Category: Agriculture

MIL-OSI Africa: Kenya relies on USaid famine warning system – what happens now that it’s gone?
Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Timothy Njagi Njeru, Research Fellow, Tegemeo Institute, Egerton University

Famine Early Warning Systems Network (Fews Net), a web-based platform for predicting famine, went offline on 30 January 2025. The system had provided up-to-date data to predict and track food insecurity in nearly 30 countries in Africa, central America and Asia for 40 years. It was funded by the US Agency for International Development (USAid). It went offline following USAid’s shutdown by the new US administration.

In Kenya, Fews Net worked with the National Drought Management Agency and the Kenya Food Security Steering Group to develop regular outlook reports at national and county levels. Timothy Njagi Njeru, an agricultural economist who researches food security and emergency responses, explains what Fews Net’s abrupt departure portends for Kenya.

What are the highlights of the network’s work in Kenya?

The famine early warning network provided data and interpretation to shape decisions on food insecurity in Kenya. The Kenyan pages on the web platform – which has gone dark – included:
- an outlook for crop production based on climate data and extreme weather events
- a standardised measure of food insecurity that helped governments prioritise their responses
- a forecast of potential food crises using climate, economic and conflict data.
Fews Net was launched in response to devastating famines in east and west Africa in the mid-1980s. Its main objective was to gather and analyse data to help governments avert food security crises.

This evolved to support other critical areas that affected food security. For example, in the beginning, the network used weather information to generate forecasts on food crises. In time, it also collected price data and trade data, especially on staple commodities, to inform market stabilisation policies. And it tracked climate adaptation strategies.

Its work helped highlight the regions vulnerable to food insecurity, assessed the support these communities got and tracked the effects of weather variability.

In Kenya, the network worked with the Kenya Food Security Steering Group, which is made up of government, multilateral and non-profit agencies. The National Drought Management Authority, Kenya Meteorological Department and Kenya National Bureau of Statistics are in the group. So are the ministries of agriculture, health, water and education, and county governments. Development partners such as the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and Unicef, and civil society organisations, such as the World Food Program and World Vision, are also members.

Their work was published in regular Food and Nutrition Security Assessments.

Fews Net also provided country and county-level briefs. These provided updates on the scale of food insecurity and assistance provided to these regions. They contained forecasts of crop and livestock production. They provided analyses of food trade, price trends, conflict incidences, and performance of assistance programmes. The forecasts helped generate recommendations for specific regions.

All this data was critical for market intelligence and developing value chains. It helped stakeholders make decisions about services, infrastructure support and demand or supply.

What difference has it made?

The Famine Early Warning Systems Network made a huge contribution to Kenya and the region as a whole. The seasonal food security forecasts enabled governments and development partners to respond to crises adequately and in a coordinated manner.

The network’s analytics on price trends and food trade proved very useful in overcoming obstacles to food trade. These included information asymmetry on demand and supply trends. The analytics also highlighted where infrastructural or security challenges might affect the flow of food from surplus to deficit areas. This equipped the government and stakeholders with the information to respond appropriately.

The analytics on household data provided information on household income, food availability and mechanisms to cope with food shocks. This informs government and others about local communities’ capacity to respond to shocks.

The tracking of local market price data informed policy responses, such as livestock offtake programmes at the height of drought or famines. Offtake programmes provide a ready market for families grappling with drought. They enable them to sell their cattle before incurring losses caused by livestock deaths during drought seasons. These programmes help communities enhance their market participation and reduce losses as they are able to sell their livestock at fair prices.

What gaps will its absence create?

The absence of the early warning network will affect Kenya’s ability to address food insecurity. It leaves a gap in financial and technical capacity to generate timely forecasts to inform decision making.

It will take time for other institutions to replace that contribution. In the short run, stakeholders can use the information that’s already been generated. In the medium term, there may be uncertainty and incoherence in interventions and investments.

Because Kenya’s weather has been so variable, the country needs seasonal forecasts at both national and county levels.

What should Kenya do to fill the gap?

Kenya can strengthen the capacity in institutions such as the drought management authority and statistics bureau.

In the long term, the country must increase financial investments that support food security. And it must build technical capacity to produce credible, reliable and timely food security forecasts.

– Kenya relies on USaid famine warning system – what happens now that it’s gone?
– https://theconversation.com/kenya-relies-on-usaid-famine-warning-system-what-happens-now-that-its-gone-249614

MIL OSI Africa –
February 15, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: Kenya relies on USaid famine warning system – what happens now that it’s gone?
Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Timothy Njagi Njeru, Research Fellow, Tegemeo Institute, Egerton University

Famine Early Warning Systems Network (Fews Net), a web-based platform for predicting famine, went offline on 30 January 2025. The system had provided up-to-date data to predict and track food insecurity in nearly 30 countries in Africa, central America and Asia for 40 years. It was funded by the US Agency for International Development (USAid). It went offline following USAid’s shutdown by the new US administration.

In Kenya, Fews Net worked with the National Drought Management Agency and the Kenya Food Security Steering Group to develop regular outlook reports at national and county levels. Timothy Njagi Njeru, an agricultural economist who researches food security and emergency responses, explains what Fews Net’s abrupt departure portends for Kenya.

What are the highlights of the network’s work in Kenya?

The famine early warning network provided data and interpretation to shape decisions on food insecurity in Kenya. The Kenyan pages on the web platform – which has gone dark – included:
- an outlook for crop production based on climate data and extreme weather events
- a standardised measure of food insecurity that helped governments prioritise their responses
- a forecast of potential food crises using climate, economic and conflict data.
Fews Net was launched in response to devastating famines in east and west Africa in the mid-1980s. Its main objective was to gather and analyse data to help governments avert food security crises.

This evolved to support other critical areas that affected food security. For example, in the beginning, the network used weather information to generate forecasts on food crises. In time, it also collected price data and trade data, especially on staple commodities, to inform market stabilisation policies. And it tracked climate adaptation strategies.

Its work helped highlight the regions vulnerable to food insecurity, assessed the support these communities got and tracked the effects of weather variability.

In Kenya, the network worked with the Kenya Food Security Steering Group, which is made up of government, multilateral and non-profit agencies. The National Drought Management Authority, Kenya Meteorological Department and Kenya National Bureau of Statistics are in the group. So are the ministries of agriculture, health, water and education, and county governments. Development partners such as the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and Unicef, and civil society organisations, such as the World Food Program and World Vision, are also members.

Their work was published in regular Food and Nutrition Security Assessments.

Fews Net also provided country and county-level briefs. These provided updates on the scale of food insecurity and assistance provided to these regions. They contained forecasts of crop and livestock production. They provided analyses of food trade, price trends, conflict incidences, and performance of assistance programmes. The forecasts helped generate recommendations for specific regions.

All this data was critical for market intelligence and developing value chains. It helped stakeholders make decisions about services, infrastructure support and demand or supply.

What difference has it made?

The Famine Early Warning Systems Network made a huge contribution to Kenya and the region as a whole. The seasonal food security forecasts enabled governments and development partners to respond to crises adequately and in a coordinated manner.

The network’s analytics on price trends and food trade proved very useful in overcoming obstacles to food trade. These included information asymmetry on demand and supply trends. The analytics also highlighted where infrastructural or security challenges might affect the flow of food from surplus to deficit areas. This equipped the government and stakeholders with the information to respond appropriately.

The analytics on household data provided information on household income, food availability and mechanisms to cope with food shocks. This informs government and others about local communities’ capacity to respond to shocks.

The tracking of local market price data informed policy responses, such as livestock offtake programmes at the height of drought or famines. Offtake programmes provide a ready market for families grappling with drought. They enable them to sell their cattle before incurring losses caused by livestock deaths during drought seasons. These programmes help communities enhance their market participation and reduce losses as they are able to sell their livestock at fair prices.

What gaps will its absence create?

The absence of the early warning network will affect Kenya’s ability to address food insecurity. It leaves a gap in financial and technical capacity to generate timely forecasts to inform decision making.

It will take time for other institutions to replace that contribution. In the short run, stakeholders can use the information that’s already been generated. In the medium term, there may be uncertainty and incoherence in interventions and investments.

Because Kenya’s weather has been so variable, the country needs seasonal forecasts at both national and county levels.

What should Kenya do to fill the gap?

Kenya can strengthen the capacity in institutions such as the drought management authority and statistics bureau.

In the long term, the country must increase financial investments that support food security. And it must build technical capacity to produce credible, reliable and timely food security forecasts.

Timothy Njagi Njeru 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. Kenya relies on USaid famine warning system – what happens now that it’s gone? – https://theconversation.com/kenya-relies-on-usaid-famine-warning-system-what-happens-now-that-its-gone-249614
MIL OSI – Global Reports –
February 15, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Five men convicted as the Met’s shoplifting crackdown continues

Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

Five men who targeted shops across Barnet have been convicted as part of the Met’s continued drive to bring London’s most prolific shoplifters to justice.

Officers in Colindale made 18 arrests in the space of just four days and secured 85 charges.

They identified the 15 worst affected shops across the borough that were repeatedly targeted over the past six months. They worked with staff and security teams to streamline the way they gathered evidence to identify persistent offenders.

The operation was carried out between Thursday, 30 January and Sunday, 2 February.

In one case, officers spotted a man wanted for a string of thefts in the area acting suspiciously by the Co-op on East Barnet Road at 07:30hrs on Saturday, 1 February, before heading inside.

This led to them carrying out a carefully coordinated sting to arrest the offender, who was tackled to the ground by the exit as he attempted to make off on an electric scooter with a bag of stolen meat.

The incident was caught on CCTV and the footage recovered as part of the investigation.

Gavin Fonti, 44 (20.12.81), of no fixed address, was charged with theft from the store, as well as a further five counts of theft from a nearby BP Garage on Great North Road.

He appeared at Willesden Magistrates Court on Monday, 3 February, where he was sentenced to 20 weeks in prison. 

Sergeant Dave Salmon, from the Colindale Emergency Response Policing Team, said: 

“This is an excellent example of neighbourhood policing at its best, and thanks to the awareness and quick-thinking of our officers, we’ve been able to remove more prolific shoplifters from our streets.

“We know shoplifting has a significant impact on businesses and shop staff, as well as members of the public. It often fuels other crime and anti-social behaviour, so we’ve taken a proactive approach with the worst affected stores.

“This is not only building stronger relationships between Safer Neighbourhood officers and local businesses, but also instilling more trust and confidence in local policing.”

This work is another example of the steps the Met is taking to remove the worst offending shoplifters across the capital.

Elsewhere in London, recent enforcement activity in Lambeth has led to 11 of the 14 most prolific shoplifters in the area serving prison terms, while in Homerton, officers have made 15 arrests relating to more 50 crimes since September 2024, of which six people are currently serving prison terms.

Those sentenced alongside Fonti for offences in the Barnet area were:

Craig Buttery, 36 (18.04.89), of no fixed address, was charged with 22 thefts and two breaches of a Community Banning Order, and will serve four months behind bars.

Geoff Kilday, 49 (01.11.76), of no fixed address, has been handed a 12-week prison sentence after being charged with one count of theft.

Mohammed Bey, 52 (13.11.73), of Creighton Avenue, Muswell Hill, was charged with one count of theft and given a 12-week suspended sentence for 12 months.

While Leon Day, 42 (02.08.1983), of no fixed address, was sentenced to 24 weeks’ imprisonment after being charged with 21 counts of theft.

MIL Security OSI –

February 15, 2025
MIL-OSI Europe: AFRICA/SIERRA LEONE – “People are forced to travel almost 8 miles every Sunday to go to Mass”: new mission stations in the diocese of Kenema

Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

Friday, 14 February 2025

SMA

Buedu (Agenzia Fides) – “Our mission in Sierra Leone is gradually growing, as is the number of Christians and small communities. People continue to come and live their faith with great enthusiasm and participation,” says Father Peddy Sinda, of the Society of African Missions (SMA), responsible for the mission of St. John the Baptist in Buedu, Kailahun district, diocese of Kenema.“Most of the villages where we serve do not have a church or oratory,” explains the missionary. “Since many elderly people can no longer walk to the parish, we have just opened a new mission station. However, we have been subject to theft and intrusion due to the exposed location of the mission house.”The St. John the Baptist Catholic Church-Buedu Mission opened its doors on December 13, 2020 and was entrusted to the SMA Fathers. The mission serves more than 27 villages, of which only six have a place of worship (oratory). “Fowa, in the Kailahun district, is one of the villages that does not have one. Its population, mostly of Kissi ethnicity, has about 273 Catholics, including men, women and children, some already baptized and confirmed.”“This municipality has great potential to become a ‘Christian city’,” says Father Sinda, who has just returned from the inauguration of the new SMA mission in the diocese of Bo, where the missionaries have opened their third evangelization territory in Sierra Leone. However, despite the growth of faith, many faithful must travel almost eight miles every Sunday to attend Mass at the Buedu church, a distance impossible to cover for the sick and elderly. “They are mainly farmers and can barely afford one meal a day. They long for a place of worship,” underlines Father Sinda.The pastoral activities of the SMA missionaries in this region include the administration of the sacraments, visiting the sick and the elderly, school pastoral care – with five primary schools and one secondary school – youth support programs, training of community prayer leaders, animation of the Holy Childhood, programs for the emancipation of women and raising awareness in the community. (AP) (Agenzia Fides, 14/2/2025)
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MIL OSI Europe News –

February 15, 2025
MIL-OSI China: China pushes for high-level self-reliance in agricultural tech

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

BEIJING, Feb. 14 — China’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs issued a notice on Friday outlining key sectors for agricultural technology innovation from 2024 to 2028, with the goal of accelerating progress toward high-level self-reliance in agricultural technology.

A new wave of agricultural technology revolution, driven by biotechnology and information technology, is on the verge of achieving significant breakthroughs, according to the document.

The notice highlights that emerging technologies such as gene editing and artificial intelligence are evolving rapidly, accelerating the restructuring of industrial and supply chains in the agricultural sector.

Breeding new varieties is one of the focuses of agricultural technology development over the next five years, as outlined in the document. China aims to accelerate the research, development and application of biotechnological breeding, while also cultivating high-quality varieties with independent intellectual property rights.

Other key areas of focus include improving the quality of arable land, developing and manufacturing agricultural machinery as well as ensuring the quality and safety of agricultural products, according to the notice.

MIL OSI China News –

February 15, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: The Next Full Moon is the Snow Moon

Source: NASA

The next full moon will be Wednesday morning, Feb. 12, 2025, appearing opposite the Sun (in Earth longitude) at 8:53 a.m. EST. The Moon will appear full for about three days around this time, from Monday night into early Thursday evening. The bright star Regulus will appear near the full moon.

The Maine Farmers’ Almanac began publishing Native American names for full moons in the 1930s, and these names are now widely known and used. According to this almanac, as the full moon in February, the tribes of the northeastern U.S. called this the Snow Moon or the Storm Moon because of the heavy snows in this season. Bad weather and heavy snowstorms made hunting difficult, so this Moon was also called the Hunger Moon. NOAA monthly averages for the Washington, D.C. area airports from 1991 to 2020 show January and February nearly tied as the snowiest months of the year (with February one tenth of an inch ahead).
Here are the other celestial events between now and the full moon after next with times and angles based on the location of NASA Headquarters in Washington:
As winter continues in the Northern Hemisphere, the daily periods of sunlight continue to lengthen. Wednesday, Feb. 12 (the day of the full moon), morning twilight will begin at 6:04 a.m. EST, sunrise will be at 7:03 a.m., solar noon will be at 12:23 p.m. when the Sun will reach its maximum altitude of 37.7 degrees, sunset will be at 5:43 p.m., and evening twilight will end at 6:41 p.m.
Daylight Saving Time starts on the second Sunday in March for much of the United States. The day before, Saturday, March 8, morning twilight will begin at 5:32 a.m., sunrise will be at 6:30 a.m., solar noon will be at 12:19 p.m. when the Sun will reach its maximum altitude of 46.5 degrees, sunset will be at 6:08 p.m., and evening twilight will end at 7:06 p.m. Early on Sunday morning, March 9, the clock will “spring forward” from 1:59:59 a.m. EST to 3:00:00 a.m. EDT. Sunday, March 9, morning twilight will begin at 6:30 a.m., sunrise will be at 7:28 a.m., solar noon will be at 1:19 p.m. when the Sun will reach its maximum altitude of 46.9 degrees, sunset will be at 7:09 p.m., and evening twilight will end at 8:07 p.m. By Friday, March 14 (the day of the full moon after next), morning twilight will begin at 6:23 a.m., sunrise will be at 7:20 a.m., solar noon will be at 1:17 p.m. when the Sun will reach its maximum altitude of 48.9 degrees, sunset will be at 7:14 p.m., and evening twilight will end at 8:12 p.m.
This should still be a good time for planet watching, especially with a backyard telescope. On the evening of the March 14, the full moon, Venus, Jupiter, Mars, Saturn, and Uranus will all be in the evening sky. The brightest of the planets, Venus, will be 28 degrees above the west-southwestern horizon, appearing as a 29% illuminated crescent through a telescope. Second in brightness will be Jupiter at 71 degrees above the south-southeastern horizon. With a telescope you should be able to see Jupiter’s four bright moons, Ganymede, Callisto, Europa, and Io, noticeably shifting positions in the course of an evening. Jupiter was at its closest and brightest in early December. Third in brightness will be Mars at 48 degrees above the eastern horizon. Mars was at its closest and brightest for the year just a month ago. Fourth in brightness (and appearing below Venus) will be Saturn at 11 degrees above the west-southwestern horizon. With a telescope you may be able to see Saturn’s rings and its bright moon Titan. The rings will appear very thin and will be edge-on to Earth in March 2025. Saturn was at its closest and brightest in early September. The planet Uranus will be too dim to see without a telescope when the Moon is in the sky, but later in the lunar cycle, if you are in a very dark area with clear skies and no interference from moonlight, it will still be brighter than the faintest visible stars. Uranus was at its closest and brightest in mid-November.
During this lunar cycle, these planets, along with the background of stars, will rotate westward by about a degree each night around the pole star Polaris. Venus, named after the Roman goddess of love, will reach its brightest around Feb. 14, making this a special Valentine’s Day. After about Feb. 17, the planet Mercury, shining brighter than Mars, will begin emerging from the glow of dusk about 30 minutes after sunset. Feb. 24 will be the first evening Mercury will be above the western horizon as twilight ends, while Feb. 25 will be the last evening Saturn will be above the western horizon as twilight ends, making these the only two evenings that all of the visible planets will be in the sky after twilight ends. For a few more evenings after this, Saturn should still be visible in the glow of dusk during twilight. Around March 8 or 9, Mercury will have dimmed to the same brightness as Mars, making Mars the third brightest visible planet again. By the evening of March 13 (the evening of the night of the full moon after next), as twilight ends, Venus and Mercury will appear low on the western horizon, making them difficult targets for a backyard telescope, while Jupiter and Mars (and Uranus) will appear high overhead and much easier to view.
Comets and Meteor Showers
No meteor shower peaks are predicted during this lunar cycle. No comets are expected to be visible without a telescope for Northern Hemisphere viewers. Southern Hemisphere viewers may still be able to use a telescope to see comet C/2024 G3 (ATLAS), although it is fading as it moves away from Earth and the Sun, and some recent reports suggest that it might be breaking apart and disappearing from view.
Evening Sky Highlights
On the evening of Wednesday, Feb. 12 (the evening of the full moon), as twilight ends at 6:41 p.m. EST, the rising Moon will be 7 degrees above the east-northeastern horizon with the bright star Regulus 2 degrees to the right. The brightest planet in the sky will be Venus at 28 degrees above the west-southwestern horizon, appearing as a crescent through a telescope. Next in brightness will be Jupiter at 71 degrees above the south-southeastern horizon. Third in brightness will be Mars at 48 degrees above the eastern horizon. The fourth brightest planet will be Saturn at 11 degrees above the west-southwestern horizon. Uranus, on the edge of what is visible under extremely clear, dark skies, will be 68 degrees above the south-southwestern horizon. The bright star closest to overhead will be Capella at 75 degrees above the northeastern horizon. Capella is the 6th brightest star in our night sky and the brightest star in the constellation Auriga (the charioteer). Although we see Capella as a single star, it is actually four stars (two pairs of stars orbiting each other). Capella is about 43 light years from us.
Also high in the sky will be the constellation Orion, easily identifiable because of the three stars that form Orion’s Belt. This time of year, we see many bright stars in the sky at evening twilight, with bright stars scattered from the south-southeast toward the northwest. We see more stars in this direction because we are looking toward the Local Arm of our home galaxy (also called the Orion Arm, Orion-Cygnus Arm, or Orion Bridge). This arm is about 3,500 light years across and 10,000 light years long. Some of the bright stars from this arm that we see are the three stars of Orion’s Belt, and Rigel (860 light years from Earth), Betelgeuse (548 light years), Polaris (about 400 light years), and Deneb (about 2,600 light years).
Facing toward the south from the Northern Hemisphere, to the upper left of Orion’s Belt is the bright star Betelgeuse (be careful not to say this name three times). About the same distance to the lower right is the bright star Rigel. Orion’s belt appears to point down and to the left about seven belt lengths to the bright star Sirius, the brightest star in the night sky. Below Sirius is the bright star Adhara. To the upper right of Orion’s Belt (at about the same distance from Orion as Sirius) is the bright star Aldebaran. Nearly overhead is the bright star Capella. To the left (east) of Betelgeuse is the bright star Procyon. The two stars above Procyon are Castor and Pollux, the twin stars of the constellation Gemini (Pollux is the brighter of the two). The bright star Regulus appears farther to the left (east) of Pollux near the eastern horizon. For now, Mars is near Castor and Pollux, while Jupiter is near Aldebaran, but these are planets (from the Greek word for wanderers) and continue to shift relative to the background of the stars. Very few places on the East Coast are dark enough to see the Milky Way (our home galaxy), but if you could see it, it would appear to stretch overhead from the southeast to the northwest. Since we are seeing our galaxy from the inside, the combined light from its 100 to 400 billion stars make it appear as a band surrounding Earth.
As this lunar cycle progresses, the planets and the background of stars will rotate westward by about a degree each evening around the pole star Polaris. The brightest of the planets, Venus, will reach its brightest around Valentine’s Day, Feb. 14. Bright Mercury will begin emerging from the glow of dusk around Feb. 17 and will be above the horizon as twilight ends beginning Feb. 24, initiating a brief period when all the visible planets will be in the evening sky at the same time that will end after Feb. 25, the last evening Saturn will be above the horizon as twilight ends. Feb. 24 and 25 will also be the two evenings when Mercury and Saturn will appear closest together.
The waxing crescent “Wet” or “Cheshire” Moon will appear near Mercury on Feb. 28 and Venus on March 1, appearing like a bowl or a smile above the horizon. The waxing gibbous Moon will appear near Mars and Pollux on March 8. Mercury will reach its highest above the horizon as twilight ends on March 8 but will be fading, appearing fainter than Mars. The nearly full moon will appear near Regulus on March 11. Venus and Mercury will be closest to each other on March 12.
By the evening of Thursday, March 13 (the evening of the night of the full moon after next), as twilight ends at 8:11 p.m. EDT, the rising Moon will be 14 degrees above the eastern horizon. The brightest planet in the sky will be Venus at 4 degrees above the west-southwestern horizon, appearing as a thin, 4% illuminated crescent through a telescope. Next in brightness will be Jupiter at 62 degrees above the west-southwestern horizon. Third in brightness will be Mars at 72 degrees above the southeastern horizon. Mercury, to the left of Venus, will also be 4 degrees above the western horizon. Uranus, on the edge of what is visible under extremely clear, moonless dark skies, will be 45 degrees above the western horizon. The bright star closest to overhead will still be Capella at 75 degrees above the northwestern horizon.
Morning Sky Highlights
On the morning of Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025 (the morning of the night of the full moon), as twilight begins at 6:04 a.m. EST, the setting full moon will be 13 degrees above the western horizon. No planets will appear in the sky. The bright star appearing closest to overhead will be Arcturus at 65 degrees above the southeastern horizon. Arcturus is the brightest star in the constellation Boötes (the herdsman or plowman) and the 4th brightest star in our night sky. It is 36.7 light years from us. While it has about the same mass as our Sun, it is about 2.6 billion years older and has used up its core hydrogen, becoming a red giant 25 times the size and 170 times the brightness of our Sun. One way to identify Arcturus in the night sky is to start at the Big Dipper, then follow the arc of the dipper’s handle as it “arcs toward Arcturus.”
As this lunar cycle progresses the background of stars will rotate westward by about a degree each morning around the pole star Polaris. The waning Moon will appear near Regulus on Feb. 13, Spica on Feb. 17, and Antares on Feb. 21. The nearly full moon will appear near Regulus on March 12.
By the morning of Friday, March 14 (the morning of the full moon after next), as twilight begins at 6:23 a.m. EDT, the setting full moon will be 12 degrees above the western horizon. No visible planets will appear in the sky. The bright star closest to overhead will be Vega at 68 degrees above the eastern horizon. Vega is the 5th brightest star in our night sky and the brightest star in the constellation Lyra (the lyre). Vega is one of the three bright stars of the “Summer Triangle” (along with Deneb and Altair). It is about 25 light-years from Earth, has twice the mass of our Sun, and shines 40 times brighter than our Sun.

