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Category: Crime

  • MIL-OSI Security: Federal Grand Juries in Bowling Green and Paducah Indict 4 Illegal Aliens for Immigration Offenses

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Bowling Green and Paducah, KY – Federal grand juries in Bowling Green and Paducah, Kentucky, returned indictments on June 10 and 11, 2025, charging three individuals with illegal reentry after deportation or removal and one individual with use of a false passport.

    U.S. Attorney Kyle G. Bumgarner of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge Rana Saoud of Homeland Security Investigations, Nashville, and Sam Olson, Field Office Director for Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Chicago, U.S. Immigration Customs Enforcement made the announcement.

    According to the indictments:

    Santiago Tehandon-Paneda, age 45, a citizen of Mexico, was charged in Owensboro, Kentucky, with reentry after deportation or removal and false claim to United States citizenship. On or about May 12, 2025, Tehandon-Paneda was an alien found in United States after having been denied admission, excluded, deported, and removed from the United States on or about May 4, 2007, and August 13, 2012. On or about May 15, 2025, Tehandon-Paneda willfully represented himself to be a citizen of the United States. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of 13 years in prison. This case is being investigated by HSI, ICE-ERO.

    Feliz Morales-Rangel, age 38, a citizen of Mexico, was charged in Bowling Green with reentry after deportation or removal. On or about March 26, 2025, Morales-Rangel was an alien found in United States after having been denied admission, excluded, deported, and removed from the United States on or about March 20, 2008, and May 1, 2010. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. This case is being investigated by HSI, ICE-ERO.

    Francisco Campos-Guardian, age 32, a citizen of Mexico, was charged in Paducah with reentry after deportation or removal. On or about May 8, 2025, Campos-Guardian was an alien found in the United States after having been denied admission, excluded, deported, and removed from the United States on or about January 7, 2020. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of 2 years in prison. This case is being investigated by HSI, ICE-ERO.

    Bogdan Drapac, age 41, a citizen of Romania, was charged in Paducah with use of a false passport. On or about May 14, 2025, Drapac willfully and knowingly used and attempted to use a false, forged, and counterfeited Spanish passport; that is, he presented the passport to law enforcement during a traffic stop to conceal his identity. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. This case is being investigated by HSI, ICE-ERO.

    A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.

    There is no parole in the federal system.

    Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mark J. Yurchisin II, of the U.S. Attorney’s Bowling Green Branch Office, and Raymond McGee, of the U.S. Attorney’s Paducah Branch Office, are prosecuting the cases.

    These cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).

    An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

    ###

    MIL Security OSI –

    June 14, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Security: Newton Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Firearm Offense

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    BOSTON – A Newton man pleaded guilty on June 10, 2025 in federal court in Boston to illegally possessing two firearms and ammunition.

    James Welch, 29, pleaded guilty to one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. U.S. District Court Judge Denise J. Casper scheduled sentencing for Sept. 11, 2025. Welch was charged in February 2025.

    On Feb. 28, 2025, during a search of the defendants Newton residence a pistol and a rifle, as well as ammunition were recovered. Welch is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition due to multiple prior felony convictions.

    The charge of possessing ammunition after being convicted of a felony provides for a sentence of up to 15 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of a $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

    United States Attorney Leah Foley and Scott Riordan, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division made the announcement today. The Newton Police Department provided valuable assistance with the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric L. Hawkins of the Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.
     

    MIL Security OSI –

    June 14, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Security: New York Man Pleads Guilty to $70 Million Kickback Scheme

    Source: US FBI

    BOSTON – A New York-based director of operations and sales for the Northeast region of a mobile medical diagnostics company pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Boston to conspiring to offer and pay kickbacks to doctors in exchange for ordering medically unnecessary brain scans.

    James Rausch, 57, of Port Jefferson Station, N.Y., pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to violate the anti-kickback statute. U.S. District Court Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton scheduled sentencing for July 10, 2025. Rausch was charged in May 2025.

    From approximately March 2015 through approximately September 2020, Rausch conspired with others, including two managers for a mobile medical diagnostics company that performed transcranial doppler (TCD) scans, to enter into kickback agreements with various doctors. TCD scans are brain scans that measure blood flow in parts of the brain. Rausch and his alleged co-conspirators agreed to offer and pay doctors kickbacks, some in cash and others by check, based on the number of TCD ultrasounds the doctors ordered. Rausch and his alleged co-conspirators created purported rental and administrative service agreements, which on paper made it appear as if doctors were compensated for the TCD company’s use of space and administrative resources of the ordering doctor’s practice based on fair market value and not based on the volume or value of referrals. These agreements were shams that hid the true nature of the arrangement of paying per test.  

    The scheme as a whole resulted in fraudulent bills of approximately $70.6 million to Medicare. Medicare paid approximately $27.2 million to the TCD company for the fraudulent claims.

    The charge of conspiracy to violate the Anti-Kickback Statute provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

    United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Roberto Coviello, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General; Kimberly Milka, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; Thomas Demeo, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigation Division, Boston Field Office; Kelly M. Lawson, Acting Regional Director of the U.S. Department of Labor, Employee Benefits Security Administration, Boston Regional Office; Ketty Larco-Ward, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Boston Division; and Christopher Algieri, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General, Northeast Field Office made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Howard Locker and Mackenzie A. Queenin of the Health Care Fraud Unit are prosecuting the case.

    MIL Security OSI –

    June 14, 2025

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Life-Saving Bleed Kit Donated to Local Shard End Florist as Part of Citywide Safety Drive

    Source: City of Birmingham

    A new bleed control kit has been donated to a local florist in Shard End after it was stolen.

    The kits offer vital emergency equipment in an area that has experienced the devastating consequences of knife crime.

    The installation is part of a wider regional initiative funded by the West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC), who has provided the resources for hundreds of bleed control kits to be distributed across Birmingham. The kits are designed to be used in the critical minutes following a serious injury where immediate action can mean the difference between life and death.

    Each pack contains essential medical equipment to help control severe bleeding while waiting for paramedics. With ambulance response times averaging around seven minutes, and fatal blood loss potentially occurring in as little as three, having access to these kits in public places is a life-saving intervention.

    The project is being delivered in partnership with Birmingham Community Safety Partnership,  West Midlands Police and the Daniel Baird Foundation. Together, they have identified key locations for kit installation, focusing on areas with higher risk and need.

    In a gesture of community support, Birmingham City Council Community Safety Team will also be donating a bleed kit to Bobby’s Florist in Shard End. The shop had its kit stolen during a recent break-in, and the Council is committed to ensuring that vital safety resources remain accessible to local businesses and residents.

    Councillor Jamie Tennant, Cabinet Member for Social Justice, Community Safety and Equalities, said:

    “Installing bleed control kits in areas like Shard End is a powerful and practical response to the devastating impact of knife crime. These kits are more than medical supplies—they are a lifeline and a visible symbol of our commitment to protecting our communities. I’m particularly proud that we are able to support local businesses like Bobby’s Florist, who play an important role in our neighbourhoods, by replacing their stolen kit. This is community safety in action—collaborative, compassionate, and focused on saving lives.”

    The initiative continues to be championed through monthly Local Community Safety Partnership meetings, where agencies work together to reduce serious violence, tackle anti-social behaviour, and strengthen public safety.

    Bleed control kits are a reassuring presence in our public spaces and represent a proactive step toward creating safer communities for everyone.

    West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner Simon Foster said: “I am really impressed by Bobby-Ray and his outstanding initiative and commendable dedication to our community. At just 16 years old, he has shown remarkable leadership and compassion by raising funds to provide five bleed control kits for Yardley. His actions are a testament to the positive impact young people can have in preventing harm and saving lives.

    “Bobby-Ray’s efforts align with my commitment to prevent and tackle knife crime and to ensure the safety of our residents. Last year, I distributed 420 bleed control kits across the West Midlands, and it is heartening to see young people like Bobby-Ray taking up this vital cause. Together, we can make a positive and significant difference, in our collective commitment, to prevent and tackle violence in all its forms.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

    June 14, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Global: Sam Fender’s music offers a vision of masculinity that is complex, conflicted and deeply human

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Nick Robinson, Associate Professor in Politics and International Studies, University of Leeds

    By the end of June 2025, Sam Fender will have played four stadium shows to nearly 250,000 people across the UK, with three of those in his native north east. With three albums and over 2 billion streams, his music has earned widespread acclaim. Yet, Fender is no ordinary rock star.

    His songs provide a powerful connection to place and a lens through which to reflect on social, cultural and political dynamics. Deeply rooted in north-east England, Fender’s lyrics reference his hometown of North Shields and use local vernacular.

    As a researcher of the links between popular culture and politics who lives less than a mile from his hometown, I find his work particularly powerful in the way it mobilises emotive issues at scale. Fender explores themes such as masculinity, poverty and everyday struggle, forging a direct emotional connection with his audience.

    This connection is reinforced by his activism. Fender supports local food banks, the Teenage Cancer Trust, and campaigns for poverty reduction and men’s mental health.

    To my mind, this work is not performative celebratory activism, but is grounded in his own community and personal experiences. This combination of commercial success rooted in honesty, vulnerability and community action led to him being named “freeman of North Tyneside” in May 2025.


    Boys and girls are together facing an uncertain world. But research shows they are diverging when it comes to attitudes about masculinity, feminism and gender equality.

    Social media, politics, and identity all play a role. But what’s really going on with boys and girls? Join The Conversation UK and Cumberland Lodge’s Youth and Democracy project at Newcastle University for a discussion of these issues with young people and academic experts. Tickets available here.

    Fender’s teenage years were marked by personal challenges, including his parents’ separation and his mother’s fibromyalgia. These experiences, and the state’s failure to support those in need, are captured in his song Seventeen Going Under (2021): “I came home and you were on the floor / Floored by the letters and the council rigmarole.”

    His latest album, People Watching (2025), continues this critique. The title track, inspired by the death of a close friend in a care home, laments:

    The place was fallin’ to bits

    Understaffed and overruled by callous hands

    The poor nurse was around the clock

    And the beauty of youth had left my breaking heart.

    The music video for People Watching.

    For Fender, these stories reflect a Britain in decline. In Crumbling Empire, he sings: “Road like the surface of the moon / A Detroit neighbourhood left to ruin.” The song further critiques a society that fails to honour those who have given everything:

    My mother delivered most the kids in this town

    My step-dad drove in a tank for the crown

    They left them homeless, down and out

    In their crumbling empire.

    His message is clear: hard work, even by midwives and war heroes, no longer guarantees dignity or reward.

    Fender’s most poignant observations are rooted in his locality. In Nostalgia’s Lie, he sings: “These streets break my heart / There’s pain unfurling and desperate yearning / For all my friends who are gone.”

    North Shields has some of the highest rates of child poverty in the UK. According to the North East Child Poverty Commission (March 2025), 31% of children in the region lived below the poverty line between 2021 and 2024.

    Looking for something good? Cut through the noise with a carefully curated selection of the latest releases, live events and exhibitions, straight to your inbox every fortnight, on Fridays. Sign up here.

    In this context, Fender places mental health – especially male mental health – at the core of his work, made even more powerful by his honesty about his own struggles.

    Dead Boys reflects both personal loss and the epidemic of male suicide in North Tyneside: “We close our eyes, learn our pain / Nobody ever could explain / All the dead boys in our hometown.”

    In Something Heavy, he adds: “My friends reached for the rope and tied / Oh, God, how can we keep missing signals?”

