NewzIntel.com

Category: housing

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Energy – New Zealanders have new rights as power consumers

    Source: Electricity Authority Te Mana Hiko

    From today, New Zealanders have new rights as power consumers under the Electricity Authority Te Mana Hiko’s (the Authority) Consumer Care Obligations (the Obligations). These new rules significantly increase the support people can expect from their power retailer – to help them find the best plan for their needs, understand their power use, manage bills, and stay connected.

    Authority General Manager Retail and Consumer Andrew Millar says the obligations set customer care standards that all power companies must follow, and New Zealanders can rely on.

    “The new rules include requirements for respectful communication, protection for vulnerable consumers, and fair and reasonable fees. Retailers have indicated to us that they are ready to meet these obligations, and our new retail monitoring regime means we’re ready to ensure that happens.

    “Now we want all New Zealanders to know what they can rightfully expect from their power retailer, and who to turn to if they do have a problem,” says Millar. “We’ve published this information on yourpower.co.nz

    “Kiwi households rely on electricity and deserve to receive a consistent and reliable level of customer care. With lines charges going up this year, it was particularly important to us that the Obligations are fully effective well before winter. We’ll keep an open mind about whether further strengthening of the rules is required as the Obligations are bedded-in, and we monitor for compliance and consumer outcomes.”

    The Authority advises anyone having trouble with their power provider to first contact their retailer but highlights that Utilities Disputes UDL.co.nz is the place to go for help with power related complaints.

    “Power companies are on board with the new Obligations and have worked quickly over the past four months to ensure they’re ready to comply,” Millar says. “But if you have a problem you can’t solve with them directly, you can contact UDL, who provide a free, independent service to resolve complaints between consumers and their power or gas company.”

    Support and resources for the Consumer Care Obligations are available on the Electricity Authority’s website www.yourpower.co.nz

    UDL can be contacted online at udl.co.nz or on 0800 22 33 40

    SUMMARY OF THE NEW CONSUMER CARE OBLIGATIONS

    What do the Consumer Care Obligations mean for you, and what should you do if you need support?

    What are the Consumer Care Obligations?

    The Consumer Care Obligations are minimum standards that all power companies must follow when supplying electricity to residential consumers. These obligations provide: 

    • stronger customer protections, especially for those in vulnerable situations
    • fair and respectful treatment from power companies 
    • better support for consumers experiencing financial difficulty
    • clear, transparent pricing with no unfair fees. 

    How do they protect me as a consumer?

    The Consumer Care Obligations set clear rules to ensure fairness and support for all electricity consumers. These include:

    • Protection for vulnerable customers. If you are experiencing financial hardship or rely on electricity for medical reasons, power companies must work with you to keep your power on.
    • Respectful communication. Power companies must engage with customers in a supportive and helpful manner.
    • Fair and reasonable fees.  Power companies cannot charge excessive or hidden fees. Fees must be transparent and reasonable and based on actual costs.

    What should I expect from my power company?

    Power companies are required to provide positive, practical advice on reducing bills and tailored payment plans if you are experiencing payment difficulties. You should also expect:

    • Clear communication about your energy use and bills
    • Flexible payment options if you are experiencing financial difficulties
    • Support to avoid disconnection, including tailored solutions to help you pay your bill over time.

    Your power company should support you to stay connected and avoid debt. You should expect proactive communication and referrals to support services as disconnection should be a last resort.

    What rights do I have when it comes to fees?

    Power companies must charge fair and cost-reflective fees. This means:

    • No excessive or hidden charges
    • Not using fees as a penalty (such as excessive late payment fees) 
    • No unexpected fees.

    Can my power company disconnect me?

    Your electricity provider must follow a set process before they disconnect you, which includes giving you time to pay any outstanding debt. Seek help if you need it and discuss options with your power company to manage your power costs to avoid disconnection. 

    Your power company cannot disconnect your power if they are aware that you or someone in your household is medically dependent on electricity. To ensure this protection, it is important to:

    • Inform your power company if someone in your household relies on medical equipment powered by electricity
    • Work with your provider to ensure they have the correct details recorded.

    What can I do if I’m struggling to pay my bill?

    If you are having trouble paying your electricity bill, it is important to contact your power company as soon as possible.

    Power companies are required to:

    • Offer flexible payment plans to help you manage your bills 
    • Provide information to assist with energy-efficiency 
    • Suggest suitable pricing plans based on your needs.

    The sooner you reach out, the more your power company will be able to do to help you stay connected.

    What if I’m not happy with my power company’s service?

    If you are unhappy with how your power company is treating you, there are steps you can take:

    1. Contact your power company and give them time to solve the problem
    2. If you are still unhappy, you can contact Utilities Disputes Resolution (UDL), who provide a free, independent service to resolve complaints about electricity and gas.

    If you or UDL have a serious concern about a power company’s behaviour, the Electricity Authority will investigate. 

    If you believe your power company is not meeting its Consumer Care Obligations, you can also raise a concern with the Electricity Authority. 

    We encourage you to first contact your power company and UDL as they may be able to resolve your issue more quickly. 

    How does the Electricity Authority ensure these rules are followed?

    The Electricity Authority monitors power companies to ensure they follow the Consumer Care Obligations. If a power company fails to meet these rules, the Authority will take appropriate action to enforce compliance.

    Most power companies aim to do the right thing, but consumers should know their rights and speak up if they are not receiving fair treatment.

    Learn more about your power and consumer rights at www.yourpower.co.nz 

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: BusinessNZ – Thrill seekers welcome: Health and safety reform unlocks the outdoors

    Source: BusinessNZ

    Further changes to health and safety laws should see more Kiwis exploring their own backyard and unlock further economic gains in the great outdoors.
    BusinessNZ Chief Executive Katherine Rich says clearer expectations around health and safety responsibilities for landowners will make agreeing to recreational activity simpler.
    “Landowners have been overly cautious when it comes to allowing access for fear of legal reprisal. In clarifying that health and safety is the responsibility of the organisation operating on site, the Government has made it easier for councils, farmers and Iwi to say ‘yes’ to more outdoor enterprise.
    “If New Zealand wants to retain its reputation as the world’s best in adventure tourism, then we need to allow thrill seekers a place to call home while accepting that there is inherent risk in some recreational activity.
    “These announced changes to health and safety laws aren’t about less responsibility – but rather setting clearer expectations around who is responsible.”
    The BusinessNZ Network including BusinessNZ, EMA, Business Central, Business Canterbury and Business South, represents and provides services to thousands of businesses, small and large, throughout New Zealand.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: MEDIA AVAILABILITY: Coast Guard to commission Coast Guard Cutter John Witherspoon (WPC 1158) in Kodiak, Alaska

    Source: United States Coast Guard

    News Release

    		  

    U.S. Coast Guard 17th District Alaska
    Contact: 17th District Public Affairs
    Office: (907) 463-2065
    After Hours: (907) 463-2065
    17th District online newsroom

     

    03/31/2025 08:35 PM EDT

    KODIAK, Alaska — The Coast Guard is scheduled to hold a commissioning ceremony for Coast Guard Cutter John Witherspoon (WPC 1158), the service’s newest Fast Response Cutter (FRC), Thursday. WHO: Rear Adm. Megan Dean, commander of the 17th Coast Guard District; Lt. Cmdr. Adam Young, commanding officer of Coast Guard Cutter John Witherspoon, Lt. j.g. Katelynn Lane, executive officer of Coast Guard Cutter John Witherspoon; cutter crew members. WHAT: Commissioning ceremony for Coast Guard Cutter John Witherspoon, the service’s newest FRC and first of three FRC’s to be homeported at Coast Guard Base Kodiak WHEN: Thursday, April 3rd, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. WHERE: Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak aviation hangar Members of the media are requested to RSVP to the Coast Guard District 17 Public Affairs office by emailing uscgalaska@uscg.mil or calling (907) 723-5367 no later than Wednesday, April at 2:00 p.m. to receive instructions for attendance and base access.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-Evening Report: ‘Behind every claim is a grieving family’. Death benefits inquiry demands change but lacks penalties

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Natalie Peng, Lecturer in Accounting, The University of Queensland

    SeventyFour/Shutterstock

    When Lisa’s husband passed away unexpectedly, she assumed accessing his superannuation death benefit would be straightforward. Instead, she spent months navigating a bureaucratic maze.

    She repeatedly sent documents, waited weeks for callbacks and struggled to get answers from his fund.

    Her experience is far from unique. A damning new report reveals systemic failure by Australia’s A$4 trillion superannuation industry in handling members’ death benefits.

    A system in disarray

    The Australian Security and Investments Commission’s landmark review of ten major super trustees, managing 38% of super assets, exposes an industry that is not serving its members.

    Grieving families routinely face excessive delays, insensitive treatment and unnecessary hurdles when trying to access death benefits. It found they sometimes waited over a year for payments to which they were legally entitled.

    The central problem was a fundamental breakdown in claims processing, with five critical failures exacerbating inefficiency and distress.

    1. Poor oversight

    No trustee monitored end-to-end claims handling times, leaving boards unaware of how long families were waiting. While the fastest trustee resolved 48% of claims within 90 days, the slowest managed just 8%.

    In one case, a widow waited nearly a year despite her husband having a valid binding nomination. ASIC found 78% of delays stemmed from processing inefficiencies entirely within trustees’ control.

    2. Misleading and inadequate information

    Many funds misled on processing times and masked extreme delays. Boards often received reports only on insured claims, despite most death benefits not involving insurance. This meant boards were unable to fix systemic problems.

    3. Process over people

    Risk-averse procedures often overrode common sense. Many funds imposed claim-staking – delaying payments for objections – even for straightforward cases, adding a median 95 day delay.

    Communication failures further compounded delays, with claimants receiving inconsistent advice and few or no status updates.

    4. Outsourcing without accountability

    Claims handled in-house were processed significantly faster than those managed by external administrators. Only 15% of outsourced claims were resolved within 90 days, compared to 36% of in-house claims.

    The securities commission is calling for stronger oversight. External administrators significantly slow down responses, so some funds may need to bring claims processing back in-house to ensure efficiency.

    5. Lack of transparency

    Many funds failed to provide clear timelines or explanations for delays and had no accountability mechanisms.

    The ten funds investigated include the Australian Retirement Trust, Avanteos (Colonial First State), Brighter Super, Commonwealth Superannuation Corporation, HESTA, Hostplus, NM Super (AMP), Nulis (MLC), Rest and UniSuper.

    Two others, Australian Super and Cbus, are being sued separately by ASIC for either failing to pay out or delaying payments to thousands of eligible beneficiaries.

    KEY FINDINGS

    • None of the trustees monitored or reported on end-to-end death benefit claims handling times
    • 27% of claims files reviewed involved poor customer service – for example, calls were not returned, queries were dismissed
    • 8% vs 48% was the difference in claims closed in 90 days between the slowest and the fastest trustee
    • 78% of claim files reviewed were delayed by processing issues within the trustee’s control
    • 17% of claim files reviewed involved vulnerable claimants. About 30% of those were handled poorly

    Source: Taking ownership of death benefits: How trustees can deliver outcomes Australians deserve, ASIC, March 2025.

    Will ASIC’s fixes work?

    ASIC has made 34 recommendations to improve death benefit processing. This will require real change, not box ticking. Changes should include setting performance objectives and empowering frontline staff to cut unnecessary steps.

    There should be consequences for failure. Unlike the United Kingdom, which fines pension providers for missing statutory deadlines, ASIC’s recommendations lack penalties.

    Without consequences, some funds may continue prioritising administrative convenience over members receiving their entitlements.

    What needs to happen now?

    ASIC’s report is a wake-up call, but real reform requires strong action.

    Super funds must be held to clear, binding processing timelines, with meaningful penalties for non-compliance. Standardising requirements across the industry would eliminate unnecessary hurdles, ensuring all beneficiaries are treated fairly.

    Beyond regulation, funds must improve communication and accountability. Bereaved families deserve clear, plain language guidance on what to expect, not bureaucratic roadblocks or sudden document requests.

    Technological upgrades should focus on reducing delays, not just internal efficiencies.

    And to better support families, an independent claims advocate could help navigate the process, ensuring no one is left to struggle alone.

    Has ASIC gone far enough?

    While ASIC’s review is a step in the right direction, it does not fundamentally overhaul flawed claims-handling practices.

    The recommendations lack enforceability, relying on voluntary compliance.

    Also, the role of insurers within super remains largely unaddressed, despite death benefits being tied to life insurance policies. This often causes further complications and delays.

