NewzIntel.com

Category: Justice

  • Youth spiritual summit in Varanasi launches nationwide movement against drug abuse

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports has launched a youth-led national movement titled ‘Nasha Mukt Yuva for Viksit Bharat’ at the Youth Spiritual Summit in Varanasi, taking place from July 19–20. The initiative aims to harness the power of India’s youth—who make up over 65% of the population—to lead the charge against drug addiction and support the broader vision of a developed India.

    Set against the spiritual backdrop of the river Ganga, the event is designed to combine cultural engagement with policy dialogue, forming a collective resolve rooted in India’s traditions and moral heritage.

    The summit will see participation from key ministries such as Health, Social Justice, and Culture, as well as enforcement bodies like the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) and medical institutions including AIIMS. Spiritual organisations from across the country are also contributing, creating a unified front that combines policy, community engagement, and moral guidance.

    Central to the summit is the Kashi Declaration, a roadmap for a sustained, youth-led anti-drug movement. Each session at the summit will generate an actionable plan, culminating in a final resolution that outlines specific targets, assigns responsibilities, and sets clear implementation timelines. Progress will be reviewed during the Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue (VBYLD 2026) to maintain accountability.

    Drawing inspiration from Swami Vivekananda’s message of self-discipline and service to the nation, the summit underscores the role of spiritual and moral strength in tackling addiction. The government is calling on young citizens to not only reject harmful habits but to serve as leaders in their communities.

    This spiritual and strategic mobilisation marks a turning point in the national drug policy—bringing together ministries, law enforcement, and civil society under a common goal of empowering youth and building a healthier, drug-free India.

  • US judge weighs putting new block on Trump’s birthright citizenship order

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    LA federal judge on Friday could deal another blow to President Donald Trump’s attempts to limit birthright citizenship, even though a U.S. Supreme Court decision last month made it more difficult for lower courts to block White House directives.

    A group of Democratic attorneys general
    from 18 states and the District of Columbia will urge U.S. District Judge Leo Sorokin at a hearing in Boston at 10 a.m. ET Friday to maintain an injunction he imposed in February that blocked Trump’s executive order nationwide.

    The order directs U.S. agencies to refuse to recognize the citizenship of children born in the United States after February 19 if neither their mother nor father is a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident.

    The states’ case is back in Sorokin’s courtroom so he can assess the impact of the Supreme Court’s landmark June 27th decision. In that 6-3 ruling authored by conservative Justice Amy Coney Barrett, the court directed lower court judges like Sorokin that had blocked Trump’s policy to reconsider the scope of their orders.

    Rather than address the legality of Trump’s executive order, the justices used the case to discourage nationwide, or “universal,” injunctions — in which a single district court judge can block enforcement of a federal policy across the country.

    COMPLETE RELIEF

    But the court raised the possibility that universal injunctions are still permissible in certain circumstances, including class actions, in which similarly situated people sue as a group, or if they are the only way to provide “complete relief” to litigants in a particular lawsuit.

    Friday’s hearing will shed light on how lower courts plan to address what providing complete relief entails, said George Washington University law professor Paul Schiff Berman.

    “One of the questions the Supreme Court left open in its nationwide injunction decision is whether states can assert claims on behalf of their citizens and, if so, whether a large-scale injunction would then be necessary to vindicate the rights of large numbers of citizens from large numbers of states,” Berman said.

    Spokespersons for the White House and the attorneys general did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

    A ruling from Sorokin, an appointee of Democratic President Barack Obama, in favor of the states would be the second blow to Trump’s executive order this month. On July 10 at a hearing in New Hampshire, U.S. District Judge Joseph Laplante, an appointee of Republican president George W. Bush, issued a nationwide injunction blocking Trump’s order after he found that children whose citizenship status would be threatened by it could pursue their lawsuit as a class action.

    The Democratic-led states, backed by immigrant rights groups, argue the White House directive violated a right enshrined in the U.S. Constitution’s 14th Amendment that guarantees that virtually anyone born in the United States is a citizen.

    They have argued that, if the executive order is allowed to take effect, it would wreak havoc on the administration of federal benefits programs like Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program by making it difficult to verify eligibility.

    They also argue that, because children often move across state lines or are born outside their parents’ state of residence, a “patchwork” of injunctions would be unworkable.

    “Families are likely to be confused if federal benefits eligibility — let alone U.S. citizenship — differs by State,” the states wrote in a July 15 court filing.
    They have urged Sorokin to double down on his February injunction, saying in the court filing that the Supreme Court decision has no bearing on the case before him.

    “This Court correctly remedied the States’ injuries via a nationwide injunction, based on the same complete-relief principle that the Supreme Court recently recognized and endorsed,” the brief argued.

    The Justice Department has countered that Sorokin’s injunction from February was “clearly overbroad and inappropriate.”
    In a July 8 court filing, the department argued that individuals are best situated to litigate their own citizenship status.

    (Reuters)

  • US judge weighs putting new block on Trump’s birthright citizenship order

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    LA federal judge on Friday could deal another blow to President Donald Trump’s attempts to limit birthright citizenship, even though a U.S. Supreme Court decision last month made it more difficult for lower courts to block White House directives.

    A group of Democratic attorneys general
    from 18 states and the District of Columbia will urge U.S. District Judge Leo Sorokin at a hearing in Boston at 10 a.m. ET Friday to maintain an injunction he imposed in February that blocked Trump’s executive order nationwide.

    The order directs U.S. agencies to refuse to recognize the citizenship of children born in the United States after February 19 if neither their mother nor father is a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident.

    The states’ case is back in Sorokin’s courtroom so he can assess the impact of the Supreme Court’s landmark June 27th decision. In that 6-3 ruling authored by conservative Justice Amy Coney Barrett, the court directed lower court judges like Sorokin that had blocked Trump’s policy to reconsider the scope of their orders.

    Rather than address the legality of Trump’s executive order, the justices used the case to discourage nationwide, or “universal,” injunctions — in which a single district court judge can block enforcement of a federal policy across the country.

    COMPLETE RELIEF

    But the court raised the possibility that universal injunctions are still permissible in certain circumstances, including class actions, in which similarly situated people sue as a group, or if they are the only way to provide “complete relief” to litigants in a particular lawsuit.

    Friday’s hearing will shed light on how lower courts plan to address what providing complete relief entails, said George Washington University law professor Paul Schiff Berman.

    “One of the questions the Supreme Court left open in its nationwide injunction decision is whether states can assert claims on behalf of their citizens and, if so, whether a large-scale injunction would then be necessary to vindicate the rights of large numbers of citizens from large numbers of states,” Berman said.

    Spokespersons for the White House and the attorneys general did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

    A ruling from Sorokin, an appointee of Democratic President Barack Obama, in favor of the states would be the second blow to Trump’s executive order this month. On July 10 at a hearing in New Hampshire, U.S. District Judge Joseph Laplante, an appointee of Republican president George W. Bush, issued a nationwide injunction blocking Trump’s order after he found that children whose citizenship status would be threatened by it could pursue their lawsuit as a class action.

    The Democratic-led states, backed by immigrant rights groups, argue the White House directive violated a right enshrined in the U.S. Constitution’s 14th Amendment that guarantees that virtually anyone born in the United States is a citizen.

    They have argued that, if the executive order is allowed to take effect, it would wreak havoc on the administration of federal benefits programs like Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program by making it difficult to verify eligibility.

    They also argue that, because children often move across state lines or are born outside their parents’ state of residence, a “patchwork” of injunctions would be unworkable.

    “Families are likely to be confused if federal benefits eligibility — let alone U.S. citizenship — differs by State,” the states wrote in a July 15 court filing.
    They have urged Sorokin to double down on his February injunction, saying in the court filing that the Supreme Court decision has no bearing on the case before him.

    “This Court correctly remedied the States’ injuries via a nationwide injunction, based on the same complete-relief principle that the Supreme Court recently recognized and endorsed,” the brief argued.

    The Justice Department has countered that Sorokin’s injunction from February was “clearly overbroad and inappropriate.”
    In a July 8 court filing, the department argued that individuals are best situated to litigate their own citizenship status.

    (Reuters)

  • MIL-OSI USA: Chairman Mast Statement on DOJ Indictment of Voice of America Staffer for Threatening Rep. MTG

    Source: US House Committee on Foreign Affairs

    Media Contact 202-321-9747

    Today, House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Brian Mast applauded the Justice Department’s indictment of a VOA employee for allegedly threatening Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene:

     

    “Voice of America was built to fight propaganda — now it’s spewing hate at our own leaders. This is just another example in a long string of liberal taxpayer-funded hit jobs.”