    Fender performs Dead Boys in Manchester.

    Fender’s engagement with mental health is deeply personal. He wrestles with confusion, despondency, and his own sense of self-esteem: “Though I am a soundboard to some / With myself I am not so forgiving” (Last to Make it Home), and “Sometimes I wanna die, sometimes” (Paradigms).

    In Good Company, he confesses: “Sometimes I cry until there’s no sound,” and in Arm’s Length: “Do you have to know me, know me, inside out / I’m selfish, and I’m lonely.”

    Yet, like many artists, Fender feels guilt that success has uprooted him. In Wild Long Lie, he reflects: “Oh, I’ve got so much pain here, yet so much love / But it’s drownin’ every inch of my soul.” He questions whether he can still authentically raise these issues now that fame has distanced him from his past. As he puts it in Crumbling Empire:

    I’m not preaching, I’m just talking

    I don’t wear the shoes I used to walk in

    But I can’t help thinking where I’d be

    In this crumbling empire.

    Fender’s work helps us understand political and social phenomena by reflecting unfolding events. His songs can be seen as giving life and voice to what political theorist Michael Shapiro calls an “aesthetic subject”.

    The characters in his songs, whether autobiographical or imagined, give voice to communities which are so often ignored. They allow exploration of the structures of power that deny working-class people opportunities, contributing to mental health crises, suicide and spiralling drug use within those communities.

    Sam Fender talks about men’s mental health.

    Even though Fender acknowledges he no longer walks in the same shoes, his songs still speak truth to power. They give voice to experiences that are often ignored and expose the increasing struggle of everyday life in the UK and beyond.

    He also offers a nuanced reflection on masculinity. Fender challenges traditional ideals – rational, authoritative, emotionally restrained – while rejecting simplified portrayals of men as weak or unstable. His songs reveal a masculinity that is complex, conflicted and deeply human.

    While Fender is not alone in using music for social commentary, what sets him apart is his ability to channel the spirit of his local community to explore universal themes. His work critiques the failures of contemporary capitalism to provide dignity, respect, and cohesion – issues that resonate deeply amid today’s cultural, political and economic challenges.

    Nick Robinson 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. Sam Fender’s music offers a vision of masculinity that is complex, conflicted and deeply human – https://theconversation.com/sam-fenders-music-offers-a-vision-of-masculinity-that-is-complex-conflicted-and-deeply-human-258530

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

    June 14, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Global: Troops on US streets in more ways than one while Trump considers axing Aukus defence pact

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Rachael Jolley, International Affairs Editor

    This article was first published in The Conversation UK’s World Affairs Briefing email newsletter. Sign up to receive weekly analysis of the latest developments in international relations, direct to your inbox.

    It’s Donald Trump’s birthday this weekend, and he is planning a big bash to celebrate. There will be a full-colour parade in the nation’s capital. Expected to attend are a whole bunch of military vehicles, from a second world war bomber to M1 Abrams battle tanks to Paladin self-propelled howitzers.

    The cavalcade will take a route through the grander streets of Washington DC making its way along Constitution Avenue all the way to the Lincoln memorial, with an expected 6,600 soldiers in attendance. The whole thing is estimated by the Associated Press to cost around US$45 million (£33 million).

    This splashy show of Trump’s power and the US’s military strength could serve as a warning to anyone who was thinking of crossing the US right now. Trump is, of course, the commander-in-chief of the US forces. And he was using the full strength of his position, some argue going beyond it, when he sent the national guard and the marines – bypassing the state governor – to the streets of Los Angeles in the past few days.

    There are now, according to ABC News, more US troops on the streets of LA than in Syria and Iraq. This was necessary, Trump claimed, to address protests over immigration raids that broke out around LA. Something that Sean Parnell, chief Pentagon spokesperson, said this week was “exactly what the American people voted for”.

    While Trump is testing how far he can flex his political and military muscle at home, as the Open University’s Sinead McEneaney has detailed, he is also using what some historians have called unprecedented use of power, by sending in the marines to take action against Americans, while California governor Gavin Newsom said the troops were not wanted, or needed.



    Read more:
    Trump’s clash with California governor over LA protests has potential to influence next presidential race

    Newsom is pushing back hard, and publicly, against Trump. Something, that Natasha Lindstaedt at the University of Essex, believes could propel Newsom higher up the Democrat selection list for a presidential nomination.



    Read more:
    Trump’s use of the national guard against LA protesters defies all precedents

    Sign up to receive our weekly World Affairs Briefing newsletter from The Conversation UK. Every Thursday we’ll bring you expert analysis of the big stories in international relations.

    While signalling his military strength to those on the streets of California, Trump has also been sending a strong message to his erstwhile international allies that he might not be quite as willing to share his military hardware with them as they might have thought they had been promised. The US administration has opened a review of the Aukus (the Australia, UK and US defence pact) and in particular its nuclear submarine deal, to see whether it meets the “America first” criteria. This deal was due to help all three countries scale up their submarine capacity.

    Australia already transferred US$500 million to the US this year, as part of a down payment on the deal, with the expectation of receiving used US submarines in the near future. Canberra and London have been speedily revising their reliance on Trump as a security partner in the past few months. This is yet another signal from Washington that they definitely should.

    John Blaxland , a professor at the Strategic and Defence Studies Centre, Australian National University, argues that Trump is angling to renegotiate the Aukus deal but won’t scrap it.

    “There are a few key reasons for this. We’re several years down the track already. We have more than 100 Australian sailors already operating in the US system. Industrially, we’re on the cusp of making a significant additional contribution to the US submarine production line. And finally, most people don’t fully appreciate that the submarine base just outside Perth is an incredibly consequential piece of real estate for US security calculations.”



    Read more:
    Trump may try to strike a deal with AUKUS review, but here’s why he won’t sink it

    Meanwhile, Mark Beeson, an adjunct professor at the University of Technology Sydney and Griffith University, believes that Australia is locked into the foreign and strategic policies of “an increasingly polarised, authoritarian and unpredictable regime” and should rethink its international relationships.

    Beeson quotes an essay from another Australian academic, Hugh White, from Australian National University: “It is classic Trump to expect more and more from allies while he offers them less and less.”



    Read more:
    Goodbye to all that? Rethinking Australia’s alliance with Trump’s America

    Russia’s battlefield count

    In a military arena where most of the world would like Trump to apply a little more pressure, he continues to hold back and Vladimir Putin continues not to do a peace deal. Putin showed no sign of calling off his troops (or drones) from attacking Ukraine this week.

    But as the onslaught continued Russia is expected to hit a horrific target this month, 1 million casualties in the war. Hundreds of thousands of Russians have died forcing Putin to get increasingly creative in coming up with ways to fill the gaps on the battlefields.

    According to some reports he is sending the wounded back to fight before they are fully recovered, as well as offering large financial incentives to those who join up, and their families. The conflict continues and the death toll does, too. As Russian politics expert Jenny Mathers at the University of Aberystwyth points out, even before the war the country had a demographic crisis, and now that is even more extreme.

    Russian women who want to earn the newly reinstated “Mother Heroine” award by bearing and raising ten or more children may struggle to find men to father them now, and after the war. Putin, like Trump, is fond of suggesting there is a glowing future for those who support him. The Russian leader has even created a Time of Heroes programme for war veterans who are promised a fast track into an elite career on their return from battle. Whether, of course, they do return when an estimated 53 casualties are being lost per square kilometre of land gained in eastern Ukraine is not a gamble many would like to take.



    Read more:
    Putin forced to send wounded back to fight and offer huge military salaries as Russia suffers a million casualties

    Sign up to receive our weekly World Affairs Briefing newsletter from The Conversation UK. Every Thursday we’ll bring you expert analysis of the big stories in international relations.

    – ref. Troops on US streets in more ways than one while Trump considers axing Aukus defence pact – https://theconversation.com/troops-on-us-streets-in-more-ways-than-one-while-trump-considers-axing-aukus-defence-pact-258874

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

    June 14, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Burlison Reintroduces Bill to Cut Burdensome Propane Regulations

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Eric Burlison (R-Missouri 7th District)

    Washington, D.C. — Congressman Eric Burlison (MO-07) reintroduced the Propane Accessibility and Regulatory Relief Act to exempt propane tanks with a capacity of up to 126,000 pounds from burdensome federal regulations.

    In 2006, Congress authorized the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to establish the Chemical Facilities Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS) to identify and regulate high-risk chemical facilities. However, when setting the threshold for regulation, DHS arbitrarily chose a limit of 60,000 pounds for propane—creating an unnecessary and costly burden for propane retailers and users across the country.

    Congressman Burlison stated: 
    “This is a classic case of Washington overreach. Small propane businesses in Southwest Missouri and across the country are forced to pass those costs on to American families. These regulations are wasteful, time consuming, and costly. My bill puts policy back in line with reality.“

    Industry support for the legislation:

    National Propane Gas Association: 
    “The National Propane Gas Association commends Congressman Eric Burlison for introducing The Propane Accessibility and Regulatory Relief Act. A GAO study conducted in 2021 has highlighted the duplicative nature of the Chemical Facilities Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS) program. Compliance with these regulations escalates operational expenses for the propane industry, thereby leading to higher costs for end users, particularly those residing in rural communities. Moreover, this program discourages the expansion of on-site propane storage, which could mitigate the risk of potential supply disruptions during peak demand months. The Propane Accessibility and Regulatory Relief Act offers a pathway to alleviate CFATS compliance obligations, ease supply chain limitations, and bolster energy security in rural America.”

    Missouri Propane Gas Association: 
    “The Missouri Propane Gas Association is grateful for Congressman Eric Burlison’s Propane Accessibility and Regulatory Relief Act. Our industry’s safety record for more than a century underscores a commitment to ensuring product security and compliance with national standards. However, the former CFATS guidelines have arbitrarily designated threshold amounts of reportable propane that do not reflect an accurate risk environment yet require onerous and expensive investments to comply. H.R. 6022 adjusts that threshold to maintain an appropriate level of oversight without adding unnecessary compliance costs that are ultimately passed on the customers.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

    June 14, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Three police officers successfully convicted of corruption

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    Three police officers successfully convicted of corruption

    The Serious Corruption Investigation component of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation has this week secured a conviction in a high-profile corruption matter involving three police officials attached to the Provincial Taxi Violence Unit in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal.

    The police officials are Madoda Mduduzi Mhlongo (56), Siyabonga Herbert Mabhida (51) and Prince Ntsikelelo Shezi (50).

    “It was reported that on 13 March 2019, the complainant [in the matter] was approached by the three police officials, who alleged that they were under pressure from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to arrest two suspects due to the alleged murders of key witnesses in a case they were investigating,” the South African Police Service (SAPS) said in a statement. 

    “The officials solicited a gratification of R200 000 from the complainant, in lieu of preventing the arrests. The trio warned that failure to pay would result in the suspects being arrested that same night. 

    “Later that evening, the police officials arrived at one of the suspects’ premises, reinforcing the threat,” the police said.

    The matter was reported to the Serious Corruption Investigation component based at the head office. A police operation was authorised in terms of section 252A of the Criminal Procedure Act, 1977 (Act No. 51 of 1977). On 29 March 2019, the three implicated police officials, who were all Warrant Officers, were arrested after receiving the R200 000.

    The trio appeared in the Durban Specialised Commercial Crimes Court on 1 April 2019 and were each released on R10 000 bail. Their trial commenced on 1 March 2021 and ran over an extended period until they were found guilty of corruption.

