News from July 2024
Fiscal Year 2025 appropriations bill allocates $61.605 Billion for state operations
By Federal Newswire | Jul 31, 2024
The Fiscal Year 2025 State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act allocates $61.605 billion to the U.S. Department of State, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), and other international agencies and programs. This funding aims to enhance America's global leadership, strengthen alliances, and provide humanitarian aid.
Senate committee approves four major appropriations bills
By Federal Newswire | Jul 31, 2024
The Senate Appropriations Committee convened today to approve four key appropriations bills for the fiscal year 2025. The committee passed the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies; Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies; State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs; and Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies bills.
OPINION: Put the Secret Service and Customs Back into Treasury
By John A. Cassara | Jul 31, 2024
Numerous investigations have been announced into the attempted assassination of former President Trump, including the performance by the Secret Service. Along with finger pointing, there will be call for reforms. Yet I fear the root cause of the disastrous decline of the USSS will be overlooked.
Weekend Interview: Mark Clifford on Hong Kong's Struggle for Democracy and Press Freedom
By Federal Newswire reports | Jul 31, 2024
Mark Clifford is president of the Committee for Freedom in Hong Kong Foundation. He was a director of Next Digital, the publisher of the pro-democracy Apple Daily newspaper, and editor in chief of the South China Morning Post. He is the author of, “Today, Hong Kong, Tomorrow The World: What China's Crackdown Reveals About Its Plans to End Freedom Everywhere.”
Former DEA agent on Chinese money laundering: ‘This happens every day, every week’
By Federal Newswire | Jul 31, 2024
Don Im, a former Special Agent in Charge for the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), stated that Chinese money launderers are laundering as much as one trillion dollars' worth of drug proceeds every year. Im shared his statement during a July 25 meeting of the Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) Fentanyl Working Group.
Rep. Newhouse: ‘Chinese money launderers have taken the terrorist money laundering playbook and digitized it’
By Federal Newswire | Jul 31, 2024
Congressman Dan Newhouse, head of the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) Fentanyl Working Group, stated that the Chinese government is aware that Chinese money launderers collaborate with Mexican cartels to launder proceeds from fentanyl sales. Newhouse shared his statement during a meeting held by the working group on July 24.
Administrative hearing set for Kroger and Albertsons merger case
By Federal Newswire | Jul 31, 2024
Hearing Before Administrative Law Judge D. Michael Chappell In the Matter of The Kroger Company and Albertsons Companies, Inc., Docket 9428.
MCESRG: The deal between 'Green Charter Township' and 'Gotion' is 'sketchy'
By Federal Newswire | Jul 31, 2024
The Michigan-China Economic and Security Review Group (MCESRG) stated that Green Charter Township returned $160,000 to Gotion for "unused first responder training and equipment" at a "site of the yet-to-be-built plant," calling the deal "sketchy" and questioning if it was a ploy to create an illusion of acceptance. MCESRG made this statement in a July 30 post on X.
Plea agreements reached with key defendants in 9/11 case
By Federal Newswire | Jul 31, 2024
The Convening Authority for Military Commissions, Susan Escallier, has entered into pretrial agreements with Khalid Shaikh Mohammad, Walid Muhammad Salih Mubarak Bin 'Attash, and Mustafa Ahmed Adam al Hawsawi, three of the co-accused in the 9/11 case. The specific terms and conditions of the pretrial agreements are not available to the public at this time.
EPA advances further studies at Smurfit-Stone Mill Site
By Federal Newswire | Jul 31, 2024
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently directed two additional sampling events, with a third now underway at the Smurfit-Stone Mill Site, a former paper and pulp mill located 11 miles west of Missoula, Montana.
FTC and DOJ announce first public meeting on unfair pricing strike force
By Federal Newswire | Jul 31, 2024
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) will virtually cohost the first public meeting of the Strike Force on Unfair and Illegal Pricing to discuss enforcement actions aimed at lowering prices for Americans. The event is scheduled for Thursday, August 1, 2024, from 3:30 PM to 4:15 PM.
Biden-Harris administration issues payments through Discrimination Financial Assistance Program
By Federal Newswire | Jul 31, 2024
The Biden-Harris Administration has announced the issuance of payments to eligible applicants under the Inflation Reduction Act’s Discrimination Financial Assistance Program (DFAP). The program aims to provide financial assistance to farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners who experienced discrimination before January 2021.
AIA President welcomes Kelly Ortberg as Boeing's new CEO
By Federal Newswire | Jul 31, 2024
Arlington, Va. – Today, Aerospace Industries Association (AIA) President and CEO Eric Fanning issued a statement following the announcement of Kelly Ortberg as Boeing’s new Chief Executive Officer.
Escalating tensions between Israel-Hezbollah amid broader Middle East conflict risks
By Federal Newswire | Jul 31, 2024
On Saturday, July 27, a rocket struck a soccer field in the town of Majdal Shams in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, killing 12 children. The Israeli government attributed the attack to Hezbollah and, despite U.S. warnings to avoid the Lebanese capital, carried out a strike on Tuesday in the Dahieh neighborhood of Beirut, a Hezbollah stronghold. Early in the morning on July 31, Israel conducted a strike on Iranian soil, killing Ismail Haniyeh, the political head of Hamas. These developments underscore the precarious situation on Israel’s border with Lebanon and the risk of...
Blinken discusses Gaza ceasefire with Jordanian foreign minister
By Federal Newswire | Jul 31, 2024
Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken spoke with Jordan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, Ayman Safadi, to discuss ongoing tensions and developments in the Middle East.
Kansas man pleads guilty to racially motivated threats against children
By Federal Newswire | Jul 31, 2024
A Kansas man pleaded guilty today to two counts of interference with federally-protected activities, two counts of interstate threats, and one count of interference with housing.
Secretary Blinken highlights US-Singapore cooperation in nuclear energy and technology
By Federal Newswire | Jul 31, 2024
Secretary Antony J. Blinken attended the signing ceremony for the 123 Civil Nuclear Cooperation Agreement and the Third Country Training Program in Singapore on July 31, 2024. During his remarks, Blinken expressed gratitude to his colleague Vivian for the hospitality and fruitful discussions held during their meeting.
DOE allocates $41 million towards renewables-to-liquids technology development
By Federal Newswire | Jul 31, 2024
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced today an allocation of $41 million for 14 projects aimed at developing Renewables-to-Liquids (RtL) technologies. These initiatives seek to harness renewable energy sources such as wind and solar to produce sustainable fuels or chemicals that can be transported and stored as easily as conventional carbon-intensive liquids like gasoline or oil.
U.S. welcomes ceasefire in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo
By Federal Newswire | Jul 31, 2024
The United States has welcomed the open-ended ceasefire in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) announced by Angola on July 30. The announcement was made by Matthew Miller, Department Spokesperson, on July 31, 2024.
