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  • MIL-OSI USA: Sorensen Speaks to Rock Island High School Students About Importance of Voting

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Eric Sorensen (IL-17)

    ROCK ISLAND, IL – Today, Congressman Eric Sorensen (IL-17) joined students at Rock Island High School for a discussion on the importance of voting and getting involved in the democratic process. 

    “One of the greatest honors I have as a representative is talking with young people about making their voices heard,” said Sorensen. “Speaking with Rock Island students today shows just how important it is to invest in their futures now so they can help make our communities safer and healthier for decades to come.” 

    Speaking to Mr. Isaiah Tubbs’ government class, Sorensen discussed the impact young people can have by voting and shared his own journey from meteorologist to member of Congress. Sorensen also fielded questions from students about how Congress tackles key issues, his day-to-day responsibilities as a representative, and ways they can get involved in their community now. 

    Congressman Eric Sorensen serves on the House Committee on Agriculture and the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. Prior to serving in Congress, Sorensen was a local meteorologist in Rockford and the Quad Cities for nearly 20 years. His district includes Illinois’ Quad Cities, Rockford, Peoria, and Bloomington-Normal.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: CORRECTION – Sift Reinvents Account Takeover Prevention Across the Consumer Journey, Integrates with Leading CIAM Platforms

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 25, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — In a release issued on October 24, 2024 under the same headline by SIFT, please note that in the sub headline and first paragraph references to $1.9 million per week have been corrected to $4.2 million per year. The corrected release follows: 

    Sift’s ATO solution prevents a median of up to $4.2 million per year in fraud losses per customer

    Sift, the AI-powered fraud platform securing digital trust for leading global businesses, today announced its latest quarterly product update, featuring an enhanced solution to protect businesses from account takeover (ATO) fraud throughout the entire consumer journey. Sift’s detailed analysis of its customers shows that its ATO solution prevents a median of up to $4.2 million per year in fraud losses per customer. Its comprehensive approach ensures that organizations can safeguard their users from point of login to post-transaction, addressing the growing threat of ATO that resulted in nearly $13 billion in losses in 2023 alone.

    Fueled by a digitally-driven economy, ATO attacks increased 24% in Q2 2024 compared to the same period last year, when attacks skyrocketed by 354% according to Sift research from 2023. Traditional solutions that seek to stop account theft only at the point of login often fall short, leaving businesses vulnerable to attacks that occur at different points of the consumer journey. Exacerbating the problem is that ATO often lives between the cracks within organizations, making it an “orphan” threat with no clear owner between Fraud and Security departments. Sift allows these departments to collaborate and take ownership of ATO by uniting data and workflows that are accessible to both.

    Key Advancements with new Sift ATO solution:

    • Identity-Centric Accuracy: AI-powered insights, real-time behavioral analysis, and expanded device fingerprinting provide richer context around risk and user intent throughout the consumer journey.
    • Powerful Integrations: Unify and extend existing Customer Identity Access Management (CIAM) workflows through low-code integrations, including Ping Identity PingOne DaVinci and Okta Auth0, accelerating time to value and strengthening identity management investments across the security tech stack.
    • Fine-Tuned Controls: Robust MFA capabilities and continuous monitoring after login deliver precise friction at the session level. Pre-built, industry-specific automations generate immediate impact out of the box.

    “Account takeover is a deeply connected problem that impacts multiple facets of a business, from cybersecurity to finance,” said Raviv Levi, Chief Product and Technology Officer at Sift. “Traditional approaches often result in fragmented data and incomplete insights, making it difficult to fully understand and mitigate the impact of ATO. Sift’s unique approach unites departments and data, providing a single source of truth for ATO prevention and removing barriers to revenue.”

    Additional innovations from Sift this quarter include advanced behavior signals and VIP Fast Pass controls for high velocity transaction industries like iGaming and Fintech, as well as expanded RiskWatch functionality for faster, more insightful manual reviews.

    For more information about Sift’s revamped ATO solution and other innovations, visit the Sift Blog here.

    About Sift
    Sift is the AI-powered fraud platform securing digital trust for leading global businesses. Our deep investments in machine learning and user identity, a data network scoring 1 trillion events per year, and a commitment to long-term customer success empower more than 700 customers to grow fearlessly. Brands including DoorDash, Yelp, and Poshmark rely on Sift to unlock growth and deliver seamless consumer experiences. Visit us at sift.com and follow us on LinkedIn.

    Media Contact:
    Victor White
    VP, Corporate Communications, Sift
    press@sift.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-Evening Report: PNG bus shooting: ‘This sort of revenge killing is unheard of’

    By Grace Tinetali-Fiavaai, RNZ Pacific journalist

    Papua New Guinea police say 10 people have been tragically killed after a series of violent “revenge killings” along the Laiagam-Sirunki Highway in the Highlands province of Enga.

    The attacks, which occured last Friday and Monday, are believed to be connected to an unresolved death that took place in March earlier this year.

    Police said that gunmen from the Mulapin tribe ambushed a vehicle packed with passengers from the Sakare clan near Tambitanis Health Centre in Sirunki on October 11 at 8am.

    The vehicle, carrying a body, was fired upon in a surprise attack. A woman lost her life, several others sustained serious injuries, and the gunmen escaped.

    An hour later on the same day, the Sakare clan retaliated by shooting the driver and his passenger from close range. They reached a nearby hospital but succumbed to their injuries on arrival.

    The leadership of the Kunalin and Lyain tribes is urging restraint and for the clans not to resort to violence, police said.

    They have also called for the immediate surrender of suspects from both the Mulapin and Sakare tribes to law enforcement.

    Investigation into ‘root causes’
    Assistant Police Commissioner Joseph Tondop, who is responsible for the state of emergency in Enga, is calling for an investigation into the root causes of the recent conflict.

    “This sort of revenge killing is unheard of in the history of tribal conflicts in Enga Province where innocent people unrelated to the conflicts where killed,” he said.

    “All tribal clans taking part in the conflicts (Sakars, Mulapian, Kunalins, Myom and people form Kulapi 4 in Porgera) are all under the scope and ordered to refrain from further escalating the situation.”

    The investigative teams will start their work immediately, and individuals or groups found to be involved will be apprehended, he said.

    “This task force is given strict orders to carry out a thorough investigation, leaving no stone unturned.”

    RNZ Pacific’s correspondent in PNG, Scott Waide, said the public was frustrated that police were yet to make arrests.

    He said police found it difficult to deal with the clans and arrest people who were armed.

    Waide said people were reluctant to give up weapons because it gave them a sense of security in tribal conflicts.

    “It is a difficult situation that both lawmakers, citizens and police are in. The longer this drags on and guns are in the hands of ordinary people, killing will continue.”

    This article is republished under a community partnership agreement with RNZ.

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cardin, Van Hollen, Mfume React to Federal Government’s Initial $102 Million Settlement with Dali Owner, Operator

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Maryland Ben Cardin

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen and Congressmen Kweisi Mfume (all D-Md.), released the following statement on the U.S. Department of Justice’s (DOJ) $101,980,000 settlement with the owner and operator of the Dali, the vessel that destroyed the Francis Scott Key Bridge. The settlement, according to DOJ, will cover federal costs incurred to restore access to the Port of Baltimore.
    “The catastrophic loss of the Francis Scott Key Bridge required a massive and coordinated response from all levels of government and the private sector. Those efforts removed about 50,000 tons of debris from the Patapsco River and cleared the shipping channel faster than anyone predicted. The initial settlement that the U.S. Justice Department reached for cleanup costs is an important step in holding accountable the owner and operator of the Dali, the ship that caused this disaster,” said the lawmakers. “The federal government has properly stepped up to underwrite urgent and essential needs with an expectation that the appropriate parties will be held financially responsible for their actions. Congress should now act quickly to pass the Baltimore BRIDGE Relief Act, which will ensure full federal backing of the bridge replacement costs, while the Justice Department, State of Maryland and other stakeholders keep up their work to reimburse the taxpayers to the fullest extent possible and provide justice for the families of those we lost.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Jamestown man pleads guilty to meth charge

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    BUFFALO, N.Y. – U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Willie C. Graham, 43, of Jamestown, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra, Jr to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, which carries a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison, a maximum of imprisonment of 40 years, and a fine of $5,000,000.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Donna M. Duncan, who is handling the case, stated that on September 6, 2023, Jamestown Police officers initiated a traffic stop on a car that Graham was a passenger in. Officers located numerous items of drug paraphernalia in the car, as well as a quantity of fentanyl on Graham’s person.

