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  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Asia Pacific – APAC Regulatory Complexity Creates 29% Higher Workload for Multinationals – Mercator

    Source: Mercator

    Digital divide creates efficiency gap for inhouse teams managing cross-border subsidiaries

    • APAC Entities require 29% more management tasks than global average
    • Processing times vary from 11 days to 64 days
    • Board-level activity triple that of European counterparts
    • New Zealand, Singapore and Australia lead regional efficiency rankings.


    SINGAPORE – Multinational organizations face significantly higher operational demands in Asia-Pacific, with entities requiring 28.7% more management tasks than the global average, according to new data released in the Asia-Pacific Special Report by Mercator® by Citco (Mercator).

    The analysis reveals stark contrasts in processing times – from 11 days in digitally advanced Singapore to 64 days in Macau – creating unprecedented challenges for corporate secretarial teams managing multi-jurisdictional portfolios. The findings, representing $USD10.37 billion in market capital, draw from actual operational data across 180 jurisdictions and 20 different types of corporate secretarial activities.

    Regional Position

    Activity Level: 5.37 tasks per entity vs global average of 4.18

    APAC entities average 5.37 tasks versus the global 4.18, reflecting complex regulatory requirements and varying governance approaches. While regional hubs offer streamlined processes, the overall management burden remains significantly higher, often requiring local expertise.

    Governance: Highest global volume of board and shareholder decisions

    APAC leads globally in board-level activity, with triple the board and shareholder tasks compared to European counterparts. This reflects the region’s distinct approach where boards serve as active management tools, with many markets requiring local directors and in-country representatives.

    Cost: 14% above North America, 47% below Middle East & Africa

    Entity management costs position APAC 14% above North American averages while maintaining a 47% advantage against Middle East & Africa. This reflects APAC’s uniquely diverse market composition – from Malaysia’s competitive rates to South Korea’s premium service environment.

    Jurisdictional Rankings

    New Zealand leads the overall cost and time efficiency rankings, with multinationals benefiting from its streamlined digital processes and straightforward compliance requirements. Singapore tops processing speed, while Malaysia emerges as most cost-efficient.

    At the other end of the scale, South Korea, China, and Indonesia rank lowest with the most costly and complex, demanding careful planning and necessitating specific local expertise.

    Kariem Abdellatif, Head of Mercator® by Citco comments:

    “Our analysis reveals a stark reality in Asia-Pacific: organizations face a 29% higher workload managing their entities compared to global averages, driven by a growing digital divide across the region. While markets like New Zealand have fully embraced and embedded technology-enabled processes, others like Japan maintain more traditional requirements that significantly increase complexity and resources needed. This creates two distinct operational realities for multinational organizations.

    What’s particularly challenging for global in-house teams is navigating these extremes both within a single region and a single team – from 11-day processing times in Singapore to 64 days in Macau. The contrast is striking: while one jurisdiction accepts simple e-signature execution, another requires multiple sequential approvals in a foreign language just to process a single document. As regulatory requirements evolve and digital transformation accelerates, this gap will likely widen further, making strategic entity management crucial for operational success.”

    To read the full report please visit: https://mercator.net/our-thinking/publications/asia-pacific-special-report/

    About the report

    Part of Mercator’s Entity Portfolio Management report series – the Asia-Pacific: Special Report provides direct insight into the cost and time required to manage entities across APAC.

    Unlike survey and sentiment-based reports, this report combines real-life data, with expert insights from our jurisdictional and cross-jurisdictional experts. This approach delivers benchmarks for multinational companies, with jurisdictions ranked by cost efficiency, time efficiency, and overall performance scores that combine both metrics to provide a comprehensive review of entity management across the region.

    The data

    The statistics that form the basis of this report cover the period between April 2024 to May 2025 and are drawn directly from Mercator® by Citco’s proprietary EPM technology platform – Entica® – which individually records all the activities undertaken for clients.

    The data represents approximately $USD10.37 billion in market capital, spread across major business sectors in APAC. The global data covers over 180 jurisdictions and 20 different types of corporate secretarial activities. APAC’s jurisdictional rankings feature the 17 most active jurisdictions in APAC (meeting a threshold of minimum five tasks or four entities).

    About Mercator® by Citco

    Mercator by Citco (Mercator) is the pioneer of Entity Portfolio Management and a strategic partner for many organizations with a global footprint. Mercator’s unrivalled knowledge and focus on entity management combined with our proprietary technology ‘Entica®‘ is evolving the way multinational companies view and manage their portfolio of entities. Mercator’s services cover over 180 jurisdictions via a single-point-of-contact model, delivered by highly-experienced, client-dedicated teams, supported by local operations that cover all time zones.

    Find out more at: https://mercator.net/

    About the Citco group of companies (Citco)

    The Citco group of companies (Citco) is a network of independent companies worldwide. These companies are leading providers of asset-servicing solutions to the global alternative investment industry. With $2 trillion in assets under administration and operations spanning across 36 countries, Citco’s unique culture of innovation and client-driven solutions have provided Citco’s clients with a trusted partner for more than four decades.

    MIL OSI – Submitted News –

    July 9, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Hoyle, Merkley Fight Back Against Trump Funding Cuts with Renewed Effort to Reduce Wildfire Risk, Boost Economic Opportunities in Forest-Dependent Communities

    Source: US Representative Val Hoyle (OR-04)

    July 08, 2025

    For Immediate Release: July 8, 2025 

    EUGENE, OR –  As the Trump Administration illegally cuts and withholds funding for wildfire mitigation projects, Oregon’s U.S. Representative Val Hoyle (OR-04) and U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley teamed up to introduce the Wildfire Resilient Communities Act in Congress. This legislation would provide dedicated federal support to reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfires in Oregon and across the West, while also empowering communities to prepare for wildfires.

    “I’m proud to join Senator Merkley in introducing this bill to reduce wildfire risk and strengthen forest-dependent communities,” said Hoyle. “Year after year, wildfires have devastated our towns, economies, and forests. This legislation invests in prevention, resilience, and local jobs—because protecting our communities shouldn’t stop at putting out fires. It starts with smart, proactive stewardship, and that’s exactly what this bill delivers.”

    “You can’t get ready after the fire starts,” said Merkley. “Our bill would ensure communities can seize every moment to prepare for and mitigate wildfires by supercharging investments in critical hazardous fuels projects. Increasingly extreme wildfire seasons fueled by climate chaos are not cooling down anytime soon, and we need a considerable increase in federal resources—not cuts—to make our forests, timber economies, and communities healthier and more resilient.”

    Merkley and Hoyle’s Wildfire Resilient Communities Act would double down on essential efforts to boost wildfire preparedness by creating a $30 billion fund to allow the U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, and other land management agencies to increase catastrophic wildfire reduction projects; reauthorize and triple funding up to $3 billion for the Community Wildfire Defense Grant Program; permanently reauthorize the Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration (CFLR) Program, which is critical for the five collaboratives in Oregon; and create a County Stewardship Fund that would provide payments to counties for stewardship contracts on federal land.

    As Ranking Member of the Interior-Environment Appropriations Subcommittee, which oversees funding for federal land management agencies, Merkley has been leading the charge to sound the alarm over federal funding freezes and cuts to critical wildfire mitigation work ahead of another extreme wildfire season, leading a series of actions to demand the Trump Administration restore funding for critical projects and reverse course on reckless reorganization efforts.

    The Wildfire Resilient Communities Act is cosponsored by Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR), Alex Padilla (D-CA), and Adam Schiff (D-CA).

    The bicameral bill is endorsed by Klamath-Siskiyou Wildlands Center, Sustainable Northwest, Silvix Resources, and Lomakatsi Restoration Project.

    “Southern Oregon has been hard hit by the health and economic impacts of smoke and fire,” said Pam Marsh, Oregon State Representative, House District 5. “Senator Merkley’s legislation will help us jumpstart the collaborative forest projects that will protect our communities, while rewarding counties for their support of stewardship agreements.  This is how we’ll start the work that will help us respond to changing conditions.”

    “The Wildfire Resilient Communities Act supports the critical fuels reduction work that is being done in our communities,” said Paul Anderes, Chair of Union County Board of Commissioners. “This bill will expand upon the progress that has been made in so many landscapes to make our fire prone communities safer.”