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Waterbury Cocaine Distributor Sentenced to More Than Three Years in Federal Prison

    Source: US FBI

    David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that CARMELO CANCEL, also known as “Bebe,” 31, of Waterbury, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Michael P. Shea in Hartford to 37 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for supplying cocaine to two Waterbury drug trafficking organizations.

    According to court documents and statements made in court, the FBI’s Waterbury Safe Streets Gang Task Force and other law enforcement agencies investigated two drug trafficking organizations based in the city of Waterbury.  One organization was headed by Angel Quiros, also known as “Papa John,” and operated in the area of William Street, and the other was headed by Daniel Diaz-Rivera and operated in the area of Maple Avenue.  The investigation, which included court-authorized wiretaps on multiple phones, video surveillance, GPS tracking of vehicles, and numerous controlled purchases of narcotics, revealed that the two organizations distributed cocaine, crack, and fentanyl through a network of sellers.  Cancel supplied cocaine to both organizations, which worked together to further their operations.

    Cancel, Quiros, Diaz-Rivera, and 14 other individuals were charged with federal offenses as a result of the investigation.  Cancel and several codefendants were arrested on November 29, 2023.  In association with the arrests, investigators executed multiple search warrants and seized approximately 700 grams of crack cocaine, more than 900 vials (“caps”) of crack, approximately 200 grams of loose fentanyl, more than 1,600 dose bags of fentanyl/heroin, two stolen firearms, numerous rounds of ammunition, and more than $39,000 in cash.

    On April 23, 2025, Cancel pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute cocaine.  Released on $100,000 bond, he is required to report to prison on September 17.

    Quiros and Diaz-Rivera pleaded guilty to related charges.  Quiros awaits sentencing and, on June 23, 2025, Diaz-Rivera was sentenced to 210 months of imprisonment.

    The FBI’s Waterbury Safe Streets Gang Task includes members from the FBI, the Waterbury Police Department, the Naugatuck Police Department, and the Connecticut Department of Correction.  The DEA, U.S. Marshals Service, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Connecticut State Police, Wolcott Police Department, and Meriden Police Department have assisted the investigation.

    This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Natasha Freismuth and Shan Patel through the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Program.  Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

    U.S. Attorney Sullivan thanked the Waterbury State Attorney’s Office for its cooperation in the investigation and prosecution of this case.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Armed alien, illegally living in Tyler, indicted on federal firearms violation

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

    TYLER, Texas – A Mexican national, illegally living in Tyler, has been charged with a federal firearms violation in the Eastern District of Texas, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.

    Marco Imanol Ferrusca-Ortega, 23, was named in an indictment returned by a federal grand jury this week in the Eastern District of Texas charging him with being an illegal alien in possession of a firearm.

    The indictment alleges that on July 8, 2025, Ferrusca-Ortega was found illegally in the United States and in possession of a firearm

    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).

    If convicted, Ferrusca-Ortega faces up to 15 years in federal prison and deportation.

    This case is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration; Homeland Security Investigations; and the Tyler Police Department.  This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Dustin Farahnak.

    A federal indictment is not evidence of guilt.  All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

    ###

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Former Amtrak Employee Sentenced to Over 2 Years in Prison for Crimes, Including Near-$1 Million COVID Jobless Benefits Fraud

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

    LOS ANGELES – A former Amtrak employee was sentenced today to 25 months in federal prison for conspiring with her husband to steal nearly $1 million in COVID-19 pandemic-related unemployment insurance (UI) benefits and for fraudulently obtaining more than $63,000 in sickness benefits while she worked at the passenger railroad company.

    Lizette Berrios Lathon, 48, of Moreno Valley, was sentenced by United States District Judge Fernando M. Olguin, who also ordered her to pay $1,061,667 in restitution.

    In November 2022, Lizette Lathon pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and wire fraud, one count of aggravated identity theft, and one count of wire fraud.

    Previously, in July 2024, Judge Olguin sentenced Lathon’s husband, Kenneth Andrew Lathon, 50, also of Moreno Valley, to 54 months in federal prison and ordered him to pay $998,630 in restitution. 

    Kenneth Lathon pleaded guilty in November 2022 to one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and wire fraud, one count of aggravated identity theft, and one count of unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

    From 2014 until at least September 2022, Lizette Lathon, in addition to her one-time duties as a service attendant for Amtrak, operated at least three tax preparation businesses: Miracle Tax Service, which was located on Los Angeles’ Miracle Mile; Hardcore Corp., which did business as “Hardcore Taxes”; and Lathon LLC, which did business as “LL Taxes.” The latter two companies were in Moreno Valley.

    Lathon and her husband took advantage of the expanded eligibility for UI benefits made possible by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act signed into law in 2020. The CARES Act also established the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program, which provided additional UI benefits to qualified individuals during the COVID-19 pandemic, including people who did not otherwise qualify for UI such as business owners, self-employed workers, independent contractors, and those with a limited work history.

    In some instances, Lizette Lathon submitted fraudulent applications with the California Employment Development Department (EDD) for UI benefits using names, Social Security numbers, and dates of birth that she obtained from former clients of her tax preparation businesses without the permission of those former clients. On the applications, she falsely asserted inflated income for the named claimants – many of whom had never lived in California – to receive the maximum benefit amount.

    As a result of the fraudulent claims she filed, EDD authorized Bank of America to issue debit cards in the names of Lizette Lathon’s former clients, but the cards were mailed to addresses she and her family controlled. She and her husband then used the debit cards to make cash withdrawals at ATMs and to make purchases at retail stores.

    During the conspiracy, which lasted from the spring of 2020 until March 2021, Lathon and her husband caused at least 44 fraudulent unemployment claims to be filed, resulting in losses to EDD and the United States Treasury of approximately $998,630.

    Lizette Lathon, who was employed at Amtrak from 2000 to 2021, also schemed to defraud the Railroad Retirement Board out of sickness benefit payments by filing forged and false claims that stated she was being treated by a medical professional for pain and anxiety. Through this scheme, which lasted from September 2014 to January 2020, she fraudulently obtained approximately $63,047 in sickness benefit payments.

    Kenneth Lathon possessed a .22-caliber rifle and 12-gauge shotgun despite his criminal history, which includes felony convictions in California state court for theft, cocaine possession, and fraud.

    These matters were investigated by the Amtrak Office of Inspector General; the United States Railroad Retirement Board Office of Inspector General; the United States Department of Labor Office of Inspector General; the United States Department of Labor Employee Benefits Security Administration; the California Employment Development Department; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Homeland Security Investigations; and the United States Postal Inspection Service.

    Assistant United States Attorney Cory L. Burleson of the Riverside Branch Office prosecuted these cases. 

    Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline at (866) 720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form. 

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Sixth Member of Salinas-Based ‘Murder Squad’ Sentenced to 38 Years in Federal Prison for 2017 Killing Spree

    Source: US FBI

    SAN JOSE – Andrew Alvarado was sentenced today to 38 years in federal prison for racketeering conspiracy and 10 years in federal prison for conspiracy to murder in aid of racketeering, to run concurrently, for his role in multiple murders and attempted murders as part of the self-proclaimed “Murder Squad,” a crew of Salinas-based Norteño criminal street gang members falling under the Monterey County Regiment Enterprise affiliated with the Nuestra Familia prison gang.  U.S. District Judge Beth Labson Freeman handed down the sentence.

    Alvarado, 34, of Salinas, pleaded guilty on April 15, 2025, to one count of racketeering conspiracy and one count of conspiracy to murder in aid of racketeering.  According to court documents, the “Murder Squad” conducted more than a dozen “hunts,” tracking and shooting dozens of Salinas residents whom they perceived to be members of a rival gang for reasons as vague as they were Hispanic, bald, or wearing blue.  The squad would often use military-style tactics, traveling in a convoy of vehicles with a designated shooter vehicle and a designated security/spotter vehicle, all of which were in constant communication via conference call.  The security/spotter vehicles would patrol the streets, find a target, and transmit their location to the shooter vehicle.  The shooters in the shooter vehicle would drive up, exit, fire at the victims until their magazines were empty, and speed away.  The security/spotter vehicles would follow behind, ready to distract or intercept law enforcement and allow the shooter vehicle to escape.

    Between 2015 and 2018, 11 people were killed during these hunts.  Another 17 people were shot at but survived.  Most of the victims were not actually members of a rival gang.  Some of the victims were not the intended target at all but were nevertheless hit in the crossfire.  