Here is a day-by-day listing of celestial events between now and the full moon on March 14, 2025. The times and angles are based on the location of NASA Headquarters in Washington, and some of these details may differ for where you are (I use parentheses to indicate times specific to the D.C. area). If your latitude is significantly different than 39 degrees north (and especially for my Southern Hemisphere readers), I recommend using an astronomy app that is set up for your location or a star-watching guide from a local observatory, news outlet, or astronomy club.
Sunday morning, Feb. 9 Mars will appear to the upper left of the waxing gibbous Moon. In the early morning at about 2 a.m. EST, Mars will be 8 degrees from the Moon. By the time the Moon sets on the northwestern horizon at 5:58 a.m., Mars will have shifted to 6 degrees from the Moon. For parts of Asia and Northern Europe the Moon will pass in front of Mars. Also, Sunday morning, the planet Mercury will be passing on the far side of the Sun as seen from Earth, called superior conjunction. Because Mercury orbits inside of the orbit of Earth it will be shifting from the morning sky to the evening sky and will begin emerging from the glow of dusk on the west-southwestern horizon after about Feb. 17 (depending upon viewing conditions).
Sunday evening into Monday morning, Feb. 9 – 10 The waxing gibbous Moon will have shifted to the other side of the Mars (having passed in front of Mars in the afternoon when we could not see them). As evening twilight ends (at 6:38 p.m. EST) the Moon will be between Mars and the bright star Pollux, with Mars 3 degrees to the upper right and Pollux 3 degrees to the lower left. By the time the Moon reaches its highest for the night at 10:27 p.m., Mars will be 4.5 degrees to the right of the Moon and Pollux 2.5 degrees to the upper left of the Moon. Mars will set first on the northwestern horizon Monday morning at 5:44 a.m., just 22 minutes before morning twilight begins at 6:06 a.m.
Wednesday morning, Feb. 12 As mentioned above, the full moon will be Wednesday morning, Feb. 12, at 8:53 a.m. EST. This will be on Thursday morning from Australian Central Time eastward to the international date line in the mid-Pacific. The Moon will appear full for about three days around this time, from Monday night into early Thursday evening.
Wednesday evening into Thursday morning, Feb. 12 to 13 The bright star Regulus will appear near the full moon. As evening twilight ends at 6:41 p.m. EST, Regulus will be less than 2 degrees to the right of the Moon, very near its closest. By the time the Moon reaches its highest for the night at 12:55 a.m., Regulus will be 3 degrees to the right. As morning twilight begins at 6:03 a.m., Regulus will be 5 degrees to the lower right of the Moon.
Friday evening, Feb. 14 Venus, the brightest of the planets, will be near its brightest for the year (based on a geometric estimate called greatest brilliancy). As evening twilight ends at 6:43 p.m. EST, Venus will be 28 degrees above the west-southwestern horizon. Venus will set on the western horizon about 2.5 hours later at 9:09 p.m. Having Venus, named after the Roman goddess of love, shining at its brightest on this evening will make for a special Valentine’s Day!
Sunday night into Monday morning Feb. 16 to 17 Bright star Spica will appear near the waning gibbous Moon. As Spica rises on the east-southeastern horizon at 10:19 p.m. EST, it will be 3.5 degrees to the lower left of the Moon. Throughout the night Spica will appear to rotate clockwise around the Moon. As the Moon reaches its highest at 3:37 a.m., Spica will be 2 degrees to the left of the Moon. By the time morning twilight begins at 5:58 a.m., Spica will be a little more than a degree above the Moon.
Monday evening, Feb. 17 This will be the first evening Mercury will be above the west-southwestern horizon 30 minutes after sunset, a rough approximation of when it might start emerging from the glow of dusk before evening twilight ends. Increasing the likelihood it will be visible, Mercury will be brighter than Mars, but not as bright as Jupiter.
Monday evening, Feb. 17 At 8:06 p.m. EST, the Moon will be at apogee, its farthest from Earth for this orbit.
Midday on Thursday, Feb. 20 The waning Moon will appear half full as it reaches its last quarter at 12:32 p.m. EST.
Friday morning, Feb. 21 The bright star Antares will appear quite near the waning crescent Moon. As the Moon rises on the southeastern horizon at 2:05 a.m. EST, Antares will be one degree to the upper left. Antares will appear to rotate clockwise and shift away from the Moon as morning progresses. By the time morning twilight begins at 5:53 a.m., Antares will be 2 degrees to the upper right of the Moon. From the southern part of South America, the Moon will actually block Antares from view.
Monday, Feb. 24 This will be the first evening Mercury will be above the western horizon as evening twilight ends at 6:54 p.m. EST, setting three minutes later at 6:57 p.m. This will be the first of two evenings when all the visible planets will be in the evening sky at the same time after twilight ends.
This also will be the evening when Mercury and Saturn will appear nearest to each other, 1.6 degrees apart. To see them you will need a very clear view toward the western horizon and will likely have to look before evening twilight ends at 6:54 p.m. EST, as Mercury will set three minutes later at 6:57 p.m., and Saturn two minutes after Mercury at 6:59 p.m.
Tuesday, Feb. 25 This will be the last evening Saturn will be above the western horizon as evening twilight ends at 6:55 p.m. EST, setting one minute later at 6:56 p.m. This will be the last of two evenings when all of the visible planets will be in the evening sky at the same time after twilight ends. Mercury and Saturn will appear almost as close together as the night before, with Mercury setting six minutes after Saturn at 7:02 p.m. Saturn, appearing about as bright as the star Pollux, may still be visible in the glow of dusk before evening twilight ends for a few evenings after this.
Thursday evening, Feb. 27 At 7:45 p.m. EST will be the new Moon, when the Moon passes between Earth and the Sun and will not be visible from Earth.
The day of, or the day after, the new Moon marks the start of the new month for most lunisolar calendars. The second month of the Chinese calendar starts on Friday, Feb. 28. Sundown on Feb. 28 also marks the start of Adar in the Hebrew calendar. In the Islamic calendar the months traditionally start with the first sighting of the waxing crescent Moon. Many Muslim communities now follow the Umm al-Qura Calendar of Saudi Arabia, which uses astronomical calculations to start months in a more predictable way (intended for civil and not religious purposes). This calendar predicts the holy month of Ramadan will start with sunset on Feb. 28, but because of Ramadan’s religious significance, it is one of four months in the Islamic year where the start of the month is updated based upon the actual sighting of the crescent Moon. Ramadan is honored as the month in which the Quran was revealed. Observing this annual month of charitable acts, prayer, and fasting from dawn to sunset is one of the Five Pillars of Islam.
Friday evening, Feb. 28 As evening twilight ends at 6:58 p.m. EST, you may be able to see the thin, waxing crescent Moon barely above the western horizon. The Moon will set two minutes later at 7 p.m. Mercury will be 3.5 degrees above the Moon. For this and the next few evenings the waxing crescent Moon will appear most like an upward-facing bowl or a smile in the evening sky (for the Washington, D.C. area and similar latitudes, at least). This is called a “wet” or a “Cheshire” Moon. The term “wet Moon” appears to originate from Hawaiian mythology. It’s when the Moon appears like a bowl that could fill up with water. The time of year when this occurs as viewed from the latitudes of the Hawaiian Islands roughly corresponds with Kaelo the Water Bearer in Hawaiian astrology. As the year passes into summer, the crescent shape tilts, pouring out the water and causing the summer rains. The term “Cheshire Moon” is a reference to the smile of the Cheshire Cat in Lewis Carroll’s book “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.”
Saturday afternoon, March 1 At 4:14 p.m. EST, the Moon will be at perigee, its closest to Earth for this orbit.
Saturday evening, as evening twilight ends at 6:59 p.m. EST, the thin, waxing crescent Moon will be 13 degrees above the western horizon, with Venus 7 degrees to the upper right of the Moon. Mercury will appear about 10 degrees below the Moon. The Moon will set 76 minutes later at 8:15 p.m.
Tuesday, March 4 This is Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday), which marks the end of the Carnival season that began on January 6. Don’t forget to march forth on March Fourth!
Thursday, March 6 The Moon will appear half-full as it reaches its first quarter at 11:32 a.m. EST.
Saturday morning, March 8 Just after midnight, Mercury will reach its greatest angular separation from the Sun as seen from Earth for this apparition (called greatest elongation).
Saturday evening, will be when Mercury will appear at its highest (6 degrees) above the western horizon as evening twilight ends at 7:06 p.m. EST. Mercury will set 34 minutes later at 7:40 p.m. This will also be the evening Mercury will have dimmed to the brightness as Mars, after which Mars will be the third brightest visible planet again.
Also on Saturday evening into Sunday morning, March 8 to 9, Mars will appear near the waxing gibbous Moon with the bright star Pollux (the brighter of the twin stars in the constellation Gemini) nearby. As evening twilight ends at 7:06 p.m. EST, Mars will be 1.5 degrees to the lower right of the Moon and Pollux will be 6 degrees to the lower left. As the Moon reaches its highest for the night 1.25 hours later at 8:22 p.m., Mars will be 1.5 degrees to the lower right of the Moon and Pollux will be 5.5 degrees to the upper left. By the time Mars sets on the northwestern horizon at 4:53 a.m., it will be 4 degrees to the lower left of the Moon and Pollux will be 3 degrees above the Moon.
Sunday morning, March 9 Daylight Saving Time begins. Don’t forget to reset your clocks (if they don’t automatically set themselves) as we “spring forward” to Daylight Saving Time! For much of the U.S., 2 to 3 a.m. on March 9, 2025, might be a good hour for magical or fictional events (as it doesn’t actually exist).
Tuesday evening into Wednesday morning, March 11 to 12 The bright star Regulus will appear close to the nearly full moon. As evening twilight ends at 8:09 p.m. EDT, Regulus will be 4 degrees to the lower right of the Moon. When the Moon reaches its highest for the night at 11:52 p.m., Regulus will be 3 degrees to the lower right. By the time morning twilight begins at 6:26 a.m., Regulus will be about one degree below the Moon.
Wednesday morning, March 12 Saturn will be passing on the far side of the Sun as seen from Earth, called a conjunction. Because Saturn orbits outside of the orbit of Earth it will be shifting from the evening sky to the morning sky. Saturn will begin emerging from the glow of dawn on the eastern horizon in early April (depending upon viewing conditions).
Wednesday evening, March 12 The planets Venus and Mercury will appear closest to each other low on the western horizon, 5.5 degrees apart. They will be about 5 degrees above the horizon as evening twilight ends at 8:10 p.m. EDT, and Mercury will set first 27 minutes later at 8:37 p.m.
Friday morning, March 14: Full Moon After Next The full moon after next will be at 2:55 a.m. EDT. This will be on Thursday evening from Pacific Daylight Time and Mountain Standard Time westward to the international date line in the mid Pacific. The Moon will appear full for about three days around this time, from Wednesday evening into Saturday morning.
Total Lunar Eclipse As the Moon passes opposite the Sun on March 14, it will move through Earth’s shadow, creating a total eclipse of the Moon. The Moon will begin entering the partial shadow Thursday night at 11:57 p.m., but the gradual dimming of the Moon will not be noticeable until it starts to enter the full shadow Friday morning at 1:09 a.m. The round shadow of Earth will gradually shift across the face of the Moon (from lower left to upper right) until the Moon is fully shaded beginning at 2:26 a.m.
The period of full shadow, or total eclipse, will last about 65 minutes, reaching the greatest eclipse at 2:59 a.m. and ending at 3:31 a.m. Even though it will be in full shadow, the Moon will still be visible. The glow of all of the sunrises and sunsets on Earth will give the Moon a reddish-brown hue, sometimes called a “blood” Moon (although this name is also used for one of the full moons near the start of fall). From 3:31 until 4:48 a.m., the Moon will exit the full shadow of Earth, with the round shadow of Earth again shifting across the face of the Moon (from upper left to lower right). The Moon will leave the last of the partial shadow at 6 a.m. ending this eclipse.

MIL OSI USA News –

February 15, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: DLNR News Release – LAND MANAGERS RECEIVE FUNDS TO SUPPORT CLIMATE CHANGE RESILIENCE, February 13, 2025

Source: US State of Hawaii

DLNR News Release – LAND MANAGERS RECEIVE FUNDS TO SUPPORT CLIMATE CHANGE RESILIENCE, February 13, 2025

Posted on Feb 13, 2025 in Latest Department News, Newsroom

STATE OF HAWAIʻI
KA MOKU ʻĀINA O HAWAIʻI

DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES
KA ʻOIHANA KUMUWAIWAI ‘ĀINA

JOSH GREEN, M.D.
GOVERNOR
KE KIAʻĀINA

DAWN CHANG
CHAIR

LAND MANAGERS RECEIVE FUNDS TO SUPPORT CLIMATE CHANGE RESILIENCE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 13, 2025

HONOLULU – The Carbon Smart Program has awarded a total of $1,000,000 to 10 grantees to develop and implement plans for regenerative sustainable practices, particularly carbon sequestration (capturing, securing and storing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere). The program is a pilot initiative to promote the preservation and enhancement of ranches, forests and farmlands in Hawaiʻi,

Developed by the Hawaiʻi State Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission (CCMAC), the programprovides grant funding to landowners or lessees in the state with a focus on smaller land managers, who often have difficulty accessing federal funding. The awardees will work to improve and expand practical solutions for soil health, carbon storage, and climate change resilience.

Funds have been awarded to land managersfrom Hawaiʻi County to Molokaʻi and Oʻahu. These include MĀLA ʻŌiwi with Waiʻanae Community Redevelopment Corporation; OCR INC., dba Small Kine Farm; Healing Mountain Homestead, LLC; Living Life Source Foundation; The Kohala Center; Puʻu O Hoku Operations; Maluhia Fields, LLC; Mililani Agricultural Park, LLC; Protect & Preserve Hawaiʻi; and Kuilima Farm with Pono Pacific, LLC.

“The goal is to increase the strategies and options for land managers to develop greater carbon sequestration practices while building resilience and enhancing regenerative practices already in place,” said Leah Laramee, CCMAC Coordinator. “We are hoping to be able to continue this program in the future to fund a wider range of projects. We want to support local land managers and to implement community-led carbon sequestration actions.”

Examples of grantee projects include transitioning fallow land to agroforestry systems, creating organic compost from mushrooms to provide to markets across the islands, removing invasive species and regenerating native forest through Hawaiian traditional ecological knowledge and supporting a hui of 14 ‘ōiwi-led organizations in diverse locally designed carbon sequestration activities.

This grant program addresses the urgent need to mitigate climate vulnerability in Hawaiʻi. Farmers, schools, community hui, businesses and nonprofit organizations were among a diverse group expressing a high level of interest to participate in these efforts.

# # #

RESOURCES

(All images/video courtesy: DLNR)

Photographs – Soil sampling and native planting (September 2024 and February 2025):https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/6ku9c7djjfwgvyej189v2/AATGtERw8iLQfc4_NCDMGDc?rlkey=gxw0kj1qbyo94yymdpth5a6iq&st=on2uven8&dl=0

Media contact:

Patti Jette

Communications Specialist

Hawai‘i Dept. of Land and Natural Resources

Phone: 808-587-0396

Email: [email protected]

MIL OSI USA News –

February 15, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Union Minister of Textiles Shri Giriraj Singh visits Bharat Tex 2025 at Bharat Mandapam

Source: Government of India (2)

Union Minister of Textiles Shri Giriraj Singh visits Bharat Tex 2025 at Bharat Mandapam

Bharat Tex 2025 Theme: Resilient global value chains and textile sustainability.

Bharat Tex 2025 features a comprehensive showcase of India’s textile ecosystem, covering everything from raw materials and fibers to finished products, technical textiles, home furnishings, and high-end fashion.

Bharat Tex 2025 has attracted participation from global textile giants, brands, and industry bodies

Posted On: 14 FEB 2025 4:04PM by PIB Delhi

The Union Minister of Textiles, Shri Giriraj Singh, visited Bharat Tex 2025 on its opening day today at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. Organized by the consortium of 12 Textile Export Promotion Councils and supported by the Ministry of Textiles, this main event is being held from February 14-17, 2025 at the Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, and will cover the entire value chain of textiles, from raw materials and fibers to finished products, technical textiles, home furnishings, and high-end fashion. Related exhibitions such as accessories, garment machinery, dyes and chemicals and handicrafts, are being held from February 12 to 15 at the India Expo Centre and Mart Greater Noida.

Bharat Tex 2025 is one of the world’s largest textile expos, bringing together policymakers, industry leaders, global brands, and stakeholders from across the textile value chain under one roof. With over 5,000 exhibitors and participation from more than 120 countries, Bharat Tex 2025 has drawn significant global interest, reflecting India’s growing influence in textile trade.

This year’s event is built around the twin themes of resilient global value chains and textile sustainability. This mega textile event offers a range of activities, covering a global sized trade fair and expo, a global scale textiles conference, seminars, CEO roundtables, and B2B and G2G meetings. It will also feature strategic investment discussions, product launches, and collaborations poised to reshape the global textile industry. Dedicated buyer-seller meets, policy roundtables and networking sessions will enhance international business collaborations, reinforcing India’s position as a preferred global sourcing destination.

With participation from leading textile manufacturers, global retail giants, and industry associations, Bharat Tex 2025 is set to facilitate high-value trade discussions and partnerships. The event will host over 70 conference sessions, featuring top international speakers, industry veterans, and policymakers discussing key topics such as global trade shifts, technical textiles, AI-driven manufacturing, and the future of sustainable fashion.

Fusion of India’s historical textile expertise with contemporary trends will be a highlight of the event. Fashion shows, trend forecasts, and product launches will provide a glimpse into the future of textiles, while traditional displays and cultural performances will celebrate the enduring legacy of Indian craftsmanship. This year’s event also enforces India’s 5F vision – Farm to Fibre, Fabric, Fashion, and Foreign Markets, positioning the country as a reliable and sustainable sourcing destination for global textile companies.

Bharat Tex 2025 promises to be a celebration of the textile industry’s past, present, and future. It aims to be a key influencer in shaping global textile trends, driving innovation, and promoting sustainability. As the industry looks towards more integrated and sustainable practices, Bharat Tex 2025 will undoubtedly play a pivotal role in this transformative journey.

***

Dhanya Sanal K

(Release ID: 2103223) Visitor Counter : 19

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

February 15, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: At the Conclusion of India Energy Week 2025, India Cements Position as Global Energy Leader

Source: Government of India

At the Conclusion of India Energy Week 2025, India Cements Position as Global Energy Leader

“World’s second-largest energy conclave saw announcement of largest-ever exploration bid round, charted path for green energy transition while strengthening international partnerships”

Posted On: 14 FEB 2025 2:42PM by PIB Delhi

Shri Hardeep Singh Puri, Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas, highlighted the measurable success of India Energy Week 2025 through its unprecedented participant and exhibitor numbers and technical paper submissions. The Minister noted that the event had exceeded expectations by encompassing a comprehensive range of sectors including petroleum, natural gas, green energy, biofuel, and CBG, showcasing remarkably innovative developments.

Shri Puri emphasized that within the short span of three years, India Energy Week has established itself as the world’s second-largest energy platform, with its fourth edition scheduled to take place in Goa.

The Minister emphasized that IEW 2025 distinguished itself from other global energy forums by facilitating actual business transactions rather than merely serving as a networking platform. Shri Hardeep Singh Puri specifically highlighted practical innovations such as the cost-effective conversion kit demonstrated at the HPCL stall, designed for enabling biofuel usage in two and three-wheelers. Additionally, the Minister also expressed satisfaction at the convergence of investors, manufacturers, and consumers, particularly evident in the display of flex fuel vehicles.

