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Category: Latin America

  • MIL-OSI Security: Honduran National Extradited to the United States for Fentanyl Trafficking

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    SACRAMENTO, Calif. — An indictment was unsealed today charging Honduran national Abner Estrada Cruz, 25, with conspiracy to distribute at least 400 grams fentanyl and seven counts of distributing fentanyl, Acting U.S. Attorney Michele Beckwith announced.

    Estrada Cruz was extradited from Honduras to the United States to face the charges against him.

    The indictment stems from a two-year DEA-led multi-agency investigation into a Honduran fentanyl drug trafficking ring operating out of Honduras, San Francisco, California, and Portland, Oregon. During the course of the investigation, DEA seized more than 16 pounds of fentanyl powder trafficked into the Eastern District of California from Estrada Cruz’s co-conspirators. Those co-conspirators – Yahir Alexander Arteaga Cruz, Carlos Samir Colindrez-Erazo, and Aronis Jose Hernandez Aguilar – have been charged in the same conspiracy by separate indictment in the Eastern District of California in Sacramento (2:24-cr-0246-DAD). Several additional members of the Drug Trafficking Organization were indicted in the District of Oregon in Portland.

    Estrada Cruz acted as the operations manager of the organization, taking orders, arranging deliveries, and helping to run the organization from San Francisco, Portland, and Honduras. He was arrested in Honduras and surrendered to the United States following extradition proceedings.

    This case is the product of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, with assistance from the California Department of Justice Bureau of Investigation Fentanyl Task Force, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cameron L. Desmond is prosecuting the case.

    The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs worked with law enforcement partners in Honduras to secure the arrest and extradition of Estrada Cruz.

    If convicted of the conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl, Estrada Cruz faces a maximum statutory penalty of life in prison and a $10 million fine. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

    This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Strike Force Initiative, which provides for the establishment of permanent multi-agency task force teams that work side-by-side in the same location. The specific mission of the OCDETF Sacramento Strike Force is to identify, investigate, and prosecute the most significant criminal organizations operating in the Eastern District of California. OCDETF Sacramento Strike Force is composed of agents and officers from DEA, FBI, HSI, IRS-CI, USMS, ATF, USPIS, BLM, USFS, the Sacramento Sheriff’s Office, the California National Guard, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, the California Department of Justice, and the Central Valley California HIDTA.

    MIL Security OSI –

    January 25, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Global: Can Trump just order new names for Denali and the Gulf of Mexico? A geographer explains who decides what goes on the map

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Innisfree McKinnon, Associate Professor of Geography, University of Wisconsin-Stout

    Known as Mount McKinley until 2015, Denali’s current name reflects what Native Alaskans call the mountain. Arterra/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

    President Donald Trump’s executive order to rename the Gulf of Mexico and Alaska’s Denali, the tallest peak in the country, has resulted in lots of discussion. While for some, such renaming might seem less important than the big problems the country faces, there is a formal process in the United States for renaming places, and that process is taken seriously.

    Usually, so people don’t get confused, official, agreed-upon names are used by the government. In the U.S., place names are standardized by the U.S. Board on Geographic Names, which is part of the U.S. Geological Survey, the agency in charge of making maps.

    In his executive order, Trump asks the Board on Geographic Names “to honor the contributions of visionary and patriotic Americans” and change its policies and procedures to reflect that.

    Usually, renaming a place starts locally. The people in the state or county propose a name change and gather support. The process in each state is different.

    Lake Bde Maka Ska, formerly Lake Calhoun, is the largest lake in Minneapolis.
    YinYang/E+ via Getty

    How to change a place name

    Minnesota recently changed the name of a large lake in Minneapolis to Bde Maka Ska, which the Minneapolis Park Board described as “a Dakota name for the lake that has been passed down in oral history for many years.”

    The board voted to change the name and took its request to the county commissioners. When the county agreed, the request was then sent to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, which made it official for Minnesota. Then, the state of Minnesota sent the request to the Board on Geographic Names, which made it official for the entire U.S.

    It’s a lot of paperwork for something so seemingly minor, but people get passionate about place names. It took 40 years to rename Denali from the name established in the late 19th century, Mount McKinley.

    The state of Alaska requested the name change in 1975, but the Board on Geographic Names didn’t take action. Members of the Ohio congressional delegation – President William McKinley was from Ohio – objected over many years to requests to rename the mountain, and the board did not act on those requests.

    The president appoints the secretary of the Interior Department. The secretary works with the heads of related agencies to appoint the Board on Geographic Names. Current committee policy states, “Input from State geographic names authorities, land
    management agencies, local governments, and Tribal Governments     are actively pursued.”

    In 2015, President Barack Obama named a new leader for the Department of the Interior, Sally Jewell. Just as Obama made a trip to Alaska in late August 2015, Jewell declared the name change official under a law that allows the secretary of the Interior to change a name if the board doesn’t act on the proposal in a “reasonable” amount of time.

    “This name change recognizes the sacred status of Denali to many Alaska Natives,” Jewell said. “The name Denali has been official for use by the State of Alaska since 1975, but even more importantly, the mountain has been known as Denali for generations. With our own sense of reverence for this place, we are officially renaming the mountain Denali in recognition of the traditions of Alaska Natives and the strong support of the people of Alaska.”

    If someone objects to a name change, they could ask the courts to rule on whether the name change was made legally. Going back to Bde Maka Ska, some people objected to changing the name from Lake Calhoun, so they took the state natural resources agency to court. Eventually, the Minnesota Supreme Court ruled that the name change was done correctly.

    Alaska’s two U.S. senators and prominent state figures have strongly objected to Trump’s renaming attempt.

    How not to change a place name

    Renaming the Gulf of Mexico is a different kind of case, however, from renaming a geographic place within U.S. borders.

    The gulf is not within the territorial U.S. On the coast, the first 12 miles from shore are considered part of that country, but outside of that is international waters.

    The Board on Geographic Names could change the name to Gulf of America on official U.S. maps, but there is no international board in charge of place names. Each country decides what to call places. And there is no official way for the U.S. to make other countries change the name.

    It’s possible that the U.S. could formally ask other countries to change the name, or even impose sanctions against countries that don’t comply.

    If the names were officially changed in the U.S., the government would use the new names in official documents, signage and maps. As for all the people and companies in the world that make maps, they usually use the official names. But there is nothing that would force them to, if they believed that a certain name is more widely recognized.

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

    – ref. Can Trump just order new names for Denali and the Gulf of Mexico? A geographer explains who decides what goes on the map – https://theconversation.com/can-trump-just-order-new-names-for-denali-and-the-gulf-of-mexico-a-geographer-explains-who-decides-what-goes-on-the-map-248112

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

    January 25, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: January 24th, 2025 Heinrich Hosts Congressional Briefing Highlighting Advancements and Job Creation in the Electric Vehicle Supply Chain

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Mexico Martin Heinrich

    PHOTOS

    WASHINGTON — U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Ranking Member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, hosted a congressional briefing on developments in manufacturing electric vehicles and their supply chains in the United States, from batteries to electric school buses.

    PHOTOS: U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich, Ranking Member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, hosts a congressional briefing on the electric vehicle manufacturing supply chain, January 23, 2025.

    Panelists from the Zero Emission Transportation Association Education Fund, Impact Clean Power Technology, SA, and GreenPower Motor Company shared their perspectives on the incredible growth in EV-related investments over recent years and business partnerships that are diversifying domestic supply chains away from foreign entities of concern, including from China, driven by the Inflation Reduction Act and the Infrastructure Investments and Jobs Act.

    “For the last few years, the United States has taken industrial policy seriously. We need to do that because China and other competitors, for years and years, have been taking industrial policy seriously. If we want to control our own supply chains, we need pro-growth tax policies that support those things,” said Heinrich. “There is no question that globally, the electrification of transportation is a consistent phenomenon. The real question for us as a nation, I think, is, do we want to lead this transition? Do we want to compete with our global competitors and be successful, or are we going to cede that leadership to other spaces?”

    “In my view, when you’re winning, keep winning,” Heinrich continued. “Keep the things that are actually moving factories to the United States. What I’ve experienced in the just the few years since we created the Inflation Reduction Act is new manufacturing plants opening in the state of New Mexico and existing manufacturing plants expanding. The supply chains that everybody complained about, saying ‘we don’t have control of those supply chains,’ let’s build those supply chains here. We should be banding together with our allies to control our own supply chains and to build good jobs here and to compete effectively — not just to compete, but to win this race for the future of transportation and energy.”

    Heinrich’s Longtime Leadership on Electric Vehicles

    Heinrich is a staunch advocate for federal investments that make electric vehicles more affordable and accessible for working families as well as electric vehicle charging stations more available for New Mexicans.

    In 2022, Heinrich helped author and pass into law the landmark Inflation Reduction Act, which has created a manufacturing renaissance throughout the country and established New Mexico at the center of the nation’s clean energy future. Heinrich marked the two-year anniversary of the legislation being signed into law in August, highlighting how its incentives have expanded and spurred a number of new clean energy projects across New Mexico.

    Last August, at an event in Albuquerque, Heinrich was joined by Albuquerque Public Schools (APS) Superintendent Gabriella Duran-Blakey and Mom’s Clean Air Force – an organization dedicated to protecting children from air pollution and climate change – to announce nearly $7 million in Infrastructure Law funding to help APS replace older, diesel school buses with 20 new electric school buses. This investment comes from the EPA Clean School Bus Program, which Heinrich helped establish. The investment will help APS save money as they upgrade school bus fleets, replacing existing buses with brand new zero-emission and clean school buses.

    Last year, Heinrich and the New Mexico Congressional Delegation also welcomed nearly $68 million in competitive federal grant funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s Charging and Fueling Infrastructure Discretionary Grant Program to build major new electric vehicle charging networks throughout New Mexico. The largest portion of that funding will allow the New Mexico Department of Transportation to contract with a private partner, TeraWatt Infrastructure, to build the I-10 Electric Corridor, which will be the nation’s first network of high-powered charging centers for heavy-duty electric trucks. As part of this network, TeraWatt will build two electric vehicle charging centers for medium-and heavy-duty commercial vehicles conducting routes along Interstate 10 (I-10), located in unincorporated Hidalgo and Doña Ana Counties, near Lordsburg and Vado, N.M. The entire route will extend along the I-10 highway from the San Pedro ports in Southern California to the El Paso, Texas border region.

    Last year, Heinrich also welcomed guidance from the Department of the Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) that significantly expanded access to the 30C Alternative Fuel Vehicle Refueling Property Credit. The 30C Alternative Fuel Vehicle Refueling Property Credit was increased through the Inflation Reduction Act and provides billions of dollars for alternative refueling infrastructure investments such as in-home EV chargers, zero-emission truck stops, public chargers, and adding zero-emission refueling to warehouses.

    Heinrich has also led successful efforts to call on the U.S. Postal Service to substantially increase their efforts to electrify the next generation of mail delivery vehicles. With funding that Democrats delivered in the historic Inflation Reduction Act and a commitment from the Biden administration, the next generation of mail delivery vehicles in America will now be 75% battery electric vehicles, and 100% electric starting in 2026.

    MIL OSI USA News –

    January 25, 2025

  • MIL-OSI: Univest Securities, LLC Announces Closing of $4.42 Million Registered Direct Offering for its Client Houston American Energy Corp. (NYSE American: HUSA)

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    New York, Jan. 24, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Univest Securities, LLC (“Univest”), a member of FINRA and SIPC, and a full-service investment bank and securities broker-dealer firm based in New York, today announced the closing of registered direct offering (the “Offering”) on January 23, 2025, for its client Houston American Energy Corp (NYSE American: HUSA) (the “Company”), an independent oil and gas company.

    Under the terms of the securities purchase agreement, the Company has agreed to sell to several investors for the purchase and sale of an aggregate of 2,600,000 shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “Common Stock”) at a purchase price of $1.70 per share in a registered direct offering.

    The aggregate gross proceeds to the Company was approximately $4,420,000.

    Univest Securities, LLC acted as the sole placement agent.

    The registered direct offering was made pursuant to a shelf registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-282778) previously filed by the Company and declared effective by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on November 4, 2024. A final prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus describing the terms of the proposed offering were filed with the SEC and are available on the SEC’s website located at http://www.sec.gov. Electronic copies of the final prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus may be obtained, by contacting Univest Securities, LLC at info@univest.us, or by calling +1 (212) 343-8888.

    This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor will there be any sales of such securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of such jurisdiction. Copies of the prospectus supplement relating to the registered direct offering, together with the accompanying base prospectus, can be obtained at the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov.

    About Univest Securities, LLC

    Registered with FINRA since 1994, Univest Securities, LLC provides a wide variety of financial services to its institutional and retail clients globally including brokerage and execution services, sales and trading, market making, investment banking and advisory, wealth management. It strives to provide clients with value-add service and focuses on building long-term relationship with its clients. For more information, please visit: http://www.univest.us.

    About Houston American Energy Corp.

    Houston American Energy Corp., an independent oil and gas company, engages in the acquisition, exploration, exploitation, development, and production of natural gas, crude oil, and condensate. Its principal properties are located primarily in the Texas Permian Basin, the South American country of Colombia, and the onshore Louisiana Gulf Coast region. The company is based in Houston, Texas.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    This press release contains forward-looking statements as defined by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include statements concerning plans, objectives, goals, strategies, future events or performance, and underlying assumptions and other statements that are other than statements of historical facts. When the Company uses words such as “may, “will, “intend,” “should,” “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “project,” “estimate” or similar expressions that do not relate solely to historical matters, it is making forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties that may cause the actual results to differ materially from the Company’s expectations discussed in the forward-looking statements. These statements are subject to uncertainties and risks including, but not limited to, the uncertainties related to market conditions and the completion of the initial public offering on the anticipated terms or at all, and other factors discussed in the “Risk Factors” section of the registration statement filed with the SEC. For these reasons, among others, investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance upon any forward-looking statements in this press release. Additional factors are discussed in the Company’s filings with the SEC, which are available for review at http://www.sec.gov. Univest Securities LLC and the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly revise these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that arise after the date hereof.

    For more information, please contact:
    Univest Securities, LLC
    Edric Guo
    Chief Executive Officer
    75 Rockefeller Plaza, Suite 18C
    New York, NY 10019
    Phone: (212) 343-8888
    Email: info@univest.us

    The MIL Network –

    January 25, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Lee Introduces Pro Life Legislation for March for Life

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Utah Mike Lee
    Bills would ban federal tax dollars from subsidizing abortion at home and abroad, repeal law used to target Pro Life activists
    WASHINGTON – Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) has introduced a trio of bills to prevent federal tax dollars from funding or subsidizing abortions in the United States and across the world, in honor of the 2025 March for Life in Washington, DC and state capitals around the country: the Abortion is not Health Care Act, the Protecting Life in Health Savings Accounts Act, the Protecting Life in Foreign Assistance Act, and a repeal of the FACE Act.
    “In our quest to build a society where every precious human life is protected, we cannot allow the tax dollars of American families to be used against the most vulnerable people in our country and across the word: the unborn.” said Senator Lee. “I am also introducing legislation to repeal the FACE Act, which was used by Joe Biden to imprison Pro Life activists, now officially pardoned by President Trump.”
    The Abortion is not Health Care Act would end the tax deductibility of abortions and clarify that this gruesome practice is not health care. Currently, the IRS categorizes an abortion as “medical care” and allows tax benefits to flow to this practice, subsidizing the killing of hundreds of thousands of unborn children each year. This bill would amend Section 213 of the Internal Revenue Code to prohibit elective abortion expenses from being considered eligible for a medical expense deduction.
    Cosponsors include Sens. Hagerty (R-TN), Daines (R-MT), Cramer (R-ND), Blackburn (R-TN), Hawley (R-MO), and Hyde-Smith (R-MS).
    Supporting groups include Students for Life Action, Concerned Women for America, Eagle Forum, Heritage Action
    For a one-pager, click HERE.For bill text, click HERE.
    The Protecting Life in Health Savings Accounts would end the preferential tax treatment of abortion in health savings accounts. Current law allows individuals to use tax-advantaged funds from health savings accounts (HSAs), flexible savings accounts (FSAs), health reimbursement arrangements (HRAs), Archer medical savings accounts (MSAs), and retiree health accounts for the “medical expense” of abortion. This legislation would amend the Internal Revenue Code to explicitly prevent abortions from getting a special tax advantage through the use of these accounts.
    Cosponsors include Sens. Hagerty (R-TN), Daines (R-MT), Cramer (R-ND), Blackburn (R-TN), Hawley (R-MO), and Hyde-Smith (R-MS).
    Supporting groups include Students for Life Action, Concerned Women for America, Eagle Forum
    For a one-pager, click HERE.For bill text, click HERE.
    The Protecting Life in Foreign Assistance Act would ensure that our foreign aid is not funding or promoting abortions overseas. In 1984, President Ronald Reagan first instituted the Mexico City Policy, prohibiting the availability of family planning foreign assistance funds to organizations that provide or promote abortions or advocate to change abortion laws in a foreign country. Since then, the policy has been alternately rescinded and reinstated with changing administrations.
    The Trump Administration rebranded this policy as the Protecting Life in Global Health Assistance (PLGHA) policy and applied it to all global health assistance, foreign nonprofits, and NGOs. This bill would permanently codify an expanded version of the PLGHA policy into law, capturing all assistance provided to foreign or domestic nonprofits, NGOs, and multilateral organizations. With President Biden having rescinded the Protecting Life in Global Health Assistance policy in 2021, American citizens may be complicit in overseas abortions under the guise of “foreign assistance.” Congress must ensure this cannot be the case now or ever again. Doing so would affirm the dignity of unborn human lives everywhere and save countless lives across the globe.
    Cosponsors include Sens. Blackburn (R-TN), Tim Scott (R-SC), Budd (R-NC), Cramer (R-ND), Kennedy (R-LA), Johnson (R-WI), Young (R-IN), Fischer (R-NE), Ricketts (R-NE), Cornyn (R-TX), Banks (R-IN), and Tuberville (R-AL).
    Supporting groups include CatholicVote and Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America.
    For a one-pager, click HERE.For bill text, click HERE.
    The FACE ACT is a federal law designed to protect access to abortion facilities. While FACE also includes protections for churches, these are duplicative of other federal and state laws and have never been enforced. President Biden’s weaponized Department of Justice used the FACE Act to legally harass peaceful pro-life activists while simultaneously stonewalling good faith efforts by members of Congress to conduct even elementary oversight of the law. While President Trump has pardoned activists imprisoned by the Biden administration, a full repeal of the FACE Act will prevent future administrations from unjustly using this law for the purpose of political persecution.
    Cosponsors include Sens. Hawley (R-MO) & Wicker (R-MS)
    Supporting organizations include Thomas More Society, Family Research Council, Students for Life Action, Catholic Vote, Susan B. Anthony List, Live Action, and Citizens for Renewing America.
    For one-pager, bill text, click HERE.For bill text, click HERE.

    MIL OSI USA News –

    January 25, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Security: Sentence for Illegal Re-entry

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    HAMMOND –Eulises Yobani Rafael-Garcia, age 28, a citizen of Mexico and resident of Gary, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Philip P. Simon following his plea of guilty to  the felony charge of illegal re-entry.

    Rafael-Garcia, who has been in custody since his arrest on April 5, 2024, was sentenced to time served and ordered transferred to the custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement for removal proceedings.

    According to documents in the case, Rafael-Garcia was previously removed from the United States three times and has a prior conviction for misdemeanor illegal entry.  Additionally, during the investigation, Rafael-Garcia admitted to having previous ties to drug-trafficking organizations.

    This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations with support from the National Park Service Law Enforcement Rangers and assistance from the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations, and the United States Marshals Service, Great Lakes Regional Fugitive Task Force.  This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Francis Sohn.  

    MIL Security OSI –

    January 25, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Security: Mexican Citizen Sentenced to 10 Months in Prison

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    HAMMOND – Oscar Valdivia-Salas, age 35, a citizen of Mexico and resident of Merrillville, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Philip P. Simon after pleading guilty to a felony charge of Illegal Reentry, announced Acting United States Attorney Tina L. Nommay.

    Valdivia-Salas was sentenced to 10 months in prison, 1 year of supervised release and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment.

    According to documents in the case, Valdivia-Salas has a previous felony conviction for Illegal Reentry out of the Western District of Missouri and was removed from the United States in 2018.

    This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations with assistance from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Emily Morgan.

    MIL Security OSI –

    January 25, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Security: Colombian Narco Trafficker Sentenced to 78 Months for Conspiring to Import Thousands of Kilos of Cocaine into the U.S.

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

                WASHINGTON – Aldemar Soto-Charry, 64, a highly ranked member of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), was sentenced in U.S. District Court to 78 months in federal prison for conspiring to distribute thousands of kilos of cocaine for importation into the United States. The sentence was announced by U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin Jr. for the District of Columbia, DEA Special Agent in Charge Eugene L. Crouch of the DEA Andean Division, and FBI Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey Veltri of the FBI’s Miami Field Office.

                Soto-Charry, aka “El Ingeniero” (“the Engineer”), pleaded guilty on October 11, 2024, to conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine for importation into the United States and aiding and abetting in the same. As part of the plea agreement, Soto-Charry acknowledged he was accountable for engaging in a conspiracy on behalf of the FARC to transport over 1,000 kilos of cocaine on a regular basis to a Mexican cartel, ultimately knowing that the cocaine would be transported into the United States.

                In addition to the prison term, U.S. District Court Judge Amit P. Mehta ordered Soto-Charry to serve four years of supervised release.

