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Category: Agriculture

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Backgrounder: Western Newfoundland region receives support for tourism-related projects

    Source: Government of Canada News

    Western Newfoundland’s renowned vibrant autumn colours during this time of the year, combined with spectacular ocean and mountain scenery, numerous hiking and biking trails, and unique cultural and immersive experiences continue to draw visitors from around the world. The Government of Canada, through ACOA, is investing a total of $1,075,973 to support projects that will bolster the visitor experience in the region. The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador is contributing a total of $376,145.

    October 16, 2024 · Benoit’s Cove, Newfoundland and Labrador · Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA)

    Western Newfoundland’s renowned vibrant autumn colours during this time of the year, combined with spectacular ocean and mountain scenery, numerous hiking and biking trails, and unique cultural and immersive experiences continue to draw visitors from around the world. The Government of Canada, through ACOA, is investing a total of $1,075,973 to support projects that will bolster the visitor experience in the region. The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador is contributing a total of $376,145.

    The City of Corner Brook is receiving non-repayable contributions totalling $400,350 for three projects through the Regional Economic Growth through Innovation (REGI) program:

    – Hire a consultant to develop an invigorated and consistent branding and marketing strategy for Corner Brook, Lower Humber and Bay of Islands that aligns with the Strategic Areas and Regions (STAR) integrated tourism plan that was developed in 2019 with area stakeholders. (ACOA: $245,475, Province: $82,875).

    – Undertake Phase I of trail assessment and design from the STAR report to anchor regional offerings around destination trails and trail-based tourism. Specifically, to develop a design package for Cape Blow Me Down (a 3.8-km trail that ascends 650 metres) and the Man in the Mountain (a 5.5-km trail that covers 358 metres of elevation change) that will establish long-term sustainable and safe trails. (ACOA: $32,500, Province: $12,500)

    – Conduct a feasibility study for establishing a farmer’s market in Corner Brook. If the study results in favourable outcomes, the entrepreneurial environment in the city will be further enhanced to allow spaces for those selling their products and grow their businesses. The market would serve as a hub on weekends for residents and visitors to gather, socialize, find healthy, affordable food options and shop locally. (ACOA: $19,500, Province: $7,500)

    The City of Corner Brook is an incorporated municipality in the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador. Incorporated in 1955, the City of Corner Brook is located on the western shores of Newfoundland, at the mouth of the Bay of Islands. Corner Brook is known as a popular tourist attraction, with its combination of ocean and mountain scenery, as well as for its outdoor facilities, such as Marble Mountain Ski Resort.

    The Town of Humber Arm South is receiving a non-repayable contribution totalling $258,425 (ACOA: $190,883, Province: $67,542) through the Innovative Communities Fund (ICF) to develop a localized area to support and enhance the tourism experience in the Bay of Islands region. These activities include a small building to provide amenities, such as showers, washrooms and visitor information for the surrounding region; landscaping and signage; and the construction of BBQ and firepit areas. A strengthened infrastructure in the community will encourage tourists and those in the surrounding areas to explore the hiking, geology and natural landscapes thus creating a positive economic impact for local businesses.

    The Town of Humber Arm South is a relatively small community on the south shore of the Bay of Islands, bordering the Blow Me Down Mountains, with a population of approximately 1,800 people. The town is comprised of four communities that spans 18 kms and is about a 20-minute drive to Corner Brook, which increases the visitor potential in the area. The major economic drivers in the community are the in-shore fishery, fish processing, and tourism, with an increasing number of visitors from the cruise ship market segment.

    Corner Brook Stream is receiving a non-repayable contribution totalling $269,148 (ACOA: $183,432, Province: $85,716) through the Innovative Communities Fund (ICF) to implement Phase II of accessibility improvements to a community trail system. These upgrades will include the installation of lighting to increase daily usage of the trails, a redesigned interpretive welcome area, and accessibility upgrades to the west side of the trail. This initiative increases the inclusivity of community infrastructure offerings and will positively impact the linkage between main attractions within the Corner Brook business ecosystem.

