NewzIntel.com

Category: Security

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Increasing probate threshold for families

    Source: New Zealand Government

    The Government has agreed to increase the probate threshold from $15,000 to $40,000 to save families time and money when accessing assets of deceased loved ones, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith says.

    “The threshold was last set in 2009 before the implementation of KiwiSaver. Most estates now include KiwiSaver balances well over $15,000, but still have to go through the High Court process. This results in a significant proportion of smaller estates being eaten up in court costs and legal fees. 

    “Executors need to be able to distribute lower-value assets, ensuring more of an estate goes to the beneficiaries, helping grieving families. The last thing they need is a costly legal process with extra paperwork to deal with.

    “I’m assured $40,000 is still sufficiently low enough to ensure there are still appropriate safeguards through the oversight of the High Court for higher value assets, to ensure against potential dishonesty, fraud, or the deceased person’s wishes not being followed.

    “The Ministry undertook targeted consultation with key stakeholders, including the law profession and financial services industry to gain feedback on an appropriate threshold level. 

    These changes will come into force on 24 September 2025.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Band Members from Partner Nations Participating in Pacific Partnership 2025 Perform at the University of Technology in Lae, Papua New Guinea July 2025 [Image 6 of 8]

    Source: United States Navy (Logistics Group Western Pacific)

    Issued by: on

    LAE, Papua New Guinea (July 30, 2025) Pacific Partnership 2025 multinational band members pose with students from the Papua New Guinea University of Technology elementary school in Lae, Papua New Guinea, July 30, 2025. Now in its 21st iteration, the Pacific Partnership series is the largest annual multinational humanitarian assistance and disaster management preparedness mission conducted in the Indo-Pacific. Pacific Partnership works collaboratively with host and partner nations to enhance regional interoperability and disaster response capabilities, increase security and stability in the region, and foster new and enduring friendships in the Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communications Specialist Seaman Mario E. Reyes Villatoro)

    Date Taken: 07.30.2025
    Date Posted: 07.30.2025 20:36
    Photo ID: 9228709
    VIRIN: 250730-N-OJ012-2013
    Resolution: 4685×3123
    Size: 1.64 MB
    Location: LAE, PG
    Web Views: 1
    Downloads: 0

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    This work, Band Members from Partner Nations Participating in Pacific Partnership 2025 Perform at the University of Technology in Lae, Papua New Guinea July 2025 [Image 8 of 8], by SA Mario Reyes Villatoro, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Pacific Partnership 2025 Leaders conduct a chaplain symposium aboard the Il Chul Bong, July 2025 [Image 1 of 2]

    Source: United States Navy (Logistics Group Western Pacific)

    Issued by: on

    LAE, Papua New Guinea (July 30, 2025) Pacific Partnership 2025 multinational team member U.S. Navy Lt. Reginald Anderson-Exul speaks during a chaplains combined prayer service aboard the Il Chul Bong, July 30, 2025. Now in its 21st iteration, the Pacific Partnership series is the largest annual multinational humanitarian assistance and disaster management preparedness mission conducted in the Indo-Pacific. Pacific Partnership works collaboratively with host and partner nations to enhance regional interoperability and disaster response capabilities, increase security and stability in the region, and foster new and enduring friendships in the Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Alexander Bussman)

    Date Taken: 07.29.2025
    Date Posted: 07.31.2025 02:58
    Photo ID: 9229248
    VIRIN: 250730-N-RW505-1516
    Resolution: 4975×3317
    Size: 9.69 MB
    Location: LAE, PG
    Web Views: 0
    Downloads: 0

    PUBLIC DOMAIN  

    This work, Pacific Partnership 2025 Leaders conduct a chaplain symposium aboard the Il Chul Bong, July 2025 [Image 2 of 2], by SA Alexander Bussman, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Former Guam Corrections Officer Sentenced to 120 Months in Federal Prison for Attempted Enticement of a Minor

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Hagåtña – SHAWN N. ANDERSON, United States Attorney for the Districts of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, announces that, Raymond T. Tammed, age 30, from Piti, Guam, was sentenced to 120 months imprisonment in the U.S. District Court of Guam for Attempted Enticement of a Minor, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2422(b).  The Court also ordered five years of supervised release and a $100 mandatory assessment fee.  Under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act, Tammed must register in every jurisdiction he resides, works, and goes to school.

    In May of 2024, federal investigators conducted an internet-based operation to identify and arrest individuals seeking to engage in sexual activity with minors on Guam. During that operation, Tammed contacted an undercover agent posing as a 13-year-old girl. Despite believing that he was conversing with an underage girl, Tammed sent sexually explicit messages, sought to arrange a sexual encounter, and sent the undercover agent a selfie and a picture of his genitals. Tammed later arranged to meet the undercover agent at the Andersen Air Force Base Visitors Center, where Tammed was arrested upon arrival.

    “This case demonstrates the dangers faced by our children during online activity,” stated United States Attorney Anderson. “We will continue these undercover operations to protect our communities from sexual predators.  I applaud the efforts of law enforcement in bringing Tammed to justice.”

    ​​“Keeping our children safe from ​exploitation and ​​abuse is the highest priority.  By taking predators like ​Tammed off the street, we are ensuring the safety of the most vulnerable members of our community,” said Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent in Charge Lucy Cabral-DeArmas.  “HSI will continue to seek justice to keep our children safe with zero tolerance for this heinous crime.”

    Investigation was conducted by Homeland Security Investigations and Air Force Office of Special Investigations Service, Detachment 602.

    This case was prosecuted by Benjamin K. Petersburg, Assistant United States Attorney in the District of Guam.

    This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing 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, please visit Justice.gov/PSC.

    # 

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI: ACTFORE Secures Patent for Intelligent Data Extraction from Unstructured Documents, Revolutionising Breach Response

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    RESTON, Va., July 31, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — ACTFORE, a leading provider of AI-powered breach response and data mining solutions, announced today the company has been granted a patent from the United States Patent and Trademark Office for its proprietary technology enabling targeted data extraction from unstructured document sets, a first-of-its kind patent in the data mining industry.

    Unlike many industries, the data mining and breach response fields have historically lacked patentable innovations due to their reliance on human-driven workflows and off-the-shelf automation. ACTFORE’s achievement represents a major advancement in automated breach response workflows: the first recognized patent for precision data extraction designed specifically to efficiently and accurately extract sensitive data from massive, unstructured information environments following a breach.

    “This patent isn’t just a milestone for ACTFORE, but for the entire industry,” said CEO Christian Geyer. “In a space where most work is still done manually or through tedious and inaccurate workflows, we’ve introduced a scalable, intelligent solution that truly learns and adapts and can work alongside our team of onshore experts to create an approach that merges manual precision with deep learning to create a hybrid workflow that is both fast and legally defensible.”

    The patent, “Techniques for Targeted Data Extraction from Unstructured Sets of Documents”, refers to ACTFORE’S dynamic interface that allows operators to define “visual boxes” around regions of interest on a document page, then automatically propagate those selections across structurally similar files using deep learning and FAISS-based clustering. Paired with advanced optical character recognition (OCR), the system can extract high-fidelity text, even from scanned or non-machine-readable documents. This allows for targeted, scalable parsing with minimal redundancy and dramatically reduced review time.

    “We’ve essentially built a facial recognition system, but for document layouts,” said Yumna Zaidi, Innovations Team Lead at ACTFORE and Lead Inventor on the patent. “Our tech creates unique embedding vectors for each document structure, letting us match and process them with unprecedented speed and accuracy.”

    This combination of automation and expert-driven human review ensures that sensitive information such as names, account numbers, or health data can be extracted quickly, accurately, and consistently, even across large and messy data sets.

    “Data breaches happen in chaotic, inconsistent environments and ACTFORE is built to handle the complexity,” added Dhiraj Sharma, Senior Data Scientist and Co-Inventor. “By integrating the latest automation and data mining tools with human judgment, we’re able to respond more efficiently and accurately than traditional methods. That’s where this patent truly delivers value.”

    The platform supports a wide range of document types—including unstructured and semi-structured PDFs, images, and text files—and automatically preserves selected coordinates for batch processing at scale. This not only accelerates review but also ensures consistent, defensible results across complex, multi-jurisdictional engagements.

    “We didn’t just apply automation for the sake of speed. We designed a product that understands the complexity of each task and empowers humans to make better decisions, faster,” said Sanskriti Shivhare, Team Lead and Co-Inventor.

    This newly issued patent strengthens ACTFORE’s growing intellectual property portfolio and reflects its continued investment in transforming breach response through applied AI. As data breach volumes rise and regulatory timelines tighten, ACTFORE’s patented technology sets a new industry benchmark for intelligent, scalable remediation.

    About ACTFORE
    ACTFORE delivers advanced AI/ML-powered data mining solutions for legal counsel, insurance carriers, and corporations, specialising in swiftly detecting and uncovering compromised sensitive information in cyber breaches. Capable of processing over 1 million files per hour, ACTFORE’s on-premises, on-shore, technology-first approach offers the fastest and most accurate assessments, enabling clients to quickly understand the scope of exfiltration, mitigate risk, and make informed decisions about ransom payments. Clients maintain full control of their data through ACTFORE’s secure lab or local deployment options. Trusted by over 25 insurance carriers and 35 law firms, including premier Am Law 100 firms, ACTFORE sets the new standard in incident response and data forensics. For more information, please visit www.actfore.com.