    Ensuring insurers adopt and apply ASIC’s recommendations will be critical for meaningful change.

    Most importantly, super funds must remember that behind every claim is a grieving family. No one should have to fight for what they are owed during one of the most stressful times in their life.

    Natalie Peng 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. ‘Behind every claim is a grieving family’. Death benefits inquiry demands change but lacks penalties – https://theconversation.com/behind-every-claim-is-a-grieving-family-death-benefits-inquiry-demands-change-but-lacks-penalties-253419

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: ‘We’re not just welcoming you as allies, but as family’ – Rainbow Warrior in Marshall Islands 40 years on

    The first of a two-part series on the historic Rongelap evacuation of 300 Marshall islanders from their irradiated atoll with the help of the Greenpeace flagship Rainbow Warrior crew and the return of Rainbow Warrior III 40 years later on a nuclear justice research mission.

    SPECIAL REPORT: By Shiva Gounden in Majuro

    Family isn’t just about blood—it’s about standing together through the toughest of times.

    This is the relationship between Greenpeace and the Marshall Islands — a vast ocean nation, stretching across nearly two million square kilometers of the Pacific. Beneath the waves, coral reefs are bustling with life, while coconut trees stand tall.

    For centuries, the Marshallese people have thrived here, mastering the waves, reading the winds, and navigating the open sea with their canoe-building knowledge passed down through generations. Life here is shaped by the rhythm of the tides, the taste of fresh coconut and roasted breadfruit, and an unbreakable bond between people and the sea.

    From the bustling heart of its capital, Majuro to the quiet, far-reaching atolls, their islands are not just land; they are home, history, and identity.

    Still, Marshallese communities were forced into one of the most devastating chapters of modern history — turned into a nuclear testing ground by the United States without consent, and their lives and lands poisoned by radiation.

    Operation Exodus: A legacy of solidarity
     Between 1946 and 1958, the US conducted 67 nuclear tests in the Marshall Islands — its total yield roughly equal to one Hiroshima-sized bomb every day for 12 years.

    During this Cold War period, the US government planned to conduct its largest nuclear test ever. On the island of Bikini, United States Commodore Ben H. Wyatt manipulated the 167 Marshallese people who called Bikini home asking them to leave so that the US could carry out atomic bomb testing, stating that it was for “the good of mankind and to end all world wars”.

    Exploiting their deep faith, he misled Bikinians into believing they were acting in God’s will, and trusting this, they agreed to move—never knowing the true cost of their decision

    Bikini Islanders board a landing craft vehicle personnel (LCVP) as they depart from Bikini Atoll in March 1946. Image: © United States Navy

    On March 1, 1954, the Castle Bravo test was launched — its yield 1000 times stronger than Hiroshima. Radioactive fallout spread across Rongelap Island about 150 kilometers away, due to what the US government claimed was a “shift in wind direction”.

    In reality, the US ignored weather reports that indicated the wind would carry the fallout eastward towards Rongelap and Utirik Atolls, exposing the islands to radioactive contamination. Children played in what they thought was snow, and almost immediately the impacts of radiation began — skin burning, hair fallout, vomiting.

    The Rongelap people were immediately relocated, and just three years later were told by the US government their island was deemed safe and asked to return.

    For the next 28 years, the Rongelap people lived through a period of intense “gaslighting” by the US government. *

    Nuclear weapon test Castle Bravo (yield 15 Mt) on Bikini Atoll, 1 March 1954. © United States Department of Energy

    Forced to live on contaminated land, with women enduring miscarriages and cancer rates increasing, in 1985, the people of Rongelap made the difficult decision to leave their homeland. Despite repeated requests to the US government to help evacuate, an SOS was sent, and Greenpeace responded: the Rainbow Warrior arrived in Rongelap, helping to move communities to Mejatto Island.

    This was the last journey of the first Rainbow Warrior. The powerful images of their evacuation were captured by photographer Fernando Pereira, who, just months later, was killed in the bombing of the Rainbow Warrior as it sailed to protest nuclear testing in the Pacific.

    Evacuation of Rongelap Islanders to Mejatto by the Rainbow Warrior crew in the Pacific 1985. Rongelap suffered nuclear fallout from US nuclear tests done from 1946-1958, making it a hazardous place to live. Image: © Greenpeace/Fernando Pereira

    From nuclear to climate: The injustice repeats
     The fight for justice did not end with the nuclear tests—the same forces that perpetuated nuclear colonialism continue to endanger the Marshall Islands today with new threats: climate change and deep-sea mining.

    The Marshall Islands, a nation of over 1,000 islands, is particularly vulnerable to climate impacts. Entire communities could disappear within a generation due to rising sea levels. Additionally, greedy international corporations are pushing to mine the deep sea of the Pacific Ocean for profit. Deep sea mining threatens fragile marine ecosystems and could destroy Pacific ways of life, livelihoods and fish populations. The ocean connects us all, and a threat anywhere in the Pacific is a threat to the world.

    Marshallese activists with traditional outriggers on the coast of the nation’s capital Majuro to demand that leaders of developed nations dramatically upscale their plans to limit global warming during the online meeting of the Climate Vulnerable Forum in 2018. Image: © Martin Romain/Greenpeace

    But if there could be one symbol to encapsulate past nuclear injustices and current climate harms it would be the Runit Dome. This concrete structure was built by the US to contain radioactive waste from years of nuclear tests, but climate change now poses a direct threat.

    Rising sea levels and increasing storm surges are eroding the dome’s integrity, raising fears of radioactive material leaking into the ocean, potentially causing a nuclear disaster.

    Aerial view of Runit Dome, Runit Island, Enewetak Atoll, Marshall Islands . . . symbolic of past nuclear injustices and current climate harms in the Pacific. Image: © US Defense Special Weapons Agency

    Science, storytelling, and resistance: The Rainbow Warrior’s epic mission and 40 year celebration

    At the invitation of the Marshallese community and government, the Rainbow Warrior is in the Pacific nation to celebrate 40 years since 1985’s Operation Exodus, and stand in support of their ongoing fight for nuclear justice, climate action, and self-determination.

    This journey brings together science, storytelling, and activism to support the Marshallese movement for justice and recognition. Independent radiation experts and Greenpeace scientists will conduct crucial research across the atolls, providing much-needed data on remaining nuclear contamination.

    For decades, research on radiation levels has been controlled by the same government that conducted the nuclear tests, leaving many unanswered questions. This independent study will help support the Marshallese people in their ongoing legal battles for recognition, reparations, and justice.

    Marshallese women greet the Rainbow Warrior as it arrives in the capital Majuro earlier this month. Image: © Bianca Vitale/Greenpeace

    The path of the ship tour: A journey led by the Marshallese
     From March to April, the Rainbow Warrior is sailing across the Marshall Islands, stopping in Majuro, Mejatto, Enewetak, Bikini, Rongelap, and Wotje. Like visiting old family, each of these locations carries a story — of nuclear fallout, forced displacement, resistance, and hope for a just future.

    But just like old family, there’s something new to learn. At every stop, local leaders, activists, and a younger generation are shaping the narrative.

    Their testimonies are the foundation of this journey, ensuring the world cannot turn away. Their stories of displacement, resilience, and hope will be shared far beyond the Pacific, calling for justice on a global scale.

    Bunny McDiarmid and Henk Haazen greet locals at the welcoming ceremony in Majuro, Marshall Islands, earlier this month. Bunny and Henk were part of the Greenpeace crew in 1985 to help evacuate the people of Rongelap. Image: © Bianca Vitale/Greenpeace

    A defining moment for climate justice
     The Marshallese are not just survivors of past injustices; they are champions of a just future. Their leadership reminds us that those most affected by climate change are not only calling for action — they are showing the way forward. They are leaders of finding solutions to avert these crises.

    Local Marshallese women’s group dance and perform cultural songs at the Rainbow Warrior welcome ceremony in Majuro, Marshall islands, earlier this month. Image: © Bianca Vitale/Greenpeace

    Since they have joined the global fight for climate justice, their leadership in the climate battle has been evident.

    In 2011, they established a shark sanctuary to protect vital marine life.

    In 2024, they created their first ocean sanctuary, expanding efforts to conserve critical ecosystems. The Marshall Islands is also on the verge of signing the High Seas Treaty, showing their commitment to global marine conservation, and has taken a firm stance against deep-sea mining.

    They are not only protecting their lands but are also at the forefront of the global fight for climate justice, pushing for reparations, recognition, and climate action.

    This voyage is a message: the world must listen, and it must act. The Marshallese people are standing their ground, and we stand in solidarity with them — just like family.

    Learn their story. Support their call for justice. Amplify their voices. Because when those on the frontlines lead, justice is within reach.

    Shiva Gounden is the head of Pacific at Greenpeace Australia Pacific. This article series is republished with the permission of Greenpeace.

    * This refers to the period from 1957 — when the US Atomic Energy Commission declared Rongelap Atoll safe for habitation despite known contamination — to 1985, when Greenpeace assisted the Rongelap community in relocating due to ongoing radiation concerns. The Compact of Free Association, signed in 1986, finally started acknowledging damages caused by nuclear testing to the populations of Rongelap.

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Team CFA find success at mine rescue competition

    Source:

    CFA’s Oscar 1 Emergency Response Mine Rescue Brigade has brought home a podium finish at the Victorian Mine Rescue Competition (VMRC) over the weekend.

    VMRC is an annual safety training exercise, which pits mine rescue and emergency response teams from Victoria and New South Wales against each other in a series of simulated emergency situations.       

    Organised by the Minerals Council of Australia (MCA), it also provides an event for teams to share knowledge and experience in a challenging but fun environment. 

    Teams gathered on Friday in Heathcote to compete in eight realistic, high pressure, scenario-based challenges including firefighting, first aid, underground search and rescue, and a ropes exercise.  

    CFA’s team, Oscar 1 claimed a win in the fire exercise scenario and third place in the Breathing Apparatus exercise.  

    First Lieutenant of the team Karl Shay said the other teams put up some tough competition.  

    “It was an excellent weekend,” Karl said. 

    “You get six months of training in just one weekend. 

    “On the Friday night our crew actually got a call out to a job with a man stuck down a mine shaft, so it was a great chance to use our skills and assist them to safety.” 

    The fire-fighting exercise included one of CFA’s gas prop cars and required participants to run through the scenario of a large car fire.  

    Tom Heather, a member of the Oscar 1 team, said the weekend provides a good opportunity to train and get together with all the rescue brigades.  

    “It puts us head-to-head, but we treat it like real life training,” Tom said.  

    “We are all bouncing off one another. You really come together as a team. 

    “I am definitely proud to be part of CFA and to show people what we can do and what we are here for.”  

    Members of the CFA Oscar 1 unit also compete across other teams including Central Victorian Mutual Aid with Oscar 1 member Darcy Mcclure-Wallace won the overall individual skills category and was part of the overall winning team, Foster Gold Mine, with other members of the Oscar 1 unit. 

    Submitted by CFA Media

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Amador County Man Sentenced to 5 Years in Prison for Illegal Marijuana Cultivation

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Timothy Charles Wilson, 76, of Pioneer, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Dale A. Drozd to five years in prison and ordered him to pay $24,778 in restitution for manufacturing marijuana, Acting U.S. Attorney Michele Beckwith announced.

    According to court documents, Wilson illegally manufactured 238 marijuana plants inside and around his residence in Pioneer. He grew these plants as part of a larger conspiracy with his three co-defendants to grow marijuana in the Tomhead Mountain area in Shasta-Trinity National Forest that consisted of 1,054 marijuana plants. In furtherance of this conspiracy, co-defendant Filemon Padilla Martinez recruited, trained, and supplied Oscar Francisco-Diego and Francisco Gomez Sanchez, the other two co-defendants in this case, whom he left to live and work on the site while he stayed either at a nearby stash house or at his residence in Ione. Wilson paid Padilla Martinez and funded the supplies.

    According to court documents, surveillance captured Wilson and Padilla Martinez visiting the marijuana grow on Tomhead Mountain on Aug. 2, 2019. A subsequent search of Wilson’s residence in Pioneer resulted in the discovery of a multiple receipts for marijuana supplies, carbon copies of checks to Padilla Martinez, marijuana cultivation supplies, 238 marijuana plants, and other evidence of illegal marijuana cultivation.

    This case was the product of an investigation by the U.S. Forest Service, the Tehama County Sheriff’s Department, and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, with assistance from the Amador County Sheriff’s Office and the California Department of Justice. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adrian T. Kinsella prosecuted the case.