    The Corner Brook Stream Development Corporation is a not-for-profit organization. In the early 1990s, a group of likeminded individuals from a variety of backgrounds decided to explore the possibility of creating a series of walking trails throughout the city. The Corner Brook Stream Development Corporation was established as a volunteer organization to further refine and implement this strategy.  

    The West Coast Cycling Association is receiving a non-repayable contribution totalling  $217,792 (ACOA: $162,567, Province: $55,225) through the Innovative Communities Fund (ICF) to build a 5.8-km long, multi-use trail in the Rocky Harbour municipal planning area. The trail will be designed for intermediate-level cyclists, including those using e-bikes, while also offering high-value opportunities for hikers, trail runners, and snowshoers. Key activities for the project include contracting, marking and clearing the route, trail building, and installation of signage. Given that the Gros Morne region does not currently have any trails suitable for cycling, this project will address this gap thus providing economic development capacity through a new marketable attraction.

    West Coast Cycling Association is an incorporated not-for-profit organization that has been developing mountain bike trails and hosting cycling events on the West Coast of Newfoundland since 2010. The organization strives to bring people together through the shared passion for mountain biking, by building a legacy of inclusive, sustainable trails, and by promoting a healthy and active lifestyle that embraces the outstanding terrain and natural beauty of western Newfoundland. Its plan focuses on building world-class, community-based mountain bike trail networks that highlight the region’s vibrant towns and inspire new and experiences riders to enjoy the region.

    Cabox Geopark is receiving a non-repayable contribution totalling $110,000 (ACOA: $77,550, Province: $32,450) through the Innovative Communities Fund (ICF) to construct a four-kilometre trail at the east end of the Blow Me Down Mountains above Benoit’s Cove. This initiative will include clearing and grading the trail path and graveling for accessibility, installation of directional signage, rest areas, picnic spots and educational features. The trail will allow tourists a convenient experience of the spectacular views and geological history of the Bay of Islands and surrounding mountains.

    Cabox Geopark Inc., incorporated in 2018, is a non-profit organization led by a dedicated volunteer board of directors who represent municipalities, businesses, and the Outer Bay of Islands Enhancement Committee. Cabox Aspiring Global Geopark is in the Bay of Islands region of Western Newfoundland and has been working its way towards UNESCO global geopark status. Its mandate is to develop a world-class tourism product, promoting the region’s natural and cultural heritage while increasing local knowledge, innovative technology and rural economic development. Cabox is the name of the highest peak on the island of Newfoundland.

    Western NL DMO is receiving a non-repayable contribution totalling $91,300 (ACOA: $76,300, Province $15,000) through the Regional Economic Growth through Innovation (REGI) program to develop and promote the winter tourism anchor experiences in the western region of Newfoundland and Labrador. New experiences will also be encouraged and integrated with existing products. By bringing skiing, snowmobiling and other outdoor experiences together with cultural and culinary experiences, innovation and inclusion within the ecosystem, the local tourism sector will see a significant boost.

    Western NL DMO, also known as Go Western, is an incorporated not-for-profit organization and is the key marketing, market readiness and product development organization in western Newfoundland and Labrador. As the Destination Management Organization for the western region, the organization had excellent relationships with business operators, not-for-profit experience providers and municipalities. Western NL DMO was integral to the development of a Winter Stakeholder Committee consisting of representatives from all sub-sectors of the winter tourism sector.

    The Mi’kmaw Cultural Foundation is receiving a non-repayable contribution totalling $60,689 (ACOA: $55,689, Province: $5,000) through the Tourism Growth Program (TGP) to support its 2024 Elmastukwek Mawio’mi in Corner Brook. The Mawio’mi, in its third year, consists of two full days of teachings, celebrations, activities, art displays and ceremonies as part of an Indigenous cultural and heritage experience. The Mi’kmaq name for the Bay of Islands is “Elmastukwek” and “Mawio’mi” refers to a gathering of people. The event provides a platform to allow for intergeneration cultural sharing, while also showcasing and sharing Mi’kmaw culture to the community at large.

