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  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Agricultural Infrastructure Fund

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Posted On: 11 FEB 2025 5:29PM by PIB Delhi

     In order to enhance the income of farmers, it is not only essential to enhance production and productivity of farm produce but also minimize the post-harvest losses and ensure better realization of prices for farmers through creation of modern post-harvest management infrastructure. With an objective to address the existing gaps in post-harvest management infrastructure in the country, the flagship scheme of Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF) was launched in 2020-21 to strengthen the infrastructure in the country through creation of farm gate storage and logistics infrastructure to enable farmers to store and preserve their farm produce properly and sell them in the market at better price with reduced post-harvest losses and lesser number of intermediaries. Improved post-harvest management infrastructure like warehouses, Cold stores, sorting and grading units, ripening chambers etc will allow farmers to sell directly to a larger base of consumers and hence, increase value realization for the farmers. This will improve the overall income of farmers. Further, AIF scheme aims to benefit all stakeholders in the agricultural ecosystem by contributing in the holistic development of the agriculture sector. Under AIF, provision for Rs. 1 Lakh crore loan has been made through lending institutions with a interest rate cap of 9% on loans. The scheme is operational from 2020-21 to 2032-33.

    All loans under this financing facility have interest subvention of 3% per annum up to a loan limit of ₹2 crores. This interest subvention is available for a maximum period of 7 years. In case of loans beyond ₹2 crores, interest subvention is limited up to ₹2 crores. Credit guarantee coverage is also available for eligible borrowers from this financing facility under Credit Guarantee Fund Trust for Micro and Small Enterprises (CGTMSE) scheme for a loan up to ₹2 crores. The fee for this coverage is borne by the Government.

    Budgetary support is being provided for interest subvention and credit guarantee fee as also administrative cost of PMU. This will be amount to Rs. 10,636 crores over a period of 10 years. The detailed break up is as below.

    SL NO.

    Name of Component

    Allotted Fund Amount

    1

    Interest Subvention Cost

    Rs. 7907Cr

    2

    Credit Guarantee Cost

    Rs. 2629 Cr

    3

    Administration Cost of PMU

    Rs. 100 Cr

    Total

    Rs. 10636 Cr

     

     State/UT wise details of Projects approved under AIF scheme during the last three years is as below: –

      (Amount in Rs Crore)

    Sl.

    State / UT

    Sanctioned No

    Sanctioned Amount

    1

    Madhya Pradesh

    7,701

    5,853

    2

    Maharashtra

    6,860

    4,151

    3

    Rajasthan

    1,802

    2,310

    4

    Gujarat

    2,072

    2,215

    5

    Uttar Pradesh

    3,854

    3,636

    6

    Haryana

    2,704

    2,108

    7

    Punjab

    12,003

    3,116

    8

    Telangana

    1,662

    2,178

    9

    Karnataka

    2,208

    2,148

    10

    Andhra Pradesh

    680

    1,116

    11

    West Bengal

    2,537

    1,441

    12

    Tamil Nadu

    5,889

    1,189

    13

    Chhattisgarh

    814

    1,008

    14

    Odisha

    1,098

    810

    15

    Assam

    409

    726

    16

    Bihar

    848

    680

    17

    Kerala

    1,600

    604

    18

    Uttarakhand

    236

    315

    19

    Jharkhand

    225

    255

    20

    Himachal Pradesh

    347

    137

    21

    Jammu And Kashmir

    88

    198

    22

    Delhi

    7

    10

    23

    Goa

    19

    10

    24

    Meghalaya

    2

    8

    25

    Chandigarh

    2

    8

     

    26

    Arunachal Pradesh

    5

    6

    27

    Tripura

    5

    10

    28

    Nagaland

    0

    0

    29

    The Dadra And Nagar Haveli And Daman And Diu

    1

    1

    30

    Puducherry

    2

    2

    31

    Manipur

    3

    1

    32

    Mizoram

    0

    0

    33

    Sikkim

    0

    0

    34

    Ladakh

    0

    0

    35

    Lakshadweep

    0

    0

    36

    Andaman and Nicobar Islands

    0

    0

     

    Total

             55,683

                   36,250

     

    An impact assessment study of AIF was conducted by Agro Economic Research Centre, Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics, Pune in December 2023 to evaluate overall performance of the scheme, primarily based on feedback from beneficiaries as well as farmers in selected states.  The main findings of the study are as below. 

    1.       Based on this study, till 26th January 2025, investment in the agri sector under AIF has generated more than 9 lakh employment opportunities. Out of the sanctioned projects, nearly 97% of the projects created are in rural areas promoting investment and employment opportunities in rural areas. 

    2.       The average number of persons employed per unit in the peak season was found to be 11. The average was highest i.e. 27 in Rajasthan and lowest i.e. 5 in the state of Maharashtra.

    3.       Further, the storage infrastructure created under AIF has added nearly 550 LMT of storage capacity which includes approx. 510.6 LMT of dry storage and nearly 39.4 LMT of Cold storage capacities (as on 26.01.2025). This additional storage capacity can save up to 20.4 LMT of food grains and 3.9 LMT of horticulture produce annually. 

    4.       The Agro processing centres created under the scheme is promoting timely value-addition of farmer’s produce resulting in increase in farmer’s income up to 20% and reduction of post-harvest losses. Custom hiring centres set up under the scheme is boosting farm mechanization and adoption of better crop residue management practices.

    5.       31 percent of the AIF units have availed of government subsidies also. Thus, they have been benefitted due to Convergence under AIF. 

    6.       For around 85 percent of the total units, availability of AIF loan was the main reason for starting the unit.

     

    This information was given by the Minister of State for Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare Shri Ramnath Thakur in a written reply in Lok Sabha today.

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Art Inspired by Exploration: NASA Unveils Architecture Art Challenge Winners

    Source: NASA

    NASA asked artists to imagine the future of deep space exploration in artwork meant to inspire the Artemis Generation. The NASA Moon to Mars Architecture art challenge sought creative images that represent the agency’s bold vision for crewed exploration of the lunar surface and the Red Planet. The agency has selected the recipients of the art challenge competition.  

    The challenge, hosted by contractor yet2 through NASA’s Prizes, Challenges, and Crowdsourcing program, was open to artists from around the globe. Guidelines asked artists to consider NASA’s Moon to Mars Architecture development effort, which uses engineering processes to distil NASA’s Moon to Mars Objectives into the systems needed to accomplish them. NASA received 313 submissions from 22 U.S. states and 47 countries.
    The architecture includes four segments of increasing complexity. For this competition, NASA sought artistic representations of the two furthest on the timeline: the Sustained Lunar Evolution segment and the Humans to Mars segment.

    The Sustained Lunar Evolution segment is an open canvas for exploration of the Moon, embracing new ideas, systems, and partners to grow to a long-term presence on the lunar surface. Sustained lunar evolution means more astronauts on the Moon for longer periods of time, increased opportunities for science, and even the large-scale production of goods and services derived from lunar resources. It also means increased cooperation and collaboration with international partners and the aerospace industry to build a robust lunar economy.  

    The Humans to Mars segment will see the first human missions to Mars, building on the lessons we learn from exploring the Moon. These early missions will focus on Martian exploration and establishing the foundation for a sustained Mars presence. NASA architects are examining a wide variety of options for transportation, habitation, power generation, utilization of Martian resources, scientific investigations, and more.

    Final judging for the competition took place at NASA’s annual Architecture Concept Review meeting. That review brought together agency leadership from NASA mission directorates, centers, and technical authorities to review the 2024 updates to the Moon to Mars Architecture. NASA selected the winning images below during that review:

    Sustained Lunar Evolution Segment Winners
    First Place:
    Jimmy Catanzaro – Henderson, Nevada

    Second Place:
    Jean-Luc Sabourin – Ottawa, Canada

    Third Place (Tie):
    Irene Magi – Prato, Italy

    Pavlo Kandyba – Kyiv, Ukraine

    Humans to Mars Segment Winners
    First Place (Tie):
    Antonella Di Cristofaro – Chieti, Italy

    Francesco Simone – Gatteo, Italy

    Third Place:
    Mia Nickell – Suwanee, Georgia

    Under 18 Submission Winners
    First Place:
    Lux Bodell – Minnetonka, Minnesota

    Second Place:
    Olivia De Grande – Milan, Italy

    Third Place:
    Sophie Duan – Ponte Vedra, Florida

    The NASA Tournament Lab, part of the Prizes, Challenges, and Crowdsourcing program in the Space Technology Mission Directorate, managed the challenge. The program supports global public competitions and crowdsourcing as tools to advance NASA research and development and other mission needs.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Spurious Seeds, Pesticides and Fertilizers Supplied to the Farmers

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Posted On: 11 FEB 2025 5:27PM by PIB Delhi

    To curb the malpractices of spurious seeds, pesticides and fertilizers and in order to ensure availability of quality inputs to the farmers, various provisions are available in the Seeds Act, 1966, the Seeds Rules, 1968, the Seeds (Control) Order, 1983, Essential Commodity Act, 1955, Insecticide Act, 1964, Insecticides Rules,1971, the Fertilizer (Control) Order, 1985etc.

    The concerned State Department of Agriculture appoints the Inspectors for ensuring quality control of seeds, fertilizers and pesticides in their respective states. In case any samples of seeds, fertilizers and pesticides are found to be spurious/sub-standard, action is taken under the relevant provisions of Acts and Rules. The details of samples drawn by inspector sand found substandard (across the Country) in respect of Seeds, Fertilizers and pesticides during 2023-24 is given below. 

    1. 133,588 seed samples were drawn and out of which 3,630 samples were found sub-standard during the year 2023-24.
    2. 1,81,153 fertiliser samples were analysed and out of which 8,988 samples were found nonstandard during the year 2023-24.

    iii. 80,789 pesticide samples were analysed and out of which 2,222 samples were found to be spurious.