    “Through focused investments in forest restoration and community protection we can prepare our communities and landscapes for wildfires,” said Michael Dotson, Executive Director of Klamath-Siskiyou Wildlands Center. “Our forests were more adapted to fire before we cut down so many of the large, fire resistant trees. We replaced too many of our old growth forests with flammable second growth forests. We need to fund the kind of work that can restore our forests and help build more fire and climate resilient landscapes and communities, and Sen. Merkley’s bill would help us do that.”

    “The need for increased investment in our federal forests and rural communities has never been more urgent,” said Dylan Kruse, President at Sustainable Northwest. “We can’t afford to keep playing catch up. This bill takes immediate action to address the massive management backlog on our forests, and expands effective programs to prepare for the future. We commend Senator Merkley for his bipartisan leadership and introducing legislation that will make a real difference with resources that meet the scale of need.”

    “Senator Merkley is to be commended for reintroduction of the Wildfire Resilient Communities Act, which will provide important funding for community preparedness and wildfire risk reduction on federal lands, in addition to reauthorizing the phenomenally successful Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration Program and providing the funding necessary to continue this important forest health work,” said Susan Jane Brown, Principal, Silvix Resources.

    “Under Senator Merkley’s leadership, this Act would provide much needed, long-term funding for collaborative, science-based strategies to reduce wildfire risk while increasing forest health and supporting local economies. It elevates stewardship-based forestry, an ecologically-centered approach to restoration that Lomakatsi has championed and utilized for two decades to build ecosystem and community resilience across the landscape, with agency, tribal, and non-profit partners, in close coordination with the communities we serve,” said Marko Bey, Executive Director, Lomakatsi Restoration Project.

    Full text of the Wildfire Resilient Communities Act can be found by clicking here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

    July 9, 2025

  • India, Brazil sign six key pacts with focus on terror, trade, and tech

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    India and Brazil signed six agreements on Tuesday during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s state visit, covering cooperation in security, digital infrastructure, renewable energy, agriculture, and intellectual property.

    The agreements include a pact on combating international terrorism and transnational organized crime, as well as a memorandum on the exchange of large-scale digital solutions to support digital transformation.

    Both countries also agreed to collaborate in renewable energy and agricultural research, with an MoU signed between Brazil’s EMBRAPA and India’s Council of Agricultural Research.

    An agreement was also signed for the exchange and mutual protection of classified information.

    Additionally, the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) of India and Brazil’s Secretariat of Competitiveness and Regulatory Policy under the Ministry of Development, Industry, Trade and Services signed an MoU on cooperation in the field of intellectual property.

    India and Brazil also announced the establishment of a ministerial-level mechanism to monitor trade, commerce, and investment between the two countries.

    July 9, 2025

  • India–Brazil bilateral trade to touch $20 billion over next five years: PM Modi in Brasilia

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said India and Brazil will work to expand cooperation in trade, clean energy, defence, Artificial Intelligence, and digital public infrastructure, underlining that both countries share a common vision for inclusive development and a people-centric approach to innovation.

    Speaking at a joint press statement alongside Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, PM Modi expressed his gratitude for being conferred with Brazil’s highest national honour — ‘The Grand Collar of the National Order of the Southern Cross’.

    “Today, being honoured with Brazil’s highest national award by the President of Brazil is a moment of great pride and emotion not just for me, but for 140 crore Indians. I sincerely thank the President, the Brazilian government, and the people of Brazil for this honour,” PM Modi said.

    Calling President Lula his “best friend” and “Chief Architect of the Strategic Partnership between India and Brazil,” the PM said every meeting with him has motivated him to work harder for the well-being of both nations. “I dedicate this honour to his strong commitment to India and to our enduring friendship,” he said.

    Trade and energy cooperation

    PM Modi said India and Brazil have agreed to raise bilateral trade to USD 20 billion over the next five years. “Football is Brazil’s passion, just as cricket is loved by the people of India. Whether it’s sending the ball past the boundary or into the goal, when both are on the same team, a USD 20 billion partnership is not difficult to achieve,” he said, adding that both sides will also work to expand the India–MERCOSUR Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA).

    The Prime Minister stressed that cooperation in the energy sector was steadily growing and highlighted the new agreement signed to boost collaboration on clean energy and sustainable development.

    PM Modi also extended best wishes to Lula for the upcoming COP-30 Summit to be hosted by Brazil later this year.

    Defence, AI and digital linkages

    On defence ties, PM Modi said, “Our growing cooperation in the field of defence reflects the deep mutual trust between our two countries. We will continue our efforts to connect our defence industries and strengthen this partnership further.”

    He pointed to ongoing collaboration in Artificial Intelligence and supercomputing, describing it as part of the shared goal of “inclusive development and human-centric innovation.” India’s UPI digital payments platform is also set to be adopted in Brazil, the PM said, adding that India would gladly share its experience in digital public infrastructure and space technology.

    Health, Ayurveda and people-to-people ties

    Highlighting ties in agriculture and health, PM Modi noted that cooperation in agriculture and animal husbandry spans several decades, and both sides are now working together in agricultural research and food processing too. “In the health sector too, we are enhancing our win-win collaboration. We have also emphasized the expansion of Ayurveda and traditional medicine in Brazil,” he said.

    Underscoring the importance of people-to-people connections, the Prime Minister said that the shared passion for sports — cricket and football — brings India and Brazil closer. “We wish for India–Brazil relations to be as vibrant as Carnival, as passionate as football, and as heart-connecting as Samba — all without the long visa counter queues! With this spirit, we will work together to ease people-to-people exchanges between our two nations, especially for tourists, students, sportspersons, and businessmen,” he said.

    On global issues

    PM Modi said India and Brazil have always worked in close coordination on global issues and stressed that their partnership is relevant to the Global South and the wider world. “We firmly believe that it is our moral responsibility to bring the concerns and priorities of the Global South to the forefront of the global stage,” he said.

    Calling for disputes to be resolved through “dialogue and diplomacy,” the PM said the India–Brazil partnership stands as an “important pillar of stability and balance” amid global tensions and uncertainty. He also reiterated both nations’ “zero tolerance and zero double standards” approach on terrorism, saying, “We strongly oppose both terrorism and those who support it.”

    The Prime Minister also extended an invitation to Lula to visit India and said, “Once again, on behalf of 1.4 billion Indians, I extend my heartfelt gratitude to you for this highest national honour and for your enduring friendship.”

    Earlier in the day, Lula welcomed PM Modi at the Alvorada Palace in Brasilia, where he was given a ceremonial reception featuring a 114-horse escort for his car. The two leaders then held a restricted-format meeting, followed by delegation-level discussions and the signing of agreements.

    July 9, 2025

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Government takes action to deliver neighbourhood health services

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Government takes action to deliver neighbourhood health services

    The government hits the ground running on delivering the 10 Year Health Plan by taking the first steps in the roll-out of new neighbourhood services

    • Ground-breaking neighbourhood health services to be delivered in most deprived areas first where healthy life expectancy is lowest
    • Government hits ground running on delivering 10 Year Health Plan, beginning in deprived communities with greatest need
    • Pioneering neighbourhood health teams will focus on patients with multiple long-term conditions and more complex issues

    People living in the most deprived communities across the country are set to benefit from new neighbourhood health services as the government takes the first steps in the rollout today (Wednesday 9th July), making care more convenient and reducing health inequalities.

    Central to the 10 Year Health Plan, the services will bring NHS care closer to home and provide better support for people with complex conditions, keeping them well and avoiding unnecessary hospital trips.

    One example is Team Up Derbyshire – an initiative which links up GPs, social workers, home carers and nurses to support people who need care in their own homes – bringing the best of the NHS to the rest of the NHS.

    The government has hit the ground running on delivering the plan, today writing to health chiefs and local authority chief executives, urging them to team up with local health and care providers, voluntary groups, and members of their communities to accelerate the rollout of the services across the country.

    They have been asked to submit applications – outlining examples of joined-up working and innovation in their areas – to join phase one of the neighbourhood health programme.

    This will prepare local partnerships to take on responsibility for more neighbourhood services in their area. It will see successful applicants join an intensive national coaching programme over the summer including major workshop days that bring together experts, GPs and their teams, patients, the voluntary sector and local authorities.

    Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting said:

    Our 10 Year Health Plan committed to building a Neighbourhood Health Service, and we’re hitting the ground running on delivering it.

    If we are to get patients cared for faster, on their doorstep and even in their own home, then we need to shift the focus of the NHS from hospitals to the community.

    Today, we are issuing an open invitation to local authorities and health services to become pioneer neighbourhood health services and lead the charge of healthcare reform.

    As part of our Plan for Change, we’re beginning the Neighbourhood Health Service in areas of greatest need first, to tackle the unfair health inequalities that blight our country.

    From September, the first 42 sites will then immediately start rolling out their neighbourhood health programmes, with clear guidance, support and metrics to report on regularly.

    The department and NHS England will work with over 40 places across the country and ensure each region is covered by the programme. The services will be prioritised in working class areas where healthy life expectancy is lowest, targeting communities with the greatest need first. 

    After years of neglect, areas where people need the NHS most often have the fewest GPs, the worst performing services and the longest waits. People in working-class areas and coastal towns spend more of their lives in ill health, and life expectancy among women with the lowest incomes has fallen in recent years, after decades of progress.

    Neighbourhood health services will bring together teams of professionals to focus on patients with multiple long-term conditions and people with complex needs.

    A joint taskforce has been set up between the Department of Health and Social Care and NHS England to drive progress, chaired by Sir John Oldham and made up of NHS leaders, local authority bosses, and other key figures from the voluntary sector and health and care organisations.

    In addition to the neighbourhood health services that will begin in September, the government is also working to deliver neighbourhood health centres across the country over the course of the government’s 10 Year Health Plan to rebuild the NHS.

    Pioneering teams – some based entirely under one roof – will be set up in local communities to dramatically improve access to the health service, and will include staff like nurses, doctors, social care workers, pharmacists, health visitors, palliative care staff, and paramedics. Community health workers and volunteers will also play a pivotal role in these teams.

    Millions of patients will be treated and cared for by teams of health professionals, and in years to come, local neighbourhood health centres will relieve pressure on overstretched hospitals and provide cutting edge, personalised care.

    Eventually these health centres will be open 12 hours a day, 6 days a week within local communities, and will not only bring historically hospital-based services into the community – diagnostics, post-operative care and rehab – but will also offer services like debt advice, employment support and stop smoking or weight management, all of which will help tackle issues which we know affect people’s health.

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    Updates to this page

    Published 9 July 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

    July 9, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Saskatchewan Wildfire Update – July 8

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    Released on July 8, 2025

    As of 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday, July 8, there are 68 active wildfires in Saskatchewan. Of those active fires, seven are categorized as contained, 15 are not contained, 30 are ongoing assessment and 16 are listed as protecting values. 

    This year, Saskatchewan has had 357 wildfires, which is well above the five-year average of 208 to date. 

    Four communities remain under an evacuation order: Resort Subdivision of Lac La Plonge, La Plonge Reserve, Northern Village of Beauval and Kinoosao.  

    Any evacuees should register through the Sask Evac Web Application and then call 1-855-559-5502 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. to have their needs assessed for additional assistance. Individuals who need help registering through the application can call the 855 Line for assistance.   

    Evacuees supported by the Canadian Red Cross should call 1-800-863-6582. 

    The Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency’s (SPSA) Recovery Task Team continues to meet with community leaders to discuss recovery efforts. Their current focus is working with communities to support debris removal, site clean-up and help communities initiate the recovery process. 

    The Government of Saskatchewan announced $20 million yesterday to support these priorities as well as for communities and individuals who sustained losses during the provincial emergency declaration period (May 29 to June 26, 2025), or who were under a local state of emergency at the time of their loss.  

    This funding is in addition to the $500 Government of Saskatchewan payments to evacuees 18 years of age and older. This financial support will reach over 10,000 individuals who qualify, including the recent evacuees. The SPSA continues to coordinate with communities that have asked for its support in distributing this financial assistance. 

    The SPSA is also offering retroactive food security support for those communities supported by the SPSA, where the residents are not staying in SPSA provided hotels. The agency will provide those who qualify $40 per day for the head of household, plus $20 for each additional member, up to a maximum of $200 daily.  

    A full list of evacuated communities can be found on the Active Evacuations webpage. 

    The latest information, an interactive fire ban map, frequently asked questions, fire risk maps and fire prevention tips can be found at saskpublicsafety.ca. 

    -30-

    For more information, contact:

    MIL OSI Canada News –

    July 9, 2025

  • MIL-OSI China: Chinese premier says Chinese economy capable of withstanding any external shocks

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    Chinese Premier Li Qiang attends a symposium for Chinese enterprises operating in Brazil in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, July 8, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

    RIO DE JANEIRO, July 8 — Chinese Premier Li Qiang said here Tuesday that the Chinese economy is fully capable of withstanding any external shocks and achieving long-term stable growth.

    Meeting with representatives of Chinese enterprises operating in Brazil, Li said that since the year’s beginning, the Chinese economy has held up under pressure and maintained sustained and positive momentum.

    Participants included local branch chiefs of Bank of China, Great Wall Motor, State Grid, Goldwind Sci & Tech, China’s leading food trader COFCO, Gree Electric Appliances, Dahua Technology and ZTT Group.

    After listening to the remarks from the participants, Li said that in recent years, Chinese enterprises have accelerated their pace of going global and improved their capabilities for international operations, playing an increasingly important role in boosting domestic economy.

    Li said the first half of the year has witnessed the resilience of China’s economic growth with potential in domestic demand and bright spots in innovation.

    Noting that the Chinese economy will always provide staunch support for Chinese companies operating overseas, the premier said the government will provide better services and guarantees for enterprises, strengthen the building of various mechanisms and platforms for economic and trade cooperation, and improve the overseas comprehensive service system.

    He added that greater policy support will be introduced in such areas as policy consultation, finance, credit insurance and security, in order to create a better environment for enterprises and better facilitate their development.

    The current global economic and trade landscape is undergoing profound changes with the rise of unilateralism and protectionism, and increasing trade and investment barriers, Li noted. At the same time, a new round of technological revolution and industrial transformation is further advancing, presenting both challenges and opportunities for enterprises, he added.

    Li said he hopes Chinese companies can adapt to the trend and take proactive actions. They should build strong brands, strengthen planning, and enhance the global competitiveness of “Made in China” and “Created in China,” he said.

    It is essential to cultivate the local markets deeply by providing consumers with more products and services that meet market demand, the premier said, adding that Chinese companies should use Brazil as a platform to expand into the broader Latin American market and strive for greater development.

    Li said that Chinese enterprises must respect local laws, regulations and cultural practices, operate in compliance with legal requirements, actively undertake social responsibilities, and strive to forge a responsible and accountable image.

    Participants said Chinese enterprises will give full play to their own strengths and characteristics, enhance cooperation, effectively respond to various challenges, take root locally and remain committed to operating in compliance with laws and regulations.

    They also vowed to continue to expand their presence in sectors such as finance, energy, agriculture and scientific and technological innovation, uphold the positive image of Chinese enterprises overseas, contribute to building closer economic and trade ties between China and Brazil as well as other Latin American countries, and better achieve mutual benefit and win-win outcomes.

    MIL OSI China News –

    July 9, 2025

  • MIL-OSI China: China to contribute more wisdom, technology to global high-speed rail development: vice premier

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    China to contribute more wisdom, technology to global high-speed rail development: vice premier

    BEIJING, July 8 — Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Guoqing on Tuesday said that China will contribute more wisdom, technology and solutions to the development of high-speed rail around the world, upholding the vision of extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits.

    Zhang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks when addressing the opening ceremony of the 12th UIC World Congress on High-Speed Rail.

    Driven by a commitment to innovation-led development, China has built the world’s largest high-speed railway network and become a global leader in high-speed rail technology. These achievements have significantly enhanced travel convenience, strengthened regional connectivity, and promoted balanced economic and social development for China, Zhang said.

    He noted that China is ready to deepen cooperation with other countries by actively advancing bilateral and multilateral railway partnerships, and to enhance connectivity through both “hard connectivity” in infrastructure and the “soft connectivity” of rules and standards.