                According to court documents, in 2018 the DEA commenced a targeted operation against large-scale drug traffickers in Colombia, including those connected to the FARC. In July 2018,  the DEA learned that Soto-Charry had claimed that FARC leadership was exploring opportunities to launder proceeds of drug sales, including through the purchase of real estate in Panama. The DEA enlisted confidential sources to meet with Soto-Charry and his co-conspirators.

                In October 2018, Soto-Charry was introduced to the CSs, one who posed as an individual with business connections in Panama and the other as a facilitator for large-scale drug transactions with the Mexican Gulf Cartel, which sought thousands of kilograms of cocaine for exportation abroad, including the United States. Soto-Charry detailed the FARC’s illicit business ventures, including laundering $10 million of cocaine proceeds through the construction of a medical clinic in Panama. Soto-Charry said he could organize drug deals using cocaine that was being processed at FARC-controlled cocaine laboratories in the jungles of Colombia. During a later meeting, Soto-Charry said the FARC could provide up to 2,000 kilograms of cocaine every few weeks.

                Between October 3, 2018, and July 25, 2019, the CSs regularly met with Soto-Charry and his co-conspirators to discuss the details of a potential deal for significant quantities of cocaine. During the meetings, Soto-Charry discussed FARC-related drug trafficking activities, cocaine pricing, cocaine purity, drug trafficking routes out of Colombia, and other logistical matters related to large-scale cocaine sales. As part of these discussions, Soto-Charry’s co-conspirators ultimately helped deliver a five-kilogram sample of cocaine and discussed how to transport it to the U.S.

                Soto-Charry was arrested in Colombia on August 8, 2019, and extradited to the United States on August 9, 2024. In his plea agreement, he accepted responsibility for conspiring to distribute 1,000 kilograms or more of cocaine. He has been in custody since the date of his arrest in Colombia.

                His co-defendant Mauricio Mazabel-Soto was sentenced to 73 months. Co-defendant Alfredo Molina-Cutiva received a sentence of 70 months.

                This case was investigated by the DEA and FBI. The Colombian Attorney General’s Office, specifically the Dirección Especializada contra el Narcotráfico, also provided valuable assistance. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Iris McCranie and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Ernesto J. Alvarado of the Violence Reduction and Trafficking Offenses (VRTO) Section. Valuable assistance was also provided by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin L. Rosenberg, who indicted and previously handled the case.

    19cr233

    MIL Security OSI –

    January 25, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Security: Law Enforcement Cooperation Between United States and Mexico Leads to Mexican Takedown of Significant Fentanyl Trafficker

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    TUCSON, Ariz. – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona announced today that extensive bilateral cooperation between the United States and Mexico resulted in Mexico’s Attorney General’s Office, Fiscalía General de la República (FGR), conducting a significant enforcement operation last week in Nogales, Sonora to dismantle a prolific transnational drug trafficking organization operating along the U.S.-Mexico border. The operation resulted in the arrest of two individuals in Mexico including the leader of the organization, Heriberto Jacobo Perez, and another member of the organization, Jesus Bernardo Rodriguez. Mexican authorities also seized four vehicles, two buildings, two firearms currency, a large number of fentanyl pills, and other controlled substances.  

    Six U.S.-based coordinators and operators with alleged ties to the same drug trafficking organization have been indicted. Rafael Alonso Arriaga, Fernando Garcia-Ibarra, Socorro Rascon, Emmanuel Sotelo-Salazar, Jostan Nathanae Vega-Ochoa, and Rosa Elena Peralta-Marrufo, were indicted by a federal grand jury on drug trafficking charges on July 24, 2024. Sotelo-Salazar was also indicted for the possession and distribution of a foreign pill press to fabricate fake pills.  Garcia-Ibarra and Vega-Ochoa remain fugitives. Another member of the organization, Eva Angelina De La Torre, was arrested on November 19, 2024, after she was caught attempting to smuggle fentanyl pills into the United States at the Mariposa Port of Entry in Nogales, Arizona.

    “Dismantling transnational crime requires cross-border cooperation,” said United States Attorney Gary Restaino.  “This is simply tremendous work by career civil servants with the Department of Justice in coordinating efforts with Mexican prosecutors to take down this criminal organization on both sides of the border.”

    This effort 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.

    Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) – Nogales led the investigation in the United States, working in concert with Homeland Security Investigations – Nogales, the United States Marshals Service, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Support by DEA-Mexico City, and FGR’s Agencia de Investigación Criminal was critical in providing coordination between United States and Mexican law enforcement agencies. Through funding support from the Department of State’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, the Justice Department’s Office of Overseas Prosecutorial Development, Assistance and Training provided valuable assistance. The United States Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Tucson, is prosecuting the seven individuals named above.
     

    CASE NUMBER:           CR-24-04681-TUC-JGZ
    RELEASE NUMBER:    2025-110_Heriberto Jacobo Perez, et al.

    # # #

    For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
    Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on X @USAO_AZ for the latest news.

    2025-110_Heriberto Jacobo Perez, et al.

    MIL Security OSI –

    January 25, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: 01.24.2025 Sen. Cruz Files Amicus Brief in State Sovereignty Energy Case

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Texas Ted Cruz
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) filed an amicus brief supporting the State of Texas in the upcoming U.S. Supreme Court cases of NRC v. Texas and ISP v. Texas. The cases before the Court involve the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s (NRC) authority to license a consolidated interim storage facility for spent nuclear fuel in Andrews County, Texas, a decision challenged by the state of Texas and Governor Abbott. The nuclear fuel facility will be located directly on top of the Permian Basin, which stretches across Southwest Texas and Southeast New Mexico.
    Upon filing the amicus brief, Sen. Cruz said, “The Permian Basin is our nation’s leading oil and gas-producing region and a critical pillar of America’s energy security.
    “I support Attorney General Ken Paxton in opposing the NRC’s federal overreach and will keep fighting to ensure West Texas remains the energy powerhouse it is today.”
    Sen. Cruz was joined by Sen. John Cornyn, Reps. Jody Arrington (R-Texas-19), Henry Cuellar (D-Texas-28), August Pfluger (R-Texas-11), and Ronny Jackson (R-Texas-13) in filing the amicus brief.
    Read the amicus brief for NRC vs. Texas and ISP v. Texas here.
    BACKGROUND
    The NRC issued a license to ISP to construct and operate an interim storage facility designed to hold up to 5,000 metric tons of spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste. The facility would temporarily store the waste from various nuclear reactors across the United States. Texas argues that the NRC’s actions exceed its statutory authority under federal law, specifically the Nuclear Waste Policy Act (NWPA) of 1982, which governs the disposal of spent nuclear fuel and prioritizes permanent geologic repositories over temporary facilities.
    The Court’s review of the case will address fundamental questions about the scope of the NRC’s authority and the balance of power between state and federal governments. This decision will have far-reaching implications in balancing power between states and federal agencies in regulating hazardous materials.

    MIL OSI USA News –

    January 25, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Global: Amid LA fires, neighbors helped each other survive – 60 years of research shows how local heroes are crucial to disaster response

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Tricia Wachtendorf, Professor of Sociology and Director, Disaster Research Center, University of Delaware

    Neighbors fill and pass a bucket of pool water to help extinguish a spot fire in Pacific Palisades, Calif., on Jan. 9, 2025. Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times via Getty Image

    As wildfires swept through neighborhoods on the outskirts of Los Angeles in January 2025, stories about residents there helping their neighbors and total strangers began trickling out on social media.

    Accounts of Hollywood stars clearing streets for emergency vehicles to get through and raising money for fire victims were widely circulated. But there were many other examples of less-famous people helping older neighbors to safety, and even showing up with trailers to evacuate horses.

    Businesses, including fitness centers, opened their facilities so evacuees could shower or charge their phones. Organizations that routinely work with homeless populations quickly mobilized their members to help ensure people living on the streets and in camps could get to secure, safe locations away from the fires and hazardous air quality.

    Disasters, by definition, overwhelm local resources, making civilian responders like these essential. Sixty years of research at the University of Delaware’s Disaster Research Center and by others examining the social aspects of disaster has repeatedly shown effective disaster management requires mobilizing community resources far beyond official channels.

    Often the response happens through local groups that form in response to a clear need in the community and with shared skills and interests. And this is exactly what we are witnessing in Los Angeles.

    Civilians helping often number in the thousands

    The number of those who step up to help during disasters varies by event, but it can be tremendous.

    Following the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing, over 6,800 volunteers worked with the Red Cross on the response. That same year, volunteers responding to the Kobe earthquake in Japan logged more than 1 million person-days of activity, a measure of the number of people times the hours they contributed.

    People use garden hoses to try to prevent homes from catching fire in Altadena, Calif., on Jan. 8, 2025. Neighbors rushed to help neighbors as the wind blew burning embers into neighborhoods.
    Mario Tama/Getty Images

    In an in-depth study of the Sept. 11, 2001, World Trade Center attacks, we interviewed local residents who used their retired fireboat to pump water for the firefighters at ground zero. Operators of tug, ferry and tour boats in and around New York City immediately responded to quickly evacuate 500,000 people in the area from danger. In fact, the majority of the boats involved belonged to private companies. Other volunteers queued evacuees and organized supplies and rides to get people home.

    Over 900 people, most acting in unofficial capacities, were awarded medals or ribbons for their efforts in just the marine response after the World Trade Center attack.

    A survey of residents after the 1985 Mexico City earthquake found that nearly 10% of local residents volunteered in the first three weeks of the response. Following the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake, in California, a survey of residents in Santa Cruz and San Francisco counties found that two-thirds of the public were involved in response activities.

    Local businesses are often quick to help in disasters. Greg Dulan, center, who runs a soul food restaurant and food truck, hands out hot meals to wildfire evacuees at a church in Pasadena, Calif., on Jan. 15, 2025.
    Jason Armond/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images

    However, much of the work local residents contribute during and after disasters goes unaccounted for in official reports.

    There is no mechanism to quantify the full extent to which a neighbor or a complete stranger helps someone flee from peril. Yet when people are trapped and minutes count, research shows it is family, friends and neighbors who are already on the scene and are most likely to save lives. It’s often everyday citizens who also take on immediate tasks such as debris removal. Providing a phone, a car, a place to do laundry, or a little bit of elbow grease can fill a gap and let firefighters and other formal responders focus on critical operations.

    Getting the right help to where it’s needed

    Every study of a large-scale disaster conducted by the Disaster Research Center has revealed some level of emergent, informal helping behavior.

    The lack of public understanding about the large number of local residents already involved, often including disaster victims themselves, can lead to an influx of outsiders eager to help. Their arrival can actually pose challenges for the disaster response.

    When too many people show up, or when people try to operate outside their areas of expertise, they can put themselves and others at further risk. Communities often need supplies, but unsolicited goods of the wrong kind or at the wrong time can create more problems than they solve.

    Local groups such as the Pasadena Community Job Center organize volunteers to send them where help is requested. This group is removing debris from streets in Pasadena, Calif., in the wake of the Eaton Fire on Jan. 14, 2025.
    Zoë Meyers/AFP via Getty Images

    So, what can you do to best support these local efforts?

    Making a financial contribution to a trusted disaster response or local organization can go a long way to providing the support communities actually need. Organizations such as the American Red Cross or Feeding America, or local community-based groups that routinely work in the area, are often best suited to help where it’s needed the most.

    Skilled help will be needed for the long term

    Also, remember that disasters don’t end when the emergency is over. Survivors of the Los Angeles-area fires face years of confusing and frustrating recovery tasks ahead.

    Offering help after the immediate threat has passed – particularly skilled help, such as experience in construction or expertise in managing insurance and FEMA paperwork – is just as important.

    For example, after fires in 1970 destroyed hundreds of homes in the San Diego area, local architects, engineers and contractors donated their time and skills to help people rebuild. Their work was coordinated by a local architect and member of the Chamber of Commerce to ensure projects were assigned to reputable volunteers.

    As we recognize the important ways that neighbors and strangers helped those around them, the broader community can support wildfire victims by responding to offering the right help as recovery needs emerge. Just about every skill that is useful in calm times will be needed in these difficult months and years ahead.

    Tricia Wachtendorf receives funding from the National Science Foundation and Arnold Ventures Foundation.

    James Kendra receives funding from the National Science Foundation and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

    – ref. Amid LA fires, neighbors helped each other survive – 60 years of research shows how local heroes are crucial to disaster response – https://theconversation.com/amid-la-fires-neighbors-helped-each-other-survive-60-years-of-research-shows-how-local-heroes-are-crucial-to-disaster-response-247660

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

    January 25, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Minutes – Thursday, 23 January 2025 – Strasbourg – Final edition

    Source: European Parliament

    PV-10-2025-01-23

    EN

    EN

    iPlPv_Sit

    Minutes
    Thursday, 23 January 2025 – Strasbourg

     Abbreviations and symbols

    + adopted
    – rejected
    ↓ lapsed
    W withdrawn
    RCV roll-call votes
    EV electronic vote
    SEC secret ballot
    split split vote
    sep separate vote
    am amendment
    CA compromise amendment
    CP corresponding part
    D deleting amendment
    = identical amendments
    § paragraph

    IN THE CHAIR: Younous OMARJEE
    Vice-President

    1. Opening of the sitting

    The sitting opened at 09:01.


    2. Combating Desertification: 16th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP16) of the United Nations Convention (debate)

    Commission statement: Combating Desertification: 16th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP16) of the United Nations Convention (2025/3018(RSP))

    Jessika Roswall (Member of the Commission) made the statement.

    The following spoke: Carmen Crespo Díaz, on behalf of the PPE Group, Marta Temido, on behalf of the S&D Group, Julien Leonardelli, on behalf of the PfE Group, Francesco Ventola, on behalf of the ECR Group, Martin Hojsík, on behalf of the Renew Group, Pär Holmgren, on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group, Catarina Martins, on behalf of The Left Group, Zsuzsanna Borvendég, on behalf of the ESN Group, Christine Schneider, Sakis Arnaoutoglou, Mireia Borrás Pabón, Laurence Trochu, Billy Kelleher, Kai Tegethoff, João Oliveira, Daniel Buda, Maria Grapini, Mathilde Androuët, Marie Toussaint, Valentina Palmisano, Salvatore De Meo, Thomas Bajada, France Jamet, Vicent Marzà Ibáñez, who also answered a blue-card question from João Oliveira, Sebastian Everding, who also answered a blue-card question from Sander Smit, Gabriella Gerzsenyi, César Luena, who also answered a blue-card question from Carmen Crespo Díaz, Jutta Paulus, who also answered a blue-card question from Maria Grapini, Nikolas Farantouris, Borja Giménez Larraz, Camilla Laureti, Marco Falcone, who also answered a blue-card question from Kai Tegethoff, Leire Pajín, Manuela Ripa, Jean-Marc Germain, Dan-Ştefan Motreanu, Stefano Bonaccini and Ştefan Muşoiu.

    The following spoke under the catch-the-eye procedure: Grzegorz Braun, Hélder Sousa Silva and Seán Kelly.

    The following spoke: Jessika Roswall.

    The debate closed.

    (The sitting was suspended for a few moments.)


    IN THE CHAIR: Christel SCHALDEMOSE
    Vice-President

    3. Resumption of the sitting

    The sitting resumed at 10:29.


    4. Cryptocurrencies – need for global standards (debate)

    Commission statement: Cryptocurrencies – need for global standards (2025/2514(RSP))

    Magnus Brunner (Member of the Commission) made the statement.

    The following spoke: Markus Ferber, on behalf of the PPE Group, Jonás Fernández, on behalf of the S&D Group, Pierre Pimpie, on behalf of the PfE Group, Marlena Maląg, on behalf of the ECR Group, Stéphanie Yon-Courtin, on behalf of the Renew Group, Rasmus Andresen, on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group (the President reminded the speaker of the rules on conduct), Pasquale Tridico, on behalf of The Left Group, René Aust, on behalf of the ESN Group, Regina Doherty, Eero Heinäluoma, Aleksandar Nikolic, Guillaume Peltier, Gilles Boyer, Damian Boeselager, Catarina Martins, Stanislav Stoyanov, Kateřina Konečná, Kinga Kollár, Aurore Lalucq, Mathilde Androuët, Adrian-George Axinia, Cynthia Ní Mhurchú, Giuseppe Antoci, Marcin Sypniewski, Luis-Vicențiu Lazarus, Lídia Pereira (the President provided some clarifications on the blue-card procedure), Nikos Papandreou, who also answered a blue-card question from Diana Iovanovici Şoşoacă, Angéline Furet, Ondřej Krutílek, Michalis Hadjipantela, Adnan Dibrani, Diego Solier, Andrey Kovatchev, Waldemar Buda, Caterina Chinnici and Seán Kelly.

    The following spoke under the catch-the-eye procedure: Niels Geuking, Maria Grapini, Alexander Jungbluth, Grzegorz Braun, Vytenis Povilas Andriukaitis and Diana Iovanovici Şoşoacă.

    The following spoke: Magnus Brunner.

    The debate closed.

    (The sitting was suspended at 11:48.)


    IN THE CHAIR: Sabine VERHEYEN
    Vice-President

    5. Resumption of the sitting

    The sitting resumed at 11:59.


    6. Composition of new committees

    Following the creation of the standing committees on security and defence and on public health, and the creation of the special committees on the European Democracy Shield and on the housing crisis in the European Union, the President had received nominations for membership of these new standing and special committees from the political groups and the non-attached Members, in accordance with Rules 212 and 213.

    The decisions took effect as of that day.

    The lists of Members nominated to form these committees are annexed to these minutes (minutes of 23.1.2025 Annex 1).


    7. Composition of committees and delegations

    The Renew Group and non-attached Members had notified the President of the following decisions changing the composition of committees:

    – ITRE Committee: Oihane Agirregoitia Martínez to replace Barry Andrews, Elena Yoncheva

    – REGI Committee: Elsi Katainen

    – LIBE Committee: Raquel García Hermida-Van Der Walle

    – PETI Committee: Cynthia Ní Mhurchú and Eugen Tomac were no longer members, Taner Kabilov

    The decisions took effect as of that day.

    ⁂

    The following spoke: Jordan Bardella, Carlo Fidanza and Patryk Jaki on points of order (the President cut off the speakers as their remarks did not constitute points of order).


    8. Voting time

    For detailed results of the votes, see also ‘Results of votes’ and ‘Results of roll-call votes’.




    8.2. Systematic repression of human rights in Iran, notably the cases of Pakhshan Azizi and Wrisha Moradi, and the taking of EU citizens as hostages (vote)

    Motions for resolutions RC-B10-0066/2025 (minutes of 23.1.2025, item I), B10-0063/2025, B10-0066/2025, B10-0067/2025, B10-0073/2025, B10-0082/2025, B10-0085/2025 and B10-0086/2025 (minutes of 22.1.2025, item 1) (2025/2511(RSP))

    The debate had taken place on 22 January 2025 (minutes of 22.1.2025, item 16.2).

    (Majority of the votes cast)

    JOINT MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION

    Adopted (P10_TA(2025)0004)

    (Motions for resolutions B10-0063/2025 and B10-0067/2025 fell.)

    Detailed voting results








    9. Resumption of the sitting

    The sitting resumed at 15:00.


    10. Approval of the minutes of the previous sitting

    The minutes of the previous sitting were approved.


    11. Major interpellations (debate)

    Major interpellation for written answer with debate (G-001002/2024) submitted by Charlie Weimers, Sebastian Tynkkynen, Kristoffer Storm, Jaak Madison, Carlo Fidanza, Adam Bielan, Alexandr Vondra, Patryk Jaki, Johan Van Overtveldt, Roberts Zīle, Emmanouil Fragkos, Georgiana Teodorescu, Geadis Geadi, Marion Maréchal, Ivaylo Valchev, Kosma Złotowski, Mariusz Kamiński, Maciej Wąsik, Dick Erixon, Joachim Stanisław Brudziński, Beatrice Timgren, Nicolas Bay, Jadwiga Wiśniewska, Ondřej Krutílek, Guillaume Peltier, Michał Dworczyk, Laurence Trochu, Şerban-Dimitrie Sturdza, Tobiasz Bocheński, Gheorghe Piperea, on behalf of the ECR Group, to the Commission: EU funding of physical border protection structures such as walls, fences or other barriers at the external border (B10-0001/2025)

    Jaak Madison moved the major interpellation.

    Magnus Brunner (Member of the Commission) answered the major interpellation.

    The following spoke: Lena Düpont, on behalf of the PPE Group, Ana Catarina Mendes, on behalf of the S&D Group, András László, on behalf of the PfE Group, Joachim Stanisław Brudziński, on behalf of the ECR Group, Fabienne Keller, on behalf of the Renew Group, Mélissa Camara, on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group, Christine Anderson, on behalf of the ESN Group, Fredis Beleris, Murielle Laurent, France Jamet and Riho Terras.

    The following spoke under the catch-the-eye procedure: Kinga Kollár, Bogdan Rzońca and Siegbert Frank Droese.

    The following spoke: Magnus Brunner.

    The debate closed.


    12. Explanations of vote

    Written explanations of vote

    Explanations of vote submitted in writing under Rule 201 appear on the Members’ pages on Parliament’s website.


    13. Approval of the minutes of the sitting and forwarding of texts adopted

    In accordance with Rule 208(3), the minutes of the sitting would be put to the House for approval at the beginning of the afternoon of the sitting on Monday, 10 February 2025.

    With Parliament’s agreement, the texts adopted during the part-session would be forwarded to their respective addressees without delay.


    14. Dates of forthcoming sittings

    The next sitting would be held on 29 January 2025.


    15. Closure of the sitting

    The sitting closed at 15:41.


    16. Adjournment of the session

    The session of the European Parliament was adjourned.