    This information was given by the Minister of State for Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare Shri Ramnath Thakur in a written reply in Lok Sabha today.

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Mercer County, W.Va., applicants for disaster assistance should expect a follow-up call from FEMA

    Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency

    Headline: Mercer County, W.Va., applicants for disaster assistance should expect a follow-up call from FEMA

    Mercer County, W.Va., applicants for disaster assistance should expect a follow-up call from FEMA

    CHARLESTON, W.Va. – The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is providing enhanced customer service to help all Mercer County survivors with disaster assistance after damages from the Sept. 25-28, 2024, remnants of Tropical Storm Helene. If you have applied for FEMA assistance, you may receive a call, text or email from the Enhanced Applicant Services (EAS) team. Phone calls may come from unfamiliar area codes and phone numbers or show no caller ID. You should take the opportunity to let FEMA know about your current needs and how FEMA can better serve you. It is important to answer phone calls from FEMA, even if the caller ID is unknown.Beware of fraud calls — only FEMA knows an applicant’s nine-digit application number. FEMA representatives can provide this number to verify it is a legitimate call. Remember: FEMA will never ask for money or a full Social Security number.Disasters can be traumatic for everyone, but issues can be more serious for some older adults or people with disabilities. Whether the problem is a lack of digital access, an inability to respond, or simply a reluctance to do so, these applicants may benefit by a follow-up call from the FEMA’s EAS team.This team is tasked with revisiting cases and locating applicants who are challenged with navigating the application and appeals process. The team proactively identifies survivors who reported on their application that they had hearing and vision problems, mobility difficulties, mental or emotional distress.FEMA ensures that all survivors, particularly those with additional needs, receive the assistance for which they are eligible to rebuild and recover. At this writing, the EAS team has already contacted more than 640 applicants to assist with completing applications. These follow-up efforts make up more than $732 thousand of the $2.3 million approved for Mercer County survivors of Tropical Storm Helene. Homeowners and renters in Mercer County who have questions about their FEMA application can call 800-621-3362. The toll-free telephone line operates from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m., seven days a week. If you use a relay service, such as video relay service (VRS), captioned telephone service or others, give FEMA your number for that service.Applicants can also visit the Mercer County Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) through Feb. 14, 2025, to discuss their application face-to-face. The recovery center location and hours are as follows: Princeton Disaster Recovery CenterLifeline Princeton Church of God250 Oakvale Road Princeton, WV 24740Hours of operation through Feb. 14, 2025:Wednesday to Thursday: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.Friday: 9 a.m. to 12 noonDRCs are accessible to all, including survivors with mobility issues, impaired vision, and those who are who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing.For more information on West Virginia’s disaster recovery, visit emd.wv.gov, West Virginia Emergency Management Division Facebook page, www.fema.gov/disaster/4851 and www.facebook.com/FEMA.###FEMA’s mission is helping people before, during and after disasters. FEMA Region 3’s jurisdiction includes Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia.Follow us on X at x.com/FEMAregion3 and on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/company/femaregion3.Disaster recovery assistance is available without regard to race, color, religion, nationality, sex, age, disability, English proficiency or economic status. If you or someone you know has been discriminated against, call FEMA toll-free at 833-285-7448. If you use a relay service, such as video relay service (VRS), captioned telephone service or others, give FEMA your number for that service. Multilingual operators are available (press 2 for Spanish and 3 for other languages). 
    erika.osullivan
    Tue, 02/11/2025 – 14:47

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Structural Challenges in Indian Agriculture

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Posted On: 11 FEB 2025 5:26PM by PIB Delhi

    Government of India is implementing various measures to improve the Indian Agriculture which encompasses multitude of developmental programmes, schemes, reforms and policies aimed at enhancing agricultural productivity, raising resource use efficiency, promoting sustainable agriculture and strengthening infrastructure, ensuring remunerative price to farmers, etc. These include:

    1. National Food Security and Nutrition Mission (NFSNM)
    2. National Mission on Edible Oils (NMEO)-Oil Palm
    3. National Mission on Edible Oils (NMEO)-Oilseeds
    4. National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA)
    5. National Mission on Natural Faming (NMNF)
    6. Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY)
    7. Soil Health & Fertility (SH&F)
    8. Rainfed Area Development (RAD)
    9. Agroforestry
    10. Crop Diversification Programme (CDP)
    11. Sub-Mission on Agriculture Extension (SMAE)
    12. Sub-Mission on Seed and Planting Material (SMSP)
    13. Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH)
    14. National Bamboo Mission
    15. National Bee Keeping and Honey Mission (NBHM)
    16. Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North Eastern Region
    17. Per Drop More crop (PDMC)
    18. Integrated Scheme for Agriculture Marketing (ISAM)
    19. Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN)
    20. Pradhan Mantri Kisan Maan Dhan Yojana (PM-KMY)
    21. Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY)/ Restructured Weather Based Crop Insurance Scheme (RWBCIS)
    22. Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay SanraksHan Abhiyan (PM-AASHA)
    23. Modified Interest Subvention Scheme (MISS)
    24. Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF)
    25. Formation and Promotion of 10,000 new Farmer Producers Organizations (FPOs)
    26. Namo Drone Didi
    27. Agri Fund for Start-Ups & Rural Enterprises (AgriSURE)
    28. Sub-Mission on Agriculture Mechanization (SMAM)
    29. Digital Agriculture Mission

    This information was given by the Minister of State for Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare Shri Ramnath Thakur in a written reply in Lok Sabha today.

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NASA Supports GoAERO University Awardees for Emergency Aircraft Prototyping

    Source: NASA

    With support from NASA, the international GoAERO Prize competition recently announced funding for 14 U.S. university teams to build innovative new compact emergency response aircraft. 
    The teams will develop prototype versions of Emergency Response Flyers, aircraft intended to perform rescue and response missions after disasters and in crisis situations. The flyers must be designed to deliver a first responder, evacuate victims, provide emergency medical supplies, and aid in humanitarian efforts. Teams will bring their test aircraft to a fly-off expected in 2027. 

    koushik datta
    NASA Project Manager

    “These awards will provide students with an opportunity that might have otherwise been difficult – a chance to design and build potentially lifesaving aircraft,” said Koushik Datta, University Innovation Project manager in NASA’s Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington. “At NASA, we’re looking forward to seeing how these young innovators can contribute to our mission to advance futuristic aviation technologies that can benefit first responders and the public.” 
    With support from NASA’s University Innovation Project, GoAERO named 14 awardee teams at the following universities: 

    Auburn University, in Leeds, Alabama  

    California Polytechnic University, in Pomona  

    Carnegie Mellon University, in Pittsburgh  

    Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, in Daytona Beach, Florida 

    Georgia Institute of Technology, in Atlanta 

    North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University, in Greensboro  

    North Carolina State University, in Raleigh 

    The Ohio State University, in Columbus  

    Penn State University, in State College  

    Purdue University, in West Lafayette, Indiana  

    Saint Louis University  

    Texas A&M University, in College Station, and Oklahoma State University, in Stillwater  

    University of Texas, Austin  

    Virginia Tech, in Blacksburg 

    Student teams can utilize the funds to purchase parts, materials, batteries, and other components for building their aircrafts. 
    When naming the university awardees, GoAERO – in partnership with Boeing, RTX, and Honeywell – also announced 11 winners of Stage 1 of its competition. These include teams from the private sector and universities. These awardees were selected to build full- or smaller-scale flyers for evaluation. Eight entries will be selected for the next round of Stage 2 awards. The GoAERO Prize is still accepting new teams.  While prizes are awarded at Stage 1 and Stage 2, teams do not need to win prizes to continue on to the next stage or compete in the final fly-off.  
    In addition to the University Innovation Project support for the university teams, NASA has partnered with GoAERO through a non-funded Space Act Agreement to provide U.S. teams with mentorship, educational opportunities, and access to specialized software tools. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Farmers’ Welfare Measures

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Posted On: 11 FEB 2025 5:25PM by PIB Delhi

    Agriculture is a State subject and Government of India supports the efforts of States through appropriate policy measures, budgetary allocation and various schemes/ programmes. The various schemes/ programmes of the Government of India are meant for the welfare of farmers by increasing production, remunerative returns and income support to farmers. The Government has substantially enhanced the budget allocation of Department of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare (DA&FW) from Rs. 21933.50 crore BE during 2013-14 to Rs. 1,22,528.77 crore BE during 2024-25. Schemes/programmes initiated by DA&FW are conceptualised and implemented taken in consideration of improving the economic condition of farmers owning small handholdings, access to credit and to enhance overall income of farmers and remunerative returns in the agriculture sector.

    PM KISAN Samman Nidhi Scheme has been launched in 2019 with the sole objective to enhance the income of farmers owning small landholdings. This scheme provides Rs. 6000 per year in 3 equal instalments. So far, more than Rs.3.46 lakh Cr. has been disbursed to eligible farmers through 18 instalments.

    The other major schemes run by Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare for enhance of overall income of farmers are as under:

    1. Pradhan Mantri Kisan Maan Dhan Yojana (PM-KMY)
    2. Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY)/ Restructured Weather Based Crop Insurance Scheme (RWBCIS)
    3. Modified Interest Subvention Scheme (MISS)
    4. Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF)
    5. Formation and Promotion of 10,000 new Farmer Producers Organizations (FPOs)
    6. National Bee Keeping and Honey Mission (NBHM)
    7. Namo Drone Didi
    8. National Mission on Natural Farming (NMNF)
    9. Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay SanraksHan Abhiyan (PM-AASHA)
    10. Agri Fund for Start-Ups & Rural Enterprises’ (AgriSURE)
    11. Per Drop More Crop (PDMC)
    12. Sub-Mission on Agriculture Mechanization (SMAM)
    13. Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY)
    14. Soil Health & Fertility (SH&F)
    15. Rainfed Area Development (RAD)
    16. Agroforestry
    17. Crop Diversification Programme (CDP)
    18. Sub-Mission on Agriculture Extension (SMAE)
    19. Sub-Mission on Seed and Planting Material (SMSP)
    20. National Food Security and Nutrition Mission (NFSNM)
    21. Integrated Scheme for Agriculture Marketing (ISAM)
    22. Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH)
    23. National Mission on Edible Oils (NMEO)-Oil Palm
    24. National Mission on Edible Oils (NMEO)-Oilseeds
    25. Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North Eastern Region
    26. Digital Agriculture Mission
    27. National Bamboo Mission

    PM-AASHA (Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay SanraksHan Abhiyan) scheme ensures remunerative prices for farmers’ produce and prevent distress sales. It aims to strengthen the Minimum Support Price (MSP) mechanism and provide better price support for farmers.

