NewzIntel.com

Category: Justice

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Pizza thief can’t outrun city cameras

    Source: New Zealand Police

    Police had all the bases covered after an offender stole pizzas in central Auckland on Monday night.

    At around 9pm, the victim was walking to her accommodation with recently purchased pizzas on Mayoral Drive.

    Auckland Central Area Commander, Inspector Grant Tetzalff, says the male offender approached the woman.

    “He initially asked her to hand over the pizzas,” he says.

    “When she refused, he walked away before returning and presenting a knife, demanding the pizzas.”

    The victim handed over the pizzas unharmed, and the offender ran on foot.

    “Units responded to the scene and worked in conjunction with Police Camera Operators,” Inspector Tetzlaff says.

    “Police Cameras had tracked the movements of the man within the central city and were able to direct in staff who arrested the man.

    “It’s a good example of frontline Police resources working together to keep the city safe and respond to any events that occur.”

    Police arrested the 28-year-old man without incident.

    He has been charged with aggravated robbery and will be appearing in the Auckland District Court on 16 May.

    ENDS.

    Amanda Wieneke/NZ Police

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: In Gaza, nearly every single child is at risk of famine – Save the Children

    Source: Save the Children

    More than 93% of the children in Gaza – about 930,000 children – are at critical risk of famine, said Save the Children, as new data from the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), the leading international authority measuring hunger crises, reveals a spiraling hunger catastrophe [1].
    The war in Gaza and Israeli authorities’ total siege on the entry of aid and goods have pushed families to take unimaginable measures to survive, says Save the Children. Without urgent action to end the siege and to allow food and medicine into Gaza, one million children are at risk of starvation, disease and ultimately death.
    Save the Children staff members have received reports in recent days of families in northern Gaza resorting to desperate measures, including eating animal feed, expired flour and flour mixed with sand, out of desperation to survive.
    A 30-year-old father, living in northern Gaza with his pregnant wife and two-year-old child, said:
    “I don’t know how to feed my family. There’s no food. I have no choice but to eat things you would never imagine. It’s unfair. She’s weak (his daughter), constantly sick, and can’t get up. She has diarrhoea. She’s in pain from hunger. My wife is going to lose our unborn child.
    “It’s desperate here – chaos. We don’t know what awaits us. No one is living a dignified life. Why is this happening to us?”
    A 25-year-old mother of four in northern Gaza, whose children were receiving treatment for malnutrition at Save the Children’s healthcare clinic during the brief pause in fighting, said:
    “We know what hunger feels like – we’ve tasted death. Our children are just waiting their turn to die.”
    Nothing has been allowed to enter Gaza – no food, water, fuel, or medicine – since Israeli authorities imposed a total siege on 2 March 2025. Almost everyone in Gaza depends on humanitarian aid, but with supplies cut off, people have been pushed to desperate measures to survive, while trucks loaded with food sit rotting at the borders. The UN World Food Programme (WFP) and community kitchens across the strip have run out of food and been forced to halt operations.
    Save the Children’s Regional Director for the Middle East, North Africa and Eastern Europe, Ahmad Alhendawi, said:
    “This is a deliberate humanitarian catastrophe. Children are being starved by design, under Israeli authorities’ total siege. We have the food, we have the aid and we know how to treat malnutrition in children – what we don’t have is access. There is food, water, and medical aid ready to go, but it’s being blocked at the border while families are forced to eat animal feed and leaves, taking unimaginable and dehumanising measures to survive. This is not a crisis of supply; it’s a crisis of access. At any given moment in Gaza, a child, someone’s whole world, could be killed by bombs and bullets, starvation and disease. The international community must act now to open the crossings and deliver life-saving aid. We cannot stand by while an entire population is starved in plain sight.”
    Starvation as a method of warfare is strictly prohibited under international law and is codified as a war crime. The denial of humanitarian assistance is also a violation of International Humanitarian Law.
    Save the Children is running a primary healthcare centre in Deir Al-Balah providing essential services to children, mothers and families. The collapse of the pause on March 18 has made it extremely difficult for our staff to deliver nutrition services to children and families, despite the high levels of malnutrition among children under the age of five. During the month of April, we were only able to screen 574 children for acute malnutrition compared to more than 10,500 children in January during the pause. Of the children aged under two years who were screened in April, more than one in five were found to have moderate acute malnutrition or severe acute malnutrition, requiring urgent treatment.
    [1] The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) provides a common scale for classifying the severity and magnitude of food shortage and acute malnutrition. According to the IPC report released today (12 May), almost all (93%) of Gaza’s 2.1 million people are already enduring “crisis levels” of hunger (IPC Phase 3) or worse. Among them, almost a quarter of a million people are facing catastrophic, “famine-like conditions”, while nearly half the population is in a state of “emergency” hunger. 

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Indigenous Kanaks support New Caledonia’s 50-year ban on seabed mining

    By Andrew Mathieson

    New Caledonia has imposed a 50-year ban on deep-sea mining across its entire maritime zone in a rare and sweeping move that places the French Pacific territory among the most restricted exploration areas on the planet’s waters.

    The law blocks commercial exploration, prospecting and mining of mineral resources that sits within Kanaky New Caledonia’s exclusive economic zone.

    Nauru and the Cook Islands have already publicly expressed support for seabed exploration.

    Sovereign island states discussed the issue earlier this year during last year’s Pacific Islands Forum, but no joint position has yet been agreed on.

    Only non-invasive, scientific research will be permitted across New Caledonia’s surrounding maritime zone that covers 1.3 million sq km.

    Lawmakers in the New Caledonian territorial Congress adopted a moratorium following broad support mostly from Kanak-aligned political parties.

    “Rather than giving in to the logic of immediate profit, New Caledonia can choose to be pioneers in ocean protection,” Jérémie Katidjo Monnier, the local government member responsible for the issue, told Congress.

    A ‘strategic lever’
    “It is a strategic lever to assert our environmental sovereignty in the face of the multinationals and a strong signal of commitment to future generations.”

    New Caledonia’s location has been a global hotspot for marine biodiversity.

    Its waters are home to nearly one-third of the world’s remaining pristine coral reefs that account for 1.5 percent of reefs worldwide.

    Environmental supporters of the new law argue that deep-sea mining could cause a serious and irreversible harm to its fragile marine ecosystems.

    But the pro-French, anti-independence parties, including Caledonian Republicans, Caledonian People’s Movement, Générations NC, Renaissance and the Caledonian Republican Movement all planned to abstain from the vote the politically conservative bloc knew they could not win.

    The Loyalists coalition argued that the decision clashed with the territory’s “broader economic goals” and the measure was “too rigid”, describing its legal basis as “largely disproportionate”.

    “All our political action on the nickel question is directed toward more exploitation and here we are presenting ourselves as defenders of the environment for deep-sea beds we’ve never even seen,” Renaissance MP Nicolas Metzdorf said.

    Ambassador’s support
    But France’s Ambassador for Maritime Affairs, Olivier Poivre d’Arvor, had already asserted “the deep sea is not for sale” and that the high seas “belong to no one”, appearing to back the policy led by pro-independence Kanak alliances.

    The vote in New Caledonia also coincided with US President Donald Trump signing a decree a week earlier authorising deep-sea mining in international waters.

    “No state has the right to unilaterally exploit the mineral resources of the area outside the legal framework established by UNCLOS,” said the head of the International Seabed Authority (ISA), Leticia Carvalho, in a statement referring back to the United Nations’ Convention on the Law of the Sea.

    Republished from the National Indigenous Times.

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Arboretum tops Tourism Awards

    Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

    Our CBR is the ACT Government’s key channel to connect with Canberrans and keep you up-to-date with what’s happening in the city. Our CBR includes a monthly print edition, email newsletter and website.

    You can easily opt in or out of the newsletter subscription at any time.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Pressley, Nunn, Underwood Reintroduce Bill to Expand Access to Maternal Healthcare

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07)

    Text of Bill (PDF)

    WASHINGTON – Today, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07) Congressman Zach Nunn (IA-03), and Congresswoman Lauren Underwood (IL-14) reintroduced legislation to address rising maternal mortality rates by increasing access to comprehensive care for pregnant women on Medicaid. The Harnessing Effective and Appropriate Long-Term Health for Moms on Medicaid (HEALTH for MOM) Act would support state-led efforts to coordinate maternity care through maternal health homes.

    “My grandmother died giving birth in the 1950s, and it is shameful that over half a century later, we still have a maternal morbidity crisis that is killing our loved ones and destabilizing our communities,” said Rep. Pressley. “Our bill would help address the maternal health crisis—which is disproportionately impacting Black and low-income folks—by helping vulnerable families access high-quality, culturally congruent maternal care. I’m grateful to our colleagues for their partnership. It’s time for Congress to pass this bill without delay.”

    “At-risk mothers in Iowa are being failed by a system that makes it too difficult to access basic care,” said Rep. Nunn. “This bill gives states the tools to build strong, community-based support systems for expecting mothers—especially in rural areas—so every woman has access to the care she needs for a healthy pregnancy and delivery.”

    “Broadlawns sees firsthand the critical need for accessible, coordinated maternal care. Supporting initiatives that expand access and improve outcomes aligns directly with our mission to provide high-quality care for every patient—before, during, and after pregnancy,” said Proctor Lureman, President and CEO of Broadlawns Medical Center.

    The United States has one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the developed world. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that nearly 80% of maternal deaths are preventable, yet nearly 2 million women live in maternity care deserts—regions with limited or no access to essential services.

    More than 400,000 babies are born each year in areas with restricted access to maternity care, and the average pregnancy-related healthcare cost is nearly $19,000 per birth. For families with insurance, this still amounts to over $2,800 in out-of-pocket costs—creating a significant barrier to care.

    To address these challenges, the HEALTH for MOM Act would provide grants to states to establish maternal health homes. These health homes would deliver coordinated maternity care through individualized, patient-centered care plans, helping reduce emergency room visits and costly hospital stays associated with pregnancy complications.

    Text of the bill can be found here.

    As a founding member of the Black Maternal Health Caucus, Congresswoman Pressley has been a longtime champion of maternal health and reproductive justice.

    • Throughout her time in Congress, Congresswoman Pressley has convened roundtable meetings with maternal health advocates and practitioners in the Massachusetts 7th Congressional District.
    • In May 2024, Rep. Pressley (MA-07) and Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Patty Murray (D-WA), in partnership with disability justice and reproductive justice advocates, unveiled a bicameral resolution calling for equitable access to reproductive and sexual healthcare for people with disabilities, and designating a day in May as “Disability Reproductive Equity Day.”
    • In May 2024, Rep. Pressley announced the re-introduction of the Mamas First Act, legislation that directly and meaningfully addresses the maternal mortality crisis by expanding Medicaid to include doula and midwifery care. 
    • In May 2024, Rep. Pressley marked Mother’s Day with a powerful speech on the House floor in which she called for meaningful policy change to better support mothers and caregivers, including maternal health justice, affordable childcare, universal paid leave, reproductive freedom, home and community-based services, and more.
    • In October 2023, Rep. Pressley and Senator Cory Booker reintroduced the MOMMIES Act to improve maternal health outcomes.
    • In June 2023, Rep. Pressley, alongside Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Rep. Cori Bush (MO-01), and Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), reintroduced the Reproductive Health Care Accessibility Act, legislation to help people with disabilities—who face discrimination and extra barriers when seeking care—get better access to reproductive health care and the informed care they need to control their own reproductive lives.
    • In May 2023, Congresswoman Pressley and Congresswoman Gwen Moore (WI-04) introduced a resolution recognizing the role doulas play in providing culturally competent maternal health care, addressing racial inequities, and supporting healthier outcomes for mothers and their babies.
    • In December 2022, the House passed Congresswoman Pressley’s amendment to strengthen maternal health care for people who are incarcerated.
    • In September 2022, Rep. Pressley hosted HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra for a convening on their work to address the Black maternal health crisis and the criminalization of abortion care following the Dobbs decision.
    • In November 2021, at a briefing held by the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights (USCCR), Congresswoman Pressley delivered testimony on the growing racial disparities in maternal health and the urgent need to combat the Black maternal mortality crisis. Her full testimony at the briefing is available here.
    • In May 2021, she introduced the Healthy MOMMIES Act, to extend postpartum Medicaid coverage for pregnant people and expand coverage to include culturally competent and community based doula care.
    • In March 2020, she first introduced the Justice for Incarcerated Moms Act, legislation to improve maternal health care and support for pregnant individuals who are incarcerated, as part of the Momnibus legislative package. 
    • In 2019, she introduced The People’s Justice Guarantee ─ a comprehensive framework to transform the American criminal legal system into one that guarantees justice for all.  She also introduced the Healthy MOMMIES Act with Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) to expand Medicaid coverage for new moms from 60-days postpartum to one year.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Officers not horsing around in Flat Bush

    Source: New Zealand Police

    It’s never a dull day on the beat, and Sunday night was no different in East Auckland.

    Police were called by a member of the public after they spotted a horse galloping along Ravello Rise, Flat Bush.

    Counties Manukau East Area Prevention Manager, Inspector Rakana Cook, says two officers nearby attended the job.

    Officers’ arrival spooked the horse, which went charging down Jeffs Road.

    “The horse has failed to stop for Police and was subsequently followed through a number of side streets for about two kilometres before a car was seen narrowly missing the scared animal. 

    “One of our staff managed to coax the horse to slow down with a handful of grass, allowing him to take a hold of the horse’s halter.”

    Inspector Cook says animal control were called and enquires were completed at nearby rural properties from where he was first spotted, but no owner was located.

    “Eventually a very helpful vet from Clevedon was able to attend and sedate the horse to take him back to their facility.

    “The actions of these officer’s no doubt reduced the risk to all road users in the area and demonstrates that Police work is more than just catching criminals.”

    ENDS.

    Holly McKay/NZ Police

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Update – homicide investigation, Napier

    Source: New Zealand Police

    Attribute to Detective Inspector Martin James, District Manager Criminal Investigations:

    Police investigating the death of 15-year-old Kaea Karauria from Napier are continuing to assess information from the public.

    Kaea was found critically injured at an Alexander Avenue address early on Sunday morning. Despite all efforts by ambulance staff, he died at the scene.

    We have received a steady flow of information through the anonymous portal and Crime Stoppers, which is being analysed by the investigation team.

    We urge those who saw what occurred to come forward and speak to Police.

    The scene examination will conclude today and a post-mortem will also be conducted.

