NewzIntel.com

Category: Law

  • MIL-OSI USA: Pressley, Thompson, Markey, McGovern, Carter Continue Investigation Into Conditions at ICE Facilities After Hearing Allegations of Medical Neglect

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

    Letters Follows Lawmakers’ Visit to Louisiana Facilities Where Rümeysa Öztürk and Mahmoud Khalil are Being Held

    Text of Letter (PDF)

    WASHINGTON – Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), along with Congressman Bennie G. Thompson (MS-02), Ranking Member of the House Homeland Security Committee, Senator Edward J. Markey (D-MA), and Congressmen James P. McGovern (MA-02) and Troy A. Carter Sr. (LA-02), sent a letter to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) seeking more information on the detention conditions of immigrants held at the Central Louisiana ICE Processing Center (CLIPC) and the South Louisiana ICE Processing Center (SLIPC) after an oversight trip to the facilities last month.

    Both facilities have long faced allegations of inhumane treatment and poor detention conditions. During the visit, Members received allegations that detainees at the facilities have had miscarriages – and may not be receiving adequate maternal healthcare or proper cancer screenings. 

    “During our oversight visit to the facilities, we observed troubling detention conditions and received significant allegations about mistreatment from detainees,” the lawmakers wrote in their letter. “We heard from women who felt lumps in their breasts but were not provided appropriate medical attention; witnessed a pregnant mother with medical risks and detention staff unprepared for the birth of a child; observed men and women suffering respiratory issues in unreasonably cold and humid dormitories; and saw young women shaking and crying in fear of retaliation if they were to speak to Members of Congress.”

    Last month, the lawmakers traveled to ICE facilities in Basile and Jena, where Rümeysa Öztürk and Mahmoud Khalil are being unlawfully detained and subjected to inhumane conditions in retaliation for their protected speech. Rep. Pressley, Senator Markey, and Rep. McGovern recounted their harrowing visit at a press conference in Boston.

    “While at SLIPC, we received conflicting information from staff about detainees’ allegations. For example, we received deeply troubling information alleging that multiple women at SLIPC suffered from miscarriages while in custody—allegations staff denied,” the lawmakers continued in their letter. “Additionally, medical staff told us that during detainees’ menstrual periods, the facility provided as many menstrual products as requested, yet detainees consistently reported that facility employees regularly withheld not just menstrual products but also toilet paper.”

    Yesterday, Pressley, Markey, and McGovern issued a statement applauding the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit for directing the Trump Administration to comply with a lower court order to transfer Rümeysa Öztürk from ICE custody in Louisiana to Vermont. 

    In a powerful New York Times op-ed, Pressley, Markey, and McGovern discussed their meeting with Ms. Öztürk in detention and warned the American people of the dangers posed by the Trump administration’s unlawful attacks on our constitutional rights to freedom of speech and due process. Full text of the op-ed is available here.

    Rep. Pressley, along with Sens. Warren and Markey, have pushed for answers and action since Öztürk’s March arrest. In March, they led over 30 lawmakers in writing to Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Acting Director for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Todd Lyons, demanding information about Öztürk’s arrest and detention as well as similar incidents across the country.

    In April, the lawmakers sounded the alarm on Öztürk’s medical neglect in DHS custody and renewed urgent calls for her release. Last week, Pressley, Warren and Markey demanded Secretary of State Rubio released any documents related to her arrest after a recent report indicated that an internal State Department memo concluded that the key premise underlying Tufts graduate student Rümeysa Öztürk’s arrest and detention was false. Last month, Congresswoman Pressley issued a statement condemning reports that ICE arrested and detained Rumeysa Ozturk, an international student with legal status in a graduate program at Tufts University. Earlier in the week, Rep. Pressley issued a statement following reports of ICE activity in Boston and other municipalities in Massachusetts.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: What They Are Saying: Changes to New York’s Discovery Laws

    Source: US State of New York

    ollowing the FY26 State Budget agreement, District Attorneys, domestic violence survivor advocates, religious leaders and business groups are voicing their support for essential changes to New York’s discovery laws. Included in this year’s Budget, these discovery reforms build upon Governor Hochul’s record investments in proven crime prevention initiatives, while holding perpetrators accountable and safeguarding the right to a fair and speedy trial in New York State.

    Rensselaer County District Attorney and DAASNY President-Elect and Mary Pat Donnelly said, “I am grateful to Governor Hochul for recognizing the important role which Discovery has in the efforts of prosecutors to secure justice for victims in New York State. These changes protect against technical dismissals, and the dangerous consequences of those dismissals. This is a critical investment in public safety; these changes will be effective in promoting a safer New York.”

    Albany County District Attorney Lee C. Kindlon said, “I believe in pragmatic solutions to criminal justice issues, so I am grateful for Governor Hochul’s vision and leadership on Discovery reform. These common sense adjustments to the Discovery laws that the Governor fought for will help us restore justice for victims and provide us more tools to promote public safety.”

    Wayne County District Attorney Christine K. Callanan said, “The original discovery legislation, while well-intentioned, had unintended consequences that allowed for gamesmanship and resulted in the dismissal of otherwise prosecutable cases. The recent reforms preserve the full disclosure of important discovery materials to defendants, ensuring transparency and fairness, while eliminating procedural loopholes that came at the cost of successful prosecutions and justice for victims. This balanced approach strengthens due process without compromising public safety or victims’ rights.”

    Columbia County District Attorney Chris Liberati-Conant said, “The tweaks to the discovery law are a big win for public safety and the people of Columbia County. They uphold the core principles of justice, fairness, and transparency while bringing balance and common sense to the law. Defendants are still entitled to essentially everything in prosecutors’ files — everything they need for their defense. But these changes should end the practice of lying in wait by requiring defense counsel to confer in good faith about any discovery issues and setting a reasonable time limit on discovery motions. No longer should cases be dismissed for technical, minor violations that do not affect the defendant’s ability to prepare a defense. These changes protect crime victims while upholding defendants’ rights and ensuring swift, just, and responsible prosecution of cases. I thank the Governor for her steadfast leadership in support of these needed amendments.”

    Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten said, “It has always been critically important to provide complete disclosure of the evidence against someone accused of a crime. The changes to New York’s discovery laws continue to protect the rights of the accused while significantly reducing the chance that a case will be dismissed based upon a technicality. These changes represent a commonsense and pragmatic solution that protects the rights and safety of all New Yorkers and I am extremely pleased that this was a priority for Governor Hochul in this year’s budget.”

    Ulster County District Attorney Manny Nneji said, “Discovery rules are all about achieving justice for all through a fair and transparent process. The adjustments made by Governor Hochul and our State Legislature will go a long way in eliminating the worries for victims of crime resulting from the aggressive and overzealous abuse of loopholes existing in the original discovery reforms. As a prosecutor who has dealt with these abuses firsthand in homicide cases, I am grateful to the Governor and Legislature for taking action that positively impacts victims of crime in my community.”

    Westchester County District Attorney Susan Cacace said, “I am proud to stand alongside Gov. Hochul and my District Attorney colleagues in support of a Fiscal Year 2026 budget that prioritizes public safety. This is a hard-won victory, but one that was undoubtedly worth fighting for. I commend Gov. Hochul’s leadership and the efforts of everyone inside and outside government who brought these reforms over the finish line. This agreement is a win for all New Yorkers who believe crime victims deserve a meaningful chance at securing justice. Though discovery is not often in the public spotlight, it lies at the heart of the criminal justice process. For years, we operated under a status quo that yielded arbitrary disappointments and absurd results. Now, these reforms will help restore the public’s faith in our criminal justice system.”

    Dutchess County District Attorney Anthony Parisi said, “As prosecutors, we are dedicated to pursuing justice fairly, ethically, and within the bounds of the law. While the 2019 discovery reforms were well-intentioned, they created significant operational challenges to our Office, and to district attorneys’ offices state-wide. We applaud Governor Hochul and our lawmakers for proposing amendments that preserve the spirit of reform while adding safeguards to prevent unjust dismissals of cases based upon minor technical errors in disclosures. These changes promote fairness by allowing proportionate remedies for procedural errors, protecting both defendants’ rights and public safety. We are happy to hear that Governor Hochul is committed to providing additional funding to district attorneys’ offices for discovery. To implement these reforms effectively, district attorneys’ offices urgently need additional resources. Investment in staffing and technology is essential to uphold these standards and ensure a just, efficient legal system.”

    Village of Brightwaters Mayor and President of the Suffolk County Village Officials Association John Valdini said, “On behalf of the Villages across Suffolk County, I would like to thank Governor Hochul for standing up for the victims of crimes with the Discovery Law changes included in this year’s state budget. These necessary changes will help restore balance to our justice system, keep our communities safe and support victims throughout the legal process.”

    Westhampton Beach Mayor Ralph Urban said, “Mayor Ralph Urban of Westhampton Beach strongly supports any legislation that will reduce the ‘Revolving Door’ that is currently putting a great deal of stress on our Justice and Police Departments along with putting the public at risk for encountering repeat offenders without relief.”

    North Haven Village Mayor Chris Fiore said, “The recent position of the Governor’s office and the revision of the over restrictive discovery laws will proactively address recidivism and make our neighborhoods safer. There’s more to do but these are great first steps.

    New York City Council Member Keith Powers said, “Safety is a top priority for all New Yorkers. While we’ve continued to see crime fall, it’s as important as ever that we give prosecutors the tools they need to bring criminals to justice. Tweaks to the state’s discovery law will hold perpetrators accountable while keeping the intention of the original 2019 reforms intact, ensuring speedy trials. I commend Governor Hochul for her work, and applaud the prosecutors who have worked so hard to achieve this agreement.”

    New York City Council Member Gale A. Brewer said, “These thoughtful changes to New York’s discovery laws reflect our continued commitment to justice, fairness, and public safety. By listening to the concerns of prosecutors, advocates, and communities across the state, we’ve struck the right balance—ensuring timely access to information, protecting victims, and reinforcing our fundamental promise of due process under the law.”

    Southold Town Supervisor Albert J. Krupski, Jr. said, “I am in support of New York State’s effort to change the discovery law to provide better public safety for our communities.”

    Monroe County Sheriff Todd K. Baxter said, “On behalf of the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office and the communities we serve, I want to express our appreciation to Governor Hochul for her support of public safety and meaningful discovery reform. This important revision to our discovery laws helps ensure that law enforcement has the tools we need to protect our neighborhoods, while upholding the integrity of our justice system. These changes are necessary across the bail reform spectrum. We are grateful for the willingness to discuss, the willingness to improve.”

    Partnership for New York City President & CEO Kathryn Wylde said, “Governor Hochul’s leadership has resulted in adjustments to the discovery law that were necessary to keep New Yorkers safe. Together with leaders Andrea Stewart Cousins and Carl Heastie, she has delivered reform that was a top priority for the city’s employers.”

    Greater NY Chamber of Commerce President & CEO Mark Jaffe said, “Kathy Hochul is listening! Our members throughout NY have been frustrated by the 2019 Discovery Reforms that needed to be fixed to protect public safety. The well-meaning reforms had resulted in tens of thousands of dismissals for felony and repetitive misdemeanor cases that too often left law abiding citizens without justice. The Governor’s leadership and conviction has delivered a system that will now protect the accused without sacrificing justice for victims of crime. Again, we must thank Governor Hochul for standing up for our members and providing a safer environment for all those who live, work, and visit NY.”

    Manhattan Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Jessica Walker said, “This was a very heavy lift, but the Governor got it done! This is one of those wonky issues that isn’t particularly well-known or understood but which has substantial and far-reaching impacts. It goes to the very heart of public safety and justice in New York. The Governor made a strong case, stood firm, and delivered on her promise to fix the issue. New Yorkers should all be tremendously grateful for her steady leadership.”

    Staten Island Chamber of Commerce President & CEO Linda Baran said, “The adjustments to New York State’s discovery law and the investments in our justice system included in the State budget are promising steps towards improving public safety and protecting New Yorkers and business owners. The Chamber is grateful for these improvements and congratulates Governor Hochul and District Attorney McMahon for their efforts in making New York a better and safer place for businesses to thrive.”