    “Formation & Promotion of new 10,000 FPOs with budget outlay of Rs 6,865 Crore. Farmers Producer Organization (FPOs) are being set up to give farmers collective bargaining power in markets as well as enabling small farmers to pool resources, access technology, and get better prices for their crops.

    Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF) with financial provision of one Lakh Crore scheme has been launched with an objective to mobilize a medium – long term debt financing facility for investment in viable projects for post-harvest management Infrastructure and community farming assets through incentives and financial support in order to improve agriculture infrastructure in the country. Following supports are being provided under Agri Infra Fund. 

    Interest Subvention: All loans under this financing facility have interest subvention of 3% per annum up to a limit of ₹ 2 crore. This subvention is available for a maximum period of 7 years. In case of loans beyond ₹ 2 crore, interest subvention is limited up to ₹ 2 crore.

    Credit Guarantee: Credit guarantee coverage is available for eligible borrowers from this financing facility under Credit Guarantee Fund Trust for Micro and Small Enterprises (CGTMSE) scheme for a loan up to ₹ 2 crore. The fee for this coverage will be paid by the Government. In case of FPOs the credit guarantee may be availed from the facility created under FPO promotion scheme of DA&FW.

    Modified Interest Subvention Scheme (MISS) provides Interest Subvention (IS) of 1.5% to various Financial Institutions (Banks, RRBs, PACS, etc.) for delivering Short-Term Agriculture Operation (STAO) loans at a fixed rate of 7% to farmers through KCC. If the farmer repays the loan within time, he gets a Prompt Repayment Incentive (PRI) of 3%, bringing his loan liability to 4% overall (7% minus 3%). It is exclusively operated through Kisan Credit Card (KCC).

    National Mission on Edible Oils – Oilseeds (NMEO-Oilseeds) has been launched on 3rd Oct, 2024 for enhancing the production of key primary oilseed crops such as Rapeseed-Mustard, Groundnut, Soybean, Sunflower, and Sesamum, as well as increasing collection and extraction efficiency from secondary sources like Cottonseed, Rice Bran, and Tree Borne Oils. The mission aims to increase primary oilseed production from 39 million tonnes (2022-23) to 69.7 million tonnes by 2030-31. Together with NMEO-OP (Oil Palm), the Mission targets to increase domestic edible oil production to 25.45 million tonnes by 2030-31 meeting around 72% of our projected domestic requirement. To ensure the timely availability of quality seeds, the Mission will introduce an online 5-year rolling seed plan through the ‘Seed Authentication, Traceability & Holistic Inventory (SATHI)’ Portal, enabling states to establish advance tie-ups with seed-producing agencies, including cooperatives, Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs), and government or private seed corporations. 65 new seed hubs and 50 seed storage units will be set up in public sector to improve the seed production infrastructure.

    The following have been proposed in the upcoming budget for income support, improve access to credit and overall growth of agriculture sector:

    Enhanced Credit through KCC: – Loan increased from 3 lakh to ₹5 lakh to facilitate short term loans for 7.7 crore farmers, fishermen, and dairy farmers.

    Aatmanirbharta in Pulses: – To launch a 6-year Mission with special focus on Tur, Urad and Masoor, emphasizing development and commercial availability of climate resilient seeds, enhancing protein content, increasing productivity and improving post-harvest storage and management, assuring remunerative prices to the farmers.

    National Mission on High Yielding Seeds: – Targeted development and propagation of seeds with high yield, pest resistance and climate resilience.

    Prime Minister Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana – It has been proposed Agri Districts Programme to cover 100 districts which is likely to help 1.7 crore farmers.

    Mission for Cotton Productivity: – To be launched a 5-year mission to facilitate improvements in productivity and sustainability of cotton farming.

    Makhana Board in Bihar: – It is proposed to set up Makhana Board to Improve production, processing, value addition, and marketing and organisation of FPOs.

    This information was given by the Minister of State for Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare Shri Ramnath Thakur in a written reply in Lok Sabha today.

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: FEMA Approves More Than $614.7 Million for Recovery in Georgia

    Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency

    Headline: FEMA Approves More Than $614.7 Million for Recovery in Georgia

    FEMA Approves More Than $614.7 Million for Recovery in Georgia

    In the months since the 2024 storms, FEMA has approved more than $614.7 million in federal disaster assistance to help homeowners, renters and communities recover from Tropical Storm Debby and Hurricane Helene.This includes:$308.6 million approved for individuals and households. $306.1 million approved for community recovery.Under FEMA’s Individual Assistance program, homeowners and renters affected by the storms have received assistance for housing if they couldn’t live in their primary residence, as well as basic home repairs, personal property losses and other uninsured disaster-caused expenses.Under the Public Assistance program, FEMA provides funding for communities that need help to cover their costs for debris removal, life-saving emergency protective measures, and restoring public infrastructure.These numbers will increase as FEMA continues to process the nearly 400,000 applications it has received for individual assistance and the more than 1,900 projects submitted for Public Assistance.Although the deadline for submitting applications has passed, FEMA is committed to remaining in Georgia to ensure all who are eligible for assistance receive it.
    jakia.randolph
    Tue, 02/11/2025 – 13:27

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Digital Identities to Farmers

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Posted On: 11 FEB 2025 5:24PM by PIB Delhi

    As on 07.02.2024, a total of 2,05,59,196 farmer IDs have been created. A target has been set for creation of 11 Crore Farmer IDs by 2026-27 including digital identity of the farmers of all the North eastern states.

    Digital Crop survey has been conducted in 461 Districts in Kharif 2024 against the target of 400 Districts. The Details are given below.

    State Registry, a component of AgriStack, is built in a federated architecture. Thus, the ownership of the data is with the respective States. The federated system has been built considering the privacy aspects as per Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act, 2023. At present, the Farmer Database will cover all the land holders’ farmers, including women farmers, across the nation. Farmers Registry application has the provision to onboard the tenant and lessee farmers. State can decide to include such farmers in the Farmers Registry as per the State policy. The land records for incorporating the inheritance and land transactions are updated by the respective State Governments.

    Sr. No.

    State Name

    Total Districts covered under DCS

    Total Plots surveyed

    1.

    Uttar Pradesh

    75

    5,37,13,000

    2.

    Gujarat

    33

    82,26,090

    3.

    Bihar

    20

    17,35,146

    4.

    Tamil Nadu

    38

    1,73,48,823

    5.

    Odisha

    30

    2,55,72,394

    6.

    Telangana

    32

    4,43,225

    7.

    Assam

    29

    26,24,942

    8.

    Maharashtra

    34

    11,17,068

    9.

    Madhya Pradesh

    55

    4,68,41,871

    10.

    Andhra Pradesh

    26

    1,06,60,474

    11.

    Rajasthan

    50

    19,50,466

    12.

    Kerala

    03

    8,72,655

    13.

    Chhattisgarh

    19

    24,16,408

    14.

    Punjab

    06

    44,649

    15.

    Karnataka

    31

    66,87,960

     

    This information was given by the Minister of State for Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare Shri Ramnath Thakur in a written reply in Lok Sabha today.

    *****

     

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Assessment of Crop Losses through Satellite

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Posted On: 11 FEB 2025 5:23PM by PIB Delhi

    The Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare has carried out pilot studies for timely and transparent yield estimation under PMFBY using technology including satellites i.e. remote sensing data, by engaging various Government and private agencies through Mahalanobis National Crop Forecast Centre (MNCFC).   Based on the findings of these pilots and after discussions with stakeholders & technical consultations, YES-TECH (Yield Estimation System Based on Technology) has been introduced for paddy and wheat crops from Kharif 2023.   Government has implemented technology-based yield estimation in combination with conventional Crop Cutting Experiments (CCEs) based yield estimation for improving crop loss assessment and achieving timely insurance claims payout for farmers. Under this initiative 30% weightage to yield estimation has mandatorily been assigned to YES-TECH derived yield. 

    In Kharif 2023, all implementing States have successfully completed claims calculation and payout using YESTECH and no dispute has been reported from any of the stakeholders; thereby, increasing transparency and efficiency in the system.

    PMFBY is mainly implemented on ‘Area Approach’ basis and comprehensive risk coverage for crops of farmers against all non-preventable natural risks from pre-sowing to
    post-harvest stages of the crops at very minimum premium for the farmers is provided under the scheme.  However, losses due to localized risks of hailstorm, landslide, inundation, cloud burst & natural fire and post-harvest losses due to cyclone, cyclonic/unseasonal rains & hailstorms are calculated on individual insured farm basis.

    Further, crop damage to crops to non-procurement by agencies or delay in procurement by them is not covered under PMFBY.

    The review/revisions / rationalization / improvements in the crop insurance schemes are a continuous process and decision on suggestion/ representations/ recommendations of the stakeholders/studies are taken from time to time.  Based on the experience gained, views of various stakeholders and with a view to ensure better transparency, accountability, timely payment of claims to the farmers and to make the scheme more farmer friendly, Government has periodically revised the Operational Guidelines of the PMFBY comprehensively to ensure that the eligible benefits under the scheme reach the farmers timely and transparent.