    The trio was remanded in custody as the matter was postponed to 19 June 2025 in the same court for their sentencing. – SAnews.gov.za

    Edwin
    Fri, 06/13/2025 – 11:43

    MIL OSI Africa –

    June 14, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Second Central Asian regional simulation-based training strengthens joint response to human trafficking

    Source: Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe – OSCE

    Headline: Second Central Asian regional simulation-based training strengthens joint response to human trafficking

    Labour inspectors inspect a construction site as part of the simulation. (OSCE) Photo details

    Over 130 practitioners from Central Asia and Türkiye gathered this week at Lake Issyk-Kul, Kyrgyzstan, for a five-day regional simulation-based training exercise on combating trafficking in human beings.
    The training was opened by Nurlanbek Azygaliev, Vice Speaker of the Parliament of the Kyrgyz Republic, who emphasized during his opening remarks that, “platforms created by the OSCE, especially simulation trainings, have become not just a place for training, but a real tool for establishing partnership, trust and interaction.”
    Throughout the week, participants from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Türkiye, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan took part in an immersive “learning-by-doing” training that reflected real-world human trafficking scenarios. Set in a complex, multi-country fictional environment, the simulation focused on trafficking for sexual and labour exploitation, as well as forced criminality.  Participants worked through realistic cases involving the recruitment, transport, and exploitation of vulnerable individuals including children, persons with disabilities, and undocumented migrants. They were tasked with carrying out joint multi-agency and cross-sectorial investigations, applying standard operating procedures to identify presumed victims, and delivering victim-centered assistance and protection, especially for those facing multiple, overlapping risks.
    “With our simulations, we aim to break down silos and foster a spirit of cooperation in your joint efforts to combat human trafficking. True progress can only be achieved when law enforcement, civil society, prosecutors, asylum authorities, labour inspectors, and social workers work hand in hand” said Kari Johnstone, OSCE Special Representative and Co-ordinator for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings during the closing ceremony today.
    The exercise was organized by the OSCE Programme Offices in Bishkek and the Office of the OSCE Special Representative and Co-ordinator for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings, in close co-operation with the Migration and Human Trafficking Council under the Speaker of the Parliament of the Kyrgyz Republic, the Ministry of Interior of the Kyrgyz Republic, and the Ministry of Labour, Social Care and Migration of the Kyrgyz Republic as well as OSCE Field Operations in Central Asia. 
    The event was made possible thanks to support from the governments of Germany, Ireland, Italy, France, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, and Switzerland, as well as the United States Mission to the OSCE. The training also benefited from the expertise and financial support of the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD) and the Prague Process Secretariat.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

    June 14, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Security: Vehicle stop by Met officers leads to 24 years jail time for criminal duo

    Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

    Removing dangerous weapons from the streets of London is a priority for the Met. By relentlessly targeting criminals involved in the supply of drugs and weapons, we can continue to reduce violent crime.

    Chloe Scott, 27 (10.10.97), of Whitehead Close, N18, and Miles Addy, 28 (14.04.96), of King Alfred Avenue, SE6, were both sentenced to 12 years’ imprisonment at Snaresbrook Crown Court on Friday, 13 June.

    An investigation started in December 2022 when a 15-year-old boy was found with drugs after being stopped by British Transport Police officers at Tower Hill Underground Station.

    After accessing a mobile phone being carried by the child officers established that Scott was instructing the boy to sell and transport drugs on her behalf.

    Further enquiries were carried out and armed Met officers stopped Scott’s car in Seven Sisters Road, Islington on 3 June 2023. They found around half a kilo of cocaine and five large hunting knives.

    As the investigation progressed, Met detectives discovered Scott, who was a registered children’s social worker, had been in regular contact with Miles Addy, a convicted criminal who was serving a prison sentence for a firearms offence.

    Between them the pair were running a large-scale drug supply network, selling cocaine in London and across other parts of the south-east.

    Videos found on Scott’s phone also revealed they were also involved in selling weapons, including firearms and knives. Addy was found to be directing Scott to addresses to deliver firearms and drugs to their customers.

    Through matching the serial numbers of the firearms in the videos to the police database, detectives discovered one of the weapons was a firearm with links to a murder investigation. Another firearm which could be linked back to Scott and Addy was recovered during a warrant on 20 November 2023. Joy Hyde-Coleman, 29, (07.12.94) from Blondin Street, Bow, who was found to be in possession of the firearm was subsequently sentenced to five years’ imprisonment in August 2024.

    Both offenders were charged in August 2024 and officers worked with authorities to suspend Scott from her role as a social worker. Scott pleaded guilty on the first day of her trial at Snaresbrook Crown Court on 13 January 2025. Addy pleaded at an earlier hearing on 2 November 2024.


    Detective Inspector Damian Hill, from the Met’s Specialist Crime team that led the investigation, said:

    “As police officers we all too often see the devastating consequences of drugs and weapons on the streets of London. These dangerous offenders helped fuel violent crime and we won’t stand for it.

    “The overwhelming evidence we gathered, supported by British Transport Police and HM Prison and Probation Service left them with little choice but to admit to their offending and they will both now face lengthy prison sentences.

    “Across the Met we remain committed to tackling violence and our hard work is paying off. Homicide and knife crime is down – and seen here we are also dismantling serious and organised crime groups.”

    Scott previously pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs, two counts of selling or transferring a firearm, one count of conspiracy to possess firearms, one count of conspiracy to possess ammunition, one count of causing unnecessary suffering to a dog and one count of possession of hunting knives. The plea was entered on what would have been the first day of the trial at Snaresbrook Crown Court.

    Addy pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs, one count of conspiracy to possess firearms, and a further count of conspiracy to possess ammunition at an earlier hearing at the same court and was recalled to prison.

    Scott was additionally disqualified for ownership of animals for 12 years for the cruelty to animal offence.

    MIL Security OSI –

    June 14, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: Colorado’s fentanyl criminalization bill won’t solve the opioid epidemic, say the people most affected

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Katherine LeMasters, Assistant Professor of Medicine, University of Colorado Boulder

    The people most impacted by Colorado’s fentanyl criminalization bill have divergent views on the role of the legal system in curbing the opioid epidemic. Erik McGregor/GettyImages

    Colorado passed the Fentanyl Accountability and Prevention Bill in May 2022. The legislation made the possession of small amounts of fentanyl a felony, rather than a misdemeanor.

    Felonies are more likely than misdemeanors to result in a prison sentence.

    Time in prison is associated with an increased risk of fatal overdose in the year after release. People with felonies on their record often struggle to find a job or rent an apartment.

    In 2023, lawmakers in 46 states passed legislation similar to Colorado’s. They introduced more than 600 bills related to fentanyl criminalization and enacted over 100 other laws to attempt to curb the opioid epidemic.

    Possession of small amounts of ketamine, GHB and other criminalized drugs is also a felony in Colorado.

    I’m an assistant professor of medicine, social epidemiologist and community researcher who studies mass incarceration as a public health threat. I am a member of the Right Response Coalition, which advocates for community rather than criminal-legal responses to behavioral health needs in Colorado. Recently, my work has focused on how increasing criminal penalties for fentanyl possession in Colorado affects the individuals and communities most impacted by such laws.

    Our team conducted 31 interviews with Colorado policymakers, peer support specialists, law enforcement, community behavioral health providers and people providing behavioral health in prisons and jails to explore a variety of perspectives on Colorado’s Fentanyl Accountability and Prevention Bill and the role of the criminal-legal system in addressing substance use and overdose.

    Most of our interviewees agreed that criminalization alone wouldn’t solve the opioid epidemic.

    “You can’t incarcerate yourself to sobriety,” said a rural law enforcement officer. “You can’t incarcerate yourself out of the drug problem in America.”

    Criminalization of drug use

    Incarceration and substance use are deeply intertwined. The U.S. houses one-quarter of the world’s incarcerated population – largely due to policies created during the “war on Drugs” of the 1980s. The war on drugs included mandatory minimum sentencing for drug-related charges and “three strikes” laws that lengthened sentences after multiple charges.

    Today, one-fifth of the U.S. incarcerated population has a drug-related charge.

    People recently released from incarceration are more likely to overdose than the general public because their tolerance is greatly reduced following forced abstinence and there are not enough community-based treatment options.
    Erik McGregor/GettyImages

    Incarceration is often seen as a deterrent, but research shows it is not actually associated with reduced drug use. Instead, people recently released from incarceration are more likely to die of a fatal overdose and face a high likelihood of reincarceration.

    Perspectives of front-line workers

    All 31 of the participants in our study supported policies to prevent fentanyl overdoses. However, most thought that use of police and incarceration as avenues to do so was misguided.

    We spoke to some individuals who felt the bill was appropriate, but most felt that increased criminalization perpetuates stigma against people who use drugs. They also saw the law as ignoring the root causes of the opioid epidemic, which include a lack of voluntary community-based treatment options. They also said the law creates stressful law enforcement encounters that can perpetuate drug use as a coping mechanism.

    “It just seems like there’s no getting away from [the police], they’re everywhere,” said an urban peer support specialist. “I got arrested by the same cops, I don’t know how many times. And then it makes you want to try to be avoidant or run because they’re not going to help you.”

    Participants worried that the policy has an inadvertent chilling effect, deterring individuals from calling 911 when an overdose occurs.

    “Most people with substance abuse are not trying to report anything or get help for fear of going to jail,” one rural provider said. “It’s so stigmatized that everyone’s just scared to do that.”

    Study participants worried that the Colorado fentanyl criminalization bill will deter people from reporting an overdose for fear of being arrested.
    Spencer Platt/GettyImages

    Participants largely thought that counties were using incarceration as a default treatment setting and that it wasn’t an ideal solution.

    “[I] don’t want to see [people] incarcerated, but I don’t want ‘em to die either,” said an urban peer support specialist.

    The people we interviewed pointed to a lack of community-based care options that could come before people are incarcerated. Those options include substance use treatment centers, mental health services and community health centers.

    Substance use treatment

    Colorado’s fentanyl bill did more than just increase penalties. It also provided additional funding for a state naloxone program and required that all jails provide medications for opioid use disorder.

    Along with increasing penalties, Colorado’s bill increased access to naloxone, an opioid-reversal drug.
    Hyoung Chang/GettyImages

    These medications include methadone, buprenorphine and extended-release naltrexone. All are part of an established public health strategy shown to reduce overdose deaths and opioid use. They’re also shown to increase engagement with non-jail-based treatment and reduce reincarceration.

    However, jail capacity and the lack of treatment options based in one’s community play a large role in which medications are offered and to whom. For example, only 11 out of Colorado’s 46 counties with a county jail have an opioid treatment program in the community that can dispense methadone. Therefore, some facilities do not offer all medications, or only offer medications to individuals with an active prescription or to certain populations such as pregnant people.

    Investing in community solutions

    Based on our study’s findings, my study co-authors and I believe increased criminal penalties should not be the solution for linking individuals to treatment. Instead, there should be more investment in long-term community solutions.

    One such solution is Denver’s Substance Use Navigation Program. The program sends behavioral health specialists to emergency calls to prevent legal involvement when someone is experiencing distress related to mental health, poverty, homelessness or substance use. In many cases, those individuals are then routed to services rather than jails.

    Our findings also lead us to believe there is a need for more participatory policymaking processes when it comes to fentanyl legislation, and that policymakers should more closely work with the people who will be most impacted by new legislation. Most of our participants agree.

