NewzIntel.com

Category: Vehicles

  • MIL-OSI China: Unleashing private sector’s dynamism for high-quality development

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    Half a month before the annual sessions of China’s top legislature and political advisory body, a high-level symposium on private enterprises was convened, sending a signal of strong support for private businesses.

    The symposium, attended by President Xi Jinping, underscored the Chinese authorities’ latest endeavor to bolster confidence and boost the development of the private sector, which is key to the country’s high-quality development.

    Unswerving support

    During the symposium, Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, stressed that the basic principles and policies for the development of the private sector have been incorporated into the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics, and “cannot and will not be changed.”

    This message highlighted the country’s unswerving commitment to the sector. During a similar symposium in November 2018, Xi said that private enterprises and private entrepreneurs “belong to our own family” and the sector should only grow stronger instead of being weakened.

    From the symposiums and key meetings that outline plans for the country’s reform and development to Xi’s visits to private companies, the country’s support for the private sector has been evident.

    During a group discussion at the country’s “two sessions” in 2023, after listening to Zeng Yuqun, chairman of private firm CATL, the Chinese leading battery maker, Xi expressed his hope that the country’s new energy industry would seize opportunities and ride the tide, while ensuring both development and security. Xi also urged the authorities to provide support and guidance for private enterprises during times of difficulty.

    Founded in 2011 in Ningde, east China’s Fujian Province, CATL has quickly risen to become one of the world’s leading industry players and its “Shenxing Plus” battery has drawn worldwide attention for high energy density and fast-charging capabilities.

    Among key policies to ramp up the growth of the private sector, China set up a bureau under its top economic planner, the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), in 2023. The country is also pushing forward the legislative process of its first basic law specifically aimed at promoting the development of the private sector.

    Under a nurturing policy environment, the private sector has become a prominent part of the country’s economy, driving innovation, employment and overall economic growth.

    Private firms now make up more than 90 percent of the country’s total enterprises, with their numbers more than quintupling between 2012 and 2024. Their global presence has also expanded, with the number of Chinese private firms in the Fortune Global 500 list rising to around 30.

    Yet the sector’s development is now at a pivotal moment: Domestically, China is battling headwinds, including insufficient demand to reinforce its economic recovery while fostering innovation-driven development; globally, businesses have to navigate escalating trade tensions, rising protectionism, and the latest wave of technological revolution that is transforming industries, production models and lifestyles.

    Despite the difficulties and challenges, it is important to see the path forward and the bright future, stay committed to development, bolster confidence, and maintain an enterprising spirit, Xi said at the latest symposium.

    High-quality development

    The Chinese authorities have encouraged private enterprises to embrace high-quality development, which is viewed as both a strategic imperative and a necessity for them to thrive in the increasingly complex and competitive global landscape.

    On many occasions, Xi has urged private enterprises to unswervingly pursue high-quality development, boost independent innovation and strengthen their core competitiveness.

    Private enterprises have already been the backbone of the country’s innovation drive, accounting for more than 90 percent of high-tech companies.

    The private sector also contributes to more than 70 percent of the country’s technological innovation achievements. Among the country’s national-level “little giant” firms — a term that refers to novel elites of small and medium-sized enterprises engaged in manufacturing, specializing in a niche market and boasting cutting-edge technologies — the proportion of private companies has surpassed 80 percent.

    From competitive electric vehicles and DeepSeek, a rising star in artificial intelligence, to Unitree Robotics, a pioneer in humanoid robot development, private enterprises are at the forefront of China’s economic transformation.

    To empower the sector, the NDRC pledged to further remove market access barriers, revise the market access negative list for private enterprises in a timely manner, and encourage greater private sector participation in major national projects and programs.

    Authorities also vowed to tackle challenges such as difficulties and high costs of financing for private businesses, address payment arrears owed to private enterprises, and effectively protect the legitimate rights and interests of private businesses and entrepreneurs in accordance with the law.

    These efforts are not just about clearing hurdles, but fostering an ecosystem which further unleashes private enterprises’ dynamism and ensures that they can fully capitalize on the opportunities in front of them.

    With the rapid development of education, science and technology, a vast and high-caliber talent pool and workforce, well-developed industrial and infrastructure systems, and a supersized market of more than 1.4 billion people with huge potential, the private sector enjoys abundant new opportunities and greater headroom for development, Xi said. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: expert reaction to the Climate Change Committee’s Seventh Carbon Budget

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Scientists comment on the Seventh Carbon Budget, published by the Climate Change Committee. 

    Prof John Barrett, Professor in Energy and Climate Policy and Director of the Climate Evidence Unit at the University of Leeds, said:

    “This is a very welcome report with a robust analysis that lets the Government, industry and citizens know that the pathway to net zero is possible and very much needed. However, it does place enormous responsibility on some key technologies and their rapid roll out to achieve these goals. As the UK Government digests the findings, we would suggest greater consideration of the “social” transformation that examines how we travel and what we buy.”

    “While the report acknowledges some upfront costs, it confirms that acting now will reduce expenses in the long run, with cost savings emerging by the late 2030s and beyond.”

    “The key takeaway from today’s report is clear: the transition to net zero is not only possible but highly beneficial. Independent academic analyses consistently supports this conclusion, showing that it will strengthen the economy, deliver widespread co-benefits, and position the UK as a leader in global climate action.”

     

    Dr Sean Beevers, Reader in Atmospheric Modelling, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, said:

    “A National Institute for Health and Care Research project examined the effects of net zero policies on air quality, active travel, health, and associated economic benefits in the UK.

    “Our cost benefit analysis showed that net zero transport and building policies deliver substantial co-benefits, including improved indoor and outdoor air quality, better health, increase active travel, lessening inequalities and with long-term economic gains. We estimated an overall monetised air quality and active travel benefit of £46.4 billion by 2060 and £153 billion by 2154.

     “Net zero policy analyses should include benefits from the air pollution reductions and physical activity increases. These benefits apply to current and future generations and failure to act will lead to worse health outcomes and higher costs for attaining net zero.”

    Dr Edward Gryspeerdt, Research Fellow at the Department of Physics, Imperial College London, said:

    “The CCC’s advice highlights that aviation will become the highest emitting sector in the UK by 2040. Clean alternatives, such as low-carbon fuel and technology for low emission flights are currently limited and a range of measures will be needed to meet net-zero – there is no silver bullet.

    “The government has described ‘sustainable aviation fuels’ as a ‘game changer.’ However, to have a significant impact on the climate impact of flying, they will need to be produced at a huge scale. It is not yet clear how this will be achieved. To reach net zero, the CCC also note that a switch from flying to other modes of transport will be required, especially for flights with an easy rail alternative. 

    “These measures alone won’t solve the problem. The CCC’s report highlights that a significant amount of carbon capture will be needed, highlighting the simple fact that the technological solutions to eliminate the climate impact of flying don’t yet exist. Any expansion of the UK’s aviation infrastructure will have to be coupled with improved sustainable transport options.”

     

    Dr Caterina Brandmayr, Director of Policy and Translation at the Grantham Institute – Climate Change and the Environment, Imperial College London, said:

    “Today’s advice marks an important milestone in charting the UK’s path to net zero. Public opinion surveys continue to show that climate change remains a key issue of concern for a large majority of people in the UK.

     “To put us firmly on track to deliver the deep emission cuts needed from 2038 to 2042, the UK government needs to strengthen its action in the near term, giving confidence to businesses and households to invest in clean alternatives in sectors like housing, transport and energy. 

    “There is strong public support for the benefits that emission reduction interventions can bring, such as warmer homes, energy security and cleaner air. 

    “Effectively communicating these benefits, while ensuring fairness and choice in policy design, will be key to sustaining public support for the transition and driving change in harder to decarbonise sectors, such as aviation and land use.”

    Dr Friederike Otto, Senior Lecturer at the Centre for Environmental Policy and co-lead of World Weather Attribution, Imperial College London, said

    “People shouldn’t forget why we need these targets – we’re already feeling the pain at 1.3°C of warming and things will keep getting worse until emissions are reduced to net zero. 

    “Here in the UK, we’ll experience even wetter winters that could wipe out crops, threaten our food security and turn sports pitches into miserable bogs. In summer, more frequent heatwaves will contribute to thousands of premature deaths, could put additional strain on the NHS, and reduce economic productivity. Overseas, extreme weather could disrupt supply chains we depend on and could contribute to worsening political instability and conflict. 

    “Arguments that climate action is too costly are dangerous, short-sighted and disproportionately harm poorer people. If governments don’t cut emissions, both now and in the future, our children will live in an increasingly hostile climate and even more inequal society. 

    “The UK needs to push ahead and lead the way in emission reductions for a safer, healthier future.”

    Prof Lorraine Whitmarsh, Director at the Centre for Climate Change and Social Transformations (CAST) at the University of Bath, said:

    “The government’s climate advisors make clear that tackling climate change requires significant action from all sections of society in the coming years. A third of emission reductions will come from household behaviour change alone. Low-carbon choices include switching to electric vehicles and heat pumps, eating more plant-based foods, and shifting to cleaner forms of transport. Many of these changes offer wider benefits, like improved health and lower bills. The report also highlights the need for government to reduce the barriers for the public to make these changes and to engage the public more actively in the net zero transition. The citizens panel that fed into these recommendations highlight that measures need to be fair and reduce the cost of low-carbon options.”

    Dr Christina Demski, Deputy Director at the Centre for Climate Change and Social Transformations (CAST) at the University of Bath, said:

    “The latest CCC progress report makes it clear that decisive action is needed now to ensure we meet the net zero target, and that action to reduce emissions also has other benefits like economic security, better health and reducing fuel poverty. While the UK is on track to reduce emissions substantially from energy supply, the report clearly shows that action is also needed in sectors like transport, buildings and agriculture, and that this requires widespread uptake of essential low-carbon technologies like EVs and heat pumps.

    “We have long called for a comprehensive engagement strategy, so it is great to see this included as one of the key recommendations, especially the recommendation to go beyond one-way communication strategies.”

    Dr Sam Hampton, Research Fellow at the Centre for Climate Change and Social Transformations (CAST) at the University of Bath, said:

    “The Climate Change Committee’s 7th Carbon Budget provides a comprehensive account of the changes required across UK society to address the increasingly alarming impacts of climate change. As we have largely exhausted the low-hanging fruit of decarbonising our electricity supply, the focus in the 2030s and 2040s must shift towards demand-side changes. This includes changes in how we eat and travel, as well as the technologies we adopt. The report highlights key solutions including the adoption of electric vehicles and heat pumps, as well as the need for innovation to rid fossil fuels from industry. Another important takeaway is that Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) is not a viable solution to decarbonising air travel. This comes just weeks after government expressed its support for airport expansion, and highlights the need for more radical solutions to limit flying, especially amongst the rich.”

     

     

    The Climate Change Committee’s Seventh Carbon Budget was published at 00:01 UK Time Wednesday 26 February 2025. 

