NewzIntel.com

Category: Justice

  • MIL-OSI Australia: The Fugitive Task Force Deploys to the West Daly Region

    Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

    The Northern Territory Police Force has deployed the Fugitive Task Force (FTF) to the West Daly Region.

    The FTF was stood up in December 2024 to boost ongoing efforts to target recidivist offenders and enhance community safety.

    Over a three-day deployment to the West Daly Region, the task force has made 20 arrests and served two domestic violence orders, along with assisting local police with multiple outstanding matters.

    The offences committed by those arrested include breach of bail, outstanding warrants, aggravated assault and breach of domestic violence orders.

    Acting Commander Drew Slape said, “The Fugitive Task Force continues to focus on holding recidivist and high harm offenders to account.

    “We will continue to pursue those who have outstanding matters and present ongoing risks to community safety.”

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Arrest – Domestic violence – Alice Springs

    Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

    The Northern Territory Police Force has arrested a 53-year-old male in relation to a domestic violence incident that occurred in Alice Springs early this morning.

    Around 1:25am, a female presented to the Alice Springs Police Station to report she had been assaulted by her partner with a blunt weapon at a residence in Braitling.

    The victim sustained injuries to her head, face and arm, and was conveyed to the Alice Springs Hospital by St John Ambulance for treatment.

    Police attended the residence and arrested a 53-year-old male at 2am.

    He remains in police custody and investigations are ongoing.

    Police urge anyone with information to call 131 444 and quote reference P25083467. Anonymous reports can also be made through Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

    If you or someone you know are experiencing difficulties due to domestic violence, support services are available, including, but not limited to, 1800RESPECT (1800737732) or Lifeline 131 114.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Call for information – Disturbances – Alice Springs

    Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

    The Northern Territory Police Force is calling for information in relation to disturbances that occurred in Alice Springs yesterday.

    Around 12:30pm, the Joint Emergency Services Communication Centre (JESCC) received multiple reports of groups fighting in the Alice Springs CBD. Police responded and the group dispersed.

    A 37-year-old female was conveyed to the Alice Springs Hospital with minor injuries, along with a second victim with non-life-threatening injuries.

    A 22-year-old female was arrested in relation to this incident and is expected to be charged.

    Around 2:35pm, further alleged fighting occurred between the same groups on Hartley Street, with some participants allegedly armed with weapons.

    Multiple police units responded, and the group once again dispersed.

    Investigations are ongoing and police urge anyone with information to make contact on 131 444. Please quote reference P25082836. You can also report anonymously through Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or via https://crimestoppersnt.com.au/.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Arrests – Pursuit – Northern Suburbs

    Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

    The Northern Territory Police Force has arrested a 25-year-old male in relation to domestic violence offences in Darwin.

    This morning, police received intelligence that a male with an arrest warrant was within Bagot Community. It is alleged the male had been actively evading police.

    Around 7:30am, Strike Force Trident and Dog Operations Unit (DOU) established a cordon around the community and commenced a search for the alleged offender.

    A short time later, the offender and another male passenger were sighted in a vehicle driving erratically through the community and at some points on the footpath.

    A tyre deflation device was deployed, which the offending vehicle attempted to avoid by swerving at officers and colliding with the rear of a Trident vehicle.

    Multiple pursuits were commenced; however, they were terminated shortly after for safety reasons.

    At around 08:30am, DOU members sighted the vehicle stopped on Buchanan Terrace in Nakara before the offender and the passenger fled the scene on foot.

    Police deployed a taser which was ineffective, and the offender fled through a school oval on Nakara Terrace.

    Patrol Dog Boss was deployed, but the 25-year-old male scaled a 12-foot fence and fled. A second dog handler followed over the fence, caught up to the man, and he surrendered without further incident.

    The 30-year-old male passenger was also arrested and is assisting police with enquiries.

    The 25-year-old offender remains in police custody with additional charges expected to follow.

    Senior Sergeant Meacham King said, “I want to commend the work of all members involved in this arrest.

    “It’s fortunate our officers weren’t seriously injured when the Trident vehicle was struck.

    “The arrest is a testament to the strong collaboration between Strike Force Trident and Dog Operations Unit.

    “We remain committed to holding offenders to account and bringing them before the courts.”

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Investing in California’s creative economy: Governor Newsom welcomes Vogue World event to Hollywood

    Source: US State of California 2

    Mar 26, 2025

    Highlights California’s economic investments in creative economy, LA’s recovery

    What you need to know: Governor Newsom today joined Anna Wintour to welcome the Vogue World event to Hollywood, promoting the state’s proposal to more than double California’s Film and Television Tax Credit Program. 

    HOLLYWOOD – Governor Newsom today joined Vogue for the announcement of this year’s Vogue World event, which will be hosted in Hollywood this October. At Vogue’s press event, Governor Newsom joined Anna Wintour, Vogue Editor-in-Chief and Global Chief Content Editor of Conde Nast, to promote the upcoming event, highlighting the state’s world-leading creative economy – which creates 220,000 jobs – and the Governor’s proposal to more than double the California Film and Television Tax Credit Program.

    “California is the entertainment capital of the world – and we’re committed to ensuring we stay that way. Fashion and film go hand in hand, helping to express characters, capture eras in time, and reflect cultural movements. We’re honored to welcome Vogue World Hollywood to the Golden State to help us spotlight California’s creative economy and the thousands of talented workers and businesses who support it.”

    Governor Gavin Newsom

    “Vogue World: Hollywood will be a one-night-only show with a huge cast of models and actors, dancers, musicians and surprises, and it will set great film costumes next to brilliant fashion collections… By mixing fashion with the arts and culture in the center of a city, and by raising funds for a cause, Vogue World has become a runway show-as-rallying cry, a way to fix the attention of a huge global audience, to bring awareness, and sound an unmistakable note of positivity, creativity, and hope.”

    Anna Wintour

    Lights, cameras, jobs! 

    Since its inception in 2009, California’s Film & Television Tax Credit Program has generated over $26 billion in economic activity and supported more than 197,000 cast and crew jobs across the state, strengthening the vital link between California’s communities and the iconic film and TV industry. A study of the program found that, for every tax credit dollar approved, it generated at least $24.40 in output, $16.14 in GDP, $8.60 in wages, and $1.07 in initial state and local tax revenue from production in the state. 

    However, the program has been oversubscribed year after year, with more productions applying than can be accommodated under the current cap. Between 2020 and 2024, data shows California lost production spending due to limited tax credit funding and increased competition in other states and countries, directly impacting state jobs and local economies​​.

    In recent years, projects that were unable to secure California’s tax credits and moved to other locations as a result contributed to significant economic losses, with California losing 71% of production spending by these rejected projects subsequently filming out-of-state.

    The Governor’s proposal to expand California’s Film & Television Tax Credit Program to $750 million annually, a massive increase from the current $330 million annual allocation, would position California as one of the top states for capped film incentive programs.

    California is a creative economy powerhouse

    As one of the strategic sectors outlined in the recently launched California Jobs First Economic Blueprint, the creative economy has deep roots in California’s history and continues to be an engine for innovation, cultural expression, and economic growth.

    • In 2023, California was home to 220,000 creative economy jobs, one in every four creative economy jobs in the U.S.
    • The average salary paid to creative workers in 2023 was $160,000, more than 50% higher than the California average.

    And while the Los Angeles region leads the way in jobs generated by the creative economy, three other regions – Redwood, the Bay Area, and the Southern Border – also identified film, TV, and the arts as a regional strategic sector.

    Recent news

    Mar 26, 2025

    News What you need to know: Financial assistance for Los Angeles fire recovery has now surpassed $2 billion, survivors may apply until March 31st, 2025. LOS ANGELES – Building upon California’s ongoing support for disaster survivors and small businesses, Governor…

    Mar 25, 2025

    News SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom issued the following statement regarding the death of King City Police Department Sergeant Ryan Kenedy: “Jennifer and I mourn alongside the King City community over the sudden passing of Sergeant Kenedy. Our hearts are with his…

    Mar 25, 2025

    News What you need to know: Since Governor Newsom launched the joint San Bernardino operation in October 2024, the efforts have led to 858 arrests and 66 recovered stolen vehicles. Los Angeles, California – Governor Gavin Newsom today announced the ongoing joint law…

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Assistance continues to flow to families and businesses as federal aid for LA fires tops $2 billion

    Source: US State of California 2

    Mar 26, 2025

    What you need to know: Financial assistance for Los Angeles fire recovery has now surpassed $2 billion, survivors may apply until March 31st, 2025.

    LOS ANGELES – Building upon California’s ongoing support for disaster survivors and small businesses, Governor Gavin Newsom today announced that aid from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has now exceeded $2 billion.

    “This federal disaster aid brings much-needed relief for impacted homeowners, renters, businesses grappling with loss and damage. California is grateful to President Trump and our federal partners for making this recovery a priority.”

    Governor Gavin Newsom

    This financial assistance serves as a vital lifeline for impacted communities and has been rapidly distributed in just over two months since the Los Angeles County wildfires were declared a major disaster by then President Joseph R. Biden.

    Through that disaster declaration, SBA makes low-interest federal disaster loans available to impacted residents and businesses in the impacted regions. SBA can also lend additional funds to businesses and homeowners to help with the cost of improvements to protect, prevent, or minimize future disaster damage. 

    Disaster assistance by the numbers:

    Federal assistance to eligible homeowners, renters, and businesses, in the form of FEMA grants and low-interest SBA Disaster Loans, has topped $2 billion. That includes: 

    • $200 million in FEMA assistance.

    • $2 billion in home and business loan offers from the SBA, the largest source of federal disaster recovery funds for homeowners, renters, businesses, and certain nonprofits. 

    To date more than 31,636 households have been approved for FEMA funds, including:

    • $24,631,795 in housing assistance for short-term rental assistance and home repair costs.

    • $76,690,832 in other essential disaster-related needs, such as expenses related to medical, dental, and lost personal possessions.

    • $101,322,628 in individual housing program support.

    • 30,563 visits at the two Disaster Recovery Centers that remain open at UCLA Research Park and Altadena Recovery Center.

    The deadline to apply for both FEMA and SBA disaster assistance is March 31, 2025.

    How to apply for FEMA Individual Assistance

    • Online at DisasterAssistance.gov.

    • On the FEMA App.

    • By calling the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362. If you use a relay service, give FEMA your number for that service. Assistance is available in multiple languages. Lines are open Sunday–Saturday, from 4 a.m.- 10 p.m. Pacific Time.

    • At a Disaster Recovery Center (DRC). To locate a DRC near you, visit the DRC Locator.

    For an American Sign Language video on how to apply, visit FEMA Accessible: Three Ways to Register for FEMA Disaster Assistance

    Apply for SBA Low-Interest Disaster Loans

    • Online at sba.gov/disaster.

    • By calling SBA’s Customer Service Center hotline at 800-659-2955. People who are deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech disability may dial 711 to access relay services.

    • By emailing DisasterCustomerService@sba.gov.

    • At a Disaster Recovery Center or Business Recovery Center, where you can submit a completed application or SBA representatives can help you apply. To find a BRC near you, go to Appointment.sba.gov.