    Bronx Chamber of Commerce President Lisa Sorin said, “Retail theft continues to threaten the stability of small businesses and commercial corridors across New York City—particularly in the Bronx, where so many local entrepreneurs operate on razor-thin margins. The discovery law changes included in this year’s budget are a critical step toward restoring accountability, protecting small businesses, and making our communities safer for all residents. We commend Governor Hochul and the Legislature for advancing these thoughtful reforms and for recognizing that economic vitality and public safety must go hand in hand.”

    Long Island Against Domestic Violence Executive Director Wendy Linsalata said, “LI Against Domestic Violence fully supports efforts to enhance systems that are in place to protect survivor safety and hold those that are responsible for inflicting fear and harm on their partner accountable. Changes to the discovery laws were needed to prevent the dismissal of cases and support prosecution based on the merits of the case while not infringing on the rights of offenders. These changes will provide a positive impact for survivors whom, often feel unheard and discouraged from reaching out for assistance in the future when cases are dismissed.”

    Crime Victims Center Executive Director Laura A. Ahearn said, “I applaud Governor Hochul for championing these much needed changes to New York’s discovery laws. These reforms will help ensure victims on Long Island and across the state can finally seek justice based on the facts, not be denied it because of technicalities.”

    SEPA Mujer Inc. Executive Director Martha Maffei said, “The strengthened discovery protections in New York State law are a vital step toward justice, ensuring that those who bravely speak up are not further endangered. For many of the immigrant women we serve, this confidentiality is not just a legal right—it’s a lifeline. These changes affirm that survivor safety and due process can coexist, and we will continue to advocate for both.”

    Sanctuary for Families CEO Hon. Judy Harris Kluger said, “Governor Hochul and the Legislature have taken a vital step to ensure our justice system works for domestic violence survivors as well as defendants. For years, cases were dismissed over minor procedural errors, leaving survivors without protection and offenders without accountability. By addressing the unintended consequences of our discovery laws, these reforms will help restore survivors’ ability to seek safety and justice through the courts.”

    Willow Domestic Violence Center of Greater Rochester President & CEO Meaghan de Chateauvieux said, “Governor Hochul’s proposed discovery reform is a critical step toward strengthening protections for survivors of domestic violence. By ensuring sensitive information is safeguarded and survivors are not retraumatized through the legal process, this proposal prioritizes both justice and safety. We are grateful for the Governor’s leadership and commitment to building a system that better supports those who courageously come forward.”

    Brighter Tomorrows, Inc. Executive Director Dolores Kordon said, “Domestic violence victims face many obstacles in their quest for justice. Measures that create a pathway towards safety for themselves and their children is critical. Streamlining the discovery process helps to ensure fairness for victims.”

    Beit Simchat Torah Senior Rabbi Emerita Rabbi Sharon Kleinbaum said, “As Senior Rabbi Emerita of Congregation Beit Simchat Torah (CBST), co-founder of the New York Jewish Agenda, and a lifelong advocate for equality, I deeply appreciate Governor Hochul’s leadership in advancing these critical changes to New York’s discovery laws. The discovery amendments that the Governor and the Legislature enacted this budget honor the spirit of the 2019 reforms—protecting the rights of the accused—while addressing unintended consequences that have harmed victims. These thoughtful amendments preserve the rights of the accused and do right by victims, ensuring our justice system works for everyone it touches.”

    Garment District Alliance President Barbara Blair said, “The Garment District Alliance thanks governor Hochul and the state legislature for recognizing and addressing the serious need to modify NY’s discovery laws. GDA has been a first-hand witness to a justice system compromised by opportunism with regard to discovery. Strengthening these laws are an improvement step in restoring credibility and fairness to the judicial process.”

    Times Square Alliance President Tom Harris said, “We commend Governor Hochul for standing strong and delivering reforms to discovery rules for all New Yorkers so victims will no longer be denied justice for technicalities. New York still has the most transparent criminal justice system and protects the rights of the accused while making sure that New York is safe for all.”

    Chinatown Partnership Executive Director Wellington Chen said, “To see and hear directly from the domestic violence advocates and victims talk about their experience and the impacts this change in New York Discovery Laws mean to them make it clear why this is so necessary and why the inscription on the pediment says it all: “the true administration of justice is the firmest form of good government.”

    Village Alliance Business Improvement District Executive Director Scott Hobbs said, “We applaud Governor Hochul and the Legislature for advancing thoughtful reforms that bring fairness and accountability back to our justice system. In our community, small businesses were left vulnerable by the well-intentioned changes to the law in 2019, but the unintended consequences led to cases being dismissed on technical grounds—leaving victims without recourse and emboldening repeat offenders. These essential changes will help ensure that crimes against Greenwich Village’s small businesses are taken seriously, that victims can seek justice, and that due process remains protected for all parties.”

    Staten Island Economic Development Corporation President & CEO Mike Cusick said, “I applaud Governor Hochul for her efforts to build on record crime prevention investments while safeguarding fair trials and accountability as part of the FY26 State Budget. For our small business owners, this means a justice system that works faster, protects community safety, and supports a more stable environment to live and do business on Staten Island.”

    Noir et Blanc Owner Deborah Koenigsberger said, “A done deal! As she promised, Governor Kathy Hochul got it done. So grateful to our Governor who stood her ground on behalf of small businesses like mine! BRAVA Governor! Thank you for fighting with us!”

    Family Services CEO Leah Feldman said, “At Family Services, we stand with victims of crime every step of the way. We thank the Governor for treating discovery reform as a human issue. Ensuring trauma-informed and survivor centered systems protects victims’ rights and promotes justice, strengthening the ability of victims to safely participate in the legal processes meant to protect them without being retraumatized.”

    Citizens Crime Commission of NYC President Richard Aborn said, “At its core, the criminal justice system must be based on a careful balance. The right of an individual who has been accused of a crime to a fair and open trial is of paramount importance. The government has no greater power than to deprive some one of their liberty. Before it can exercise that power, the government must be held to a standard that ensures a just outcome. The balance is struck when the rights of the accused are carefully juxtaposed with the right of the government to fully present its evidence within constitutional and statutory bounds. With the governor’s steady leadership, the legislature has moved New York State law closer to striking that balance. The changes in the discovery law will continue to offer those accused of crimes very high levels of protection from unjust outcomes while removing obstacles that unfairly impinged on prosecutors’ ability to prove their cases. This is a classic win-win.”

    Antioch Baptist Brooklyn Pastor and President of AACEO Rev. Dr. Robert M. Waterman said, “Governor Hochul’s leadership in reforming New York’s Discovery Laws strikes a balance between protecting defendants’ rights and advancing justice for victims—strengthening public safety while ensuring fairness and accountability in our legal system.”

    God’s Battalion of Prayer Pastor Rev. Al Cockfield said, “Public safety is the cornerstone of the faith community and of Black and brown communities, and we are grateful for Governor Hochul’s support in keeping us safe. These changes to discovery delicately uphold transparency while targeting repeat offenders who terrorize our city. No New Yorker should be afraid to go to church or take their child to school. Today’s announcement marks a new day in our criminal justice system.”

    River of Life Church Pastor Donald Mapes said, “Thank you to Governor Hochul for spearheading the much needed reforms to the Discovery Laws. Lawyers must have the time and evidence they need to better ensure victims here in the Hudson Valley and across the State have the justice they deserve.”

    Women’s Equal Justice Director Jane Manning said, “These reforms will make a real difference for survivors and will reduce the number of cases dismissed for trivial technical violations. We still have more work to do, but this bill moves us forward in a powerful way. I cannot say enough how grateful we are to the Governor for standing strong to secure these very significant reforms. Without her commitment to fighting for victims and survivors, this important bill would not have been possible.”

    Coalition Against Trafficking in Women Executive Director Taina Bien-Aimé said, “We applaud Governor Hochul for her unflinching commitment to stand with survivors who have endured unspeakable violence at the hands of people who should have instead loved and protected them. The Governor’s vision of justice for victims and survivors of gender-based violence has carried the day in New York with these necessary changes to the discovery law, and is an example for the country as we continue the journey toward equality, especially for women.”

    Met Council on Jewish Poverty CEO David G. Greenfield said, “As the largest provider of domestic violence services in New York’s Jewish community, Met Council has seen firsthand the heartbreak when survivors summon the courage to seek justice—only to have their cases dismissed over minor procedural errors. Governor Kathy Hochul’s reforms to the state’s discovery laws directly address this injustice by ensuring that serious cases are no longer derailed by technicalities. These changes restore faith in the legal system and offer survivors a real path to safety and accountability. We applaud Governor Hochul for her unwavering commitment to protecting victims and strengthening justice for all New Yorkers.”

    Urban Resource Institute CEO Nathaniel M. Fields said, “URI is grateful to Governor Hochul and the State Legislature for their work to protect survivors of domestic and gender-based violence. The deal struck on discovery strikes the right balance and will ensure that survivors can access justice and safety through the courts. As the largest provider of transitional housing for domestic violence survivors in the country, we look forward to our continued partnership to prevent harm, increase safety and reduce recidivism by investing in violence prevention and accountability work with people who have caused harm.”

    Staten Island Community Board 2 Chair Fred Giunta said, “Staten Island Community Board 2 recognizes the importance of updating New York’s Discovery Laws to ensure that survivors have the necessary tools to seek justice, while also upholding the right to a fair and timely trial. These changes are vital for fostering accountability, protecting due process, and strengthening trust in our legal system. We also appreciate Governor Hochul’s commitment to this issue by allocating $135 million in next year’s budget to support its implementation.”

    Westerleigh Improvement Society President Mark Anderson said, “We are pleased to hear that Governor Kathy Hochul has signed into law, commonsense changes to the discovery requirements in pending criminal cases. These changes are reasonable not only for the prosecution, but also for the defense. These new requirements create a more productive process by relieving the undue burden of providing unnecessary evidence or omitted or incorrect evidence from causing the case to be prematurely dropped. Provisions are also welcomed, that provide a timely process for challenges of the evidence, which will create an expedited defense for those charged. We are also grateful to our elected state officials and especially the efforts towards this successful legislation by District Attorney Michael McMahon.”

    Richmondtown and Clarke Avenue Civic Association President Carol Donovan said, “The 2026 Discovery Laws reforms are welcomed efforts to improve the criminal justice system, and public safety overall. We want to thank Governor Hochul for including these public safety changes in the State budget.”

    Port Richmond Strong North Shore Alliance Vice Chair Mario Buonviaggio said, “The critical investments in public safety and changes in the discovery laws for the 2026 State budget will ensure perpetrators are held accountable and victims of crime are not denied justice on technicalities. We thank Governor Kathy Hochul and Staten Island District Attorney Mike McMahon for these critical changes to the discovery laws that will make our local communities safer.”

    Forest Regional Residents Civic Association President Neil Anastassio said, “Our civic association supports the discovery changes in the 2026 State budget secured by Governor Hochul, in partnership with our Staten Island District Attorney, which reforms timelines and procedures in criminal trials. These reforms will assure that all evidence is allowed to be considered during trials, thus protecting the rights of those accused as well as the victims of these crimes.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Companies sentenced for workplace fatalities

    Source: Government of Canada regional news (2)

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Man Sentenced to 20 Years in Federal Prison for Sexual Abuse on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    RAPID CITY – United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a Kyle, South Dakota, man convicted of Sexual Abuse. The sentencing took place on May 1, 2025.

    Louis James Swallow, 22, was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Swallow will be required to register as a sex offender under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act.

    Swallow was indicted for Aggravated Sexual Abuse of a Minor and Abusive Sexual Contact by a federal grand jury in February 2024. He pleaded guilty on February 10, 2025.

    The case was charged after an acute disclosure of forcible sexual assault by the 13-year-old victim.  She disclosed Swallow followed her while she was walking home, grabbed her, forced her to the ground, and then raped her.  In sentencing Swallow to 20 years in prison, Judge Schreier condemned Swallow’s “frightening conduct,” noting he had also been charged in Pennington County for raping and strangling a girlfriend in 2020. Judge Schreier further recognized the trauma Swallow’s violence inflicted on the 13-year-old victim.

    This matter was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office because the Major Crimes Act, a federal statute, mandates that certain violent crimes alleged to have occurred in Indian Country be prosecuted in Federal court as opposed to State court.