    Alessandro Chiocchetti

    Roberta Metsola

    Secretary-General

    President


    LIST OF DOCUMENTS SERVING AS A BASIS FOR THE DEBATES AND DECISIONS OF PARLIAMENT


    I. Motions for resolutions tabled

    Case of Jean-Jacques Wondo in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

    Joint motion for a resolution tabled under Rule 150(5) and Rule 136(4):

    on the case of Jean-Jacques Wondo in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (2025/2510(RSP)) (RC-B10-0069/2025)
    (replacing motions for resolutions B10-0069/2025, B10-0072/2025, B10-0078/2025, B10-0081/2025 and B10-0084/2025)
    Sebastião Bugalho, Wouter Beke, Isabel Wiseler-Lima, Michael Gahler, Luděk Niedermayer, Christophe Gomart, Antonio López-Istúriz White, Danuše Nerudová, Davor Ivo Stier, Michał Wawrykiewicz, Jessica Polfjärd, Tomáš Zdechovský, Andrey Kovatchev, Inese Vaidere
    on behalf of the PPE Group
    Yannis Maniatis, Francisco Assis, Elio Di Rupo
    on behalf of the S&D Group
    Waldemar Tomaszewski, Joachim Stanisław Brudziński, Sebastian Tynkkynen
    on behalf of the ECR Group
    Bernard Guetta, Petras Auštrevičius, Oihane Agirregoitia Martínez, Malik Azmani, Dan Barna, Benoit Cassart, Olivier Chastel, Svenja Hahn, Karin Karlsbro, Ľubica Karvašová, Ilhan Kyuchyuk, Jan-Christoph Oetjen, Urmas Paet, Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, Hilde Vautmans, Lucia Yar
    on behalf of the Renew Group
    Catarina Vieira
    on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group

    Systematic repression of human rights in Iran, notably the cases of Pakhshan Azizi and Wrisha Moradi, and the taking of EU citizens as hostages

    Joint motion for a resolution tabled under Rule 150(5) and Rule 136(4):

    on the systematic repression of human rights in Iran, notably the cases of Pakhshan Azizi and Wrisha Moradi, and the taking of EU citizens as hostages (2025/2511(RSP)) (RC-B10-0066/2025)
    (replacing motions for resolutions B10-0066/2025, B10-0073/2025, B10-0082/2025, B10-0085/2025 and B10-0086/2025)
    Sebastião Bugalho, Tomáš Zdechovský, Loucas Fourlas, Isabel Wiseler-Lima, David McAllister, Michael Gahler, Željana Zovko, Christophe Gomart, Isabel Benjumea Benjumea, Javier Zarzalejos, Luděk Niedermayer, Wouter Beke, Davor Ivo Stier, Michał Wawrykiewicz, Jessica Polfjärd, Danuše Nerudová, Andrey Kovatchev, Inese Vaidere
    on behalf of the PPE Group
    Yannis Maniatis, Francisco Assis, Evin Incir, Chloé Ridel, Daniel Attard, Alessandra Moretti
    on behalf of the S&D Group
    Rihards Kols, Mariusz Kamiński, Sebastian Tynkkynen, Carlo Fidanza, Reinis Pozņaks, Aurelijus Veryga, Ondřej Krutílek, Veronika Vrecionová, Alberico Gambino, Joachim Stanisław Brudziński, Dick Erixon, Beatrice Timgren, Waldemar Tomaszewski, Alexandr Vondra, Marion Maréchal, Małgorzata Gosiewska, Carlo Ciccioli, Charlie Weimers
    on behalf of the ECR Group
    Petras Auštrevičius, Oihane Agirregoitia Martínez, Malik Azmani, Dan Barna, Benoit Cassart, Olivier Chastel, Veronika Cifrová Ostrihoňová, Bart Groothuis, Bernard Guetta, Svenja Hahn, Karin Karlsbro, Ľubica Karvašová, Ilhan Kyuchyuk, Nathalie Loiseau, Jan-Christoph Oetjen, Urmas Paet, Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, Hilde Vautmans, Sophie Wilmès, Lucia Yar
    on behalf of the Renew Group
    Hannah Neumann
    on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group
    Per Clausen, Hanna Gedin, Jonas Sjöstedt

    Case of Boualem Sansal in Algeria

    Joint motion for a resolution tabled under Rule 150(5) and Rule 136(4):

    on the case of Boualem Sansal in Algeria (2025/2512(RSP)) (RC-B10-0087/2025)
    (replacing motions for resolutions B10-0087/2025, B10-0089/2025, B10-0091/2025, B10-0092/2025 and B10-0093/2025)
    Sebastião Bugalho, Christophe Gomart, Isabel Wiseler-Lima, Michael Gahler, Luděk Niedermayer, Wouter Beke, Davor Ivo Stier, Michał Wawrykiewicz, Jessica Polfjärd, Tomáš Zdechovský, Andrey Kovatchev, Inese Vaidere
    on behalf of the PPE Group
    Yannis Maniatis, Francisco Assis, Marta Temido
    on behalf of the S&D Group
    Adam Bielan, Ondřej Krutílek, Veronika Vrecionová, Joachim Stanisław Brudziński, Waldemar Tomaszewski, Alexandr Vondra, Marion Maréchal, Sebastian Tynkkynen, Małgorzata Gosiewska
    on behalf of the ECR Group
    Helmut Brandstätter, Petras Auštrevičius, Malik Azmani, Dan Barna, Benoit Cassart, Olivier Chastel, Bernard Guetta, Ilhan Kyuchyuk, Nathalie Loiseau, Urmas Paet, Lucia Yar
    on behalf of the Renew Group
    Leoluca Orlando
    on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group

    Russia’s disinformation and historical falsification to justify its war of aggression against Ukraine

    Motions for resolutions tabled under Rule 136(2) to wind up the debate:

    on Russia’s disinformation and historical falsification to justify its war of aggression against Ukraine (2024/2988(RSP)) (B10-0074/2025)
    Yannis Maniatis, Nacho Sánchez Amor, Thijs Reuten, Raphaël Glucksmann
    on behalf of the S&D Group

    on Russia’s disinformation and historical falsification to justify its war of aggression against Ukraine (2024/2988(RSP)) (B10-0075/2025)
    Rasa Juknevičienė, Michael Gahler, Andrzej Halicki, Sebastião Bugalho, David McAllister, Siegfried Mureşan, Željana Zovko, Isabel Wiseler-Lima, Nicolás Pascual de la Parte, Mika Aaltola, Krzysztof Brejza, Daniel Caspary, Sandra Kalniete, Seán Kelly, Ondřej Kolář, Łukasz Kohut, Andrey Kovatchev, Miriam Lexmann, Antonio López-Istúriz White, Danuše Nerudová, Mirosława Nykiel, Ana Miguel Pedro, Paulius Saudargas, Davor Ivo Stier, Michał Szczerba, Alice Teodorescu Måwe, Ingeborg Ter Laak, Matej Tonin, Pekka Toveri, Inese Vaidere, Milan Zver
    on behalf of the PPE Group

    on Russia’s disinformation and historical falsification to justify its war of aggression against Ukraine (2024/2988(RSP)) (B10-0076/2025)
    Sergey Lagodinsky, Hannah Neumann, Markéta Gregorová, Mārtiņš Staķis, Maria Ohisalo, Virginijus Sinkevičius, Villy Søvndal, Nicolae Ştefănuță, Reinier Van Lanschot
    on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group

    on Russia’s disinformation and historical falsification to justify its war of aggression against Ukraine (2024/2988(RSP)) (B10-0077/2025)
    Bernard Guetta, Petras Auštrevičius, Malik Azmani, Dan Barna, Olivier Chastel, Karin Karlsbro, Ľubica Karvašová, Ilhan Kyuchyuk, Michał Kobosko, Jan-Christoph Oetjen, Urmas Paet, Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, Eugen Tomac, Hilde Vautmans, Sophie Wilmès, Lucia Yar, Dainius Žalimas
    on behalf of the Renew Group

    on Russia’s disinformation and historical falsification to justify its war of aggression against Ukraine (2024/2988(RSP)) (B10-0079/2025)
    Adam Bielan, Mariusz Kamiński, Małgorzata Gosiewska, Joachim Stanisław Brudziński, Rihards Kols, Ondřej Krutílek, Jaak Madison, Ivaylo Valchev, Sebastian Tynkkynen, Veronika Vrecionová, Roberts Zīle, Aurelijus Veryga, Maciej Wąsik, Michał Dworczyk, Cristian Terheş, Reinis Pozņaks, Alexandr Vondra
    on behalf of the ECR Group

    Joint motion for a resolution tabled under Rule 136(2) and (4):

    on Russia’s disinformation and historical falsification to justify its war of aggression against Ukraine (2024/2988(RSP)) (RC-B10-0074/2025)
    (replacing motions for resolutions B10-0074/2025, B10-0075/2025, B10-0076/2025, B10-0077/2025 and B10-0079/2025)
    Rasa Juknevičienė, Michael Gahler, Andrzej Halicki, Sebastião Bugalho, David McAllister, Siegfried Mureşan, Željana Zovko, Isabel Wiseler-Lima, Nicolás Pascual de la Parte, Mika Aaltola, Krzysztof Brejza, Daniel Caspary, Sandra Kalniete, Seán Kelly, Ondřej Kolář, Łukasz Kohut, Andrey Kovatchev, Miriam Lexmann, Antonio López-Istúriz White, Danuše Nerudová, Mirosława Nykiel, Ana Miguel Pedro, Paulius Saudargas, Davor Ivo Stier, Michał Szczerba, Alice Teodorescu Måwe, Ingeborg Ter Laak, Matej Tonin, Pekka Toveri, Inese Vaidere, Milan Zver
    on behalf of the PPE Group
    Yannis Maniatis, Nacho Sánchez Amor, Thijs Reuten, Raphaël Glucksmann
    on behalf of the S&D Group
    Adam Bielan, Rihards Kols, Reinis Pozņaks, Jadwiga Wiśniewska, Roberts Zīle, Ondřej Krutílek, Veronika Vrecionová, Jaak Madison, Małgorzata Gosiewska, Cristian Terheş, Maciej Wąsik, Ivaylo Valchev, Aurelijus Veryga, Joachim Stanisław Brudziński
    on behalf of the ECR Group
    Bernard Guetta, Petras Auštrevičius, Malik Azmani, Dan Barna, Benoit Cassart, Olivier Chastel, Karin Karlsbro, Veronika Cifrová Ostrihoňová, Ľubica Karvašová, Ilhan Kyuchyuk, Michał Kobosko, Nathalie Loiseau, Jan-Christoph Oetjen, Urmas Paet, Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, Eugen Tomac, Hilde Vautmans, Sophie Wilmès, Lucia Yar, Dainius Žalimas
    on behalf of the Renew Group
    Sergey Lagodinsky
    on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group

    Situation in Venezuela following the usurpation of the presidency on 10 January 2025

    Motions for resolutions tabled under Rule 136(2) to wind up the debate:

    on the situation in Venezuela following the usurpation of the presidency on 10 January 2025 (2025/2519(RSP)) (B10-0064/2025)
    Gabriel Mato, Sebastião Bugalho, Davor Ivo Stier
    on behalf of the PPE Group

    on the situation in Venezuela following the usurpation of the presidency on 10 January 2025 (2025/2519(RSP)) (B10-0068/2025)
    Jorge Buxadé Villalba, Hermann Tertsch, Jorge Martín Frías, Silvia Sardone, Nikola Bartůšek, Susanna Ceccardi, Roberto Vannacci, António Tânger Corrêa, Enikő Győri
    on behalf of the PfE Group

    on the situation in Venezuela following the usurpation of the presidency on 10 January 2025 (2025/2519(RSP)) (B10-0071/2025)
    Leire Pajín
    on behalf of the S&D Group
    Catarina Vieira, Ville Niinistö, Nicolae Ştefănuță
    on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group

    on the situation in Venezuela following the usurpation of the presidency on 10 January 2025 (2025/2519(RSP)) (B10-0080/2025)
    Oihane Agirregoitia Martínez, Petras Auštrevičius, Malik Azmani, Dan Barna, Helmut Brandstätter, Benoit Cassart, Olivier Chastel, João Cotrim De Figueiredo, Valérie Devaux, Karin Karlsbro, Ľubica Karvašová, Ilhan Kyuchyuk, Urmas Paet, Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, Ana Vasconcelos, Hilde Vautmans, Lucia Yar
    on behalf of the Renew Group

    on the situation in Venezuela following the usurpation of the presidency on 10 January 2025 (2025/2519(RSP)) (B10-0083/2025)
    Carlo Fidanza, Adam Bielan, Mariusz Kamiński, Alberico Gambino, Waldemar Tomaszewski, Joachim Stanisław Brudziński, Diego Solier, Rihards Kols, Ondřej Krutílek, Jaak Madison, Nora Junco García, Şerban-Dimitrie Sturdza, Sebastian Tynkkynen, Veronika Vrecionová, Małgorzata Gosiewska, Jadwiga Wiśniewska, Alexandr Vondra
    on behalf of the ECR Group

    Joint motion for a resolution tabled under Rule 150(5) and Rule 136(4):

    on the situation in Venezuela following the usurpation of the presidency on 10 January 2025 (2025/2519(RSP)) (RC-B10-0064/2025)
    (replacing motions for resolutions B10-0064/2025, B10-0080/2025 and B10-0083/2025)
    Gabriel Mato, Sebastião Bugalho, Davor Ivo Stier, Francisco José Millán Mon
    on behalf of the PPE Group
    Carlo Fidanza, Adam Bielan, Mariusz Kamiński, Ivaylo Valchev, Sebastian Tynkkynen, Ondřej Krutílek, Veronika Vrecionová, Rihards Kols, Alexandr Vondra, Małgorzata Gosiewska, Alberico Gambino, Joachim Stanisław Brudziński
    on behalf of the ECR Group
    Oihane Agirregoitia Martínez, Petras Auštrevičius, Dan Barna, Helmut Brandstätter, Benoit Cassart, Olivier Chastel, Veronika Cifrová Ostrihoňová, João Cotrim De Figueiredo, Karin Karlsbro, Ľubica Karvašová, Ilhan Kyuchyuk, Urmas Paet, Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, Ana Vasconcelos, Hilde Vautmans, Lucia Yar
    on behalf of the Renew Group


    II. Decisions to draw up own-initiative reports

    Decisions to draw up own-initiative reports (Rule 55)

    (Following the Conference of Presidents’ decision of 15 January 2025)

    AFCO Committee

    – Reform of the European Electoral Act – hurdles to ratification and implementation in the Member States (2025/2028(INI))

    – Institutional aspects of the Report on the future of European Competitiveness (Draghi Report) (2025/2013(INI))

    – Stock-taking of the European elections 2024 (2025/2012(INI))

    AFET Committee

    – 2023 and 2024 Commission reports on Ukraine (2025/2026(INI))

    – 2023 and 2024 Commission reports on Moldova (2025/2025(INI))

    – 2023 and 2024 Commission reports on Georgia (2025/2024(INI))

    – 2023 and 2024 Commission reports on Türkiye (2025/2023(INI))

    – 2023 and 2024 Commission reports on Serbia (2025/2022(INI))

    – 2023 and 2024 Commission reports on North Macedonia (2025/2021(INI))

    – 2023 and 2024 Commission reports on Montenegro (2025/2020(INI))

    – 2023 and 2024 Commission reports on Kosovo (2025/2019(INI))

    – 2023 and 2024 Commission reports on Bosnia and Herzegovina (2025/2018(INI))

    – 2023 and 2024 Commission reports on Albania (2025/2017(INI))

    DEVE Committee

    – Financing for development – ahead of the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development in Seville (2025/2004(INI))

    – Implementation and delivery of the Sustainable Development Goals in view of the 2025 High-Level Political Forum (2025/2014(INI))
    (opinion: FEMM)

    IMCO Committee

    – Implementation and streamlining of EU internal market rules to strengthen the single market (2025/2009(INI))

    ITRE Committee

    – Future of the EU biotechnology and biomanufacturing sector: leveraging research, boosting innovation and enhancing competitiveness (2025/2008(INI))

    – European technological sovereignty and digital infrastructure (2025/2007(INI))

    – Electricity grids: the backbone of the EU energy system (2025/2006(INI))

    JURI Committee

    – Monitoring the application of European Union law in 2023 and 2024 (2025/2016(INI))
    (opinion: PETI)

    – European Union regulatory fitness and subsidiarity and proportionality – report on Better Law-Making covering 2023 and 2024 (2025/2015(INI))

    PECH Committee

    – Fisheries management approaches for safeguarding sensitive species, tackling invasive species and benefiting local economies (2025/2011(INI))

    – The role of social, economic and environmental standards in safeguarding fair competition for all aquatic food products and improving food security (2025/2010(INI))

    PETI Committee

    – Deliberations of the Committee on Petitions in 2023 (2025/2027(INI))

    (Following the Conference of Presidents’ decision of 19 December 2024)

    – The multiannual plan for the Baltic Sea and ways forward (2024/2127(INI))

    – The impact of the implementation of the Maritime Spatial Planning Directive 2014/89/EU on fisheries in selected fishing areas and sea basins (2024/2126(INI))

    – Decarbonisation and modernisation of EU fisheries, and the development and deployment of fishing gear (2024/2123(INI))

    AGRI Committee

    – The position of farmers in the agri-food value chain (2024/2122(INI))

    ECON Committee

    – The role of simple tax rules and tax fragmentation in European competitiveness (2024/2118(INI))

    – A coherent tax framework for the EU’s financial sector (2024/2117(INI))

    – Facilitating the financing of investments and reforms to boost European competitiveness and creating a Capital Markets Union (Draghi Report) (2024/2116(INI))
    (opinion: BUDG)

    FEMM Committee

    – Gender Equality Strategy 2025 (2024/2125(INI))
    (opinion: LIBE)

    – Women’s entrepreneurship in rural and island areas and outermost regions (2024/2124(INI))
    (opinion: AGRI)

    IMCO Committee

    – A new legislative framework for products that is fit for the digital and sustainable transition (2024/2119(INI))

    REGI Committee

    – The role of cohesion policy in supporting the just transition (2024/2121(INI))
    (opinion: EMPL)

    – The role of cohesion policy investment in resolving the current housing crisis (2024/2120(INI))
    (opinion: EMPL)


    III. Consent procedure

    Reports with a motion for a non-legislative resolution (consent procedure) (Rule 107(5))

    (Following notification by the Conference of Committee Chairs on 15 January 2025)

    AFET Committee

    – Interim report in view of the consent procedure on the Agreement establishing an association between the EU and the Principality of Andorra and the Republic of San Marino (2024/0101R(NLE) – 2024/0101(NLE))
    (opinion: ECON, IMCO)


    IV. Petitions

    Petitions Nos 1427-24 to 1518-24 had been entered in the register on 17 January 2025 and had been forwarded to the committee responsible, in accordance with Rule 232(9) and (10).

    The President had, on 17 January 2025, forwarded to the committee responsible, in accordance with Rule 232(15), petitions addressed to the European Parliament by natural or legal persons who were not citizens of the European Union and who did not reside, or have their registered office, in a Member State.