    In connection with pleading guilty, Alvarado admitted that he personally participated in six “hunts” between January 2017 and May 2017.  He was the shooter in three of those hunts, resulting in the deaths of three victims and the wounding of a fourth.  In one instance, the hunt began when members of the “Murder Squad” gathered at a house to remember a family member killed in a car accident; they decided to commemorate the person’s death and lift their spirits by going out to kill another.  Separately, Alvarado was in the security/spotter vehicle in three other hunts, resulting in the deaths of three victims, the wounding of four victims, and the near-miss of one victim.  

    “Gangs and the drugs and violence they bring with them wreak havoc on our communities and the hardworking families that live within them.  The ruthless actions of the ‘Murder Squad’ shattered the public’s sense of safety and destroyed the lives of so many in Salinas,” said United States Attorney Craig H. Missakian.  “The so-called ‘hunts’ that Alvarado and his crew ran were simply inhumane.  This lengthy sentence means that Alvarado, like many of his fellow gang members, will now answer for his brazen crimes.”

    “HSI San Francisco has a long and impactful history of investigating transnational gangs that threaten the safety of our communities in Northern California.  We are committed to the pursuit of justice for the victims of these criminal enterprises and the violence they perpetuate.  Today’s sentencing is the product of countless investigative hours and the significant investigative resources which HSI brings to bear in combatting violent transnational criminal organizations and apprehending dangerous gang members like Alvarado,” said Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Acting Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey Brannigan.

    In addition to the prison term, Judge Freeman also sentenced the defendant to a five-year period of supervised release on count one and a three-year period of supervised release on count two, to run concurrently.  Alvarado was immediately remanded into custody to begin serving his sentence.

    Alvarado is the sixth member of the “Murder Squad” to be sentenced.  Five other defendants each pleaded guilty to one count of racketeering conspiracy in violation of 8 U.S.C. § 1962(d) and one count of conspiracy to murder in aid of racketeering in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1959(a)(5) and were previously sentenced on Sept. 10, 2024.

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

    Assistant U.S. Attorney George Hageman is prosecuting the case with the assistance of Nina Burney, Lakisha Holliman, and Yenni Weinberg.  The prosecution is the result of an investigation by HSI, the FBI, the Salinas Police Department, and the Monterey County District Attorney’s Office.
     

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Members of Hong Kong Customs Computer Forensic Laboratory win championship at 2nd International Digital Forensics Challenge (with photos)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Members of Hong Kong Customs Computer Forensic Laboratory win championship at 2nd International Digital Forensics Challenge  
    The competition was co-organised by the Hong Kong Police Force, local universities and local technology enterprises. The participating teams comprised experts from law enforcement agencies, private enterprises and academic institutions. This year’s competition focused on the theme of Artificial Intelligence (AI). The scenario simulated a cyberattack on an investment company’s system, where fraudsters altered its AI model to develop a fictitious investment scheme, attempting to deceive investors into purchasing fake cryptocurrency. Competing teams were required to utilise their technical expertise to analyze and crack this complex digital crime scenario.
     
    The Computer Forensic Laboratory of Hong Kong Customs is responsible for digital forensics work and providing technical assistance to frontline investigators. The award not only showcases Hong Kong Customs’ exceptional technical and professional expertise in the field of digital forensics but also highlights Hong Kong’s leading position in the global digital forensic arena.
     
    Hong Kong Customs will continue to dedicate efforts to advancing digital forensics technology and collaborate closely with local and international partners to address increasingly complex cybercrime challenges. 
    Issued at HKT 20:14

    NNNN

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Members of Hong Kong Customs Computer Forensic Laboratory win championship at 2nd International Digital Forensics Challenge (with photos)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Members of Hong Kong Customs Computer Forensic Laboratory win championship at 2nd International Digital Forensics Challenge  
    The competition was co-organised by the Hong Kong Police Force, local universities and local technology enterprises. The participating teams comprised experts from law enforcement agencies, private enterprises and academic institutions. This year’s competition focused on the theme of Artificial Intelligence (AI). The scenario simulated a cyberattack on an investment company’s system, where fraudsters altered its AI model to develop a fictitious investment scheme, attempting to deceive investors into purchasing fake cryptocurrency. Competing teams were required to utilise their technical expertise to analyze and crack this complex digital crime scenario.
     
    The Computer Forensic Laboratory of Hong Kong Customs is responsible for digital forensics work and providing technical assistance to frontline investigators. The award not only showcases Hong Kong Customs’ exceptional technical and professional expertise in the field of digital forensics but also highlights Hong Kong’s leading position in the global digital forensic arena.
     
    Hong Kong Customs will continue to dedicate efforts to advancing digital forensics technology and collaborate closely with local and international partners to address increasingly complex cybercrime challenges. 
    Issued at HKT 20:14

    NNNN

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Work of Derby Youth Justice Board highlighted during visit

    Source: City of Derby

    Derby City Council recently welcomed Keith Fraser, Chief Executive of the Youth Justice Board, to see the work of the Derby Youth Justice Service (YJS) with young people and victims.

    The Derby Youth Justice Service has achieved Quadrant 1 status, signifying its position as one of the highest-performing Youth Justice Services across England and Wales.  

    Following his visit, Mr Fraser told the service:

    There were so many positive and inspiring aspects about your service. You demonstrated practice I have not often seen in other services, for example the children that were scrutinising the stop and search processes. You are also successfully keeping fewer children in police custody and also having fewer children remanded.

    Derby YJS is performing exceptionally well, consistently achieving results below national averages for the rate of First Time Entrants into the justice system, the number of young people sentenced to custody, and rates of re-offending.

    Key achievements highlighted during the visit included successful early intervention, which has seen more young people diverted away from possible offending and fewer young people being seen by the service as a result of going to court. Fewer children from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic Communities have been referred into the service following a court appearance, while none are currently serving secure remand or sentence.

    The service has also achieved 100% satisfaction rates from children’s feedback, with every child reporting they had been helped by Derby YJS.

    The service attributes its success to several critical factors:

    • Committed practitioners who understand the children and young people well and can show the positive impact they make based on individual needs
    • A strong Multi-Agency Board working together to provide children with access a broad range of services
    • Stable senior leadership providing consistent direction
    • Service delivery based on insights to create tailored support for children, young people, and victims
    • A consistent understanding of risk across all levels.

    Councillor Paul Hezelgrave, Derby City Council Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Skills, said:

    We’re immensely proud of the Derby Youth Justice Service’s achievements, and it was a pleasure to welcome Keith Fraser to witness their excellent work firsthand.

    The YJS consistently delivers exceptional results, creating opportunities for positive change for young people while ensuring the safety of our communities – a true testament to our passionate practitioners and strong partnership working.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Justice, Police committees to recommend Ad Hoc Committee on Mkhwanazi allegations

    Source: Government of South Africa

    Justice, Police committees to recommend Ad Hoc Committee on Mkhwanazi allegations

    Parliament’s portfolio committees on Police and Justice will recommend to the National Assembly (NA) that an Ad Hoc Committee be established to probe the allegations made by KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner, Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkwanazi.

    Mkhwanazi has made several serious claims about, amongst others, an alleged criminal syndicate that has spread into law enforcement and intelligence services, and allegations that Police Minister Senzo Mchunu colluded with criminal elements to disband the Political Killings Task Team based in KZN.

    This led to President Cyril Ramaphosa placing Police Minister Senzo Mchunu on a leave of absence and the establishment of a judicial commission of inquiry, chaired by Acting Deputy Chief Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga.

    “Following consideration of a Parliamentary Legal Service legal opinion, the committees were of the view that an ad hoc committee is the best format to interrogate the allegations. Ad hoc committees are formed as per Rule 253 of the National Assembly. The rationale for this option is that the scope of such a committee is specific and time bound.

    “The [committees were] presented with two alternative options: a full-blown investigative inquiry and two committees exercising their conferring powers in terms of NA Rule 169. The majority of committee members present in the meeting were in favour of the ad hoc committee, as members felt Parliament would thereby remain involved in such a process, exercising their oversight responsibility,” the committees said in a statement.

    The two committees noted the “urgency of the matter” and reiterated the need to reach findings to “protect the integrity and standing of the entire criminal justice system.”

    “Also, the committee highlighted the need to avoid duplication of the work of the commission of inquiry established by the President.

    “Lastly, the [committees] emphasised the need for continuous oversight over the work of the Presidential commission of inquiry and requested that the interim reports submitted to the President be made available to Parliament. At the next meeting, the [committees are] expected to discuss the terms of reference and timelines for such an ad hoc committee.