    On March 2, 2024, Graham was a passenger in a car that fled from law enforcement officers trying to conduct a traffic stop. A subsequent search of the vehicle resulted in the recovery of 11.6 grams of methamphetamine drug paraphernalia, and $1,134.00 cash.

    On April 30, 2024, Jamestown Police officers located and arrested Graham. At the time of his arrest, he was in possession of 10 assorted bank and benefit cards, some of which were issued to individuals other than Graham, a quantity of methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia, and $185.

    The plea is a result of an investigation by the Jamestown Police Department, under the direction of Chief Timothy Jackson, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Miraglia.

    Sentencing is scheduled for February 20, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. before Judge Sinatra.

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    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: U.S. Attorney Ross appoints 2024 District Election Officer

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul E. Bonanno will lead the efforts of her Office in connection with the Justice Department’s nationwide Election Day Program for the upcoming November 5, 2024, general election. AUSA Bonanno has been appointed to serve as the District Election Officer (DEO) for the Western District of New York, and in that capacity is responsible for overseeing the District’s handling of election day complaints of voting rights concerns, threats of violence to election officials or staff, and election fraud, in consultation with Justice Department Headquarters in Washington.

    U.S. Attorney Ross said, “Every citizen must be able to vote without interference or discrimination and to have that vote counted in a fair and free election.  Similarly, election officials and staff must be able to serve without being subject to unlawful threats of violence. The Department of Justice will always work tirelessly to protect the integrity of the election process.”

    The Department of Justice has an important role in deterring and combatting discrimination and intimidation at the polls, threats of violence directed at election officials and poll workers, and election fraud.  The Department will address these violations wherever they occur.  The Department’s longstanding Election Day Program furthers these goals and also seeks to ensure public confidence in the electoral process by providing local points of contact within the Department for the public to report possible federal election law violations.

    Federal law protects against such crimes as threatening violence against election officials or staff, intimidating or bribing voters, buying and selling votes, impersonating voters, altering vote tallies, stuffing ballot boxes, and marking ballots for voters against their wishes or without their input.  It also contains special protections for the rights of voters, and provides that they can vote free from interference, including intimidation, and other acts designed to prevent or discourage people from voting or voting for the candidate of their choice.  The Voting Rights Act protects the right of voters to mark their own ballot or to be assisted by a person of their choice (where voters need assistance because of disability or inability to read or write in English).   

    U.S. Attorney Ross stated that: “The franchise is the cornerstone of American democracy.  We all must ensure that those who are entitled to the franchise can exercise it if they choose, and that those who seek to corrupt it are brought to justice.  In order to respond to complaints of voting rights concerns and election fraud during the upcoming election, and to ensure that such complaints are directed to the appropriate authorities, AUSA/DEO Bonanno will be on duty in this District while the polls are open. He can be reached by the public at the following telephone number: 716-843-5700.”

    In addition, the FBI will have special agents available in each field office and resident agency throughout the country to receive allegations of election fraud and other election abuses on election day. The local FBI field office can be reached by the public at 716-856-7800.

    Complaints about possible violations of the federal voting rights laws can be made directly to the Civil Rights Division in Washington, DC by complaint form at https://civilrights.justice.gov/ or by phone at 800-253-3931.

    U.S. Attorney Ross said, “Ensuring free and fair elections depends in large part on the assistance of the American electorate. It is important that those who have specific information about voting rights concerns or election fraud make that information available to the Department of Justice.”

    Please note, however, in the case of a crime of violence or intimidation, please call 911 immediately and before contacting federal authorities. State and local police have primary jurisdiction over polling places, and almost always have faster reaction capacity in an emergency.

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    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Monroe, Washington, man sentenced to 10 years in prison for role as “right hand man” in deadly drug distribution ring

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Seattle – A 42-year-old Monroe, Washington resident was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to ten years in prison for conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, announced U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. Humberto Garcia was convicted in April 2024 following a week-long trial. Garcia was arrested in December 2020 with seven other defendants tied to a drug trafficking ring distributing heroin, methamphetamine, and fentanyl throughout the Puget Sound region. At the sentencing hearing U.S. District Judge Richard A. Jones said, “Despite the fact that you had addiction you were involved in distributing very dangerous drugs.” Judge Jones also noted that Garcia was willing to provide a gun to the drug ring boss who sought to use violence to settle scores. “You were a willing and capable participant with loyalty to the drug ring leader,” Judge Jones said.

    “Mr. Garcia played an important role in the conspiracy, acting as a drug redistributor, local guide, interpreter, and link to other drug dealers,” said U.S. Attorney Gorman. “He continued to distribute fentanyl even after learning of a customer overdose death. His conduct contributed to the huge spike of fentanyl overdoses in our community.”

    According to records filed in the case and testimony at trial, Garcia’s car was searched on October 3, 2020, after drug ringleader Jose Luis Ibarra-Valle, 40, asked Garcia to get him a firearm to kill another drug distributor who owed him money. A few weeks later, Ibarra-Valle was stopped returning from a drug run to California. In the car authorities found approximately 10,000 pills that contained fentanyl, more than eight kilograms of methamphetamine, and more than a kilogram of heroin. These drug amounts count towards Garcia’s conviction as part of the conspiracy.

    When Garcia was arrested a few weeks later, he was found to have a firearm that matched the one he agreed to provide to Ibarra-Valle during the intercepted phone call mentioned above.

    Ibarra-Valle and the other coconspirators entered guilty pleas. Last year, Ibarra-Valle was sentenced to nine years in prison. The remaining coconspirators have been sentenced, with a range of sentences from time served, to over six years in prison. Garcia is the final defendant in this case and the only one who went to trial.

    Over the course of the investigation law enforcement seized 16,000 suspected fentanyl pills, 30 pounds of suspected methamphetamine, and six pounds of suspected heroin.

    In asking for a lengthy prison sentence, prosecutors wrote to the court, “The wiretap revealed that Ibarra-Valle had excellent connections to sources of supply in California and/or Mexico for drugs, but little to no local knowledge of the drug market or customers here in Western Washington and no English skills. Garcia, by contrast, knew the area, knew the local drug market, and speaks both English and Spanish. As such, he was ideally placed to help Ibarra-Valle sell his product here in this District… Garcia’s possession of a firearm of course increased the danger he posed to the community.”

    Following prison, Garcia will be on five years of supervised release.

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

    The investigation was led by the Drug Enforcement Administration in partnership with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, Whatcom Gang and Drug Task Force, Washington State Patrol, Snohomish Regional Drug Task Force, United States Border Patrol, Customs and Border Protection, Skagit County Interlocal Drug Enforcement Unit, the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office, the Lake Stevens Police Department and Tulalip Police Department.