    “[I] don’t think that [the] state realized how difficult it is,” said a rural provider about giving medication-assisted treatment in jail, an increasing need as more people are arrested for fentanyl possession. “They probably should come here and visit us.”

    Katherine LeMasters received funding from the Colorado Department of Human Services, Behavioral Health Administration. Katherine LeMasters is part of the Right Response Coalition.

    – ref. Colorado’s fentanyl criminalization bill won’t solve the opioid epidemic, say the people most affected – https://theconversation.com/colorados-fentanyl-criminalization-bill-wont-solve-the-opioid-epidemic-say-the-people-most-affected-256661

    MIL OSI Analysis –

    June 14, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Minister calls for urgent, coordinated, and victim-focused response to GBVF

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    Social Development Minister Sisisi Tolashe has called for a more urgent, coordinated, and victim-centred national response to the scourge of gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF) in the country. 

    “This initiative is an urgent call for a more coordinated, victim-centered, and accountable approach to combating GBVF and ensuring justice and protection for women and children,” the Minister said. 

    She was delivering opening remarks at a roundtable discussion at the Atteridgeville Community Hall in Pretoria on Friday, focusing on the implementation and progress made in the National Strategic Plan as well as evaluating the effectiveness and efficiency of services provided to GBVF victims.  

    The engagement, convened during Youth Month, comes as South Africa grapples with the devastating consequences of recent disasters and ongoing gender-based crimes that continue to claim the lives of women and children.

    The Minister took a moment to send her condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in the floods in the Eastern Cape this week. 

    “Today, we are gathered here once again, saddened by the news as our country is devastated by the disaster that took the lives of young and elder people. To all those who have lost their lives, we are sending deepest condolences to their families and those who might be hospitalised we wish them a speedy recovery. 

    “To those who have been affected; some in having lost their shelters; may our government agilely working with the relevant partners, work towards their settlement. This has also impacted negatively on the attendance of some Ministers who were supposed to be with us today,” she said. 

    The roundtable is a response to widespread public protests and marches demanding justice for victims of GBVF. 

    According to the Minister, the public outcry triggered the National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (NATJOINTS) to propose an urgent engagement.

    She highlighted the need to reflect on and address the challenges of existing legislation, including the National Strategic Plan on GBVF, which has yet to fully bridge service gaps or ensure trauma-informed support for survivors.

    “Gender-based violence and femicide remains one of the most pervasive human rights violations affecting women and children in South Africa. 

    “Hence today we must deal with all existing legislation and national strategies, including the National Strategic Plan on GBVF as victims continue to experience delays in accessing justice, poor service integration, and a lack of trauma-informed support. “Today we gather here to gain insights and brainstorm on ways to respond to the cry out there,” she said. 

    Tolashe said the roundtable must serve as a platform to develop practical, community-driven and institutionally supported solutions.

    “We need to respond in a collective national way to address institutional inefficiencies and restore public confidence,” the minister said.

    A Cry for Shelter Services

    One of the key voices at the roundtable, Dr Zubeda Dangor, Head of the National Shelter Movement of South Africa, painted a dire picture of the state of shelters in the country – particularly in Gauteng.

    “Women’s shelters play an essential role in the fight against GBV, offering women and children safe accommodation, support, and training as they attempt to leave their abusers,” Dangor told SAnews.

    Representing more than 100 affiliated shelters, Dangor called on government to urgently address the chronic underfunding of shelter services. 

    “Currently in Gauteng, only 10 out of 23 shelters are funded. Now, the government is closing down some of the shelters or not supporting them, while starting new ones. Yes, it is good to open new ones since they are needed, however, the ones that are functioning need support as well,” she said. 

    She emphasised that shelter helplines now have no place to refer victims to, placing them at risk of returning to dangerous environments. 

    “We are appealing and hoping to engage government further,” she said. 

    Background

    The roundtable reaffirmed the urgent need for collaboration between government, civil society, and communities, to safeguard the rights and lives of South Africa’s women and children.

    The South African government, through the Justice, Crime Prevention and Social Cluster (JCPS Cluster) established the 90-Day Accelerated Programme on Gender Based Violence and Femicide to focus and accelerate efforts to end the scourge of gender based violence. 

    The 90- Day Accelerated Programme is co-chaired by the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development and the Department of Social Development, respectively. 

    The implementation of the programme is convened through the NatJoints. 

    Six workstreams were established to focus on key areas of the response to gender-based violence and femicide, with targeted deliverables for each workstream. 

    One of the targeted deliverables was to convene a roundtable to focus on GBVF.

    The roundtable convened national leaders, state departments, and civil society stakeholders to directly respond to these petitions, assess current gaps, and define a clear, actionable pathway to improve services and ensure justice for GBVF victims and survivors. – SAnews.gov.za

    MIL OSI Africa –

    June 14, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Security: Cryptocurrency Financial Services Firm “Gotbit” and Founder Sentenced for Market Manipulation and Fraud Conspiracy

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    BOSTON – Gotbit Consulting LLC (Gotbit), a financial services firm known in the cryptocurrency industry as a “market maker,” was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston for criminal charges relating to Gotbit’s fraudulent manipulation of cryptocurrency trading volume on behalf of client cryptocurrency companies.  

    Aleksei Andriunin, 26, of Russia and Portugal, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Angel Kelley to eight months in prison, to be followed by one year of supervised release. In March 2025, Andriunin pleaded guilty to charges of wire fraud and conspiracy to commit market manipulation and wire fraud. Andriunin was arrested in Portugal on Oct. 8, 2024 and extradited to the United States on Feb. 25, 2025.

    As part of its criminal resolution, Gotbit was ordered to forfeit a total of approximately $23 million in seized cryptocurrency. The court also sentenced Gotbit to a term of probation for five years, during which time Gotbit shall cease to exist or operate.

    Gotbit and Andriunin were indicted by a federal grand jury on the same charges in October 2024. The indictment also charges two of Gotbit’s directors, Fedor Kedrov and Qawi Jalili.

    Gotbit was a well-known “market maker” in the cryptocurrency industry. Between 2018 and 2024, Gotbit provided market manipulation services to create artificial trading volume for multiple cryptocurrency companies, including companies located in the United States and companies whose cryptocurrencies traded on platforms available to investors located in the United States. Andriunin was Gotbit’s Founder and Chief Executive Officer. In a 2019 interview, Andriunin described how he developed a code to “wash trade” cryptocurrencies to artificially inflate trading volume for the purpose of getting cryptocurrencies listed on CoinMarketCap (a website that published information about “trending” cryptocurrencies) and trading on larger cryptocurrency exchanges. Andriunin and Gotbit’s employees marketed these wash trading tactics to prospective clients and explained how Gotbit used multiple accounts to avoid detection of the wash trades on the public blockchain. Gotbit made wash trades worth millions of dollars on behalf of clients and received tens of millions of dollars in payments from clients.

    Gotbit admitted that it engaged in manipulative trades to artificially increase the trading price and volume of tokens for clients that included Robo Inu and Saitama. Leaders of those cryptocurrency companies were charged in separate cases unsealed in October 2024.

    Gotbit is the third market maker to resolve criminal charges relating to wash trading in the cryptocurrency industry. In October 2024, the founder of MyTrade pleaded guilty in connection with providing an unlawful wash trading service identified through an undercover law enforcement operation. In April 2025, CLS Global FZC LLC was sentenced in connection with offering illegal “volume support” services uncovered by the same operation.

    The Securities & Exchange Commission brought a related civil enforcement action against Gotbit alleging violations of the securities laws.

    United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Kimberly Milka, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigations, Boston Division made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher J. Markham and David M. Holcomb of the Criminal Division prosecuted the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carol Head, Chief of the Asset Recovery Unit is handling the forfeiture matter.
     

    MIL Security OSI –

    June 14, 2025

  • MIL-OSI: Introducing Surfshark Everlink: patented self-healing VPN infrastructure for stable VPN protection

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Surfshark, a leading provider of VPN services, unveils Surfshark Everlink, an industry-first patented (patents: US11190491B1, US20240080302A1) technology designed to deliver greater VPN connection stability. Surfshark Everlink is a supporting, self-healing infrastructure that ensures continuous VPN connectivity by seamlessly recovering dropped VPN connections. This technology allows users to enjoy a stable VPN connection and minimizes the risk of IP address exposure.

    “This technology allows us to improve the most important VPN quality metric – connection stability. While other shiny metrics, such as the number of servers might seem important, connection stability is something that truly makes the difference to the user experience,” says Donatas Budvytis, Chief Technology Officer at Surfshark.

    How does Surfshark Everlink work?

    Surfshark Everlink is an additional layer of security which helps to recover lost connections. When connected to the VPN, Surfshark user connects not only to the VPN infrastructure, but also to Everlink infrastructure. In case there is a drop of connection, Surfshark Everlink instantly acts as a “self-healing” mechanism and revives user’s connection by reconfiguring the VPN tunnel without having to disconnect and reconnect from the VPN service, protecting the user from potential data exposure.

    “Think of a well-known VPN comparison to an encrypted tunnel – if the VPN is a tunnel which secures your traffic, imagine Surfshark Everlink as another one which secures that VPN tunnel. If one connection goes down, you’re automatically switched to another, so you stay connected and secure,” explains Donatas Budvytis.

    Surfshark Everlink also ensures that the VPN service for the user remains stable in case of server maintenance repairs. “If, let’s say, we had to shut down some of our servers for maintenance, Everlink would route all traffic to another closest server without any interruptions to user experience.”

    More than just convenience: protecting users’ privacy

    Budvytis emphasizes that Surfshark Everlink isn’t only essential for seamless connectivity, but is also an important new technology for privacy and security.

    “At best, an unstable VPN connection is simply annoying, however, it can also be risky, as an unstable connection can lead to exposed user data. For journalists, activists, whistleblowers and anyone who values online privacy, this can be a significant risk. If the server connection drops out, it could expose the person’s IP address and leave them traceable and vulnerable.” 

    Budvytis compares the new technology to an already existing, industry-standard Kill Switch. “The main difference between Kill Switch and Surfshark Everlink is that the Kill Switch does exactly what it says on the tin – kills your connection in case of a server failure. To put it simply, if your VPN’s off, you’re offline. And while that’s a good way to stay secure and prevent leaks, we wanted to improve this industry standard and take it to the next level – instead of killing the connection, we want users to stay securely connected and private. Users can still choose to use the Kill Switch feature, but we wanted to offer something in addition to this.”

    The Surfshark Everlink technology is enabled by default on WireGuard protocol on all platforms, including iOS, macOS, Windows, Android, and Linux.

    Surfshark Everlink was built on a patented technology (patent: US11190491B1, Method and apparatus for maintaining a resilient VPN connection; patent: US20240080302A1, Clustering of Virtual Private Network Servers). Currently holding multiple patents for industry innovation, the company seeks to improve not only on its VPN offering, but also help build a better internet for everyone. Recently, Surfshark launched a free DNS service, offering a more private alternative to default DNS providers. 

    ABOUT SURFSHARK

    Surfshark is a cybersecurity company offering products including an audited VPN, certified antivirus, data leak warning system, private search engine, and tool for generating an alternative online identity. Recognized as a leading VPN by CNET and TechRadar, Surfshark has also been featured on the FT1000: Europe’s Fastest Growing Companies ranking. Headquartered in the Netherlands, Surfshark has offices in Lithuania and Poland. For information on Surfshark’s operations and highlights, read our Annual Wrap-up. For research projects, visit our Research Hub.