    No arrests have been made at this stage.

    Anyone with information is asked to make a report online, or by calling 105.

    Footage can be uploaded anonymously here.

    Please quote the reference number 250511/1317.

    Information can also be provided anonymously to Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.

    ENDS

    Issued by Police Media Centre

    Media Note: We are aware there is a lot of media interest in the homicide. Police are not in a position to do any interviews at this stage.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Ranking Members Padilla, Morelle Condemn Trump Administration’s Brazen Attempt to Take Over Library of Congress

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.)

    Ranking Members Padilla, Morelle Condemn Trump Administration’s Brazen Attempt to Take Over Library of Congress

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration, and U.S. Representative Joe Morelle (N.Y.-25), Ranking Member of the Committee on House Administration, issued the following joint statement after the Trump Administration tried to take over the Library of Congress, a legislative branch agency:

    “Let us be very clear: the Library of Congress is part of the legislative branch and always has been. The President of the United States has no authority to appoint an acting Librarian of Congress or terminate the Register of Copyrights. It is extremely concerning that Trump sent executive branch officials from the Department of Justice to take over a legislative branch agency, especially since the Library’s Congressional Research Service maintains large amounts of privileged Congressional data and other sensitive information. We commend the Library’s leadership for doing the right thing under the Constitution. They and the Library staff deserve our strong support.

    “We cannot stand by and allow Trump’s continued power-hungry assault on the legislative branch. Congress must stand up for Article One of the Constitution and defend the nonpartisan Library and the legislative branch from White House political control.”

    Last week, Senator Padilla and Representative Morelle each blasted President Trump’s abrupt firing of Dr. Carla Hayden from her role as the Librarian of Congress.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: New pedestrian crossing on Canberra Avenue to improve student safety

    Source: Australian National Party

    As part of ACT Government’s ‘One Government, One Voice’ program, we are transitioning this website across to our . You can access everything you need through this website while it’s happening.

    Released 12/05/2025

    As part of its ongoing commitment to road safety, the ACT Government has announced the installation of a new signalised midblock pedestrian crossing on Canberra Avenue near Burke Crescent. The crossing will improve safety for students from St Edmund’s and St Clare’s Colleges, supporting safer commutes to and from school.

    Minister for City and Government Services Tara Cheyne said the decision to install the crossing reflects the Government’s commitment to protecting vulnerable road users, particularly young people.

    “This crossing will make a real difference for students who cross this busy road every day. Their safety is our priority, and we’re acting to ensure they can travel to and from school with greater confidence,” Minister Cheyne said.

    “The ACT Government will fast-track design of the crossing to support seeking approvals and enable construction. More information will be provided to the local school community on timing in the next couple of months.”

    Minister for Education Yvette Berry welcomed the announcement, noting the importance of a safe and supportive environment for students beyond the school gate.

    “Students should be able to get to and from school safely, no matter how they travel. This new crossing will provide the school communities greater peace of mind and help support student wellbeing,” Minister Berry said.

    The announcement coincides with National Road Safety Week 2025, a time to reflect on the impact of road trauma and the collective responsibility to keep our roads safe.

    “In 2024, eleven people tragically lost their lives on ACT roads, and already this year, we have lost three more. And I know that the incident in late March outside St Eddies has had and will continue to have a profound impact on this tight-knit community,” Minister Cheyne said. “Every death or injury is a devastating reminder that road trauma has lasting impacts on families, friends, and the wider community. These are not just statistics – they are lives lost too soon, and futures cut short or dramatically altered.”

    “National Road Safety Week is a time to come together with other jurisdictions and shine a light on the importance of safe driving behaviours. We must all remember that road safety is everyone’s responsibility, and every action we take behind the wheel matters.”

    The ACT Government remains committed to Vision Zero, a future where no one is killed or seriously injured on our roads.

    “When we drive, we’re not just responsible for ourselves, we’re responsible for everyone around us. Vision Zero means choosing to slow down, staying alert, and driving to the conditions. Even one death on our roads is one too many.”

    “The ACT Government, alongside ACT Policing, continues to deliver education and enforcement campaigns to change attitudes and behaviours on our roads. Road safety doesn’t begin and end with Road Safety Week – it is an everyday priority.”

    “Every crash carries a cost – emotionally, economically, and socially. We must never accept road trauma as an unavoidable part of transport. Every life lost is preventable, and every life matters.”

    During National Road Safety Week, the ACT Government urges all Canberrans to take the pledge to drive so others survive.

    – Statement ends –

    Tara Cheyne, MLA | Media Releases

    «ACT Government Media Releases | «Minister Media Releases

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Growing NZ – now and for the long term

    Source: NZ Music Month takes to the streets

    Tēna koutou kātoa. Greetings everyone. Thanks for coming.

    Thank you Sharesies for making the space available.

    You are exactly the sort of business we need more of to create opportunities for the next generation – Sharesies was started by smart people, who identified a gap in the market, harnessed technology and went about changing the way in which many New Zealanders invest.

    In just a few years you’ve grown from a tiny operation employing a handful of people to a business worth more than half a billion dollars, employing more than 200 people and expanding its reach to Australia. Hopefully, over time you’ll go further. 

    That’s a good news story for the people who work here, for the communities your incomes support, for the customers you serve and for our economy as a whole.  

    Sharesies is also an inspiration to other Kiwi entrepreneurs, including many in New Zealand’s booming Fin-Tech sector, which grew more than 20 per cent in the past year.

    I want to see more successes like this in New Zealand. When New Zealand entrepreneurs and startups do well, they create more and better paying jobs, more tax revenue to support government services, and more opportunities for us all.  

    That mission: driving economic growth and creating the conditions for business success, is at the heart of this year’s Government Budget.  

    Let me be clear, I don’t want growth just for growth’s sake, it’s much more than numbers on a chart for me. I want growth so that our kids, and future New Zealanders can enjoy the better choices, opportunities and standard of living we all aspire to and that too many Kiwis are missing out on today.

    On Thursday next week I’ll set out the full details of our Budget.  It will detail the Government’s specific spending and revenue choices, key new infrastructure investments, the path for borrowing and debt and our plans for strengthening the fundamentals of the New Zealand economy. I’m looking forward to delivering it.

    In a recent speech I detailed the difficult context in which the Government is delivering this year’s Budget.  New Zealand has gone through a tough few years of high inflation, high interest rates and little to no real growth. The Government has been running big deficits and accumulating debt and just as our economic recovery has gotten underway global events have conspired to make things harder.  

    That’s just reality. We can’t wish it away. Nor should we use it as an excuse to shy away from making choices now that will set New Zealand up better for the longer-term. 

    Today I want to talk a bit more about that longer-term picture and detail one specific Budget initiative that shows the Government’s commitment to sustained and long-term growth. 

    Because Budgets shouldn’t just be about the short term – who is getting what. Yes, there are a number of initiatives in the Budget designed to address the immediate issues of the here and now.   

    I am acutely conscious of the cost of living challenges many Kiwis are facing today and the hard yards so many people have gone through over these past few years. It’s essential that our Budget sustains the government services and supports they rely on, even though money is tighter than ever. Our Budget is built on a series of careful choices to ensure that’s possible, that we provide the funding needed for health, education, other vital public services and essential social supports.  

    But, as a responsible Government, we also need to be thinking ahead and addressing the structural challenges confronting our country. Our Budget also takes careful steps to do that, and that’s what I want to speak a bit more about today.  

    There are three key long-term challenges for New Zealand that  I spend a lot of time thinking about: They are productivity, social mobility and the ageing of the population.

    These are issues we need to be awake to now, lest we make life much harder for the people who follow us.  

    Let me make a few remarks about each of these challenges.

    I’ll start with productivity. Productivity is a key indicator of economic performance.  

    The most common measure of productivity is labour productivity which measures output per unit of time worked. 

    In New Zealand labour productivity has averaged just 0.3 per cent a year over the past 10 years. That is low by historic standards and low in comparison with our international peers.

    There’s no doubt Kiwis work hard, and in fact we work relatively big hours. Our challenge historically has been that we just don’t generate as much for that effort as those in some other countries. 

    Our labour productivity levels rank near the bottom of OECD countries, well behind those in Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States. 

    This rankles me. Not just because I’m competitive by nature, but because I think New Zealand has so much intrinsically going for it when compared to those countries. New Zealand can and must do better in the productivity race. 

    Why does low productivity matter? Because productivity determines how competitive our businesses are. The more competitive businesses are, the more people they can hire and the more money they can pay in salaries and wages. That in turn determines how fast our country can grow, and the revenue we have available for investing in the things that matter – like cancer drugs, education programmes, hospitals and Police.

    What are the causes of New Zealand’s low productivity rates?

    Treasury identifies three key problems. 

    First is low capital intensity, that is the machinery, tools and technology available per worker. More capital per worker typically means higher productivity and wages. The increase in New Zealand’s capital intensity has slowed over time from 1.9 per cent per year between 1997 and 2008 to 0.7 per cent between 2012 and 2023. Basically, our workers have less access to the machinery, innovation and technology that would allow them to be more productive. Our Budget will take steps to address that. 

    Second is low rates of foreign direct investment. This restricts the access Kiwi businesses have to the capital they need to grow and the world-leading know-how they need to thrive.  It slows uptake of innovation and best practices. Our Budget will take steps to address those issues too.  

    Third is export intensity. By international standards relatively few New Zealand businesses derive large portions of their income from exports. This reduces the scale of New Zealand businesses, competition and opportunities to learn. 

    The good news is, despite all the global shenanigans playing out, New Zealand is in the midst of an export-led economy recovery. Dairy farmers, horticulturalists, meat producers, all are doing well. In recent years New Zealand entrepreneurs have broken new ground in fields like space, film and accounting software. 

    Our Government is ambitious to build on this export success – with a stretch goal of doubling New Zealand’s exports by 2030.  Our Budget will take further steps to drive that work forward. 

    The thing with all these underlying productivity challenges is that there’s no quick fix, or easy road to success. It’s about doing lots of things well, over successive Budgets, keeping our eyes on the big prize while we deal with the here and now. 

    Budget initiatives in this area won’t make your household budget bigger today, but, over time, they are essential to growing the household budgets we have in future. 

    The next thing big challenge I want to talk about is social mobility. It’s a very Kiwi concept. The idea that no matter what background you come from, ours should be a country where with hard work and good choices you can have the opportunity to succeed.  

    That’s why our Government is putting so much emphasis on improving education achievement in our schools. Getting back to the basics of reading, writing and maths. And financial literacy too! Those skills are tickets to the game of life. We owe it to each and every Kiwi kid to make sure they leave school with those critical skills. 

    A desire to improve social mobility is also why our Government is revitalising the social investment approach developed by my predecessor Bill English. 

    Successive governments have spent huge sums trying to tackle the entrenched disadvantage that blights lives, pushes up costs for other New Zealanders and fuels criminal offending. 

    In addition to core social supports, government agencies collectively spend around $7 billion per year buying social services designed to deliver better lives for those with particularly challenging lives.

    However, despite the best intentions of all involved, this expenditure cannot be described as a success. There are some fantastic examples of lives being turned around, but the overall picture is grim. Too many Kiwis are trapped in cycles of inter-generational disadvantage.  We are spending more on ambulances at the bottom of the cliff than fences at the top. 

    Data now give us a very good ideal of those at greatest risk. We also know that intervening early increases the prospect of success. There are some incredible community and iwi organisations who know what to do, but too often they’re held back by the frustrations of government bureaucracy and short-termism. 

    We can do much much better here.  

    Shifting a young New Zealander off a life of welfare dependency and, potentially criminal offending, greatly reduces future costs for everyone else. But even more importantly it gives that New Zealander a chance to lead a fulfilling, productive life. We want that for all our kids.

    Later this week I’ll announce an initiative in this year’s Budget that is designed to do just that.  

    The third big challenge I think about is demographic change, more specifically the ageing of our population. 

    Kiwis are living longer – this is something to celebrate, but it also has an economic consequence as we seek to ensure people have the income and financial security they need in retirement. 

    There’s two things I think about here: one is KiwiSaver and the other is Government Superannuation. Let me make a few comments about each. 

    I’m delighted to see how many Kiwis are embracing KiwiSaver as a way of saving – for a first home and to supplement their income in retirement. 

    KiwiSaver membership is high – with more than 3 million members, representing around 96% of the working age population.  Fund balances differ but most working Kiwis choose to make regular contributions to their funds, matched by contributions from their employers.  

    KiwiSaver has become an increasingly important tool for people choosing to buy a first home – with around 42,000 people using their KiwiSaver funds for this purpose in the past year.

    It’s also an increasingly important supplement to support people’s incomes in retirement.

    The other good news story here is that the Reserve Bank estimates around 40 per cent of all KiwiSaver balances are invested in New Zealand-based financial products and assets.

    I want to acknowledge the work Sharesies has done to promote KiwiSaver uptake and your efforts to improve Kiwis understanding of how it can support their financial security.

    I share your mission.  I want to see KiwiSaver balances continue to grow and our Budget will contain steps to support that mission. 

    Let me now turn to New Zealand Superannuation.

    In 2000, there were about 6.5 people of working age (15 and over) for every superannuitant. Today there are about 4.7 people of working age for every superannuitant. By 2050 there are expected to only be about 3.6 people of working age for every superannuitant. 

    At the same time, superannuation costs are increasing both in dollar terms and as a proportion of GDP.  Gross expenditure on super in 2000 was $5.1 billion or 4.4 per cent of GDP. By 2050 it is expected to be $71.7 billion or 6.5 per cent of GDP.

    This leaping cost will play out in this year’s Budget.  New Zealand Superannuation costs will rise from $23.2 billion this year to $29.0 billion in 2028/29.  

    Put this together with the cost of healthcare, which increases every year, and it’s clear we need to be earning more as a country to support this growing cost.  

    In the coming years, increasing superannuation costs will be partially offset by withdrawals from the Superannuation Fund which was established to help smooth superannuation costs between generations.  

    We are now approaching the time when the Super Fund is big enough to ensure that withdrawals, rather than contributions, are the normal outcome each year. 

    This is not a Government decision, it is driven by a formula in the relevant Act. 

    In something of a milestone event, the first withdrawal is forecast to happen in 2028 – a very modest withdrawal of $32 million. 

    In the short term there will be some bouncing around between withdrawals and contributions.  

    But from 2031 onwards, projections show that withdrawals from the Super Fund are expected in every year. 