Speaking on India-US energy cooperation, the Minister noted the substantial progress in bilateral relations, particularly in the natural gas sector. The Minister highlighted India’s stated goal of increasing natural gas consumption to 15% in its energy mix from about 6% currently, emphasizing the strategic importance of the relationship with the United States for Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) supplies.

Addressing reforms in the Exploration and Production (E&P) sector, Shri Puri detailed the scale of Open Acreage Licensing Program (OALP) Round X covering about 200,000 square kilometers. The Minister explained that enhanced interest in this round has been driven by systematic reforms in the regulatory regime, transitioning from production to revenue sharing mechanisms, along with the proposed amendments to Oilfields (Regulation and Development) Act 1948.

Additionally, Shri Puri announced that the new legislative framework, developed through extensive consultations, is set to be presented in the Lok Sabha. He particularly noted the collaboration of ONGC with BP, and Reliance in bidding for blocks in earlier rounds as a strong message of industry partnership.

Outlining the Ministry’s priorities, the Minister emphasized focus on E&P, stressing the importance of expert collaboration and the proposed changes to regulatory framework that allows appropriate compensation for resource discovery to the stakeholders in the sector.

The Minister highlighted the significance of the amendments, passed by the Rajya Sabha, in ensuring policy predictability, particularly regarding windfall tax implementation. He emphasized the removal of discretionary elements in policy implementation as a move toward more transparent governance in the energy sector.

Discussing the global energy scenario, the Minister observed that the new US administration’s push for increased oil supply has created favorable conditions in global markets. He noted the emergence of new oil sources from the Western Hemisphere, including Brazil, Argentina, Suriname, Canada, US, and Guyana, as beneficial for major consuming nations like India. Shri Puri expressed complete confidence in India’s international investments in the Oil & Gas assets across Brazil, Venezuela, Russia, and Mozambique.

Shri Hardeep Singh Puri described the biofuel program as a remarkable story, citing current capacity of 1,700 crore liters for ethanol blending, while discussing potential beyond the 20% blending target. Moreover, Shri Puri expressed particular excitement about green hydrogen, confirming confident progression toward the 5MMT annual production target for 2030, while also highlighting sustainable aviation fuel development.

Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Shri Pankaj Jain, detailed the business conducted during IEW 2025 across various domains. He categorized the agreements into distinct areas: supply arrangements for crude, LNG, and LPG across geographies; technology partnerships for digital refinery solutions; and exploration services.

Shri Pankaj Jain also highlighted the unprecedented scale of OALP Round X, emphasizing the need for global expertise to exploit hydrocarbon resources in the country. Shri Jain also discussed the potential use of the Oil Industry Development Fund, established under the Oil Industry Development Act, for innovative financing needs in deep-water exploration projects.

Felicitation to Startup Competition and Hackathon Winners:

The prestigious Avinya’25 – Energy Startup Challenge awards, the flagship initiative of the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, were presented by Shri Hardeep Singh Puri and Shri Pankaj Jai. Avinya’25 recognized startups with pioneering solutions addressing key energy challenges.

UrjanovaC Pvt Ltd emerged as the winner for its synthetic catalyst technology that enables scalable and cost-competitive CO₂ capture and conversion. The first runner-up, Breathe ESG Private Limited, developed a SaaS platform that automates ESG reporting, decarbonization strategies, and compliance.

AgriVijay, the second runner-up, introduced India’s first curated marketplace for renewable energy solutions for farmers and rural households. Apeiro Energy, securing the third runner-up position, designed hybrid microgrids by integrating small wind turbines with solar panels. UGreen Technology, the fourth runner-up, developed a molecular-engineering approach that enhances CO₂ reactivity for efficient carbon capture.

Additionally, the Ministry introduced Vasudha – Oil and Gas Startup Challenge, an exclusive competition for overseas startups revolutionizing the upstream oil and gas sector. Out of 17 entries from 13 countries, two visionary startups were recognized.

Latin Energy Partners Inc., Paraguay, won the challenge, while Ultrasound Process Consultation LLC, USA, was named the runner-up. Their innovations in oil and gas exploration, AI-driven production management, ESG compliance, CCUS technologies, and geothermal exploration were highly commended.

Promoting research and technological innovation, a Hackathon was organized among seven premier IITs, including IIT Delhi, Mumbai, Madras, Guwahati, Roorkee, Kharagpur, and ISM Dhanbad. The competition aimed to drive forward-thinking solutions in CCUS and renewable energy. IIT (ISM) Dhanbad secured the winner’s title, while IIT Guwahati emerged as the runner-up.

About India Energy Week 2025

India Energy Week was envisioned as more than just another industry conference—it was designed to be a dynamic platform redefining global energy dialogues. In just two years, this self-funded initiative has achieved precisely that, becoming the world’s second-largest energy event. The third edition, scheduled from February 11-14, 2025, at Yashobhoomi, New Delhi, represents a significant milestone in shaping the global energy narrative.

****

MONIKA

(Release ID: 2103188) Visitor Counter : 66

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

February 15, 2025

MIL-OSI Europe: Text adopted – Genetically modified maize MON 95275 – P10_TA(2025)0015 – Wednesday, 12 February 2025 – Strasbourg

Source: European Parliament

The European Parliament,

– having regard to the draft Commission implementing decision authorising the placing on the market of products containing, consisting of or produced from genetically modified maize MON 95275, pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council (D102172/03),

– having regard to Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 September 2003 on genetically modified food and feed(1), and in particular Article 7(3) and Article 19(3) thereof,

– having regard to the vote of the Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed referred to in Article 35 of Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003, on 22 November 2024, at which no opinion was delivered, and the vote of the Appeal Committee on 17 December 2024, at which again no opinion was delivered,

– having regard to Article 11 of Regulation (EU) No 182/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 February 2011 laying down the rules and general principles concerning mechanisms for control by Member States of the Commission’s exercise of implementing powers(2),

– having regard to the opinion adopted by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) on 19 June 2024, and published on 1 August 2024(3),

– having regard to its previous resolutions objecting to the authorisation of genetically modified organisms (‘GMOs’)(4),

– having regard to Rule 115(2) and (3) of its Rules of Procedure,

– having regard to the motion for a resolution of the Committee on the Environment, Climate and Food Safety,

A. whereas on 29 April 2022, Bayer Agriculture B.V., based in Belgium, on behalf of Bayer CropScience LP, based in the United States, submitted an application to the national competent authority of the Netherlands for the placing on the market of foods, food ingredients and feed containing, consisting of or produced from genetically modified maize MON 95275 (the ‘GM maize’);

B. whereas the GM maize produces two insecticidal proteins (Mpp75Aa1 and Vpb4Da2) and expresses a DvSnf7 dsRNA targeting western corn rootworm; whereas the genetic modification involves a two-step process incorporating an Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation and a Cre/lox recombination system to remove selectable markers;

C. whereas on 19 June 2024, EFSA adopted a favourable opinion, published on 1 August 2024, on MON 95275; whereas EFSA’s opinion provides insufficient data to assess unintended genetic effects, the biological activity of read-through sequences, and potential off-target impacts on non-target organisms;

D. whereas the field trials conducted by the applicant failed to account for diverse environmental stress conditions or varying agricultural practices, limiting the relevance of the results to European cultivation environments;

E. whereas the RNAi construct DvSnf7 dsRNA raises concerns about effects in non-target organisms;

F. whereas the insecticidal proteins Mpp75Aa1 and Vpb4Da2 share structural similarities with known toxins and lack sufficient evaluation of their specificity, immune responses, and combinatorial effects;

G. whereas the potential for gene flow to wild relatives, including European teosinte populations, poses risks of transgene persistence and ecological imbalance;

H. whereas the monitoring requirements under Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 503/2013(5) are inadequately addressed, particularly regarding independent data verification and long-term environmental effects;

I. whereas EFSA’s assessment did not sufficiently address the role of microbiome interactions or cumulative toxicity impacts on non-target organisms;

J. whereas, unlike the use of insecticides, where exposure is at the time of spraying and for a limited period afterwards, the use of insecticidal GM crops leads to continuous exposure of the target and non-target organisms to the toxins;

Member State and stakeholder comments

K. whereas Member States submitted many critical comments to EFSA during the three-month consultation period(6), including that the list of relevant studies identified in the literature review of the applicant, did not include studies on the fate of insecticidal proteins in the environment or on potential effects of crop residues on non-target organisms;

L. whereas, in its eighth term, Parliament adopted a total of 36 resolutions objecting to the placing on the market of GMOs for food and feed (33 resolutions) and to the cultivation of GMOs in the Union (three resolutions); whereas, in its ninth term, Parliament adopted 38 resolutions objecting to placing GMOs on the market and has adopted another 8 resolutions objecting to placing GMOs on the market already in the current tenth term;

M. whereas despite its own acknowledgement of the democratic shortcomings, the lack of support from Member States and the objections of Parliament, the Commission continues to authorise GMOs;

N. whereas the trade agreement between the EU and Mercosur will incentivise imports to the Union of food and animal feed containing, consisting of or produced from genetically modified organisms; whereas Brazil and Argentina are among the world’s top GMO producers and pesticide users, including GMOs and pesticides banned in the Union for health or environmental reasons;

1. Considers that the draft Commission implementing decision exceeds the implementing powers provided for in Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003;

2. Considers that the draft Commission implementing decision is not consistent with Union law, in that it is not compatible with the aim of Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003, which is, in accordance with the general principles laid down in Regulation (EC) No 178/2002 of the European Parliament and of the Council(7), to provide the basis for ensuring a high level of protection of human life and health, animal health and welfare, and environmental and consumer interests, in relation to GM food and feed, while ensuring the effective functioning of the internal market;

3. Calls on the Commission to withdraw its draft implementing decision and to submit a new draft to the committee;

4. Calls on the Commission to ensure convergence of standards between the Union and its partners in free trade agreement negotiations, in order to meet Union safety standards;

5. Calls on the Commission not to authorise the GM crops due to risks to biodiversity, food safety and workers’ health in line with the One Health approach;

6. Welcomes the fact that the Commission finally recognised, in a letter of 11 September 2020 to Members, the need to take sustainability into account when it comes to authorisation decisions on GMOs(8); expresses its deep disappointment, however, that, since then the Commission has continued to authorise GMOs for import into the Union, despite ongoing objections by Parliament and a majority of Member States voting against;

7. Urges the Commission, again, to take into account the Union’s obligations under international agreements, such as the Paris Climate Agreement, the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals; reiterates its call for draft implementing acts to be accompanied by an explanatory memorandum explaining how they uphold the principle of ‘do no harm’(9);

8. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council and the Commission, and to the governments and parliaments of the Member States.

(1)	OJ L 268, 18.10.2003, p. 1, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2003/1829/oj.
(2)	OJ L 55, 28.2.2011, p. 13, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2011/182/oj.
(3)	Scientific opinion of the EFSA Panel on Genetically Modified Organisms on the ‘Assessment of genetically modified maize MON 95275 (application GMFF-2022-5890)’, EFSA Journal 2024; 22(8):e8886, https://doi.org/10.2903/j.efsa.2024.8886.
(4)	–––––––– In its eighth term, Parliament adopted 36 resolutions and, in its ninth term, Parliament adopted 38 resolutions objecting to the authorisation of GMOs. Furthermore, in its tenth term Parliament has adopted the following resolutions:European Parliament resolution of 26 November 2024 on Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2024/2628 renewing the authorisation for the placing on the market of products containing, consisting of or produced from genetically modified maize MON 89034 × 1507 × NK603 pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council (P10_TA(2024)0038).European Parliament resolution of 26 November 2024 on Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2024/2627 authorising the placing on the market of products containing, consisting of or produced from genetically modified cotton COT102 pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council (P10_TA(2024)0039).European Parliament resolution of 26 November 2024 on Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2024/2629 renewing the authorisation for the placing on the market of products containing, consisting of or produced from genetically modified maize MON 89034 × 1507 × MON 88017 × 59122 and eight of its sub-combinations pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council (P10_TA(2024)0040).European Parliament resolution of 26 November 2024 on Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2024/1828 renewing the authorisation for the placing on the market of feed containing, consisting of and of food and feed products produced from genetically modified maize MON 810 pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council and repealing Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2017/1207 (P10_TA(2024)0041).European Parliament resolution of 26 November 2024 on Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2024/1822 authorising the placing on the market of products containing, consisting of or produced from genetically modified maize DP915635 pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council (P10_TA(2024)0042).European Parliament resolution of 26 November 2024 on Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2024/1826 authorising the placing on the market of products containing, consisting of or produced from genetically modified maize DP23211 pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council (P10_TA(2024)0043).European Parliament resolution of 26 November 2024 on Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2024/2618 authorising the placing on the market of products containing, consisting of or produced from genetically modified maize DP202216 pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council (P10_TA(2024)0044).European Parliament resolution of 26 November 2024 on the draft Commission implementing decision authorising the placing on the market of products containing, consisting of or produced from genetically modified maize MON 94804 pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council (P10_TA(2024)0045).
(5)	Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 503/2013 of 3 April 2013 on applications for authorisation of genetically modified food and feed in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council and amending Commission Regulations (EC) No 641/2004 and (EC) No 1981/2006 (OJ L 157, 8.6.2013, p. 1, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg_impl/2013/503/oj).
(6)	https://efsa.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/action/downloadSupplement?doi=10.2903%2Fj.efsa.2024.8716‌&file=efs28716-sup-0012-Annex8.pdf.
(7)	Regulation (EC) No 178/2002 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 28 January 2002 laying down the general principles and requirements of food law, establishing the European Food Safety Authority and laying down procedures in matters of food safety (OJ L 31, 1.2.2002, p. 1, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2002/178/oj).
(8)	https://tillymetz.lu/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Co-signed-letter-MEP-Metz.pdf.
(9)	European Parliament resolution of 15 January 2020 on the European Green Deal (OJ C 270, 7.7.2021, p. 2), paragraph 102.

MIL OSI Europe News –

February 15, 2025

MIL-OSI Europe: Text adopted – Genetically modified maize DP910521 – P10_TA(2025)0014 – Wednesday, 12 February 2025 – Strasbourg

Source: European Parliament

The European Parliament,

– having regard to the draft Commission implementing decision authorising the placing on the market of products containing, consisting of or produced from genetically modified maize DP910521 pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council (D102174/03),

– having regard to the opinion adopted by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) on 19 June 2024, and published on 1 August 2024(3),

– having regard to its previous resolutions objecting to the authorisation of genetically modified organisms (‘GMOs’)(4),

– having regard to Rule 115(2) and (3) of its Rules of Procedure,

– having regard to the motion for a resolution of the Committee on the Environment, Climate and Food Safety,

A. whereas on 27 June 2022, Corteva Agriscience Belgium B.V., based in Belgium, on behalf of Corteva Agriscience LLC, based in the United States, submitted an application to the national competent authority of the Netherlands for the placing on the market of foods, food ingredients and feed containing, consisting of or produced from genetically modified maize DP910521 (the ‘GM maize’);

B. whereas the GM maize produces the Cry1B.34 toxin and is resistant to the herbicide glufosinate;

C. whereas glufosinate is classified as toxic to reproduction 1B and therefore meets the ‘cut-off criteria’ set out in Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council(5); whereas the approval of glufosinate for use in the Union expired on 31 July 2018;

D. whereas Cry1B.34 is a synthetic fusion protein combining Cry1B, Cry1Ca1 and Cry9Db1, engineered for insect resistance against lepidopteran pests, without demonstrated specificity to target species;

E. whereas the genetic modification includes a two-step process using CRISPR/Cas9 to insert a ‘landing pad’, followed by microprojectile bombardment for gene expression cassette insertion;

Lack of assessment of the complementary herbicide

F. whereas Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 503/2013(6) requires an assessment of whether the expected agricultural practices influence the outcome of the studied endpoints; whereas, according to that Implementing Regulation, this is especially relevant for herbicide-tolerant plants;

G. whereas the vast majority of GM crops have been genetically modified so that they are tolerant to one or more ‘complementary’ herbicides which can be used throughout the cultivation of the GM crop, without the crop dying, as would be the case for a non-herbicide tolerant crop; whereas a number of studies show that herbicide-tolerant GM crops result in a higher use of complementary herbicides, in large part because of the emergence of herbicide-tolerant weeds(7);

H. whereas herbicide-tolerant GM crops lock farmers into a weed management system that is largely or wholly dependent on herbicides, and does so by charging a premium for GM seeds that can be justified only if farmers purchasing such seeds also spray the complementary herbicides; whereas heightened reliance on complementary herbicides on farms planting the GM crops accelerates the emergence and spread of weeds resistant to those herbicides, thereby triggering the need for even more herbicide use, a vicious circle known as ‘the herbicide treadmill’;

I. whereas the adverse impacts stemming from excessive reliance on herbicides will worsen as regards soil health, water quality, and above and below ground biodiversity, and lead to increased human and animal exposure, potentially also via increased herbicide residues on food and feed;

J. whereas assessment of herbicide residues and metabolites found on GM plants is considered outside the remit of the EFSA Panel on Genetically Modified Organisms (‘EFSA GMO Panel’) and is therefore not undertaken as part of the authorisation process for GMOs;

Outstanding questions concerning Bt toxins

K. whereas a number of studies show that side effects have been observed that may affect the immune system following exposure to Bt toxins and that some Bt toxins may have adjuvant properties(8), meaning that they can increase the allergenicity of other proteins with which they come into contact;

L. whereas a scientific study found that the toxicity of Bt toxins may also be increased through interaction with residues from spraying with herbicides, and that further studies are needed on the combinatorial effects of ‘stacked’ events (GM crops which have been modified to be herbicide-tolerant and to produce insecticides in the form of Bt toxins)(9); whereas assessment of the potential interaction of herbicide residues and their metabolites with Bt toxins is, however, considered to be outside the remit of the EFSA GMO Panel and is, therefore, not undertaken as part of the risk assessment;

Bt crops: effects on non-target organisms

M. whereas, unlike the use of insecticides, where exposure is at the time of spraying and for a limited period afterwards, the use of Bt GM crops leads to continuous exposure of the target and non-target organisms to Bt toxins;

N. whereas the assumption that Bt toxins exhibit a single target-specific mode of action can no longer be considered correct and effects on non-target organisms cannot be excluded; whereas an increasing number of non-target organisms are reported to be affected in many ways;

Member State and stakeholder comments

O. whereas Member States submitted many critical comments to EFSA during the three-month consultation period(10), including that the list of relevant studies, identified in the literature review of the applicant, did not include studies on the fate of Bt proteins in the environment or on potential effects of Btcrop residues on non-target organisms even though such studies exist;

P. whereas field trials conducted for compositional and phenotypic analysis of the GM maize failed to consider diverse environmental conditions and genetic backgrounds relevant to its cultivation, particularly in countries like Brazil;

Q. whereas the toxicity assessment of Cry1B.34 does not account for combinatorial effects with plant constituents or residues from herbicide applications;

R. whereas glufosinate, the complementary herbicide, is associated with significant risks to biodiversity, soil and water quality, and long-term ecosystem health;

S. whereas the risk of gene flow to wild relatives such as teosinte, reported in Spain and France, raises concerns about transgene persistence and environmental impacts;

T. whereas the monitoring requirements under Implementing Regulation (EU) No 503/2013 are inadequately addressed, with no independent verification of data provided;

Ensuring a global level playing field and upholding the Union’s international obligations

U. whereas the conclusions of the Strategic Dialogue on the Future of EU Agriculture(11) call on the Commission to reassess its approach on market access for agri-food imports and exports, given the challenge of diverging standards of the Union and its trading partners; whereas fairer trade relations, on a global level, coherent with goals for a healthy environment, were one of the main demands of farmers during the demonstrations of 2023 and 2024;

V. whereas a 2017 report by the United Nations’ (UN) Special Rapporteur on the right to food found that, particularly in developing countries, hazardous pesticides have catastrophic impacts on health(12); whereas the UN Sustainable Development Goal (‘UN SDG’) Target 3.9 aims by 2030 to substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water and soil pollution and contamination(13);

W. whereas the trade agreement between the EU and Mercosur will incentivise imports to the Union of food and animal feed containing, consisting of or produced from genetically modified organisms; whereas Brazil and Argentina are among the world’s top GMO producers and pesticide users, including GMOs and pesticides banned in the Union for health or environmental reasons;

X. whereas the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, agreed at the COP15 of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (‘UN CBD’) in December 2022, includes a global target to reduce the risk of pesticides by at least 50 % by 2030(14);

Y. whereas Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003 states that GM food or feed must not have adverse effects on human health, animal health or the environment, and requires the Commission to take into account any relevant provisions of Union law and other legitimate factors relevant to the matter under consideration when drafting its decision; whereas such legitimate factors should include the Union’s obligations under the UN SDGs and the UN CBD;

Reducing dependency on imported feed

Z. whereas one of the lessons from the COVID-19 crisis and the still ongoing war in Ukraine is the need for the Union to end the dependencies on some critical materials; whereas in the mission letter to Commissioner Christophe Hansen, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen asks him to look at ways to reduce imports of critical commodities(15);

Undemocratic decision-making

AA. whereas, in its eighth term, Parliament adopted a total of 36 resolutions objecting to the placing on the market of GMOs for food and feed (33 resolutions) and to the cultivation of GMOs in the Union (three resolutions); whereas, in its ninth term, Parliament adopted 38 resolutions objecting to placing GMOs on the market and has adopted another 8 resolutions objecting to placing GMOs on the market already in the current 10th term;

AB. whereas despite its own acknowledgement of the democratic shortcomings, the lack of support from Member States and the objections of Parliament, the Commission continues to authorise GMOs;

AC. whereas no change of law is required for the Commission to be able not to authorise GMOs when there is no qualified majority of Member States in favour in the Appeal Committee(16);

AD. whereas the vote on 22 November 2024 of the Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed referred to in Article 35 of Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003 delivered no opinion, meaning that the authorisation was not supported by a qualified majority of Member States; whereas the vote on 17 December 2024 of the Appeal Committee again delivered no opinion;

1. Considers that the draft Commission implementing decision exceeds the implementing powers provided for in Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003;

2. Considers that the draft Commission implementing decision is not consistent with Union law, in that it is not compatible with the aim of Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003, which is, in accordance with the general principles laid down in Regulation (EC) No 178/2002 of the European Parliament and of the Council(17), to provide the basis for ensuring a high level of protection of human life and health, animal health and welfare, and environmental and consumer interests, in relation to GM food and feed, while ensuring the effective functioning of the internal market;

3. Calls on the Commission to withdraw its draft implementing decision and to submit a new draft to the committee;

4. Calls on the Commission to ensure convergence of standards between the Union and its partners in free trade agreement negotiations, in order to meet Union safety standards;

5. Calls on the Commission not to authorise the GM maize due to the increased risks to biodiversity, food safety and workers’ health in line with the One Health approach;

6. Expects the Commission, as matter of urgency, to deliver on its commitment(18) to come forward with a proposal to ensure that hazardous chemicals banned in the Union are not produced for export;

7. Welcomes the fact that the Commission finally recognised, in a letter of 11 September 2020 to Members, the need to take sustainability into account when it comes to authorisation decisions on GMOs(19); expresses its deep disappointment, however, that, since then the Commission has continued to authorise GMOs for import into the Union, despite ongoing objections by Parliament and a majority of Member States voting against;

8. Urges the Commission, again, to take into account the Union’s obligations under international agreements, such as the Paris Climate Agreement, the UN CBD and the UN SDGs; reiterates its call for draft implementing acts to be accompanied by an explanatory memorandum explaining how they uphold the principle of ‘do no harm’(20);

9. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council and the Commission, and to the governments and parliaments of the Member States.

