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Category: Security

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Prison expanded to create UK’s largest jail and keep public safe

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Prison expanded to create UK’s largest jail and keep public safe

    More dangerous criminals will be taken off the streets thanks to a 700-place expansion which will turn a Suffolk jail into the UK’s largest.

    • three new houseblocks to be built at HMP Highpoint in Suffolk by summer 2027
    • key milestone in efforts to deliver 14,000 extra prison places nationwide by 2031
    • part of Government’s Plan for Change to create safer streets

    The three new, four-storey houseblocks at HMP Highpoint will boost its capacity by more than 50 percent– and is the latest step in Government action to create safer streets.  

    The houseblocks will include innovative workshops and teaching facilities to train prisoners with skills to secure a job on release and turn their backs on crime for good. The new cells will be fully operational by summer 2027. 

    The construction is a significant milestone in the Government’s plan to deliver 14,000 more prison places by 2031 to lock up dangerous offenders and keep the public safe.   

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

    This government is fixing the broken prison system it inherited – wasting no time in getting shovels in the ground to deliver the spaces needed to protect the public. 

    These new houseblocks have been designed with a laser-focus on cutting crime and are a major step in our plan to deliver 14,000 more prison places by 2031.  

    But we cannot simply build our way out of this crisis, which is why we’re also reviewing sentencing so we can lock up dangerous offenders, cut crime and make our streets safer.

    HMP Highpoint Prison Governor Nigel Smith said: 

    The expansion at Highpoint will provide much-needed prisoner places in our region.

    The new accommodation will provide a safe and secure environment for us to rehabilitate prisoners and get them ready for release.  

    We are pleased that the construction work has officially begun and we look forward to working with our contractors to get things delivered.

    The build will be delivered by Wates Group, a leading family-owned development, building and property maintenance company. Once completed Highpoint will be the largest prison in terms of land size in North-West Europe and the largest in the UK based on prisoner population. 

    It will help provide an economic boost to East Anglia with hundreds of jobs created during construction and over 200 permanent jobs at the prison once built. Construction alone will bring investment into local businesses with 30% of materials/subcontractors coming from within a 50-mile radius. 

    Phil Shortman, Regional Managing Director at Wates said:   

    We are proud to be involved in the major programme of delivering much-needed prison spaces.  

    Through the construction of this project, around 2,000 building components have been crafted in prison workshops, providing meaningful employment opportunities, helping develop valuable skills and supporting brighter futures.  

    We look forward to continuing our collaboration with the government delivering additional prison capacity with a focus on rehabilitation, sustainability and social value for the local community.

    The development is part of the government’s 10-year prison capacity strategy published in December. It includes 6,400 places through new houseblocks and 6,500 places via new prisons. One thousand rapid deployment cells will be rolled out across the estate while more than 1,000 existing cells will be refurbished. 

    A 1,500-capacity prison in Yorkshire, HMP Millsike, will be opened in the coming weeks. The government is investing £2.3 billion to deliver these prison builds, while a further £500 million will go towards vital building maintenance across prisons and the probation service.     

    The strategy will work alongside the Independent Sentencing Review to ensure the most serious offenders can always be sent to prison to protect the public.    

    Notes to editors 

    • Ministry of Justice – 10-Year Prison Capacity Strategy
    • Other key stakeholders in the project include Mace, Pick Everard, Baker Hicks, Gleeds and Prism Offsite Manufacturing.

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    Updates to this page

    Published 7 March 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

    March 8, 2025

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Coming up next week at the London Assembly w/c 10 March

    Source: Mayor of London

    PUBLICATIONS 

    Tuesday 11 March

    Building Safety 
    Fire Committee 

    The Fire Committee will publish letters relating to actions recommended to make London’s buildings safe and compliant with fire safety regulations.

    MEDIA CONTACT: Josh Hunt on 07763 252310 / [email protected]  

    Wednesday 12 March

    Mayor’s Police and Crime Plan 2025-29
    Police and Crime Committee 

    The Police and Crime Committee will publish its response to the Mayor’s Draft Police and Crime Plan for 2025-29.

    MEDIA CONTACT: Tony Smyth on 07763 251727 / [email protected] 

    PUBLIC MEETINGS  
                                                                               
    Tuesday 11 March
     
    Broadband connectivity in London 
    Economy, Culture & Skills Committee – The Chamber, City Hall, Kamal Chunchie Way, 10am
     
    The Economy, Culture and Skills Committee will meet to hear evidence on the work being done to improve London’s broadband speeds, the challenges of this, and the impact improved broadband speeds would have on London’s economy.  The guests are:
     
    Panel 1- 10-11.30am:

    • Graeme Oxby – Chief Executive, Community Fibre
    • Stacey McAdie – Digital Connectivity Lead, South London Partnership
    • Trevor Dorling – Director Digital Greenwich, London Borough of Greenwich

    Panel 2 – 11.30am -12.30pm:

    • Emma Stone – Director of Evidence and Engagement, Good Things Foundation
    • Laura Timm – Greater London Representative, Federation of Small Businesses

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

    Wednesday 12 March
     
    Violence against women and girls (VAWG)     
    Police and Crime Committee – The Chamber, City Hall, Kamal Chunchie Way, 10am

    The Police and Crime Committee will explore the levels of VAWG amongst young people, what services are available for survivors, as well as the Mayor’s VAWG strategy and prevention principles.  The guests are:

    • Jain Lemom, Head of Tackling VAWG, MOPAC
    • Will Balakrishnan, Director of Commissioning and Partnerships, MOPAC
    • Lib Peck, Director, Violence Reduction Unit
    • DAC Alexis Boon, Metropolitan Police Service
    • DCS Angela Craggs, Metropolitan Police Service

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

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

    March 8, 2025

  • MIL-OSI: Bitget Blockchain4Her’s Anniversary: A Year in Review

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    VICTORIA, Seychelles, March 07, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Bitget, the leading cryptocurrency exchange and Web3 company, is reflecting on the remarkable year of achievements of its Blockchain4Her initiative. Since its inception in January 2024, Blockchain4Her has made impactful strides to bridge the gender gap in Web3 by empowering women through education, mentorship, funding and networking opportunities to thrive in the Web3 ecosystem.

    In March 2024, Gracy Chen, CEO of Bitget and initiator of Blockchain4Her, was invited to shed light on gender equality initiatives at the UN Commission on the Status of Women (UNCSW). This inclusion illuminates Bitget’s impact on the global stage and its voice in shaping conversations around diversity, inclusion, and equitable opportunities in the blockchain industry.

    To further its mission, Bitget unveiled the Blockchain4Her Ambassador Program, enlisting female crypto leaders to be ambassadors and catalysts for change. Our distinguished ambassadors are; Tess Hau, Founder of Tess Ventures, Yevheniia Broshevan, Co-founder of Hacken and Cecilia Hsueh, the CEO of Layer 2 ecosystem project Morph. Leaning on their expertise and experience, the ambassador program aims to encourage more women to join space by building a safe-space for women to explore blockchain.

    In September 2024, Bitget participated in the SheFi Summit in Singapore, which saw hundreds of participants from around the world. The event featured the inaugural Blockchain4Her Awards, recognizing five outstanding women for their contributions to the blockchain industry. Looking specifically at Southeast Asia, Bitget also held Southeast Asia Blockchain4Her Awards to honor the achievements of women leaders in the region. Entrepreneurs Jenny Nguyen (Nguyen Ngoc Son Quynh), Bea Llana, Theresa Tjandrawinata and Cheryl Law were awarded for their innovative solutions and contribution to the crypto scene while Tascha Punyaneramitdee won the “Innovative Web3 Female Entrepreneur Award – SEA edition.”

    “At Bitget, we believe that innovation thrives when diversity leads the way. Blockchain4Her is more than just a program; it’s a movement. We’re committed to providing women with the education, mentorship, and opportunities they need to participate in the Web3 revolution and to lead it. The future of blockchain is inclusive, and together, we are shaping it,” said Gracy Chen, CEO at Bitget.

    Bitget also launched the “Pitch n Slay” program, aiming to provide financial support, professional guidance, and exposure for female entrepreneurs. The final event was held in Bangkok, Thailand, in November 2024, where shortlisted female-led projects had the opportunity to compete for a share of $100,000 in seed funding via Foresight Ventures. Anne Beh, Founder at Art3mis, an Oracle AI Tarot card fortune-telling achieved 3rd place, whereas Doris Hernandez, Co-Founder at Functor Network, an Automatic Layer for AI agents secured 2nd position. The first prize was won by Julija Bainiaksina, Founder at MiniMe, an AI agent as-a-service project.

    In the past year, Blockchain4Her made significant strides in supporting and empowering women in the blockchain industry. The program distributed $50,000 to support promising projects led by women and recognized nine exceptional women with the Blockchain4Her Awards for their inspiring contributions. In addition, Blockchain4Her hosted over 10 meetups globally, fostering meaningful conversations and collaborations within the community. These events attracted more than 1,000 women who participated in networking, learning, and driving innovation in the blockchain space. The initiative also garnered substantial global media attention, amplifying its mission and impact worldwide.

    Looking ahead, Bitget will continue to advocate opportunities for women in blockchain. Through partnerships and investing in education and mentorship, Bitget will continue to be a driving force in fostering an inclusive Web3 ecosystem, empowering women to lead, innovate, and shape the future of blockchain together.

    To learn more about Blockchain4Her, please visit here.

    About Bitget

    Established in 2018, Bitget is the world’s leading cryptocurrency exchange and Web3 company. Serving over 100 million users in 150+ countries and regions, the Bitget exchange is committed to helping users trade smarter with its pioneering copy trading feature and other trading solutions, while offering real-time access to Bitcoin price, Ethereum price, and other cryptocurrency prices. Formerly known as BitKeep, Bitget Wallet is a world-class multi-chain crypto wallet that offers an array of comprehensive Web3 solutions and features including wallet functionality, token swap, NFT Marketplace, DApp browser, and more.

    Bitget is at the forefront of driving crypto adoption through strategic partnerships, such as its role as the Official Crypto Partner of the World’s Top Football League, LALIGA, in EASTERN, SEA and LATAM markets, as well as a global partner of Turkish National athletes Buse Tosun Çavuşoğlu (Wrestling world champion), Samet Gümüş (Boxing gold medalist) and İlkin Aydın (Volleyball national team), to inspire the global community to embrace the future of cryptocurrency.

    For more information, visit: Website | Twitter | Telegram | LinkedIn | Discord | Bitget Wallet

    For media inquiries, please contact: media@bitget.com

    Risk Warning: Digital asset prices are subject to fluctuation and may experience significant volatility. Investors are advised to only allocate funds they can afford to lose. The value of any investment may be impacted, and there is a possibility that financial objectives may not be met, nor the principal investment recovered. Independent financial advice should always be sought, and personal financial experience and standing carefully considered. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results. Bitget accepts no liability for any potential losses incurred. Nothing contained herein should be construed as financial advice. For further information, please refer to our Terms of Use.