    V. Documents received

    The following documents had been received from Members:

    – Mathilde Androuët, Gerolf Annemans, Jordan Bardella, Nikola Bartůšek, Rachel Blom, Barbara Bonte, Paolo Borchia, Mireia Borrás Pabón, Irmhild Boßdorf, Jaroslav Bžoch, Klara Dostalova, Marieke Ehlers, Dick Erixon, Tomasz Froelich, Petras Gražulis, Branko Grims, Catherine Griset, Enikő Győri, Roman Haider, Fernand Kartheiser, Ondřej Knotek, Vilis Krištopans, Julien Leonardelli, Jorge Martín Frías, Milan Mazurek, Tiago Moreira de Sá, Jana Nagyová, Hans Neuhoff, Julie Rechagneux, Dominik Tarczyński, Hermann Tertsch, Isabella Tovaglieri, António Tânger Corrêa, Milan Uhrík, Tom Vandendriessche, Harald Vilimsky, Ewa Zajączkowska-Hernik and Auke Zijlstra. Motion for a resolution on Dismantling Overregulation and Government Encroachment: reclaiming competitiveness and innovation in the European Union (B10-0214/2024)
    referred to committee responsible: JURI
    opinion: ITRE

    – Pekka Toveri and Sebastian Tynkkynen. Motion for a resolution on restricting the ability of passenger and cargo traffic to enter European Union airspace from Russia (B10-0220/2024)
    referred to committee responsible: TRAN
    opinion: AFET

    – Matthieu Valet. Motion for a resolution on EU policy on Syrian refugees following the overthrow of the Bashar al-Assad regime (B10-0237/2024)
    referred to committee responsible: LIBE

    – Christine Anderson, Anja Arndt, René Aust, Arno Bausemer, Zsuzsanna Borvendég, Markus Buchheit, Petr Bystron, Elisabeth Dieringer, Siegbert Frank Droese, Marc Jongen, Mary Khan, Sarah Knafo, Maximilian Krah and Jaroslava Pokorná Jermanová. Motion for a resolution on financial and organisational support for Member States to repatriate Syrian nationals (B10-0238/2024)
    referred to committee responsible: LIBE


    ATTENDANCE REGISTER

    Present:

    Aaltola Mika, Abadía Jover Maravillas, Adamowicz Magdalena, Aftias Georgios, Agirregoitia Martínez Oihane, Agius Peter, Agius Saliba Alex, Allione Grégory, Al-Sahlani Abir, Anadiotis Nikolaos, Anderson Christine, Andersson Li, Andresen Rasmus, Andrews Barry, Andriukaitis Vytenis Povilas, Androuët Mathilde, Angel Marc, Annemans Gerolf, Antoci Giuseppe, Arias Echeverría Pablo, Arimont Pascal, Arłukowicz Bartosz, Arnaoutoglou Sakis, Arndt Anja, Arvanitis Konstantinos, Asens Llodrà Jaume, Assis Francisco, Attard Daniel, Aubry Manon, Auštrevičius Petras, Axinia Adrian-George, Azmani Malik, Bajada Thomas, Baljeu Jeannette, Ballarín Cereza Laura, Bardella Jordan, Barley Katarina, Barna Dan, Barrena Arza Pernando, Bartulica Stephen Nikola, Bartůšek Nikola, Bausemer Arno, Bay Nicolas, Bay Christophe, Beke Wouter, Beleris Fredis, Bellamy François-Xavier, Benea Adrian-Dragoş, Benifei Brando, Benjumea Benjumea Isabel, Beňová Monika, Berendsen Tom, Berger Stefan, Berg Sibylle, Berlato Sergio, Bernhuber Alexander, Biedroń Robert, Bielan Adam, Bischoff Gabriele, Blaha Ľuboš, Blinkevičiūtė Vilija, Blom Rachel, Bloss Michael, Bocheński Tobiasz, Boeselager Damian, Bogdan Ioan-Rareş, Bonaccini Stefano, Bonte Barbara, Borchia Paolo, Borrás Pabón Mireia, Borvendég Zsuzsanna, Borzan Biljana, Bosanac Gordan, Bosse Stine, Botenga Marc, Boyer Gilles, Boylan Lynn, Brandstätter Helmut, Brasier-Clain Marie-Luce, Braun Grzegorz, Brejza Krzysztof, Bricmont Saskia, Brnjac Nikolina, Brudziński Joachim Stanisław, Bryłka Anna, Buczek Tomasz, Buda Daniel, Buda Waldemar, Budka Borys, Bugalho Sebastião, Buła Andrzej, Burkhardt Delara, Buxadé Villalba Jorge, Bžoch Jaroslav, Camara Mélissa, Canfin Pascal, Carberry Nina, Casa David, Caspary Daniel, Cassart Benoit, Castillo Laurent, del Castillo Vera Pilar, Cavazzini Anna, Cavedagna Stefano, Ceccardi Susanna, Cepeda José, Ceulemans Estelle, Chahim Mohammed, Chaibi Leila, Chastel Olivier, Chinnici Caterina, Christensen Asger, Ciccioli Carlo, Cifrová Ostrihoňová Veronika, Ciriani Alessandro, Cisint Anna Maria, Clausen Per, Clergeau Christophe, Cormand David, Corrado Annalisa, Costanzo Vivien, Cotrim De Figueiredo João, Cowen Barry, Cremer Tobias, Crespo Díaz Carmen, Cristea Andi, Cunha Paulo, Danielsson Johan, Dauchy Marie, Dávid Dóra, David Ivan, Decaro Antonio, de la Hoz Quintano Raúl, Della Valle Danilo, Deloge Valérie, De Masi Fabio, De Meo Salvatore, Demirel Özlem, Deutsch Tamás, Devaux Valérie, Dibrani Adnan, Diepeveen Ton, Dieringer Elisabeth, Dîncu Vasile, Di Rupo Elio, Doherty Regina, Doleschal Christian, Dömötör Csaba, Do Nascimento Cabral Paulo, Donazzan Elena, Dorfmann Herbert, Dostál Ondřej, Droese Siegbert Frank, Düpont Lena, Ecke Matthias, Ehler Christian, Ehlers Marieke, Eriksson Sofie, Erixon Dick, Eroglu Engin, Everding Sebastian, Ezcurra Almansa Alma, Falcone Marco, Farantouris Nikolas, Farreng Laurence, Farský Jan, Ferber Markus, Fernández Jonás, Fidanza Carlo, Fiocchi Pietro, Firmenich Ruth, Fita Claire, Fourlas Loucas, Fourreau Emma, Fragkos Emmanouil, Freund Daniel, Frigout Anne-Sophie, Fritzon Heléne, Froelich Tomasz, Fuglsang Niels, Furet Angéline, Furore Mario, Gahler Michael, Galán Estrella, Gálvez Lina, Gambino Alberico, García Hermida-Van Der Walle Raquel, Garraud Jean-Paul, Gasiuk-Pihowicz Kamila, Geadi Geadis, Gedin Hanna, Geese Alexandra, Geier Jens, Geisel Thomas, Gemma Chiara, Georgiou Giorgos, Gerbrandy Gerben-Jan, Germain Jean-Marc, Gerzsenyi Gabriella, Geuking Niels, Gieseke Jens, Giménez Larraz Borja, Girauta Vidal Juan Carlos, Glavak Sunčana, Glück Andreas, Glucksmann Raphaël, Goerens Charles, Gomart Christophe, Gomes Isilda, Gómez López Sandra, Gonçalves Bruno, Gonçalves Sérgio, González Pons Esteban, Gori Giorgio, Gosiewska Małgorzata, Gotink Dirk, Gozi Sandro, Grapini Maria, Gražulis Petras, Grims Branko, Griset Catherine, Gronkiewicz-Waltz Hanna, Groothuis Bart, Grossmann Elisabeth, Grudler Christophe, Gualmini Elisabetta, Guarda Cristina, Guetta Bernard, Guzenina Maria, Hadjipantela Michalis, Hahn Svenja, Haider Roman, Halicki Andrzej, Hassan Rima, Häusling Martin, Hava Mircea-Gheorghe, Hazekamp Anja, Heide Hannes, Heinäluoma Eero, Henriksson Anna-Maja, Herbst Niclas, Herranz García Esther, Hetman Krzysztof, Hohlmeier Monika, Hojsík Martin, Holmgren Pär, Hölvényi György, Homs Ginel Alicia, Humberto Sérgio, Ijabs Ivars, Imart Céline, Incir Evin, Inselvini Paolo, Iovanovici Şoşoacă Diana, Jalloul Muro Hana, Jamet France, Jerković Romana, Jongen Marc, Joński Dariusz, Joron Virginie, Jouvet Pierre, Joveva Irena, Juknevičienė Rasa, Junco García Nora, Jungbluth Alexander, Kabilov Taner, Kalfon François, Kaljurand Marina, Kalniete Sandra, Kamiński Mariusz, Kanev Radan, Karlsbro Karin, Kartheiser Fernand, Karvašová Ľubica, Katainen Elsi, Kefalogiannis Emmanouil, Kelleher Billy, Keller Fabienne, Kelly Seán, Kemp Martine, Kennes Rudi, Khan Mary, Kobosko Michał, Köhler Stefan, Kohut Łukasz, Kokalari Arba, Kolář Ondřej, Kollár Kinga, Kols Rihards, Konečná Kateřina, Kopacz Ewa, Körner Moritz, Kountoura Elena, Kovatchev Andrey, Krah Maximilian, Krištopans Vilis, Kruis Sebastian, Krutílek Ondřej, Kubín Tomáš, Kuhnke Alice, Kulja András Tivadar, Kulmuni Katri, Kyllönen Merja, Kyuchyuk Ilhan, Lagodinsky Sergey, Lakos Eszter, Lalucq Aurore, Lange Bernd, Langensiepen Katrin, Laššáková Judita, László András, Laurent Murielle, Laureti Camilla, Laykova Rada, Lazarov Ilia, Lazarus Luis-Vicențiu, Le Callennec Isabelle, Leggeri Fabrice, Lenaers Jeroen, Leonardelli Julien, Lewandowski Janusz, Lexmann Miriam, Liese Peter, Lins Norbert, Loiseau Nathalie, Løkkegaard Morten, Lopatka Reinhold, López Javi, López Aguilar Juan Fernando, López-Istúriz White Antonio, Lövin Isabella, Luena César, Łukacijewska Elżbieta Katarzyna, Lupo Giuseppe, McAllister David, Madison Jaak, Magoni Lara, Maij Marit, Maląg Marlena, Manda Claudiu, Mandl Lukas, Maniatis Yannis, Mantovani Mario, Maran Pierfrancesco, Marczułajtis-Walczak Jagna, Mariani Thierry, Marino Ignazio Roberto, Martín Frías Jorge, Martins Catarina, Martusciello Fulvio, Marzà Ibáñez Vicent, Matthieu Sara, Mavrides Costas, Mayer Georg, Mazurek Milan, Mažylis Liudas, McNamara Michael, Mebarek Nora, Mehnert Alexandra, Meleti Eleonora, Mendes Ana Catarina, Mendia Idoia, Mertens Verena, Mesure Marina, Metsola Roberta, Metz Tilly, Mikser Sven, Millán Mon Francisco José, Miranda Paz Ana, Molnár Csaba, Montero Irene, Montserrat Dolors, Morace Carolina, Moreira de Sá Tiago, Moreno Sánchez Javier, Moretti Alessandra, Motreanu Dan-Ştefan, Mularczyk Arkadiusz, Müller Piotr, Mullooly Ciaran, Mureşan Siegfried, Muşoiu Ştefan, Nagyová Jana, Navarrete Rojas Fernando, Negrescu Victor, Nemec Matjaž, Nerudová Danuše, Nesci Denis, Neuhoff Hans, Neumann Hannah, Nevado del Campo Elena, Niebler Angelika, Niedermayer Luděk, Niinistö Ville, Nikolic Aleksandar, Ní Mhurchú Cynthia, Noichl Maria, Nordqvist Rasmus, Novakov Andrey, Nykiel Mirosława, Obajtek Daniel, Ódor Ľudovít, Oetjen Jan-Christoph, Ohisalo Maria, Oliveira João, Olivier Philippe, Omarjee Younous, Ondruš Branislav, Ó Ríordáin Aodhán, Ozdoba Jacek, Paet Urmas, Pajín Leire, Palmisano Valentina, Papadakis Kostas, Papandreou Nikos, Pappas Nikos, Pascual de la Parte Nicolás, Pedro Ana Miguel, Pedulla’ Gaetano, Pellerin-Carlin Thomas, Peltier Guillaume, Penkova Tsvetelina, Pennelle Gilles, Pereira Lídia, Peter-Hansen Kira Marie, Petrov Hristo, Picaro Michele, Picula Tonino, Piera Pascale, Pimpie Pierre, Piperea Gheorghe, de la Pisa Carrión Margarita, Pokorná Jermanová Jaroslava, Polato Daniele, Polfjärd Jessica, Popescu Virgil-Daniel, Pozņaks Reinis, Princi Giusi, Protas Jacek, Pürner Friedrich, Rackete Carola, Radev Emil, Radtke Dennis, Rafowicz Emma, Ratas Jüri, Rechagneux Julie, Regner Evelyn, Repasi René, Repp Sabrina, Ressler Karlo, Reuten Thijs, Riba i Giner Diana, Ricci Matteo, Riehl Nela, Ripa Manuela, Rodrigues André, Ros Sempere Marcos, Roth Neveďalová Katarína, Rougé André, Ruissen Bert-Jan, Ruotolo Sandro, Rzońca Bogdan, Saeidi Arash, Salini Massimiliano, Salis Ilaria, Salla Aura, Sánchez Amor Nacho, Sanchez Julien, Sancho Murillo Elena, Saramo Jussi, Sardone Silvia, Šarec Marjan, Sargiacomo Eric, Satouri Mounir, Saudargas Paulius, Sbai Majdouline, Sberna Antonella, Schaldemose Christel, Schaller-Baross Ernő, Schenk Oliver, Scheuring-Wielgus Joanna, Schieder Andreas, Schilling Lena, Schneider Christine, Schwab Andreas, Scuderi Benedetta, Seekatz Ralf, Sell Alexander, Serrano Sierra Rosa, Serra Sánchez Isabel, Sienkiewicz Bartłomiej, Simon Sven, Singer Christine, Sinkevičius Virginijus, Sippel Birgit, Sjöstedt Jonas, Śmiszek Krzysztof, Smith Anthony, Smit Sander, Sokol Tomislav, Solier Diego, Sommen Liesbet, Sonneborn Martin, Sorel Malika, Sousa Silva Hélder, Søvndal Villy, Squarta Marco, Staķis Mārtiņš, Stancanelli Raffaele, Stier Davor Ivo, Stöteler Sebastiaan, Stoyanov Stanislav, Strack-Zimmermann Marie-Agnes, Strada Cecilia, Streit Joachim, Strik Tineke, Strolenberg Anna, Stürgkh Anna, Sypniewski Marcin, Szczerba Michał, Szekeres Pál, Szydło Beata, Tamburrano Dario, Tânger Corrêa António, Tarquinio Marco, Târziu Claudiu-Richard, Tavares Carla, Tegethoff Kai, Temido Marta, Teodorescu Georgiana, Teodorescu Måwe Alice, Ter Laak Ingeborg, Terras Riho, Thionnet Pierre-Romain, Timgren Beatrice, Tinagli Irene, Tobback Bruno, Tobé Tomas, Tolassy Rody, Tomašič Zala, Tomc Romana, Tonin Matej, Toom Jana, Topo Raffaele, Torselli Francesco, Tosi Flavio, Toussaint Marie, Toveri Pekka, Tridico Pasquale, Trochu Laurence, Tsiodras Dimitris, Tudose Mihai, Tynkkynen Sebastian, Uhrík Milan, Ušakovs Nils, Vaidere Inese, Valchev Ivaylo, Vălean Adina, Valet Matthieu, Van Brempt Kathleen, Van Brug Anouk, van den Berg Brigitte, Vandendriessche Tom, Van Dijck Kris, Van Lanschot Reinier, Van Leeuwen Jessika, Vannacci Roberto, Van Overtveldt Johan, Van Sparrentak Kim, Varaut Alexandre, Vasconcelos Ana, Vasile-Voiculescu Vlad, Vautmans Hilde, Vedrenne Marie-Pierre, Ventola Francesco, Verheyen Sabine, Verougstraete Yvan, Veryga Aurelijus, Vieira Catarina, Vigenin Kristian, Vilimsky Harald, Vincze Loránt, Vind Marianne, Vistisen Anders, Vivaldini Mariateresa, Volgin Petar, von der Schulenburg Michael, Vondra Alexandr, Voss Axel, Vozemberg-Vrionidi Elissavet, Vrecionová Veronika, Vázquez Lázara Adrián, Waitz Thomas, Walsmann Marion, Warborn Jörgen, Warnke Jan-Peter, Wąsik Maciej, Wawrykiewicz Michał, Wcisło Marta, Wechsler Andrea, Werbrouck Séverine, Wiesner Emma, Wiezik Michal, Wilmès Sophie, Winkler Iuliu, Winzig Angelika, Wiseler-Lima Isabel, Wiśniewska Jadwiga, Wölken Tiemo, Wolters Lara, Yar Lucia, Yon-Courtin Stéphanie, Zacharia Maria, Zajączkowska-Hernik Ewa, Zalewska Anna, Žalimas Dainius, Zan Alessandro, Zarzalejos Javier, Zdechovský Tomáš, Zdrojewski Bogdan Andrzej, Zijlstra Auke, Zīle Roberts, Zingaretti Nicola, Złotowski Kosma, Zoido Álvarez Juan Ignacio, Zovko Željana, Zver Milan

    Excused:

    Sidl Günther


    ANNEX 1 – Composition of new committees

    C01A SEDE

    [ 20/01/2025 – ]

    Комисия по сигурност и отбрана

    Comisión de Seguridad y Defensa

    Výbor pro bezpečnost a obranu

    Udvalget om Sikkerhed og Forsvar

    Ausschuss für Sicherheit und Verteidigung

    Julgeoleku- ja kaitsekomisjon

    Επιτροπή Ασφάλειας και Άμυνας

    Committee on Security and Defence

    Commission de la sécurité et de la défense

    An Coiste um Shlándáil agus Cosaint

    Odbor za sigurnost i obranu

    Commissione per la sicurezza e la difesa

    Drošības un aizsardzības komiteja

    Saugumo ir gynybos komitetas

    ssBiztonság- és Védelempolitikai Bizottság

    Kumitat għas-Sigurtà u d-Difiża

    Commissie veiligheid en defensie

    Komisja Bezpieczeństwa i Obrony

    Comissão da Segurança e da Defesa

    Comisia pentru securitate și apărare

    Výbor pre bezpečnosť a obranu

    Odbor za varnost in obrambo

    Turvallisuus- ja puolustuspolitiikan valiokunta

    Utskottet för säkerhet och försvar

    (43 members)

    PPE (11)

    BEKE Wouter

    DE MEO Salvatore

    GOMART Christophe

    HERBST Niclas

    MEIMARAKIS Vangelis

    NOVAKOV Andrey

    PASCUAL DE LA PARTE Nicolás

    SZCZERBA Michał

    TEODORESCU MÅWE Alice

    TERRAS Riho

    TOVERI Pekka

    S&D (8)

    CREMER Tobias

    DI RUPO Elio

    GLUCKSMANN Raphaël

    LÓPEZ Javi

    MAVRIDES Costas

    MENDES Ana Catarina

    MIKSER Sven

    TUDOSE Mihai

    PfE (5)

    HÖLVÉNYI György

    POKORNÁ JERMANOVÁ Jaroslava

    STÖTELER Sebastiaan

    THIONNET Pierre-Romain

    VANNACCI Roberto

    ECR (5)

    DONAZZAN Elena

    DWORCZYK Michał

    GAMBINO Alberico

    POZŅAKS Reinis

    VONDRA Alexandr

    Renew (5)

    AUŠTREVIČIUS Petras

    LOISEAU Nathalie

    ŠAREC Marjan

    STRACK-ZIMMERMANN Marie-Agnes

    YAR Lucia

    Verts/ALE (3)

    NEUMANN Hannah

    STAĶIS Mārtiņš

    VAN LANSCHOT Reinier

    The Left (3)

    BOTENGA Marc

    DEMIREL Özlem

    KYLLÖNEN Merja

    ESN (1)

    NEUHOFF Hans

    NI (2)

    PAPADAKIS Kostas

    VON DER SCHULENBURG Michael

    C08A SANT

    [ 20/01/2025 – ]

    Комисия по обществено здраве

    Comisión de Salud Pública

    Výbor pro veřejné zdraví

    Udvalget om Folkesundhed

    Ausschuss für öffentliche Gesundheit

    Rahvatervishoiu komisjon

    Επιτροπή Δημόσιας Υγείας

    Committee on Public Health

    Commission de la santé publique

    An Coiste um Shláinte Phoiblí

    Odbor za javno zdravlje

    Commissione per la sanità pubblica

    Sabiedrības veselības komiteja

    Visuomenės sveikatos komitetas

    Közegészségügyi Bizottság

    Kumitat għas-Saħħa Pubblika

    Commissie volksgezondheid

    Komisja Zdrowia Publicznego

    Comissão da Saúde Pública

    Comisia pentru sănătate publică

    Výbor pre verejné zdravie

    Odbor za javno zdravje

    Kansanterveyden valiokunta

    Utskottet för folkhälsa

    (43 members)

    PPE (11)

    ARŁUKOWICZ Bartosz

    CASTILLO Laurent

    HADJIPANTELA Michalis

    JARUBAS Adam

    KULJA András Tivadar

    LIESE Peter

    MORATTI Letizia

    NEVADO DEL CAMPO Elena

    POLFJÄRD Jessica

    SCHENK Oliver

    SOKOL Tomislav

    S&D (8)

    ANDRIUKAITIS Vytenis Povilas

    CLERGEAU Christophe

    GONZÁLEZ CASARES Nicolás

    JERKOVIĆ Romana

    MORETTI Alessandra

    NEGRESCU Victor

    PAPANDREOU Nikos

    WÖLKEN Tiemo

    PfE (5)

    BRASIER-CLAIN Marie-Luce

    DE LA PISA CARRIÓN Margarita

    FERENC Viktória

    HAUSER Gerald

    KNOTEK Ondřej

    ECR (5)

    BUDA Waldemar

    FRAGKOS Emmanouil

    PICARO Michele

    RAZZA Ruggero

    TROCHU Laurence

    Renew (5)

    BOSSE Stine

    CANFIN Pascal

    CHASTEL Olivier

    CIFROVÁ OSTRIHOŇOVÁ Veronika

    VASILE-VOICULESCU Vlad

    Verts/ALE (3)

    HÄUSLING Martin

    MARINO Ignazio Roberto

    METZ Tilly

    The Left (3)

    MARTINS Catarina

    PALMISANO Valentina

    TAMBURRANO Dario

    ESN (1)

    ANDERSON Christine

    NI (2)

    BEŇOVÁ Monika

    DOSTÁL Ondřej

    CS01 EUDS

    [ 20/01/2025 – ]

    Специална комисия относно европейския щит за демокрацията

    Comisión Especial sobre el Escudo Europeo de la Democracia

    Zvláštní výbor pro Evropský štít pro demokracii

    Det Særlige Udvalg om Det Europæiske Demokratiskjold

    Sonderausschuss für den Europäischen Schutzschild für die Demokratie

    Euroopa demokraatia kaitse erikomisjon

    Ειδική Επιτροπή για την Ευρωπαϊκή Ασπίδα Δημοκρατίας

    Special committee on the European Democracy Shield

    Commission spéciale sur le bouclier européen de la démocratie

    An Coiste Speisialta um an Sciath Eorpach don Daonlathas

    Posebni odbor za europski štit za zaštitu demokracije

    Commissione speciale sullo scudo europeo per la democrazia

    Īpašā komiteja attiecībā uz Eiropas demokrātijas vairogu

    Specialusis komitetas Europos demokratijos skydo klausimais

    Az európai demokráciapajzzsal foglalkozó különbizottság

    Kumitat Speċjali dwar it-Tarka Ewropea għad-Demokrazija

    Bijzondere Commissie inzake een schild voor de Europese democratie

    Komisja Specjalna ds. Europejskiej Tarczy Demokracji

    Comissão Especial sobre o Escudo Europeu da Democracia

    Comisia specială pentru Scutul democrației europene

    Osobitný výbor pre európsky štít na obranu demokracie

    Posebni odbor za evropski ščit za demokracijo

    Eurooppalaista demokratian kilpeä käsittelevä erityisvaliokunta

    Särskilda utskottet för det europeiska demokratiförsvaret

    (33 members)