(1)	OJ L 268, 18.10.2003, p. 1, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2003/1829/oj.
(2)	OJ L 55, 28.2.2011, p. 13, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2011/182/oj.
(3)	Scientific opinion of the EFSA Panel on Genetically Modified Organisms on the ‘Assessment of genetically modified maize DP910521 (application GMFF-2021-2473)’, EFSA Journal 2024;22(8):e8887, https://doi.org/10.2903/j.efsa.2024.8887.
(4)	–––––––– In its eighth term, Parliament adopted 36 resolutions and, in its ninth term, Parliament adopted 38 resolutions objecting to the authorisation of GMOs. Furthermore, in its tenth term Parliament has adopted the following resolutions:European Parliament resolution of 26 November 2024 on Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2024/2628 renewing the authorisation for the placing on the market of products containing, consisting of or produced from genetically modified maize MON 89034 × 1507 × NK603 pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council (P10_TA(2024)0038).European Parliament resolution of 26 November 2024 on Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2024/2627 authorising the placing on the market of products containing, consisting of or produced from genetically modified cotton COT102 pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council (P10_TA(2024)0039).European Parliament resolution of 26 November 2024 on Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2024/2629 renewing the authorisation for the placing on the market of products containing, consisting of or produced from genetically modified maize MON 89034 × 1507 × MON 88017 × 59122 and eight of its sub-combinations pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council (P10_TA(2024)0040).European Parliament resolution of 26 November 2024 on Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2024/1828 renewing the authorisation for the placing on the market of feed containing, consisting of and of food and feed products produced from genetically modified maize MON 810 pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council and repealing Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2017/1207 (P10_TA(2024)0041).European Parliament resolution of 26 November 2024 on Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2024/1822 authorising the placing on the market of products containing, consisting of or produced from genetically modified maize DP915635 pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council (P10_TA(2024)0042).European Parliament resolution of 26 November 2024 on Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2024/1826 authorising the placing on the market of products containing, consisting of or produced from genetically modified maize DP23211 pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council (P10_TA(2024)0043).European Parliament resolution of 26 November 2024 on Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2024/2618 authorising the placing on the market of products containing, consisting of or produced from genetically modified maize DP202216 pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council (P10_TA(2024)0044).European Parliament resolution of 26 November 2024 on the draft Commission implementing decision authorising the placing on the market of products containing, consisting of or produced from genetically modified maize MON 94804 pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council (P10_TA(2024)0045).
(5)	Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 October 2009 concerning the placing of plant protection products on the market and repealing Council Directives 79/117/EEC and 91/414/EEC (OJ L 309, 24.11.2009, p. 1, ELI: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2009/1107/oj).
(6)	Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 503/2013 of 3 April 2013 on applications for authorisation of genetically modified food and feed in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council and amending Commission Regulations (EC) No 641/2004 and (EC) No 1981/2006 (OJ L 157, 8.6.2013, p. 1, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg_impl/2013/503/oj).
(7)	See, for example, Schulz, R., Bub, S., Petschick, L. L., Stehle, S., Wolfram, J. (2021) ‘Applied pesticide toxicity shifts toward plants and invertebrates, even in GM crops’, Science 372(6537), pp. 81-84, https://doi.org/10.1126/science.abe1148; Bonny, S., ‘Genetically Modified Herbicide-Tolerant Crops, Weeds, and Herbicides: Overview and Impact’, Environmental Management, January 2016;57(1), pp. 31-48, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26296738; and Benbrook, C. M., ‘Impacts of genetically engineered crops on pesticide use in the U.S. – the first sixteen years’, Environmental Sciences Europe, 28 September 2012, Vol. 24(24), https://enveurope.springeropen.com/articles/10.1186/2190-4715-24-24.
(8)	For a review, see Rubio-Infante, N., Moreno-Fierros, L., ‘An overview of the safety and biological effects of Bacillus thuringiensis Cry toxins in mammals’, Journal of Applied Toxicology, May 2016, 36(5), pp. 630-648, https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/jat.3252.
(9)	Bøhn, T., Macagnan Rover, C., Semenchuk, P. R., ‘Daphnia magna negatively affected by chronic exposure to purified Cry-toxins’, Food and Chemical Toxicology, May 2016, Volume 91, pp. 130-140, https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0278691516300722.
(10)	https://efsa.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/action/downloadSupplement?doi=10.2903%2Fj.‌efsa.2024.8716&file=efs28716-sup-0012-Annex8.pdf.
(11)	‘Strategic Dialogue on the Future of EU Agriculture – A shared prospect for farming and food in Europe’, September 2024, https://agriculture.ec.europa.eu/document/download/171329ff-0f50-4fa5-946f-aea11032172e_en?filename=strategic-dialogue-report-2024_en.pdf.
(12)	https://www.ohchr.org/en/documents/thematic-reports/ahrc3448-report-special-rapporteur-right-food.
(13)	https://indicators.report/targets/3-9/.
(14)	see: https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_22_7834.
(15)	https://commission.europa.eu/document/2c64e540-c07a-4376-a1da-368d289f4afe_en.
(16)	The Commission ‘may’, and not ‘shall’, go ahead with authorisation if there is no qualified majority of Member States in favour at the Appeal Committee, according to Article 6(3) of Regulation (EU) No 182/2011.
(17)	Regulation (EC) No 178/2002 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 28 January 2002 laying down the general principles and requirements of food law, establishing the European Food Safety Authority and laying down procedures in matters of food safety (OJ L 31, 1.2.2002, p. 1, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2002/178/oj).
(18)	As outlined in the annex to the communication of the Commission of 14 October 2020 entitled ‘Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability Towards a Toxic-Free Environment’, COM(2020)0667, https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=COM%3A2020%3A667%3AFIN#document2.
(19)	https://tillymetz.lu/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Co-signed-letter-MEP-Metz.pdf.
(20)	European Parliament resolution of 15 January 2020 on the European Green Deal (OJ C 270, 7.7.2021, p. 2), paragraph 102.

MIL OSI Europe News –

February 15, 2025

MIL-OSI Europe: Oral question – Democratic legitimacy and the Commission’s continued authorisation of genetically modified organisms despite Parliament’s objections – O-000003/2025
Source: European Parliament
Question for oral answer O-000003/2025
to the Commission
Rule 142
Biljana Borzan
on behalf of the S&D Group

In the previous legislative term, Parliament adopted 38 objections to the authorisation of genetically modified organisms (GMOs), while another 10 objections have achieved the necessary majority in plenary in the current term. These repeated objections reflect the political will of Parliament and its concerns regarding biodiversity, food safety and environmental sustainability. However, despite Parliament’s clear stance, the Commission continues to grant authorisations, invoking its implementing powers under Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003[1].

This practice exposes a significant democratic deficit, as the position of Parliament, which represents the EU’s citizens, has been disregarded in almost 50 cases. The Commission’s decisions are frequently made without a qualified majority in the Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed, yet it proceeds with authorisations. This gives rise to concerns about the legitimacy of the EU’s decision-making processes and whether they sufficiently respect the precautionary principle.

1.Democratic legitimacy: Given that Parliament has objected to nearly 50 GMO authorisations, how does the Commission justify continuing with approval despite the clear lack of political support and growing public concern?

2.Precautionary principle: The precautionary principle is a cornerstone of EU environmental and health policy. How does the Commission ensure that its GMO authorisation process adheres to this principle, particularly in the light of data gaps and concerns raised by independent scientists and EU citizens? In addition, how does the Commission ensure that its GMO authorisation process does not disproportionately favour third-country agribusiness interests over the EU’s own environmental, health and consumer protection standards?

3.Institutional balance: Does the Commission acknowledge that its current approach undermines trust in the EU institutions by ignoring Parliament’s clear stance? Will it consider reforming the comitology process to strengthen democratic accountability?

4.Future commitments: In the light of the European Green Deal and commitments to sustainable agriculture, what measures will the Commission take to ensure that GMO authorisations align with EU sustainability goals and environmental protection policies? Considering the EU’s reliance on GMO imports from third countries (such as the US and Brazil), how does the Commission plan to balance trade pressures with its commitments under the European Green Deal and the Farm to Fork Strategy?

Submitted: 11.2.2025

Lapses: 12.5.2025

[1] Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 September 2003 on genetically modified food and feed (OJ L 268, 18.10.2003, p. 1, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2003/1829/oj).
Last updated: 14 February 2025
MIL OSI Europe News –
February 15, 2025
MIL-OSI Africa: “Prioritize National Resistance Movement (NRM) Message Of Wealth Creation,” President Museveni Urges Kigezi Leaders

Source: Africa Press Organisation – English (2) – Report:

KAMPALA, Uganda, February 14, 2025/APO Group/ —

“My main message to all of you is prioritizing the National Resistance Movement (NRM) message on wealth creation. Uganda has so many development needs; it is alright to talk about them, but prioritizing is crucial. Like the Bible tells us: seek me first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you,” he said.

The President, who is on a performance assessment tour on wealth creation and the Parish Development Model (PDM) in Kigezi, made the remarks yesterday while meeting leaders in the subregion at Rukungiri Stadium, Rukungiri municipality.

The PDM is a government initiative aimed at transforming Uganda’s economy by extending financial assistance directly to the people outside the money economy, at the parish level to help lift households out of poverty. Each parish SACCO receives Shs. 100 million in a financial year to develop and implement viable income-generating enterprises.

“Leadership is like medical work; just as doctors diagnose patients and prescribe the correct medicine, political leaders must identify societal needs first and address them. This is what the NRM has been telling you since the 1960s,”the President said, adding that it is not only about tarmac roads, electricity, and other infrastructure that will chase poverty out of Uganda but prioritizing initiatives such as the PDM to ensure all households engage in income generating activities such as commercial agriculture.

“That road from Kampala to Mbarara up to Kabale was tarmacked in 1963 after independence and we have been repairing it like three times but even if you go there now, you find the tarmac road with poor people by the roadside. For 60 years they have had a tarmac road, but they are poor. Therefore, you the leaders, let us agree on this,” H.E. Museveni noted.

He further informed the leaders that areas like Nyabusozi, which listened to his message, did not have tarmac roads but realized that the dairy sector could get them out of poverty and have since become prosperous.

“Cows don’t mind about tarmac roads or electricity. They only need grass and water. After that experiment from Nyabusozi, I went and briefed the NRM Central Executive Committee (CEC), and in 1996 we included in the NRM manifesto that commercial agriculture is the only solution to getting people out of poverty,” the President said, adding that because Ugandans had land but did not know what to do, the NRM encouraged them to do intensive agriculture by using their small portions of land to focus on products with high returns under the four acre model.

In the Manifesto, they recommended seven activities, which include one acre for coffee, another acre for fruits (mangoes, oranges, and pineapples), another one for food crops for the family (cassava, bananas, Irish potatoes, or millet), and the last one for pasture for dairy cattle (about 8 of them). On top of this, one can add on poultry for eggs in the backyard, piggery and fish farming.

“Those who listened to our message have gotten out of poverty. That is what has brought me here. As leaders, leaving our people to languish in poverty yet solutions are there, is a very big mistake,” the President stated while giving an example of the several farmers he has visited countrywide with glowing testimonies of how their life has changed as a result of the PDM funds.

President Museveni further warned about reports of extortion and corruption in the PDM program, promising to reign in and arrest all perpetrators.

“I have heard that there are thieves in PDM. All those who stole money from the poor should return it. I’m on the ground and I’m going to arrest them all. I also stopped all the bank charges. The beneficiary must receive their full Shs. 1 million,” President Museveni warned.

He also reiterated that he had already informed the cabinet of the need to establish a processing factory for the ever-increasing volumes of eggs yet with limited market.

“You have heard that they have a lot of eggs in Kabale and the market of Uganda is not enough. I told the ministers that instead of selling them (eggs) raw or eating them in Rolex chapatis, we need to see that we process those eggs into baby foods. We shall sell both in Uganda and the whole world,” the President highlighted.

“We saw the same thing in the dairy sector after the cattle corridor started producing a lot of milk and the Ugandan market was insufficient. I brought rich people to produce powdered milk which we sell in North Africa and the Middle East,” the President said.

He also promised to return to the subregion for a special meeting focusing on tea growing.

In the same meeting, President Museveni was informed about the silent growing habit of divisions based on religion in Kigezi.

“This must stop immediately. Those creating divisions are greedy enemies of Uganda. Maama Janet and I have bananas in Ntungamo but we sell them to all irrespective of religion. When I was studying at Mbarara High School, the people who bought our cows for me to study were from Kampala and some were Muslims. So, those promoting sectarianism are enemies,” the President stated.

Regarding the issue of environmental protection, the President appealed to the people of Kigezi to use the wetlands correctly because of their crucial role in providing water for agricultural production and home use.

The status of PDM in Kigezi sub-region:

Earlier, the National Coordinator of PDM, Hon. Dennis Galabuzi Ssozi provided a detailed account of the model performance in the Kigezi sub-region.

He informed the meeting that a total of Shs. 88.8 billion has been distributed among 428 PDM SACCOs in the nine local governments of the Kigezi sub region comprising six districts and three municipalities.

The highest beneficiary according to size is Kanungu district with Shs. 20.2 billion and the lowest being Kisoro municipality with Shs. 1.5 billion.

Hon. Gabaluzi, however, noted that whereas the region has been capitalized with shs.88.8 billion, the cumulative disbursement rate to date is Shs. 87.5 billion with the highest disbursement rate being by Rukungiri municipality at a rate of 100.6%.

“This 100.6% means that point six is even interest that has accumulated on the account. So, it is a good disbursement rate,” Hon. Galabuzi said, noting that Rubanda lags in disbursement of PDM funds at 95%.

“So, the total disbursement percentage in the sub-region is at 98.5% which is a good disbursement percentage, but we still desire it to be 100%,” he added, further mentioning that a total of 88,000 households have benefited, the highest number being in Kanungu, at 19,000 households and the smallest being Kisoro. About 38% of the beneficiaries are in crop agriculture and 20% in livestock mainly piggery.

He added that the funds have been distributed well according to the allocated quarters which include; 30% for the youth, 30% for women, 10% for the elders, 10% to persons with disabilities, and 20% for any other member of the community that does not fall in those special interest groups.

“This sample analysis shows that 58% of the beneficiaries are female. This shows that when it comes to livelihoods and trying to improve the livelihoods in your home states, women are more vigilant than men by these figures,” Hon. Gababuzi stated

Although adults between 35 and 59 years are the most beneficiaries, Hon. Galabuzi said the PDM secretariat is impressed by the figures of the elderly above 60 years who have actively participated in the PDM up to 13% which is way beyond their quarter.

“So, we are within the ranges and the targets of what we had set in the beginning, and the intentions and objectives of the PDM are being realized within the statistics. These figures will help us know exactly how to plan, along the value chain, down the value chain, and how to get these products to the market,” he said.

About extortion, bank charges, and other small charges from agents, Hon. Galabuzi clarified that in line with the directive by the President, the PDM secretariat has budgeted for all the charges to ensure beneficiaries get full Shs. 1 million and also ensure that the number of agents are increased to at least per Parish.

“So, we don’t expect any further charges on that money. The beneficiary is supposed to get 1 million shillings without any charge. So, anything less than that is criminality. And the President has given the Secretariat and other security agencies a directive that we shall be arresting anyone who tries to put charges on this money because it’s criminal,” he stated.

Residents share views on PDM performance:

Mr. Mbabazi Pieri, who is a councilor of Hamurwa sub-county and deputy speaker of the Rubanda district, decried the imbalance in PDM distribution within the district, which has led to poor performance. Rubanda district has 17 administrative units, 470 villages, and 69 parishes.

“Hamurwa sub-county has five parishes with 67 villages. Originally it was six parishes. They removed one parish and made it Hamurwa Town Council with 8 villages. Now Hamurwa remains with 65 villages and a town council of 8 villages, two of which form a parish. You find a parish of those two villages, getting Shs. 100 million yet I have a parish in Hamurwa with 16 villages,” Mbabazi said.

Ms. Kembabazi Loy, a female youth Councilor in Kanungu district, called for transparency in selecting beneficiaries, adding that due to corruption, the names of certain beneficiaries are deleted from the list.

Mr. Turyabagyenyi Immy, a councilor representing people with disabilities (PWDs) in the Rukungiri district, thanked the government for considering them (PWDs) in the program but expressed dismay over the exclusion of some of their people, such as the deaf.

“Send us sign language interpreters so that category of people also benefits from the PDM,” Turyabagenyi said.

Mr. Akampurira Gideon from Rukiga district said the exclusion of local government leaders as beneficiaries of the PDM program is affecting its effective implementation.

“We also need to access this money so that we monitor a program that we fully understand,” he said.

Mr. Karuru Godfrey, who hails from Nyanamo Town Council in Bukimbiri County, Kisoro district, said the program intended for poor people has ended up in the hands of the already well-off.

Status of Emyooga in the subregion:

The Minister of State for Microfinance, Hon. Haruna Kasolo Kyeyune made a presentation on the status of the Emyooga program.

According to Hon. Kasolo, the Emyooga program aims at inculcating a saving culture among the beneficiaries in their Savings and Credit Cooperative Organizations (SACCOs) who earn daily.

The 18 categories per constituency include, among others, Boodaboda riders, taxi operators, market vendors, shoemakers, performing artists, journalists, carpenters, welders, and the fishing communities. Another category of youth leaders and people with disabilities who cannot access loans from commercial banks and local elected leaders from LC 1 to LC 5 have also been included.

He said the Kabale district with 52 SACCOs received Shs. 2.2 billion, Rubanda with 32 SACCOs (Shs. 1.64 billion), Kisoro with 17 SACCOs (Shs. 3.46 billion), Kanungu with 36 SACCOs (Shs. 1.84 billion), Rukiga with 18 SACCOs (Shs. 740 million), and Rukungiri with 54 SACCOs (Shs. 2.5 billion). All these have been prepared to receive additional seed capital of Shs. 20 million that is sent every financial year.

Although the Minister decried defaulters in the program, SACCOs are progressing well in their saving culture to the tune of Shs. 2.52 billion realized as savings. They include Kabale (Shs. 206 million), Rubanda (Shs. 421 million), Kisoro (Shs. 1.1 billion), Kanungu (Shs. 337 million), Rukiga (47 million), and Rukungiri (Shs. 360 million).

“I’m happy to report that the Emyooga program in the Kigezi sub region has been a success, and beneficiaries have utilized their funds well in lending and showcasing impressive products and services,” Minister Kasolo noted, adding that his ministry has carried out capacity building in areas of mindset change, basic records management, cooperative governance, loan management, enterprise selection, planning and management of finances, and also resource mobilization through savings to ensure proper management of the program countrywide.

Some of the best-performing SACCOs in the Kigezi sub region include: Bufumbira North elected local leaders Emyooga SACCO, Kabale Municipality Women Entrepreneurs’ SACCO, Bufumbira East women entrepreneurs SACCO, Kisoro municipality restaurant owners SACCO, Kabale municipality tailoring Emyooga SACCO, Bukimbiri youth leaders SACCOs, Ndorwa East wilders SACCO, Ndorwa East women entrepreneurs SACCO, Kabale municipality local leaders SACCO, and Kinkizi East women entrepreneurs SACCO.

To ensure transparency and recovery of funds from borrowers, Hon. Kasolo informed the meeting that they have partnered with local radio stations that are equipped with lists of beneficiaries and defaulters to remind Ugandans of their obligation to pay back.

In other reports, the Minister of Works and Transport, Gen. Edward Katumba Wamala, presented the status of the road infrastructure in the Kigezi sub region, highlighting the national roads connecting the region under his ministry and the district roads managed by the district’s local governments with funding from the central government.

He assured the leaders that all the road projects previously under the defunct Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) will continue, such as the road from Kabale connecting to Lake Bunyonyi and Kisoro-Mgahinga Road, whose construction is expected to kick off at the end of this month.

The Minister of Agriculture, Animal Industry, and Fisheries (MAAIF), Hon. Frank Tumwebaze, and the Permanent Secretary, MAAIF, Major General David Kasura Kyomukama, also presented a paper on the government policy on agriculture.

The Minister of State for Trade, Industry, and Cooperatives (Industry), who is also Ndorwa County West MP David Bahati, presented a report on the status of the health sector in the Kigezi sub region on behalf of Health Minister Dr Jane Ruth Aceng.

The meeting was attended by Ministers, Members of Parliament, NRM leaders, local government leaders, among others.

MIL OSI Africa –

February 15, 2025

MIL-OSI Europe: Minutes – Thursday, 13 February 2025 – Strasbourg – Final edition

Source: European Parliament 2

PV-10-2025-02-13

iPlPv_Sit

Minutes

Thursday, 13 February 2025 – Strasbourg

Abbreviations and symbols

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

IN THE CHAIR: Antonella SBERNA
Vice-President

1. Opening of the sitting

The sitting opened at 09:01.

2. Proposal for a Union act

The President of Parliament had declared admissible the following proposal for a Union act pursuant to Rule 47(2):

– Proposal for a Union act, tabled by Jorge Buxadé Villalba, Hermann Tertsch, Juan Carlos Girauta Vidal, Mireia Borrás Pabón, Margarita de la Pisa Carrión and Jorge Martín Frías, on the need to amend the Council Regulation on fixing the fishing opportunities for certain fish stocks and groups of fish stocks applicable in the Mediterranean and Black Seas for 2025 and to protect the trawling sector (B10-0094/2025)

committee responsible: PECH
committees for opinion: BUDG, EMPL, ENVI

3. EU-Mercosur trade agreement (debate)

Commission statement: EU-Mercosur trade agreement (2025/2558(RSP))

Maroš Šefčovič (Member of the Commission) made the statement.