    Declared interests

    Prof John Barrett: Deputy Director for Policy, Priestly Centre for Climate Futures, University of Leeds, Theme Leader for the UKRI Energy Research Demand Centre

    For all other experts, no reply to our request for DOIs was received.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Newport News drug trafficker sentenced to over six years in prison for cocaine and firearm charges

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – A Newport News man was sentenced today to six years and six months in prison for possession with intent to distribute cocaine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime.

    According to court documents, on July 12, 2023, agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) observed Torrean Dontae Whitlow, 34, with the extended magazine of a firearm protruding from his waistband. Whitlow was convicted in 2008 for arson of an occupied dwelling and in 2013 for being a felon in possession of a firearm. As a convicted felon, Whitlow cannot legally possess a firearm or ammunition. The agents also observed Whitlow conducting suspected narcotics transactions with four people in a ten-minute span in a parking lot in Hampton.

    The ATF agents notified officers with the Hampton Police Department, who then also observed Whitlow conduct several suspected narcotic transactions with the extended firearm magazine visible. After Whitlow departed the parking lot in a taxi, officers placed Whitlow under arrest. When the officers searched the taxi, they located a handgun with a 32-round magazine.

    Following Whitlow’s arrest, law enforcement executed a search warrant on the vehicle from which Whitlow had been observed conducting narcotics transactions and located, among other things, two scales and plastic baggies containing cocaine and methamphetamine.

    Erik S. Siebert, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Anthony A. Spotswood, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Washington Field Division; and Jimmie Wideman, Chief of Hampton Police, made the announcement after sentencing by Senior U.S. District Judge Henry E. Hudson.

    Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lisa R. McKeel and Alyson C. Yates and Special Assistant U.S. Attorneys Marcus Johnson and Alyssa Levey-Weinstein prosecuted the case.

    A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 4:23-cr-91.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Repeat drug trafficker sentenced to a decade in prison

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    McALLEN, Texas – A 43-year-old Baytown resident has been sentenced for possession with intent to distribute kilogram quantities of meth, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.

    David Lee Garza pleaded guilty May 31, 2024.

    Chief U.S. District Judge Randy Crane has now ordered Garza to serve 120 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by five years of supervised release. In handing down the sentence, the court considered Garza’s extensive criminal history including a prior conviction for aggravated assault with the use of a firearm and a prior federal conviction for possession with intent to distribute kilogram quantities of cocaine.

    “Methamphetamine has devastated cities and towns across the country, and drug dealers that seek to profit off that destruction deserve to be held accountable,” said Ganjei. “Those that traffic this drug in our communities can expect a significant sentence, particularly those who are repeat offenders.” 

    In January 2024, law enforcement discovered Garza was coordinating the transportation of kilogram quantities of meth from the Rio Grande Valley to the Houston area.

    On Jan. 25, 2024, Garza drove from the Houston area to a storage unit in McAllen where he retrieved multiple items. As he left the area, law enforcement conducted a traffic stop on his vehicle and found him in possession of six kilograms of meth. The drugs had a purity level of 99%.

    The investigation revealed he had been storing drugs in the local storage unit until they were ready for transport.

    Garza will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

    Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Texas Department of Public Safety. Assistant U.S. Attorney Laura Garcia prosecuted the case.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA News: Addressing the Threat to National Security from Imports of Copper

    Source: The White House

    class=”has-text-align-left”>By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, as amended (19 U.S.C. 1862) (Trade Expansion Act), it is hereby ordered:

    Section 1.  Policy.  Copper is a critical material essential to the national security, economic strength, and industrial resilience of the United States.  Copper, scrap copper, and copper’s derivative products play a vital role in defense applications, infrastructure, and emerging technologies, including clean energy, electric vehicles, and advanced electronics.  The United States faces significant vulnerabilities in the copper supply chain, with increasing reliance on foreign sources for mined, smelted, and refined copper.

    The United States has ample copper reserves, yet our smelting and refining capacity lags significantly behind global competitors.  A single foreign producer dominates global copper smelting and refining, controlling over 50 percent of global smelting capacity and holding four of the top five largest refining facilities.  This dominance, coupled with global overcapacity and a single producer’s control of world supply chains, poses a direct threat to United States national security and economic stability.

    It is the policy of the United States to ensure a reliable, secure, and resilient domestic copper supply chain.  The United States’ increasing dependence on foreign sources of copper, particularly from a concentrated number of supplier nations, along with the risk of foreign market manipulation, necessitate action under section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act to determine whether imports of copper, scrap copper, and copper’s derivative products threaten to impair national security.

    Sec. 2.  Investigation Into the National Security Impact of Copper Imports.  (a)  The Secretary of Commerce shall initiate an investigation under section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act to determine the effects on national security of imports of copper in all forms, including but not limited to:

    (i)    raw mined copper;

    (ii)   copper concentrates;

    (iii)  refined copper;

    (iv)   copper alloys;

    (v)    scrap copper; and

    (vi)   derivative products.

    (b)  In conducting the investigation described in subsection (a) of this section, the Secretary of Commerce shall assess the factors set forth in 19 U.S.C. 1862(d), labeled “Domestic production for national defense; impact of foreign competition on economic welfare of domestic industries,” as well as other relevant factors, including:

    (i)     the current and projected demand for copper in United States defense, energy, and critical infrastructure sectors;

    (ii)    the extent to which domestic production, smelting, refining, and recycling can meet demand;

    (iii)   the role of foreign supply chains, particularly from major exporters, in meeting United States demand;

    (iv)    the concentration of United States copper imports from a small number of suppliers and the associated risks;

    (v)     the impact of foreign government subsidies, overcapacity, and predatory trade practices on United States industry competitiveness;

    (vi)    the economic impact of artificially suppressed copper prices due to dumping and state-sponsored overproduction;

    (vii)   the potential for export restrictions by foreign nations, including the ability of foreign nations to weaponize their control over refined copper supplies;

    (viii)  the feasibility of increasing domestic copper mining, smelting, and refining capacity to reduce import reliance; and

    (ix)    the impact of current trade policies on domestic copper production and whether additional measures, including tariffs or quotas, are necessary to protect national security.

    Sec. 3.  Required Actions.  (a)  The Secretary of Commerce shall consult with the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of the Interior, the Secretary of Energy, and the heads of other relevant executive departments and agencies as determined by the Secretary of Commerce to evaluate the national security risks associated with copper import dependency.

    (b)  Within 270 days of the date of this order, the Secretary of Commerce shall submit a report to the President that includes:

    (i)    findings on whether United States dependence on copper imports threatens national security;

    (ii)   recommendations on actions to mitigate such threats, including potential tariffs, export controls, or incentives to increase domestic production; and

    (iii)  policy recommendations for strengthening the United States copper supply chain through strategic investments, permitting reforms, and enhanced recycling initiatives.

    Sec. 4.  General Provisions.  (a)  Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:

    (i)   the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or

    (ii)  the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.

    (b)  This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.

    (c)  This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.

    THE WHITE HOUSE,

        February 25, 2025.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA News: Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Addresses the Threat to National Security from Imports of Copper

    Source: The White House

    SECURING AMERICA’S COPPER SUPPLY: Today, President Donald J. Trump signed an Executive Order launching an investigation into how copper imports threaten America’s national security and economic stability.

    • The Order directs the Secretary of Commerce to initiate a Section 232 investigation under the Trade Expansion Act of 1962.
    • This investigation will assess the national security risks arising from the United States’ increasing dependence on imported copper, in all its forms, and the potential need for trade remedies to safeguard domestic industry.
    • The investigation will culminate in a report identifying vulnerabilities in the copper supply chain and providing recommendations to enhance the resilience of America’s domestic copper industry.

     
    ADDRESSING THE THREAT TO NATIONAL SECURITY: President Trump recognizes that an overreliance on foreign copper, in all its forms, could jeopardize U.S. defense capabilities, infrastructure development, and technological innovation.

    • Copper is an essential material for national security, economic strength, and industrial resilience.
      • Copper plays a vital role in defense applications, infrastructure, and emerging technologies like clean energy, electric vehicles, and advanced electronics.
      • Copper is the Defense Department’s second-most utilized material.
    • Despite possessing ample copper reserves, America’s smelting and refining capacity lags behind global competitors like China, which controls over 50% of global smelting.
      • The United States isn’t even in the top five nations in copper smelting capacity.
    • America’s reliance on copper imports has surged from virtually 0% in 1991 to 45% of consumption in 2024, heightening risks to supply chain security.
    • Foreign overcapacity in smelting and refining, coupled with potential export restrictions from other nations, threaten to disrupt copper availability for U.S. defense and industry needs.

     
    STRENGTHENING AMERICAN INDUSTRY: This Executive Order builds on previous actions taken by the Trump Administration to ensure U.S. trade policy serves the nation’s long-term interests.

    • On Day One, President Trump initiated his America First Trade Policy to make America’s economy great again.
    • President Trump signed proclamations to close existing loopholes and exemptions to restore a true 25% tariff on steel and elevate the tariff to 25% on aluminum.
    • President Trump implemented a 10% additional tariff on imports from China in response to China’s role in the border crisis.  
    • President Trump unveiled the “Fair and Reciprocal Plan” on trade to restore fairness in U.S. trade relationships and counter non-reciprocal trade agreements.   

    President Trump signed a memorandum to safeguard American innovation, including the consideration of tariffs to combat digital service taxes (DSTs), fines, practices, and policies that foreign governments levy on American companies.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Warrant to arrest – Michael McRae

    Source: New Zealand Police (District News)

    Police are seeking Michael Kane McRae, 44, who has a warrant for his arrest.

    We believe Mr McRae will be able to assist with our investigation into several arsons at churches in Masterton on the morning of Saturday 22 February.

    We also wish to reiterate our appeal issued yesterday for information about a green Ford Festiva, which was seen leaving one of those fires.

    Anyone with information about Michael McRae or sightings of this vehicle is urged to contact Police via 105 online or the 105 phone reporting line, referencing file number 250222/1673.

    ENDS

    Issued by Police Media Centre

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Man charged with aggravated burglary and firearms offences

    Source: Tasmania Police

    Man charged with aggravated burglary and firearms offences

    Wednesday, 26 February 2025 – 9:24 am.

    Detectives from Bridgewater Criminal Investigation Branch have charged a 24-year-old man with a series of offences following a recent planned police operation.
    Police will allege the man was involved in a significant number of firearms burglaries and associated offending in Colebrook and Campania during January and February this year.
    He was arrested by investigators in Rosny on Tuesday, and several search warrants were subsequently executed across Hobart’s eastern shore.
    Electronic exhibits, ammunition and a reportedly stolen motorbike were located in the searches.
    He has been charged with a series of offences including aggravated burglary, motor vehicle stealing, firearms and traffic offences and will appear in the Hobart Magistrates Court today.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Convicted Felon Caught with Firearm During Traffic Stop Sentenced to 30 Months

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    PORTLAND, Maine: A Massachusetts man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Portland for being a felon in possession of a firearm.