    Press Contact:

    Gilda Safowaa
    Communications & Content Strategist
    240-482-9570
    Gilda.Safowaa@actfore.com

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/6ab26563-863e-4323-9b45-45a6c178bd92

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Family pay tribute to a man murdered in east London

    Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

    The family of a man who was fatally stabbed in Ilford, have paid tribute to their son describing him as having a “remarkable ability to connect with everyone he met.”

    Gurjeet Singh, 30 known as Gary, died on Wednesday, 23 July at an address in Felbrigge Road, Ilford.

    In a statement, Gary’s family said:

    “Gary was a well-loved man who had a remarkable ability to connect with everyone he met. A true social butterfly, nothing brought him more joy than being surrounded by his family. Gary will be deeply missed, but his memory will live on in our hearts forever.”

    Police were called by the London Ambulance Service to reports of an altercation at a residential address. Officers attended as Gary was treated for stab wounds. Despite the best efforts of the paramedics, he sadly died at the scene.

    On Wednesday, 23 July, officers arrested Amardeep Singh, 27 (03.02.1998) of Redbridge, IG3 on suspicion of murder. He remains in custody and is due to appear at the Old Bailey for trial on Monday, 5 January 2026

    Detectives also arrested a 29-year-old man and three women aged 29, 30 and 54. They have all since been bailed until October 2025 while enquiries continue.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Hlabisa engages with business on review of White Paper on Local Government

    Source: Government of South Africa

    Hlabisa engages with business on review of White Paper on Local Government

    The Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA), Velenkosini Hlabisa, has wrapped up the fourth strategic CoGTA–National Business Initiative (NBI) Roundtable focused on reviewing the 1998 White Paper on Local Government.

    This final session took place yesterday in East London, Eastern Cape, in anticipation of the 31 July 2025 deadline for public submissions on the Discussion Document regarding the review of the White Paper.

    This Eastern Cape-focused session follows successful engagements in the Western Cape, Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal, forming part of a broader, inclusive and participatory policy reform process under the theme: ‘Every Municipality Must Work – A Call to Collective Action’.

    “The roundtable aimed to harness practical insights from the business sector to shape a modern, fit-for-purpose local government system. 

    “In his keynote address, Minister Hlabisa emphasised the critical importance of leadership in local government, particularly regarding competence, capability, and ethical conduct,” a CoGTA statement read. 

    The talks provided the business sector with a platform to reflect on the legacy and limitations of the 1998 White Paper and identify policy priorities for a renewed local government framework. 

    Hlabisa commended the cleanliness of East London, noting that this final consultation was not a cosmetic exercise but a substantive effort to reset the vision of the 1998 White Paper. 

    He also acknowledged the current challenges facing municipalities, including rapid urbanisation, climate change, youth unemployment and declining public trust.

    “Throughout the public consultations, a consistent message has emerged from traditional leaders, business, civil society organisations, and citizens alike that every municipality must work to create a conducive environment for investment, stimulate economic activity, and ensure sustainable service delivery matched by payment for services.” 

    The Minister further reflected on the need to reposition municipalities as economic enablers through a differentiated funding regime, overseen by a competent and accountable leadership. 

    He also stressed the importance of streamlining regulatory frameworks to enable climate-resilient planning, budgeting, and infrastructure development – guided by investment foresight and institutionalised collaborative partnerships beyond the review process.

    “In conclusion, the Minister committed to requesting the establishment of a dedicated unit within the South African Police Service (SAPS) to combat corruption in local government, noting that eliminating corruption is essential to achieving effective governance,” CoGTA said.

    The Minister was joined by the Executive Mayor of Buffalo City Metro, Princess Faku, who welcomed the timely review, highlighting the complex challenges municipalities face and the need for tailored collaborations with business to address capacity constraints and stimulate local economic development.

    The CEO of NBI, Shameela Soobramoney, described the engagement as a pivotal moment to shape sustainable and inclusive local government systems. 

    She emphasised the need for the evolution of Integrated Development Plans (IDPs) into investment prospectuses – bankable project portfolios that can drive meaningful change.

    “Efficient local government is essential for economic growth and business sustainability. This roundtable offered business leaders a strategic platform to influence policies that reduce investment risk and foster a more conducive business environment.” – SAnews.gov.za 
     

    Gabisile

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Anna Politkovskaya-Arman Soldin Prize for Courage in Journalism – Call for applications

    Source: Republic of France in English
    The Republic of France has issued the following statement:

    The Anna Politkovskaya-Arman Soldin Prize for Courage in Journalism will be awarded for the third time in early November 2025, to coincide with the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists, established in 2013 by the United Nations at France’s initiative, in memory of French journalists Ghislaine Dupont and Claude Verlon, assassinated in Mali.

    The aim of this prize is to distinguish the work of journalists and photojournalists committed to carrying out their essential role of informing people, in particular in theatres of conflict or during crises.

    Through this prize, France reaffirms its steadfast commitment to the defence of freedom of the press and pays tribute to two emblematic figures of journalistic courage, killed in the performance of their duties. First, the Russian journalist Anna Politkovskaya, whose investigations published in the Novaya Gazeta on corruption, human rights violations and the war in Chechnya cost her her life, along with six of her colleagues. Second, the Franco-Bosnian AFP journalist and photojournalist Arman Soldin, killed on 9 May 2023 in the field, whose work helped inform the entire world of the reality of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine.

    In 2024, the jury decided to recognize the work of Yuval Abraha, Israeli journalist, and Basel Adra, a Palestinian journalist, which focused on Israel’s settlements in the West Bank. Both journalists also belong to the Israeli-Palestinian collective that produced the documentary “No Other Land” last year, which won an Oscar in 2025.

    Journalists wishing to apply for the 2025 prize may submit their application to presse.dcp at diplomatie.gouv.fr using this form, until midnight on 30 August 2025: download the form (Word – 37 Ko).

    The Prize is accompanied by a lump-sum of €10,000, which must be used to finance a project carried out by the prizewinner.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Serious crash Ethelton

    Source: New South Wales – News

    Police are on the scene of a serious crash at Ethelton.

    Just after 5pm today emergency services were called to the intersection of Maud Street and Carlisle Street after reports of a crash involving a motorbike.

    Carlisle Road is currently closed to traffic.

    Major Crash Investigators are attending the scene.

    Please avoid the area.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Government meeting (2025, No. 25)

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Government of the Russian Federation – Government of the Russian Federation –

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

    1. On Amendments to the Resolution of the Government of the Russian Federation of June 12, 2008 No. 450

    The draft resolution was developed in order to consolidate the powers of the Ministry of Agriculture of the Russian Federation, established by Federal Law No. 52-FZ of April 1, 2025 “On Amendments to Certain Legislative Acts of the Russian Federation”.

    2. On the draft federal law “On Amendments to Article 61-1 of the Federal Law “On Consumer Credit (Loan)”

    The bill is aimed at supporting citizens in the event of the birth or adoption of a second child or subsequent children.

    3. On the draft federal law “On Amending Article 3462 of Part Two of the Tax Code of the Russian Federation”

    The bill is aimed at preserving the status of agricultural producers for organizations and individual entrepreneurs operating in the constituent entities of the Russian Federation, in whose territory the legal regime of the counter-terrorism operation has been introduced and (or) was in effect.

    4. On the allocation of budgetary allocations to Rosleskhoz in 2025 from the reserve fund of the Government of the Russian Federation for the provision of subventions from the federal budget to the budgets of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation

    The draft order is aimed at providing financial support for the costs of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation for extinguishing forest fires in emergency situations in forests of various types.

    5. On the draft federal constitutional law “On Amendments to Certain Federal Constitutional Laws”

    The draft law proposes to establish that in the territories of the Donetsk People’s Republic, the Lugansk People’s Republic, the Zaporizhia and Kherson regions, documents on the verification of measuring instruments issued by state and other official bodies of Ukraine, state and other official bodies of new entities, are valid until the end of their validity period. The draft law is expected to enter into force on January 1, 2026.

    6. On the draft amendments of the Government of the Russian Federation to the draft federal law No. 840725-8 “On Amendments to Articles 2463 and 427 of Part Two of the Tax Code of the Russian Federation”

    The draft amendments are aimed at increasing the investment attractiveness of the preferential regime created in the Kuril Islands.

    7. On the draft amendments of the Government of the Russian Federation to the draft federal law No. 819547-8 “On Amendments to the Federal Law “On Protection of Competition” and Certain Legislative Acts of the Russian Federation”

    The draft amendments are aimed at clarifying the provisions of the bill, which provides for the transfer of mandatory auctions by law to electronic form according to uniform unified rules.

    8. On amendments to certain acts of the Government of the Russian Federation (in terms of amendments to the Regulation on the Ministry of Transport of the Russian Federation and the regulations on federal executive bodies subordinate to it)

    The draft act is aimed at implementing the powers to establish a public easement by Rosmorrechflot, Rosavtodor, Rosaviatsia and the Ministry of Transport of Russia in cases stipulated by Federal Law No. 254-FZ of July 31, 2020 “On the specifics of regulating certain relations for the purpose of implementing priority projects for the modernization and expansion of infrastructure and on amendments to certain legislative acts of the Russian Federation.”

    Moscow, July 30, 2025

    The content of the press releases of the Department of Press Service and References is a presentation of materials submitted by federal executive bodies for discussion at a meeting of the Government of the Russian Federation.

    Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    .

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Materials for the Government meeting on July 31, 2025

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Government of the Russian Federation – Government of the Russian Federation –

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

    The following issues are planned to be considered at the meeting:

    1. On Amendments to the Resolution of the Government of the Russian Federation of June 12, 2008 No. 450

    The draft resolution was developed in order to consolidate the powers of the Ministry of Agriculture of the Russian Federation, established by Federal Law No. 52-FZ of April 1, 2025 “On Amendments to Certain Legislative Acts of the Russian Federation”.

    2. On the draft federal law “On Amendments to Article 61-1 of the Federal Law “On Consumer Credit (Loan)”

    The bill is aimed at supporting citizens in the event of the birth or adoption of a second child or subsequent children.

    3. On the draft federal law “On Amending Article 3462 of Part Two of the Tax Code of the Russian Federation”

    The bill is aimed at preserving the status of agricultural producers for organizations and individual entrepreneurs operating in the constituent entities of the Russian Federation, in whose territory the legal regime of the counter-terrorism operation has been introduced and (or) was in effect.

    4. On the allocation of budgetary allocations to Rosleskhoz in 2025 from the reserve fund of the Government of the Russian Federation for the provision of subventions from the federal budget to the budgets of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation

    The draft order is aimed at providing financial support for the costs of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation for extinguishing forest fires in emergency situations in forests of various types.

    5. On the draft federal constitutional law “On Amendments to Certain Federal Constitutional Laws”

    The draft law proposes to establish that in the territories of the Donetsk People’s Republic, the Lugansk People’s Republic, the Zaporizhia and Kherson regions, documents on the verification of measuring instruments issued by state and other official bodies of Ukraine, state and other official bodies of new entities, are valid until the end of their validity period. The draft law is expected to enter into force on January 1, 2026.

    6. On the draft amendments of the Government of the Russian Federation to the draft federal law No. 840725-8 “On Amendments to Articles 2463 and 427 of Part Two of the Tax Code of the Russian Federation”

    The draft amendments are aimed at increasing the investment attractiveness of the preferential regime created in the Kuril Islands.

    7. On the draft amendments of the Government of the Russian Federation to the draft federal law No. 819547-8 “On Amendments to the Federal Law “On Protection of Competition” and Certain Legislative Acts of the Russian Federation”

    The draft amendments are aimed at clarifying the provisions of the bill, which provides for the transfer of mandatory auctions by law to electronic form according to uniform unified rules.

    8. On amendments to certain acts of the Government of the Russian Federation (in terms of amendments to the Regulation on the Ministry of Transport of the Russian Federation and the regulations on federal executive bodies subordinate to it)

    The draft act is aimed at implementing the powers to establish a public easement by Rosmorrechflot, Rosavtodor, Rosaviatsia and the Ministry of Transport of Russia in cases stipulated by Federal Law No. 254-FZ of July 31, 2020 “On the specifics of regulating certain relations for the purpose of implementing priority projects for the modernization and expansion of infrastructure and on amendments to certain legislative acts of the Russian Federation.”

    Moscow, July 30, 2025

    The content of the press releases of the Department of Press Service and References is a presentation of materials submitted by federal executive bodies for discussion at a meeting of the Government of the Russian Federation.

    Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    .

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: AI to stop prison violence before it happens

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    AI to stop prison violence before it happens

    Prison officers will use artificial intelligence (AI) to stop violence before it breaks out under new plans set out by the Lord Chancellor today (31 July).

    • Clampdown on violence in prisons as AI helps to identify dangerous prisoners and bring them under tight supervision
    • AI will also be used to uncover secret messages sent by prisoners and stop weapons or contraband getting into prisons  
    • Ministry of Justice’s AI Action Plan sets out how tech will cut reoffending and make streets safe as part of Plan for Change

    Under the Ministry of Justice’s AI Action Plan artificial intelligence predicts the risk an offender could pose and informs decisions to put dangerous prisoners under tighter supervision to cut crime and deliver swifter justice for victims. This will help to cut reoffending and make our streets safe, part of the Plan for Change. 

    AI will be used across prisons, probation and courts to better track offenders and assess the risk they pose with tools that can predict violence behind bars, uncover secret messages sent by prisoners and connect offender records across different systems. 

    The AI violence predictor analyses different factors such as a prisoner’s age and previous involvement in violent incidents while in custody. This will help prison officers assess threat levels on wings and intervene or move prisoners before violence escalates. 

    Another AI tool will be able to digitally scan the contents of mobile phones seized from prisoners to rapidly flag messages that could provide intelligence on potential crimes being committed behind bars, such as secret code words. 

     This will allow staff to discover potential threats of violence to other inmates or prison officers as well as plans to escape and smuggle in weapons or contraband. 

     These phones – often used for gang activity, drug trafficking and intimidation – are a major source of violence in prisons. 

    This technology, which uses AI-driven language analysis, has already been trialled across the prison estate and has analysed over 8.6 million messages from 33,000 seized phones.  

    Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, Shabana Mahmood, said:

    Artificial intelligence will transform the justice system. We are embracing its full potential as part of our Plan for Change.

    These tools are already fighting violence in prisons, tracking offenders, and releasing our staff to focus on what they do best: cutting crime and making our streets safer.

    The AI Action Plan also outlines how the department will create a single digital ID for all offenders with AI helping to link separate records across courts, prisons and probation for the first time. 

    This will match records that may never be linked through old search systems due to slight typos or missing words, meaning greater monitoring and more effective sentencing. 

    In the Probation Service, AI pilots have already shown a 50% reduction in note-taking time, allowing officers to focus on risk management, monitoring and face-to-face meetings with offenders.  

     Building on this success, the tool will be rolled out to all probation officers, and potentially in prisons and courts too. 

    The AI Action Plan also sets out how technology can ease pressure on courts and improve services for the public.  This includes a digital assistant is being developed to help families resolve child arrangement disputes outside of court. 

    Alexander Iosad, Director of Government Innovation Policy at the Tony Blair Institute, said:

    This Action Plan shows exactly the kind of ambition we need across government to embrace AI for a genuine renewal of our public services. If implemented well and at pace, these technologies won’t just ease the pressure on our prisons but also help offenders receive the personalised support they need for effective rehabilitation, making streets safer, and ensuring that victims facing incredibly difficult moments get the justice they deserve. This is what modern, data-driven public service reform to deliver real change for citizens should look like.

    Earlier this year, the Lord Chancellor set out her vision for the Probation Service, which included a £8 million pledge to introduce new technology to help risk assess offenders and cut back on admin, increasing focus on those offenders who pose the greatest risk to the public.  

    In the Spending Review, the Government announced that the Probation Service will receive up to £700 million, an almost 45% increase in funding. This new funding will mean tens of thousands more offenders can be tagged and monitored in the community.

    Updates to this page

    Published 31 July 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Letter from Martyn Oliver to the Secretary of State for Justice about Oakhill Secure Training Centre

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Correspondence

    Letter from Martyn Oliver to the Secretary of State for Justice about Oakhill Secure Training Centre

    Ofsted’s Chief Inspector sets out the intention to invoke the urgent notification process for Oakhill Secure Training Centre, along with findings from recent visits.

    Applies to England

    Documents

    Letter to Secretary of State for Justice: urgent notification – Oakhill Secure Training Centre

    PDF, 136 KB, 5 pages

    Details

    This letter was sent from Sir Martyn Oliver to the Secretary of State for Justice, Rt Hon Shabana Mahmood MP. The letter sets out the intention to invoke the urgent notification process for Oakhill Secure Training Centre.

    It also provides a summary of findings from previous visits.

    Updates to this page

    Published 31 July 2025

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    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Urgent notification issued for Oakhill STC after inspectors find profound and systemic failures

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Urgent notification issued for Oakhill STC after inspectors find profound and systemic failures

    In response to the serious risk of harm to children, Ofsted, CQC and HMI Prisons have issued an urgent notification about Oakhill STC to the Secretary of State for Justice, Rt Hon Shabana Mahmood MP.

    The urgent notification comes after an inspection earlier this month found a palpable change in culture at Oakhill Secure Training Centre (STC) since its last inspection. Inspectors uncovered serious and systemic failures at the centre, with safeguarding systems in disarray.

    Read the letter from Martyn Oliver to the Secretary of State for Justice about Oakhill Secure Training Centre

    Inspectors reported that Oakhill is no longer child-centred and staff conduct is of significant concern. Twenty-three staff were suspended between November 2024 and 13 July 2025, including 16 in response to allegations about their conduct with children. Since 14 July 2025, 7 more staff members have been suspended relating to their conduct with children.

    Inspectors found a fractured leadership team. The centre director and one of the two deputy directors are suspended from their duties, and the other deputy director was recently dismissed from employment. An interim director and new deputy director have started work at the centre, but have had limited opportunity to make any meaningful impact.    

    Oakhill was judged inadequate at its last full inspection in October 2024. Since 2017, it has not been judged higher than ‘requires improvement to be good’.

    The Secretary of State now has 28 days to respond with an action plan for improvement at the centre.

    Notes to editors

    The inspection of Oakhill Secure Training Centre took place from 21 to 25 July 2025; the full report will be published in line with Ofsted’s usual inspection timelines.

    Press office

    8.30am to 6pm Monday to Friday 0300 013 0415

    Updates to this page

    Published 31 July 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Evidence of poor implementation of the Digital Services Act (DSA) by X and the Republic of Ireland – P-003074/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Priority question for written answer  P-003074/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Günther Sidl (S&D)

    The DSA came into force in February 2024; it lays down specific obligations for large online platforms to tackle illegal hate speech on the internet.

    However, as explained in the blog post ‘X ist ein rechtsfreier Raum’ (‘X is a legal vacuum’) by an Austrian journalist and television presenter, there are considerable doubts as to whether, in practice, the DSA is being implemented in accordance with the law[1]. For example, following a criminal complaint made in order to have a perpetrator of hate speech on X investigated, both Twitter International Unlimited Company in Dublin, which is responsible for processing data for X in the EU, and the Irish Department of Justice refused to comply with a Vienna Regional Criminal Court order to provide information. The Austrian courts have therefore been unable to investigate the perpetrator.

    • 1.Does the Commission regard it as permissible for an online platform to refuse to provide information to a Member State’s judicial authority on the ground that only requests under a bilateral mutual legal assistance agreement will be responded to?
    • 2.Does the Commission regard it as permissible for a Member State to refuse to provide assistance on the ground that it is competent only if the requested data are physically stored on its territory?
    • 3.Will the Commission take this case as an opportunity to look into whether X and the Republic of Ireland have breached their obligations under the DSA?

    Submitted: 24.7.2025

    • [1] https://www.arminwolf.at/2025/06/28/x-ist-ein-rechtsfreier-raum/
    Last updated: 31 July 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Secretary Noem is Taking a Sledgehammer to Criminal Human Trafficking Rings

    Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency

    Headline: Secretary Noem is Taking a Sledgehammer to Criminal Human Trafficking Rings

    lass=”text-align-center”>On this World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, Kristi Noem and the Department of Homeland Security continue taking action to disrupt criminal human trafficking organizations
    WASHINGTON – On this year’s World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is announcing a series of major crack downs against the worst of the worst criminal organizations: human trafficking rings

     
    The previous administration’s open border policies empowered human traffickers and allowed over 450,000 unaccompanied children to be illegally smuggled over the border

     
    Under President Trump and DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, the full weight of the American government is bringing the hammer down on human trafficking rings

      In just the first few months, the Trump administration has developed leads on thousands of human trafficking cases

     
    DHS has also cracked down on the criminal terrorist gang Tren de Aragua, which enriches itself through the sex trafficking of vulnerable young women

      The Trump administration has arrested more than 2,700 members of Tren de Aragua so far

     
    This crisis is fueled by organized crime networks: sophisticated cartels that exploited the weakness of the previous administration, especially its open border and refusal to enforce immigration law, to rake in billions from forced labor, brutal sexual exploitation, coercing innocent people into drug running, and other heinous crimes

     
    “The brave men and women of DHS are the best in the world at going after traffickers

    They are always able to track down those who are trafficking individuals, find the ringleaders, and rip that evil off by its head,” said Secretary Kristi Noem

    “I’m so thankful that I get the chance to lead individuals like that, and agents who get up every day to help save our children and to save women and men from the kind of slavery that we’ve seen

    ” 
    Below are some examples of how DHS is fighting to put human traffickers out of business: 

    July 28, 2025: As part of Operation Apex Predator, a Child Exploitation Investigations Unit initiative with the Cyber Crimes Center, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Newark arrested four illegal alien child predators over the course of four days

    All four are registered sex offenders

    July 23, 2025: ICE arrested 243 illegal aliens in the Denver metro area

    Among those arrested were aliens wanted for human trafficking, and several members of transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), including Tren de Aragua (TdA), Los Zetas, and the Sinaloa Cartel

    July 22, 2025: Following an ICE Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) investigation, a resident of Laredo, Texas was sentenced to 63 months in prison for smuggling 101 migrants in a locked trailer

    Among the illegal aliens smuggled were 12 children

    The suspect was sentenced after pleading guilty to conspiracy to transport migrants

    July 21, 2025: As a result of an investigation by ICE HSI Rio Grande Valley, a convicted human smuggler was sentenced to 20 years in prison for possessing images of sexual assaults of prepubescent children

    July 10, 2025: ICE and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) executed criminal warrant operations at marijuana facilities in Carpinteria and Camarillo, California

    In these facilities, at least 14 migrant children were rescued from potential exploitation, forced labor, and human trafficking

    During this operation, federal officers also arrested at least 361 illegal aliens

    Among those arrested were criminals with convictions for kidnapping, rape, attempted rape, and attempted child molestation, among other charges

    July 10, 2025: As the result of an ICE New York investigation, the leader of a Mexican sex trafficking organization was sentenced to 188 months in prison for sex trafficking multiple victims by force, fraud, and coercion

    July 9, 2025: An ICE Del Rio investigation resulted in an illegal Honduran alien being sentenced to 10 years in prison, with three years of supervised release, for his role in smuggling thousands of aliens into the United States for financial gain

    His smuggling conspiracy spanned three years and involved thousands of aliens from 11 different countries

    July 7, 2025: Border Patrol agents assisted the U

    S

    Marshals in executing an arrest warrant on a high-priority target linked to a criminal syndicate operating in human exploitation

    The suspect, a U

    S

    citizen, was wanted for multiple charges, including procurement of persons, placing individuals into prostitution, residing in a house of prostitution, and profiting from the earnings of prostitution

    The suspect was arrested without incident in Yuma, Arizona

     
    June 24, 2025: HSI Nashville identified one child victim and one adult victim of labor trafficking

    During an immigration court proceeding, the child victim revealed that she and her 18-year-old brother had been forced by their sponsor to work to pay off their smuggling fees and to pay for the sponsor’s household expenses

    June 16, 2025: A worksite enforcement operation by ICE HSI targeted employers and subcontractors who knowingly hire illegal aliens

    During this operation, HSI Mobile identified and rescued a child and arrested eight foreign nationals for violating immigration law

    The child was found to be working among adults and was believed to have never attended school since entering the United States two years ago

    June 6, 2025: The Department of Justice (DOJ) indicted Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Venezuelan illegal alien and member of MS-13 arrested by ICE, on charges of alien smuggling and conspiracy to commit alien smuggling

    Despite the mainstream media insisting for months that Garcia was an innocent “Maryland father,” he is now standing trial after evidence emerged of his involvement in criminal smuggling rings

    June 2, 2025: ICE Rio Grande Valley discovered a stash house in South Texas and subsequently arrested 16 illegal aliens

    The owner of the property admitted to harboring the illegal aliens, who came from five different countries

    A Mexican national was taken in for questioning for his role in human smuggling

    May 28, 2025: HSI New York special agents arrested an adult male from Ecuador at his residence for violations relating to the sexual exploitation of a child

    New York received information regarding a 15-year-old female who was apprehended near El Paso, Texas, after illegally entering the United States

    At that time, she was pregnant with the adult’s child and had been in a relationship with him in Ecuador since the age of thirteen

    The subject organized the smuggling of the teenager across the border to engage in sexual acts

    His mother sponsored her after her illegal entry, and the subject continued his relationship with the children, living with his mother in Harlem

    May 28, 2025: CBP issued a Withhold Release Order against Zhen Fa 7, a Chinese-flagged fishing vessel

    As a result, CBP officers at all U

    S

    ports of entry will detain seafood harvested by Zhen Fa 7 based on reasonable suspicion that the vessel uses forced labor to harvest such seafood

    May 28, 2025: Border Patrol agents in the San Diego Sector prevented an attempt to smuggle two Mexican nationals into the United States

    The attempt involved one United States citizen and one Mexican national, who attempted to smuggle the illegal aliens across the border using a truck

    Inside the truck were three fully loaded firearms, including a “ghost gun

    ” The suspected smugglers face felony charges of bringing in and harboring aliens, and unlawful acts involving firearms

     
    May 12, 2025: HSI Austin identified and rescued a child, arrested two Guatemalan nationals for violating immigration law, and initiated an HSI-led investigation of state and federal charges of human trafficking and statutory rape

    During a welfare check, HSI Agents, assisted by the FBI, identified a pregnant 14-year-old female residing with an unrelated adult male sponsor, later determined to be the biological father of the unborn child

    May 7, 2025: CBP’s Air and Marine Operations (AMO) interdicted a vessel with four illegal aliens from Uzbekistan that were being smuggled into Puerto Rico

    The vessel attempted to enter Puerto Rico on the island of Vieques; onboard were the four illegal aliens from Uzbekistan and three United States citizens

    The Uzbeki nationals did not have any documents for an authorized entry or stay in the United States

    May 4, 2025: Border Patrol agents in the Tucson Sector arrested a United States citizen and two Mexican nationals after a high-speed pursuit

    The United States citizen, who was driving the car and had an extensive criminal history, fled from law enforcement at high speed after failing to stop at an immigration checkpoint

    After crashing into another car, the three occupants fled on foot before being arrested

    The driver faces federal charges that include human smuggling, fleeing law enforcement, and endangering human life

    May 2, 2025: Four Mexican nationals in the United States illegally were charged for their roles in an international human smuggling conspiracy that brought aliens across the Canadian border into the United States for profit

    The smuggling organization had been operating for two years and smuggled hundreds of aliens per week through Canada

    The aliens or their family members would pay thousands of dollars to be smuggled into the United States

    April 29, 2025: CBP officers at the Area Port of San Luis arrested a woman in connection with the failed smuggling attempt of a child

    The suspect, a Mexican citizen, had sedated the child prior to attempting to cross the border

    The suspect also presented a false birth certificate and alleged that she was the mother; the officers discovered that there was no family relationship between the woman and the child

    April 2, 2025: CBP issued a Withhold Release Order against Taepyung Salt Farm, based on information that reasonably indicates the use of forced labor in the production of the company’s sea salt products

    As a result, CBP personnel at all U

    S

    ports of entry will detain sea salt products from Taepyung Salt Farm in South Korea

    March 25, 2025: After an ICE Arizona investigation with law enforcement partners, a human smuggling coordinator was sentenced to 30 months in prison for her role in smuggling over 100 Colombians into the United States

    She had been operating a travel agency in her native country, Colombia, where she would charge the victims a fee to travel to Mexico, with additional bribes required at Mexican airports

    February 14, 2025: Working with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, an ICE investigation led to a four-count indictment against eight defendants with ties to Tren de Aragua on charges related to their involvement with a transnational commercial sex enterprise

    Everyone can be part of the fight against human trafficking

    The DHS Blue Campaign can help you recognize human trafficking and provide resources to report suspicious activity to law enforcement

     
    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Newsom signs legislation 7.30.25

    Source: US State of California 2

    Jul 30, 2025

    SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom today announced that he has signed the following bills:

    • AB 17 by Assemblymember Juan Alanis (R-Modesto) – Elections: precinct maps.
    • AB 377 by Assemblymember David Tangipa (R-Clovis) – High-Speed Rail Authority: business plan: Merced to Bakersfield segment. A signing message can be found here.
    • AB 379 by Assemblymember Nick Schultz (D-Burbank) – Crimes: prostitution.
    • AB 642 by Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi (D-Torrance) – Emergencies proclaimed by the Governor: school employee catastrophic leave.
    • AB 951 by Assemblymember Tri Ta (R-Westminster) – Health care coverage: behavioral diagnoses.
    • AB 1029 by Assemblymember Avelino Valencia (D-Anaheim) – Statements of financial interest: digital financial assets.
    • AB 1051 by Assemblymember Laurie Davies (R-Laguna Niguel) – Route 76: Payómkawish Highway.
    • AB 1114 by Assemblymember Anamarie Ávila Farías (D-Martinez) – Emergency vehicles: fee and toll exemptions.
    • AB 1216 by the Committee on Education – Elementary and secondary education: omnibus.
    • AB 1459 by the Committee on Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials – Hazardous waste: underground storage tanks.
    • SB 251 by Senator Anna Caballero (D-Merced) – Claims against the state: appropriation.
    • SB 428 by Senator John Laird (D-Santa Cruz) – State Auditor: permanent office.
    • SB 521 by Senator Lena Gonzalez (D-Long Beach) – Public employment: disqualification.
    • SB 648 by Senator Lola Smallwood-Cuevas (D-Los Angeles) – Employment: gratitudes: enforcement.
    • SB 652 by Senator Laura Richardson (D-South Bay) – Private security services: security guards: training.
    • SB 693 by Senator Dave Cortese (D-Silicon Valley) – Employees: meal periods.

    For full text of the bills, visit: http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov.

    Press releases, Recent news

    Recent news

    Jul 30, 2025

    News What you need to know: California is standing up for all Americans by challenging Trump’s unlawful tariff policy, which is slowing the national economy and raising prices for consumers.  SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom today filed an amicus brief in support of…

    Jul 30, 2025

    News What you need to know: California is taking targeted action to address the mental health crisis among young men and boys today with a new executive order focused on suicide prevention, behavioral health, and helping find purpose through education, family, and…

    Jul 29, 2025

    News SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom today announced the following appointments:Gerald Tolbert, of La Jolla, has been appointed to the Medical Board of California. Tolbert has been a Clinical Assistant Professor at the Department of Emergency Medicine and Medical…

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Digital Policy Office introduces initiatives to promote cybersecurity in second half 2025 (with photos)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Digital Policy Office introduces initiatives to promote cybersecurity in second half 2025  
    The Commissioner for Digital Policy, Mr Tony Wong, said that with rapid developments in the digital era, cybersecurity threats have grown increasingly severe. The Government is adopting a multipronged strategy to continuously enhance the cybersecurity resilience of Hong Kong. Reviewing the DPO’s work on cybersecurity in the first half of the year, Mr Wong stated that in addition to co-ordinating with the HKIRC to launch the Cybersec One Programme to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), schools, and non-governmental organisations in strengthening their cybersecurity protection level, the DPO also worked closely with the CSTCB, the HKCERT and various stakeholders to organise a range of awareness campaigns and cybersecurity drills to raise cybersecurity awareness and response capabilities among government departments and the public. In the second half of the year, the DPO will continue to launch a variety of initiatives, including co-ordinating with the HKCERT to implement the Cybersecurity Service Providers Connect Programme, leading the organising of the second Hong Kong Cybersecurity Attack and Defence Drill, and hosting a series of activities to fully support the annual China Cybersecurity Week. These initiatives will further promote cross-sectoral and cross-regional collaboration, strengthen the local cybersecurity ecosystem, and drive the sustainable development of Hong Kong’s digital economy.
     
    At the briefing, the Chief Superintendent of the CSTCB, Mr Lam Cheuk-ho, announced the technology crime figures recorded in the first half of 2025. A total of 16 262 cases were recorded, with financial losses exceeding $3 billion, mainly attributable to substantial losses from online investment fraud, with both figures representing an increase of 0.5 per cent and 14.7 per cent respectively compared to the same period last year. Among these cases, there were only 42 incidents involving destructive hacking, a 22 per cent decrease compared to the same period last year. Mr Lam emphasised that in the face of escalating cybersecurity threats, the Police are intensifying law enforcement while actively strengthening the development of Hong Kong’s cybersecurity ecosystem from multiple dimensions through raising public awareness, nurturing professionals and enhanced public-private partnerships to comprehensively solidify the city’s cybersecurity defence.
     
    The Chief Executive Officer of the HKIRC, Mr Wilson Wong, shared the latest security scan findings, which revealed that around 65 per cent of websites belonging to SMEs, educational and social welfare organisations are at risk of data leakage, reminding organisations to act proactively by patching vulnerabilities and strengthening cybersecurity measures. He encouraged enterprises and organisations to leverage the services of the Cybersec One Programme, including free website risk assessments, vulnerability identifications, staff training and phishing email drills in order to foster a cybersecurity culture and comprehensively improve defence capabilities.
     
    The Chief Digital Officer of the Hong Kong Productivity Council, Mr Edmond Lai, speaking on behalf of the HKCERT, highlighted findings from the 2024 Hong Kong Enterprise Cyber Security Readiness Index and AI Security Survey, noting that nearly 70 per cent of surveyed businesses had experienced cyberattacks, underscoring the urgent need for companies to continue strengthening cybersecurity measures to confront increasingly complex and frequent threats. He added that the Cybersecurity Service Providers Connect Programme launched by the HKCERT will effectively connect cybersecurity service providers with local enterprises and organisations to help them find suitable solutions. The Programme is now open for applications, and the classified and vetted service providers will be showcased on a dedicated platform.
     
    In conclusion, Mr Tony Wong emphasised the theme of “Cybersecurity for the People, Cybersecurity relies on the People”, and maintained that cybersecurity requires the joint efforts of the whole society. Several large-scale major events will take place in Hong Kong in the second half of this year, including the 15th National Games and the Legislative Council general election, etc. These events extensively utilise information technology, and cybersecurity is critical to ensure the smooth execution of the large-scale events. The DPO will continue to partner with all sectors to launch diverse activities and training to continuously enhance Hong Kong’s overall capabilities to tackle risks in cybersecurity, and he appealed for media support in jointly disseminating the importance of cybersecurity and the building of a safer and more resilient digital future.
    Issued at HKT 18:38

    NNNN

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Defense News in Brief: 101 Critical Days of Summer Mid-Term Update

    Source: United States Navy

    The weekend of July 12-13 marked the midpoint of the 101 Critical Days of Summer. There were seven motorcycle fatalities, two vehicle fatalities and one pedestrian fatality during the first half of the summer and we still have a significant portion of the second half left. These losses are tragic and sobering and remind us that we must double down on our efforts to apply the principles of risk management in all our efforts and mitigate the risks we identify.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Defense News in Brief: Navy and Marine Corps Commence Large Scale Exercise 2025

    Source: United States Navy

    NORFOLK, Va. – Sailors and Marines from across 22 time zones, six component commands, and seven U.S. numbered Fleets are now participating in Large Scale Exercise (LSE) 2025, as the Navy and Marine Corps officially kick off one of their largest global training events, July 30.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: The CSR discussed how platform employment regulation will develop

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Ministry of Economic Development (Russia) – Ministry of Economic Development (Russia) –

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

    The Center for Strategic Research held a round table entitled “Platform Employment in the New Conditions: What Changes After the Law on the Platform Economy.” Together with representatives of the Ministry of Economic Development, the State Duma, the expert and academic community, as well as leading digital platforms, they discussed the adopted law on the platform economy and future regulatory detailing at the level of by-laws.

    According to the participants, the adopted law was an important step in the formation of a basic regulatory framework, but it is now that the most subtle and meaningful part of the work begins – filling this framework with tools, concepts and mechanisms.

    The moderator of the round table, CEO of the CSR Pavel Smelov noted: “Russia is one of the few countries where digital platforms have become a truly systemic part of the economy. We have not just implemented technologies, we have created our own model – and this is a serious competitive advantage. Now our task is not to lose our leadership, to take the next step – to turn the platform economy into a full-fledged export model. It is no longer just about technologies, but about a new logic of the economic structure that can be transmitted beyond the country’s borders.”

    Also, in his opinion, the key direction of the next stage is the issue of platform employment: “We are already living in a new reality: there is a platform, there is a platform economy, and we still continue to hold on to the old model of social security, as if nothing has changed. The social security system needs to be revised taking into account how the employment market is actually structured today. People are developing other principles of financial stability: investments, a safety net, additional income. Therefore, it is important not only to protect, but also to educate – to help people navigate modern work formats and make informed decisions. Especially when it comes to those for whom the platform is not their main, but additional employment.”

    The Ministry of Economic Development emphasized that the implementation of the law will require a flexible and consistent approach, especially in terms of employment. The main focus in the coming months is work on by-laws, the launch of a digital platform registry mechanism, and the preparation of clarifications.

    “Russia has made great strides in developing the platform economy: we already have our own effectively functioning models that are of interest abroad. But it is important not to stop there. Platforms are developing rapidly, and regulation should not slow down, but rather accompany this process, be flexible and targeted. We see that citizens make decisions based not only on the logic of the future, but also on current circumstances — and pensions and social guarantees are not always perceived as real values. Therefore, the platform can become a channel through which we will rethink social policy — at the level of product, convenience, and trust. We have examples when digital, platform services became a necessary tool for performers to legalize and comply with legal requirements, including the calculation and payment of taxes. Platform tools have proven their convenience and demand. In turn, this approach provides additional opportunities to ensure control by the state. Our task today is not to go to extremes, but to maintain an open dialogue, flexibility, and thoughtfulness. This is precisely the strength of the platform economy,” said Vladimir Voloshin, Director of the Department of Digital Development and Data Economy at the Ministry of Economic Development.

    State Duma Deputy Stanislav Naumov reported that an expert council will be created under the Committee on Economic Policy, which will undertake in-depth study of unresolved issues.

    “In September, we are ready to move on. For me personally, there are three priorities today. The first is export orientation: platforms should help Russian businesses enter foreign markets, and not just regulate access of foreign players to ours. The second is the development of internal B2B interaction, where online platforms can become a full-fledged infrastructure for cooperation between suppliers. And the third is the use of platforms to improve the efficiency of state and municipal procurement,” he said.

    As for platform employment, according to the deputy, this is not just a regulatory issue – it is a question of filling the social fund and, as a result, a real opportunity to increase the minimum level of pensions in those regions where it is objectively insufficient today. “This is how I understand the social task of regulation,” he concluded.

    Business supported the general vector, but drew attention to the need for a differentiated approach. Industry representatives emphasized that uniform standards for platforms with fundamentally different models — from marketplaces to service aggregators — could result in risks for flexibility and employment.

    “The platform economy has already changed the market, and the self-employed regime has proven that people are ready to come out of the shadows if they are offered transparent and convenient conditions. Let’s not abolish what works, but rebuild the old – so that the economy, employment and the contribution system develop synchronously,” said Anton Danilov-Danilyan, Deputy Chairman of Delovaya Rossiya, head of the working group of transport service aggregators at the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs. According to Yuri Bogdanov, General Director of the Association of Digital Platforms, “it is digitalization, platform development and the tax regime on professional income that give the state a chance to oust gray practices through transparency.”

    “Platform employment is being formed to a greater extent in industries with high demand for flexible types of employment, allowing for the expansion of participation of various groups of the population in the economy. Therefore, it is important not just to offer them standard social benefits, but to understand what they really need and what they are ready to use,” noted Rimma Chichakyan, Director of Legal Affairs and Government Relations at Yandex Taxi.

    Ozon representative Alexander Vasiliev supported this position. “We are no longer living in an industrial economy, but in a post-industrial economy, and regulation should take this into account. At the same time, it is important to maintain a choice between different employment formats and not limit new models,” he noted.

    The participants of the discussion agreed that the development of the platform economy does not require strict regulation, but rather fine-tuning and careful attention to specifics. Among the priority areas, the participants highlighted the need to clarify the criteria for the integrity of platforms, the formation of mechanisms for distinguishing employment from shadow schemes, as well as work on the status of the performer and protection tools. Particular attention was paid to the creation of a sustainable format for dialogue between the state, business and experts – both on the parliamentary platform and within the framework of the implementation of the law in practice.

    Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    .

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • India, Morocco sign agreement to boost judicial cooperation: Union Minister

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    India and Morocco have signed a Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT) and a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to promote cooperation in judicial and legal spheres. The agreements aim to reinforce institutional linkages, facilitate legal modernization, and deepen mutual understanding between the two countries.

    Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Law and Justice, Arjun Ram Meghwal, shared this information in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha on Thursday. He said that the partnership would allow the legal communities of both nations to share knowledge, build institutional capacity, and contribute to the rule of law through structured legal engagement.

    The MLAT focuses on civil and commercial matters, enabling both countries to cooperate in the service of judicial documents, the taking of evidence through Letters of Request, and the execution of judicial judgments, decrees, settlements, and arbitral awards.

    Additionally, the MoU, signed between India’s Ministry of Law & Justice and Morocco’s Ministry of Justice, focuses on the exchange of legal expertise, training, and research. It seeks to promote capacity building by organising symposiums, joint courses, and legal training programmes.

    The MoU also encourages mutual visits and delegation exchanges to study each other’s legal systems and administrative frameworks.

    A notable feature of the MoU is technological collaboration through the development and exchange of national judicial information systems. This collaboration is expected to enhance justice delivery through digital tools and modern legal infrastructure.

    To ensure effective implementation, a joint coordination committee will be established to plan annual cooperation programmes, keeping financial viability in mind.

    —IANS

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Counter-drone efforts rise as prison sightings revealed

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Counter-drone efforts rise as prison sightings revealed

    Organised crime gangs are being targeted by the police and prison service as part of a nationwide crackdown on drone drops into prisons.

    • Prison Service working with police to tackle threat of drones as part of Plan for Change
    • Drone incidents up by 43 per cent in the last financial year, new data reveals
    • Two recent counter-drone operations result in nine arrests

    The move is backed by a new investment of £900,000 and designed to disrupt the in-flow of drugs and weapons that are destabilising prisons and putting staff and offenders at risk. 

    It builds on the £40 million already invested this year into prison security measures, including exterior netting and reinforced windows. Stopping the flow of drugs and weapons getting into prisons is a crucial step in gripping the prisons crisis the Government inherited to make streets safer, as part of the Plan for Change. 

    The news comes as data published today (31 July) reveals there were 1,712 drone incidents between April 2024 and March 2025 at prisons across England and Wales. This is an increase of 43 per cent compared to the previous 12 months.

    The clampdown has already seen counter-drone operations at HMPs Manchester and Wandsworth leading to the swift arrest of nine individuals. Similar operations are planned in the coming months.

    Minister for Prisons, Probation and Reducing Reoffending, Lord Timpson, said: 

    The ease with which drones were operating over prisons was yet another sign of the chaotic prison system we inherited last July.

    As part of the Plan for Change, we are tackling the organised crime gangs behind the drug supply routes so that our prisons can start cutting crime and stop creating better criminals.

    One of the sophisticated drones recovered in the HMP Wandsworth operation had a value of £6,000, an extended flight time of 40 minutes and the ability to hold four loads at one time. 

    Four further arrests were made by West Mercia Police earlier this month for flying drones over high-security prison HMP Long Lartin. 

    Detective Superintendent of the North West Regional Organised Crime Unit, Claire McGuire said: 

    Tackling the use of drones to smuggle drugs, weapons, and other illicit items into prisons is one of our top priorities. These activities fuel organised crime and pose serious risks to both staff and inmates. 

    We continue to work closely with national partners including His Majesty’s Prisons and Probation Service, the National Crime Agency, local police forces, and intelligence teams to disrupt this criminal behaviour and prevent contraband from entering prison estates. By sharing intelligence and coordinating operations, we are strengthening our collective response to this growing threat. 

    The latest Safety in Custody statistics, also published today, highlight the alarming levels of violence across the prison estate, with 20,570 prisoner-on-prisoner assaults and 10,568 assaults on staff in the 12 months to March 2025. Reducing the availability of contraband in prisons plays a key role in reducing violence across the estate.

    Earlier this week, a trial into the use of tasers began across adult male prisons in England and Wales – the first time their use is being trialled in the prison estate. The Lord Chancellor, Shabana Mahmood, has also announced the rollout of protective body armour for those staff working in prison settings holding the most dangerous offenders.  

    Further information: 

    • Drone incidents data is available in the HMPPS Annual Digest
    • Latest Safety in Custody statistics are available here

    Updates to this page

    Published 31 July 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Ten-Year-Old Django: Polytechnic Students Celebrate Anniversary Work Season

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University –

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

    The Polytechnic student teams are back in touch. Today we will go to Crimea together with the agricultural team “Django”. By the way, this is already the tenth working season for our “farmers”.

    The guys celebrated their anniversary at the vineyards of the Massandra company in the village of Malorechenskoye, in the southern part of the peninsula. Many nostalgic memories are associated with this place, because the team is coming here for the third time, everything here has become native and close.

    At work, polytechnicians master the profession of a winegrower: they tie up vines, water and collect ripe bunches of grapes, and look after young vineyards. And in their free time, they explore the surrounding area, visit nearby cities, conquer the Crimean mountains, swim in the sea and organize unforgettable events.

    “What are my feelings about the season? The most diverse! Each new day brings an unusually large number of emotions and impressions, something is constantly happening around – it overwhelms, even confuses from being unaccustomed to it,” shared her impressions of her first trip, “Django” candidate Dasha Shcherbinina. “It seems that I live some new, completely unreal life. And in this life – sun, sea, mountains and endless vineyards!”

    Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    .

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Julie Klein Appointed Dean of the Law School

    Source: Universities – Science Po in English

    Luis Vassy, President of Sciences Po, has appointed Julie Klein as Dean of the Law School. She succeeds Sébastien Pimont.

    Julie Klein has been a professor at Sciences Po since 2020, and she currently leads the “Enterprises, Markets, Regulations” (EMR) specialism within the Master’s in Economic Law. A widely respected legal scholar, she is an expert in the law of obligations, the law of evidence, and economic law. She is a member of the Scientific Council of Sciences Po, chairs the student disciplinary committee, and serves as scientific director of La Semaine juridique – édition entreprise (JCP E).

    Her research explores the interplay between civil and commercial law. She contributes actively to collective reflections on the evolution of law, participating in several working groups led by the Ministry of Justice and the High Legal Committee for the Financial Markets of Paris (HCJP), mainly on the reform of the law of obligations, corporate law, and international chambers.

    Julie Klein is an outstanding jurist and scholar who has been deeply involved in the Law School and more broadly within the institution for several years. At a time when global upheavals are reshaping the boundaries of law, she will lead the School’s project with vision and ambition. I have full confidence in her commitment, her intellectual rigour and her ability to uphold and further elevate the Law School’s standing at the highest level.

    I would like to express my gratitude to Sébastien Pimont for his leadership over the past five years. His tenure has been marked by significant achievements – in France, with the remarkable success of our students across all legal professions, and internationally, as demonstrated by the School’s growing global appeal.

    Luis Vassy, President of Sciences Po

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Appeal to trace woman and newborn baby missing from Walthamstow

    Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

    Police are appealing for information after a woman is reported to have given birth to a baby before going missing.

    Shortly before 16:45hrs on Wednesday, 30 July a report was made to the police that a woman had given birth that same day at about 08:00hrs at the Billet Road underpass, Walthamstow.

    A witnesses was alerted when she heard sounds of distress in the underpass. She aided with the birth and stayed with the woman until about 16:00hrs when the mother and the newborn were picked-up by two people in a blue transit van.

    The woman is believed to be rough sleeping, white, in her mid-30s, with long blonde hair. She was wearing a black dress and heavy jumper and is believed to go by the name Anne Marie.

    Officers are extremely concerned for the welfare of her and her baby.

    PC Dan Cooper, from the North East area’s Local Missing Hub, said: “Our top priority is to establish that the woman and her baby are safe and well and have access to any medical treatment they may need. I would like to stress that the woman is not in any trouble, our only concern is the wellbeing of her and her newborn child.

    “We are carrying out fast-paced enquiries, including trawling CCTV, speaking to people in the area and visiting nearby hospitals.

    “I’d also like to appeal to anyone who was in the area at the time and may have seen or heard something to come forward. Were you walking or cycling through the underpass or at the nearby Kwik Fit garage? If so, please get in touch with us.

    “If the woman does not feel comfortable speaking to us, she can go directly to a medical centre or a charity.”

    Anyone with information is asked to call the North East area’s Local Missing Hub on 07881 330 956 or 101 quoting CAD 5617/30JUL.

    Alternatively, you can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or visit crimestoppers-uk.org.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: City Council awards £388,000 of grant funding to support local communities

    Source: City of Oxford

    Oxford City Council has awarded £388,000 of grant funding to 86 community groups and voluntary organisations – helping them to support local people across Oxford.  

    Oxford is the UK’s second most unequal city and the Council’s grants programme provides crucial financial support to organisations working to reduce inequality through the delivery of essential services, strategic projects, and community-led initiatives.  

     The Council has provided this latest funding through the Oxford Community Impact Fund (OCIF) programme, which is a three year fund that first started in 2022. It is already supporting essential services such as advice centres and domestic abuse support, with core funding maintained for these at the current level until March 2028. 

    Decisions have now been announced on two rounds of funding: 

    • Big Ideas Fund: Providing funding of £338,000 per year covering the period of 2025-2028.  
    • Small Grants (2025 Round 1): Providing funding of £50,000 (with £34,000 to follow in round 2), with a maximum of £3000 per organisation ensuring accessibility for smaller community groups.   

    All these grants have been awarded to organisations assessed on their work to reduce inequality and attract external funding to Oxford. 

    Big Ideas Fund 2025-28 

    The Council has awarded funding to 45 organisations across Oxford totalling £338,000 per annum, organisations will receive funding for three years. 

    These organisations are:   

    Ark-T Centre, Arts at the Old Fire Station, Aspire Oxfordshire, Asylum Welcome, Be Free Young Carers, Blackbird Leys Adventure Playground, Cowley Road Works, Cutteslowe Greenhouse Limited, Donnington Doorstep, EMBS Community College Limited, Emmaus Oxford, Fusion Arts, Home-Start, IF Oxford, In-Spire Sounds, Justice in Motion, Leys CDI, Makespace Oxford, Mandala Theatre, Museum of Modern Art, My Life My Choice, MyVision, OVADA, Oxford Community Action, Oxford Contemporary Music, Film Oxford, Oxford Hub, Oxford Mutual Aid, Oxford Pride, Oxford Youth Enterprise, Oxfordshire Chinese Community and Advice Centre, Oxfordshire Play Association, Peeple, Pegasus Theatre, Refugee Resource, Rose Hill Junior Youth Club, Sobell House, Survivor Space, T(ART) Productions, The Oxford Playhouse, The Parasol Project, The Story Museum, WASTE2TASTE, and Yellow Submarine. 

    Small Grants Fund 2025-6 (Round 1) 

    The Council has awarded funding to 41 organisations across Oxford, with funding totaling £50,000 overall. 

    These organisations are:  

    Parents And Children Together, Wild Boor Ideas, Fight Against Blindness (Fab), Rose Hill Community Larder, Oxford Opera Trust Cio, Response Organisation, Wood Farm Youth Centre, Action Deafness, Botley Bridges, Damascus Rose Kitchen, Blackbird Leys Boxing Club, Dovecote Voluntary Parent Committee, East Oxford Stay and Play, Fight Against Blindness, Headway Thames Valley Limited, Body Politic, Littlemore Hub, Syrian Sisters, Music at Oxford, Elmore Community Services, Read Easy Oxford, The Oxford Preservation Trust, Lowland Rescue, Oxford Afrobeats Festival, Iranian Community Network (ICN), Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra, Oxford Poetry Library, Tandem Collective, Oxford Health Charity (OHC), Oxford Peoples Theatre, MuMo Creative, Oxford Lindy Hoppers, Syrian Community Oxfordshire (SYRCOX), The Oxford Voice, The Porch, Oxfordshire Asian Women’s Voice, WEMPOWERED CIC, Rose Hill and Iffley Low Carbon, South Oxford Community-Association, The Good Gym, and Wood Farm Youth Centre. 

    It is estimated that for every £1 that the Council invests in local community organisations and groups through grant funding, this investment results in more than £15.92 of additional funding/earned income per organisation – helping to strengthen communities across the city. 

    This year, over half (51%) of applicants were new applicants. 

    You can learn more by visiting our grant funding webpages. 

    Comment 

    “We’ve streamlined our community grants programme and this year we’ve changed the criteria to provide a tight focus on work to reduce inequality in Oxford. We’re the UK’s second most unequal city and these grants will be spent on tackling this ugly scar on our beautiful city.

    “It is great news that we have been able to support so many community groups and organisations through this latest round of funding – and especially so many new groups. I can’t wait to visit as many of these projects as possible to see for myself the impact these funds will have on local communities and the difference made to people’s lives.” 

    Councillor Linda Smith, Cabinet Member for Housing and Communities

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI: Crane Patents Reaches 25% Adoption Among Chambers USA Top IP Litigation Firms

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    San Francisco, CA, July 31, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Crane Patents, the AI-assisted platform for accelerating invalidity analysis in patent litigation, announced today that it has been adopted by 25% of the nationally ranked IP litigation practices in Chambers USA 2025 — less than a year after signing its first customer in August 2024.

    Of the 32 firms ranked nationally by Chambers USA for IP litigation, eight have become enterprise customers, marking a significant vote of confidence in the platform’s ability to streamline one of the most tedious parts of patent litigation: analyzing prior art and drafting claim charts.

    Founded in 2024, Crane Patents was also recognized earlier this year as Law.com’s New Law Company of the Year for 2025, reflecting growing industry momentum behind the platform.

    “Crane Patents has turned prior art analysis into an engaging part of our workflow. Our team uses it nearly every day — including weekends.”
    — Richard Hung, Global Co-Chair of Litigation, Morrison & Foerster

    “Crane Patents keeps the attorney fully in control — it doesn’t do the thinking for us; it just helps us get to the insights faster. We work smarter and faster, without giving up judgment.”
    — Doug Kubehl, Co-Chair of Intellectual Property Litigation, Baker Botts

    “Crane Patents fits the way our attorneys think — anticipating what they need to see and analyze. It’s transformed our prior art workflow, cutting hours from claim charting and accelerating results for clients.”
    — Kelly Hunsaker, Managing Partner, Silicon Valley, Winston & Strawn

    Crane Patents was created by former Fortune 500 IP executives and AmLaw 100 attorneys to deliver precision, speed, and control in claim charting and invalidity analysis — all while keeping attorneys firmly in the driver’s seat.

    “We built Crane Patents for attorneys who want to engage strategically — not just accept automated answers,” said Dan Lin, co-founder of Crane Patents. “We’re grateful that some of the best IP litigation teams in the country have embraced our approach.”

    For more information, visit www.cranepatents.com or email info@cranepatents.com.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: ACTFORE Secures Patent for Intelligent Data Extraction from Unstructured Documents, Revolutionizing Breach Response

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    RESTON, Va., July 31, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — ACTFORE, a leading provider of AI-powered breach response and data mining solutions, announced today the company has been granted a patent from the United States Patent and Trademark Office for its proprietary technology enabling targeted data extraction from unstructured document sets, a first-of-its kind patent in the data mining industry.

    Unlike many industries, the data mining and breach response fields have historically lacked patentable innovations due to their reliance on human-driven workflows and off-the-shelf automation. ACTFORE’s achievement represents a major advancement in automated breach response workflows: the first recognized patent for precision data extraction designed specifically to efficiently and accurately extract sensitive data from massive, unstructured information environments following a breach.

    “This patent isn’t just a milestone for ACTFORE, but for the entire industry,” said CEO Christian Geyer. “In a space where most work is still done manually or through tedious and inaccurate workflows, we’ve introduced a scalable, intelligent solution that truly learns and adapts and can work alongside our team of onshore experts to create an approach that merges manual precision with deep learning to create a hybrid workflow that is both fast and legally defensible.”

    The patent, “Techniques for Targeted Data Extraction from Unstructured Sets of Documents”, refers to ACTFORE’S dynamic interface that allows operators to define “visual boxes” around regions of interest on a document page, then automatically propagate those selections across structurally similar files using deep learning and FAISS-based clustering. Paired with advanced optical character recognition (OCR), the system can extract high-fidelity text, even from scanned or non-machine-readable documents. This allows for targeted, scalable parsing with minimal redundancy and dramatically reduced review time.

    “We’ve essentially built a facial recognition system, but for document layouts,” said Yumna Zaidi, Innovations Team Lead at ACTFORE and Lead Inventor on the patent. “Our tech creates unique embedding vectors for each document structure, letting us match and process them with unprecedented speed and accuracy.”

    This combination of automation and expert-driven human review ensures that sensitive information such as names, account numbers, or health data can be extracted quickly, accurately, and consistently, even across large and messy data sets.

    “Data breaches happen in chaotic, inconsistent environments and ACTFORE is built to handle the complexity,” added Dhiraj Sharma, Senior Data Scientist and Co-Inventor. “By integrating the latest automation and data mining tools with human judgment, we’re able to respond more efficiently and accurately than traditional methods. That’s where this patent truly delivers value.”

    The platform supports a wide range of document types—including unstructured and semi-structured PDFs, images, and text files—and automatically preserves selected coordinates for batch processing at scale. This not only accelerates review but also ensures consistent, defensible results across complex, multi-jurisdictional engagements.

    “We didn’t just apply automation for the sake of speed. We designed a product that understands the complexity of each task and empowers humans to make better decisions, faster,” said Sanskriti Shivhare, Team Lead and Co-Inventor.

    This newly issued patent strengthens ACTFORE’s growing intellectual property portfolio and reflects its continued investment in transforming breach response through applied AI. As data breach volumes rise and regulatory timelines tighten, ACTFORE’s patented technology sets a new industry benchmark for intelligent, scalable remediation.

    About ACTFORE
    ACTFORE delivers advanced AI/ML-powered data mining solutions for legal counsel, insurance carriers, and corporations, specializing in swiftly detecting and uncovering compromised sensitive information in cyber breaches. Capable of processing over 1 million files per hour, ACTFORE’s on-premises, on-shore, technology-first approach offers the fastest and most accurate assessments, enabling clients to quickly understand the scope of exfiltration, mitigate risk, and make informed decisions about ransom payments. Clients maintain full control of their data through ACTFORE’s secure lab or local deployment options. Trusted by over 25 insurance carriers and 35 law firms, including premier Am Law 100 firms, ACTFORE sets the new standard in incident response and data forensics. For more information, please visit www.actfore.com.

    Press Contact:

    Gilda Safowaa
    Communications & Content Strategist
    240-482-9570
    Gilda.Safowaa@actfore.com

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/6ab26563-863e-4323-9b45-45a6c178bd92

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Gauteng Social Development welcomes arrest of viral video suspects 

    Source: Government of South Africa

    Gauteng Social Development welcomes arrest of viral video suspects 

    The Gauteng Department of Social Development has welcomed the arrest of three suspects involved in video footage that has emerged depicting a toddler smoking a pipe with an unknown substance in a broken bottle top.

    “The Gauteng Department of Social Development is condemning the behaviour of parents following a video that went viral on social media where a toddler is seen smoking a pipe with an unknown substance in a broken bottle top. The department categorically wishes to state that it is gravely outraged by the irresponsible behaviour of the toddler’s parents and further commits to investigating the incident in order to provide the necessary intervention that will help the child.”

    In a statement on Wednesday, the department further condemned actions that harm children, such as violence and negligence and emphasised the importance of positive role models and responsible behaviour towards children. 

    “This incident is both unfortunate and barbaric, and the department welcomes the arrest of the three suspects involved from Newclare in Johannesburg, including the mother who is detained at a police station. The department calls on community members (particularly those who claim to be community activist and take to posting on social media) to instead take action against these kinds of incidents by reporting to the relevant institutions and/or law enforcement agencies.

    “Rather than share such videos widely, the department appeals to the citizens to forward such videos to the police or to the department so that action can be taken against perpetrators, whilst ensuring children’s rights are protected and not violated through such social media postings.”

    As the custodian of the Children’s Act, the department condemned the constant disregard of children’s safety and protection in the province.

    Meanwhile, Gauteng police confirmed the arrests in the matter.

    According to the South African Police Service (SAPS), the Gauteng Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) responded to a call from Sophiatown police station about a child who was brought to the police station by Johannesburg Metro Police Department (JMPD) and the grandmother.

    “The child was recorded on a video being given what appeared to be drugs and also being given those drugs to smoke. The Johannesburg FCS Unit commander Lieutenant Colonel Marema Mogale and his members responded immediately at about midnight. Three people, the mother and two men, were detained as they were brought to the police station by [the] JMPD,” said the SAPS on Wednesday.

    The three-year-old boy was taken to hospital for medical attention and then taken to a place of safety.

    The trio were expected to appear before the Johannesburg Regional Court on Thursday, 31 July 2025, on child abuse charges. – SAnews.gov.za

    Neo

    MIL OSI Africa –