    Zhang also stressed the importance of strengthening technology sharing. China, he said, is willing to share its experience in high-speed railway construction and operations with other countries, and to work with other countries to promote the application of cutting-edge technologies in the sector.

    Efforts should also be made to coordinate the implementation of major projects and “small yet beautiful” livelihood initiatives to support economic growth more effectively and improve public well-being, he added.

    Themed “High-Speed Rail: Innovation and Development for a Better Life,” the 12th UIC World Congress on High-Speed Rail opened on Tuesday, attracting more than 2,000 participants from over 60 countries, regions and international organizations.

    Hosted by China State Railway Group Co., Ltd. and the International Union of Railways (UIC), the congress aims to provide a platform to showcase global high-speed rail achievements, facilitate technology exchange and promote international industrial cooperation.

    At a parallel exhibition on modern railway technology and equipment, 30 advanced trains and locomotives are on display, including a prototype of China’s CR450 electrical multiple unit, which is the world’s fastest high-speed train, with test speeds of up to 450 km per hour and an operational speed of 400 km per hour.

    Initiated by the UIC in 1992, the congress is convened every two to three years.

    MIL OSI China News –

    July 9, 2025

  • PM Modi’s Brazil visit: Terror, trade, tech on focus as India, Brazil ink six key pacts

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    India and Brazil signed six agreements on Tuesday during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s state visit, covering cooperation in security, digital infrastructure, renewable energy, agriculture, and intellectual property.

    The agreements include a pact on combating international terrorism and transnational organized crime, as well as a memorandum on the exchange of large-scale digital solutions to support digital transformation.

    Both countries also agreed to collaborate in renewable energy and agricultural research, with an MoU signed between Brazil’s EMBRAPA and India’s Council of Agricultural Research.

    An agreement was also signed for the exchange and mutual protection of classified information.

    Additionally, the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) of India and Brazil’s Secretariat of Competitiveness and Regulatory Policy under the Ministry of Development, Industry, Trade and Services signed an MoU on cooperation in the field of intellectual property.

    India and Brazil also announced the creation of a ministerial-level mechanism to monitor trade, commerce, and investment between the two countries.

    July 9, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: U.S. and Israel Pledge to Work Together to Unleash AI Innovation with New Memorandum of Understanding

    Source: US Department of Energy

    WASHINGTON— U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright and Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum, vice chair and chair of the National Energy Dominance Council (NEDC), today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to advance collaboration on energy and artificial intelligence (AI) with Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Israel Ambassador to the U.S. Yechiel (Michael) Leiter.

    “President Trump and the National Energy Dominance Council are excited to announce this partnership on AI and energy security with Israel and the United States, advancing our shared vision of global energy addition and AI innovation,” Energy Secretary Chris Wright said. “This Memorandum of Understanding enables our two countries to leverage our research institutions, and technology and energy sectors to ensure the United States and Israel are leaders in AI and remain energy dominant forces as AI transforms our future.”

    “U.S. Energy Dominance demands the advancement of artificial intelligence,” said Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum. “Today, the Department of the Interior, in conjunction with the Department of Energy and leaders on the National Energy Dominance Council, recognized the critical partnership between America and the State of Israel to strategically power the feedback loop of innovation between the energy sector and AI. Through the advancement of AI, while properly managing our natural resources and improving our energy systems, the Trump administration is powering a new future that transforms global energy dominance for America and our allies.”

    The MOU highlights the transformative potential of AI to improve the security and resilience of America and Israel’s energy systems. The two countries further announced their intent to pursue cooperation in areas including analyzing the impact of rising energy demand due to data centers, opportunities for grid optimization, enhanced AI-enabled cybersecurity tools, sharing best practices on the use of AI in energy infrastructure, and the launching of bilateral pilot projects.

    MIL OSI USA News –

    July 9, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Dingell Statement on Passage of Reconciliation Bill

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (12th District of Michigan)

    Dingell Statement on Passage of Reconciliation Bill

    Washington, July 3, 2025

    Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (MI-06) released the following statement on the House passage of Republicans’ reconciliation bill. 

    “Why would anyone vote for this big bad bill? It is one of the most consequential, devastating, dangerous bills Congress has passed in recent history. It is going to rip health care away from 17 million people, make the biggest cuts to food assistance ever, and ensure the poorest Americans get poorer while the richest get even richer. People will die, children will go hungry, and working Americans will struggle even more to make ends meet, all so Republicans can give another tax break to billionaires. My Republican colleagues have betrayed and abandoned the vulnerable Americans who the government is supposed to serve. This is a complete and total failure. The American people know this is wrong, overwhelmingly disagree with it, and will not forget those who chose to vote for this cruelty.”

    Nationwide, among many other provisions, this bill will:

    1. Kick 17 million people off their health care and make premiums, deductibles, and copays soar for millions more: The bill cuts more than $1 trillion from health care, including the largest Medicaid cut ever, and will cause a $500 billion cut to Medicare. More than 50,000 people will die directly because of these cuts.
       
    2. Cut services and risk closures for hospitals and nursing homes: Under the bill, as many as 300 hospitals, especially those in rural areas, will have to cut services and staff – if not close completely. One in four nursing homes are expected to close. 
       
    3. Make the largest cut to nutritional assistance ever: The bill cuts SNAP by 20 percent, while forcing states to cover more of SNAP’s cost – which could lead to dozens of states eliminating SNAP entirely. Red tape requirements will cause 5 million people to lose food assistance and put tens of millions of kids at risk of losing school breakfast and lunch.
       
    4. Increase energy costs: The bill includes devastating cuts to cheap, clean energy sources including wind and solar that will cause families to pay an average of $400 more per year for their utilities. Seniors and low-income people will also have an even harder time getting assistance to pay their energy bills. And it makes us more dependent on foreign oil.
       
    5. Kill more than a million jobs: The bill includes devastating cuts to clean energy will cost more than 840,000 jobs in just the next 5 years and an additional 790,000 jobs over the next 10 years. 
       
    6. Weaken our public schools and make higher education more expensive: The bill creates a permanent, unlimited tax credit for private school vouchers that undermine our public schools and attacks protections for student borrowers. 
       
    7. Make dangerous weapons cheaper: The bill eliminates taxes on silencers, short-barreled rifles, and short-barreled shotguns – which have been in place since 1934 – flooding our streets with more dangerous weapons and devices that make shootings deadlier. 
       
    8. Add $4 trillion to the debt: This includes $700 billion in interest payments alone. It will cause our debt to rise to as much as 128% of our GDP by 2034, threatening to bankrupt our country and mortgaging our children’s futures. 
       
    9. Does all of this to give almost a trillion dollars of tax cuts to the top 1%: This bill is a reverse Robin Hood — transferring money from the poorest to the wealthiest. People making over $1 million will have an average tax cut of at least $80,000 a year while the bottom 20% of families will see their taxes rise.

    MIL OSI USA News –

    July 9, 2025

  • PM Modi shares highlights of meetings with Chile President, UN Chief and Rousseff at BRICS

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday shared glimpses of his meetings with key international figures — including Chilean President Gabriel Boric Font, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and former Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff — held on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit in Rio de Janeiro.

    Sharing details about his meeting with Chilean President Gabriel Boric Font, PM Modi highlighted the growing friendship between the two nations.

    “Delighted to have met President Gabriel Boric Font of Chile during the Rio BRICS Summit. India-Chile friendship is getting stronger and stronger!” PM Modi said in a post on X.

    https://x.com/narendramodi/status/1942569161743556985

    In April, the Chilean President paid a state visit to India accompanied by a high-level delegation, including ministers, Members of Parliament, senior officials, business associations, media and prominent Chileans involved in the India-Chile cultural connect.

    During that visit, which marked 76 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries, both leaders discussed in detail the historic diplomatic ties established in 1949, growing trade linkages, people-to-people connections, cultural exchanges and the warm and cordial bilateral relations. They also expressed their desire to further expand and deepen the multifaceted relationship in all areas of mutual interest.

    PM Modi also met United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres in Rio de Janeiro on Monday.

    Taking to X, PM Modi said, “Interacted with Mr. António Guterres, UN Secretary-General, on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit in Rio de Janeiro yesterday.”

    https://x.com/narendramodi/status/1942568681692893508

    India’s deepening engagement with the UN is based on its steadfast commitment to multilateralism and dialogue as the keys to achieving shared goals and addressing common global challenges, including peacebuilding and peacekeeping, sustainable development, poverty eradication, environment, climate change, terrorism, disarmament, human rights, health and pandemics, migration, cyber security, space and frontier technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, and comprehensive reform of the United Nations, including reform of the Security Council.