    U.S. District Judge Nancy Torresen sentenced Keon Shine (aka Keylin Hall), 35, to 30 months in prison followed by 3 years of supervised release. Shine pleaded guilty on July 29, 2024.

    According to court records, in June 2023, the Lewiston Police Department stopped a vehicle in which Shine was a passenger. A check of the vehicle’s occupants revealed that Shine had previously served six and a half years in federal prison for illegally possessing a firearm and was on federal probation. When questioned by law enforcement, the vehicle’s driver said there was a firearm in the vehicle’s center console. Shine later admitted when questioned by investigators from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) that the Glock firearm recovered belonged to him. Shine’s 2017 conviction in the U.S. District Court for the District of Maine precluded him from possessing a firearm. 

    The Lewiston Police Department and ATF investigated the case.

    Project Safe Neighborhoods: This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-me/psn.

    ###

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Former NOPD Sergeant Sentenced to 5 Years Probation After Pleading Guilty to Six Counts of Wire Fraud tor Double Billing and Billing for Time Not Worked

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    NEW ORLEANS – Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson announced today that United States District Judge Jay C. Zainey sentenced former New Orleans Police Department Sergeant TODD F. MORRELL, age 57, a resident of New Orleans, to 5 years of probation, 8 months of home confinement, 150 hours of community service, a $5,000 fine, and payment of a mandatory $600 special assessment fee after he previously pleaded guilty to six (6) counts of wire fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1343, for perpetrating a multi-year scheme to defraud NOPD and the New Orleans Fair Grounds, an entity that paid him to provide off-duty police details.  A restitution hearing is set for April 29, 2025.

    According to court documents, MORRELLwas a NOPD Sergeant with NOPD’s Special Operations Division, serving both on a Tactical Platoon and the Bomb Disposal Unit.  He supplemented his NOPD income with security-oriented secondary employment (i.e., “police details”) while off-duty, including a detail with the New Orleans Fair Grounds Neighborhood Patrol (“Fair Grounds Patrol”).  The Fair Grounds Patrol was created by city ordinance to enhance police service around the New Orleans Fair Grounds Racecourse.  The Fair Grounds Patrol consisted of two patrol cars operating 24 hours per day, 7 days a week, with one off-duty NOPD officer per car.  MORRELL signed annual certifications attesting to his understanding of NOPD policies, including the secondary employment policy, and acknowledging that he would “actively monitor my hours” and would “not engage in activities or personal business which would cause them to neglect or be inattentive to duty.”

    Notwithstanding these annual certifications, on numerous occasions between early 2017 and November 30, 2021, MORRELL submitted and certified timecards to NOPD and time sheets to the Fair Grounds Patrol,falsely claiming to have been on duty (for NOPD) and on detail (for the Fair Grounds Patrol) when, in actuality, MORRELL was not present for duty.  Instead, MORRELL engaged in personal, recreational activities unrelated to his work duties.  Often, MORRELL was engaged in recreational race car driving in Avondale, Louisiana, and Austin, Texas, while claiming to be on duty and on detail.  Additionally, MORRELL “double billed” NOPD and the Fair Grounds Patrol by submitting time sheets to both entities reflecting that he was working for both entities simultaneously.  The six counts to which MORRELL pled guilty, are representative examples of his scheme.  These counts related to individual payments MORRELL received for submitting false and fraudulent time sheets for on duty and secondary employment shifts while a part of the Fair Grounds Patrol.  The various dates he falsely claimed to work that constituted the six counts were: July 1, 2019, December 21, 2020, January 23, 2021, March 13, 2021, March 14, 2021, April 25, 2021, April 30, 2021, and October 23, 2021.

    “When anyone willfully commits fraud, our office will investigate, and if warranted, prosecute,” stated Acting United States Attorney Michael M. Simpson.  “Mr. Morrell’s sentencing is an acknowledgment of the betrayal, and breach of public trust, as well as the resultant harm stemming therefrom, that his serial fraudulent acts have caused the New Orleans Police Department, and the citizens of New Orleans.  This successful investigation and prosecution, exemplify the strong partnership between our office, the FBI, the New Orleans Office of Inspector General and the New Orleans Public Integrity Bureau.”

    “The FBI will continue to investigate fraud and corruption at all levels of government and individuals like Mr. Morrell who exploit the public’s trust for personal gain,” said FBI New Orleans Acting Special Agent in Charge Stephen Cyrus.  “We thank the New Orleans Inspector General’s Office and the New Orleans Public Integrity Bureau for their assistance in bringing this misconduct to light.”

    Acting U.S. Attorney Simpson praised the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in investigating this matter and expressed appreciation for the support provided by the City of New Orleans Office of Inspector General and the New Orleans Public Integrity Bureau.  Assistant United States Attorneys Jordan Ginsberg, Chief of the Public Integrity Unit, and Brittany L. Reed also of the Public Integrity Unit, are in charge of the prosecution.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Gang members charged after firearms discovery

    Source: New Zealand Police (District News)

    Police have recovered a cache of firearms at a Papatoetoe property overnight.

    Earlier in the evening, just before 8.30pm, the Police Eagle helicopter located a vehicle of interest from a previous firearms incident.

    Inspector Dave Christoffersen, Area Commander for Counties Manukau West, says in that incident a firearm had allegedly been presented at a person on Monday night.

    “After Eagle located the vehicle on Ferndown Avenue, ground staff made an approach to the address it was parked outside,” he says.

    “Armed staff voice appealed for the occupants to come outside, to which they complied.”

    Police carried out a search of the address.

    Inside, numerous firearms along with ammunition were located, Inspector Christoffersen says.

    These included: two shotguns, two SKS assault rifles, a MSSA rifle, and hundreds of rounds of ammunition.

    Police have since arrested and charged two patched members of the TwoEight Brotherhood gang.

    The pair, aged 27 and 34, face 10 charges each relating to the unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition.

    They will appear in the Manukau District Court today.

    “This is an outstanding result from our frontline staff working to keep the community safe last night,” Inspector Christoffersen says.

    “There is no tolerance for intimidation or violence, and we will continue to go after those who are involving themselves in this offending.

    “Police will continue to investigate the initial firearms incident from Monday night, which fortunately did not result in any injuries.”

    ENDS.

    Jarred Williamson/NZ Police

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: U.S. Marshals Task Force Arrests Armed Robbery Suspect

    Source: US Marshals Service

    Jacksonville, FL – The U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) Florida/Caribbean Regional Fugitive Task Force (FCRFTF), in coordination with the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, on Feb. 14 located and arrested a man wanted on significant violent crimes. 

    Alvin D. Gay Jr., 33, was wanted out of Duval County for armed robbery and armed burglary, and warrants were issued Feb. 14. Gay is also a suspect in a double shooting that occurred within the same time frame, in which one person died. Gay is alleged to have committed the crimes and fled the scene in a vehicle before law enforcement arrived. 

    On the same day, FCRFTF and Jacksonville investigators located Gay near the 11000 block of Old St. Augustine Road, where he was taken into custody without incident. Gay was transported to the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and booked on the warrants. After being booked on the two current charges, Gay was subsequently charged with murder, attempted murder, felon in possession of a firearm, and tampering with evidence. 

    The USMS FCRFTF began operations in July 2008. The FCRFTF has partnership agreements with four federal and 86 state and local agencies that operate throughout Florida and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The FCRFTF has apprehended more than 67,000 fugitives since its inception and is always striving to make communities safer. 

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI: CPS Announces Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2024 Earnings

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    • Revenues of $105.3 million for the fourth quarter and $393.5 million for 2024
    • Net income of $19.2 million, or $0.79 per diluted share for 2024
    • Total portfolio balance of $3.491 billion, highest in company history
    • New contract purchases of $1.682 billion for the full year 2024

    LAS VEGAS, NV, Feb. 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Consumer Portfolio Services, Inc. (Nasdaq: CPSS) (“CPS” or the “Company”) today announced earnings of $5.1 million, or $0.21 per diluted share, for its fourth quarter ended December 31, 2024.

    Revenues for the fourth quarter of 2024 were $105.3 million, an increase of $13.3 million, or 14.5%, compared to $92.0 million for the fourth quarter of 2023. Total operating expenses for the fourth quarter of 2024 were $98.0 million compared to $82.1 million for the 2023 period.   Pretax income for the fourth quarter of 2024 was $7.4 million compared to pretax income of $9.8 million in the fourth quarter of 2023.

    For the twelve months ended December 31, 2024 total revenues were $393.5 million compared to $352.0 million for the twelve months ended December 31, 2023, an increase of approximately $41.5 million, or 11.8%. Total operating expenses for the twelve months ended December 31, 2024 were $366.1 million, compared to $290.9 million for the twelve months ended December 30, 2023. Pretax income for the twelve months ended December 31, 2024 was $27.4 million, compared to $61.1 million for the twelve months ended December 31, 2023. Net income for the twelve months ended December 31, 2024 was $19.2 million compared to $45.3 million for the twelve months ended December 31, 2023.

    During the fourth quarter of 2024, CPS purchased $457.8 million of new contracts compared to $445.9 million during the third quarter of 2024 and $301.8 million during the fourth quarter of 2023. The total number of contracts purchased for 2024 totaled $1.682 billion compared to $1.358 billion in 2023. The Company’s receivables totaled $3.491 billion as of December 31, 2024, an increase from $3.330 billion as of September 31, 2024 and an increase from $2.970 billion as of December 31, 2023.

    Annualized net charge-offs for the fourth quarter of 2024 were 8.02% of the average portfolio as compared to 7.74% for the fourth quarter of 2023. Delinquencies greater than 30 days (including repossession inventory) were 14.85% of the total portfolio as of December 31, 2024, compared to 14.55% as of December 31, 2023.

    “New loan originations grew by 24% in 2024 over the prior year, leading to solid top line revenue growth,” said Charles E. Bradley, Chief Executive Officer. “With positive trends in loan originations and operating efficiencies, we remain optimistic in all aspects of our business going into 2025.”

    Conference Call

    CPS announced that it will hold a conference call on February 26, 2025 at 1:00 p.m. ET to discuss its fourth quarter 2024 operating results.

    Those wishing to participate can pre-register for the conference call at the following link https://register.vevent.com/register/BI34e818cf84a24e118241657af74dd2d4. Registered participants will receive an email containing conference call details for dial-in options. To avoid delays, we encourage participants to dial into the conference call fifteen minutes ahead of the schedule start time. A replay will be available beginning two hours after conclusion of the call for 12 months via the Company’s website at https://ir.consumerportfolio.com/investor-relations.

    About Consumer Portfolio Services, Inc.