    Withdrawals help cover the costs of Superannuation, so taxpayers don’t face the full cost each year. 

    This does not mean that the Super Fund will get smaller. Far from it. The Fund currently has $80 billion of investments. On reasonable assumptions, Super Fund returns will outstrip withdrawals, and the Fund will continue to get bigger every year. 

    This brings me to the announcement I want to make today. 

    As part of its investment activity, the New Zealand Super Fund has invested $300 million in a venture capital fund called Elevate. 

    The fund was established in 2020 to support high-growth tech-based startups in New Zealand. 

    The fund was created to fill a funding gap at the so-called Series A/B stage of startup funding – the point at which startups typically need $2–$20 million to scale beyond early seed funding.

    The Elevate fund operates as a fund-of-funds. That is, it invests not directly in startups, but in private venture capital funds which must also attract private co-investment.

    In doing so, it supports the commercialisation of science and technology and helps export-focused startups to attract global investment. It also helps to attract global investment to New Zealand by showing there is a pipeline of companies reaching the Series C stage.

    The short-term goal is to increase startup funding. The long-term goal is to help build a self-sustaining venture capital market in New Zealand in which returns from previous investments fund future investments. 

    The results from Elevate’s first five years of operation are positive. 

    It has committed $221 million across nine funds and attracted $536 million of private capital – a ratio of 2.4 dollars of private equity for every $1 committed by the fund. 

    This has led to $440 million being invested in 123 startups across sectors like software, clean-tech, and med-tech.

    There have been some significant successes. I’ll give you a couple of examples. 

    First, Dawn Aerospace which is developing reusable spaceplanes and non-toxic satellite propulsion systems to make space access more sustainable and affordable. 

    In 2022, the Elevate fund helped close a $22m funding raise for Dawn with a number of local Venture Capital funds. 

    This was instrumental in bridging the gap to a larger fundraising round of over $100m. 

    Since then, Dawn has expanded operations to France in 2023 and established a European facility in the Netherlands, all whilst still being run out of Christchurch.

    26 satellites, 122 thrusters and 3 launchers later, Dawn Aerospace is at the cutting edge of its sector with an ever-growing global presence and domestic economic impact.

    Second, Halter which has created a smart collar for cows that uses GPS, sound, and vibration to guide livestock, allowing farmers to manage grazing, shifting, and monitoring from a phone. 

    The collar is transforming day-to-day farm operations. 

    With the help of Elevate backed funds, Halter raised $32m in a Series B funding round in 2021. 

    In the time since, Halter has tripled its workforce to meet growing demand in markets including Australia and the United States.

    It has since attracted further Series C fundraising and is continuing with its plans to revolutionise farming.

    In time, the Elevate fund is expected to become self-sustaining with the returns from previous investments funding future investments. 

    However, the fund is not yet self-sustaining. 

    Therefore, I am announcing today that the Government is committing an extra $100 million to the Elevate venture capital fund at Budget 2025.

    This will be funded through a combination of the 2025 contribution to the NZ Super Fund of $61 million, topped up with an additional $39 million from the Budget 2025 capital allowance.

    This follows the approach taken by the previous government when the Elevate fund was established. The initial government contribution was funded from the Crown’s contribution to the Super Fund. 

    The Government wants to see more companies like Sharesies capitalise on New Zealand talent and grow from small beginnings to create opportunities for other New Zealanders and contribute to the New Zealand economy.

    Let me finish on an optimistic note. 

    The international order is undergoing profound change. We are seeing a shift from rules to power, from economics to security and from efficiency to resiliency. 

    None of this is good news for a small, remote nation that relies on trade for prosperity. 

    But New Zealand is blessed with abundant natural resources, safe, secure, borders, strong institutions and decent, smart, resilient people. Our best years are ahead of us.  

    The job of government is to unlock that potential, for New Zealanders today and for New Zealanders in the years ahead. Next week’s Budget will be the next step in that process.

    Thank you for listening. 

    I understand we have time for a few questions if you have any. 

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Peters Reintroduces the Providing Child Care for Police Officers Act

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Scott Peters (52nd District of California)

    Washington, DC – Today, Rep. Scott Peters (CA-50) reintroduced bipartisan legislation to address the childcare needs of law enforcement officers and their families. The Providing Child Care for Police Officers Act will help local police departments establish childcare options for their officers and address the nationwide police staffing shortages by making it easier for parents to enter and stay in the field. Rep. Peters is joined by Representatives David Valadao (CA-22), Josh Harder (CA-9), and Darrell Issa (CA-48) as co-leads on this legislation. 

      

    “Access to quality, reliable childcare is essential to recruitment and retention of the best, most representative police force we can have,” said Rep. Peters. “Our officers go out every day and ensure our children are safe — the least we can do is make sure there is someone to watch their kids when they are on duty. San Diego is leading the way to expand childcare opportunities for police officers, and I am working to support those efforts at the federal level.” 

     

    “Our Central Valley police departments continue to face staffing shortages, and we need real solutions to support the people who put their lives on the line to keep us safe,” said Rep. Valadao. “By making childcare more accessible for officers working long, irregular hours, this bipartisan bill reduces a major barrier for working parents in law enforcement and helps improve public safety in our communities.” 

     

    “We have a responsibility to provide our police officers with the tools, training, and equipment they need to safeguard our streets and protect our communities,” said Rep.  Issa. “This bill represents a creative and innovative approach to not only advance law and order everywhere it is needed, but allowing these brave men and women on the front lines to be both parents and police.” 

     

    “This is a no brainer – keeping our families safe starts by recruiting and retaining top-tier police officers,” said Rep. Harder. “Making sure our officers have access to quality, affordable child care means we increase the pool of talented, diverse recruits and keeps officers on the streets helping our communities.” 

     

    The Providing Child Care for Police Officers Act will: 

    − Establish a pilot program under the Administration for Children and Families to supply grants to law enforcement agencies to provide child care benefits to their officers. 

    − Authorize $24 million in funding for each of the next five fiscal years. Law enforcement agencies will be able to use this funding to construct or operate new center for police departments’ exclusive use, offer scholarships to subsidize the cost of care, or provide assistance for care for children with disabilities.  

    − Allow law enforcement agencies, local governments, and child care providers to determine each of their responsibilities while requiring local entities to contribute a scaled matching requirement over a three-year grant period. 

    − Set aside 20% of the total grant funding for police departments employing fewer than 200 officers. 

    − Require HHS to report to Congress the grant recipients, corresponding law enforcement agencies, employee retention and recruitment data, and the unmet child care needs of other first responder sectors. 

     

     

    San Diego is home to a first-of-its-kind local law enforcement child care facility which opened last year. 

      

    “As leaders of the 30×30 Initiative to advance women in policing, we commend Congressman Scott Peters for introducing this crucial legislation. Access to affordable, reliable child care is essential to recruiting and retaining women in law enforcement and other public safety roles. This bill represents a vital step toward investing in structural supports that improve the workplace for all employees and enhance public safety outcomes.” — Maureen McGough, Co-Founder, and Dr. Tanya Meisenholder, Director, 30×30 Initiative 

     

    “Law Enforcement Officers struggle daily trying to maintain a family life. Their schedules are both erratic and not predictable. Through their shift work, mandatory overtime court appearances and unpredictable critical incidents, they have to arrange care for minor children. It is often nearly impossible. This bill would provide that safety net for these dedicated public servants while allowing them to be responsible parents.”  — Sam Cabral, President of the International Union of Police Associations (IUPA) 

     

    “The Providing Child Care for Police Officers Act removes barriers to entry and retention for law enforcement parents by helping agencies establish childcare centers specifically tailored for officers and the nonstandard hours they work. The San Diego Police Officers Association, a NAPO member organization, created the first such childcare center in the nation and it has yielded a marked improvement in police work by easing the stresses and worries of childcare for officer parents.  This bill contributes to safer communities by assisting in the recruitment and retention of law enforcement officers.  We stand with Congressman Peters in support of this important bill and thank him for his leadership and support of the law enforcement community.” — Bill Johnson, Executive Director, National Association of Police Organizations 

     

    “Law enforcement officers have extremely demanding jobs, which are made even more difficult by the often-unconventional hours and the stresses of shift work. It is even more challenging for officers with young children. Many of these officers work nights or have non-traditional hours and may not have viable options for affordable childcare. Since most childcare programs only operate during traditional hours, the programs are often unable to accommodate law enforcement families.  The Providing Child Care for Police Officers Act addresses this issue by authorizing $24 million per year through Fiscal Year 2030 and will help law enforcement agencies establish childcare programs that work for these families. We are proud to support Representative Peters’ efforts to pass this legislation.” —  Patrick Yoes, National President of the Fraternal Order of Police 

      

    “PORAC strongly supports this bill to help ensure accessible and affordable childcare for peace officers across the nation. This vital legislation tackles childcare barriers for officers, boosting recruitment, retention, and public safety. PORAC is proud to lead the charge for our nation’s law enforcement families.” — Brian Marvel, President of the Peace Officers Research Association of California (PORAC) 

      

    “As recruiting and retention of police officers has become increasingly challenging across America, the San Diego Police Officer’s Association appreciates and supports Congressman Peters’ innovative Providing Child Care for Police Officers Act.  Childcare, in both rising cost and limited availability, has become a barrier to mothers and parents protecting and serving their communities.  This Act will help bridge that gap and help recruit from a wider group of people who want to serve their communities.” — Jared Wilson, President of San Diego Police Officer’s Association 

     

    “Thank you, Representative Peters, for your unwavering commitment to the vital issue of childcare assistance for law enforcement officers and deputies. I am a firm believer that our law enforcement officers and deputies deserve comprehensive support both on and off the job. Grant funding for childcare services is a crucial step in acknowledging the unique challenges these dedicated professionals face. As a profession that works around the clock, our employees make personal sacrifices to fulfill our mission of keeping everyone safe. Investing in our deputies ensures they can focus on protecting the community while knowing their families are cared for. I stand strongly in support for the Providing Child Care for Police Officers Act.” – Kelly A. Martinez, Sheriff, San Diego County 

     

     

    Background: 

    In recent years, law enforcement agencies have struggled to retain, hire, and train officers. At the same time, the nation has faced a shortage of child care providers, driving up costs and reducing options for working families. Police officers, in particular, are challenged by their nonstandard work schedules, with most child care centers operating under a 9 to 5 work day. Rep. Peters’ legislation would help ease this significant barrier to entry and retention for parents who wish to pursue careers in law enforcement and would help expand child care capacity in regions that are most in need. 

      

    Full text of the Providing Child Care for Police Officers Act can be found here.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Dedicated obstetrics theatre suites at Canberra Hospital to enhance maternity care

    Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services



    As part of ACT Government’s ‘One Government, One Voice’ program, we are transitioning this website across to our . You can access everything you need through this website while it’s happening.

    Released 12/05/2025

    The ACT Government is building the health infrastructure our growing city needs, with a $5.5 million investment in maternity services that has refurbished two dedicated obstetric operating theatre suites and a Post Anaesthetic Care Unit at Canberra Hospital.

    This is another piece of the ACT Government’s largest investment into health infrastructure in Territory history and supports additional theatre capacity at the Canberra Hospital.

    Minister for Health Rachel Stephen-Smith said the dedicated operating theatres would improve Canberra Hospital’s capacity for scheduled caesarean procedures and when complications emerge during births.

    “Having dedicated obstetric theatres close to Centenary Hospital for Women and Children supports efficient and timely emergency obstetric care,” Minister Stephen-Smith said.

    “It allows for rapid access to theatres for emergency interventions, including caesarean sections, and ensures quick transport of mothers and babies in need, minimising potential complications.”

    The dedicated theatre suites boast a range of features, including:

    • a new eight bay recovery area,
    • holding area,
    • smart LED operating lights,
    • medication rooms and storage areas, and
    • scrub bay.

    The theatre suites will come online at the end of May following a short commissioning process.

    This follows the new operating theatres that opened in Building 5 in August last year, expanding Canberra Health Services’ surgical capability.

    Nurse and midwife to patient ratios will be introduced into operating theatres and maternity at Canberra Hospital and North Canberra Hospital later this year.

    “Nurse and midwife to patient ratios will ensure minimum staffing ratios in theatres and maternity and will support safe nursing and midwifery care and improved outcomes for patients,” Minister Stephen-Smith said.

    “The ACT Government is proud to continue supporting high quality, free healthcare across the Territory.”

    – Statement ends –

    Rachel Stephen-Smith, MLA | Media Releases

    «ACT Government Media Releases | «Minister Media Releases

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Off the rails: Man to face court over theft

    Source: New Zealand Police

    Police have derailed a man’s plans, putting him before the court for theft of thousands of dollars’ worth of railway sleepers.

    On 2 May, witnesses called Police after seeing two men removing railway sleepers from beside the Glenbrook Vintage Railway line.

    Waiuku Sergeant Michael Robison says the witnesses managed to record the alleged offender’s number plate as well as video footage, which helped identify one of the men.

    “Late last week Police executed a search warrant at a Pukekohe address where a number of railway sleepers were located and seized.

    “A man was also arrested at the address and will appear in court next month.

    “This type of crime is incredibly dangerous for our community and we are grateful to the vigilant people who called Police and were able to gather as much information as possible, helping lead to this arrest.”

    Anyone who notices any offending or suspicious behaviour is urged to contact Police online at https://www.police.govt.nz/use-105 or via our 105 phone service.

    Information can also be provided anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.

    A 64-year-old man will appear in Pukekohe District Court on 12 June charged with theft and trespassing.

    Enquiries remain ongoing to identify and locate the second person.

    ENDS.

    Holly McKay/NZ Police

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Honduran National Charged With Re-entry Of Deported Alien

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – ActingUnited States Attorney Michael M. Simpson announced that MARLON SANTOS (“SANTOS”), age 36, a native of Honduras, was indicted on May 8, 2025, for re-entry of removed alien, in violation of Title 8, United States Code, Section 1326(a).

    According to court documents, SANTOS was found in Orleans Parish on April 21, 2025.  He had previously been removed to Honduras on December 21, 2018.

    If convicted, SANTOS faces a maximum penalty of two years of imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, up to three years of supervised release, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee.

    Acting U.S. Attorney Simpson reiterated that an indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.

    This case 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).

    Acting U.S. Attorney Simpson praised the work of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Spiro G. Latsis of the General Crimes Unit oversees the prosecution.