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/e326feee-aa16-416b-9622-994a4f4320ff

    The MIL Network –

    March 7, 2025

  • MIL-OSI: Insurance expert Mactavish hires senior Private Equity leaders for newly established Advisory Board

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    London, March 07, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Expert insurance buyer Mactavish has recruited two senior Private Equity leaders to join its newly established PE Advisory Board as it looks to address the shortfall in insurance provision to the sector. Steve Darrington, former Partner at Phoenix Equity Partners and Yann Soulliard, former Managing Partner of Lloyds Development Capital, will bring 50 years of experience to help drive Mactavish’s engagement with the multi-billion pound turnover industry.  

    The board will work to address the gap in insurance provision that leaves many PE companies exposed to claims, both from the activities of their own organisations and the portfolio companies they manage. Bruce Hepburn, CEO and founder of Mactavish, said: “Over the past five years working with PE clients has taught us that many firms are totally unaware of the risks embedded in their own organisations and the exposure they have to their portfolio companies. All too often they buy insurance that is not for fit for purpose and will not deliver when called upon.”

    PE sector insurance deficiencies that Mactavish has had to rectify include companies delivering on-site IT support not being protected for claims arising from work on third-party systems; fintech firms wrongly advised not to buy professional indemnity or cyber cover despite these being their main risks; sole-source manufacturers uninsured for supply chain interruption; insurance programmes excluding key entities, geographies or services entirely. As backers of often high growth innovators, the PE sector is especially exposed to failings arising from hastily arranged, overly standard insurance. 

    Steve Darrington said: “I’m delighted to be Chairing the Mactavish PE Advisory board. When I worked in Private Equity, I had first-hand experience of the problems that can arise from badly drafted insurance contracts. Mactavish sorted out the problems we faced which gives me enormous confidence to be working with them to support the sector.”

    With the insurance cycle turning, and the market entering into a ‘soft’ phase, premiums are currently falling.  While this may be viewed as good news for corporate buyers of insurance it also means revenues available for insurance claims will be restricted.  Mactavish expects the change in market conditions will prompt more insurers to use weaknesses in insurance contracts to reject claims, pushing companies to the courts if they want to get paid out.

    Mr Hepburn said: “Legal disputes over unpaid claims have been rising rapidly over the last 10 years. We expect that to only increase over the short to medium term as more insurers look to protect their balance sheets by saying no to claims they may have previously paid out on.  Litigation can offer redress, but it is a long and arduous process which normally results in companies settling for much less than the full claim value.  It is much easier and cheaper to get things right from the outset rather than try and fix something further down the line.”

    *****
    Mactavish is the UK’s leading independent outsourced insurance buyer and claims resolution expert. Combining technical and legal knowledge alongside commercial know-how and buying power, they support their clients by designing insurance programmes that are appropriate for their risk, to drive down cost and resolve large claims.

    Mactavish’s claims practice is Chaired by Law Commissioner David Hertzell. It is built on three principles – Independence, Expertise, Flexibility: Mactavish offers fully independent advice to their clients. They have no affiliation to any insurer and only to represent their clients’ best interests to ensure they explore all avenues to resolution. Mactavish’s plural expertise in claim resolution, insurance analysis and placement operated under a Licenced Access model is critical when it comes to resolving clients’ claims. They ensure an outcome that holds insurers to account for the critical role they play in supporting businesses.

    Mactavish takes a multi-disciplinary approach to claims resolution, meaning they can access the most appropriate legal, financial or technical specialists, depending on the circumstances of a client’s claim. They combine the best legal and technical insurance analysis from the start to get the right result.

    See www.mactavishgroup.com or contact jamesoconnor@mactavishgroup.com / +44(0)207 046 7956 for more details

    The MIL Network –

    March 7, 2025

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Lord Mayor and High Sheriff host Iftar at Leeds Civic Hall

    Source: City of Leeds

    Over two hundred guests joined the Lord Mayor of Leeds and the High Sheriff of West Yorkshire, at Leeds Civic Hall’s Banqueting Suite for a fast-breaking iftar meal on Wednesday 5 March.

    The iftar meal is only the third of its kind to be held at the Civic Hall and was jointly hosted by the Lord Mayor of Leeds, Councillor Abigail Marshall Katung, and the High Sheriff of West Yorkshire, Professor Adeeba Malik CBE DL, in support of the Lord Mayor’s chosen charity, the Leeds Community Foundation.

    During the holy month of Ramadan, Muslims worldwide fast (sawm) during the hours of daylight, abstaining from all food and drink. Iftar is the second meal of the day for those participating in Ramadan, and it ends the day’s fast, which starts immediately after the pre-dawn meal of suhur. The start of iftar is signalled by the call to evening prayer, the time of which alters daily to account for the lengthening days.

    Joining the Lord Mayor and High Sheriff at the meal were notable dignitaries from across the region including the Lord Lieutenant of West Yorkshire, Ed Anderson CBE, the Lord Lieutenant of South Yorkshire, Professor Dame Hilary Chapman DBE, the West Yorkshire Combined Authority Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime, Alison Lowe OBE, the Leader of Leeds City Council, Councillor James Lewis, and the Chief Constable of West Yorkshire, John Robins. Others in attendance included the Lord Mayors of Bradford, Wakefield, and Calderdale, as well as a cross-section of faith representatives from other communities. 

    Qari Asim MBE from Makkah Mosque led the call to prayer which signalled the start of iftar as the sun set. As is traditional, the fast was broken with the eating of dates and drinking of water before guests enjoyed a buffet-style meal. 

    Speakers at the iftar meal included the former Children’s Mayor, Mohammed Hussein and the Leeds Children’s Mayor finalist (2024/2025), Zoha Ahmed, who both spoke about what Ramadan means to them. The children’s thoughts add to speeches by the Lord Mayor, the High Sheriff, the Lord-Lieutenant, and the Leader of Leeds City Council, Councillor James Lewis.

    The Lord Mayor of Leeds, Councillor Abigail Marshall Katung, said: “It was a great honour to jointly host an iftar meal at the Civic Hall, together with the High Sheriff of West Yorkshire, Adeeba Malik.

    “The holy month of Ramadan is not only a time of abstinence. It is a time of reflection and the coming together of communities. I hope that by sharing this meal, we brought our multi-faith communities in Leeds a little closer together and that it acts as a prompt for us all to reflect on how we can, in our own way, make the world a better place.”

    Councillor James Lewis, Leader of Leeds City Council, said: “I was pleased to attend the iftar and take the opportunity to underline the Council’s full commitment to doing all we can to tackle anti-Muslim prejudice in Leeds. This includes our adoption in 2022 of the Anti-Muslim Prejudice definition as something that is direct or indirect hatred and discrimination against anyone of Islamic faith on grounds of their belief and practice. 

    “We undertake regular engagement work with various groups in communities across Leeds, and we run awareness raising campaigns on how to report Islamophobic hate and the support available to victims; as well as to highlight the many positive contributions British Muslims make every day to life in Leeds.   

    “This year we are also supporting the ‘Fasting in Solidarity” campaign for Ramadan 2025; and we plan to launch new hate crime and social cohesion strategies for the city.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

    March 7, 2025

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Coventry schools take part in Primary Aspirations Week for the second year running

    Source: City of Coventry

    After a successful first year, the second Coventry Primary Aspirations Week took place this week, running from Monday 3 March to Friday 7 March.

    Coventry City Council worked with partners across the city to bring the event back bigger and better for 2025.

    Primary Aspirations week coincides with National Careers Week, which aims to raise young people’s awareness of future career pathways. Primary Aspirations Week aims to encourage primary school-aged children to think about possible career choices in the future, and how to develop some of the skills they might need to get there.

    Over 1000 children in schools across Coventry took part in in-person events during Primary Aspirations Week 2025, hearing from a wide range of businesses and organisations in the city and beyond. Even more pupils (over 2500) engaged in an online learning session on Monday 3 March!

    The children, aged between 7-11, were given the opportunity to learn about things in a fun way. For example, National Grid gave an insight into their world of work using an interactive app “Now Press Play” which provided a really engaging way of getting children to live the experience of a National Grid employee.  

    NHS Coventry and Warwickshire also hosted a session on giving the children the chance to see who is involved in the care industry when somebody needs medical help. Children asked questions and talked about this could be a possible future career choices for them.

    Councillor Dr Kindy Sandhu, Cabinet Member for Education and Skills, said: “It’s really great to see how Primary Aspirations Week has expanded so much for this year. Once again, the feedback we’ve received from schools and children has been nothing but positive.

    “We really wanted to give more children an opportunity to think about their futures and imagine the types of careers they might want to pursue. We know that children’s aspirations are shaped by their life experiences, so we wanted to create an event that gave children an insight into what they could go onto do after school.”

    Jo Stanley, the headteacher at Little Heath Primary School, which played host one of the events, said: “It was a fabulous opportunity for primary children to hear from external speakers who brought their own experiences and skillset to inspire the children. The morning had an immediate impact on the children to think about their own skills and future aspirations outside of the classroom too. Providing opportunities for children to see and hear that they can set goals for their future career, and they do come true, is invaluable for all Coventry pupils.”

    Organisations that took part in the event included: E.ON, Sky Blues in the Community, National Grid, West Midland’s Fire Service, Coventry Building Society, Ascension Dance Company, NHS Coventry and Warwickshire, Jaguar Land Rover, Severn Trent, Transport for West Midlands, the University of Warwick, Siemens Electrical, Lioncourt Homes, West Midlands Police, NFU, Canal & River Trust, Pet-xi, Sense, Leamington Spa Art Gallery & Museum, Coventry Careers Hub and Coventry City Council.

    Some comments from children at Little Heath were:

    “Listening to the architects about building homes, I now want to become a builder when I grow up.” – Aroosh.

    “It was great fun learning from the visitors.” – Sieanna

    “I enjoyed aspiration day because we got to learn and explore different jobs we can do when we grow up.” – Zuzanna

    “I really enjoyed learning about lots of jobs that helped my everyday life, opening more opportunities.” – Abanoub.

    To keep up to date with the latest news, sign up for our Your Coventry email newsletter or follow the Council on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), YouTube, Instagram, LinkedIn and TikTok.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

    March 7, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Security: Conditions remain in place on weekly protest in Swiss Cottage

    Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

    The Met has confirmed conditions remain in place on a long-running protest in Swiss Cottage.

    The static protest in Finchley Road, at the junction of Eton Avenue, has been taking place on a weekly basis on Friday’s since October 2023.

    From Friday, 28 February the protest, organised by the International Jewish Anti-Zionist Network (IJAN), must take place within a designated area in Kings Cross.

    The decision to impose these conditions has been made with a view to minimising serious disruption to the community in the Swiss Cottage area.