IN THE CHAIR: Katarina BARLEY
Vice-President

The following spoke: Jörgen Warborn, on behalf of the PPE Group, Kathleen Van Brempt, on behalf of the S&D Group, Jean-Paul Garraud, on behalf of the PfE Group, Carlo Fidanza, on behalf of the ECR Group, Svenja Hahn, on behalf of the Renew Group, Saskia Bricmont, on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group, Manon Aubry, on behalf of The Left Group, Stanislav Stoyanov, on behalf of the ESN Group, Gabriel Mato, Bernd Lange, who also answered blue-card questions from Alexander Jungbluth and Saskia Bricmont, Raffaele Stancanelli, Rihards Kols, Marie-Pierre Vedrenne, Vicent Marzà Ibáñez, Luke Ming Flanagan, Arno Bausemer, who also answered a blue-card question from Ana Miranda Paz, Katarína Roth Neveďalová, Davor Ivo Stier, Eero Heinäluoma, Valérie Deloge, who also declined to take blue-card questions from Marie-Pierre Vedrenne and Manon Aubry, Patryk Jaki, who also answered a blue-card question from Jörgen Warborn, Karin Karlsbro, who also answered blue-card questions from Marie Toussaint and Alexander Bernhuber, Thomas Waitz, Lynn Boylan, Francisco José Millán Mon, who also answered a blue-card question from Gilles Pennelle, Brando Benifei, Tiago Moreira de Sá, Kris Van Dijck, Benoit Cassart, Catarina Vieira, Carola Rackete, Herbert Dorfmann, Francisco Assis, who also answered blue-card questions from João Oliveira and Luke Ming Flanagan, Mireia Borrás Pabón, who also answered a blue-card question from Dario Nardella, Veronika Vrecionová, Barry Cowen, Anja Hazekamp, who also answered a blue-card question from Jadwiga Wiśniewska, Lídia Pereira, who also answered blue-card questions from Isabella Tovaglieri and Jadwiga Wiśniewska, and Eric Sargiacomo.

IN THE CHAIR: Esteban GONZÁLEZ PONS
Vice-President

The following spoke: Gilles Pennelle, Nora Junco García, Elsi Katainen, Marta Wcisło, Javier Moreno Sánchez, Isabella Tovaglieri, Oihane Agirregoitia Martínez, Juan Ignacio Zoido Álvarez, Dario Nardella, Ton Diepeveen, Ana Vasconcelos, Salvatore De Meo, Leire Pajín, Barbara Bonte and Céline Imart.

The following spoke under the catch-the-eye procedure: Nina Carberry, Vytenis Povilas Andriukaitis, Diego Solier, Majdouline Sbai, João Oliveira, Grzegorz Braun, Hélder Sousa Silva, Cristina Maestre, Ana Miranda Paz, Lefteris Nikolaou-Alavanos, Maria Walsh, Daniel Buda, Jean-Marc Germain, Maria Zacharia, Jessika Van Leeuwen, Marko Vešligaj and Seán Kelly.

The following spoke: Maroš Šefčovič.

The debate closed.

4. Threats to EU sovereignty through strategic dependencies in communication infrastructure (debate)

Commission statement: Threats to EU sovereignty through strategic dependencies in communication infrastructure (2025/2533(RSP))

The President provided details on the organisation of the debate.

Glenn Micallef (Member of the Commission) made the statement.

The following spoke: Jörgen Warborn, on behalf of the PPE Group, Matthias Ecke, on behalf of the S&D Group, Csaba Dömötör, on behalf of the PfE Group, Piotr Müller, on behalf of the ECR Group, Michał Kobosko, on behalf of the Renew Group, Sergey Lagodinsky, on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group, Pernando Barrena Arza, on behalf of The Left Group, Sarah Knafo, on behalf of the ESN Group, Lena Düpont, Alex Agius Saliba, Ernő Schaller-Baross, Ondřej Krutílek, Bart Groothuis, David Cormand, Nikolas Farantouris, Hans Neuhoff, Mika Aaltola, Bruno Gonçalves, Aleksandar Nikolic, Elena Donazzan, Cristina Guarda, Seán Kelly, Giorgio Gori, Ivaylo Valchev, Tomáš Zdechovský, Lina Gálvez, Diego Solier, Paulius Saudargas, Tsvetelina Penkova, Eszter Lakos, José Cepeda, Angelika Winzig, Brando Benifei and Victor Negrescu.

The following spoke: Glenn Micallef.

The debate closed.

(The sitting was suspended for a few moments.)

IN THE CHAIR: Victor NEGRESCU
Vice-President

5. Resumption of the sitting

The sitting resumed at 12:30.

⁂

The following spoke: Jean-Paul Garraud, Manon Aubry and Thijs Reuten.

6. Voting time

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

6.1. Recent dismissals and arrests of mayors in Türkiye (vote)

Motions for resolutions RC-B10-0100/2025 (minutes of 13.2.2025, item I), B10-0100/2025, B10-0103/2025, B10-0110/2025, B10-0115/2025, B10-0119/2025, B10-0121/2025 and B10-0124/2025 (minutes of 12.2.2025, item I) (2025/2546(RSP))

(Majority of the votes cast)

JOINT MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION

Adopted (P10_TA(2025)0016)

(Motion for a resolution B10-0115/2025 fell.)

The following had spoken:

Geadis Geadi, to move an oral amendment to add a new recital after recital E. Parliament had declined to put the amendment to the vote, as it had been opposed by more than 39 Members.

Detailed voting results

6.2. Repression by the Ortega-Murillo regime in Nicaragua, targeting human rights defenders, political opponents and religious communities in particular (vote)

Motions for resolutions RC-B10-0126/2025 (minutes of 13.2.2025, item I), B10-0126/2025, B10-0128/2025, B10-0130/2025, B10-0131/2025, B10-0132/2025, B10-0134/2025 and B10-0135/2025 (minutes of 12.2.2025, item I) (2025/2547(RSP))

(Majority of the votes cast)

JOINT MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION

Adopted (P10_TA(2025)0017)

(Motions for resolutions B10-0130/2025 and B10-0132/2025 fell.)

Detailed voting results

6.3. Continuing detention and risk of the death penalty for individuals in Nigeria charged with blasphemy, notably the case of Yahaya Sharif-Aminu (vote)

Motions for resolutions RC-B10-0101/2025 (minutes of 13.2.2025, item I), B10-0101/2025, B10-0104/2025, B10-0111/2025, B10-0113/2025, B10-0117/2025, B10-0120/2025, B10-0122/2025 and B10-0123/2025 (minutes of 12.2.2025, item I) (2024/2548(RSP))

(Majority of the votes cast)

JOINT MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION

Adopted (P10_TA(2025)0018)

(Motions for resolutions B10-0111/2025 and B10-0113/2025 fell.)

Detailed voting results

7. Resumption of the sitting

The sitting resumed at 15:01.

IN THE CHAIR: Christel SCHALDEMOSE
Vice-President

8. Approval of the minutes of the previous sitting

The minutes of the previous sitting were approved.

9. Cross-border recognition of civil status documents of same-sex couples and their children within the territory of the EU (debate)

Commission statement: Cross-border recognition of civil status documents of same-sex couples and their children within the territory of the EU (2025/2557(RSP))

Glenn Micallef (Member of the Commission) made the statement.

The following spoke: Seán Kelly, on behalf of the PPE Group, Krzysztof Śmiszek, on behalf of the S&D Group, Paolo Inselvini, on behalf of the ECR Group, Fabienne Keller, on behalf of the Renew Group, Kim Van Sparrentak, on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group, Siegbert Frank Droese, on behalf of the ESN Group, Evin Incir, Lucia Yar, Rasmus Andresen, Robert Biedroń, who also answered a blue-card question from Bogdan Rzońca, and Vytenis Povilas Andriukaitis.

The following spoke under the catch-the-eye procedure: Margarita de la Pisa Carrión.

The following spoke: Glenn Micallef.

The debate closed.

10. Explanations of vote

Written explanations of vote

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

Oral explanations of vote

10.1. Further deterioration of the political situation in Georgia (RC-B10-0106/2025)

The following spoke: Seán Kelly and Ondřej Dostál.

10.2. Escalation of violence in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (RC-B10-0102/2025)

The following spoke: Seán Kelly.

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

In accordance with Rule 208(3), the minutes of the sitting would be put to the House for approval at the start of the next sitting.

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

12. Dates of forthcoming sittings

The next sittings would be held from 10 March 2025 to 13 March 2025.

13. Closure of the sitting

The sitting closed at 15:40.

14. Adjournment of the session

The session of the European Parliament was adjourned.

Alessandro Chiocchetti	Roberta Metsola
Secretary-General	President

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

I. Motions for resolutions tabled

Recent dismissals and arrests of mayors in Türkiye

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

on the recent dismissals and arrests of mayors in Türkiye (2025/2546(RSP)) (RC-B10-0100/2025)
(replacing motions for resolutions B10-0100/2025, B10-0103/2025, B10-0110/2025, B10-0119/2025, B10-0121/2025 and B10-0124/2025)
Sebastião Bugalho, Michalis Hadjipantela, Vangelis Meimarakis, Željana Zovko, Wouter Beke, Antonio López-Istúriz White, Isabel Wiseler-Lima, Ingeborg Ter Laak, Tomáš Zdechovský, Mirosława Nykiel, Jessica Polfjärd, Luděk Niedermayer, Jan Farský, Inese Vaidere
on behalf of the PPE Group
Yannis Maniatis, Francisco Assis, Nacho Sánchez Amor, Evin Incir, Nikos Papandreou, Pina Picierno
on behalf of the S&D Group
Sebastian Tynkkynen, Ondřej Krutílek, Veronika Vrecionová, Waldemar Tomaszewski, Alexandr Vondra, Assita Kanko, Carlo Fidanza, Emmanouil Fragkos, Galato Alexandraki, Alberico Gambino
on behalf of the ECR Group
Malik Azmani, Oihane Agirregoitia Martínez, Petras Auštrevičius, Dan Barna, Benoit Cassart, Olivier Chastel, Veronika Cifrová Ostrihoňová, Karin Karlsbro, Ľubica Karvašová, Jan-Christoph Oetjen, Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, Hilde Vautmans, Lucia Yar
on behalf of the Renew Group
Vladimir Prebilič
on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group
Isabel Serra Sánchez, Özlem Demirel
on behalf of The Left Group

Repression by the Ortega-Murillo regime in Nicaragua, targeting human rights defenders, political opponents and religious communities in particular

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

on repression by the Ortega-Murillo regime in Nicaragua, targeting human rights defenders, political opponents and religious communities in particular (2025/2547(RSP)) (RC-B10-0126/2025)
(replacing motions for resolutions B10-0126/2025, B10-0128/2025, B10-0131/2025, B10-0134/2025 and B10-0135/2025)
Sebastião Bugalho, Željana Zovko, Antonio López-Istúriz White, Gabriel Mato, David McAllister, Vangelis Meimarakis, Wouter Beke, Isabel Wiseler-Lima, Ingeborg Ter Laak, Tomáš Zdechovský, Mirosława Nykiel, Jessica Polfjärd, Luděk Niedermayer, Jan Farský, Andrey Kovatchev, Inese Vaidere
on behalf of the PPE Group
Yannis Maniatis, Francisco Assis, Leire Pajín
on behalf of the S&D Group
Adam Bielan, Arkadiusz Mularczyk, Joachim Stanisław Brudziński, Carlo Fidanza, Alberico Gambino, Małgorzata Gosiewska, Assita Kanko, Mariusz Kamiński, Marlena Maląg, Bogdan Rzońca, Waldemar Tomaszewski, Sebastian Tynkkynen, Ivaylo Valchev, Jadwiga Wiśniewska
on behalf of the ECR Group
Bernard Guetta, Oihane Agirregoitia Martínez, Petras Auštrevičius, Malik Azmani, Dan Barna, Benoit Cassart, Olivier Chastel, Engin Eroglu, Karin Karlsbro, Ľubica Karvašová, Ilhan Kyuchyuk, Urmas Paet, Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, Hilde Vautmans, Lucia Yar
on behalf of the Renew Group
Catarina Vieira
on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group

Continuing detention and risk of the death penalty for individuals in Nigeria charged with blasphemy, notably the case of Yahaya Sharif-Aminu

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

on the continuing detention and risk of the death penalty for individuals in Nigeria charged with blasphemy, notably the case of Yahaya Sharif-Aminu (2025/2548(RSP)) (RC-B10-0101/2025)
(replacing motions for resolutions B10-0101/2025, B10-0104/2025, B10-0117/2025, B10-0120/2025, B10-0122/2025 and B10-0123/2025)
Sebastião Bugalho, Miriam Lexmann, Željana Zovko, Vangelis Meimarakis, Wouter Beke, Isabel Wiseler-Lima, Ingeborg Ter Laak, Tomáš Zdechovský, Mirosława Nykiel, Jessica Polfjärd, Luděk Niedermayer, Jan Farský, Andrey Kovatchev, Inese Vaidere
on behalf of the PPE Group
Yannis Maniatis, Francisco Assis, Hannes Heide
on behalf of the S&D Group
Adam Bielan, Arkadiusz Mularczyk, Joachim Stanisław Brudziński, Carlo Fidanza, Bert-Jan Ruissen, Michał Dworczyk, Emmanouil Fragkos, Alberico Gambino, Małgorzata Gosiewska, Mariusz Kamiński, Marlena Maląg, Bogdan Rzońca, Waldemar Tomaszewski, Sebastian Tynkkynen, Aurelijus Veryga
on behalf of the ECR Group
Jan-Christoph Oetjen, Oihane Agirregoitia Martínez, Petras Auštrevičius, Malik Azmani, Dan Barna, Benoit Cassart, Olivier Chastel, Engin Eroglu, Karin Karlsbro, Ilhan Kyuchyuk, Nathalie Loiseau, Urmas Paet, Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, Hilde Vautmans, Lucia Yar
on behalf of the Renew Group
Catarina Vieira
on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group
Merja Kyllönen
on behalf of The Left Group

Further deterioration of the political situation in Georgia

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

on the further deterioration of the political situation in Georgia (2025/2522(RSP)) (B10-0106/2025)
Reinier Van Lanschot, Mārtiņš Staķis, Maria Ohisalo, Sergey Lagodinsky, Markéta Gregorová, Ville Niinistö, Erik Marquardt, Nicolae Ştefănuță, Villy Søvndal
on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group

on the further deterioration of the political situation in Georgia (2025/2522(RSP)) (B10-0107/2025)
Danilo Della Valle
on behalf of The Left Group

on the further deterioration of the political situation in Georgia (2025/2522(RSP)) (B10-0108/2025)
Rasa Juknevičienė, Michael Gahler, Andrzej Halicki, Sebastião Bugalho, David McAllister, Željana Zovko, Isabel Wiseler-Lima, Antonio López-Istúriz White, Wouter Beke, Krzysztof Brejza, Daniel Caspary, Andrey Kovatchev, Miriam Lexmann, Reinhold Lopatka, Ana Miguel Pedro, Davor Ivo Stier, Michał Szczerba, Alice Teodorescu Måwe, Inese Vaidere, Michał Wawrykiewicz
on behalf of the PPE Group

on the further deterioration of the political situation in Georgia (2025/2522(RSP)) (B10-0112/2025)
Yannis Maniatis, Nacho Sánchez Amor, Tobias Cremer
on behalf of the S&D Group

on the further deterioration of the political situation in Georgia (2025/2522(RSP)) (B10-0114/2025)
Hans Neuhoff, Alexander Sell, Petr Bystron, Tomasz Froelich, Petar Volgin, Stanislav Stoyanov
on behalf of the ESN Group

on the further deterioration of the political situation in Georgia (2025/2522(RSP)) (B10-0116/2025)
Urmas Paet, Petras Auštrevičius, Malik Azmani, Dan Barna, Helmut Brandstätter, Benoit Cassart, Olivier Chastel, Engin Eroglu, Karin Karlsbro, Michał Kobosko, Ilhan Kyuchyuk, Nathalie Loiseau, Jan-Christoph Oetjen, Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, Hilde Vautmans, Sophie Wilmès, Dainius Žalimas
on behalf of the Renew Group

on the further deterioration of the political situation in Georgia (2025/2522(RSP)) (B10-0118/2025)
Adam Bielan, Mariusz Kamiński, Rihards Kols, Małgorzata Gosiewska, Jadwiga Wiśniewska, Veronika Vrecionová, Ondřej Krutílek, Assita Kanko, Sebastian Tynkkynen, Joachim Stanisław Brudziński, Roberts Zīle, Michał Dworczyk, Alexandr Vondra
on behalf of the ECR Group

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

on the further deterioration of the political situation in Georgia (2025/2522(RSP)) (RC-B10-0106/2025)
(replacing motions for resolutions B10-0106/2025, B10-0108/2025, B10-0112/2025, B10-0116/2025 and B10-0118/2025)
Rasa Juknevičienė, Michael Gahler, Andrzej Halicki, Sebastião Bugalho, David McAllister, Željana Zovko, Isabel Wiseler-Lima, Antonio López-Istúriz White, Wouter Beke, Krzysztof Brejza, Daniel Caspary, Andrey Kovatchev, Miriam Lexmann, Reinhold Lopatka, Ana Miguel Pedro, Davor Ivo Stier, Michał Szczerba, Alice Teodorescu Måwe, Inese Vaidere, Michał Wawrykiewicz
on behalf of the PPE Group
Yannis Maniatis, Nacho Sánchez Amor, Tobias Cremer
on behalf of the S&D Group
Adam Bielan, Rihards Kols, Małgorzata Gosiewska, Mariusz Kamiński, Sebastian Tynkkynen, Veronika Vrecionová, Ondřej Krutílek, Michał Dworczyk, Roberts Zīle, Marlena Maląg, Ivaylo Valchev, Alexandr Vondra, Jadwiga Wiśniewska, Assita Kanko
on behalf of the ECR Group
Urmas Paet, Petras Auštrevičius, Malik Azmani, Dan Barna, Helmut Brandstätter, Benoit Cassart, Olivier Chastel, Engin Eroglu, Bernard Guetta, Karin Karlsbro, Michał Kobosko, Ilhan Kyuchyuk, Nathalie Loiseau, Jan-Christoph Oetjen, Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, Eugen Tomac, Hilde Vautmans, Sophie Wilmès, Dainius Žalimas
on behalf of the Renew Group
Reinier Van Lanschot
on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group

Escalation of violence in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo

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

on the escalation of violence in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (2025/2553(RSP)) (B10-0102/2025)
Marc Botenga, Rudi Kennes
on behalf of The Left Group

on the escalation of violence in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (2025/2553(RSP)) (B10-0105/2025)
Thierry Mariani, Jordan Bardella, Pierre-Romain Thionnet, Matthieu Valet, Nikola Bartůšek
on behalf of the PfE Group

on the escalation of violence in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (2025/2553(RSP)) (B10-0109/2025)
Yannis Maniatis, Marit Maij
on behalf of the S&D Group

on the escalation of violence in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (2025/2553(RSP)) (B10-0125/2025)
Hilde Vautmans, Abir Al-Sahlani, Barry Andrews, Petras Auštrevičius, Malik Azmani, Dan Barna, Benoit Cassart, Olivier Chastel, Engin Eroglu, Karin Karlsbro, Ľubica Karvašová, Ilhan Kyuchyuk, Jan-Christoph Oetjen, Urmas Paet, Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, Yvan Verougstraete, Sophie Wilmès, Lucia Yar
on behalf of the Renew Group

on the escalation of violence in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (2025/2553(RSP)) (B10-0127/2025)
Ingeborg Ter Laak, Michael Gahler, Lukas Mandl, Sebastião Bugalho, Wouter Beke
on behalf of the PPE Group

on the escalation of violence in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (2025/2553(RSP)) (B10-0129/2025)
Sara Matthieu, Marie Toussaint, Mounir Satouri, Nicolae Ştefănuță, Saskia Bricmont, Majdouline Sbai, David Cormand, Ville Niinistö, Catarina Vieira, Erik Marquardt, Ignazio Roberto Marino
on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group

on the escalation of violence in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (2025/2553(RSP)) (B10-0133/2025)
Adam Bielan, Carlo Fidanza, Jadwiga Wiśniewska, Cristian Terheş, Joachim Stanisław Brudziński, Bogdan Rzońca, Waldemar Tomaszewski, Arkadiusz Mularczyk, Małgorzata Gosiewska
on behalf of the ECR Group

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

on the escalation of violence in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (2025/2553(RSP)) (RC-B10-0102/2025)
(replacing motions for resolutions B10-0102/2025, B10-0109/2025, B10-0125/2025, B10-0127/2025, B10-0129/2025 and B10-0133/2025)
Ingeborg Ter Laak, Michael Gahler, Lukas Mandl, Sebastião Bugalho, Wouter Beke
on behalf of the PPE Group
Yannis Maniatis, Marit Maij
on behalf of the S&D Group
Waldemar Tomaszewski, Joachim Stanisław Brudziński, Cristian Terheş
on behalf of the ECR Group
Hilde Vautmans, Abir Al-Sahlani, Petras Auštrevičius, Malik Azmani, Dan Barna, Benoit Cassart, Olivier Chastel, Engin Eroglu, Raquel García Hermida-Van Der Walle, Ľubica Karvašová, Ilhan Kyuchyuk, Jan-Christoph Oetjen, Urmas Paet, Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, Yvan Verougstraete
on behalf of the Renew Group
Sara Matthieu
on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group
Marc Botenga, Rudi Kennes, Manon Aubry, Rima Hassan, Damien Carême
on behalf of The Left Group

II. Petitions

Petitions Nos 0001-25 to 0129-25 had been entered in the register on 10 February 2025 and had been forwarded to the committee responsible, in accordance with Rule 232(9) and (10).

The President had, on 10 February 2025, forwarded to the committee responsible, in accordance with Rule 232(15), petitions addressed to the European Parliament by natural or legal persons who were not citizens of the European Union and who did not reside, or have their registered office, in a Member State.

