NewzIntel.com

Category: DJF

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Extradition – Historical sex offences – Darwin

    Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

    On 15 July 2025, Detectives from the Sex Crimes Unit extradited a 70-year-old man from Sydney to Darwin.

    The man failed to attend court in July 1984 in relation to sexualised offending against a young woman, resulting in a warrant being issued for his arrest. The Northern Territory Police Force have been monitoring the alleged offender for some years whilst imprisoned for unrelated offending in NSW.

    He was originally charged with:

    • Sexual assault
    • Aggravated assault
    • Cause bodily harm

    The man appeared in Darwin Local Court yesterday and was further remanded until 30 July 2025.

    Detective Senior Constable Naomi Cox says, “This arrest demonstrates that no matter how much time passes, police remain committed to pursuing justice. We never forget.”

    “We continue to urge victims to reach out on triple zero in emergencies and on 131 444. You can also visit your local police station.”

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Business – Hellmann expands footprint in Americas region with launch of fully-owned operations in Colombia

    Source: Hellmann Worldwide Logistics

    Osnabrueck / Bogotá, July 16, 2025. Hellmann Worldwide Logistics today announced the opening of its new fully-owned subsidiary in Colombia. The launch represents a strategic milestone in the company’s network expansion across the Americas and underscores its commitment to sustainable, long-term growth.

    Hellmann has been active in Colombia for almost 30 years through local partner companies, establishing a strong market presence, in-depth local expertise, and a reliable network. Earlier this year Hellmann acquired its perishables partner HPL Apollo, including the HPL entity in Colombia. Following this acquisition, the company has further strengthened its footprint in the country by formally establishing its own subsidiary specializing in end-to-end logistics for general cargo and other verticals including airfreight, seafreight, customs brokerage, and contract logistics supported by an experienced team of supply chain professionals. Customers and partners can leverage Colombia as a new strategic hub for both inbound and outbound flows, enhancing connectivity to North and South American markets as well as global trade lanes supported by the extensive Hellmann network.

    “Following the takeover of HPL Apollo in the United States and the inclusion of its Colombian operations, establishing a fully integrated own country organization in Colombia marks another milestone in our global expansion strategy. The Americas is a key market for us, and this development strengthens our presence and enhances our ability to serve customers across this strategically important region,” says Jens Drewes, CEO Hellmann Worldwide Logistics.

    “After seven successful years of collaboration with our local partner ABC Cargo Logistics S.A.S., we are proud to take the next step by establishing our own Hellmann operations in Colombia,” said Peter Huwel, Regional Chief Executive Officer, Americas. “This launch strengthens our ability to deliver the high-quality, integrated logistics solutions our customers expect from Hellmann, while positioning us to drive continued growth across the region.”

    The Colombian opening further consolidates Hellmann’s presence in Latin America and aligns with the company’s ambition to connect the Americas’ markets, people, and opportunities with efficiency, innovation, and commitment.

    Über Hellmann
    Hellmann Worldwide Logistics ist ein globaler Logistikdienstleister mit einem umfassenden Dienstleistungsportfolio, das Luft- und Seefracht, Straßen- und Schienentransport sowie Kontraktlogistik umfasst. Mit einem Jahresumsatz von EUR 3,8 Mrd. und rund 12.000 Mitarbeiter*innen in 61 Ländern bewegt Hellmann jährlich über 20 Mio. Sendungen. Auf Basis dieser breiten Produktpalette und langjährigen Erfahrung bietet Hellmann innovative Logistiklösungen für die komplexen Anforderungen jedes einzelnen Kunden und setzt auf visionäre technische Produkte, um maximale Kundentransparenz zu gewährleisten und gleichzeitig eine effizientere Lieferkette zu schaffen.

    About Hellmann
    Hellmann Worldwide Logistics is a global logistics service provider with a comprehensive service portfolio that includes air- and seafreight, road and rail transport, and contract logistics. With annual sales of EUR 3.8 bn and around 12,000 employees in 61 countries, Hellmann moves over 20 mio shipments annually. Based on this broad product range and many years of experience, Hellmann offers innovative logistics solutions for the complex requirements of each individual customer and relies on visionary technical products to ensure maximum customer transparency while creating a more efficient supply chain.

    MIL OSI – Submitted News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Capito, Colleagues Advocate for Critical Education Funding

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for West Virginia Shelley Moore Capito

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (Labor-HHS), led a group of her colleagues in sending a letter to Russell Vought, Director of the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB), advocating to release anticipated education formula funding—an issue she has heard about directly from impacted individuals.

    Specifically, the letter requests that the administration implement the Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 Full-Year Continuing Resolution Act, which President Trump signed into law earlier this year. This legislation contains critical funding that states rely on to help students, families, and local economies.

    In addition to Senator Capito, the following senators signed the letter: John Boozman (R-Ark.), Katie Britt (R-Ala.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), Jim Justice (R-W.Va.), Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), and Mike Rounds (R-S.D.).

    Full text of the letter can be found here or below.

    Dear Director Vought, 

    We write to ask you to faithfully implement the Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 Full-Year Continuing Resolution Act, which President Trump signed into law earlier this year, including the education formula funds that states anticipated receiving on July 1, 2025.

    The Continuing Resolution contained funding for Supporting Effective Instruction State Grants; 21st Century Community Learning Centers; Student Support and Academic Enrichment Grants; English Language Acquisition; Migrant Education; Adult Basic and Literacy Education State Grants (including Integrated English Literacy and Civics Education State Grants). Withholding these funds will harm students, families, and local economies.

    The decision to withhold this funding is contrary to President Trump’s goal of returning K-12 education to the states. This funding goes directly to states and local school districts, where local leaders decide how this funding is spent, because as we know, local communities know how to best serve students and families. Withholding this funding denies states and communities the opportunity to pursue localized initiatives to support students and their families.

    We share your concern about taxpayer money going to fund radical left-wing programs. However, we do not believe that is happening with these funds. These funds go to support programs that enjoy longstanding, bipartisan support like after-school and summer programs that provide learning and enrichment opportunities for school aged children which also enables their parents to work and contribute to local economies. 

    These funds also go to support adult learners. These students are often adults seeking second chances for a myriad of reasons, for example, caregiving responsibilities or financial challenges. These are adult learners working to gain employment skills, earn workforce certifications, or transition into postsecondary education. We should be making educational opportunities easier for these students, not harder. 

    We welcome the opportunity to work with you and Secretary McMahon to ensure that all federal education funding goes towards programs that help states and school districts provide students an excellent education. We want to see students in our states and across the country thrive, whether they are adult learners, students who speak English as a second language, or students who need after-school care so that their parents can work. We believe you share the same goal.

    We encourage you to reverse your decision and release this Congressionally-approved funding to states. 

    Thank you for your attention to this request, and we look forward to your prompt reply.

    Sincerely,

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Chairman Capito Highlights Surface Transportation Priorities from Stakeholder Experiences

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for West Virginia Shelley Moore Capito

    [embedded content]

    To watch Chairman Capito’s questions, click here or the image above.

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, led a hearing on constructing the Surface Transportation Reauthorization Bill with stakeholders’ perspectives.

    During her questions, Chairman Capito asked about the role of the Surface Transportation Reauthorization Bill regarding economic development, and how permitting reform remains key in the efficient development of our country’s surface transportation network.  

    HIGHLIGHTS:

    IMPORTANCE OF SURFACE TRANSPORTATION REAUTHORIZATION FOR ECONOMIC GROWTH:

    Chairman Capito:

    “In each individual ways, you’ve talked about the importance of the surface transportation network and what reauthorization will mean to you, in terms of economic and job growth. I want to dig down a little bit more on that. Is it the predictability, the affordability, the flexibility? What would you point to as from your standpoint as governor, and then we’ll go down the panel, to how this will impact your economic growth and job creation abilities?”

    Governor Kelly Armstrong (R-N.D.), on behalf of the National Association of Governors:

    “All of the above, but I think, you know, I have the opportunity to serve here too. We spend money inefficiently, and we’re required to do that because you go a decade without any increase in funding, and then things turn to whatever. The more predictability and foresight you can push onto us, the less money we will spend to build the same project.”

    Austin Ramirez, CEO, Husco International Inc., on behalf of the National Association of Manufacturers:

    “I mentioned supply chain in my comments, and I think it’s a real issue. We’ve got rural facilities, and having surface transportation to those facilities that is efficient and well maintained is really important. But you know, another really big one is, my main facility is outside Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and the main East-West Corridor I-94 has been caught up in litigation for years, so I’ve got employees that spend hours a day stuck in traffic because we can’t execute projects that we’ve already agreed to do.”

    PERMITTING REFORM:

    Chairman Capito:

    “I think there’s a lot of similarities, and what everybody’s saying from the different standpoints of where you are. Permitting is something that Senator Whitehouse and I, and our staffs, talk about almost daily. We know that this is at the heart of the efficiency that I think most folks – and how the dollars can go farther than they can.”

    Click HERE to watch Chairman Capito’s opening statement.