    Superintendent Jack Rowlands, who is responsible for the policing operation across Camden and Islington, said:

    “Our role is to ensure all those exercising their right to protest can do so without incident and without causing serious disruption to the lives of the wider community.

    “We have imposed conditions under the Public Order Act on when and where this protest can take place. I would ask anyone attending to make themselves aware of these conditions as to breach them, or to incite others to do so, is a criminal offence.”

    The conditions state:

    – Any person participating in the IJAN protest must remain in the area shaded on the attached map outside Kings Cross Station, Euston Road, London, on the pavement between the bus stop and pedestrian crossing.

    – The assembly must finish by 19:30hrs.

    Officers will be in attendance and we would encourage people to speak to them if they have concerns. They are there to ensure everyone is kept safe.

    If you want to report anything suspicious you can call 101 or 999 in an emergency.

    MIL Security OSI –

    March 7, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Academic freedom and democracy under siege: how a Nobel peace prize could help defend them

    Source: Universities – Science Po in English

    Echoing the Stand Up for Science movement, which was organised in the US to defend academic freedom, a call to mobilise in France has been launched for Friday, 7 March. Conferences, rallies and marches are being organised on the initiative of scientists united under the banner of Stand Up for Science France. Sciences Po, along with its partner The Conversation, has been committed from the outset to supporting those who advance research.

    March 7 has been recognized as the “Day of the Stand Up for Science Movement”, launched in 2017 in response to the anti-science actions of the first Trump administration. Under the second, attacks on scientists and scientific inquiry have escalated into a systematic assault–tantamount to a coup d’Etat against science itself.

    While Donald Trump is often portrayed as erratic, his policies in this area have followed a consistent trajectory. His new administration has once again declared ‘war’ on evidence-based national policymaking and science diplomacy in foreign affairs as evidenced by several early actions. Immediately after taking office, Donald Trump issued executive orders freezing or canceling tens of billions in research funding. All National Science Foundation projects have been halted pending review, while the National Institutes of Health faces suspensions under Health and Human Services directives. The US has withdrawn from the Paris Agreement and the World Health Organization, alongside a sweeping review of 90% of USAID-funded projects, signaling a major retreat from climate and global health diplomacy. Federal agencies and universities are in turmoil, leaving thousands of research-professors in limbo amid a politically driven funding freeze. The 2025 March simply calls for the restoration of federal research funding and an end to government censorship and political interference in science.

    The US is the world’s undisputed scientific superpower–for now

    While the Trump administration is not the sole force undermining academia worldwide, its actions are particularly striking coming from the world’s leading scientific superpower. Moreover, the situation is especially concerning because developments in the United States often have a ripple effect, shaping policies in other regions in the years that follow.

    Neither of the world’s top two scientific superpowers–Washington and Beijing–is positioned to champion academic freedom. China, having failed a liberal constitutional tradition and academic independence since the 1920s, restricts academic freedom to the confines of one-party rule. Caught between these rival scientific giants–both partners and competitors–the “old” Europe and like-minded coutries remain the only actors capable of setting new standards for academic freedom.

    A Nobel prize for academic freedom

    A decisive step toward its legal protection would be formal recognition by the Nobel Committees for Peace and Science of academic freedom’s fundamental role–both in ensuring scientific excellence and as a pillar of free, democratic societies.

    For the past decade, the Scholars at Risk association (SAR) has documented a broader global decline in academic freedom in its annual Free to Think Report. The 2024 edition highlights particularly alarming situations in 18 countries and territories (including the United States), which recorded 391 attacks on scholars, students, or institutions across 51 regions in a year. Data from the Academic Freedom Index in Berlin confirm that more than half of the world’s population lives in regions where academic freedom is either entirely or severely restricted. Some of the most concerning conditions are in emerging scientific ecosystems such as Turkey, Brazil, Egypt, South Africa, or Saudi Arabia. The overall trend is deteriorating: only 10 out of 179 countries have improved, while many democratic regimes are increasingly affected.

    Academic freedom in the European Union remains relatively high compared to the rest of the world. However, nine EU member states fall below the regional average, and in eight of them, it has declined over the past decade–signaling a gradual erosion of this fundamental value. Hungary ranks the lowest among EU countries, placing in the bottom 20–30% worldwide. Recent laws have further weakened university autonomy across the EU: financial autonomy in Austria, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and Slovakia; organizational autonomy in Slovenia, Estonia, and Denmark; staffing autonomy in Croatia and Slovakia; and academic autonomy in Denmark and Estonia. Moreover, the European Parliament’s first report on academic freedom (2023) highlights emerging threats in France–political, educational, and societal–that impact the freedom of research, teaching, and study.

    Academic freedom, a professional right granted to a few for the benefit of all

    Freedom of expression, a fundamental pillar of academic freedom, has long been established as a human right, overcoming centuries of censorship and authoritarian control. In contrast, academic freedom is a more recent principle, granting scholars–recognized by their peers–the right and responsibility to research and teach freely in pursuit of knowledge. Like press freedom for journalists, it is a right granted to a few for the benefit of all.

    Rooted in medieval Europe, academic freedom has evolved from a privilege granted to students in the Quartier Latin to a recognized principle in international rights frameworks. It gained a collective and concrete dimension in the late 18th and early 19th centuries with the rise of the modern university. Wilhelm von Humboldt, founder of the modern public university in Berlin (1810), articulated the concept of ‘freedom of science’ (Wissenschaftsfreiheit), later enshrined in the Weimar Constitution of 1919, which declared that “art, science, and education are free.” The rise of American universities around the same time reshaped the concept, giving rise to “professional academic freedom.” This was formalized in the American Association of University Professors’ 1915 Declaration of Principles on Academic Freedom and Tenure, which affirmed the scholar’s primary duty to seek and establish truth. Though its roots lie in Germany, academic freedom ultimately became a cornerstone of American academic discourse.

    In the United States, academic freedom draws from multiple sources, with its protection varying by state laws, customs, institutional practices, and the status of higher education institutions. However, U.S. Supreme Court rulings have gradually reinforced its constitutional foundation, particularly after the McCarthy era, by invoking the First Amendment. Landmark cases such as Adler v. Board of Education (1952), Wieman v. Updegraff (1952), and Sweezy v. New Hampshire (1957) helped establish a constitutional doctrine on academic freedom. Finally, Keyishian v. Board of Regents (1967) extended First Amendment protections to academia, ruling that mandatory loyalty oaths violated both academic freedom and freedom of association.

    Interestingly, the American interpretation of academic freedom is currently more restrictive than the German model in certain respects. Article 5(3) of the 1989 Basic Law affirms the “right to adopt public organizational measures essential to protect a space of freedom, fostering independent scientific activity”. In contrast, the U.S. places greater emphasis on prohibitions and prioritizing individual rights over institutional autonomy.

    The ‘right to be wrong’

    Despite local variations, academic freedom is fundamentally tied to a shared vision of the university that upholds freedom of thought, with rationality and pluralism at its core. It includes the genuine “right to be wrong”–the understanding that a scientific opinion may be incorrect or even proven so does not diminish its protection. This stands in stark contrast to the anti-science, scientistic, or techno-nationalist approach, which views knowledge as a tool of power to serve a predetermined truth and objective of dominance. Authoritarian science, driven by power interests, seeks to diminish critical humanities and social sciences while elevating religion. It tends to reject interdisciplinary work, is exclusively mathematized, and is oriented toward a centralized yet deregulated autocratic tech-utopian state model.

    Since 1945, we have operated under the illusion that academic freedom is an indispensable condition for scientific excellence. However, we have recently learned that no systematic link exists between academic freedom and breakthrough scientific innovation in our era of new technologies. Given these circumstances, this proposal advocates for a nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize, for the first time in its history, in recognition of academic freedom.

    The Nobel Prize Committees for Science and Peace share the responsibility of using their prestigious platforms to uphold fundamental scientific and democratic values. They are uniquely positioned to champion humanist science, reinforcing its importance for scholars, students, and civil societies worldwide. Since the 1950s, around 90% of Nobel Prize laureates in scientific fields have either been US citizens or have studied and worked at Ivy League research institutions.

    While some US scientists are contesting actions of the Trump administration in court, academics worldwide should stand in solidarity with their American colleagues in resisting the erosion of science. To strengthen their efforts, they require the support of the Nobel Prize Committees.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

    March 7, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Security: Public Servants Plead Guilty to Covid-19 Relief Fraud

    Source: United States Department of Justice (National Center for Disaster Fraud)

    MIAMI – Angelo Stephen, a Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) Correctional Officer, and George Arestuche, a Miami-Dade County Aviation Department employee, have pled guilty to federal charges in separate federal cases for defrauding Covid-19 pandemic relief programs.  

    Stephen pled guilty this week before Chief U.S. District Judge Cecila M. Altonaga to wire fraud in connection with his fraudulent applications for two Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans and one Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL). He also admitted to wire fraud for his participation in two bank account takeover schemes.

    Arestuche pled guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud in connection with his receipt of one EIDL and one EIDL advance. Senior U.S. District Judge Paul C. Huck accepted Arestuche’s guilty plea this week.

    Angelo Stephen

    During his change of plea hearing, Stephen admitted that in an EIDL application he submitted to the Small Business Association (SBA), he falsely claimed to be an independent contractor and sole owner of a 10-employee business that did event planning and entertainment services. He also admitted that in this EIDL application, he falsely certified that for the applicable 12-month period, his business had gross revenues of approximately $62,018 and a cost of goods sold of $0. Stephen obtained from the SBA $20,000 in EIDL funds, to which he was not entitled.  

    Stephen also admitted at the change of plea hearing that he submitted false information in two PPP loan applications. In both applications (one submitted in April 2021, the second a month later), Stephen falsely claimed that he owned a business that grossed $106,554 in income in 2020, submitting a fake IRS Form 1040 Schedule C to support his fraudulent requests. Stephen received separate $20,833 PPP loans from two different SBA-approved lenders for the non-existent business.   

    Finally, at the change of plea, Stephen also admitted his role in two bank account takeover schemes. On March 30, 2023, after his first scheme, Stephen received a $20,000 wire transfer from the account of an unsuspecting victim in Virginia, and thereafter quickly withdrew all illegally obtained money through a series of cash withdrawals and through Zelle transfers to others.  In the second takeover scheme, Stephen and his accomplices obtained new checks from the credit union account of a different unsuspecting victim. Stephen then used one of those checks to obtain $8,500 in cash that he was not entitled to. 

    Stephen is scheduled for sentencing on May 22, 2025, at 8:30 a.m. before Chief U.S. District Judge Altonaga in Miami, Florida, where he faces a possible maximum sentence of up to 20 years in prison.

    George Arestuche

    According to the facts admitted at his change of plea, George Arestuche and a co-conspirator devised a scheme to defraud the SBA by submitting a false and fraudulent application to allow Arestuche to fraudulently obtain an EIDL loan in exchange for Arestuche paying the co-conspirator a large fee.