    PM Modi also shared details about his productive conversation with former Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff, who now heads the New Development Bank (NDB).

    Rousseff was in Rio de Janeiro to celebrate the progress made by the ‘BRICS Bank’ and discuss reforms of global financial institutions within the BRICS framework.

    “Productive interaction with Dilma Rousseff, President of the New Development Bank and former President of Brazil,” the Prime Minister said on X.

    https://x.com/narendramodi/status/1942569414353703136

    Earlier in the day, Lula welcomed PM Modi at the Alvorada Palace in Brasilia, where he was given a ceremonial reception featuring a 114-horse escort for his car. The two leaders then held a restricted-format meeting, followed by delegation-level discussions and the signing of agreements.

    —IANS

    July 9, 2025

  • India launches first phase of BIMSTEC cancer care capacity-building programme in Mumbai

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    India on Monday launched the first phase of the BIMSTEC cancer care capacity-building program, an initiative aimed at strengthening regional cooperation in the fight against cancer among BIMSTEC nations.

    The programme, jointly organised by the Ministry of External Affairs and the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), was inaugurated at the Tata Memorial Centre in Mumbai on July 7.

    The capacity-building initiative forms part of the 21-point Action Plan for BIMSTEC cooperation announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the 6th BIMSTEC Summit held in Bangkok.

    Dr A.K. Mohanty, Secretary, Department of Atomic Energy, formally launched the first phase of the program. A total of 21 participants from BIMSTEC member countries will undergo a comprehensive four-week training in Radiation Oncology, Nuclear Medicine, and Radiology.

    Aligned with India’s ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy, the program is expected to pave the way for deeper collaboration in the crucial area of cancer care and help address the growing healthcare challenges faced by people across the BIMSTEC region.

    July 9, 2025

  • PM Modi departs for Namibia after concluding Brazil visit

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday departed for Namibia after concluding his two-day visit to Brazil, where he attended the 17th BRICS Summit in Rio de Janeiro and held wide-ranging discussions with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

    PM Modi is on a five-nation visit, with Namibia being his final stop.

    In a post on X, the Prime Minister said, “Held fruitful talks with President Lula, who has always been passionate about the India-Brazil friendship. Our talks included ways to deepen trade ties and diversify bilateral trade. We both agree that there is immense scope for such linkages to thrive in the coming times.”

    “Clean energy, sustainable development and overcoming climate change were also prominent topics of discussion. Other areas where we will work even more closely include defence, security, AI and agriculture. India-Brazil cooperation in space, semiconductors and DPI will benefit our people,” PM Modi added.

    July 9, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Video: BRICS, Bosnia & Herzegovina & other topics – Daily Press Briefing (8 July 2025) | United Nations

    Source: United Nations (video statements)

    Noon Briefing by Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.

    Highlights:
    Secretary-General/BRICS
    Bosnia And Herzegovina
    Haiti
    Occupied Palestinian Territory
    Ukraine
    South Sudan
    Somalia
    Briefings Tomorrow

    SECRETARY-GENERAL/BRICS
    The Secretary-General is wrapping up his visit to Rio de Janeiro, where he was attending the BRICS Summit. He held a number of bilateral meetings today, notably with the Premier of the State Council of the People’s Republic of China, Li Qiang. They discussed cooperation between the United Nations and China, sustainable development, climate change and financing.
    And yesterday afternoon, on the margins of the BRICS, the Secretary-General also met the Iranian Foreign Minister, Seyed Abbas Araghchi. The Secretary-General noted the importance of the consolidation of the ceasefire to lay the groundwork for the resumption of negotiations.
    He also held a bilateral meeting with the Foreign Minister of Türkiye, Hakan Fidan. They exchanged views on the war in Ukraine, the situation in the Middle East and the next round of meetings on Cyprus.
    The Secretary-General is leaving Rio later today and will be back in New York at daybreak tomorrow.

    BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA
    This morning, the General Assembly held a ceremony in solidarity and reflection on the 30th anniversary of the genocide in Srebrenica, as mandated by the General Assembly.
    Courtenay Rattray, the Secretary-General’s Chef de Cabinet, delivered remarks on the Secretary-General’s behalf, saying that we must remember the more than 8,000 Bosnian Muslim men and boys who were killed at Srebrenica, and we pay tribute to the strength, to the dignity and the courage of the survivors and their families.
    Thirty years ago, the Secretary-General said in his message, the United Nations and the world failed the people of Srebrenica. This collective failure, he added, was the result of policies, propaganda, and international indifference.
    Today, he said, we remember, and we must also confront reality.
    After Srebrenica, the world said – once again – “Never Again”. Hate speech is on the rise again – fueling discrimination, extremism, and violence. We see the glorification of war criminals. We see the same dangerous currents that once led to atrocity crimes. The Secretary-General said we cannot ignore these warning signs.

    As a note, Rosemary DiCarlo, the Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, will be representing the Secretary-General at the official remembrance in Srebrenica that takes place this Friday.

    HAITI
    Turning to Haiti, where the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs report that armed attacks in the Centre department last week displaced more than 16,000 human beings. Most have found refuge with host families, while 2 per cent of them have settled in seven informal displacement sites that were created in the wake of these incidents.
    These developments reflect the continued deterioration of the security situation in Haiti, which is compounding humanitarian needs in a country where more than 1.3 million people are already internally displaced. Half of those are children. Overall, 6 million people in Haiti need humanitarian assistance, amid persistent insecurity and the gradual collapse of essential services.
    Displaced women and girls face particular risks.
    They face severe risks to their safety, including exposure to sexual and gender-based violence, with cases reported in some displacement sites.
    Despite major challenges, humanitarian partners continue to deliver life-saving assistance to the most vulnerable in Haiti. From January to March, more than 720,000 people received emergency food assistance, 25,000 people received emergency shelter kits, and 35,000 benefited from essential non-food items. Nearly 170,000 people gained access to safe drinking water, and 55,000 accessed emergency sanitation facilities.
    However, as we said yesterday, the lack of funding is significantly impacting our ability and our partners’ ability to meet the growing needs of the Haitian people. And as I said, unfortunately, the Haitian humanitarian appeal remains the least funded of all of our humanitarian appeals, which are almost all underfunded. Out of the $908 million we need, we have less than $75 million in the bank.
    OCHA remains committed to working closely with humanitarian partners, national authorities and others to increase funding levels, coordinate the delivery of assistance, facilitate humanitarian access, and ensure that the needs of Haiti’s most vulnerable people are addressed.

    Full Highlights: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/ossg/noon-briefing-highlight?date%5Bvalue%5D%5Bdate%5D=08+July+2025

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9mzYocjcMe0

    MIL OSI Video –

    July 9, 2025

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Gaza: Hospitals rationing critical supplies, ambulances stalling

    Source: United Nations 2

    What little fuel remains is powering essential operations, but it is running out fast, and there are virtually no additional accessible stocks left, UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said, citing reports from the UN relief coordination office, OCHA.  

    “Hospitals are rationing. Ambulances are stalling. Water systems are on the brink. And the deaths this is likely to cause could soon rise sharply unless the Israeli authorities allow new fuel to get in,” said Mr. Dujarric.

    “We need fuel urgently and we need it in large quantities to power the most essential parts, notably water desalination, hospitals and telecommunications,” he added, noting fuel has not entered the enclave in the last few months.

    Khan Younis displacement

    Meanwhile Israeli forces continue to attack civilian infrastructure in Gaza and issue new displacement orders.

    On Tuesday, such orders were issued for parts of Khan Younis, specifically ordering those staying in tents to move, Mr. Dujarric reported.

    The map published alongside the order indicates that some areas included had not been subject to displacement orders since before the March ceasefire, he said.

    “The issuance of a displacement order does not relieve any party from the imperative to spare civilians, including those who are unable or unwilling to move.”  

    Safeguard hospitals

    Mr. Dujarric also reiterated the UN World Health Organization’s (WHO) call to protect the Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Younis, warning that the hospital is overwhelmed with trauma injuries at double its capacity.  