    Click HERE to watch Chairman Capito’s questions.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cornyn, Cruz Provision to Bring Space Shuttle Discovery to Houston Signed Into Law in One Big Beautiful Bill

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Texas John Cornyn

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators John Cornyn (R-TX) and Ted Cruz (R-TX) released the following statements on their provision to consider moving the Space Shuttle Discovery from Virginia to its rightful home near the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) Johnson Space Center (JSC) in Houston getting signed into law by President Trump in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act:

    “Houston has long been the cornerstone of our nation’s human space exploration program, and it’s overdue for Space City to receive the recognition it deserves by bringing the Space Shuttle Discovery home,” said Sen. Cornyn. “I am glad to see this provision become law as part of the One Big Beautiful Bill and look forward to welcoming Discovery to Houston and righting this egregious wrong.”

    “Houston has long stood at the heart of America’s human spaceflight program, and this legislation rightly honors that legacy,” said Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, & Transportation Chairman Cruz. “It ensures that any future transfer of a flown, crewed space vehicle will prioritize locations that have played a direct and vital role in our nation’s manned space program, making Houston, Texas, a leading candidate. Bringing such a historic space vehicle to the region would underscore the city’s indispensable contributions to our space missions, highlight the strength of America’s commercial space partnerships, and inspire future generations of engineers, scientists, and pioneers who will carry our legacy of American leadership in space.”

     Background:

    The Senators’ provision will result in consideration of the Space Shuttle Discovery moving from Virginia to its rightful home near NASA’s JSC in Houston.

    Mission Control at NASA’s Johnson Space Center led all of the space shuttle flights throughout the program’s history, and the astronauts who flew aboard the shuttles lived and trained in the area Houston. Four space shuttles were retired from NASA in 2010, and one of them was expected to go on display in the Space City. Congress stated in the NASA Authorization Act of 2010 that the four space shuttles were to be given to states with a “historical relationship with either the launch, flight operations, or processing of the Space Shuttle orbiters or the retrieval of NASA-manned space vehicles, or significant contributions to human space flight.” Unfortunately, this directive was unlawfully ignored by the Obama administration, who played politics to keep Houston from getting one of the shuttles. Notably, the administration gave one of the four shuttles to New York City, which has not made any major contributions to the nation’s history of space exploration and is not home to a NASA center—unlike Houston. The Space Shuttle Discovery should be transferred to Houston. This legislation would authorize the movement of the Space Shuttle Discovery from the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum’s Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Virginia to an entity near the JSC in Houston.

    Additional space-related provisions led by Sen. Cornyn, including the Mission to Modernize Astronautic Resources (MARS) for Space Act, nearly $10 billion in NASA funding for programs at JSC, funding for National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) Artemis program, and resources to support the International Space Station (ISS), were also signed into law as part of this legislation on July 4, 2025. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cornyn Meets with The LIBRE Initiative

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Texas John Cornyn

    U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) met yesterday with The LIBRE Initiative President Daniel Garza and LIBRE Texas leaders to discuss the benefits of the One Big Beautiful Bill, which prevents hardworking Texans from facing the largest tax hike in American history, supports small businesses, promotes job growth, and bolsters border security. See photo below.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Employment – Union for local government workers supports LGNZ recommendations to improve voter turnout

    Source: PSA

    The PSA supports Local Government New Zealand’s (LGNZ) recommendations for a return to in-person voting at local elections, and for the Electoral Commission take over running and publicising local elections.
    The Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi represents over 11,000 local government workers, and has a total membership of over 96,000 people living, paying rates and voting across the country.
    Currently local bodies are responsible for running their own elections, and most contract that job out to private firms.
    “Private companies should not be running local body elections, it is not appropriate for something so important to the functioning of local democracy,” said PSA National Secretary Fleur Fitzsimons.
    “The Electoral Commission is publicly accountable and already has a track record for delivering Parliamentary elections, we call on central government to give the Electoral Commission this role, with the proper resourcing to do it.”
    “In person voting will help turn around the poor turnout rates in local elections,” said Fitzsimons. “We need to see much greater participation and a more well-informed and engaged voting public.”
    The Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi is Aotearoa New Zealand’s largest trade union, representing and supporting more than 95,000 workers across central government, state-owned enterprises, local councils, health boards and community groups.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Property Market – Investor comeback: ‘Mums and Dads’ are eyeing up cheaper, existing properties – Cotality

    Source: Commentary from Kelvin Davidson, Cotality NZ Chief Property Economist

    Cotality’s latest Buyer Classification data for June is in and it offers a full view of buyer behaviour across New Zealand for Q2. The figures point to a resilient and active first home buyer segment amid ongoing (but slightly lesser) affordability challenges. At the same time, ‘Mum and Dad’ investors continue to raise their activity levels, gravitating towards more affordable parts of the market.

    First home buyers still strong
    Over the three months to June, the broad tr

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Tourism – Southern Discoveries puts new emergency survival equipment to the test

    Source: Southern Discoveries

    Southern Discoveries has become the first tourism company in Milford Sound to be AF8-ready with specialist emergency survival equipment.

    The longest-running Milford Sound cruise operator has fitted out its entire fleet of vehicles, including five coaches seating up to 250 people, with survival gear specifically designed for major earthquake events.
     
    And the initiative has already got the attention of tourism trade partners.
     
    Yesterday, Southern Discoveries’ coach team and senior managers attended a simulated training exercise near Queenstown to familiarise themselves with the life-saving gear they may need in an emergency situation. The drill at Wilson’s Bay saw staff simulate realistic earthquake scenarios, practising shelter setup and testing rescue tools with the new equipment.
     
    The specialist survival equipment has been supplied by Christchurch-based company The Survival Co., whose owner Peter Gillman was on-site during yesterday’s training exercises.
     
    Gillman says Southern Discoveries’ investment in such an extensive range of survival and medical gear puts them ahead of others in the industry.
     
    “Southern Discoveries is the first tourism operator to take this level of equipment from The Survival Co.,” he says. “They’ve taken the approach that if you’re going to do it, you should do it properly, and that’s exactly what’s been achieved.”
     
    The Survival Co. created a tailor-made package for the company, considering the additional challenges of remote locations like Milford Sound.
     
    “We looked at the scenarios people might find themselves in and what particular hazards exist in these areas. This gear provides an opportunity to keep people safe and comfortable during an emergency situation until help arrives.”
     
    Each of Southern Discoveries’ five coaches is now equipped with long-life food supplies, bottled water, purification tablets, emergency shelter, headlamps, waterproof ponchos, survival blankets, personal hygiene items, and stretchers. The gear also includes four-person survival self-rescue backpacks, enabling passengers and drivers to evacuate safely if required, plus satellite communication devices with SOS and two-way texting capabilities to maintain contact in remote areas.
     
    Survival packs will be placed in nine company vehicles and all coaches will carry Heartshine Samaritan AEDs (Automated External Defibrillators) for immediate medical response capabilities. Grab-and-go packs have been placed in staff housing in Milford Sound.
     
    Southern Discoveries CEO Kerry Walker says the delivery of the gear aligns with the company’s goal of continuously improving and ensuring safety for guests and staff at all times.
     
    “We operate in a region with significant seismic risks, so it’s our responsibility to be prepared for any eventuality. This equipment provides genuine peace of mind for our staff, guests, and the local community,” Walker explains.
     
    The proactive safety initiative has already received strong support from Southern Discoveries’ international trade partners, particularly agents from the United States and Japan, who value the company’s commitment to safety standards.
     
    “We know our travel agent partners place high value on safety for their clients, so we’re delighted to be able to provide this level of comfort,” Walker adds.
     
    While Gillman notes his company is seeing increased interest from city councils and Civil Defence organisations, and is encouraged to see more tourism operators starting to invest in high-level survival equipment.
     
    Walker adds: “We’re proud to position ourselves as industry leaders in emergency preparedness, but we also want to encourage others to work with The Survival Co., who are experts in this area. One of Southern Discoveries’ major trade partners has already contacted The Survival Co. to discuss obtaining safety gear for their organisation.”
     
    About Southern Discoveries

    Southern Discoveries is a local, family-owned company dedicated to sharing some of New Zealand’s most iconic scenery and extraordinary experiences with the world. Operating for more than 70 years, Southern Discoveries is Milford Sound’s original cruise operator, offering a wide range of incredible sightseeing and adventure activities in Fiordland. The company maintains an ongoing commitment to the conservation of Aotearoa’s environment through sustainable tourism initiatives and the support of the Tawaki Project in partnership with DoC, the Fiordland Conservation Trust and the University of Otago.
    www.southerndiscoveries.co.nz

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Moldova – Moldova Launches Agrotek Arena: A New Incubator for Digital Agriculture, Robotics, and FoodTech

    Source: Innovate Moldova Programme

    Chișinău, Moldova – Moldova is taking a decisive step toward the future of agriculture with the launch of a new incubator and pre-accelerator at Agrotek Arena Incubator, an innovation space dedicated to digital agriculture, robotics, and food technology. The initiative is part of the Innovate Moldova Programme, funded by Sweden, and aims to modernize the country’s agri-food sector through innovation, research, and international collaboration.