    The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Vince Lombardi and Michael Harder.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: East Bay Man Sentenced To Two Years In Federal Prison For Fraud And Identity Theft

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    OAKLAND – Freddie Lee Davis III, who pleaded guilty to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft, was sentenced to 24 months and a day in federal prison.  The sentence was handed down on Oct. 24, 2024, by the Hon. Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers, United States District Judge.  Davis’ co-defendant, Sene Malepeai, also pleaded guilty to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft, and has yet to be sentenced.

    Davis and Malepeai, both 27, were charged by criminal complaint on June 30, 2023.  Davis was remanded to federal custody on Aug. 31, 2023, and has remained in custody since then.  Both defendants were charged by superseding information on July 19, 2024, with one count of wire fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft.

    The criminal complaint describes that on June 17, 2021, officers responded to a report of a robbery in the parking lot of a Costco in San Leandro. The victim of the robbery was an Asian female (identified in the complaint as “Q.D.”). The robbery took place in the store’s parking lot after the victim exited Costco. As she was walking to her vehicle, a car drove alongside Q.D. and an individual reached out of a window and grabbed hold of her purse from the moving car.  Q.D. held onto her purse and was dragged the width of several cars.  The car then sped away and Q.D. let go of her purse and fell to the ground, resulting in bodily injuries, including abrasions to her leg and swelling on her hand.  Several witnesses heard Q.D. scream, heard her body hit the asphalt, and saw a black Honda speed away from the incident.  Surveillance cameras revealed that the car had a license plate number registered to Davis.

    On Aug. 1, 2024, Davis pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft.  In Davis’ plea agreement, he acknowledged this robbery and admitted that he received some of the stolen items, including Q.D.’s MasterCard credit card.  Davis further admitted that days after the robbery, he knowingly and unlawfully possessed the credit card knowing it belonged to Q.D., and possessed it in relation to a violation of wire fraud.  In particular, he and co-defendant Malepeai used Q.D.’s credit card, while misrepresenting Malepeai as the lawful user of the credit card, to fraudulently purchase merchandise at a shoe store in San Leandro and make a number of other fraudulent purchases.

    In addition to sentencing Davis to 24 months and a day in federal prison, Judge Gonzalez Rogers ordered him to pay restitution in an amount to be determined and to serve three years of supervised release to begin after his prison term is completed.  

    “Community members should be able to live their lives without fear of being robbed and having items stolen from them used fraudulently,” said United States Attorney Ismail J. Ramsey.  “We will vigorously prosecute these crimes and make sure that defendants like Mr. Davis face serious consequences for their misconduct.”

    On Sept. 17, 2024, Davis’ co-defendant Malepeai also pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft.  Malepeai admitted that, on the day of the robbery, she was a passenger in a vehicle with three other individuals.  As detailed in Malepeai’s plea agreement, earlier that day, the three other occupants of the vehicle had discussed “going to Chinatown to rob Asian women with purses or jewelry.”  They first drove to Chinatown to look for Asians with purses, then went to the parking lot of a retail store, and eventually ended up at a Costco in San Leandro.  Two of the occupants in the vehicle had previously stated that they “preferred robbing Asians because they thought they have more money, and because Asians are ‘easy targets’ who don’t fight back,” according to Malepeai’s plea agreement.  After the robbery, the three other occupants of the vehicle divided up the stolen goods from Q.D.’s purse, including cash, credit cards, a checkbook, and two cell phones, as Malepeai admitted.  Malepeai further admitted to using Q.D.’s credit card, while misrepresenting herself as the lawful user of the credit card, to fraudulently purchase merchandise at a shoe store in San Leandro and make a number of other fraudulent purchases.

    Malepeai’s next hearing before Judge Gonzalez Rogers is set for Nov. 7, 2024.  

    The mandatory minimum penalty for aggravated identity theft is two years in prison, and the maximum statutory penalty for wire fraud is 20 years in prison.  However, any sentence following a conviction is imposed by a court only after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.

    The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Ismail J. Ramsey and FBI Special Agent in Charge Robert Tripp.

    Assistant United States Attorneys Eric Cheng and Molly Priedeman are prosecuting the case, with assistance from Mimi Lam. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the FBI with assistance from the San Leandro Police Department.  
     

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Video: USCGC Resolute offloads approx. $115 million worth of drugs #USCG #Resolute #coastguard

    Source: US Coast Guard (video statements)

    The crew of Coast Guard Cutter Resolute unloaded interdicted narcotics at Sector St. Petersburg South Moorings, Florida, Oct. 23, 2024. Armed Coast Guardsmen stood watch over the interdicted drugs to ensure security and accountability of the seized contraband.

    (U.S. Coast Guard video by Petty Officer 1st Class Riley Perkofski and Petty Officer 3rd Class Santiago Gomez)

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0WJgxP3rghA

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Stansbury’s Statement on President Biden’s Historic Apology to Indigenous People

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Melanie Stansbury (N.M.-01)

    ALBUQUERQUE — U.S. Representative Melanie Stansbury (NM-01) released the following statement after President Joe Biden’s historic apology to Indigenous people for the federal government’s Indian Boarding School Policies:

    “Indigenous history is American history. Today, the U.S. government took a necessary and long overdue step in acknowledging an often dark and painful past with our Indigenous nations. I commend and am grateful for President Biden and Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland’s ongoing work to right the wrongs of the past and apologize for the suffering caused by American Indian boarding schools. 

    “Indigenous peoples have faced systemic violence and discrimination as a result of U.S. policies for generations—yet remain strong and resilient. President Biden’s commitment to addressing these historical injustices is a moral imperative that demands sustained action and collaboration. 

    “This apology is a critical step in reconciling with that past while continuing to bend the arc of the moral universe towards justice here in the United States.”

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Mfume, Cardin, Van Hollen React to Federal Government’s Initial $101.9 Million Settlement with Dali Owner, Operator

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Kweisi Mfume (MD-07)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Congressman Kweisi Mfume, Senators Ben Cardinand Chris Van Hollen (all D-Md.), released the following statement on the U.S. Department of Justice’s (DOJ) $101,980,000 settlement with the owner and operator of the Dali, the vessel that destroyed the Francis Scott Key Bridge. The settlement, according to DOJ, will cover federal costs incurred to restore access to the Port of Baltimore.

    “The catastrophic loss of the Francis Scott Key Bridge required a massive and coordinated response from all levels of government and the private sector. Those efforts removed about 50,000 tons of debris from the Patapsco River and cleared the shipping channel faster than anyone predicted. The initial settlement that the U.S. Justice Department reached for cleanup costs is an important step in holding accountable the owner and operator of the Dali, the ship that caused this disaster,” said the lawmakers. “The federal government has properly stepped up to underwrite urgent and essential needs with an expectation that the appropriate parties will be held financially responsible for their actions. Congress should now act quickly to pass the Baltimore BRIDGE Relief Act, which will ensure full federal backing of the bridge replacement costs, while the Justice Department, State of Maryland and other stakeholders keep up their work to reimburse the taxpayers to the fullest extent possible and provide justice for the families of those we lost.”

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Casey, Colleagues Urge Biden Administration to Combat China’s Illegal Fentanyl Trafficking

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Pennsylvania Bob Casey

    Senators urge Administration to impose trade countermeasures to stop China from sending fentanyl into the United States

    Over 97 percent of all illicit fentanyl present in the U.S. originates in China

    Senators: “China’s state-sponsored policy is to profit from Americans’ deaths. […] A whole-of-government approach is necessary to stop the fentanyl crisis, hold China accountable, and save lives”

    Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) joined his Senate colleagues in calling on the Biden Administration to investigate and take new action to stop China’s relentless export of illicit fentanyl into the United States. China has become the leading exporter of the precursor chemicals used to make fentanyl with over 97 percent of all illicit fentanyl present in the U.S. originating in China. The Senators pressed the Administration to impose trade countermeasures on China for its direct role in supporting the illicit fentanyl trade.