III. Decisions to draw up own-initiative reports

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

(Following the Conference of Presidents’ decision of 23 January 2025)

AFCO Committee

– Application of the Treaty provisions related to the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality and the role of national parliaments in the EU legislative process (2025/2042(INI))
(opinion: JURI)

– Institutional consequences of the EU enlargement negotiations (2025/2041(INI))

CONT Committee

– Choice of performance indicators for audit and budgetary control in the context of financing measures to support the implementation of future European competitiveness (2025/2034(INI))

– 2024 budget – assessing the implementation of the gender mainstreaming methodology in the EU budget (2025/2033(INI))

– Control, transparency and traceability of performance-based instruments (2025/2032(INI))

CULT Committee

– A new vision for the European Universities alliances (2025/2036(INI))

– Role of EU policies in shaping the European Sport Model (2025/2035(INI))

EMPL, FEMM committees

– Advancing towards a care society: addressing the gender care gap (2025/2039(INI))

– Gender pay and pension gap in the EU: state of play, challenges and the way forward, and developing guidelines for the better evaluation and fairer remuneration of work in female-dominated sectors (2025/2038(INI))

IMCO Committee

– Product safety and regulatory compliance in e-commerce and non-EU imports (2025/2037(INI))
(opinion: INTA)

LIBE, FEMM committees

– Importance of consent-based rape legislation in the EU (2025/2040(INI))

IV. Consent procedure

Reports with a motion for a non-legislative resolution (consent procedure) (Rule 107(2))

(Following notification from the Conference of Committee Chairs on 23 January 2025)

PECH Committee

– Implementing Protocol (2025-2030) to the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Government of Greenland and the Government of Denmark (2024/0263M(NLE) – 2024/0263(NLE))

V. Documents received

The following documents had been received:

1) from other institutions

– Partial renewal of Members of the Court of Auditors – RO nominee (05958/2025 – C10-0010/2025 – 2025/0801(NLE))
referred to committee responsible: CONT

2) from Members

– Catherine Griset, Virginie Joron and Thierry Mariani. Motion for a resolution on the training of European artificial intelligence (B10-0051/2025)
referred to committee responsible: LIBE
opinion: IMCO, JURI

– Christophe Bay, Marie Dauchy, Valérie Deloge, Elisabeth Dieringer, Mélanie Disdier, Anne-Sophie Frigout, Branko Grims, Fabrice Leggeri, Julien Leonardelli, Tiago Moreira de Sá, Aleksandar Nikolic, Gilles Pennelle, Julie Rechagneux, Malika Sorel, Rody Tolassy, Laurence Trochu and Séverine Werbrouck. Motion for a resolution on the application of Directive 2003/88/EC (WTD) to the role of voluntary firefighters (B10-0052/2025)
referred to committee responsible: EMPL

– Tomasz Froelich and Ewa Zajączkowska-Hernik. Motion for a resolution on the child sexual exploitation scandal in the United Kingdom (B10-0062/2025)
referred to committee responsible: LIBE

ATTENDANCE REGISTER

Present:

Aaltola Mika, Abadía Jover Maravillas, Adamowicz Magdalena, Aftias Georgios, Agirregoitia Martínez Oihane, Agius Peter, Agius Saliba Alex, Allione Grégory, Al-Sahlani Abir, Anadiotis Nikolaos, Anderson Christine, Andersson Li, Andresen Rasmus, Andrews Barry, Andriukaitis Vytenis Povilas, Angel Marc, Annemans Gerolf, Annunziata Lucia, Antoci Giuseppe, Arias Echeverría Pablo, Arimont Pascal, Arłukowicz Bartosz, Arnaoutoglou Sakis, Arndt Anja, Arvanitis Konstantinos, Asens Llodrà Jaume, Assis Francisco, Attard Daniel, Aubry Manon, Auštrevičius Petras, Azmani Malik, Bajada Thomas, Baljeu Jeannette, Ballarín Cereza Laura, Barley Katarina, Barrena Arza Pernando, Bartulica Stephen Nikola, Bartůšek Nikola, Bausemer Arno, Bay Nicolas, Bay Christophe, Beke Wouter, Benifei Brando, Bentele Hildegard, Berendsen Tom, Berger Stefan, Berg Sibylle, Berlato Sergio, Bernhuber Alexander, Biedroń Robert, Bielan Adam, Bischoff Gabriele, Blaha Ľuboš, Blinkevičiūtė Vilija, Blom Rachel, Bloss Michael, Bocheński Tobiasz, Boeselager Damian, Bogdan Ioan-Rareş, Bonaccini Stefano, Bonte Barbara, Borchia Paolo, Borrás Pabón Mireia, Borvendég Zsuzsanna, Borzan Biljana, Bosanac Gordan, Bosse Stine, Botenga Marc, Boyer Gilles, Boylan Lynn, Brasier-Clain Marie-Luce, Braun Grzegorz, Bricmont Saskia, Brnjac Nikolina, Brudziński Joachim Stanisław, Buchheit Markus, Buczek Tomasz, Buda Daniel, Buda Waldemar, Budka Borys, Bugalho Sebastião, Buła Andrzej, Bullmann Udo, Burkhardt Delara, Bystron Petr, Bžoch Jaroslav, Camara Mélissa, Canfin Pascal, Carberry Nina, Carême Damien, Casa David, Caspary Daniel, Cassart Benoit, Castillo Laurent, del Castillo Vera Pilar, Cavazzini Anna, Cavedagna Stefano, Ceccardi Susanna, Cepeda José, Ceulemans Estelle, Chahim Mohammed, Chaibi Leila, Chastel Olivier, Chinnici Caterina, Cifrová Ostrihoňová Veronika, Ciriani Alessandro, Clausen Per, Cormand David, Corrado Annalisa, Costanzo Vivien, Cotrim De Figueiredo João, Cowen Barry, Cremer Tobias, Crespo Díaz Carmen, Cristea Andi, Crosetto Giovanni, Cunha Paulo, Dahl Henrik, Danielsson Johan, Dauchy Marie, Dávid Dóra, David Ivan, Decaro Antonio, de la Hoz Quintano Raúl, Della Valle Danilo, Deloge Valérie, De Masi Fabio, De Meo Salvatore, Dibrani Adnan, Diepeveen Ton, Dieringer Elisabeth, Dîncu Vasile, Disdier Mélanie, Dobrev Klára, Doherty Regina, Doleschal Christian, Dömötör Csaba, Do Nascimento Cabral Paulo, Donazzan Elena, Dorfmann Herbert, Dostalova Klara, Dostál Ondřej, Droese Siegbert Frank, Düpont Lena, Dworczyk Michał, Ecke Matthias, Ehler Christian, Ehlers Marieke, Eriksson Sofie, Erixon Dick, Eroglu Engin, Ezcurra Almansa Alma, Falcă Gheorghe, Farantouris Nikolas, Farreng Laurence, Farský Jan, Ferber Markus, Ferenc Viktória, Fernández Jonás, Fidanza Carlo, Firmenich Ruth, Flanagan Luke Ming, Fourlas Loucas, Fourreau Emma, Freund Daniel, Frigout Anne-Sophie, Friis Sigrid, Fritzon Heléne, Froelich Tomasz, Funchion Kathleen, Furet Angéline, Furore Mario, Gahler Michael, Gál Kinga, Gálvez Lina, Gambino Alberico, García Hermida-Van Der Walle Raquel, Garraud Jean-Paul, Gasiuk-Pihowicz Kamila, Geadi Geadis, Gedin Hanna, Geier Jens, Geisel Thomas, Gemma Chiara, Georgiou Giorgos, Gerbrandy Gerben-Jan, Germain Jean-Marc, Gerzsenyi Gabriella, Geuking Niels, Gieseke Jens, Giménez Larraz Borja, Girauta Vidal Juan Carlos, Glavak Sunčana, Goerens Charles, Gomart Christophe, Gomes Isilda, Gómez López Sandra, Gonçalves Bruno, Gonçalves Sérgio, González Casares Nicolás, González Pons Esteban, Gori Giorgio, Gosiewska Małgorzata, Gotink Dirk, Gozi Sandro, Gražulis Petras, Gregorová Markéta, Grims Branko, Griset Catherine, Gronkiewicz-Waltz Hanna, Groothuis Bart, Grossmann Elisabeth, Guarda Cristina, Guetta Bernard, Guzenina Maria, Győri Enikő, Gyürk András, Hadjipantela Michalis, Hahn Svenja, Haider Roman, Halicki Andrzej, Hansen Niels Flemming, Hassan Rima, Hauser Gerald, Hava Mircea-Gheorghe, Hazekamp Anja, Heide Hannes, Heinäluoma Eero, Henriksson Anna-Maja, Herbst Niclas, Hohlmeier Monika, Hojsík Martin, Holmgren Pär, Hölvényi György, Homs Ginel Alicia, Humberto Sérgio, Ijabs Ivars, Imart Céline, Incir Evin, Inselvini Paolo, Jaki Patryk, Jalloul Muro Hana, Jamet France, Jarubas Adam, Jerković Romana, Joron Virginie, Jouvet Pierre, Joveva Irena, Juknevičienė Rasa, Junco García Nora, Jungbluth Alexander, Kalfon François, Kaliňák Erik, Kaljurand Marina, Kalniete Sandra, Kanev Radan, Kanko Assita, Karlsbro Karin, Kartheiser Fernand, Karvašová Ľubica, Katainen Elsi, Kefalogiannis Emmanouil, Kelleher Billy, Keller Fabienne, Kelly Seán, Kemp Martine, Knafo Sarah, Knotek Ondřej, Kobosko Michał, Köhler Stefan, Kohut Łukasz, Kokalari Arba, Kolář Ondřej, Kollár Kinga, Kols Rihards, Kopacz Ewa, Körner Moritz, Kountoura Elena, Kovatchev Andrey, Krištopans Vilis, Kruis Sebastian, Krutílek Ondřej, Kuhnke Alice, Kulja András Tivadar, Kulmuni Katri, Kyllönen Merja, Kyuchyuk Ilhan, Lagodinsky Sergey, Lakos Eszter, Lalucq Aurore, Lange Bernd, Langensiepen Katrin, Laššáková Judita, László András, Latinopoulou Afroditi, Laurent Murielle, Laureti Camilla, Laykova Rada, Lazarov Ilia, Le Callennec Isabelle, Leggeri Fabrice, Lenaers Jeroen, Lewandowski Janusz, Lexmann Miriam, Liese Peter, Lins Norbert, Løkkegaard Morten, Lopatka Reinhold, López Javi, López Aguilar Juan Fernando, López-Istúriz White Antonio, Lövin Isabella, Luena César, Lupo Giuseppe, McAllister David, Maestre Cristina, Magoni Lara, Magyar Péter, Maij Marit, Maląg Marlena, Manda Claudiu, Mandl Lukas, Maniatis Yannis, Mantovani Mario, Maran Pierfrancesco, Marczułajtis-Walczak Jagna, Maréchal Marion, Mariani Thierry, Marino Ignazio Roberto, Marquardt Erik, Martín Frías Jorge, Martins Catarina, Martusciello Fulvio, Marzà Ibáñez Vicent, Mato Gabriel, Matthieu Sara, Mavrides Costas, Mazurek Milan, Mažylis Liudas, McNamara Michael, Mebarek Nora, Mehnert Alexandra, Meimarakis Vangelis, Mendes Ana Catarina, Mendia Idoia, Mertens Verena, Mesure Marina, Metsola Roberta, Metz Tilly, Mikser Sven, Millán Mon Francisco José, Minchev Nikola, Miranda Paz Ana, Montserrat Dolors, Morace Carolina, Moreira de Sá Tiago, Moreno Sánchez Javier, Moretti Alessandra, Motreanu Dan-Ştefan, Mularczyk Arkadiusz, Müller Piotr, Mureşan Siegfried, Nagyová Jana, Nardella Dario, Navarrete Rojas Fernando, Negrescu Victor, Nesci Denis, Neuhoff Hans, Neumann Hannah, Nevado del Campo Elena, Niebler Angelika, Niedermayer Luděk, Niinistö Ville, Nikolaou-Alavanos Lefteris, Nikolic Aleksandar, Ní Mhurchú Cynthia, Noichl Maria, Nordqvist Rasmus, Nykiel Mirosława, Obajtek Daniel, Ódor Ľudovít, Oetjen Jan-Christoph, Ohisalo Maria, Oliveira João, Olivier Philippe, Ó Ríordáin Aodhán, Ozdoba Jacek, Paet Urmas, Pajín Leire, Palmisano Valentina, Panayiotou Fidias, Papadakis Kostas, Papandreou Nikos, Pappas Nikos, Pascual de la Parte Nicolás, Paulus Jutta, Pedro Ana Miguel, Pedulla’ Gaetano, Pellerin-Carlin Thomas, Peltier Guillaume, Penkova Tsvetelina, Pennelle Gilles, Pereira Lídia, Pérez Alvise, Peter-Hansen Kira Marie, Petrov Hristo, Picaro Michele, Picula Tonino, Piera Pascale, Pimpie Pierre, de la Pisa Carrión Margarita, Pokorná Jermanová Jaroslava, Polato Daniele, Polfjärd Jessica, Popescu Virgil-Daniel, Pozņaks Reinis, Prebilič Vladimir, Princi Giusi, Pürner Friedrich, Rackete Carola, Radev Emil, Radtke Dennis, Rafowicz Emma, Ratas Jüri, Razza Ruggero, Rechagneux Julie, Repasi René, Repp Sabrina, Ressler Karlo, Riba i Giner Diana, Ricci Matteo, Ridel Chloé, Riehl Nela, Ripa Manuela, Ros Sempere Marcos, Roth Neveďalová Katarína, Rougé André, Ruissen Bert-Jan, Ruotolo Sandro, Rzońca Bogdan, Saeidi Arash, Salini Massimiliano, Salis Ilaria, Salla Aura, Sánchez Amor Nacho, Sanchez Julien, Sancho Murillo Elena, Saramo Jussi, Sargiacomo Eric, Satouri Mounir, Saudargas Paulius, Sbai Majdouline, Sberna Antonella, Schaldemose Christel, Schaller-Baross Ernő, Schenk Oliver, Scheuring-Wielgus Joanna, Schieder Andreas, Schilling Lena, Schwab Andreas, Scuderi Benedetta, Seekatz Ralf, Sell Alexander, Serrano Sierra Rosa, Serra Sánchez Isabel, Sidl Günther, Sieper Lukas, Simon Sven, Singer Christine, Sinkevičius Virginijus, Sippel Birgit, Sjöstedt Jonas, Śmiszek Krzysztof, Smith Anthony, Smit Sander, Sokol Tomislav, Solier Diego, Solís Pérez Susana, Sonneborn Martin, Sorel Malika, Sousa Silva Hélder, Søvndal Villy, Staķis Mārtiņš, Stancanelli Raffaele, Ştefănuță Nicolae, Steger Petra, Stier Davor Ivo, Stöteler Sebastiaan, Stoyanov Stanislav, Strack-Zimmermann Marie-Agnes, Strada Cecilia, Streit Joachim, Strik Tineke, Strolenberg Anna, Stürgkh Anna, Sypniewski Marcin, Szczerba Michał, Szekeres Pál, Szydło Beata, Tamburrano Dario, Tânger Corrêa António, Tarczyński Dominik, Tarquinio Marco, Tavares Carla, Tegethoff Kai, Temido Marta, Terheş Cristian, Ter Laak Ingeborg, Terras Riho, Tertsch Hermann, Thionnet Pierre-Romain, Timgren Beatrice, Tinagli Irene, Tobé Tomas, Tolassy Rody, Tomac Eugen, Tomašič Zala, Tomaszewski Waldemar, Tomc Romana, Tonin Matej, Toom Jana, Topo Raffaele, Torselli Francesco, Tosi Flavio, Toussaint Marie, Tovaglieri Isabella, Toveri Pekka, Trochu Laurence, Tudose Mihai, Turek Filip, Tynkkynen Sebastian, Uhrík Milan, Vaidere Inese, Valchev Ivaylo, Vălean Adina, Valet Matthieu, Van Brempt Kathleen, Van Brug Anouk, van den Berg Brigitte, Vandendriessche Tom, Van Dijck Kris, Van Lanschot Reinier, Van Leeuwen Jessika, Vannacci Roberto, Van Overtveldt Johan, Van Sparrentak Kim, Vasconcelos Ana, Vautmans Hilde, Vedrenne Marie-Pierre, Veryga Aurelijus, Vešligaj Marko, Vicsek Annamária, Vieira Catarina, Vilimsky Harald, Vincze Loránt, Vistisen Anders, Vivaldini Mariateresa, Volgin Petar, von der Schulenburg Michael, Vondra Alexandr, Voss Axel, Vrecionová Veronika, Vázquez Lázara Adrián, Waitz Thomas, Walsh Maria, Warborn Jörgen, Warnke Jan-Peter, Wąsik Maciej, Wawrykiewicz Michał, Wcisło Marta, Wechsler Andrea, Weimers Charlie, Werbrouck Séverine, Wiesner Emma, Wiezik Michal, Wilmès Sophie, Winkler Iuliu, Winzig Angelika, Wiseler-Lima Isabel, Wiśniewska Jadwiga, Wölken Tiemo, Wolters Lara, Yar Lucia, Zacharia Maria, Zalewska Anna, Žalimas Dainius, Zan Alessandro, Zdechovský Tomáš, Zdrojewski Bogdan Andrzej, Zijlstra Auke, Zingaretti Nicola, Złotowski Kosma, Zoido Álvarez Juan Ignacio, Zovko Željana, Zver Milan

Excused:

Morano Nadine, Omarjee Younous, Zarzalejos Javier

MIL OSI Europe News –

February 15, 2025

MIL-OSI Europe: ASIA/SOUTH KOREA – Father Vincenzo and the wounds of Christ on the outskirts of Seoul

Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

by Pascale RizkSeongnam (Agenzia Fides) – Free love is disarming and it endures over time. This is what his father Angelo said on the day his son Vincenzo became a Catholic priest in April 1987: “Just as gold does not change over time, so too will our love for you remain.” Father Vincenzo Bordo, missionary of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate, still loves with the same love “to the end”. He has done this since he arrived in South Korea, which will be 35 years ago next May.In South Korea today everyone knows the “strange foreigner” by the name of Kim Ha-jong Shinbunim. He grew up in the Viterbo area, with the solid human temperament of a farmer, animated by the strong desire to “love and serve the last” since he was a boy.Fascinated by the Orient and oriental studies, he set off for Korea with his confrere Father Mauro Concardi. Today he can often be found in “Anna’s House” in Seongnam City, the second largest city after Suwon in the Gyeonggi-do province in the suburbs of Seoul, about 28 km from the center of the metropolis.The area has long been an ideal place for the homeless: close to a large market and in the middle of a nerwork of subways and bus lines that made it easier for them to get around. That is why he started his work there, which he continues with a clear view and a work apron. Korea between past and presentThe Korea that welcomed him three decades ago is no longer the same. Impressive economic development, rapid change, international tensions and even political unrest in recent times. “When I arrived here, the most commonly used word in Korean was 우리 (we). Our family,’ ‘our community,’ ‘our church,’ ‘our homeland,’ ‘our neighborhood.’ The feeling of belonging was very strong. Today, the most used word is ‘I,’” says Father Bordo, adding: “We have gone from a very strong community dimension, sometimes even too strong, to an egocentric ‘I’ in an egocentric city. The society that was used to taking care of relatives, parents, the community has become a society where a person dies in the neighborhood and you do not know it because the number of people living alone is increasing dramatically.”Compared to when he came to Korea, the beggars have disappeared. The “new poverty” manifests itself in the lives of those who “don’t have an intelligent, complex, articulate mind” and are unable to keep up with the “modern, rich, fast, intelligent, diverse and complex” society, explains Father Vincenzo.When it is time for dinner, he is amazed at how many people in their 50s come and line up to eat. “Apart from the pensions paid by big companies like Samsung or Hyundai,” says Father Vincenzo, “in the 1990s there was no form of social security for people. Today there is a minimum pension, a system to support people in serious difficulties and even a minimum guarantee of health care.”

MIL OSI Europe News –

February 15, 2025
MIL-OSI Economics: Capacity Building for Saline Agriculture in the Mekong Delta—Innovation in Focus: Salt Farming

Source: Asia Development Bank

The case study explains how ADB is working with the Netherlands Trust Fund through the Water Financing Partnership Facility to tackle saline intrusion, which is driven by climate change and rising sea-levels. It details how the project promotes interactive learning and shows farmers why better soil management, crop selection, and shifting to systems such as hydroponics could improve the long-term agricultural potential of saline-affected areas.

MIL OSI Economics –

February 14, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Oxford City Council agrees Budget
Source: City of Oxford

Oxford City Council has agreed a Budget that will see new homes, new community centres and increased grass cutting of verges across Oxford.
The Budget – which is balanced for the next four years – comes against a backdrop of austerity, rising costs, especially around homelessness, inflation and councils declaring bankruptcy across the UK.

This has been achieved in part through the ‘Oxford Model’, which will see the Council’s companies generate £19m in profit over the next four years to help fund services.

The Budget was agreed at a Full Council meeting yesterday evening.

Key Budget proposals

The Council’s Budget includes funding for:

1,558 new council homes over the next eight years

Two new community centres, in East Oxford and Blackbird Leys

Increased grass cutting – to at least three times a year – across Oxford

Increased litter picking across Oxford and a new graffiti removal service

Better gritting of cycle lanes and pavements

A new splash park in Hinksey and renewal of outdoor gym equipment

A freeze on pitch-hire fees for sports teams

The Budget will take the number of council homes owned by Oxford City Council to almost 9,500, which, thanks to the energy efficiency work, will be warmer and use less energy.

The Council will also continue to maintain its leisure centres, community centres, parks, youth clubs, and other existing services for residents and businesses.

Changes to the Budget

The Council’s Budget was first proposed in December 2024.

Since then, the Government has provided additional funding to local authorities, including a further £600,000 to assist in prevention of homelessness.

As Oxford City Council had already budgeted to provide some support for homeless people, this has freed up funding that can be spent on other priorities.

The changes to the Budget compared to the consultation Budget include:

£200,000 to pilot a new scheme to help people in supported accommodation

£310,000 for additional graffiti removal across Oxford

£157,000 for additional gritting of pavements and bike lanes

£170,000 to provide free leisure facilities in Blackbird Leys and £60,000 for a new play area in the city centre if a site can be found

£100,000 to replace outdoor gym equipment across Oxford

£316,000 to reverse planned cuts to ward member and community grants

The Council also agreed £2.5m to help reopen passenger services on the Cowley Branch Line, and a further £1m to enhance the £8m redevelopment of the Covered Market.

Oxford Model

Oxford City Council owns two companies, ODS and OX Place, that generate income to help fund frontline services. This is known as the ‘Oxford Model’.

ODS carries out street cleaning, bin collections and parks maintenance for Oxford residents, but also sells those services to businesses and institutions to generate income.