    This information was given by the Minister of State for Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare Shri Ramnath Thakur in a written reply in Lok Sabha today.

    *****

     

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Secretary for Health expresses deep sorrow over passing of Princess Margaret Hospital oncologist

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Secretary for Health expresses deep sorrow over passing of Princess Margaret Hospital oncologist
    Secretary for Health expresses deep sorrow over passing of Princess Margaret Hospital oncologist
    ******************************************************************************************

         The Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau, today (February 11) expressed profound sadness over the passing of an oncologist at the Princess Margaret Hospital and extended his deepest sympathies to the doctor’s family.     He said, “The young doctor who died from a sudden illness was determined to practice medicine and save lives, and has been working for the Hospital Authority (HA) since graduation from the medical school to serve Hong Kong citizens. The doctor just obtained a specialist qualification in oncology, and was still taking care of patients in the ward right before the onset of symptoms. I am deeply moved by the doctor’s professionalism, passion for work and care for patients. The doctor is genuinely a role model for colleagues of the healthcare profession.     “I would like to extend my deepest condolences to the doctor’s family on behalf of the Health Bureau, and the HA will make every effort to assist them. The Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health is conducting epidemiological and environmental investigations into the incident at full strength, and will submit a report and give an account to the public as early as possible.”

     
    Ends/Tuesday, February 11, 2025Issued at HKT 20:30

    NNNN

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Beyond Emilia Pérez: 5 Mexican films that do justice to victims of the drug cartels

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Luis Gómez Romero, Senior Lecturer in Human Rights, Constitutional Law and Legal Theory, University of Wollongong

    Julieta Egurrola in _Ruido_ (Noise). Courtesy of Netflix ©2022

    Oscar frontrunner Emilia Pérez has received mixed reactions from the film industry, critics and general audiences. On Rotten Tomatoes it holds a 72% critic score – but a dismal 17% from viewers.

    Mexican audiences have been particularly harsh. On its opening weekend in Mexico, the film grossed only US$74,000. Scores of moviegoers even demanded refunds.

    French director Jacques Audiard presents Emilia Pérez as his bold yet compassionate take on Mexico’s drug war and the resulting enforced disappearances. The film, however, has been criticised for how it pities and condescends to Mexicans while lacking real understanding of the violence it claims to represent.

    Those seeking to understand the suffering caused by enforced disappearances in Mexico would do well to look beyond Emilia Pérez. Here are five films you should watch.

    Tempestad

    The 2016 documentary Tempestad (Tempest), directed by Mexican-Salvadoran filmmaker Tatiana Huezo, genuinely engages with suffering and atonement in Mexico’s violent landscape. It follows the experiences of two women with organised crime and the Mexican justice system.

    Miriam Carvajal, a former customs official and mother of a young child, is wrongfully convicted on spurious charges of human trafficking and sent to a prison run by a criminal organisation. To survive, she becomes complicit in the brutal violence inflicted on the most vulnerable inmates, such as migrants.

    Adela Alvarado is a professional clown. She has been searching for her daughter, who disappeared a decade before filming. Despite threats to her life from police officers likely involved in the disappearance, Adela continues her relentless quest to find her child against all odds.

    Both women are driven by love for their children. Miriam is heard but never seen; Adela’s life among circus folk unfolds on camera. This visually highlights that their stories mirror each other yet are not identical.

    Huezo recognises perpetrators can also be victims, but refuses to turn the harm they have caused into an instrument for their redemption.

    Devil’s Freedom

    Everardo González’s 2017 documentary La Libertad del Diablo (Devil’s Freedom) also explores the theme of atonement for perpetrators alongside the suffering of their victims.

    González presents a choral narrative of Mexico’s drug wars. Testimonies come from crime syndicate hitmen, soldiers involved in law enforcement, a mother whose children disappeared, young women whose mothers were taken, and a man tortured by police.

    Victims and perpetrators wear compression masks made for burn treatment, ostensibly to protect their identities. These masks, however, also serve as a haunting equaliser that exposes a society scarred by violence.

    In one powerful scene, a victim recalls pitying her children’s murderer after sensing his shame. She removes the mask following her account of forgiveness and hesitantly smiles at the camera – her trembling lips raising fundamental questions about Mexico’s struggle to heal from the wounds of its drug wars.

    Identifying Features

    Mexican filmmakers have long used fiction to “exorcise the pain” of enforced disappearances, as Mexican actor Giovanna Zacarías puts it. Fernanda Valadez’s debut film, Sin Señas Particulares (Identifying Features, 2020) exemplifies this powerfully.

    Valadez’s restrained narrative avoids the stereotypical passion often attributed to Latin Americans.

    Magdalena (Mercedes Hernández), a modest rural woman, searches for her missing son, Jesús (Juan Jesús Varela), who vanished en route to the United States. Magdalena’s soft voice and timid demeanour conceal quiet defiance – she refuses to be sidelined. We never see those she questions. We witness only the pain on her face and her stoic resolve.

    Mexico is no fairy tale. In the agonising final minutes, Magdalena gains a son even as she loses another – though she cannot be with any of them. Life goes on in Mexico: Magdalena has found a grave to mourn at, and we mourn with her.

    Prayers for the Stolen

    Noche de Fuego (Prayers for the Stolen, 2021) marked Tatiana Huezo’s first foray into fiction filmmaking. The film follows the story of three friends growing up together in the mountains of Mexico, amid normalised violence and enforced disappearances.

    The girls’ world is shaped by strategies for survival, with danger looming from both criminal organisations and the state, embodied by the army. Yet, even in this tense environment, they still experience the everyday joys and struggles of childhood and adolescence.

    Drug violence contextualises the girls’ world – but does not define them. Huezo does not portray them as mere victims. As they grow, we witness how their rural teachers and mothers have provided them with the necessary tools to foster critical thinking.

    Even though local criminals disappear one of the girls, we glimpse a future where her two friends may one day challenge the silence and brutality of the adult world. Despite the premature loss of many childhoods in Mexico, Huezo leaves room for hope.

    Noise

    Natalia Beristain’s Ruido (Noise, 2022) follows Julia (Julieta Egurrola), a middle-class woman in her late 60s. She is the mother of Gertrudis, “Ger,” a student who vanished while on vacation with friends. Confronted with bureaucratic inefficiency and state indifference, Julia is forced to “do the work of others” and investigate Ger’s disappearance herself.

    On her journey, she finds women willing to risk everything for the truth. Among them, she discovers compassion and solidarity, from young feminists demanding justice, to mothers who, having also lost loved ones, guide her through the legal and forensic processes involved in searching for clandestine graves.

    “You are not alone”, the women repeat like a mantra. As Pulitzer Prize-winning Mexican author Cristina Rivera Garza reminds us, grief indeed is never a solitary. We always grieve for and with someone.

    The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. Beyond Emilia Pérez: 5 Mexican films that do justice to victims of the drug cartels – https://theconversation.com/beyond-emilia-perez-5-mexican-films-that-do-justice-to-victims-of-the-drug-cartels-249160

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: There is declining trust in Australian unis. Federal government policy is a big part of the problem

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Graeme Turner, Emeritus Professor of Cultural Studies, The University of Queensland

    Matej Kastellic/ Shutterstock

    As we head towards the federal election, both sides of politics are making a point of criticising universities and questioning their role in the community.

    Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has accused unis of focusing on “woke” issues that “just aren’t cutting it around kitchen tables”.

    The Albanese government has also accused universities of being out of touch. A Labor-chaired Senate committee has just set up an inquiry into university governance, pointing to “an extraordinary range” of issues, including executive pay.

    Both the Coalition and Labor want to clamp down on international student numbers, arguing they drive up city rents and threaten the integrity of Australian higher education.

    The criticism goes beyond politics. Recent media coverage called the sector a “mess” and asked “is a university degree still worth it?”

    No wonder newsletter Future Campus says the “hottest topic” in Australian higher education is whether universities have lost their social licence.

    What is social licence?

    A social licence means a community has given tacit permission for an organisation to operate. It goes beyond simple laws or regulations, and extends to the idea that a community implicitly trusts and has confidence in an organisation.

    A social licence means businesses, in particular, should not ignore their responsibility to provide a social benefit to their communities. This needs to go beyond providing commodities or generating profits.

    It may be a bit of stretch to compare universities with multinational corporations. But they have come under scrutiny for systemic underpayment of staff, “excessive” vice-chancellor and senior executive salaries and a structural over-reliance on international student income.

    In December 2024, a state parliament review expressed concern the University of Tasmania was prioritising “commercial over community interests in its core functions”.

    At the same time, Australian surveys show declining levels of public trust in universities and community concerns that profits take precedence over education.

    Governments have played a role

    So there are many reasons to ask how well our universities benefit the national community, beyond their economic outputs.

    But while our politicians readily line up to express concern, it is highly disingenuous to only blame universities for their standing in the community.

    The situation politicians now lament is the result of a long-term, bipartisan political project, prosecuted by successive federal governments.

    As a 2023 Australia Institute report found, federal government funding for universities (excluding HECS/HELP) has fallen from 0.9% of GDP in 1995 to 0.6% of GDP in 2021. Both Coalition and Labor governments have sought to reduce the sector’s costs to the budget.

    Over a similar period, enrolments tripled.



    Read more:
    Tumult and transformation: the story of Australian universities over the past 30 years

    Behaving like businesses

    To compensate for this funding loss, universities have been coaxed into behaving more like businesses.

    The federal policy settings have shown them the way to go.

    Teaching foreign students is more profitable than teaching domestic students, research collaborations with business and industry are more profitable than collaboration with communities. Increasingly, in the search for new income sources, commercial, rather than academic, considerations have driven institutional decisions.

    In a competitive market, the interests of individual institutions rather than those of the nation inevitably prevail.