    Padilla Martinez, Francisco-Diego and Gomez Sanchez have been previously sentenced for their roles in the offense. There were each sentenced to 10 years, 19 months, and 22 months of incarceration, respectively.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Hawley Addresses Students at Liberty University Convocation 

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo)
    By U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) | March 31, 2024 | Liberty University
    On Friday, U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) delivered the Convocation Address to students at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia. Listen to Senator Hawley’s full remarks here. 
    Speech excerpts as delivered:
    “Is not our nation in so many ways spiritually oppressed? Are we not suffering the spiritual oppression of the forces of secularism in our society? For decades now, the forces of secularism–the false gods, if you will, of secularism–have said that Christians should be silent in the public square. That Christians should have no place in law or in business or in academia or in government. The forces of secularism would cut us off from our spiritual history, from our spiritual foundations, from what makes us who we are as a nation. Every civilization is founded on a set of religious convictions, and the United States of America I firmly believe is the greatest nation in the world because our religious convictions are the convictions of the Bible.
    […]
    “But the forces of secularism seek to cut us off from that truth. It seeks to destroy it and in so doing, to oppress our nation. Are we not oppressed by the forces of materialism? The false gods of wealth and self?
    […]
    “This is maybe the most prevalent idol of our popular culture. The idol that says, live for yourself. Put yourself first. Self-care, self-gratification. Organize your life around you.
    […]
    “And young men can I just say a word to you? Would you mind? Can I just say to you that there is a particular version of this idol that is directed specifically to you. It’s the version of this idol that says true manhood consists of doing whatever you want, whenever you want, to whomever you want, no matter the cost. I know you’ve heard it. It’s louder and louder and louder in our culture. And can I just say to you today, that is not the gospel of Jesus Christ. That is not manhood after the pattern of Jesus.
    […]
    “The truth is, Jesus Christ was the strongest man who ever lived and he led a life of sacrifice. This is a false idol, and you know it is because there’s no cost to it. True manhood has cost. It costs you something. It’s the denial of self. It is a war on sin. It is sacrifice for other people. That’s what it means to be a man after Jesus Christ. Tear down the idol of self in your life and look instead to the example of Jesus Christ.
    […] 
    “When God comes to us He does not come to us and say, ‘Let me see your resume.’ When God comes to us He does not come and say, ‘What can you do for me?’ When God comes to us to call us, He says, ‘I declare this is who you are in Jesus Christ.’ God’s word to Gideon in Gideon’s’ life is not a rehearsal of Gideon’s accomplishments. It is a promise of God’s work in his life. He says, ‘I will make you a mighty man of valor.’ Receive that word from the Lord for you. He says the same words over you: ‘Oh mighty man of valor. Oh mighty woman of valor.’ Let Him speak those words over you and receive them today. Catch God’s vision for your life. He has a vision to use you in powerful ways. He has a vision to use you for powerful purpose for the Kingdom of God. And it doesn’t depend on what you’ve done, on where you’ve been, on what choices you’ve made or what your past is. It depends on who God is.”
    Watch Senator Hawley’s convocation address here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Baldwin Introduces Bill to Release Illegally Withheld Funding for Wisconsin Farmers

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Wisconsin Tammy Baldwin
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and her colleagues introduced the Honor Farmer Contracts Act, legislation to release illegally withheld funding for all contracts and agreements previously entered into by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). President Trump’s USDA has refused to make reimbursement payments to fulfill signed contracts, without any indication of when or whether farmers will be paid the money they paid out and are owed. Farmers in Wisconsin and the organizations that serve them operate on tight margins and cannot be left waiting without funding they rightfully were awarded and planned for. This legislation would require the USDA to pay farmers all past due payments as quickly as possible to prevent them from having to shut down their operations.
    “Donald Trump and Elon Musk are stiffing our farmers and processors – taking away resources these folks were guaranteed, threatening small businesses’ ability to stay open and people’s livelihoods. Wisconsin farmers work hard on tight margins and drive our rural economy forward – and there is no reason they should be left high and dry by this administration just so Elon Musk and Donald Trump can pass a tax break that makes their rich friends richer,” said Senator Baldwin. “It’s wrong and I am fighting back.”
    When farmers successfully apply to USDA programs and then spend their own dollars  under contracts with the agency, they rightfully expect that they will receive reimbursement. Similarly, farmer-serving organizations—which farmers rely upon to connect to local markets and implement practices that make them more productive and less resource intensive—are facing imminent funding crises from not being reimbursed for completed or in-progress contracted work. If not quickly made whole, these organizations will be forced to make agonizing decisions to lay off staff and stop helping farmers, destroying years of progress and investment in our agriculture economy.
    In March of this year, Senator Baldwin successfully pushed the USDA to restart payments already committed to Wisconsin Dairy Business Innovation (DBI) Initiative recipients after calling on the Trump Administration the month prior to release the funding. She’s also called on the Trump Administration to reverse course on funding for a partnership between Wisconsin farmers and local food banks that was clawed back by the federal government earlier this month.
    The Honor Farmer Contracts Act would:
    Require USDA to unfreeze all signed agreements and contracts;
    Require USDA to make all past due payments as quickly as possible;
    Prohibit USDA from cancelling agreements or contracts with farmers or organizations providing assistance to farmers unless there has been a failure to comply with the terms and conditions of the agreement or contract.
    Prohibit USDA from closing any Farm Service Agency county office, Natural Resources Conservation Service field office or Rural Development Service Center without providing 60 days prior notice and justification to Congress.
    The bill is led by Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) and also co-sponsored by Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Peter Welch (D-VT), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Angus King (I-ME), Tina Smith (D-MN), Ed Markey (D-MA), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Sheldon Whitehouse, and Bernie Sanders (I-VT). U.S. Representative Gabe Vasquez (D-NM-02) also introduced companion legislation in the House of Representatives.
    Full text of this legislation is available here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI China: East China city lifts home resale limit to boost property market

    Source: China State Council Information Office 2

    Nanjing, the capital of east China’s Jiangsu Province, on Monday announced that it is completely lifting home resale restrictions amid a series of measures to promote the stable and healthy development of the property sector.
    Effective from Monday, commercial housing can be listed for resale as soon as the owner obtains a property ownership certificate, Jiang Haiqin, deputy director of the Nanjing Municipal Bureau of Housing Security and Real Estate, told a press briefing. The move aims to better accommodate residents’ diverse housing needs and facilitate the housing upgrades.
    The city imposed housing resale restrictions in May 2017, banning owners from reselling their homes within three years of getting their property ownership certificates, in a bid to curb speculation and cool the home market.
    To further support home buyers looking to upgrade their housing, the city authorities will also improve and expand its housing trade-in scheme, Jiang said.
    The scheme will be backed by government and developer subsidies, financial institution support, and real estate broker assistance. As part of the first phase, authorities will allocate 100 million yuan (about 13.9 million U.S. dollars) in subsidies, supplemented by additional developer-led promotions, to boost housing upgrading purchases.
    Nanjing is also introducing preferential financial policies for young people. Commercial banks will be encouraged to launch special mortgage products featuring low down payments, reduced interest rates, and extended loan terms for buyers under the age of 45.
    The city’s latest efforts reflect a broader effort by Chinese authorities to stabilize and boost confidence in the real estate market, a key pillar of the country’s economy.
    The latest policy shift comes as Nanjing’s housing market shows signs of recovery. Official data indicates that in the first two months of 2025, the city’s transaction area for new and second-hand homes rose by 29.9 percent and 16.7 percent year on year, respectively.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: First batch of disaster-relief material by Chinese government arrives in Myanmar

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    YANGON, March 31 — The first batch of disaster-relief material provided by the Chinese government arrived here on Monday.

    The supplies were welcomed by Chinese Ambassador to Myanmar Ma Jia and Yangon Region Chief Minister U Soe Thein, among others.

    The supplies included 1,200 tents, 8,000 blankets and more than 40,000 first aid kits, Ma said, adding that more supplies were being prepared and will soon arrive in Myanmar.

    She noted that China is willing to assist in Myanmar’s earthquake relief and post-disaster reconstruction, and wished the people of Myanmar an early victory over the disaster and reconstruction of their homeland.

    Thein said the supplies demonstrated a profound friendship of the Chinese government and people toward the Myanmar people.

    A Chinese rescue team arrived first after the earthquake, Thein said, noting that multiple Chinese teams were sent later.

    Expressing gratitude to China for its sincere help, Thein said the supplies would be sent to disaster-hit areas soon.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Bus Stop Films’ first feature Boss Cat to begin production in June

    Source: NSW Government puts trust in NAB to transform banking and payments

    01 04 2025 – Media release

    Boss Cat cast (L-R): Olivia Hargroder, Penny Downie and Julia Savage. 
    Bus Stop Films has announced that its first feature film, Boss Cat, will begin filming in Australia’s Blue Mountains region in June.
    Written and directed by Genevieve Clay-Smith, with major production investment from Screen Australia, Boss Cat will star Olivia Hargroder, Penny Downie and Julia Savage. Olivia is a proud member of the Down Syndrome community, who earlier featured in the short film Sunshine, which Genevieve wrote. Julia made her feature film debut in Blaze, with television credits including The Clearing and Class of 07.  
    Boss Cat will be award-winning stage and screen actress Penny Downie’s first Australian project for many years. With credits including The Diplomat, The Crown and Downton Abbey, Penny said, “I am thrilled to be returning home to Australia to be part of this beautiful film. Genevieve’s script captured me instantly, and I can’t wait to be part of bringing this story to life.”
    Boss Cat is the story of 23-year-old Sonja, a woman with Trisomy 21 (Down Syndrome) who, after her mother dies, campaigns against the plans of her estranged grandmother to sell the family home and send her away. In order to galvanize the support she needs, Sonja must first channel an explosive temper into something more positive…Krump dance.
    Writer and director Genevieve Clay Smith is a trailblazing filmmaker, renowned for her visionary directorial works which champion diversity and inclusion, including The Interviewer (Winner Short Shorts Film Festival and Asia 2013), Groundhog Night (Sydney Film Festival 2020) and I Am Emmanuel (Palm Springs Int. 2014). Genevieve’s work as the Series Writer and Director of the 26 x 11-episode series Fizzy and Suds (2024), has garnered global attention with three nominations at the 2024 Prix Jeunesse one of those being the UNESCO Prize, intended to honour a children’s or youth programme that convincingly promotes a better under­standing of people, of different cultures and experiences.
    Genevieve pioneered the inclusive filmmaking movement in Australia in 2008 when she co-founded Bus Stop Films, alongside Producer Eleanor Winkler, with the duo winning Tropfest with the short film Be My Brother.
    Bus Stop Films is a female, disability led, not-for-profit social enterprise that uses filmmaking and the film industry to raise the profile of people living with disabilities and other marginalised groups, on both sides of the camera, through education, content creation, advocacy and employment. Through its Accessible Filmmaking Program, Bus Stop Films has, over the past 16 years, produced over 110 short films and supported thousands of workplace opportunities for people with disability through their Bus Stop Employment service.
    Boss Cat will be produced by Deanne Weir, Eleanor Winkler and Bus Stop’s COO/Head of Screen Dianna La Grassa, with executive producers Tracey Corbin-Matchett OAM, Nathan Basha, and Mandela Mathia and co-producer Michele Turnure-Salleo of Feracious Entertainment.
    As a Bus Stop Film’s production, Boss Cat will offer an end-to-end inclusive production pathway, creating distinctive on-screen and production roles for multiple young adults with disabilities.
    A tailored workplace program will be developed to enhance disability employment on the film, considering a candidate’s areas of interest, current skills, previous on-set experience and access requirements. Participants will then be placed in corresponding departments to work and learn, being mentored by the professional crew members.
    Additionally, Bus Stop Films will support the professional cast and crew to feel confident in managing, working alongside and creatively collaborating with participants through the delivery of their Inclusion in Action workshop. The program is part of Bus Stop’s Inclusive Crewing Project, which is funded through a Building Employer Confidence grant from the Australian Government.
    Genevieve Clay Smith said, “I’m deeply grateful to everyone who has championed Boss Cat and helped bring this story to life. It’s a joy to collaborate with an extraordinary team of powerful, diverse women to elevate Bus Stop Films’ inclusive filmmaking to a feature film scale. I hope this film stirs hearts, shifts perspectives, and reshapes what people believe is possible for individuals with disability.”
    Screen Australia Director of Narrative Content Louise Gough said, “Boss Cat is an entertaining, essential story and we’re proud to support this groundbreaking project marking Genevieve’s debut feature. The team’s commitment to inclusive filmmaking – both on and off screen – blends seamlessly with an ultimately joyous, engaging narrative. With collaboration at every turn, the authenticity of this film will resonate deeply, celebrating community, amplifying vital voices, and leaving a lasting impact.”
    Producer Deanne Weir said, “Having followed Genevieve’s career and the amazing work of Bus Stop Films, first under Gen’s leadership and now under the guiding hand of the unstoppable Tracey Corbin-Matchett, I am thrilled to be working with this incredible team to bring Boss Cat to life, and to be a major investor through WeirAnderson Films. This is a film that will delight and entertain audiences across the globe and bring people to the cinema to share a moving ‘feel-good’ experience that we all need right now”.
    Bus Stop Films’ CEO Tracey Corbin-Matchett said, “In our 16th year, Boss Cat celebrates our unwavering commitment to authenticity on both sides of the camera. I’m proud to see Bus Stop’s global leadership in inclusive filmmaking recognised with the strong support for the project and for the intersectional team bringing this beautiful film to life.  I would also like to take this opportunity to thank our many philanthropic partners who have made it possible for us to do the work we do.”
    Minister for Social Services and the NDIS Amanda Rishworth said, “Inclusive and supportive industry organisations like Bus Stop Films are a gamechanger for people with disability. Not only do they provide amazing employment opportunities but they’re an avenue for people with disability to pursue their passions and express their creativity. I am committed to breaking down barriers so that people with disability can pursue their goals and build careers in the industry of their choice.”
    Production credit: Boss Cat is a Bus Stop Films production. Major production investment from Screen Australia in association with Screen NSW and WeirAnderson Films. Madman Entertainment is distributing in Australia and New Zealand. Developed with assistance of Screen Australia and Screen NSW and WeirAnderson Films.
    The production has received philanthropic support and investment from key partners including the Summer Foundation, Sherry-Hogan Trust, The Snow Foundation, Nelson Meers Foundation and Mary-Ann Lopez.
    Boss Cat Media enquiries
    Tracey Mair, TM Publicity
    For Bus Stop Films
    Ph: 0419 221 493 I E: [email protected]
    Media enquiries
    Maddie Walsh | Publicist
    + 61 2 8113 5915  | [email protected]
    Jessica Parry | Senior Publicist (Mon, Tue, Thu)
    + 61 428 767 836  | [email protected]
    All other general/non-media enquiries
    Sydney + 61 2 8113 5800  |  Melbourne + 61 3 8682 1900 | [email protected]