    “The committees will on 23 July 2025, as per the directive from the Speaker, recommend to the NA that an ad hoc committee be established to consider the matter. Furthermore, the committees’ recommendations will emphasise the need for urgency in considering the matter,” the statement concluded. – SAnews.gov.za

    NeoB

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: Why did the government hide a data leak about Afghans working with British forces and why did the courts finally reveal it?

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Alexandros Antoniou, Senior Lecturer in Media Law, University of Essex

    William Barton/Shutterstock

    When thousands of Afghans were quietly flown to the UK under a secret relocation scheme, few knew it was triggered by an error. A defence official had accidentally leaked the personal data of nearly 19,000 Afghan nationals who had worked with British forces and were at risk of Taliban reprisals.

    It has now also been revealed that the leaked list contained the identities of UK special forces and spies.

    Even fewer knew that this misstep was being kept from the public by a rare and powerful legal device: a superinjunction. Now, after nearly two years of legal wrangling, the High Court has lifted that order, reopening the conversation about when secrecy in the justice system goes too far.

    What is a superinjunction?

    An injunction is a court order that stops someone from doing something (like publishing a story) or requires them to do something (like taking down an online post or handing back confidential documents).

    A superinjunction goes one step further and does two things: it bans the publication of certain information (usually to protect privacy, safety or national security) and also bans anyone from revealing that the court order even exists.

    In essence, it is a tool that provides legal invisibility: the story is hidden and so is the fact that it is being hidden. While an injunction works like a padlock on a filing cabinet, a superinjunction means you cannot even tell anyone the cabinet is even there.

    Superinjunctions are exceptionally rare and controversial, precisely because they run counter to the principle of open justice. This is the idea that courts must operate in public, and that their decisions can be seen, scrutinised and questioned. Any derogation from open justice must be continuously justified and treated with considerable caution, especially where media freedom is curtailed.

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    Historically, superinjunctions have been used sparingly in cases involving blackmail, risks of violence against witnesses, the protection of children or to prevent tipping-off a subject before an order can be served (such as in fraud investigations), always with the aim of preventing harm or ensuring that justice is done.

    The superinjunction committee (which was established in 2010 by Lord Neuberger to review growing concerns about such orders) made clear that the use of these legal tools must meet strict tests of necessity and proportionality. And, that they are only granted where serious harm (for example to life, safety or the administration of justice) is credibly at stake.

    Why was a superinjunction granted in the Afghan data breach case?

    In this case, the government argued that revealing the data leak could put lives in danger. The leaked spreadsheet contained names, contact details and, in some cases, family information of Afghan nationals who had applied to resettle in the UK. Many feared Taliban retaliation.

    So, in September 2023, the Ministry of Defence asked the High Court for an injunction to stop media outlets from reporting on the leak. The judge did not just grant that request, he escalated it to a superinjunction, banning any mention of the case or the fact of the order.

    It was described at the time as “unprecedented” in its scope. Journalists, even those who had already discovered the breach, were effectively gagged. The public had no idea any of it was happening.

    Why did the court later decide to lift the secrecy?

    After multiple hearings and appeals, High Court judge Mr Justice Chamberlain ruled on July 15 2025 that the superinjunction should be discharged once and for all. A government-commissioned review found that the leak may not have spread as widely as initially feared, and that Taliban reprisals were unlikely to be triggered solely by someone appearing on the leaked list.

    The judge concluded that while the leak was deeply serious, continued secrecy was no longer necessary, and that the harm of suppressing public debate and scrutiny now outweighed the risks of disclosure. To put it plainly, the balance tipped.

    Protection v cover-up

    Superinjunctions are not inherently wrong. There are situations where short-term secrecy is essential, for instance for the purposes of shielding vulnerable parties like children or genuinely guarding national security.

    But the Afghan case exemplifies the dangers of allowing secrecy to persist too long or too broadly. For nearly two years, the public was kept in the dark about a data breach involving tens of thousands of lives – including British citizens – and a government response that may ultimately cost the taxpayer “several billion pounds”.

    In this context, secrecy risked becoming a form of institutional self-protection, shielding the Ministry of Defence and the government from political fallout, legal scrutiny and accountability, rather than safeguarding people from actual harm.

    The principle of open justice is at the heart of democratic life. Superinjunctions, by their nature, run directly against that principle. There are times when secrecy might be seen as necessary, but it must always be tightly scoped and justified with evidence while serving the public interest; not convenience or image. By lifting this superinjunction, the courts affirmed that the British public has a right to know not only what went wrong, but that something went wrong at all.

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

    – ref. Why did the government hide a data leak about Afghans working with British forces and why did the courts finally reveal it? – https://theconversation.com/why-did-the-government-hide-a-data-leak-about-afghans-working-with-british-forces-and-why-did-the-courts-finally-reveal-it-261437

    MIL OSI Analysis –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: The impact of lost evidence on criminal cases

    Source: Mayor of London

    According to the BBC more than 30,000 criminal cases collapsed between October 2020 and September 2024 due to lost, damaged or missing evidence.[1] It found that around one in 20 prosecutions by the Met had been dropped due to missing evidence between 2020 and 2024, compared to one in 50 across England and Wales.
     
    Following a FOI request from the BBC and University of Leicester, the number of cases reported as missing evidence were found to be increasing: in 2020, 7,484 prosecutions collapsed due to lost, missing or damaged evidence, compared to 8,180 in 2024, a 9 per cent increase. 
     
    The BBC reported that the cases recorded included: 

    • Physical evidence, including forensic evidence, being lost, damaged or contaminated during storage
    • Lost digital evidence, including victim interview footage or body worn camera footage
    • Witness statements or pathology reports not being provided by the police
    • Key evidence not collected from the crime scene.

    Tomorrow, the London Assembly Police and Crime Committee will meet to question the Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime on the Met’s ability to safely store and collect evidence.

    The Committee will also question the Deputy Mayor about online radicalisation, the Met’s recruitment pathways and the Met’s Culture, Diversity and Inclusion Directorate.
     
    The guests are:

    • Kaya Comer-Schwartz, Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime 
    • Kenny Bowie, Director of Strategy and MPS Oversight, Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC)

    The meeting will take place on Wednesday 16 July 2025 from 10am in the Chamber at City Hall, Kamal Chunchie Way, E16 1ZE.

    Media and members of the public are invited to attend.

    The meeting can also be viewed LIVE or later via webcast or YouTube.
     
    Follow us @LondonAssembly.
     

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Appeal for information on missing woman in Yuen Long (2) (with photos)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Police today (July 18) appealed to the public for information on a woman who went missing in Yuen Long.

    Lo Siu-ying, aged 86, went missing after she was last seen on Ma Tong Road yesterday (July 17). Her family then made a report to Police.
        
    She is about 1.5 metres tall, 41 kilograms in weight and of thin build. She has a long face with yellow complexion and short white hair. She was last seen wearing a brown long-sleeved shirt, black trousers, black shoes, a pair of black sunglasses, carrying a black shoulder bag and a light-coloured long umbrella.

    Anyone who knows the whereabouts of the missing woman or may have seen her is urged to contact the Regional Missing Persons Unit of New Territories North on 3661 3113 or email to rmpu-ntn-1@police.gov.hk, or contact any police station.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Repeat Offender Sentenced to 10 Years for Possessing Drugs with Intent to Distribute While on Parole

    Source: US FBI

    ANCHORAGE, Alaska – An Anchorage man was sentenced yesterday to 10 years in prison and, upon release, will serve five years on supervised release, for possessing drugs with the intent to distribute them following a refusal of a routine search of his residence while on parole.

    According to court documents, on Oct. 20, 2022, two Alaska Department of Corrections parole officers visited Andrew Lee, 42, at his residence for a routine search pursuant to Lee’s conditions of parole release in a state criminal case where he was convicted of second-degree murder. Lee shared this residence with multiple family members.

    Lee led the parole officers to a bedroom he claimed he shared with his father. During a search of this bedroom, the parole officers found no material evidence that Lee stayed in the bedroom The parole officers searched his vehicle and located two cell phones and a “tooter” straw, both of which are consistent with drug paraphernalia.

    When parole officers attempted to determine who resided in the other three bedrooms in the residence, Lee claimed that two of the three were occupied by his aunt and mother, respectively, while the final bedroom was occupied by a different individual. Lee stated that this room was locked, and the parole officers were not allowed to enter. The parole officers spoke on the phone with the individual who allegedly lived in that bedroom. That individual said he was the owner of the residence, that he lived in Georgia and that the bedroom was Lee’s.