    On July 9, 2025, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the Moldova’s Ministry of Digitalization and Economic Development (MDED), the Technical University of Moldova (UTM), the Innovate Moldova Programme, and the Ukraine-Moldova American Enterprise Fund (UMAEF), marking the start of this strategic partnership.

    The incubator will span 1,300 square meters across two refurbished floors of Agrotek Arena and will host up to 30 residents – startups, student entrepreneurs, researchers, and agri-food businesses. It is projected to benefit over 3,000 students, farmers, and food processors annually by providing access to cutting-edge technologies, prototyping labs, greenhouses, and innovation support programs.

    “Agriculture remains a backbone of Moldova’s economy. Yet, without modern tools and forward-thinking infrastructure, its full potential cannot be realized, Agrotek Arena will serve as a launchpad for innovation, helping us bridge the gap between academia, industry, and global partners.”

    stated Doina Nistor, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Digitalization and Economic Development.

    The incubator is set to open its doors to residents by September 1st, with a structured acceleration program launching in October 2025. Activities will focus on developing viable agri-tech solutions in areas such as precision agriculture, smart irrigation, and sustainable food processing.

    Shared Investment and Global Collaboration

    The $1 million project is built on a shared funding model. Innovate Moldova Programme and UMAEF are supporting the refurbishment of common areas, while UTM is offering rent-free space and managing energy efficiency upgrades. Residents will contribute by equipping their dedicated offices with air conditioning, furnishings, and technical installations.

    Agrotek Arena will also establish strong linkages with European and North American technology providers. Strategic collaborations include:

    Davis Weather Stations for climate-smart farming,
    Biosfera’s GPS AgTech Solutions for resource-optimized agriculture,
    SAS Cropio ERP Systems for real-time farm data analytics.

    These partnerships not only bolster Moldova’s agricultural transformation but also create long-term business opportunities for EU, EFTA and North Atlantic region.

    A Foundation for Moldova’s AgriTech Future

    Located on UTM’s 5-hectare Mircești campus in capital Chișinău and linked to 570 hectares in Criuleni region, Agrotek Arena is the first major milestone in the broader Agrotek Park vision. Future plans include the development of high-tech farming sites, applied R&D centers, and repurposed Soviet-era infrastructure into labs and innovation hubs.

    “This is more than a building—it’s the beginning of Moldova’s transformation into a regional hub for sustainable agri-tech. By fostering ties between startups, universities, and international partners, we are laying the groundwork for high-value job creation and export-ready technologies.”

    said Sergiu Rabii, Programme Director at the Innovate Moldova Programme

    Agrotek Arena will also support Moldova’s alignment with EU standards by integrating sustainable design, ESG practices, and inclusive economic development into its operational model.

    MIL OSI – Submitted News –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Moldova – Moldova Business Week 2025. Discover Moldova’s Economic Opportunities at the Country’s Leading Economic Forum

    Source: Invest Moldova Agency

    Chișinău, July 16, 2025 – Invest Moldova Agency invites business leaders, investors, business associations, public and private partners to the tenth edition of Moldova Business Week – the country’s most important economic forum, taking place between September 15-19, 2025.

    The event will bring together participants from the business, institutional, and academic communities, both from Moldova and abroad, with activities scheduled in Chișinău and other regions across the country.

    Organized under the theme “Moldova is Open for Business”, this milestone edition highlights Moldova’s ongoing commitment to international economic cooperation.

    MBW25 reflects the country’s strategic direction toward building a sustainable, digital, and regionally integrated economy, further strengthening Moldova’s position as an emerging investment destination in Europe.

    The forum’s agenda includes B2B sessions, thematic panels, investor and exporter success stories, field visits, and a strong focus on networking and business development.

    This edition will place special emphasis on four strategic pillars:

     State Aid Scheme for Industrialization – a competitive investment attraction tool supporting six strategic sectors, offering state assistance of up to 60% of the total investment amount.

     Moldova IT Park – a flagship success in the IT and business services sector, offering a unique flat tax rate of 7%, guaranteed by law until 2035.

     Infrastructure and Renewable Energy Investments – aiming to strengthen energy independence, diversify supply sources, ensure direct energy integration with the EU, and accelerate the transition to green energy.

     Positioning Moldova as a regional logistics hub – contributing to the reconstruction of Ukraine through infrastructure, logistics, and the production of construction materials.

    “Through this anniversary edition, Moldova will demonstrate its readiness to play an active role in the regional economy. We have talented people, a business-friendly fiscal environment, and a clear development vision,” says Natalia Bejan, Director of the Invest Moldova Agency.

    Recent data reinforces this message:

    In 2024, 1.3% of all cars produced globally included components made in Moldova.
     
    Moldova ranks among the top 20 global producers and exporters of apples, apricots, plums, and wine.
     
    IT exports have increased more than fivefold between 2018 and 2024.
     
    The British company William Russell named Moldova the most promising real estate investment destination in Europe for 2025.
     
    International rating agencies Fitch and Moody’s have reaffirmed Moldova’s sovereign ratings with a stable outlook, reflecting investor confidence and economic resilience.

    MIL OSI – Submitted News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Tillis Announces $24 Million for Raleigh-Durham International Airport Improvements

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for North Carolina Thom Tillis

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Senator Thom Tillis announced a $24 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to realign key sections of the roadway in front of two terminals at Raleigh-Durham International (RDU) Airport and widen the roadway from two lanes to four lanes. The funding comes from the Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) Grant Program for fiscal year 2025, which is partially funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), legislation that Senator Tillis helped negotiate, write, and pass into law.  

    “This funding will ensure that RDU not only meets national standards but also continues to provide an exceptional experience for passengers,” said Senator Tillis. “As the Triangle region continues to grow, it is vital that we invest in our public transportation and infrastructure, including our airports. I am proud to have worked alongside local leaders to secure this critical funding.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: From diamonds to dirt: Sierra Leone youth bring land back to life

    Source: United Nations 2

    But now, parts of the land have been restored. Crops are beginning to flourish and bees are buzzing around once again.

    The people responsible for this change are a hodgepodge group – former taxi drivers and miners, people who barely finished secondary school and some with higher education degrees. The unifying factor? Most have youth on their side.

    “There is life beyond mining [but] we all grew up with the mentality that diamond is the only solution,” said Sahr Fallah, chairman of the Youth Council in Kono.

    Over 44 percent of the 1.3 billion people aged 15-24 are employed in agrifood systems. However, this group often does not have the same access to resources as older generations. Moreover, they are sidelined in the conversations which might change this systemic exclusion.

    © UNICEF/Olivier Asselin

    Young men work on a diamond mining site near Koidu, Sierra Leone. (file)

    “A lot of the time, what we find is that young people are included in policy processes but it is a little bit tokenistic. They don’t feel like their voice really matters,” said Lauren Phillips, a deputy director at the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

    Decent work = economic growth

    The High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development in New York has been convened this week and next, to discuss progress – or lack thereof – towards the globally agreed Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), one of which guarantees decent work for all.

    Despite this commitment, over half of the global workforce remains in informal employment, according to the Secretary-General’s report on the SDGs released Monday. This means that they do not have adequate social or legal protections.

    “Decent work must be at the heart of macroeconomic planning, climate and diesel transitions and social recovery strategies,” said Sangheon Lee, director of employment policy at the International Labor Organization (ILO).

    Don’t ignore youth

    Like other vulnerable groups, young people face unique challenges in the agrifood sector. Specifically, they often lack land rights and will struggle to act collectively to protect their interests.

    “If you are not looking at data with a lens of age or gender, you are actually missing part of the story,” Ms. Phillips said.

    Among these assets are land titles – which the elderly may be reluctant to pass down because of insufficient social protections. Youth also are less able to access credit so they can invest in themselves and their families.

    Betty Seray Sam, one of the young farmers in Kono, said that her family never used to come to her when they were going through a crisis – they knew that she had no money and a child to support.

    © FAO/Heba Khamis

    Young farmers load tomatoes onto trucks in Nubaria, Egypt.

    But now, through an agricultural job in Kono, she can support her family during times of crisis.

    “This project has had a rippling effect for the youth in terms of not only improving their livelihoods but also the livelihoods of their families,” said Abdul Munu, president of Mabunduku, a community-based farmer’s organization in Kono.

    Bee a farmer

    Providing training to young people in agrifood systems is absolutely essential to ensure that they can practice sustainable agriculture.

    In Chegutu, Zimbabwe, FAO has helped establish Bee Farmers Schools where young people are taught how to support apiaries through hands-on training activities.

    “The idea is that one of the apiaries can be turned into a classroom where youth from different parts of a district can come just like a school,” said Barnabas Mawire, a natural resource specialist at FAO.

    This training has helped support local youth beekeepers to move beyond local and small-scale honey production to a fully-fledged business model that has the potential to not just fight poverty but actually create local wealth.

    Evelyn Mutuda, the young entrepreneurs representative in Chegutu, aspires to plant Jacaranda trees which she says will improve the quality of the bees’ honey and enable the beekeepers to export beyond local markets.