    PPE (9)

    AALTOLA Mika

    BOGDAN Ioan-Rareş

    DÜPONT Lena

    KALNIETE Sandra

    MARTUSCIELLO Fulvio

    SIENKIEWICZ Bartłomiej

    TOBÉ Tomas

    ZDECHOVSKÝ Tomáš

    ZOIDO ÁLVAREZ Juan Ignacio

    S&D (6)

    DÎNCU Vasile

    MENDES Ana Catarina

    MOLNÁR Csaba

    PICIERNO Pina

    SCHALDEMOSE Christel

    VAN BREMPT Kathleen

    PfE (4)

    BŽOCH Jaroslav

    LEGGERI Fabrice

    SCHALLER-BAROSS Ernő

    TÂNGER CORRÊA António

    ECR (4)

    CAVEDAGNA Stefano

    KANKO Assita

    SZYDŁO Beata

    TERHEŞ Cristian

    Renew (4)

    BRANDSTÄTTER Helmut

    GROOTHUIS Bart

    LOISEAU Nathalie

    WILMÈS Sophie

    Verts/ALE (2)

    GEESE Alexandra

    VAN SPARRENTAK Kim

    The Left (2)

    ARVANITIS Konstantinos

    DELLA VALLE Danilo

    ESN (1)

    ANDERSON Christine

    NI (1)

    PANAYIOTOU Fidias

    CS02 HOUS

    [ 20/01/2025 – ]

    Специална комисия относно жилищната криза в Европейския съюз

    Comisión Especial sobre la Crisis de la Vivienda en la Unión Europea

    Zvláštní výbor pro krizi v oblasti bydlení v Evropské unii

    Det Særlige Udvalg om Boligkrisen i Den Europæiske Union

    Sonderausschuss zur Wohnraumkrise in der Europäischen Union

    Euroopa Liidu eluasemekriisi erikomisjon

    Ειδική Επιτροπή για τη στεγαστική κρίση στην Ευρωπαϊκή Ένωση

    Special committee on the Housing Crisis in the European Union

    Commission spéciale sur la crise du logement dans l’Union européenne

    An Coiste Speisialta um an nGéarchéim Tithíochta san Aontas Eorpach

    Posebni odbor za stambenu krizu u Europskoj uniji

    Commissione speciale sulla crisi degli alloggi nell’Unione europea

    Īpašā komiteja mājokļu krīzes risināšanai Eiropas Savienībā

    Specialusis komitetas būsto krizės Europos Sąjungoje klausimais

    Az Európai Unióban tapasztalható lakhatási válsággal foglalkozó különbizottság

    Kumitat Speċjali dwar il-Kriżi tal-Akkomodazzjoni fl-Unjoni Ewropea

    Bijzondere Commissie inzake de huisvestingscrisis in de Europese Unie

    Komisja Specjalna ds. Kryzysu Mieszkaniowego w Unii Europejskiej

    Comissão Especial sobre a Crise de Habitação na União Europeia

    Comisia specială pentru criza locuințelor în Uniunea Europeană

    Osobitný výbor pre krízu bývania v Európskej únii

    Posebni odbor za stanovanjsko krizo v Evropski uniji

    Asuntokriisiä Euroopan unionissa käsittelevä erityisvaliokunta

    Särskilda utskottet för bostadskrisen i Europeiska unionen

    (33 members)

    PPE (9)

    BUGALHO Sebastião

    CASA David

    DOHERTY Regina

    EZCURRA ALMANSA Alma

    FALCONE Marco

    FERBER Markus

    GOTINK Dirk

    LE CALLENNEC Isabelle

    MARCZUŁAJTIS-WALCZAK Jagna

    S&D (6)

    BISCHOFF Gabriele

    GOMES Isilda

    HOMS GINEL Alicia

    MEBAREK Nora

    SCHIEDER Andreas

    TINAGLI Irene

    PfE (4)

    BLOM Rachel

    DOSTALOVA Klara

    HÖLVÉNYI György

    RECHAGNEUX Julie

    ECR (4)

    JUNCO GARCÍA Nora

    MAGONI Lara

    SBERNA Antonella

    TEODORESCU Georgiana

    Renew (4)

    HOJSÍK Martin

    MULLOOLY Ciaran

    TOOM Jana

    VAN DEN BERG Brigitte

    Verts/ALE (2)

    MARZÀ IBÁÑEZ Vicent

    OHISALO Maria

    The Left (2)

    CHAIBI Leila

    MONTERO Irene

    ESN (1)

    BOSSDORF Irmhild

    NI (1)

    ZACHARIA Maria

    MIL OSI Europe News –

    January 25, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Video: Occupied Palestinian Territory, Syria, Haiti & other topics – Daily Press Briefing (23 January 2025)

    Source: United Nations (Video News)

    Noon briefing by Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.

    Highlights:
    Occupied Palestinian Territory
    Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations
    Syria
    Security Council
    Haiti
    Sudan
    Holocaust
    Guest Tomorrow
    Honour Roll

    OCCUPIED PALESTINIAN TERRITORY
    The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reports that large volumes of humanitarian aid continue to enter Gaza through the Erez and Zikim crossings in the north and Kerem Shalom crossing in the south.
    Inside Gaza, OCHA says that aid cargo and humanitarian personnel are moving into areas that were previously hard to reach. Our humanitarian partners on the ground say the operating environment has improved significantly. The surge in supplies entering Gaza each day and the return of law and order has allowed aid organizations to scale up the delivery of life-saving assistance and services.
    In central and southern Gaza, partners have resumed monthly food distributions with full rations. Yesterday, humanitarian organizations on the ground in Gaza transported 118 trucks of food parcels and flour from UNRWA warehouses to more than 60 distribution points in the south.
    Across southern Gaza, UNICEF continues dispatching high-energy biscuits and ready-to-use food – enough for thousands of infants.
    While food items currently account for the bulk of supplies that have entered the Gaza Strip since the ceasefire took effect, more medicines, shelter materials, and water, sanitation and hygiene supplies are expected over the coming days.
    Yesterday, partners in southern Gaza distributed medical disposables and trauma management kits to 14 hospitals, as well as sexual and reproductive health kits to 28 health facilities – enough for 58,000 people.
    Meanwhile, fuel deliveries in central and southern Gaza are keeping functional water wells, desalination plants and sewage pumps running.
    And yesterday, our humanitarian partners delivered seven trucks of fuel to northern Gaza. This is the first such shipment since the ceasefire began.
    The supplies will help power the back-up generators that are sustaining critical humanitarian services provided by UNRWA, the World Food Programme, the World Health Organization and other partners.
    Also, in Gaza City yesterday, two of UNRWA’s primary health service points reopened – the Beach health centre and Daraj medical point.
    Across the Strip, OCHA reports that most Palestinians remain at displacement sites – either because their homes are in ruins or contaminated by explosive ordnance, or because movement back to northern Gaza has not yet been allowed.
    And turning to the situation in the West Bank, OCHA reports that the Jenin Government Hospital remains disconnected from water and electricity, and access is extremely difficult due to road damage. The facility is relying on dwindling water reserves from emergency tanks installed just weeks ago through an allocation by the Occupied Palestinian Territory Humanitarian Fund, which is managed by OCHA.

    UNDER-SECRETARY-GENERAL FOR PEACE OPERATIONS
    Starting this Saturday, the Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, Jean-Pierre Lacroix, will travel to the Middle East.
    He will visit two UN peacekeeping missions and travel to Damascus to meet with caretaker authorities and Israeli authorities in Jerusalem.
    Mr. Lacroix will first travel to Syria, where he will spend time at the UN Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) before visiting the headquarters of the UN Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO) in Jerusalem.
    Mr. Lacroix’s priorities are to express his solidarity with and support for UN peacekeepers and to highlight the importance of mine action and removal of explosive remnants of war.

    Full highlights: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date%5Bvalue%5D%5Bdate%5D=23%20January%202025

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wt2pGiYdMwg

    MIL OSI Video –

    January 25, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Jubilee 2025: Undersecretary of State Mantovano chairs coordination meeting with the Umbria Region

    Source: Government of Italy (English)

    A coordination meeting with the Umbria Region regarding the 2025 Jubilee of the Catholic Church was held at Palazzo Chigi today, chaired by Undersecretary of State to the Presidency of the Council of Ministers Alfredo Mantovano.

    Undersecretary of State Mantovano highlighted that the purpose of the discussion was “to concretely link the Jubilee with celebrations and events involving the Umbria Region, in particular the 800th anniversary of the Canticle of the Creatures in 2025 and of the death of St. Francis of Assisi in 2026, as well as the canonisation of Carlo Acutis, whose remains rest in Assisi, which will take place on 27 April”.

    The President of the Umbria Region, Stefania Proietti, stressed the importance of this opportunity for cooperation, considering also the growing interest in the area of Umbria in terms of visitor numbers.

    Among the speakers and participants at the meeting were: the Special Government Commissioner for the Jubilee, Roberto Gualtieri; the Pro-Prefect of the Holy See’s Dicastery for Evangelization, Monsignor Rino Fisichella; the Mayor of Perugia, Vittoria Ferdinandi; the Mayor of Terni, Stefano Bandecchi; the Deputy Mayor of Assisi, Valter Stoppini; the Chair of the Committee for the eighth centenary of St. Francis, Davide Rondoni; the Head of the Civil Protection Department, Fabio Ciciliano; the head of hospitality service coordination for the Jubilee 2025, Agostino Miozzo; and, representatives from the Ministries and institutions involved. Today’s meeting will be immediately followed by an operational working group.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

    January 25, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Security: IAEA Work Central at World Economic Forum in Davos

    Source: International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA

    “The work of the IAEA is at the centre of the debates. In particular, the nexus between nuclear energy and artificial intelligence has attracted a lot of attention,” the Director General said in Davos.  

    The IAEA held a session on nuclear’s role in meeting energy demands for artificial intelligence (AI), with experts from Bloomberg and technology venture capitalists DCVC. “Big tech needs nuclear to power energy-intensive AI data centres,” explained Mr Grossi.  

    A major event was also held on tripling nuclear energy, and the need for standardization, regulation, financing and collaboration in scaling up nuclear.  

    A few years ago, discussions might have been about phasing out nuclear energy.

    Today, at @wef #WEF25, we’re on “the road to tripling nuclear capacity”. This shows how nuclear is increasingly seen as essential for net-zero and energy transition.

    Watch ↓ https://t.co/P9oRXGX2Dg

    — Rafael MarianoGrossi (@rafaelmgrossi) January 21, 2025

    The Director General met with multiple world leaders to discuss development, energy and world peace, including Panama’s President Jose Raul Mulino, Israel’s President Isaac Herzog, Austria’s Chancellor Alexander Schallenberg and Flanders’ Minister-President Matthias Diependaele.  

    Mr Grossi and Mr Mulino engaged on the IAEA’s Atoms4Food programme, as well as improving cancer care with the IAEA’s Rays Of Hope programme. “The IAEA is proud to stand with Panama in building a healthier, more resilient future for its people,” the Director General said. 

    The IAEA’s work on health, food and nutrition was a focus of multiple high-level dialogues. For example, Mr Grossi met with Viet Nam’s Minister of Science and Technology Huynh Thanh Dat to discuss the drought-tolerant, high-yield rice varieties that were developed with IAEA support, and with the CEO of Anglo American, Duncan Wanblad, on progress on a joint research project to fight soil salinity and advance sustainable farming practices. 

    Another key topic for the week was international security, particularly the IAEA’s role in ensuring nonproliferation worldwide. 

    The Director General was a speaker at the World Economic Forum’s Rubik’s Cube of Global Security, where he addressed pressures on nonproliferation amid rising geostrategic tensions, alongside Finland’s President Alexander Stubb, Libya’s Prime Minister Abdulhamid AlDabaiba, the International Crisis Group, Comfort Ero, Harvard Kennedy School’s Meghan O’Sullivan, and Foreign Affairs Magazine’s Dan Kurtz-Phelan. 

    Addressed pressures on nonproliferation amid rising geostrategic tensions at @wef #WEF25 Rubik’s Cube of Global Security. In today’s complex geopolitical landscape, the nonproliferation regime remains indispensable and, despite challenges, it has served the global community well. pic.twitter.com/58oDiyHuTv

    — Rafael MarianoGrossi (@rafaelmgrossi) January 22, 2025

    Watch the recording of the session here.  

    The Director General was also active in closed sessions on artificial intelligence and sustainable energy in Latin America with leaders of the region, as well as an event on growing the African economy with leaders from the continent. 

    “The mission and the importance of the IAEA continue to grow. This is why we are here in Davos,” concluded the Director General. 

    MIL Security OSI –

    January 25, 2025

  • MIL-OSI: Written resolution passed – approved amendments to the senior secured callable bond terms

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Oslo, 24 January 2025

    Reference is made to the announcement published by Interoil Exploration and Production ASA (the “Company“) on 17 January 2025 regarding summons for a written resolution with respect to the Company’s senior secured callable bonds with ISIN NO 001 0729908 (the “Bonds“).

    The written resolution in respect of the Bonds has been resolved and approved by the Company’s bondholders. Please see the attached notice on the written resolution for further information.

    The notice of the written resolution will be made available on http://www.stamdata.no (http://www.stamdata.no).

    Please direct any further questions to: ir@Interoil.no (mailto:ir@Interoil.no)

    ***

    Interoil Exploration and Production ASA is a Norwegian based exploration and production company – listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange with focus on Latin America. The Company is operator and license holder of several production and exploration assets in Colombia and Argentina with headquarter in Oslo.

    This information is subject to the disclosure requirements pursuant to section 5-12 of the Norwegian Securities Trading Act

    Attachment

    • NO0010729908_NB_20250124

    The MIL Network –

    January 25, 2025

  • MIL-OSI: South Plains Financial, Inc. Reports Fourth Quarter and Year-End 2024 Financial Results

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    LUBBOCK, Texas, Jan. 24, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — South Plains Financial, Inc. (NASDAQ:SPFI) (“South Plains” or the “Company”), the parent company of City Bank (“City Bank” or the “Bank”), today reported its financial results for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2024.

    Fourth Quarter 2024 Highlights

    • Net income for the fourth quarter of 2024 was $16.5 million, compared to $11.2 million for the third quarter of 2024 and $10.3 million for the fourth quarter of 2023.
    • Diluted earnings per share for the fourth quarter of 2024 was $0.96, compared to $0.66 for the third quarter of 2024 and $0.61 for the fourth quarter of 2023.
    • Average cost of deposits for the fourth quarter of 2024 was 229 basis points, compared to 247 basis points for the third quarter of 2024 and 224 basis points for the fourth quarter of 2023.
    • Net interest margin, calculated on a tax-equivalent basis, was 3.75% for the fourth quarter of 2024, compared to 3.65% for the third quarter of 2024 and 3.52% for the fourth quarter of 2023.
    • Return on average assets for the fourth quarter of 2024 was 1.53% annualized, compared to 1.05% annualized for the third quarter of 2024 and 0.99% annualized for the fourth quarter of 2023.
    • Tangible book value (non-GAAP) per share was $25.40 as of December 31, 2024, compared to $25.75 as of September 30, 2024 and $23.47 as of December 31, 2023.
    • The consolidated total risk-based capital ratio, common equity tier 1 risk-based capital ratio, and tier 1 leverage ratio at December 31, 2023 were 16.74%, 12.41%, and 11.33%, respectively. These ratios significantly exceeded the minimum regulatory levels necessary to be deemed “well-capitalized”.

    Full Year 2024 Highlights

    • Full year net income of $49.7 million in 2024, compared to $62.7 million in 2023.
    • Diluted earnings per share of $2.92 in 2024, compared to $3.62 in 2023.
    • The Bank’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Windmark Insurance Agency, Inc. (“Windmark”), was sold in the second quarter of 2023 for $36.1 million, resulting in a gain, net of related charges and taxes, of $22.9 million or $1.32 of diluted earnings per share.
    • Loans held for investment grew $40.9 million, or 1.4%, during 2024.
    • Total assets were $4.23 billion at December 31, 2024, compared to $4.20 billion at December 31, 2023.
    • Return on average assets of 1.17% for the full year 2024, compared to 1.54% for 2023.

    Curtis Griffith, South Plains’ Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, commented, “I am very proud of our performance this past year as we successfully navigated a challenging environment with a focus on delivering strong financial results. We tightly managed our liquidity to optimize our profitability and return metrics while maintaining our conservative approach to underwriting and risk management. We have also managed the anticipated decline in our indirect auto portfolio as well as a heightened level of loan payoffs and paydowns that has obscured the strong, underlying loan production that has built through the year. Importantly, we are seeing a growing level of optimism across our customer base that is translating into the strongest new business production pipeline that we have seen in more than two years. This bodes positively for the year ahead where we expect to deliver low to mid-single digit loan growth for the full year 2025. Additionally, we are seeing deposit pricing fall across our markets which contributed to our strong margin expansion in the fourth quarter.”

    Results of Operations, Quarter Ended December 31, 2024

    Net Interest Income

    Net interest income was $38.5 million for the fourth quarter of 2024, compared to $37.3 million for the third quarter of 2024 and $35.2 million for the fourth quarter of 2023. Net interest margin, calculated on a tax-equivalent basis, was 3.75% for the fourth quarter of 2024, compared to 3.65% for the third quarter of 2024 and 3.52% for the fourth quarter of 2023. The average yield on loans was 6.69% for the fourth quarter of 2024, compared to 6.68% for the third quarter of 2024 and 6.29% for the fourth quarter of 2023. The average cost of deposits was 229 basis points for the fourth quarter of 2024, which is 18 basis points lower than the third quarter of 2024 and 5 basis points higher than the fourth quarter of 2023.

    Interest income was $61.3 million for the fourth quarter of 2024, compared to $61.6 million for the third quarter of 2024 and $57.2 million for the fourth quarter of 2023. Interest income decreased $316 thousand in the fourth quarter of 2024 from the third quarter of 2024, which was primarily comprised of a decrease of $243 thousand in loan interest income. The decline in loan interest income was due primarily to a decrease in average loans of $20.2 million. Interest income increased $4.1 million in the fourth quarter of 2024 compared to the fourth quarter of 2023. This increase was primarily due to an increase of average loans of $30.5 million and higher loan interest rates during the period, resulting in growth of $3.4 million in loan interest income.

    Interest expense was $22.8 million for the fourth quarter of 2024, compared to $24.3 million for the third quarter of 2024 and $22.1 million for the fourth quarter of 2023. Interest expense decreased $1.6 million compared to the third quarter of 2024 and increased $702 thousand compared to the fourth quarter of 2023. The $1.6 million decrease was primarily as a result of a 24 basis point decline in the cost of interest-bearing deposits. The $702 thousand increase was primarily a result of growth in average interest-bearing deposits of $136.0 million.

    Noninterest Income and Noninterest Expense

    Noninterest income was $13.3 million for the fourth quarter of 2024, compared to $10.6 million for the third quarter of 2024 and $9.1 million for the fourth quarter of 2023. The increase from the third quarter of 2024 was primarily due to an increase of $3.1 million in mortgage banking revenues, mainly from an increase of $3.5 million in the fair value adjustment of the mortgage servicing rights assets as interest rates that affect the value increased in the fourth quarter of 2024. This growth was partially offset by approximately $700 thousand in insurance proceeds received for property damage in the third quarter of 2024. The increase in noninterest income for the fourth quarter of 2024 as compared to the fourth quarter of 2023 was primarily due to an increase of $3.3 million in mortgage banking activities revenue mainly from a rise of $3.0 million in the fair value adjustment of the mortgage servicing rights assets as interest rates that affect the value increased in the fourth quarter of 2024.

    Noninterest expense was $29.9 million for the fourth quarter of 2024, compared to $33.1 million for the third quarter of 2024 and $30.6 million for the fourth quarter of 2023. The $3.2 million decrease from the third quarter of 2024 was largely the result of a decline of $1.4 million in personnel expenses, primarily from decreased health insurance costs of $668 thousand, as annual rebates were received in the fourth quarter, and a reduction of $400 thousand in mortgage commissions as mortgage activity slowed in the fourth quarter. There were also decreases in net occupancy expense, professional service expenses, and the ineffectiveness related to fair value hedges on municipal securities. The decrease in noninterest expense for the fourth quarter of 2024 as compared to the fourth quarter of 2023 was largely the result of a decrease of $593 thousand in personnel expenses, related to the decline in health insurance costs previously noted.

    Loan Portfolio and Composition

    Loans held for investment were $3.06 billion as of December 31, 2024, compared to $3.04 billion as of September 30, 2024 and $3.01 billion as of December 31, 2023. The $17.7 million, or 2.3% annualized, increase during the fourth quarter of 2024 as compared to the third quarter of 2024 occurred primarily as a result of organic loan growth experienced in commercial owner-occupied real estate loans. As of December 31, 2024, loans held for investment increased $40.9 million, or 1.4%, from December 31, 2023, primarily attributable to organic loan growth, occurring mainly in multi-family property loans, direct-energy loans, commercial owner-occupied real estate loans, and single-family property loans, partially offset by decreases in consumer auto loans and construction, land, and development loans.