    This case was investigated by the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Anna Lindrooth prosecuted the case.

    Swallow was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service. 

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Private School Settles with Justice Department to Address Discrimination Against Children with Disabilities

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Richard G. Frohling, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on May 8, 2025, Wisconsin Montessori Society, Inc., d/b/a Milwaukee Montessori School (MMS) agreed to injunctive relief and payment of $290,000 to resolve allegations that it failed to provide full and equal enjoyment of its educational services to children with disabilities, in violation of Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), 42 U.S.C. §§ 12131-12189.

    MMS is a private day school that offers pre-K through grade 8 education.  Private schools, day care centers, and other places of education are generally prohibited from discriminating on the basis of disability under Title III of the ADA. Disabled individuals protected under Title III include both individuals with an actual disability—meaning “a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities of such individual”—as well as individuals “regarded as having such an impairment.”

    Since at least 2018, MMS has discriminated against young children with disabilities.  MMS has: (1) denied, on the basis of disability, participation in its educational services to disabled children by expelling and refusing to admit them; (2) denied disabled children equal participation in MMS’s educational services by repeatedly sending them to the office, seating them separately from other students, and sending them home early because of manifestations of their disabilities; and (3) failed to make reasonable modifications for disabled children.  MMS’s discriminatory actions are evidenced by the experiences of ten children described in the Settlement Agreement.

    “Children with disabilities have the right to access the educational opportunities offered by private schools, including Montessori schools,” said Acting United States Richard Frohling.  “This settlement is an important reminder that the ADA’s obligations extend to private schools and their treatment of students with disabilities.”

    Under the settlement agreement, MMS will pay monetary damages of $240,000 to compensate aggrieved persons as well as a civil penalty of $50,000 to the United States.  It also includes injunctive relief that requires monitoring and reporting, and MMS has voluntarily taken some steps to address the government’s findings.

    The ADA authorizes the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate complaints and undertake periodic reviews of covered entities. The Department of Justice is also authorized to commence a civil lawsuit in federal court and to seek injunctive relief, monetary damages, and civil penalties.

    Assistant United States Attorneys Lisa Yun and Nia Schmaltz represented the government in this matter.  The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only; MMS does not admit liability for the allegations.

    # #  #

    For Additional Information Contact:

    Public Information Officer

    Kenneth.Gales@usdoj.gov

    414-297-1700

    Follow us on Twitter

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Crocodile captured in Little Annan River near Rossville

    Source: Tasmania Police

    Issued: 6 May 2025

    Open larger image

    The 2.8m crocodile was removed from the wild following several reports from the local community.

    A 2.8-metre estuarine crocodile has been captured in a baited trap on the Little Annan River near Cooktown on 27 April 2025.

    Wildlife Rangers from the Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation (DETSI) set the trap near Rossville on 24 April 2025, after receiving sighting reports from local residents.

    Lindsay Delzoppo, DETSI’s Director Northern Wildlife Operations, said the crocodile had been declared a ‘problem crocodile’ and targeted for removal based on its size and location – near private campgrounds where people often swim.

    “The fact that it had entered a baited trap after only three days, shows it must have been pretty hungry, he said.

    “We’d like to thank the members of community who reported the crocodile sightings to us. Such information is vital for us to locate the animal promptly and assess that it needed to be targeted for removal,” Mr Delzoppo said.

    “We would also like to thank the Cook Shire Council for their support and assistance while our wildlife rangers were investigating this and other crocodile sighting reports in the Cooktown area.

    “The removal of this animal is a reminder that crocodiles are highly mobile and can turn up in places they may not have been seen for many years, especially after flooding.”

    “People living on and visiting Cape York Peninsula should be aware that crocodiles may be present in any waterway, even if there are no warning signs.”

    Cook Shire Council Mayor Robyn Holmes confirmed that wildlife rangers have successfully removed a crocodile from the Little Annan River, crediting strong collaboration between agencies.

    “This is great news for the community,” Mayor Holmes said. “I want to thank the wildlife rangers not only for capturing the crocodile but also for educating the public and putting up recent sighting warning signs during their investigation.

    “Thank you to everyone who reported sightings to DETSI. I encourage all residents to report any crocodile sightings—this helps protect our community.

    “We live in crocodile territory. Staying alert and reporting sightings keeps everyone safer.”

    Crocodiles can be reported by using the QWildlife app, completing a crocodile sighting report on the DETSI website, or by calling 1300 130 372. The department investigates every crocodile sighting report received.

    Further information is available at: https://www.qld.gov.au/environment/plants-animals/animals/living-with/crocodiles/becrocwise

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Rangers crack down on illegal activity in South Burnett State Forests

    Source: Tasmania Police

    Issued: 7 May 2025

    Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) is issuing a strong reminder to visitors about the serious consequences of illegal activity in State forests and national parks.

    Rangers have observed a concerning increase in unsafe and unlawful behaviour across State forests and national parks including Wondai and Benarkin State Forests in recent months, with a number of fines issued over the Easter holiday period.

    Of particular concern is the number of adults and children riding unregistered motorbikes, not holding valid driver licences and failing to wear helmets, increasing the risk of serious injury.

    Rangers detected an increase in people camping without a permit which impacts on the visitor experience through overcrowding and places unnecessary pressure on facilities and amenities.

    Recent enforcement activity has resulted in the issuing of several Penalty Infringement Notices (PINs) including:

    • $1209 issued for operating a vehicle with an unrestrained child
    • $322 for failure to wear a helmet while riding a motorbike
    • $322 for camping without a permit
    • $322 for driving/riding an unregistered vehicle

    QPWS Senior Ranger Luke stressed that the same rules that apply in public and on public roads also apply in state forests.

    “These rules exist for a reason. Those who choose to disregard these regulations are putting themselves and others at risk, damaging these delicate ecosystems, and spoiling the camping experience for responsible visitors.

    “A State forest is not a motocross track, and when people go off-road or ride dangerously, they put themselves at risk, destroy vegetation and cause erosion.

    “You would not do it in the main street of Wondai, the local botanic gardens or your backyard, so don’t do it in a State forest or national park.”

    Ranger Luke also highlighted the importance of camping permits.

    “Permits help to prevent overcrowding, protect wildlife and ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for all visitors.

    “At just $7.25 per person, a permit is a small price to pay to camp in some of Queensland’s most spectacular locations. Camping illegally can end up being a very costly mistake and can result in a $322 fine.”

    QPWS will continue to conduct regular patrols of State forests in the South Burnett including Wondai and Benarkin State Forests, and those caught breaking the law will face heavy penalties.

    Any illegal activity in national parks and State forests can be reported anonymously by calling 1300 130 372.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: How the Take It Down Act tackles nonconsensual deepfake porn − and how it falls short

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Sylvia Lu, Faculty Fellow and Visiting Assistant Professor of Law, University of Michigan

    The Take It Down bill, co-authored by U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, easily passed both houses of Congress. President Trump is expected to sign it into law. Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

    In a rare bipartisan move, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Take It Down Act by a vote of 409-2 on April 28, 2025. The bill is an effort to confront one of the internet’s most appalling abuses: the viral spread of nonconsensual sexual imagery, including AI-generated deepfake pornography and real photos shared as revenge porn.

    Now awaiting President Trump’s expected signature, the bill offers victims a mechanism to force platforms to remove intimate content shared without their permission – and to hold those responsible for distributing it to account.

    As a scholar focused on AI and digital harms, I see this bill as a critical milestone. Yet it leaves troubling gaps. Without stronger protections and a more robust legal framework, the law may end up offering a promise it cannot keep. Enforcement issues and privacy blind spots could leave victims just as vulnerable.

    The Take It Down Act targets “non-consensual intimate visual depictions” – a legal term that encompasses what most people call revenge porn and deepfake porn. These are sexual images or videos, often digitally manipulated or entirely fabricated, circulated online without the depicted person’s consent.

    The bill compels online platforms to build a user-friendly takedown process. When a victim submits a valid request, the platform must act within 48 hours. Failure to do so may trigger enforcement by the Federal Trade Commission, which can treat the violation as an unfair or deceptive act or practice. Criminal penalties also apply to those who publish the images: Offenders may be fined and face up to three years in prison if anyone under 18 is involved, and up to two years if the subject is an adult.

    A growing problem

    Deepfake porn is not just a niche problem. It is a metastasizing crisis. With increasingly powerful and accessible AI tools, anyone can fabricate a hyper-realistic sexual image in minutes. Public figures, ex-partners and especially minors have become regular targets. Women, disproportionately, are the ones harmed.

    These attacks dismantle lives. Victims of nonconsensual intimate image abuse suffer harassment, online stalking, ruined job prospects, public shaming and emotional trauma. Some are driven off the internet. Others are haunted repeatedly by resurfacing content. Once online, these images replicate uncontrollably – they don’t simply disappear.

    In that context, a swift and standardized takedown process can offer critical relief. The bill’s 48-hour window for response has the potential to reclaim a fragment of control for those whose dignity and privacy were invaded by a click. Despite its promise, unresolved legal and procedural gaps can hinder its effectiveness.

    NBC News gives an overview of the Take It Down Act.

    Blind spots and shortfalls

    The bill targets only public-facing interactive platforms that primarily host user-generated content such as social media platforms. It may not reach the countless hidden private forums or encrypted peer-to-peer networks where such content often first appears. This creates a critical legal gap: When nonconsensual sexual images are shared on closed or anonymous platforms, victims may never even know – or know in time – that the content exists, much less have a chance to request its removal.

    Even on platforms covered by the bill, implementation is likely to be challenging. Determining whether the online content depicts the person in question, lacks consent and affects the hard-to-define privacy interests requires careful judgment. This demands legal understanding, technical expertise and time. But platforms must reach that decision within 24 hours or less.

    On the other hand, time is a luxury victims do not have. But even with the 48-hour removal window, the content can still spread widely before it is taken down. The bill does not include meaningful incentives for platforms to detect and remove such content proactively. And it provides no deterrent strong enough to discourage most malicious creators from generating these images in the first place.

    This takedown mechanism can also be subject to abuse. Critics warn that the bill’s broad language and lack of safeguards could lead to overcensorship, potentially affecting journalistic and other legitimate content. As platforms may be flooded with a mix of real and malicious takedown requests – some filed in bad faith to suppress speech or art – they may resort to poorly designed and privacy-invasive automated monitoring filters that tend to issue blanket rejections or err on the side of removing content that falls outside the scope of the law.

    Without clear standards, platforms may act improperly. How – and even whether – the FTC will hold platforms accountable under the act is another open question.

    Burden on the victims

    The bill also places the burden of action on victims, who must locate the content, complete the paperwork, explain that it was nonconsensual, and submit personal contact information – often while still reeling from the emotional toll.

    Moreover, while the bill targets both AI-generated deepfakes and revenge porn involving real images, it fails to account for the complex realities victims face. Many are trapped in unequal relationships and may have “consented” under pressure, manipulation or fear to having intimate content about them posted online. Situations like this fall outside the bill’s legal framing. The bill bars consent obtained through overt threats and coercion, yet it overlooks more insidious forms of manipulation.

    Even for those who do engage the takedown process, the risks remain. Victims must submit contact information and a statement explaining that the image was nonconsensual, without legal guarantees that this sensitive data will be protected. This exposure could invite new waves of harassment and exploitation.

    Loopholes for offenders

    The bill includes liability-evasive conditions and exceptions that could allow distributors to escape liability. If the content was shared with the subject’s consent, served a public concern, or was unintentional or caused no demonstrable harm, they may avoid consequences under the Take It Down Act. If offenders deny causing harm, victims face an uphill battle. Emotional distress, reputational damage and career setbacks are real, but they rarely come with clear documentation or a straightforward chain of cause and effect.

    Equally concerning, the bill allows exceptions for publication of such content for legitimate medical, educational or scientific purposes. Though well-intentioned, this language creates a confusing and potentially dangerous loophole. It risks becoming a shield for exploitation masquerading as research or education.

    Getting ahead of the problem

    The notice and takedown mechanism is fundamentally reactive. It intervenes only after the damage has begun. But deepfake pornography is designed for rapid proliferation. By the time a takedown request is filed, the content may have already been saved, reposted or embedded across dozens of sites – some hosted overseas or buried in decentralized networks. The current bill provides a system that treats the symptoms while leaving the harms to spread.