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Public Works Act overhaul complete to drive infrastructure growth

    Source: New Zealand Government

    The final stage of reforms to the Public Works Act will introduce bigger and broader land payments, improved landowner engagement and new measures to support disaster recovery, Land Information Minister Chris Penk has announced. 
     
    “The Government has been working through an overhaul of the Public Works Act (PWA) to bring it into the 21st century after an independent review found it lacked clarity and commonsense. Today, I am proud to confirm that review is complete” Mr Penk says.  
     
    “If we want to grow the economy, boost productivity and make New Zealand a better place to live we must fix our pipes, increase the capacity of our schools and hospitals, and build more homes, roads and renewable energy sources. 
     
    “I want to thank the panel members for their expert advice in making the Act more efficient, effective, and transparent. This will help end decades of difficulties which have seen central and local governments struggle to secure land for development. 
     
    “Already announced changes include a dedicated carve-out in the law to provide incentive payments and a streamlined objections process for critical infrastructure. Now, this final set of reforms will modernise the wider system – protecting landowners’ rights while ensuring the Crown and local authorities can deliver for New Zealanders.”

    The final tranche will:  

    Introduce incentive payments: To encourage early agreements on land acquisition, landowners who voluntarily sell their property before a Notice of Intention is issued will now be eligible for an incentive payment of 10 percent of the land value, up to a maximum of $100,000. 

    Update home-loss and land-loss payments: To recognise the disruption caused by acquisition, additional payments will be made alongside the land value and any incentive payments: 

    o    The home-loss base payment will increase from $35,000 to $50,000.  
    o    The land-loss payment amount will increase from $250-$25,000 to $350-$35,000. 
    o    Home-loss payments will now extend to multiple homes on a property, such as farms held in trust with multiple owners residing on the land. 

    Land Acquisition Process Reforms: The process for acquiring land will be streamlined by replacing the initial statutory notice with a more structured engagement process. Before issuing a Notice of Intention for compulsory acquisition: 

    o    Landowners must receive comprehensive information on the acquisition, their rights, entitlements, and an invitation to sell. 
    o    The Minister or local authority must negotiate with landowners in good faith for at least three months (or six months for Māori freehold land). 

    Emergency Provisions: New measures will allow land acquisition following a declared state of emergency to support infrastructure restoration and community recovery, when activated by Order in Council.  

    “Cyclone Gabrielle showed in the starkest light the immense challenges communities face after a natural disaster. When roads, railway lines, water and power stations are wiped out and homes left uninhabitable, we must act swiftly and decisively. This new emergency provision empowers us to reconnect those in need,” Mr Penk says.  

    The Public Works Act Amendment Bill will be introduced to Parliament in mid-2025, with the public invited to provide feedback through the select committee process.

    Note to editors:      

    Information on previously announced Public Works Act changes can be found on the Beehive website: 

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: New innovations in Microsoft Purview for protected, AI-ready data

    Source: Microsoft

    Headline: New innovations in Microsoft Purview for protected, AI-ready data

    The Microsoft Fabric and Microsoft Purview teams are excited to be in Las Vegas from March 31 to April 2, 2025, for the second annual and highly anticipated Microsoft Fabric Community Conference. With more than 200 sessions, 13 focused tracks, 21 hands-on workshops, and two keynotes, attendees can expect an engaging and informative experience. The conference offers a unique opportunity for the community to connect and exchange insights on key topics such as data and AI.

    Microsoft Purview: Built to safeguard your AI innovation

    AI innovation is impacting every industry, business process, and individual. About 75% of knowledge workers today are currently using some sort of AI in their day to day.1 At the same time, the regulatory landscape is evolving at an unprecedented pace. Around the world, at least 69 countries have proposed more than 1,000 AI-related policy initiatives and legal frameworks to address public concerns around AI safety and governance.2 With the need to adhere to regulations and policy frameworks for AI transformation, a comprehensive solution is needed to address security, governance, and privacy concerns. Additionally, with the convergence of the responsibilities of cybersecurity and data teams, customers are asking for a solution that turns data security and data governance into a team sport to address issues such data discovery, data classification, data loss prevention, and data quality in a unified way. Microsoft Purview delivers a comprehensive set of solutions that address these needs, helping customers seamlessly secure and confidently activate their data in the era of AI.

    We are excited to announce new innovations that help security and data teams accelerate their organization’s AI transformation:

    1. Enhancing Microsoft Purview Data Loss Prevention (Purview DLP) support for lakehouse in Microsoft Fabric to help prevent sensitive data loss by restricting access.
    2. Expanding Purview DLP policy support for additional Fabric items such as KQL databases and Mirrored databases to send users notification through policy tips when they are working with sensitive data.
    3. Microsoft Purview integration with Copilot in Fabric, specifically for Power BI.
    4. Data Observability within the Microsoft Purview Unified Catalog.

    Seamlessly secure data

    Microsoft Purview is extending its proven data security value delivered to millions of Microsoft 365 users worldwide, to the Microsoft data platform. This helps users drive consistency across their multicloud and multiplatform data estate and simplify risks related to data leaks, oversharing, and risky user behavior as more users are managing and handling data in the era of AI.

    1. Enhancing Microsoft Purview Data Loss Prevention (DLP) support for lakehouse in Fabric to help prevent sensitive data loss by restricting access

    Microsoft Purview Data Security capabilities are used by hundreds of thousands of customers for their integration with Microsoft 365 data. Since last year’s Microsoft Fabric Community Conference, Microsoft Purview has extended Microsoft Purview Information Protection and Purview DLP policy tip value across the data estate, including Fabric. Currently, Purview DLP supports the ability to show users notifications for when they are working with sensitive data in lakehouse. We are excited to share that we are enhancing the DLP value in lakehouse to prevent sensitive data leakage to guest users by restricting access. Data Security admins can configure policies and limit access to only internal users or data owners based on the sensitive data found. This control is valuable for when a Fabric tenant includes guest users and domain owners want to limit access to internal proprietary data in their lakehouses. 

    Figure 1. DLP policy restricting access for guest users into lakehouse due to personally identifiable information (PII) data discovered 

    Learn more about Microsoft Purview Data Loss Prevention

    2. Expanding DLP policy support for additional Fabric items such as KQL databases and Mirrored databases to show users notification through policy tips when they are working with sensitive data

    A key part of securing sensitive data is to provide visibility to your users on where and how they are interacting with sensitive data. Purview DLP policies can help notify users when they are working with sensitive data through policy tips in lakehouse in Fabric. We are excited to announce that we are extending policy tips support for additional Fabric items—KQL databases and Mirrored databases in preview. (Mirrored Database sources include Azure Cosmos DB, Azure SQL Database, Azure SQL Managed Instance, Azure Databricks Unity Catalog, and Snowflake, with more sources available soon). KQL databases are the only databases used for real-time analytics so detecting sensitive data that comes through real-time analytics is huge for Fabric customers. Purview DLP for Mirrored databases reduces the security risk of sensitive data leakage when data is transferred in Fabric. We are happy to extend Purview DLP value to more data sources, providing end-to-end protection for customers within their Fabric environments, all to prepare for the safe deployment of AI.

    Figure 2. Policy tip triggered by Purview DLP due to PII being discovered in KQL databases.

    Figure 3. Policy tip triggered by Purview DLP due to PII being discovered in Mirrored databases.

    3. Microsoft Purview for Copilot in Fabric

    As organizations adopt AI, implementing data controls and a Zero Trust approach is crucial to mitigate risks like data oversharing and leakage, and potential non-compliant usage in AI. We are excited to announce Microsoft Purview capabilities in preview for Copilot in Fabric, starting with Copilot for Power BI. By combining Microsoft Purview and Copilot for Power BI, users can:

    • Discover data risks such as sensitive data in user prompts and responses and receive recommended actions in their Microsoft Purview Data Security Posture Management (DSPM) dashboard to reduce these risks.
    • Identify risky AI usage with Microsoft Purview Insider Risk Management to investigate risky AI usage, such as an inadvertent user who has neglected security best practices and shared sensitive data in AI or a departing employee using AI to find sensitive data and exfiltrating the data through a USB device.
    • Govern AI usage with Microsoft Purview Audit, Microsoft Purview eDiscovery, retention policies, and non-compliant usage detection.

    Figure 4. Purview DSPM for AI provides admins with comprehensive reports on Copilot in Fabric’s user activities, as well as data entered and shared within the copilot.

    Confidently activate data

    4. Data observability, now in preview, within Microsoft Purview Unified Catalog

    Within the Unified Catalog in Microsoft Purview, users can easily identify the root cause of data quality issues by visually investigating the relationship between governance domains, data products, glossary terms, and data assets associated with them through its lineage. Data assets and their respective data quality are visible across your multicloud, hybrid data estate. Maintaining high data quality is core to driving trustworthy AI innovation forward, and with the new data observability capabilities in Microsoft Purview, users can now improve how fast they can investigate and resolve root cause issues to improve data quality and respond to regulatory reporting requirements.

    Figure 5. Lineage view of data assets that showcases data quality within a Data Product.

    Microsoft Purview and Microsoft Fabric can help secure and activate data

    As your organization continues to implement AI, Microsoft Fabric and Microsoft Purview will serve as key solutions to safely activate your data for AI. Stay tuned for even more exciting innovations to come and check out the Fabric blog to read more about the innovations in Fabric.

    Learn more about Microsoft Purview

    Learn more

    Explore these resources to stay updated on our product innovations in security and governance for your data:

    To learn more about Microsoft Security solutions, visit our website. Bookmark the Security blog to keep up with our expert coverage on security matters. Also, follow us on LinkedIn (Microsoft Security) and X (@MSFTSecurity) for the latest news and updates on cybersecurity.

    1Work Trends Index

    2AI Regulations around the World – 2025

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Reed & Whitehouse Press USDA to Reinstate Food Shipments to RI Food Banks

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Rhode Island Jack Reed

    WASHINGTON, DC — As grocery prices rise and more families struggle to afford basic staples, the Trump Administration is dramatically reducing aid for local food banks across the country that are already strained by rising demand. 