    “We want to maximize all the profits so we can become better and bigger,” Ms. Mutuda said.

    From Facebook to TikTok

    Being able to form labour associations is one of the key factors of decent work. This sort of collective action is even more important for youth in agrifood who often lack the social capital to enact real policy change.

    “Young people are just starting out, making bonds within their group but also with people outside of their group. Those bonds are important…because there is power in numbers,” Ms. Phillips said.

    She also noted that young people are forming these bonds across geographic distances, often by using technology. Agrifood influencers on Instagram and TikTok, for example, are increasingly shaping conversations about the sector.

    Ms. Phillips also noted that it is important to think of collective action for youth as intergenerational.

    “While the report is focused on young people, it’s not ignorant of the fact that young people live in families…There is a lot which talks about the need for solidarity between generations,” Ms. Phillips said.

    Youth optimism

    The next generation will be the stewards of the food we eat, so integrating them into that system now is essential for future food security and sustainability.

    “Many youth integrate tradition with innovation, creating sustainability and community resilience,” said Venedio Nala Ardisa, a youth representative at the Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact, at an online side event during the high-level forum.

    Angeline Manhanzva, one of the beekeepers in Chegutu, said that the opportunity to become a beekeeper changed her life. One day, she dreams of owning her own bee farm.

    “I will be an old person who has so much wealth and is able to buy her own big land to keep my hives and process my own honey.” 

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Job seekers move into work

    Source: New Zealand Government

    More than 80,700 people moved off a main benefit and into work in the last financial year, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. 

    “Despite challenging economic conditions, the Government has been relentlessly focused on getting New Zealanders into work. It’s encouraging that 80,000 Kiwis were able to kick start new roles over the past 12 months and there will be more to come.” 

    Overall, MSD stats released today show that as expected in the current economic climate, the overall number of people receiving a benefit has increased, ahead of a forecast decrease from December. 

    The number of people receiving a main benefit in June 2025 (406,128) increased by 7,965 (2.0 percent) compared to March 2025 (398,163).

    The number of people receiving Jobseeker Support in June 2025 (216,009) increased by 6,171 (2.9 percent) compared to March 2025 (209,838).

    “Over the last three years, MSD have traditionally seen a trend of more people coming onto benefit in the March to June period,” Louise Upston says.  “It’s likely this is partially because there’s less seasonal work around during the winter months.”

    “MSD is continuing to provide great support to job seekers on the frontline. Our Government has increased the number of people in case management at any one time from 60,000 to 70,000 people. 10,000 of those are getting help through a new phone-based case management service. That’s more people getting more support. 

    “We’ve got 2,100 more places for young people to get community job coaching, more regular work seminars, employment plans to help people get ready for work, and a traffic light system to help them stay on track with their obligations.

    “People now also have to reapply for their benefit every six months, instead of just once a year. This gives MSD an extra opportunity to support them into a job.

    “We know some Kiwis are still doing it tough while the economy recovers, but we’re working as hard as possible to get New Zealanders off welfare and into work,” Louise Upston says.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Middletown Man Who Pretended to be Teenage Boy Online Pleads Guilty to Coercing, Exploiting Minor Girls

    Source: US FBI

    CINCINNATI – A Middletown man pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to 11 counts of federal child exploitation crimes. The plea agreement includes a recommended sentence of 26 years in prison.  

    William Scott Elam, 53, connected with girls between the ages of 10 and 16 on various online chatting apps. He pretended to be a 14-year-old male and coerced or attempted to coerce the minor victims into creating nude images and videos that involved sexual conduct.

    For approximately four years, Elam began online relationships with numerous minor females in at least seven states. Law enforcement officers have identified at least 10 victims to date. He admitted to coercing victims into masturbating on live video calls with him.

    He manipulated at least one victim into complying by threatening to harm himself if she did not do as he asked. He instructed another victim to self-harm via cutting on live video after learning the victim had a history of self-harm.

    Elam coerced victims into sending him live sexual material by threatening to leak naked images he obtained of them.

    The defendant was arrested in October 2023. He pleaded guilty today to 10 counts of coercion and enticement and one count of sexual exploitation of children.

    Kelly A. Norris, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and Elena Iatarola, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division, announced the guilty plea entered on July 14 before U.S. District Judge Jeffery P. Hopkins. Assistant United States Attorney Kyle J. Healey is representing the United States in this case.

    # # #

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Chihuahua, Mexico, Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Drug Trafficking

    Source: US FBI

    RAPID CITY – United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that District Court Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a man from Chihuahua, Mexico, for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance. The sentencing took place on July 11, 2025.

    Ubaldo Balderrama-Marquez, 59, was sentenced to three years and one month in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.

    Balderrama-Marquez was indicted for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance by a federal grand jury in November 2006. He pleaded guilty on April 11, 2025.

    The conviction arose from a conspiracy to distribute cocaine operating out of Denver, Colorado. Balderrama-Marquez, along with his brothers Jose Balderrama-Marquez, Miguel Balderrama-Marquez, and Rafael Balderrama-Marquez, sold large quantities of cocaine and marijuana to Ken Walking Eagle, John Ladeaux, and others for further distribution in South Dakota and in the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation.

    This case was investigated by the Badlands Safe Trails Task Force, which is comprised of agents with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Bureau of Indian Affairs, and officers with the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety and the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward C. Tarbay prosecuted the case.

    Balderrama-Marquez was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service. 

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICE New England arrests El Salvadorian national, a registered sex offender convicted of possession of child pornography

    Source: US Immigration and Customs Enforcement

    July 16, 2025Boston, MA, United StatesChild Exploitation

    BOSTON — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations New England has administratively arrested El Salvadorian national Victor Vasquez Cordova, a Level 1 registered sex offender with a past conviction for possession of child sexual abuse material.

    ICE HSI personnel, in coordination with the U.S. Marshals Service, arrested Cordova, 54, on July 10 at his residence in Everett, Massachusetts, for immigration violations.

    Cordova entered the United States on Dec. 18, 1983, as a lawful permanent resident.

    He was convicted on March 31, 2022, of possession of child pornography. Cordova was sentenced to 18 months’ probation and ordered to register as a sex offender.

    He will be held in ICE custody pending a hearing before an immigration judge.

    Members of the public can report crimes and suspicious activity by dialing 866-DHS-2-ICE (866-347-2423) or completing the online tip form.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SPC Severe Thunderstorm Watch 520

    Source: US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

    Note:  The expiration time in the watch graphic is amended if the watch is replaced, cancelled or extended.Note: Click for Watch Status Reports.
    SEL0

    URGENT – IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
    Severe Thunderstorm Watch Number 520
    NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
    550 PM EDT Wed Jul 16 2025

    The NWS Storm Prediction Center has issued a

    * Severe Thunderstorm Watch for portions of
    Northern Indiana
    Southwest Lower Michigan
    Lake Michigan

    * Effective this Wednesday afternoon from 550 PM until Midnight
    EDT.

    * Primary threats include…
    Scattered damaging wind gusts to 65 mph possible

    SUMMARY…Thunderstorms currently affecting northeast Illinois will
    track eastward across the watch area through the early evening.
    Locally damaging wind gusts are the primary concern.

    The severe thunderstorm watch area is approximately along and 40
    statute miles east and west of a line from 60 miles south of South
    Bend IN to 35 miles north northwest of Kalamazoo MI. For a complete
    depiction of the watch see the associated watch outline update
    (WOUS64 KWNS WOU0).

    PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

    REMEMBER…A Severe Thunderstorm Watch means conditions are
    favorable for severe thunderstorms in and close to the watch area.
    Persons in these areas should be on the lookout for threatening
    weather conditions and listen for later statements and possible
    warnings. Severe thunderstorms can and occasionally do produce
    tornadoes.

    &&

    OTHER WATCH INFORMATION…CONTINUE…WW 517…WW 518…WW 519…

    AVIATION…A few severe thunderstorms with hail surface and aloft to
    1 inch. Extreme turbulence and surface wind gusts to 55 knots. A few
    cumulonimbi with maximum tops to 500. Mean storm motion vector
    25025.

    …Hart

    Note: The Aviation Watch (SAW) product is an approximation to the watch area. The actual watch is depicted by the shaded areas.
    SAW0
    WW 520 SEVERE TSTM IN MI LM 162150Z – 170400Z
    AXIS..40 STATUTE MILES EAST AND WEST OF LINE..
    60S SBN/SOUTH BEND IN/ – 35NNW AZO/KALAMAZOO MI/
    ..AVIATION COORDS.. 35NM E/W /38ENE BVT – 15WSW GRR/
    HAIL SURFACE AND ALOFT..1 INCH. WIND GUSTS..55 KNOTS.
    MAX TOPS TO 500. MEAN STORM MOTION VECTOR 25025.

    LAT…LON 40838709 42698660 42698503 40838555

    THIS IS AN APPROXIMATION TO THE WATCH AREA. FOR A
    COMPLETE DEPICTION OF THE WATCH SEE WOUS64 KWNS
    FOR WOU0.