    • Applications for disaster loans may be submitted online using the MySBA Loan Portal at https://lending.sba.gov or other locally announced locations.

    The application period for both Small Business Administration aid and individual assistance remains open until March 31 and impacted residents are encouraged to apply today. 

    Press Releases, Recent News

    Recent news

    Mar 25, 2025

    News SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom issued the following statement regarding the death of King City Police Department Sergeant Ryan Kenedy: “Jennifer and I mourn alongside the King City community over the sudden passing of Sergeant Kenedy. Our hearts are with his…

    Mar 25, 2025

    News What you need to know: Since Governor Newsom launched the joint San Bernardino operation in October 2024, the efforts have led to 858 arrests and 66 recovered stolen vehicles. Los Angeles, California – Governor Gavin Newsom today announced the ongoing joint law…

    Mar 24, 2025

    News What you need to know: The Governor’s Wildfire and Forest Resilience Task Force released a list of 25 key deliverables to build on the state’s ongoing efforts to protect Californians from increasing threats posed by catastrophic wildfire and a changing climate….

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Banking: Working together to ensure financial integrity

    Source: Bank for International Settlements

    Good morning. It is a great pleasure to be here today and to welcome you to the BIS Innovation Hub’s Analytics Showcase.1

    This event marks the conclusion of the 2025 Analytics Challenge, in which we invited innovators to submit proposals for collaborative technology solutions to a specific problem.

    Over the next two days, we will come together to tackle a pressing challenge for regulators, businesses and consumers – financial crime. And since financial crime does not respect borders, we believe there is a clear need for deeper global collaboration. In the next few minutes, I will reflect on why this is essential and how we can work together in an increasingly digitalised world.

    The BIS Innovation Hub already helps central banks around the world collaborate on financial technology. We track key trends, connect innovation experts to each other and develop public goods in the technology space that are geared towards improving the functioning of the financial system.

    We experiment through projects that aim to show how technology can help and inspire meaningful action. These projects are possible thanks to collaboration with the global community of policymakers and innovators. And to our delight, part of this community is also here today.

    In my remarks, I will share with you the Innovation Hub’s projects that use technological innovation to safeguard financial integrity. And then I will set out our plan for the next two days to explore new technology and further expand global collaboration in the fight against financial crime.

    But let me now turn to why action is called for in the first place.

    Financial crime today

    Financial services are needed for a society to work well. Indeed, they are crucial for the economy to function properly. But widespread financial crime, such as fraud, money laundering and cyber attacks, undermines the integrity of our financial system and harms society. Central banks and financial supervisors therefore have a strong interest in supporting the fight against this type of criminal activity.

    The scale of financial crime is staggering. By some estimates, over $3 trillion2 in illicit funds move through the financial system each year, draining up to 5% of global GDP.3 Fraud alone costs hundreds of billions of dollars, hitting both consumers and businesses that have to shoulder a considerable share of the losses.

    We have good reasons to believe that most cases of fraud are never reported, which leaves the true scale hidden.4 And the real cost isn’t just money – financial crime often goes hand-in-hand with  other crimes, such drug and human trafficking, often damaging society’s most vulnerable people.

    Meanwhile, criminals move faster than law enforcement, exploiting technology and global networks to stay ahead. Look no further than Europe for evidence. Most fraud here appears to be cyber-enabled, online scams that very often cross borders,[5] with more consumers being targeted than ever before.

    In turn, financial firms face soaring compliance costs to detect illicit activity, spending hundreds of billions each year just to keep up.6

    And despite these efforts, estimates indicate that less than 1% of dirty money is intercepted and recovered,7 a remarkable statistic that highlights a difficult reality: despite growing investment in fighting financial crime, the overall results are falling short.

    To turn the tide, we need to explore new ways to fight financial crime, and we know that new technology holds great potential.

    But we also know that only through the collaboration, support and contributions of many can we fully harness technological innovation to protect our financial system and society. In other words, it takes a village.

    That brings us to today. We’ve laid the foundation already – the next two days of the Analytics Showcase will build on it.

    Let me share how the BIS Innovation Hub has been driving this effort.

    The role of the BIS Innovation Hub

    The Bank for International Settlements supports central banks in their pursuit of monetary and financial stability by fostering international cooperation.

    About five years ago, the BIS launched the Innovation Hub – a partnership with central banks that now spans seven centres across the globe, with one located here in London and hosted by the Bank of England.

    The Innovation Hub experiments with new technologies to see how they can solve shared challenges and help central banks deliver on their mandates more effectively.

    It does so because technology is changing finance fast, and the Innovation Hub aspires to facilitate collaboration and be a partner to central banks, while demonstrating the potential that novel technology brings.

    And the financial system needs to be secure, resilient and trusted, no matter how fast things change.

    Financial integrity is key to central banks for three reasons.

    First, threats to financial integrity are also threats to safety and stability – their core job.

    Second, central banks operate and supervise financial market infrastructures such as payment and settlement systems, where the threat of financial crime exists.

    Third, central banks often oversee banks’ compliance with anti-money laundering rules that enable the detection of illicit transactions.

    Some of the Innovation Hub’s projects have developed technological solutions or components that could be combined in a potential “technology stack”, elevating global collaboration in the fight against financial crime.

    Let me unpack that.

    A technology stack to maintain financial system integrity

    Consider a typical cross-border payment – it involves multiple banks and payment systems across jurisdictions. From the moment the sender makes a payment until the final recipient receives the money, multiple steps are taken to keep the payment safe and secure.

    I will walk you through the five key components that make these steps more effective.

    To start, each bank involved in the transaction must conduct compliance checks. This involves screening customers against sanctions lists or ensuring compliance with foreign exchange rules. These checks are often repeated and require manual work, due to varying regulations and data standards along the payments chain.

    Our first component of the technology stack provides a solution for programmable compliance and transaction pre-validation.

    Through Project Mandala, we have demonstrated better options for financial institutions to automate compliance checks and generate cryptographic proofs to show they have conducted all the necessary checks before initiating a transaction.

    The solution enhances the efficiency, transparency and speed of cross-border transactions without compromising the quality and soundness of regulatory checks.

    Mandala also improves transparency on country-specific policies, while facilitating real-time reporting and monitoring for regulators and supervisors.

    Now, after compliance checks, transactions are submitted to electronic payment systems for processing. These systems have a bird’s eye view of payers and payees allowing them to analyse transaction networks.

    Our next component is about embedding enhanced transaction analytics into payment systems. This could improve detection of seemingly legitimate transactions tied to complex money laundering schemes.

    Ongoing work in Project Hertha aims to show that advanced artificial intelligence (AI) and network analytics methods at a payment system level can help identify financial crime patterns that warrant a second look, while protecting privacy by using only a limited set of data points.

    To achieve this, the project created synthetic transaction data mimicking real payments using state-of-the-art AI methods. These data were also shared with Analytics Challenge participants to help test their solutions.

    The third component is about collaborative analytics. Advanced technologies, such as federated learning and multi-party computation, allow public and private stakeholders to share intelligence without revealing private customer data. Such public-private collaboration can help stakeholders join forces to identify criminal activity. 

    Project Aurora demonstrated how shifting to this more holistic approach, including the application of AI and machine learning techniques, helps identify money laundering and financial crime networks both nationally and internationally.

    Another component of our tech stack is user privacy, which is crucial in all our projects. Privacy rights must be upheld in any collaborative analytics and information sharing initiatives.

    Projects Aurora and Mandala tested privacy-enhancing technologies for secure data sharing. Project Hertha is testing methods to identify suspicious network patterns using a minimal set of data points.

    The final component is protection against cyber threats, vital in today’s digital landscape. Fraudsters and cyber criminals often use similar methods, like phishing. And those same technologies can also be used to fight back against the criminals. 

    Two of our projects addressed this.

    Project Raven can help the financial sector and authorities assess cyber security and resilience in their jurisdiction, by using AI to lower the reporting and analytical costs.

    Project Polaris focuses on the cyber security and resilience of potential future forms of money and payment systems, including offline digital payments.

    Strengthening these five components can help future-proof the financial system against evolving threats.

    Let me now explain how the Analytics Challenge and Showcase play a role here.

    Looking ahead: the Challenge and the Showcase

    Late last year, we invited public and private sector experts to join the BIS Innovation Hub 2025 Analytics Challenge and build on the work we started.

    We asked innovators to propose collaborative tech solutions that combat financial crime and simplify compliance through two challenges.

    In the open challenge, participants had to tackle three key questions:

    • How can AI be used to improve the detection of illicit financial activity?
    • How can privacy-preserving technology be used in sharing data and intelligence?
    • Finally, how can we collaborate on innovative tech solutions to enable compliance with diverse regulations across jurisdictions?

    In the prediction challenge, participants were asked to build algorithms to detect illicit transactions.

    Participants could test and demonstrate their solutions using a rich and realistic synthetic payments data set developed in Project Hertha.

    I am impressed with the high quality of the responses and I hope the demonstrations and discussions at the Analytics Showcase inspire new possibilities and partnerships.

    But the Showcase has even more to offer in the next two days.

    And with that, I trust the Analytics Showcase will strengthen our fight against financial crime and look forward to the insights ahead.

    Thank you very much for listening.

    1 My thanks go to the BIS Innovation Hub’s Andrei Pustelnikov and Simina Puscasu who helped me write this speech.

    2 Nasdaq and Verafin, Global Financial Crime Report, 2024.

    3 United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, “Money laundering”.

    4 UK National Crime Agency (NCA), “Fraud”.

    5 The Association of Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialists (ACAMS), “Cyber-enabled fraud and illicit money flows”, infographic, 2024.

    6 LexisNexis Risk Solutions, Report: The true cost of financial crime compliance, 2023.

    7 United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, “Factsheet: money laundering”, 2014.

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Ban on Budapest Pride and violation of fundamental freedoms under EU law – E-001173/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-001173/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Mélissa Camara (Verts/ALE)

    The Hungarian Parliament has passed a law banning Pride events. Although the Hungarian Constitution guarantees freedom of assembly, an amendment now prohibits gatherings that violate the 2021 law banning the ‘promotion’ of homosexuality and transgender identities to minors. This law is at the heart of one of the infringement procedures that the Commission has launched against Hungary.

    Banning Pride events would be a serious violation of freedom of expression and assembly, both protected by the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights and the European Convention on Human Rights. Any restriction must be proportionate and justified, which does not appear to be the case here. By broadly targeting LGBTIQ+ events, the law effectively silences an entire community.

    In 2021, Parliament declared the EU an ‘LGBTIQ Freedom Zone’, reaffirming that all LGBTIQ individuals must fully enjoy their rights without fear of discrimination. The Commission has already referred Hungary’s rule-of-law violations to the Court of Justice of the European Union, highlighting persistent breaches of fundamental EU values.

    In the light of these facts:

    • 1.Can the Commission confirm that banning Budapest Pride goes against the EU’s fundamental values?
    • 2.What measures does the Commission intend to take in response to this violation of the Treaties?

    Submitted: 19.3.2025

    Last updated: 27 March 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Man charged with series of violent robberies in north London

    Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

    Met detectives have charged a man following an investigation into a series of robberies in north London.

    There have been 11 reports of people, 10 women and one man, being assaulted during robberies in the Lower Edmonton area between December 2024 and March 2025.