    In a video message sent from the hospital on Monday, Rik Peeperkorn, WHO representative in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, said the facility is running critically low on trauma supplies, essential medicines, equipment and fuel, and that staff are exhausted.

    Humanitarian movements

    Meanwhile, OCHA reported that humanitarian movements inside Gaza remain heavily restricted: only four out of 12 attempts on Monday to coordinate movements with the Israeli security authorities were fully facilitated, and just one delivered supplies.

    Four more attempts were rejected by Israeli authorities, halting efforts to evacuate patients, retrieve disabled trucks or clear debris.  

    Although the remaining four were initially approved, ground-level impediments ultimately undermined the ability to carry out the missions.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

    July 9, 2025

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: South Sudan’s longest cholera outbreak enters critical stage

    Source: United Nations 2

    The outbreak – which started in September 2024 and was confirmed a month later – comes amidst a protracted humanitarian crisis exacerbated by rising intercommunal violence, climate shocks such as flooding and catastrophic hunger.  

    “Now, more than ever, collective action is needed to reduce tensions, resolve political differences and make tangible progress in implementing peace,” said Anita Kiki Gbeho, UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in South Sudan.  

    Alarming escalation

    Since the cholera outbreak was declared in October 2024, UN agencies and partners have documented over 80,000 cholera cases and 1,400 deaths.  

    This is in addition to regional outbreaks of mpox, hepatitis and measles among other communicable diseases.

    South Sudanese authorities, civil society and UN agencies held an inter-ministerial meeting on Monday to discuss what they called an “alarming escalation” in the spread of the outbreak. 

    “This is not merely a public health crisis, but a multi-sectoral emergency exacerbated by flooding, displacement, and limited access to basic services,” the ministers wrote in a communiqué released.  

    The group resolved to facilitate unimpeded humanitarian access to areas which already have outbreaks and to other areas at risk for outbreaks. The Government of South Sudan will coordinate these efforts.

    Partners will also work to preposition materials, improve water and sanitation infrastructure and coordinate proactive and reactive vaccination campaigns.  

    Time is running out

    With the peak of the rainy season on the horizon, the next eight weeks are critical in containing and mitigating the outbreak before severe flooding begins.  

    “Time is of the essence to prevent a further escalation of the outbreak,” the officials wrote.  

    Floods more than double the frequency of cholera outbreaks by imperiling access to clean water and impeding humanitarian access to affected areas. And with rising global temperatures making floods more severe, millions of South Sudanese who were not previously in regions of concern may now be at risk for cholera outbreaks.

    A preventable disease  

    Cholera is an acute diarrhoeal infection caused by consuming contaminated water or food. Although highly communicable, it is preventable through proper hygiene, regular handwashing, safe food preparation and storage, improved sanitation infrastructure, and vaccination.

    Symptoms typically include watery diarrhoea. Most cases are mild to moderate and can be treated effectively with oral rehydration salts (ORS) mixed with clean, boiled water.

    However, in severe cases, cholera can be fatal—sometimes within hours—if not treated promptly.

    Infected individuals can also transmit the disease through their faeces for up to ten days, even if they show no symptoms.

    Need for additional funds

    In South Sudan, the already inadequate water and sanitation infrastructure and overstretched public health system has further deteriorated as a result of displacement and conflict. This has ripened the conditions for the spread of cholera.

    The UN and its partners are working quickly to preposition emergency supplies, especially in these previously low-risk areas, but they are hampered by funding shortfalls. Agencies estimate that they will need $1.69 billion – of which they have only received $368 million – to address the many intersecting humanitarian needs in the country.  

    Nevertheless, the group of ministers insisted that this outbreak is and must remain a priority for all involved.

    “Cholera response and flood preparedness must be treated as urgent national priorities,” they said in the communiqué. 

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

    July 9, 2025

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Ukraine: UN refugee agency helps repair homes amid ongoing conflict

    Source: United Nations 2

    In the fourth year of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, housing remains one of the country’s most urgent humanitarian and recovery challenges. The destruction has been widespread and ongoing.

    According to the latest Rapid Damage and Needs Assessment, 13 per cent of Ukraine’s housing stock has been damaged since February 2022, impacting an estimated 2.5 million families.

    More than buildings 

    In coordination with Ukrainian authorities and partners, UNHCR has invested over $114 million in durable housing solutions since July 2022, supporting both durable home repairs and emergency shelter assistance.

    “By helping repair houses and apartments, we are enabling people to stay in or return to their homes – places that hold profound meaning, often passed down through generations,” said Karolina Lindholm Billing, UNHCR’s representative in Ukraine.  

    “These are not just buildings. These are treasured spaces where couples raised their children, families celebrated milestones, cared for older relatives and built their lives together,” she said.

    UNHCR’s support includes a range of solutions: contracting local builders, providing construction materials or offering cash assistance to homeowners. 

    Repairs may include roofs, windows, insulation and in some cases, major reconstruction. The agency also helps restore common areas in apartment buildings.

    Emergency shelter and long-term needs

    UNHCR also provides emergency shelter kits – tarpaulin, wooden boards, nails and other materials – to help protect homes from further weather damage.  

    Since 2022, more than 470,000 people have received such kits.

    With millions still internally displaced – many from areas under temporary occupation and with little prospect of return – UNHCR supports broader shelter options, including restoring social housing, repairing rural homes and refurbishing collective centres for the most vulnerable. 

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

    July 9, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Kehoe Announces Additional Funding Available for Law Enforcement Recruits with Missouri Blue Scholarship

    Source: US State of Missouri

    JULY 8, 2025

    Jefferson City — Building on his public safety priorities, Governor Mike Kehoe today announced the maximum benefit of the Missouri Blue Scholarship for law enforcement academy recruits has been increased from $5,000 to $6,000, made possible by a funding increase of $1 million in the Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) budget. The scholarship program has awarded a total of $4.49 million to 995 law enforcement recruit scholarship recipients since its introduction in October 2022 through June 2025.

    “The Missouri Blue Scholarship Program has made law enforcement training more accessible to Missourians interested in joining the profession and helped bolster the number of licensed peace officers in Missouri,” Governor Kehoe said. “We appreciate the General Assembly approving our administration’s recommended $1 million increase in the scholarship fund. This increased investment allows the Missouri Department of Public Safety to raise the maximum scholarship award and make the scholarship available to more recruits who want to join the ranks of law enforcement and serve their communities.”

    The State of Missouri FY26 budget, which took effect July 1, included increased funding for the scholarship from $2 million to $3 million. In FY25, $1,917,942 was awarded for 420 recruits.

    While some Missouri law enforcement agencies, including the Highway Patrol, St. Louis Metropolitan Police and others, have their own basic training academies and pay recruits, many Missouri agencies do not have the funding to pay a salary or the cost of an academy. These graduating non-sponsored recruits are essential to staffing many sheriffs’ offices, smaller police departments, and even some larger departments. The Missouri Blue Scholarship expands the applicant pool and makes it easier for more young officers to stay in law enforcement without the burden of loans to repay once hired. Law enforcement academy tuition can be as high as $11,725.

    “Given the price of attending some of Missouri’s law enforcement academies and the shortage of officers around the state, raising the maximum scholarship amount to $6,000 is another way we can support recruitment efforts and will further allow DPS to provide scholarships to qualifying academy recruits this fiscal year,” Missouri Department of Public Safety Director Mark James said.

    Prior to the introduction of the Missouri Blue Scholarship in October 2022, an average of 1,025 peace officers were licensed annually in Missouri from 2020 to 2022. In 2023, the year the scholarship was first available before recruits started academy training, 1,050 peace officers were licensed; and in 2024, 1,099 peace officers were licensed.

    The impact of the Missouri Blue Scholarship is also evident in the number of scholarship recipients staffing Missouri law enforcement agencies. As of June 30, 2025, the Camden County Sheriff’s Office had 81 commissioned officers and 11 were Missouri Blue Scholarship recipients; the Fulton Police Department had 25 commissioned officers and 10 were Missouri Blue Scholarship recipients; the Henry County Sheriff’s Office had 29 commissioned officers and nine were Missouri Blue Scholarship recipients; and the University City Police Department had 62 commissioned officers and nine were Missouri Blue Scholarship recipients.