    *   *   *

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Redondo Beach Man Pleads Guilty to Selling Fentanyl-Laced Oxycodone Pills that Ultimately Resulted in Fatal Overdose

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    LOS ANGELES – A South Bay man pleaded guilty today to selling dozens of fentanyl-laced counterfeit oxycodone pills to a drug dealer who later sold them to a victim who soon afterward suffered a fatal overdose in January 2020.

    Marcus Michael Takaya Poydras, 36, of Redondo Beach, pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of fentanyl resulting in death.

    According to his plea agreement, in January 2020, Poydras knowingly and intentionally distributed pills that he claimed contained oxycodone, but which contained fentanyl. During the evening of January 22, 2020, Poydras sold approximately 90 of those pills to a drug dealer, whom he told the pills were real and sent a photograph of 10 of the pills. The drug dealer then sent the victim the same photograph and stated, “[t]hey are real.”

    The drug dealer then sold 20 of the pills to the victim for $340 in the parking lot of a mall in Marina del Rey. The victim later consumed some of the pills, which resulted in the victim’s fatal overdose.

    Poydras further admitted in his plea agreement that, in July 2020, he knowingly possessed with intent to distribute various narcotics, including cocaine, as well as a firearm – a .38-caliber revolver – with an obliterated serial number. Poydras obtained the firearm from a law enforcement technician employed by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD) and who was one of Poydras’s drug customers at the time.

    In January 2025, prosecutors filed a deferred prosecution agreement with that law enforcement technician, Melvin Ramon Washington, 58, of Carson, in which he admitted giving Poydras that revolver and making false statements to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).

    Poydras also admitted to possessing with intent to distribute fentanyl in January 2021 and to possessing another firearm – a 9mm-caliber semi-automatic pistol – in furtherance of his fentanyl-dealing activities.

    United States District Judge Dale S. Fischer scheduled a September 8 sentencing hearing, at which time Poydras will face a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years in federal prison and a statutory maximum sentence of life imprisonment. Poydras has been in federal custody since September 2021.

    The DEA, LASD, and the Redondo Beach Police Department are investigating this matter.

    This case is the result of an investigation by the DEA’s Overdose Justice Task Force, which was created to address opioid-related deaths in the greater Los Angeles area, most of which are caused the synthetic opioid fentanyl. Under the Overdose Justice program for the DEA’s Los Angeles Field Division, DEA agents collaborate with local law enforcement to analyze evidence to determine if there are circumstances that might lead to a federal criminal prosecution, and, if so, proactively target the drug trafficker.

    Assistant United States Attorney Patrick Castañeda of the Transnational Organized Crime Section is prosecuting this case.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Rare duck on the comeback near Milford Track

    Source: Police investigating after shots fired at Hastings house

    Date:  13 May 2025

    The small brown ducks found only in Aotearoa New Zealand previously became extinct in the South Island due to the combined impacts of predators, habitat loss and other threats.

    Since 2009, captive-reared pāteke have been reintroduced to the area around the Milford Track – one of only two restored populations in the South Island.

    Department of Conservation Biodiversity Ranger Louise McLaughlin and team celebrated the success by releasing 40 more captive-reared pāteke in the Arthur Valley to join their thriving friends in early May.

    Louise says with support from Air New Zealand and iwi, DOC staff release and monitor pāteke with specialised transmitters.

    “We’re not just throwing them out there and hoping for the best, we’re tracking their survival, and learning, always learning.

    “With high rainfall and risk of floods, this can be a tough location for pāteke, but their biggest threat remains their vulnerability to introduced predators. They just don’t have a ‘fight back’ mechanism at all, they’re sitting ducks.

    “Fortunately, we’ve seen incredible survival rates following 1080 predator control operations. This year we’ve had more than 86% survival. In the years when we don’t have 1080 operations, survival can drop to as low as 16%.”

    With more pāteke dabbling in the rivers, visitors to the Milford Track are more likely to spot this unique duck in the future.

    Every year 25 million native birds are killed by invasive predators. DOC’s National Predator Control Programme protects threatened native species by regularly suppressing introduced predators across large forest areas on public conservation land.

    In the Arthur and Clinton valleys DOC uses aerially applied biodegradable 1080 to target rats, possums and stoats, supported by traps along the valley floor to target stoats in between 1080 operation years. The frequency of 1080 operations is dependent on predator numbers, and the most recent operation was in 2024.

    “It’s so wonderful doing the monitoring after we’ve had a 1080 operation. There is more life in the forest, there are more nests, more fledglings, and it’s not just pāteke, it’s benefiting all our native forest animals,” says Louise.

    With predators controlled, pāteke have a chance to build their resilience to natural threats.

    “We’re finding that the longer they survive out there, the better they get at putting their nests in smart locations above the floodline. The population is becoming more savvy, more fit for this location.”

    The recent pāteke release has been made possible by Auckland Zoo, Ōtorohanga Kiwi House, Central Energy Trust Wildbase Recovery, Ngā Manu Nature Reserve, Pūkaha National Wildlife Centre, Staglands Wildlife Reserve, Natureland Wildlife Trust, Orana Wildlife Park, Willowbank Wildlife Reserve, Kiwi Park, and The Isaac Conservation and Wildlife Trust, with the support of Air New Zealand.

    Contact

    For media enquiries contact:

    Email: media@doc.govt.nz

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Dan Goldman Joins Councilmembers Erik Bottcher, Lynn Schulman, and Community Advocates to Introduce Legislation Strengthening Medicaid for People Living With Serious Mental Illness

    Source: US Congressman Dan Goldman (NY-10)

     

     ‘Strengthening Medicaid for Serious Mental Illness Act’ Incentivizes State Support for Those with Serious Mental Illness 

     

    Over One-Third of Individuals with Serious Mental Illness Do Not Receive Any Form of Mental Health Treatment 

     

    Read Bill Text Here 

     

    See Pictures and Video from Press Conference Here 

    New York, NY – Congressman Dan Goldman (NY-10) was joined by Council Members Erik Bottcher,  Health Committee Chair Lynn Schulman, and mental health advocates in reintroducing the ‘Strengthening Medicaid for Serious Mental Illness Act’ today, which would support individuals living with serious mental illnesses (SMI) such as schizophrenia, bipolar illness, and major depressive disorder. Council Member Erik Bottcher will introduce a Council Resolution in support of the federal bill putting on record the New York City Council’s support for its passage.  

    “The mental health crisis in America demands urgent action, resources, and federal support to ensure every American can access the care they need,” Congressman Dan Goldman said. “Mental health care has been overlooked and underfunded for decades, and this legislation takes a critical step forward by providing millions of Americans living with severe mental illness access to lifesaving treatment and support by expanding Medicaid services for our most vulnerable. We have an obligation to guarantee adequate care for every one of our neighbors.’ 

    Council Member Erik Bottcher said, “The Strengthening Medicaid for Serious Mental Illness Act is a critical step in tackling the nationwide mental health crisis. This legislation expands Medicaid to cover much-needed community-based mental health services and incentivizes states to meet higher standards of care. As we mark Mental Health Awareness Month, there is no better time to ensure these life-saving services are affordable and accessible to everyone who needs them. I’m proud to sponsor a City Council resolution supporting this bill, and I thank Congressman Dan Goldman for his leadership on this critical issue.” 

    Council Member Lynn Schulman, Chair of the Committee on Health, said, “Access to quality mental health care is a fundamental right, and we must do everything we can to support those living with serious mental illness. Strengthening Medicaid to ensure comprehensive care is essential for our communities, especially for the most vulnerable among us. I am proud to support Congressman Dan Goldman and Senator Gillibrand’s legislation, as well as Council Member Bottcher’s efforts to advance this critical initiative at the city level. I am committed to working alongside my colleagues to ensure that all New Yorkers have access to the mental health services they need and deserve.” 

    Council Member Linda Lee, Chair of the Committee on Mental Health, Disabilities, and Addiction, said, “The mental health crisis continues to impact families throughout our city, state, and nation, with an estimated 15.4 million Americans living with serious mental illness. Now more than ever – especially amid ongoing uncertainty at the federal level – it is critical that individuals in need have access to life-saving resources and a full continuum of care. I’m proud to co-prime this resolution with Council Member Bottcher in support of federal legislation introduced by Representative Goldman and Senator Gillibrand to expand Medicaid coverage for those with severe mental illness. Medicaid is a vital healthcare lifeline for low-income individuals, and strengthening it to address the mental health needs of our most vulnerable will help us build healthier, more resilient communities.” 

    Douglas C. Brooks, LCSW-R, the President and CEO of Community Counseling & Meditation (CCM) said, “With our 40 years of experience in providing mental health services to New York City’s most vulnerable and marginalized communities, Community Counseling & Meditation proudly stands in support of The Strengthening Medicaid for Serious Mental Illness Act.”  

    Amy Harclerode, Executive Director of the Hetrick-Martin Institute for LGBTQIA+ Youth (HMI), said, “Our community faces a mental health crisis. Since 1979, HMI has delivered intensive, life-saving care to some of our community’s most vulnerable youth. But we do this fully at the generosity of grants and contributions —because Medicaid, as it stands, does not recognize or reimburse the kinds of community-centered, integrated services that actually work. I rise in strong support of the reintroduction of the Strengthening Medicaid for Serious Mental Illness Act, which affirms what we at HMI have always known – that recovery should be possible outside hospital walls, and that Medicaid should support care that reflects the lives, identities, and realities of the people it serves.” 

    Eric Rosenbaum, CEO of Project Renewal, said, “Project Renewal is proud to support Congressman Goldman and Council Member Bottcher’s efforts through the Strengthening Medicaid for Serious Mental Illness Act to provide a new level of care aimed specifically for individuals with serious mental illness. At Project Renewal, where our multi-disciplinary team of clinicians provide medical care and psychiatric treatment to over 6,000 individuals, we know that proper diagnosis and treatment of serious mental illness is critical to helping individuals break the cycle of homelessness. Yet, our current systems are fragmented and under-resourced—leaving people to cycle between shelters, emergency rooms, jails, and the streets. This legislation will make it possible to offer a package of comprehensive and flexible services that integrate mental health treatment, housing assistance, substance use services, peer support, and supported employment.”  

    Jody Rudin, president and CEO, Institute for Community Living (ICL), said, “We know that the proper support can help people with the most serious mental health challenges build stability and stop the expensive and inhumane cycle of institutionalization, incarceration, and street homelessness. We have – and are building out – a continuum to provide mobile support and wrap around whole health services, but we need the funding to reach all those who need it. The Strengthening Medicaid for Serious Mental Illness Act would provide the support community based organizations like ICL need to help more people get better. We are grateful to Congressman Goldman for introducing this bill and Council Member Bottcher for supporting it though a resolution.”  

    Evette Maduro CEO, Betances Health Center, said, “At Betances Health Center, we witness daily the urgent need for comprehensive mental health services—especially for those living with serious mental illness. The Strengthening Medicaid for Serious Mental Illness Act is a pivotal step toward ensuring no individual is left behind due to gaps in care. We are proud to stand with Congressman Goldman and Council Member Bottcher in supporting legislation that prioritizes equity, dignity, and access for our most vulnerable community members.” 

    Brooke Montes, Alliance’s Senior Vice President of Communications, said “As a NYC-based multiservice organization with 34 years of experience delivering community-based health services, Alliance for Positive Change applauds Congressman Goldman and NYC Council Member Bottcher for calling on the US Congress to pass the Strengthening Medicaid for Serious Mental Illness Act. Investing in meaningful community-based services for people with serious mental health challenges is a common-sense, cost-effective way to reduce emergency hospitalizations, mental health crises, fatal overdoses, chronic homelessness, and justice system involvement. Alliance’s three decades of work has shown that combining multidisciplinary care teams, peer-based support, and interagency partnerships yields benefits far greater than the sum of the parts—for individuals, families, and communities. This legislation is an urgently needed investment.” 

    Daniel Pichinson, President & CEO of Ryan Health, said “Access to mental health services where people live and work is key to getting them the care that they deserve and need. Ryan Health has a long history of providing impactful mental health services in our Emotional Wellness Centers and primary care locations. We support the Strengthening Medicaid for Serious Mental Illness Act to increase availability of treatment to improve the lives of New Yorkers living with mental illness.” 

    Noeline Maldonado, Executive Director of The Healing Center, said, “Restricting equitable access to Medicaid removes a key pathway to comprehensive care for individuals with mental illness and is antithetical to the proposed goals of any credible mental health policy.”  

     

    Ken Zimmerman, CEO of Fountain House, said, “We applaud Representative Goldman for his leadership on the introduction of the ‘Strengthening Medicaid for Serious Mental Illness Act’ and thank both him and Councilmember Erik Bottcher for recognizing community-based programs like Fountain House and the clubhouse model as integral in the continuum of mental health care. The clubhouse model is not only highly effective, but also a responsible way to ensure a return on investment while promoting recovery and thriving — Medicaid costs for Fountain House members were 21% lower compared to the highest risk population, research shows. Our nation must support and recognize the more than 14 million people living with serious mental illness, especially at this critical time, by prioritizing dignity, agency, and community as fundamental building blocks. This bill is a significant step toward a more person-centered, holistic, and proven approach to mental healthcare in the U.S. by focusing on and investing in targeted supports that help people with serious mental illness thrive.” 

    Over 15 million adults in the United States are currently living with a serious mental illness, while over one-third of these individuals receive zero mental health treatment. This legislation creates a new package of services under Medicaid that specifically aims to provide care to individuals living with SMI, sets a national standard for SMI care, and incentivizes states to provide intensive community-based services to treat SMI. 

    The bill is endorsed by the Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law and the National Health Law Program.

    To better support those living with SMI, the Strengthening Medicaid for Serious Mental Illness Act would:  

    Create a new waiver program granting Medicaid authority to provide states with an option to offer a package of services targeted specifically to individuals with SMI. The package would include: 

    1. Assertive community treatment, an evidence-based, highly individualized team-based service designed to support adults with the most intensive mental health needs; 

    2. Supported employment to help individuals get and keep a job; 

    3. Peer support services from individuals who have lived or living experiences with mental health conditions; 

    4. Mobile crisis intervention teams that can help de-escalate situations and link individuals to other community-based services; 

    5. Intensive case management; and 

    6. Housing-related activities and services to support individuals with transitioning to and maintaining housing. 

    Require states to adhere to certain standards, like tracking disparities in treatment, to ensure services are delivered with care to all in need. 