    Following enquiries by the North Area’s Robbery Focus Unit, Daniel Shengezi, 24 (30.11.00), of Wyldfield Gardens, Enfield, was charged on Thursday, 27 March with nine counts of robbery, two counts of attempted robbery, handling stolen goods and possession of a Class B drug (cannabis).

    He will appear in custody at Highbury Magistrates’ Court later today (Thursday, 27 March.)

    Detective Sergeant Gareth Starr, from the robbery investigation team in north London, said: “We know these reports have caused concern in the area. Today’s charge is a significant development and I hope it provides some reassurance.”

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Detectives charge two more people with the murder of 16-year-old Lathaniel Burrell

    Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

    Detectives investigating the murder of a teenager shot in Stockwell have charged two more people in connection with his murder.

    Lathaniel Burrell, aged 16, died at the scene after sustaining gunshot wounds in Paradise Road, SW4 on Tuesday, 4 March.

    His family continue to be supported by specialist officers.

    A 17-year-old boy [C] from Peckham and a 30-year-old man [D] from Lambeth were arrested on Tuesday, 26 March on suspicion of murder.

    The 17-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was charged with murder and possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life.

    The 30-year-old man, Jeffery Frimpong, (09.05.1994) of Smedley Street, Lambeth, was charged with murder.

    Both will appear at Croydon Magistrates’ Court later today (Thursday, 27 March.)

    Detective Chief Inspector Sarah Lee from the Specialist Crime Command, who is leading the investigation, said: “These charges mark a significant milestone in the investigation. We continue to appeal for witnesses and for those with knowledge of this incident to come forward. Please be reassured that we will continue to investigate this matter and ensure that all offenders are brought to justice.”

    Previously, another 17-year-old boy [A] and Omar Prempeh, 32 (22.12.92), of Sunderland Road, Forest Hill, have been charged with murder. They will next both appear at the Old Bailey on Thursday, 29 May.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Modern spacesuits have a compatibility problem. Astronauts’ lives depend on fixing it

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Berna Akcali Gur, Lecturer in Outer Space Law, Queen Mary University of London

    Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore, the Nasa astronauts who were stuck on the International Space Station (ISS) for nine months, have finally returned to Earth.

    Spacesuits were an important consideration that Nasa had to factor into its plans to bring the astronauts back home. Wilmore and Williams had travelled to the ISS in Boeing’s experimental Starliner spacecraft, so they arrived wearing Boeing “Blue” spacesuits.

    Following helium leaks and thruster (engine) issues with Starliner, Nasa decided it was safer not to send them back to Earth on that vehicle. The astronauts had to wait to return on one of the other spacecraft that ferry crew members to the ISS, the SpaceX Crew Dragon.

    This meant they needed a different type of spacesuit, made by SpaceX for use in its vehicle only. Boeing’s suits cannot be used in Crew Dragon in part because the umbilicals (the flexible “pipes” that supply air and cooling to the suit) have connections and standards that don’t work with the ports inside a Crew Dragon.

    This highlights a general problem for the growing number of space agencies and companies sending people into orbit, and for planned missions to the Moon and beyond. Ensuring that different spacesuits are compatible, or “interoperable”, with spacecraft they weren’t designed to be used in is vital if we are to protect astronauts’ lives during an emergency in space, especially in joint missions.

    The spacesuits worn during a return from space are called “launch, entry and abort” (LEA) suits. These are airtight and provide life support to the astronauts in case there is a decompression, when air is lost from the cabin.

    Unfortunately, a decompression has already caused loss of life in space. During the Soyuz 11 mission in 1971, three Soviet cosmonauts visited the world’s first space station, Salyut 1. But during preparations for re-entry, the crew cabin lost its air, killing cosmonauts Georgy Dobrovolsky, Vladislav Volkov and Viktor Patsayev, who were not wearing LEA suits. All cosmonauts wore them after this incident.

    As well as the connections for life support, the Boeing and SpaceX suits also have restraints and connections for communications that are specific to each vehicle. For their return home from the ISS in a SpaceX capsule, Williams was able into use a spare SpaceX suit that was already aboard the space station and the company sent up an additional suit on a cargo delivery for Wilmore to wear.

    Two spacecraft are usually docked at the ISS as “lifeboats” to evacuate the astronauts in the event of an emergency. These are generally a SpaceX Crew Dragon and a Russian Soyuz capsule.

    If an emergency evacuation were to occur and there weren’t enough of the right spacesuits available – for either the Crew Dragon or Soyuz – it could endanger astronauts during the fiery re-entry through Earth’s atmosphere. Interoperability between spacesuits has therefore become a matter of survival.

    The Outer Space Treaty, which provides the basic framework for international space law, recognises astronauts as “envoys of humankind” and grants them specific legal protections. These were expanded on in subsequent UN treaties – notably the Rescue Agreement, which imposes a range of duties on states to render assistance to each others’ astronauts in cases of emergency, accident or distress.

    For the ISS, a collaborative space programme with international flight crews, protocols include terms that set forth how this obligation is to be met. However, these protocols do not contain terms relating to spacesuit interoperability.

    Risks to astronauts in space

    A major potential cause of an emergency evacuation is space debris. The ISS has regularly had to manoeuvre to avoid collisions with debris – including entire defunct satellites.

    In his memoir, Endurance, Nasa astronaut Scott Kelly describes being commanded to enter the Soyuz vehicle with two other crew members and prepare to detach from the ISS because of a close approach by a large defunct satellite. Luckily, the spacecraft passed by harmlessly.

    As orbits become increasingly congested, with an exponential increase in the number of space objects being launched, the risk of collisions will also increase.

    Ever more companies and governments are entering the human spaceflight arena. The Tiangong space station, China’s orbiting laboratory, has been fully operational since 2022, and there are plans to open it to space tourism, just like the ISS.

    India is planning to join the community of nations with the capability to launch humans into space, under a programme called Gaganyaan. And while most space travellers remain government-funded astronauts, the number of private space-farers is increasing.

    Billionaire Jared Isaacman (who is President Trump’s nominee to run Nasa) has commanded two private missions into orbit using Crew Dragon. On the second of these, he participated in the first spacewalk by privately funded astronauts. The ISS is set to be retired in 2030 – but one company, Houston-based Axiom Space, is already building a private space station.

    Against this complex and part-unregulated backdrop, ensuring the interoperability of different spacecraft systems, including spacesuits, will increase levels of safety in this inherently risky activity.

    While the safety and practicality of spacesuits has always been the top priority, compatibility between different suits and vehicles should also be high on the list. This requires space agencies and private spaceflight companies to engage with each other in a process to agree on standard interfaces and connections for life support and communications, across all their suits and space vehicles.

    Amid this period of increased commercialisation and competition between the organisations and companies involved in orbital spaceflight, a move toward greater collaboration can only be a good thing.

    Berna Akcali Gur 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. Modern spacesuits have a compatibility problem. Astronauts’ lives depend on fixing it – https://theconversation.com/modern-spacesuits-have-a-compatibility-problem-astronauts-lives-depend-on-fixing-it-252935

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: (WIP) How the ACCC will assess mergers under the new regime

    Source: Allens Insights (legal sector)

    Draft assessment guidelines open for consultation 5 min read

    The ACCC has released its draft merger assessment guidelines (Draft Guidelines) for consultation, offering a preview of how it plans to assess mergers under the new mandatory regime (which comes into effect on 1 January 2026).

    In this Insight, we highlight key aspects of the ACCC’s renewed approach and what the proposed changes would mean for your business.

    Key takeaways

    • Businesses that may be seen as already having a substantial degree of market power can expect close scrutiny of any transactions where the target has overlapping goods or services, even if the market share increment is low. According to the ACCC, even mergers that lead to a small change in market power can potentially substantially lessen competition.
    • The ACCC has set out its proposed framework for assessing mergers that may eliminate potential competition, involve multi-sided platforms or form part of a set of serial acquisitions. We expect these will be key areas of focus under the new regime for all sectors, but will particularly impact transactions in the tech, financial services and supermarket sectors.
    • Merger parties will need to demonstrate that any claimed pro-competitive efficiencies are specifically related to the merger and are likely to be realised.
    • The Draft Guidelines represent a significant update to the ACCC’s guidelines published in November 2008, with more detailed guidance on the approach to the new and more novel competition issues with which the ACCC has grappled in recent years. The Draft Guidelines indicate a level of convergence with those issued by US agencies in 2023.

    What you need to know

    Creating, strengthening or entrenching market power

    Under the new regime, the ACCC will consider whether a merger is likely to create, strengthen or entrench a substantial degree of market power in determining whether it substantially lessens competition.

    The ACCC’s position is that a merger can substantially lessen competition even if it leads to only a small change in market power.

    Mergers that eliminate potential competition, including killer acquisitions

    The ACCC plans to look closely at mergers that eliminate potential competition, eg mergers in which an incumbent acquires a nascent rival or potential entrant.

    The ACCC has expressly called out killer acquisitions, where an acquirer acquires a target (a potential competitor) to neutralise the competitive threat before the target develops into a true rival. Alternatively, a business may decide to acquire an existing player instead of entering a certain market itself, thereby removing competition that would have been introduced by the acquirer’s own entry.

    The ACCC considers that in markets characterised by network effects (where users derive more value from a product if more users use the same product), potential competitors that threaten to displace the incumbent’s market position may exert the greatest competitive constraint.

    The ACCC is on the lookout for acquirers undertaking multiple acquisitions of nascent rivals over time and says this could strengthen or entrench the acquirer’s market power.

    It considers that the loss of potential competition will be more relevant in markets where significant and long-term investments are necessary, eg digital platforms or pharmaceutical companies.

    Mergers involving multi-sided platforms

    In relation to multi-sided platforms (platforms that supply services to two or more distinct but related customer groups, eg social media platforms and shopping centres), the ACCC observes that such platforms tend to be characterised by network effects. The ACCC is concerned that these effects may be so strong and self-reinforcing that they create a ‘tipping effect‘, where one platform becomes supreme and smaller platforms only exert a weak constraint.

    The ACCC has indicated that in assessing mergers relating to multi-sided platforms, it will consider factors such as whether one or both sides of the platform are impacted, the incentives of the platform operator and the strength of network effects. It also proposes to consider the risk of amplifying a party’s market power, eg where interoperability or multi-homing is necessary to compete.

    Cumulative effects of serial acquisitions

    The ACCC is setting its sights on serial acquisitions. Under the new regime, the ACCC will be able to take into account prior acquisitions that, when viewed together (in the same or related markets and in the preceding three years), would be likely to substantially lessen competition.

    The ACCC foreshadows that it may consider information and evidence about the acquirer’s previous and future business plans, incentives behind the acquisitions and the likely impact of both the notified transaction and the series of acquisitions on the merged entity’s market position.

    Efficiencies

    The ACCC proposes to take a discerning approach to arguments about efficiencies.

    It says a merger that removes or weakens competitive constraints will, in many cases, substantially lessen competition even if the merger results in a more efficient firm with a lower cost structure.

    It has stressed that it will only consider merger-related efficiencies to be relevant where there is clear and compelling information or evidence that the efficiencies incentivise the merged firm to compete more vigorously against rivals.