    Deposits and Borrowings

    Deposits totaled $3.62 billion as of December 31, 2024, compared to $3.72 billion as of September 30, 2024 and $3.63 billion as of December 31, 2023. Deposits decreased by $94.8 million, or 2.6%, in the fourth quarter of 2024 from September 30, 2024. As of December 31, 2024, deposits were essentially unchanged, from December 31, 2023. Noninterest-bearing deposits were $935.5 million as of December 31, 2024, compared to $998.5 million as of September 30, 2024 and $974.2 million as of December 31, 2023. Noninterest-bearing deposits represented 25.8% of total deposits as of December 31, 2024. The quarterly change in total deposits was mainly due to the seasonal decline in escrow accounts of approximately $35 million and a planned reduction of approximately $50 million in customer sweep deposits as part of balance sheet management. Deposits were essentially unchanged, year-over-year, with an increase in interest-bearing deposits offset by a decline in noninterest-bearing deposits.

    Asset Quality

    The Company recorded a provision for credit losses in the fourth quarter of 2024 of $1.2 million, compared to $495 thousand in the third quarter of 2024 and $600 thousand in the fourth quarter of 2023. The provision during the fourth quarter of 2024 was largely attributable to net charge-off activity and increased loan balances.

    The ratio of allowance for credit losses to loans held for investment was 1.42% as of December 31, 2024, compared to 1.41% as of September 30, 2024 and 1.41% as of December 31, 2023.

    The ratio of nonperforming assets to total assets was 0.58% as of December 31, 2024, compared to 0.59% as of September 30, 2024 and 0.14% as of December 31, 2023. Annualized net charge-offs were 0.11% for the fourth quarter of 2024, compared to 0.11% for the third quarter of 2024 and 0.08% for the fourth quarter of 2023.

    Capital

    Book value per share decreased to $26.67 at December 31, 2024, compared to $27.04 at September 30, 2024. The change was primarily driven by a decrease in accumulated other comprehensive income (“AOCI”) of $18.2 million, partially offset by $14.0 million of net income after dividends paid. The decrease in AOCI was attributed to the after-tax decrease in fair value of our available for sale securities, net of fair value hedges, as a result of increases in long-term market interest rates during the period. The tangible common equity to tangible assets ratio (non-GAAP) increased 15 basis points to 9.92% in the fourth quarter of 2024.

    Conference Call

    South Plains will host a conference call to discuss its fourth quarter and year-end 2024 financial results today, January 24, 2025, at 10:00 a.m., Eastern Time. Investors and analysts interested in participating in the call are invited to dial 1-877-407-9716 (international callers please dial 1-201-493-6779) approximately 10 minutes prior to the start of the call. A live audio webcast of the conference call and conference materials will be available on the Company’s website at https://www.spfi.bank/news-events/events.

    A replay of the conference call will be available within two hours of the conclusion of the call and can be accessed on the investor section of the Company’s website as well as by dialing 1-844-512-2921 (international callers please dial 1-412-317-6671). The pin to access the telephone replay is 13750452. The replay will be available until February 7, 2025.

    About South Plains Financial, Inc.

    South Plains is the bank holding company for City Bank, a Texas state-chartered bank headquartered in Lubbock, Texas. City Bank is one of the largest independent banks in West Texas and has additional banking operations in the Dallas, El Paso, Greater Houston, the Permian Basin, and College Station, Texas markets, and the Ruidoso, New Mexico market. South Plains provides a wide range of commercial and consumer financial services to small and medium-sized businesses and individuals in its market areas. Its principal business activities include commercial and retail banking, along with investment, trust and mortgage services. Please visit https://www.spfi.bank for more information.

    Non-GAAP Financial Measures

    Some of the financial measures included in this press release are not measures of financial performance recognized in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“GAAP”). These non-GAAP financial measures include Tangible Book Value Per Share, Tangible Common Equity to Tangible Assets, and Pre-Tax, Pre-Provision Income. The Company believes these non-GAAP financial measures provide both management and investors a more complete understanding of the Company’s financial position and performance. These non-GAAP financial measures are supplemental and are not a substitute for any analysis based on GAAP financial measures.

    We classify a financial measure as being a non-GAAP financial measure if that financial measure excludes or includes amounts, or is subject to adjustments that have the effect of excluding or including amounts, that are included or excluded, as the case may be, in the most directly comparable measure calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP as in effect from time to time in the United States in our statements of income, balance sheets or statements of cash flows. Not all companies use the same calculation of these measures; therefore, this presentation may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures as presented by other companies.

    A reconciliation of non-GAAP financial measures to GAAP financial measures is provided at the end of this press release.

    Available Information

    The Company routinely posts important information for investors on its web site (under http://www.spfi.bank and, more specifically, under the News & Events tab at http://www.spfi.bank/news-events/press-releases). The Company intends to use its web site as a means of disclosing material non-public information and for complying with its disclosure obligations under Regulation FD (Fair Disclosure) promulgated by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). Accordingly, investors should monitor the Company’s web site, in addition to following the Company’s press releases, SEC filings, public conference calls, presentations and webcasts.

    The information contained on, or that may be accessed through, the Company’s web site is not incorporated by reference into, and is not a part of, this document.

    Forward Looking Statements

    This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements reflect South Plains’ current views with respect to future events and South Plains’ financial performance. Any statements about South Plains’ expectations, beliefs, plans, predictions, forecasts, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance are not historical facts and may be forward-looking. These statements are often, but not always, made through the use of words or phrases such as “anticipate,” “believes,” “can,” “could,” “may,” “predicts,” “potential,” “should,” “will,” “estimate,” “plans,” “projects,” “continuing,” “ongoing,” “expects,” “intends” and similar words or phrases. South Plains cautions that the forward-looking statements in this press release are based largely on South Plains’ expectations and are subject to a number of known and unknown risks and uncertainties that are subject to change based on factors which are, in many instances, beyond South Plains’ control. Factors that could cause such changes include, but are not limited to, the impact on us and our customers of a decline in general economic conditions and any regulatory responses thereto; potential recession in the United States and our market areas; the impacts related to or resulting from uncertainty in the banking industry as a whole; increased competition for deposits in our market areas and related changes in deposit customer behavior; the impact of changes in market interest rates, whether due to a continuation of the elevated interest rate environment or further reductions in interest rates and a resulting decline in net interest income; the lingering inflationary pressures, and the risk of the resurgence of elevated levels of inflation, in the United States and our market areas; the uncertain impacts of ongoing quantitative tightening and current and future monetary policies of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System; increases in unemployment rates in the United States and our market areas; declines in commercial real estate values and prices; uncertainty regarding United States fiscal debt, deficit and budget matters; cyber incidents or other failures, disruptions or breaches of our operational or security systems or infrastructure, or those of our third-party vendors or other service providers, including as a result of cyber attacks; severe weather, natural disasters, acts of war or terrorism, geopolitical instability or other external events; the impact of changes in U.S. presidential administrations or Congress, including potential changes in U.S. and international trade policies and the resulting impact on the Company and its customers; competition and market expansion opportunities; changes in non-interest expenditures or in the anticipated benefits of such expenditures; the risks related to the development, implementation, use and management of emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence and machine learnings; potential costs related to the impacts of climate change; current or future litigation, regulatory examinations or other legal and/or regulatory actions; and changes in applicable laws and regulations. Additional information regarding these risks and uncertainties to which South Plains’ business and future financial performance are subject is contained in South Plains’ most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q on file with the SEC, including the sections entitled “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” of such documents, and other documents South Plains files or furnishes with the SEC from time to time, which are available on the SEC’s website, http://www.sec.gov. Actual results, performance or achievements could differ materially from those contemplated, expressed, or implied by the forward-looking statements due to additional risks and uncertainties of which South Plains is not currently aware or which it does not currently view as, but in the future may become, material to its business or operating results. Due to these and other possible uncertainties and risks, the Company can give no assurance that the results contemplated in the forward-looking statements will be realized and readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements contained in this press release. Any forward-looking statements presented herein are made only as of the date of this press release, and South Plains does not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect changes in assumptions, new information, the occurrence of unanticipated events, or otherwise, except as required by applicable law. All forward-looking statements, express or implied, included in the press release are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement.

    Contact: Mikella Newsom, Chief Risk Officer and Secretary
      (866) 771-3347
      investors@city.bank
       

    Source: South Plains Financial, Inc.

     
    South Plains Financial, Inc.
    Consolidated Financial Highlights – (Unaudited)
    (Dollars in thousands, except share data)
     
      As of and for the quarter ended
      December 31,
    2024    		   September 30,
    2024    		   June 30,
    2024    		   March 31,
    2024    		   December 31,
    2023
    Selected Income Statement Data:                            
    Interest income $ 61,324     $ 61,640     $ 59,208     $ 58,727     $ 57,236  
    Interest expense   22,776       24,346       23,320       23,359       22,074  
    Net interest income   38,548       37,294       35,888       35,368       35,162  
    Provision for credit losses   1,200       495       1,775       830       600  
    Noninterest income   13,319       10,635       12,709       11,409       9,146  
    Noninterest expense   29,948       33,128       32,572       31,930       30,597  
    Income tax expense   4,222       3,094       3,116       3,143       2,787  
    Net income   16,497       11,212       11,134       10,874       10,324  
    Per Share Data (Common Stock):                            
    Net earnings, basic $ 1.01     $ 0.68     $ 0.68     $ 0.66     $ 0.63  
    Net earnings, diluted   0.96       0.66       0.66       0.64       0.61  
    Cash dividends declared and paid   0.15       0.14       0.14       0.13       0.13  
    Book value   26.67       27.04       25.45       24.87       24.80  
    Tangible book value (non-GAAP)   25.40       25.75       24.15       23.56       23.47  
    Weighted average shares outstanding, basic   16,400,361       16,386,079       16,425,360       16,429,919       16,443,908  
    Weighted average shares outstanding, dilutive   17,161,646       17,056,959       16,932,077       16,938,857       17,008,892  
    Shares outstanding at end of period   16,455,826       16,386,627       16,424,021       16,431,755       16,417,099  
    Selected Period End Balance Sheet Data:                            
    Cash and cash equivalents $ 359,082     $ 471,167     $ 298,006     $ 371,939     $ 330,158  
    Investment securities   577,240       606,889       591,031       599,869       622,762  
    Total loans held for investment   3,055,054       3,037,375       3,094,273       3,011,799       3,014,153  
    Allowance for credit losses   43,237       42,886       43,173       42,174       42,356  
    Total assets   4,232,239       4,337,659       4,220,936       4,218,993       4,204,793  
    Interest-bearing deposits   2,685,366       2,720,880       2,672,948       2,664,397       2,651,952  
    Noninterest-bearing deposits   935,510       998,480       951,565       974,174       974,201  
    Total deposits   3,620,876       3,719,360       3,624,513       3,638,571       3,626,153  
    Borrowings   110,354       110,307       110,261       110,214       110,168  
    Total stockholders’ equity   438,949       443,122       417,985       408,712       407,114  
    Summary Performance Ratios:                            
    Return on average assets (annualized)   1.53 %     1.05 %     1.07 %     1.04 %     0.99 %
    Return on average equity (annualized)   14.88 %     10.36 %     10.83 %     10.72 %     10.52 %
    Net interest margin (1)   3.75 %     3.65 %     3.63 %     3.56 %     3.52 %
    Yield on loans   6.69 %     6.68 %     6.60 %     6.53 %     6.29 %
    Cost of interest-bearing deposits   3.12 %     3.36 %     3.33 %     3.27 %     3.14 %
    Efficiency ratio   57.50 %     68.80 %     66.72 %     67.94 %     68.71 %
    Summary Credit Quality Data:                            
    Nonperforming loans $ 24,023     $ 24,693     $ 23,452     $ 3,380     $ 5,178  
    Nonperforming loans to total loans held for investment   0.79 %     0.81 %     0.76 %     0.11 %     0.17 %
    Other real estate owned   530       973       755       862       912  
    Nonperforming assets to total assets   0.58 %     0.59 %     0.57 %     0.10 %     0.14 %
    Allowance for credit losses to total loans held for investment   1.42 %     1.41 %     1.40 %     1.40 %     1.41 %
    Net charge-offs to average loans outstanding (annualized)   0.11 %     0.11 %     0.10 %     0.13 %     0.08 %
                                           
      As of and for the quarter ended
      December 31
    2024    		   September 30,
    2024    		   June 30,
    2024    		   March 31,
    2024    		   December 31,
    2023
    Capital Ratios:                            
    Total stockholders’ equity to total assets   10.37 %     10.22 %     9.90 %     9.69 %     9.68 %
    Tangible common equity to tangible assets (non-GAAP)   9.92 %     9.77 %     9.44 %     9.22 %     9.21 %
    Common equity tier 1 to risk-weighted assets   13.53 %     13.25 %     12.61 %     12.67 %     12.41 %
    Tier 1 capital to average assets   12.04 %     11.76 %     11.81 %     11.51 %     11.33 %
    Total capital to risk-weighted assets   17.86 %     17.61 %     16.86 %     17.00 %     16.74 %
    (1) Net interest margin is calculated as the annual net interest income, on a fully tax-equivalent basis, divided by average interest-earning assets.
     
    South Plains Financial, Inc.
    Average Balances and Yields – (Unaudited)
    (Dollars in thousands)
     
      For the Three Months Ended
      December 31, 2024   December 31, 2023
           
      Average
    Balance    		   Interest   Yield/Rate   Average
    Balance    		   Interest   Yield/Rate
    Assets                                          
    Loans $ 3,049,718     $ 51,270       6.69 %   $ 3,019,228     $ 47,903       6.29 %
    Debt securities – taxable   518,646       4,994       3.83 %     560,143       5,563       3.94 %
    Debt securities – nontaxable   154,203       1,014       2.62 %     157,341       1,032       2.60 %
    Other interest-bearing assets   390,090       4,267       4.35 %     255,454       2,963       4.60 %
                                               
    Total interest-earning assets   4,112,657       61,545       5.95 %     3,992,166       57,461       5.71 %
    Noninterest-earning assets   189,422                     156,541                
                                               
    Total assets $ 4,302,079                   $ 4,148,707                
                                               
    Liabilities & stockholders’ equity                                          
    NOW, Savings, MMDA’s $ 2,249,062       16,570       2.93 %   $ 2,201,190       16,894       3.04 %
    Time deposits   445,173       4,566       4.08 %     357,067       3,325       3.69 %
    Short-term borrowings   3       –       0.00 %     3       –       0.00 %
    Notes payable & other long-term borrowings   –       –       0.00 %     –       –       0.00 %
    Subordinated debt   63,938       834       5.19 %     73,740       981       5.28 %
    Junior subordinated deferrable interest debentures   46,393       806       6.91 %     46,393       874       7.47 %
                                               
    Total interest-bearing liabilities   2,804,569       22,776       3.23 %     2,678,393       22,074       3.27 %
    Demand deposits   978,742                     1,021,091                
    Other liabilities   77,732                     59,808                
    Stockholders’ equity   441,036                     389,415                
                                               
    Total liabilities & stockholders’ equity $ 4,302,079                   $ 4,148,707                
                                               
    Net interest income         $ 38,769                   $ 35,387        
    Net interest margin (2)                   3.75 %                     3.52 %
    (1) Average loan balances include nonaccrual loans and loans held for sale.
    (2) Net interest margin is calculated as the annualized net interest income, on a fully tax-equivalent basis, divided by average interest-earning assets.
       
    South Plains Financial, Inc.
    Average Balances and Yields – (Unaudited)
    (Dollars in thousands)
     
      For the Twelve Months Ended
      December 31, 2024   December 31, 2023
                           
      Average
    Balance    		   Interest   Yield/Rate   Average
    Balance    		   Interest   Yield/Rate
    Assets                                          
    Loans $ 3,054,189     $ 202,301       6.62 %   $ 2,924,473     $ 176,627       6.04 %
    Debt securities – taxable   532,730       21,090       3.96 %     570,655       21,590       3.78 %
    Debt securities – nontaxable   155,168       4,076       2.63 %     185,205       4,901       2.65 %
    Other interest-bearing assets   312,917       14,319       4.58 %     223,152       9,973       4.47 %
                                               
    Total interest-earning assets   4,055,004       241,786       5.96 %     3,903,485       213,091       5.46 %
    Noninterest-earning assets   179,527                     176,495                
                                               
    Total assets $ 4,234,531                   $ 4,079,980                
                                               
    Liabilities & stockholders’ equity                                          
    NOW, Savings, MMDA’s $ 2,250,942       70,362       3.13 %   $ 2,117,985       55,423       2.62 %
    Time deposits   411,028       16,719       4.07 %     321,205       9,564       2.98 %
    Short-term borrowings   3       –       0.00 %     84       5       5.95 %
    Notes payable & other long-term borrowings   –       –       0.00 %     –       –       0.00 %
    Subordinated debt   63,868       3,339       5.23 %     75,458       4,018       5.32 %
    Junior subordinated deferrable interest debentures   46,393       3,381       7.29 %     46,393       3,276       7.06 %
                                               
    Total interest-bearing liabilities   2,772,234       93,801       3.38 %     2,561,125       72,286       2.82 %
    Demand deposits   968,307                     1,069,280                
    Other liabilities   70,777                     71,102                
    Stockholders’ equity   423,213                     378,473                
                                               
    Total liabilities & stockholders’ equity $ 4,234,531                   $ 4,079,980                
                                               
    Net interest income         $ 147,985                   $ 140,805        
    Net interest margin (2)                   3.65 %                     3.61 %
    (1) Average loan balances include nonaccrual loans and loans held for sale.
    (2) Net interest margin is calculated as the annualized net interest income, on a fully tax-equivalent basis, divided by average interest-earning assets.
       
    South Plains Financial, Inc.
    Consolidated Balance Sheets
    (Unaudited)
    (Dollars in thousands)
     
      As of
      December 31,
    2024    		   December 31,
    2023
               
    Assets          
    Cash and due from banks $ 54,114     $ 62,821  
    Interest-bearing deposits in banks   304,968       267,337  
    Securities available for sale   577,240       622,762  
    Loans held for sale   20,542       14,499  
    Loans held for investment   3,055,054       3,014,153  
    Less:  Allowance for credit losses   (43,237 )     (42,356 )
    Net loans held for investment   3,011,817       2,971,797  
    Premises and equipment, net   52,951       55,070  
    Goodwill   19,315       19,315  
    Intangible assets   1,720       2,429  
    Mortgage servicing rights   26,292       26,569  
    Other assets   163,280       162,194  
    Total assets $ 4,232,239     $ 4,204,793  
               
    Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity          
    Noninterest-bearing deposits $ 935,510     $ 974,201  
    Interest-bearing deposits   2,685,366       2,651,952  
    Total deposits   3,620,876       3,626,153  
    Subordinated debt   63,961       63,775  
    Junior subordinated deferrable interest debentures   46,393       46,393  
    Other liabilities   62,060       61,358  
    Total liabilities   3,793,290       3,797,679  
    Stockholders’ Equity          
    Common stock   16,456       16,417  
    Additional paid-in capital   97,287       97,107  
    Retained earnings   385,827       345,264  
    Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)   (60,621 )     (51,674 )
    Total stockholders’ equity   438,949       407,114  
    Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity $ 4,232,239     $ 4,204,793  
                   
    South Plains Financial, Inc.
    Consolidated Statements of Income
    (Unaudited)
    (Dollars in thousands)
     
      Three Months Ended   Twelve Months Ended
      December 31,
    2024    		   December 31,
    2023    		   December 31,
    2024    		   December 31,
    2023
                                   
    Interest income:                              
    Loans, including fees $ 51,262     $ 47,895     $ 202,270     $ 176,598  
    Other   10,062       9,341       38,629       35,435  
    Total interest income   61,324       57,236       240,899       212,033  
    Interest expense:                              
    Deposits   21,136       20,219       87,081       64,987  
    Subordinated debt   834       981       3,339       4,018  
    Junior subordinated deferrable interest debentures   806       874       3,381       3,276  
    Other   –       –       –       5  
    Total interest expense   22,776       22,074       93,801       72,286  
    Net interest income   38,548       35,162       147,098       139,747  
    Provision for credit losses   1,200       600       4,300       4,610  
    Net interest income after provision for credit losses   37,348       34,562       142,798       135,137  
    Noninterest income:                              
    Service charges on deposits   2,241       1,844       8,026       7,130  
    Income from insurance activities   31       37       123       1,515  
    Mortgage banking activities   4,955       1,671       14,187       13,817  
    Bank card services and interchange fees   3,225       3,167       13,640       13,323  
    Gain on sale of subsidiary   —       —       —       33,778  
    Other   2,867       2,427       12,096       9,663  
    Total noninterest income   13,319       9,146       48,072       79,226  
    Noninterest expense:                              
    Salaries and employee benefits   17,384       17,977       74,338       79,377  
    Net occupancy expense   3,901       3,856       16,105       16,102  
    Professional services   1,555       1,509       6,583       6,433  
    Marketing and development   1,153       880       3,782       3,453  
    Other   5,955       6,375       26,770       29,581  
    Total noninterest expense   29,948       30,597       127,578       134,946  
    Income before income taxes   20,719       13,111       63,292       79,417  
    Income tax expense   4,222       2,787       13,575       16,672  
    Net income $ 16,497     $ 10,324     $ 49,717     $ 62,745  
                                   
    South Plains Financial, Inc.
    Loan Composition
    (Unaudited)
    (Dollars in thousands)
     