OX Place’s main aim is to build new council homes for Oxford residents, but it also builds open market sale and shared ownership homes to generate income.

The companies are expected to generate about £19m in dividends returns over the next four years.

The ‘Oxford Model’ now represents 10% of the Council’s annual Budget. This compares to 26% for fees and charges, 20% for Council Tax, 15% for Business Rates and 15% for commercial rent. Government grants represent just 6% of the Council’s budget.

Council Tax

Council Tax will increase by 2.99% in 2025/26.

For a Band D Council Tax property, a 2.99% increase equates to £10.36 per year (or 20p a week), bringing a total charge of £356.72 per annum (or £6.86 per week) to fund Oxford City Council.

Separate Council Tax precepts support Oxfordshire County Council, the Thames Valley Police and Crime Commissioner and the Parish Councils in Blackbird Leys, Old Marston, Littlemore and Risinghurst & Sandhills.

Oxford City Council continues to provide a full discount on Council Tax for Oxford residents on the lowest incomes. It is one of relatively few councils across the UK to still do so.

Second homes in Oxford will be charged double Council Tax from 2025.

Comment

“We’ve been listening: our residents’ survey said that people wanted their City Council to get the basics right, so we are stepping up spend on graffiti removal, pavement repairs and gritting, verge cutting, litter picking and free play provision. We will build more than 1,500 new council homes to help local families in housing need. We are going to retain our award-winning youth ambition service, grants to voluntary organisations and will build two new communty centres at East Oxford and Blackbird Leys.

“This is in the context of a shortfall in government funding, but we have managed to avoid major cuts to frontline services by our ‘Oxford Model’, which uses income from our wholly owned companies, partnerships and commercial property to support the front line.”

Councillor Ed Turner, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance and Asset Management
MIL OSI United Kingdom –
February 14, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Mine shaft collapse secured in Bishop Auckland
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

The Mining Remediation Authority acts quickly to protect people and the environment after hole appears overnight in farmer’s field in County Durham.
The shaft collapse in Bishop Auckland.

On 5 February, our Public Safety and Subsidence team was made aware of the collapse in a farmer’s field and over a public bridleway in the Bishop Auckland area.

The collapse, measuring 7 metres in diameter and up to 50 metres deep, was quickly secured and planning work to fill it began immediately.

From our mining archives of more than 120,000 mine abandonment plans, we were able to establish that the shaft was recorded on Ordnance Survey maps as far back as 1884, known simply as Old Shaft.

Ordnance Survey map showing the location of Old Shaft.

Works to secure the shaft began this week, with more than 100 tonnes of aggregate and other material expected to be needed to fill the shaft and help determine its true depth.

The site will then be secured and and monitored to ensure there are no further issues.

Project manager Jordan Owens said:

It was essential that we acted quickly to make this collapse safe as it was affecting a public bridleway and posed a risk to the public.

The scale of the collapse was certainly a surprise. It is unusual to see a shaft of this scale and that made it even more important to make the area safe as a priority.

We are thankful to the landowner for his cooperation during this work.

This is one of more than 600 incidents that our Public Safety and Subsidence team responds to every year.

If you notice a mine-related hazard, call our 24/7/365 hazard line on 0800 288 4242.

For media enquiries contact the community response team

Email communityresponse@miningremediation.gov.uk

Telephone 0800 288 4211

For emergency media enquiries (out of hours) call: 0800 288 4242.
Only urgent media calls will be attended to.

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Updates to this page

Published 14 February 2025
MIL OSI United Kingdom –
February 14, 2025
MIL-OSI: Richemont announces changes to Senior Executive Committee and Board of Directors

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

AD HOC ANNOUNCEMENT PURSUANT TO ART. 53 LR

14 FEBRUARY 2025

RICHEMONT ANNOUNCES CHANGES TO SENIOR EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE AND BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Richemont today announces the following changes to its Board of Directors and Senior Executive Committee (SEC), effective immediately:

Catherine Rénier, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Van Cleef & Arpels, Louis Ferla, CEO of Cartier, and Marie-Aude Stocker, Chief People Officer (CPO) of Richemont are appointed to the SEC.

Marie-Aude Stocker, formerly Director of People, Development and Prospective at Van Cleef & Arpels, was recently appointed CPO reporting to Nicolas Bos, CEO of Richemont. A French national and graduate of the Ecole Supérieure de Commerce de Paris (ESCP) business school, with a certification from the Institut des hautes études de défense nationale (IHEDN), Ms Stocker brings 35 years of beauty and luxury industry experience to the role, including 24 years in the Group.

Jérôme Lambert is stepping down from the SEC and from the Board of Directors following his appointment as CEO of Specialist Watchmaker Maison Jaeger-LeCoultre.

Boet Brinkgreve, CEO of Laboratoire de Haute Parfumerie et Beauté will be leaving the company at the end of April.

Commenting on the changes, Nicolas Bos said:

“Catherine’s and Louis’ combined industry and Group experience, together with their operational knowledge and expertise as CEOs of our largest Maisons, will be a great asset to our Senior Executive Committee. I am also delighted that Marie-Aude is joining the SEC as our newly appointed Chief People Officer. Having a dedicated CPO will help ensure that our growing and fast evolving HR strategic resource management needs are effectively fulfilled. Marie-Aude is ideally placed to take on this mission, as she brings a wealth of highly relevant experience gained in the course of her career.

I want to take this opportunity to wish Jérôme all the best in his new role and to thank him again for his support in recent months.”

Senior Executive Committee biographies can be accessed here.

About Richemont

At Richemont, we craft the future. Our unique portfolio includes prestigious Maisons distinguished by their craftsmanship and creativity. Richemont’s ambition is to nurture its Maisons and businesses and enable them to grow and prosper in a responsible, sustainable manner over the long term.

Richemont operates in three business areas: Jewellery Maisons with Buccellati, Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels and Vhernier; Specialist Watchmakers with A. Lange & Söhne, Baume & Mercier, IWC Schaffhausen, Jaeger-LeCoultre, Panerai, Piaget, Roger Dubuis and Vacheron Constantin; and Other, primarily Fashion & Accessories Maisons with Alaïa, Chloé, Delvaux, dunhill, Gianvito Rossi, Montblanc, Peter Millar including G/FORE, Purdey, Serapian as well as Watchfinder & Co. In addition, Richemont operates NET-A-PORTER, MR PORTER, THE OUTNET, YOOX and the OFS division. Find out more at https://www.richemont.com/.

Richemont ‘A’ shares are listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange, Richemont’s primary listing, and are included in the Swiss Market Index (‘SMI’) of leading stocks. The ‘A’ shares are also traded on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE), Richemont’s secondary listing.

Investor/analyst and media enquiries

Investor relations: investor.relations@cfrinfo.net; +41 22 721 3003
Media: pressoffice@cfrinfo.net; richemont@teneo.com; +41 22 721 3507

Click here for a printer-friendly version in English (PDF)

The MIL Network –

February 14, 2025
MIL-Evening Report: Dingoes are being culled in Victoria. How much harm to the species is needed to protect commercial profits?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Danielle Ireland-Piper, Associate Professor, ANU National Security College, Australian National University

A Victorian government decision to allow dingo culling in the state’s east until 2028 has reignited debate over what has been dubbed Australia’s most controversial animal.

Animals Australia, an animal welfare group, has filed proceedings in the Supreme Court of Victoria, challenging the decision. The case is due to be heard this year.

Announcing the legal action, the group said the eradication program targeted a unique native animal at risk of extinction, and ignored pleas from Traditional Owners who “treasure the dingo as a totem species”.

The controversy raises a few thorny questions. Are dingoes an important native species or an agricultural pest? And what is the right balance between protecting the species, and protecting the interests of farmers?

What’s this all about?

Dingoes are listed as vulnerable in Victoria. This means the species faces a high risk of extinction in the wild over the medium term.

Dingoes are also protected under Victoria’s Wildlife Act – unless a special order is made to declare them “unprotected”. To date, these unprotection orders have been made when authorities deem it necessary to prevent dingoes from killing livestock.

An unprotection order means a person can legally kill dingoes in certain areas of private and public land, by trapping, poisoning or shooting.

Since around 2010, a succession of unprotection orders have allowed dingoes to be killed in various parts of Victoria. The unprotection order now being challenged came into effect on October 1 last year and will continue until January 1, 2028.

Announcing the decision, Victoria’s Environment Minister Steve Dimopoulos says the government was:

striking the right balance between protecting our vulnerable dingo populations while giving farmers the ability to protect their livestock, and we will regularly engage to ensure settings continue to achieve this balance.

Dingoes are not ‘wild dogs’

DNA studies suggest dingoes have been in Australia for between 4,600 and 18,000 years. Often wrongly described as “wild dogs”, they are [actually descended from south Asian wolves](https://environment.desi.qld.gov.au/wildlife/animals/living-with/dingoes#:~:text=The%20dingo—Australia’s%20only%20native,role%20in%20the%20natural%20environment.Sustainable dingo management (and public sympathies either way).

Adding to the complications, it can be hard to distinguish between a wild dog and a dingo without DNA testing.

Dingoes were once widespread across Victoria but are now extinct across most of the state, save for two populations in the state’s north and east.

Conservationists and scientists fear the extended order in eastern Victoria may push dingoes to local extinction

The experience in north-west Victoria offers a cautionary tale. There, under a dingo unprotection order, the population dropped to as few as 40 individuals. The local dingo population was deemed “critically low and at risk of extinction”, prompting the government to reinstate dingo protections.

In eastern Victoria, the dingo population is estimated at between 2,640 and 8,800.

However in September last year, before the unprotection order in eastern Victoria came into effect, Nationals Member for Gippsland, Tim Bull, claimed 1,500 dingoes were already being killed in the region each year by farmers and others.

If those figures are correct, it suggests extending the unprotection order until 2028 will devastate the dingo population in eastern Victoria.

A decline in dingo populations is not just a concern for the species itself – it will have knock-on effects.

Dingoes are apex predators and research shows they are central to how ecosystems function. They can help control introduced predators such as foxes, feral cats and rabbits. This benefits native animals and plants.

Is the balance right?

Given the risks to dingo populations and the broader environment, it’s pertinent to ask if the government decision swings too far towards protecting agricultural production.

One report suggests within Victoria’s 16 “wild dog management zones” in the 2022–23 financial year, there were more than 1.7 million head of livestock. Of these, 1,455 were confirmed killed by dingoes. While understandably of concern to farmers, this nonetheless represents a tiny proportion of total stock numbers.

The number of sheep killed by dingoes is also only a fraction of the 14.6 million currently farmed in Victoria. Sheep are not at risk of extinction.

These numbers suggest the government has not struck the right balance between protecting livestock and ensuing dingo populations survive.

Considering the rights of Traditional Owners

When weighing up an unprotection order, a minister must consider how it affects the rights of Traditional Owners.

In 2023, when deliberating over whether to make an unprotection order in eastern Victoria, the Victorian government stated that for Aboriginal people:
- dingoes are part of their living cultural heritage
- the loss of a dingo is akin to the loss of a family member
- the dingo helps maintain connection to Country
- some have a totemic and kinship relationship with the dingo.
The government said while the order would limit Aboriginal people’s rights, this was justified when taking other factors into account.

The court will decide

Animal protection group Animals Australia has filed proceedings in the Supreme Court of Victoria, challenging the lawfulness and validity of the unprotection order. Court documents are not yet publicly available.

Australia does not have a single and consistent animal welfare and protection regime. Instead, protections are fractured between the states. That is why the current challenge to dingo culling is limited to Victoria, even though culling takes place in other states. This illustrates the difficulty in using the law to protect animals at a national level.

This challenge is part of a broader push to redefine the relationship between humans and animals through what’s known as animal law. In recent years, animal advocates have used various aspects of the law to challenge the gassing of pigs before they are slaughtered, and recreational duck shooting.

The current case is an important test for how the law balances the needs of humans and animals – and in particular, how much harm is deemed “necessary” at law to protect commercial profit and livelihood.

Danielle Ireland-Piper 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. Dingoes are being culled in Victoria. How much harm to the species is needed to protect commercial profits? – https://theconversation.com/dingoes-are-being-culled-in-victoria-how-much-harm-to-the-species-is-needed-to-protect-commercial-profits-245759
MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –
February 14, 2025
MIL-OSI Australia: 40-2025: Recent suspensions of BMSB Offshore Treatment Provider – need to consider in-transit policy for goods subject to BMSB Seasonal Measures

Source: Australia Government Statements – Agriculture

14 February 2025

Who does this notice affect?

Stakeholders in the import and shipping industries—including Master Consolidators, vessel masters, freight forwarders, treatment providers, Biosecurity Industry Participants, importers, customs brokers and principal agents—associated with shipping or importing goods that require increased intervention during the 2024-25 BMSB risk season.

What has changed?

Recently suspended offshore treatment providers (e.g.…

MIL OSI News –

February 14, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Gov. Pillen Appoints Roskens to Game and Parks Commission

Source: US State of Nebraska

. Pillen Appoints Roskens to Game and Parks Commission

LINCOLN, NE – Today, Governor Jim Pillen announced his appointment of Lisa Roskens of Omaha to the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. Roskens will serve as the representative for District 3. Her appointment is subject to confirmation by the Nebraska Legislature.

Roskens is the chief executive officer of Burlington Capital, LLC in Omaha, a position she has held since 2000. Roskens has served on a variety of boards and commissions including Take Flight Farms (founder), Omaha Equestrian Foundation, Yanney Heritage Park Foundation and the Nebraska Multi Sport Complex Board of Directors.

Roskens obtained a degree in English from Stanford University and earned a juris doctor from Stanford Law School.

MIL OSI USA News –

February 14, 2025
MIL-OSI Australia: Second Reading Speech – Early Childhood Education And Care (Three Day Guarantee) Bill 2025

Source: Australian Executive Government Ministers

Ask any parent, and they’ll tell you early education and care is an essential service. It helps them get back to work and helps their children get ready for school. Under
the Liberals the cost went through the roof and the rules were tightened to make it harder for some children to get the start in life they deserve. We’re fixing that.

Over 10 years the cost of child care exploded by more than 49 per cent—double the OECD average—under Abbott, Turnbull and Morrison. We said we’d cut the cost of child care and we have, for more than one million families right across the country. As a result of the changes we made and passed through this Parliament two years ago, a family on a joint income of about $120,000 has saved $2,768 since July 2023. That’s helped a lot of parents get back to work and put more money in their pockets, and it’s meant more children are now getting the benefits of our early education system. The number of children in our early education system is now about 100,000 more than it was when we were elected 2½ years ago. That’s a good thing. There are also 1,000 more centres and more services. That’s good, too.

When we came to office 2½ years ago, something else was happening. The people who educate and care for our children were leaving the sector in droves. They were leaving the job that they loved. The attrition rate was through the roof. That’s now changed, too. The reason for that is the 15 per cent pay rise that we’re now rolling out. The best example of that is what’s happening at Goodstart Early Learning, the biggest childcare operator in the country. At their centres, across the country, job applications have now jumped by 35 per cent. Expressions of interest have jumped by 50 to 60 per cent, and vacancy rates are down by a massive 28 per cent. We’re seeing that right across the country. Vacancy rates right across the sector are now down by 22 per cent. It turns out that, if you pay people more, more want to do the job. Early educators are some of the most important workers in this country and some of the most underpaid. They were leaving the job that they love, the job that we need them to, not because they didn’t want to do it but because they couldn’t afford to keep doing it. That 15 per cent pay increase is fixing that.

The next step in making our early education system better and fairer is making sure that more children who currently can’t get access to it get that chance. In February 2023, we asked the Productivity Commission to comprehensively review our early education system. We asked them to help build a blueprint for reform and tell us how we can build a truly universal early education system. We got their final report in June of last year. One of the things it says that we have to do if we want to build that universal early education system is build more centres where they don’t exist, what are sometimes referred to as ‘childcare deserts’. We’re doing that. In December, the Prime Minister announced that, if we win the next election, the government will create a $1 billion Building Early Education Fund. This will be the single biggest ever investment by an Australian government in new childcare services. It will build or expand over 160 early education and care centres where they’re needed most. I want to thank GrainGrowers, who said that this is positive step and that this fund will help expand and build new childhood education and care centres in areas of need. I want to thank the National Farmers Federation too for imploring the Liberals and the Nationals to match what we’re doing. They get it. Unfortunately, the Liberal Party and National Party haven’t heard them, because they don’t support this. They’ve spent 2½ years in this Parliament talking about childcare deserts. They spent a decade in government doing nothing about it. Now there is a $1 billion fund on the table that they could support, but they choose not to. It’s unbelievable. The Productivity Commission also recommended something else that we need to do next. That’s to get rid of the Liberals’ activity test. This is a real barrier that was purposefully put in place by the Liberal Party to limit access to early education for a lot of children—in particular, a lot of disadvantaged children and kids from poor families. It is deeply unfair. A test to determine if your child is worthy of accessing early education is one that no family should have to pass. The Productivity Commission report gives us a definition of what a universal early education and care system could and should look like. It says it’s a system where every child can get access to affordable early education and care three days a week or 30 hours a week. This bill gets rid of the Liberals’ activity test and replaces it with a guarantee of access to three days a week of government supported early education and care for every child who needs it. It’s still means tested, but it means that families will not be left out because parents are looking for work or preparing to go back to study. It means that over 100,000 families will be able to get more subsidised hours of early education and care. And it means real cost-of-living relief for 66,700 families in the first full financial your alone. Those families will save an average of $1,370 per year on their childcare costs. About half of those families earn less than $100,000 per year. Lower-income families will save even more: an average of $1,460 a year.

This is going to make a real difference for a lot of young families. It will help with the cost of living but it will do more than that. Fundamentally this is about helping every child get a great start in life—what every parent wants for their children and what every child deserves—helping them to get ready to start school, helping to make sure they don’t start school behind. That’s what early education does. This is not babysitting; it’s early education. The evidence is clear: children who get access to early education and care are more likely to start school ready to go, ready to learn. They’re also more likely to finish school and then go on to more study. Former US President Joe Biden often made the point that a child who goes to preschool is 50 per cent more likely to go to college. At the moment, while lots of Australian children get the benefit of this life-changing opportunity, not all do. As the Productivity Commission pointed out in its final report, at the moment it’s children who need it most who are least likely to access early education and care. In 2021 only 54 per cent of children in the most disadvantaged areas were enrolled in early education and care, compared with 76 per cent of children in the highest socioeconomic areas. The most recent Early Development Census report found that only 42.7 per cent of children experiencing the highest level of socioeconomic disadvantage were on track when they started school, compared with 54.8 per cent of all children. That’s what this is about: helping them, helping to make sure more children are ready to start school.

This bill does something else, too. As part of our commitment to closing the gap we are setting a target of ensuring that at least 55 per cent of Indigenous Australian children are developmentally on track. At the moment it’s 34 per cent. That’s a big gap. Not unsurprisingly, Indigenous children’s attendance at early education and care is way below the national average, and the activity test is one of the reasons for this. That’s why this bill increases the base entitlement to 100 hours for Indigenous children. It’s a really important change—one that Indigenous families and communities have been calling for since the activity test was created. And we have listened. You only have to listen to the words of the CEO of SNAICC, Catherine Liddle, after the Prime Minister announced this policy to know how important this is. This is what Catherine said:
This can be a game-changer for our babies. It will mean more children are developmentally ready for school, setting them up for a thriving future.

It’s just one part of the work we need do to close the gap, and I am so very proud that it’s part of this bill. I want to thank the Prime Minister for his leadership in driving reform in this area, and I know how personally important it is to him to see these changes being made. I also want to thank my dear friend and colleague the Minister for Early Childhood Education, the awesome Anne Aly. I also want to thank our offices, and I want to thank our department for the work they have done in preparing this legislation. And I want to thank our early educators and our teachers, and I hope you see in this bill how this government values the important work you do. I also want to thank everyone who has called for this for years and years and years—groups like the Parenthood, whose CEO, Georgie Dent, called this ‘a paradigm shift’; people like Ros Baxter, the CEO of Goodstart, who said, ‘This will change lives;’ or Jay Weatherill at the Minderoo Foundation who called this ‘a momentous step’; or the Centre for Policy Development, who said that this guarantee ‘is a game-changer’ and that it demonstrates ‘a real dedication to delivering a universal system’; or the Business Council of Australia’s Wendy Black, who said that they have ‘long called for an early childhood education guarantee based on quality, universal access to give children a strong educational foundation’.

This is important reform for an essential service for more than a million families across the country. It helps parents get back to work, but, even more important than that, it helps the next generation of Australians to prepare for school, to prepare for their life ahead. That’s what makes this reform so important, and I am so happy to commend it to the House.

MIL OSI News –

February 14, 2025
MIL-OSI Australia: 39-2025: List of treatment providers: treatment provider suspended – Real Port Lojistik limited sirketi (AEI: TR4032SB), Advancer IFM PTE LTD (AEI: SG4012SB), Chemifume Pte Ltd (AEI: SG4017SB)

Source: Australia Government Statements – Agriculture

14 February 2025

Who does this notice affect?

Stakeholders in the import and shipping industries—including vessel masters, freight forwarders, offshore treatment providers, Biosecurity Industry Participants, importers, customs brokers, principal agents and master consolidators.

What has changed?

Following identification of critical non-compliance, we have suspended Real Port Lojistik limited sirketi (AEI: TR4032SB), Advancer IFM PTE LTD (AEI: SG4012SB) and…

MIL OSI News –

February 14, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Senator Rosen Votes to Confirm Brooke Rollins as Secretary of Agriculture

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV)

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV) released the following statement after she voted to confirm Brooke Rollins as Secretary of Agriculture.
“Nevadans across our state, including rural communities and ranchers, rely on the Department of Agriculture to access the resources and support they need,” said Senator Rosen. “I evaluate every nominee based on their qualifications. While we won’t agree on everything, I voted to confirm Brooke Rollins as Secretary of Agriculture because she has the experience necessary for the role.”