    The parole officers asked Lee about inconsistencies in his statements and Lee immediately began yelling at his father in a different language. The parole officers informed Lee he was being detained and handcuffed him for their own safety. When the parole officers attempted to unlock the bedroom door, Lee’s father stopped them. The parole officers asked Lee whether we would comply with the search, and he started yelling at his father in a different language again. The parole officers decided to arrest Lee for refusing to submit to the search.

    The parole officers remanded Lee to the Anchorage Correctional Complex. During in-processing, correctional officers located roughly $1,500 in cash and over 57 grams of pure methamphetamine, over 28 grams of heroin and nearly 5 grams of fentanyl packaged in multiple baggies on his person.

    On Jan. 18, 2024, a federal grand jury indicted Lee, and on April 11, 2024, Lee pleaded guilty to possessing controlled substances with the intent to distribute.

    “Mr. Lee participated in the dangerous drug trade while on parole for a violent felony—and will now spend 10 years behind bars for it,” said U.S. Attorney Michael J. Heyman for the District of Alaska. “Let this sentence serve as a clear message: our office, in partnership with law enforcement, will pursue drug traffickers and seek harsh penalties for those who threaten the safety of our communities.” 

    “While on parole, the defendant continued to threaten the safety of our communities by committing federal drug trafficking crimes,” said Special Agent in Charge Rebecca Day of the FBI Anchorage Field Office. “Following a collaborative investigation by the FBI’s Safe Streets Task Force, this sentencing reflects our continued commitment to hold drug traffickers accountable, while protecting Alaska’s communities from the dangers of illicit drug activity.”

    The FBI Anchorage Field Office and Anchorage Police Department investigated the case as part of the FBI’s Safe Streets Task Force, with assistance from the Alaska Department of Corrections.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Cody Tirpak prosecuted the case.

    ###

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: OLAF played key role in Ukraine’s uncovering of massive underground pesticide production

    Source: European Anti-Fraud Offfice

    Press release 20/2025 
    PDF version

    A far-reaching investigation coordinated by the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) has played a central part in uncovering a sophisticated criminal network in Ukraine which engaged in mass production and counterfeiting of agrochemical products. These were falsely labelled under some of the leading agrochemical brands in Europe and the USA. As a result, Ukrainian authorities conducted 89 searches across the country that led to the seizure of hundreds of tons of illicit products worth over 2.3 million EUR. 

    Ukrainian authorities recently dismantled a large-scale criminal network producing and selling illicit pesticides on an industrial scale. Police raids uncovered several underground workshops and resulted in the confiscation of more than 175 tons of counterfeit agrochemicals as well as raw materials for their production. These were ordered from China and contained potent and poisonous substances. 

    In addition, a separate production of packaging for these products was discovered, together with fake labels, plastic packaging, holographic security elements of various trademarks and seals of business entities. Part of the seized products are believed to have been intended for European market, posing a significant threat to food security, environmental safety and legitimate agrochemical companies. You can read more about the operation in the press release of the Ukrainian State Customs Service here and the National Police of Ukraine here.

    OLAF’s role in the operation focused on strategic gathering, analysis and sharing of intelligence as well as cross-border coordination that led to the setting up of a Joint Investigation Team (JIT) between Romania, Ukraine and OLAF under the umbrella of EUROJUST. The investigation started in 2023 with a 2024 to the seizure of additional 1000 litres of counterfeit crop protection products in Romania and in the end helped to identify and later dismantle the source: an illegal large-scale manufacturing operation in Ukraine. 

    National Police of Ukraine, Department for Combating Smuggling and Violations of Customs Rules of the State Customs Service of Ukraine, Office of the Prosecutor General in Ukraine as well as Financial and economic Police Bihor county in Romania and Public Prosecution office Oradea in Romania provided critical support during the operation. 

    Ville Itälä, Director-General of OLAF, said: “This is a textbook example of how operational actions unfold across borders. What started like isolated seizures in Bulgaria and Romania turned out to be the surface of a much deeper operation in Ukraine. Thanks to the methodical investigation and strong cooperation with our partners, we were able to trace the supply chain all the way to the source. This way, we help to protect not only European markets but also legitimate businesses, farmers and the environment.”

    OLAF remains committed to tackling cross-border crime and protecting the European Union from the dangers posed by counterfeit products. 

    OLAF mission, mandate and competences:
    OLAF’s mission is to detect, investigate and stop fraud with EU funds.    

    OLAF fulfils its mission by:
    •    carrying out independent investigations into fraud and corruption involving EU funds, so as to ensure that all EU taxpayers’ money reaches projects that can create jobs and growth in Europe;
    •    contributing to strengthening citizens’ trust in the EU Institutions by investigating serious misconduct by EU staff and members of the EU Institutions;
    •    developing a sound EU anti-fraud policy.

    In its independent investigative function, OLAF can investigate matters relating to fraud, corruption and other offences affecting the EU financial interests concerning:
    •    all EU expenditure: the main spending categories are Structural Funds, agricultural policy and rural development funds, direct expenditure and external aid;
    •    some areas of EU revenue, mainly customs duties;
    •    suspicions of serious misconduct by EU staff and members of the EU institutions.

    Once OLAF has completed its investigation, it is for the competent EU and national authorities to examine and decide on the follow-up of OLAF’s recommendations. All persons concerned are presumed to be innocent until proven guilty in a competent national or EU court of law.

    For further details:

    Pierluigi CATERINO
    Spokesperson
    European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF)
    Phone: +32(0)2 29-52335  
    Email: olaf-media ec [dot] europa [dot] eu (olaf-media[at]ec[dot]europa[dot]eu)
    https://anti-fraud.ec.europa.eu
    LinkedIn: European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF)
    X: x.com/EUAntiFraud
    Bluesky: euantifraud.bsky.social

    If you’re a journalist and you wish to receive our press releases in your inbox, please leave us your contact data.
     

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Coming up next week at the London Assembly W/C 21 July

    Source: Mayor of London

    PUBLICATIONS

    Wednesday 23 July

    Blue light status of emergency response vehicles

    Transport Committee

    The Transport Committee will write to Transport for London and the British Transport Police about their decision to take away the blue light status of emergency response unit vehicles, which was one of the key recommendations of the London Assembly 7/7 Review Committee’s 2006 report on the response to the tube and bus bombings.

    MEDIA CONTACT: Josh Hunt on 07763 252 310/ [email protected]

     

    PUBLIC MEETINGS

    Tuesday 22 July

    Capital funding and delivery

    Budget and Performance Committee – The Chamber, City Hall, Kamal Chunchie Way, 10am

    Transport for London (TfL) has proposed an extension of the Bakerloo line from Elephant and Castle, to Lewisham, including the potential for a further extension beyond Lewisham to Hayes and Beckenham Junction.

    The project is estimated to cost between £5.2 billion to £8.7 billion (at 2021 prices), with an additional £800 million to £1.9 billion required to extend the line further to Hayes.

    The London Assembly Budget and Performance Committee will hear from experts and TfL on the potential funding options for the Bakerloo line extension, and other new and future capital projects.

    Guests are:

    • Professor Tony Travers, Professor in Practice and Associate Dean, the London School of Economics
    • John Kavanagh, Programme Director, Infrastructure, Business LDN 
    • Chris Whitehouse, Technical Director, WSP 
    • Maurice Lange, Analyst, Centre for Cities 
    • Manish Gupta, Corporate Finance Director, TfL 
    • Lucinda Turner, Director of Spatial Planning, TfL

    MEDIA CONTACT: Tony Smyth on 07763 251 727 / [email protected]

     

    Wednesday 23 July

    Paying for and building transport projects at low cost

    Budget and Performance Committee – The Chamber, City Hall, Kamal Chunchie Way, 10am

    According to reports, Madrid tripled the length of its metro system in just 12 years — faster and cheaper than almost any other city in the world. The 35-mile (56 kilometre) program of expansion between 1995 and 1999 cost around $2.8 billion (in 2024 prices). London’s Jubilee Line Extension, built at the same time as Madrid’s expansion, cost nearly ten times more per mile than Madrid’s program.

    The London Assembly Budget and Performance Committee will hear from experts on why the cost for building transport infrastructure in the UK is much higher than neighbouring countries.