    There has been a succession of redundancies and knowledge, learning and personnel have been lost. The losses have wound back generations of accrued cultural and educational capital for the nation.

    It is no surprise public confidence in universities’ utility and legitimacy has diminished.

    The most significant problem

    This is not to say universities are blameless. University leaders and academics acknowledge there has been a loss of public confidence. There is also acknowledgement some of the damage is due to internal issues – such as governance failures.

    But the most significant problem is the corrosive effect of several decades of commercialisation, underpinned by a political disregard for the sector’s contribution to the public good.

    If political leaders are serious about arresting the erosion of our universities’ social licence, it would be helpful if they stopped behaving as if it has nothing to do with them.

    Graeme Turner’s book, Broken: Universities, politics and the public good, will be published by Monash University Press in July as part of its In the National Interest series.

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

    – ref. There is declining trust in Australian unis. Federal government policy is a big part of the problem – https://theconversation.com/there-is-declining-trust-in-australian-unis-federal-government-policy-is-a-big-part-of-the-problem-248770

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: A fierce tussle over a Northern Territory river reveals Australia’s stark choice on water justice

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Quentin Grafton, Australian Laureate Professor of Economics, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University

    The Roper River Chris Ison/Shutterstock

    Water is now a contested resource around the world. Nowhere is this more evident than in the fight playing out over the Northern Territory’s Roper River – one of the last free-flowing rivers in Australia, nurtured by the enduring presence of First Nations custodians.

    The territory government recently doubled water extraction allowances from the aquifer that feeds the Roper River, making billions of litres available to irrigators, for free. The change risks permanent damage not just to the river but to world-famous springs and sacred sites fundamentally important to Traditional Owners.

    Australia has a very poor track record on maintaining healthy river systems, and on respecting First Nations rights to access and use water.

    The Roper River represents a chance to change course on decades of water policy failure. It also shows we must transform how Australia’s water is valued, who uses it, and who decides how vital rivers should be managed.

    What’s happening on the Roper River?

    The Roper River runs east for 400 kilometres from the Katherine region to the Gulf of Carpentaria.

    First Nations people comprise 73% of the population in the Roper River area. Amid socioeconomic challenges, Country sustains them as it has done for 65,000 years. It is integral to maintaining cultural knowledge, as well as ceremonial practices, environmental care and traditional food systems. Traditional Owners’ rights are recognised through Aboriginal freehold land and native title across the area.

    Irrigated crops including melons, mangoes and cotton are grown over a small part of the river catchment.

    In a string of recent decisions – mainly the designation of regional “water allocation plans” – the territory government has vastly increased potential extraction from underground aquifers. This could allow agriculture and other industries to expand.

    The Mataranka plan, which applies to the Roper River, now allows irrigators to double the amount of water extracted from an underground aquifer crucial to the river’s dry-season flows. These new extraction amounts would fill 25,000 Olympic swimming pools a year. The groundwater also feeds thermal springs at Mataranka – a sacred site and tourism drawcard.

    The groundwater also feeds thermal springs at Mataranka, a tourism drawcard.
    Martin Helgemeir/Shutterstock

    The decision came despite staunch opposition from Traditional Owners. As Northern Land Council chair Matthew Ryan told SBS:

    Both the previous and the current NT Government have ignored the voices of Traditional Owners, who have repeatedly said that the health and viability of the Roper River and the springs at Mataranka are at great risk.

    Water is life. It is our most valuable resource and Traditional Owners have an obligation to take care of the land and areas of cultural significance.

    The Baaka: a sad story of degradation

    Sadly, this story is not new to Australia. We need only look to the Baaka (Lower Darling River) in New South Wales as a cautionary tale.

    More than a century of water extraction has left the river and its wetlands degraded. This was demonstrated in 2023 when up to 30 million fish died due to low levels of dissolved oxygen, caused by, among other factors, too much water extracted upstream.

    The ecological damage has harmed the health and wellbeing of river communities – especially Traditional Owners such as the Barkandji people, who have long relied on the river for sustenance.

    The problem is getting worse. As research late last year showed, an investment of more than A$8 billion to date has failed to prevent a stark decline in the health of the Murray-Darling Basin river system.

    Martuwarra: another river in peril

    Martuwarra, or the Fitzroy River, runs through Western Australia’s Kimberley region. It is the state’s largest Aboriginal Cultural Heritage site and is on the national heritage list. Evidence indicates human occupation along the Martuwarra for at least 35,000  years.

    Traditional knowledge indicates climate change – among other harms – is threatening the Martuwarra. Ecological and ground water systems are drying up, making traditional food and medicine harder to find.

    This harms Indigenous custodians reliant on the Martuwarra for their lifeways and livelihoods.

    But there is hope. The Indigenous-led Martuwarra Fitzroy River Council has united West Kimberley people, First Peoples and others, along with stakeholders. It seeks to foster joint decision-making on planning and management to take full account of the social, cultural, spiritual and environmental impacts of water allocation across the catchment.

    This world-leading example shows what can be achieved when Traditional Owners and their partners unite to defend nature, water and Country as sources of life, not just resources to be exploited.

    Finding answers

    Many of the world’s largest rivers are suffering from neglect and destruction. Last month, on the world’s inaugural Water Justice Day, people around the globe fighting for water justice came together in Canberra.

    Community members, researchers, Elders, advocates and decision-makers gathered to share stories from Argentina, Australia, India, Kenya, Brazil and Mexico.

    Each tale described people working together to push back against water injustice, whether it involved unequal access, theft, dispossession, pollution or post-truth claims about water.

    Participants also watched the premiere screening of the short film EveryOne, EveryWhere, EveryWhen. It highlights what is at stake for Australia’s living rivers – Baaka, Roper and Martuwarra – and tells of the struggle to bring justice to these rivers and their people.

    A trailer for the film EveryOne, EveryWhere, EveryWhen.

    A fork in the river

    Clearly, the time for water reform is now. So what does this mean in practice?

    First, the precautionary principle must be deeply embedded in all government decisions. This means the potential for serious environmental damage must be properly considered, and actions taken to avoid it, even when science is not certain.

    Second, permission from First Peoples should be obtained for any activity affecting their land or waters, following the principles of “free, prior and informed consent”.

    And finally, both Indigenous knowledge and Western science must be brought together to plan, monitor and regulate all water extraction, to ensure our precious rivers are managed for both the present and the future.

    Australians face a stark choice.

    We can keep gifting valuable water resources to powerful commercial interests, while ignoring the warning signs our rivers are sending.

    Or we can follow First Nations leaders and listen to what Country is telling us: to safeguard water for everyone, including non-human kin, to secure a liveable and thriving future for all.

    In response to issues raised in this article, the NT’s Minister for Lands, Planning and Environment, Joshua Burgoyne, said the Mataranka water allocation plan provides certainty to the environment and the community and supports regional economic development.

    He said the plan was “precautionary, evidenced based, and developed with considered involvement from local community representatives” including Traditional Owners, and preserves more than 90% of dry season flows to the Roper River.

    Quentin Grafton receives funding from the Australian Research Council and is the Convenor of the Water Justice Hub.

    Anne Poelina is Chair, Martuwarra Fitzroy River Council. She is Professor, Chair and Senior Research Fellow Indigenous Knowledges and affiliated with Nulungu Research Institute, University of Notre Dame, Broome. She is Project Lead for an Australian Research Council Funded Project.

    Sarah Milne has received funding from the Australian Research Council.

    – ref. A fierce tussle over a Northern Territory river reveals Australia’s stark choice on water justice – https://theconversation.com/a-fierce-tussle-over-a-northern-territory-river-reveals-australias-stark-choice-on-water-justice-248766

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Trauma dumping: how sharing experiences on social media can cause distress for other users

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alix Woolard, Senior Research Fellow, The Kids Research Institute Australia

    Stock Unit/Shutterstock

    Have you ever asked someone how their day was, or been chatting casually with a friend, only to have them tell you a horrific story that has left you feeling distressed or emotionally exhausted yourself?

    This is called “trauma dumping”. It’s when someone shares something traumatic or distressing without checking in first if the person they’re talking to has the capacity or willingness to take on that information.

    Trauma dumping is not new, and you’ve probably experienced it (or inadvertently done it yourself) at some stage in your life.

    But now, with the rise of social media platforms such as TikTok, the risk of experiencing trauma dumping has increased exponentially.

    People often turn to TikTok for support or validation. And because TikTok’s algorithm is based on attention, it’s not uncommon for highly emotional stories to gather traction and go viral.

    My colleagues and I wanted to understand more about trauma dumping on TikTok. In a recent study, we found people often share their trauma on TikTok. And this is usually done without a trigger warning.

    TikTok and mental health

    It’s estimated around 75% of the population have experienced a traumatic event at some point in their lives. This could include exposure to abuse or neglect in childhood, violence, natural disasters, the death of a loved one, or any other event which is unexpected, distressing, and causes long-term impacts on physical or mental health.

    TikTok can be an important source of support and validation, especially for young people who have faced trauma, and who may not have sufficient support offline.

    Previous research has shown TikTok provides a platform for talking about things like body image concerns, seeking support and information about gender and sexual diversity, and tackling stigma.

    But while TikTok can be a great place for community, support and validation, at the same time it can be a hotbed for trauma dumping.

    Importantly, sharing trauma on social media runs the risk of exposing other users to vicarious traumatisation, which is when a person is traumatised by someone else’s trauma.

    Vicarious trauma is most common in people who work in “frontline” jobs, such as paramedics or therapists, who deal with trauma regularly. However, anyone can be at risk. Factors including personal experiences, personality traits (such as empathy), support systems and coping strategies all play a role in whether someone might experience vicarious trauma.

    Many people who use TikTok and other social media platforms will be exposed to ‘trauma dumping’.
    Prostock-studio/Shutterstock

    In our study, we set out to explore the top videos on TikTok with one or more of five hashtags related to trauma: #traumatok, #trauma, #traumatized, #traumatic and #traumabond.