    Attachment

    • Surfshark Everlink

    The MIL Network –

    June 14, 2025

  • MIL-OSI: Dan IVES AI Revolution ETF Surpasses $100 Million AUM Within First Trading Week of Wedbush Fund Advisers’ Inaugural Offering

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    LOS ANGELES, June 13, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Wedbush Fund Advisers today announced that the Dan IVES Wedbush AI Revolution ETF (Ticker: IVES) has exceeded $100 million in assets under management (AUM) within its first 5 trading days.

    Built on the proprietary research of Dan Ives, Wedbush Managing Director and Global Head of Technology Research, IVES delivers focused exposure to 30 public companies powering the real-world deployment of artificial intelligence. The portfolio spans AI infrastructure and applications across semiconductors, hyperscalers, cybersecurity, cloud, robotics, and consumer platforms, forming a diversified yet high-conviction AI basket grounded in fundamental research.

    “Wedbush’s entry into Investment Management is a natural strategic expansion for the firm,” said Kevin White, EVP and Senior Advisor, Head of Investment Management at Wedbush Financial Services. “We are committed to delivering bespoke, cutting-edge, research-driven investment opportunities for our Global Family Office Services, Wealth and RIA clients. IVES is simply our beginning.”

    “Crossing the $100 million mark in its first week is a clear signal that investors are looking for targeted, high-conviction access to the AI ecosystem,” said Cullen Rogers, Chief Investment Officer at Wedbush Fund Advisers. “We’re grateful to the early ETF investors for validating both the strength of Dan Ives’ research and the growing appetite for thematically precise strategies.”

    IVES represents a unique extension of Wedbush’s longstanding technology expertise into the ETF market. Its early success reflects the demand for differentiated research applied through a liquid, cost-effective investment vehicle.

    About Wedbush Fund Advisers, LLC

    Wedbush Fund Advisers launched in 2024 to build on Wedbush’s 70-year legacy of market insight, innovation, and client trust. Our mission is to design forward-thinking investment strategies that reflect the evolving nature of markets and investor priorities. Backed by a seasoned team with decades of asset management experience, we are committed to building a trusted platform that extends Wedbush’s tradition of excellence into the next era of investment innovation.

    Media Inquiries

    Deborah Kostroun
    Phone: +1 201 403-8185
    Email: deborah@zitopartners.com

    Important Information

    Shares of ETFs are bought and sold at market price (not NAV) and are not individually redeemed from the Fund. Brokerage commissions will reduce returns.

    Carefully consider the Fund’s investment objectives, risk factors, and charges and expenses before investing. This and other information can be found in the Funds’ prospectuses or, if available, the summary prospectuses which may be obtained by visiting www.wedbushfunds.com. Read the prospectus carefully before investing.

    AI Technology Risk. AI technology is generally highly reliant on the collection and analysis of large amounts of data, and it is not possible or practicable to incorporate all relevant data into the model that such AI utilizes to operate. Certain data in such models will inevitably contain a degree of inaccuracy and error – potentially materially so – and could otherwise be inadequate or flawed, which would be likely to degrade the effectiveness of the AI technology. Companies involved in, or exposed to, artificial intelligence-related businesses may have limited product lines, markets, financial resources or personnel. These companies face intense competition and potentially rapid product obsolescence, and many depend significantly on retaining and growing the consumer base of their respective products and services. Many of these companies are also reliant on the end-user demand of products and services in various industries that may in part utilize artificial intelligence. Further, many companies involved in, or exposed to, artificial intelligence-related businesses may be substantially exposed to the market and business risks of other industries or sectors, and the Fund may be adversely affected by negative developments impacting those companies, industries or sectors.

    Calculation Methodology Risk. The Index relies directly or indirectly on various sources of information to assess the criteria of issuers included in the Index, including information that may be based on assumptions and estimates. Neither the Fund nor the Adviser can offer assurances that the Index’s calculation methodology or sources of information will provide an accurate assessment of included issuers or a correct valuation of securities, nor can they guarantee the availability or timeliness of the production of the Index.

    Concentration Risk. The Fund’s investments will be concentrated in an industry or group of industries to the extent that the Index is so concentrated. In such event, the value of the Shares may rise and fall more than the value of shares of a fund that invests in securities of companies in a broader range of industries.

    Investing involves risk, including possible loss of principal. Narrowly focused thematic investments will be more susceptible to factors affecting that sector and subject to more volatility.

    The Wedbush Funds are distributed by Foreside Fund Services, LLC. Wedbush Fund Advisers, LLC and Foreside Fund Services, LLC, are not affiliated.

    Investment products are not insured by the FDIC or any federal government agency, may lose value, and are not a deposit of or guaranteed by any bank or any bank affiliate.

    The MIL Network –

    June 14, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Banking: Identity fraud: BaFin additionally warns consumers about the website goldingdigital.net

    Source: Bundesanstalt für Finanzdienstleistungsaufsicht – In English

    On 22 May 2025, BaFin issued a warning about the services being offered on the website goldingdigital.com, which has since been deactivated. The unknown operators are now using the website goldingdigital.net. BaFin suspects the operators of this website of offering consumers financial and investment services without the required authorisation. Contrary to the claims on the website, the services being offered do not originate from Golding Capital Partners GmbH, which has its registered office in Munich. This is a case of identity fraud.

    BaFin is issuing this warning on the basis of section 37 (4) of the German Banking Act (Kreditwesengesetz – KWG).

    Please be aware:

    BaFin, the German Federal Criminal Police Office (Bundeskriminalamt – BKA) and the German state criminal police offices (Landeskriminalämter) recommend that consumers seeking to invest money online should exercise the utmost caution and do the necessary research beforehand in order to identify fraud attempts at an early stage.

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

    June 14, 2025

  • Ahmedabad plane crash: Black box recovered from Air India AI-171 wreckage

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The black box of the Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, which crashed minutes after takeoff from Gujarat’s Ahmedabad, has been recovered from the wreckage of the aircraft.

    The black box, technically known as the flight data recorder, is expected to play a vital role in uncovering the cause of the disaster. It contains crucial information such as flight speed, altitude, engine performance, and cockpit audio, including communications between the pilots and air traffic control.

    These specialised devices are built to withstand extreme temperatures, water, and severe impact, ensuring the survival of key data even under catastrophic conditions.

    Contrary to its name, the black box is typically painted bright orange to make it easier to locate amid the wreckage.

    Constructed from highly durable materials like steel and titanium, the device houses two main components: the Digital Flight Data Recorder (DFDR) and the Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR). The DFDR logs technical flight parameters, while the CVR captures audio from the cockpit, including pilot discussions and radio exchanges with air traffic control.

    In a parallel development, the Gujarat Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) has also recovered a digital video recorder (DVR) from the wreckage.

    Investigators believe this could serve as additional evidence, offering visual insights into the final moments of the crash.

    Authorities are now preparing to analyse both the flight recorders and the DVR to piece together a comprehensive timeline of events leading up to the crash.

    IANS

    June 14, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Security: Man arrested following fatal shooting in Hammersmith

    Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

    A man has been arrested on suspicion of murder after a 30-year-old man was fatally shot in Hammersmith.

    Police were called to Claxton Grove, W6 at 23:19hrs on Wednesday, 11 June.

    Upon arrival, the London Ambulance Service were treating two men for gunshot wounds. Both were taken to hospital where, despite the best efforts of emergency workers and medical professionals, the 30-year-old man sadly died on Thursday, 12 June.

    His next-of-kin have been informed and are being supported by specialist officers. A post-mortem examination will take place in due course.

    The second man, also in his 30s, was treated for minor injuries and has since been discharged from hospital.

    A 28-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder. He has since been re-arrested on suspicion of murder, and remains in police custody.

    Detective Chief Superintendent Christina Jessah, from the Central West Command Unit, said: “Our deepest sympathy is with the victim’s family who are being supported by specialist officers at this time.

    “This is a shocking crime to occur in any community, and we thank locals for their patience. They will see an increased police presence in the area as we conduct our enquires.”

    If anyone witnessed the incident, or has any information that can help the investigation, please contact the police as a matter of urgency on 101 quoting 8916/11JUN.

    To remain anonymous, call the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or visit crimestoppers-uk.org

    Claxton Grove will remain closed while a crime scene is in place.

    MIL Security OSI –

    June 13, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Uganda: Museveni preaches benefits of East African Federation, criticises corrupt politicians


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    President Yoweri Museveni has emphasised the benefits of the East African Federation, saying that it will lead to economic prosperity and heightened security in the region.

    President Museveni, who was speaking after the budget presentation by the Minister of Finance, Matia Kasaija, held in Kololo on Thursday, 12 June 2025, rallied lawmakers to appreciate the importance of the federation.

    “Economic and political integration are the correct answer to the question of economic prosperity and security,” said Museveni.

    Making reference to the history of the EAC started in 1967 and collapsed a decade later, Museveni said that the community was re-launched in 1999 in the spirit of patriotism and pan Africanism, following the realisation of the need for market for goods and services in the region.

    “We are glad by 1980, African leaders had started seeing the importance of market integration as part of the Lagos plan of action,” he said.

    Tracing back to the history of other African countries and Uganda’s experience after independence, Museveni said that it was discovered that the internal market for goods and services was not enough.

    “As we speak today, Uganda has got surplus of milk, maize, bananas, cement, etc. Where do we sell all these,” he said, adding that East African and African countries are now buying some of the surpluses.

    “Otherwise, these sectors of the economy would have collapsed by now. That is how the National Resistance Movement developed the second principle of Pan Africanism because we need it for our prosperity,” he said.

    The ready market for goods and services, according to Museveni leads to prosperity of African countries, thereby reducing dependence on foreign aid.

    “The East African Community has now expanded to incorporate Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan, DRC and Somalia. In addition, we have COMESA and the Continental Free Trade Area. We need to remove all the trade barriers and develop infrastructure to facilitate this trade,” Museveni added.

    He also spoke against trade imbalances, stressing the need to assist countries that are joining the federation.

    “We do not want a common market where some countries benefit and others lose, no, it is very dangerous,” Museveni said.

    Museveni also spoke tough against politicians giving handouts to voters for political support, saying that such leaders are enabling corruption.

    “Politics is about principles and policies. That is what you should be telling the public to choose from,” he said.

    He advised voters against electing leaders based on handouts, saying that they need leaders who will instead help in the fight against corruption.

    “Do not accept petty money from politicians and throw away your power to elect politicians who will help to fight corruption,” said Museveni.

    Local Government District officers were not spared, and the President vowed to take action against those found culpable of mismanaging the Shs1.3 billion meant for road maintenance.

    He said that he discovered that some districts were instead using the funds to construct new roads.

    “In the case of Bunyangabo district, they were mixing up issues. The Shs1.3 billion is for maintenance, not for constructing new roads. I will check and if I find out, there will be casualties among local government officials,” he said.

    Digital number plates targeting criminals

    President Museveni also dismissed claims that the new digital vehicle number plates are meant for collecting fines, but rather aimed at enhancing security, saying that they are traceable through the central command centre.

    “Every vehicle must have a digital number plate. It is about security. Criminals are acting with impunity,” he said.

    Referring to the case in which a 45-year-old Godfrey Wanyengera, a resident of Mukono was killed in a road accident, Museveni said that such criminal activities can be countered with the digital number plates.

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Parliament of the Republic of Uganda.