    To carry out this conspiracy, on July 9, 2020, Arestuche’s submitted to the SBA a false and fraudulent EIDL application on Arestuche’s behalf claiming that Arestuche was an independent contractor and the 100% owner of an “Automotive Repair” business operating under the legal and DBA name “george.”  That EIDL application falsely certified that for the 12-month period prior to January 31, 2020, “george” had gross revenues of $600,000, a cost of goods sold of $184,000, and 10 employees.  In reality, Arestuche was not an independent contractor and did not own any type of business.  This EIDL application was supported by a fraudulent 2019 IRS Form 1040 and Schedule C in Arestuche’s name that falsely claimed that he had a “mechanic” business that had gross receipts of $725,000 and earned a net profit of $706,151.  As a result of this false and fraudulent EIDL application, Arestuche obtained from the SBA $149,900 in EIDL proceeds and a $10,000 EIDL advance, and he subsequently paid his co-conspirator $17,275 for helping him fraudulently obtain this money from the SBA.

    Arestuche is scheduled for sentencing on May 12, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. before Senior U.S. District Judge Paul C. Huck in Miami, where he faces a possible maximum sentence of up to 5 years in prison.

    U.S. Attorney Hayden P. O’Byrne for the Southern District of Florida, Special Agent in Charge Andrew Hartwell of the Department of Justice Office of Inspector General’s Fraud Detection Office (DOJ-OIG), Special Agent in Charge Amaleka McCall-Brathwaite, U.S. Small Business Administration Office of Inspector General (SBA OIG), Eastern Region, Acting Special Agent in Charge Brett Skiles of the FBI, Miami Field Office, and Inspector General Felix Jimenez of the Miami-Dade County Office of Inspector General (MDC-OIG) announced the guilty pleas.

    DOJ-OIG and SBA-OIG investigated the Stephen case.  SBA-OIG and the FBI’s Miami Area Corruption Task Force, which includes task force officers from the MDC-OIG, investigated the Arestuche case. 

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward N. Stamm is prosecuting both cases.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Annika Miranda is handling forfeiture matters on the Stephen case while Assistant U.S. Attorney Gabrielle Raemy Charest-Turken is handling forfeiture matters on the Arestuche case.

    In March 2020, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (“CARES”) Act was enacted. It was designed to provide emergency financial assistance to the millions of Americans suffering the economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Among other sources of relief, the CARES Act authorized and provided funding to the SBA to provide Economic Injury Disaster Loans (“EIDLs”) to eligible small businesses, including sole proprietorships and independent contractors, experiencing substantial financial disruptions due to the COVID-19 pandemic to allow them to meet financial obligations and operating expenses that could otherwise have been met had the disaster not occurred.  EIDL applications were submitted directly to the SBA via the SBA’s on-line application website, and the applications were processed and the loans funded for qualifying applicants directly by the SBA.

    On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus.

    On September 15, 2022, the Attorney General selected the Southern District of Florida’s U.S. Attorney’s Office to head one of three national COVID-19 Fraud Strike Force Teams. The Department of Justice established the Strike Force to enhance existing efforts to combat and prevent COVID-19 related financial fraud. For more information on the department’s response to the pandemic, please click here.

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

    Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case numbers 25-cr-20014 and 25-cr-20001.

    ###

    MIL Security OSI –

    March 7, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Man charged with drink driving twice in just over a week

    Source: Tasmania Police

    Man charged with drink driving twice in just over a week

    Friday, 7 March 2025 – 7:33 pm.

    Police are urging all motorists to be aware of the dangers of driving while affected by alcohol, after a man was charged for allegedly drink driving twice in just over a week.
    On 21 February, police intercepted a heavy truck travelling on the South Arm Highway. Police will allege the truck was unregistered, and the driver, a 61-year-old man from Sandford, was suspended from driving. The man underwent a random breath test and returned a reading of 0.147 – almost three times the limit. He was disqualified from driving for a further 12-month.
    Today, police intercepted the same truck on the South Arm Highway. Police will allege the truck remained unregistered and was being driven by the same man. The man underwent a random breath test and returned a reading of 0.109 – more than two times the limit. He was arrested and remanded to appear before an after-hours court.
    Acting Sergeant Mohammadi said, “Police urge all motorists to remember that drink driving is one of the fatal five causes of deaths and serious injuries from crashes on our roads.”
    “Getting behind the wheel when you’re affected by alcohol puts your life, and the lives of other road users at risk – don’t do it.”

    MIL OSI News –

    March 7, 2025

  • MIL-OSI: Isabel Faragalli and Sergei Anikin proposed to join Inbank Supervisory Board

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    At the Annual General Meeting on 31 March 2025, the Supervisory Board of AS Inbank will propose the election of Isabel Margaret Anne Faragalli and Sergei Anikin to the Supervisory Board for a three-year term, effective 1 April 2025.

    According to Jan Andresoo, Chairman of the Inbank Supervisory Board, the addition of strong finance sector and tech expertise, along with increasing the proportion of independent members, is aimed at supporting Inbank’s journey toward becoming a public company.

    “As Inbank and the complexity of the business continue to grow, we need to further strengthen our governance structure which is why I’m very excited to welcome Isabel Faragalli and Sergei Anikin to the Supervisory Board. Isabel brings deep expertise in capital markets, while Sergei contributes strong leadership in technology. Together, they will help bolster and internationalize our governing bodies,” said Jan Andresoo.

    “I am delighted to join the Inbank Supervisory Board. With almost 30 years of experience in the European capital markets, I have advised many European banks and consumer finance companies on their funding and growth strategy and I very much look forward to sharing such experience with Inbank and supporting them with their international expansion,” commented Isabel Faragalli.

    “I am thrilled to join the Inbank Supervisory Board and collaborate with an exceptional team of professionals. In today’s world, technology is the key driver of success for any business, and I firmly believe that its strategic application can unlock new growth opportunities. My passion lies in leveraging technology to drive business transformation, and I look forward to helping Inbank scale its operations, expand internationally, and strengthen its position as a leader in financial technology,” said Sergei Anikin.

    The Inbank Supervisory Board will consist of seven members, including Jan Andresoo, Roberto de Silvestri, Triinu Bucheton, Raino Paron, and Erkki Raasuke, alongside the newly proposed members Isabel Faragalli and Sergei Anikin.

    Isabel Faragalli and Sergei Anikin do not hold Inbank shares.

    Isabel Margaret Anne Faragalli brings extensive experience in investment banking, asset management, and structured finance, having held senior leadership roles across global financial institutions. She currently serves as Head of Investments Europe at Spectrum Principal Asset Management, where she leads investment strategy, asset origination, and business development across Europe. Previously, she spent over six years at Credit Suisse, driving capital market solutions and credit structuring within the Debt Capital Markets division, working with large European corporates and banks. Her career spans over two decades in leading financial firms, including EFG Bank, Swiss Re, Man Investments, and Credit Suisse First Boston, specializing in capital markets, investment consulting, and structured credit solutions. Isabel holds an MSc in Finance & Financial Law from the University of London and is a qualified English lawyer (non-practicing). Fluent in English, German, Italian, and Spanish, she also lectures at Hochschule Luzern’s MBA programs.

    Sergei Anikin is a seasoned technology leader, angel investor, and board member with extensive experience in scaling startups, fostering innovation, and driving business growth. He is currently the Chairman of the Board at Bisly and Katana MRP, as well as an active investor and advisor focused on SaaS, deep tech, and company scaling. Previously, he served as Chief Technology Officer at Pipedrive, where he played a pivotal role in scaling the company from a 20-person startup to its acquisition by Vista Equity Partners, growing the engineering team from 10 to over 400 professionals and increasing annual recurring revenue from $1 million to $100 million. He has also held leadership roles at Tuum, Microsoft, Skype, and Hansabank, with expertise in software architecture, engineering management, and business transformation. Sergei holds a Master’s degree in Data Processing from TalTech and is known for his ability to align technology with business goals, making him a key player in driving innovation and scaling businesses globally.

    Inbank is a financial technology company with an EU banking license that connects merchants, consumers and financial institutions on its next generation embedded finance platform. Partnering with more than 6,000 merchants, Inbank has 872,000+ active contracts and collects deposits across 7 markets in Europe. Inbank bonds are listed on the Nasdaq Tallinn Stock Exchange.

    Additional information:
    Styv Solovjov
    AS Inbank
    Head of Investor Relations
    +372 5645 9738
    styv.solovjov@inbank.ee

    The MIL Network –

    March 7, 2025

  • MIL-Evening Report: The EU will spend billions more on defence. It’s a powerful statement – but won’t do much for Ukraine

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jessica Genauer, Senior Lecturer in International Relations, Flinders University

    On March 3, US President Donald Trump paused all US military aid to Ukraine. This move was apparently triggered by a heated exchange a few days earlier between Trump, Vice President JD Vance and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in the Oval Office.

    In response, European Union leaders have now committed to rearm Europe by mobilising €800 billion (about A$1.4 trillion) in defence spending.

    26 of the EU leaders (excluding Hungary) signed an agreement that peace for Ukraine must be accompanied by “robust and credible” security guarantees.

    They agreed there can be no negotiations on Ukraine without Ukraine’s participation. It was also agreed the EU will continue to provide regular military and non-military support to Ukraine.

    This jump in defence spending is unprecedented for the EU, with 2024 spending hitting a previous record high of €326 billion (A$558 billion).

    At the same time, the United Kingdom has committed to the biggest increase in defence spending since the Cold War.

    The EU’s united front will create strong defences and deter a direct attack on EU nations.

    However, for Ukraine, it will not lead to a military victory in its war with Russia. While Europe has stepped up funding, this is not sufficient for Ukraine to defeat Russian forces currently occupying about 20% of the country.

    For Ukraine, the withdrawal of US support will severely strain their ability to keep fighting. Ukraine will likely need to find a way to freeze the conflict this year. This may mean a temporary truce that does not formally cede Ukrainian territory to Russia.

    A Trumpian worldview

    The vastly different approaches of the US under Trump and the EU point to a deeper ideological divide.

    While the Trump administration has acted more quickly and assertively in foreign affairs than many expected, its approach is not surprising.

    Since Trump won the US presidential election in November last year, Europe and Ukraine have known that a shift in US policy would be on the cards.

    Trump’s approach to Ukraine is not only about economic concerns and withdrawing US military aid. It is about a deeper, more significant clash of worldviews.

    Trump (and, it appears, his core support base) hold a “great power politics” approach to world affairs.

    This approach assumes we live in a competitive world where countries are motivated to maximise gains and dominate. Outcomes can be achieved through punishments or rewards.

    Countries with greater military or economic strength “count” more. They are expected to impose their will on weaker countries. This viewpoint underpinned much of the colonial activity of the 19th and 20th centuries.

    This worldview expects conflict – and it expects stronger countries to “win”.