    We looked the most viewed 50 videos from each hashtag. At the time we carried out our analysis in December 2022, these 250 videos had a total of 296.6 million likes, 2.3 million comments and 4.6 million shares.

    #TraumaTok

    We found the majority of videos (about 67%) were from people sharing their trauma. In many cases severe trauma was discussed, including child maltreatment, violence and death.

    Our study also showed some videos (about 22%) were from people who claimed to be “experts” in trauma. They were using the platform to speak about the symptoms and treatment for trauma-related mental health conditions.

    Worryingly, most “experts” (84%) did not disclose their credentials. And only a small proportion (2%) said they were licensed psychologists, counsellors or medical professionals (who are trained to provide evidence-based treatment or advice for mental health).

    The remaining videos were either more general mental health content with a mix of hashtags such as “anxiety” and “depression”, or were meant to be humorous, using memes or jokes about trauma.

    One of the most concerning things we found in our study was that only 3.7% of videos had some form of trigger warning. A trigger warning, often a verbal statement by the creator, text within the video or a caption, is meant to alert the audience that potentially distressing content is discussed in the video.

    Most videos we looked at didn’t come with trigger warnings.
    Ketut Subiyanto/Pexels

    One of the limitations of our study was that we didn’t look at users’ experiences of viewing these videos. We also didn’t explore discourse on the app, such as comments and video replies.

    We can’t say for sure what it’s like for people, especially young people or people with lived experience of trauma, to watch and interact with these videos. Exploring this should be a focus for future research.

    Trigger warnings are important

    None of this is to say that sharing stories, even traumatic ones, should never happen. In fact, we know support from others is essential for healing from trauma. This can be facilitated, among other avenues, through sharing stories on social media.

    But to make this safer for everyone, TikTok should encourage trigger warnings, and creators should use them on videos where trauma is shared. This can give users the option to “opt out” and scroll on if they think they might not have the capacity to listen at that time.

    For people consuming videos on TikTok and other platforms, it’s important to be wary of misinformation and think critically about the information they see, seeking further advice from other sources.

    If you feel distressed by content you see on social media, seek support from a health-care professional.

    If this article has raised issues for you, or if you’re concerned about someone you know, call Lifeline on 13 11 14.

    Alix Woolard receives funding from Embrace at The Kids.

    – ref. Trauma dumping: how sharing experiences on social media can cause distress for other users – https://theconversation.com/trauma-dumping-how-sharing-experiences-on-social-media-can-cause-distress-for-other-users-246337

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Spacefarers may contaminate other worlds – but scientists have plans to keep the cosmos clean

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kirsten Banks, Lecturer, School of Science, Computing and Engineering Technologies, Swinburne University of Technology

    Debris on the surface of Mars from the Perseverance mission, captured on April 19 2022. NASA/JPL-Caltech

    In his inauguration speech in January, United States President Donald Trump declared the US would “plant the stars and stripes on the planet Mars”.

    This shouldn’t come as a surprise. In 2017, in Trump’s previous term of office, he promised to “establish a foundation for an eventual mission to Mars”. And his billionaire adviser Elon Musk is famously obsessed with colonising the red planet.

    The first spacecraft to successfully explore another planet was NASA’s Mariner 2 mission. It passed within 35,000km of Venus on December 14 1962. Since then, there have been many successful missions to explore various planets, moons, asteroids and comets in the Solar System.

    But in our quest to explore celestial bodies, we risk contaminating them. And if we were to inadvertently contaminate a world that has the potential to host life – either now or in the past – that could compromise all future scientific investigations. It could also affect any life that may currently exist there.

    Because of this, space agencies such as NASA take the issue of interplanetary contamination very seriously. To decrease the risk, it uses a range of methods. And scientists are developing new ways to ensure biological material from Earth doesn’t make its way onto another planet.

    Two types of contamination

    Interplanetary contamination refers to a scenario in which a spacecraft carries biological material from one planetary object to another. Research indicates previous missions to Mars may have contaminated it with bacterial spores from Earth.

    There are two types of interplanetary contamination.

    The first is when biological material from Earth is transported to another planetary object, resulting in contamination. This is known as forward contamination.

    The second type is when biological material from an extraterrestrial source is brought back to Earth and contaminates Earth’s environment. This is known as back contamination.

    An artist’s impression of Sputnik 1 in orbit.
    Gregory Todd, CC BY-SA

    Even before the first successful launch of a human-made object to space, scientists were talking about the importance of mitigating interplanetary contamination.

    For example, at the Seventh Congress of the International Astronautical Federation in Rome in September 1956, one year before the launch of Sputnik 1, concerns were raised about the possibility of contaminating the Moon and other planetary bodies in the Solar System.

    Since then, space agencies across the world have implemented strategies to safeguard missions against interplanetary contamination.

    High temperatures, clean rooms and death plunges

    There are several strategies to minimise forward contamination – for example, using high temperatures or chemicals to sterilise the components of a spacecraft.

    Scientists and engineers also assemble spacecraft in clean rooms before launching them into space.

    However, these methods have limitations. In particular, spacecraft materials can be sensitive to high temperatures. Chemicals can also tarnish metals and break down essential coatings.

    Strategies are also employed at the end of planetary missions to minimise the potential for forward contamination.

    For example, at the end of its 13-year journey exploring the environment around Saturn and its moons, the Cassini space probe plunged into the depths of Saturn’s atmosphere.

    This so-called “death plunge” alleviated the risks of contaminating moons that could potentially host life, such as Titan and Enceladus. The extreme heat experienced by Cassini essentially incinerated the probe. This likely sterilised any potential contaminants carried by the probe from Earth.

    Biological barriers

    Scientists must also reduce the risk of potential back contamination on sample return missions.

    For example, in the recent OSIRIS-REx sample return mission, a sample collected from near-Earth asteroid Bennu was sealed in an airtight container on its return to Earth.

    This ensured no extraterrestrial material could be released into Earth’s environment in an uncontrolled way. Once scientists retrieved the return capsule from the Utah desert, they carefully transported it to a specialised facility designed for handling potentially hazardous materials.

    Facilities such as these are designed with biological barriers to prevent the escape of materials or organisms into Earth’s environment.

    They also function as “cleanrooms” to prevent potential forward contamination of the samples from Earth-based organisms.

    The sample return capsule from NASA’s OSIRIS-REx mission pictured at the Utah Test and Training Range shortly after returning to Earth.
    NASA/Keegan Barber

    New methods

    Scientists are also developing new methods to reduce the risk of interplanetary contamination.

    For example, a recent paper in Nature described a method known as the “active plasma steriliser”.

    This system uses plasma at low temperatures to effectively decontaminate materials in as little as 45 minutes.

    This novel technology works on short timescales. And unlike previous methods that use high temperatures, it can be used on materials and spacecraft components sensitive to temperature.

    We can learn a lot about the potential impact of interplanetary contamination from present and future space missions by looking at our own backyard here in Australia.

    European colonisation led to the introduction of numerous invasive species, such as European rabbits in the 1800s. In turn, this led to widespread environmental damage.

    Similarly, the arrival of foreign diseases following colonisation caused devastating losses among Aboriginal communities.

    This demonstrates why mitigating interplanetary contamination is so important – not only to advance our understanding of the origins of life, but to protect any extraterrestrial environments that could harbour life.

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

    – ref. Spacefarers may contaminate other worlds – but scientists have plans to keep the cosmos clean – https://theconversation.com/spacefarers-may-contaminate-other-worlds-but-scientists-have-plans-to-keep-the-cosmos-clean-249135

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Security News: High-Ranking Affiliate of Sinaloa Cartel Charged with Drug Conspiracy in Chicago

    Source: United States Department of Justice 2

    A grand jury in Chicago returned an indictment yesterday charging a high-ranking affiliate of the Sinaloa Cartel for allegedly manufacturing and distributing fentanyl, cocaine, heroin, and other drugs and importing them into the United States.

    “As alleged, the defendant conspired to traffic dangerous drugs, including fentanyl, into the United States — and employed dozens of gunmen to protect his drug trafficking operation and the leadership of the Guzman faction of the Sinaloa Cartel,” said Supervisory Official Antoinette T. Bacon of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Stopping Mexican cartels from poisoning our communities with fentanyl and other narcotics is a top priority of this Administration. Today’s indictment demonstrates that the Criminal Division is relentless in its pursuit of the drug traffickers who profit at the expense of the American people.”

    “Our nation’s fentanyl crisis has devastated individuals and families in northern Illinois and throughout the country,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Morris Pasqual for the Northern District of Illinois. “Our office will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to disrupt the production and trafficking of fentanyl and other dangerous narcotics before they can reach more victims.”

    “From San Diego to Chicago to D.C., we are united to bring down the traffickers pushing these poisons into American communities,” said U.S. Attorney Tara McGrath for the Southern District of California. “We are attacking at every level — from street dealers to cartel leaders.”

    “This indictment reinforces the FBI’s unwavering commitment to hold accountable those who endanger our communities and traffic violence and drugs across our borders,” said Assistant Director Chad Yarbrough of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division. “Let this serve as a clear message: if you engage in cartel activity, we will pursue you and bring you to justice. Together with our law enforcement partners at every level, we remain fully committed to protecting the American people and stopping the flow of these dangerous drugs into our nation.”

    According to court documents, Ceferino Espinoza Angulo, 43, employed dozens of gunmen in Mexico to protect and support the leadership of the Guzman faction of the Sinaloa Cartel, including Ivan Guzman-Salazar, Jesus Alfredo Guzman-Salazar, Ovidio Guzman-Lopez, and Joaquin Guzman-Lopez, collectively known as “the Chapitos.” Espinoza Angulo allegedly conspired to obtain fentanyl precursor chemicals and to manufacture, distribute, and import into the United States fentanyl, cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, and ecstasy. Ceferino Espinoza also allegedly illegally possessed a machinegun in furtherance of his drug trafficking scheme.