    MIL OSI Africa –

    June 13, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Beware of fraudsters posing as HKMA staff

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:

    ​The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) has received enquiries from members of the public about fraudsters posing as HKMA senior staff, issuing forged documents falsely claiming that certain securities or investment companies are “recognised financial institutions”, in an attempt to deceive members of the public into placing funds with these securities companies as a prerequisite for loan approval.

    The HKMA wishes to clarify that the above schemes are fraudulent, and the HKMA will not contact individual members of the public regarding personal financial matters.

    Should members of the public wish to verify whether an institution is authorized by the HKMA, they should refer to the Register of Authorized Institutions and Local Representative Offices available on the HKMA website.

    The HKMA has reported the case to the Hong Kong Police Force.

    Members of the public who suspect that they have become victims of any fraudulent acts should contact the Police or the Commercial Crime Bureau of the Hong Kong Police Force at 2860 5012 for follow-up actions and investigation by the Police.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

    June 13, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Multi-pronged approach to combat gang violence

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    Multi-pronged approach to combat gang violence

    Government is embarking on a multi-pronged approach to address gang-related crime and its underlying socio-economic causes, Deputy President Paul Mashatile said.

    Speaking on the Justice, Crime Prevention and Security (JCPS) Cabinet Committee’s strategy, the Deputy President emphasised that combating crime requires more than traditional policing.

    He further highlighted several key points of the strategy, which include the development of a national anti-gang initiative, the enhancement of anti-gang units within the South African Police Service (SAPS), the implementation of Operation Shanela to focus on strategic law enforcement efforts, and an emphasis on community engagement and collaboration with stakeholders.

    The need for a multi-disciplinary approach involving various government departments to address crime effectively was also emphasised.

    “This strategy, supported by the anti-gang action plan, focuses on gangsterism through intelligence gathering, proactive policing, community engagement and stakeholder collaboration in this regard,” he said during a question-and-answer session in Parliament on Thursday.

    WATCH | Question and answer session in the National Assembly
     

    READ | Deputy President to respond to oral questions

    Additionally, the country’s second-in-command said the SAPS is working around the clock to investigate and finalise gang-related cases, including drug trafficking, shootings and murders.

    “As a result, according to the latest statement released by SAPS, ongoing operations, which are focusing on combating and preventing crime, including gender-based violence and femicide [GBVF], have led to the arrest of more than 13 000 suspects.”

    He believes that the latest statistics show a significant decrease in most crime categories compared to the previous financial year but added that more efforts are needed.

    As the Chair of the JCPS, he stated that he will continue to engage with the Minister of Police, the National Police Commissioner, and the MECs of Safety in all provinces. 

    Their goal is to enhance efforts in combating organised crime and gang-related killings, particularly in provinces like KwaZulu-Natal and the Western Cape, where these issues are prevalent.

    “Our goal is to eliminate immediate threats posed by crime and gangs in identified high crime areas, while fostering a safe and secure environment for long-term stability.”

    The Deputy President emphasised a multidisciplinary approach, engaging various government departments to tackle root causes such as poverty and unemployment.

    He noted that economic growth and job creation are crucial in preventing youth from turning to criminal activities.

    Water issues 

    The Deputy President discussed the Water Task Team’s efforts to address water shortages, with a focus on 105 non-performing municipalities and enhancing municipal service management. 

    The team was established by President Cyril Ramaphosa  last year under the leadership of the Deputy President to address water challenges in various areas in the country.

    The Deputy President told the Members of Parliament that the Department of Water and Sanitation has established oversight structures and a specialised unit for priority projects and that a comprehensive water debt management plan is recommended. 

    “We are going to carefully look at the resolutions of the Water Indaba because it does address, particularly these issues, because some of the municipalities can’t be water authorities,” he said. 

    READ | Call for national turnaround plan on water security

    In addition, he stated that consequence management for underperforming municipal managers is being considered. 
    “So, we are going to look at how we can, where possible, assist them to be effective in generating revenue. We have realised that poor maintenance of facilities is one of the biggest problems. 

    “If you visit many of our cities, you’ll find that there are problems with leakages and that non-revenue water is a significant issue. So, we’re going to work with them to try and deal with those challenges.” 

    HIV and AIDS

    Shifting focus to HIV and AIDS, he said the withdrawal of US$8 billion in the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) funding for the HIV/AIDS programme will be offset by increased government spending and engagement with other markets. This as funding by the United States Government has been withdrawn. – SAnews.gov.za

    Gabisile
    Fri, 06/13/2025 – 09:26

    MIL OSI Africa –

    June 13, 2025

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Director of mobile phone shops given suspended sentence for £150,000 Covid loan fraud 

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Director of mobile phone shops given suspended sentence for £150,000 Covid loan fraud 

    Zahid Afzal, of Pembrokeshire, fraudulently claimed extra Covid Bounce Back loans for his phone sales and merchandise companies.

    • Zahid Afzal claimed £150,000 in Covid loans – most of which he moved to personal accounts.  

    • He had already received Bounce Back loans for his two companies when he applied for three more.  

    • He was handed a two-year suspended sentence, and 300 hours of unpaid work, at Swansea Crown Court on 12 June 2025.  

    The director of two companies which run mobile phone shops across the UK has been handed a two-year suspended sentence, after he fraudulently claimed £150,000 in Covid Bounce Back loans.  

    Zahid Afzal, the director of Phone Bits Ltd and Phones Onn Ltd, had already received Covid loans for both companies legitimately – totalling £52,500 – when he applied for three more.  

    The 37-year-old, from Haverfordwest, falsely claimed the applications were the first he had made and exaggerated the turnover of each company.  

    He received the three additional loans of £50,000 each – one for Phone Bits Ltd and two for Phones Onn Ltd – between May and November 2020. 

    Afzal was sentenced for three counts of fraud by false representation at Swansea Crown Court on 12 June 2025.   

    The Insolvency Service is seeking to recover the fraudulently obtained funds under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002.   

    Insolvency Service Chief Investigator David Snasdell said:  

    It is clear from our investigations that Zahid Afzal felt he could continue to apply time and time again for loans he was not entitled to.  

    Not satisfied with the substantial funds he had legitimately received, he went on to lie on applications and exaggerate his companies’ turnovers. 

    His sentencing should serve as a reminder to those contemplating fraudulently pocketing taxpayers’ money to think again.

    Afzal’s companies ran mobile phone shops or kiosks in Carmarthen, Shropshire, Andover and North Devon. 

    The Insolvency Service investigation did not find any wrongdoing with the use of his initial loans for Phones Onn Ltd (£20,000) and Phone Bits (£32,500), which he was entitled to and were used entirely for business purposes. 

    But he moved the majority of the £150,000 he received from his second round of loans to personal accounts despite stating they were for business purposes.  

    The Bounce Back loan scheme helped small and medium-sized businesses to borrow between £2,000 and £50,000, at a low interest rate, guaranteed by the Government.    

    The loans were made on the condition that they were not to be used for personal purposes, but could be used, for example, to purchase a company asset such as a vehicle, if it would provide an economic benefit to the business.  

    The money lent to a company had to be paid back, over six or 10 years, with payments starting 12 months after the company received the loan. 

    Further information:  

    • Zahid Afzal: DOB 09/03/1988 of Albert Street, Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire.  

    • Phone Bits Ltd Company number 10136495, registered in Andover. 

    • Phones Onn Ltd Company number 11771257, registered in London.  

    • Zahid Afzal was charged on three counts in relation to sections 1 and 2 of the Fraud Act 2006. 

    • Read more about the Bounce Back Loan Scheme and the action the Insolvency Service can take if it finds misconduct.    

    • The Insolvency Service can investigate complaints about corporate abuse by live companies. This may include serious misconduct, fraud, scams or dishonest practice in the way the company operates. Further information on our live investigations can be found here   

    • Further information about the work of the Insolvency Service, and how to complain about financial misconduct.

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    Published 13 June 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

    June 13, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Scam alert related to bank

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Scam alert related to bank 

    CategoriesMIL-OSI

    Post navigation

    BankThe HKMA wishes to remind the public that banks will not send SMS or emails with embedded hyperlinks which direct them to the banks’ websites to carry out transactions. They will not ask customers for sensitive information, such as login passwords or one-time password, by phone, email or SMS (including via embedded hyperlinks).
     
    Anyone who has provided his or her personal information, or who has conducted any financial transactions, through or in response to the scams concerned, should contact the relevant bank with the information provided in the corresponding press release, and report the matter to the Crime Wing Information Centre of the Hong Kong Police Force at 2860 5012.
    Issued at HKT 17:45

    NNNN

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

    June 13, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Australia: UPDATE: Arrest – Indecent act on a child – Palmerston

    Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

    The NT Police Force has arrested a 35-year-old male in relation to an indecent act on a child in Palmerston yesterday morning.

    Around 3:15pm, police located the alleged offender in Palmerston where he was arrested without incident.

    He remains in police custody with charges expected to follow.

    Detectives continue to urge anyone who witnessed the incident to make contact on 131 444 or make an anonymous report to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000, and quote reference NTP2500059923.

    MIL OSI News –

    June 13, 2025

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Ten arrested and charged after search warrants in Southland

    Source: New Zealand Police

    Attributable to Detective Senior Sergeant Greg Baird,

    Ten people have been arrested and are facing over 70 drug charges following a series of search warrants in Southland and Otago this week.

    Police seized approximately $16,000, ammunition, drugs, and other drug paraphernalia.

    The Southland and Otago Coastal Organised Crime teams executed the warrants as part of Operation Strata, targeting drug dealers with gang connections.

    There were 15 warrants in total, in Invercargill, Dunedin, Gore, Mataura, and other rural properties.

    The 10 people arrested face numerous serious charges, from supplying methamphetamine, MDMA, cocaine, LSD and cannabis, to possession of restricted weapons and ammunition.

    Investigations are ongoing and we expect to make more arrests, and file further charges, in coming days.

    Our message is clear – drug dealers are not welcome in our communities, and neither is the harm that comes with them.

    Police will continue our focus on disrupting the supply of drugs to our communities, and holding to account those suppliers who make money through the harm and suffering of others.

    Operation Strata involved over 30 staff from a number of Police groups across the Southern District and South Island, including the Te Waipounamu Gang Disruption Unit based in Christchurch.

    If you have any information about the supply of illicit drugs, please contact us through 105, either online or via phone.

    Information can also be reported to your local Police station, or anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 0800 555 111.

    We encourage anyone affected by drug addiction to seek help through Alcohol and Drug helpline on 0800 787 797, or free text 8681.

    ENDS

    Issued by Police Media Centre

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

    June 13, 2025

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Joint Statement: By the Foreign Ministers of the Republic of Indonesia and New Zealand at the 12th Joint Ministerial Commission

    Source: New Zealand Government

    His Excellency Sugiono, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia, and Rt Hon Winston Peters, Minister of Foreign Affairs of New Zealand, convened the 12th meeting of the Joint Ministerial Commission (JMC) on 13th June 2025 in Jakarta, Indonesia. 
    The Ministers welcomed meeting in person, underscoring the importance of regular consultations between themselves, Leaders and other Cabinet colleagues to strengthen the relationship in ways that deliver real benefits and advance shared values.
    The Ministers celebrated the cooperation between Indonesia and New Zealand under the Comprehensive Partnership agreed by Leaders in 2018, and the achievements under the 2025-2029 Plan of Action. 
    The Ministers committed to intensify cooperation across the seven pillars of the Comprehensive Partnership to strengthen bilateral ties and achieve the ambitious goals set out in the 2025-2029 Plan of Action.
     