    Consumer Portfolio Services, Inc. is an independent specialty finance company that provides indirect automobile financing to individuals with past credit problems or limited credit histories. We purchase retail installment sales contracts primarily from franchised automobile dealerships secured by late model used vehicles and, to a lesser extent, new vehicles. We fund these contract purchases on a long-term basis primarily through the securitization markets and service the contracts over their lives.

    Forward-looking statements in this news release include the Company’s recorded figures representing allowances for remaining expected lifetime credit losses, its estimates of fair value (most significantly for its receivables accounted for at fair value), its provision for credit losses, its entries offsetting the preceding, and figures derived from any of the preceding. In each case, such figures are forward-looking statements because they are dependent on the Company’s estimates of losses to be incurred in the future. The accuracy of such estimates may be adversely affected by various factors, which include the following: possible increased delinquencies; repossessions and losses on retail installment contracts; incorrect prepayment speed and/or discount rate assumptions; possible unavailability of qualified personnel, which could adversely affect the Company’s ability to service its portfolio; possible increases in the rate of consumer bankruptcy filings, which could adversely affect the Company’s rights to collect payments from its portfolio; other changes in government regulations affecting consumer credit; possible declines in the market price for used vehicles, which could adversely affect the Company’s realization upon repossessed vehicles; and economic conditions in geographic areas in which the Company’s business is concentrated. Any or all of such factors also may affect the Company’s future financial results, as to which there can be no assurance. Any implication that the results of the most recently completed quarter are indicative of future results is disclaimed, and the reader should draw no such inference. Factors such as those identified above in relation to losses to be incurred in the future may affect future performance.

    Investor Relations Contact

    Danny Bharwani, Chief Financial Officer

    949-753-6811

    Consumer Portfolio Services, Inc. and Subsidiaries
    Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations
    (In thousands, except per share data)
    (Unaudited)
                   
      Three months ended   Twelve months ended
      December 31,   December 31,
        2024       2023       2024       2023  
    Revenues:              
    Interest income $ 98,150     $ 83,260     $ 363,962     $ 329,219  
    Mark to finance receivables measured at fair value   5,000       6,000       21,000       12,000  
    Other income   2,153       2,718       8,544       10,795  
        105,303       91,978       393,506       352,014  
    Expenses:              
    Employee costs   23,889       23,157       96,192       88,148  
    General and administrative   14,422       13,777       54,710       50,001  
    Interest   52,522       40,277       191,257       146,631  
    Provision for credit losses   (728 )     (1,600 )     (5,307 )     (22,300 )
    Other expenses   7,847       6,523       29,223       28,437  
        97,952       82,134       366,075       290,917  
    Income before income taxes   7,351       9,844       27,431       61,097  
    Income tax expense   2,206       2,657       8,228       15,754  
    Net income $ 5,145     $ 7,187     $ 19,203     $ 45,343  
                   
    Earnings per share:              
    Basic $ 0.24     $ 0.34     $ 0.90     $ 2.17  
    Diluted $ 0.21     $ 0.29     $ 0.79     $ 1.80  
                   
    Number of shares used in computing earnings per share:              
    Basic   21,412       21,136       21,292       20,896  
    Diluted   24,274       24,879       24,325       25,218  
                                   
    Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
    (In thousands)
    (Unaudited)
           
      December 31,   December 31,
        2024       2023  
    Assets:      
    Cash and cash equivalents $ 11,713     $ 6,174  
    Restricted cash and equivalents   125,684       119,257  
    Finance receivables measured at fair value   3,313,767       2,722,662  
           
    Finance receivables   5,420       27,553  
    Allowance for finance credit losses   (433 )     (2,869 )
    Finance receivables, net   4,987       24,684  
           
           
    Deferred tax assets, net   1,010       3,736  
    Other assets   36,707       27,233  
      $ 3,493,868     $ 2,903,746  
           
    Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity:      
    Accounts payable and accrued expenses $ 70,151     $ 62,544  
    Warehouse lines of credit   410,898       234,025  
    Residual interest financing   99,176       49,875  
    Securitization trust debt   2,594,384       2,265,446  
    Subordinated renewable notes   26,489       17,188  
        3,201,098       2,629,078  
           
    Shareholders’ equity   292,770       274,668  
      $ 3,493,868     $ 2,903,746  
                   

    Operating and Performance Data ($ in millions)

        At and for the   At and for the
        Three months ended   Twelve months ended
        December 31,   December 31,
          2024       2023       2024       2023  
                     
    Contracts purchased   $ 457.81     $ 301.80     $ 1,681.94     $ 1,357.75  
    Contracts securitized   $ 298.42     $ 306.70       1,256.13       1,352.11  
                     
    Total portfolio balance (1)   $ 3,490.96     $ 2,970.07     $ 3,490.96     $ 2,970.07  
    Average portfolio balance (1)   $ 3,445.52     $ 2,958.95       3,209.99       2,913.57  
                     
                     
    Delinquencies (1)                
    31+ Days     12.11 %     12.29 %        
    Repossession Inventory     2.74 %     2.26 %        
    Total Delinquencies and Repo. Inventory     14.85 %     14.55 %        
                     
    Annualized Net Charge-offs as % of Average Portfolio (1)     8.02 %     7.74 %     7.62 %     6.53 %
                     
    Recovery rates (1), (2)     27.2 %     34.3 %     30.1 %     39.2 %
                     
      For the   For the
      Three months ended   Twelve months ended
      December 31,   December 31,
      2024   2023   2024   2023
        $ (3)     % (4)     $ (3)     % (4)     $ (3)     % (4)     $ (3)     % (4)
    Interest income $ 98.15     11.4 %   $ 83.26     11.3 %   $ 363.96     11.3 %   $ 329.22     11.3 %
    Mark to finance receivables measured at fair value   5.00     0.6 %     6.00     0.8 %     21.00     0.7 %     12.00     0.4 %
    Other income   2.15     0.2 %     2.72     0.4 %     8.54     0.3 %     10.80     0.4 %
    Interest expense   (52.52 )   -6.1 %     (40.28 )   -5.4 %     (191.26 )   -6.0 %     (146.63 )   -5.0 %
    Net interest margin   52.78     6.1 %     51.70     7.0 %     202.25     6.3 %     205.38     7.0 %
    Provision for credit losses   0.73     0.1 %     1.60     0.2 %     5.31     0.2 %     22.30     0.8 %
    Risk adjusted margin   53.51     6.2 %     53.30     7.2 %     207.56     6.5 %     227.68     7.8 %
    Other operating expenses (5)   (46.16 )   -5.4 %     (43.46 )   -5.9 %     (180.13 )   -5.6 %     (166.59 )   -5.7 %
    Pre-tax income $ 7.35     0.9 %   $ 9.84     1.3 %   $ 27.43     0.9 %   $ 61.10     2.1 %
                           
    (1) Excludes third party portfolios.
    (2) Wholesale auction liquidation amounts (net of expenses) as a percentage of the account balance at the time of sale.
    (3) Numbers may not add due to rounding.
    (4) Annualized percentage of the average portfolio balance. Percentages may not add due to rounding.
    (5) Total pre-tax expenses less provision for credit losses and interest expense.
     

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Twelve Men Sentenced for Conspiring to Distribute Fentanyl, Methamphetamine, and Marijuana in Tennessee and Other States

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

    NASHVILLE – Twelve members of a drug trafficking conspiracy were sentenced last week for their roles in conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances in middle Tennessee and elsewhere, announced Acting United States Attorney Robert E. McGuire for the Middle District of Tennessee.

    According to court documents, around 2022, agents with Homeland Security Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Drug Enforcement Administration began investigating large shipments of counterfeit fentanyl-laced pills that were inscribed “M30,” methamphetamine, and marijuana that someone was shipping to Tennessee and approximately 16 other states from California. Agents reviewed shipping materials, monitored social media accounts, and conducted surveillance before identifying Matthew Cox as the individual who was shipping these packages to members of the drug trafficking conspiracy. In their messages on social media applications and phones, the defendants discussed drug prices, drug shipments, and quality of the drugs. One defendant, Quortez Duncan, told Cox that he wanted stronger pills to get customers hooked on the pills to increase profits. Cox complied and attempted to send Duncan these pills, but Agents seized them. Agents also learned that another defendant, Khyre McClain, attempted to establish and launder money through a limited liability corporation.

    In addition to this evidence of shipments to other states, agents seized packages of drugs that were being shipped to Tennessee. Specifically, on July 25, 2022, HSI agents seized a package from a UPS Store in Sebastopol, California, which was destined for Nashville, Tennessee. This package contained thousands of counterfeit fentanyl-laced pills weighing over two kilograms. The package also contained more than eight pounds of methamphetamine. On August 9, 2022, HSI agents intercepted two additional packages from the Santa Rosa, California, area which were destined for residences in Nashville. One package contained 472 grams of counterfeit fentanyl-laced pills, and the other package contained approximately four pounds of methamphetamine.

    After collecting an overwhelming amount of evidence, law enforcement officers executed search warrants at multiple residences in California and Tennessee. They recovered handguns, assault rifles, bulk cash, expensive cars, marijuana, and large amounts of counterfeit fentanyl-laced pills.

    “Stopping the trafficking of deadly fentanyl is a major priority of the Department of Justice,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Robert E. McGuire, “these successful prosecutions demonstrate our continued commitment to hit fentanyl traffickers with the full force of the law.”

    “These defendants took part in a cross-country conspiracy that brought significant amounts of fentanyl, methamphetamine, and marijuana to Tennessee,” said Special Agent in Charge Joseph E. Carrico of the FBI Nashville Field Office. “The FBI and our law enforcement partners remain committed to holding those accountable who attempt to poison our communities.”

    Each defendant was convicted of conspiring to distribute controlled substances. Three defendants were also convicted of unlawfully possessing firearms after previously being convicted of felony offenses. The defendants were sentenced as follows:

    Quortez Duncan, age 37, was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison

    Mathew Cox, age 28, was sentenced to 11 years and 8 months in federal prison

    Jonny Rodriguez-Gonzalez, age 26, was sentenced to 11 years and 2 months in federal prison

    Ricardo Molinero-Alcarez, age 29, was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison

    Khyre McClain, age 23, was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison

    Davontay Holt, age 30, was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison

    Marcus Johnson, age 27, was sentenced to 5 years in federal prison

    Tristain Orr, age 25, was sentenced to 5 years in federal prison

    Ethan Kimes, age 22, was sentenced to 2 years in federal prison

    Marquitues Sawyers, age 24, was sentenced to 1 year and 8 months in federal prison

    Jahari Armstrong, age 22, was sentenced to 3 years of probation

    Jaydan Armstrong, age 22, was sentenced to 3 years of probation

    This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration; Homeland Security Investigations; the U.S. Postal Inspection Service; the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Nashville Field Office; the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation; and the Columbia Police Department.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ahmed Safeeullah and Rachel Stephens prosecuted this case.