    The Missouri Department of Public Safety administers the scholarship, and law enforcement academy recruits can apply at this link. The $6,000 maximum scholarship is possible because of the FY26 appropriation by the Missouri General Assembly. Future scholarship awards will be determined by appropriations going forward.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

    July 9, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Security: Felon who Conspired to Distribute Drugs and Possessed Firearms Sentenced to Over Twenty-Five Years in Federal Prison

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    A Cedar Rapids man who conspired to distribute controlled substance was sentenced July 7, 2025, to more than 25 years in federal prison.

    James Colquhoun, age 40, from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, received the prison term after a February 10, 2025, guilty plea to conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance after a prior conviction for a serious drug felony, carrying of a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

    Evidence at the plea and sentencing hearings showed that between January 2024 and February 13, 2024, Colquhoun knowingly conspired with others to distribute significant quantities of methamphetamine in the Cedar Rapids area.  On February 13, 2024, officers stopped Colquhoun’s vehicle and searched it.  During the search, officers located over 500 grams of methamphetamine, heroin, cocaine, over $25,000, and a firearm.  Colquhoun knowingly possessed those controlled substances with the intent to distribute them.  After the traffic stop, officers searched Colquhoun’s hotel room where he resided.  During the search of his hotel room, investigators located over 600 grams of heroin, over 50 grams of methamphetamine, and another firearm.  In 2014, Colquhoun was convicted in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Iowa of distribution of a controlled substance and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and carrying a firearm during and relation to a drug trafficking crime.  

    Colquhoun was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams.  Colquhoun was sentenced to 336 months’ imprisonment.  He must also serve a 10-year term of supervised release after the prison term.  There is no parole in the federal system.

    Colquhoun is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.

    The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dillan Edwards and Special Assistant United States Attorney Michael Hudson, and it was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Homeland Security Investigations, the Cedar Rapids Police Department, and the Marion Police Department.  

    Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.

    The case file number is 24-CR-00029-001.

    Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.

    MIL Security OSI –

    July 9, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Security: Lummi Nation member indicted for assault by strangulation of ex-partner

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Seattle – A 48-year-old member of the Lummi Nation was arraigned in federal court today on an indictment charging him with assault by strangulation, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Teal Luthy Miller. Marc Cagey Oreiro entered a plea of not guilty. Trial is scheduled in front of U.S. District Judge Lauren King on August 25, 2025.

    According to records filed in the case, on May 23, 2025, Oreiro assaulted the victim in the master bedroom of a home on Lummi Nation tribal land. Oreiro pushed the victim onto the bed and alternated strangling her with his hands and forearm causing the victim to experience difficulty breathing. While she was pinned to the bed, Oreiro hit her multiple times, punching her in the head, back, stomach, side, and ear. He struck her in the ribs with his knee and knelt on her chest and repeatedly threatened to kill her.

    Lummi Police officers arrived at the door after a housemate called police. After searching the home, police arrested Oreiro who physically fought with officers. The victim was found crying in the master bedroom closet where Oreiro had ordered her to hide from police. The victim was transported by medics for treatment of her injuries. She had bruises on her face, ears, and bruising and abrasions on her neck.

    Oreiro was originally charged in tribal court. Following the initial FBI investigation, Oreiro was charged by criminal complaint, and on June 25, 2025, the grand jury returned an indictment.

    Assault by strangulation is punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.00.

    The charges contained in the indictment are only allegations.  A person is presumed innocent unless and until he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

    The case is being investigated by the FBI Safe Trails Task Force and the Lummi Nation Police.

    The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Celia Lee. Ms. Lee serves as a Tribal Liaison for the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

    MIL Security OSI –

    July 9, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Security: Former Loan Officer Charged and Agrees to Plead Guilty to Million-Dollar Heloc Scheme

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    BOSTON – A former loan officer was charged and has agreed to plead guilty in connection with defrauding his employer out of almost $1 million.

    Brian Socha, 45, of Brookfield, has agreed to plead guilty to one count of bank fraud. A plea hearing has not yet been scheduled by the Court. 

    According to the charging document, Socha hacked into co-workers’ computers on over 20 occasions to covertly raise the credit limit and lower the interest rate on the home equity line of credit (HELOC) on the home he owned with his wife. Over a period of six years, Socha allegedly increased the HELOC credit limit from $135,500 to $995,000 and adjusted the HELOC interest rate from 7.25% to 1.99%.

    The charge of bank fraud provides for a sentence of up to 30 years in prison, five years of supervised release and a fine of up to $1 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

    United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation Boston Division made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Caroline Merck of the Springfield Office is prosecuting the case.

    The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
     

    MIL Security OSI –

    July 9, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Security: RGV man sent to prison after using girlfriend and minor to pass through checkpoint with illegal alien

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 42-year-old resident of Rio Grande City has been ordered to federal prison for unlawfully transporting an illegal alien, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.

    Jason Al Venecia pleaded guilty March 26.

    U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos has now ordered Venecia to serve 24 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by two years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court heard additional evidence that Venecia took his girlfriend and her minor daughter with him to smuggle the illegal alien to facilitate passage through the checkpoint.

    On Jan. 2, Venecia approached the Falfurrias Border Patrol checkpoint in a Cadillac SRX. Authorities noticed two adult males in the front and an adult and minor female in the backseat. During initial inspection, the front male passenger admitted to being in the United States illegally.

    He was from Mexico with no authority to be in the United States.

    Law enforcement found multiple proof of life videos in Venecia’s cell phone from illegal aliens after they had crossed the Rio Grande River. There were text messages telling Venecia he would be paid $1,250 when the illegal aliens made it to their next destination.

    While on bond awaiting sentencing, Venecia was caught assisting his girlfriend during her own attempt to smuggle illegal aliens further into the United States. His bond was subsequently revoked and ordered into custody where he will remain pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

    Venecia’s girlfriend has since pleaded guilty to her separate case prosecuted in the McAllen Division.

    Customs and Border Protection conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ashley Pruitt prosecuted the case.

    This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhood.

    MIL Security OSI –

    July 9, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Security: Jury Finds Father Guilty of First-Degree Child Sexual Abuse of His 12-Year-Old

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

                WASHINGTON –A Washington, D.C. resident, 33, has been found guilty by a jury on seven felony charges, including first-degree child sexual abuse, second-degree child sexual abuse, and incest for sexually abusing his 12-year-old daughter between April and May of 2023, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.

                The verdict was returned today, following a trial in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. The Honorable Todd Edelman scheduled sentencing for October 10, 2025. The defendant faces a maximum sentence up to life in prison for the crimes.

                According to the government’s evidence, on May 27, 2023, the twelve-year-old victim was spending Memorial Day weekend with her father (the defendant) and the defendant’s girlfriend and slept in the bed with them.  In the early morning of May 28, 2023, the defendant’s girlfriend pulled back the covers and saw that the defendant’s hand was inside of the front of the victim’s pants. Later that night the defendant texted the victim, first asking her to lie to her mother about him touching her, then asking the victim if she wanted him to touch her. The defendant raped the victim after sending the text messages. On Monday, May 29, the defendant’s girlfriend took the victim home, and she disclosed to her mother. The defendant’s DNA was on swabs collected during the victim’s sexual assault examination, and spermatozoa was confirmed on the vaginal/cervical swab collected from the victim. The victim told the jury that this was not the first time that the defendant had abused her, and that the same things that happened on Memorial Day weekend happened to her at the defendant’s house.

                This case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department.

                This case was prosecuted by the Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sarah Folse and Richard Kelley.  

    MIL Security OSI –

    July 9, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Security: Harlingen man imprisoned for possession of child sexual abuse material

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    BROWNSVILLE, Texas – A 47 year-old Harlingen man has been sentenced for possession of child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.

    Rico Deangelo Longoria pleaded guilty April 1.

    U.S. District Judge Fernando Rodriguez Jr. considered information in several victim impact statements and ordered Longoria to serve 121 months in federal prison. He was further ordered to serve 15 years of supervised release following the completion of his prison term. During that time, he will have to comply with numerous requirements designed to restrict his access to children and the internet. He will also be ordered to register as a sex offender. Additionally, he was ordered to pay $60,500 in restitution to the victims of the offense.