    Reviewing the implementation of the first year of the Plan of Action 2025-2029, and way forward 

    “Friends for Good” Ties

    The Ministers acknowledged intensive recent engagement between the two countries, including Minister Peters’ attendance at President Prabowo’s inauguration in October 2024, and meetings between our Prime Minister and President, and Foreign Ministers at APEC in November 2024, as well as increased engagements by senior officials. 
    Both Ministers agreed to further increase two-way dialogue and acknowledged the importance of face-to-face engagement, and regular hosting of key relationship architecture meetings, in maintaining our “Friends for Good” ties.
    The Ministers agreed to encourage relevant stakeholders to bolster bilateral relations and cooperation, including through bilateral defence talks and the annual Senior Officials Meeting on Trade and Investment Framework.
    Both Ministers also noted the significant potential for promoting Parliamentary and civil society exchanges to further strengthen bilateral and people-to-people ties.
    Enhancing Trade and Economic Partnerships to Advance Growth of Both Economies
    The Ministers highlighted the importance of enhancing mutual prosperity and strengthening trade and economic connections. Ministers recalled the goal in the Plan of Action to grow two-way trade to NZ$6 billion by the end of 2029.  They highlighted the need for New Zealand and Indonesia to increase mutual cooperation in the face of global economic uncertainty.
    Both Ministers highlighted the importance of resolving non-tariff trade barriers to ensure trade continuity and growth. Ministers welcomed agreement of the Cooperation Arrangement on Halal Standards.  The Arrangement will facilitate the convenience, security, safety and certainty of halal food traded between our countries. Ministers noted the intent for New Zealand and Indonesia to work together to further support the Indonesian national program of food resilience and the Nutritious Meal programme.

    The Ministers noted the positive trend of New Zealand’s investment in Indonesia, and agreed to continue efforts to encourage investment flows.
    Ministers welcomed the year-round direct flights between Auckland and Bali and committed to continue to work towards unlocking the full potential of enhanced air connectivity to facilitate increased people-to-people, business and trade flows.
    Both Ministers reconfirmed the importance of a rules-based, free and open trade environment, with the World Trade Organisation at its core, as critical for the regional and global economy. The Ministers welcomed the implementation of the upgraded ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Area (AANZFTA), which entered into force in April 2025, and ongoing cooperation under the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).
    The Ministers acknowledged the process of Indonesia’s accession to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) as an important step to foster economic integration, accelerate economic reform, and support mutual prosperity. 
    Both Ministers reaffirmed their nations’ commitment to preventing illegal money laundering and other illegal financing activities to enhance financial integrity and transparency and to further promote economic growth and development.
     
    Renewable Energy and Environment Cooperation 
    The Ministers highlighted the importance of renewable energy, including geothermal cooperation, which has been a significant part of the relationship since the 1970s and welcomed the renewed Partnership Arrangement in renewable energy and energy conservation signed in September 2024. 
    Ministers announced a further NZ$15 million investment in Phase 2 of the New Zealand-Maluku Access to Renewable Energy Support (NZMATES 2.0) programme to continue to improve access to reliable, renewable electricity for remote and small islands while building local industry service capacity.
    The Ministers acknowledged strong collaboration between the Indonesia and New Zealand geothermal industries, including under the Pūngao Ngawha (Panas Bumi) Indonesia-New Zealand Partnership Programme (PINZ), that provides access to New Zealand’s world-renowned technical and training capabilities, with the aim of assisting Indonesia to further accelerate the development of its geothermal energy sector and broader energy transition.
    The Ministers emphasised their shared commitment to adapting to and mitigating the impacts of climate change under the Paris Agreement and expressed willingness to expand climate related and environmental cooperation through comprehensive climate change dialogue that includes both mitigation and adaptation strategies.
     

    Education, Tourism, Science, Technology and Innovation, and People-to-People Cooperation

    Ministers welcomed the significant increase in the annual allocation of tertiary scholarships under the Manaaki New Zealand Scholarship Programme (MNZSP), from 45 to 70, for Indonesia for this year and the next two years, reflecting their mutual dedication to deepening people-to-people connections, strengthening capacity in renewable energy and public governance, and developing disadvantaged regions. 
    The Ministers welcomed the Arrangement on Education Cooperation to refresh areas of cooperation, including increased education and higher education policy dialogues to enhance education system development and resilience.
    The Ministers underscored the importance of enhancing people-to-people connections, particularly in education and tourism, as a bedrock of strong bilateral ties. Both Ministers welcomed the exchange of cultural missions and promotions to serve this purpose.
    Ministers welcomed further exchanges of officials’ level visits to New Zealand focused on good governance, public sector performance and integrity and other sectors to advance bilateral relations.
    The Ministers encouraged closer cooperation between Indonesia and New Zealand in supporting research collaboration as highlighted in the Arrangement on Education Cooperation.
     
    Development Cooperation 
    Both Ministers welcomed the past year’s implementation progress under the Statement of Partnership (SoP) 2025-2029 signed in July 2024 and reviewed in May 2025. The SoP has strengthened and elevated both the development relationship and mutual commitment to focus on development cooperation and other strategic issues and is strongly aligned with Indonesia’s national priorities in two areas: climate and economic resilience; and inclusive human development.
     
    Defence, Security, Cyber and Maritime Cooperation

    Ministers acknowledged New Zealand and Indonesia’s long-standing defence relationship and committed to continuing to strengthen these ties, including through regular Defence Ministers’ meetings. They welcomed the upcoming visit to Jakarta by New Zealand Navy ship HMNZS Te Kaha and the recent visit by the Chief of the Royal New Zealand Navy.
    The Ministers announced new funding towards ongoing cooperation on security issues through continued support for the Jakarta Centre for Law Enforcement Cooperation (JCLEC). The funding provided by New Zealand will enable the continued delivery of high-quality capacity building initiatives and collaboration between law enforcement agencies to combat transnational organised crime in the region. 
    The Ministers also reaffirmed their commitment to the Bali Process and welcomed progress against the Adelaide Strategy for Cooperation, which sets out the priority areas of cooperation for the Bali Process Working Groups. This includes an upcoming Joint Tabletop Exercise co-hosted by New Zealand, Indonesia, Australia and Viet Nam, through the Working Group on Disruption of Criminal Networks Involved in People Smuggling and Trafficking in Persons from 23 to 26 June 2025. 
    The Ministers agreed to continue to implement the refreshed cooperation arrangement on counter-terrorism, and identify opportunities for dialogue on preventing violent extremism. 
    Ministers highlighted the importance of active participation by our militaries in training activities, annual defence talks and joint exercises, including Exercise Super Garuda Shield.
     

    Regional and Multilateral Agenda

    The Ministers emphasised ASEAN’s central role in the dynamic regional architecture and their shared commitment to ongoing dialogue and cooperation through ASEAN-led mechanisms and processes, particularly the East Asia Summit (EAS), the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), and ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting Plus (ADMM-Plus).
    The Ministers welcomed the ASEAN-New Zealand Joint Statement on the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific in 2023 to maintain regional stability and to serve as a framework to strengthen bilateral relations to advance economic relations and maritime governance under international law.
    The Ministers welcomed the implementation of the ASEAN-New Zealand Plan of Action (POA) (2021-2025) and its substantial progress achieved across the four themes outlined in the POA – Peace, Prosperity, People, and Planet. They further welcomed activity throughout 2025 to commemorate 50 years of dialogue relations between New Zealand and ASEAN, including preparations under way for a Commemorative Summit in Malaysia in October. Minister Sugiono confirmed Indonesia’s support for New Zealand’s proposal to elevate the relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, and noted the development of a new ASEAN-New Zealand Plan of Action (2026-2030) to guide future cooperation. 
    Ministers reaffirmed their shared commitment to maintaining and promoting security and stability in the South China Sea. Ministers underscored their strong support for freedom of navigation and overflight and unimpeded trade, and their unwavering support for the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). Ministers emphasised the need for the peaceful resolution of disputes in accordance with international law, particularly UNCLOS. In this regard, Ministers recalled the 2016 ruling of the South China Sea Arbitral Tribunal, constituted under UNCLOS. They underscored the importance of further progress towards an effective and substantive Code of Conduct that is consistent with international law, including the 1982 UNCLOS.
    Ministers expressed concern about the conflict and humanitarian crisis in Myanmar.  Ministers called on stakeholders and parties in Myanmar, in particular the armed forces and security forces concerned, to immediately cease violence, including the targeting of civilians, and to engage in inclusive dialogue. Ministers emphasised the importance of a peaceful, stable and unified Myanmar, affirmed their strong support for ASEAN-led efforts in line with the ASEAN Five-Point Consensus and encouraged the international community to work together in a pragmatic and constructive way to support peace and stability in Myanmar.
    The Ministers expressed concern about the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza and reiterated their calls for all parties to cease all hostilities; release all remaining hostages; facilitate the rapid, safe, unimpeded, and sustained delivery of humanitarian aid; adhere to international humanitarian law; and protect aid workers to enable their lifesaving work. Ministers reaffirmed their support for the implementation of a two-state solution consistent with international law and relevant United Nations resolutions.
    Ministers exchanged views on the war against Ukraine and reiterated support for efforts to achieve a comprehensive, just and lasting peace.  In that context, Ministers continued to reaffirm their respect for sovereignty, political independence and territorial integrity, and reiterated their call for compliance with the United Nations Charter and international law.
    The Ministers acknowledged the challenges to the multilateral system from shifting geopolitical dynamics, a tightly constrained financial environment and increasingly complex global risks. They reaffirmed their strong support for multilateralism and the international rules-based system, and acknowledged its important role in underpinning global stability, resilience and prosperity. The Ministers committed to collaborating on efforts to strengthen the multilateral system, increase inclusivity and transparency, and to safeguard and advance human rights, in order to support a system that is more responsive to today’s challenges. 

    Conclusion

    Ministers reviewed the implementation of the Plan of Action for 2025-2029 and discussed their common interest in advancing bilateral cooperation and delivering tangible outcomes.
    Both Ministers reaffirmed their commitment to utilise and advance the implementation of existing cooperation frameworks to deliver our shared interests. 
    Both Ministers were ready to explore more cooperation in the future to support both nations’ interests, as confirmation of their strong stance as Friends for Good.
    Minister Peters expressed his sincere gratitude to Minister Sugiono and the Indonesian Government for the warm welcome and hospitality accorded to him during the visit, and looked forward to hosting Minister Sugiono at the 13th JMC in New Zealand in 2026.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

    June 13, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Australia: April crime statistics

    Source: New South Wales – News

    The number of robberies and related offences committed in South Australia have continued to decrease significantly, the latest crime statistics have revealed.

    The April rolling year crime statistics also reveal continuing strong declines in other offence categories including house break-ins, shop theft, car theft and homicides.

    The 13 per cent decrease in robbery and related offending – from 847 to 740 reported offences – in the April period is the fifteenth successive fall in reported offences in that category.

    Within that category aggravated robbery declined by 16 per cent – from 501 to 419 reported offences and non-aggravated robbery by 12 per cent – from 82 to 72 reported offences.

    While the majority of property related offences recorded a decrease in the rolling year period, acts intended to cause injury – which includes all assaults – recorded a minor increase.

    Within that category serious assault resulting in injury dropped by one per cent, or 34 offences, serious assault not resulting in injury rose by seven per cent, or 846 incidents, and common assault increased by one per cent, or 73 incidents.