    Consistent with Trump’s outlook, Russia is a regional power that has the “right” to control smaller countries in its neighbourhood.

    Trump’s approach to Ukraine is not an anomaly. Nor is it a temporary and spontaneous measure to grab the global spotlight.

    Trump’s worldview leads to the logical and consistent conclusion that Russia will seek to control countries within its sphere of influence.

    Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine represented an attempt to impose its will on a militarily weaker country that it considered to be in its rightful domain of control.

    The EU alternative

    Contrary to this view, the EU is founded on the premise that countries can work together for mutual gains through collaboration and consensus. This approach underpins the operation of what are called the Bretton Woods Institutions created in the aftermath of World War II.

    This worldview expects collaboration rather than conflict. Mutually beneficial and cooperative solutions are found through dialogue and negotiation.

    According to this perspective, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is about a conflict between the values of a liberal democracy and those of an oppressive authoritarian regime.

    Zelensky has himself consistently framed the conflict as being about a clash of values: freedom and democracy versus authoritarianism and control.

    A mix of both?

    Since Trump’s second inauguration, European leaders have presented a united front, motivated by facing a world where US military backing cannot be guaranteed.

    However, there is internal division within European countries. Recent years has seen a sharp rise in anti-EU sentiment within EU member states. The UK’s exit from the EU is an example of this phenomenon.

    EU leaders previously followed a path of cooperation with Russia, with limited success. Following Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014, France and Germany helped mediate the Minsk Agreements. These agreements, signed in 2014 and 2015, were designed to prevent further incursions by Russian-backed groups into Ukrainian sovereign territory.

    This did not prevent Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

    In an emerging new world order, leadership might require going beyond the seeming contradiction of a focus on military strength or cooperation. Leaders may need to integrate both.

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

    – ref. The EU will spend billions more on defence. It’s a powerful statement – but won’t do much for Ukraine – https://theconversation.com/the-eu-will-spend-billions-more-on-defence-its-a-powerful-statement-but-wont-do-much-for-ukraine-251710

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

    March 7, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Attorney General Bonta Continues His Support for Federal Workers: Trump Administration’s Termination of Probationary Employees is Simply Unlawful

    Source: US State of California Department of Justice

    Files Lawsuit Against Federal Government to Stop Mass Firing of Probationary Employees 

    OAKLAND — California Attorney General Rob Bonta today filed a lawsuit challenging numerous federal agencies for conducting an illegal mass firing of federal probationary employees. In today’s lawsuit, 20 attorneys general argue that the Trump Administration’s Office of Personnel Management’s directive to agencies to terminate probationary employees en masse to reduce the size of the federal workforce exceeds any statutory authority granted by Congress. The lawsuit seeks to immediately halt further firings and reinstate unlawfully terminated federal employees while litigation proceeds.

    “The Trump Administration’s sweeping mass firing of probationary federal employees is simply unlawful,” said Attorney General Bonta. “Not only is the administration breaking the law, while they claim these actions are necessary to ‘curb waste and inefficiency,’ the reality is that abrupt and indiscriminate terminations will lead to increased operation disruptions, higher rehiring costs, and long-term financial burdens on taxpayers. This reckless directive has inflicted chaos and harmed federal workers who are key contributors to our economy and provide critical services that affect the everyday lives of Californians, from offering support for veterans and farmers, to protection of our cherished national parks and lands. I won’t stand idly by as the President attempts yet another unlawful power grab. I am proud to file this lawsuit with my fellow attorneys general across the nation to reinstate unlawfully terminated federal employees and halt further firings.”

    Nationally, there are more than 5.1 million federal workers. Nearly all federal employees serve a one-or two-year probationary period, and more than 200,000 are on probationary status across the federal government. In California, numerous federal employees serve in critical roles across key agencies including the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Department of Agriculture, the National Park Service, and the U.S. Forest Service, among others.

    The abrupt, pretextual termination of federal employees is not only unlawful but also disrupts essential government services and has far reaching economic effects. Specifically, in California, federal employees heavily contribute to our economy by paying state income taxes and generating substantial local revenue. This unlawful reduction in workforce has already caused a 149% increase in state unemployment benefit claims by federal workers and will inevitably impact small businesses through decreased consumer spending and decline in demand. This callous decision not only fuels broader economic uncertainty but directly contradicts yet another of the President’s empty promises to “immediately bring prices down, starting on day one” of his presidency. 

    In the complaint, the attorneys general allege that the Trump Administration’s failure to comply with Reduction in Force (RIF) procedures was arbitrary and capricious, not in accordance with law, and in violation of the federal Administrative Procedures Act. These critical protections ensure that workers and impacted communities receive advance notice of mass layoffs to blunt the disruptions they cause for the affected personnel and their communities and also ensure that personnel such as military veterans are given preference in retaining their jobs.

    When a RIF results in a layoff of 50 or more employees, the agency must generally give at least 60 days’ advance notice to state governments, so they can provide vital “rapid response” information, resources, and services to affected workers. The federal agencies named in the lawsuit failed to provide any advance notice to California, causing significant expense and burden on the state as it scrambles to respond to the sudden mass layoffs of its residents. In the month of February 2025, there was a 149% uptick in unemployment insurance claims filed by individuals recently terminated from federal service. 

    The attorneys general are seeking declaratory relief, a temporary restraining order to pause further mass firings, and preliminary and permanent injunctive relief that would reinstate unlawfully terminated federal employees and enjoin further terminations that do not follow required legal procedures.

    Attorney General Bonta is joined by the attorneys general of Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawai‛i, Illinois, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Wisconsin, and the District of Columbia in filing this lawsuit. 

    A copy of the complaint can be found here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

    March 7, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Gov. Pillen Appoints Kleine as County Court Judge in the Fourth Judicial District

    Source: US State of Nebraska

    . Pillen Appoints Kleine as County Court Judge in the Fourth Judicial District

    LINCOLN, NE – Today, Governor Jim Pillen announced his appointment of Philip K. Kleine of Elkhorn as the county court judge in the Fourth Judicial District. That district consists of Douglas County.

    Kleine is currently an assistant city prosecutor in Omaha. From 2011 to 2021, he was the lead deputy county attorney for Sarpy County. Kleine has also held roles in the Lancaster County Attorney’s office, Douglas County Attorney’s office and in the Nebraska Attorney General’s office. 

    Kleine has been a volunteer with Legal Aid, as well as a volunteer judge for Creighton University in the National Trial Competition. He has taught at Bellevue University and is a presenter at the Sarpy/Douglas County Law Enforcement Academy. 

    This judicial vacancy is due to the retirement of Judge Jeffrey L. Marcuzzo.

    MIL OSI USA News –

    March 7, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Police call for witnesses of Devonport structure fire

    Source: Tasmania Police

    Police call for witnesses of Devonport structure fire

    Friday, 7 March 2025 – 3:04 pm.

    Police are calling for witnesses as they investigate a deliberately lit structure fire in Devonport.
    Police, firefighters and other emergency services were called to the scene on the corner of William and Madden Streets about 12:30pm yesterday.
    The unit was fully destroyed by the fire, and fire investigators have determined it was deliberately lit.
    A 39-year-old Devonport woman is currently assisting police with their enquiries, and investigators would like to hear from anyone with information about the incident.
    Information can be provided to Western Criminal Investigation Division on 131 444 – quote ESCAD 184-06032025.
    Information can also be provided to Crime Stoppers Tasmania anonymously at crimestopperstas.com.au or on 1800 333 000.

    MIL OSI News –

    March 7, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Charges – Firearms offences – Palmerston

    Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

    The Northern Territory Police Force has issued a Notice to Appear to a 77-year-old man in relation to firearms offences in Palmerston.

    On 10 December 2024, police responded to reports of an unsecured firearm at the man’s residence in Driver. A subsequent search of the residence located a further 3 unsecured firearms along with an imitation firearm. The man’s four registered firearms were seized by police.

    The matter was referred to the Northern Territory Police Firearms Audit and Enforcement Unit who, after further investigation, issued the man with a Notice to Appear in the Darwin Local Court on 17 April 2025 for the offences of:

    • Fail to Meet Storage Requirements x 4
    • Breach of Firearms Licence Conditions
    • Possess Prohibited Weapon

    The man’s NT firearms licence has also been revoked for 5 years.

    Acting Senior Sergeant Aaron Chapman said “Firearms ownership is not a right, it is a responsibility.  Licence holders that at found to have blatantly failed to comply with the conditions of their licence or provisions of the Firearms Act 1997 should expect to have their licence revoked.”

    Anyone with information on illegal or misuse of firearms is encouraged to report it on 131 444. You can also report anonymously through Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or through https://crimestoppersnt.com.au

    MIL OSI News –

    March 7, 2025

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Unexplained death in Northcote Point

    Source: New Zealand Police (National News)

    Police are making enquiries into an unexplained death in Northcote Point this afternoon.

    At around 1.29pm, a Police unit was flagged down by a member of the public on Stafford Road.

    A man was unconscious at the entrance to the walkway through to Alfred Street.

    Medical assistance was immediately provided to the man but sadly he died at the scene.

    Enquiries are now underway to establish what has occurred and how the man ended up at the location.

    The Stafford Road off-ramp is currently closed while a scene examination is carried out.

    Police would like to hear from anyone in the area who saw anything in the lead up to Police arriving at the scene.

    Please contact 105 using the reference number P061837652.

    ENDS.

    Jarred Williamson/NZ Police

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

    March 7, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Grassley, Peters Relaunch Bipartisan Effort to Root Out Foreign Influence in U.S. Policy

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Iowa Chuck Grassley

    WASHINGTON – Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Ranking Member Gary Peters (D-Mich.) reintroduced two bipartisan bills to prevent foreign governments, including adversaries like China and Russia, from shadow influencing U.S. policy. The legislation would help close loopholes that foreign governments exploit to conceal their roles in lobbying efforts.

    “Sunlight is the best disinfectant, and the public has a right to know if a foreign government is trying to sway American policy. Our bipartisan bills would close a loophole that allows individuals to conceal their lobbying efforts and ensure that all foreign actors are disclosed to the American people. The Senate passed our bipartisan legislation last Congress, and I’m going to continue to work diligently with my colleagues to get these vital reforms to the president’s desk,” Grassley said.

    “The American people deserve complete transparency about who is trying to influence our political process. These bipartisan bills will help ensure foreign actors can’t exploit loopholes to hide their activities while attempting to shape policy in the United States. It’s a commonsense step to protect our national security and ensure our government is working in the best interests of the American people,” Peters said.

    Lobbying Disclosure Improvement Act

    Congress created the Lobbying Disclosure Act (LDA) in 1995 to delineate between those lobbying on behalf of foreign governments versus those lobbying for foreign private entities.  The LDA exempts foreign private entity lobbyists from the Foreign Agents Registration Act’s (FARA) more burdensome restrictions. However, the Justice Department currently has no way of knowing which foreign lobbyists claim this exemption.