    Guests are:

    • Ben Hopkinson, Head of Housing & Infrastructure, Centre for Policy Studies
    • Dr Alexander Budzier, Chief Executive Officer, Oxford Global Projects 
    • Gareth Dennis, Railway Engineer and writer, Railnatter

    MEDIA CONTACT: Tony Smyth on 07763 251 727 / [email protected]

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Export Awards – Trimax Mowing Systems wins Exporter of the Year at ExportNZ ASB Bay of Plenty Export Awards

    Source: EMA

    Trimax Mowing Systems, a manufacturer and exporter of premium mowing equipment, has won the ExportNZ ASB Bay of Plenty Exporter of the Year Award at a gala event this evening held at the Mercury Baypark arena in Mount Maunganui.
    Kiwi-made lawn mowers used by groundskeepers at Windsor Castle
    Trimax has sold more than 33,000 lawn mower decks worldwide from its base in Tauranga, with revenue having tripled in the last five years. The New Zealand-made lawn mowers are trusted by groundskeepers in locations as varied as Windsor Castle in the UK to multiple PGA golf courses in the United States.
    High-precision control devices sold to alternative fuel markets globally
    Oasis Engineering, a manufacturer of high-pressure control devices for gases, won the Excellence in Innovation Award. The company first rose to fame in the 1980s by developing a ball valve for CNG (Compressed Natural Gas) tanks, which became the industry standard.
    Today, Oasis Engineering operates a specialist high-precision turning and machining factory in Tauranga, from where it exports control devices to more than 40 countries. The company is recognised as an exemplar in the use of automation and robotics, and for outstanding product development in the global alternative fuel market.
    Providing cloud-based workspaces for US healthcare professionals
    The Best Emerging Business Award was won by Carepatron, a provider of secure, cloud-based healthcare workspaces for clinicians to manage clients, appointments and payments.
    The company uses technology, and AI in particular, in its customer support and product development. Founded in 2021, today Carepatron is hyperscaling exports into the US market, where it is growing rapidly.
    Individuals making significant contributions to export success
    There were two joint winners of the Export Achievement Award, which recognises an individual who has made a material contribution to the export success of a business. These were Sarah Webb of LawVu and Karl Stevenson of Bluelab.
    Sarah Webb has been a founding force behind LawVu, which provides cloud-based legal workspaces for in-house legal teams. Currently, the Chief Operating Officer, Webb has been instrumental in transforming LawVu into a globally recognised legal tech platform.
    Karl Stevenson is the Head of Product at Bluelab, a manufacturer of precision instruments for measuring pH, electrical conductivity and temperature in controlled agricultural environments.
    Stevenson is recognised as a champion of design thinking in New Zealand’s export sector. He has also made a lasting impact on the Tauranga business community, having co-founded local Design Thinking Meetups, which foster a culture of innovation and collaboration, and are open to everyone from entrepreneurs to engineers.
    Tauranga entrepreneur Steve Saunders recognised with Services to Export Award
    Finally, the Services to Export Award was presented to Steve Saunders for his outstanding contribution to the exporting success of the Bay of Plenty region. The co-founder of Robotics Plus, and numerous other exporting businesses, Saunders has served for 12 years on Priority One, the economic development organisation for the Western Bay of Plenty.
    He co-founded the Newnham Park Innovation Centre, as well as Mount Pack & Cool, one of the largest and most technologically advanced packhouses in the Bay of Plenty.
    Saunders champions Māori investment in agriculture and innovation, and is a long-time supporter of the Young Innovators Awards for Year 7-13 students.
    Celebrating the Bay of Plenty exporting community
    The awards celebrate the exceptional achievements of Bay of Plenty businesses and individuals who export goods and services to markets around the world.
    The event is proudly supported by principal sponsor ASB, as well as Sharp Tudhope, Air NZ Cargo, Page Macrae, Zespri, and Orbit Travel, and supporting partners NZTE, Comvita and Port of Tauranga.
    The awards are organised by the EMA on behalf of ExportNZ. EMA Chief Executive John Fraser-Mackenzie says, “The EMA is an integral part of the Bay of Plenty business community, so we’re delighted these awards showcase the inspiring businesses and individuals from the region who are succeeding in offshore markets. Well done to all the winners!
    “The awards are more than just recognition, they’re a platform for sharing insights, fostering collaboration, and strengthening the network of export-focused companies that drive the region’s economic success.”
    Chair of the ExportNZ BoP Executive Committee Warwick Downing says, “This year’s winners exemplify the innovation, resilience, and global ambition that define the Bay of Plenty’s export community.
    “Their success is a testament to the region’s ability to compete, and thrive, on the world stage.”
    Head of Trade Finance at ASB Bank Mike Atkins says, “We congratulate all the winners; they are true export champions of the Bay of Plenty region.
    “At ASB, we are passionate about enabling exporters to scale up, be it through working capital funding or other advisory initiatives across productivity, sustainability, clean tech, and food and fibre. Our partnership with ExportNZ in celebrating these awards underscores that commitment.”
    Executive Director of ExportNZ Josh Tan says, “These awards showcase the significant contribution this region makes to New Zealand’s exporting success.
    “Congratulations to all the winners on their outstanding achievements, which highlight the export sector’s strong start to the year and reinforce our nation’s well-earned reputation for quality in products and services.”
    Complete list of winners and full judges’ citations –  ExportNZ ASB Bay of Plenty Export Awards
    1. Exporter of the Year – in partnership with Sharp Tudhope
    Winner: Trimax Mowing Systems – a designer and manufacturer of tractor-powered rotary and flail mowers for commercial use.
    Highly Commended: LawVu
    This award recognises the outstanding success of a business that is established in its international growth journey, with more than five years of international operations and total annual revenue above $5 million.
    Judges’ citation: The judges were impressed by Trimax’s continued commitment to innovate and grow in their niche but hugely valuable market. The company has built up extensive dealer networks in the United States, the UK and Australia, and Trimax mowers are trusted by groundmen in locations as varied as England’s Windsor Castle to PGA golf courses in the United States.
    The company’s leadership has embedded innovation and product development throughout the enterprise, and their growth in recent times shows that this is paying divid

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Cheung Kwok-kwan meets SZ official

    Source: Hong Kong Information Services

    Deputy Secretary for Justice Cheung Kwok-kwan met President of the Shenzhen Court of International Arbitration Liu Xiaochun in Shenzhen today to discuss bilateral collaboration in sports dispute resolution.

     

    Mr Cheung said that the Department of Justice is committed to promoting the diversified development of sports dispute resolution services in Hong Kong and is actively promoting co-operation with the Mainland and other overseas regions in this field, so as to build the city into a sports dispute resolution services centre in the Asia-Pacific region.

     

    He highlighted that Hong Kong has been recognised and trusted by the international community for its arbitration and mediation services and that it maintains a rich pool of talent in sports dispute resolution services.

     

    Noting that Shenzhen has long been Hong Kong’s close partner in arbitration and has been actively participating in the national development of sports arbitration, Mr Cheung stated that he hopes both places can strengthen co-operation in sports dispute resolution, giving full play to the Greater Bay Area’s advantages of “one country, two systems and three jurisdictions” and promoting the sports dispute resolution services in both places with innovative thinking.

     

    The Deputy Secretary for Justice added that the department is taking forward the pilot scheme on sports dispute resolution as announced in the Chief Executive’s 2024 Policy Address at full steam.

     

    The invitation for the industry to submit proposals for the pilot scheme’s operation has begun to identify a suitable administering body and a technology service provider to provide a fast, reliable and neutral resolution mechanism for sports disputes.

     

    The period for submission of proposals will close on July 31 and the scheme is expected to be launched in the second half of the year.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Biden-Appointed Judge Ignores Biological Reality and the Rule of Law, Orders Illegal Alien Released

    Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency

    Headline: Biden-Appointed Judge Ignores Biological Reality and the Rule of Law, Orders Illegal Alien Released

    WASHINGTON – Biden-appointed U

    S

    District Judge Amy Baggio recently ordered the release of Odalis Jhonatan Martinez-Velasquez, a male illegal alien from Mexico, after caving to pressure from immigration and transgender activists—ignoring the rule of law and promoting gender ideology fanaticism

    Velasquez illegally entered the country in 2023 and released under the Biden administration

    He was lawfully detained on June 2, 2025, and processed for expedited removal

    Velasquez was placed into ICE’s male detention center in accordance with the President’s Executive Order and for the safety of women in ICE custody

    “Velasquez—a biological male—was placed in a men’s facility in alignment with the President’s Executive Order and for the safety of women in ICE custody

    The President made it clear on Day One: DHS will not buy into radical gender ideology when detaining illegal aliens,” said Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin

      “An immigration judge, not a district judge, has the authority to decide if Odalis Jhonatan Martinez-Velasquez should be released or detained

    The activist judge is ignoring the biological reality of sex, undermining ICE’s commitment to promoting safe, secure, and humane environments for women in custody, and subverting the American people’s mandate to restore commonsense to our immigration system and reject extreme gender fanaticism