    The Chapitos are the sons of Joaquin Guzman Loera, also known as “El Chapo,” who led the Sinaloa Cartel before being convicted by a federal jury in Brooklyn, New York, and sentenced to life in prison. The Chapitos allegedly assumed their father’s role as leaders of the Sinaloa Cartel. The Chapitos have been charged with drug trafficking in other U.S. indictments.

    Espinoza Angulo is charged with drug conspiracy and firearm offenses. If convicted, he faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 30 years in prison and a maximum penalty of life in prison. Espinoza Angulo is believed to be residing in Mexico, and a U.S. warrant has been issued for his arrest.

    The FBI and Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case. Valuable assistance was provided by the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Special Operations Division, Bilateral Investigations Unit, and the Portland, Oregon, Police Bureau, Narcotics and Organized Crime Unit, High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas Interdiction Taskforce.

    Trial Attorney Kirk Handrich of the Criminal Division’s Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section, Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michelle Parthum and Andrew C. Erskine for the Northern District of Illinois, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Sutton for the Southern District of California prosecuted the case.

    The case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles drug trafficking organizations and other criminal networks that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local enforcement agencies.

    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 –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Meta’s discriminatory terms and conditions against the LGBTQIA+ community under the Digital Services Act – E-000384/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-000384/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Kim Van Sparrentak (Verts/ALE), Lena Schilling (Verts/ALE), Rosa Estaràs Ferragut (PPE), Mario Furore (The Left), Sigrid Friis (Renew), Sebastian Everding (The Left), Joanna Scheuring-Wielgus (S&D), Hannah Neumann (Verts/ALE), Saskia Bricmont (Verts/ALE), Maria Walsh (PPE), Per Clausen (The Left), Kira Marie Peter-Hansen (Verts/ALE), Raquel García Hermida-Van Der Walle (Renew), Rasmus Nordqvist (Verts/ALE), Mélissa Camara (Verts/ALE), Hilde Vautmans (Renew), Alexandra Geese (Verts/ALE), Merja Kyllönen (The Left), Aurore Lalucq (S&D), Sara Matthieu (Verts/ALE), Matjaž Nemec (S&D), Erik Marquardt (Verts/ALE), Rasmus Andresen (Verts/ALE), Dainius Žalimas (Renew), Vicent Marzà Ibáñez (Verts/ALE), Birgit Sippel (S&D), Lucia Yar (Renew), Hanna Gedin (The Left), Vivien Costanzo (S&D), Gordan Bosanac (Verts/ALE), Brando Benifei (S&D), Krzysztof Śmiszek (S&D), Olivier Chastel (Renew), Alessandro Zan (S&D), Marc Angel (S&D)

    Meta recently announced changes to Facebook and Instagram’s content moderation policy. These changes in the terms and conditions include: ‘we do allow allegations of mental illness or abnormality when based on gender or sexual orientation, given political and religious discourse about transgenderism and homosexuality and common non-serious usage of words, such as “weird”’. Many Member States have national rules against illegal hate speech and incitement of hatred based on sexual orientation or gender.

    • 1.Do these changes pose a systemic risk under Article 34 of the Digital Services Act (DSA), and, if so, do they pose a systemic risk based on the dissemination of illegal content through these services, notably illegal hate speech against the LGBTQIA+ community and gender-based violence, and/or based on the foreseeable negative effects on the exercise of fundamental rights, including the right to human dignity and non-discrimination, and/or based on the negative effects on civic discourse and/or negative effects in relation to gender-based violence? Please specify the arguments in favour of or against the applicability of each systemic risk.
    • 2.Is the introduction of these changes in content moderation policy a violation of the obligation to mitigate these systemic risks under Article 35 of the DSA?
    • 3.Are these changes in the terms and conditions a violation of Article 14(4) of the DSA to ‘act in a diligent, objective and proportionate manner’ in applying terms and conditions, with due regard to ‘fundamental rights and freedoms as enshrined in the Charter’, specifically the right to non-discrimination?

    Submitted: 28.1.2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Learning strategies in schools – E-000389/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-000389/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Emmanouil Fragkos (ECR)

    Most education systems do not teach ‘learning to learn’ strategies as part of their curricula. This means pupils are often overloaded, they waste time, work too hard, repeat, and ultimately fail to use their time efficiently.

    When children are taught different methods of studying, how to set goals, manage their time and self-assess, their performance improves significantly. Curricula that focus on metacognitive strategies, such as planning, monitoring and assessing progress, bring about long-term benefits in academic performance. Metacognition means being aware of one’s thought processes and understanding how learning works. Research shows that teaching children how to learn is crucial to building independence, critical thinking and adaptability.

    By placing an emphasis on metacognitive skills, education systems can set children up well for lifelong adaptability in an ever-changing environment. Shifting the focus from rote learning to developing the skills needed for independent learning and introducing curricula that explicitly teach metacognition and self-regulated learning strategies can be of great benefit to our pupils.

    Bearing in mind the European Year of Skills and the collective vision for a European Education Area, which aim to measurably improve pupils’ results, and taking into account its competence in ‘actions that complement the actions of the education systems of the Member States’, is the Commission considering proposing a free online course on metacognition for EU pupils?

    Submitted: 28.1.2025

    Last updated: 11 February 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Trade liberalisation with Ukraine – E-002593/2024(ASW)

    Source: European Parliament

    The Commission monitors closely the impact of the autonomous trade measures[1] adopted by the European Parliament and the Council and submits its report to the European Parliament regularly[2].

    This analysis takes into account the information on exports, imports, prices on the EU market as well as EU production of the concerned products.

    The current autonomous trade measures include a strengthened safeguard clause, and an emergency brake designed to limit the imports of certain sensitive products.

    Imports from Ukraine are subject to the same sanitary and phytosanitary standards as imports from any third country are . In addition, regarding animal welfare standards, while EU rules on animal welfare at farm level are not applicable for food imported into the EU, EU rules on the protection of animals at the time of slaughter, or equivalent rules, need to be respected for the import of meat into the EU.

    Finally, in the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement[3] and its deep and comprehensive free trade area , Ukraine has committed to align to EU legislation on production standards .

    For example , Ukraine has committed to implement EU animal welfare legislation by 2026. The upcoming review of the trade reciprocal liberalisation in accordance with Article 29 of the Association Agreement will be an opportunity to link Ukraine’s alignment to EU production standards to further trade liberalisation, in view of its path towards EU accession.

    • [1] http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2024/1392/oj
    • [2] Via the secretariat of European Parliament’s Committee on International Trade.
    • [3] http://data.europa.eu/eli/agree_internation/2014/295/oj
    Last updated: 11 February 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Evaluation and revision of Europol mandate – E-002954/2024(ASW)

    Source: European Parliament

    1. Evaluating the current EU Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation (Europol) Regulation[1] before proposing further amendments aligns with the better regulation agenda. Evaluations aim to help learn about the functioning of EU interventions and assess their performance against initial expectations. An evaluation takes a critical look at whether EU legislation is fit for purpose and delivers its intended objectives at minimum cost. That approach would enable the co-legislators to take better-informed decisions regarding the strengthening of Europol’s mandate.

    2. The Commission acknowledges the importance of timely evaluations of the legislation in force. The new proposal to strengthen the mandate of Europol will build on the evaluation of the current Europol Regulation as well as an impact assessment and a consultation with stakeholders, the European Parliament and Member States, that will include a public consultation. The Commission will therefore consider anticipating the evaluation report to the European Parliament pursuant to Article 68(1) of the Europol Regulation, as amended in 2022[2], and adopt it before 29 June 2027.

    • [1] Regulation (EU) 2016/794 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 May 2016 on the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation (Europol) and replacing and repealing Council Decisions 2009/371/JHA, 2009/934/JHA, 2009/935/JHA, 2009/936/JHA and 2009/968/JHA, OJ L 135, 24.5.2016, p. 53-114.
    • [2] Regulation (EU) 2022/991 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 8 June 2022 amending Regulation (EU) 2016/794, as regards Europol’s cooperation with private parties, the processing of personal data by Europol in support of criminal investigations, and Europol’s role in research and innovation, OJ L 169, 27.6.2022, p. 1-42.
    Last updated: 11 February 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Highlights – REGI – Committee votes – 27-28.1.25 – Committee on Regional Development

    Source: European Parliament

    Voting Time in Committee © European Parliament

    The Committee on Regional Development voted on the following three dossiers at its meeting on 27-28 January 2025. The roll-call vote results are published on this site under the ‘Meetings’ tab.

    The Committee on Regional Development voted on the following three dossiers at its meeting on 27-28 January 2025: the draft opinion on the European Social Fund Plus post-2027 2024/2077(INI) – Rapporteur for the opinion: Kathleen Funchion (The Left). Secondly, the draft opinion on the 2023 discharge: General budget of the EU – Commission 2024/2019(DEC) – COM(2024)0272[01] – C10-0067/2024 – Rapporteur for the opinion: Ľubica Karvašová (Renew) – (PA – PE765.332v01-00) and finally the provisional agreement resulting from interinstitutional negotiations on the Mechanism to resolve legal and administrative obstacles in a cross-border context 2018/0198(COD) – COM(2018)0373 – C8-0228/2018: Rapporteur: Sandro Gozi (Renew). The roll-call vote results are published on this site under the ‘Meetings’ tab.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Highlights – REGI – Committee Debate – Polish Presidency – 19.02.25 – Committee on Regional Development

    Source: European Parliament

    Logo of the Polish presidency of the Council of the EU © European Union (2025)

    The Committee on Regional Development will have a debate with Katarzyna Pełczyńska-Nałęcz, Minister of Development Funds and Regional Policy on the priorities of the Polish Presidency at its meeting on Wednesday 19 February 2025.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Highlights – REGI – Committee Discussion with EIB Vice-President – 19.02.25 – Committee on Regional Development

    Source: European Parliament

    The Committee on Regional Development will have a discussion with Kyriacos Kakouris, Vice-President of the European Investment Bank on the EIB role to strengthen cohesion in the EU at its meeting on Wednesday 19 February 2025.