    In my research on algorithmic and AI harms, I have argued that legal responses should move beyond reactive actions. I have proposed a framework that anticipates harm before it occurs – not one that merely responds after the fact. That means incentivizing platforms to take proactive steps to protect the privacy, autonomy, equality and safety of users exposed to harms caused by AI-generated images and tools. It also means broadening accountability to cover more perpetrators and platforms, supported by stronger safeguards and enforcement systems.

    The Take It Down Act is a meaningful first step. But to truly protect the vulnerable, I believe that lawmakers should build stronger systems – ones that prevent harm before it happens and treat victims’ privacy and dignity not as afterthoughts but as fundamental rights.

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

    – ref. How the Take It Down Act tackles nonconsensual deepfake porn − and how it falls short – https://theconversation.com/how-the-take-it-down-act-tackles-nonconsensual-deepfake-porn-and-how-it-falls-short-255809

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Klobuchar Presses Justice Department on Media Subpoena Policy and Threats to the First Amendment

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn)
    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) led her Judiciary Committee colleagues in pressing Attorney General Pam Bondi regarding her decision to change Justice Department policies to make it easier for the Justice Department to subpoena journalists to obtain information about their confidential sources and potentially harass journalists who write stories critical of the Administration.    .
    “We write to express our deep concern with the Department of Justice’s April 25, 2025 memorandum changing the guidance that set limitations on the Department’s ability to subpoena materials from journalists and news organizations,” wrote the Senators. “The free press is a bedrock of our democracy and reporters must be able to do their jobs without fear of being investigated or prosecuted.”
    “When asked at your confirmation hearing to commit to ‘respect the importance of a free press,’ you said ‘absolutely,’” the Senators continued. “Yet your decision to rescind important limits on the Justice Department’s ability to compel information from the press threatens the ability of journalists to fully perform their critical jobs, as guaranteed by the First Amendment.” 
    Along with Klobuchar, the letter was signed by every Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee – Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee and Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Chris Coons (D-DE), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Peter Welch (D-VT), and Adam Schiff (D-CA). 
    The full letter is available here and below. 
    Dear Attorney General Bondi:
    We write to express our deep concern with the Department of Justice’s April 25, 2025 memorandum changing the guidance that set limitations on the Department’s ability to subpoena materials from journalists and news organizations.
    The free press is a bedrock of our democracy and reporters must be able to do their jobs without fear of being investigated or prosecuted. When asked at your confirmation hearing to commit to “respect the importance of a free press,” you said “absolutely.” Yet your decision to rescind important limits on the Justice Department’s ability to compel information from the press threatens the ability of journalists to fully perform their critical jobs, as guaranteed by the First Amendment. 
    Under the previous guidance, the Justice Department was authorized to subpoena journalists engaged in news gathering only “[w]hen necessary to prevent an imminent or concrete risk of death or serious bodily harm.” Under the 2025 guidance, Justice Department officials can take the extraordinary step of subpoenaing journalists merely to investigate “unauthorized disclosures that undermine President Trump’s policies,” extending far beyond disclosures of classified information. In other words, under this new guidance, there is little protection for journalists who publish any story critical of the Administration from being threatened with a subpoena and litigation to enforce the subpoena. The threat to journalists is especially concerning given Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Kash Patel’s claims prior to his confirmation that the news media is “the most powerful enemy the United States has ever seen” and that he would “come after the people in the media . . . criminally or civilly.” 
    Nor does it appear that the Justice Department would subpoena reporters’ records only as a last resort. Under the guidelines, the Justice Department may subpoena journalists after the Attorney General has made only a few subjective determinations, such as whether the information sought is “essential to a successful prosecution,” whether “reasonable attempts” to obtain the information from alternative sources were made, and whether engaging in negotiations would threaten “the integrity of the investigation.” These factors make it far too easy for the Attorney General to compel journalists to reveal sources.   
    This change will also deter whistleblowers from coming forward with information to the news media, depriving the public of valuable information about its government. Whistleblowers that violate the law—for example by disclosing classified information—should be subject to the legal consequences of that action, but the government should not be allowed to intimidate or harass journalists who lawfully report the news. 
    As the Office of Legal Policy prepares regulations to implement your memorandum, we respectfully request that you provide responses to the following questions:
    What protections are in place to ensure that journalists are not targeted because they published a news article critical of the Administration?
    Will you commit to ensuring that issuing a subpoena to a journalist or news organization will be used only as a last resort when there is a compelling and overriding interest in the information, such as protecting national security?
    Will the regulations require the Department to comply with state shield laws?
    Is the Department consulting with outside organizations, including organizations representing journalists, as part of the preparation of regulations? If so, what organizations?
    What measures will the regulations put in place to ensure that the White House is not allowed to order or influence the issuance of a subpoena to a journalist or news organization?
    What process for review, if any, will be put in place to ensure the new regulations are being followed and are not being abused for political or any other inappropriate purpose?  
    Has the Justice Department issued any subpoenas to journalists or news organizations under this new guidance? If so, to whom and seeking what information?

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Serious crash, SH29, Kaimai Mamaku Conservation Park

    Source: New Zealand Police

    Emergency services are at the scene of a serious four-vehicle crash on SH29, in Kaimai Mamaku Conservation Park. 

    Police were called about 6.40am. 

    Initial indications are one person has sustained serious injuries, while several others have sustained moderate or minor injuries. 

    The road is blocked and traffic management is in place.

    Motorists should avoid the area, or expect delays.

    ENDS 

    Issued by Police Media Centre 

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Ontario Chief Coroner reports raise concerns that MAID policy and practice focus on access rather than protection

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Trudo Lemmens, Professor of Health Law and Policy, University of Toronto

    The Ontario Coroner’s reports cover two aspects of medical assistance in dying (MAID): waiver of final consent, and same- or next-day provision of MAID. (Shutterstock)

    The Chief Coroner for Ontario recently released two new reports of its interdisciplinary MAID Death Review Committee: on Same or Next Day Provision of MAID and on Waiver of Final Consent.

    The MAID Death Review Committee — of which I am a member — reviews cases of Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID) that are selected by the coroner’s MAID team for the common issues they raise. The review helps inform policy recommendations.

    Committee reports contain case summaries and summaries of committee discussions, and the Chief Coroner’s recommendations. The newly released reports appear to confirm what is argued in several chapters in our recently co-edited volume, Unravelling MAiD in Canada: Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide as Medical Care, and in other publications: Canada’s MAID law, policy and practice focuses excessively on promoting access to death, not on protection.

    Some of the cases suggest a troubling prioritizing of ending patients’ lives with MAID rather than a precautionary approach. In my opinion, they reveal an urgent need for more rigorous legal and professional standards. Committee members’ starkly contrasting views on the ethics of some of the practices, which can be gleaned from the anonymous summaries of the committee’s discussions, are striking.

    Most assisted dying laws or policies in other countries prohibit same-day provision of MAID and waiving of final consent.
    (Shutterstock)

    Access over protection

    The topics of the reports illustrate how Canada’s MAID law reform has prioritized access over protection. Most assisted dying laws or policies in other countries prohibit same-day provision of MAID and waiving of final consent. Many impose a reflection period to protect patients against rushed and desperate decision-making, for example following a devastating diagnosis.

    Before 2021, Canada’s MAID law had a 10-day reflection period, which could be shortened by request. This was removed in the 2021 expansion of MAID, which also removed the safeguard of a reasonably foreseeable natural death.

    At the time, concerns that removing the 10-day reflection period could lead to rushed decisions were dismissed, with a hypothetical example involving same-day MAID provision being described as “absurd.” An official report now documents the practice.

    Waiver of final consent, which was also introduced in 2021, moves Canada clearly away from unambiguous or clear consent, which the Supreme Court emphasized as a key safeguard in its 2015 Carter decision — the decision that declared an absolute criminal law prohibition on euthanasia and assisted suicide to be unconstitutional.

    A waiver enables track 1 patients (those with a reasonably foreseeable death) who are at risk of losing capacity to receive MAID at a specific time in the near future. In contrast, with an advance request for MAID, a patient authorizes someone else to request MAID on their behalf in the future, when they have lost capacity and specified conditions are met.

    Québec recently introduced advanced requests, and Health Canada has organized public consultations on the topic, seemingly considering it. But it remains prohibited under the Criminal Code. Rightly so, since it raises unique ethical, legal and professional challenges.

    The coroner’s report on waiver of final consent includes cases, and notes on case discussions, that demonstrate the fine line between flexible use of such waivers and circumventing the prohibition of advance request. In some cases, it appears that different guidance documents of the Canadian Association of MAID Assessors and Providers have been combined to facilitate MAID: guidance on waiver of final consent and on dementia.

    In a journal publication, my co-authors and I warned that combining these guidance documents, which we consider to be obfuscating, could lead to advance requests for MAID even though they remain prohibited under the criminal code.

    Case reports

    Take the case of Mr. A. Distressed by short-term memory loss and a diagnosis of an onset of Alzheimer’s disease, he signed a waiver scheduling MAID 3.5 years later. Some, but not all, members of the committee opined that scheduling it so much in advance was incompatible with a track 1 approval, since it revealed that he was not approaching his death, not in an advanced state of irreversible decline of capability and could hardly be considered to suffer intolerably at the time of approval.

    The MAID provider ended up not using the waiver for Mr. A’s consent for MAID. However, his MAID death remains problematic due to concerns about how the provider accepted he was able to provide final consent.

    Less than a year after signing the waiver, he was hospitalized after a fall. He was deemed delirious, confused and had hallucinations. During “a period of cognitive improvement” the MAID provider deemed him capable of confirming final consent and provided MAID based on the original assessment.

    Family pressures, such as caregiver burnout, need to be sufficiently investigated.
    (Shutterstock)

    Informed consent concerns also arose in the case of 80-year-old Mrs. B, who told a first MAID assessor she preferred palliative care because of personal and religious values. When a palliative care physician noticed her husband’s “caregiver burnout,” he requested hospice care for Mrs. B, which was rejected.

    Her husband then contacted a second MAID assessor, who approved her for MAID and who rejected the first assessor’s request to talk to Mrs. B. the next day. A third assessor confirmed the second assessor’s approval and Mrs. B received MAID the same day.

    The case of Mr. C involved a man in his 70s, diagnosed with metastatic cancer, who requested a MAID assessment five days after admission into palliative care. But before he could be assessed, he experienced cognitive decline and “loss of ability to communicate.”

    When the palliative care team told a MAID provider the next day that he had lost capacity to consent, the provider “vigorously roused Mr. C., who opened his eyes and mouthed ‘yes’” when asked if he wanted MAID. After withholding pain medication for 45 minutes, the provider considered him more “alert.” A second MAID assessor confirmed his eligibility after an online assessment, also accepting mouthing yes, and “nodding his head in presumed agreeance” as clear and capable informed consent, and he was euthanized.

    These and some other cases described in the committee reports raise several concerns. They show how MAID has been provided in cases where assessors clearly disagree about the application of access criteria, with two seemingly limited assessments favouring MAID overriding others.

    Some patients received MAID after capacity and informed consent procedures that appear problematic, in the case of Mr. C overriding a capacity assessment by a treating palliative care team. Family pressures, such as caregiver burnout, may also be insufficiently investigated, as in the case of Mrs. B.

    And MAID appears to have been delivered in the case of Mr. C. when the patient appeared otherwise comfortable in palliative care and may not have had capacity to consent.

    The reports also reveal that even patients specifically hospitalized for suicidal ideation and in need of mental health care are offered MAID, as earlier coroner reports already revealed. Some cases appear to stretch the contours of MAID law.

    Starkly differing views

    The committee discussions included in the report further suggest starkly different views among MAID Death Review Committee members, including on standards for assessing capacity for consent.

    As discussed in a recent study I co-authored, most of Canada’s MAID practice is driven by a relatively small group of frequent providers. The study found that there are 1,837 MAID providers in Canada, but up to 336 of these are frequent providers who are likely responsible for the majority of annual MAID deaths. This adds to concerns about arguably overly flexible provision of MAID among these providers.