    Watch 520 Status Report Message has not been issued yet.

    Note:  Click for Complete Product Text.Tornadoes

    Probability of 2 or more tornadoes

    Low (

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Pfluger Applauds More Counties in TX-11 Added to Major Disaster Declaration for Support from FEMA

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman August Pfluger (TX-11)

    SAN ANGELO, TX — Today, Congressman August Pfluger (TX-11), alongside local leaders, applauded the decision to add more counties across Texas’s 11th Congressional District to President Trump’s Major Disaster Declaration to receive varying levels of support from FEMA. Within the 11th District, the list currently includes Kimble, Llano, Mason, McCulloch, and Menard Counties for Public Assistance, and San Saba and Tom Green Counties for Public and Individual Assistance.

    “Texas has experienced unimaginable tragedy over the past week from the devastating floods that swept through Central and West Texas on July 4th,” said Rep. Pfluger. “Several counties in my district were hit especially hard. Thanks to Governor Abbott’s advocacy and the President’s Major Disaster Declaration, Kimble, Llano, Mason, McCulloch, Menard, San Saba, and Tom Green counties are all eligible for vital FEMA assistance. My team and I have worked closely with local leaders and officials to ensure accurate damage assessments, and we will continue working to secure the resources these counties, and others, need.”

    “I would like to express my thanks to everyone, including Federal, State, and in particular our county emergency management and response teams, who assisted in the disaster response from the recent flood incidents and related damages in Kimble County. I am thankful that our county has been added to President Trump’s Disaster Declaration to ensure we receive the support necessary to rebuild and provide the necessary resources to the county and individuals in a timely manner. I have been blown away by, and very thankful for, how the community has come together in such difficult times, and I remain hopeful that we will recover from this disaster as quickly as is practical,” said Kimble County Judge Hal Rose.

    “Llano County is grateful for Congressman August Pfluger’s leadership and dedicated assistance in response to the catastrophic flooding in the Texas Hill Country that occurred during the July 4th holiday. In the face of an unprecedented natural disaster, Congressman Pfluger demonstrated a steadfast commitment to the well-being of our residents. His prompt coordination with state and federal agencies, advocacy for emergency resources, and visible presence in affected areas were instrumental in accelerating critical response efforts and facilitating the deployment of relief measures. Through his actions, Congressman Pfluger and his staff exemplified the highest standards of public service, ensuring that Llano County’s needs were heard and addressed during a time of urgent crisis. We are immensely grateful for his partnership and resolute service to our community during this time of adversity,” said Llano County Judge Ron Cunningham.

    “Mason County is grateful for the concern and support provided at the state and federal levels in response to the July 4th flooding event. To be added to the major Disaster Declaration is huge, as destruction of this magnitude challenges a small county budget and resources. Having the commitment of our state and federal leaders is crucial to the long-term recovery of destroyed infrastructure. Mason County is blessed to be in the 11th District of Texas under the leadership of Congressman Pfluger,” said Mason County Judge Sheree Hardin.

    “McCulloch County has been truly humbled by the response from our Local, State, and Federal entities as we deal with the July 4th flood-related damages. A traumatic event such as this is overwhelming, and the outpouring of support from President Trump and Congressman August Pfluger eases our citizens’ burdens and allows our local governments the ability to make necessary repairs and plan for future improvements to emergency responses,” said McCulloch County Judge Frank Trull.  

    “I’d like to thank everyone who has helped submit the damage caused by the July 4th flood that enabled our inclusion in the disaster declaration for Public Assistance. Without this support, Menard County would have been set back years as we try to repair the damaged roads and public buildings. We are especially grateful to our regional partners with the Texas Division of Emergency Management, the local leaders of the Menard Mission Team and the Beautification of Menard, and the volunteers and neighbors who have lent a helping hand or encouraging word through this trying time. We sincerely appreciate the support of Congressman Pfluger and his staff as we work to document the damage inflicted on the citizens of Menard County, and are optimistic that our efforts will highlight the need for our community to be escalated into the proclamation for Individual Assistance as well,” said Menard County Judge Brandon Corbin.

    ICYMI: Last week, Congressman Pfluger announced the addition of San Saba and Tom Green counties to the Major Disaster Declaration alongside local leaders. You can read the announcement and their statements HERE.

    If you have been impacted by the floods, please visit the FEMA website to request support: www.DisasterAssistance.gov

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Pfluger Speaks on the House Floor to Honor the Lives Lost in the July 4th Floods and Share His Personal Story

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman August Pfluger (TX-11)

    Read his remarks as delivered below:

    I thank my colleague, and I want to say that he’s done a great job of representing in a very tough time. It’s easy to lead when times are good, but when times are tough, you see character, and Mr. Roy has done a very nice job, an extraordinary job, of leading in a very challenging situation.

    It’s with a heavy heart that I rise today to honor all of the lives that were lost during this devastating, tragic series of floods that swept through Central and West Texas last week, and to recognize the bravery and the selflessness of the heroes who stepped up when they were needed most.And I’ll start by honoring the memory of the 11 lives that were lost from my district: Officer Bailey Martin, Bobby Martin, Amanda Martin and Jayda Floyd from Odessa; Shellie Crossland, Cody Crossland, Joel Ramos, Kyndall Ramos, and Tasha Ramos from Midland; Tanya Burwick from Blackwell, who worked in San Angelo for many years, and Steve Edwards from San Angelo. These lives were lost far too soon. These were selfless individuals, leaders, officers in the police force, and people that we will miss dearly. We’re going to continue to pray for the many more lives that have been lost, and for the families that are still searching for them, hoping and praying for a miracle.

    You know, I sent my young girls to Camp Mystic for a couple of reasons. Number one, because for young women, this was a place where they didn’t have access to the digital world. They had access to relationships. They were taught about faith. They were placed in cabins with other young girls, where they learned how to develop friendships. They learned things like horseback riding and archery, swimming, and camp craft. And my girls are fourth-generation campers at Camp Mystic. I learned about this when I was a kid and went to many closing ceremonies as a young child, watching my sister and her friends, and now I have had the opportunity to watch my own girls, for the last 10 years, attend this camp. I want to say that my wife, Camille, and I are eternally grateful that we are reunited with my two daughters, who were present at the camp during this tragedy. And while we rejoice their safety, and I will be forever grateful to God for sparing their lives, we are mourning and deeply grieving with the many families who are having to say goodbye to their loved ones, to their daughters, up and down the river, campers who were there for the Fourth of July to celebrate our nation’s independence, to celebrate being with families. It’s just unimaginable the grief, and it’s unimaginable the heartbreak, especially those young kids and those young girls, specifically at Camp Mystic.

    I want to honor Dick Eastland, who is the owner of Camp Mystic, a man that I’ve known my entire life. A man who gave his life trying to save campers at Camp Mystic. The Eastland family, for years, has poured their lives into young women, building these young women and these young ladies to be women of faith, to be women of character, to be citizens of this great nation, to raise families in a way that you see the character and the strength of their faith. And you know, Dick Eastland and the entire Eastland family are like many other families throughout this country that run camps, whether it be Boy Scout camps, Girl Scout camps, YMCA camps, summer camps, church camps, it doesn’t matter. But these camps are important for our nation in a way that sometimes parents can’t always do. These camps represent a place where these kids can come and they can learn how to be better citizens, how to be better friends, how to be better community members. And they’re important. Camp Mystic was important.

    The image that I’ll never forget in my mind as I walked through the camp just two days after this tragedy, is where my young daughter stood getting away from the flood that was rising very rapidly. And where she had her head bowed, praying for safety, and as they were singing songs, knowing that there was a really tragic event unfolding in front of them, praying for their friends and for their safety. My middle daughter said that this was a family. Everybody knew everybody. And this family is deeply grieving right now. I hope that this serves as a wake-up call to our nation; that it serves as a wake-up call for us to congratulate and celebrate the countless heroes, some of whom gave their lives, and we will never know their stories, and to celebrate the fact that we live in a country where we can freely worship, where we can stand firm on our faith.

    Camp Mystic was a place, like other places throughout this country, that taught these young, innocent souls. That taught them to lean on their faith. That taught them to lean on their friends and their relationships and their families. That taught them the core values of what this great country affords. And I hope that this serves as a wake-up call for all of us to get back to that foundation that we can take a lesson from this tragedy, and we can build on it in a way that we do good, that we honor the memory of almost 130 people now, and rising, that tragically lost their lives, that we won’t ever forget. This green ribbon here serves as a reminder today. Again, I want to thank my friend Chip Roy for representing during this hard time and for calling this hour to recognize that memory. And I yield back.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: News 07/11/2025 VIDEO: Blackburn, White House Economic Council Director Highlight One Big Beautiful Bill’s Historic Victories on ‘Unmuted with Marsha’

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn)
    NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Today, U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) released a new episode of ‘Unmuted with Marsha’ with White House National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett breaking down the economic benefits of the One Big Beautiful Bill for Tennesseans and all Americans.
    Senator Blackburn and Kevin Hassett discussed how the One Big Beautiful Bill, now the law of the land, will boost take-home pay for families by $10,000, cut taxes on overtime and tips, provide a $6,000 bonus deduction to millions of low- and middle- income seniors, save Tennesseans thousands in taxes, and bolster America’s border security.