    # # # # #

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Attorney General Bonta Files Amicus Brief to Continue Supporting the Affordable Care Act’s Preventive Care Mandate

    Source: US State of California

    OAKLAND — California Attorney General Rob Bonta today, as part of a coalition of 23 attorneys general, filed an amicus brief with the U.S. Supreme Court in support of the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) preventive care mandate, which requires private insurers to cover at no cost certain preventive services — such as routine examinations, blood pressure checks, and cholesterol screenings — as determined by the Preventive Services Task Force (Task Force). In their brief, the attorneys general argue that the Fifth Circuit erred in finding the Task Force violates the Appointments Clause of the U.S. Constitution. The attorneys general also argue that the preventive services provision has significantly improved public health outcomes throughout the country by expanding access to important and often life-saving care. An opinion holding the Task Force’s recommendations unenforceable would put these advancements at risk, as health insurers and plans would be free to reinstate out-of-pocket fees for essential preventive care.

    “Preventive care is the cornerstone of a healthy society and, in many instances, can be the difference between life and death,” said Attorney General Bonta. “That’s why I’m standing with my fellow attorneys general in urging the U.S. Supreme Court to reverse the Fifth Circuit’s decision and preserve the no-cost preventive health care services upon which millions of Americans rely.”

    Numerous studies confirm that, after the ACA’s preventive care mandate was enacted, the use of preventive care increased across the board. These services improve public health outcomes by enabling medical professionals to identify and treat illnesses earlier, and in some cases, prevent them.

    In the amicus brief, the coalition writes that:

    • The structure of the Task Force, which is an independent, volunteer panel of national experts in disease prevention that makes evidence-based recommendations about clinical preventive services, does not violate the Appointments Clause. Task Force members serve as inferior officers subordinate to the Secretary of Health and Human Services.
    • If the Supreme Court were to conclude that the Task Force members are principal officers, nothing requires the Court to cast aside the no-cost insurance coverage requirements that millions of Americans rely on.
    • Prohibiting the enforcement of recommendations by the Task Force will inevitably lead to a significant decline in public health outcomes, undermining preventive care efforts and access to lifesaving care.

    Attorney General Bonta has been committed to defending the ACA’s preventive care mandate. In January 2022, Attorney General Bonta joined a coalition of attorneys general in filing an amicus brief with a Texas federal district court in support of the mandate. In March 2023, the federal district court in Texas struck down part of the mandate in a ruling Attorney General Bonta described as “dangerous and short-sighted” for Americans. In June 2023, Attorney General Bonta again joined a coalition of attorneys general in filing an amicus brief with the Fifth Circuit in support of the mandate. In March 2024, he issued a statement on the Fifth Circuit hearing oral argument. In October 2024, Attorney General Bonta joined a group of attorneys general urging the Supreme Court to grant the government’s petition for writ of certiorari.

    In filing this most recent amicus brief, Attorney General Bonta joins the attorneys general of Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington and Wisconsin. 

    A copy of the brief can be found here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: U.S. Attorney’s Office Announces Sentencing of Church Rock Man for Shooting at Law Enforcement Officers

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

    ALBUQUERQUE – A Church Rock man was sentenced to 147 months in prison for charges related to an attack on law enforcement officers on the Navajo Nation.

    There is no parole in the federal system.

    According to court documents, after midnight on July 22, 2023, officers from the Navajo Police Department and New Mexico State Police responded to reports of a man shooting a gun and making threats near a residence on the Navajo Nation. While investigating, they came under fire from an unknown direction and from an unknown assailant and were forced to take cover. Officers reported hearing the bullets whiz past them and landing in the dirt nearby.

    After a prolonged search, Elijah Touchine, 24, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, was arrested later that day at a gun store in Gallup, where he was attempting to purchase additional firearms, including an AR-15and ammunition. During questioning, Touchine admitted to shooting at the officers and expressed a desire to “kill every [expletive] police”.

    A search of the vehicle Touchine was in revealed a .40 caliber handgun and ammunition in a black bag. Investigators also recovered multiple .40 caliber shell casings at the scene of the shooting.

    Upon his release from prison, Touchine will be subject to three years of supervised release.

    Acting U.S. Attorney Holland S. Kastrin and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.

    The Gallup Resident Agency of the Federal Bureau Investigation investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Police Department and Department of Criminal Investigation, New Mexico State Police, Gallup Police Department, and McKinley County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Nicholas Marshall is prosecuting the case.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Delivering care close to home in La Crete

    Alberta’s government is committed to ensuring all Albertans have access to high-quality care when and where they need it, including in remote Alberta communities. The new La Crete Maternity and Community Health Centre will provide enhanced access to maternal health and advanced ambulatory care, underscoring the Alberta government’s dedication to meeting the health care needs of communities across the province.

    “Every Albertan deserves high-quality health care close to home. This expanded access will ensure Albertans living in La Crete and the surrounding areas will receive timely, exceptional care when they need it most.”

    Adriana LaGrange, Minister of Health

    Alberta’s government first announced the project in 2021, with planning for the new facility beginning at that time and the design phase being completed in early February of this year. The construction phase of the project will see Alberta’s government invest $80 million over the next three years as part of a total investment of about $86 million for the project.

    Designed to meet local needs, the facility will include a birthing centre, midwifery program, advanced ambulatory care and a two-vehicle ambulance bay to improve emergency services. These new services will offer Albertans in the northern community and its surrounding areas more timely and accessible care by improving maternal health, emergency response and overall health care options in the area.

    “With shovels going in the ground, northern Albertans in La Crete are looking forward to having their very own maternity and community health centre. I am pleased that we are now entering the construction phase for this new facility within the community, keeping Peace Country a beautiful place to raise a family.”

    Dan Williams, MLA for Peace River

    In addition to the existing public health services, residents will have access to expanded services including pre- and post-natal care on site. This health facility, expected to open in 2027, is the result of a close collaboration with the La Crete community to address its unique health care needs. It will be operated by Covenant Health. As Alberta’s government continues to refocus the health care system, working closely with local leadership will ensure these services are aligned with community priorities.

    “This much-needed facility will make a real difference for families in the community, providing essential care closer to home. Its opening can’t come soon enough.” 

    John Knelsen, reeve, Mackenzie County

    The centre will also include a laboratory for timely blood testing and storage, as well as diagnostic imaging services, including ultrasound. Dedicated space will also be available for counselling and psychiatrist referrals to support individuals, families and groups.

    “This is an exciting milestone for the community of La Crete, surrounding areas and Covenant Health. Guided by our values of compassion, respect and stewardship, we look forward to welcoming and integrating our new employees while providing seamless, high-quality health care for the community.”

    Patrick Dumelie, CEO, Covenant Health

    Alberta’s government will continue investing in future projects that provide Albertans in rural and remote communities with access to high-quality care, both now and in the future.

    Quick facts

    • The new facility will provide integrated health services for about 9,200 people living in La Crete and the surrounding areas.
    • Covenant Health will assume operations of the existing health facility and continuing care centre by fall 2025.
      • Plans for Covenant Health to operate the new health facility were announced in April 2022.
      • To foster transparency and dialogue, Covenant Health and Alberta Health Services hosted a town hall for affected staff and La Crete community members on Jan. 30, 2025.

    Related information

    • Covenant Health

    Related news

    • Covenant Health to operate new La Crete health centre (April 3, 2022)
    • New maternity, community health centre for La Crete (Aug. 11, 2021)

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Man arrested after multiple incidents north of the city

    Source: South Australia Police

    A man has been arrested following a wild rampage in the Northern and Barossa areas overnight.

    About 7.45pm Tuesday 25 February police attended a home on Nottle Road, Gawler, conducting follow up enquiries in relation to a business robbery that occurred on Monday 24 February at the Munno Para Shopping Centre.

    When patrols arrived at the location a grey Nissan Pathfinder sped from the street and a short police pursuit ensued before police lost site of the vehicle on Redbanks Road.

    About 8.15pm police received reports that a Nissan Pathfinder was driving erratically crashing into fences and gates on Ward Belt Road, Ward Belt.

    About 8.25pm police received reports that a Nissan Pathfinder was driving erratically on Dundas Street, Gawler, before it crashed into a parked car and left the scene.

    About 8.30pm police were called to Turnbull Road, Elizabeth Downs, after a Nissan Pathfinder collided with a fence and left the scene.

    About 8.45 police were called to the carpark of a shopping centre on Hamblynn Road, Elizabeth Downs after reports a Nissan Pathfinder had crashed into a parked Volkswagen. Thankfully a woman who had been seated in the Volkswagen at the time was not injured.

    About 9.15pm police were called to the carpark of the Munno Para Shopping Centre after reports a man threatened a woman at knife point before stealing her black Ford Territory. Thankfully the woman was not physically injured. Police located the Nissan Pathfinder abandoned in the carpark nearby.

    PolAir arrived in the location quickly locating the stolen Ford Territory and tracking it to Bandiana Crescent, Elizabeth Downs. Here the driver got out of the vehicle and fled in nearby yards. Patrols swarmed the area quickly locating and arresting the man about 9.30pm.

    The 33-year-old Two Wells man has been charged with a raft of serious offences including driving without due care, failing to stop at a crash scene and aggravated robbery. He did not apply for bail and will appear in the Elizabeth Magistrates Court today.

    The investigation remains on going with police seeking to identify further victims. Anyone with information that may assist is asked to contact Crime Stoppers at www.crimestopperssa.com.au or 1800 333 000 – you can remain anonymous.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Grand jury indicts El Salvadoran national with illegally reentering United States after sex offense convictions, Honduran national with illegally possessing firearms

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    COLUMBUS, Ohio – A federal grand jury indicted two separate immigration cases here today involving a previously convicted felon and a repeat immigration crimes offender.

    Carlos Gonzales-Hernandez, 55, is charged with illegally reentering the United States after a conviction for an aggravated felony. Gonzales-Hernandez is a citizen of El Salvador.

    According to his court documents, Gonzales-Hernandez was detained in January 2025 following a traffic stop in Madison County. He was then transferred into ICE custody. The defendant had been removed from the United States following a local prison sentence for sex offenses. Gonzales-Hernandez was previously convicted in Franklin County Court of Common Pleas of three counts of gross sexual imposition and received a prison sentence of six years.

    Elmer Edison Rodriguez-Guzman, 46, is charged with possession of a firearm or ammunition of an illegal alien and with illegally reentering the United States.

    Rodriguez-Guzman is a citizen of Honduras and has no legal status in the United States. He has been removed from the United States on numerous prior occasions and either deported to Honduras or allowed to voluntarily return to Mexico.

    According to his court documents, Rodriguez-Guzman was in a vehicle that was stopped in Cambridge, Ohio, in July 2024 due to no taillights. Law enforcement officials discovered items including a handgun, a double-barrel shotgun and ammunition. Rodriguez-Guzman was arrested in Guernsey County and then transferred into federal custody.