    Another committee member recently discussed how the report on same- or next-day provisions reveals this practice is disproportionately present in some geographical locations. This suggests, as others have discussed in relation to Québec’s MAID practice, that there may be starkly different professional standards and approaches among providers.

    To date there have been no known cases of criminal or professional sanctions against a MAID provider. However, the Chief Coroner’s reports, as well as media reports, indicate that this does not mean Canada’s MAID practice is exemplary, safe and compliant. When reading these cases, many likely wonder, as I do, what it will take for political, judicial and professional authorities to provide firmer guidance, investigate thoroughly and put a halt to problematic delivery of MAID.

    The United Nations Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, after hearing evidence from both the federal government and civil society organizations, recently urged Canada to withdraw track 2 MAID (MAID cases in which the patient’s death is not reasonably foreseeable), not to introduce MAID for mental illness and with advance requests, and to improve MAID monitoring and safeguards.

    The UN committee cited the earlier coroner reports. The two most recent reports, which the UN committee did not have yet at its disposal, clearly confirm the urgent need for a revisiting of our MAID law, and for refocusing on protection, not on further expansion.

    Trudo Lemmens is a member of the Chief Coroner of Ontario MAID Death Review Committee. He has been an expert witness for the Federal Attorney General in the Truchon and Lamb cases. He has been an advisor to the Vulnerable Person Standard. His research is partly funded by a Scholl Chair in Health Law and Policy. He is co-editor of a McGill/Queens University Press book Unravelling MAID in Canada: Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide as Medical Care.

    – ref. Ontario Chief Coroner reports raise concerns that MAID policy and practice focus on access rather than protection – https://theconversation.com/ontario-chief-coroner-reports-raise-concerns-that-maid-policy-and-practice-focus-on-access-rather-than-protection-253917

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Coons grills FBI Director Kash Patel over firing of FBI officers for investigations of January 6 rioters

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Delaware Christopher Coons

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) questioned FBI Director Kash Patel at a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing today, where he confronted Patel about the circumstances behind seemingly politically-motivated firings and whether the FBI had taken disciplinary actions against FBI agents who worked on cases against January 6th insurrectionists.

    During his Senate Judiciary Committee confirmation hearing earlier this year, Patel pledged that his tenure as director would be forward-looking and that there would be no political retribution for FBI agents who worked on the investigation into the January 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol. Just weeks after Patel’s confirmation, however, former head of the FBI’s New York office James Dennehy was essentially forced out of the agency after he refused a request from the Trump administration to turn in the names of all agents who worked on Capitol riot cases. Several other officials at the Department of Justice have also been dismissed because their connections to January 6th investigations.

    Senator Coons also asked Patel about a response to a letter from Senate Judiciary Democrats earlier this year to then-Acting FBI Director Brian Driscoll over alleged purges within the Justice Department and FBI that targeted career prosecutors and agents involved in January 6thinvestigations. 

    Patel was testifying before the Senate today on the White House’s 2026 budget proposal that calls for a funding cut of more than $500 million for the FBI.

    A video of Senator Coons’ full questioning and partial transcript of his comments are available below.

    WATCH HERE.

    Senator Coons: You’ve also testified just yesterday in front of House Appropriations that you are orienting the FBI looking forward—there won’t be any actions against FBI agents based on what they did in terms of carrying out assignments to investigate January 6 incidents. During your confirmation, you said there will be no retribution taken by the FBI should you be confirmed as director.

    James Dennehy, who was head of the New York Field Office, has been forced out, received no reason for his removal, but had resisted efforts to turn over a list of agents involved in January 6 investigations. That’s how I’ve understood the characterization of his separation, and that sounds to me like politicization and retribution for involvement in January 6. I just want to hear your statement about where you see any disciplinary actions related to January 6 investigations.

    Patel: Thank you, Senator. With the ongoing litigation related to the specific list, there’s only so much I can talk about, but I can tell you this with affirmation: no one on any list will be punished at the FBI. As someone who was given case assignments I didn’t want many times over, you don’t get punished for your case assignments. You only get punished if you didn’t do the job and fail to follow the ethical guidelines and break the law, and that’s the standard.

    Senator Coons: The Judiciary Committee recently had two career prosecutors in front of them who were dismissed explicitly for their involvement in prosecuting January 6 cases—I understand that’s not the FBI. I hope to work with you on ensuring that we orient the FBI forward. In February, I did join all my judiciary colleagues to send then-Acting Director Driscoll letters about proposed purges of agents for simply carrying out their assignments. Do you know if you’ve answered that letter?

    Patel: I’ll have to check, Senator. Sorry.

    Senator Coons: I’ll tell you that I haven’t received a response, and I expect a response. More importantly, I expect a budget and an appropriations request so we can do our job as the relevant appropriations subcommittee.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Hickenlooper, Colleagues Introduce Bill to Protect Access to Mifepristone

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator John Hickenlooper – Colorado

    The Stop Comstock Act would repeal an 1873 law that could be misused to limit abortion access nationwide

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper joined Tina Smith and 25 of their Senate colleagues to introduce the Stop Comstock Act to protect access to medication abortions like Mifepristone. Specifically, the legislation would repeal the outdated Comstock Act of 1873, which anti-choice extremists have threatened to invoke to effectively end access to medication abortion without a single act of Congress.

    “Extreme Republicans and dust-covered laws from 1873 have no business dictating a woman’s right to make her own health care decisions,” Hickenlooper said. “We’re fighting to take those arcane laws off the books and protect reproductive health care nationwide.”

    The Stop Comstock Act would repeal language in the Comstock Laws that could be used to ban the mailing of mifepristone and other drugs used in medication abortions, instruments and equipment used in abortions, and educational material related to sexual health. Medication abortion is the most common form of abortion care in the U.S.

    The legislation has been endorsed by the Planned Parenthood Federation of America, the American Civil Liberties Union, the Center for Reproductive Rights, National Women’s Law Center, Reproductive Freedom for All (formerly NARAL Pro-Choice America), Take Back the Court Action Fund, Healthcare Across Borders, Expanding Medication Abortion Access (EMAA).

    A summary of the bill is available HERE. The text of the bill is available HERE.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Emily Pike Investigation Reward

    Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime Alerts (b)

    In support of the Gila County Sheriff’s Office investigation into the death of Emily Pike, the FBI is now offering a reward of up to $75,000 for any person providing independently verifiable information identifying the individual(s) responsible for her disappearance and murder. Please see the attached “Seeking Information” poster from the FBI. The poster can also be found here: https://www.fbi.gov/wanted/seeking-info/emily-pike.

    This reward is in addition to the reward already being offered by the San Carlos Apache Tribe.

    Again, the FBI Phoenix Field Office is supporting the Gila County Sheriff’s Office investigation, and anyone with information is urged to contact the Gila County Sheriff’s Office or report tips to the FBI.

    As this is an ongoing investigation, no other information is available from the FBI at this time.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: North Preston — UPDATE: Police continue to ask for the public’s assistance in homicide investigation

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    The RCMP/HRP Integrated Criminal Investigation Division (CID) continues to ask for the public’s assistance in relation to the 2024 homicide of Tyrell Beals.

    Today marks one year since the RCMP Halifax Regional Detachment received a report that a man had been shot near the 1100 block of Downey Rd. Upon arrival at the scene, officers located Beals, of Westphal. He had sustained gunshot wounds and was later pronounced deceased at the hospital.

    “To advance unsolved homicide investigations, we need information from the public in order to find those responsible,” says Sgt. Jason Withrow of CID. “If you were in the area of Downey Rd. on May 8, 2024, or have any information regarding the murder of Tyrell Beals, please contact us; we need your help to bring closure to his loved ones.”

    The ongoing investigation is led by Homicide Investigations in the Special Enforcement Section of the Integrated Criminal Investigation Division with assistance from the Nova Scotia Medical Examiner Service, RCMP Forensic Identification Services, and RCMP Halifax Regional Detachment.

    Anyone with information regarding this homicide is asked to contact police at 902-490-5020.

    Our thoughts continue to be with Mr. Beals’ loved ones.

    File #: 24-61350

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Sex Trafficker Who Supplied His Prostitutes with Heroin Sentenced to 90 Months in Federal Prison

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    WASHINGTON D.C. – Johnny Lee Gibson, 58, whose last known residence was in Florence, South Carolina, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 90 months in federal prison for sex-trafficking women who he kept under his control by supplying them with narcotics.

    The sentencing was announced by U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin Jr., Special Agent in Charge Sean Ryan of the FBI Washington Field Office Criminal and Cyber Division, and Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department.

    Gibson, aka “Preach,” pleaded guilty on Dec. 11, 2024, to conspiracy to commit sex trafficking by force, fraud, and coercion. In addition to the 90-month prison term, U.S. District Court Judge Amy Berman Jackson ordered Gibson to serve 10 years of supervised release and to register as a sex offender.

    According to court documents, Gibson recruited drug-addicted women to work as prostitutes for his commercial sex enterprise that operated in Washington D.C., Maryland, Virginia, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Florida. The enterprise ran from 1994 until Gibson’s arrest at a motel in Brooklawn, New Jersey, on July 25, 2024.

    Gibson placed online advertisements offering the women’s sexual services. Some ads ran on websites that targeted the DMV. In 2019, he ran ads in the District touting one woman that stated “100% Real and always discreet, always on time, fresh, and looking my very best. I always aim to please…”

    When he was arrested in July 2024, Gibson gave a recorded statement in which he admitted to sex trafficking five women, acting as a pimp, procuring drugs for them, and controling the women by providing access to drugs.

    This case was investigated by the FBI Washington Field Office’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force. The task force is composed of FBI agents, along with other federal agents and detectives from northern Virginia and the District of Columbia. The task force is charged with investigating and bringing federal charges against individuals engaged in the exploitation of children and those engaged in human trafficking.

    It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Karen Ditzler Shinskie and Rachel Forman.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Sheshatshiu — Arrest warrant issued for Simon Andrew in relation to violent offences in Sheshatshiu

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    Sheshatshiu RCMP is looking to arrest wanted man 40-year-old Simon Andrew in relation to a violent incident that occurred at a residence in Sheshatshiu on May 6, 2025.

    Andrew, who has actively been evading police, is charged and wanted in relation to the following criminal offences:

    • Sexual assault with a weapon
    • Aggravated assault – two counts
    • Possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose – two counts
    • Forcible confinement
    • Mischief under $5000.00
    • Failure to comply with conditions of a release order

    Police believe that Andrew is frequenting between Sheshatshiu and Happy Valley-Goose Bay. An image of Simon Andrew is attached. The investigation is ongoing.

    Anyone having information about the current location of Simon Andrew is asked to contact Sheshatshiu RCMP at 709-497-8700. To remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers: #SayItHere 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), visit www.nlcrimestoppers.com or use the P3Tips app.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Justice Department Announces Results of Operation Restore Justice: 205 Child Sex Abuse Offenders Arrested in FBI-Led Nationwide Crackdown, Including Two in the District of Hawaii

    Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime News

    HONOLULU – Today, the Department of Justice announced the results of Operation Restore Justice, a coordinated enforcement effort to identify, track and arrest child sex predators. The operation resulted in the rescue of 115 children and the arrests of 205 child sexual abuse offenders in the nationwide crackdown. The coordinated effort was executed over the course of five days by all 55 FBI field offices, the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section in the Department’s Criminal Division, and United States Attorney’s Offices around the country.

    “The Department of Justice will never stop fighting to protect victims — especially child victims — and we will not rest until we hunt down, arrest, and prosecute every child predator who preys on the most vulnerable among us,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “I am grateful to the FBI and their state and local partners for their incredible work in Operation Restore Justice and have directed my prosecutors not to negotiate.”

    “Every child deserves to grow up free from fear and exploitation, and the FBI will continue to be relentless in our pursuit of those who exploit the most vulnerable among us,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “Operation Restore Justice proves that no predator is out of reach and no child will be forgotten. By leveraging the strength of all our field offices and our federal, state and local partners, we’re sending a clear message: there is no place to hide for those who prey on children.”

    “Our pledge to protect Hawaii’s keiki is among the most solemn and critical commitments we make to our local community,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Ken Sorenson. “Working with our outstanding law enforcement partners we have consistently and aggressively pursued child predators and those who seek to exploit children either for profit or their own twisted gratification. Our efforts in Operation Restore Justice, including last week’s arrests, demonstrate the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s commitment to investigate, charge, and convict those who violate federal child protection laws.”