    Click here to watch this episode of ‘Unmuted with Marsha.’

    “I was talking with a small business owner yesterday morning, and after the 2017 cuts, they had hired two people so their business could grow, and they had been tapping the pencil on the paper, waiting to see if we were going to get this done because they wanted to keep those two employees and wanted to hire two more… People in Tennessee are so excited that the bill is now signed into law, and they’re so pleased to know that those tax cuts from 2017 are going to be made permanent,” said Senator Blackburn.

    “I was really impressed at how effective you were at driving the bill forward. I’d say that the way to think about this bill is that it’s going to give us… a whole bunch of new stuff that’s explicitly targeted at blue collar workers and middle-class workers. The people who need the help the most. And so, for example, there are about 90 million hourly workers in the US, and now, if they work overtime, then there’ll be no tax or extra tax on the overtime. Our own Council of Economic Advisers has estimated that this bill will increase the take-home pay for the typical family by about 10 to $13,000 and that’s really, really going to make a difference in people’s lives,” said Director Hassett.
    RELATED

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: News 07/16/2025 VIDEO: Blackburn Details Wasteful Government Spending, Highlighting Need for Senate to Pass Rescissions Package

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn)
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) delivered remarks on the Senate floor detailing the need for the U.S. Senate to pass the $9 billion rescissions package to eliminate wasteful government spending.

    Click here to download Senator Blackburn’s remarks on the Senate floor. 
    REMARKS AS PREPARED
    America’s Current Fiscal Path Is Unsustainable, and President Trump Has a Mandate to Rein in Wasteful Spending
    Mister President, when I talk to Tennesseans, one of the biggest concerns they have for our nation’s future is our national debt.
    After four years of reckless, far-left spending under the Biden administration, it now sits at $37 trillion.
    That’s $108,000 for every American citizen.
    Today, we are spending more on interest payments on the debt than what we spend to fund our entire military. 
    Tennesseans and the American people know that this path is unsustainable.
    That’s why they returned President Trump to the Oval Office with a mandate to rein in wasteful spending.
    And that’s exactly what he has done.
    Congress Must Permanently Eliminate Wasteful Spending
    Since Inauguration Day, this administration has identified more than $190 billion in potential savings across the federal government—on everything from unused office space to far-left DEI programming.
    This is a victory for the American people.
    But while President Trump can stop these funds from going out the door, it is Congress’s responsibility to claw them back and make these savings permanent.
    Otherwise, a future Democrat President could open the floodgates of wasteful spending once again.
    That’s why Republicans are moving forward with a rescissions package this week that will save American taxpayers $9 billion.
    With our national debt at unsustainable levels, we must be careful stewards of taxpayer dollars. That means eliminating obvious waste that serves no benefit for the American people.
    Rescissions Package Will Eliminate Reckless Spending on Biased Public Media
    That’s exactly what this bill accomplishes, and this is only the beginning of the Trump administration’s efforts to eliminate reckless spending.
    It eliminates $1.1 billion for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.
    This is the organization that funds NPR and PBS—which have pushed left-wing ideology on the taxpayers’ dime for years.
    NPR’s CEO, Katherine Maher, has called President Trump a “fascist” and “deranged racist.”
    Ahead of the 2020 election, her outlet refused to cover the revelations about Hunter Biden’s laptop and overseas business deals—which turned out to be entirely true.
    As NPR’s leadership put it at the time: “We don’t want to waste the listeners’ and readers’ time on stories that are just pure distractions.”
    Rescissions Package Will Cut Billions in Foreign Spending That Undermines American Values
    The rescissions package also cuts billions in foreign spending that does absolutely nothing to promote American values and interests abroad:
    $4 million for “sedentary migrants” in Colombia;
    $3 million for an Iraqi version of Sesame Street;
    $1 million for voter ID efforts in Haiti;
    $500,000 for electric buses in Rwanda;
    $6 million for “Net Zero Cities” in Mexico;
    $2.1 million for “climate resilience” in Asia, Latin America, and Africa.
    And on and on.
    At the same time, the package eliminates $1 billion in funding for international organizations that work against American interests, including:
    $135 million for the corrupt World Health Organization, which covered for Communist China throughout the COVID pandemic;
    And $8 million for the UN Human Rights Council, which supports dictators and repressive regimes while demonizing our ally, Israel.
    Americans Support Fiscal Responsibility 
    All in all, these savings are just common sense.
    The American people support these cuts. They want fiscal responsibility. They want a future where their children and grandchildren do not have to bear the burden of crippling debt. And this rescissions package is an incredible first step in taking on this problem. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: World News in Brief: Haiti funding cuts bite, civilian suffering intensifies in Myanmar, Belarus deaths in custody alert

    Source: United Nations MIL OSI b

    Ongoing violence is compounding the country’s food crisis, disrupting local food production in critical areas such as the commune of Kenscoff and the Artibonite department, often considered the breadbaskets of Haiti.

    While the UN and its partners are responding “wherever and whenever possible,” UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said this Wednesday that humanitarians have only been able to reach 38 per cent of the population they aim to support.

    Multiple roadblocks

    “This is due to ongoing violence and insecurity, severe underfunding of the response, and the obvious access challenges,” he said.

    Over halfway through the year, Haiti is the least-funded of the many humanitarian appeals that the UN coordinates – despite shortfalls for food security in the country being at extreme levels – with just over two per cent of the $425 million needed this year received to date.

    Myanmar: Intensifying conflict impedes humanitarian aid

    Almost four months after Myanmar’s devastating earthquake, the UN is deeply concerned over the plight of civilians caught up in the country’s devastating and continuing conflict between the military regime and opposition armed groups.

    As fighting intensifies, civilians are particularly vulnerable, with increasing attacks on infrastructure.

    According to reports, an air strike hit a monastery in Sagan Township in Sagaing Region on 11 July, killing 22 people and injuring at least 50 others. The monastery had been providing shelter to displaced people who had fled nearby villages.

    A displacement camp in North Shan State was also reportedly hit by an airstrike over the weekend.

    ‘Broader pattern’

    “These incidents are part of a broader pattern of attacks affecting people across Myanmar,” said Mr. Dujarric, with frequent reports of people being killed, injured or displaced by violence.

    Such insecurity also impacts the ability of humanitarian teams to reach people in need: with one in three people now facing acute hunger, and the current monsoon season having caused flooding, “the UN urgently calls on all parties to respect human rights and international humanitarian law,” he said.

    Belarus: Rights experts urge probe into deaths in custody of opposition activists

    Top independent human rights experts called on Belarus on Wednesday to launch urgent investigations into the deaths of several people jailed for political dissent.

    The experts – who are known as Special Rapporteurs – highlighted the case of 61-year-old businessman Valiantsin Shtermer. He died in May 2025 while serving his sentence in a so-called “Correctional Colony” in Šklou.

    Mr. Shtermer had been jailed for making critical remarks about Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Despite his serious medical condition, he was allegedly denied adequate care in prison.

    Fifty-year-old opposition activist Vitold Ashurak meanwhile, also died shortly after being placed in an isolation in the same prison.

    According to the Special Rapporteurs, Mr. Ashurak was a member of the Belarusian National Front who was jailed for violating public order during protests related to the disputed 2020 presidential elections.

    We must not ignore these deaths

    “These deaths must not be ignored,” said the experts, who added that there were strong grounds to believe that they resulted from abuse or neglect linked to the exercise of fundamental rights.

    “It is of the utmost importance to thoroughly investigate the alleged instances of ill-treatment and neglect that resulted in the deaths of Shtermer, Ashurak, Puškin and other persons designated as political prisoners by human rights defenders,” the Human Rights Council appointed experts underscored.

    “There are strong reasons to believe that these individuals lost their lives in retaliation for exercising their civil and political rights, including the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.”

    The independent experts voiced concern that some opposition figures had been stigmatised and labelled as “extremists” or even “terrorists”.

    Special Rapporteurs report regularly to the Human Rights Council. They are not UN staff and do not receive payment for their work.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Syria: UN chief urges de-escalation as Sweida violence escalates, Israel strikes Damascus

    Source: United Nations MIL OSI b

    News reports estimate that the sectarian violence in the predominantly Druze city of Sweida, south of the capital, has killed more than 200.

    Israel explained its attacks in the heart of the capital and on pro-government forces in Sweida as a defensive move in support of the Druze community, which has a significant presence within Israel and in the Israeli-occupied Golan.  

    The strikes on the defence ministry in Damascus also hit an area near the presidential palace, according to news reports and Syrian authorities.

    Pledging to protect the Druze minority but also following up on its threat to attack any Syrian military operations taking place south of the capital, Israel said it would intensify strikes if government forces did not withdraw from the region, according to news reports.