    The Lobbying Disclosure Improvement Act would make public which foreign lobbyists receive the LDA exemption, ensuring no foreign government actors can fraudulently and secretly represent themselves as non-government actors. This would help the Justice Department narrow the pool of registrants they are examining for potential FARA violations, without imposing any meaningful additional burden on non-government registrants representing foreign private entities.

    Additional cosponsors include Sens. John Cornyn (R-Texas), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.) and Josh Hawley (R-Mo.).

    Disclosing Foreign Influence in Lobbying Act

    Law enforcement agencies have identified instances in which foreign adversaries exploit an additional loophole in the Lobbying Disclosure Act by using closely connected private organizations and businesses to push their government interests.

    The Disclosing Foreign Influence in Lobbying Act makes clear that lobbying organizations must disclose when foreign governments and political parties participate in their lobbying efforts, regardless of any financial contribution to the lobbying effort

    MIL OSI USA News –

    March 7, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: What They Are Saying: Over One Million Law Enforcement Officers Call for Immediate, Clean Senate Passage of HALT Fentanyl Act

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Iowa Chuck Grassley

    WASHINGTON – Major law enforcement organizations representing over 1,000,000 officers nationwide, are calling on the Senate to pass the Halt All Lethal Trafficking of (HALT) Fentanyl Act immediately and without amendments. Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) is leading the push to permanently classify illicit fentanyl-related substances as Schedule I, alongside Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee Chairman Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-La.) and Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.).

    The White House today reaffirmed the administration’s support for the legislation in its current form. The bill will likely receive a final Senate vote next week.

    Law enforcement organizations backing the HALT Fentanyl Act’s swift and clean passage include the National Fraternal Order of Police, the National Association of Police Organizations, the Major Counties Chiefs Association, the Association of State Criminal Investigative Agencies, the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association, the Major County Sheriffs of America, the National Alliance of State Drug Enforcement Agencies, the National District Attorneys Association, the National HIDTA Directors Association, the National Narcotic Officers’ Associations’ Coalition, the National Sheriffs’ Association and the NYPD Sergeants Benevolent Association.

    The above organizations represent law enforcement agencies across all 50 states, including the major metropolitan areas of New York City, Miami, Orlando, Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles and Houston.

    Here’s what they’re saying:

    The National Association of Police Organizations: 
    “Time is of the essence. The DEA’s temporary authority to schedule all fentanyl-related substances as Schedule I drugs under the Controlled Substances Act ends on March 31… We supported the technical changes that had to be made when the Judiciary Committee approved the manager’s amendment last week, but otherwise urged the Committee to advance this critical legislation without further modification, which it did… We are now urging the Senate to swiftly pass S. 331 without amendment”

    The National Fraternal Order of Police:
    “[The Halt Fentanyl Act], which permanently places fentanyl-related substances as a class into Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act, would save lives and make our communities safer. We thank Leader Thune for putting the bill on the floor and strongly urge the Senate to pass it without amendment.”

    The Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association:
    “FLEOA thanks @LeaderJohnThune for advancing S. 331/HALT Fentanyl Act. We urge all Senators to quickly pass this measure as-is, without further amendment, and give @DEAHQ permanent scheduling authority for fentanyl-related substances.”

    The Major County Sheriffs of America: 
    “The opioid crisis is devastating our nation. The Senate must pass the HALT Fentanyl Act without delay or changes to give law enforcement the tools to combat this deadly epidemic. We can’t afford further delay – let’s act now for public safety.”

    The NYPD Sergeants Benevolent Association: 
    “Last month, the Sergeants Benevolent Association joined its partner law enforcement organizations in calling on the Judiciary Committee to advance this critical legislation without delay or modification. We now respectfully request that all senators support passage of S. 331 as approved by the Judiciary Committee and without further amendment.”

    A coalition of 11 national, state and local law enforcement organizations: 
    “The opioid epidemic continues to claim the lives of hundreds of Americans every day. As this crisis escalates, every delay in addressing it only increases the toll on our communities. For the sake of public safety, it is imperative that the Senate pass the HALT Fentanyl Act as it stands, without changes, and move it forward to law.”

    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

    March 7, 2025

  • MIL-OSI China: Advisory: Schedules for China’s ‘two sessions’ on March 7

    Source: China State Council Information Office 2

    The following are the schedules for the third session of the 14th National People’s Congress (NPC) and the third session of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) on Friday.
    In the morning, NPC deputies will examine reports and drafts on budgets and economic and social development plans.
    In the afternoon, they will deliberate a draft amendment to the Law on Deputies to the National People’s Congress and to the Local People’s Congresses at Various Levels.
    In the morning, the NPC Financial and Economic Affairs Committee will review reports and drafts on budgets and economic and social development plans.
    In the afternoon, the NPC Constitution and Law Committee will review the draft amendment to the Law on Deputies to the National People’s Congress and to the Local People’s Congresses at Various Levels.
    In the morning, the CPPCC National Committee members will hold their second plenary meeting.
    In the afternoon, some sectors of the CPPCC National Committee will conduct consultations, while other sectors will hold group meetings.
    At 10 a.m., Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, will meet the press. 

    MIL OSI China News –

    March 7, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Ranking Members Padilla, Morelle Continue to Press Trump Administration on Firings of Election Security Workers, Pause of Critical Election Security Efforts

    US Senate News:

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

    Ranking Members Padilla, Morelle Continue to Press Trump Administration on Firings of Election Security Workers, Pause of Critical Election Security Efforts

    Lawmakers’ letter follows lack of response to letter about the firings of CISA employees who worked on election security

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration, and U.S. Representative Joe Morelle (N.Y.-25), Ranking Member of the Committee on House Administration, continued pressing senior officials at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) for answers on the status of their election-related work. This comes after not receiving a response to their letter last month on the firings of CISA employees who previously worked on election security, including misinformation and disinformation issues.

    “As Ranking Members of the House and Senate Committees with jurisdiction over federal elections, we have a right to understand the changes occurring at CISA given its critical election security mission,” wrote the lawmakers. “Failure to respond to these questions is deeply disturbing given so many high-ranking administration officials’ refusals to accept the outcome of legitimate elections and involvement in spreading election-related mis- and disinformation.”

    Since their original letter, more CISA employees have been put on administrative leave, and CISA has paused election security efforts as they rush through an internal assessment behind closed doors without consulting Congress or state and local election officials. Meanwhile, employees of President Trump and Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), including a 19-year-old staffer tied to interactions with cybercriminals, have infiltrated CISA’s systems. 

    “Election infrastructure is critical infrastructure. Changes at CISA could have dramatic impacts on future elections — the cornerstone of our democracy,” continued the lawmakers. “Without a reasonable, transparent process that consults with Congress and Chief Election Officials on a bipartisan basis, we are alarmed that political leadership at DHS and DOGE is directing CISA to undercut the security of our elections, making us more vulnerable to malign foreign actors and risking the safety of election officials.”

    The lawmakers also condemned the permanent termination without notice of federal funds for the Election Infrastructure Information Sharing and Analysis Center (EI-ISAC). EI-ISAC is an essential resource for threat monitoring and coordination between state officials on election security matters.

    Additionally, the lawmakers highlighted a February 21, 2025, letter from the bipartisan National Association of Secretaries of State to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, and pushed CISA to consult with election officials while conducting their assessment. The Secretaries’ letter underscores the need for CISA’s services to ensure the successful administration of elections.

    Last week, Padilla and Morelle expressed serious concerns about the dangerous implications for elections following President Trump’s executive order purporting to bring independent regulatory agencies under total control of the White House. Padilla previously denounced the illegal firing of FEC Chair Weintraub and led 10 Democratic Senators to demand President Trump rescind this decision. 

    Full text of the letter is available here and below:

    Dear Ms. Bean and Ms. Harrington:

    We are concerned by the lack of timely written response to our February 13, 2025, letter on the status of the election-related work and the treatment of employees at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA). Since the sending of that letter, several additional, disturbing reports have come to light, including (1) more CISA employees have been put on administrative leave, (2) election security efforts have been paused during a secretive review that is being rushed through without consultation with Congress or state and local election officials, and (3) employees of the U.S. Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), including at least one who is a known cybersecurity risk, are reworking CISA without any transparency.

    We expect a thorough and substantive response to both letters, and a briefing on the results of the assessment following its anticipated conclusion on March 6, 2025, with a discussion of any anticipated changes to the agency prior to any being finalized. While we recognize that CISA and DOGE is declining to communicate with Congress on individual personnel decisions, Congress has a right to understand the overall personnel numbers and structural changes occurring at CISA. We reiterate our request for information on the numbers of CISA employees whose work, in whole or in part, covered election-related matters that have either been placed on administrative leave or fired. Our committees have received information that the number of election security officials put on leave is greater than initially reported and public reports indicate that 130 CISA employees have been fired already.

    We understand that CISA launched a review of its election security work soon after receiving our February 13 letter. While we understand the assessment of the agency’s work remains ongoing—with a reported March 6 deadline—we urge your continued commitment to maintaining elections as a key component of CISA’s core mission. Additionally, we call your attention to the February 21, 2025, letter from the bipartisan National Association of Secretaries of State and urge you to consult with key Congressional committees and Chief Election Officials before the conclusion of the assessment. In their letter, the Secretaries noted the importance of CISA’s services, including cybersecurity services, physical security assessments, planning resources, and briefings on the foreign threats facing our election systems at the state and local level. While we encourage CISA to ensure these services remain intact, decisions to upend these programs after a three-week review without seriously considering the input of Members of Congress or the individuals running elections in the states would be irresponsible and shortsighted.

    We are also gravely concerned about the permanent termination of federal funds for the Election Infrastructure Information Sharing and Analysis Center (EI-ISAC). The EI-ISAC played a critical role in threat monitoring and coordination between state officials, and the lack of notice prior to the termination of federal funding has left states unable to accept the services of the Center for Internet Security. We recommend restoring federal funding for the EI-ISAC as soon as possible. If CISA or DOGE refuse to do so, they owe Congress a substantive explanation for this decision and details of how CISA will be providing these services to states in the absence of the EI-ISAC.

    Furthermore, we are shocked by public reporting that an inexperienced DOGE staffer with a history of engagement with hacking groups, and who was fired for leaking sensitive information from a previous job, is now working at CISA. We demand an immediate answer as to how many DOGE employees are currently housed at CISA, as well as the level of access they have been given to sensitive information. Senior Advisor to the President Elon Musk has publicly committed the Administration and DOGE to the highest levels of transparency, and we expect a full accounting for DOGE’s activities at an agency with a mission as sensitive as CISA’s.