    Create a tiered Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP) increase to incentivize states to provide intensive community-based services to individuals with SMI. This means that states could receive an increase up to 25 percent in funds allocated by the federal government for their Medicaid programs. 

    Congressman Dan Goldman has worked tirelessly to expand mental health care for people across the country. 

    Last year, Congressman Goldman introduced the ‘Michelle Alyssa Go Act’ to increase the number of federal Medicaid-eligible in-patient psychiatric beds for individuals who are seeking treatment for both mental health and substance use disorders. 
    Last Congress, Congressman Goldman joined colleagues in introducing the ‘Expanding Access to Mental Health Services in Schools Act’ to address the urgent need for mental health professionals in schools. The bill would increase the number of mental health service providers in schools, particularly in high-need areas, by providing competitive grants to local educational agencies for recruitment, hiring, retention, and diversification of mental health service providers. 
    In 2023, Congressman Goldman joined Congresswoman Grace Meng (NY-06) in introducing the ‘Mental Health Workforce and Language Access Act’ to establish a grant program administered by the Department of Health and Human Services to provide federal funds to community health centers to help them hire qualified mental health professionals who are fluent in a language other than English.   

    Congressman Goldman is a member of the Congressional Mental Health Caucus 

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Issa Reintroduces Legislation to Support Child Care Options for Law Enforcement

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Darrell Issa (CA-50)

    WASHINGTON – This week, Congressman Darrell Issa (CA-48) joined House colleagues Rep. Scott Peters (CA-50), Rep. David Valadao (CA-22), and Rep. Josh Harder (CA-09) to reintroduce the Providing Child Care for Police Officers Act. This bipartisan bill aims to address the nationwide police staffing shortages by making it easier for parents to enter and maintain work in law enforcement that often requires night, weekend, and holiday work. 

    “We have a responsibility to provide our police officers with the tools, training, and equipment they need to safeguard our streets and protect our communities,” said Rep. Issa. “This bill represents a creative and innovative approach to not only advance law and order everywhere it is needed, but allowing these brave men and women on the front lines to be both parents and police.” 

    The Providing Child Care for Police Officers Act would:

    • Establish a pilot program to supply grants to law enforcement agencies to provide childcare benefits.
    • Authorize funding for five fiscal years. Law enforcement agencies will be able to use this funding to construct or operate new center for police departments’ exclusive use, offer scholarships to subsidize the cost of care, or provide assistance for care for children with disabilities.  
    • Allow law enforcement agencies, local governments, and child care providers to determine each of their responsibilities while requiring local entities to contribute a scaled matching requirement over a three-year grant period.
    • Set aside 20% of the total grant funding for police departments employing fewer than 200 officers. 

    In 2023, San Diego opened the nation’s first childcare center for local police. In April 2025, Boone County, Missouri, broke ground on a new public safety childcare center.

    Supporting organizations include: 30×30 Initiative, International Union of Police Associations (IUPA), National Association of Police Organizations, Fraternal Order of Police, and Peace Officers Research Association of California (PORAC).

    Full bill text of the Providing Child Care for Police Officers Act can be found here.

    Darrell Issa is the Representative of California’s 48th Congressional District, which encompasses the central and eastern parts of San Diego County and a portion of Riverside County, including the communities of Fallbrook, Valley Center, Ramona, Escondido, Santee, Lakeside, Poway, Temecula, Murrieta, and the mountain and desert areas of the San Diego-Imperial County line. Issa served as the Chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform from 2011-2015.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: The art world pays respects to celebrated artist Fred Graham

    Source: Secondary teachers question rationale for changes to relationship education guidelines

    Te Kaunihera o Tāmaki Makaurau (Auckland Council) is joining the art world in paying its respects to Fred Graham (Ngaati Koroki Kahukura), ONZM, Art Foundation Icon.

    Graham has passed away at the age of 96 but his legacy lives on, and for Aucklanders that is in the extensive public artworks that are part of the council’s enduring collection. 

    In the words of his whaanau – words that are being echoed around the world – “Fred Graham was a revered Maaori sculptor, educator, athlete, and artist who has journeyed beyond the veil. His artistry embodied the strength and depth of Maaori storytelling, carrying the whakapapa, traditions, and wairua of his iwi, Ngaati Koroki Kahukura.”

    A tribute from Fred Graham’s whaanau:

    Frederick John Graham 1 September 1928 – 9 May 2025
    He Pou Whakarauora i te Ao Toi Maaori

    Kua rere atu taku manu ki ngaa rangi tuuhaahaa, ki te tihi o Maungatautari, ki Taupiri anoo hoki.

    I te atapoo o te Paraire, i moe ngaa karu o te ringatoi Maaori whakaihuwaka, te kaiako, te kaipara, te ringa whao, te kaiwhakairo i te kupu, o Fred Graham CNZM, he uri o Ngaati Koroki Kahukura.

    Mai i ngā tohu whakairo nunui pēnei i a Kaitiaki i Pukekawa ki Taamaki Makaurau me Justice i te Kooti Matua ki te pokapuu o Taamaki, i ruku hohonu a Graham ki ngā kaupapa o te manaaki, o te tika, o te maaramatanga hoki. Naana ngaa maatauranga tuku iho i whiriwhiria ki te ao hou. Ka kite i ana whakaaro rangatira i ana mahinga toi.

    He kaiako ia hei tauira ki ngaa rangatira o āpōpō i ngaa mahinga toi Maaori. I tīmata toona haerenga ki Ardmore Teachers’ Training College, kaatahi ka huri te aronga ki Te Tai Tokerau hei tautoko i ngaa kaiako Maaori, wheeraa i a Katerina Mataira, i a Rau Hotere hoki. He tangata whakapau kaha i te toituutanga o te ao toi Maaori i Aotearoa.

    Ehake i te mea he ringatoi anahe, he Maaori All Black hoki a Graham i toona waa. I taakaro raaua ko tana hoa pūmau, a Bishop Muru Walters. Noo raatou te kaha ki te whakatairanga i te mana o te Maaori i ngaa tuumomo waahanga, mai i te haakinakina ki te wairua, tae atu ki te ao toi.

    I teeraa tau, i kite ana mahi i te Venice Biennale, ko Whiti Te Raa (1966) teetehi e whakaatu ana i te haka a Te Rauparaha i roto i te whakairo toi. Ko taua whakaaturanga he tohu nui moo te toi Maaori ki te ao whaanui, e whakaū ana i a Graham hei rangatira i roto i te ao toi Maaori.

    I whakawhiwhia e Graham te tohu Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit (CNZM), hei whakamaanawa i toona koha nui ki te ao toi Maaori, me aana mahi whakakaha i te whakaaturanga o te toi i Aotearoa.

    I noho a Fred i Waiuku. Kei taua takiwaa aana mahi toi tūmatanui e rua. Ko tana tohu whakairo tuatahi, ko Birds Soar, he tohu rino e waru mita te rahi, hei whakamaharatanga ki te 50 tau o Glenbrook mill. He tohu teenei moo ngaa whakatupuranga katoa.

    Ko Waiuku Sculpture, he tohu whakairo rino i whakarewahia i te tau 2024, e whakaatu ana i ngā kōrero o ngā iwi o te rohe, me te hono atu ki te whakapapa o Waiuku.

    Ahakoa toona kaumaatuatanga, i noho ia hei tohunga whakairo. I mahia tonutia e ia te toi, i hoahoa tonu ia i tana taapaetanga moo te Erebus Memorial, he tohu whakamaumahara i toona aroha moo te koorero tuku iho maa te toi.

    He hoa rangatira, he matua, he koroheke ia. Ko toona whaanau te tuuaapapa o toona ao, te aronga o toona auahatanga. Ka mau tonu toona aroha, toona manaakitanga i roto i ngaa whakatupuranga kei te heke mai.

    He kaikookiri ia i te ao toi Maaori, he tauira ki ngaa ringatoi e tupu ana, he kaihaapai i ngaa tirohanga o te Maaori. Ka mau tonu te mana o aana mahi hei whakaawe, hei whakanui, hei whakatauira moo te hunga toi e whai mai nei.

    Haere whakangaro atu raa e te rangatira.  E tiu, e topa. Pai Maarire.

    Fred Graham at centre – pictured in Waiuku

    Frederick John Graham 1 September 1928 – 9 May 2025
    A Guardian of Maaori Art and Legacy

    A majestic bird has journeyed to the heights of the sacred mountains of Maungatautari and Taupiri.

    Fred Graham, a revered Maaori sculptor, educator, athlete, and artist, has journeyed beyond the veil. His artistry embodied the strength and depth of Maaori storytelling, carrying the whakapapa, traditions, and wairua of his iwi, Ngaati Koroki Kahukura.

    Through iconic works such as Kaitiaki in Pukekawa / Auckland Domain and Justice at the High Court, Graham explored themes of guardianship, justice, and enlightenment. He bridged ancestral knowledge with contemporary expression, ensuring Maaori identity and legacy lived on through his sculptural forms.

    Beyond his artistic contributions, Graham was a dedicated educator, shaping the future of Maaori art through his teaching career. His journey began at Ardmore Teachers’ Training College, where he was encouraged to specialise in art education, before moving north to work with Maaori students in Te Tai Tokerau. His commitment to fostering creativity among rangatahi ensured that Maaori perspectives remained central to Aotearoa’s evolving artistic landscape.

    Te Waka Taumata o Horotiu (Resting Waka), 2008, Fred Graham. Corner Queen Street and Swanson Street.

    Graham was also a Maaori All Black, playing alongside his lifelong friend Bishop Muru Walters. Their bond extended beyond the rugby field, as both men became champions of Maaori art, education, and leadership. Their shared journey reflected a deep commitment to uplifting Maaori voices across multiple spheres, from sport to spirituality to artistic expression.

    His influence extended beyond Aotearoa, with his works exhibited internationally, including at the prestigious Venice Biennale. His piece Whiti Te Raa (1966), which portrays figures in motion inspired by the haka of Te Rauparaha, was showcased as part of the Biennale Arte 2024. This exhibition marked a significant moment for Maaori art on the global stage, reinforcing Graham’s role as a pioneer in contemporary indigenous sculpture.

    In recognition of his immense contributions to Maaori art, Graham was recently named a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the King’s Honours. This prestigious accolade acknowledged his lifelong dedication to elevating Maaori artistry and ensuring its place within Aotearoa’s cultural fabric.

    In 2024 Fred Graham unveiled a gift to his hometown of Waiuku, described as “an expression of his aroha and whakawhetai.”

    Fred spent his final years in Waiuku, where he left an indelible mark on the town through two significant public artworks. His Waiuku Sculpture, a stainless-steel piece unveiled in 2024, acknowledges local iwi histories and honours the whakapapa of the region.

    His second piece, Birds Soar, an eight-metre steel sculpture commemorating the 50th anniversary of NZ Steel’s Glenbrook mill, symbolises the past, present, and future generations connected to the industry. A tohunga whakairo to the end, he remained deeply engaged in his craft, continuing to shape spaces with his vision and artistic integrity. Even in his last days, he was designing a submission for the Erebus Memorial, a testament to his lifelong devotion to storytelling through form.

    The Web (2014) – swapping silk for steel, this spiderweb delights visitors to the Threatened Native Plants Garden at Auckland Botanic Gardens, Manurewa.

    But above all, Fred was a devoted husband, father, and Granddad. He cherished his whaanau, who were the foundation of his life and inspiration for his creative journey. His love and guidance will endure through the generations he nurtured, shaping not only his art but also the lives of those who walked alongside him.

    As a staunch advocate for Maaori art, he nurtured emerging artists, championed indigenous perspectives, and paved the way for future generations. His life’s work stands as a testament to the enduring power of Maaori creativity, ensuring his influence will continue to shape and inspire.

    Fred Graham’s public art 

    View more of the treasured public artworks in Auckland Council’s collection by Fred Graham, located across Tāmaki Makaurau.

    Within Fred Graham’s impressive body of work of over 70 years, manu have been a recurring theme, and his works stand and cast a long and rich shadow across Aotearoa and Tāmaki Makaurau, from Waiuku to the city centre.  

    Manurewa (2007) – as if in flight and with a wingspan of six metres, this majestic Fred Graham sculpture soars above Mission Bay.

    Two of Fred Graham’s public artworks – located in Auckland’s city centre – are placed at the junction of Shortland and Queen Streets. These works mark the original foreshore and former waka landing area before this area was reclaimed. 

    Kaitiaki II, 2009, Fred Graham. Outside BNZ, 80 Queen Street.

    Tūrama Kāhu Kōrako inspired by Fred Graham. Photo credit: Bryan Lowe

    Kāhu Kōrako is a term for an older kāhu / hawk / New Zealand harrier whose plumage has lost the dark colouring of youth and whose feathers are pale, white or grey. 

    The plumage of Kāhu Kōrako is compared by Māori orators with the grey hair of elders, and when coupled with the veneration that ngāi Māori hold for kuia, koroua and kaumātua, the term Kāhu Kōrako becomes a metaphor for an elderly person of mana, whose wisdom and grace will assist your passage wherever you travel within the hem of their korowai (cloak). This Matariki season people will look up and they might notice the bird’s head looks to the south-west – towards Waiuku – acknowledging where Fred Graham and his wife Norma raised their whānau.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI USA News: Peace Officers Memorial Day and Police Week, 2025

    Source: The White House

    class=”has-text-align-center”>By the President of the United States of America
     
    A Proclamation 
     

    On Peace Officers Memorial Day and during Police Week, we honor our brave officers who serve on the front lines to protect our families, safeguard our communities, and shoulder a burden of responsibility that most Americans cannot fathom.  This week and always, we honor the courageous men and women serving in law enforcement and memorialize those who sacrificed their lives defending the thin blue line. 
    A nation in chaos ceases to be a citadel of liberty.  Tragically, the previous administration allowed lawlessness to permeate our country, making it harder for our law enforcement officers to do their jobs.  Their reckless, soft-on-crime policies emboldened criminals and thugs; wreaked havoc on the sanctity of our homes, businesses, and public spaces; instilled fear; and jeopardized public trust.
    As your 47th President, I am fulfilling my promise to make America safe again by reclaiming sovereignty on the border and restoring the rule of law in communities nationwide.  We will utilize every available means to equip and train law enforcement, retain qualified officers, and recruit on the basis of meritocracy. 
    The oath to serve and protect comes with extraordinary risk and sacrifice, and we are indebted to those who choose this righteous profession.  That is why I have asked the Congress to codify my Executive Order mandating the death penalty for the murder of a police officer — sending an unequivocal message that barbaric acts of violence and blatant disregard for the lives of our Nation’s heroes will not be tolerated — and to pass a crime bill with enhanced protections for police officers.
    I stand in steadfast solidarity with those who defend our freedoms and the families who love and support them.  We pray for those who grieve the fallen and pledge that their lives, legacies, and sacrifices will forever be remembered by our grateful Nation.
    By a joint resolution approved October 1, 1962, as amended (Public Law 87-726, 76 Stat. 676), and by Public Law 105-225 (36 U.S.C. 136-137), the President has been authorized and requested to designate May 15 of each year as “Peace Officers Memorial Day” and the week in which it falls as “Police Week.”
    NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim May 15, 2025, as Peace Officers Memorial Day and May 11 through May 17, 2025, as Police Week.  I call upon all Americans to observe this week with appropriate ceremonies and activities.  I also call on the Governors of the States and Territories and officials of other areas subject to the jurisdiction of the United States to direct that the flag be flown at half-staff on Peace Officers Memorial Day.
    IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twelfth day of May, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty‑five, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-ninth.