      As of
      December 31,
    2024    		   December 31,
    2023
                   
    Loans:              
    Commercial Real Estate $ 1,119,063     $ 1,081,056  
    Commercial – Specialized   388,955       372,376  
    Commercial – General   557,371       517,361  
    Consumer:              
    1-4 Family Residential   566,400       534,731  
    Auto Loans   254,474       305,271  
    Other Consumer   64,936       74,168  
    Construction   103,855       129,190  
    Total loans held for investment $ 3,055,054     $ 3,014,153  
                   
    South Plains Financial, Inc.
    Deposit Composition
    (Unaudited)
    (Dollars in thousands)
     
      As of
      December 31,
    2024    		   December 31,
    2023
                   
    Deposits:              
    Noninterest-bearing deposits $ 935,510     $ 974,201  
    NOW & other transaction accounts   498,718       562,066  
    MMDA & other savings   1,741,988       1,722,170  
    Time deposits   444,660       367,716  
    Total deposits $ 3,620,876     $ 3,626,153  
                   
    South Plains Financial, Inc.
    Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures (Unaudited)
    (Dollars in thousands)
       
      For the quarter ended
      December 31,
    2024    		   September 30,
    2024    		   June 30,
    2024    		   March 31,
    2024    		   December 31,
    2023
    Pre-tax, pre-provision income                                      
    Net income $ 16,497     $ 11,212     $ 11,134     $ 10,874     $ 10,324  
    Income tax expense   4,222       3,094       3,116       3,143       2,787  
    Provision for credit losses   1,200       495       1,775       830       600  
    Pre-tax, pre-provision income $ 21,919     $ 14,801     $ 16,025     $ 14,847     $ 13,711  
                                           
      As of
      December 31,
    2024    		   September 30,
    2024    		   June 30,
    2024    		   March 31,
    2024    		   December 31,
    2023
    Tangible common equity                            
    Total common stockholders’ equity $ 438,949     $ 443,122     $ 417,985     $ 408,712     $ 407,114  
    Less:  goodwill and other intangibles   (21,035 )     (21,197 )     (21,379 )     (21,562 )     (21,744 )
                                 
    Tangible common equity $ 417,914     $ 421,925     $ 396,606     $ 387,150     $ 385,370  
                                 
    Tangible assets                            
    Total assets $ 4,232,239     $ 4,337,659     $ 4,220,936     $ 4,218,993     $ 4,204,793  
    Less:  goodwill and other intangibles   (21,035 )     (21,197 )     (21,379 )     (21,562 )     (21,744 )
                                 
    Tangible assets $ 4,211,204     $ 4,316,462     $ 4,199,557     $ 4,197,431     $ 4,183,049  
                                 
    Shares outstanding   16,455,826       16,386,627       16,424,021       16,431,755       16,417,099  
                                 
    Total stockholders’ equity to total assets   10.37 %     10.22 %     9.90 %     9.69 %     9.68 %
    Tangible common equity to tangible assets   9.92 %     9.77 %     9.44 %     9.22 %     9.21 %
    Book value per share $ 26.67     $ 27.04     $ 25.45     $ 24.87     $ 24.80  
    Tangible book value per share $ 25.40     $ 25.75     $ 24.15     $ 23.56     $ 23.47  
                                           

    The MIL Network –

    January 25, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Europe: AMERICA/VENEZUELA – People in Barquisimeto do not lose hope: the poor help the poor

    Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

    Friday, 24 January 2025

    Barquisimeto (Agenzia Fides) – After the elections held in July last year (see Fides, 30/7/2024), there is an impression that an air of sadness, frustration and disappointment is hanging over Venezuela. Father Miguel Angel Bombin, during a visit to the country, reports the difficulties faced by the political problems facing the Venezuelan population.”In Barquisimeto, where the Don Orione Work carries out most of its work in the country, the mood is not the best, even if the environment is calm and there are no particular tensions,” reports the missionary. “Most people feel that their voice has been taken away from them, that their will has not been respected,” notes Father Bombin, who is the head of the Vice-Province of “Nuestra Señora del Pilar” of the Don Orione Work, which includes Spain and Venezuela.”The only hope is that something will change. Many are thinking of leaving the country again, we now have 8 million Venezuelans who have emigrated, and there is a fear that the exodus will start again, especially among the young people who have stayed here until now because they were hoping for something different.””This difficult situation,” he continues, “also affects the work of the Don Orione Foundation in the country. At the moment we have a day center for the disabled in Barquisimeto, and the parish, which carries out many activities, including a project with Caritas on nutrition and food. In the seminary we have two aspirants and three young people in training. We are also present in Caraballeda, where we have a preschool with 100 children up to 6 years old, and where we have been building a new parish for five years, even if the work is progressing very slowly. Unfortunately, it is not easy, we live day by day and are always struggling with resources. Since 2012 we have lost all financial support from the government and we continue to use the provincial funds and some outside help, but economically the situation is serious. We can no longer accommodate so many guests in the day center because it is difficult to find doctors or to guarantee them a decent salary. However, we are not discouraged and we see that Providence is manifested above all in the many people who come here as volunteers.””Despite the difficulties, we continue,” concludes Father Bombin, “and the Congregation continues to look forward, following that Hope that is the central theme of the 2025 Jubilee. Seeing how many people living with their difficulties are volunteering in psychiatric centers, in prisons or even in garbage dumps where so many people have to live is a sign that in these difficult situations the best in people comes out. They are poor people who help other poor people, creating closeness and solidarity. This is the hope that we want to live in this Holy Year.”Following the charism of their Founder, the spirit of charity that animates the Congregation of the Little Work of Divine Providence is not limited to a single human need but reaches orphans, women and men in difficulty, elderly and disabled people, young people in search of a better future, poor and exploited populations, and every human suffering. (AP) (Agenzia Fides, 24/1/2025)
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    MIL OSI Europe News –

    January 25, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: UConn Extension’s Mental Health First Aid Training Offers Hope and Support

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    Mental health conversations were virtually nonexistent for many in Generation X and the Baby Boom generation. Today, however, policies, non-governmental organizations, and advocacy efforts have shifted mental health from a taboo topic to an open and ongoing dialogue. This progress has been instrumental in reducing stigma and promoting awareness about mental health challenges.

    One key initiative in this effort is the Mental Health First Aid Training, offered by the National Council for Mental Wellbeing. The program equips participants to assist individuals experiencing a mental health or substance use challenge, much like traditional first aid prepares someone to respond to a physical health emergency.

    Maryann Fusco-Rollins, an assistant extension educator with UConn Extension in Tolland County (Kara Bonsack/UConn Photo)

    Maryann Fusco-Rollins, an assistant extension educator with UConn Extension in Tolland County, brings this transformative training to adults through the UConn 4-H program. Supported by the College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources (CAHNR) Strategic Vision Implementation grant, her mission is both professional and deeply personal.

    Growing up in the 1980s, Fusco-Rollins witnessed a family member struggle with mental health challenges. “There wasn’t as much information available then as there is now, but I was already seeking services and connecting people to get help,” she recalls. This early exposure to mental health advocacy left a lasting impression, inspiring her to pursue work in this field.

    After serving in the Peace Corps in Guatemala, Fusco-Rollins took a job at a crisis hotline, balancing patient intakes by day and hotline calls by night.

    “I took as many professional training and certification classes as I could,” she says. Her drive to learn and help others led to a role as a Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) skills trainer, working with individuals diagnosed with borderline personality disorder. She also served as an on-site supervisor at a residential program supporting individuals with schizophrenia.

    “The DBT skills training opened my eyes to the importance of mental wellness practice for everyone,” Fusco-Rollins shares. “What resonated most with me was the comprehensive nature of DBT. It’s not just about helping the client—it’s about equipping the entire care team with mindfulness tools. It’s like putting your own oxygen mask on first.”

    Fusco-Rollins emphasizes that mental health is about recognizing challenges and taking action when needed. “It’s about getting to know yourself and being honest about when you’re not okay,” she says. Yet, she acknowledges, asking for help can be one of the hardest steps.

    The Mental Health First Aid Training she now teaches is designed to address this hesitation. Participants learn to support someone in crisis or non-crisis situations until professional help is available. The course provides practical, real-world skills, including how to listen non-judgmentally and connect individuals to appropriate resources. Pre-work ensures participants are prepared, while follow-up materials offer continued support.

    “This training is for everyone—whether you have experience or not,” Fusco-Rollins explains. “Like traditional first aid, it doesn’t teach you to diagnose or treat conditions. Instead, it empowers you to act as a bridge, offering crucial assistance during a mental health crisis or emerging concern.”

    Just as wearing a seatbelt or eating healthfully supports physical well-being, prioritizing mental health is essential for overall health.

    Amy Harder, Ph.D., associate dean for extension, is excited to see UConn Extension increasing its efforts in this area.

    “Addressing mental health was reported as a leading priority when we surveyed Connecticut residents last year about their needs, and it’s important that we work on topics that are meaningful to local communities,” shares Harder.

    Participants in the training also learn to care for themselves. The course emphasizes the importance of self-care routines to manage stress and maintain long-term wellness. “The MHFA course trains people to help others in a supportive, non-judgmental way,” says Fusco-Rollins. “By the end, participants feel confident they can help someone in a concerning situation or crisis. They know how to access additional resources, and they leave with a sense of hope. We are not struggling alone—there are people who can help, recovery is possible, and there is hope.”

    This work is supported by CAHNR’s Health and Wellbeing Strategic Vision Implementation Committee.

    MIL OSI USA News –

    January 25, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: ERO Houston repatriates accused child rapist to Mexico who has illegally entered US 4 times

    Source: US Immigration and Customs Enforcement

    HOUSTON — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations Houston, with assistance from ERO Mexico and the Security Alliance for Fugitive Enforcement Task Force, repatriated Nestor Flores Encarnacion, a 58-year-old undocumented alien, to his home country of Mexico Jan. 23. Flores has illegally entered the U.S. four times and is wanted in Veracruz, Mexico, for rape of a child.

    ICE deportation officers transported Flores from the Montgomery Processing Center in Conroe, Texas, to the Juarez-Lincoln Bridge in Laredo, Texas, and he was transferred into the custody of Mexican authorities.

    “This foreign fugitive brazenly entered the U.S. in violation of our nation’s laws on four separate occasions to evade prosecution in Mexico for allegedly raping a child,” said ERO Houston Field Office Director Bret A. Bradford. “Dangerous foreign fugitives and criminal aliens who are accused of, or have committed, heinous crimes like sexually assaulting a child will find no safe haven in Southeast Texas. Our immigration officers work tirelessly to successfully locate and apprehend undocumented aliens in the Houston area who threaten public safety, national security, and border security, and will not rest until they’re repatriated to their country of origin and no longer a threat to the community.”

    Flores illegally entered the U.S. Feb. 16, 2002, near Roma, Texas. The U.S. Border Patrol apprehended Flores and voluntarily returned him to Mexico Feb. 17, 2002. Flores illegally re-entered the U.S. on Feb. 20, 2002, and Feb. 22, 2002. On both occasions, he was arrested by Border Patrol officers and voluntarily returned to Mexico the same day.

    Flores illegally entered the U.S. for a fourth time on an unknown date and at an unknown location. ERO Houston deportation officers successfully apprehended Flores Aug. 23, 2024, at a residence in Houston after receiving an alert indicating that he was potentially illegally residing in the Houston area and wanted in Mexico for rape of a child. Flores was placed into immigration proceedings and granted a voluntary departure under safeguards by an immigration judge with the Justice Department’s Executive Office for Immigration Review Dec. 19, 2024.

    The Security Alliance for Fugitive Enforcement Program is a fugitive enforcement and information sharing partnership that was created in 2012 to better use subject information derived from local in-country investigative resources and leads to locate, apprehend, detain, and remove individuals residing in the U.S. illegally who were subject to foreign arrest warrants. The SAFE Program operates under the respective host nation’s Assistant Attaché for Removal, which constructs a SAFE task force composed of relevant foreign law enforcement agencies, immigration authorities, attorneys general, and national identification repositories – as well as other regional, national, state, and local government agencies. The managing assistant attaché ensures that each task force member complies with SAFE policies and standards consistent with the program’s standard operating procedures. Once established, the assistant attaché led SAFE task force generates new leads and vets existing SAFE fugitive referrals for ERO action.

    ERO is one of ICE’s three operational directorates and is the principal federal law enforcement authority in charge of domestic immigration enforcement. ERO’s mission is to protect the homeland through the arrest and removal of those who undermine the safety of U.S. communities and the integrity of U.S. immigration laws, and its primary areas of focus are interior enforcement operations, management of the agency’s detained and non-detained populations, and repatriation of noncitizens who have received final orders of removal. ERO’s workforce consists of more than 7,700 law enforcement and non-law enforcement support personnel across 25 domestic field offices and 208 locations nationwide, 30 overseas postings, and multiple temporary duty travel assignments along the border.

    Members of the public who have information about foreign fugitives are urged to contact ICE by calling the ICE Tip Line at 1 (866) 347-2423 or internationally at 001-1802-872-6199. They can also file a tip online by completing ICE’s online tip form.

    For more news and information on how ERO Houston carries out its immigration enforcement mission in Southeast Texas follow us on X, formerly known as Twitter, @EROHouston.

    MIL OSI USA News –

    January 25, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Global: Amid LA fires, neighbors helped each other survive – 60 years of research shows local heroes are crucial to disaster response

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Tricia Wachtendorf, Professor of Sociology and Director, Disaster Research Center, University of Delaware

    Neighbors fill and pass a bucket of pool water to help extinguish a spot fire in Pacific Palisades, Calif., on Jan. 9, 2025. Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times via Getty Image

    As wildfires swept through neighborhoods on the outskirts of Los Angeles in January 2025, stories about residents there helping their neighbors and total strangers began trickling out on social media.

    Accounts of Hollywood stars clearing streets for emergency vehicles to get through and raising money for fire victims were widely circulated. But there were many other examples of less-famous people helping older neighbors to safety, and even showing up with trailers to evacuate horses.

    Businesses, including fitness centers, opened their facilities so evacuees could shower or charge their phones. Organizations that routinely work with homeless populations quickly mobilized their members to help ensure people living on the streets and in camps could get to secure, safe locations away from the fires and hazardous air quality.

    Disasters, by definition, overwhelm local resources, making civilian responders like these essential. Sixty years of research at the University of Delaware’s Disaster Research Center and by others examining the social aspects of disaster has repeatedly shown effective disaster management requires mobilizing community resources far beyond official channels.

    Often the response happens through local groups that form in response to a clear need in the community and with shared skills and interests. And this is exactly what we are witnessing in Los Angeles.

    Civilians helping often number in the thousands

    The number of those who step up to help during disasters varies by event, but it can be tremendous.

    Following the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing, over 6,800 volunteers worked with the Red Cross on the response. That same year, volunteers responding to the Kobe earthquake in Japan logged more than 1 million person-days of activity, a measure of the number of people times the hours they contributed.

    People use garden hoses to try to prevent homes from catching fire in Altadena, Calif., on Jan. 8, 2025. Neighbors rushed to help neighbors as the wind blew burning embers into neighborhoods.
    Mario Tama/Getty Images

    In an in-depth study of the Sept. 11, 2001, World Trade Center attacks, we interviewed local residents who used their retired fireboat to pump water for the firefighters at ground zero. Operators of tug, ferry and tour boats in and around New York City immediately responded to quickly evacuate 500,000 people in the area from danger. In fact, the majority of the boats involved belonged to private companies. Other volunteers queued evacuees and organized supplies and rides to get people home.

    Over 900 people, most acting in unofficial capacities, were awarded medals or ribbons for their efforts in just the marine response after the World Trade Center attack.

    A survey of residents after the 1985 Mexico City earthquake found that nearly 10% of local residents volunteered in the first three weeks of the response. Following the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake, in California, a survey of residents in Santa Cruz and San Francisco counties found that two-thirds of the public were involved in response activities.

    Local businesses are often quick to help in disasters. Greg Dulan, center, who runs a soul food restaurant and food truck, hands out hot meals to wildfire evacuees at a church in Pasadena, Calif., on Jan. 15, 2025.
    Jason Armond/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images

    However, much of the work local residents contribute during and after disasters goes unaccounted for in official reports.

    There is no mechanism to quantify the full extent to which a neighbor or a complete stranger helps someone flee from peril. Yet when people are trapped and minutes count, research shows it is family, friends and neighbors who are already on the scene and are most likely to save lives. It’s often everyday citizens who also take on immediate tasks such as debris removal. Providing a phone, a car, a place to do laundry, or a little bit of elbow grease can fill a gap and let firefighters and other formal responders focus on critical operations.

    Getting the right help to where it’s needed

    Every study of a large-scale disaster conducted by the Disaster Research Center has revealed some level of emergent, informal helping behavior.

    The lack of public understanding about the large number of local residents already involved, often including disaster victims themselves, can lead to an influx of outsiders eager to help. Their arrival can actually pose challenges for the disaster response.

    When too many people show up, or when people try to operate outside their areas of expertise, they can put themselves and others at further risk. Communities often need supplies, but unsolicited goods of the wrong kind or at the wrong time can create more problems than they solve.

    Local groups such as the Pasadena Community Job Center organize volunteers to send them where help is requested. This group is removing debris from streets in Pasadena, Calif., in the wake of the Eaton Fire on Jan. 14, 2025.
    Zoë Meyers/AFP via Getty Images

    So, what can you do to best support these local efforts?

    Making a financial contribution to a trusted disaster response or local organization can go a long way to providing the support communities actually need. Organizations such as the American Red Cross or Feeding America, or local community-based groups that routinely work in the area, are often best suited to help where it’s needed the most.

    Skilled help will be needed for the long term

    Also, remember that disasters don’t end when the emergency is over. Survivors of the Los Angeles-area fires face years of confusing and frustrating recovery tasks ahead.

    Offering help after the immediate threat has passed – particularly skilled help, such as experience in construction or expertise in managing insurance and FEMA paperwork – is just as important.

    For example, after fires in 1970 destroyed hundreds of homes in the San Diego area, local architects, engineers and contractors donated their time and skills to help people rebuild. Their work was coordinated by a local architect and member of the Chamber of Commerce to ensure projects were assigned to reputable volunteers.

    As we recognize the important ways that neighbors and strangers helped those around them, the broader community can support wildfire victims by responding to offering the right help as recovery needs emerge. Just about every skill that is useful in calm times will be needed in these difficult months and years ahead.

    Tricia Wachtendorf receives funding from the National Science Foundation and Arnold Ventures Foundation.

    James Kendra receives funding from the National Science Foundation and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

    – ref. Amid LA fires, neighbors helped each other survive – 60 years of research shows local heroes are crucial to disaster response – https://theconversation.com/amid-la-fires-neighbors-helped-each-other-survive-60-years-of-research-shows-local-heroes-are-crucial-to-disaster-response-247660

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

    January 25, 2025

  • MIL-OSI: Key Tronic Corporation Announces Preliminary Results for the Second Quarter of Fiscal Year 2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SPOKANE VALLEY, Wash., Jan. 24, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Key Tronic Corporation (Nasdaq: KTCC), a provider of electronic manufacturing services (EMS), today announced its preliminary results for the second quarter of fiscal year 2025 ending December 28, 2024.

    For the second quarter of fiscal year 2025, Key Tronic anticipates reporting revenue of approximately $114 million, and a net loss of approximately $0.40-$0.48 per share, both of which are below previous guidance. The lower than anticipated revenue and earnings for the second quarter of fiscal year 2025 are primarily due to the impact from unexpected component shortages, lower-than-expected production during the holiday season, and reduced demand from certain customers which together lowered revenue by approximately $15 million for the quarter. As previously announced, the Company also expects to report approximately $1.0 million in write-offs of unamortized loan fees related to refinancing its debt with a new lender.

    Key Tronic expects revenue and earnings to recover in the third quarter of fiscal year 2025 as strategic initiatives undertaken in previous quarters come to fruition. The Company is actively streamlining its international and domestic operations, with further headcount reductions to enhance efficiency, building on similar actions announced in the third quarter of fiscal year 2024. At the same time, Key Tronic continues to win new programs involving aerospace systems and energy resiliency technology products, which was announced in a separate press release on January 24, 2025, and has reduced inventories to be more in line with current revenue levels.

    For the third quarter of 2025, the Company expects to report revenue in the range of $115 million to $130 million and earnings in the range of $0.00 to $0.15 per diluted share.

    The revenue and earnings estimates for the second and third quarters of fiscal 2025, and the finalization of financial results for the second quarter of 2025, are subject to completion of the Company’s quarterly close and review procedures which are still ongoing. The Company plans to report its complete results and host its earnings conference call for the second quarter of fiscal 2025 on February 4, 2025. Details for the conference call have been announced in a separate press release.

    About Key Tronic

    Key Tronic is a leading contract manufacturer offering value-added design and manufacturing services from its facilities in the United States, Mexico, China and Vietnam. The Company provides its customers full engineering services, materials management, worldwide manufacturing facilities, assembly services, in-house testing, and worldwide distribution. Its customers include some of the world’s leading original equipment manufacturers. For more information about Key Tronic visit: http://www.keytronic.com.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    Some of the statements in this press release are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to those including such words as aims, anticipates, believes, continues, estimates, expects, hopes, intends, plans, predicts, projects, targets, will, or would, similar verbs, or nouns corresponding to such verbs, which may be forward looking. Forward-looking statements also include other passages that are relevant to expected future events, performances, and actions or that can only be fully evaluated by events that will occur in the future. Forward-looking statements in this release include, without limitation, the Company’s statements regarding its expectations with respect to financial conditions and results, including revenue and earnings, cost savings from headcount reduction and the Mexican Peso exchange rate, demand for certain products and the effectiveness of some of its programs, business from customers and programs, and impacts from operational streamlining and efficiencies, including reductions in inventories. There are many factors, risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those predicted or projected in forward-looking statements, including but not limited to: the future of the global economic environment and its impact on our customers and suppliers; the availability of components from the supply chain; the availability of a healthy workforce; the accuracy of suppliers’ and customers’ forecasts; development and success of customers’ programs and products; timing and effectiveness of ramping of new programs; success of new-product introductions; the risk of legal proceedings or governmental investigations relating to the previously reported financial statement restatements and related material weaknesses, the May 2024 cybersecurity incident and the subject of the internal investigation by the Company’s Audit Committee and related or other unrelated matters; acquisitions or divestitures of operations or facilities; technology advances; changes in pricing policies by the Company, its competitors, customers or suppliers; impact of new governmental legislation and regulation, including tax reform, tariffs and related activities, such trade negotiations and other risks; and other factors, risks, and uncertainties detailed from time to time in the Company’s SEC filings.