    Through cuts, contract cancellations, and funding freezes, the Trump Administration is providing up to $1.5 billion less for hunger relief and nutrition assistance through programs like the Local Food Purchase Assistance (LFPA) program and the Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP).  This will result in less produce, meat, dairy, and other staples in the coming weeks and months for food banks nationwide to distribute to Americans in need.

    TEFAP is a core USDA nutrition program that buys food from American farmers to provide food assistance to those in need. In Rhode Island, TEFAP is administered by the Rhode Island Community Food Bank, in partnership with the Rhode Island Department of Human Services. The Rhode Island Community Food Bank orders food from USDA and distributes it out to its 143 member agencies across the state.  This network of food pantries, soup kitchens, and other organizations plays a key role in connecting the food provided by the USDA directly to Rhode Islanders facing food insecurity.  TEFAP helps Rhode Islanders access balanced and nutritious meals, supporting their well-being and helping to build stronger, healthier communities across the state.

    Because of Trump’s reduction in federal food assistance, the Rhode Island Community Food Bank is looking to replace about 500,000 pounds of food worth $1.74 million in TEFAP food deliveries set for the rest of the year that have reportedly been canceled. 

    Earlier this week, U.S. Senators Jack Reed (D-RI) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) joined with 24 Senate colleagues in pressing the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to reinstate these shipments of food to Rhode Island food banks.

    “A cancellation of these funds could result in $500 million in lost food provisions to feed millions of Americans at a time when the need for food shelves is extremely high due to costly groceries and an uncertain economy,” the 26 U.S. Senators wrote in a letter to USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins.

    “If true, this major shift in a program utilized by emergency food providers in every state in the nation will have a significant and damaging impact upon millions of people who depend upon this program for critical food assistance,” the Senators continued. “In addition, this program consists of purchases of U.S. commodities at a time when America’s growers and producers are struggling due to tariffs, proposed tariffs, animal disease and many other challenges.”

    The Senators asked Secretary Rollins for answers to a half-dozen key questions on topics ranging from the reasoning behind the reported cancellation, to plans for food purchases, and the impact the changes will have on dairy farmers and poultry producers.

    In addition to Reed and Whitehouse, the letter was signed by Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Mark Warner (D-VA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Chris Coons (D-DE), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Angus King (I-ME), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Tina Smith (D-MN), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Peter Welch (D-VT),  Adam Schiff (D-CA), Andy Kim (D-NJ), and Elissa Slotkin (D-MI).

    Reed and Whitehouse also noted that in Rhode Island, the cancellation of food assistance not only takes food away from hungry people, but it also hurts local farmers who are being squeezed by Trump’s tariffs and deep cuts to domestic markets.  Further, they contend that USDA’s lack of clear communication has made it harder for food banks to plan, budget, and feed the growing numbers of people who are turning to them as unemployment and inflation rises.

    Full text of the letter follows:

    Dear Secretary Rollins:

    We write regarding the reported cancellation of hundreds of millions of dollars in previously approved funding for food banks and other emergency food providers through The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP). A cancellation of these funds could result in $500 million in lost food provisions to feed millions of Americans at a time when the need for food shelves is extremely high due to costly groceries and an uncertain economy. If true, this major shift in a program utilized by emergency food providers in every state in the nation will have a significant and damaging impact upon millions of people who depend upon this program for critical food assistance.

    In addition, this program consists of purchases of U.S. commodities at a time when America’s growers and producers are struggling due to tariffs, proposed tariffs, animal disease and many other challenges.

    According to recent statistics, nearly one in every seven Americans have faced food insecurity. Many of these households turn to community and emergency relief organizations such as food banks and food pantries to help them obtain sufficient nutrition. In 2023 alone, 50 million Americans turned to emergency food providers, according to a report from Feeding America, America’s largest network of food banks. While food banks rely on a variety of sources (including private) to obtain food for distribution through their networks, federally purchased commodities are a key part of how they provide nutritious meals to Americans. 

    Due to this reported change, a number of us have heard that trucks delivering American-grown foods may not arrive. These trucks represent hundreds of thousands of nutritious meals containing poultry, fruits, vegetables, and dairy. If confirmed, the cancellation of this previously announced funding also comes on top of the cancellation of Local Food for School Program and the Local Food Purchase Assistance Program funding, which also helps farmers deliver nutritious foods to schools and food banks. These cuts will deprive Americans of food assistance, emergency food providers of necessary support to carry out their work, and American farmers of vital domestic markets.

    To help us understand USDA’s actions and their impact on communities around the country, we ask that you answer the following questions.

    1.      Has USDA cancelled previously approved purchases of food provided through TEFAP? If so, what level of funding has been cancelled thus far and when will state agencies be notified of any cancelled TEFAP purchases?

    2.      Does USDA plan to cancel additional purchases of food provided through TEFAP?

    3.      Has USDA paused any TEFAP food orders or purchases? If so, what is the current status of those orders or purchases? Does USDA intend to un-pause these funds? 

    4.      Please provide information on what types of funding, by commodity, have been cancelled and the financial impact of those cancellations on producers such as pork, chicken, turkey and dairy farmers.

    5.      Is the funding announced on October 1, 2024 and detailed in the implementation memo that the Food and Nutrition Service sent to state agencies on December 2 rescinded?

    6. Does USDA intend to use Commodity Credit Corporation funds in Fiscal Year 2025 for future purchases that will be distributed through TEFAP? 

    We ask for a prompt response to these questions by the end of the week.

    Sincerely,

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: RI Delegation Demands CDC Reinstate Public Health Funding

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Rhode Island Jack Reed

    WASHINGTON, DC – In an effort to restore and release $31.2 million in promised federal public health funding for Rhode Island that was terminated earlier this week by the Trump Administration, U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse and Congressmen Seth Magaziner and Gabe Amo today sent a letter to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. demanding that the bipartisan approved funding be delivered to the state as intended by the law.

    The Trump Administration is seeking to claw back $11.4 billion in public health funding for state and local health departments across the nation.  In Rhode Island, the Trump Administration cancelled four Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) grants totaling $31.2 million that support the state’s post-pandemic initiatives.  

    Despite the CDC’s claim that these funds were being pulled back because the pandemic ended, the federal grants are designed to help states better respond to future public health emergencies.

    “Earlier this week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) terminated this funding, leaving the State of Rhode Island without $31.2 million in promised federal funding, which will cripple its efforts to head off future disease outbreaks,” the delegation wrote. “This funding was critical to saving lives and keeping the health care system afloat in unprecedented circumstances,” the delegation continued.  “Funding was also provided to address the many systemic weaknesses in our public health infrastructure, strengthening our capacity to respond to future disease outbreaks, protect vulnerable populations, and improve communications with the public. Regrettably, CDC’s decision to terminate these funds will undermine these efforts, and Rhode Island’s public health system will be degraded.”

    Rhode Island’s Congressional delegation also called attention to the significant impacts that not restoring this critical federal funding will have on the Ocean State’s public health, public safety, and the economy, specifically around the Rhode Island Department Health’s new $82 million state-of-the-art public health laboratory.

    “The new Rhode Island State Health Laboratory will be a crucial piece of the puzzle in investigating and mitigating life-threatening diseases. It will also provide important services for State and municipal agencies to ensure the safety of drinking water and food products; monitor pollution of air and water; and aid public safety and criminal investigations through police officer training, DNA testing, and illegal drug identification,” the delegation noted. “While work on the building will continue, its ability to provide the scope of services Rhode Island needs will be limited because the CDC is cutting over $15 million in funding that will help staff the facility and equip it with the latest testing capabilities.”

    Full text of the letter follows:

    March 28, 2025

    Honorable Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.

    Secretary

    U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

    200 Independence Ave SW

    Washington, D.C. 20201

    Dear Secretary Kennedy:

    We write to urge you to reinstate funding awarded to help Rhode Island and other states to rebuild and strengthen their public health preparedness in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

    Earlier this week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) terminated this funding, leaving the State of Rhode Island without $31.2 million in promised federal funding, which will cripple its efforts to head off future disease outbreaks.

    On a bipartisan basis, Congress provided significant funding over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic in order to help states and health care organizations provide testing, treatment, and vaccines – among other efforts. This funding was critical to saving lives and keeping the health care system afloat in unprecedented circumstances. Funding was also provided to address the many systemic weaknesses in our public health infrastructure, strengthening our capacity to respond to future disease outbreaks, protect vulnerable populations, and improve communications with the public. Regrettably, CDC’s decision to terminate these funds will undermine these efforts, and Rhode Island’s public health system will be degraded.

    Last year, the Rhode Island Department of Health, working with community and industry partners, broke ground on a new $82 million state-of-the-art public health laboratory to replace its existing dilapidated laboratory facility. The new Rhode Island State Health Laboratory will be a crucial piece of the puzzle in investigating and mitigating life-threatening diseases. It will also provide important services for State and municipal agencies to ensure the safety of drinking water and food products; monitor pollution of air and water; and aid public safety and criminal investigations through police officer training, DNA testing, and illegal drug identification. While work on the building will continue, its ability to provide the scope of services Rhode Island needs will be limited because the CDC is cutting over $15 million in funding that will help staff the facility and equip it with the latest testing capabilities.

    The CDC cuts announced this week would also cancel $13 million in funding for Rhode Island to improve the state’s vaccine infrastructure through campaigns to promote vaccine uptake, partnerships with community organizations to encourage vaccination, and ensuring safe vaccine storage. The recent measles outbreak, including one case in Rhode Island, demonstrates the need for continued vigilance in this area. Similarly, funding for programs addressing health disparities and expanding access to community health workers has been cut. Each of these efforts is an important tool in improving our public health infrastructure and better preparing us for the next public health emergency. It would be pennywise and pound-foolish to claw back the federal investment in this work.

    Again, we urge you to reverse course immediately and to restore this critical funding. Thank you for your attention to this request, and we look forward to your prompt response.

    Sincerely,

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: BLOG | From despair to pride – how Walton stood united following the torching of Spellow Community Hub and Library during the racist riots of summer 2024

    Source: City of Liverpool

    “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that”

    Martin Luther King

    To mark the reopening of Spellow Community Hub and Library, Writing on the Wall launched a creative writing programme, commissioned by Culture Liverpool, celebrating the rich culture and history of Walton. Local participant Angela Cheveau reveals how she moved from hopeless horror to healing.

    As a child, Spellow Library was a place of secret magic in my life. Every Saturday, my mother would take us to choose books for the week ahead. As a very shy child, the library was a space of solace and enchantment for me, a place where I could shuffle off my shyness, let my imagination run wild. The library was a magic carpet sailing me through the sometimes-stormy waters of childhood. Every book was a portal into another world, a doorway into countless magical landscapes, an escape from the harsher realities of life as a working-class child in a socially deprived area. Books opened my mind to new ways of thinking and being, to new and endless possibilities. In books I was a shapeshifter, an explorer, an adventurer, a warrior. I could be anything I wanted to be. Words were my warpaint, stories my shield, my pen was my sword.

    In August 2024, like many others around the city, I watched in hopeless horror as our local library burned. Our tv and phone screens were filled with images of destruction, shattered glass, flames licking through the roof, hooded youths hurling missiles. As a lifelong Walton resident, I was devastated to see such utter destruction, to see the streets of my home burning and filled with so much hate. It was no longer the place that I knew, it no longer felt like home. A darkness had descended upon the streets, and I was desperately concerned for my own, and my 75-year-old mother’s safety. We could hear the shouts, screaming sirens and smashing of shops from our house, and I was glued to a live stream of what was happening as my family live on County Road and were trapped inside their home, gangs of youths setting fire to wheelie bins outside the windows. It was a dark day for Walton. For the whole country.

    It is hard to describe the sadness of seeing the library burn, of seeing my childhood space of solace, safety and freedom flaring into flames. I knew the impact that this would have on the local community who depend upon the library as a place of education and knowledge. I thought of the children who would no longer have access to books and the magic they hold. Libraries are a vital lifeline for people, fostering lifelong learning and cultural engagement, ongoing education and much needed assistance. In a digital age they promote friendship and the importance of community support. For some they are a hand to hold in the dark, combatting fear, loneliness, and social isolation. They are a space of unity and boundless hope.