    The ACCC will seek to verify that any claimed efficiencies arise specifically from the merger and will consider the parties’ alternative options to achieving these efficiencies in testing this.

    Merger parties will need to demonstrate that the efficiencies are likely to materialise and that they improve the incentives to compete, eg through internal documents and external experts’ studies.

    Comparisons with guidelines from overseas regimes

    The approach the ACCC has taken is similar to the approach taken by the UK Competition and Markets Authority as reflected in its 2021 Merger Assessment Guidelines and the approach taken by US agencies as set out in the 2023 Joint Merger Guidelines issued by the US Department of Justice and Federal Trade Commission (US Merger Guidelines), although there are some subtle differences. Comparing the Draft Guidelines and US Merger Guidelines:

    • The Draft Guidelines do not create a presumption of illegality, unlike the US Merger Guidelines. However, both reflect the agencies’ respective positions that a small increase in existing market power may be sufficient to substantially lessen competition in an already consolidated market.
    • Both focus on eliminating potential competition and ‘killer acquisitions’.
    • The Draft Guidelines expressly deal with serial acquisitions, whereas the US Merger Guidelines frames this issue within a broader context of industry trends and consolidation.
    • Both approach mergers involving multi-sided platforms in a similar way. The US Merger Guidelines outline an approach to examining ‘competition between platforms, on a platform or to displace a platform’.
    • The Draft Guidelines include a framework to ensure claimed merger efficiencies are ‘merger specific’ and ‘verifiable’. This is largely consistent with the approach agencies have traditionally taken to closely scrutinise claims of efficiencies.

    Next steps

    The ACCC’s public consultation on the Draft Guidelines is open until 17 April 2025. If you would like to discuss the Draft Guidelines, the impact they may have on your business and the steps you can take to prepare for the new merger regime, please get in touch with us.

    You can read our previous Insight for a detailed overview of the legal framework and key elements of the new merger regime, or download our practical summary here.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI: Grassley Talks District Judges, Reconciliation and Whistleblowers on The Bottom Line

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Iowa Chuck Grassley
    WASHINGTON – Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee and former chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, joined The Bottom Line on Fox Business to discuss nationwide injunctions, reconciliation and his work to secure the promotion of IRS whistleblowers.
    Audio and excerpts of Grassley’s remarks follow.
    [embedded content]VIDEO
    On Nationwide Injunctions:
    “It ought to be a bipartisan issue, because within the last few years, Democrats have talked about reform, and we have Justice Kagan saying that the national approach is obviously being abused.
    “I would say that the very least we want to do is… limit [district court decisions] to the district court where the district judge sits and listen to the injunction as it applies to the people that are in the court. That eliminates one judge making a decision that affects 93 district court systems that we have in the United States.
    “I can’t wait to see if the Supreme Court does something when I’m Chairman of the Judiciary Committee, and we see this process is being vastly abused. For the first 150 years [of the United States], there was never one of these national injunctions. Then, for the next 70 years, [nationwide injunctions were] not used very often. But, within the last 20 years, this has been used [against] both Republican and Democrat administrations.”
    On Reconciliation:
    “Some people are talking about getting [reconciliation] done by August. That’s too late. We had a November 5 election, where this was a big issue, and the President has a mandate… we have a responsibility to carry out the results of the November 5 election.
    “This debt ceiling limit should not be anything that stands in the way of getting the reconciliation bill passed, because [we must] get reconciliation passed to make sure we don’t have the biggest tax cut in the history of the country.
    “I think [President Trump] is going to get a good share of [his tax priorities], but I would doubt if he’s going to get all of them, because of the total cost of all five of them… I think the President needs to pick and choose and tell Congress what’s most important to him.”
    On IRS Whistleblowers Gary Shapley and Joseph Ziegler:
    “I’ve been protecting these whistleblowers for months, or maybe more than a year and a half, and I’m glad that they are getting their job back, getting a promotion and being able to help this new Trump administration know where the bodies are buried. 
    “Most whistleblowers that I know are very patriotic people. I think that these two that you bring up showed how patriotic they were. They stuck to it. They were willing to go public with it, and we ought to be honoring people that know where the bodies are buried.
    “There’s a lot of other whistleblowers throughout previous administrations that have been ill treated, and I’m going to fight to get their jobs back as well.”
    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Facility improvements benefit Alexander Maconochie Centre staff and detainees

    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 27/03/2025

    An $8 million investment in the Alexander Maconochie Centre (AMC) has delivered upgraded and expanded spaces, benefiting staff and detainees. This infrastructure improvement is designed to enhance working conditions for staff and provide additional areas for detainees to engage in education and rehabilitation programs.

    Staff moved into the new building in February and work is underway to repurpose the previous admin areas into additional education spaces for detainees.

    One large classroom for group education sessions is available, while a large group program room, an additional distance education space, and a private, multi-purpose space for female detainees, will be completed in coming months.

    Minister for Corrections Dr Marisa Paterson said the new spaces improved conditions for both staff and detainees.

    “These upgrades are enhancing working conditions for staff and improving educational enrolment opportunities for detainees,” Minister Paterson said.

    “The new administration building is a significant improvement for our dedicated staff who work hard every day to provide a critical service to the Canberra community.

    “The vacating of the previous administrative areas has created an opportunity to expand the spaces available for detainee services. These new areas will increase the capacity to provide education and rehabilitation programs, helping reduce the likelihood of detainees re-offending and returning to detention.”

    Heating and cooling of new and existing detainee education spaces will also be improved as part of the project.

    Education currently offered at the AMC and delivered by registered training organisations include courses in construction, safe work practices, business, and hygienic practices and food safety.

    Rehabilitation programs currently include the Explore, Question, Understand, Investigate, Practice/Plan and Succeed (EQUIPS) suite of programs, such as EQUIPS Addiction and EQUIPS Domestic and Family Violence

    Distance Education is available for eligible detainees, with tertiary-level support from a senior education officer. External study is subject to approval, and detainees are responsible for the relevant administration, deliverables and costs. Library and ICT resources are available to detainees engaging in distance education.

    Quotes attributable ACT Corrective Services Commissioner Leanne Close:

    “Education and training opportunities are an extremely important factor in reducing recidivism,” Ms Close said.

    “While the ACT is well above the national average, with more than a third of eligible detainees enrolled in education or training programs, these new detainee spaces increase our ability to provide these critical programs moving forward.”

    – Statement ends –

    Marisa Paterson, MLA | Media Releases

    «ACT Government Media Releases | «Minister Media Releases

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Government Cuts – Cuts will ramp up pressure on Corrections staff – PSA

    Source: PSA

    Proposed job cuts at the Department of Corrections in response to the Government’s programme of cutting public services will see a reduction in vital roles that support Corrections Officers, Probation Officers, Case Managers and managers do their jobs well.
    Corrections’ latest change proposal would result in a net reduction of 49 roles in its already stretched People and Capability, said Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi National Secretary Fleur Fitzsimons.
    “The proposed cuts will reduce the organisation’s ability to ensure its staff, who often work in risky environments, are trained and developed and have the right levels of health and safety and other support,” Fitzsimons said.
    The roles that are going include positions in Health and Safety and Learning and Development and capability building.
    “All these workers have important roles to play in ensuring Corrections supports and retains its staff.
    “The chain of cause and effect is clear: these cuts will degrade the quality of support to front-line staff. If front-line staff aren’t getting the support they need, their jobs will be harder and they’re more likely to leave. It’s going to impact the services that Corrections staff can deliver now and in the future. The impact of these cuts will be felt for years to come.
    “In the Government’s pursuit of cost savings to fund tax relief for landlords there has been little regard for how these proposed changes will negatively impact frontline services, let alone ensuring New Zealand has an effective Justice system.
    “More, not less funding is required to ensure that public services such as Corrections can keep delivering for New Zealanders.
    “One hand of the Government doesn’t know what the other is doing. It passes new sentencing laws to put people in prison for longer, but it’s also happy to kneecap those helping keep front-line staff safe and help them to do their job. This is yet another example of the senselessness of this programme of cuts,” Fitzsimons said.
    The Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi is Aotearoa New Zealand’s largest trade union, representing and supporting more than 95,000 workers across central government, state-owned enterprises, local councils, health boards and community groups.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: GAZA – Oxfam: Humanitarian operations in Gaza severely hampered; famine risks increasing