         
    CONTACTS: Anthony G. Voorhees Michael Newman
      Chief Financial Officer Investor Relations
      Key Tronic Corporation StreetConnect
      (509) 927-5345 (206) 729-3625

    The MIL Network –

    January 25, 2025

  • MIL-OSI: Key Tronic Corporation Announces Second Quarter Reporting Date

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SPOKANE VALLEY, Wash., Jan. 24, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Key Tronic Corporation (Nasdaq: KTCC), announced today that it plans to report its results for the second quarter of fiscal 2025 after market close on February 4, 2025.

    Key Tronic will host a conference call to discuss its financial results at 2:00 PM Pacific (5:00 PM Eastern) on February 4, 2025. A broadcast of the conference call will be available at http://www.keytronic.com under “Investor Relations” or by calling 888-394-8218 or +1-313-209-4906 (Access Code: 2254355). A replay will be available at http://www.keytronic.com under “Investor Relations”.

    About Key Tronic

    Key Tronic is a leading contract manufacturer offering value-added design and manufacturing services from its facilities in the United States, Mexico, China and Vietnam. The Company provides its customers full engineering services, materials management, worldwide manufacturing facilities, assembly services, in-house testing, and worldwide distribution. Its customers include some of the world’s leading original equipment manufacturers. For more information about Key Tronic visit: http://www.keytronic.com.

    CONTACTS: Anthony G. Voorhees Michael Newman
      Chief Financial Officer Investor Relations
      Key Tronic Corporation StreetConnect
      (509) 927-5345 (206) 729-3625

    The MIL Network –

    January 25, 2025

  • MIL-OSI: Key Tronic Corporation Awarded Major New Contract with Energy Resilience Technology Provider

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SPOKANE VALLEY, Wash., Jan. 24, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Key Tronic Corporation (Nasdaq KTCC), a world class provider of manufacturing and design engineering services, today announced that it expects to begin manufacturing in the second half of 2025 for a market revolutionizing, innovative energy resilience technology provider.   

    Key Tronic has been awarded the manufacturing of an industry leading, innovative energy resiliency product. Initial production will ramp in late 2025 at the Key Tronic manufacturing campuses in Juarez, Mexico and Arkansas. Once fully ramped, Key Tronic believes the yearly revenue could exceed $60 million dollars.

    “We are looking forward to the design and manufacturing expertise of Key Tronic to help accelerate introduction of new products, as well as enhance our ability to increase product availability to fulfill the anticipated overwhelming demand,” said the CEO of Key Tronic’s new customer.

    “We are very excited to be working with a recognized, emerging leader in the energy resiliency industry,” said Brett Larsen, President and CEO of Key Tronic. “The product has the potential to assist in better asset management and public safety by ensuring increased vigilance across all operations. Our new customer is a highly respected company and we are thrilled to be involved with a product that can assist in the greater good. This important new strategic relationship represents an expansion of our customer base and we expect it will contribute to profitable long term growth.”

    About Key Tronic

    Key Tronic is a leading design engineering and contract manufacturer offering value-added design and manufacturing services from its facilities in the United States, Mexico, China and Vietnam. Key Tronic provides its customers full engineering services, materials management, worldwide manufacturing facilities, assembly services, in-house testing, and worldwide distribution. Its customers include some of the world’s leading original equipment manufacturers. For more information about Key Tronic visit: http://www.keytronic.com.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    Some of the statements in this press release are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including Key Tronic’s opportunities and its partnership, the potential success of Key Tronic and the customer, and related revenues. Forward-looking statements include all passages containing verbs such as aims, anticipates, believes, estimates, expects, hopes, intends, plans, predicts, projects or targets or nouns corresponding to such verbs.  Forward-looking statements also include other passages that are primarily relevant to expected future events or revenue or that can only be fully evaluated by events that will occur in the future.  There are many factors, risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those predicted or projected in forward-looking statements, including but not limited to: the success and timing of ramping; availability and timing and receipt of critical parts or components; demand from customers and sales channels; the future of the global economic environment and its impact on our customers and suppliers; the availability of a healthy workforce; the accuracy of suppliers’ and customers’ forecasts; development and success of customers’ programs and products; success of new-product introductions; the risk of legal proceedings or governmental investigations relating to the previously reported financial statement restatements and related material weaknesses, the May 2024 cybersecurity incident and the subject of the internal investigation by the Company’s Audit Committee and related or other unrelated matters; acquisitions or divestitures of operations or facilities; technology advances; changes in pricing policies by the Company, its competitors, customers or suppliers; impact of new governmental legislation and regulation, including tax reform, tariffs and related activities, such trade negotiations and other risks; and other factors, risks, and uncertainties detailed from time to time in the Company’s SEC filings.

    CONTACTS: Anthony G. Voorhees   Michael Newman
      Chief Financial Officer   Investor Relations
      Key Tronic Corporation   StreetConnect
      (509) 927-5345   (206) 729-3625

    The MIL Network –

    January 25, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Global: The technology that runs Congress lags so far behind the modern world that its flag-tracking system just caught up to 2017-era Pizza Hut

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Lorelei Kelly, Research Lead, Modernizing Congress, McCourt School of Public Policy, Georgetown University

    Tracking one of these items to your door has been possible since 2017 – tracking the other is all new. FTiare/iStock / Getty Images Plus

    On a typical day, you can’t turn on the news without hearing someone say that Congress is broken. The implication is that this dereliction explains why the institution is inert and unresponsive to the American people.

    There’s one element often missing from that discussion: Congress is confounding in large part because its members can’t hear the American people, or even each other. I mean that literally. Congressional staff serve in thousands of district offices across the nation, and their communications technology doesn’t match that of most businesses and even many homes.

    Members’ district offices only got connected to secure Wi-Fi internet service in 2023. Discussions among members and congressional staff were at times cut short at 40 minutes because some government workers were relying on the free version of Zoom, according to congressional testimony in March 2024.

    Congressional testimony discusses meetings being cut off at 40 minutes.

    The information systems Congress uses have existed largely unchanged for decades, while the world has experienced an information revolution, integrating smartphones and the internet into people’s daily personal and professional lives. The technologies that have transformed modern life and political campaigning are not yet available to improve the ability of members of Congress to govern once they win office.

    Slow to adapt

    Like many institutions, Congress resists change; only the COVID-19 pandemic pushed it to allow online hearings and bill introductions. Before 2020, whiteboards, sticky notes and interns with clipboards dominated the halls of Congress.

    Electronic signatures arrived on Capitol Hill in 2021 – more than two decades after Congress passed the ESIGN Act to allow electronic signatures and records in commerce.

    The nation spends about US$10 million a year on technology innovation in the House of Representatives – the institution that declares war and pays all the federal government’s bills. That’s just 1% of the amount theater fans have spent to see ‶Hamilton“ on Broadway since 2015.

    It seems the story of American democracy is attractive to the public, but investing in making it work is less so for Congress itself.

    The chief administrative office in Congress, a nonlegislative staff that helps run the operations of Congress, decides what types of technology can be used by members. These internal rules exist to protect Congress and national security, but that caution can also inhibit new ways to use technology to better serve the public.

    Finding a happy medium between innovation and caution can result in a livelier public discourse.

    The pandemic compelled Congress to allow witnesses to testify before committees by videoconference.
    Stefani Reynolds-Pool/Getty Images

    A modernization effort

    Congress has been working to modernize itself, including experimenting with new ways to hear local voices in their districts, including gathering constituent feedback in a standardized way that can be easily processed by computers.

    The House Natural Resources Committee was also an early adopter of technology for collaborative lawmaking. In 2020, members and committee staff used a platform called Madison to collaboratively write and edit proposed environmental justice legislation with communities across the country that had been affected by pollution.

    House leaders are also looking at what is called deliberative technology, which uses specially designed websites to facilitate digital participation by pairing collective human intelligence with artificial intelligence. People post their ideas online and respond to others’ posts. Then the systems can screen and summarize posts so users better understand each other’s perspectives.

    These systems can even handle massive group discussions involving large numbers of people who hold a wide range of positions on a vast set of issues and interests. In general, these technologies make it easier for people to find consensus and have their voices heard by policymakers in ways the policymakers can understand and respond to.

    Governments in Finland, the U.K., Canada and Brazil are already piloting deliberative technologies. In Finland, roughly one-third of young people between 12 and 17 participate in setting budget priorities for the city of Helsinki.

    In May 2024, 45 U.S.-based nonprofit organizations signed a letter to Congress asking that deliberative technology platforms be included in the approved tools for civic engagement.

    In the meantime, Congress is looking at ways to use artificial intelligence as part of a more integrated digital strategy based on lessons from other democratic legislatures.

    A panel discussion of various ideas for modernizing how Congress hears from the American people.

    Finding benefits

    Modernization efforts have opened connections within Congress and with the public. For example, hearings held by video conference during the pandemic enabled witnesses to share expertise with Congress from a distance and open up a process that is notoriously unrepresentative. I was home in rural New Mexico during the pandemic and know three people who remotely testified on tribal education, methane pollution and environmental harms from abandoned oil wells.

    New House Rules passed on Jan. 3, 2025, encourage the use of artificial intelligence in day-to-day operations and allow for remote witness testimony.

    Other efforts that are new to Congress but long established in business and personal settings include the ability to track changes in legislation and a scheduling feature that reduces overlaps in meetings. Members are regularly scheduled to be two places at once.

    Another effort in development is an internal digital staff directory that replaces expensive directories compiled by private companies assembling contact information for congressional staff.

    The road ahead

    In 2022, what is now called ”member-directed spending“ returned to Congress with some digital improvements. Formerly known as “earmarks,” this is the practice of allowing members of Congress to handpick specific projects in their home districts to receive federal money. Earmarks were abolished in 2011 amid concerns of abuse and opposition by fiscal hardliners. Their 2022 return and rebranding introduced publicly available project lists, ethics rules and a search engine to track the spending as efforts to provide public transparency about earmarks.

    Additional reforms could make the federal government even more responsive to the American people.

    Some recent improvements are already familiar. Just as customers can follow their pizza delivery from the oven to the doorstep, Congress in late 2024 created a flag-tracking app that has dramatically improved a program that allows constituents to receive a flag that has flown over the U.S. Capitol. Before, different procedures in the House and Senate caused time-consuming snags in this delivery system.

    At last, the world’s most powerful legislature caught up with Pizza Hut, which rolled out this technology in 2017 to track customers’ pizzas from the store to the delivery driver to their front door.

    Lorelei Kelly has received funding from Democracy Fund and the Hewlett Foundation for her research on modernization in the US Congress.

    – ref. The technology that runs Congress lags so far behind the modern world that its flag-tracking system just caught up to 2017-era Pizza Hut – https://theconversation.com/the-technology-that-runs-congress-lags-so-far-behind-the-modern-world-that-its-flag-tracking-system-just-caught-up-to-2017-era-pizza-hut-245931

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

    January 25, 2025

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Change of His Majesty’s Ambassador to the Republic of Costa Rica and to the Republic of Nicaragua

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Mr Edward Roberts has been appointed His Majesty’s Ambassador to the Republic of Costa Rica, and His Majesty’s non-resident Ambassador to the Republic of Nicaragua in succession to Mr Ben Lyster-Binns.

    Edward Roberts

    Mr Edward Roberts has been appointed His Majesty’s Ambassador to the Republic of Costa Rica, and His Majesty’s non-resident Ambassador to the Republic of Nicaragua in succession to Mr Ben Lyster-Binns who will be transferring to another Diplomatic Service appointment. Mr Roberts will take up his appointment during autumn 2025.

    Curriculum vitae

    Full name: Edward John Roberts

    Year Role
    2025 Pre-posting training (including Spanish language training)
    2023 to 2024 FCDO, Europe Group, Directorate Flexible Resource
    2022 to 2023 College of Europe, Bruges, MA in EU International Relations and Diplomacy Studies
    2019 to 2022 Kathmandu, Deputy Ambassador
    2017 to 2019 Department for Exiting the European Union, Policy Manager, Security Partnership
    2016 to 2017 Cabinet Office, Senior Policy Adviser, Migration and EU Asylum Cooperation
    2013 to 2016 Kinshasa, Consul and Second Secretary Political and Prosperity
    2011 to 2013 FCO, Desk Officer, EU Institutions and Treaty Change Bill
    2010 to 2011 European Commission, Brussels, DG AIDCO, Seconded National Expert, Human Development and Migration
    2009 to 2010 Department for Education, Policy Officer, Early Years Improvement Support
    2008 to 2009 Brussels, European Commission, DG AIDCO, Stagiaire, Human Development and Migration
    2007 to 2008 Department for Education, Policy Officer, Education and Skills Bill
    2006 to 2007 Department for Education, Policy Officer, Strategy for Learners with Learning Difficulties
    2006 Joined the Civil Service Fast Stream

    Media enquiries

    Email newsdesk@fcdo.gov.uk

    Telephone 020 7008 3100

    Contact the FCDO Communication Team via email (monitored 24 hours a day) in the first instance, and we will respond as soon as possible.

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    Updates to this page

    Published 24 January 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

    January 25, 2025

  • MIL-OSI: Young Colombians Create the First Cryptocurrency to Enter Asia’s Largest Market, BitMart, with a Metaverse of Their City Medellín

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NEW YORK, Jan. 24, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Sparklife SPS has announced an ambitious project to recreate the city of Medellín, Colombia, in a metaverse built using Unreal Engine. This virtual world aims to integrate real-world economic value through the platform’s native cryptocurrency, SPSCoin.

    Within this metaverse, users will have the opportunity to explore virtual casinos and, in the near future, experience the video game La Oficina, which draws inspiration from Medellín’s vibrant neighborhoods. The game will allow players to engage in immersive activities that generate tangible profits in cryptocurrency.

    Cultural festivals, concerts, municipal councils and digital universities where you can learn with iA being your support, Virtual properties with dynamic NFT contracts.

    Additionally, users can establish their own virtual casinos equipped with crypto slot machines, earning rewards for every player who participates. The platform will support VR, PC, and mobile devices, ensuring a seamless and immersive experience across multiple platforms.

    Sparklife SPS is poised to blend cutting-edge technology with economic innovation, offering a unique intersection of the digital and real worlds.

    Media Contact:
    Sparklife
    Ceosparklife@villascapital.com.co

    The MIL Network –

    January 25, 2025

  • MIL-OSI: BexBack Introduces 100x Leverage, Double Deposit Bonus, and $50 Welcome Bonus—A Game-Changer for Crypto Traders

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SINGAPORE, Jan. 24, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — As Bitcoin’s price hovers around the $100,000 mark and enters a phase of high volatility, many analysts predict the market will remain active for the long term. For traders seeking to maximize profits under these conditions, BexBack Exchange has launched an unparalleled promotional package. The platform now offers a 100% deposit bonus, a $50 welcome bonus for new users, and 100x leverage on cryptocurrency trading—all while maintaining a No KYC policy, ensuring a seamless and private trading experience.

    Unleash the Power of 100x Leverage

    BexBack’s 100x leverage feature allows traders to control larger positions with smaller capital, offering significant profit potential. For instance:

    • If Bitcoin is priced at $100,000 and you open a position with 1 BTC using 100x leverage, your trade equates to 100 BTC.
    • If Bitcoin’s price rises to $105,000, your profit would be: (105,000−100,000)×100/100,000=5BTC, yielding a 500% return.

    Maximize Gains with the 100% Deposit Bonus

    The 100% deposit bonus is designed to double traders’ capital. For example:

    • Deposit 1 BTC and receive an additional 1 BTC as a bonus, enabling you to trade with 2 BTC. While the bonus cannot be directly withdrawn, it acts as extra margin, reducing liquidation risks during volatile markets.

    Why Choose BexBack?

    BexBack’s innovative features and user-centric approach set it apart:

    1. No KYC Policy: Start trading instantly with just an email—no lengthy verifications required.
    2. High Leverage: Trade with up to 100x leverage, amplifying your capital efficiency.
    3. Transparent Fees: Zero spreads and no slippage ensure precise trade execution.
    4. Comprehensive Accessibility: Available on both web and mobile platforms, offering 24/7 access.
    5. Global Reach: Accepts users from the United States, Canada, and Europe, and holds a US MSB license.
    6. Demo Account: Perfect for beginners, with 10 BTC in virtual funds to practice strategies risk-free.
    7. Affiliate Rewards: Earn up to 50% commission through the lucrative affiliate program.

    About BexBack

    BexBack is a global leader in cryptocurrency derivatives trading, offering perpetual contracts for BTC, ETH, ADA, SOL, and XRP with up to 100x leverage. Headquartered in Singapore, with offices in Hong Kong, Japan, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Argentina, BexBack is trusted by over 200,000 traders worldwide. The platform holds a US MSB license and is dedicated to providing a seamless trading experience with no deposit fees, 24/7 multilingual customer support, and advanced trading tools.

    Don’t Miss the Opportunity!

    With Bitcoin at $100,000, the cryptocurrency market is at a critical juncture. BexBack’s unbeatable bonuses and high-leverage offerings make it the ideal platform for traders looking to capitalize on this dynamic market.

    Sign up today on BexBack to claim your bonuses and start trading with the tools you need to succeed in the new era of cryptocurrency trading.

    Website: http://www.bexback.com

    Contact: business@bexback.com

    Contact:
    Amanda
    business@bexback.com

    Disclaimer: This content is provided by BexBack. The statements, views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the content provider. The information provided in this press release is not a solicitation for investment, nor is it intended as investment advice, financial advice, or trading advice. It is strongly recommended you practice due diligence, including consultation with a professional financial advisor, before investing in or trading cryptocurrency and securities. Please conduct your own research and invest at your own risk.

    Photos accompanying this announcement are available at:

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/055bdd3e-9532-4205-b957-764c3c1b0717

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/665fdfca-e73b-4a8e-93ae-2ed294730a1a

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/8d1af240-ffb5-4c85-a9e6-939c54ed7a62

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/623cdedd-2b86-4a21-9833-8263886d659c

    The MIL Network –

    January 25, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Security: Woman pleads guilty to human smuggling conspiracy resulting in 16 deaths

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    MIAMI – On Jan. 21, Yaquelin Dominguez-Nieves, 26, of Sebring, Florida, pleaded guilty in federal court in Miami to conspiring to smuggle aliens into the United States.

    According to court documents and information presented during the case’s detention hearing, around November 2022, Dominguez-Nieves, who entered the United States illegally, collected at least $11,500 from the migrants’ family members in South Florida with the promise to smuggle the migrants from Cuba into the United States. Dominguez-Nieves transferred the money she collected to her co-conspirator located in Cuba. Then, Dominguez-Nieves’s co-conspirator loaded approximately 18 migrants onto a small fishing vessel with no life jackets and with a captain who, according to the two survivors, did not appear to know how to operate the vessel. The vessel sank roughly 30 miles into its journey to the United States, killing all but two migrants aboard. Many of the 16 victims were young children and teenagers, including children ranging from nine months to seven years old, as well as two 16-year-olds. Four of the migrants’ bodies were recovered at sea, and their cause of death was ruled drowning.

    A sentencing hearing is set for April 11, at 11:00 a.m. in Miami. Dominguez-Nieves faces up to life in prison and a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison. 

    Acting U.S. Attorney Michael S. Davis for the Southern District of Florida and Special Agent in Charge Matthew J. Margelot U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service (CGIS), Southeast Region, made the announcement.

    CGIS, Southeast Region, investigated the case with assistance from the U.S. Coast Guard Sector Key West, U.S. Border Patrol (BP) Miami Sector, Monroe County Medical Examiner’s Office and Highlands County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO).

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Keller is prosecuting the case.

    You may find a copy of this press release (and any updates) on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida at http://www.justice.gov/usao-sdfl.

    Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at http://www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case number 24-cr-20223.

    ###

    MIL Security OSI –

    January 25, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Security: U.S. Attorney and HSI Announce Federal Sex Crimes Involving a Minor Against U.S. Army Soldier

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    ALBUQUERQUE – A U.S. Army soldier has been charged with multiple federal sex crimes involving a minor, including interstate travel for sexual conduct and production of child sexual abuse material, following an investigation by federal authorities.

    The indictment alleges that between November 2022, and May 2024, Victor Barnett Lane allegedly coerced a minor into sexual activity, traveled from South Korea to New Mexico for purposes of sexual activity, and produced child sexual abuse imagery.

    Lane has been ordered to remain in custody pending trial. If convicted, Lane faces a minimum of 15 years and up to life in prison.

    U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez and Jason T. Stevens, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) El Paso, made the announcement today.

    Homeland Security Investigations investigated this case with assistance from the U.S. Army Criminal Investigations Division and Albuquerque Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jaymie L. Roybal is prosecuting the case as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC.

    An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

    # # #

    MIL Security OSI –

    January 25, 2025
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