    Police intelligence reveals that domestic abuse related assaults increased by 10.8 per cent in the month of April, from 843 offences reported to 934 offences reported. Just over 52 per cent of all assaults reported to police in April 2025 were related to domestic abuse, compared with 49.6 per cent in April 2024.

    The number of stranger assaults decreased in April with 312 incidents reported (17.4 per cent of assaults), compared with 391 offences reported (23 pr cent of assaults) in April 2024.

    The number of assaults involving a knife or other bladed weapon remained relatively stable in April 2025 with 129 offences reported compared with 121 offences reported in April 2024.

    The April rolling year figures reveal house break-ins declined by 11 per cent in the period from 5,917 to 5,265 reported offences. This followed an eight per cent decline in the March period, seven per cent in the February period and a five per cent decline in January.

    The number of non-residential break-ins declined by seven per cent from 3,709 to 3,437 reported offences. This followed five per cent declines in March and February.

    Shop theft also showed another significant decrease in the April period with a nine per cent reduction in offending reported – the sixth successive drop. There were 1,604 fewer offences reported in the April period – from 18,735 to 17,131 reported incidents.
    The continued reduction in both house break-ins and shop theft is attributable to ongoing proactive operations targeting recidivist offenders.

    Car theft and theft from a vehicle have both continued to decline in the period. Car theft decreased by seven per cent or 260 offences – from 3,766 to 3,506 offences. This followed a nine per cent drop in March, 11 per cent in February and 12 per cent decrease in January.

    Theft from a motor vehicle declined by 22 per cent in the period – from 9,920 to 7,736 reported offences. This followed a 23 per cent decline in March and a 22 per cent drop in February.

    The number of homicides committed in South Australia has continued to decrease with a 57 per cent decline in the April period – from 23 to 10 reported offences. This followed a 52 per cent decrease in the March period.

    MIL OSI News –

    June 13, 2025

  • MIL-Evening Report: ER Report: A Roundup of Significant Articles on EveningReport.nz for June 13, 2025

    ER Report: Here is a summary of significant articles published on EveningReport.nz on June 13, 2025.

    As Antarctic sea ice shrinks, iconic emperor penguins are in more peril than we thought
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Dana M Bergstrom, Honorary Senior Fellow in Ecology, University of Wollongong When winter comes to Antarctica, seals and Adélie penguins leave the freezing shores and head for the edge of the forming sea ice. But emperor penguins stay put. The existence of emperor penguins seems all but

    Bougainville legal dept looking towards sorcery violence policy
    RNZ Pacific The Department of Justice and Legal Services in Bougainville is aiming to craft a government policy to deal with violence related to sorcery accusations. The Post-Courier reports that a forum, which wrapped up on Wednesday, aimed to dissect the roots of sorcery/witchcraft beliefs and the severe violence stemming from accusations. An initial forum

    NZ has a vast sea territory but lags behind other nations in protecting the ocean
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Conrad Pilditch, Professor of Marine Sciences, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau Getty Images For the past fortnight, the city of Nice in France has been the global epicentre of ocean science and politics. Last week’s One Ocean Science Congress ended with a unanimous call for action

    US Army’s image of power and flag-waving rings false to Gen Z weary of gun violence − and long-term recruitment numbers show it
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jacob Ware, Adjunct Professor of Domestic Terrorism, Georgetown University A recruit participates in the Army’s future soldier prep course at Fort Jackson in Columbia, S.C., on Sept. 25, 2024. AP Photo/Chris Carlson The U.S. Army will celebrate its 250th birthday on Saturday, June 14, 2025, with a

    It took more than a century, but women are taking charge of Australia’s economy – here’s why it matters
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Duygu Yengin, Associate Professor of Economics, University of Adelaide For the first time in its 124-year history, Treasury will be led by a woman. Jenny Wilkinson’s appointment is historic in its own right. Even more remarkable is the fact she joins Michele Bullock at the Reserve Bank

    With Trump undoing years of progress, can the US salvage its Pacific Islands strategy?
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alan Tidwell, Director, Center for Australian, New Zealand and Pacific Studies, Georgetown University Donald Trump signs a proclamation expanding fishing rights in the Pacific Islands, April 17. Getty Images Since 2018, the United States has worked, albeit often haltingly, to regain its footing with Pacific Island countries.

    Workers need better tools and tech to boost productivity. Why aren’t companies stepping up to invest?
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Hawkins, Head, Canberra School of Government, University of Canberra As Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Treasurer Jim Chalmers turn their attention to improving productivity growth across the economy, it will be interesting to see what the business community brings to a planned summit in August. Labour

    AI overviews have transformed Google search. Here’s how they work – and how to opt out
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By T.J. Thomson, Senior Lecturer in Visual Communication & Digital Media, RMIT University cosma/Shutterstock People turn to the internet to run billions of search queries each year. These range from keeping tabs on world events and celebrities to learning new words and getting DIY help. One of the

    ‘Like an underwater bushfire’: SA’s marine algal bloom is still killing almost everything in its path
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Erin Barrera, PhD Candidate, School of Public Health, University of Adelaide Paul Macdonald of Edithburgh Diving South Australian beaches have been awash with foamy, discoloured water and dead marine life for months. The problem hasn’t gone away; it has spread. Devastating scenes of death and destruction mobilised

    Sunday Too Far Away at 50: how a story about Aussie shearers launched a local film industry
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michael Walsh, Associate Professor, Screen and Media, Flinders University Released 50 years ago, Sunday Too Far Away deals episodically with a group of shearers led by Foley (Jack Thompson), and the events leading up to the national shearers’ strike of 1956. The shearers are a ragtag group

    Khartoum before the war: the public spaces that held the city together
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ibrahim Z. Bahreldin, Associate Professor of Urban & Environmental Design, University of Khartoum What makes a public space truly public? In Khartoum, before the current conflict engulfed Sudan, the answer was not always a park, a plaza or a promenade. The city’s streets, tea stalls (sitat al-shai),

    Politics with Michelle Grattan: Senator Tammy Tyrrell on wild days in Tasmania
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Tasmanian politics has been thrown into chaos after a Labor motion of no confidence forced Premier Jeremy Rockliff to either resign or call for a new election. The premier opted for the latter, with Tasmanians to vote on July 19,

    Chris Hedges: The last days of Gaza
    Report by Dr David Robie – Café Pacific. – The genocide is almost complete. When it is concluded it will have exposed the moral bankruptcy of Western civilisation, writes Chris Hedges. ANALYSIS: By Chris Hedges This is the end. The final blood-soaked chapter of the genocide. It will be over soon. Weeks. At most. Two

    Grattan on Friday: the galahs are chattering about ‘productivity’, but can Labor really get it moving?
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Former prime minister Paul Keating famously used to say the resident galah in any pet shop was talking about micro-economic policy. These days, if you encounter a pet shop with a galah, she’ll be chattering about productivity. Productivity is currently

    Greenpeace activists aboard Rainbow Warrior disrupt Pacific industrial fishing operation
    By Emma Page Greenpeace activists on board the Greenpeace flagship Rainbow Warrior disrupted an industrial longlining fishing operation in the South Pacific, seizing almost 20 km of fishing gear and freeing nine sharks — including an endangered mako — near Australia and New Zealand. Crew retrieved the entire longline and more than 210 baited hooks

    View from The Hill: Is the US playing cat and mouse ahead of expected Albanese-Trump talks?
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra For the first time in memory, an Australian prime minister is approaching a prospective meeting with a US president with a distinct feeling of wariness. Of course Anthony Albanese would deny it. But it’s undeniable the government is relieved that

    Caitlin Johnstone: Staring down the barrel of war with Iran once again
    Report by Dr David Robie – Café Pacific. – COMMENTARY: By Caitlin Johnstone Well it looks like the US is on the precipice of war with Iran again. US officials are telling the press that they anticipate a potential impending Israeli attack on Iran while the family members of US military personnel are being assisted

    Global outrage over Gaza has reinforced a ‘siege mentality’ in Israel – what are the implications for peace?
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Eyal Mayroz, Senior Lecturer in Peace and Conflict Studies, University of Sydney After more than 20 months of devastating violence in Gaza, the right-wing Israeli government’s pursuit of two irreconcilable objectives — “destroying” Hamas and releasing Israeli hostages — has left the coastal strip in ruins. At

    The weight loss drug Mounjaro has been approved to treat sleep apnoea. How does it work?
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Yaqoot Fatima, Professor of Sleep Health, University of the Sunshine Coast coldsnowstorm/Getty Images Last week, Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) approved the weight-loss drug Mounjaro to treat sleep apnoea, a condition in which breathing stops and starts repeatedly during sleep. The TGA has indicated Mounjaro can be

    Not all insecure work has to be a ‘bad job’: research shows job design can make a big difference
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rose-Marie Stambe, Adjunct Research Fellow, social and economic marginalisation, The University of Queensland Matej Kastelic/Shutterstock Inflation has steadied and interest rates are finally coming down. But for many Australians, especially those in low-paid, insecure or precarious work, the cost-of-living crisis feels far from over. The federal government

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

    June 13, 2025

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Christchurch man arrested after evading police for months

    Source: New Zealand Police

    Attributable to Senior Sergeant Steph McDaniel:

    Police have arrested a 44-year-old Christchurch man who has evaded Police since August last year.

    The man, a known gang associate, had made significant efforts to avoid arrest, including breaching his conditions, failing to appear in court and frequently changing vehicles and addresses.

    Following an extensive investigation into his whereabouts, Police launched a targeted operation involving the newly formed Gang Disruption Unit, the Offender Prevention Team, and the Canterbury Rural Tactical Crime Unit.

    Thanks to information provided by the public and swift action by Police, the man was successfully located and arrested yesterday.

    His bail has been opposed, and he is appearing in Christchurch District Court today.

    He now faces 15 charges, 11 of which relate to drive-offs from self-service petrol stations in the Waimakariri area.

    Police remain committed to ensuring offenders are held to account and thank the public for their assistance in bringing this individual into custody.

    ENDS

    Issued by the Police Media Centre

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

    June 13, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Grassley-Led HALT Fentanyl Act to Become Law

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Iowa Chuck Grassley

    WASHINGTON – The Halt All Lethal Trafficking of (HALT) Fentanyl Act overwhelmingly passed the House of Representatives today by a vote of 321-104, sending the legislation to President Trump’s desk for signature. The bipartisan and bicameral legislation, led by Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Chairman Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-La.) and Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), will permanently classify illicit, fentanyl-related substances as Schedule I. 

    “Today, Congress secured a major victory in the fight against fentanyl by sending the HALT Fentanyl Act to President Trump’s desk,” Grassley said. “Despite tens-of-thousands of Americans dying from fentanyl overdose each year, Democrats refused to pass this commonsense bill when they controlled Congress and the White House. I’m proud to see Republicans take real action to combat the fentanyl crisis, advance life-saving research and support our brave men and women in blue.” 

    Download bill text HERE and a fact sheet HERE. 

    [embedded content]

    Background:

    The HALT Fentanyl Act was introduced by Grassley, Cassidy and Heinrich in January, advanced by the Senate Judiciary Committee in February and passed by the Senate in March. 

    The bipartisan bill is supported by over 40 major advocacy groups, including a coalition of over 200 impacted family groups, and law enforcement organizations representing over a million officers. Learn more about the bill’s widespread support HERE. 

    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

    June 13, 2025
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