    Source: Oxfam Aotearoa

    Restoring ceasefire deal vital as death toll hits 50,000 and continues to rise amid Israeli airstrikes, aid and power blockades, and renewed mass forced displacements.
    Oxfam and partners’ operations have been severely hampered as Israel’s renewed military assault and ground offensive on Gaza continues into its 7th day.
    Oxfam is calling for a renewed ceasefire and for Israel to lift its 23-day siege which is again blocking aid supplies and increasing famine risks for desperate civilians. Israel imposed a complete blockade 23 days ago and cut off electricity to Gaza a few days later.
    Israeli authorities are denying entry to trucks loaded with 63,000 metric tons of food for 1.1 million people. Operations have been forced to stop in vital areas such as food security and livelihood, as well as hygiene promotion, and essential repair work to damaged water infrastructure. 
    Bushra Khalidi, Oxfam’s OPT Policy Lead, said: “During the 42-day ceasefire families in Gaza could finally fall asleep knowing their loved ones would still be beside them when they woke up. Even though aid that entered was not enough-far from enough-it was something. The price of food stabilised. Supermarkets reopened. Bakeries began running again. Many people even went to their homes or what was left of it, and tried to repair and rebuild, however little they could.”
    Humanitarian agencies were able to mount operations that saw an average of more than 4,000 trucks per week entering Gaza despite Israeli authorities initially only partially opening the crossings and denying much of the urgently needed reconstruction materials. Oxfam reached almost 200,000 people with essential relief. 
    The Israeli government’s renewed bombardment of residential areas, including Jabalia and Khan Younis, has killed almost 700 people, including at least 200 children since March 18. Israeli authorities have issued new mass forced displacement orders, forcing around 120,000 Palestinians to flee. These orders are causing panic and chaos in the absence of anywhere safe in Gaza.
    Oxfam says humanitarian operations have been gravely hindered by the absence of guarantees of safety for aid workers moving around Gaza.
    Oxfam and its partners say their storage facilities containing food parcels are severely depleted. Israeli authorities have denied access to Oxfam shipments of six desalination units and seven trucks of water and sanitation infrastructure, up to 85% of which has been destroyed by Israel’s bombing campaign.
    “Oxfam, through its partners has been able to initiate emergency water trucking across the Gaza Strip, and are maintaining some other aid programs, such as multi-purpose cash transfers, despite the severe challenges that all humanitarian workers now face around lack of protection,” said Khalidi.
    “For the past 535 days, Israel has been systematically weaponising life-saving aid, inflicting collective punishment upon the population of Gaza. The denial of food, water, fuel and electricity is a war crime and a crime against humanity. Many within the international community are enabling this by their silence, inaction and complicity,” said Khalidi.
    Oxfam’s health partner in Gaza, Juzoor for Health and Social Development, had its center in Jabalia destroyed in an airstrike on March 18. It had been serving over 1,000 patients daily. Dr Umaiyeh Khammash, Director of Juzoor, said: “Every airstrike that hits, threatens the lives and safety of our dedicated staff and the patients they serve. This center is not just a building; it’s the heartbeat of healthcare for countless families here. Without it, many will lose access to crucial medical care.”
    In another attack yesterday (March 23), three sewage operators from the Abasan Al Kabira municipality working with Oxfam’s partner Coastal Municipalities Water Utility (CMWU) were killed while performing their duties when their clearly- marked truck was destroyed in an attack by Israeli military.
    A renewed ceasefire must be permanent and accompanied by the safe return of Israeli hostages and illegally detained Palestinian prisoners. Israel must provide unfettered aid at scale. Oxfam said governments must stop transferring arms, while the international community must enforce international law. We reiterate our call for justice and accountability for all those affected.  
    Notes:
    • Oxfam works with 19 partner organizations in the Gaza Strip. Between 20 January and 28 February 2025, Oxfam reached a total of 181,622 people across the Gaza Strip with water and sanitation services, including repair and reconstruction, protection, multipurpose cash assistance, distribution of food parcels and essential agricultural inputs for recovery, protection, health care and case management.
    • Since Israel’s breach of the ceasefire and airstrikes on Gaza on 18 March, Oxfam staff movements have been severely restricted in the absence of a notification system. This week, Oxfam’s progammes in Gaza, including those of many partners, have been severely impacted. Oxfam is still able to undertake some water trucking and multipurpose cash distribution, but under high-risk conditions
    • The fatality rate in Gaza is based on the Palestinian Ministry of Health reporting on 24 March (11AM) and the fatality rate of children is reported by UNICEF on 21 March
    • Since 2 March, Israeli authorities have re-imposed a total siege, blockading the entire Gaza Strip. It is banning the entry of any humanitarian basic supplies, including water, food, medical supplies and fuel, as well as banning any commercial supplies to enter Gaza.
    • On 10 March, Israeli authorities cut off electricity supply to the only operational large-scale desalination plant for drinking water. With the exception of that last remaining, intermittent electricity feed to the desalination plant, Gaza has been under an electricity blackout since 11 October 2023.
    • The current siege is one week longer than in 2023, when the Israeli authorities imposed a total siege that lasted from 7-21 October 2023.
    • According to the IPC Special Snapshot – September 2024 – April 2025, the risk of Famine between November 2024 and April 2025 persists as long as conflict continues, and humanitarian access is restricted
    • According to the Palestinian Water Authority, 85% of the water and sanitation infrastructure in Gaza is destroyed as a result of Israel’s bombing campaign.
    • The UN reported that during the 42-day ceasefire period, a total of 4,000 trucks per week travelled into Gaza, 600,000 people received polio vaccinations and maternity care was provided for 5,000 births.
    • Satellite images of the Gaza displacement orders, on 18 March, covers an area amounting to 37% of Gaza’s land and double the size of the original buffer zone. This has been reported by Sky News and the figures have been confirmed by the UN. The UN reported on 21 March that more than 120,000 people had fled since the evacuation orders were issued on 18 March.
    • Denial of Aid – breaches Customary IHL Rule 55; 1977 Additional Protocol II Arts 69-71 and 81; Fourth Geneva Convention 1949, Arts 23,55-63 and 108-111; Rome Statute ICC, Crime Against Humanity of Extermination, Art 7 1(b) “Extermination” includes the intentional infliction of conditions of life, inter alia the deprivation of access to food and medicine, calculated to bring about the destruction of part of a population. OCHA / WFP food insecurity data,  released every tuesday (18 Mar 2025): Most recent OCHA sitrep (18 Mar 2025):
    • Between 10 and 20 per cent of 4,500 surveyed pregnant and breastfeeding women are malnourished, a recent analysis by the Nutrition Cluster reveals.
    • To cope with shortages, the Food Security Sector (FSS) partners are drastically reducing food assistance to families, suspending flour distribution to families to prioritize supplies for bakeries, pausing the distribution of fresh produce, and scaling down hot meal preparations at some community kitchens.
    • FSS warns that over one million people risk being left without food parcels in March, and at least 80 of the 170 community kitchens may be forced to close in one to two weeks, if supplies, including cooking fuel, are not allowed into Gaza. The FSS estimates that more than 50,000 metric tons (MT) of food supplies are required monthly to assist everyone with full rations, in addition to 9,700 MT of flour needed monthly to keep the subsidized bakeries running.
    • Since the ceasefire took effect on 19 January, and as of 15 March, 4,646 children have enrolled in malnutrition treatment programmes, 672 of whom were diagnosed with severe acute malnutrition.
    • The Nutrition Cluster notes a decrease in monthly enrolments in such programmes from about 5,000 in the month prior to the ceasefire to a monthly average of 2,500 in Phase One of the ceasefire.
    • Nutrition Cluster partners observed a rising number of pregnant and breastfeeding women becoming malnourished – between 10 and 20 per cent,
    • 11 March inter-agency mission to eastern Khan Younis found that agricultural facilities had been largely destroyed, including 1,400 dunums of open land,150 greenhouses, 90 poultry farms, and dozens of livestock and dairy cattle farms. The remaining cultivated land did not exceed 70-80 dunums.
    • Market survey carried out by WFP covering key developments during the first half of March (14th Mar published):
    • WFP currently has sufficient food stocks to support active kitchens and bakeries for up to one month, as well as ready-to-eat food parcels to support 550,000 people for two weeks.
    • WFP has approximately 63,000 metric tons of food destined for Gaza, stored or in transit in the region. This is equivalent to two to three months of distributions for 1.1 million people, pending authorization to enter Gaza.
    • Traders have begun withholding goods due to uncertainty over when new supplies will arrive.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Statement from Minister Anandasangaree to Ashlee Shingoose’s Family and Community

    Source: Government of Canada News

    Taking care: This product may contain information that could be upsetting or triggering for some. The Hope for Wellness Help Line provides immediate, toll-free telephone and online-chat based emotional support and crisis intervention to all Indigenous People in Canada. This service is available 24/7 in English and French, and upon request in Cree, Ojibway, and Inuktitut. Trained counsellors are available by phone at 1-855-242-3310 or by online chat at hopeforwellness.ca.

    Ottawa, Ontario (March 26, 2025) — Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada and Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs, Gary Anandasangaree, issued the following statement:

    “Today, the Winnipeg Police Service confirmed the identity of the missing woman who had been named Mashkode Bizhiki’ikwe – Buffalo Woman as Ashlee Shingoose of St. Theresa Point First Nation.

    I offer my deepest condolences to Ashlee’s family, loved ones, and community. As the family takes this time to grieve, we must respect their privacy. This is a heartbreaking loss, and I extend my deepest condolences as you grieve and honour her memory.

    We must all act to end the national crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls, Two-Spirit, and gender diverse people.”

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: The pointy end of police work

    Source: New Zealand Police (National News)

    Police Commissioner Richard Chambers welcomed six new patrol dog teams after their graduation today at the Police Dog Training Centre at Trentham, Upper Hutt. 

    Alongside them also graduating were three personnel from 2nd Engineer Regiment, 2 Field Squadron Unit with three newly trained Explosive Detector Dogs (EDD).

    The teams celebrated the occasion in front of whānau and friends, the Commissioner of Police with members of the police executive, and Lieutenant Colonel Joe Totoro Commanding Officer, 2nd Engineer Regiment, New Zealand Army.

    Commissioner Chambers congratulated them all on their achievements.

    “All our patrol dog teams play a crucial role in frontline policing, deploying to some of the most dynamic and challenging situations. We couldn’t police the way we do without them.

    “That’s why I’m thrilled to see six newly trained dog teams graduate today. They will be welcomed into Eastern, Central, Waikato, Wellington, and Auckland police districts very soon.”

    Graduating from the police patrol dog course is one new and five experienced handlers with their dogs. 

    Wellington-bound Constable Nick Press with Police Dog ‘Oskar’ says, “It feels different this time around being my second operational dog after working ‘Ink’ for the past six years. It’s exciting to get back on the street with a new young dog who is very different to ‘Ink’ and has taught me a lot and given me more skills as a handler.”

    Constable Pete Smits is heading back to the Waikato. “I got Ozark at the start of November last year, and I’ve enjoyed training him and getting him as ready as possible for the reality of what police delta teams do. I’d like to acknowledge the Waikato Dog Section for helping me get to this point in my career.”

    Inspector Todd Southall, National Coordinator Police Dogs, says “It’s a proud day for all teams, both experienced and new.  This ceremony marks the end of a demanding few weeks training to become an operational team and well done on completing all the tests which replicate your day-to-day work.

    Patrol dog work is one of the most physically demanding roles in Police – you’re at the pointy end of frontline policing and a pivotal component in our Tactical Response Model. We are grateful for all your work, and this graduation signals the next step toward frontline duties” says Todd.

    ENDS

    Issued by Police Media Centre

    Watch out for our Ten One story coming soon with more images and stories about the police dog teams from this graduation.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Taskforce Morpheus – National Day of Action 2025

    Source: New South Wales – News

    Law enforcement agencies from across Australia and New Zealand have targeted the Hells Angels Outlaw Motorcycle Club (HAOMC) in a coordinated National Day of Action as part of Operation Morpheus.

    The focus of the National Day of Action was to cause maximum disruption to the HAOMC through compliance and enforcement activities across Australia and New Zealand.

    With a significant legacy of past national coordination and collaboration by law enforcement and partners in Australia and New Zealand, National Taskforce Operation Morpheus is a joint initiative. This includes all Australian state and territory police, New Zealand Police, Australian Federal Police, Australian Border Force, Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission, Australian Defence Force, AUSTRAC, Australian Taxation Office, and Services Australia collaboratively targeting the highest threat outlaw motorcycle gangs (OMCGs) impacting Australia and New Zealand.

    The National Day of Action 2025 has resulted in law enforcement agencies around the country conducting compliance checks relating to bail, parole, firearms possession and other legislation. The agencies also seized firearms, weapons, various drugs, illicit cigarettes and tobacco products and in excess of $48,000 in cash resulting in the arrest of 23 people, involving 60 charges.

    By proactively targeting OMCG’s throughout Australia and New Zealand in a day of action using a combination of enforcement, compliance and disruption techniques Operation Morpheus generates significant intelligence holdings. Shared intelligence relating gang to membership and associates, locations and gang related premises and criminal activities play a crucial role in national and international law enforcement awareness of links with OMCG’s like HAOMC and organised crime.

    Other focuses of law enforcement were HAMC – OMCG members involved in family violence matters and those club members and associates already incarcerated within the prison populations.

    The overrepresentation of OMCG members and associates linked with family and domestic violence perpetration is a significant community issue.  As is violence and contraband within the prison systems, also well documented and a focus of this operation.

    Operation Morpheus sends the message to members of OMCG members, “It doesn’t matter if you are at freedom or in custody you will be targeted for criminal related activity, be that personal or club related business. Put simply it doesn’t pay to be a member of an OMCG or any criminal gang.”

    Australian Border Force have also identified HAMC members and associates attempting to enter Australia recently as well as targeting members and associates who may be subject to removal from Australia.