    The Mi’kmaw Cultural Foundation is a not-for-profit organization. The foundation was incorporated in 2014 and exists to preserve and promote the culture and heritage of the Mi’kmaq of Newfoundland and Labrador. Like other First Nations, the Mi’kmaq have a long and rich history that includes unique cultural, social, political and spiritual traditions. The foundation is making every effort to reach out to individuals with limited knowledge of their heritage and provide them with information and experiences that will assist them in the discovery process. They also seek to unite the people who have the experience and knowledge of Mi’kmaw traditions.

    CB Nuit Incorporated is receiving a non-repayable contribution totalling $44,414 (ACOA: $32,077, Province: $12,337) through the Tourism Growth Program (TGP) to increase the accessibility capacity and inclusivity for the three-day art at night festival in Corner Brook. Activities will include engaging an accessibility expert to understand how to support guests in terms of mobility needs, sensory sensitivities, as well as vision and hearing impairment. The project will involve implementing points of contact for digital and in person artist sites, creation of a low sensory guided walk, and a low sensory space.

    CB Nuit was established in 2017 and aims to engage artists in the creation and installation of site specific and participatory contemporary work. By bringing art of all mediums to streets, businesses, and vacant spaces, CB Nuit has the goal to invigorate, beautify, inspire, and economically stimulate the community. Its long-term goal is to become an international destination for artists participating in the festival as well attracting an international audience.

    Related products

    News release:  Supporting culture and tourism growth in western Newfoundland

    CB Nuit Inc.

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: UK pushes for Middle East stability on ministerial visit to Egypt

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Minister for the Middle East Hamish Falconer visits Egypt to push for regional stability.

    • The UK announces £1 million of assistance to Egyptian health authority to support medically evacuated Palestinians from Gaza.
    • New UK-Egypt Memorandum of Understanding on food security signed, signalling the UK’s support for Egypt’s leading role in food production in the region.
    • Minister calls for urgent de-escalation and a ceasefire in Gaza and Lebanon in his first visit to the Middle East, with visit to Al Arish border crossing.

    Providing humanitarian support for civilians affected by the current conflict was the focus of the Minister for the Middle East’s, Hamish Falconer, first official visit to the region this week.

    Announcing a new package of support to assist civilians medically evacuated from Gaza to Egypt, the Minister pledged £1 million of UK assistance to the Egyptian Ministry of Health that will support medically evacuated civilians from Gaza who are receiving care in Egypt.

    Delivered through the World Health Organisation (WHO) in Egypt, the funding will provide vital medical supplies and medications, including chemotherapy and rehabilitative equipment, to those in need. It will also strengthen capacity to care for patients from Gaza with chronic diseases.

    Minister for the Middle East Hamish Falconer said:

    “As a key regional partner, Egypt plays a central role alongside the UK in working for stability and security across the Middle East and driving forward de-escalation efforts in both Gaza and Lebanon.  

    “The worsening humanitarian situation in Gaza continues to bring devastation to many lives, with many requiring life-saving support over the border in Egypt. That’s why, alongside our Egyptian partners, we are funding life-saving treatments and support for medically evacuated civilians from Gaza. 

    “At Al Arish, I saw that many tonnes of lifesaving aid continue to be denied entry into Gaza by Israel. As winter approaches, Israel can and must do more to ensure aid flows freely into Gaza and to facilitate the UN and humanitarian agencies to carry out their work safely.

    “I signed a new UK-Egypt Memorandum of Understanding on sustainable food security, launching a new partnership between our two countries to tackle a critical global challenge.”

    The announcement came during the Minister’s visit to Al-Arish, where he met with the North Sinai Governor to discuss aid flows into Gaza. Here, the Minister visited the Egyptian Red Crescent’s warehouse and Al-Arish General Hospital to see how UK funding to WHO Egypt will be used.

    The Minister also met with Egypt’s Foreign Minister, Badr Abdelatty where he thanked Egypt for its ongoing role in getting aid into Gaza and agreed the need to continue working together for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and Lebanon. Minister Falconer also raised the consular case of Alaa Abd El-Fattah and called for quick progress on his release.