    Illegally reentering the United States is a federal crime punishable by up to two years in prison. If the offender has multiple prior misdemeanor charges, the penalty is increased to 10 years in prison, and if the offender has been previously convicted of an aggravated felony, the defendant faces up to 20 years in prison.

    Kelly A. Norris, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Jared Murphey, acting Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Detroit, and Robert Lynch, Field Office Director, ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Detroit Field Office; announced the cases. Assistant United States Attorney Sheila G. Lafferty is representing the United States in these cases.

    An indictment merely contains allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.

    These cases are being prosecuted as part of the Southern District of Ohio Immigration Enforcement Task Force, which dedicates agents, attorneys and other staff to investigating and prosecuting immigration violations.

    # # #

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Fort Duchesne Man Sentenced to Prison Following Gun Crime

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Kasey Todd Reed, 32, of the Uintah and Ouray Reservation, Utah, was sentenced to 96 months’ imprisonment, and ordered by the court to three years’ supervised release after he committed a violent crime that involved shooting a firearm at his domestic partner’s home.

    The sentence, imposed by Senior U.S. District Court Judge David Sam comes after Reed pleaded guilty on December 6, 2024, to being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, and assault with a dangerous weapon with intent to do bodily harm while within Indian Country.

    According to court documents, and statements made at Reed’s change of plea and sentencing hearings, on May 30, 2022, Reed was involved in a domestic dispute with his partner, and after being pepper sprayed, Reed threatened to return to the victim’s home to harm her. Upon his return, Reed pointed a loaded .38 five-shot revolver at the victim’s residence and fired five rounds towards the home that housed multiple occupants as he drove past in his vehicle.  

    Acting United States Attorney Felice John Viti of the District of Utah made the announcement.

    The case was investigated by the FBI Salt Lake City Field Office’s Vernal Resident Agency.  

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Sam Pead of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah prosecuted the case.

    This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce gun violence and other violent crime, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.  On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.  For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.
     

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Cartel Cocaine Quality Tester Extradited from Mexico

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    ATLANTA – Irma Elvira Cruz, also known as “Huzipol” and “Madre,” 60, of Mexico, has been arraigned before Russell G. Vineyard, Chief United States Magistrate Judge, on federal charges of Conspiracy to Unlawfully Import Cocaine into the United States and Possession of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute.  Cruz was indicted by a federal grand jury on February 14, 2017. 

    “Cruz allegedly played a critical role in the trafficking of hundreds of kilograms of cocaine into the United States,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Richard S. Moultrie, Jr. “Cruz’s extradition from Mexico is an important step in holding her accountable for her alleged role in bringing dangerous drugs into the United States and into our local communities. We thank our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners for their work in this investigation and our international partners for their cooperation in helping us bring Cruz to justice.”

    “Drug traffickers exploit vulnerable members of our community to generate profits,” said Jae W. Chung, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Atlanta Division. “Cases like this clearly demonstrate the resolve of the DEA to hold drug traffickers accountable.”

    “The extradition and arraignment of Irma Elvira Cruz, an alleged key figure in an international cocaine trafficking organization, demonstrates the unwavering commitment of HSI and our partners to dismantling transnational criminal networks,” said Steven N. Schrank, Special Agent in Charge of HSI Atlanta, which covers Georgia and Alabama. “By targeting those who facilitate the flow of dangerous narcotics into our communities, we are sending a strong message that we will pursue justice across borders and hold traffickers accountable.”

    According to Acting U.S. Attorney Moultrie, Jr., the charges, and other information presented in court: In 2013, United States law enforcement identified a Mexico-based drug trafficking organization that, between approximately 2013 and 2016, imported large quantities of cocaine from Colombia, through Mexico and into the United States for distribution, and transported drug proceeds from the United States to Mexico. The investigation identified Irma Elvira Cruz as an associate of the drug trafficking organization, allegedly responsible for the quality control testing of multi-kilogram quantities of cocaine, sent from Colombia to Costa Rica and Mexico, and intended to be delivered into the United States.

    Cruz allegedly conspired with others in Mexico, Colombia, Guatemala, and elsewhere to coordinate the transportation of multi-kilogram quantities of cocaine from Colombia through the coast of Central America for distribution in Mexico and the United States, including Atlanta, Georgia. Specifically, Cruz was allegedly responsible for testing the quality of a large shipment of cocaine ultimately destined for Atlanta.

    The investigation revealed that on or about September 3, 2015, Cruz traveled to the organization’s stash house in Heredia, Belen, Asuncion, Costa Rica, to test the purity of the cocaine to be delivered into the United States. The following day, law enforcement authorities stopped vehicles driven by Cruz’s associates leaving the stash house and seized approximately 100 kilograms of cocaine. Law enforcement authorities then searched the stash house and seized approximately 221 kilograms of cocaine.

    Members of the public are reminded that the indictment only contains charges.  Cruz is presumed innocent of the charges and it will be the government’s burden to prove her guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.

    This case is being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, United States Coast Guard, United States Navy, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, United States Border Patrol, DeKalb County Police Department, and Georgia State Patrol.

    Assistant U.S. Attorneys Thomas M. Forsyth, III and Elizabeth M. Hathaway are prosecuting the case. Former Assistant U.S. Attorney Lisa Tarvin contributed to the prosecution as well. Also, the Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs coordinated with law enforcement partners in Mexico to secure the arrest and extradition of Cruz.

    This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation.  OCDETF identifies and eliminates the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach.  Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

    For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6280.  The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: AGU 2024: NASA Science on Display in the Nation’s Capital

    Source: NASA

    Introduction
    The American Geophysical Union (AGU) returned to the nation’s capital in 2024, hosting its annual meeting at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, DC from December 9–14, 2024. NASA Science upheld its long-standing tradition as an AGU partner and exhibitor, leveraging the meeting as an opportunity to share NASA’s cutting-edge research, data, and technology with the largest collection of Earth and planetary science professionals in the world. Many of the estimated 25,000 students, scientists, and industry personnel who attended the conference visited the NASA Science exhibit, interacting with NASA subject matter experts as detailed in the essay that follows – see Photo 1. Visitors also watched live Hyperwall presentations and collected NASA Science outreach materials, such as the 2025 NASA Science Planning Guide.

    Highlights from the NASA Science Exhibit
    NASA Hyperwall Stories
    The NASA Hyperwall has been a focal point of the agency’s outreach efforts for over two decades, serving as both a powerful storytelling platform and the primary vehicle through which the public engages with the award-winning visualizations published by NASA’s Scientific Visualization Studio (SVS) – see Photo 2. Forty-nine NASA mission scientists and program representatives shared NASA science with the public from the Hyperwall stage during AGU24. NASA leadership shared mission news and outlined upcoming research across all five of the NASA Science divisions: Earth science, planetary science, heliophysics, astrophysics, and biological and physical sciences – see Photos 3–8. A catalog of NASA project scientists and mission representatives, who provided colorful overviews of everything from NASA’s Mars Sample Return to the Parker Solar Probe’s historic flyby of the Sun, delivered additional presentations. 

    The complete AGU24 Hyperwall schedule is available at this link. Readers can view YouTube videos of the presentations via links over the individual names in the photo captions below.

    During AGU, NASA also celebrated the winners of the 2024 AGU Michael Freilich Student Visualization Competition, an annual competition honoring former NASA Earth Science Division director Michael Freilich that inspires students to develop creative strategies for effectively communicating complex scientific problems – see Photo 9. See the summary of “Symposium on Earth Science and Applications from Space…” [The Earth Observer, Mar–Apr 2020, Volume 32 Issue 3, 4–18] to learn more about Freilich’s career at NASA and impact on Earth science.  A list of the award’s past recipients, dating back to the 2016, is published on AGU’s website.

    Face-to-face With NASA Experts
    AGU opened its exhibit hall to the public at 10:00 AM on December 9. Thousands of eager attendees poured into the space to engage with exhibit staff, representing a variety of universities, research institutions, and private organizations from around the world.

    NASA Science welcomed AGU attendees, who gathered within the perimeter of the exhibit shortly after opening – see Photo 10 – where NASA staff distributed the 2025 NASA Science Planning Guide – see Photo 11.
    Attendees filtered through the NASA Science booth by the thousands, where more than 130 outreach specialists and subject matter experts from across the agency were available to share mission-specific science and interface directly with members of the public – see Photos 12–15.

    AGU attendees met with project scientists and experts at a new exhibit, called “Ask Me Anything.” The discussions spanned a variety of NASA missions, including Mars Sample Return, James Webb Space Telescope, and Parker Solar Probe, with specialists from these and other missions who spoke during the sessions – see Photo 16. An installation of NASA’s Earth Information Center also made an appearance at AGU24, providing attendees with additional opportunities to speak with Earth scientists and learn more about NASA research – see Photo 17.

    2024 SMD Strategic Content and Integration Meeting
    As they have done for many years now, staff and leadership from NASA’s Science Mission Directorate (SMD) Engagement Branch convened in Washington, DC on December 8 (the day before the Fall AGU meeting began) to discuss agency communications and outreach priorities. This annual meeting provided personnel from each of SMD’s scientific divisions a valuable opportunity to highlight productive strategies and initiatives from the previous calendar year and chart a path for the year ahead. During the single-day event, team leaders shared information related to NASA’s web-modernization efforts, digital outreach strategies, and exhibit presence. Approximately 150 in-person and 50 online NASA staff joined the hybrid meeting.
    After a welcome from Steve Graham [GSFC/GST—NASA Science Support Office Task Leader], who covered meeting logistics, the participants heard from NASA Headquarters’ SMD Engagement and Communication representatives throughout the day. 
    Amy Kaminski [Engagement Branch Chief], who recently replaced Kristen Erickson in this role, used this opportunity to more formally introduce herself to those who might not know her and share her visions for engagement. Karen Fox [Senior Science Communications Official] discussed the evolution of communication for SMD missions over the past decade – moving from siloed communications a decade ago that very much focused on “my mission,” to a much more cooperation between missions and focus on thematic communications. Following up on Kaminski’s remarks that gave an overall vision for engagement, and Fox’s remarks about how having a vision will help streamline our messaging, Alex Lockwood [Strategic Messaging and Engagement Lead] delved into the nuts and bolts of strategic planning, with focus on the use of work packages and memorandums of understanding for promoting upcoming missions.
    After the leadership set the tone for the meeting, Emily Furfaro [NASA Science Digital Manager] gave a rapid tour of many of NASA’s digital assets intended to give participants an idea of the vast resources available for use. Diana Logreira [NASA Science Public Web Manager] then laid out some principles to be followed in developing unified vision for the NASA Science public web experience.
    In the afternoon, there were individual breakout sessions for the Earth Science, Planetary Science, and Heliophysics divisions. These sub-meetings were led by Ellen Gray, Erin Mahoney, and Deb Hernandez, Engagement Leads for Earth Science, Heliophysics, and Planetary Sciences respectively.  These breakout sessions afforded participants with an opportunity to focus on ideas and goals specific to their own divisions for 2025. In the Earth Science breakout session, participants heard from other several other speakers who discussed the beats, or content focus areas, that had been chosen for Earth Science Communications in 2024 – including oceans and Earth Action (formerly known as Applied Sciences) – and those that have been identified for 2025: technology, land science, and continued focus on Earth Action.