    “China’s state-sponsored policy is to profit from Americans’ deaths. As Senators who represent thousands of families deeply impacted by illicit fentanyl, we have seen that fentanyl doesn’t just hurt the health of our states’ population, it also leaves economic destruction in its wake. […] A whole-of-government approach is necessary to stop the fentanyl crisis, hold China accountable, and save lives,” wrote the Senators.

    The Senators detailed how China’s ongoing manufacturing and shipment of illicit fentanyl is directly subsidized by the Chinese government. The Senators called on U.S Trade Representative Katherine Tai to support a Section 301 tariff petition filed by Facing Fentanyl, Inc., a national coalition of thousands of families and over 200 fentanyl awareness organizations. Section 301 tariffs are imposed when a foreign nation engages in unfair trade practices. The United States has repeatedly imposed Section 301 tariffs on China due to a recurring and ongoing practice of illegal behavior, including in 2018 to combat unfair trade practices such as forced technology transfer, theft of intellectual property, and overproduction of commodities to distort fair market prices.

    Senator Casey has led efforts in the Senate to prevent the spread of fentanyl into the United States. He has traveled around Pennsylvania meeting with law enforcement and families of victims of fentanyl overdoses as he pushed for passage of the FEND Off Fentanyl Act. In October and November 2023, Senator Casey sent multiple letters to President Biden urging his Administration to focus diplomatic conversations with China on the role of the Chinese government in the illicit fentanyl supply chain and demanding meaningful action to combat this crisis. In January, Casey introduced the Stop Fentanyl at the Border Act, a bill to reduce the flow of fentanyl by increasing staffing capacity and technology to detect illicit drugs being smuggled through ports of entry along the southwest border. In July, Casey applauded the Senate passage of the?Preventing the Financing of Illegal Synthetic Drugs Act,?a bill that will direct the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) to investigate how transnational criminal organizations finance synthetic drug trafficking and help the federal government target them more effectively. In August, Casey led his colleagues in introducing the bipartisan?Fighting Illicit Goods, Helping Trustworthy Importers, and Netting Gains (FIGHTING) for America Act?to help CBP prevent fentanyl from entering the country undetected. In September, Casey introduced the Interdiction of Fentanyl at Federal Prisons Act, which would protect prison officers, staff, and inmates from fentanyl and other illicit substances entering the Federal Prison System through inmate mail. 

    In addition to Senator Casey, the letter is signed by Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), and Tina Smith (D-MN).

    Read the read the full letter to U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai HERE or below:  

    Dear Ambassador Tai:

    We write regarding the Section 301 petition filed by Facing Fentanyl, Inc. – a national coalition of over 200 fentanyl awareness organizations and thousands of families – to request that the Administration impose trade countermeasures on the People’s Republic of China (PRC) given the fact that “its government and companies—[are] engaged in a devastating and unrelenting attack on the United States through the export of illicit fentanyl, a lethal poison.” Illicit fentanyl and its precursors have not only caused irreparable harm to the health of American families and communities, but also to the health of our economy. In light of these harms, we write in strong support of this petition and encourage its full and fair evaluation.

    Nothing happens in the PRC without express approval of its government – making the ongoing, unrelenting manufacture and shipment of fentanyl and its precursor chemicals a direct, government-sponsored assault on the American people. The Chinese government directly subsidizes the production of illicit fentanyl materials through tax rebates, awards grants to companies openly trafficking illicit fentanyl online, and holds ownership interests in companies trafficking illicit fentanyl materials. In other words, China’s state-sponsored policy is to profit from Americans’ deaths. As Senators who represent thousands of families deeply impacted by illicit fentanyl, we have seen that fentanyl doesn’t just hurt the health of our states’ population, it also leaves economic destruction in its wake. This problem requires a whole of government approach to combatting China’s unfair and harmful strategies intended to harm the American public and economy.

    As you know, Section 301 tariffs are imposed when a foreign nation engages in unfair trade practices – in essence, when another country cheats at the rules of international trade. The United States has repeatedly imposed Section 301 tariffs upon the PRC due to a recurring and ongoing practice of trade distorting behavior, including in 2018 to combat unfair trade practices regarding technology transfer, intellectual property, and innovation. This petition represents a critical next step in addressing China’s trade cheating.

    The impacts of the fentanyl crisis are felt in every community and across the United States, which has the highest rate of fentanyl overdose deaths of any high-income country. On average, fentanyl kills 200 Americans daily, and has killed nearly 75,000 people in the last year alone. This loss of life is first and foremost tragic and devastating, and it is directly due to the PRC’s support and subsidies for the production and export of fentanyl and the chemicals that can be used to make the deadly drug.  The result is that China has “cornered the market” on fentanyl. It is the source of 97 percent of the world’s fentanyl, and it designed this poison to be more lethal and undetectable – with the result being that many killed by fentanyl had no idea they were ingesting this drug.

    In addition to widespread overdose deaths, the prevalence of fentanyl has had an enormously detrimental effect on the United States economy. The strain on the healthcare system and the diversion of law enforcement resources all contribute to an extreme burden on United States commerce. These consequences directly stem from one source: the PRC’s direct role in and support for the illicit fentanyl trade. Nearly all fentanyl precursors used to manufacture illicit fentanyl come from China. Significant work in Congress has been done to hold China accountable for these horrific policies. Earlier this year, Congress passed the FEND Off Fentanyl Act, which imposes new sanctions and anti-money laundering penalties targeting the illicit fentanyl supply chain. Diplomatic efforts should be acknowledged as well. We have even seen a welcome decline in the number of unintentional overdose deaths in America, but this reprieve will not last without action.

    These are important steps, but more must be done. A whole-of-government approach is necessary to stop the fentanyl crisis, hold China accountable, and save lives. This petition offers new opportunity to enforce U.S. law to protect American citizens and our economy. Through Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, USTR has an opportunity to directly address the root of over 97 percent of the illicit fentanyl coming into the U.S. Petitioners request trade countermeasures including: tariffs on specific manufacturers and broad sectors that are complicit in fentanyl production, mobile application restrictions, outbound investment restrictions, and complete closure of the de minimis loophole. Every available tool should be considered to help our nation grapple with this crisis.

    Although the network of how fentanyl travels can be complex, the source is not. The manufacturing and distribution of illicit fentanyl that gets into our country is the active, conscious policy choice of the PRC. The government of the United States must fight back on behalf of the families and communities that have been devastated by this crisis using every tool we have. It is imperative that USTR carefully evaluate this Section 301 petition and take every step possible to hold to account those making and shipping this poison into the United States.

    Thank you for your consideration of this critically important issue.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: PHOTO RELEASE: Tuberville Speaks at PowerSouth Luncheon in South Alabama

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Tommy Tuberville (Alabama)

    ANDALUSIA – Today, U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) spoke at the PowerSouth Energy Cooperative Employee Luncheon in Andalusia, Alabama. Senator Tuberville discussed his work on rural development, access to rural broadband, and the importance of restoring American energy independence as the Ranking Member of the Subcommittee for Rural Development and Energy within the Senate Agriculture Committee.

    PowerSouth generates and transmits wholesale power to 16 electric co-ops and four municipal electric systems in South Alabama—serving over 480,000 customers.

    Senator Tommy Tuberville represents Alabama in the United States Senate and is a member of the Senate Armed Services, Agriculture, Veterans’ Affairs, and HELP Committees.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SUNDAY: Governor Newsom to unveil major proposal to bolster California’s film and TV industry

    Source: US State of California Governor

    Oct 25, 2024

    LOS ANGELES COUNTY – Sunday, in Los Angeles County, Governor Newsom will unveil a major proposal to bolster the state’s film and television industry.