    Now, seven months later, it is important to heal and look to the future. It is important to learn from what happened and look for light in the dark. Despite the awful events and the horrors of the riots, what has emerged from the wreckage is something profoundly beautiful. Even amidst the darkest of times, there were glimmers of hope and light; for instance, Adam Kelwick, the Imam who embraced protesters outside the Abdullah Quilliam Mosque, breaking bread with them, talking and listening, showing bravery, compassion and great consideration Or Alex McCormick, who raised thousands of pounds online to help rebuild and refurbish the library. Or the policemen who bravely battled to keep residents safe. Or the shops that opened their doors, handing out food and drink to those involved in the clean-up operation. These are the strength of Walton; these are the people who deserve the headlines, these are the people who represent beacons of light in the dark, who symbolise compassion, togetherness and unity.

    When I heard about workshops celebrating Walton run by brilliant writing charity, Writing on the Wall, I was delighted to join. To be part of a project celebrating and highlighting the strength, resilience and community of my home is something I am proud to be a part of. I am proud to be from Liverpool, I am proud to be from Walton and I am incredibly proud of the area and how it has picked itself up and started again. Like a phoenix from the ashes, the library is once again a place of bustling activity and creativity, and Walton is looking forward towards a brighter future. Thanks to Writing on the Wall, local residents have been given the opportunity to come together, to tell their stories, share their fears, their hopes and dreams. To give themselves permission to be creative and express themselves through story, poetry and art. The project has been a joy to be part of and we have shared anger, tears and so much laughter.

    As a group we are now looking forward to showing the work that we have created at a launch event, as well as showcasing our stories/ poems in an anthology. The thing I will take away with me from this project and which will stay with me, is that community is everything and that if people are unified towards the common good powerful things are possible. Transformation and change are possible. I will remember that there are always lights out there in the darkness, even if sometimes we can’t always see them. There is always, always hope.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Completion of New Water Supply for Hoosick Falls

    Source: US State of New York

    overnor Kathy Hochul today announced the completion of construction on a new permanent water transmission line for the village of Hoosick Falls. The new water supply distribution system is part of the State’s ongoing commitment and community collaboration to address water contamination from past operations at the Saint-Gobain McCaffrey Street State Superfund site.

    “The Hoosick Falls community is a national example of strength, resiliency, and collaboration in meeting an extraordinary challenge, and the milestone reached today will ensure clean drinking water for generations of residents,” Governor Hochul said. “My administration remains focused on holding polluters accountable for fully cleaning up contamination in Hoosick Falls and providing record investments to help support other communities to ensure drinking water protection across the state.”

    Approximately 6,800 linear feet of raw water transmission line was constructed between a newly developed wellfield and the village of Hoosick Falls water treatment plant. Construction activities were performed by the parties responsible for the contamination, Honeywell and Saint-Gobain, and overseen by the New York State Departments of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and Health (DOH). View a map of the new transmission line in the village of Hoosick Falls here. DEC worked closely with the community and local leaders to evaluate water supply options and ensure the new groundwater source was located outside of the contaminated aquifer and fully compatible with the water treatment plant’s capabilities.

    The $5.5 million project is part of a $45 million agreement between New York State, Saint-Gobain, and Honeywell to implement the new water supply, address perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) contamination from historic industrial operations at the McCaffrey Street facility and other sites in the village, and reimburse the State for costs incurred by taxpayers for the cleanup.

    Department of Environmental Conservation Acting Commissioner Amanda Lefton said, “The completion of a new drinking water source for Hoosick Falls begins a new chapter for this community, part of New York State’s extensive, science-based efforts led by DEC and DOH in collaboration with Mayor Rob Allen, Supervisor Mark Surdam, Rensselaer County, and the Community Participation Working Group. Under the leadership of Governor Hochul, New York State continues to be a national leader on addressing emerging contaminants and we remain committed to the full completion of critical cleanup work ahead.”

    State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald said, “Under the leadership of Governor Hochul and thanks to the collaboration of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, the Department of Health, and our local partners, the Hoosick Falls community has a permanent, safe and reliable water source. The Department will continue to collaborate with our partners to monitor and prioritize public health and to ensure that safe drinking water is available to this community for years to come.”

    Hoosick Falls Mayor Rob Allen said, “With the activation of its new water supply, the Village passes a significant milestone in its efforts to recover from PFOA contamination. With a new water source, new infrastructure and the retention of our permanent filtration system, ordered by the state and constructed and paid for by the companies responsible for the pollution, the Village is grateful to mark this accomplishment with our state partners, our local and state elected officials, and most importantly, the members of the great Hoosick community.”

    Town of Hoosick Supervisor Mark Surdam said, “We are grateful for New York State’s continued focus on addressing PFOA contamination in the Hoosick Falls area to ensure our drinking water is safe and hold the responsible companies accountable for paying for the cleanup. I extend my thanks to Governor Hochul and the Departments of Environmental Conservation and Health for their support and commitment to protecting the health of Hoosick residents.”

    In addition to the municipal water supply, DEC installed and maintains hundreds of point-of-entry treatment systems for individual homes in the surrounding area, including in the town of Hoosick. DEC continues to require Honeywell and Saint-Gobain to identify and address the sources of PFOA contamination in the Hoosick Falls community. DEC and DOH will continue to provide Hoosick-area residents with information and  updates regarding ongoing remediation efforts. In addition, State agencies work with the  Hoosick Area Community Participation Work Group to discuss the progress of the PFOA cleanup.  Additional information and documents regarding State actions underway in the Hoosick Falls area are available on the DEC website.

    New York’s commitment to communities like Hoosick Falls remains at the forefront of Governor Hochul’s 2025-26 State of the State and Executive Budget priorities. The Governor proposed changes to modernize the State’s Superfund program to address emerging contaminants, enhance engagement with local communities, and better serve the state’s pressing economic, renewable energy, and affordable housing development needs. To complement these enhancements, the Executive Budget proposes $1.25 billion over 10 years to continue the ongoing progress in removing water and soil pollution in communities statewide. It would complement the additional $500 million to support clean water infrastructure that raises the State’s total water quality investments to $6 billion since 2017 for municipal drinking water distribution, filtration systems, and wastewater treatment. In 2024 , more than $800 million helped upgrade water and stormwater infrastructure, safeguarding public health by ensuring access to clean drinking water for all New Yorkers and bolstering community resilience against the increasing threat of flooding.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Welsh workers set for pay rise with new National Minimum Wage

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Welsh workers set for pay rise with new National Minimum Wage

    Up to 160,000 workers in Wales will receive a pay rise as the new National Living Wage and National Minimum Wage rates take effect. 

    • National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage increase will put more money in the pockets of up to 160,000 of the lowest paid workers in Wales.
    • Real-terms pay rise will boost wages by £1,400 per year for an eligible full-time worker.
    • New rates put more money back into the pockets of working people, boost living standards and kickstart growth as part of the Plan for Change.

    Up to 160,000 workers in Wales will today (Tuesday 1 April) receive a pay rise as the new National Living Wage and National Minimum Wage rates take effect. 

    Full-time workers on the National Living Wage will see a real-terms pay increase of £1,400 per year, helping to provide families with better financial stability, improve living standards and kickstart growth as part of the Plan for Change.

    This uplift will deliver security for working people and ease the pressure on their day-to-day finances. It also allows for further workers to potentially benefit from positive spill-over impacts including possible wage increases for those already earning more than the legal minimum.

    Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said:

    We promised to make low pay a thing of the past. Now, as part of our Plan to Make Work Pay and the biggest upgrade to workers’ rights in a generation, we are delivering that.

    Low pay is not only bad for workers, it prevents them from spending on our high streets and allowing local businesses to achieve their full potential.

    By ensuring that everyone gets a fair wage for the hours they work, we’re delivering the financial stability needed to kick-start economic growth and ensure our country is fit for the future

    Employment Rights Minister Justin Madders said: 

    Hard work deserves to be rewarded and this Government’s Plan to Make Work Pay is making that a reality.

    We’re raising the floor for workers from Cardiff to Colwyn Bay, putting more money into their pockets and delivering the increased living standards needed to kickstart economic growth across Wales.

    The full increases from 1 April 2025 are:

    • National Living Wage (21+) has increased 6.7%, from £11.44 to £12.21 per hour
    • National Minimum Wage (18-20) has a record increase of 16.2%, from £8.60 to £10 per hour
    • National Minimum Wage (under 18) has increased 18%, to £7.55 per hour
    • Apprentice Rate has the largest increase of 18%, from £6.40 to £7.55 per hour
    • Accommodation Offset of £10.66 per day

    The Secretary of State for Wales Jo Stevens said:

    Today thousands of the lowest paid workers in Wales will receive a pay rise worth £1,400 a year to help with household bills and improve living standards.

    Families across Wales will see this increase in their pay packets from today as the UK Government puts more money in the pockets of working people.

    This UK Government is unashamedly pro-worker which is why this year is the first where the Low Pay Commission, the body which recommends wage rates, was instructed to include the cost of living and inflation in its assessment. 

    On top of this the Employment Rights Bill, a key pillar in the Plan to Make Work Pay, will release an additional £600 a year to some of the lowest paid workers. This will ensure that these workers receive an uplift to wages that delivers better quality of life. 

    Workers in Wales have earned this pay rise and they need to make sure they get it. Visit gov.uk/checkyourpay to check if you are eligible.

    Updates to this page

    Published 1 April 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: 24 day isolation rule non-announcement unprofessional and unworkable

    Source: ACT Party

    “New COVID isolation rules for Omicron are unworkable, and the way they were dumped on the Ministry of Health website on a Friday afternoon is unprofessional,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.

    “Late on Friday, rules appeared on the Ministry of Health website to the effect that a person who tests positive must isolate for 14 days, and household members must isolate for a further 10 days.

    “The way this has been announced, or rather not announced, echoes the cancellation of the 20 January MIQ lottery. That lottery was cancelled on the website of the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, that was deleted and later confirmed in the form of a tweet. This is not leadership of communication in the middle of a pandemic.

    “A Government prepared for Omicron would make clear announcements, rather than slipping critical details about isolation onto websites on Friday afternoon. Instead they have buried the rules on the Ministry of Health website with no formal announcement.

    “The rules announced are unworkable, they will lead to a domino effect where a household can be down for a month. The Ministry of Health website says ‘The isolation period for COVID-19 cases in the community is at least 14 days, including 72 hours symptom-free,’ and ‘Your household members will need to remain in isolation for at least 10 days after you have been released as a case. This means they will need to be in isolation for longer than you as the case will [sic].’

    “The effect is that if you test positive, members of your household may have to isolate for 24 days. People who cannot afford that will have a strong incentive not to get tested, defeating the purpose of the policy. If the advice is taken seriously, it will cripple the health workforce and supply chains more generally.

    “New Zealand’s advantage with COVID is that we can learn from other countries, but we are doing the opposite here. Other countries are loosening their isolation requirements to keep hospitals opening and supermarkets shelves full, but we are tightening ours.

    “By contrast, isolation rules in the UK were changed on Monday so that all people in the household of a case can leave isolation after five days if they have negative tests on two consecutive days. They have done this because their previous isolation rules devastated supply chains.

    “In New South Wales, cases are required to isolate for 14 days but critical workers can leave earlier. Unlike New Zealand, New South Wales does not automatically deem household members as close contacts and require them to isolate. It allows people to use their judgement.

    “The Government badly needs to front on this issue. It needs to explain why these rules are put in place, and why it believes the benefits of an isolation regime stricter than any other country bar China is justified. It should release the modelling it has relied on in an open and transparent way, the way this Government once promised to act.”

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Government Statement – Freeing the great outdoors from health and safety scope creep – van Velden

    Source: Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden

    Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden is announcing further changes to health and safety, as part of the ACT-National Coalition commitment to reform health and safety law and regulations.  

    “This reform refocuses the work health and safety system by getting rid of over compliance, making sure there’s less paperwork and giving businesses, employers and workers clarity on their health and safety responsibilities. We want all New Zealanders to return home safely after every working day,” says Ms van Velden.  

    “For many Kiwis, outdoor recreational activities are a way of life that has been enjoyed for generations. Unfortunately, New Zealand’s work health and safety settings have reduced the appetite to allow these activities, inadvertently creating a culture of fear amongst landowners who are now worried about their legal liability if someone gets hurt,” says Ms van Velden.  

    “Many landowners, managers, councils, farmers and iwi allow access to their land for recreational use out of sheer goodwill. I do not think it is reasonable or proportionate for landowners, managers and iwi to be prosecuted by WorkSafe if someone was to be hurt or injured during the course of a recreational activity just because they are responsible for the land.

    “Today I am announcing a change to the Health and Safety at Work Act that clarifies the law for landowners and will free up private and public land for recreational use.  