    Source : © European Union, 2025 – EP

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Nutrition education – E-000472/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-000472/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Emmanouil Fragkos (ECR), Marie-Luce Brasier-Clain (PfE), Christine Singer (Renew), Filip Turek (PfE)

    Nutrition education is vital for fostering healthier lifestyles and addressing the growing challenges of eating disorders and diabetes. Nowadays, unfortunately, most people rely on social media for nutrition information.

    Nordic countries include nutrition in health education and home economics classes, integrating practical skills and nutritional science.

    Similarly, Japan’s shokuiku programme emphasises hands-on experience with food, instilling healthy habits from an early age.

    Curricula that incorporate nutrition courses can equip students with the knowledge they need to make informed dietary choices, fostering long-term healthy living and reducing healthcare costs. Adopting nutrition education could help to:

    – address disparities in dietary knowledge and access to information;

    – effectively tackle obesity and food waste in Europe;

    – support the EU’s commitment to promoting health and well-being under the Farm to Fork Strategy, which aims to create sustainable and equitable food systems;

    – invest in Europe’s future, given that healthier children are more likely to succeed academically, thrive socially and grow into adults who contribute positively to their communities.

    Can the Commission say:

    • 1.whether it intends to promote the exchange of best practices in nutrition-related education in the EU, in accordance with Article 165 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union?
    • 2.whether it is planning additional initiatives to promote education about healthy nutrition?

    Submitted: 4.2.2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – A ‘lost generation’ – E-000473/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-000473/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Nora Junco García (ECR), Fernand Kartheiser (ECR), Diego Solier (ECR), Emmanouil Fragkos (ECR), Geadis Geadi (ECR), Alexandr Vondra (ECR), Nikola Bartůšek (PfE), Sebastian Tynkkynen (ECR)

    NextGenerationEU funds promised to be an engine of transformation intended to overcome the challenges of the pandemic and relaunch the European economy. However, four years on, the results have fallen far short of expectations. The lack of a significant impact on gross domestic product (GDP), coupled with problems such as bureaucracy, corruption and the inability to allocate resources efficiently, has called into question the funds’ effectiveness. According to the European Central Bank, the impact of these funds on GDP in the first half of the programme was only 0.15 %, far from the expected 0.5 %. Moreover, fragmentary implementation, the lack of an efficient capital market and an unfriendly fiscal policy for companies prevent Europe from being competitive with other advanced economies.

    Against this background, there is an urgent need to review the design and implementation of these programmes to ensure that investments and reforms deliver sustainable and transparent results. Europe cannot afford to let this be another missed opportunity.

    In view of this:

    • 1.What strategies does the Commission propose for reviewing the conditions for NextGenerationEU funds to avoid bureaucracy and corruption, and for prioritising structural reforms that boost productivity in the Member States?
    • 2.How does the Commission intend to promote the creation of an efficient capital market that will enable European companies to grow and compete globally?

    Submitted: 4.2.2025

    Last updated: 11 February 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Safeguarding the EU’s cognac and brandy sectors in the face of the Chinese tariff threat – E-002692/2024(ASW)

    Source: European Parliament

    The Commission is fully aware of the importance of the Chinese export market for EU cognac and brandy producers and the consequences of China’s retaliatory measures.

    In this context, the Commission stands ready to consider all possibilities available within the common market Organisation[1] to offer appropriate support to EU brandy and wine spirit sector.

    However, spirit drinks do not benefit of any EU aid for their production, apart from being eligible for promotion aid in third countries. The Commission will always stand firmly and fearlessly on the side of EU producers, industry, open and fair trade.

    The Commission has followed this investigation very closely since its initiation and intervened on a number of occasions to express its objections to the questionable nature of China’s allegations and subsequent measures.

    The Commission has taken action over the imposition of provisional duties by challenging these duties at the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

    By expressing its disagreement with China’s WTO-incompatible measures already at provisional stage, the EU is taking strong early action to protect the interests of its industry and economy.

    In parallel, t he Commission has engaged, and will continue to engage, with the Chinese authorities, Member States and relevant industry organisations to defend the interests of t he EU’s cognac and brandy sectors in the face of the Chinese tariffs.

    • [1] Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 December 2013 establishing a common organisation of the markets in agricultural products and repealing Council Regulations (EEC) No 922/72, (EEC) No 234/79, (EC) No 1037/2001 and (EC) No 1234/2007, OJ L 347, 20.12.2013, p. 671-854.
    Last updated: 11 February 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Chinese combat drones used in war against Ukraine – E-002665/2024(ASW)

    Source: European Parliament

    China is a key enabler of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. China’s support comes with a cost. It negatively affects EU-China relations.

    China is the largest provider of dual-use goods and sensitive items that sustain Russia’s military industrial base and that are found on the battlefield in Ukraine. These goods are used in multiple types of military equipment.

    Without China’s support, Russia would not be able to continue its military aggression with the same force.

    Since the start of the EU’s sanctions against Russia, the EU has placed 33 entities based in mainland China or Hong Kong on a list of specific export restrictions[1] because these entities have been found to export to Russia sanctioned dual-use and advanced tech components, including of EU origin, which are used by the Russian army to wage war against Ukraine.

    For the first time since the start of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, with the 15th package of sanctions, the EU also imposed fully-fledged sanctions (travel ban, asset freeze, prohibition to make funds and economic resources available) on six Chinese companies and one Chinese individual supplying drone components and microelectronic components in support of Russia’s war effort.

    The EU will continue to take appropriate measures to avoid sanctions circumvention and stem the supply of components, including of EU origin, used by the Russian army on the battlefield, including by coordinating with like-minded partners.

    • [1] Annex IV to Council Regulation (EU) No 833/2014.
    Last updated: 11 February 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – War in the Middle East – E-002364/2024(ASW)

    Source: European Parliament

    The EU is deeply alarmed by the situation in the Middle East. The EU has consistently called on all parties to exercise the utmost restraint, put an end to all hostilities immediately and fully abide by international law, including international humanitarian law[1].

    The EU welcomes the ceasefire agreements reached between Israel and Lebanon on 27 November 2024 and between Israel and Hamas on 19 January 2025.

    The EU is constantly monitoring the humanitarian and human rights situation in the Middle East. Since the onset of the crisis in Gaza, the EU has deployed all available humanitarian instruments to ease the suffering of Palestinians, providing a total of EUR 330 million in aid, operated a humanitarian air bridge with 65 flights, and activated the EU Civil Protection Mechanism[2] for medical evacuations.

    The EU increased its humanitarian aid to Lebanon by EUR 40 million, bringing the total to over EUR 104 million for 2024. The EU also continues to support the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East with EUR 82 million and a top of EUR 10 million disbursed in 2024.

    The EU raises its concerns about the human rights’ situation at bilateral and multilateral level. The EU deplores the unacceptable number of civilian casualties, especially women and children.

    The EU remains committed to ending impunity and ensuring accountability for all violations of international law. The EU is active in upholding international justice, including supporting the International Criminal Court as an independent and impartial judicial body.

    The EU is engaging with its partners to revitalise a political horizon and is ready to contribute to reviving a political process, on the basis of the two-state solution premise.

    • [1] https://www.consilium.europa.eu/media/jhlenhaj/euco-conclusions-19122024-en.pdf
    • [2] https://civil-protection-humanitarian-aid.ec.europa.eu/what/civil-protection/eu-civil-protection-mechanism_en
    Last updated: 11 February 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – The role of TikTok in the Romanian presidential election – E-002794/2024(ASW)

    Source: European Parliament

    Democracy is a core value of the EU with free and fair elections at its heart. Member States are responsible for organising elections according to national constitutional rules, legislation, international obligations, and EU law.

    The Digital Services Act (DSA)[1] contains regulatory means for scrutinising the risks around the design, functioning, or the use made of very large online platforms and search engines , including the dissemination of illegal content, or to any negative effects on civic discourse and electoral processes.

    In the context of the Romanian Presidential elections, following the analysis of TikTok’s risk assessment reports, TikTok’s replies to the Commission’s requests for information[2], as well as third-party reports and internal Commission testing and evidence collection, the Commission opened a third set of proceedings against TikTok[3] based on suspected infringements of the DSA concerning systemic risks to civic discourse and electoral processes.

    Additionally, the Commission issued a ‘retention order’ to TikTok[4], ordering to freeze and preserve data related to actual or foreseeable systemic risks its service could pose on electoral processes and civic discourse in the EU.

    In these proceedings, the Commission will investigate TikTok’s compliance with DSA obligations on the assessment and mitigation of systemic risks[5] related to civic discourse and electoral processes stemming from the intentional manipulation of TikTok’s services, including its recommender systems, and the dissemination of political advertisements and paid-for political content, despite prohibition of such advertisements and content in TikTok’s terms and conditions.

    • [1] Regulation (EU) 2022/2065 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 October 2022 on a Single Market for Digital Services and amending Directive 2000/31/EC (Digital Services Act) (Text with EEA relevance)
      PE/30/2022/REV/1. OJ L 277, 27.10.2022, p. 1-102.
    • [2] The Commission sent requests for information on 2 October, 29 November and 5 December 2024 https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/policies/list-designated-vlops-and-vloses
    • [3] https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/news/commission-opens-formal-proceedings-against-tiktok-election-risks-under-digital-services-act
    • [4] https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/news/commission-online-platforms-and-civil-society-increase-monitoring-during-romanian-elections
    • [5] DSA Articles 34 and 35.

    MIL OSI Europe News –