                                   DONALD J. TRUMP

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Guatemalan Man Who Unlawfully Resided in the United States Charged with Fraudulently Sponsoring Unaccompanied Alien Children

    Source: US State of North Dakota

    A Guatemalan national was charged in a criminal complaint filed in the District of New Jersey for allegedly submitting sponsorship applications with false statements to the U.S. government to gain custody of two unaccompanied alien children (UACs) after they entered the United States illegally.

    “The prior administration’s border policies created chaos and allowed bad actors to prey upon the most vulnerable among us,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “This Department of Justice will always seek strong legal penalties to protect children from those who would do them harm.”

    “This prosecution is an example of my office’s dedication to keeping children safe,” said U.S. Attorney Alina Habba for the District New Jersey. “We will continue to bring to justice those who take advantage of our country’s Unaccompanied Alien Children program and threaten the safety of our community. There will be zero tolerance for those who prey on the vulnerable.”

    “This was a clear attempt from an individual unlawfully in the United States seeking to undermine our laws and target children, and the FBI will not tolerate it,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “We remain laser-focused on ensuring people who come into the United States intending to wreak havoc and intentionally violate our rule of law will face serious consequences.”

    According to the criminal complaint, Luciano Tinuar Quino, also known as Luciano Tinuar Guino, 57, who unlawfully entered the United States in 2016 and previously resided in the area of Orange, New Jersey, submitted multiple applications to the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) under penalties of perjury to sponsor and obtain custody of two UACs.

    As alleged in the complaint, after a 15-year-old Guatemalan male (UAC-1) illegally entered the United States in April 2022, Tinuar Quino submitted to sponsor this UAC that falsely: (1) claimed to be his father; (2) claimed his own name was “A.S.T.” as listed on a Guatemala national identification card he submitted; and (3) provided his date of birth. To prove his relationship with UAC-1, Tinuar Quino submitted a photoshopped image, which he asserted was a photo of himself with UAC-1’s mother.  As a result, the boy was transported from Texas to New Jersey to live with Tinuar Quino.

    Tinuar Quino allegedly submitted to ORR to falsely demonstrate his identity as A.S.T. and falsely claim he was UAC-1’s father.(2)

    Tinuar Quino allegedly submitted to ORR to falsely demonstrate a father-son relationship with UAC-1 and to assert that the clearly photoshopped woman was UAC-1’s mother.

    Tinuar Quino is also charged with submitting false information in an attempt to obtain custody of another UAC. Specifically, the complaint charges that in June 2022, Tinuar Quino submitted an application to sponsor a 17-year-old Guatemalan male (UAC-2) who had entered the United States illegally. As alleged, Tinuar Quino falsely: (1) claimed to be UAC-2’s father; (2) stated that his name was “J.R.M.” as listed on a Guatemala national identification card he submitted; and (3) provided his date of birth. ORR did not approve this application.   

    Tinuar Quino allegedly submitted to ORR to falsely demonstrate his identity as J.R.M. and falsely claim he was UAC-2’s father (2)

    “Attempting to exploit the sponsorship system to gain custody of unaccompanied alien children puts those minors at serious risk,” said U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Acting Director Todd Lyons. “ICE works alongside our law enforcement partners to prevent trafficking and exploitation by individuals falsely claiming to be family. ICE remains firmly committed to detecting deception, upholding the integrity of the immigration process, and, above all, protecting these at-risk children.”

    “Protecting children means holding individuals accountable when they use deception to exploit our systems,” said ORR Acting Director Angie M. Salazar. “ORR acted swiftly to identify the fraud and share with our law enforcement counterparts who located the children and ensured justice was served.”

    Tinuar Quino is charged with two counts of making a false, fictitious, or fraudulent statement. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison on each count. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

    These charges are the result of the coordinated efforts of Joint Task Force Alpha (JTFA). JTFA, a partnership with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), has been elevated and expanded by the Attorney General with a mandate to target cartels and other transnational criminal organizations to eliminate human smuggling and trafficking networks operating in Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Panama, and Colombia that impact public safety and the security of our borders. JTFA currently comprises detailees from U.S. Attorneys’ Offices along the southwest border. Dedicated support is provided by numerous components of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, led by the Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section (HRSP) and supported by the Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section, the Office of Enforcement Operations, and the Office of International Affairs, among others. JTFA also relies on substantial law enforcement investment from DHS, FBI, DEA, and other partners. To date, JTFA’s work has resulted in more than 365 domestic and international arrests of leaders, organizers, and significant facilitators of alien smuggling; more than 334 U.S. convictions; more than 281 significant jail sentences imposed; and forfeitures of substantial assets.

    The FBI and ICE HSI Newark field offices are jointly investigating with assistance from the FBI’s Legal Attaché team in Guatemala. Additionally, HSI’s Center for Countering Human Trafficking in Washington, D.C., and ORR have provided valuable assistance.

    Senior Trial Attorney Christian Levesque of HRSP, JTFA Trial Attorney Spencer M. Perry of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Rebecca Sussman of the District of New Jersey are prosecuting the case, with assistance from HRSP Analyst/Latin America Specialist Joanna Crandall.

    This case 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 other transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Project Safe Neighborhoods.

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

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Chinese Company and Three Chinese Nationals Indicted for Unlawfully Importing Pill-Making Equipment Used to Manufacture Controlled Substances

    Source: US State of North Dakota

    A federal grand jury returned a 21-count indictment against a Chinese company and three Chinese nationals for their alleged role in the illegal importation of pill-making equipment, the Department of Justice announced.

    According to an indictment returned April 23 and unsealed today, CapsulCN International Co. Ltd. (CapsulCN) and Xiochuan “Ricky” Pan, 40, Tingyan “Monica” Yang, 37, and Xi “Inna” Chen, 30, all of the People’s Republic of China, were charged with smuggling, Controlled Substances Act, and money laundering offenses in connection with CapsulCN’s unlawful import and distribution of tableting machines (also known as “pill presses”), encapsulating machines, and counterfeit die molds capable of producing millions of potentially lethal fake pills. The indictment also charges Pan, CapsulCN’s principal officer and a shareholder, with leading a continuing criminal enterprise. Additionally, four internet domains used by CapsulCN to market and sell illicit pill-making equipment to U.S. customers were seized today in connection with this investigation.

    “This indictment and today’s domain seizures send an unmistakable message to criminals in the People’s Republic of China and across the world — the Department will use every weapon in its arsenal to combat those who facilitate the manufacture and distribution of deadly drugs in the United States,” said Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche.

    “This U.S. Attorney’s Office is focused on bringing the full force of justice to anyone who conspires to poison our communities with fentanyl,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Margaret Leachman for the Western District of Texas. “Whether through the importation of pill presses and related materials, as alleged in this indictment, or through trafficking precursor chemicals and the drug itself, it is evident that bad actors are determined to harm Americans with fentanyl. Our federal prosecutors, through collaborative efforts with our law enforcement partners, are determined to stop them.”

    Many of the fake pills containing fentanyl and other controlled substances seized in the United States are manufactured using relatively inexpensive pill-making equipment — such as pill presses, encapsulating machines, and die molds — obtained from Chinese pharmaceutical equipment companies and imported into the United States. These fake pills often mimic the look, feel, and effect of legitimate pharmaceutical drugs and are particularly dangerous and misleading to U.S. consumers, who may falsely believe they are taking legitimate prescription medication that is safer and less addictive than the fentanyl and methamphetamine the pills really contain.

    According to court documents, between December 2011 and April 2025, Pan led CapsulCN, which advertised and sold pill-making equipment to U.S. customers on websites, popular e-commerce platforms, and various social media accounts. CapsulCN marketed and catered to customers seeking to make counterfeit pills that mimicked the look and effect of prescription drugs. In 2020, Pan and Yang created a new brand, “PillMolds,” to advertise, sell, and promote counterfeit die molds to the United States. Although the PillMolds brand was part of CapsulCN, thereafter, CapsulCN ceased marketing and selling die molds via its www.capsulcn.com website and instead did so using the website www.pillmold.com. Today, HSI seized both of these websites, along with two others (www.ipharmachine.com and huadapharma.com) that CapsulCN used to facilitate its unlawful sales and imports of pill-making equipment.

    The indictment alleges that, between December 2011 and April 2025, CapsulCN imported and distributed pill presses and encapsulating machines to customers in the United States, knowing or having reason to believe that those items would be used to manufacture controlled substances. CapsulCN also distributed counterfeit die molds, which can be used to compress inactive and active ingredients into pills that mimic the shape and imprinted markings of legitimate pharmaceutical drugs such as oxycodone, dextroamphetamine, hydrocodone, amphetamine, and alprazolam. Drug traffickers often replace these active ingredients in the legitimate pharmaceutical drugs with other controlled substances such as fentanyl and methamphetamine.    

    The indictment alleges that CapsulCN concealed the nature and purpose of the pill presses, encapsulating machines, and die molds from U.S. customs officials and law enforcement by using deceptive packaging and false manifests that undervalued and misidentified the contents. Some customers sought to avoid mandatory requirements to report the import and distribution of pill presses and encapsulating machines to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). CapsulCN also allegedly helped conceal the nature of its shipments avoid detection by disassembling the machines and shipping the parts in separate packages, again with false manifests. CapsulCN employees then would direct customers to social media accounts maintained by CapsulCN that contained videos instructing customers on how to reassemble the machines once in the United States.

    According to court documents, Yang, Chen, and other CapsulCN sales representatives communicated extensively with potential customers in the United States over company emails and encrypted electronic messaging applications. In these communications with customers, Yang, Chen, and others agreed to smuggle pill-making equipment to U.S. customers and assisted customers in selecting die molds that best replicated identified pharmaceutical drugs. Yang, Chen, and other CapsulCN sales representatives also exchanged electronic messages and emails negotiating payment for CapsulCN products that were smuggled into the United States and imported and distributed for use in manufacturing controlled substances. CapsulCN maintained bank accounts in the People’s Republic of China and accounts with online payment services to facilitate the transfer of funds from the United States to China in furtherance of CapsulCN’s criminal activities.

    The HSI El Paso Field Office investigated the case with assistance from Customs and Border Protection, IRS Criminal Investigation’s El Paso Office, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.

    Trial Attorneys Colin W. Trundle, Cadesby Cooper, Kaitlin Sahni, Edward E. Emokpae, Scott B. Dahlquist, Assistant Director Katharine A. Wagner, Deputy Director of Criminal Litigation A.J. Nardozzi, and Director Amanda Liskamm of the Department of Justice’s Consumer Protection Branch, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Laura Gregory and Donna Miller and OCDETF Chief Steven Spitzer of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas are handling the case.

    This effort 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 www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

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

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Guatemalan Man Who Unlawfully Resided in the United States Charged with Fraudulently Sponsoring Unaccompanied Alien Children

    Source: United States Attorneys General

    A Guatemalan national was charged in a criminal complaint filed in the District of New Jersey for allegedly submitting sponsorship applications with false statements to the U.S. government to gain custody of two unaccompanied alien children (UACs) after they entered the United States illegally.

    “The prior administration’s border policies created chaos and allowed bad actors to prey upon the most vulnerable among us,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “This Department of Justice will always seek strong legal penalties to protect children from those who would do them harm.”

    “This prosecution is an example of my office’s dedication to keeping children safe,” said U.S. Attorney Alina Habba for the District New Jersey. “We will continue to bring to justice those who take advantage of our country’s Unaccompanied Alien Children program and threaten the safety of our community. There will be zero toleration for those who prey on the vulnerable.”

    “This was a clear attempt from an individual unlawfully in the United States seeking to undermine our laws and target children, and the FBI will not tolerate it,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “We remain laser-focused on ensuring people who come into the United States intending to wreak havoc and intentionally violate our rule of law will face serious consequences.”

    According to the criminal complaint, Luciano Tinuar Quino, also known as Luciano Tinuar Guino, 57, who unlawfully entered the United States in 2016 and previously resided in the area of Orange, New Jersey, submitted multiple applications to the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) under penalties of perjury to sponsor and obtain custody of two UACs.

    As alleged in the complaint, after a 15-year-old Guatemalan male (UAC-1) illegally entered the United States in April 2022, Tinuar Quino submitted to sponsor this UAC that falsely: (1) claimed to be his father; (2) claimed his own name was “A.S.T.” as listed on a Guatemala national identification card he submitted; and (3) provided his date of birth. To prove his relationship with UAC-1, Tinuar Quino submitted a photoshopped image, which he asserted was a photo of himself with UAC-1’s mother.  As a result, the boy was transported from Texas to New Jersey to live with Tinuar Quino.

    Tinuar Quino allegedly submitted to ORR to falsely demonstrate his identity as A.S.T. and falsely claim he was UAC-1’s father.(2)

    Tinuar Quino allegedly submitted to ORR to falsely demonstrate a father-son relationship with UAC-1 and to assert that the clearly photoshopped woman was UAC-1’s mother.

    Tinuar Quino is also charged with submitting false information in an attempt to obtain custody of another UAC. Specifically, the complaint charges that in June 2022, Tinuar Quino submitted an application to sponsor a 17-year-old Guatemalan male (UAC-2) who had entered the United States illegally. As alleged, Tinuar Quino falsely: (1) claimed to be UAC-2’s father; (2) stated that his name was “J.R.M.” as listed on a Guatemala national identification card he submitted; and (3) provided his date of birth. ORR did not approve this application.   