    After participants reconvened from the breakouts, Nicola Fox [Associate Administrator, Science Mission Directorate] gave a mid-afternoon presentation in which she presented her perspective on integrated NASA science, which led into a one-hour “Ask Us” panel with Division Directors to conclude the meeting. Participants included: Mark Clampin [Astrophysics], Lisa Carnell [Biological], Julie Robinson [Earth Science, Deputy], Joe Westlake [Heliophysics], John Gagosian [Joint Agency Satellite], Charles Webb [Planetary Science, Acting].
    Based on this meeting, and other communications guidance from NASA HQ, a few general SMD/Earth Science content and engagement priorities for 2025 have emerged. They include:

    Conclusion
    The NASA exhibit is an important component of the agency’s presence at AGU, and NASA leverages its large cohort of scientists who participate in the exchange of information and ideas outside of the exhibit hall – in plenary meetings, workshops, poster sessions, panels, and informal discussions. AGU sessions and events that featured NASA resources, scientists, and program directors included the Living with a Star Town Hall, NASA’s Early Career Research Program, NASA’s Sea Level Change Team: Turning Research into Action, and many more. Click here for the complete list of NASA-related events at AGU24.
    As the final event in a busy calendar of annual scientific conferences, AGU is often an opportunity for NASA scientists to publish findings from the previous year and set goals for the year ahead. Just as they did in 2024, the agency’s robust portfolio of missions and programs will continue to set new records, such as NASA’s Parker Solar Probe pass of the Sun, and conduct fundamental research in the fields of Earth and space science.
    The 2025 AGU annual meeting will be held at the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, in New Orleans, LA, from December 15–19, 2025. See you there.
    Nathan MarderNASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center/Global Science & Technology Inc.nathan.marder@nasa.gov

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: U.S. Marshals in Miami Arrest Illegal Immigrant Homicide Suspect

    Source: US Marshals Service

    Miami, FL – The U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force (CARFTF) and the Florida/Caribbean Regional Fugitive Task Force (FCRFTF) announce the arrest of an attempted homicide suspect wanted out of Washington, D.C.

    Jhoandry B. Canelon, 20, was wanted for attempted murder due to his direct involvement in a stabbing that occurred in June of 2024. Canelon is alleged to have stabbed the victim multiple times before leaving the scene.

    Warrants were issued out of the Superior Court of Washington D.C. in November 2024. Once warrants were in hand, D.C. Metropolitan Police contacted the CARFTF and requested assistance in locating and arresting Canelon. In late January, CARFTF investigators developed information that Canelon was utilizing a vehicle in the Miami, Florida area. On January 28, FCRFTF investigators arrested Canelon in the 300 block of NE 54th Street in Miami. During the arrest, Canelon was non-compliant and attempted to resist arrest. Canelon was ultimately taken into custody after being tased.

    Canelon was transported to the federal courthouse in Miami where he appeared before a judge and awaits extradition back to Washington, D.C. USMS officials have also been in contact with Immigration and Customs Enforcement in reference to Canelon’s immigration status.

    The USMS CARFTF began operations in June 2004. The CARFTF has partnership agreements with 14 federal and 87 state, and local agencies and operates in Virginia, Maryland and the District of Columbia. The CARFTF has apprehended more than 102,000 fugitives since its inception.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Outstanding craftsmanship and international voices: the 5 films up for best documentary at the 2025 Oscars

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Phoebe Hart, Associate Professor, Film Screen & Animation, Queensland University of Technology

    Oscar-nominated best documentary film Sugarcane. Disney+

    The Academy Awards represent the screen industry’s biggest annual global recognition for the very best of moviemaking. And in these troubled times, many recognise the power of documentaries to transform the world for the better.

    Like last year, the 2025 nominations for Best Documentary are international in their scope, continuing an Academy trend of placing more emphasis on voices outside of the United States.

    This year’s nominations feature a few milestones: it’s the first time a Japanese filmmaker has been put forward, and the first time an Indigenous North American filmmaker has been nominated in Oscars history.

    All exhibit outstanding craftsmanship while exploring intense themes. The following roundup will hopefully encourage you to check them out at the cinema or online, and see why the experts also think they deserve the top gong.

    Soundtrack to a Coup d’Etat

    Johan Grimonprez’s experimental essay examines the Cold War politics of the 1950s and 60s. At this time, many African nations were gaining independence from their colonial masters.

    In Soundtrack to a Coup d’Etat, the uranium and mineral rich Democratic Republic of the Congo becomes a poignant case study.

    As the first prime minister Patrice Lumumba breaks the country away from Belgian rule, a murderous plot by global superpowers to destroy the country’s newfound sovereignty unfolds.

    And underneath it all: the frenetic beat of jazz as a revolutionary reaction against racism on both sides of the Atlantic.

    A wealth of archival material featuring former world leaders, the Congolese situation, and the musical stylings of Nina Simone, Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong and others make this documentary effortlessly cool. The edit and sound design has a wonderful syncopated rhythm, revealing fascinating facets of modern history and the scramble for power.

    Sugarcane

    St. Joseph’s Mission was a residential school for Indigenous children in Canada, which closed in 1981.

    When ground penetrating radar begins looking for unmarked graves at the school, Julian Brave NoiseCat – whose father was born on the site – and co-director Emily Kassie embark on a quest of accountability for a myriad of institutional abuses.

    Editors Nathan Punwar and Maya Daisy Hawke interweave archival reels alongside Emily Kassie and Christopher LaMarca’s stark verité cinematography. The film captures members of the Williams Lake First Nation community reckoning with generations of trauma at the hands of Catholic clergy.

    Together, they present some disturbing facts in the film, which won a directing award at the Sundance Film Festival.

    National Geographic has routinely received a documentary Oscar nomination. This film is a challenging topic for Australian and New Zealand audiences. We also have a troubling history with the placement of Aboriginal children in homes, where many faced hardships and mistreatment.

    Sugarcane gives a platform for truth-telling and healing.

    Porcelain War

    Ceramists Slava Leontyev and Anya Stasenko are inspired by the nature of Ukraine and each other. Their friend, and fellow creator, Andrey Stefanov documents their lives on tape after his wife and children flee at the start of the Russian invasion.

    All become involved in active defiance.

    The film combines nonprofessional video, body cams and drone footage alongside wildlife photography and charming animations of Anya’s delicate paintings on clay.

    There are gripping scenes of armed conflict from the viewpoint of Slava’s squad of reservists. These are everyday folks who have become involved in fighting on the ground.

    Porcelain War benefits from a soundtrack composed and performed by folk music quartet DakhaBrakha. This adds an eerie texture to this portrait of hope.

    The film thoughtfully balances light and shade with grace, demonstrating that art remains a potent way to oppose erasure.

    Black Box Diaries

    When her high-profile #MeToo sexual assault case is dropped on the grounds of insufficient evidence, Japanese journalist, director and producer Shiori Itō commences chronicling her journey to justice.

    Deploying abstract imagery over recorded conversations with investigators and witnesses, Itō builds her argument over several years. The passage of time is interspersed with her unfiltered video diary entries.

    There has been controversy about the director including hotel footage of her drugged and being dragged out of a taxi by her attacker, senior reporter Noriyuki Yamaguchi, without permission. Itō had been given the footage for the legal case, but had agreed it would not be used outside of the courtroom.

    The debate has prevented the film from showing on Japanese screens. However, Itō has argued the public good of using this material outweighs commercial interests – especially considering the pressure of Yamaguchi’s influential connections to quell the case, which include then-Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

    Itō doesn’t shy away from exposing the raw emotional depths of her remarkably brave undertaking against fierce odds, and she serves as an inspiring change-maker we should all heed.

    No Other Land

    No Other Land takes stock of the West Bank situation from the perspective of Basel Adra, who documents evictions of Palestinians in his home village of Masafer Yatta.

    Basel works with journalist Yuval Abraham to bear witness to the army’s gradual destruction of his village to make way for a military training ground.

    No Other Land features some great observational camerawork with many poetic images of resilience. Things kick up a notch when a villager, Harun, is shot by Israeli soldiers while trying to confiscate his building tools. Basel is targeted for filming the ensuing protests – but Adra and Abraham continue undeterred.

    A friendship develops amid the chaos between the Palestinian activist and Israeli reporter, who co-direct and edit with Hamdan Ballal and Rachel Szor. It’s the touching humanity of their relationship that goes to the core of the film; compassion is key to deescalating tensions in the region.

    In Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand, Soundtrack to a Coup d’Etat, Porcelain War, Black Box Diaries and No Other Land are streaming on DocPlay; Sugarcane is streaming on Disney+.

    Phoebe Hart 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. Outstanding craftsmanship and international voices: the 5 films up for best documentary at the 2025 Oscars – https://theconversation.com/outstanding-craftsmanship-and-international-voices-the-5-films-up-for-best-documentary-at-the-2025-oscars-249151

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Arizona woman pleads guilty to transporting 50 kilograms of cocaine

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    COLUMBUS, Ohio – An Arizona woman pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court here today to a narcotics crime related to driving a moving truck filled with 50 kilogram-bricks of cocaine from Arizona to Ohio. 

    Andrea Celaya-Rodriguez, 28, of Tucson, pleaded guilty to possessing with the intent to distribute cocaine.

    According to court documents, Celaya-Rodriguez was stopped by Ohio State Highway Patrol on 1-70 in Madison County on March 22, 2024. She was driving a Penske box truck that she rented a few days prior in Tucson and, according to her rental agreement, was set to return the vehicle to Arizona within the next four days.

    A drug canine positively alerted to the presence of cocaine and troopers subsequently searched the moving truck. The cargo space of the truck had in it a sectional couch, a suitcase and a produce bin with a blanket over it. Within the produce bin there were three duffel bags, which contained 50 individually wrapped kilogram-packages of cocaine.

    After being arrested, Celaya-Rodriguez told DEA agents she was driving the drugs from Arizona to New York in exchange for $50,000 from a man she had met in Mexico two weeks prior. The defendant met the man on a rural road in Arizona, where she was given the cocaine in shoe boxes to be re-packaged for transportation.

    The plea agreement includes a sentencing recommendation of 33 to 41 months in prison. Congress sets minimum and maximum statutory sentences. Sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the Court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors at a future hearing.

    Kelly A. Norris, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Andrew Lawton, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Detroit Field Division; and Col. Charles A Jones, Superintendent, Ohio State Highway Patrol, announced the guilty plea entered today before Chief U.S. District Judge Sarah D. Morrison. Assistant United States Attorneys Kevin W. Kelley and Nicole Pakiz are representing the United States in this case.