    As national organised crime continues to move into the illegal tobacco and vape industry, including OMCG involvement with other crime groups law enforcement and partners are actively focused on this activity, including the extreme violence, firearms, extortion, arson, and money laundering activities. ​

    Leveraging shared capability and technology, National Taskforce Morpheus also targets criminal assets and unexplained wealth of key OMCG members, protects vulnerable people and develops national strategies to deter gang recruitment, reduce membership and target recidivism and enablers to organised crime.

    Agency Key Results:

    South Australia Police –

    Small quantities of illicit substances seized, firearms prohibition order compliance checks completed with in-custody cell searches conducted by Dept Correctional Services. Significant additional contemporary criminal intelligence was gathered relating to HAOMC in SA.

    Victoria Police –

    9 offenders charged with 8 offences, 1 search warrant executed, small quantities of illegal prescription drugs seized, firearms prohibition order compliance checks revealing quantities of firearm ammunition, $48,000 in cash seized and subject to further investigation. Significant additional contemporary criminal intelligence gathered relating to HAOMC in Victoria.

    Western Australia Police –

    2 offenders charged with 5 offences, 2 search warrants executed, small quantities of illicit substances seized and contemporary criminal intelligence gathered relating to HAOMC in WA.

    New Zealand Police –

    3 offenders charged with 4 offences, 3 search warrants executed and 3 vehicles seized. Small quantities of both prescription and illicit substances were seized. Contemporary criminal intelligence was gathered relating to HAOMC in New Zealand.

    Australian Border Force –

    2 VISA cancellations / refusals at point of entry, a further 3 identified as potential VISA cancellations and a single Unlawful Non-Citizen detained linked with OMCGs in Australia.

    New South Wales –

    3 offenders facing 12 charges, 2 search warrants executed, small quantities of illicit substances seized, firearms prohibition order compliance checks with an additional 9 ADVO compliance checks also conducted. In-custody cell searches were also activated for OMCG members in NSW prisons.

    Queensland –

    5 offenders facing 30 charges, 2 firearms seized, 25 bail breaches (non-compliance) discovered with a significant number of traffic breaches identified with both fines and prosecutions commenced for drug and drink driving.

    Northern Territory –

    Heavy focus on traffic compliance identifying both drink (3) and drug (3) drivers apprehended.

    Tasmania –

    1 offender charged with an offence with bail and firearms prohibition order compliance checks conducted.

    Quotes attributed to: Taskforce Morpheus Chair Detective Superintendent Jason Kelly (VICPOL)

    “National Taskforce Morpheus has been an extremely successful national and international operation coordinating multiple operations that have seen Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs (OMCGs) and their members disrupted, arrested, charged and held to account.  

    “Law enforcement and partner government agencies, through National Taskforce Morpheus, share the use of a variety of capabilities to proactively target OMCGs at a state, territory, national and international level. National Taskforce Morpheus will continue to be relentless in pursuing OMCGs and will not stop disrupting and holding OMCGs to account, no matter where they are located.

    “OMCGs are motivated by profit and greed, they infiltrate communities, industry and businesses and have a negative impact on the communities. The social and economic impact of OMCGs in Australia and New Zealand is significant. OMCGs also have a culture of secrecy, that includes intimidation and propensity for extreme violence, often with public displays of violence that impacts the safety of the community. For these reasons Law Enforcement and partner Government agencies will continues to target OMCGs.”

    Quotes attributed to: Officer in Charge Serious and Organised Crime Branch (SAPOL) Detective Superintendent Shane Addison

    SAPOL recognises the risk and serious harm to the community caused by significant and violent criminal activity undertaken by and associated with Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs (OMCG) in South Australia. SAPOL is committed to reducing this threat to community safety and will relentlessly pursue members and associates of OMCGs who seek to profit from violence and all forms of illicit criminal activities. Today’s National Day of Action activities have focused on disrupting those OMCG members who pose the greatest risk to the community.

    “In collaboration with our law enforcement and supporting agency partners, SAPOL will target anyone involved with OMCGs illicit criminal and violent behaviour. This includes targeting the confiscation of their criminal assets. The results from the Operation Morpheus Day of Action in this State reflects this commitment.”

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: New merger process guidance released for consultation

    Source: Australian Ministers for Regional Development

    The ACCC has today released draft guidance explaining the processes the ACCC will use when assessing acquisitions under Australia’s new merger regime, and is seeking feedback on the guidance through consultation. 

    In addition to releasing the draft merger process guidelines, the ACCC has also published a simpler quick guide for business and others less familiar with engaging with the ACCC on mergers.  

    Together they aim to assist businesses, advisers and other stakeholders understand and engage with Australia’s new merger regime. 

    “The changes to the merger regime mean that all acquisitions that meet certain thresholds need to be notified to the ACCC for assessment from 1 January 2026. This is a major change for businesses and for the ACCC,” ACCC Chair Gina Cass-Gottlieb said. 

    “We are committed to ensuring stakeholders are well informed about the new process and its requirements and to provide transparency in how we will assess mergers in the new regime.” 

    The release of the draft merger process guidelines follow the recent release of guidance on transitional arrangements and the draft merger assessment guidelines.  

    “We committed to have these guidelines available for consultation before the end of March this year so stakeholders including businesses and their advisers have time to consider the ACCC’s approach under the new regime and provide feedback,” Ms Cass-Gottlieb said 

    “We know many businesses are already preparing for when the new merger control regime starts on a voluntary basis from 1 July 2025.” 

    The ACCC has previously stated that it expects to approve around 80% of acquisitions in 15 to 20 business days, providing a faster and more predictable path to clearance.

    “Acquisitions that do not pose significant risk to competition will be approved early in Phase 1 or may be granted a waiver, removing their obligation to notify,” Ms Cass-Gottlieb said 

    “Contentious mergers on the other hand will be closely scrutinised and subject to in-depth assessment to prevent anti-competitive mergers from causing harm to consumers and competition.”  

    The ACCC is seeking feedback on the guidance from businesses and their advisers, consumers and other interested members of the community. The guidelines and quick guide are available to download from the ACCC’s consultation hub. 

    Consultation will run from 27 March to 28 April 2025.  

    The ACCC expects the merger process guidance will be updated and further refined over time, including following consultation and as the legislative instruments are finalised. 

    The six month voluntary notification period which begins on 1 July 2025 will provide a valuable opportunity for the ACCC to assess whether refinements to the processes are required, before the guidance are finalised. 

    Anyone interested in merger reform updates can subscribe for updates on the ACCC website here: Merger reform. 

    Notes to editors:  

    A number of legislative instruments which relate to details in the new merger regime, including the thresholds for merger notification and applicable fees, are being considered by Treasury. 

    They will take effect once set by a Treasury minister. 

    Background 

    On 10 December 2024, the Australian Parliament passed the Treasury Laws Amendment (Mergers and Acquisitions Reform) Act 2024. The ACCC welcomed the new legislation. 

    Under the new regime, all acquisitions that are subject to the regime and meet a prescribed threshold must be notified to the ACCC. This represents a shift from a voluntary regime to a mandatory administrative regime. 

    The new regime commences on 1 January 2026. Businesses may voluntarily notify an acquisition to the ACCC from 1 July 2025. 

    The ACCC issued a Statement of Goals in October 2024 to outline its approach to implementing the new regime and to reduce uncertainty during the transition. The ACCC committed to consulting publicly on the draft merger assessment and merger process guidelines by Q1 2025.  

    The merger assessment guidelines were released for consultation on 20 March 2025.  The ACCC also recently released transition guidance to assist businesses navigate the transitional period leading up to 1 January 2026. 

    The ACCC encourages businesses considering a merger during the transition to contact us at mergers@accc.gov.au  

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Wyoming Fugitive Captured in Morgan County After Multi-Agency Manhunt

    Source: US Marshals Service

    Morgan County, CO – A month-long, multi-state manhunt for a wanted fugitive out of Wyoming culminated today with a joint law enforcement arrest operation in rural Morgan County. 

    Tyger Rodriguez, 25, was arrested during a multi-agency effort comprised of nearly a dozen different law enforcement agencies. Rodriguez is wanted by the Goshen County Sheriff’s Office for two counts of felony aggravated assault and battery stemming from incidents which occurred mid-February. Arrest warrants were issued February 19 and 20, and the U.S. Marshals Service’s Wyoming Fugitive Task Force was asked to assist on February 27. After developing information that Rodriguez had fled Wyoming and was possibly hiding in rural northeast Colorado, the U.S. Marshals Service’s Colorado Violent Offender Task Force (COVOTF) was contacted and joined the investigation. COVOTF investigators tracked Rodriguez to a rural property about four miles west of Fort Morgan. The Morgan County Sheriff’s Office was then contacted and provided significant support in continuing the investigation into Rodriguez’s whereabouts.

    On Wednesday, a joint law enforcement arrest operation between the U.S. Marshals COVOTF, the Northeast Regional SWAT Team, and the Colorado State Patrol SOAR team contained Rodriguez within the large rural property and eventually took him into custody safely.

    “We are incredibly grateful to all of our law enforcement partners whose dedication and cooperation made this arrest possible,” said Morgan County Sheriff Dave Martin. “We also extend our sincere thanks to the local businesses and citizens who offered their assistance throughout the investigation and today’s operation.”

    The arrest of this fugitive represents a culmination of extensive cooperative efforts between almost a dozen law enforcement agencies to include:

    • U.S. Marshals Colorado Violent Offender Task Force (Deputy U.S. Marshals and Task Force Officers (TFOs) from the Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Colorado Department of Corrections, Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, & Boulder County Sheriff’s Office)
    • NE Regional SWAT Team (Morgan County Sheriff’s Office, Fort Morgan Police Department, Brush Police Department, Sterling Police Department, Logan County Sheriff’s Office)
    • Colorado State Patrol SOAR Team
    • U.S. Marshals Wyoming Fugitive Task Force

    The charges pending against Rodriguez are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. Please direct any follow up regarding pending criminal charges to the Goshen County Sheriff’s Office.

    The Colorado Violent Offender Task Force is a multi-jurisdictional fugitive task force that targets the most violent offenders to include those wanted for murder, assault, sex offenses, and other serious offenses throughout the state and country. 

    Nationally, the U.S. Marshals Service fugitive programs are carried out with local law enforcement in 94 district offices, 85 local fugitive task forces, eight regional task forces, as well as a growing network of offices in foreign countries. Follow us on Twitter @USMSDenver.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI China: Spokesperson reaffirms commitment to implementing Anti-Secession Law

    Source: China State Council Information Office 2

    Chen Binhua, spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, answers questions at a regular press conference in Beijing, March 12, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    A mainland spokesperson on Wednesday reaffirmed commitment to earnestly implementing the Anti-Secession Law and enriching and improving the legal system for punishing secessionist activities.
    Chen Binhua, spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, also vowed efforts to resolutely continue thwarting all attempts by “Taiwan independence” separatists, combating foreign interference and advancing the cause of national reunification.
    Chen made the remarks in response to a media query regarding attention within Taiwan on mainland’s punishing “Taiwan independence” secessionist activities in accordance with the law.
    He noted that 20 years of practice since the promulgation of the Anti-Secession Law have fully demonstrated its effectiveness in deterring “Taiwan independence” separatist activities, curbing external interference, maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, promoting the development of cross-Strait relations, and advancing the reunification of the motherland.
    Chen pointed out that the Anti-Secession Law clearly stipulates that the state may adopt non-peaceful means and other necessary measures to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity should “Taiwan independence” separatist forces cause Taiwan’s secession under any name or by any means, or should major incidents leading to Taiwan’s secession occur, or should the possibilities for peaceful reunification be completely exhausted.
    “This draws an insurmountable red line for ‘Taiwan independence’ secessionist forces,” he added.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Arrests made as Police issue appeal in aggravated robberies investigation

    Source: New Zealand Police (National News)

    Police have made arrests as part of an investigation into three aggravated robberies at Auckland jewellery stores this month.