    Tinuar Quino allegedly submitted to ORR to falsely demonstrate his identity as J.R.M. and falsely claim he was UAC-2’s father (2)

    “Attempting to exploit the sponsorship system to gain custody of unaccompanied alien children puts those minors at serious risk,” said U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Acting Director Todd Lyons. “ICE works alongside our law enforcement partners to prevent trafficking and exploitation by individuals falsely claiming to be family. ICE remains firmly committed to detecting deception, upholding the integrity of the immigration process, and, above all, protecting these at-risk children.”

    “Protecting children means holding individuals accountable when they use deception to exploit our systems,” said ORR Acting Director Angie M. Salazar. “ORR acted swiftly to identify the fraud and share with our law enforcement counterparts who located the children and ensured justice was served.”

    Tinuar Quino is charged with two counts of making a false, fictitious, or fraudulent statement. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison on each count. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

    These charges are the result of the coordinated efforts of Joint Task Force Alpha (JTFA). JTFA, a partnership with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), has been elevated and expanded by the Attorney General with a mandate to target cartels and other transnational criminal organizations to eliminate human smuggling and trafficking networks operating in Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Panama, and Colombia that impact public safety and the security of our borders. JTFA currently comprises detailees from U.S. Attorneys’ Offices along the southwest border. Dedicated support is provided by numerous components of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, led by the Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section (HRSP) and supported by the Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section, the Office of Enforcement Operations, and the Office of International Affairs, among others. JTFA also relies on substantial law enforcement investment from DHS, FBI, DEA, and other partners. To date, JTFA’s work has resulted in more than 365 domestic and international arrests of leaders, organizers, and significant facilitators of alien smuggling; more than 334 U.S. convictions; more than 281 significant jail sentences imposed; and forfeitures of substantial assets.

    The FBI and ICE HSI Newark field offices are jointly investigating with assistance from the FBI’s Legal Attaché team in Guatemala. Additionally, HSI’s Center for Countering Human Trafficking in Washington, D.C., and ORR have provided valuable assistance.

    Senior Trial Attorney Christian Levesque of HRSP, JTFA Trial Attorney Spencer M. Perry of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Rebecca Sussman of the District of New Jersey are prosecuting the case, with assistance from HRSP Analyst/Latin America Specialist Joanna Crandall.

    This case 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 other transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Project Safe Neighborhoods.

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

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Chinese Company and Three Chinese Nationals Indicted for Unlawfully Importing Pill-Making Equipment Used to Manufacture Controlled Substances

    Source: United States Attorneys General

    A federal grand jury returned a 21-count indictment against a Chinese company and three Chinese nationals for their alleged role in the illegal importation of pill-making equipment, the Department of Justice announced.

    According to an indictment returned April 23 and unsealed today, CapsulCN International Co. Ltd. (CapsulCN) and Xiochuan “Ricky” Pan, 40, Tingyan “Monica” Yang, 37, and Xi “Inna” Chen, 30, all of the People’s Republic of China, were charged with smuggling, Controlled Substances Act, and money laundering offenses in connection with CapsulCN’s unlawful import and distribution of tableting machines (also known as “pill presses”), encapsulating machines, and counterfeit die molds capable of producing millions of potentially lethal fake pills. The indictment also charges Pan, CapsulCN’s principal officer and a shareholder, with leading a continuing criminal enterprise. Additionally, four internet domains used by CapsulCN to market and sell illicit pill-making equipment to U.S. customers were seized today in connection with this investigation.

    “This indictment and today’s domain seizures send an unmistakable message to criminals in the People’s Republic of China and across the world — the Department will use every weapon in its arsenal to combat those who facilitate the manufacture and distribution of deadly drugs in the United States,” said Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche.

    “This U.S. Attorney’s Office is focused on bringing the full force of justice to anyone who conspires to poison our communities with fentanyl,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Margaret Leachman for the Western District of Texas. “Whether through the importation of pill presses and related materials, as alleged in this indictment, or through trafficking precursor chemicals and the drug itself, it is evident that bad actors are determined to harm Americans with fentanyl. Our federal prosecutors, through collaborative efforts with our law enforcement partners, are determined to stop them.”

    Many of the fake pills containing fentanyl and other controlled substances seized in the United States are manufactured using relatively inexpensive pill-making equipment — such as pill presses, encapsulating machines, and die molds — obtained from Chinese pharmaceutical equipment companies and imported into the United States. These fake pills often mimic the look, feel, and effect of legitimate pharmaceutical drugs and are particularly dangerous and misleading to U.S. consumers, who may falsely believe they are taking legitimate prescription medication that is safer and less addictive than the fentanyl and methamphetamine the pills really contain.

    According to court documents, between December 2011 and April 2025, Pan led CapsulCN, which advertised and sold pill-making equipment to U.S. customers on websites, popular e-commerce platforms, and various social media accounts. CapsulCN marketed and catered to customers seeking to make counterfeit pills that mimicked the look and effect of prescription drugs. In 2020, Pan and Yang created a new brand, “PillMolds,” to advertise, sell, and promote counterfeit die molds to the United States. Although the PillMolds brand was part of CapsulCN, thereafter, CapsulCN ceased marketing and selling die molds via its www.capsulcn.com website and instead did so using the website www.pillmold.com. Today, HSI seized both of these websites, along with two others (www.ipharmachine.com and huadapharma.com) that CapsulCN used to facilitate its unlawful sales and imports of pill-making equipment.

    The indictment alleges that, between December 2011 and April 2025, CapsulCN imported and distributed pill presses and encapsulating machines to customers in the United States, knowing or having reason to believe that those items would be used to manufacture controlled substances. CapsulCN also distributed counterfeit die molds, which can be used to compress inactive and active ingredients into pills that mimic the shape and imprinted markings of legitimate pharmaceutical drugs such as oxycodone, dextroamphetamine, hydrocodone, amphetamine, and alprazolam. Drug traffickers often replace these active ingredients in the legitimate pharmaceutical drugs with other controlled substances such as fentanyl and methamphetamine.    

    The indictment alleges that CapsulCN concealed the nature and purpose of the pill presses, encapsulating machines, and die molds from U.S. customs officials and law enforcement by using deceptive packaging and false manifests that undervalued and misidentified the contents. Some customers sought to avoid mandatory requirements to report the import and distribution of pill presses and encapsulating machines to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). CapsulCN also allegedly helped conceal the nature of its shipments avoid detection by disassembling the machines and shipping the parts in separate packages, again with false manifests. CapsulCN employees then would direct customers to social media accounts maintained by CapsulCN that contained videos instructing customers on how to reassemble the machines once in the United States.

    According to court documents, Yang, Chen, and other CapsulCN sales representatives communicated extensively with potential customers in the United States over company emails and encrypted electronic messaging applications. In these communications with customers, Yang, Chen, and others agreed to smuggle pill-making equipment to U.S. customers and assisted customers in selecting die molds that best replicated identified pharmaceutical drugs. Yang, Chen, and other CapsulCN sales representatives also exchanged electronic messages and emails negotiating payment for CapsulCN products that were smuggled into the United States and imported and distributed for use in manufacturing controlled substances. CapsulCN maintained bank accounts in the People’s Republic of China and accounts with online payment services to facilitate the transfer of funds from the United States to China in furtherance of CapsulCN’s criminal activities.

    The HSI El Paso Field Office investigated the case with assistance from Customs and Border Protection, IRS Criminal Investigation’s El Paso Office, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.

    Trial Attorneys Colin W. Trundle, Cadesby Cooper, Kaitlin Sahni, Edward E. Emokpae, Scott B. Dahlquist, Assistant Director Katharine A. Wagner, Deputy Director of Criminal Litigation A.J. Nardozzi, and Director Amanda Liskamm of the Department of Justice’s Consumer Protection Branch, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Laura Gregory and Donna Miller and OCDETF Chief Steven Spitzer of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas are handling the case.

    This effort 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 www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

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

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Head of the Criminal Division, Matthew R. Galeotti Delivers Remarks at SIFMA’s Anti-Money Laundering and Financial Crimes Conference

    Source: United States Attorneys General

    Thank you, Bernard, for that kind introduction. And thank you to SIFMA for having me here at your annual AML and Financial Crimes Conference.

    Over the last several months, the Department has made clear that its mission is to protect hard-working Americans from the most serious threats.  In the Criminal Division, we are working relentlessly to eliminate cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), dismantle human smuggling operations, curb the flow of fentanyl and other dangerous drugs, and neutralize child predators and violent criminals, including by securing significant charges and prison sentences against the worst criminal actors. 

    White-collar crime also poses a significant threat to U.S. interests.  Unchecked fraud in U.S. markets and government programs robs hardworking Americans and harms the public fisc.  The deadly activities of cartels and TCOs are enabled by international money laundering organizations and other financial facilitators.  Illicit financial and logistical networks undermine our national security by facilitating sanctions evasion by hostile nation-states and terror regimes.

    Today, I’m here to discuss the role the Criminal Division plays in combating these crimes.

    The Criminal Division has always been a leader in white-collar enforcement and in the development of corporate enforcement policy.  Our work prevents the distortion of markets through unfair external forces based on fraud and deceit. 

    But recently, those efforts have come at too high a cost for businesses and American enterprise. Companies need clear guidance and certainty on the concrete benefits that each company, their shareholders, boards, and customers can earn through self-reporting, owning up to criminal conduct, remediating, and cooperating with the Department. Too often, businesses have been subject to unchecked and long-running investigations that can be costly—both to the Department and to the subjects and targets of its investigations—and can unduly interfere with day-to-day business operations. These costs and uncertainty have deterred companies from working with the Department and diverted the Department’s resources from tackling the most significant threats facing our country.

    In short, if companies continue to assume that the Department will be quick and heavy-handed with the stick, and stingy with the carrot, the system will continue to generate lengthy drawn-out investigations that are ultimately detrimental to companies and the Department.  This approach has deterred companies from cooperating and allowing the Department to more readily target the most culpable actors.   

    And so the Criminal Division is turning a new page on white-collar and corporate enforcement.

    We start from first principles: recognizing that law-abiding companies are key to a prosperous America.  As stated in the America First Investment Policy, “Economic security is national security.”  Through hard work and innovation, we can build a stronger economy that benefits Americans from Main Street to the C-suite.  We have created the safest and most secure financial system in the world, ensured an even playing field where—no matter your background—you can compete in our marketplace, and rooted out those who would prey on the vulnerable through scams and schemes.

    Most corporations and financial institutions want to play by the rules and provide value for their shareholders and their customers.  And that is what we want them to remain focused on. Excessive enforcement and unfocused corporate investigations stymie innovation, limits prosperity, and reduces efficiency.

    So that ends today.  Current Department leadership recognizes the critical role that American companies play—not just in growing our economy, but also in the fight against the most serious criminal actors.  Many of you, particularly those of you in an AML compliance role, are on the front lines defending your companies against criminal actors.  You work every day to implement systems to keep your companies, your customers, and your shareholders safe.  You follow the guidance from your regulators.  And you can provide critical information to ensure that the Department can prosecute the worst offenders, the individual fraudsters, those that shadow bank for hostile nation-states, cartel enablers, and other financial facilitators of transnational crime.  We are here to prosecute criminals, not law-abiding businesses.

    To that end, I am announcing the Criminal Division’s white-collar enforcement plan.  This plan will focus the Criminal Division’s efforts on the most egregious white-collar crime to make our nation safer and more prosperous, vindicate victims’ rights, maximize the use of the Department’s resources, and provide fairness and transparency to individuals and companies alike. As part of this plan, I am revising three of the key corporate enforcement policies of the Criminal Division to reflect these priorities.

    So, let me take a few minutes and walk you through the changes I am implementing at the Criminal Division under the new Administration.

    Effective white-collar prosecution requires focus, fairness and efficiency—three principles that will guide the work of Criminal Division prosecutors going forward.

    The Criminal Division is laser-focused on the most urgent threats to our country, our citizens, and our economy. I have instructed all of our prosecutors to focus their white-collar prosecution efforts on the key threats to America.

    Fraud perpetrated against Americans as individuals, as taxpayers, and as recipients of government services are core to this focus.  Millions of Americans are victimized by fraudsters every day, some losing their hard-earned life savings.  These schemes harm the public and weaken the integrity of our markets.

    Similarly, dishonest actors seek to take advantage of our government and enrich themselves through waste, fraud, and abuse.  Those that defraud Medicare, our defense infrastructure, and other public benefit programs and government agencies, steal not only from the government but divert much-needed support from the most vulnerable Americans.

    Criminals also seek to exploit our financial system, which is the safest in the world.  Just as Americans seek the security that the system provides, dangerous cartels, hostile nation states, and terrorists seek to exploit that system to further their heinous crimes and threaten our economy and our national security.

    You are the first line of defense against these schemes—companies and particularly financial institutions with well-functioning compliance programs have a unique role to play in this fight.

    We are here to work with you.  Our goal is practicality.  Root out criminal conduct in the most cost-effective ways. But make no mistake, the Criminal Division will hold accountable those that choose a different path, those that enable criminals. It is incumbent upon us as representatives of the American people to do so.   

    Today, the Criminal Division is releasing revised corporate enforcement policies that emphasize the role of and benefits for law-abiding companies and companies that are ready to acknowledge and learn from their mistakes.  Specifically, we are making clearer the benefits for companies that self- report. Companies that are ready to take responsibility should not be overburdened by enforcement.  The revised policies are aimed at incentivizing you to come forward, come clean, reform, and cooperate with the government in efficient investigations and prosecutions of the most culpable actors.

    Let me take a minute to outline the changes you’ll see in our policies.

    We have revised the Criminal Division’s Corporate Enforcement and Voluntary Self-Disclosure Policy, or CEP.  The CEP is the Criminal Division’s primary guide to corporate enforcement and voluntary self-disclosure.  But it had gotten unwieldy and hard to navigate.  We want to be as transparent as we can to companies and their counsel about what to expect under our policies.  Therefore, under my direction, the Fraud Section and the Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section have revised the CEP to simplify the policy and clarify the outcomes that companies can expect.