    “The FBI is unwavering and united with its partners in the fight to protect children,” said FBI Honolulu Special Agent in Charge David Porter. “Our collaboration with state and local law enforcement allows us to extend our reach into communities, respond faster to threats, and ensure survivors get the support they need. FBI Honolulu will continue to conduct proactive arrest operations targeting those seeking to harm our children—we’ll work to get these predators off the streets and keep our kids safe.”

    In the District of Hawaii, two individuals were arrested and charged with federal crimes, including Dominick Kalikokaeoeo Howard, who was charged by criminal complaint with distributing child pornography, and David Martin Garcia Perez, who was charged by criminal complaint with receiving and possessing or accessing child pornography.

    Others arrested around the country are alleged to have committed various crimes including the production, distribution, and possession of child sexual abuse material, online enticement and transportation of minors, and child sex trafficking. In Minneapolis, for example, a state trooper and Army Reservist was arrested for allegedly producing child sexual abuse material while wearing his uniforms. In Norfolk, VA, an illegal alien from Mexico is accused of transporting a minor across state lines for sex. In Washington, D.C., a former Metropolitan Police Department Police Officer was arrested for allegedly trafficking minor victims.

    In many cases, parental vigilance and community outreach efforts played a critical role in bringing these offenders to justice. For example, a California man was arrested about eight hours after a young victim bravely came forward and disclosed their abuse to FBI agents after an online safety presentation at a school near Albany, N.Y.

    This effort follows the Department’s observance of National Child Abuse Prevention Month in April, and underscores the Department’s unwavering commitment to protecting children and raising awareness about the dangers they face. While the Department, including the FBI, investigates and prosecutes these crimes every day, April serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of preventing these crimes, seeking justice for victims, and raising awareness through community education.

    The Justice Department is committed to combating child sexual exploitation. These cases were brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit www.justice.gov/psc.

    The Department partners with and oversees funding grants for the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), which receives and shares tips about possible child sexual exploitation received through its 24/7 hotline at 1-800-THE-LOST and on missingkids.org.

    The Department urges the public to remain vigilant and report suspected exploitation of a child through the FBI’s tipline at 1-800-CALL-FBI (225-5324), tips.fbi.gov, or by calling your local FBI field office.

    Other online resources:

    Electronic Press Kit

    Violent Crimes Against Children

    How we can help you: Parents and caregivers protecting your kids

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

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Israel’s peace movement offers a ray of hope amid the pain of Gaza conflict

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Yuval Katz, Lecturer in Communication and Media, Loughborough University

    The first thing I do when going back to Israel for a visit is go for a run. After more than two years abroad, it is a good opportunity to refamiliarise myself with the home I left to pursue my academic career more than eight years ago.

    I knew things would not feel the same. On October 7 2023, Hamas militants breached the fence surrounding the Gaza Strip, killing over 1,000 Israelis and taking more than 200 hostage. It was the worst massacre of Jews since the Holocaust and a resounding blow against the founding idea of the state of Israel, which was established as a safe haven for the Jewish people, who have been persecuted for millennia.

    But in the 18 months that have passed since this catastrophic day, I have grown increasingly critical of the path Israel has taken. It has become a path of revenge, in which Israel has killed more than 50,000 Palestinians through ruthless air strikes and ground operations in the Gaza Strip.

    Now, as many government officials openly declare that there are “no innocent people in Gaza”, plans are in the making to cleanse Gaza of Palestinians through “voluntary immigration”. Although it has not been recognised as such by international law (charges of genocide are currently being investigated by the International Court of Justice), the Netanyahu government has been accused of premeditated genocide, carried out by Jews only 80 years after the Holocaust ended.

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

    In the meantime, Israelis are frustrated and exhausted. Their security has not improved, and 59 hostages remain in Gaza (only 24 of whom are thought to be alive). Those who returned from captivity alive report that military operations kill rather than save them – many of them urge the government to stop the war.

    During my run, I was amazed by the mesmerising advocacy campaign to release the hostages. Faces of the hostage and their stories are omnipresent across the public sphere – in posters hung on walls and fences, on flags, bumper stickers and slogans sprayed in graffiti on highways.

    One cannot escape the simultaneous presence (absence) of the hostages. When driving across the country, I listened to radio hosts mentioning those left behind in the Gaza tunnels at the beginning of every hour. Lest we forget.

    Yet, with all the yearning to bring them home comes a devastating helplessness. Benjamin Netanyahu’s government, whose intelligence failures were responsible for October 7 and the endless war, is still in power – and many ordinary people feel there is little they can do to change this reality.

    Perhaps it was my indefatigable search for hope that led me to an organisation that embodies the alternative to endless cycles of conflict.

    My academic work focuses on how media forms – whether that be popular television shows, digital activism, or mainstream journalism – generate spaces where Palestinians and Jews meet each other. Where they can process their traumas together creatively through art and storytelling in ways that offer new possibilities for a life worth living between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea.

    But I completed collecting the data for my book project before October 7. Now, returning, I felt an urgency to discover whether a vision for peace was still possible amid this unbearable despair.

    Standing together

    The movement, Standing Together, was founded in late 2015 in the wake of a series of violent incidents. Witnessing the incompetence of left-wing parties and human rights organisations to protect Palestinian citizens of the state from growing racism, a few dozen activists decided to organise a joint demonstration for Palestinians and Jews, so they set up a Facebook page to invite people to join.

    Trailer for No Other Land.

    The movement has expanded significantly since then; from a group of roughly 20 activists, it now consists of over 6,000 registered members, operating in 14 local centres across the country and is a leading organiser of political activities on Israeli campuses.

    I visited its headquarters in Tel Aviv – where the movement has expanded from a couple of rooms to a whole floor of an office building, with paid staff managing its data, media content, finances, and student relations.

    I conducted several interviews with Standing Together’s managers in which they indicated that membership and donations have grown exponentially since the war started. They told me many Palestinians and Israelis are looking for a political home to advance a vision of peace, equality and solidarity.

    The activities of Standing Together include operating information booths which also collect humanitarian aid for Gaza and send it across the border. They screen events and movies for members that reflect the harsh reality of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict while offering an alternative to perpetual violence.

    A series of national screenings was dedicated to the Oscar-winning documentary, No Other Land, which depicts the dispossession of the Palestinian community of Masafer Yatta in the West Bank.

    The movie had been banned from commercial screening in Israel, but the filmmakers, peace activists for whom changing the political reality in Masafer Yatta is more important than anything else, have made it free to screen – they want all Israelis to see it.

    It also screened the joint Memorial Day service, a ceremony that has been staged for years now to allow bereaved families from both sides to meet and grieve together and call for a political change in which no more people join this community of pain.

    People who attended a screening of the Israeli-Palestinian memorial day ceremony at a synagogue in the city of Ra’anana at the end of April were attacked by right-wing activists. There was no response or condemnation from government officials.

    As darkness threatens to consume the people of Israel and Palestine with little regard for human life, movements like Standing Together spread light and bring hope.

    Yuval Katz 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. Israel’s peace movement offers a ray of hope amid the pain of Gaza conflict – https://theconversation.com/israels-peace-movement-offers-a-ray-of-hope-amid-the-pain-of-gaza-conflict-256030

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Donald Trump has reduced tariffs on British metals and cars, but how important is this trade deal? Experts react

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Maha Rafi Atal, Adam Smith Senior Lecturer in Political Economy, School of Social and Political Sciences, University of Glasgow

    The US president called it a “very big deal”. The UK prime minister said it was “fantastic, historic” day. For sure, Keir Starmer and his team will have been delighted that the UK was first in line to negotiate adjustments to Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs announced on “liberation day” just a few weeks ago. But what might the trade deal between the UK and US actually mean? We asked four economic experts to respond to the Oval Office announcement.

    Wins for the UK are real, but limited

    Maha Rafi Atal, Adam Smith Senior Lecturer (Associate Professor) in Political Economy, University of Glasgow

    The new UK-US trade announcement is less a breakthrough than a careful balancing act – partial, tactical and politically calculated.

    Key UK wins are real but limited. Tariffs on British metals and autos are eased, thanks in part to the UK government acquisition of the Chinese-owned Scunthorpe steelmaking facility, removing a longstanding US objection. But even auto tariffs are only scaled back to the general baseline of 10% and not eliminated.

    Agriculture and tech remain the real stress points. The UK has granted market access to US agricultural products, including beef, but crucially without changing its food safety standards. This sidesteps a domestic political fight and avoids undermining the UK’s Northern Ireland arrangements or its EU alignment. Still, if US beef doesn’t meet those standards, the market access may prove meaningless in practice – setting up future pressure points.

    Perhaps the most notable UK win: it retains its digital services tax on US tech giants. That tax hits Silicon Valley hard, and the US wanted it gone. Instead, the announcement punts this to future talks – holding the line for now, but not securing it permanently.

    This isn’t the long-anticipated UK-US free trade agreement. It’s not a treaty, not comprehensive, and not ratified. It’s a limited, executive-level arrangement with more questions than answers – and more negotiations to come.

    Stronger ties and badly needed growth to come

    David Collins, Professor of International Economic Law, City St George’s, University of London

    This deal is an excellent development that should help restore the UK-US trade relationship to what it was before President Trump took office for the second time. At the time of writing, few details about the arrangement are known. But the 25% tariff on UK steel and aluminium has been removed, as has the tariff rate on most car exports – from 27.5% to 10%

    The lower car rate applies to the first 100,000 vehicles exported from the UK to the US each year. Around 101,000 were exported last year.

    More details are promised in the coming days and weeks. Perhaps they will include an agreement which separates the UK from any restrictions that the US intends to impose on the film industry. In return, the UK might eliminate its digital services tax on the US (which I argue it should never have imposed because it will only raise prices for consumers and generate little revenue).

    But overall, it seems clear that the Labour government has prioritised the UK’s relationship with the EU, evidently seeking as close as possible a connection without formally rejoining. So, while this agreement with Trump is well short of a comprehensive free trade agreement, it is a welcome development that should strengthen Anglo-American ties and bring some badly needed economic growth to both countries.

    Political theatre for both sides

    Conor O’Kane, Senior Lecturer in Economics, University of Bournemouth

    This announcement is a framework for a trade deal rather than an actual formal completed agreement. Trade deals are detailed, complex and take many months to negotiate.

    The US and the UK are both countries with massive persistent structural trade deficits. It is very unlikely that what has been announced will significantly shift the dial on either country’s structural deficit or growth forecast.

    Jerome Powell, chair of the US Federal Reserve, recently warned that Donald Trump’s tariff policy risked higher inflation and higher unemployment at the same time, what economists call “stagflation”. The president’s announcement will prove a welcome distraction from Powell’s comments.

    The deal should perhaps be viewed as symbolic. Trump’s US tariff policy has been chaotic to date and his administration finally has something they can point to as a win in the aftermath of “liberation day”.

    Of course, a trade deal is also a good news story for the Labour government after disappointing local elections. Prime Minister Keir Starmer can claim economic credibility by being first in line for a trade deal, perhaps cementing the “special relationship”.

    Mini-tariffs on UK cars.
    balipadma/Shutterstock

    However, is the US a reliable partner to sign a trade deal with? During his first term, Trump signed a free trade deal with Mexico and Canada (the 2020 United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, or USMCA – the successor to Nafta). At the time, he said the deal “will be fantastic for all”. But he subsequently reneged on it.

    There is also a wider strategic element to this. First, the US wanted to get a trade deal in place with the UK ahead of what looks like a comprehensive EU-UK trade deal coming down the line. Second, Trump sees the EU as an economic rival. By signing a deal with the UK, he is signalling to other European countries the possibility of a potentially better trading relationship with the US outside of the EU.

    Deal leaves the door open for EU relationship

    Sangeeta Khorana, Professor of International Trade Policy, Aston University

    The agreement is a tactical win for both countries. It eases trade frictions, supports key industries and sets the framework for a broader UK-US free trade agreement without impacting on the UK’s economic reset with the European Union.