    The investigation has linked the three offences together.

    Those were at Kayson’s Fashion Store in Glen Eden on 16 March, and the Krishna Jewellery Store in Papatoetoe and Michael Hill at Mānawa Bay which both occurred on 23 March.

    Additional reassurance patrols are being carried out across the region.

    Acting Detective Inspector Simon Harrison says two arrests have been made in recent days, with investigations progressing.

    “A number of search warrants have been carried out and further investigative activity like this will continue,” he says.

    “Police have also obtained a warrant to arrest for one man, and we are appealing for information on that offender’s whereabouts.

    “This is still very much an active investigation, and our teams are progressing well.”

    A 13-year-old boy has been charged with the aggravated robbery at Mānawa Bay, while a 24-year-old man has been charged in relation to being a party to the aggravated robbery for the offending at Glen Eden.

    Acting Detective Inspector Harrison says: “We are concerned with the violent actions of this group.

    “Our teams are still actively searching for the other offenders involved so that they can be held accountable.”

    • Reassurance patrolling being carried out:

    In addition to the work being carried out by investigation staff, uniformed Police staff are carrying out reassurance patrolling.

    “Our staff will be visible and conduct reassurance patrolling around jewellery stores as part of our  wider response,” acting Detective Inspector Harrison says.

    “We know the brazen nature of this offending concerns retail staff and the wider public.”

    “Our staff will be engaging with retailers, and as part of this presence will speak with them about how they can keep themselves, their staff and premises safe.”

    Police also encourage anyone to report suspicious behaviour around commercial premises that gives them cause for concern, acting Detective Inspector Harrison says.

    • Wanted to arrest: Dillinger Tautari

    Police are appealing for information on the whereabouts of Dillinger Tautari.

    The 18-year-old has a warrant for his arrest for the aggravated robbery at Michaell Hill at Mānawa Bay.

    “Dillinger has links across the Auckland region and is actively avoiding Police,” acting Detective Inspector Harrison says.

    “Anyone who sights Dillinger should not approach him and instead contact Police immediately.”

    Anyone with general information on his whereabouts can also contact Police on 105 using the reference number 250323/1850.

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

    ENDS. 

    Jarred Williamson/NZ Police

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Brazil’s Supreme Court indicts Bolsonaro over alleged coup plot

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro (C) speaks to the media at the Federal Senate in Brasilia, Brazil, on March 26, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

    Brazil’s Supreme Court on Wednesday formally indicted former President Jair Bolsonaro and seven of his allies over an alleged plot to overturn the results of the 2022 presidential election.

    The justices voted unanimously to move forward with criminal charges, which include attempted coup, conspiracy, and sabotage of democratic institutions.

    Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who is overseeing the case, said prosecutors presented sufficient evidence that Bolsonaro led efforts to discredit the election, drafted plans to nullify the vote, and sought to block the inauguration of President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

    Among those indicted are several former high-ranking officials, including Walter Braga Netto, Augusto Heleno, and Anderson Torres.

    With the indictment approved, the case now moves into the trial phase. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Strengthening safety and quality in early childhood education and care

    Source: Murray Darling Basin Authority

    As we work to build the universal early childhood education and care system that works for families and gives children the best start in life, children’s wellbeing and quality early education and care is the top priority.

    The Albanese Labor Government is taking action to crack down on unscrupulous early childhood education and care providers and strengthen integrity across the care economy.

    Overwhelmingly, children in early childhood education and care are well looked after and the vast majority of providers prioritising child safety and wellbeing.

    However, we know that there are a very small number of providers doing the wrong thing – and when it comes to children’s best interests one dodgy operator is too many.

    While state and territory governments are responsible for ensuring early childhood providers are meeting minimum standards and operating within the Education and Care National Law, the Commonwealth is able to leverage its significant investment in the sector to improve quality and penalise the small number of providers doing the wrong thing.

    The Albanese Government will strengthen Commonwealth regulatory and enforcement powers to deal with providers that put profit over quality and child safety at risk by exploring measures to:

    • Prevent providers who persistently fail to meet minimum standards and repetitively breach the National Law from opening new Child Care Subsidy approved services.
    • Take compliance action against existing providers with egregious and continued breaches, including the option to cut off access to Child Care Subsidy funding where appropriate.
    • Strengthen powers to deal with providers that pose an integrity risk.

    The Albanese Government will consult closely with the sector and with states and territories to ensure these changes don’t negatively impact families and quality providers, only targeting the small number of providers doing the wrong thing.

    Unfortunately, when a dodgy operator is detected and removed from one part of the national care economy they sometimes pop up as an operator in another care sector.

    To stamp this out the Albanese Labor Government will also investigate stronger cross-sector banning order arrangements to stop people who have breached safety and quality standards in one part of the care economy from operating in other care sectors. 

    The Commonwealth will work closely with state and territory governments to put these strengthened arrangements in place.

    The Albanese Labor Government is undertaking significant reform across the early childhood education and care sector to build a system where children have universal access to high quality early learning.

    These reforms are being informed by a number or reports and reviews, along with input from families, the sector and experts.

    To learn more about these reforms visit education.gov.au/early-childhood/announcements/building-universal-early-education-and-care-system

    Quotes attributable to Minister for Early Childhood Education Dr Anne Aly:

    “There’s no room for any dodgy operators in our early childhood education and care sector or in any part of the care sector.

    “We’re taking swift and divisive action to ensure child safety and improve quality and in the early childhood education sector. I expect state and territory governments to fulfill their regulatory obligations and ensure early childhood education services in their jurisdictions are meeting our world leading quality standards.

    “We know that the overwhelming majority of services and people in the sector do the right thing, but if you’re failing to deliver quality and safe early childhood education you shouldn’t have access to government funding and you shouldn’t be working in the sector.”

    Quotes attributable to Minister for Social Services Amanda Rishworth:

    “If you’ve done the wrong thing in one part of the care sector, we are going to stop you taking advantage of people in any other area.

    “We don’t want to see dodgy providers in the care economy simply pop up in another.

    “Cross-sector banning orders will help enable coordination and flexibility in preventing banned entities from operating in other parts of the care economy and I look forward to working with states and territories to make them a reality.”

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Hawley Presses FBI to Probe Biden-Era Targeting of Christians

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo)

    U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) sent a letter to FBI Director Kash Patel, seeking documents related to the Biden administration’s targeting of Christians. Mere months after calling for a new Church Committee to investigate abuses by the Biden Department of Justice (DOJ), Senator Hawley is now asking the new administration to turn over the details of religious targeting by the Biden DOJ and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

    “Under President Biden, the FBI targeted people of faith. The FBI’s Richmond Field Office went so far as to issue a memorandum suggesting that certain traditionalist Catholics might be security risks and proposed infiltrating Catholic parishes. President Biden’s FBI also weaponized the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (‘FACE’) Act to target pro-life protesters and discourage people of faith from exercising their First Amendment rights. No doubt this is merely the tip of the iceberg,” asserted Senator Hawley.

    Hawley’s letter calls on the FBI to share any emails, memoranda, directives, and policy guidance related to the targeting of religious Americans under the Biden Administration. 

    “I trust that, under your leadership, this misconduct will end. But those responsible must be held accountable,” Hawley stated. 

    Senator Hawley concluded, “I appreciated our conversations before and during your confirmation hearing, and I was particularly grateful for your willingness to cooperate with our investigations into the FBI’s violations of First Amendment rights. Transparency and accountability will be paramount in restoring Americans’ faith in the Bureau. Getting to the bottom of the Biden Administration’s violations of religious liberty is an excellent place to start.”

    Read the full letter here or below. 

    The Honorable Kash Patel
    Director
    Federal Bureau of Investigation
    935 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
    Washington, D.C. 20535

    Dear Director Patel:

    Under President Biden, the FBI targeted people of faith. The FBI’s Richmond Field Office went so far as to issue a memorandum suggesting that certain traditionalist Catholics might be security risks, and proposed infiltrating Catholic parishes.[1] President Biden’s FBI also weaponized the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (“FACE”) Act to target pro-life protesters and discourage people of faith from exercising their First Amendment rights. No doubt this is merely the tip of the iceberg.

    I trust that, under your leadership, this misconduct will end. But those responsible must be held accountable. As the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Crime and Counterterrorism, I write to formally request the production of agency records concerning these FBI abuses, as detailed in the attached appendix, by April 30, 2025.

    I appreciated our conversations before and during your confirmation hearing, and I was particularly grateful for your willingness to cooperate with our investigations into the FBI’s violations of First Amendment rights. Transparency and accountability will be paramount in restoring Americans’ faith in the Bureau. Getting to the bottom of the Biden Administration’s violations of religious liberty is an excellent place to start.

    Richmond Field Office Memorandum and Related Memoranda

    1. All versions, drafts, or revisions of the memorandum issued by the FBI Richmond Field Office regarding “radical-traditionalist Catholics” as potential domestic terrorists, including any related memoranda issued by other FBI field offices or headquarters.
    2. All internal FBI communications, including emails, text messages, chat logs, and memoranda, discussing the development, approval, modification, or rescission of the Richmond Field Office memorandum.
    3. All documents identifying the FBI personnel, offices, or divisions involved in drafting, reviewing, approving, or disseminating the Richmond Field Office memorandum, including, but not limited to, communications between the Richmond, Portland, and Los Angeles field offices.
    4. All communications between the FBI and the DOJ regarding the content, approval, or implementation of the Richmond Field Office memorandum and any related memoranda.
    5. All policy guidance, directives, training materials, or enforcement plans related to the FBI’s monitoring of religious organizations, including, but not limited to, Catholic churches, as part of domestic terrorism investigations.
    6. All documents, including email communications, meeting notes, and memoranda, that reference or discuss any directive, instruction, or guidance issued by the White House, DOJ, National Security Council, or any other federal agency regarding the FBI’s monitoring of religious groups, including Catholic organizations.
    7. All internal assessments, audits, or reports evaluating the Richmond Field Office memorandum, including any documents analyzing its compliance with FBI policies, legal frameworks, or constitutional protections of religious freedom.
    8. All documents reflecting FBI efforts to collect intelligence, recruit informants, or conduct surveillance within churches or affiliated organizations based on the Richmond Field Office memorandum or other guidance.
    9. All documents relating to investigations, surveillance operations, or law enforcement actions initiated as a result of the Richmond Field Office memorandum or related memoranda, including any records of individuals or groups targeted under this initiative.
    10. All documents reflecting the role of the FBI’s Portland and Los Angeles Field Offices in the drafting, review, or dissemination of the Richmond Field Office memorandum, including any documents that identify officials responsible for coordinating these efforts.
    11. All communications, including emails, memoranda, and reports, between FBI officials and any external organizations, think tanks, or academic institutions that provided input on the characterization of Catholic Americans or other religious groups in domestic terrorism assessments.
    12. All documents, including communications with state and local law enforcement agencies, that discuss how the Richmond Field Office memorandum or similar FBI policies were implemented or considered for enforcement at the state or local level.