    California is home to the largest share of the film and TV economy in the United States. Film and TV production in California supports over 700,000 jobs and nearly $70 billion in wages for in-state workers.

    WHEN: Sunday, October 27th at 1:45pm PT 
    LIVESTREAM: CA Governor Twitter page, CA Governor Facebook page, and the CA Governor YouTube page.

    **NOTE: This press event will be open to credentialed media only. Media interested in attending must RSVP to govpressoffice@gov.ca.gov by no later than 11 a.m., October 27. Information will be provided in the RSVP confirmation note.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Duckworth, Jacobs Seek to Protect IVF Coverage in Final NDAA

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Illinois Tammy Duckworth

    October 25, 2024

    [WASHINGTON, D.C.] — U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Sara Jacobs (D-CA-51) continued their push to ensure the final FY2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) preserves language contained in both the Senate-reported and House-passed versions of the NDAA that would require TRICARE coverage of fertility services, including in vitro fertilization (IVF), for our nation’s servicemembers. In a letter to Senate and House Armed Services Committee leadership, the lawmakers—who authored and successfully secured inclusion of the IVF coverage provisions in the Senate and House bills, respectively—called for servicemembers and military families to receive the same level of IVF coverage that’s accessible to Members of Congress and federal employees next year. Senator Duckworth is a combat Veteran who served in the Reserve Forces for 23 years and is a member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC).

    “We strongly believe U.S. servicemembers and military families deserve fertility benefit coverage in 2025 that is at least comparable to what Members of Congress will receive,” the lawmakers wrote. “It would be hypocritical for Members of Congress to enjoy high quality fertility benefit coverage next year, right on the heels of denying such IVF coverage to brave Americans willing to defend our country in uniform, and the dedicated military families that sacrifice to support their loved ones’ service to our great country.”

    Two-thirds of servicemembers, who often spend their prime reproductive years in hazardous conditions and away from their partners, have reported experiencing family-building challenges after returning home. As a result, many TRICARE beneficiaries pay tens of thousands of dollars in out-of-pocket costs for fertility treatment. Expanding IVF coverage would strengthen recruitment, retention and readiness efforts—all while supporting those who have sacrificed greatly for the United States.

    “Failing to provide high-quality IVF coverage through TRICARE would perpetuate an unfair system that forces military families to confront an impossible and unjust choice between serving their country in uniform or starting a family without the risk of financial ruin,” the lawmakers concluded. “We are gravely concerned that this will inevitably deter recruitment and retention efforts and ultimately decrease our Nation’s military readiness. Providing U.S. servicemembers and military families with robust IVF coverage is the least we can do for those Americans who have sacrificed so much for us.”

    A full copy of the letter is available below and on Rep. Jacobs website:

    Dear Chairman Reed, Ranking Member Wicker, Chairman Rogers, and Ranking Member Smith:

    Because of hard work conducted under your respective leadership of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) and House Armed Services Committee (HASC), Congress is poised to ensure the final legislative text of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025 (NDAA) preserves language contained in both the House-passed and Senate-reported versions of the NDAA that require TRICARE cover fertility services, including in vitro fertilization (IVF).

    Accordingly, we write to request that in negotiating the final conference report to accompany the NDAA, you ensure U.S. servicemembers and military families receive IVF coverage in 2025 that is on par with the IVF coverage Members of Congress and Federal employees will be provided access to in 2025 by taking one of these courses of action:

    • House recedes regarding Section 701 of H.R. 8070, and the final bill includes Section 705 of S. 4638;
    • Senate recedes regarding Section 705 of S. 4638 and the final bill includes Section 701 of H.R. 8070; or
    • The final bill merges and harmonizes Sections 701 and 705.

    Since HASC added the provisions (sec. 701) requiring TRICARE cover fertility services, including IVF, by voice vote without controversy; and then House Republicans chose to preserve these Democratic-authored provisions in the version of the NDAA that the House narrowly passed along party-lines; we are hopeful that achieving fertility benefit parity between Members of Congress, Federal employees and members of the U.S. Armed Forces can avoid controversy and be preserved in the final NDAA that President Joe Biden signs into law.

    In the coming months, Members of the U.S. House of Representatives and United States Senators will have the opportunity to select health insurance from 2025 marketplace plans that all include high quality, affordable fertility benefit coverage—including excellent IVF coverage that, absent action by Congress, will be far superior to the restrictive fertility benefit coverage offered to U.S. servicemembers and military families under current law. Under the Federal Employees Health Benefits program, Federal employees will also receive high quality fertility benefit coverage, including IVF, in 2025.

    Importantly, every Member of Congress will be able to enroll in a 2025 marketplace plan that covers IVF services provided in accordance with widely accepted and evidence-based medical standards of care and the American Society for Reproductive Medicine’s (ASRM) professional guidelines—which includes coverage of at least three complete oocyte retrievals with unlimited embryo transfers from those oocyte retrievals, and standard fertility preservation services.

    We strongly believe U.S. servicemembers and military families deserve fertility benefit coverage in 2025 that is at least comparable to what Members of Congress will receive.

    It would be hypocritical for Members of Congress to enjoy high quality fertility benefit coverage next year, right on the heels of denying such IVF coverage to brave Americans willing to defend our country in uniform, and the dedicated military families that sacrifice to support their loved ones’ service to our great country. That is why we strongly agree with the position taken by a broad coalition of Military Service Organizations (MSOs) and Veterans Service Organizations (VSOs) that these MSOs and VSOs expressed to you in their October 10, 2024, joint letter:

    ‘The health care benefit is an earned benefit and an essential part of military compensation. Coverage should not be contingent on a service member’s willingness or ability to accept an additional service commitment. For that reason, we caution Congress against adopting Section 627 of S. 4638, which would require a service member benefiting from expanded reproductive health coverage to accept an additional service commitment of four years. Again, military members deserve coverage that is on par with civilian plans, and civilian plans make no such demands of their beneficiaries [emphasis added].’

    We share the opposition of MSOs and VSOs to including Section 627 of S. 4638 in the final bill text because it falls woefully short of providing servicemembers and their families with comparable coverage to the coverage Members of Congress receive. Unfortunately, Section 627 goes beyond TRICARE fertility coverage requirements and injects controversial and divisive language relating to abortion services and embryonic personhood, which are contrary to the bipartisan tradition of the NDAA and distract from what should be our overriding priority: making sure that in 2025, U.S. servicemembers and military families receive high quality and affordable fertility services coverage that is on par with fertility benefits that Members of Congress and Federal employees will receive in the coming year.

    Servicemembers are disproportionately impacted by infertility and face unique challenges in trying to start and build their families. Two-thirds of servicemembers, who often spend their prime reproductive years in hazardous conditions and away from their partners, have reported family-building challenges due to military service. Most TRICARE beneficiaries must pay out of pocket for fertility treatment, costing tens of thousands of dollars, all while navigating challenging duty station moves and a complex healthcare system bureaucracy.

    Failing to provide high-quality IVF coverage through TRICARE would perpetuate an unfair system that forces military families to confront an impossible and unjust choice between serving their country in uniform or starting a family without the risk of financial ruin. We are gravely concerned that this will inevitably deter recruitment and retention efforts and ultimately decrease our Nation’s military readiness. Providing U.S. servicemembers and military families with robust IVF coverage is the least we can do for those Americans who have sacrificed so much for us.