    The UK–US agreement, which suspends some of Trump’s recent tariffs, is sector-specific and far from comprehensive. It preserves UK food safety and animal-welfare standards. And it safeguards post-Brexit EU links while allowing the UK to cement its strategic partnership with Washington. Talks will be launched on aerospace, advanced batteries, data flows and services liberalisation within 12 months.

    This is a timely coup, coming so soon after the India deal. The pact represents a strategic diplomatic gain that brings tariff relief (and potentially the associated uncertainty) for key British industries, while also preserving UK’s regulatory alignment with the EU.

    Maha Rafi Atal is sometimes a volunteer organiser for the US Democratic party/candidates and has no party affiliation or involvement in the UK.

    Sangeeta Khorana is Professor and endowed Chair of International Trade Policy at Aston University.

    Conor O’Kane and David Collins do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. Donald Trump has reduced tariffs on British metals and cars, but how important is this trade deal? Experts react – https://theconversation.com/donald-trump-has-reduced-tariffs-on-british-metals-and-cars-but-how-important-is-this-trade-deal-experts-react-256240

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Statement by President von der Leyen and President Costa on the election of Pope Leo XIV as head of the Catholic Church

    Source: European Commission – Justice

    European Commission Statement Brussels, 08 May 2025 We sincerely congratulate His Holiness Leo XIV on his election as Pope and head of the Catholic Church. Millions of Europeans draw daily inspiration from the Church’s enduring commitment to peace, human dignity, and mutual understanding among nations. We are confident that Pope Leo XIV will use his voice on the global stage to promote these shared values and encourage unity in the pursuit of a more just and compassionate world.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Zombie knife attacker guilty of attempted murder at Carnival

    Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

    A teenager who carried out at a zombie knife attack during Notting Hill Carnival has been found guilty of attempted murder.

    Rumarni Tuitt, 19 (01.12.05) of Sutherland Road, Walthamstow was charged on 29 August 2024 with attempted murder and possession of a bladed article.

    He stood trial at the Old Bailey and was convicted on Thursday, 8 May.

    The court heard that shortly before 20:00hrs on the Monday evening of Carnival – 26 August 2024 – Tuitt was in Canal Way, off Ladbroke Grove.

    Officers who were on duty as part of the policing operation recounted how they saw him appear agitated as he argued verbally with someone in a crowd, before taking a huge knife from his waistband and thrusting it into a group in front of him.

    A 19-year-old man who was in the crowd was stabbed no fewer than five times causing multiple serious injuries including some to his abdomen that required life saving surgery. He and Tuitt did not know each other and a motive for the attack has never been established.

    Officers intervened immediately, arresting Tuitt at the scene and providing vital medical treatment to his victim until paramedics could reach them.

    The knife used, which was at least 10 inches in length, was recovered from the scene.

    Acting Detective Inspector Sophie McLoughlin, who led the investigation, said: “This was a savage and senseless attack. The victim was very lucky to survive his injuries.

    “Hundreds of thousands of people, including the victim in this case, go to Carnival to have a good time and enjoy the music and entertainment. Those who would choose to turn up armed with a 10 inch zombie knife clearly have no such intentions.

    “It is thanks to the vigilance of officers on duty that day and the hard work of my team in the months since that we were able to build the case that saw Tuitt convicted at court.

    “It is also thanks to officers’ immediate medical intervention at the scene, as well as the specialist further care by paramedics, that we’re talking about a conviction for attempted murder and not worse.

    “I hope the victim can now move forward and begin to put this experience behind him.”

    Tuitt was remanded in custody and will be sentenced at the same court on Friday, 27 June.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Zuni Man Pleads Guilty to Voluntary Manslaughter in Fatal Stabbing Case

    Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime Alerts (c)

    ALBUQUERQUE – A Zuni man pleaded guilty in federal court to voluntary manslaughter in connection with a fatal stabbing.

    According to court records, on February 4, 2023, Joey Luarkie, 25, an enrolled member of the Zuni pueblo, was at a residence in Zuni when the victim arrived, and an argument ensued. The confrontation escalated inside the home, where Luarkie stabbed the victim in the neck. The victim was found outside the residence by responding officers and died the next day after being transported to the hospital and undergoing emergency surgeries.

    At sentencing, Luarkie faces up to 15 in prison, followed by up to three years of supervised release.

    U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Philip Russell, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office made the announcement today.

    The Gallup Resident Agency of the FBI’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Zuni Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Nicholas J. Marshall is prosecuting the case.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Nowhere to hide for high-profile criminals

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    The Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI) has made significant inroads in apprehending individuals involved in high-profile cases, thus ensuring accountability and justice for victims.

    This is according to DPCI Head Lieutenant General Godfrey Lebeya, who briefed media on Thursday on the successes and progress made with regards to high profile cases in the fourth quarter of the 2024/2025 financial year.

    He said the DPCI remains committed to its mandate of investigating, preventing and combating national priority offences without fear, favour or prejudice.

    A total of 656 suspects appeared before the various courts in the country during the fourth quarter. Of these arrests, 450 (74%) are South African, whereas 157 (26%) are foreign nationals. 

    “Of the 656 suspects, the Serious Organised Crime Investigation secured 364, the Serious Commercial Crime Investigation secured 220 while the Serious Corruption Investigation secured 72 suspects before court,” General Lebeya said.

    He said most of the arrests were effected in Gauteng with 139, North West with 99, KwaZulu-Natal with 88, Eastern Cape and Free State provinces with 73 suspects each.

    “During these arrests, 395 firearms and 1 746 rounds of ammunition were seized. Seven clandestine drug laboratories were dismantled with drugs worth a total street value of R23 361 125.   

    “During this same period, the Directorate secured convictions for 239 accused persons. A total number of 266 (253 natural and 13 juristic) accused persons including those convicted in the previous quarters were sentenced during the quarter under review.

    “Of the 253 sentenced natural persons, 139 (55%) are South Africans while 114 (45%) are foreign nationals. Most of these convictions and sentences were secured in the Gauteng province,” General Lebeya said.

    According to the General, of these convictions, the Serious Organised Crime Investigation (SOCI) secured 157, Serious Commercial Crime Investigation (SCCI) secured 73 and Serious Corruption Investigation (SCI) secured nine.

    “To ensure that crime does not pay, the Priority Crime Specialised Investigation (PCSI) has contributed towards the issuing of a combined 102 freezing and forfeiture orders amounting to R418 938 340.14. 

    “Of these orders, 56 were preservation orders with a monetary value of R370 952 439.49, with 45 forfeiture orders with a monetary value of R14 985 900.65 and one restraint order with a monetary value of R33 000 000,” he said.

    General Lebeya said an amount of R19 104 419.50 has been deposited into the Criminal Assets Recovery Account (CARA).

    The Digital Forensic Investigation Section of the PCSI component of the DPCI finalised the extraction and analysis of data evidence from 324 electronic devices within 90 days during the quarter.

    Touching on police murders by criminals, General Lebeya said an attack on police officials was an assault on society and an attack on the State.

    “We categorised the killing of police officials as that national priority offence that requires the attention of the DPCI,” General Lebeya said.

    During this period, 22 police officials were murdered of which 16 were off duty while six were on duty. He said 50% of these murders happened in Gauteng.  

    With regard to cash-in-transit (CIT) robberies, General Lebeya said during the fourth quarter, 50 incidents of cash-in-transit robberies were received by the Directorate.

    “A total number of 28 suspects excluding 10 who died in exchange of gunfire with the police were arrested. It is comforting that no one was released on bail.

    “Over and above this, 36 suspects were arrested in CIT-related cases making a combined number of 64 arrest for CIT and related crime,” Lebeya said. – SAnews.gov.za

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Police find human remains suspected to be of missing journalist and partner

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    Thursday, May 8, 2025

    The National Commissioner of the South African Police Service (SAPS), General Fannie Masemola, has confirmed that the police have found human remains in an open veld in the KwaMhlanga area in Mpumalanga. 

    Police spokesperson, Brigadier Athlenda Mathe, said DNA testing will be conducted to ascertain if they belong to missing Pretoria-based journalist and his partner. 

    “The area where the remains were found was pointed out by suspects as an area where they left the pair,” said Mathe on Thursday.

    The couple had been missing since 18 February 2025.

    On Sunday, a cross-province operation involving Gauteng and Mpumalanga police — led by the Deputy National Commissioner of Crime Detection, Lieutenant General Shadrack Sibiya and the Acting Provincial Commissioner of Mpumalanga, Major General Zeph MKhwanazi — led to the questioning and subsequent arrests of four suspects.

    The first suspect, according to investigations, is said to have been the last in the company of the missing couple.

    The second, third and fourth suspects were found with different vehicle parts believed to be that of Ndlovu. 

    One of those arrested is said to be a mechanic who builds and fixes cars in KwaMhlanga.

    Two of the Volkswagen Citi Golfs that were found in the possession of the suspects have been seized. – SAnews.govza 

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Making Homeownership More Affordable Statewide

    Source: US State of New York

    [embedded content]

    [embedded content]

    Create $100 Million New York State Pro-Housing Supply Fund

    Governor Hochul signed Executive Order 30 in July 2023 creating the Pro-Housing Community Program, which recognizes and rewards municipalities actively working to unlock their housing potential and encourages others to follow suit. In the State Fiscal Year 2025 Enacted Budget, Governor Hochul made the “Pro-Housing Community” designation a requirement for accessing up to $650 million in State discretionary programs. To date, nearly 470 localities have submitted letters of intent, and 300 municipalities from all corners of New York State have received Pro Housing certification. To further support localities that are doing their part to address the housing crisis, Governor Hochul is creating a $100 million Pro-Housing Supply fund for certified Pro-Housing Communities to assist with critical infrastructure projects necessary to create new housing, such as sewer and water infrastructure upgrades.

    Provide Communities Technical Assistance to Become Pro-Housing

    Without resources, some communities may not have the ability to design and adopt pro-housing policies such as master plans, zoning text updates, and streamlined permitting procedures. To help ensure more localities that want to promote housing growth have the ability to do so, Governor Hochul will provide $5.25 million in new grant funding to offer technical assistance to communities seeking to foster housing growth and associated municipal development.

    Launch New York State’s First Mixed-Income Revolving Loan Fund

    With major forthcoming economic investments in Upstate New York, such as Micron’s $100 billion investment in Clay, the state continues to need an all-of-the-above approach to the housing supply to address acute housing needs and accommodate job growth. Too often, however, Upstate communities do not have the tools to create mixed income rental housing, leaving many developments permit-ready but unable to secure financing. To bridge this gap and unlock more housing, Governor Hochul is launching the State’s first revolving loan fund to spur mixed-income rental development outside New York City. With a $50 million State investment, the fund will fill construction financing gaps by providing a lower-cost and more flexible form of capital than is generally available in market financing. The funding will revolve and self-sustain over time through repayments once projects have converted to permanent financing after construction.

    Housing Access Voucher Program Pilot

    As part of the FY26 Enacted Budget, Governor Hochul is investing $50 million for the first year of a four-year pilot program for state-funded vouchers for homeless families or families at imminent risk of losing their housing. Vouchers would be available to households making 50 percent of area median income. HCR will administer the program through local partners outside of New York City, with the NYC Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) and/or the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) administering the program within New York City. The vouchers will be a critical new tool to help New Yorkers escape or evade homelessness and housing insecurity.

    Provide Starter Home Innovation Funding

    Oftentimes, homes being built by the market today are larger and therefore less affordable than a traditional starter home. An undersupply of smaller, affordable homes limits mobility within the market, preventing young families from becoming homeowners and older New Yorkers from downsizing. Governor Hochul secured $50 million in capital funding to incentivize the building of more starter homes, including innovative approaches to homebuilding such as the use of factory-built and modular development.

    $40 Million to Support the Homeowner Protection Program (HOPP)

    The Homeowner Protection Program is a state-wide network of housing counseling and legal services organizations serving every county in New York. The network provides critical services to at-risk homeowners struggling to maintain their housing and avoid foreclosure. HOPP is also a front line defense in gentrifying neighborhoods helping to prevent fraud and deed theft for vulnerable homeowners. This funding will ensure that this network can continue to serve thousands of homeowners, preserving millions of dollars in equity and stabilizing communities.