    As Ranking Members of the House and Senate Committees with jurisdiction over federal elections, we have a right to understand the changes occurring at CISA given its critical election security mission. Failure to respond to these questions is deeply disturbing given so many high-ranking administration officials’ refusals to accept the outcome of legitimate elections and involvement in spreading election-related mis- and disinformation. Election infrastructure is critical infrastructure. Changes at CISA could have dramatic impacts on future elections – the cornerstone of our democracy. Without a reasonable, transparent process that consults with Congress and Chief Election Officials on a bipartisan basis, we are alarmed that political leadership at DHS and DOGE is directing CISA to undercut the security of our elections, making us more vulnerable to malign foreign actors and risking the safety of election officials.

    Thank you for your attention to this matter and we look forward to your prompt response, no later than Monday, March 17.

    Sincerely,

    MIL OSI USA News –

    March 7, 2025

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Road closures following fire, Awarua

    Source: New Zealand Police (District News)

    People are being asked to steer clear of a fire in Awarua in the Far North as emergency services work at the scene.

    A section of Mangakahia Road has been closed as the fire continues.

    Police are in attendance supporting Fire and Emergency New Zealand with traffic management, after receiving a report of a bush fire in the area just after 12.30pm.

    The road has been closed either side of Takawhero Road and people are being asked to avoid the area.

    ENDS.

    Holly McKay/NZ Police

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

    March 7, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: PHOTO: Cornyn Meets Houstonian & Honorary Secret Service Agent DJ Daniel

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Texas John Cornyn

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) today met Houstonian and 13-year-old cancer survivor DJ Daniel, whom President Trump named an honorary Secret Service Agent during his Joint Address to Congress on Tuesday. See photo below.

    “I know I’m not alone in saying that 13-year-old Texan DJ Daniel, who proudly wore a Houston Police Department uniform… was one of the highlights of POTUS’ address to Congress. DJ is an inspiration and a great example of resilience. DJ, you are amazing, and I know you will be a fantastic Secret Service agent.” 

    This image is in the public domain, but those wishing to do so may credit the Office of U.S. Senator John Cornyn.

    Senator John Cornyn, a Republican from Texas, is a member of the Senate Finance, Judiciary, Intelligence, Foreign Relations, and Budget Committees.

    MIL OSI USA News –

    March 7, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Security: U.S. Marine Corps, Royal Thai Marine Corps, Republic of Korea Marine Corps conduct combat marksmanship practice during Cobra Gold 2025

    Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

    Cobra Gold is taking place from Feb. 26 – Mar. 8, 2025, with this year marking the 44th iteration of the exercise. As the largest joint exercise in mainland Asia, Cobra Gold brings together multinational armed forces and multiple civilian agencies in the exchange of knowledge involving training events and discourse with subject matter experts.

    In the combat marksmanship training event, U.S. Marines instructed Thai and ROK Marines in close combat scenarios utilizing a 50 meter rifle range.

    Col. Stuart Glenn, commanding officer of the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit, Marine Rotational Force-Southeast Asia, was there to witness the cooperative training environment.

    “We’re exchanging knowledge,” said Glenn. “We’re exchanging skills. We’re exchanging best practices and things that we have learned in our collective training. And what makes this particular event unique is that we’re also receiving all of that from our international partners here today.”

    One such partner present, Petty Officer 1st Class Suttiwat Susing of the Royal Thai Marine Corps, has extensive experience with the collaborative training mission, having participated in over four Cobra Gold exercises in the past.

    “I have learned many things from the U.S. Marine Corps in all the Cobra Golds I have been a part of,” said Susing. “Even today on the range, they taught new practices related to safety on the range.”

    In addition to the technical expertise exchanged between service members, Susing has seen many lasting friendships result from the exercises. This fact is not lost on Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class Isaiah Gutierrez, a U.S. Navy Sailor attached to the 1st LAR.

    “Training like this on a range is important for our readiness, but it’s also like a bonding time for these guys,” said Gutierrez. “A lot of these guys like to shoot – American, Korean and Thai. So doing it all together gives a sense of camaraderie between them. And, of course, it helps us all understand how we operate our weapon systems.”

    Lance Cpl. Ryan Bernard, team leader in the 1st LAR, participated in the combat marksmanship training and welcomed the opportunity to learn from marines of other nations.

    “Training with our partners like this, in their own country and with other armed forces, is crucial to our mission,” said Bernard.

    According to Bernard, a day on the range with partners and allies goes a long way toward operational familiarity and camaraderie among service members.

    Republic of Korea Navy Capt. Kim Kyung-ho, commander of the ROK Navy Cobra Gold Exercise Squadron, observed for himself the marines instructing each other in techniques and safety procedures on the range.

    “Through active and practical training like today with our allies and partners, we will be able to enhance the ability to conduct multinational joint operations and contribute to strengthening interoperability and military cooperation while promoting friendship among the participating forces,” said Kyung-ho.

    MIL Security OSI –

    March 7, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Booker, Warren, Senators Raise Alarm About Reports of X Officials Leveraging Elon Musk’s Government Position to Drive Ad Revenue & Enrich the Billionaire

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Jersey Cory Booker
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) led Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Adam Schiff (D-CA), and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) in sending a letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi, raising concerns about reports that Elon Musk’s social media company “X” (formerly Twitter) is leveraging his influential position in the Trump Administration to extract revenue from advertisers and enrich himself. If Musk uses his government position to interfere with federal antitrust enforcement, allegedly threatening to stall or block an advertiser’s merger if they do not pay up, then he risks running afoul of criminal ethics laws.
    In 2023, a wave of advertisers withdrew ads from X after Musk “endorsed an antisemitic post” and loosened content moderation rules in ways that increased inflammatory content on the platform, reportedly costing the company as much as $75 million in ad revenue that year.
    In 2024, as Musk prepared to begin his new role in the federal government, an attorney at X allegedly demanded that the advertising conglomerate Interpublic Group “get its clients to spend more on Elon Musk’s social-media platform, or else.” 
    Interpublic has reportedly interpreted these communications to mean that Musk will leverage his influence over President Trump to stall or block Interpublic’s $13 billion deal to merge with advertising competitor Omnicom Group,” weaponizing federal antitrust enforcers, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Antitrust Division of the Department of Justice (DOJ).
    In the first letter, the Senators raise concerns that “X officials could … be attempting to strike a quid-pro-quo deal, pressuring Interpublic to get its clients to spend a certain amount on advertising on X in exchange for directing President Trump to use his antitrust enforcement agencies to allow Interpublic’s merger with Omnicom to proceed.”
    “The fear that the FTC and DOJ could be used in such a way is not unfounded. There is precedent for the Trump Administration weaponizing federal antitrust enforcers to punish his perceived opponents. During his first term, President Trump allegedly interfered with the AT&T-Time Warner merger, in which the DOJ sued to block the merger, to punish CNN for the news agency’s reporting on the President,” wrote the Senators.
    The Senators request that the FTC and DOJ inform the undersigned of any attempts made by Elon Musk or his associates to interfere with federal antitrust enforcement writing, “The federal government’s antitrust enforcers should be prioritizing lowering costs for American consumers, empowering workers, and supporting small businesses. They should not be weaponized by wealthy business owners to put more money in the hands of billionaires or retaliate against American businesses.”
    Additionally, in a related letter sent today, the senators urge Attorney General Pam Bondi to investigate Special Government Employee Elon Musk if he uses his government position to protect those who engage in business with him as he would risk violating criminal ethics laws.  
    “Musk is not above the law by virtue of being the world’s richest man,” continued the senators. “If evidence emerges that Musk is, in fact, using his official role to coerce advertisers or is participating in particular matters in which he has a financial interest, we ask that DOJ investigate the potential violation of federal ethics laws, as the Department should for any other federal employee who appears to be breaking the law.”
    To read the full text of the letter, click here and here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

    March 7, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Duckworth and Fellow Veterans’ Affairs Committee Democrats Demand Immediate Answers on VA Secretary Collins’ Disastrous Plan to Cut 83,000 VA Jobs

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Illinois Tammy Duckworth

    March 06, 2025

    [WASHINGTON, D.C.] – Today, combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—a member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee (SVAC)—joined SVAC Ranking Member Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), all other SVAC Democrats and House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Ranking Member Mark Takano (D-CA-39) in demanding immediate answers from Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Doug Collins regarding the disastrous impact of the Trump Administration’s plans to cut more than 80,000 VA employees this year—including at least 20,000 Veterans. The lawmakers’ bicameral letter comes after an internal memo leaked earlier this week detailed a plan to slash VA’s workforce to fiscal year 2019 levels.

    The lawmakers expressed their extreme concern with the impact this massive reduction in force plan will have on Veterans—despite Collins’ unsupported claims that scaling back VA’s workforce by at least 15% will have no impact on VA care or benefits: “This planned [Reduction in Force] and [Reorganization Plan], coupled with the ongoing hiring freeze and illegal terminations of probationary employees, will be catastrophic for the agency; its workforce; and for the veterans, caregivers, and survivors it serves… You have promised on several occasions that any reductions in the VA workforce will not impact delivery of care and benefits to veterans. It defies logic and reason that the agency could cut an additional  83,000 employees, beyond the 2,400 or more you have already terminated, without healthcare and benefits being interrupted.”

    The lawmakers emphasized the harm in reducing VA’s workforce back to pre-PACT Act levels: “Congress passed the Honoring Our PACT Act in 2022, which authorized the largest expansion of veterans’ benefits in decades. Millions of veterans either became newly eligible for VA benefits or saw their benefits increase due to authorities in the PACT Act. To meet the growth in demand and to deliver the care and benefits veterans earned, Congress included provisions in the legislation that allowed VA to grow its workforce across the system…These new hires made the Department more efficient and productive, and the reduction in claims processing turnaround can be directly attributed to the growth in the workforce. Returning to pre-PACT levels explicitly goes against Congressional intent.”

    The lawmakers concluded their letter by demanding immediate answers to a series of questions and requests for documentation, including:

    • A full and unredacted copy of the memo leaked this week including attachments referenced;
    • Full and unredacted copies of the information gathered and submitted by Administrations and Staff Offices that is due by March 10, 2025, as referenced in the memo;
    • The names, jobs titles, job duties and onboarding dates of the “DOGE leads” and “VA liaisons to DOGE” referenced in the memo;
    • A detailed list of VA Administration and Staff Office personnel who will be detailed to support the Reduction in Force and Reorganization Plan efforts referenced in the memo;
    • A detailed timeline of the proposed Reduction in Force and Reorganization Plan;
    • A list of the designated senior leaders who will serve as central points of contact for time sensitive issues designated by Administration and Staff Offices as referenced in the memo;
    • What future objectives related to any RIFs or adjustments to VA staffing levels are being contemplated or planned; and
    • To confirm the exact data and goals the Secretary is referencing to implement these plans. 

    Along with Duckworth, the letter was co-signed in the Senate by SVAC Ranking Member Blumenthal (D-CT) and U.S. Senators Patty Murray (D-WA), Bernard Sanders (I-VT), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Angus King (I-ME), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) and Elissa Slotkin (D-MI).