    During the sentencing, the court emphasized the seriousness of the offense. Judge Rodriguez read excerpts from victim impact statements indicating documented abuse in the material found in Longoria’s possession which highlighted enduring trauma and lifelong consequences inflicted on them. The court noted the mere possession and viewing of such material perpetuates their suffering.

    “Viewing or possessing child pornography is not some private, harmless activity,” said Ganjei. “The minor victims are repeatedly traumatized by the dissemination and viewing of the recording of the most horrific moments of their lives. This sentence sends a message that this conduct will be met forcefully in the Southern District of Texas.”

    Authorities had discovered a computer associated with a specific IP address in Harlingen engaging in downloading and distributing of child sexual abuse material (CSAM). In February, they executed a federal search warrant of his residence and located a phone hidden inside the water tank of a toilet.

    Forensic analysis resulted in the discovery of 337 images and 47 videos of CSAM. The files included images of prepubescent minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct.

    Longoria will continue in custody following the sentencing where he will remain pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

    FBI conducted the investigation.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Ana C. Cano prosecuted the case, which was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative the Department of Justice (DOJ) launched in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section leads PSC, which marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children and identifies and rescues victims. For more information about PSC, please visit DOJ’s PSC page. For more information about internet safety education, please visit the resources tab on that page. 

    MIL Security OSI –

    July 9, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Security: Woman sentenced for smuggling firearms into Mexico

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    BROWNSVILLE, Texas – A 38-year-old Georgia woman has been sentenced today for smuggling several firearms and magazines hidden in a vehicle’s gas tank, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.

    Mirna Luna pleaded guilty April 1.

    U.S. District Judge Fernando Rodriguez Jr. has now handed Luna a 46-month term of imprisonment to be immediately followed by two years of supervised release. In handing down the sentence, the court noted the seriousness 0f trafficking of firearms.

    Luna traveled from her Canton, Georgia, residence Dec. 15, 2024, and attempted to cross at the Brownsville/Matamoros  port of entry into Mexico.

    Once there, authorities had referred her to secondary inspection where they discovered 17 firearms and 27 magazines hidden in the gas tank of the Nissan car she was driving.

    Luna claimed ownership of the car and admitted she is the only person who drives it. She does not have a license to export firearms and has not applied for one.

    She will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

    Immigration and Customs Enforcement – Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jose Esquivel and Ana Cano prosecuted the case. 

    MIL Security OSI –

    July 9, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Security: New York Man Charged with Wire Fraud and Aggravated Identity Theft

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    NEWARK, N.J. – A New York man has been charged for engaging in a scheme to defraud multiple lenders by using the personally identifiable information of a Hudson County man to submit fraudulent loan applications to obtain hundreds of thousands of dollars of loans, U.S. Attorney Alina Habba announced.

    Humza Khan, 28, of New York, New York, is charged by complaint with one count of wire fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft. Khan appeared on July 2, 2025, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Stacey D. Adams in Newark federal court and was released on $100,000 unsecured bond.

    According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:

    Around December 2020, Khan submitted loan applications to secure a $150,000 accounts receivable finance loan on behalf of a Florida-based specialty pharmacy in which Khan had a financial interest. Khan used the personal information of an elderly individual who lived in Hudson County, New Jersey—including their name and social security number—in the loan application without permission, in order to conceal that Khan was receiving the loan proceeds.  Based on those fraudulent misrepresentations, the victim lenders provided Khan with approximately $150,000. 

    The wire fraud charge carries a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison and a $1 million fine, or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense, whichever is greatest. The aggravated identity theft count carries an additional consecutive mandatory minimum term of two years in prison and a maximum fine of up to $250,000, or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense.

    U.S. Attorney Habba credited special agents of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service in Newark, under the direction of Inspector in Charge Christopher A. Nielsen, Philadelphia Division; special agents of the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jenifer Piovesan in Newark; and special agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Stefanie Roddy, with the investigation leading to the charges.

    The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney George Brandley of the Health Care Fraud and Opioids Enforcement Unit in Newark.

    The charge and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

                                                     ###

    Defense counsel:  Zach Intrater, Esq. and Daniela Manzi, Esq.

    MIL Security OSI –

    July 9, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Security: South Bay CEO Sentenced For Employment Tax Crimes

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    SAN JOSE – A California man was sentenced today to a year and a day in prison for a decade-long scheme to avoid paying over employment taxes to the IRS.

    The following is according to court documents and statements made in court: John Comeau, of Santa Clara, was the CEO of Vivid Inc., a company that provided metal coating services to industrial customers in California and elsewhere. Vivid Inc. employed as many as 40 employees at any given time.

    Comeau was responsible for withholding Social Security, Medicare, and federal income taxes from the wages of Vivid’s employees and then paying those funds over to the IRS each quarter. The timely payment of these taxes is critical to the functioning of the U.S. government, because, for example, they are the primary source of funding for Social Security and Medicare. The federal income taxes that are withheld from employees’ wages also account for a significant portion of all federal income taxes collected each year.

    From the first quarter of 2010 through the fourth quarter of 2019, Vivid Inc. paid its employee a total of over $8.8 million in wages. During this period, Comeau collected and withheld taxes from the wages of Vivid’s employees but did not pay over all the taxes owed to the IRS. He also caused false quarterly employment tax returns to be filed with the IRS, underreporting Vivid’s wages by more than $5 million.

    To conceal his scheme, Comeau caused accurate tax forms to be issued to certain employees. These tax forms reported higher wages than the amounts Vivid had reported to the IRS. Comeau also issued tax forms, such as Wage and Tax Statement, Form W-2, to other Vivid employees that underreported their wages. When an employer underreports wages paid to their employees, it may negatively impact those employees’ Social Security benefits, as those forms are used by the Social Security Administration to compute benefits owed to an employee.

    Instead of paying his taxes, Comeau used some of the funds to maintain a comfortable lifestyle that included a $3 million home and luxury cars.

    In total, Comeau caused a tax loss to the United States of more than $1.1 million.

    In addition to the prison sentence, U.S. District Judge P. Casey Pitts ordered Comeau to serve three years of supervised release and pay $1,153,948 in restitution to the IRS.

    United States Attorney Craig H. Missakian, Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Karen E. Kelly of the Justice Department’s Tax Division, and IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) Oakland Field Office Special Agent in Charge Linda Nguyen made the announcement.

    IRS-CI investigated the case.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Ilham Hosseini and Trial Attorney Mahana Weidler of the Tax Division prosecuted the case.

    MIL Security OSI –

    July 9, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Security: Pittsburg County Resident Sentenced For Possessing An Unregistered Explosive Device

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Jerry Brandon Pearce, age 56, of Indianola, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 25 months in prison for one count of Possession of an Unregistered Firearm (Destructive Device).

    The charge arose from an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

    On November 25, 2024, Pearce pleaded guilty to possessing an explosive device not registered to him in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record.  According to investigators, on September 4, 2023, law enforcement responded to blast reports at Pearce’s residence.  There, agents encountered Pearce and two bystanders suffering injuries from a detonated grenade.  An investigation of the blast site revealed that Pearce had modified the unregistered explosive before accidentally setting it off, and that Pearce also possessed assembly components for building additional grenades.

    “This case underscores the serious danger posed by illegal and unregistered explosive devices,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Bennie Mims.  “Thanks to the swift response and thorough investigation by our law enforcement partners, a potentially deadly situation was contained before further harm occurred.  Our office remains committed to prosecuting those who violate federal firearms laws and to supporting initiatives like Project Safe Neighborhoods that protect our communities from violent crime.”

    “Pearce’s actions were egregious and could have been fatal,” said United States Attorney Christopher J. Wilson.  “Pearce put his own interests ahead of the safety of the community and caused immense harm.  Such caustic conduct cannot and will not be tolerated.”

    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.

    The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing.   Pearce will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.

    Assistant U.S. Attorneys Richard J. Lorenz and Jacob R. Parker represented the United States.

    MIL Security OSI –

    July 9, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Australia: UPDATE: Missing person located – Tennant Creek

    Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

    Northern Territory Police have located the 25-year-old man who went missing from Tennent Creek last week.

    He was located safe and well in Renner Springs and police would like to thank the members of the public who provided assistance.

    MIL OSI News –

    July 9, 2025
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