    ” 

    Image

    On January 20, President Donald J

    Trump signed Executive Order of Defending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government, prohibiting DHS from detaining males in women’s detention centers

    Velasquez is no exception

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Mexican Illegal Alien Charged for Orchestrating ‘Kidnapping’ Hoax

    Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency

    Headline: Mexican Illegal Alien Charged for Orchestrating ‘Kidnapping’ Hoax

    WASHINGTON – Today, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released the following statement after the Department of Justice, in coordination with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Los Angeles, arrested and filed charges against Mexican illegal alien Yuriana Julia Pelaez Calderon for fabricating a false story to smear federal law enforcement

    Earlier this month, legacy media ran with a false story that ICE agents and bounty hunters “kidnapped” Calderon at gunpoint and held her hostage in a warehouse

    After her family held a press conference orchestrated by their attorney, ICE spent days investigating the kidnapping claims and searching for her — at times, literally detention cell to detention cell

    “Yuriana Julia Pelaez Calderon was never arrested or kidnapped by ICE or bounty hunters—this criminal illegal alien scammed innocent Americans for money and diverted limited DHS resources from removing the worst of the worst from Los Angeles communities

    Politicians and activist media peddled these smears that were designed to demonize law enforcement and evade accountability

    Calderon will now face justice and the media and politicians who swallowed and pushed this garbage should be embarrassed

    ”

    Calderon is charged with conspiracy and making false statements to federal officers and if convicted, faces a maximum sentence of five years in federal prison for each

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Met appeals for public’s help to keep Carnival safe in 2025

    Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

    The Met is appealing for anyone with information about groups or individuals intending to engage in violence at this year’s Notting Hill Carnival to come forward.

    Officers are working with the independent charity Crimestoppers as part of a plan to keep Carnival free from knife crime, serious violence and violence against women and girls.

    Deputy Assistant Commissioner Matt Ward, the police commander for this year’s event, said: “Notting Hill Carnival is an iconic event in London’s cultural calendar which is celebrated by many from across the capital, the UK and beyond. With less than six weeks to go before this year’s event, the Met continues to work closely with organisers and partners to ensure it’s a safe and spectacular experience for those visiting.

    “Regrettably, amongst the millions of carnivalists who have attended over many years there has been a tiny minority of individuals intent on causing serious harm to others, including violent crime and sexual offences.

    “Their actions stand in stark contrast to the traditions and values of Carnival and I welcome those voices in the community who have stood up to condemn violence and serious criminality at the event. I fully support the organisers’ recent announcement of a new, innovative partnership with the Elba Hope Foundation to divert young people away from crime and particularly knife crime.

    “Carnival’s growing popularity and size creates unique challenges. Around 7,000 officers and staff will be deployed each day over the coming August Bank Holiday weekend. Their priority is to keep people safe, including preventing serious violence, such as knife crime and violence against women and girls.”

    The Met’s activity has already started with a focus on deterring or preventing those who pose the greatest threat to public safety and the security of Carnival:

    • We are sharing intelligence with forces across the country to identify those violent gangs who are planning to attend Carnival.
    • We are working with others, including local authorities and the courts, to seek banning orders to exclude those attending who have a history of violence or sexual offending at Carnival.
    • We are carrying out pre-emptive intelligence-led arrests and searches of those believed to be in possession of weapons or involved in the supply of drugs. Last year there were 160 such arrests prior to the event for offences including possession of firearms, drugs supply, rape and other serious sexual assaults.
    • During the Bank Holiday weekend we will be using live facial recognition cameras on the approach to and from Carnival, outside the boundaries of the event itself, to help officers identify and intercept those who pose a public safety risk before they get to the crowded streets of Notting Hill, and to ensure those attending are able to get home safely.
    • We will be deploying screening arches at some of the busiest entry points, using stop and search powers to prevent knives and other deadly weapons being carried at Carnival.

    But to keep Carnival as safe as it is spectacular we also need the public’s help.

    That is why we have, once again, partnered with Crimestoppers to make it easier for anyone with information to report it anonymously.

    Crimestoppers is an independent charity, not part of the police and 100 per cent anonymous. Their commitment to protect people’s identity is iron-clad – they won’t ask for a name and can’t identify any telephone numbers or IP addresses if you are reporting online.

    All you need to do is call 0800 555 111 or visit www.crimestoppers-uk.org

    DAC Ward added: “The best way to prevent serious crime at Carnival, including violence and sexual offending, is to intervene and target the small number of dangerous offenders before they get to the event.

    “If you know anyone who may be planning to take a knife or weapon to Carnival, if you worry that they’re part of a group going with the intent to commit offences or confront rival groups, or that they are being put under pressure or being exploited, or if you have any other information that could help, then please speak up and stand up for Carnival. In doing so, you could be saving a life.”

    Further information about the use of Live Facial Recognition (LFR):

    So far in 2025 there have been 111 deployments of LFR, resulting in 512 arrests.

    During the Bank Holiday weekend, LFR will be deployed on the approaches to Carnival, but not within the boundaries of the event.

    Officers will be searching for people who are marked as being wanted on the Police National Computer, those who are shown as missing (including young people who may also be at risk of either criminal or sexual exploitation) and those subject to sexual harm prevention orders because of the risk they pose, particularly to women and girls.

    LFR cameras capture live footage of people passing by and compare their faces against a bespoke watchlist of wanted offenders.

    If a match is detected, the system generates an alert. An officer will then review the match and decide if they wish to speak with the individual.

    Officers conduct further checks, such as reviewing court orders or other relevant information, to determine if the person is a suspect.

    Importantly, an alert from the system does not automatically result in an arrest – officers make a decision about whether further action is necessary following engagement.

    There are robust safeguards in place regarding LFR. if a member of the public walks past an LFR camera and is not wanted by the police, their biometrics are immediately and permanently deleted.

    For more on the Met’s use of LFR, visit Live Facial Recognition | Metropolitan Police

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: Ireland: Amnesty’s head urges Irish government to press ahead with Occupied Territories Bill

    Source: Amnesty International –

    Following a two-day visit in which she met with Ireland’s head of state and head of government, among other senior officials, Amnesty International’s Secretary General Agnès Callamard said:

    “While the EU has betrayed its principles through its shameful decision not to suspend the EU-Israel Association Agreement, we applaud Ireland for its bold efforts to stop Israel’s genocide against the Palestinians in Gaza. The EU’s refusal to take action to hold Israel accountable highlights the need for Ireland and other likeminded member states to urgently take unilateral or concerted steps to bring their actions in line with international law, which takes precedence over both EU and national law.

    “We urge the Irish government to press ahead quickly with the Occupied Territories Bill to demonstrate that when the EU fails to act on its values, principled states like Ireland will take a stand. The bill would be a powerful, much-needed tool for international justice and must be strengthened to include banning all imports and exports of goods and services to and from Israeli settlements in illegally occupied Palestinian territory, as well as investments in them.

    Ireland must stay firm in its convictions and commitment to justice

    “Despite the fearmongering and efforts by certain parties to derail the bill, Ireland must stay firm in its convictions and commitment to justice. This legislation is rooted in international law and would enable Ireland to fully comply with the International Court of Justice’s July 2024 advisory opinion on Israel’s unlawful occupation of Palestinian territory.

    “Passage of the bill would set a strong example to EU states to unilaterally suspend all forms of cooperation with Israel that may contribute to its grave violations of international law. It cannot be ‘business as usual’ while Palestinians are starved and slaughtered while seeking aid or under relentless Israeli attacks in Gaza, or killed and forcibly displaced by state-backed Israeli settler violence, devastating military operations and suffocating movement restrictions in the West Bank.

    This would set a strong example to EU states to unilaterally suspend all forms of cooperation with Israel that may contribute to its grave violations of international law

    “From its own experiences of colonization, famine and conflict to its leading role in international efforts to end apartheid in South Africa, Ireland has repeatedly shown that it can stand up to bullies and consistently punched above its weight in global diplomacy. Its principled stance on Israel’s genocide against the Palestinians in Gaza is another milestone and further proof that Ireland will not tolerate the destruction of the rules-based order so painstakingly built over the last 80 years.

    “We applaud Ireland for being one of the few European states to strongly condemn Israel’s genocide against Palestinians in Gaza and other crimes under international law committed in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory, and for its courageous calls for concrete action to stop the bloodshed and carnage. In doing so, Ireland has acted as a vital counterweight to those states still arming Israel, excusing its atrocities and enabling its lasting impunity.”