    In the House, the letter is also co-signed by House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Ranking Member Mark Takano (D-CA) and numerous House Democratic Committee members.

    The full text of the letter is available on the Committee Democrats’ website and below.

    Dear Secretary Collins:

    We write to express our extreme concern regarding reports that through Agency Reductions in Force (RIF) and Reorganization Plan (ARRP), the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) plans to cut its staff by an estimated 83,000 employees by the end of this fiscal year. VA Chief of Staff Christopher Syrek stated in a March 4, 2025, memorandum to key VA officials that the “initial objective” at the agency will be to reduce the VA workforce to end of fiscal year 2019 levels. This planned RIF and ARRP, coupled with the ongoing hiring freeze and illegal terminations of probationary employees, will be catastrophic for the agency; its workforce; and for the veterans, caregivers, and survivors it serves.

    Congress passed the Honoring Our PACT Act in 2022, which authorized the largest expansion of veterans’ benefits in decades. Millions of veterans either became newly eligible for VA benefits or saw their benefits increase due to authorities in the PACT Act. To meet the growth in demand and to deliver the care and benefits veterans earned, Congress included provisions in the legislation that allowed VA to grow its workforce across the system. Those new hires were not limited to clinicians who provide direct care. Claims processors, benefits counselors, IT professionals, and essential support staff were also onboarded to ensure veterans could access their earned disability compensation and programs like the G.I. Bill and Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E). These new hires made the Department more efficient and productive, and the reduction in claims processing turnaround can be directly attributed to the growth in the workforce. Returning to pre-PACT levels explicitly goes against Congressional intent.

    You have promised on several occasions that any reductions in the VA workforce will not impact delivery of care and benefits to veterans. It defies logic and reason that the agency could cut an additional 83,000 employees, beyond the 2,400 or more you have already terminated, without healthcare and benefits being interrupted. To that end and due to the urgency of this matter, we request answers to the following questions by March 14, 2025. We also request our staff be briefed on these RIF and ARRP plans by March 12, 2025.

    1. Please provide a full and unredacted copy of the March 4, 2025, memorandum from the VA Chief of Staff to key Administration officials, “Department of Veterans Affairs Agency Reduction in Force (RIF) and Reorganization Plan (ARRP)” including “Attachment 1”. 
    2. Please provide full and unredacted copies of the information gathered and submitted by Administrations and Staff Offices that is due by March 10, 2025, as referenced in the March 4, 2025 memorandum related to the proposed RIF and ARRP. 
    3. Please provide the names, jobs titles, job duties, and onboarding dates of the “DOGE leads” and “VA liaisons to DOGE” referenced in the March 4, 2025 memorandum. 
    4. Please provide a detailed list of VA Administration and Staff Office personnel who will be detailed to support the RIF and ARRP efforts, as referenced in the March 4, 2025, memorandum. Please include the following data: name, occupation, job description, work experience, job location, and other relevant information. 
    5. Please provide a detailed timeline of the proposed RIF and ARRP plans, including all due dates for information from VA Administrations and Staff Offices and dates on which each step in the RIF and ARRP plan will be executed. 
    6. Please provide a list of the designated senior leaders who will serve as central points of contact for time sensitive issues designated by Administration and Staff Offices as referenced in the March 4, 2025 memorandum. 
    7. Please provide a list of Under Secretaries, Assistant Secretaries, other Key Officials, Senior Advisors, DOGE liaisons, and any other personnel who will serve on the Executive Review Group (ERG) referenced in the March 4, 2025 memorandum. 
    8. Please provide a list of participants and a detailed summary of the initial senior level meeting chaired by the Secretary that is planned for March 5, 2025 as referenced in the March 4, 2025 memorandum. 
    9. In the March 4, 2025 memorandum, the VA Chief of Staff states, “…the Department’s initial objective is to return to 2019 end-strength numbers of 399, 957 employees.” What future objectives related to any RIFs or adjustments to VA staffing levels are being contemplated or planned? 
    10. In the March 4, 2025 memorandum, the Chief of Staff refers to 2019 numbers as 399,957 employees, but according to data reported as required by Section 505 of Public Law 115-82, the MISSION Act, the Department’s numbers were below that level until 2020. Please confirm the exact data and goals you’ll be referencing as you implement these plans.

    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

    March 7, 2025

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Serious crash: Bush Road, Pipiroa

    Source: New Zealand Police (District News)

    Emergency services are at the scene of a serious crash involving a car and motorcycle, at Pipiroa in the Hauraki district.

    Police were alerted to the crash about 2.20pm, at the intersection of Shellbank and Bush roads. One person is in a critical condition.

    The road is likely to be closed for some time and diversions are being put in place at the intersections of Bush Road and State Highway 25, and Bush Road and Orchard East Road.

    Motorists are advised to avoid the area.

    ENDS

    Issued by the Police Media Centre

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

    March 7, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Charges – Property offences – Greater Darwin Region

    Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

    The Northern Territory Police Force has charged three male youths in relation to a crime series that commenced on Monday in the Greater Darwin Region.

    Strike Force Trident detectives have conducted extensive investigations to identify the perpetrators of multiple thefts and unlawful entries whilst using a stolen motor vehicle.

    About 1:40pm on Monday, police allege a male youth and a female youth attended a shopping centre in Yarrawonga and stole small items from a business.

    The following day at about 3:15pm, the same male youth involved in the incident the day before allegedly returned to the same shopping centre and stole further items from a separate business whilst in the company of other male youths.

    Three male youths then attended a recreational on The Boulevard where they stole car keys to a blue Nissan X-trail from a worker.

    The group of three subsequently met up with the male youth who was involved in both shopping centre thefts, located the vehicle and drove off from the location.

    The group of four males went on to unlawfully enter four separate businesses in Winnellie, Berrimah and Holtze before attempting to unlawfully enter a fifth business.

    About 1am the following morning on Wednesday, the same group allegedly attempted to unlawfully enter a further two businesses within the Bellamack Business Precinct before being disturbed by police in the area.

    The stolen vehicle was recovered at 5am that morning and has been seized for forensic analysis.

    Yesterday morning, Strike Force Trident detectives arrested and charged three male youths, aged 13, 14 and 16 with:

    • Drive/Ride/Use MV without consent
    • 4 x Aggravated Burglary
    • 3 x Attempted Burglary
    • 7 x Damage to Property
    • 3 x Theft
    • Trespass

    The 13 and 14-year-old males received an extra charge of Breach Bail.

    Further charges were laid on the 13-year-old in relation to the incidents, including two extra counts of shoplifting and Drive Unlicenced.

    Investigations remain ongoing with Strike Force Trident working to arrest the remaining offenders.

    Anyone with information is urged to make contact on 131 444 or anonymously through Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

    MIL OSI News –

    March 7, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Australian women are diverse, so the approach to women’s safety should be as well

    Source: Australian Human Rights Commission

    This International Women’s Day, the Commissioners at the Australian Human Rights Commission stand together to call for urgent action to ensure that all women and girls—of every background, age or disability—can live free from violence, discrimination, and inequality.

    This year’s International Women’s Day theme, “For ALL women and girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment,” is a reminder that gender equality can only be achieved when every woman and girl has their rights upheld, their safety guaranteed, and their voices heard. Gender equality benefits all of us.

    For too many women, this vision remains out of reach. Women in Australia continue to face gender-based violence at devastating rates, economic insecurity that puts them at risk, and structural barriers that leave them without access to support or justice. These issues are not separate—they are interconnected. That is why we must take a prevention-first approach that reflects the diversity of Australian women and girls.

    We also urge governments to commit to sustainable funding for community-led, trauma-informed, and person-centred solutions, ensuring that the women and communities most affected by violence and discrimination lead the responses. This cannot be achieved without real accountability.

    This International Women’s Day, we ask Australia to move beyond rhetoric and commit to genuine systemic change. Women’s safety must be a guarantee – it cannot be an afterthought.

    “International Women’s Day is a moment to celebrate progress, but it is also a call to action. We cannot achieve gender equality while women continue to live in fear of violence and discrimination. We know what works in communities, workplaces, and homes, let’s listen to women and girls and be led by them.”
    Dr Anna Cody, Sex Discrimination Commissioner

    “For migrant, refugee, and First Nations women and girls, safety is often undermined by racism, visa insecurity, and systemic barriers to justice. True empowerment means ensuring negatively racialised women and girls have equal protection under the law and that their perspectives are built into policy and practice.”
    Giridharan Sivaraman, Race Discrimination Commissioner

    “While Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women are the bedrock of our communities, we also face challenges like domestic and family violence at disproportionate rates – a crisis further compounded by the ongoing issue of misidentification as perpetrators. Too often, these women remain invisible within the statistics that should be driving our reforms. We must have targeted, culturally informed strategies that acknowledge and address these systemic shortcomings.”
    Katie Kiss, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner

    “Housing insecurity has become increasingly widespread among older women. The rate of homelessness among older women has grown by almost 40% in the last ten years. We cannot talk about women’s safety without addressing economic inequality and the structural barriers that put them at risk.”
    Robert Fitzgerald AM, Age Discrimination Commissioner

    Women and girls with disability experience higher rates of violence, yet their specific and unique experiences are often not recognised or addressed in gender-based violence responses. We need accessible, and rights-based solutions to ensure no woman or girl is excluded.”
    Rosemary Kayess, Disability Discrimination Commissioner

    “All children should be safe, and their wellbeing should be made a national priority for Australia. 1 in 3 girls experience child sexual abuse. If we are serious about ending gender-based violence, we must stop the violence experienced by children in their homes and ensure that children with trauma get the help they need. For too long we have neglected the wellbeing of children – this International Women’s Day I call for child wellbeing to be made a priority for National Cabinet.”
    Anne Hollonds, National Children’s Commissioner

    “Australian women and girls are diverse, but one thing that should be shared by us all is being able to live free from violence and fear. International Women’s Day is a day to reaffirm the importance of ensuring that these shared rights are upheld for all women and girls.”
    Lorraine Finlay, Human Rights Commissioner

    This International Women’s Day, we call on governments, policymakers, and communities to act. For ALL women and girls—Rights, Equality, Empowerment.

    ENDS | Media contact: media@humanrights.gov.au or 0457 281 897 (only calls, no texts please) 

    MIL OSI News –

    March 7, 2025

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Serious Crash, SH3, Egmont Village

    Source: New Zealand Police (District News)

    State Highway 3 is blocked following a two-vehicle crash involving a car towing a trailer, near Egmont Road, Egmont Village.

    Emergency services were alerted to the crash around 1:50pm.

    Initial indications suggest two people are in a critical condition.

    The Serious Crash Unit has been advised.

    SH3 is blocked at it’s intersections with Upland Road and Egmont Road and motorists are advised to take an alternate route.

    ENDS 

    Issued by Police Media Centre 

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

    March 7, 2025
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