    We thank you in advance for your consideration of our request to make sure that we complete the mission of ensuring members of the U.S. Armed Forces achieve parity with Members of Congress and the civil service by finalizing a conference report and passing a NDAA that, for the first time in history, requires TRICARE cover fertility services, including IVF, without harmful and onerous restrictions that violate widely accepted and evidence-based medical standards of care and fail to comport with ASRM professional guidance.

    Sincerely,

    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China’s AG600 amphibious aircraft completes minimum unstick speed flight test

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

    BEIJING, Oct. 25 — China’s AG600 large amphibious aircraft on Friday passed an airworthiness validation flight test of its minimum unstick speed, the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) has announced.

    China’s independently developed AG600 aircraft underwent the flight test in Pucheng County of northwest China’s Shaanxi Province, said AVIC, the country’s leading aircraft manufacturer.

    The minimum unstick speed test is one of the most difficult and high-risk flight tests for transport aircraft. It is of great importance to ensuring the safe formulation of an aircraft’s takeoff and landing speeds.

    The successful completion of this flight test has laid a solid foundation for the AG600’s subsequent safety flight tests and airworthiness certification, according to the aircraft’s developer.

    The AG600 amphibious aircraft family is China’s first independently developed, large-sized, special-purpose civil aircraft family. It is tailored to meet the needs of forest firefighting, maritime rescue and other emergency rescue sectors across the country, AVIC has said.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China’s securities regulator grants registration of log futures, options

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

    BEIJING, Oct. 25 — The China Securities Regulatory Commission on Friday said it has approved the registration of log futures and options on the Dalian Commodity Exchange.

    The commission said it will urge the exchange to ensure the smooth launch and steady operation of log futures and options.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Forum on China-UK dialogue, collaboration in screen industry held in London

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

    LONDON, Oct. 25 — A forum centered on dialogue and collaboration between the Chinese and British screen industries was held in London on Friday, drawing over 200 professionals and industry insiders from both countries.

    The Shanghai-London Screen Industry Forum (SLSIF) 2024 highlighted outstanding Chinese and British film and television projects, featuring speeches, panel discussions, trailer screenings, and the launch of new collaborative projects between China and the United Kingdom (UK).

    Adrian Wootton, Chief Executive of Film London, said that the forum would create valuable opportunities for the Chinese and British screen industries to deepen their understanding of each other’s strengths and explore potential collaborations.

    “New business relationships are crucial for building connections, developing ideas, enhancing mutual understanding, and potentially laying the groundwork for real co-production opportunities between the UK and China, London and Shanghai,” Wootton said.

    During the panel discussions, participants shared insights on the opportunities and challenges in China-UK screen industry cooperation, as well as the global dissemination of Chinese content.

    “In today’s globalized world, cultural exchanges and cooperation are essential for world peace and development,” said Luo Yi, Deputy Director-General at the Shanghai Municipal Administration of Culture and Tourism. He emphasized that high-quality audiovisual productions act as “the bridge and bond linking different peoples.”

    The event included the showcase of 35 Chinese productions spanning genres such as animation, documentaries, period dramas, and contemporary urban series. The forum also celebrated the release of “Asia”, a seven-episode natural history documentary series produced by BBC Studios.

    “With the creative industries at the heart of the industrial strategy, and with forums like this, I think we can expect great things between China’s collaboration in the future,” said Rupert Daniels, Director of Creative, Consumer, Sports, and Education at the UK Department for Business and Trade. He added that such partnerships not only enhance commercial prospects but also strengthen cultural capacity and connections.

    Launched in 2023, SLSIF aims to enhance understanding and foster dialogue between the Chinese and British screen industries, promoting the successful realization of co-production projects.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: 31st China Yangling Agricultural Hi-tech Fair kicks off

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

    31st China Yangling Agricultural Hi-tech Fair kicks off

    Updated: October 26, 2024 09:19 Xinhua
    People visit the 31st China Yangling Agricultural Hi-tech Fair in Yangling, northwest China’s Shaanxi Province, Oct. 25, 2024. Featuring innovations in agricultural high-tech achievements, the 31st China Yangling Agricultural Hi-tech Fair kicked off here on Friday. The fair will last until Oct. 29. [Photo/Xinhua]
    People visit an exhibition booth of agricultural products from Tajikistan at the 31st China Yangling Agricultural Hi-tech Fair in Yangling, northwest China’s Shaanxi Province, Oct. 25, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]
    People learn about smart plant factory at the 31st China Yangling Agricultural Hi-tech Fair in Yangling, northwest China’s Shaanxi Province, Oct. 25, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]
    People visit an exhibition booth of Iranian saffron at the 31st China Yangling Agricultural Hi-tech Fair in Yangling, northwest China’s Shaanxi Province, Oct. 25, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]
    People visit the 31st China Yangling Agricultural Hi-tech Fair in Yangling, northwest China’s Shaanxi Province, Oct. 25, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]
    People visit the 31st China Yangling Agricultural Hi-tech Fair in Yangling, northwest China’s Shaanxi Province, Oct. 25, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]
    An automatic picking robot is displayed at the 31st China Yangling Agricultural Hi-tech Fair in Yangling, northwest China’s Shaanxi Province, Oct. 25, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Multiple Massachusetts Fugitives Arrested in Maine

    Source: US Marshals Service

    Portland, ME – The U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) in Maine, announce the arrest of multiple Massachusetts fugitives in the towns of Madison and Skowhegan, Maine.

    On October 24, 2024, the USMS, Maine Violent Offender Task Force (MVOTF) located and apprehended a fugitive following a vehicle stop in Madison, Maine. The fugitive, identified as a juvenile, had warrants issued out of Bristol County, Massachusetts Superior Court for carrying a loaded firearm without license, carrying a firearm without license, assault & battery with a firearm, discharging a firearm within 500ft of a building, vandalizing property, and malicious damage to a motor vehicle. A firearm and an alleged
    quantity of drugs were also recovered.

    Today, Oct 25th, Kvon Brooks, 18, was located and apprehended in Skowhegan, Maine, on warrants issued out of Fall River, Massachusetts District Court for attempted murder, strangulation or suffocation, assault & battery on a family/household member, assault & battery on a pregnant victim, and vandalizing property. Brooks was a passenger in a vehicle stopped by U.S. Marshal Task Force members earlier this morning.

    Concurrent to Brooks’ arrest, another passenger, identified as a juvenile, was found to have outstanding warrants out of Bristol County, Massachusetts Superior Court for carrying a firearm without a license, carrying a loaded firearm without license, possession of ammunition without FID card, possession of large capacity firearm, and trespass.

    The Massachusetts, the USMS New England HIDTA (High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area) Fugitive Task Force, Massachusetts State Police Violent Fugitive Apprehension Section (VFAS), and the New Bedford, Massachusetts Police Department, worked collaboratively and provided information to the U.S. Marshals, Maine Violent Offender Task Force. All three subjects were arrested without incident and charged as fugitives from justice.

    The USMS, Maine Violent Offender Task Force is comprised of members of the U.S. Marshals Service, Maine Department of Corrections, Biddeford Police Department, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and Maine National Guard Counterdrug Task Force.

    If you have any information regarding the whereabouts of any state or federal fugitive, please contact the United States Marshals Service at MED.TIPLINE@usdoj.gov, or submit a web tip.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Capito Announces Funding to Support Yeager Airport Upgrades

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for West Virginia Shelley Moore Capito

    CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Today, U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), a leader on both the Senate Appropriations and Commerce Committees, as well as Ranking Member of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, announced a funding award from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) for West Virginia International Yeager Airport to support the new terminal project.

    This grant award, which was made possible through provisions included in the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) that Senator Capito helped negotiate and craft, will provide funding for the reconstruction and rehabilitation of the passenger terminal, including constructing a new concourse, at Yeager Airport.

    “CRW’s terminal is from the 1940s and is long overdue for a major upgrade. As I was helping negotiate the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, I made certain to highlight and support the needs of smaller and rural airports in West Virginia and across the country,” Senator Capito said. “We are now seeing the results with funding like this headed to West Virginia to support significant passenger growth at Yeager Airport. West Virginia continues to see the benefits of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, and this grant announcement is yet another example.”

    “Thanks to this significant investment, we are on the path to fully transforming the passenger experience at CRW,” Dominique Ranieri, Airport Director and CEO of West Virginia International Yeager Airport, said. “This project will not only upgrade our facilities to meet modern standards but also ensures CRW remains a key, competitive asset for the region. We are immensely grateful for Senator Capito’s ongoing support in securing the funding needed to position the Airport for future growth.”

    Individual award details listed below:

    • $8,000,000 IIJA Airport Terminal Program grant to West Virginia International Yeager Airport (Charleston, W.Va.) to enhance passenger amenities, expand the security checkpoint, and meet requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cornyn on VP Harris’ Last-Minute Trip to Houston: ‘Too Little, Too Late’

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Texas John Cornyn

    AUSTIN – U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) released the following statement in response to Vice President and Border Czar Kamala Harris’ trip to Houston, Texas:

    “Vice President Kamala Harris’ visit to Texas just ahead of Election Day is too little, too late for Texans who have had to endure more than three and a half years of her reckless open-border policies and the worst inflation in decades.”

    “Millions of migrants have illegally entered our country under Border Czar Harris’ watch, including two in Houston – where Harris is visiting – who raped and murdered 12-year-old Jocelyn Nungaray. Of course, today she will not address that or the flow of deadly drugs like fentanyl that have killed more than 100,000 of our fellow Americans in just one year alone. Instead, she will make a tone-deaf attempt to shift the focus away from her many failures as second-in-command.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: HKETO San Francisco promotes Hong Kong culture at Northern California Dragon Boat Festival (with photos)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    HKETO San Francisco promotes Hong Kong culture at Northern California Dragon Boat Festival (with photos)
    HKETO San Francisco promotes Hong Kong culture at Northern California Dragon Boat Festival (with photos)
    ******************************************************************************************

         ​The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in San Francisco (HKETO San Francisco) participated in the Northern California Dragon Boat Festival in Foster City, California, October 19 and 20, 2024 (Foster City Time).     Over 1 000 local and visiting paddlers competed in junior, adult and senior races in a lagoon at Leo J Ryan Park. With a diverse array of vendors and “Dragon Land”, which was an arts and crafts workshop for children, the event attracted hundreds of spectators and visitors.     HKETO San Francisco hosted a booth at the festival promoting Hong Kong culture, holding activities ranging from a lip-sync challenge in Cantonese to offering information on Hong Kong’s local delicacies and latest attractions. Visitors played a game featuring Hong Kong landmarks and were happy to receive Hong Kong-themed souvenirs.

     
    Ends/Saturday, October 26, 2024Issued at HKT 9:30

    NNNN

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: 10.25.2024 Media Research Center Honors Sen. Cruz with Inaugural Free Speech Award

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Texas Ted Cruz

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Media Research Center (MRC) has honored U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) as one of the recipients of its inaugural Free Speech Award.
    About the award, Sen. Cruz said, “I am honored to be recognized by the Media Research Center as a champion of free speech. Throughout my tenure in the U.S. Senate, I have fought relentlessly to protect the inalienable rights and freedoms that have made our country the world’s greatest democracy. Liberty can only prevail when the right to speak freely is protected, but as President Ronald Reagan wisely said, ‘Freedom is a fragile thing, and it’s never more than one generation away from extinction.’ That is truer now than ever before.
    “Our first amendment right to freedom of speech is under attack, as radicals on the left try to silence anyone who disagrees with them. The path forward requires us to stand firm against those who seek to suppress free speech. I remain committed to fighting our ‘first freedoms.’”
    BACKGROUND
    Sen. Cruz was recognized as one of 35 leaders fighting to protect free speech. Sen. Cruz was honored alongside members of Congress, members of government service, and private citizens who all share a common commitment – to counter the forces that aim to stifle our First Amendment rights.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA News: G7 Leaders’ Statement on Extraordinary Revenue Acceleration (ERA)  Loans

    Source: The White House

    Today, we, the Leaders of the Group of Seven (G7), have reached a consensus on how to deliver approximately $50 billion in Extraordinary Revenue Acceleration (ERA) loans to Ukraine.

    These loans will be serviced and repaid by future flows of extraordinary revenues stemming from the immobilization of Russian Sovereign Assets, in line with G7 respective legal systems and international law. The loan proceeds will be disbursed through multiple channels to support Ukraine’s budgetary, military and reconstruction assistance, as consistent with all applicable law and G7 members’ respective legal systems. Our aim is to begin disbursing the funds by the end of the year.

    We express our utmost appreciation for the timely implementation of this historic G7 Leaders’ decision by the Finance Ministers, who have agreed on a technical solution ensuring consistency, coordination, fair distribution of lending, and solidarity among all G7 partners. We are particularly grateful to the European Union and its Member States for their constructive engagement towards this remarkable result.

    Today’s announcement confirms that the G7 fulfills the commitment they made in June at the Apulia G7 Leaders’ Summit. Russian illegal and unprovoked aggression has caused untold harm to the people of Ukraine and to global peace and security. We will not tire in our resolve to give Ukraine the support it needs to prevail. Russia must end its illegal war of aggression and pay for the damage it has caused to Ukraine in line with international law.

    The G7 remains steadfast in its solidarity to support Ukraine’s fight for freedom, and its recovery and reconstruction. With the large amount of financing from the ERA loans to meet its pressing need, we have once again made clear our unwavering commitment to stand by Ukraine for as long as it takes. Time is not on President Putin’s side.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Adams’ Statement on Freedom Caucus Proposal to Disenfranchise NC Voters

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Alma Adams (12th District of North Carolina)

    CHARLOTTE – Congresswoman Alma S. Adams, Ph.D. (NC-12), released the following statement after Congressman Andy Harris (R-MD-01), Chairman of the House Freedom Caucus, suggested the North Carolina State Legislature award their state’s Electoral College votes to former president Donald Trump irrespective of the votes of the people of North Carolina: 

    “The election is barely underway and the House Freedom Caucus already wants to throw the ballots out. It would be disgraceful to overturn the votes of a free and fair election. Rep. Andy Harris (MD-01) should retract and apologize for his statement that North Carolina’s state legislature should unilaterally hand the state’s Electoral College votes to his preferred candidate. 

    For my part, I joined my colleagues in signing onto letters   to both the USPS and the Biden-Harris Administration to ensure our elections remain safe and accessible in the wake of Hurricanes Helene and Milton. Our constituents are experiencing a disaster. Exploiting them for ill political gain, instead of helping, is shameful. Let’s turn the page on this insanity once and for all.” 

    ### 

    Congresswoman Alma S. Adams, Ph.D. represents North Carolina’s 12th Congressional District (Charlotte, Mecklenburg County, Cabarrus County) and serves on the House Committee on Agriculture and the House Committee on Education & the Workforce, where she serves as ranking member of the Workforce Protections Subcommittee. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: State Highway 2, Eskdale closed

    Source: New Zealand Police (District News)

    State Highway 2, Eskdale is closed following a crash.

    The single vehicle crash was reported just after 2:40pm.

    Three people have been seriously injured.

    There are currently no detours available. Motorists are advised to avoid the area.

    ENDS

    Issued by Police Media Centre

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: 7th Air Force joins ROKAF to host Freedom Flag 24-1

    Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

    OSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea  –  

    The Seventh Air Force and Republic of Korea Air Force Operations Command are hosting a combined large force exercise, Freedom Flag 24-1, with U.S., Republic of Korea, and Royal Australian Air Force participants Oct. 21 – Nov. 1, 2024.

    The event is part of an annual training schedule designed to enhance the combined readiness and interoperability of combined air component forces, with large scale, integrated training on advanced, high-end tactics, techniques and procedures against an advanced adversary.

    “Freedom Flag demonstrates the strength of the ROK-U.S. Alliance and the shared commitment of the ROK and U.S. air forces to the defense of the Korean peninsula and the United States,” said Lt. Gen. David Iverson, Seventh Air Force commander. “It enables us to work together to build the readiness we need, to deter our adversaries, and if that deterrence fails, to be ready to prevail quickly in any type of conflict.”

    As Seventh Air Force adapts and adjusts its training focus to ensure continued preparedness, it is shifting its fall and spring major flying training events to be flag-level air exercises, modeled after the U.S. Red Flag exercises, to provide complex, scalable training opportunities to air and joint commanders in the Indo-Pacific region.

    The name Freedom Flag was chosen to demonstrate the shared U.S. and ROK commitment to freedom and peace on the Korean peninsula.

    “Freedom Flag represents the past, present, and future of the U.S.-ROK alliance,” said ROK Lt. Gen Kim Hyoung Soo, AFOC commander.  “The ROK Air Force has been protecting the airspace of the Republic of Korea and safeguarding the freedom and peace of the Korean peninsula based on a strong U.S.-ROK combined defense posture.”

    This year’s exercise seeks to improve multinational airpower in two phases, focusing on high-quality, face-to-face planning sessions Oct. 21 to 25, and then executing complex flying scenarios Oct. 28 to Nov. 1, featuring offensive and defensive counter-air, air interdiction, close air support, combat search and rescue, air drops, and aerial medical evacuation missions.

    Military personnel from the ROK Air Force, USAF, U.S. Army, U.S. Marine Corps, and Royal Australian Air Force, assigned to units from across the Indo-Pacific region including the U.S. Special Operations Command Korea and ROK Special Warfare Command, plan to participate in the training. RAAF support will not only include aircraft and aircrew – RAAF air battle managers will also join U.S. and ROKAF air controllers in the Korean Air Operations Center for the first time.

    “Many nations value freedom for their people, and the international, rules-based order,” said Iverson. “Freedom Flag provides a valuable opportunity to train together and raise our readiness to defend those ideals.”

    U.S. aircraft scheduled to participate include the F-16 Fighting Falcon, F-35B Lightning II, A-10 Thunderbolt II, E-3 Sentry, U-2 Dragon Lady, MQ-9 Reaper, MQ-1C Grey Eagle, KC-135 Stratotanker, C-130J Super Hercules, MC-130J Command II, and AH-64 Apache, coming from locations both on and off the Korean peninsula. The RAAF will be providing aerial refueling support with a KC-30A Multi-Role Tanker Transport, while ROKAF aircraft will participate with their F-35A Lighting II, F-15K Slam Eagle, KF-16 Fighting Falcon, FA-50 Fighting Eagle, F-5 Freedom Fighter, KA-1 light attack aircraft, C-130H Hercules, CASA CN-235 and KC-330. Various U.S. and ROK intelligence, reconnaissance and surveillance aircraft will also join the training.

    “This exercise will play an important role in enhancing the readiness of the ROK and U.S. air forces to deter enemy threats through high-level training,” Iverson said. “Although we focus on deterrence, every single day we are ready to defend both the Republic of Korea and the United States together with thousands of Airmen and hundreds of combat aircraft.”

    Combined flying training events like Freedom Flag 24-1 are focused on readiness, not related to any current real-world situations, and are not intended to be threatening or provocative toward any other country.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: ADB Signs New Exposure Exchange Agreements with African Development Bank and Inter-American Development Bank

    Source: Asia Development Bank

    MANILA, PHILIPPINES (26 October 2024) — The Asian Development Bank (ADB) today signed two new sovereign exposure exchange agreements (EEAs), strengthening ADB’s ability to lend to borrowing members.

    ADB signed a $1 billion agreement with the African Development Bank (AfDB) and a $1.5 billion agreement with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). These two new exchanges bring to five the number of EEAs signed by ADB with these multilateral development banks (MDBs) since 2020, for a total of $6 billion.

    “Regularly exchanging exposures with other MDBs is a key feature of our balance sheet optimization efforts, allowing us to reduce concentration risk and extend greater assistance to our developing member countries,” ADB Vice-President for Finance and Risk Management Roberta Casali said. “The increasing use of this risk transfer method is a great example of the enhanced cooperation across MDBs and our willingness to work together as a system.”  

    A sovereign exposure exchange is a risk management tool to reduce portfolio concentration risks. It provides capital relief for sovereign-focused MDBs by exchanging concentrated loan exposures with exposure to countries where their credit exposure is less or nonexistent. By lowering exposure concentration, ADB reduces its capital usage, thereby increasing its lending capacity. It also lowers the net exposure to borrowers included in the exchanges, providing additional borrowing headroom under ADB’s limits framework.

    For more information about EEAs, refer to the Q&A article.

    ADB continuously explores ways to effectively manage its capital to help the region address simultaneous crises. In 2023, it unlocked $100 billion in additional lending capacity over the next decade by updating its Capital Adequacy Framework.

    ADB is committed to achieving a prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable Asia and the Pacific, while sustaining its efforts to eradicate extreme poverty. Established in 1966, it is owned by 69 members—49 from the region.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Q&A: Sovereign Exposure Exchanges Allow MDBs to Reduce Portfolio Concentration Risks

    Source: Asia Development Bank

    Article | 26 October 2024
    Read time: 2 mins

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    What is an exchange of sovereign exposures?

    A sovereign exposure exchange is a cost-effective risk management tool used by multilateral development banks (MDBs) to reduce sovereign portfolio concentration risks. It provides capital relief for MDBs by exchanging loan guarantees on credit exposure from borrowing countries where an MDB is highly concentrated for exposure to countries where the MBD’s exposure is lower or nonexistent.

    Why does ADB need to enter into these agreements?

    ADB’s sovereign portfolio is highly concentrated, with its top five sovereign exposures representing over half of its portfolio. This high level of concentration increases the level of capital usage. By lowering exposure concentration, ADB lowers its capital usage, increasing its lending capacity in general.  The exchange also lowers the net credit exposure to individual borrowers, thereby increasing the limit headroom for the borrowers included in the exchange.

    What are the benefits of exposure exchanges?

    The benefits of exposure exchanges include: 

    • Reduced concentration risk, which will allow MDBs to lend more through improved capital utilization ratio.  This increased lending capacity benefits all borrowers; and,
    • Reduced net exposure to borrowers included in the exposure exchange transactions, providing additional borrowing headroom under ADB’s limits framework.

    Are actual loans being exchanged?

    No. The exchange is “synthetic” in nature as it does not entail the actual transfer or removal of specific loans from either MDB’s balance sheet and only involves the guarantee for a portion of the overall exposure. The exposure exchange transaction does not change the relationship between the original lender and the borrower.

    Has ADB considered pursuing EEAs with new partners?

    ADB is a member of the MDB Exposure Exchange Master Agreement, along with African Development Bank (AfDB), Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD). Of these institutions, IBRD is the only one with which ADB does not have an exchange in place, although discussions remain ongoing. The EEA mechanism is only one among many tools that ADB has at its disposal in terms of risk transfer arrangements with others including guarantees with bilateral or multilateral partners.

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    Subjects
    • ADB administration and governance
    • ADB funds and products

    MIL OSI Economics –