    What is the primary message I want you to take back to your companies about the new CEP?  Self-disclosure is key to receiving the most generous benefits the Criminal Division can offer. Why?  Because coming forward and coming clean lets the Department devote its resources to investigating and prosecuting individual wrongdoers and the most egregious criminal schemes.  Companies can avoid what we have all seen in the past: burdensome, years-long investigations that inevitably end in a resolution process in which the company feels it must accept the fate the Department has ultimately decided.

    Under the new CEP—with an easy-to-follow flow chart—companies that voluntarily self-disclose and meet other criteria will receive a declination, not just a presumption of a declination.  More precisely, those companies that meet our core requirements—voluntarily self-disclose to the Criminal Division, fully cooperate, timely and appropriately remediate, and have no aggravating circumstances—will not be required to enter into a criminal resolution.  This is a clear path to declination.

    For companies that are willing to meet all the voluntary self-disclosure, cooperation, and remediation requirements but may have concerns about coming forward because they have aggravating circumstances, the revised policy makes clear that you may still be eligible for a CEP declination based on weighing the severity of those aggravating circumstances and the company’s cooperation and remediation.

    And the changes aim to also provide enhanced clarity and benefits for companies who in good faith self-disclose either not quickly enough or after—unbeknownst to them—the Department has already become aware of the misconduct.  The CEP revisions put an end to the guessing game companies previously faced under these circumstances.

    Now, the CEP makes clear that those companies are still eligible to receive significant benefits—an NPA with a term of fewer than three years, 75% reduction of the criminal fine, and no monitor.

    As I said before—the key here is self-disclosure. Where a company does not self-disclose, it will not receive these benefits.  But, consistent with the high-level principles I’ve discussed, in those circumstances, Criminal Division prosecutors still have discretion to recommend a resolution of any form, with a three-year term, monitor and up to 50% reduction in the fine.

    I am also announcing revisions to our monitor selection policy.

    As with unchecked enforcement, unrestrained monitors can be a burden on businesses that are frequently making self-directed improvements and investing significant amounts in their own compliance programs to solve problems internally and proactively. Without appropriate oversight from the Criminal Division, monitors can create an adversarial relationship with the companies they monitor, impose significant expense, stray from their core mission, and unduly interfere with business.  At times, the money companies spend on their monitor could be better spent investing in their compliance programs or, if they haven’t already, making victims whole.

    In short, the value monitors add is often outweighed by the costs they impose, so you can expect to see fewer of them going forward. For pre-existing monitorships, the Criminal Division is reviewing each one in an effort to narrow their scope or, where appropriate, terminate a monitorship altogether, based on a totality of the circumstances review. 

    In limited circumstances, however, a narrowly-tailored monitorship that is right-sized to the conduct it seeks to remedy, can be an effective resource to provide independent oversight and review to companies that are struggling to implement effective compliance programs on their own.

    I have asked the experts in the Criminal Division to revise the Division’s policy on selection of monitors, consistent with these principles and concerns.  Our new policy clarifies the factors prosecutors must consider to impose a monitor and to narrowly scope and tailor the monitor’s mandate when a monitor is imposed.

    Let me walk you through some of the key changes. The top line value criterion is that the benefits of the monitor should outweigh its costs, both monetary costs, as well as burdens on the business’ operations.  A monitor’s costs must be proportionate to the severity of the underlying conduct, the profits of the company, and the company’s present size and risk profile.  Therefore, factors prosecutors will consider are:

    First, the nature and seriousness of the conduct and the risk that it will happen again.  In analyzing the nature and seriousness of the conduct, the Department will focus chiefly on harms to Americans and American business.

    Second, the availability of other effective independent government oversight—i.e., regulator oversight.

    Third, the efficacy of the company’s compliance program and culture of compliance at the time of resolution.

    Fourth, the maturity of the company’s controls and ability of the company to test and update its compliance program.

    And when a monitor is imposed, that monitor must understand that she or he serves the public by ensuring the company will not reoffend and has an appropriate compliance program. 

    The goal of the Department, the monitor, and the company should be aligned—to bring the company back into good standing and to prevent future misconduct.  In keeping with this public service, the Criminal Division will ensure that costs are proportionate with the underlying criminal conduct, the company’s profits, and the company’s size and risk profile. We will do that by requiring a fee cap, approving budgets for all workplans, and requiring biannual tripartite meetings between the Department, the monitor, and the company.

    And finally, we have made changes to our corporate whistleblower program to reflect our focus on the worst actors and most egregious crimes.

    To do this, I asked MLARS and Fraud to review the corporate whistleblower awards pilot program and recommend additional areas of focus reflecting the Administration’s priorities.

    Today, we have added the following priority areas for tips: procurement and federal program fraud; trade, tariff, and customs fraud; violations of federal immigration law; and violations involving sanctions, material support of foreign terrorist organizations, or those that facilitate cartels and TCOs, including money laundering, narcotics, and Controlled Substances Act violations.

    As with every other area in our program, these tips must result in forfeiture to be eligible for an award.

    What does all this mean for you, the compliance professional and particularly those of you in anti-money laundering and financial crime departments?  We want to hear from you and we want your companies to hear from you.  Now is the time to report, remediate, and strengthen compliance to ensure American prosperity.

    Never before have the benefits of self-reporting and cooperating been so clear.  And you are the eyes and the ears of your companies.  You have the opportunity to see something, report something, and make sure your company can work with the Department to root out individual misconduct and receive all the benefits we have to offer.

    Thank you, again, for having me today.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Hoeven: EPA Approves State-Led Coal Ash Recycling and Disposal Program in North Dakota

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for North Dakota John Hoeven
    05.12.25
    Program Created Under Hoeven-Led Law Passed in 2016, Provides Certainty for Coal Producers
    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator John Hoeven today announced the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approved the State of North Dakota’s application for a state-led coal ash recycling and disposal program. The program is made possible through bipartisan legislation Hoeven authored and passed in 2016 and will:
    Provide certainty for the safe and efficient recycling of coal ash.
    Coal ash recycling allows for the productive use of coal residuals in applications like construction, where it serves as an ingredient in a less-expensive, stronger and more durable form of cement.
    Coal ash was used in the construction of the North Dakota Heritage Center and the National Energy Center of Excellence at Bismarck State College.

    Establish an enforceable state permit program for the disposal of coal ash, which requires protective infrastructure for disposal sites as well as timely and effective groundwater monitoring, among other standards.
    “North Dakota is leading the way in developing more energy with better environmental stewardship, which is why we authored and passed bipartisan legislation in 2016 to enable this states-led approach for recycling coal ash,” said Hoeven. “We appreciate EPA working with our state to advance approval of North Dakota’s coal ash permit program, which will ultimately ensure that coal ash is managed in a way that works for our energy producers and the environment.”
    Hoeven’s legislation was needed after an EPA rule issued in 2014 correctly regulated coal as a non-hazardous material, but did not create an effective enforcement mechanism. Instead, the regulation relied on litigation to enforce standards, creating uncertainty and added cost for coal producers. States that choose not to create a permit program or that do not have an approved application from EPA will continue to be regulated directly by EPA.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SBA Offers Disaster Assistance to Oklahoma Small Businesses, Nonprofits and Residents Affected by Spring Storms

    Source: United States Small Business Administration

    SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced the availability of low interest federal disaster loans to Oklahoma small businesses, nonprofits and residents to offset physical and economic losses from severe storms and flooding beginning April 19. The SBA issued a disaster declaration in response to a request SBA received from Gov. Kevin Stitt on May 9.

    The disaster declaration covers the Oklahoma counties of Caddo, Comanche, Cotton, Grady, Kiowa, Stephens and Tillman.

    Businesses and nonprofits are eligible to apply for business physical disaster loans and may borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace disaster-damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory, and other business assets.

    Homeowners and renters are eligible to apply for home and personal property loans and may borrow up to $100,000 to replace or repair personal property, such as clothing, furniture, cars, and appliances. Homeowners may apply for up to $500,000 to replace or repair their primary residence.

    Applicants may be eligible for a loan increase of up to 20% of their physical damages, as verified by the SBA, for mitigation purposes. Eligible mitigation improvements include insulating pipes, walls and attics, weather stripping doors and windows, and installing storm windows to help protect property and occupants from future disasters.

    SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program is available to eligible small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, nurseries and private nonprofit (PNP)organizations impacted by financial losses directly related to this disaster. The SBA is unable to provide disaster loans to agricultural producers, farmers, or ranchers, except for aquaculture enterprises.

    EIDLs are for working capital needs caused by the disaster and are available even if the business or PNP did not suffer any physical damage. They may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable, and other bills not paid due to the disaster.

    Interest rates are as low as 4% for businesses, 3.62% for nonprofits, and 2.75% for homeowners and renters with terms up to 30 years. Interest does not begin to accrue, and payments are not due until 12 months from the date of the first loan disbursement. The SBA sets loan amounts and terms based on each applicant’s financial condition.

    Beginning May 13, SBA customer service representatives will be on hand at a Disaster Loan Outreach Center (DLOC) to answer questions about SBA’s disaster loan program, explain the application process and help individuals complete their applications. Walk-ins are accepted, but you can schedule an in-person appointment in advance at appointment.sba.gov.

    “When disasters strike, SBA’s Disaster Loan Outreach Centers play a vital role in helping small businesses and their communities recover,” said Chris Stallings, associate administrator of the Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience at the SBA. “At these centers, SBA specialists assist business owners and residents with disaster loan applications and provide information on the full range of recovery programs available.”

    The DLOC hours of operations are listed below.

    COMANCHE COUNTY
    Disaster Loan Outreach Center
    Patterson Community Center
    Library Room
    4 NE Arlington Dr.
    Lawton, OK  73507

    Opens at 12 p.m. Tuesday, May 13

    Mondays – Fridays, 9:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.

    To apply online, visit sba.gov/disaster. Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information on SBA disaster assistance. For people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.

    The deadline to return physical damage applications is July 11. The deadline to return economic injury applications is Feb. 12, 2026.

    ###

    About the U.S. Small Business Administration

    The U.S. Small Business Administration helps power the American dream of business ownership. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow, expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Nick Langworthy Announces Winner of the 2025 Congressional Art Competition for New York’s 23rd District

    Source: US Congressman Nick Langworthy (NY-23)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Nick Langworthy (NY-23) announced the winner of the annual Congressional Art Competition for New York’s 23rd Congressional District, Camryn Battaglia of Clymer High School. Her winning artwork, titled “Concord,” will be displayed in the U.S. Capitol for the remainder of the year.

     

    “Congratulations to Camryn Battaglia, our winner of this year’s Congressional Art Competition for her piece, ‘Concord,’” said Congressman Nick Langworthy. “I thought her artwork truly represents NY-23 since we are home to the largest Concord grape belt in the U.S. and I’m pleased that it is representing our district in the Capitol.  My office received numerous outstanding entries, showcasing the incredible talent of our high school students in Western New York and the Southern Tier. Thank you to all who submitted artwork, and a special thank you to the faculty of St. Bonaventure University’s Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts for lending their expertise and judging this competition.”

     

    “Concord” by Camryn Battaglia

     

     

    Overall Winner:

    Camryn Battaglia, 10th grade, Clymer High School

    Artwork: “Concord”

    Kaylee’s piece will be displayed in the Capitol Cannon Tunnel in Washington, D.C. for one year, representing the artistic talent of NY-23 on a national stage.

     

    Runner-Up:

    Wendy Coleman, 11th grade, Watkins Glen High School

    Artwork: “Stronger with You”

     

    Finalists:

    Rayne Bruyer, 11th grade, Pine Valley Central School

    Artwork: “Lady and Cat”

     

    Emma Lewis, 12th grade, Iroquois High School

    Artwork: “Tea Time”

     

    Emelia Prey, 11th grade, Salamanca High School

    Artwork: “Teens Enjoying Swings”

     

    Jack Hayden, 11th grade, Watkins Glen High School

    Artwork: “Sunlit Valley”

     

    Abigayl White, 12th grade, Watkins Glen High School

    Artwork: “Lady Justice”

     

    Naja Radoja, 12th grade, Watkins Glen High School

    Artwork: “Lady Liberty”

     

     

    A full gallery of the finalists can be found here. This competition is open to all high school students and is sponsored by the Congressional Institute. Since the competition began in 1982, more than 650,000 high school students have participated.

     

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: During National Police Week, Rosen Helps Introduce Bipartisan Resolution Honoring Officers Killed in the Line of Duty

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV)
    WASHINGTON, DC – During National Police Week, U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV) helped introduce a resolution recognizing the contributions of law enforcement officers and honoring the memories of officers killed in the line of duty.
    “Nevada’s law enforcement officers put their lives on the line day in and day out to protect our communities and keep Nevadans safe,” said Senator Rosen. “During National Police Week, I’m proud to work across the aisle to help introduce a bipartisan resolution to recognize the sacrifices of law enforcement and honor the memory of those heroic officers who were killed in the line of duty. I’ll always support Nevada’s police officers and make sure they have the resources they need to do their jobs safely and effectively.”
    Senator Rosen has been working to support Nevada’s law enforcement community and ensure it has the resources needed to fight crime effectively and safely. Last year, bipartisan legislation she helped pass in the Senate to address the police officer shortage was signed into law. A bipartisan bill Rosen backed to fund family support and mental health services for law enforcement officers passed the Senate last year. Senator Rosen also introduced bipartisan legislation that would help determine best practices for identifying and treating post-traumatic stress and combating suicide among police and first responders.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ABC News: Bipartisan pair of senators applaud DOJ investigation into egg producers

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts – Elizabeth Warren
    May 09, 2025
    A bipartisan pair of senators applauded the Justice Department’s ongoing investigation into major egg producers over rising prices and called on the department to look even further into the issue in a letter to Assistant Attorney General Gail Slater late Thursday evening.
    “We write to express support for the Department of Justice’s reported investigation into anticompetitive practices in the U.S. egg industry,” Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Republican Sen. Jim Banks wrote. “As you are aware, the sustained increase in egg prices has placed a significant financial strain on American families, particularly workingclass households. While egg producers and trade associations point to recent avian flu outbreaks as the cause of high prices, we are concerned that record high egg prices reflect noncompetitive behavior among large producers.”
    ABC News reported in March that the Department of Justice was in the early stages of investigating major egg producers over soaring egg prices. Sources told ABC News at the time that department investigators were looking into whether the major egg companies were sharing information about supply and pricing, possibly contributing to price increases.
    …
    Read the full article here.
    By:  Allison Pecorin and Katherine FauldersSource: ABC News

    MIL OSI USA News –