    Syrians ‘robbed’ of opportunity for peace

    “The Secretary-General is alarmed by the continued escalation of violence in Sweida” and “unequivocally condemns all violence against civilians,” said UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric on Wednesday.  

    It was the second day in a row that the UN chief has intervened to highlight the increasing civilian toll and “reports of arbitrary killings and acts that fan the flames of sectarian tensions and rob the people of Syria of their opportunity for peace.”  

    Mr. Guterres further condemned Israel’s “escalatory airstrikes” on Sweida, Daraa and central Damascus, together with “reports of the IDF’s redeployment of forces in the Golan,” the highly-contested mountainous region along the border of the two countries. 

    The UN also called on Israel to cease any violations of Syria’s sovereignty and respect for the 1974 Disengagement of Forces Agreement. 

    The UN chief also reiterated the need to support “a credible, orderly and inclusive political transition in Syria in line with the key principles of Security Council Resolution 2254.”

    Extending his condolences to the people of Syria, the Secretary-General reiterated his call for an immediate de-escalation of violence measures to facilitate humanitarian access.  

    Civilians in peril

    Mr. Dujarric said UN humanitarians were warning that “the deadly hostilities continue to put civilians at risk, with ongoing reports of significant displacement and damage to critical infrastructure, including water, electricity and telecommunications networks,” Mr. Dujarric said.  

    Access to Sweida and the impacted areas remains severely constrained due to insecurity and road closures, and civilians are unable to reach shelters.  

    The UN Humanitarian Coordinator in Syria, Adam Abdelmoula, said that the UN and its humanitarian partners plan to assess the needs and provide essential assistance in Sweida as soon as conditions allow.

    Mr. Dujarric underscored that medical services in Sweida and the neighbouring Daraa Governorate are overstretched and hospitals are almost at capacity.  

    While the World Health Organization (WHO) has dispatched emergency medical supplies to Daraa, deliveries to Sweida have yet to get through due to the fighting. 

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Kaptur Joins McCollum In Leading 45 Bicameral Colleagues In Letter Opposing Cuts To The Corporation For Public Broadcasting

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-09)

    Lawmakers emphasize importance of emergency broadcasting funding to keep Americans safe amid natural disasters and emergencies

    Washington, DC — On Wednesday, Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-09), joined Congresswoman Betty McCollum (MN-04) in leading a letter alongside 45  bicameral Congressional colleagues to President Trump urging him to reconsider his decision to defund the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB). The CPB supports America’s children with educational programming and ensures that emergency broadcasting keeps Americans safe amid natural disasters and emergencies. The proposed rescission to the CPB will force small stations around the country to close, leaving significant gaps in coverage for Americans who rely on these vital services for noncommercial, high-quality, localized content and telecommunications. 

    The letter comes amid Congressional Republicans’ attempt to pass President Trump’s proposal to rescind $10 Billion in federal funding that Congress approved four months ago on a bipartisan basis. Despite bipartisan opposition to the bill, the US Senate voted to move forward to debating and amending the legislation on Wednesday by the slimmest possible margin following a tie-breaking vote cast by Vice President JD Vance. 

    “We write to express our deep concern regarding the $1.1 Billion claw back of funds to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) included in the proposed recissions you sent to Congress on May 28, 2025,” said the lawmakers in their letter to the White House. “The package was passed through the House of Representatives on June 12, over the objections of all Democratic and four Republican Members. The cuts to CPB in the recission package undermine the public media that Americans rely on for unfettered access to information, educational programming for kids, cultural programming, and nationwide emergency alerting.

    “Public media has received bipartisan support for the past 50 years because Congress has continuously recognized that access to public media is in the public’s best interest. The Public Radio Satellite System (PRSS) is the backbone of the Emergency Alert System (EAS) and Amber Alerts and plays a critical role in keeping Americans informed and safe during emergencies. As key local news providers, public radio stations leverage their reporting resources to offer live news and information on disasters and other emergencies, providing real-time information on where local audiences can access resources and safe locations.

    “As our nation experiences increased instances of severe weather and climate shocks, this service is more important than ever. In Minnesota, Minnesota Public Radio (MPR) delivers programming and services across the state, and in some areas is the only local source for news and updates during an emergency. When the power goes out, and cell networks or the internet go down, MPR is the most reliable form of communication in an emergency and provides essential backstopping for all other emergency alerting services and activities across the public media system. This is true across all 50 states, and losing this important service in the middle of hurricane, flood, and tornado season will prove devastating nationwide.

    “Of the $1.1 Billion included in the rescission proposal, 70% of these funds will be pulled out of local stations that are independently owned and operated in our communities. For many smaller stations in rural communities across the country, these cuts will prove utterly devastating, because they provide local, state, and regional news that is no longer provided through other outlets. These small stations will not survive, resulting in news deserts for these communities and putting thousands of American lives at risk.

    “We ask your administration to withdraw this rescission proposal and protect the vital services that CPB provides. If the rescissions go ahead as planned, we will be requesting a report to Congress as to how your administration plans to fill the void left behind, particularly in the areas of emergency alerting and local news reporting.”

    The letter is co-signed by Senator Tina Smith (D-MN) and 44 Democratic Representatives: Representatives Joyce Beatty (OH-03), Ami Bera (CA-06), Sanford Bishop (GA-02), Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), Brendan Boyle (PA-02), Julia Brownley (CA-26), Shontel Brown (OH-11), André Carson (IN-07), Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (FL-20), Steve Cohen (TN-09), Danny Davis (IL-07), Diana DeGette (CO-01), Dwight Evans (PA-03), Laura Friedman (CA-30), John Garamendi (CA-08), Jared Huffman (CA-02), Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), William Keating (MA-09), Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-08), Zoe Lofgren (CA-18), Stephen Lynch (MA-08), Seth Magaziner (RI-02), James McGovern (MA-02), Robert Menendez (NJ-08), Dave Min (CA-47), Kelly Morrison (MN-03), Kevin Mullin (CA-15), Richard Neal (MA-01), Ilhan Omar (MN-05), Brittany Pettersen (CO-07), Delia Ramirez (IL-03), Emily Randall (WA-06), Andrea Salinas (OR-06), Mary Gay Scanlon (PA-05), Adam Smith (WA-09), Greg Stanton (AZ-04), Shri Thanedar (MI-13), Mike Thompson (CA-04), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), Paul Tonko (NY-20), Marc Veasey (TX-33), Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), and Nikema Williams (GA-05).

    Click here to read the letter. 

    # # #

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Call for public information on Auckland marine mammal cases

    Source: NZ Department of Conservation

    Date:  17 July 2025

    Eva Obushenkova, an Investigator with DOC’s National Compliance Team, says the first incident occurred between 11:20 am and 12 pm on May 21, and involves a recreational boat skipper seen steering his vessel through a pod of bottlenose dolphins.

    “One witness has seen the vessel launched at Waiake Beach on Auckland’s North Shore,” Eva says.

    “They reported seeing the boat head straight toward the dolphins, which were clearly visible, and get very close to them.

    “Our witness has also stated the boatie later changed direction and began following the pod, steering his vessel among the dolphins and eventually stopping the engine to take photographs.”

    Under the Marine Mammals Protection Regulations, vessels cannot travel through a pod of dolphins.

    Eva says the boat involved in the incident is a Haynes Hunter named Plaisir.

    “We’d like to talk to the owner or skipper of Plaisir, and encourage them to come forward,” she says.

    Anyone who saw the incident, or can share information on the vessel, can contact DOC on 0800 DOC HOT and quote CLE Works case number 9189. Any information offered by members of the public is kept confidential by DOC.

    In a separate incident at Muriwai in Auckland in early June, members of the public discovered two dead kekeno/NZ fur seals with their heads removed on the beach. The discovery was reported to DOC.

    DOC science staff who’ve seen the images say the decapitations are the result of human actions, and not predation by another species.

    Anyone with information on the decapitation of the dead seals at Muriwai – whether it’s eye-witness reports of incidents, or other potentially valuable evidence – is asked to contact 0800 DOC HOT and quote CLE Works case 9390.

    Although DOC staff acknowledge the seals were discovered dead on the beach, there is still no justification for removing the animals’ heads. The Marine Mammals Protection Act clearly states it is illegal to take any part of a marine mammal.

    “It’s not acceptable for people to tamper with protected wildlife, and it’s illegal to remove a protected species’ head,” Eva says.

    DOC protects and nurtures more than a third of New Zealand’s landscape, marine areas, and thousands of endangered species – a role guided by several key laws like the Conservation Act, Wildlife Act, and National Parks Act. These legal frameworks ensure our unique biodiversity is properly safeguarded.

    When people or organisations don’t follow the rules, it further threatens our special places and native wildlife. DOC takes these responsibilities very seriously and has a range of enforcement tools to hold rule-breakers to account.

    However, DOC can’t be everywhere, so public eyes and ears make a real difference. DOC staff continually urge the public to help protect nature by reporting unlawful activity through 0800 DOC HOT.

    Contact

    For media enquiries contact:

    Email: media@doc.govt.nz

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Economy – Updates to Deposit Takers Act implementation timeline and standards – Reserve Bank

    Source: Reserve Bank of New Zealand

    17 July 2025 – The Reserve Bank of New Zealand – Te Pūtea Matua has today published an updated implementation timeline for incoming changes to the prudential regulatory regime for deposit takers.

    The Deposit Takers Act 2023 (DTA) modernises the regulatory framework to help ensure the safety and soundness of deposit takers and support a stable financial system that New Zealanders can trust. 

    DTA standards will be issued by 31 May 2027 and come into effect on 1 December 2028.  

    “The standards bring to life the prudential requirements deposit takers will need to meet to be licensed under the DTA,” Director Prudential Policy Jess Rowe says.  

    Public consultation on the proposed standards took place across 2024 and 2025.  

    “We’re grateful for the insightful feedback received from submitters, and we’re now hard at work preparing the exposure drafts of the standards,” Ms Rowe says.  

    Exposure draft consultation will take place in three tranches, starting in October 2025.

    Licensing of existing deposit takers will occur over an 18-month window, running from 1 June 2027 to 30 November 2028, ahead of the standards coming into effect on 1 December of that year. The change means all banks and non-bank deposit takers will be licensed under a single, coherent regulatory regime. In late 2025, we hope to communicate information about our approach to licensing existing deposit takers under the DTA.

    Changes to the DTA implementation timeline were necessary to allow time for a review of key capital settings, announced on 31 March 2025. DTA standards were previously planned to come into effect in July 2028.

    DTA timeline – Reserve Bank of New Zealand – Te Pūtea Matua: https://govt.us20.list-manage.com/track/click?u=bd316aa7ee4f5679c56377819&id=e1c35a6635&e=f3c68946f8

    2025 Review of key capital settings: https://govt.us20.list-manage.com/track/click?u=bd316aa7ee4f5679c56377819&id=f4705877ae&e=f3c68946f8

    Response to submissions on the non-core standards

    In 2024, we received 25 submissions to public consultation on DTA non-core standards.  

    In response to feedback, we have made changes to further support a proportionate approach, reduce the impact of compliance on deposit takers, and enhance potential competition in the market. Changes resulting from consultation include removing prescriptive detail and making requirements more flexible in certain areas.

    Our overall assessment remains that we are striking a good balance between our primary financial stability mandate and our purposes and principles, including proportionality and competition.

    Deposit Takers Non-Core Standards – Reserve Bank of New Zealand – Citizen Space: https://govt.us20.list-manage.com/track/click?u=bd316aa7ee4f5679c56377819&id=88eeb490a1&e=f3c68946f8

    A summary of submissions on the Crisis Management Issues Paper has also been published.

    Crisis management under the Deposit Takers Act 2023 – Issues Paper – Reserve Bank of New Zealand – Citizen Space: https://govt.us20.list-manage.com/track/click?u=bd316aa7ee4f5679c56377819&id=aaa9de9963&e=f3c68946f8
     

    Terminology explained

    Core standards

    These are the standards that we will use as the criteria to determine the eligibility of existing banks and NBDTs for relicensing under the DTA.  

    Non-core standards

    These are the other standards that all deposit takers will need to comply with when the DTA standards regime starts but will not be used for relicensing existing deposit takers.

    Deposit takers will need to comply with all standards when they come into force in 2028.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Mawson emperor penguin census

    Source: Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission

    A lucky handful of Mawson expeditioners visited the Taylor Glacier emperor penguin colony in July, to collect photos for the annual population census.
    No more than 12 people get to visit the colony each year, due to its ‘Antarctic Specially Protected Area’ (ASPA) status.
    Population counts have been ongoing since 1957, and averaged about 2500 birds between 2002 and 2023.
    This season, Mawson station’s Senior Field Training Officer, Lee Warner, and five other expeditioners, made the 90 km journey across the sea ice, to Colbeck Hut.

    Mr Warner said the party had to stop regularly to measure sea-ice thickness, which must be at least 60 cm thick for safe passage by Hägglunds.
    “Every change in appearance of the ice is generally a reason to test and assess the sea ice,” Mr Warner said.
    “Sea-ice conditions and ice thickness are influenced by glaciers, islands, snow depth, rafted ice and hidden anomalies like kelp beds, tide cracks and open water leads.  
    “We measure ice quality and thickness every hundred metres, or every few kilometres, depending on whether there are anomalies or not.”
    Once at the hut a team of four made the three kilometre trip to a vantage point above the colony where a number of automated cameras have been installed.
    The cameras take photos of the colony every day throughout the year to show when the penguins arrive and leave.
    “Pathfinding through waist deep powder snow to find the cameras to download the imagery captured over the last six to eight months is very satisfying. It’s a great team effort,” Mr Warner said.
    The team also took the all-important census photos – a series of 30 photos looking down and across the colony, which are stitched together into a panorama (see banner above). Scientists can then count the number of penguins.
    Senior Comms Tech Officer, Danny Novkovski, said the census photos and automated camera images were processed back at Mawson station and uploaded to the Head Office server for seabird expert, Dr Barbara Wienecke, to access them and conduct the census work.
    Dr Wienecke said Taylor Glacier is one of only two known sites where emperor penguins breed entirely on land, rather than land-fast sea ice (sea ice attached to land).
    The long-term monitoring project aims to assess the response of the penguins to environmental change and human activities, and ensure ASPA management plans continue to safeguard the animals.
    This content was last updated 3 minutes ago on 17 July 2025.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Stein Statement on Senate Bill 382 Litigation

    Source: US State of North Carolina

    Headline: Governor Stein Statement on Senate Bill 382 Litigation

    Governor Stein Statement on Senate Bill 382 Litigation
    lsaito

    Raleigh, NC

    Today, Governor Josh Stein announced that he would not appeal the trial court’s ruling in litigation involving Senate Bill 382’s changes to the structure of the State Highway Patrol. Governor Stein released the following statement about his decision:  

    “I brought this lawsuit to ensure that our public safety leaders are accountable to the people of North Carolina, as required by our state’s Constitution. Making a Commander of the State Highway Patrol unremovable for any reason would threaten public safety, and I am relieved the Court did not endorse such a result. I continue to have confidence in Colonel Freddy Johnson’s ability to lead the State Highway Patrol effectively, and I look forward to continuing to work with him to keep people safe.”

    Governor Stein challenged Senate Bill 382 because the bill was ambiguous about whether it sought to overturn the Governor’s constitutional authority to remove the Commander of the State Highway Patrol in appropriate circumstances, at least until 2030. The bill could have been interpreted to prevent the Governor from removing the Commander under any circumstance, including if the Commander refused to perform his duties, abused his office, or was convicted of serious crimes.

    Last month, a three-judge panel held that Senate Bill 382 was not clearly unconstitutional. Though he disagrees with certain aspects of that decision, the Governor understands it to recognize his constitutional authority to remove a Commander and thus does not believe an appeal is necessary at this time. 

    Jul 16, 2025

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: DHS Statement on Capture of Violent Extremist Involved in Prairieland Attack on ICE Agents

    Source: US Department of Homeland Security

    FBI Most Wanted Suspect for attack on ICE agents arrested after joint investigation with ICE and law enforcement partners

    WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) today released the following statement as the week-long manhunt for Benjamin Hanil Song--a fugitive wanted in connection with the July 4 ambush on federal officers at the Prairieland Detention Center–ended Monday with his arrest by FBI agents in Dallas, Texas. Song had been on the FBI’s Most Wanted list since a Blue Alert was issued following his alleged role in the organized, armed attack. 

    Song, a former U.S. Marine Corps reservist, joined a violent group of at least 10 individuals in opening fire on officers at the federal facility just after 10:30 p.m. on Independence Day. He is charged with three counts of attempted murder of federal agents and three counts of discharging a firearm during a crime of violence. His capture brings the total number of arrests in the attack to 14. 

    “On Independence Day, as Americans were celebrating our freedoms, a group of violent extremists attempted to assassinate federal officers protecting us from violent criminals,” said Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin. “Song’s arrest sends a clear message: under President Trump and Secretary Noem, if you lay a hand on an ICE agent, you will NOT walk free. We will not forget, and we will not rest until every attacker is in custody.” 

    The Prairieland Detention Center, which housed more than 1,000 illegal aliens on the night of the attack, includes detainees with convictions for rape, child molestation, murder, kidnapping, arson, human trafficking, and terrorism. Nearly 50 known members of MS-13, Tren de Aragua, and other transnational gangs were among the detainees, in addition to 13 Known or Suspected Terrorists (KSTs). 

    This is just the latest in a disturbing pattern of politically motivated violence targeting DHS personnel. Last week, ICE officers conducting enforcement operations in San Francisco were assaulted by violent protestors. In June, rioters stormed an ICE field office in Portland. ICE agents are now facing an 830% increase in assaults against them. 

    DHS and its law enforcement partners continue working around the clock to identify, arrest, and prosecute anyone involved in the July 4 ambush or other coordinated attacks against federal officers. 

    ###

    MIL Security OSI –