MIL OSI USA News –

February 14, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Ernst Pushes to Secure Permanent, Year-Round E15 for All Americans

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA)
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, renewed her longstanding support for the Nationwide Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act, the only nationwide solution to unleash year-round E15.
This bipartisan legislation would provide a permanent solution for fuel blends containing 10% or more ethanol to allow for the year-round sale of E15 in all 50 states. The commonsense approach would deliver much-needed certainty to both biofuel producers and consumers.
“It’s time to finally end years of unsustainable emergency waivers and patchwork regulations by permanently enacting nationwide E15,” said Senator Ernst.“We know this legislation will drive down prices at the pump, add value to the crops grown by farmers, strengthen our rural communities, fortify domestic energy dominance, and provide certainty for biofuel producers and consumers alike.”
Background:
Throughout her time in Congress, Ernst has been a strong advocate for homegrown, Iowa biofuels. Since 2015, she has led legislation to permanently allow the nationwide sale of year-round E15. She looks forward to partnering with the Trump administration to make it a reality.
In March 2024, Ernst and the entire Iowa delegation urged President Biden to immediately issue an emergency waiver, which would make E15 available across the country and utilize the strength of American agriculture to provide energy independence. In April 2024, Ernst and a bipartisan group of senators once again called on President Biden to permit the summertime sale of E15 fuel and finally secured year-round, nationwide E15 sales for the entire 2024 driving season.

MIL OSI USA News –

February 14, 2025
MIL-OSI Australia: 38-2025: *Update* Scheduled Outage: Saturday 15 February to Sunday 16 February 2025 – Multiple Systems

Source: Australia Government Statements – Agriculture

14 February 2025

Who does this notice affect?

Approved arrangements operators, customs brokers, importers, manned depots, and freight forwarders who are required to book and manage requests for inspections through the Biosecurity Portal.

Approved arrangements operators who will be required to view and/or update details of their Approved Arrangement via the Approved Arrangement Management Product (AAMP).

Approved arrangement operators attempting to access online…

MIL OSI News –

February 14, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: SBA Offers Relief to California Small Businesses and Private Nonprofits Affected by Early Winter Coastal Storm

Source: United States Small Business Administration

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced that low interest federal disaster loans are now available to small businesses and private nonprofit (PNP) organizations in California who sustained economic losses caused by the coastal storm and high surf event that occurred Dec. 23, 2024-Jan. 3, 2025. The SBA issued a disaster declaration in response to a request received from Gov. Gavin Newsom on Feb. 11, 2025.

The disaster declaration covers the counties of Monterey, San Benito, San Mateo, Santa Clara and Santa Cruz.

Under this declaration, SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program is available to eligible small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, nurseries, and PNPs that suffered financial losses directly related to this disaster. The SBA is unable to provide disaster loans to agricultural producers, farmers, or ranchers, except for aquaculture enterprises.

EIDLs are for working capital needs caused by the disaster and are available even if the business did not suffer any physical damage. They may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable and other bills that could have been paid had the disaster not occurred.

The loan amount can be up to $2 million with interest rates of 4% for small businesses and 3.625% for PNPs, with terms up to 30 years. The SBA determines eligibility and sets loan amounts and terms based on each applicant’s financial condition. Interest does not begin to accrue, and monthly payments are not due, until 12 months from the date of the initial disbursement.

Beginning Friday, Feb.14, SBA customer service representatives will be on hand at a Virtual Business Recovery Center to answer questions about SBA’s disaster loan program, explain the application process and help individuals complete their application.

Virtual Business Recovery Center
Mondays – Fridays
8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
FOCWAssistance@sba.gov
(916) 461-7673

Closed on Monday, Feb. 17 for President’s Day

The SBA encourages applicants to submit their loan applications promptly. Applications will be prioritized in the order they are received, and the SBA remains committed to processing them as efficiently as possible.

To apply online, visit SBA.gov/disaster. Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information on SBA disaster assistance. For people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.

The deadline to return economic injury applications is Nov. 13.

###

About the U.S. Small Business Administration

The U.S. Small Business Administration helps power the American dream of business ownership. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow, expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov.

MIL OSI USA News –

February 14, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: President Trump Demands Fair, Reciprocal Trade

US Senate News:

Source: The White House
Today, President Donald J. Trump unveiled a plan for fair, free, reciprocal trade as he makes clear to the world that the United States will no longer tolerate being ripped off. The U.S. has one of the most open economies in the world, yet our trading partners keep their markets closed to U.S. exports — and reciprocal trade will finally correct that imbalance.
President Trump’s plan to restore fairness and put American workers first was met with immediate praise:
Renewable Fuels Association: “For almost a decade now, we have spent precious time and resources fighting back against an unfair and unjustified tariff regime imposed by Brazil’s government on U.S. ethanol imports. What’s more ironic is that these tariff barriers have been erected against U.S. ethanol imports while our country has openly accepted—and even encouraged and incentivized—ethanol imports from Brazil. As the two largest ethanol producers on the planet, we long enjoyed a cooperative free-trade relationship with Brazil involving ethanol, relying on each other when there were shortfalls or disruptions in the U.S. or Brazilian marketplace. However, that bilateral cooperation was abandoned by Brazil in 2017, when they instituted a tariff rate quota scheme, and eventually adopted a tariff in 2020. The Brazilian tariff on U.S. ethanol now stands at 18 percent and has virtually eliminated all market access for U.S. ethanol producers. We thank President Trump for taking this action and hope this reciprocal tariff will help encourage a return to free and fair ethanol trade relationship with Brazil.”
American Iron and Steel Institute: “AISI applauds President Trump’s action today ordering the development of a comprehensive plan for restoring fairness in U.S. trade relationships and countering non-reciprocal trading arrangements. American steel producers know well the negative impact of foreign unfair trade practices, including subsidies, currency manipulation and other unfair and discriminatory policies and practices, on domestic industries and their workers … We look forward to working with the Secretary of Commerce, the U.S. Trade Representative and other key administration officials as they develop their plan of action to ensure reciprocity in international trade and to preserve the competitiveness of the American steel industry and other sectors.”
Growth Energy: “While American biofuel producers have been almost entirely blocked off from the Brazilian market, Brazilian producers have enjoyed unfettered access to the U.S. In some cases, certain policies in the U.S. even incentivize the use of imported Brazilian ethanol instead of ethanol produced here in the U.S. This runs contrary to putting America first, and is exactly why President Trump is taking steps to address this issue. Thank you, President Trump for taking action and pushing for a level playing field for American ethanol producers.”
Small Business Administration: “President Trump is right: restoring a level playing field on trade will unlock the next blue collar boom – creating jobs and powering our economy through ‘Made in America.’ Huge news for Main Street!”
Energy Secretary Chris Wright: “President’s Trump’s ‘Fair and Reciprocal Plan’ on trade puts the American people first. As a former businessman, it’s great to see our country being run like a business and fighting for fairness on trade– it’s the American way!”
Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum: “President Trump is making America strong again. His Fair and Reciprocal Plan is commonsense: if you impose tariffs on us, we will impose tariffs on you in return.”
Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy: “Bravo, President Trump! Thank you for announcing the Fair and Reciprocal Plan, which is based on legislation we worked on together in your first term. Unfair trade practices have hurt America’s transportation and infrastructure sectors for too long. President Trump’s trade plan will strengthen supply chains, boost infrastructure investments, and expand American transportation solutions. We promised a golden age of transportation, and I will not rest until America’s transportation system is great again!”
Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Scott Turner: “For too long Washington has put foreign interests above Americans — that ends today. @POTUS’ Fair and Reciprocal Plan will put American workers on a level playing field.”
EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin: “The American people elected @POTUS with a mandate to grow our economy and bring back American manufacturing. When it comes to Reciprocal tariffs, no one should ever underestimate President Trump’s vision, long game, and determination to deliver the Great American Comeback.”
Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA): “For too long, foreign countries have exploited America through unfair trade practices. President Trump’s reciprocal tariffs aim to confront these countries, protecting American workers and businesses through trade that is fair again. The Trump policies are focused on leveling the playing field and putting America FIRST.”
Sen. Jim Banks (R-IN): “The globalist approach to trade threw our workers under a bus driven by their foreign competitors. President Trump’s America First trade plan corrects this injustice that our industries and workers have faced for decades. The reciprocal tariffs announced today will bring back fairness and prosperity and stop Americans from being taken advantage of.”
Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN): “President Trump is putting American workers and farmers first. He will end unfair trade deals and prioritize goods made in America! With President Trump at the negotiating table, we are going to get the best possible deal.”
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC): “Most countries charge us far more in tariffs than we charge them. Those days are over. I applaud President Trump’s decision to impose reciprocal tariffs against our trading partners. Whatever tariffs they put on American products, we will put on their products. This will be a game changer. Simple and brilliant.”
Sen. Roger Marshall (R-KS): “Gone are the days of unfair trade deals that give foreign nations the upper hand. Today, President Trump put the world on notice: America will no longer be taken advantage of.”
Sen. Pete Ricketts (R-NE): “The average weighted tariff on foreign products coming into the U.S. is 1.5%, yet the average tariff on U.S. products globally is 6%. President Trump promised to bring those numbers closer to balance. These tariffs are a step toward accomplishing that goal.”
Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL): “President Trump’s fight for a level playing field and reciprocal treatment is common sense. The U.S. is done treating others better than they’re treating us. President Trump understands the art of the deal, and thanks to his strong leadership, we’re getting better deals that will help our businesses and grow our economy!”
Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-AL): “President Trump is brokering deals that put American farmers, manufacturers, and producers first. America has some of the best and brightest manufacturers and there’s no reason we can’t produce most things right here at home.”
Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-MN): “The master negotiator strikes again. @POTUS is realigning the playing field with countries that have taken advantage of us for far too long and delivering on his promise to put America FIRST.”
Chairwoman Lisa McClain (R-MI): “President Trump is wasting no time leveling the playing field. I am optimistic the pressure applied by the ongoing tariff negotiations will lead to a wave of investment across the U.S. @POTUS is keeping his promise to put our economy first.”
Ways and Means Committee Chair Jason Smith (R-MO): “President Trump understands that American workers and manufacturers can outcompete those of any other nation. But for far too long they have been held back by a lack of reciprocity because other countries impose much higher tariffs and other barriers than the United States imposes on imports. President Trump’s Executive Order helps deliver a level playing field for American workers and manufacturers.”
Rep. Carlos Gimenez (R-FL): “President Trump has just announced RECIPROCAL TARIFFS for countries unfairly treating American products! If you want to sell to the USA, we must have access to your market as well. What is fair, is fair!”
Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL): “We will no longer tolerate being ripped-off by the rest of the world. Under President Trump, government is putting the American people first again. And that means RECIPROCAL TARIFFS”
Rep. Randy Feenstra (R-IA): “Brazil imposes an 18% tariff on U.S. ethanol while we only charge Brazil 2.5%. In 2024, that imbalance resulted in our nation importing $200 million in Brazilian ethanol while Brazil only imported $52 million in U.S. ethanol. Our farmers deserve better!”
Rep. Andy Harris (R-MD): “The days of America being taken advantage of are over. The “Fair and Reciprocal Plan” will put the American worker first and bring fairness back to international trade.”
Rep. Diana Harshbarger (R-TN): “Our nation has been at the bad end of business deals regarding trade practices with other countries for far too long. That’s coming to an end. President Trump’s reciprocal tariffs are putting the world on notice — the gravy train is over, and we won’t be taken advantage of anymore.”
Rep. Kevin Hern (R-OK): “President Trump is a strong leader – he’s not allowing the world to take advantage of the United States any longer. These reciprocal tariffs will incentivize other nations to level the playing field and remove long-standing, exorbitant tariffs. America FIRST!”
Rep. Riley Moore (R-WV): “President Trump just announced plans to implement reciprocal tariffs on the foreign countries who are ripping us off. I’m proud to be leading this effort in Congress.”
Rep. Greg Steube (R-FL): “I thank President Trump for standing up for American workers with his bold plan to restore balance and fairness to the marketplace. He and his administration understand that our workers deserve trade policies that are fair and beneficial to all. For far too long, blue-collar communities in the United States have been ripped off by foreign competitors benefiting from manipulative trade practices. If other countries believe they can continue to cheat the American people of their share of prosperity, they are sadly mistaken. President Trump has the right plan to secure our economy, restore fairness to international trade, and bring back good-paying jobs to the United States.”
Rep. Beth Van Duyne (R-TX): “American workers, farmers, and manufacturers finally have a President who fights for them! I applaud President Trump’s plan to combat unfair trade practices. Our best days are still ahead of us!”
House Republican Study Committee: “The Trump administration just announced reciprocal tariffs for countries like China that rip off the United States. It’s past time to flip the script on this. President Trump is trying to restore fairness in trade, ensuring that other countries are held to account for slapping tariffs on American goods. Gone are the days of our great nation being taken advantage of. Period.”
President Trump’s plan to restore fairness and put American workers first was met with immediate praise:
Renewable Fuels Association: “For almost a decade now, we have spent precious time and resources fighting back against an unfair and unjustified tariff regime imposed by Brazil’s government on U.S. ethanol imports. What’s more ironic is that these tariff barriers have been erected against U.S. ethanol imports while our country has openly accepted—and even encouraged and incentivized—ethanol imports from Brazil. As the two largest ethanol producers on the planet, we long enjoyed a cooperative free-trade relationship with Brazil involving ethanol, relying on each other when there were shortfalls or disruptions in the U.S. or Brazilian marketplace. However, that bilateral cooperation was abandoned by Brazil in 2017, when they instituted a tariff rate quota scheme, and eventually adopted a tariff in 2020. The Brazilian tariff on U.S. ethanol now stands at 18 percent and has virtually eliminated all market access for U.S. ethanol producers. We thank President Trump for taking this action and hope this reciprocal tariff will help encourage a return to free and fair ethanol trade relationship with Brazil.”
American Iron and Steel Institute: “AISI applauds President Trump’s action today ordering the development of a comprehensive plan for restoring fairness in U.S. trade relationships and countering non-reciprocal trading arrangements. American steel producers know well the negative impact of foreign unfair trade practices, including subsidies, currency manipulation and other unfair and discriminatory policies and practices, on domestic industries and their workers … We look forward to working with the Secretary of Commerce, the U.S. Trade Representative and other key administration officials as they develop their plan of action to ensure reciprocity in international trade and to preserve the competitiveness of the American steel industry and other sectors.”
Growth Energy: “While American biofuel producers have been almost entirely blocked off from the Brazilian market, Brazilian producers have enjoyed unfettered access to the U.S. In some cases, certain policies in the U.S. even incentivize the use of imported Brazilian ethanol instead of ethanol produced here in the U.S.,” said Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor. “This runs contrary to putting America first, and is exactly why President Trump is taking steps to address this issue. Thank you, President Trump for taking action and pushing for a level playing field for American ethanol producers.”
Small Business Administration: “President Trump is right: restoring a level playing field on trade will unlock the next blue collar boom – creating jobs and powering our economy through “Made in America.” Huge news for Main Street!”
Energy Secretary Chris Wright: “President’s Trump’s ‘Fair and Reciprocal Plan’ on trade puts the American people first. As a former businessman, it’s great to see our country being run like a business and fighting for fairness on trade– it’s the American way!”
Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum: “President Trump is making America strong again. His Fair and Reciprocal Plan is commonsense: if you impose tariffs on us, we will impose tariffs on you in return.”
Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy: “Bravo, President Trump! Thank you for announcing the Fair and Reciprocal Plan, which is based on legislation we worked on together in your first term. Unfair trade practices have hurt America’s transportation and infrastructure sectors for too long. President Trump’s trade plan will strengthen supply chains, boost infrastructure investments, and expand American transportation solutions. We promised a golden age of transportation, and I will not rest until America’s transportation system is great again!”
Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Scott Turner: “For too long Washington has put foreign interests above Americans — that ends today. @POTUS’ Fair and Reciprocal Plan will put American workers on a level playing field.”
EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin: “The American people elected @POTUS with a mandate to grow our economy and bring back American manufacturing. When it comes to Reciprocal tariffs, no one should ever underestimate President Trump’s vision, long game, and determination to deliver the Great American Comeback.”
Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA): “For too long, foreign countries have exploited America through unfair trade practices. President Trump’s reciprocal tariffs aim to confront these countries, protecting American workers and businesses through trade that is fair again. The Trump policies are focused on leveling the playing field and putting America FIRST.”
Sen. Jim Banks (R-IN): “The globalist approach to trade threw our workers under a bus driven by their foreign competitors. President Trump’s America First trade plan corrects this injustice that our industries and workers have faced for decades. The reciprocal tariffs announced today will bring back fairness and prosperity and stop Americans from being taken advantage of.”
Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN): “President Trump is putting American workers and farmers first. He will end unfair trade deals and prioritize goods made in America! With President Trump at the negotiating table, we are going to get the best possible deal.”
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC): “Most countries charge us far more in tariffs than we charge them. Those days are over. I applaud President Trump’s decision to impose reciprocal tariffs against our trading partners. Whatever tariffs they put on American products, we will put on their products. This will be a game changer. Simple and brilliant.”
Sen. Roger Marshall (R-KS): “Gone are the days of unfair trade deals that give foreign nations the upper hand. Today, President Trump put the world on notice: America will no longer be taken advantage of.”
Sen. Pete Ricketts (R-NE): “The average weighted tariff on foreign products coming into the U.S. is 1.5%, yet the average tariff on U.S. products globally is 6%. President Trump promised to bring those numbers closer to balance. These tariffs are a step toward accomplishing that goal.”
Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL): “President Trump’s fight for a level playing field and reciprocal treatment is common sense. The U.S. is done treating others better than they’re treating us. President Trump understands the art of the deal, and thanks to his strong leadership, we’re getting better deals that will help our businesses and grow our economy!”
Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-AL): “President Trump is brokering deals that put American farmers, manufacturers, and producers first. America has some of the best and brightest manufacturers and there’s no reason we can’t produce most things right here at home.”
Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-MN): “The master negotiator strikes again. @POTUS is realigning the playing field with countries that have taken advantage of us for far too long and delivering on his promise to put America FIRST.”
Chairwoman Lisa McClain (R-MI): “President Trump is wasting no time leveling the playing field. I am optimistic the pressure applied by the ongoing tariff negotiations will lead to a wave of investment across the U.S. @POTUS is keeping his promise to put our economy first.”
Ways and Means Committee Chair Jason Smith (R-MO): “President Trump understands that American workers and manufacturers can outcompete those of any other nation. But for far too long they have been held back by a lack of reciprocity because other countries impose much higher tariffs and other barriers than the United States imposes on imports. President Trump’s Executive Order helps deliver a level playing field for American workers and manufacturers.”
Rep. Carlos Gimenez (R-FL): “President Trump has just announced RECIPROCAL TARIFFS for countries unfairly treating American products! If you want to sell to the USA, we must have access to your market as well. What is fair, is fair!”
Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL): “We will no longer tolerate being ripped-off by the rest of the world. Under President Trump, government is putting the American people first again. And that means RECIPROCAL TARIFFS”
Rep. Randy Feenstra (R-IA): “Brazil imposes an 18% tariff on U.S. ethanol while we only charge Brazil 2.5%. In 2024, that imbalance resulted in our nation importing $200 million in Brazilian ethanol while Brazil only imported $52 million in U.S. ethanol. Our farmers deserve better!”
Rep. Andy Harris (R-MD): “The days of America being taken advantage of are over. The “Fair and Reciprocal Plan” will put the American worker first and bring fairness back to international trade.”
Rep. Diana Harshbarger (R-TN): “Our nation has been at the bad end of business deals regarding trade practices with other countries for far too long. That’s coming to an end. President Trump’s reciprocal tariffs are putting the world on notice — the gravy train is over, and we won’t be taken advantage of anymore.”
Rep. Kevin Hern (R-OK): “President Trump is a strong leader – he’s not allowing the world to take advantage of the United States any longer. These reciprocal tariffs will incentivize other nations to level the playing field and remove long-standing, exorbitant tariffs. America FIRST!”
Rep. Riley Moore (R-WV): “President Trump just announced plans to implement reciprocal tariffs on the foreign countries who are ripping us off. I’m proud to be leading this effort in Congress.”
Rep. Greg Steube (R-FL): “I thank President Trump for standing up for American workers with his bold plan to restore balance and fairness to the marketplace. He and his administration understand that our workers deserve trade policies that are fair and beneficial to all. For far too long, blue-collar communities in the United States have been ripped off by foreign competitors benefiting from manipulative trade practices. If other countries believe they can continue to cheat the American people of their share of prosperity, they are sadly mistaken. President Trump has the right plan to secure our economy, restore fairness to international trade, and bring back good-paying jobs to the United States.”
Rep. Beth Van Duyne (R-TX): “American workers, farmers, and manufacturers finally have a President who fights for them! I applaud President Trump’s plan to combat unfair trade practices. Our best days are still ahead of us!”
House Republican Study Committee: “The Trump administration just announced reciprocal tariffs for countries like China that rip off the United States. It’s past time to flip the script on this. President Trump is trying to restore fairness in trade, ensuring that other countries are held to account for slapping tariffs on American goods. Gone are the days of our great nation being taken advantage of. Period.”

MIL OSI USA News –

February 14, 2025
MIL-OSI Australia: Regeneration and regrowth in Aceh: 20 years on from the Indian Ocean Tsunami

Source: Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research

Working with women

Working with ACIAR, Dr Malem McLeod, a soil scientist with the NSW DPRID, highlighted the kelompok wanita tani (KWT) women’s farming groups as a particularly successful initiative that grew organically from local efforts.

‘In the immediate aftermath of the tsunami, we met a group of women, of all ages, who were coming together, gardening using a vacant village land. It was a kind of a healing forum to recover from the loss of people and livelihoods and share the challenges of recovery while growing food for family consumption,’ said Dr McLeod. ‘It was also a place for socialisation and information exchange.’

The ACIAR-supported project tapped into this by facilitating the creation of around 30 women’s farming groups across the 4 regions of Aceh. Training was provided for local leaders and extension officers to help the women learn improved techniques for growing vegetables and engage with local business and government, leveraging the support from ACIAR.

In Aceh farming families, the man in the family is the main income earner through growing food crops such as rice and legumes. ‘Although the women contribute significantly to the work on growing the crops, the results are managed by the husband and most women are financially dependent on men,’ explained Dr McLeod.

By growing vegetables in groups, women were able to improve their household food security and generate their own income, which increased their confidence and independence.

Dr Malem McLeod, soil scientist
NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development

‘Some of the women’s group members became business-minded, even pre-selling their produce to wholesalers. The women also reported that working in the garden with the groups enhanced their physical health and wellbeing.’

Technical training was provided for 245 women and agricultural extension officers, with about 750 women in farmer groups collectively benefitting by A$297,000 a year.

‘The women’s groups facilitated a shift from financial dependence to self-reliant entrepreneurship,’ said Dr McLeod.

She noted that when new farming practices were introduced to men, they used it to improve their own food crop growing. But when new practices were shared with women, they brought them to the whole family and shared it with other women, effectively changing their whole community. ‘The information exchange and improvements became contagious,’ said Dr McLeod.

MIL OSI News –

February 14, 2025

Category: Agriculture

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