    # # #

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: U.S. Attorney’s Office Exceeds 900 Immigration Cases Filed in Western District of Texas

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    SAN ANTONIO – Acting United States Attorney Margaret Leachman announced today that federal prosecutors in the Western District of Texas have filed more than 900 immigration and immigration-related criminal cases since Jan. 20. These cases were referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE ERO), U.S. Border Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), with the support and assistance of state and local law enforcement partners.

    Along with enhanced interdiction efforts at the border, federal law enforcement has been also prioritizing immigration enforcement operations and prosecutions of aliens unlawfully in the interior of the country and also those otherwise engaged in criminal activity in the U.S., including those who commit drug and firearms crimes, who have serious criminal records, who have active warrants for their arrest, or who have outstanding final orders of removal from the U.S., issued by an immigration judge. Federal authorities have also been prioritizing investigations and prosecutions against drug, firearm, and human smugglers and those who endanger and threaten the safety of our communities and the law enforcement officers who protect us all.

    Cases of interest include the arrest of Juan Ramon Hernandez-Limon in San Antonio, who had been previously convicted on April 28, 2021 for illegal re-entry into the United States and alien in possession of a firearm, and a second time on Feb. 8, 2024 for illegal re-entry. Hernandez-Limon repeatedly attempted to evade arrest during an ICE ERO operation on Jan. 26, 2025, and was eventually taken into custody. He faces up to 20 years in federal prison, if convicted.

    Guatemalan nationals Anderson Morales-Calderon and Ever Morales-Calderon were arrested on Jan. 24 in Waco on criminal charges related to their alleged aiding and abetting the possession of a firearm as undocumented noncitizens. Troy Police Department and Lorena Police Department officers were responding to a road rage complaint called into 911. The 911 caller alleged that an individual pointed a rifle at a semi-truck on IH-35. During the traffic stop, officers observed two air rifles and one .22 caliber rifle in plain view in the back seat and on the back floorboard of the vehicle. Further investigation revealed that both Anderson and Ever Morales-Calderon were unlawfully present in the United States. If convicted, they each face up to 10 years in federal prison.

    Honduran national Melvin Armando Funes-Canales was transferred to federal custody after he was located in the Williamson County jail, where he had been detained for alleged possession of a controlled substance. An investigation revealed Funes-Canales had been previously removed from the U.S. to Honduras on or about Oct. 9, 2020, and had also been deported on five other occasions. Additionally, Funes-Canales was previously convicted of burglary, grand theft and illegal re-entry. He now faces up to 10 years in federal prison for illegal re-entry, if convicted.

    Four individuals illegally present in the U.S. were arrested in El Paso and face up to 10 years in federal prison each for criminal charges related to their alleged involvement in a human smuggling conspiracy. Yair Alejandro Aguilar-Flores, Angel Eduardo Carrillo-Carrillo, Jorge Alfredo Lopez-Acevedo, and Jesus David Reyes-Villagran allegedly conspired to harbor 12 illegal aliens in two El Paso hotels.

    A Mexican national was indicted by a federal grand jury in Austin for one count of possession of a firearm by illegal alien. Marcelo Olvera-Moreno was stopped while driving in Hutto, Jan. 24. A Williamson Country Sheriff’s Office deputy conducted the traffic stop after allegedly observing the passenger in Olvera-Moreno’s vehicle fire a handgun from the front passenger window. Olvera-Moreno admitted to law enforcement that he knew that he was illegally and unlawfully in the U.S. and that he had purchased the pistol at a flea market approximately three months prior. If convicted, he faces up to 15 years in federal prison.

    “Because the Western District of Texas shares 660 miles of common border with Mexico and is home to three of Texas’ largest cities and an estimated 7.6 million people, prosecuting immigration and border-related crimes has long been and remains a priority within this district,” said Leachman. “With the valuable investigative and enforcement efforts of our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners, this U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to prosecuting immigration-related crimes in the interest of the nation and our citizens.”

    Indictments and criminal complaints are merely allegations and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

    ###

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Lower Sackville — RCMP Halifax Regional Detachment Charges Youth Following Stabbing in Lower Sackville

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    RCMP Halifax Regional Detachment has charged a youth following a stabbing that occurred in Lower Sackville.

    On February 24 at approximately 12:45 p.m. RCMP Halifax Regional Detachment responded to a report of an altercation at a bus terminal on Cobequid Rd. involving about 15 people. One of the people was believed to have been stabbed.

    All those involved had dispersed and left the scene in vehicles before officers arrived. Responding officers located one of the vehicles nearby and conducted a traffic stop. The youth passenger was observed to be suffering from a stab wound. Officers immediately administered first aid and the youth was transported to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries by EHS.

    Those involved in the incident are known to one other, and it is not believed to be a random act.

    At approximately 8 p.m., a 16-year-old youth was safely arrested at a home in Beaverbank. They are facing charges of Aggravated Assault, Assault with a Weapon, Possession of a Weapon for a Dangerous Purpose and Failure to Comply with Order. The youth was held in custody and is scheduled to appear in Halifax Youth Justice Court today.

    The investigation is ongoing.

    Anyone with information is asked to contact RCMP Halifax Regional Detachment at 902-490-5020. Should you wish to remain anonymous, call Nova Scotia Crime Stoppers toll free at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), submit a secure web tip at www.crimestoppers.ns.ca, or use the P3 Tips App.

    File # 25-26527

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Public transport price hike in Bologna and EU climate targets – E-000750/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-000750/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Stefano Cavedagna (ECR)

    The Municipality of Bologna’s recent decision to raise the cost of bus tickets has sparked much concern among residents. From 1 March 2025, the cost of a single ticket will soar by 53.3 %, jumping from EUR 1.50 to EUR 2.30. This price hike comes at a critical juncture for urban mobility in Bologna with the city contending with tram construction works and travel disruption on buses. Bologna is now the city with the most expensive public transport in Italy.

    The 2019 communication on the European Green Deal introduced new ambitious climate targets, including the goal to make Europe the first climate-neutral continent by 2050. These targets were made binding in 2021, when they were laid down in the European Climate Law.

    Public transport alleviates road traffic, improves energy efficiency and promotes a more sustainable mobility.

    In view of this, can the Commission answer the following questions:

    • 1.Is the public transport price hike in Bologna – which will encourage the use of private vehicles and increase CO2 emissions – consistent with the EU’s climate targets?
    • 2.Can the Commission take action to ensure that local public transport policies in Bologna and other European cities are consistent with the EU’s sustainability goals?

    Submitted: 19.2.2025

    Last updated: 25 February 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Free, unlimited access to Think Deeper and Voice announced

    Source: Microsoft

    Headline: Free, unlimited access to Think Deeper and Voice announced

    We launched Copilot two years ago, focused on helping people access knowledge, get answers, reflect, brainstorm and create. As we continue to build your ultimate AI companion, today we’re excited to start rolling out even more powerful capabilities to all Copilot users with free, unlimited access to Voice and Think Deeper (powered by Open AI’s

    We launched Copilot two years ago, focused on helping people access knowledge, get answers, reflect, brainstorm and create. As we continue to build your ultimate AI companion, today we’re excited to start rolling out even more powerful capabilities to all Copilot users with free, unlimited access to Voice and Think Deeper (powered by Open AI’s o1 model). Now you can have an extended conversation with Copilot using Voice and take advantage of Think Deeper’s advanced reasoning models to tackle more complex questions or tasks, anytime. Try it today.

    We are seeing a lot of excitement for Voice and Think Deeper and we know many of you have been hitting limits. This should help. And if you haven’t tried some of these experiences yet, there has never been a better time.

    Use Voice to practice a few simple phrases in a new language to help you navigate when visiting a new country or meeting new people, tell Copilot about a job you’re applying for and your work experience and ask it to mock interview you, or get some hands-free cooking advice as you follow a new recipe step by step.

    Think Deeper is helpful for tackling more complex topics like making a big purchase, assessing the future value of a home renovation or planning a career move. Here are some prompt ideas to get you started:

    • Compare the best electric cars. I usually prioritize design and comfort, and I want to feel like my purchase is ‘future-proof’. Make a novel scoring system to help me with my assessment.
    • I have $15K to use on a home renovation. I’m deciding between a kitchen island, updated bathroom, or replacing the roof. What would increase the value of my home more over the next 3 years?
    • I live in a neighborhood that has power outage every time there is high wind. Should I buy a generator? What are the pros and cons, things I should consider, and impact to my budget, and convenience.

    We are working hard to scale unlimited access to advanced features to as many people as possible, as quickly as possible, starting today with Voice and Think Deeper. It’s worth noting you may experience delays or interruptions during periods of high demand or if we detect security concerns, misuse or other violations of the Copilot Terms.

    Copilot Pro users will retain preferred access to our latest models during peak usage, early access to experimental AI features (more on that coming soon), and additional use of Copilot in select Microsoft 365 apps like Word, Excel and PowerPoint.

    Thank you to everyone using Copilot and sharing feedback! Your input on what works and what needs improvement helps us make Copilot better and do more for everyone. We love hearing from you, so keep the feedback coming.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Police make arrests following Flat Bush burglary

    Source: New Zealand Police (District News)

    Two men have been charged following a ram raid burglary at a Flat Bush liquor store.

    Just before 12.30am, a burglary was reported in progress at the Bishop Dunn Place store.

    Detective Inspector Karen Bright, of Counties Manukau CIB, says two stolen vehicles had arrived at the scene.

    “One of the vehicles was used to gain entry into the business,” she says.

    “The Eagle helicopter deployed to the area and located the offenders fleeing the scene in one of the vehicles.”

    Police continued observations of the offenders’ movements to a nearby address on Belinda Avenue.

    “All three offenders abandoned this vehicle, before getting into another vehicle which stopped nearby,” Detective Inspector Bright says.

    “One offender got out and returned to the vehicle that had just been abandoned.

    “He drove this vehicle a short distance before it crashed into a fence, and he fled on foot.”

    A Police dog handler conducted several enquiries in the immediate area.

    Meanwhile, Eagle was continuing to track the other vehicle heading south to Takanini.

    Detective Inspector Bright says spikes were successfully deployed and the vehicle travelled further north to Ōtara where spikes were again deployed.

    “The vehicle became immobile and both offenders were arrested without further incident.”

    Two men were arrested, including a gang associate.

    The pair, aged 20 and 24, will face charges in the Manukau District Court.

    These include burglary and multiple counts of unlawfully taking a vehicle.

    The 24-year-old has also been charged with dangerous driving. 

    Detective Inspector Bright says Police are following positive lines of enquiry to locate the third offender.

    “This is a great result, and Police will continue to hold those to account who are committing this brazen offending within our community.”

    ENDS.

    Jarred Williamson/NZ Police

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –