at the even more distant Ukrainka air base failed — probably won’t have much of a military impact on the war. But along with successful attacks on other Russian airfields and the strike at the Kerch Bridge in Crimea, Operation Spider Web’s successes could play a strategic role in the conflict.

These attacks could shift what has become increasingly negative media coverage and public perception about Ukraine’s chances in the war over the last year. In a war of attrition, which the conflict in Ukraine has become, establishing a belief in victory is a pre-condition for success.

Explosions hit the Kerch Bridge in Russia on June 3, 2025. (The Independent)

Increased pessimism

Policymakers and pundits, instead of recognizing their expectations of a Ukrainian victory in 2023 were unrealistic, have often declared that the war is unwinnable for Ukraine.

This perspective was even more prevalent following United States President Donald Trump’s resumption of power in January 2025. In the Oval Office spat Trump had with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in late February, he declared Ukraine did not “have the cards” to defeat Russia.

This turned out to be false. Ukraine’s army may possess significantly less military hardware and fewer soldiers than Russia’s, but war is often a continuation of politics. Politically, Russia faces several issues that could derail its war efforts.

Russian vulnerabilities

Russia’s military capabilities are important to Russian nationalists, who make up Russian leader Vladimir Putin’s core constituency. Russian military forces have advanced along nearly all fronts in Ukraine over the last year.

These advances, however, have largely been insignificant. Furthermore, they have emphasized Russia’s military weakness, which is an ongoing affront to Russian nationalists.

Not only have Russian military advances over the last year not changed the war in a strictly military sense, but the pace of advance has been incredibly slow. Over the last year, Russian forces have captured 5,107 square kilometres of Ukrainian territory. This territory represents less than one per cent of Ukraine’s pre-war territory.

In exchange for what amounts to negligible gains, Russian armed forces have suffered significant casualties.

Both Russia and Ukraine carefully guard the number of casualties their forces have suffered in the war. The British Ministry of Defence, however, estimates that Russia will have suffered more than a million casualties in the war by the end of this month. The Russian casualty rate is also accelerating, with an estimated 160,000 casualties in the first four months of 2025.

Russia attempts to compensate for this battlefield devastation in two ways.

First, it’s isolated Ukraine by manipulating Trump’s desire for political wins and business deals. Russia, in appearing to seek an end to the conflict while offering no concessions, has stoked tensions between Zelenskyy and Trump, where there was little love lost between the two to begin with.

Second, Russia has increased its attacks on Ukrainian civilian infrastructure. Large-scale bombing does little to help Russia on the battlefield. The attacks, in fact, put its forces at a disadvantage by redirecting munitions from military targets.

Attacks on civilians

The attacks on civilian infrastructure, however, are more about instilling fear in the Ukrainian population and demonstrating American impotence to a Russian audience.

Russia’s attacks on Ukrainian cities also highlight Russia’s trump card: nuclear weapons. Russia, and specifically former Russian president Dimitry Medvedev, has repeatedly threatened nuclear war in an attempt to dissuade Ukraine’s supporters.

By bombing Ukrainian cities, albeit with conventional munitions, Russia seeks to demonstrate its ability to deploy even more destructive weapons should the situation call for it.

These Russian military missteps, combined with a Russian economy that is structurally unsound, means that Russia’s war effort is increasingly fragile.

Weakening Asian alliances

Ukraine’s attack on Belaya also signals Russian weakness to its nominal allies in Asia.

Since the start of hostilities, Russia has relied on the tacit consent of China. This support has taken the form of China purchasing Russian crude oil to maintain the Russian economy and Chinese citizens unofficially fighting for Russia.

Belaya has been a vital element of Russia’s deterrence strategy in Asia, which has come to rely more heavily on the Russian strategic nuclear threat. The inability of Russia to protect one of its key strategic assets from a Ukrainian drone attack, combined with the weakness of Russian conventional forces in Ukraine, erodes its ability to position itself as a key ally to China.

In fact, some Russian authorities continue to view China as a major threat.

At the same time, Operation Spider’s Web gives hope to the Ukrainian people. It may also cause Trump — who prefers to back winners — to ponder whether it’s Putin, not Zelenskyy, who lacks the cards to win the war.

James Horncastle does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

– ref. Ukraine’s drone attacks on Russian airfields could derail Russia’s war efforts – https://theconversation.com/ukraines-drone-attacks-on-russian-airfields-could-derail-russias-war-efforts-258049

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

June 4, 2025
MIL-OSI Australia: Youths charged in Devonport

Source: New South Wales Community and Justice

Youths charged in Devonport

Wednesday, 4 June 2025 – 9:03 am.

Two boys have been arrested and charged over an alleged assault in the Devonport CBD as police continue to focus on anti-social behaviour in the city precinct.
The male youths have been bailed to appear at the Devonport Youth Justice Court at a later date.
Tasmania Police is aware of recent reports of anti-social behaviour in the Devonport CBD and is continuing with a high-visibility police presence in the area to deter this disruptive behaviour.
“Members of the public and those working in the Devonport CBD have a right and expectation to feel safe. Tasmania Police are committed to ensuring public safety and will not tolerate any disruptive or harmful behaviour from anyone,” Devonport Police Acting Inspector Luke Negri said.
“Offenders, including youths, will be held to account for their actions and behaviour.”
Anyone who witnesses concerning activity is encouraged to report it to police on 131 444 or call triple zero (000) if it is an emergency.
You can also report anonymously to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or online at crimestopperstas.com.au

MIL OSI News –

June 4, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: Even if Putin and Zelenskyy do go face-to-face, don’t expect wonders − their one meeting in 2019 ended in failure

Source: The Conversation – Global Perspectives – By Anna Batta, Associate Professor of International Security Studies, Air University

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrive at the Elysee Palace in Paris in 2019. Ian Langsdon/Pool Photo via AP

Delegations from Ukraine and Russia met for a second time in Istanbul in a month on June 2, 2025. Missing, again, were the country’s two leaders.

For a fleeting moment ahead of the first meeting in mid-May 2025, there existed the faintest prospect that Presidents Vladimir Putin of Russia and Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine would join, sitting down in the same room for face-to-face talks.

But it didn’t happen; few expected it would. On that occasion, Putin refused Zelenskyy’s offer of face-to-face talks in Istanbul.

Even though neither leader met in the Istanbul summits, they have met before.

In Paris in 2019, the two men sat down together as part of what was known as the Normandy Format talks. As a scholar of international relations, I have interviewed people involved in the talks. Some five years on, the way the talks floundered and then failed can offer lessons about the challenges today’s would-be mediators now face.

Initial hopes

The Normandy Format talks started on the sidelines of events in June 2014 commemorating the 70th anniversary of the D-Day landings. The aim was to try to resolve the ongoing conflict between Ukrainian forces and pro-Russian separatist groups in the country’s Donbas region in the east. That conflict had recently escalated, with pro-Russian separatists seizing key towns in the Donetsk and Luhansk after Russia illegally annexed the peninsula of Crimea in February 2014.

The talks continued periodically until 2022, when Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Until that point, most of the discussion was framed by two deals, the Minsk accords of 2014 and 2015, which set out the terms for a ceasefire between Kyiv and the Moscow-armed rebel groups and the conditions for elections in Donetsk and Luhansk.

By the time of the sixth meeting in December 2019, the only time Zelenkyy and Putin have met in person, some still hoped that the Minsk accords could form a framework for peace.

Under discussion

Zelenskyy was only a few months into his presidency. He arrived in Paris with fresh energy and a desire to find peace.

His electoral campaign had centered on the promise of putting an end to the unrest in Donbas, which had been rumbling on for years. The increasing role of Russia in the conflict, through supporting rebels financially and with volunteer Russian soldiers, had complicated and escalated fighting, and many Ukrainians were weary of the impact of internally displaced people that it caused.

By all accounts, Zelenskyy went into Paris believing that he could make a deal with Putin.

“I want to return with concrete results,” Zelenskyy said just days before meeting Putin. By then, the Ukrainian president’s only contact with Putin had been over the phone. “I want to see the person and I want to bring from Normandy understanding and feeling that everybody really wants gradually to finish this tragic war,” Zelenskyy said, adding, “I can feel it for sure only at the table.”

One of Putin’s main concerns going into the talks was the lifting of Western sanctions imposed in response to the annexation of Crimea.

But the Russian president also wanted to keep Russia’s smaller neighbor under its influence. Ukraine gained independence after the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991. But in the early years of the new century, Russia began to exert increasing influence over the politics of its neighbor. This ended in 2014, when a popular revolution ousted pro-Russian Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych and ushered in a pro-Western government.

More than anything, Russia wanted to arrest this shift and keep Ukraine out of the European Union and NATO.

Those desires – Ukraine’s to end the war in Donbas, and Russia’s to curb the West’s involvement in Ukraine – formed the parameters for the Normandy talks.

And for some time, there appeared to be momentum to find compromise. French President Emmanuel Macron said that the 2019 Paris talks had broken years of stalemate and relaunched the peace process. Putin’s assessment was that the peace process was “developing in the right direction.” Zelenskyy’s view was a little less enthusisastic: “Let’s say for now it’s a draw.”

Talking past each other

Yet the Putin-Zelenskyy meeting in 2019 ultimately ended in failure. In retrospect, both sides were talking past each other and could not reach agreement on the sequencing of key parts of the peace plan.

Zelenskyy wanted the security provisions of the Minsk accords, including a lasting ceasefire and the securing of Ukraine’s border with Russia, in place before proceeding with regional elections on devolving autonomy to the regions. Putin was adamant that the elections come first.

The success of the Normandy talks were also hindered by Putin’s refusal to acknowledge that Russia was a party to the conflict. Rather, he framed the Donbas conflict as a civil war between the Ukrainian government and the rebels. Russia’s role was simply to push the rebels to the negotiating table in this take – a view that was greeted with skepticism by Ukraine and the West.

As a result, the Normandy talks stalled. And then in February 2022, Russian launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Way forward today?

The nascent negotiations between Ukraine and Russia that began in Istanbul in May 2025 represent the first real attempt to bring high-level delegations of both sides together since 2019.

Many of the same challenges remain. The talks still revolve around the issues of security, the status of Donetsk and Luhansk, and prisoner exchanges – that last point being the only one in which common ground appears to be found, both in 2019 and now.

But there are major differences – not least, three years of actual direct war. Russia can no longer deny that it is a party of the conflict, even if Moscow frames the war as a special military operation to “denazify” and demilitarize Ukraine.

And three years of war have changed how the questions of Crimea and the Donbas are framed.

In the Normandy talks, there was no talk of recognizing Russian control over any Ukrainian territory. But recent U.S. efforts to negotiate peace have included a “de-jure” U.S. recognition of Russian control in Crimea, plus “de-facto recognition” of Russia’s occupation of nearly all of Luhansk oblast and the occupied portions of Donetsk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia.

Another major difference between the negotiation process then and now is who is mediating.

The Normandy negotiations were led by European leaders – German Chancellor Angela Merkel and President Macron of France. Throughout the whole Normandy talks process, only Germany, France, Ukraine and Russia were involved as active participants.

Today, it is the United States taking the lead.

And this suits Putin. A constant issue for Putin of the Normandy talks was that Germany and France were never neutral mediators.

In President Donald Trump, Putin has found a U.S. leader who, at least at first, appeared eager to take on the mantle from Europe.

But like the Europeans involved in the Normandy talks, Trump too is encountering similar barriers to any meaningful progress.

Members of Ukrainian and Russian delegations attend peace talks on June 2, 2025, in Istanbul.
Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs via Getty Images

The Istanbul negotiations on May 16, 2025, were less productive than many people hoped. A proposed 30-day ceasefire agreement didn’t come to fruition; instead the parties agreed on a prisoner-exchange deal. Follow-up talks on June 2 ended after barely an hour, according to Turkish officials. Again, one point agreed on was a prisoner swap.

The Paris peace talks, too, led to a prisoner exchange – but little more. It appears that getting the leaders of Ukraine and Russia to agree on anything more ambitious is as elusive now as it was when Putin and Zelenskyy met in 2019.

The views expressed in this article represent the personal views of the author and are not necessarily the views of the Department of Defense or of the Department of the Air Force.

– ref. Even if Putin and Zelenskyy do go face-to-face, don’t expect wonders − their one meeting in 2019 ended in failure – https://theconversation.com/even-if-putin-and-zelenskyy-do-go-face-to-face-dont-expect-wonders-their-one-meeting-in-2019-ended-in-failure-257093

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

June 4, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Suspected people-smuggling gang arrested in nationwide crackdown
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

News story

Suspected people-smuggling gang arrested in nationwide crackdown

Six people have been arrested on suspicion of facilitating illegal entry of hundreds of migrants in dawn strikes by Immigration Enforcement across the UK
A suspected organised crime boss and his associates have been arrested for allegedly facilitating hundreds of Botswana nationals into the UK illegally, as part of a surge in law enforcement activity to take down people-smuggling gangs.

In the early hours of Tuesday 3 June, five men and one woman were arrested in strikes across the country in Cheltenham, Manchester, Nottingham, Sheffield and Bradford. The lead suspect, a 37-year-old Botswana national, was arrested in Cheltenham on suspicion of assisting and planning the illegal entry of other migrants from Botswana into the UK.

The suspected criminal gang is believed to have facilitated the entry of more than 200 Botswana nationals into the UK illegally over a two-year period, leading them into a life of fraud and exploitation. Once in the country, it is believed they assisted in submitting false asylum claims using fake documents in order to fraudulently legalise the migrants stay in the country. They are also believed to have assisted the migrants with illegal employment in care homes, working with the most vulnerable without adequate training or medical expertise.

Officers acted on intelligence that suggested the lead people smuggler was exploiting the individuals he lured here under false pretences, forcing them to do unpaid work.

Organised criminal gangs often use cruel tactics to control their beneficiaries, with victims often subject to debt bondage at the hands of the gangs who trap them in unsafe situations in order to fill their pockets.

The arrests come as part of the latest initiative under this government’s Plan for Change to bear down on the criminal gangs profiting at the expense of vulnerable individuals and restore order to the asylum system. Since the election almost 30,000 people with no right to be here have been returned – a 12% increase compared to the same period 12 months ago. Illegal working visits and arrests are also up by more than 40%

This government’s Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill will go further than ever before to protect the UK’s borders and strengthen the wider immigration and asylum system, including protecting it against abuse from criminal gangs. New counter terror-style powers will be introduced to smash the smuggling gangs before they have a chance to act.

Security Minister, Dan Jarvis said:

I want to commend the dedication and professionalism of our criminal investigators and Immigration Enforcement officers for these significant arrests. Their tireless efforts have disrupted criminal networks that profit from exploiting vulnerable individuals and undermining our immigration system.

This operation demonstrates that we will use the full force of the law against those who facilitate illegal entry into the UK for exploitation. Our enforcement teams work day and night to protect our borders and communities from harm, and this successful operation is testament to their commitment.

The government remains resolute in our approach to tackle illegal migration and the criminal enterprises that enable it, and through our Plan for Change will continue to restore order to the asylum system that collapsed in recent years.

Immigration Enforcement Criminal and Financial Investigations lead, Phillip Parr said:

This is one of our highest priority investigations due to the scale of the threat, the number of people believed to be involved, the immense harm these victims are potentially at risk of, and the amount of financial gain the suspects stand to make.

I’m immensely proud of my team’s coordinated and targeted approach in this operation. We’ve not only disrupted this criminal network but also safeguarded potentially hundreds of individuals from further exploitation and harm. This operation demonstrates the power of partnership working in tackling complex organised crime.

There is no place for those who profit from human misery, and we will continue to use all available powers to pursue and prosecute those involved in these despicable crimes.

This government is tightening UK visa controls and building a more sustainable workforce, reducing reliance on overseas workers, as set out in the immigration white paper in May. The strategy contains new financial measures, penalties or sanctions, including for sponsors of migrant workers or students where there is evidence of abuse. New measures already in effect require care providers in England to prioritise recruiting international care workers who are already in the UK and seeking new employment.

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Published 3 June 2025
MIL OSI United Kingdom –
June 4, 2025
MIL-OSI NGOs: Historic Forest Congress ends with pressing demands from Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities
Source: Greenpeace Statement –

Brazzaville, Republic of Congo – In a show of unity, Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLCs) from the world’s largest tropical forest basins, the Amazon, Congo, Borneo-Mekong-Papua and Mesoamerica, have concluded their first-ever global congress with an urgent call for protection, recognition and respect for the forests as well as the provision of direct access funds for the communities.

These four regions, often described as the lungs of the planet, are home to over two-thirds of the Earth’s remaining tropical forests and serve as critical carbon sinks in the fight against climate change. They also host immense biodiversity and provide life-sustaining ecosystems for hundreds of millions of people. At the heart of these forests are Indigenous Peoples and local communities who are the custodians of these forests having protected and lived in harmony with these ecosystems for generations.

Over five days in Brazzaville, the forest custodians from across South America, Central Africa, Southeast Asia, and Mesoamerica came together to share experience and knowledge, place the spotlight on their struggles, and unite their voices. The congress culminated in a joint declaration demanding urgent global actions to protect their land rights and traditional knowledge, and their informed consent in decision-making, and ensure direct access to finance. .

Greenpeace proudly stood in solidarity with these communities, calling for concrete measures to recognize and support Indigenous people’s leadership in forest protection, biodiversity restoration and the fight against climate change

“What we witnessed in Brazzaville was more than a gathering, it was a unified awakening,” said Dr. Lamfu Yengong, Forest Campaign Lead at Greenpeace Africa. “This congress laid the ground for an emerging global alliance rooted in ancestral wisdom, justice, and the urgency of climate action. The road to COP30 must now consider those voices that have long been ignored”.

“This Congress was a historic moment for Indigenous Peoples and local communities from the major forest basins to unite and shape a common vision for transformative change in national and international policies on forest protection, land rights, and direct access to finance. We echo their call: Respect, recognize, and protect their rights—not only as a call for justice, but as a condition for the planet’s survival.” said Bonaventure Bondo, Forest Campaigner at Greenpeace Africa.

“Our knowledge and stewardship are central to the health of the planet,” added Valentine Engobo, an Indigenous leader from Lokolama in the Congo Basin. “We look forward to seeing these commitments translate into tangible actions, especially at COP30, where our voices must be heard and our rights recognized.”

From the Amazon to the Papua, Indigenous leaders echoed a resounding message: protecting forests means respecting the people who protect them.

“Indigenous peoples are the true custodians of the Amazon rainforest,” said Romulo Batista, Senior Campaigner at Greenpeace Brazil. “We call on world leaders to honour their role in combating climate change and protecting our territories.”

“This first congress leaves a great legacy, which is the dialogue and articulation at a global level of Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities,” said Mario Nicacio, Member of the supervisory board of the Podaali Indigenous Fund. “While discussing common problems, we discussed solutions, access to natural resources, our territories and access to direct funding for our funds and organisations.”

“The Borneo-Mekong and Papua’s forests are vital to climate stability,” said Amos Sumbung, Forest Campaigner at Greenpeace Southeast Asia. “But our communities can’t do it alone, We need genuine international backing.”

“This is just the beginning,” said Troyanus Kalami, an Indigenous leader from Moi, in the Papua region. “Our territories must be respected, and our wisdom must help shape the future of global climate solutions.”

The Congress culminated in a historic Declaration, a collective document outlining the priorities, demands, and commitments of these communities in response to the escalating climate and biodiversity crises. The Declaration urgently calls for the legal recognition and protection of Indigenous territories, direct financing for local communities, and full participation in environmental and climate governance. Here are the key outcomes of the final Declaration:
- Territorial Recognition and Protection – A global call for governments to legally recognise and uphold Indigenous land rights, including for peoples in voluntary isolation;
- End to Criminalisation and Violence – A strong appeal for an international convention to protect environmental human rights defenders and to stop persecution of Indigenous leaders;
- Full and Effective Participation – A demand for the inclusion of women, youth, and community representatives in climate and environmental decision-making processes ;
- Direct and Transparent Financing – A request for at least 40% of climate and biodiversity finance to go directly to Indigenous and local community organisations, without intermediaries.
- Moratorium on Destructive Activities – A demand to halt fossil fuel extraction, large-scale agribusiness, and mining projects on Indigenous lands.;
- Call to Global Action Towards COP30 – A formal request for the President of the Republic of Congo to host a high-level dialogue among forest basin countries during COP30.
Greenpeace Africa affirms that this congress marks a watershed moment, serving as a turning point in the struggles of Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities not to be any longer sidelined in decision-making but recognised as custodians and leaders of global forest protection and climate action.

END

Contacts

Raphael Mavambu, Media and Communications, [email protected], Greenpeace Africa
MIL OSI NGO –
June 4, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Durbin To President Trump: The Whole World Is Watching To See If You Will Stand Firm Against Putin

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator for Illinois Dick Durbin

June 02, 2025

It’s time for Leader Thune to pass the bipartisan Russia sanctions bill and prepare another Ukraine supplemental

WASHINGTON – In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Co-Chair of the Senate Ukraine Caucus, warned President Trump that Russian President Vladimir Putin has no intention to end the war in Ukraine without greater pressure. Durbin began his speech by highlighting the horrific atrocities Putin has committed over the years—starting 11 years ago when he invaded Crimea.

“Anyone following this war can clearly see that Vladimir Putin isn’t serious about ending this bloody conflict that he started,” said Durbin. “Let’s not forget that 11 years ago, he [Putin] militarily seized Crimea and other parts of eastern Ukraine. More than three years ago Putin tried to take over Ukraine itself and install a puppet regime beholden to him.”

Since Putin’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the Ukrainian people have been resilient amid the brutal Russian onslaught, as Durbin outlined in his speech.

“With advance warning and weapons from the United States, the brave Ukrainians defied the experts. They said the Ukrainians couldn’t last two weeks defending their country against the second largest military in the world. The experts were wrong. Those Ukrainians have protected their Independence from brutality, but at great cost in lives, destruction, and territory. The costs have been staggering—thousands of individuals have lost their lives because of this Russian invasion… Why do I revisit the obvious? Because it has been obvious for more than a decade that Vladimir Putin isn’t interested in ending the war,” said Durbin. “Obvious to everyone perhaps except our own President.”

During his speech, Durbin warned President Trump not to be fooled by Putin.

Durbin continued, “President Trump promised he would end this war first day in office. Instead, Trump and his Vice President publicly humiliated Ukrainian President Zelenskyy and made embarrassing overtures to Putin. Putin’s response has been to thumb his nose at the U.S. and peace efforts. In fact, already this year civilian Ukrainian deaths from Russian attacks are higher than they were during the same period last year and assaults on civilian targets in the last two weeks alone have been relentless.”

“I want this war to end, but it should not be a blatant giveaway to Putin or driven by any illusion about Putin’s long-term intentions to control Ukraine and weaken the NATO alliance. Nor can it come at the security expense of our Baltic and Polish allies who are also in Putin’s crosshairs. That is why Leader Thune needs to immediately put Senator Graham’s Russia sanctions bill, which I and 80 other Senators have cosponsored, on the Floor for a vote… It is also time for us to prepare another Ukraine supplemental [as] Ukraine needs the equipment and ammunition.”

Durbin concluded, “President Trump: the whole world is watching to see if you will stand firm against Putin, especially our other adversaries. Putin is not your friend and not a friend of the United States. You do not want your legacy to be appeasement and surrender to Russia and a weakening of our transatlantic security.”

Durbin condemned President Trump after he publicly attacked Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the Oval Office. Further parroting a Kremlin propaganda point, President Trump also falsely claimed that Ukraine started the war against Russia. In the post, President Trump claimed the U.S. was “duped” into spending billions to help Ukraine defend itself following Russia’s 2022 full-scale military invasion and that President Zelenskyy is a “dictator without elections.”

Video of Durbin’s remarks on the Senate floor is available here.

Audio of Durbin’s remarks on the Senate floor is available here.

Footage of Durbin’s remarks on the Senate floor is available here for TV Stations.

-30-

MIL OSI USA News –

June 4, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Admiral Rock — RCMP charges a man with sexual offences against a child
Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

East Hants District RCMP has charged a man with sexual offences against a child that occurred in Admiral Rock.

Yesterday, at approximately 3:20 p.m., RCMP officers responded to a report of abduction on Mosher Rd. Officers learned that two children were riding their bicycles when a man standing at the end of a driveway flagged them down. The man, whom the children did not know, grabbed one of them by the arm, entered the nearby residence with the child, exposed himself, and uttered threats.

The child screamed and ran out of the home to get help. The two children were not physically injured.

RCMP officers attended the residence where the incident occurred and arrested a 34-year-old man from Admiral Rock.

Gregory McDonald has been charged with:
- Kidnapping
- Invitation to Sexual Touching
- Indecent Act – Exposure
- Assault
- Uttering Threats
The investigation is ongoing.

File #: 2025-761776

MIL Security OSI –
June 4, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Two Interrelated Drug Rings Taken Down in Series of Arrests Following Wiretap Investigation

Source: US FBI

Follows earlier arrests focused on dealers in International District and “the Jungle”

Seattle – Fourteen people were indicted in late May and eleven were taken into custody in coordinated arrests last week as part of an ongoing investigation of drug traffickers with ties to drug trafficking in Seattle’s International District and homeless encampments, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Teal Luthy Miller. The defendants are charged in two separate indictments with trafficking cocaine, heroin, fentanyl, and methamphetamine from California into the Western District of Washington. In addition to searches of Washington locations, search warrants were executed in Oregon and Southern California. The defendants have detention hearings over the next few days.

“The indictment of five defendants in January 2025 was just the first step,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Teal Luthy Miller. “Now we are prosecuting fourteen additional defendants. Law enforcement partners continued to pursue drug traffickers even after the initial arrests in January to address the importation of substances like fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine into western Washington generally and the International District in particular.”

“For years, this criminal organization preyed on the homeless and drug addicted. They terrorized people living and working in the Chinatown-International District and South Seattle,” said Seattle Police Chief Shon F. Barnes. “I am proud of the work our detectives and federal partners have done to put these criminals behind bars where they belong.”

The seven defendants named in the first indictment for conspiracy to distribute cocaine, methamphetamine, fentanyl, and heroin are:

Octavio Salazar Palma, 33, of Federal Way, Washington, a U.S. citizen

Luis Soto Lara, 47, of Vancouver, Washington

Juan Ramirez Recinos, 41, of Burien, Washington, sought by law enforcement

German Juarez-Otanez, 34, Bothell, Washington, sought by law enforcement

Alexander Emilio Cozza, 42, of Seattle

Marco Antonio Bobadilla, 33, Pacific, Washington

Isai Gamboa Pacheco, 55, of Everett, Washington

The seven defendants in the second indictment for conspiracy to distribute cocaine and methamphetamine are:

Daniel Ibarra Loera, 31, of Kent, Washington

Jose Garcia Corona, 61, of Seattle

Leonardo Rojas Cruz, 53 of Federal Way, Washington

Oscar Omar Serrano Serrano, 31, of Algona, Washington

Juan Lopez Roblero, 43, of Tukwila, Washington

Giovanni Antonio Garduno Garcia, 46, of Issaquah, Washington

Sang Su, 44, Seattle, a U.S. citizen, sought by law enforcement

In this investigation in March 2025 alone, law enforcement seized 100 pounds of methamphetamine, 111 kilos of cocaine, 19 kilos of fentanyl powder, 250,000 fentanyl pills, and four kilos of heroin. The street value of the narcotics is nearly $3 million.

“Thanks to the sustained investigative efforts of the FBI and our partners, we are continuing the work we began in November 2023 by first intercepting the flow of dose quantities of dangerous drugs into the International District and homeless encampments in Seattle,” said W. Mike Herrington, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Seattle field office. “Since January 2025, when we arrested five Washington-based members of this organization, we followed the investigation outside of Washington state as the traffickers made frequent trips into Oregon and California. We are now reaching sources of supply, further stopping these poisons—and the violence that accompanies them—from reaching our communities.”

On May 29, 2025, law enforcement executed 16 search warrants in Federal Way, Vancouver, Everett, Pacific, Tukwila, Kent, Issaquah, Seattle, Woodlake California and Beaverton, Oregon. Investigators seized more than seven kilograms of cocaine, 18 kilograms of methamphetamine, more than 57,000 fentanyl pills, and 17 firearms. They also seized more than $353,000 in cash

Due to the quantities involved some of the defendants face mandatory minimum ten-year prison terms. Federal law enforcement is still determining the citizenship status of many of the defendants in this case.

“This trafficking group was a major supplier of deadly drugs to the International District and other communities throughout the Seattle area,” said David F. Reames. “The fentanyl powder and pills our team seized in this case could have yielded enough lethal doses to kill everyone in Seattle twice. I am proud of our team and would like to thank the Seattle Police, the FBI, the IRS and the Washington National Guard Counterdrug program for their amazing partnership.”

“Illegal drug trafficking devastates lives and affects us all. It is a huge issue that requires a forceful response,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Carrie Nordyke, IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), Seattle Field Office. “This investigation draws from the resilience of our communities, which drives the combined efforts of our law enforcement partners and of our agency. Together, we will push back and continue to make a positive, felt impact for all our friends and neighbors.”

The charges contained in the indictment are only allegations. A person is presumed innocent unless and until he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

This investigation is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.

The investigation was led by the FBI, Seattle Police Department and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) with significant assistance from the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas program (HIDTA), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and Washington National Guard Counterdrug Program. Investigators also worked with the Oregon State Police and Clark County, Washington Sheriff’s Office.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Casey Conzatti and Brian Wynne.

MIL Security OSI –

June 4, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: Ukraine ‘spiderweb’ drone strike fails to register at peace talks as both sides dig in for the long haul

Source: The Conversation – UK – By Stefan Wolff, Professor of International Security, University of Birmingham

News of the spectacular “spiderweb” mass drone attack on Russian air bases on June 1 will have been uppermost in the minds of delegates who assembled the following day for another round of direct talks between Russia and Ukraine in Istanbul. The attack appears to have been a triumph of Ukrainian intelligence and planning that destroyed or damaged billions of pounds’ worth of Russian aircraft stationed at bases across the country, including at locations as far away as Siberia.

Ukraine’s drone strikes, much like Russia’s intensifying air campaign, hardly signal either side’s sincere commitment to negotiations. As it turned out, little of any consequence was agreed at the brief meeting between negotiators, beyond a prisoner swap, confirming yet again that neither a ceasefire nor a peace agreement are likely anytime soon.

But the broader context of developments on the battlefield and beyond can offer important clues about the trajectory of the war in the coming months.

Get your news from actual experts, straight to your inbox. Sign up to our daily newsletter to receive all The Conversation UK’s latest coverage of news and research, from politics and business to the arts and sciences.

At an earlier meeting in Istanbul in May, Moscow and Kyiv agreed to draft and exchange detailed proposals for a settlement. The Ukrainian proposal restated the longstanding position of Kyiv and its western allies that concessions on the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country are unacceptable.

In other words, a Russian-imposed neutrality ruling out Nato membership and limiting the size of Ukraine’s armed forces is a non-starter for Kyiv. So is any international recognition of Moscow’s illegal land-grabs since 2014, including the annexation of Crimea.

The Ukrainian proposal is for an immediate ceasefire along the frontline as “the starting point for negotiations”. Any territorial issues would be discussed “after a full and unconditional ceasefire”.

In substance, this is very similar to the peace plan presented by the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelensky in late 2022. This was received warmly by Ukraine’s main western allies, but failed to get traction with the broader international community.

Russia’s proposals, meanwhile, are also mostly old news. Russia maintains its demands for full recognition of Russian territorial claims since 2014, Ukrainian neutrality.

These stringent Russian demands in return for even a temporary ceasefire are hardly any more serious negotiation positions from Ukraine’s perspective than Kyiv’s proposals are likely to be to Moscow. In fact, what the Kremlin put on the table in Istanbul is more akin to surrender terms.

Ukraine is in no mood to surrender. The spiderweb drone attack against Russia’s strategic bomber fleet is a significant boost for Ukrainian morale. But, like previous drone strikes against Moscow in June 2023, it means little in terms of signalling a sustainable Ukrainian capability that could even out Russia’s advantages in terms of manpower and equipment.

The state of the conflict in Ukraine as at June 3 2025.
Institute for the Study of War

Closer to the frontlines inside Ukraine, Kyiv’s forces also struck the power grid inside Russian-occupied parts of Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions. This may delay any Russian plans to expand its control over the two regions. But, like the latest drone strikes inside Russia, it is at best an operation that entrenches, rather than breaks the current stalemate.

There is no doubt that Ukraine remains under severe military pressure from Russia along most of the more than 1,000 mile frontline. The country is also still very vulnerable to Russian air attacks.

But while Russia might continue to make incremental gains on the battlefield, a game-changing Russian offensive or a collapse of Ukrainian defences does not appear to be on the cards.

International support

Kyiv’s position will potentially also be strengthened by a new bill in the US senate that threatens the imposition of 500% tariffs on any countries that buy Russian resources. This would primarily affect India and China.

These are the largest consumers of Russian oil and gas, and if New Delhi and Beijing decide that trade with the US is more important to them cheap imports from Russia, the move could cut Russia off from critical revenues and imports.

But, given how indecisive Donald Trump has been to date when it comes to putting any real, rather than just rhetorical, pressure on Vladimir Putin, it is not clear whether the proposed senate bill will have the desired effect. The bill has support of over 80 co-sponsors from both the Republican and Democratic caucuses, meaning the senate could overturn a presidential veto. But any delay in imposing tougher sanctions will ultimately play into Putin’s hands.

By contrast, European support for Ukraine has, if anything, increased in recent months. For example, EU leaders adopted their 17th sanctions package against Russia on May 20. A week later, Germany and Ukraine announced a new military cooperation agreement worth €5 billion (£4.2 billion).

It still falls short of what Kyiv would require for a major shift in the balance of power on the battlefield. But for now it is enough to prevent Russia from becoming militarily so dominant that Moscow’s current settlement proposals would present the only option for at least some part of Ukraine to survive as an independent state.

The war remains in a stalemate. Neither Moscow nor Kyiv appear to have the capacity to escalate their military efforts to the degree necessary that would force the other side to make substantial concessions.

Both sides are playing for time in the hope that their fortunes may change. For Ukraine, this would mean more US military support coupled with more sanctions pressure on Russia, while Europe follows through on building up its own and Ukraine’s defence capabilities.

Russia’s calculations will be different. Putin will need to keep his few remaining allies – China, Iran and North Korea – on side while trying to make a deal with Trump. This may be impossible to achieve.

In this case, the Russian dictator’s best hope might be that Trump does not impose any serious sanctions on Russia or its trade partners, let alone lean into increasing military support for Ukraine.

For both sides, a lot still hinges on Washington. The unpredictability of the Trump White House, much like the self-imposed restraint under Biden, not only makes it unlikely that the war in Ukraine moves beyond the current stalemate, it has become a major, and perhaps the decisive road block that enables both Moscow and Kyiv to dream of victory in a war that has become unwinnable.

Stefan Wolff is a past recipient of grant funding from the Natural Environment Research Council of the UK, the United States Institute of Peace, the Economic and Social Research Council of the UK, the British Academy, the NATO Science for Peace Programme, the EU Framework Programmes 6 and 7 and Horizon 2020, as well as the EU’s Jean Monnet Programme. He is a Trustee and Honorary Treasurer of the Political Studies Association of the UK and a Senior Research Fellow at the Foreign Policy Centre in London.

Tetyana Malyarenko does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

– ref. Ukraine ‘spiderweb’ drone strike fails to register at peace talks as both sides dig in for the long haul – https://theconversation.com/ukraine-spiderweb-drone-strike-fails-to-register-at-peace-talks-as-both-sides-dig-in-for-the-long-haul-257927

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

June 4, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: The strategic defence review means three new approaches for the UK

Source: The Conversation – UK – By David J. Galbreath, Professor of War and Technology, University of Bath

The UK government’s new strategic defence review has laid out a blueprint aimed at making Britain “secure at home, strong abroad”.

The review represents a change in how the government thinks about the UK’s defence amid a rapidly changing geopolitical picture. The Labour government launched the review in July 2024 shortly after taking office, as a first step in reassessing UK armed forces in the face of Russia’s war against Ukraine. Prime Minister Keir Starmer acknowledged at the time: “We live in a more dangerous and volatile world.”

The government has accepted the review’s 62 recommendations. The most eye-catching parts are investment and development of new weapons: expanding the UK’s nuclear capabilities, drone swarms and long-range missile systems, new F-35 and updated Typhoon fighter jets and autonomous weapon systems.

Unlike past reviews, this one was conducted by experts outside of the government: former Nato secretary general Lord Robertson, former US National Security Council member and former White House adviser Fiona Hill, and retired British Army officer General Sir Richard Barrons.

In addition to practical measures of investment and expansion, the review lays out the more difficult changes that are needed to respond to security challenges, namely Russian threats to Europe. Here are three key aspects to understand.

1. War-fighting ready

The review says the UK must be “ready to fight and win” a full-scale war. Importantly, it suggests that the UK is no longer in an era of going to war when it chooses – but instead is facing the possibility of being forced into war.

Academic Mary Kaldor made the distinction between the two types of wars in her book New Wars and Old Wars, stating that old wars are “wars of necessity”, and new wars are “wars of the willing”. Published a few years after the end of the cold war, it’s easy to see why Kaldor made this distinction.

But the strategic review paints a different picture – that wars of necessity are once again the UK’s primary security concern. This means the UK must be on a different war footing than it has been since 1991.

As such, the government and the UK armed forces will have to change and become more innovative to meet this challenge. To do this, the review lays out plans for an “integrated force” model (rather than joint forces). It describes this approach as leading to “a more agile and lethal combat force”.

The review also calls for a “whole society approach”, including expanding the voluntary under-18 cadet forces, protecting national infrastructure and public outreach.

2. Pace of innovation

The review includes a host of recommendations for digital innovation and munitions production, and suggests that the defence industry could be an even bigger contributor to growing the economy. But, it notes, the UK’s defence industry is currently “stuck in cold war-era procurement cycles” and processes.

It points to a need to speed up planning and procurement and improve partnerships with the commercial sector.

Many digital innovations are being driven by industry in the US and China, such as the work on AI, nanotechnologies, robotics and automation. The challenge for the UK will be how to build good relationships with those countries on innovation which does not have a strong presence in UK digital industries.

Keir Starmer and Defence Secretary John Healey visit the warship HMS Glasgow.
Lauren Hurley/Number 10/Flickr, CC BY-NC-ND

3. Nato first

The reelection of Donald Trump in 2024 shocked many into thinking that the trans-Atlantic relationship was fast dissolving, though the change has been going on for some time . This review acknowledges that in setting out a “Nato first” approach:

There is an unequivocal need for the UK to redouble its efforts within the Alliance and to step up its contribution to Euro-Atlantic security more broadly – particularly as Russian aggression across Europe grows and as the United States of America adapts its regional priorities.

It states that Europe and the transatlantic area will be the UK’s primary reference for security. This marks a shift from the previous “Indo-pacific tilt” defence focus laid out in the 2021 integrated review.

The Nato-first approach seems to be at odds with the direction of Nato’s largest and most powerful member, the US. Since the end of the 1990s, US presidents have repeatedly sought to realign US grand strategy towards China and away from Europe. Had the Russian Federation not invaded Crimea in 2014, the Obama administration may have been able to carry out this pivot.

As it stands, with the second Trump presidency and its repeated calls for increasing defence spending from European states (in addition to what has often been seen as less than resolute intentions towards Russia), one might think Nato should be counting its days, rather than being placed at the centre of a new strategic review.

However, regardless of Trump’s actions, the UK will still matter for Washington for the foreseeable future, because it remains an ally and it does defence well. Nato still remains the way to do coalition-building because it has been around for so long and has built up the institutions to do high-level defence cooperation and coordination.

The review recognises the direction of travel for Washington, and how much it requires the UK and other European governments to invest in their own defence.

David J. Galbreath has received funding from the UKRI.

– ref. The strategic defence review means three new approaches for the UK – https://theconversation.com/the-strategic-defence-review-means-three-new-approaches-for-the-uk-258002

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

June 4, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: How Ukraine’s drone attacks on Russian airfields could derail Russia’s war efforts

Source: The Conversation – Canada – By James Horncastle, Assistant Professor and Edward and Emily McWhinney Professor in International Relations, Simon Fraser University

The drone attacks by Ukrainian Operation Spider’s Web forces on Russian airfields have called into question Russia’s supposed military strength.

Russian authorities have acknowledged damage from the June 1 attacks — an unusual admission that suggests the strikes were probably effective, given Russia’s usual pattern of downplaying or denying the success of Ukrainian operations.

The operation’s most significant target was the Belaya air base, north of Mongolia. Belaya, like the other bases targeted, is a critical component in the Russian Air Force’s strategic strike capabilities because it houses planes capable of long-range nuclear and conventional strikes.

It’s also in Irkutsk, approximately 4,500 kilometres from the front lines in Ukraine.

Read more:
Ukraine drone strikes on Russian airbase reveal any country is vulnerable to the same kind of attack

Ukraine’s ability to successfully strike Belaya — an attempted strike at the even more distant Ukrainka air base failed — probably won’t have much of a military impact on the war. But along with successful attacks on other Russian airfields and the strike at the Kerch Bridge in Crimea, Operation Spider Web’s successes could play a strategic role in the conflict.

These attacks could shift what has become increasingly negative media coverage and public perception about Ukraine’s chances in the war over the last year. In a war of attrition, which the conflict in Ukraine has become, establishing a belief in victory is a pre-condition for success.

Explosions hit the Kerch Bridge in Russia on June 3, 2025. (The Independent)

Increased pessimism

Policymakers and pundits, instead of recognizing their expectations of a Ukrainian victory in 2023 were unrealistic, have often declared that the war is unwinnable for Ukraine.

This perspective was even more prevalent following United States President Donald Trump’s resumption of power in January 2025. In the Oval Office spat Trump had with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in late February, he declared Ukraine did not “have the cards” to defeat Russia.

This turned out to be false. Ukraine’s army may possess significantly less military hardware and fewer soldiers than Russia’s, but war is often a continuation of politics. Politically, Russia faces several issues that could derail its war efforts.

Russian vulnerabilities

Russia’s military capabilities are important to Russian nationalists, who make up Russian leader Vladimir Putin’s core constituency. Russian military forces have advanced along nearly all fronts in Ukraine over the last year.

These advances, however, have largely been insignificant. Furthermore, they have emphasized Russia’s military weakness, which is an ongoing affront to Russian nationalists.

Not only have Russian military advances over the last year not changed the war in a strictly military sense, but the pace of advance has been incredibly slow. Over the last year, Russian forces have captured 5,107 square kilometres of Ukrainian territory. This territory represents less than one per cent of Ukraine’s pre-war territory.

In exchange for what amounts to negligible gains, Russian armed forces have suffered significant casualties.

Both Russia and Ukraine carefully guard the number of casualties their forces have suffered in the war. The British Ministry of Defence, however, estimates that Russia will have suffered more than a million casualties in the war by the end of this month. The Russian casualty rate is also accelerating, with an estimated 160,000 casualties in the first four months of 2025.

Russia attempts to compensate for this battlefield devastation in two ways.

First, it’s isolated Ukraine by manipulating Trump’s desire for political wins and business deals. Russia, in appearing to seek an end to the conflict while offering no concessions, has stoked tensions between Zelenskyy and Trump, where there was little love lost between the two to begin with.

Second, Russia has increased its attacks on Ukrainian civilian infrastructure. Large-scale bombing does little to help Russia on the battlefield. The attacks, in fact, put its forces at a disadvantage by redirecting munitions from military targets.

Attacks on civilians

The attacks on civilian infrastructure, however, are more about instilling fear in the Ukrainian population and demonstrating American impotence to a Russian audience.

Russia’s attacks on Ukrainian cities also highlight Russia’s trump card: nuclear weapons. Russia, and specifically former Russian president Dimitry Medvedev, has repeatedly threatened nuclear war in an attempt to dissuade Ukraine’s supporters.

By bombing Ukrainian cities, albeit with conventional munitions, Russia seeks to demonstrate its ability to deploy even more destructive weapons should the situation call for it.

These Russian military missteps, combined with a Russian economy that is structurally unsound, means that Russia’s war effort is increasingly fragile.

Weakening Asian alliances

Ukraine’s attack on Belaya also signals Russian weakness to its nominal allies in Asia.

Since the start of hostilities, Russia has relied on the tacit consent of China. This support has taken the form of China purchasing Russian crude oil to maintain the Russian economy and Chinese citizens unofficially fighting for Russia.

Belaya has been a vital element of Russia’s deterrence strategy in Asia, which has come to rely more heavily on the Russian strategic nuclear threat. The inability of Russia to protect one of its key strategic assets from a Ukrainian drone attack, combined with the weakness of Russian conventional forces in Ukraine, erodes its ability to position itself as a key ally to China.

In fact, some Russian authorities continue to view China as a major threat.

At the same time, Operation Spider’s Web gives hope to the Ukrainian people. It may also cause Trump — who prefers to back winners — to ponder whether it’s Putin, not Zelenskyy, who lacks the cards to win the war.

James Horncastle does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

– ref. How Ukraine’s drone attacks on Russian airfields could derail Russia’s war efforts – https://theconversation.com/how-ukraines-drone-attacks-on-russian-airfields-could-derail-russias-war-efforts-258049

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

June 4, 2025
MIL-OSI Canada: Annual report tracks Canada’s progress toward addressing the national crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQI+ people
Source: Government of Canada News

Taking care

Crisis support is available to individuals impacted by the issue of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQI+ people 24 hours a day, 7 days a week through the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls Crisis Line at 1-844-413-6649 (toll-free).

June 3, 2025 — Ottawa, Ontario, Unceded Algonquin Traditional Territory — Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern and Arctic Affairs Canada

Violence against Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQI+ people is a national crisis that must end. Responding to this national crisis requires all levels of government to work in true partnership with Indigenous partners to advance their solutions to improve safety, support healing from trauma, and ensure justice for all, especially those most impacted. Guided by Indigenous women, girls, 2SLGBTQI+ people, and families and survivors, the Government of Canada is driving meaningful change that reflects Indigenous voices and leadership.

The 2024–25 Federal Pathway Annual Progress Report outlines the federal government’s progress to respond to the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls’ Calls for Justice. To date, the Government of Canada has taken concrete action on the Calls for Justice and has made significant efforts to advance the National Inquiry’s Final Report.

Examples of progress include:
- A Chief Advisor to Combat Human Trafficking was appointed with a mandate to collaborate with Indigenous partners to address the increased risk experienced by Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQI+ people.
- Over 90 Indigenous women’s and 2SLGBQTI+ organizations received federal funding to increase their ability to prevent or address gender-based violence across Canada.
- Engagement and co-development of the Red Dress Alert pilot, an emergency response system for missing Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQI+ people, in a collaborative initiative from Government of Canada, the Government of Manitoba and Giganawenimaanaanig—an Indigenous organization in the province.
- 52 safety projects received support under the Pathways to Safe Indigenous Communities Initiative, supporting distinctions-based and 2SLGBTQI+ safety priorities in urban, rural, and Northern communities.
- 32 healing projects to provide culturally grounded supports for First Nations, Inuit and Métis families experiencing grief and trauma were supported by federal investments.
- More than 160 community-based projects were funded, and 14 regional First Nations, Inuit and Métis organizations received continued support on the implementation of their long-term strategies to advance Indigenous self-determined priorities and Indigenous control over language revitalization, which is key to healing, identity, and addressing the root causes of violence.
- 37 new shelters and 36 new transitional homes have been committed for Indigenous women, children, and 2SLGBTQI+ people seeking safety.
In the year ahead, Canada will continue working with Indigenous partners to deliver tangible progress and strengthen the systems that keep people safe, as an essential part of collective efforts to build justice, healing, and lasting reconciliation.

MIL OSI Canada News –
June 4, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: For L-374 retiree, giving back is a way of life

Source: US International Brotherhood of Boilermakers

Community service isn’t something John Beebe does. It’s much more than that. It’s who he is. The Local 374 (Hobart, Indiana) retiree has spent a lifetime giving back, volunteering, helping others, selflessly going the extra mile and stepping up. It’s not a brag. He doesn’t need a pat on the back.

It’s just who John Beebe is.

Beebe is well known as a go-to volunteer and overall champion for the Lake Area United Way; Lakeshore Area Regional Recovery of Indiana; the town of Highland and Lake County, Indiana, where he lives; the Northern Indiana Area Labor Federation-AFL-CIO, which he served as Boilermaker liaison for 61 years; his Methodist church disaster relief team; and Scouting America. Especially Scouting.

Serving others may have taken root when he joined the Boy Scouts as a kid—and with 73 years of Scouting under his belt, those are some deep roots.

“What intrigued me was the outdoors,” he says of his venture into Cub Scouts in 1952. He also admits, “I didn’t want to stay at home, because my mother would have me washing dishes.”

If avoiding work was part of his motivation, the irony is that Scouts propelled him many years on a path that would hone his dedication to discipline, hard work and service to others. He eventually earned his Eagle Scout, went into the Scout’s Exploring program and was working as a lifeguard when a fellow Scouting enthusiast and Boilermaker recruited him to work a shipbuilding job. He wasn’t sure what he wanted to do for a career, and he thought it could be a start. Turns out he had a knack for welding. After working a bit, then a short layoff and callback, he was told he’d be sworn in as a L-374 Boilermaker.

Then came a war. Beebe was drafted and served in Vietnam. When he returned home, he took just a few weeks off before getting back to work. From then on, one job led to another, with his well-earned reputation as a good, hard worker and Eagle Scout serving him through the ranks.

In one instance, he was called by a contractor to interview for a superintendent job he hadn’t applied to at Bethlehem Steele. They had his resume and wanted to talk to him, so he drove out and met with several gentlemen, one who sat against a wall and didn’t speak. At the end of it all, he was told to go get a cup of coffee. The silent man joined him and said, “Congratulations, you’re going to get hired. Those three guys work for me, and you’re getting hired because you’re an Eagle Scout. Eagle Scouts have leadership skills, and I know, because I’m an Eagle Scout.”

Beebe has kept the cycle of goodwill going, volunteering his time with local Scouting throughout his life. Upon his return from Vietnam, he says the local program told him: “Boy we are glad to see you! You’re the new Scout advisor!”

He’s remained close with the five men who earned their Eagle Scouts with him—they still get together once a month. His wife, who passed away in 1995, was an Explorer Advisor for the Scouts, and his kids were all into Scouting. He’s served the local Scouting Council and on the regional board.

“It’s a good way to keep your kids off the street and out of trouble,” he says. “You never hear of an Eagle Scout getting into trouble.”

With his background, it’s no surprise that organizations like United Way, area labor federation and other organizations have eagerly recruited Beebe over the years to fundraise, lend his leadership skills or literally lend a hand.

When areas of Munster, Indiana, flooded in 2010 and destroyed over 3,000 properties, Beebe was among multi-craft union members working side-by-side to clean up neighborhoods. He was also instrumental in assessing and reporting critical needs and where help was most needed. Lakeshore Area Regional Recovery of Indiana gave him an award for that.

His contributions over decades with the Northern Indiana Area Labor Federation-AFL-CIO earned him the prestigious George Meanie Award. United Way presented him with a Lifetime Achievement Award. He’s met an astronaut, former First Lady Laura Bush and former Vice President Mike Pence. He’s even been recognized as a “Distinguished Hoosier” by the then-Indiana State Governor Mitch Daniels.

But that’s not why he’s done it all.

“I give back as much as I can,” he says. “This is your home. This is where you live. We all need to take care of our community. Everything I do, I seem to have a lot of fun. I don’t want to be parked in front of a TV in a chair, so I stay busy.”

He has a solid reputation for staying busy helping others.

“Brother Beebe is an example of what brotherhood means. He is someone Local 374, the labor movement and his community can count on—not out of obligation, but because he really cares about helping others,” says IVP-Great Lakes Dan Sulivan.

When Beebe addresses families during Eagle Scout presentations, he encourages the Scouts’ parents to read the definition of the Citizenship Merit Badges and what it takes to earn them. Those badges focus on a person’s responsibility to their nation, the community and society.

“Read them tonight or tomorrow, then go back and read them again in a few days to understand what your child went through,” he says is his advice. “They don’t teach that in school anymore.”

MIL OSI USA News –

June 4, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: AG Labrador Announces Arrest of Idaho Falls Man for Alleged Sexual Exploitation of a Child

Source: US State of Idaho

Home Newsroom AG Labrador Announces Arrest of Idaho Falls Man for Alleged Sexual Exploitation of a Child

BOISE — Attorney General Raúl Labrador has announced investigators within his Idaho Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force arrested twenty-three-year-old Joel Clarke on Wednesday, May 28, 2025, for possession and distribution of child sexual exploitation material. Clarke was charged with three counts of distribution of child sexual exploitation material and seven counts of possession of child sexual exploitation material.
“My office will continue to pursue allegations of child exploitation,” said Attorney General Labrador. “We will continue to work tirelessly to protect children in Idaho and ensure that individuals accused of such heinous offenses are brought before the court to answer for these alleged crimes.”
Members of the Idaho ICAC Task Force who assisted with the arrest include the Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, and Madison County Sheriff’s Office.
Anyone with information regarding the exploitation of children is encouraged to contact local police, the Attorney General’s ICAC Unit at 208-947-8700, or the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 1-800-843-5678.
The Attorney General’s ICAC Unit works with the Idaho ICAC Task Force, a coalition of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, to investigate and prosecute individuals who use the internet to criminally exploit children.
Parents, educators, and law enforcement officials can find more information and helpful resources at the ICAC website, ICACIdaho.org.
The charges listed above are merely accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

MIL OSI USA News –

June 4, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Commander dismissed from Met for second time

Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

A Metropolitan Police Commander has been dismissed from the service for a second time for refusing to take a drugs test.

A misconduct hearing, led by an independent legally qualified chair, found the allegation proven against Commander Julian Bennett at the level of gross misconduct.

Assistant Commissioner Matt Twist said: “I am enormously concerned that almost five years since this incident happened we have only now been able to dismiss Commander Bennett.

“This should have been a simple matter. Commander Bennett has never disputed he refused a lawful order to take a drugs test. As a senior officer who had chaired misconduct hearings, Commander Bennett was highly experienced and knew full well what was required of him, yet he made a choice not to co-operate.

“He has been suspended on full pay for an extraordinary length of time. I am sure Londoners will be as outraged as we are at the utter waste of public funds spent paying a senior officer to sit at home suspended and not work.

“In the last few years the Met has been making greater use of accelerated misconduct hearings to fast-track cases where the evidence is irrefutable. This allows us to dismiss officers far more quickly. And while the Met is not responsible for all the delays in Commander Bennett’s matter, we are also working hard to expedite cases and cut bureaucracy.

“I am confident a situation like Commander Bennett’s prolonged case would not happen again.”

Commander Bennett was initially dismissed in October 2023 by a misconduct panel independent of the Met.

The hearing heard that on 21 July 2020 he refused to provide a urine sample for a drugs test, having been informed there was reasonable cause to suspect he had taken drugs. On 24 July 2020 he was suspended from duty.

The panel found that Commander Bennett had breached the standards of professional behaviour to the level of gross misconduct.

Two further allegations were found not proven – that between February 2019 and 21 July 2020, while off duty, Commander Bennett smoked cannabis, and that he gave an untrue explanation for why he refused to take the drugs test.

Commander Bennett then applied to the Police Appeals Tribunal, which is an independent process run by the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime.

In July 2024 the PAT quashed the dismissal decision and ordered a new hearing, on the technical basis that the panel had ruled on a matter that was not part of the allegations they were asked to consider.

The Met considered a legal challenge by way of a Judicial Review but, after careful consideration and legal advice, decided Commander Bennett should face a fresh misconduct hearing.

A date for a new hearing was set as quickly as possible in liaison with all parties.

Commander Bennett has remained suspended throughout this process.

He will be added to the Barred List held by the College of Policing. Those appearing on the list cannot be employed by police and a number of police-related bodies.

MIL Security OSI –

June 4, 2025

Category: Crime

The extent of the problem

What does this mean for them as adults?

Do childhood victims become adult victims?

Can we break the cycle?

Increased pessimism

Russian vulnerabilities

Attacks on civilians

Weakening Asian alliances

Initial hopes

Under discussion

Talking past each other

Way forward today?

Suspected people-smuggling gang arrested in nationwide crackdown

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Updates to this page

It’s time for Leader Thune to pass the bipartisan Russia sanctions bill and prepare another Ukraine supplemental

International support

1. War-fighting ready

2. Pace of innovation

3. Nato first

Increased pessimism

Russian vulnerabilities

Attacks on civilians

Weakening Asian alliances