    “Landowners will not be responsible if someone is injured on their land while doing recreational activities. Health and safety responsibilities will lie squarely on the organisation running the activities,” says Ms van Velden.

    “For example, a farmer might worry they are responsible for the risks of a horse trekking business on their land. I am making it clear in the law that in this case the health and safety duties sit with the horse trekking business. The farmer would only need to consider the risks from their work where that work is happening in the immediate vicinity of the horse trekking. They are not responsible for risks of the recreational activity itself.

    “We all know that recreational activities aren’t without some risk, and sometimes it’s the risk that makes it fun. I want Kiwis to be able to hunt, fish, hike, climb, mountain bike, kayak and so much more without being caught up in health and safety red tape,” says Ms van Velden.  

    The change will apply to both public and private land, from farms and forestry to school grounds, local council land and regional and national parks.

    This change will not impact private property rights, and it will still be up to the landowner to grant access to their land if they wish.

    Notes: 

    • Managers of land mostly refers to Department of Conservation who doesn’t own land but manages it.  Councils also manage land e.g. reserves 
    • The Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety will announce further changes over the course of this week that were agreed as part of the first tranche of changes.  
    • These legislative changes are expected to be introduced before the end of the year and passed in early 2026.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI: Gevo to Participate in Virtual Investor Meeting

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    ENGLEWOOD, Colo, March 31, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Gevo, Inc. (NASDAQ: GEVO) (“Gevo”, the “Company”, “we”, “us” or “our”), a leading developer of cost effective, renewable hydrocarbon fuels and chemicals with reduced greenhouse gas emissions, announced today that Eric Frey, Gevo’s Vice President of Corporate Development, will participate in a Renmark Virtual Non-Deal Roadshow Series on Tuesday, April 1st at 10:00am ET. 

    Investors and other persons interested in participating in the event must register using the link below.

    Registration Link: https://www.renmarkfinancial.com/live-registration/renmark-virtual-non-deal-roadshow-nasdaq-gevo-yVFS8U3kU-

    About Gevo

    Gevo is a next-generation diversified energy company committed to fueling America’s future with cost-effective, drop-in fuels that contribute to energy security, abate carbon, and strengthen rural communities to drive economic growth. Gevo’s innovative technology can be used to make a variety of renewable products, including synthetic aviation fuel (“SAF”), motor fuels, chemicals, and other materials that provide U.S.-made solutions. By investing in the backbone of rural America, Gevo’s business model includes developing, financing, and operating production facilities that create jobs and revitalize communities. Gevo owns and operates one of the largest dairy-based renewable natural gas (“RNG”) facilities in the United States, turning by-products into clean, reliable energy. We also operate an ethanol plant with an adjacent carbon capture and sequestration (“CCS”) facility, further solidifying America’s leadership in energy innovation. Additionally, Gevo owns the world’s first production facility for specialty alcohol-to-jet (“ATJ”) fuels and chemicals. Gevo’s market-driven “pay for performance” approach regarding carbon and other sustainability attributes, helps ensure value is delivered to our local economy. Through its Verity subsidiary, Gevo provides transparency, accountability, and efficiency in tracking, measuring and verifying various attributes throughout the supply chain. By strengthening rural economies, Gevo is working to secure a self-sufficient future and to make sure value is brought to the market.

    For more information, see www.gevo.com.

    Media Contact
    Heather Manuel
    Vice President of Stakeholder Engagement & Partnerships
    PR@gevo.com

    Investor Contact
    Eric Frey, PhD
    Vice President of Corporate Development
    IR@Gevo.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Ditch single-use vapes as ban deadline looms

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Ditch single-use vapes as ban deadline looms

    Shops encouraged to sell all remaining stock before 1 June 2025 deadline

    Single-use vapes in a green field

    High street shops and convenience stores are today (Tuesday 1 April) being urged to deplete their stocks of single-use vapes ahead of new legislation coming into force banning their sale.

    The deadline for selling any remaining single-use vapes was confirmed as 1 June 2025 when legislation was laid in parliament last year, with a government consultation showing overwhelming support for restricting their sale and supply.

    Analysis by Material Focus found an estimated 8.2 million vapes are now thrown away or littered every week in the UK, which is the equivalent of 13 each second. However, recycling single-use vapes is notoriously arduous, with waste industry workers needing to take them apart by hand which can be a slow and costly process. Their contents also present a fire risk to recycling facilities and can leak harmful chemicals into the environment.

    With under two months until the ban comes into force, businesses must take action now to ensure they are prepared for its implementation. This includes ensuring all remaining stocks of single-use vapes are sold, and only buying vapes that follow the new regulations.

    If businesses have any single-use vapes in their possession after 1 June 2025, they will not be able to sell them to shoppers and must ensure they are disposed of safely.

    Waste Minister Mary Creagh said:

    For too long, single-use vapes have littered our streets, wasted valuable resources and harmed wildlife. 

    Our ban comes into force in just a few weeks so businesses must play their part by running down stocks and ensuring the remainder are collected for recycling. 

    The Government is committed to moving towards a more circular economy, where we use, repair and refill things for longer, to reduce waste.

    Scott Butler, executive director of Material Focus, said:

    The upcoming ban will take some of the most environmentally wasteful vape models off the market. But it is important now and going forwards that vape producers and retailers meet their long-standing obligations to provide and pay for the takeback and recycling of all types of vapes sold historically and in the future.

    This means offering in store takeback wherever they are sold and financing the costs of recycling and recovering the materials from them to support a more sustainable and circular economy.

    Material Focus has produced a vapes briefing paper that explains how vape retailers and producers can do this and also provides guidance for local authorities.

    Minister for Public Health and Prevention, Ashley Dalton, said:

    Single-use vapes are one of the most wasteful products on our high streets, with 13 being thrown away every second across the UK.

    But this isn’t just an environmental crisis – it’s a public health one too. Single-use vapes, often sweet in flavour, are the product of choice for many young people, drawing a new generation into nicotine addiction.

    The ban will complement the world-leading Tobacco and Vapes Bill, which will tackle youth vaping and safeguard our children’s health. I urge retailers to plan accordingly, as we work together to create a cleaner, greener, and healthier Britain for future generations.

    In England, any businesses which fail to comply with the ban could face a stop notice or a fine of £200 in the first instance, with all products seized by Trading Standards. If any further infractions occur, they could be hit with an unlimited fine or be prosecuted.

    The ban is part of the government’s commitment to end the avalanche of rubbish filling our high streets, countryside, and oceans. The government’s action to clean up Britain doesn’t end there – with further moves to ensure the throwaway society is ended for good. 

    Last week, Environment Secretary Steve Reed set out his vision for delivering the revolutionary drive to create a truly circular economy, changing the relationship with the goods we use.

    British businesses are leading the charge in showing what is possible when this forward-thinking approach is adopted. Working with the Circular Economy Taskforce, the Government will work with the first five priority sectors to make the greatest difference – textiles, transport, construction, agri-food and chemicals & plastics.

    The Government has also taken action against stagnating recycling rates and the reliance on the burning of household waste by announcing that new waste incinerators will only receive planning approval if they meet strict new local and environmental conditions.  

    The Government has also announced that a £15 million government fund will help deliver thousands of tonnes of food from farms which would otherwise go to waste to those who need it most.

    Updates to this page

    Published 1 April 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Security: FDC-SeaTac inmate who distributed heroin and fentanyl within the prison sentenced to 52 months in prison

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Fentanyl provided by defendant caused two other inmates to suffer near-fatal fentanyl poisonings

    Seattle – A 37-year-old Tacoma, Washington resident was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to a total term of 52 months for providing drug contraband within a federal prison and 28 supervised release violations, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Teal Luthy Miller.  David A. McKean smuggled balloons of fentanyl and heroin into the Federal Detention Center at SeaTac (“FDC-SeaTac”) inside of his body, and distributed those drugs to other inmates in his unit.  Two of those inmates who received drugs from McKean suffered near-fatal fentanyl poisonings. At the sentencing hearing, U.S. District Judge John H. Chun labeled McKean’s conduct “a serious offense,” and noted that it is “critical that deadly drugs be kept out of penal institutions.”

    According to the plea agreement and other information filed in the case, McKean appeared at a September 8, 2023 supervised release hearing at the U.S. District Courthouse in Tacoma with heroin and fentanyl on his person.  He was ordered detained at FDC-SeaTac during that hearing and, at some point before his admission to the prison, swallowed balloons of drugs for purposes of smuggling them into the facility. 

    Shortly after his arrival at FDC-SeaTac, McKean began distributing the drugs to other inmates.  Two of those inmates who received fentanyl from McKean suffered fentanyl poisonings—one on the evening of September 9, 2023 and another the following morning.  The first overdose had to be reversed by life-saving interventions from other inmates and multiple doses of naloxone administered by Bureau of Prisons (BOP) staff. The second overdose also had to be reversed by multiple doses of naloxone and hospitalization. BOP employees searched McKean’s cell after the overdoses, and found heroin, fentanyl, suboxone, and other suspected contraband inside McKean’s cell.

    McKean was also facing 28 admitted supervised release violations that arose during his supervision for a prior federal conviction.  At sentencing, the Court imposed a sentence of four months for the supervised release violations, plus 48 months for McKean’s guilty plea to providing contraband in prison, for a total sentence of 52 months in custody.

    The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI).  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dane A. Westermeyer.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congresswoman Lauren Boebert Announces April Staff Mobile Office Hours

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Lauren Boebert (Colorado, 3)

    EATON, CO– Staff from Congresswoman Lauren Boebert’s (CO-04) office will be holding Mobile Office Hours in April across the district to connect with constituents within their communities. In addition to the Congresswoman’s congressional offices in Eaton and Castle Rock, the Mobile Office Hours aim to provide services to constituents who need in-person guidance.

    “Our Congressional Mobile Office Hours provide an opportunity for constituents from across the 4th District to get the assistance they need from our staffers who can help them in a variety of ways,”stated Congresswoman Boebert.“Meeting Coloradans where they are is a critical part of the work our office does, and I know our Mobile Office Hours will be a huge help to constituents of all backgrounds and locations.” 

    Staff from Congresswoman Boebert’s office will be available to help constituents who aren’t getting answers from federal agencies, like veterans seeking to get the care they earned from the VA, travelers that need expedited assistance to receive a passport on short notice, taxpayers being harassed by the IRS, and senior citizens having issues with the Social Security Administration or Medicare. Additionally, constituents are invited to come to the office hours to express their viewpoints on legislative issues or request special Congressional Commendations from the Congresswoman recognizing outstanding public achievements.

    Since the beginning of her tenure as Representative for the 4th Congressional District on January 3rd, 2025, Congresswoman Boebert’s office has returned $426,871.62 to constituents. 