    We applaud Ireland for for its courageous calls for concrete action to stop the carnage

    During her visit to Dublin on 16 and 17 July, Agnès Callamard met with President Micheal D. Higgins, Taoiseach Micheál Martin, Attorney General Rossa Fanning, Senator Frances Black, and Liam Herrick, the Chief Commissioner of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission, as well as local human rights defenders and civil society organizations.

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: In-Depth Analysis – Rule of Law Conditionality Regulation: European Implementation Assessment – 18-07-2025

    Source: European Parliament

    This paper has been drafted to assist the European Parliament’s Committees on Budgets (BUDG) and Budgetary Control (CONT) in the context of their work on an implementation report on the Rule of Law Conditionality Regulation. Based on publicly available information, it provides an overview of EU reports and academic papers on the implementation of the Regulation. It examines three key interlinked concerns: (1) potential legal gaps in the Regulation; (2) the use of ‘smart conditionality’ to ensure that funds reach end beneficiaries; and (3) the links between the EU’s rule of law reports and the Rule of Law Conditionality Regulation. The paper also outlines how Parliament’s recent resolutions and questions have addressed these three issues.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: DSJ meets with SCIA President to discuss development and collaboration in sports dispute resolution between Hong Kong and Shenzhen (with photo)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

         The Deputy Secretary for Justice, Dr Cheung Kwok-kwan, met with the President of the Shenzhen Court of International Arbitration, Dr Liu Xiaochun, in Shenzhen today (July 18) to discuss development and collaboration in the field of sports dispute resolution between Hong Kong and Shenzhen.
     
         After the meeting, Dr Cheung said that the Department of Justice (DoJ) is committed to promoting the diversified development of sports dispute resolution services in Hong Kong and is actively promoting co-operation in sports dispute resolution services between Hong Kong and the Mainland, as well as other regions overseas, with a view to building Hong Kong into a sports dispute resolution services centre in the Asia-Pacific region.
     
         Dr Cheung said that Hong Kong has always been recognised and trusted by the international community for its arbitration and mediation services, and maintains a rich pool of talent in sports dispute resolution services. Shenzhen has long been a close partner of Hong Kong in arbitration, and has been actively participating in the national development of sports arbitration in recent years. He expressed hope that Hong Kong and Shenzhen can strengthen co-operation in sports dispute resolution, giving full play to the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area’s advantages of “one country, two systems and three jurisdictions” and promoting the development of sports dispute resolution services in the two places with innovative thinking.

         Dr Cheung also mentioned that the DoJ is taking forward the pilot scheme on sports dispute resolution as announced in “The Chief Executive’s 2024 Policy Address” at full steam on the local level. The invitation for the industry to submit proposals for operation of the pilot scheme began at the end of last month, with the aim of identifying a suitable administering body and a technology service provider to provide a fast, reliable and neutral resolution mechanism for sports disputes. The period for submission of proposals will end on July 31 and the pilot scheme is expected to be launched in the second half of the year.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Appeal for information on missing woman in Yuen Long (with photo)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

    Police today (July 18) appealed to the public for information on a woman who went missing in Yuen Long.

    Marma Swe Sai Nu, aged 19, went missing after she was last seen in Ma Tin Pok on June 30 afternoon. Police received the report on July 2 morning.
        
    She is about 1.7 metres tall, 54 kilograms in weight and of thin build. She has a long face with yellow complexion and long straight black hair. She was last seen wearing a pink T-shirt, brown trousers and khaki flip-flops.

    Anyone who knows the whereabouts of the missing woman or may have seen her is urged to contact the Regional Missing Persons Unit of New Territories North on 3661 3113 or email to rmpu-ntn-1@police.gov.hk, or contact any police station.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Missing woman in Tsim Sha Tsui located

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

         A woman who went missing in Tsim Sha Tsui has been located.
          
         Lam Kit-man, aged 38, went missing after she was last seen on Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade on July 15 morning. Her family made a report to Police after she went missing.

         The woman was located at Tai Wo Estate, Tai Po last night (July 17). She sustained no injuries and no suspicious circumstances were detected.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Statement on the proposed WWVP volunteer registration fee

    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 18/07/2025

    The ACT Government values the contribution of volunteers to the ACT community and recognises that a Working with Vulnerable People (WWVP) registration is a requirement for many volunteering activities. The ACT Government also wants to ensure the ongoing sustainability of our nation-leading scheme so that it continues to serve our community as a mechanism to protect vulnerable people.

    After feedback from the community and in close collaboration with both VolunteeringACT and ACTCOSS, the ACT Government will not introduce the $11 fee for WWVP volunteer registrations, which had been due to begin in September. Minister for City and Government Services Tara Cheyne said the Government’s decision was informed by community feedback and stakeholder engagement.

    “The intent of the fee was to offset some of the costs associated with administering a scheme which has been identified as far exceeding original modelling and projections since the first review of it in 2017,” Minister Cheyne said.

    “Many of the 160,000 card holders are not necessarily required to be registered under the law, and while there may be benefits from a wider list of card holders in volunteer roles, this has placed unsustainable pressure on the scheme.”

    “We are also anticipating that there will be additional requirements under the scheme as part of national responses to concerns in both the early childhood education and care sector and the aged care sector.”

    “The Government has invested more than $5 million in this year’s Budget to support the continued delivery of the WWVP scheme and will continue to explore further policy improvements to ensure the scheme remains fair, effective and sustainable, while continuing to protect our community’s most vulnerable members,” said Minister Cheyne.

    The Government is planning to review the scheme in partnership with VolunteeringACT and ACTCOSS. This review will consider how the scheme can sustainably maintain the support it provides to sectors of the community who engage with vulnerable people.

    Minister for Disability, Carers and Community Services Suzanne Orr said that the Territory will be involved in the national conversation relating to working with vulnerable people checks in key sectors.

    “It is timely to look more broadly at the scheme. This step has been taken in response to the changing national environment relating to checks like the WWVP and other schemes in other jurisdictions.”

    “The ACT Government will work with local organisations and community partners to ensure appropriate safeguards remain in place and we continue to operate a nation-leading scheme that is sustainable into the future.”

    “The ACT Government values the contribution of each and every person who volunteers their time to support our community, whether it be as part of the State Emergency Service (SES), planting trees with their local environment group, coaching the local sports team or helping with services for those in our community who benefit most from them”.

    Quote attributable to Jean Giese CEO, VolunteeringACT

    “VolunteeringACT wants to acknowledge the ACT Government’s open and collaborative response on this issue. This is a win for the 279,000 volunteers in our city: your voices have been heard. Our joint advocacy with volunteers, community organisations and Government has demonstrated the power of collective action and the value that community places on volunteering.

    “VolunteeringACT now renews its focus on delivering the ACT Volunteering Strategy – a roadmap to deliver safe, ethical and sustainable volunteering for all Canberrans. A key component of the strategy is to ensure the appropriate safeguards are in place for volunteering to occur. We are committed to productive conversations with Government, ACTCOSS and other partners to find solutions to the systemic issues within the Scheme. The ACT has a strong volunteering legacy, and this is a clear signal that volunteering will continue to thrive now, and into the future.”

    Quote attributable to Dr Devin Bowles, CEO of the ACT Council of Social Services (ACTCOSS)

    “Volunteers are critical to making our city a genuine community, and help alleviate the impacts of poverty and disadvantage. The Government’s decision demonstrates the value that they place on volunteers.

    “ACTCOSS is grateful for the community’s strong support for volunteering. We appreciate the Government’s willingness to listen deeply to the community and its considered engagement on this issue.

    “ACTCOSS looks forward to continuing to work with the Government and Volunteering ACT to ensure that the future of volunteering in the ACT remains bright.”

    – Statement ends –

    Tara Cheyne, MLA | Suzanne Orr, MLA | Media Releases

    «ACT Government Media Releases | «Minister Media Releases

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Death – Maningrida

    Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

    The Northern Territory Police Force is investigating following the death of a 47-year-old male in Maningrida this afternoon.

    Around 12:55pm, the Joint Emergency Services Communication Centre received reports that a male had been located unresponsive in his residence in the community.

    Police and clinic staff attended; however, the male was pronounced deceased and crime scene was established.

    His cause of death currently remains unknown. 

    Further investigation identified that on Thursday 17 July 2025, the male had allegedly been involved in a domestic violence disturbance between himself and a male and female known to him.

    Investigations remain ongoing.

    Police urge anyone with information about the incident make contact on 131 444. Please quote reference number P25191987. Anonymous reports can be made through Crime Stoppers 1800 333 000 or via https://crimestoppersnt.com.au/.

    MIL OSI News –