    FACE Act Abuses

    1. The identity of all individuals involved with the FBI’s enforcement of the FACE Act under the Biden Administration.
    2. All communications, including, but not limited to, emails, memoranda, directives, and policy guidance, sent to or from the FBI Director, Deputy Director, or any other senior official regarding the enforcement of the FACE Act under the Biden Administration.
    3. All documents reflecting internal FBI deliberations, discussions, or decisions regarding prioritization, enforcement strategy, or policy direction related to the FACE Act, including, but not limited to, any documents identifying the individuals or offices responsible for making those determinations.
    4. All communications, including emails, text messages, or memoranda, between the FBI and the DOJ regarding the enforcement or non-enforcement of the FACE Act under the Biden Administration.
    5. All documents, including briefing materials, talking points, or internal reports, prepared for or provided to the FBI Director or other senior officials regarding the enforcement of the FACE Act under the Biden Administration.
    6. All documents, including, but not limited to, policy memoranda, internal directives, guidance documents, or other materials issued by the FBI that establish, modify, or explain the agency’s enforcement priorities under the FACE Act, including any documents identifying the officials responsible for setting such priorities.
    7. All documents, including email communications, meeting notes, or internal memoranda, that reference or discuss any directive, instruction, or guidance issued by the White House, DOJ, or any other federal agency regarding the FBI’s enforcement of the FACE Act.
    8. All drafts, revisions, or final versions of any FBI policies, reports, or legal analyses concerning the enforcement of the FACE Act that relates to enforcement discrepancies between abortion-related clinics and religious institutions, including any records identifying the individuals responsible for such policies.
    9. All communications, including emails, memoranda, text messages, or meeting minutes, reflecting any discussions between FBI field offices and FBI headquarters regarding the prioritization or de-prioritization of FACE Act investigations.
    10. All internal FBI evaluations, audits, or assessments that discuss the agency’s approach to enforcing the FACE Act, including any discussions of political, policy, or strategic considerations.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Albany Felon Pleads Guilty to Conspiring to Distribute Fentanyl and Possessing a Firearm

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    ALBANY, NEW YORK – Henassy McConico, age 27, of Albany, pled guilty yesterday to conspiring to possess with intent to distribute and distribute a controlled substance and possession of a firearm by a prohibited person. 

    United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Frank A. Tarentino III, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), New York Division, made the announcement.

    McConico admitted to personally distributing fentanyl pills numerous times in 2024, including on October 15, 2024, when he distributed approximately 485 fentanyl pills to another individual. McConico further admitted that he possessed a loaded handgun and assorted ammunition in his home. As a result of his prior conviction for attempted robbery, McConico could not lawfully possess the handgun.

    At sentencing scheduled for July 23, 2025, McConico faces a minimum term of 10 years and a maximum term of life in prison, a maximum fine of $8 million, and a term of supervised release after imprisonment of at least 8 years and up to life. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the statute the defendant violated, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors.

    DEA investigated this case with the assistance of the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office and Hudson Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mikayla Espinosa is prosecuting this case. 

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Markey Hosts Office Hours on Importance of Protecting SNAP and Food Security Benefits as Trump Administration, Congressional Republicans Plan for Cuts

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts Ed Markey

    Massachusetts receives $2.6 billion in SNAP annually

    Washington (March 26, 2025) – Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) today hosted a virtual meeting with Congressman Jim McGovern (MA-02), advocates from Mass Law Reform Institute, Project Bread, Food Bank of Western Massachusetts, Greater Boston Food Bank, Worcester County Food Bank, Massachusetts Food System Collaborative, and Merrimack Valley Food Bank, and hundreds of constituents on the importance of protecting SNAP and other essential food security benefits for people in Massachusetts. Last month, Donald Trump, Elon Musk, and Republicans in Congress advanced their plan to cut billions from SNAP, school meals, food banks, and farmers markets after stripping funding for programs that help schools purchase locally grown food.

    Massachusetts receives $220 million in federal funding for food security monthly, reaching families in every city and town in the Commonwealth. SNAP helps one in six Massachusetts residents, or about 670,000 families, put food on their table, but nearly 20 percent of families in Massachusetts still report struggling with food access. Families across the Commonwealth are seeing their purchasing power decrease as food costs increase at the sixth-highest rate in the country.

    “Food is essential—it is how we feed our families and sustain ourselves; how children get the nutrition they need to learn; and how we share our cultures and build our community. SNAP is a critical lifeline in uplifting millions of families to put food on their table,” said Senator Markey. “I heard stories from early educators, community college students, food bank leaders, and advocates that I can use to show Republicans what cuts to food security benefits will mean. If they want to make these cuts, I’m going to make sure every American knows that Republicans are taking food from people’s dinner tables to fuel billionaires’ tax breaks.”

    “The proposed twenty percent cuts to SNAP pose a significant threat to food insecurity here in the Commonwealth,” said Catherine D’Amato, President, and CEO of the Greater Boston Food Bank. “GBFB estimates that the proposed reduction in SNAP benefits equal 118 million meals lost throughout the state. To put that in perspective, imagine a packed Gillette Stadium with around 65,000 fans. If each person there needed three meals a day, 118 million meals could feed a sold-out crowd every day for over 600 days—almost two years! The already overburdened emergency food system here in Massachusetts will not be able to bridge this gap without significant philanthropic support and policy interventions.”

    “MLRI is grateful to Senator Markey and our entire delegation for their work to protect SNAP, Medicaid, and our safety-net,” said Vicky Negus, Benefits Policy Advocate at the Mass Law Reform Institute. “SNAP is our country’s most effective anti-poverty program – helping 1 in 6 MA residents put food on the table. Cutting SNAP would harm families struggling to get by for generations to come, worsen hunger, and harm health and our local economies.”

    “Each month, SNAP benefits support approximately 194,000 individuals in Western Massachusetts, bringing in around $35 million in federal dollars to the region,” said Christina Maxwell, Director of Programs at the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts. “Reducing SNAP benefits will not only increase hunger but also hurt farmers, local economies, and small businesses that depend on these federal dollars.”

    “The federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is the very foundation and source of nutritious food for 42 million children, older adults, and hard-working adults in every community in the United States. People who are constituents of every Senator and Representative in Congress. We applaud Senator Markey and the entire MA delegation for their vigorous and vigilant protection of SNAP. It is immoral for elected officials to take money from SNAP, which is food for their constituents, to free billions of dollars for tax cuts for billionaires. Food Banks and food pantries cannot fill the food gap created by a reduction in federal financial support.  The federal budget is the people’s budget, and Congress should ensure that SNAP thrives,” said Jean McMurray, CEO of the Worcester County Food Bank.

    “The Massachusetts Food System Collaborative appreciates Senator Ed Markey’s leadership in supporting SNAP and the federal grant programs that help make Massachusetts farms more sustainable and feed hungry residents. At a time of heightened food insecurity, proposed cuts to SNAP will only put more pressure on the emergency food system, force families to make impossible choices between food and rent, increase diet-related illness, and take dollars out of the local economy. Massachusetts farmers are facing significant cuts to grant programs that helped feed more food insecure residents and provided expanded market channels, and cuts to SNAP will further destabilize the local food system,” said Rebecca Miller, Policy Director at the Massachusetts Food System Collaborative.

    “SNAP is the most effective solution we have in the fight against hunger,” said Erin McAleer, President and CEO of Project Bread, the leading statewide food security organization in Massachusetts. “We need to strengthen and expand SNAP’s impact to support our neighbors experiencing food insecurity, instead of cutting into a critical lifeline for over 1 million Massachusetts residents. We are asking Congress to reject cuts to SNAP and reject the harm that would impact our communities nationwide.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Man charged with murder following Kawerau homicide

    Source: New Zealand Police (National News)

    Attributable to Detective Senior Sergeant Paul Wilson, Eastern Bay of Plenty Area Investigations Manager:

    A man has been arrested and charged with murder following an ongoing homicide investigation in Kawerau.

    A 21-year-old man has been charged with murder following the death of a man in Onslow Street on 26 February.

    Emergency services were called to the property at around 8.45am after a man was located deceased on the front doorstep of the address.

    Police have been working hard to piece together the events surrounding the man’s death and today arrested and charged a man in Hamilton.

    We are pleased to have been able to arrest someone in relation to this tragic incident.

    We would also like to thank those members of the public who provided information, and would still like to hear from those yet to come forward.

    The man will appear in Hamilton District Court tomorrow charged with one count of murder.

    Police continue to appeal for anyone who may have heard or seen anything suspicious in or around the Onslow Street area.

    We are aware there were some other people in the general area specifically between 5.15am-5.50am that morning who haven’t yet come forward and we would ask them to please contact us.

    If you have information that could assist the investigations team, please contact Police online at 105.police.govt.nz, clicking “Update Report” or by calling 105.

    Please use the reference number 250226/5646.

    Information can also be provided through Crime Stoppers online at crimestoppers-nz.org or by calling 0800 555 111.

    As the matter is now before the Court, Police are limited in providing further comment.

    ENDS.

    Holly McKay/NZ Police 

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cortez Masto Reintroduces Bipartisan Legislation to Boost the American Mining Workforce

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Nevada Cortez Masto
    Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) introduced bipartisan legislation with Senators John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) and John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.) to bolster America’s mining workforce. The Mining Schools Act will establish a grant program for use by higher education institutions to recruit students and carry out research projects related to mineral production.
    “Nevada is on the forefront of the growing critical mineral industry,” said Senator Cortez Masto. “This legislation will provide needed resources to universities in the Silver State to prepare young Nevadans for good-paying jobs that support our state’s economy and promote green energy production.”
    The Mining Schools Act of 2025 would establish a grant program for mining schools to receive funds in order to recruit students and carry out studies, research projects, or demonstration projects related to the production of minerals. In addition to the grant program, the Act would establish the Mining Professional Development Advisory Board to evaluate applications and recommend recipients to the Secretary of Energy, as well as conduct oversight to ensure that grant funds are appropriately used. University of Nevada, Reno’s Mackay School of Earth Sciences and Engineering is one such mining school that would qualify for funding under this act.
    Cosponsors of this legislation include U.S Senators Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), John Curtis (R-Utah), Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), Jim Justice (R-W.Va.), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) and Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.).
    Full text of the legislation can be found here.
    Senator Cortez Masto has led efforts in Congress to support Nevada’s mining industry, protecting more than 83,000 local jobs and paving the way for Nevada to power the clean energy economy. She has consistently blocked burdensome taxes on mining and wrote important provisions of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to bolster Nevada’s critical mineral supply chain and fund battery recycling programs in the state. She’s also introduced bipartisan legislation to strengthen the domestic supply chain for rare-earth magnets.

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