    Expand and Strengthen the Resilient and Ready Programs

    Severe weather events are leaving New York homeowners in need of urgent repairs and long-term resilience measures. Governor Hochul secured $50 million in new funding for the Rapid Response Home Repair Program and Resilient Retrofits Program, which have provided vital assistance, helping over 1,300 homeowners to date recover and prepare for future disasters.

    Disincentivizing Institutional Investors from Buying Up One- and Two-Family Homes

    Nationally, private equity firms own more than 500,000 homes. According to some estimates, private equity firms are expected to own up to 40 percent of the single-family rental market by 2030. When large investors hold a disproportionate share of a local housing market it removes opportunities for homeownership, exacerbating the existing scarcity and driving up prices for remaining homes on the market. These consequences are felt most intensely by first-time and low- or moderate-income homebuyers.

    To help level the playing field and increase the opportunities for everyday individuals and families to purchase a home, Governor Hochul signed legislation to disincentivize large investment entities who own 10+ single- and two-family homes and act as a fiduciary for at least $30 million in assets under management from buying single- and two-family homes en masse, and will require a 90-day waiting period for institutional investors to make an offer on one- or two-family homes.

    The prohibition would also apply to an entity that receives funding from a covered institutional investor, other than in the form of a standard mortgage. Nonprofits, land banks, community land trusts, and foreclosure sales would be exempted. With the New York State Attorney General’s enforcement, covered entities that violate the waiting period would be subject to $250,000 penalties, and to $10,000 penalties for failing to provide required notices.

    Additionally, Governor Hochul signed legislation to prohibit institutional investors from claiming depreciation tax deductions for single- and two-family homes, or claiming interest deductions with respect to such homes, to disincentivize their accumulation of single- and two-family homes. The legislation also requires the New York Department of State (DOS) to provide notice when establishing a “cease and desist zone” in which homeowners who opt into coverage are prohibited from being solicited to sell their homes. The notice requirements will require information about the zone to be posted on DOS’ website when a zone is established and annually included in a local newspaper within the area of the zone.

    A safe and affordable home is a basic human right, and the only way to help New Yorkers achieve the American dream of homeownership is to build more housing and support our local communities.”

    Governor Hochul

    Strengthen Laws and Policies To Combat Home Appraisal Discrimination

    For many New Yorkers, their largest investment and most valuable asset is their home. Homes provide families with a safe place to live and an opportunity to build generational wealth. For too long, pervasive appraisal bias throughout the housing industry has unjustly stripped families of color of this opportunity, widening racial homeownership and wealth gaps. Governor Hochul secured agreement on legislation that will make it a violation of the State’s Human Rights Law to discriminate when providing real estate appraisals or in making such services available. The law will further enable DOS to fine appraisers for violations, in addition to other existing remedies, with half of those fines going to a fund to support fair housing enforcement. Governor Hochul also will be taking other administrative actions to diversify the appraiser workforce.

    Create an Affordable Homebuyer Tax Incentive

    Even when homes are developed for the express purpose of being sold to low- and moderate-income homebuyers, local property tax assessments value the homes at fair market value, presenting challenges to creating homes these homebuyers can afford to purchase. The Governor secured an affordable homebuyer property tax incentive at local opt-in for homes built with assistance from governmental entities, nonprofits, land banks, or community land trusts, and sold to low- and moderate-income homebuyers. This will aid such homebuyers by making their dream of homeownership more attainable by bringing down costs and increasing the supply of these homes.

    Double New York State Low Income Housing Credits Annually

    Modeled after the federal Low Income Housing Tax Credit Program, the New York State Low Income Housing Tax Credit Program (SLIHC) was signed into law in 2000 and has been critical to supporting the development of housing for low-and middle-income households. Governor Hochul is building on this success by including legislation in the Enacted Budget to double the amount of the tax credits available each year through the SLIHC program, making it the largest state low-income housing tax credit program in America. This action alone will generate upwards of $210 million in private investment in affordable housing per year.

    Unlock Historic Tax Credits by Decoupling and Expanding Eligibility

    Currently, New York State law requires Federal and State Historic Tax credits to be coupled together to the same investor and be available only in certain census tracts. These factors depress the economic value of both tax credits and needlessly turn investment away from housing projects, a problem felt especially acutely in upstate New York communities. Governor Hochul signed legislation that can unlock the maximum value of the tax credits by allowing for transferring the State credit to a different entity than the federal credit, and by eliminating the census tract eligibility requirement for affordable housing.

    Empower Communities to Redevelop Vacant Properties into Housing

    Many municipalities struggle with vacant and abandoned buildings that are in a significant state of disrepair in neighborhoods that lack the local economic conditions necessary to incentivize redevelopment by the private sector. Consequently, the investment required to redevelop these properties can exceed their value and the resulting funding gap prevents the property from being rehabilitated. To help communities fight back against vacant properties and revitalize neighborhoods, Governor Hochul secured agreement to authorize localities across the state to adopt a tax exemption to incentivize redevelopment of these properties into affordable homes.

    Embedded Flickr Album

    Governor Hochul’s Housing Agenda

    Governor Hochul is committed to addressing New York’s housing crisis and making the State more affordable and more livable for all New Yorkers. As part of the FY25 Enacted Budget, the Governor secured a landmark agreement to increase New York’s housing supply through new tax incentives for Upstate communities, new incentives and relief from certain state-imposed restrictions to create more housing in New York City, a $500 million capital fund to build up to 15,000 new homes on state-owned property, an additional $600 million in funding to support a variety of housing developments statewide and new protections for renters and homeowners. In addition, as part of the FY23 Enacted Budget, the Governor announced a five-year, $25 billion Housing Plan to create or preserve 100,000 affordable homes statewide, including 10,000 with support services for vulnerable populations, plus the electrification of an additional 50,000 homes. Nearly 60,000 homes have been created or preserved to date.

    The FY25 Enacted Budget also strengthened the Pro-Housing Community Program which the Governor launched in 2023. Pro-Housing certification is now a requirement for localities to access up to $650 million in discretionary funding. Currently, more than 300 communities have been certified, including the city of Syracuse.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Kristofer Haken Surrenders to New Hampshire Authorities 24 Hours After Federal Arrest Warrant Issued

    Source: US Marshals Service

    Portland, ME – The U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) Maine Violent Offender Task Force (MVOTF) announces the arrest of Kristofer Haken, 46, on multiple state and federal arrest warrants.

    Haken was a fugitive for approximately six months evading law enforcement after the issuance of a November 8, 2024, arrest warrant from the Portland Maine Police Department on one count of Conspiracy to Commit Elevated Aggravated Assault and two counts of Elevated Aggravated Assault stemming from a July 30, 2024, incident where a woman was shot and killed.

    On May 6, 2025, the U.S. Marshals Service in the District of Maine obtained a federal arrest warrant for unlawful flight to avoid prosecution. Haken surrendered to New Hampshire Probation and Parole on Wednesday, May 7, 2025, approximately 24 hours after the arrest warrant and wanted poster were issued. Haken was transported to a New Hampshire Correctional facility where he is currently in custody. Haken will be re-indicted in Maine to face his federal and state charges.

    The United States Marshal Service would like to recognize the following agencies who assisted in the fugitive investigation for Haken; Portland Maine Police Department, York County (Maine) Sheriff’s Office, U.S. Marshals Service Districts of New Hampshire and Northern New York, New Hampshire Probation and Parole, Barrington New Hampshire Police Department, Hartford Vermont Police Department, and the Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Inspector General.

    The USMS, Maine Violent Offender Task Force is comprised of members of the U.S. Marshals Service, Maine Department of Corrections, Biddeford Police Department, U.S. Border Patrol, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Maine National Guard Counterdrug Task Force and the Coast Guard Investigative Service.

    If you have any information regarding the whereabouts of any state or federal fugitive please contact the United States Marshals Service at MED.TIPLINE@usdoj.gov or submit a USMS Tip.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Video: FBI New York: Operation Restore Justice

    Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) (video statements)

    Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI New York Field Office, Christopher Raia, discusses the office’s Operation Restore Justice efforts. Operation Restore Justice is a nationwide coordinated enforcement effort to identify, track, and arrest child sex predators.

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    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WS27PDqNE2o

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI Video: FBI Cleveland – Operation Restore Justice

    Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) (video statements)

    FBI Cleveland participated in Operation Restore Justice from April 28 to May 1, 2025, and arrested 11 individuals across Northern Ohio. Operation Restore Justice is a nationwide initiative to identify, track, and arrest child sex predators across the country in coordination with all 55 of our FBI field offices.

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    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fu9FFUrZPsM

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Peacekeeping Ministerial: Investing in Prisons to Secure Long-lasting Peace

    Source: United Nations – Peacekeeping

    This story was written by the Justice and Corrections Service at the UN Department of Peace Operations, which supports the work of peacekeeping operations and special political missions, as well as other UN entities, to strengthen the rule of law and criminal justice systems, including courts and prisons. 

    In some peacekeeping settings, armed groups attack prisons as a deliberate strategy. Their aim may be to release dangerous inmates and destabilize communities or to free their own members and bolster their ranks by coercing newly released inmates to join them. In others, prisoners are breaking free to escape appalling conditions. Regardless of the reasons, a single mass escape can significantly set back what peacekeeping has taken years to accomplish.  

    “Peacekeepers risk their lives to oppose armed groups and protect civilians, but without a functioning prison system, high-risk prisoners can sometimes simply walk away,” warns Robert Pulver, Chief of the Justice and Corrections Service at the UN Department of Peace Operations. 

    Effective, well-managed prisons are essential to public safety and long-term peace. When prisons are not secured, they can become targets for armed groups. When they are overcrowded, under-resourced or inhumane, they can become flashpoints for violence, mass escapes and radicalization, undermining already fragile peace efforts.  “Without safe, secure and humane prisons, there can be no law and order and no rule of law, the lives of civilians are put in danger and peace remains at risk,” says Pulver.  

    The cost of inaction 

    In January, armed group offensives in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) resulted in prison breaks, including in the cities of Goma, Bukavu and Kabare. Over 7,000 prisoners escaped, of which more than 4,500 were high-risk inmates. Some were members of armed groups, some had been convicted of crimes against humanity, war crimes and conflict-related sexual violence. Some remain at large, making threats against victims and those who were involved in the legal proceedings against them. Some have rejoined armed groups, including in command positions.  

    In Bangui, capital of the Central African Republic (CAR), Ngaragba Prison was housing more than five times its intended capacity, causing food shortages, deaths from malnutrition and heightened security and health risks.  Makala Central Prison in Kinshasa, DRC, was designed to hold 1,500 inmates but was holding close to 10 times that when an escape occurred last September.  Prisons like these “are time bombs waiting to explode,” says Pulver, facing much higher risks of mass escapes.   

    In conflict-affected settings, prison breaks undo the hard work missions have undertaken to remove dangerous individuals from communities and hold them accountable. They erode confidence in state capacity to maintain order and exacerbate cycles of violence – especially when armed actors exploit prison breaks to advance their agendas.  

    Building safe prisons 

    With support from Member States, UN peacekeeping missions are helping national authorities in conflict-affected countries improve prison management and security. In the DRC, UN peacekeeping has supported the installation of surveillance systems, like CCTV and drones, the improvement of infrastructure and the development of emergency response protocols. In the CAR, we have supported health screenings for over 2,000 detainees, helping them get treatment for illness and malnutrition through the International Committee of the Red Cross. In Kosovo, we have supported rehabilitation programmes for inmates.  

    Currently, 28 Member States provide corrections personnel to peacekeeping and special political missions to help in these efforts. These officers help train national prison staff in key areas including the prevention of violent extremism and prison escapes. However, many challenges remain due to insufficient resources, jeopardizing the very security goals peacekeepers strive to achieve.  

    Stepping up support 

    Canada, Rwanda and Sweden co-chair the Group of Friends of Corrections in New York to draw more political support, expertise and resources for this often-neglected aspect of peace operations.  

    The upcoming Peacekeeping Ministerial in Berlin offers a key opportunity for Member States to strengthen this work. Participants are expected to pledge vital resources, including trained corrections personnel and equipment such as protective gear and metal detectors.  

    This support will help transform at-risk prisons from security liabilities into pillars of peace and public safety. 

    MIL OSI United Nations News –