    Mobile Office Hours will be available at the following times and locations: 

    WEDNESDAY, APRIL 2, 2025

    (Rescheduled) Loveland Mobile Office Hours

    McKee Building at The Ranch, Berthoud Room

    5290 Arena Circle

    Loveland, CO

    9:30-11:30am

    FRIDAY, APRIL 4, 2025  

    Washington County Mobile Office Hours

    County Courthouse Annex Building 

    181 Birch Avenue

    Akron, CO

    2:00-3:00pm

    WEDNESDAY, APRIL 9, 2025 

    Wiggins County Mobile Office Hours 

    Town Hall Building 

    304 E Central Avenue

    Wiggins, CO

    11:00am-12:00pm

    THURSDAY, APRIL 10, 2025

    Yuma County Mobile Office Hours

    Quintech, Conference Room

    529 N. Albany St 

    Yuma, CO

    2:00-3:00pm

    FRIDAY, APRIL 11, 2025

    Sedgwick County Mobile Office Hours

    Julesburg Library, Women’s Club Room

    320 Cedar Street

    Julesburg, CO

    10:00-11:00am

    Phillips County Mobile Office Hours

    Heginbotham Library, Meeting Room

    539 S. Baxter Ave.

    Holyoke, CO 

    2:00-3:00pm

    TUESDAY, APRIL 15, 2025

    El Paso County Mobile Office Hours

    Calhan Library, Meeting Room

    600 Bank Street

    Calhan, CO

    9:30-10:30am

     

    Lincoln County Mobile Office Hours

    Town Hall, Council Chambers

    100 Civic Center Drive 

    Limon, CO

    12:00-1:30pm

    WEDNESDAY, APRIL 23, 2025

    Bent County Mobile Office Hours

    Las Animas City Hall, Council Chambers

    532 Carson Avenue

    Las Animas, CO

    12:30-2:00pm

    THURSDAY, APRIL 24, 2025

    Kiowa County Mobile Office Hours

    Town Hall, Back Board Room

    110 West 13th Street 

    Eads, CO

    10:00-11:30am

    FRIDAY, APRIL 25, 2025

    Logan County Mobile Office Hours

    Sterling Public Library, Study Room

    420 N 5th St. 

    Sterling, CO

    2:00-3:00pm

    TUESDAY, APRIL 29, 2025

    North Larimer County Mobile Office Hours

    Leeper Center

    3800 Wilson Ave. 

    Wellington, CO

    11:00am-12:00pm

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rosen, Cortez Masto Help Introduce Bill to Expand Affordable Housing Access in Fast-Growing Cities

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV)

    Despite Population Booms In Recent Decades, Cities Like Las Vegas Receive Far Fewer Affordable Housing Vouchers Than Smaller, Older Cities
    WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senators Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), and Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) introduced the Housing Choice Vouchers Fairness Act to update the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) decades-old Housing Choice Voucher allocation formula so fast-growing cities like Las Vegas can access more of them. The Housing Choice Voucher Program is the federal government’s major program that helps low-income families, elderly and disabled individuals, and veterans afford housing in the private market. 
    Currently, the federal formulas that allocate vouchers are based on outdated population calculations dating back to the 2000 census. This legislation authorizes an additional two billion dollars in funding for the Housing Choice Voucher program to make sure public housing authorities that represent the country’s 25 fastest-growing cities with a population of over 100,000 can provide enough vouchers to meet the needs of their populations.
    “Nevada is facing an affordable housing crisis, and it makes no sense that an outdated allocation formula is preventing us from receiving our fair share of federal housing vouchers,” said Senator Rosen. “That’s why I’m helping to introduce a bill to update the formula and provide additional funding to fast-growing cities like Las Vegas. I’ll keep pushing for solutions to lower housing costs for Nevada families.”
    “Las Vegas is one of the fastest growing cities in the country, and as our population expands, so does our need for affordable housing,” said Senator Cortez Masto. “Current housing voucher programs aren’t cutting it, and this legislation would fill that gap to help working Nevada families find homes.”
    Senators Rosen and Cortez Masto are working to lower housing costs and prevent housing prices from increasing further. Earlier this month, Rosen sent a letter urging the Trump Administration to reverse course on imposing tariffs on Canada and Mexico, which can raise housing construction costs. Senator Rosen also recently introduced bipartisan legislation to invest in the construction workforce to be able to build more housing and help lower costs. Last year, Senator Rosen urged HUD to increase the Southern Nevada Regional Housing Authority’s (SNRHA) Housing Choice Vouchers allocation by 10,000 vouchers over five years.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: 03.31.2025 Sen. Ted Cruz Introduces Bill to Promote On-Site Energy Generation

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Texas Ted Cruz

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) introduced the Facilitate Lower Atmospheric Released Emissions (FLARE) Act. By promoting on-site energy generation, the bill decentralizes electricity sources and strengthens grid resiliency during periods of high demand or extreme weather.
    Upon introduction, Sen. Cruz said, “I am committed to making Texas the number one place for Bitcoin mining. The FLARE Act incentivizes entrepreneurs and crypto miners to use natural gas that would otherwise be stranded. This bill takes advantage of Texas’s vast energy potential, reinforces our position as the home of the Bitcoin industry, and is good for the environment. I call upon my colleagues to expeditiously take up and advance this legislation.”
    This bill is endorsed by The Digital Power Network.
    Hailey Miller, Director of Government Relations & Public Policy for The Digital Power Network said, “The Digital Power Network strongly supports the introduction of the FLARE Act by Senator Cruz. This critical legislation will help eliminate unnecessary flaring and venting of natural gas while unlocking new opportunities for energy innovation in the United States. By providing permanent full expensing for infrastructure that captures and utilizes flared gas, the bill creates strong incentives for industries, including Bitcoin mining, to turn wasted energy into productive use cases that strengthen the grid and drive economic growth.
    Bitcoin miners are uniquely positioned to help reduce emissions by harnessing stranded and wasted energy sources, and the FLARE Act ensures that American energy producers have the tools to deploy cutting-edge solutions that make our energy markets more efficient and resilient. We commend Senator Cruz for his leadership and look forward to working with Congress to advance this bill into law.”
    Read the bill text here.
    BACKGROUND
    The Facilitate Lower Atmospheric Released Emissions (FLARE) Act makes permanent the 100% bonus depreciation for equipment used to intake natural gas and transforms it into electricity, and other productive uses. Additionally, the language prohibits entities owned by China, Iran, North Korea, or Russia from utilizing this cost recovery option. The bill reduces emissions by incentivizing the conversion of otherwise stranded natural gas into usable energy.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Freeing the great outdoors from health and safety scope creep

    Source: New Zealand Government

    Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden is announcing further changes to health and safety, as part of the ACT-National Coalition commitment to reform health and safety law and regulations.  

    “This reform refocuses the work health and safety system by getting rid of over compliance, making sure there’s less paperwork and giving businesses, employers and workers clarity on their health and safety responsibilities. We want all New Zealanders to return home safely after every working day,” says Ms van Velden.  

    “For many Kiwis, outdoor recreational activities are a way of life that has been enjoyed for generations. Unfortunately, New Zealand’s work health and safety settings have reduced the appetite to allow these activities, inadvertently creating a culture of fear amongst landowners who are now worried about their legal liability if someone gets hurt,” says Ms van Velden.  

    “Many landowners, managers, councils, farmers and iwi allow access to their land for recreational use out of sheer goodwill. I do not think it is reasonable or proportionate for landowners, managers and iwi to be prosecuted by WorkSafe if someone was to be hurt or injured during the course of a recreational activity just because they are responsible for the land. 

    “Today I am announcing a change to the Health and Safety at Work Act that clarifies the law for landowners and will free up private and public land for recreational use.   

    “Landowners will not be responsible if someone is injured on their land while doing recreational activities. Health and safety responsibilities will lie squarely on the organisation running the activities,” says Ms van Velden. 

     “For example, a farmer might worry they are responsible for the risks of a horse trekking business on their land. I am making it clear in the law that in this case the health and safety duties sit with the horse trekking business. The farmer would only need to consider the risks from their work where that work is happening in the immediate vicinity of the horse trekking. They are not responsible for risks of the recreational activity itself. 

    “We all know that recreational activities aren’t without some risk, and sometimes it’s the risk that makes it fun. I want Kiwis to be able to hunt, fish, hike, climb, mountain bike, kayak and so much more without being caught up in health and safety red tape,” says Ms van Velden.  

    The change will apply to both public and private land, from farms and forestry to school grounds, local council land and regional and national parks. 

    This change will not impact private property rights, and it will still be up to the landowner to grant access to their land if they wish. 

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Huntington Man Sentenced for Federal Gun Crime

    Source: United States Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF)

    HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Timothy Ryan Wolfe, 39, of Huntington, was sentenced today to three years of federal probation, including one year on home detention, for unlawfully engaging in the business of dealing firearms.

    According to court documents and statements made in court, from at least April 30, 2024, through June 6, 2024, Wolfe engaged in the business of dealing in firearms without a Federal Firearms License (FFL). Wolfe advertised the sale of firearms on various social media platforms during this time. Wolfe admitted that he received requests from individuals for specific firearms that he purchased from FFL entities to sell to these individuals, and also purchased firearms without a specific buyer in mind with intent to sell them to other individuals. Wolfe further admitted that he is not licensed to deal in firearms and knew that he needed an FFL based on the quantity and regularity with which he was buying and selling firearms.

    Wolfe sold a total of 11 firearms to a confidential informant over the course of five transactions during this time period, each time at Wolfe’s residence. Wolfe admitted to these transactions and further admitted that they included the sale of two short-barrel rifles that were not registered to Wolfe in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record as required by law. Wolfe also admitted to purchasing and converting one of those firearms after the confidential informant requested a short-barrel rifle.

    Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).

    United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Stephanie Taylor prosecuted the case.

    This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

    A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:24-cr-160.

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    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Five Alleged Sinaloa Cartel Money Launderers Charged

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    SAN DIEGO – Two federal grand jury indictments were unsealed in San Diego today against five alleged Sinaloa Cartel money launderers, including Alberto David Benguiat Jimenez, Israel Daniel Paez Vargas, Salvador Diaz Rodriguez, Christopher Ortega-Lomeli, and Christian Noe Amador Valenzuela. The indictments, returned in September and October 2022, charge the defendants with multiple drug trafficking and money laundering offenses. All defendants remain fugitives.

    To date, these money laundering investigations have resulted in charges against 51 defendants and the seizure of more than $4.1 million dollars and approximately 1,304 kilograms of methamphetamine, 34 kilograms of heroin, 11 kilograms of cocaine, and 14 kilograms of fentanyl.

    Four of the defendants – Benguiat Jimenez, Paez Vargas, Diaz Rodriguez and Amador Valezuela – along with Enrique Dann Esparragoza Rosas, who was previously charged, were also the target of sanctions imposed today by the Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC).

    OFAC has identified the defendants and others as members of a money laundering network supporting the Sinaloa Cartel, one of the most notorious and violent drug trafficking organizations in the world, and a U.S.-designated Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO). The Sinaloa Cartel is responsible for a significant portion of the illicit fentanyl and other deadly drugs trafficked into the United States and has exploited multiple ports of entry along the southern border for its criminal activities. Please see https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/sb0064.

    The Drug Enforcement Administration’s Imperial Country District Office and Mexico City Country Office, along with the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation San Diego Office, Federal Bureau of Investigation San Diego Field Office, Homeland Security Investigations Calexico Office, and San Diego – Imperial County HIDTA are investigating these cases with assistance from the Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC).

    These cases are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew J. Sutton, Joshua Mellor, Victor White, and Paul Benjamin. Former Assistant U.S. Attorney Owen Roth provided substantial assistance in these cases.

    DEFENDANTS                                            

    Case Number 22-cr-02386-TWR

    Israel Daniel Paez Vargas                                                     Age: 45                         Mexicali, MX

    SUMMARY OF CHARGES

    Conspiracy to Import Controlled Substances, in violation of Title 21 U.S.C. §§ 952, 960 and 963.

    Maximum Penalty: Mandatory minimum 10 years and up to life in prison, $10 million fine.

    Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances, in violation of Title 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and 846.

    Maximum Penalty: Mandatory minimum 10 years and up to life in prison, $10 million fine.

    Conspiracy to Launder Monetary Instruments, in violation of Title 18 U.S.C. § 1956(h).

    Maximum Penalty: Twenty years in prison, a fine of $500,000 or twice the value of the monetary instrument or funds involved.

    Case Number 22-cr-02387-TWR

    Alberto David Benguiat Jimenez                                           Age: 43                      Mexico City, MX

    Salvador Diaz Rodriguez                                                       Age: 39                      Mexicali, MX

    Christian Noe Amador Valenzuela                                        Age: 36                      Mexicali, MX Christopher Ortega-Lomeli                                                       Age: 38                     Mexicali, MX

    SUMMARY OF CHARGES

    Conspiracy to Launder Monetary Instruments, in violation of Title 18 U.S.C. §1956(h).

    Maximum Penalty: Twenty years in prison, a fine of $500,000 or twice the value of the monetary instrument or funds involved.

    Case Number 22-cr-02185-BAS                                         

    Enrique Dann Esparragoza Rosas                                          Age: 39                        Culiacan, MX

    SUMMARY OF CHARGES

    Conspiracy to Launder Monetary Instruments, in violation of Title 18 U.S.C. §1956(h).

    Maximum Penalty: Twenty years in prison, a fine of $500,000 or twice the value of the monetary instrument or funds involved.

    Hobbs Act Extortion, in violation of Title 18 U.S.C. § 1951(a)

    Maximum Penalty: Twenty years in prison, and $250,000 fine

    INVESTIGATING AGENCIES

    Drug Enforcement Administration

    Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation

    Federal Bureau of Investigation

    Homeland Security Investigations

    San Diego – Imperial County HIDTA

    Imperial Valley Law Enforcement Coordination Center – Intelligence

    Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs

    Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control

    *The charges and allegations contained in an indictment or complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.

    This investigation is 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).

    This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

    The High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) program, created by Congress with the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1988, provides coordination and assistance to Federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies operating in areas determined to be critical drug-trafficking regions of the United States. This grant program is administered by the Executive Office of the President – Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP). There are currently 33 HIDTAs, and HIDTA-designated counties are located in 50 states, as well as in Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the District of Columbia.

    MIL Security OSI –