    As Egypt is a regional leader in ensuring sustainable food security for the Middle East and Africa, the Minister also agreed a landmark UK-Egypt Memorandum of Understanding on Food Security with Rania Al Mashat, Minister of International Cooperation and Alaa Farouk, Minister of Agriculture. The agreement includes technical assistance to advance sustainable agribusiness practice and increase crop yield in Egypt.

    Speaking on today’s funding announcement, World Health Organisation Representative to Egypt Dr Nima Abid said:

    “WHO values its long-standing partnership with the British government, and we are deeply grateful for this generous contribution from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

    “This support will enable WHO, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Population, to deliver critical supplies to Egyptian hospitals and equip healthcare workers to meet the urgent needs of medical evacuees from Gaza. I would also like to express my appreciation for the government of Egypt for its vital role in treating patients from Gaza and in facilitating their safe evacuation to other countries as well.”

    The UK continues to play a leading role in alleviating the suffering in Gaza and continues to provide significant funding to partners to support those most in need. The UK has already provided 78,000 shelter items, 76,000 wound care kits, and 1.3 million items of medicine.

    The UK trebled its aid commitment to the OPTs in the last financial year and this Government will maintain significant funding this financial year to support trusted aid
     agencies on the ground.

    The UK continues to call for an immediate ceasefire on all fronts and continues to push for urgent aid to enter Gaza and reach those most in need.

    Background

    • The FCDO currently advises against all but essential travel to the Egyptian desert west and south of the oases of Fayoum, Bahariya, Farafra, Dakhla and Kharga, except for:
    • The coastal areas between the Nile Delta and Marsa Matruh
    • The Marsa Matruh-Siwa road
    • The oasis town of Siwa
    • For further information on Egypt travel advice, visit https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/egypt

    Media enquiries

    Email newsdesk@fcdo.gov.uk

    Telephone 020 7008 3100

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

    Updates to this page

    Published 16 October 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Former Castroville Police Chief Convicted of Wire Fraud

    Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime News

    SAN ANTONIO – A federal jury convicted former Castroville Police Chief, Christopher Filline, for one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud.

    According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Filline, 58, developed a scheme in 2016 to defraud Farmers Insurance Group by destroying his vehicle that he insured through the company, and claiming it had been stolen. Filline arranged for two co-conspirators to take the vehicle and light it on fire using an accelerant. He subsequently filed a false report with the Lytle Police Department and an insurance claim with Farmers Insurance Group, declaring his vehicle had been stolen. The filing resulted in Filline receiving a $14,388.25 payment.

    Filline was indicted in January 2020. He faces up to 20 years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine. A sentence hearing has been set for Jan. 22, 2025.

    U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza for the Western District of Texas made the announcement.

    The FBI, Texas Department of Public Safety, and the Bexar County Fire Marshal’s Office investigated the case.

    Assistant U.S. Attorneys Greg Surovic and Christina Playton are prosecuting the case.

    ###

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: African Development Bank Group Appoints Moono Mupotola as Deputy Director General for Southern Africa

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

    ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast, October 16, 2024/APO Group/ —

    The African Development Bank Group (www.AfDB.org) has appointed Moono Mupotola, as Deputy Director General for the Southern Africa Regional Development, Integration and BusinessDelivery Office, effective 16th October 2024. 

    Mupotola, a Zambian national, brings over 25 years of development experience across Africa to her new role. Her expertise spans infrastructure development, trade and regional integration. Since December 2020, until her appointment, she served as the Bank’s Country Manager for Zimbabwe where she has been instrumental in the Bank’s support for the country’s re-engagement with the international community and in its efforts to address outstanding debt and arrears obligations. 

    Mupotola’s career at the African Development Bank began in 2009, when she was appointed Division Manager for Regional Integration and Trade. She was appointed Director of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD), Regional Integration and Trade in 2015, and Director of Regional Integration Coordination Office in 2018. 

    Her oversight of the Lusophone Compact, a program supporting the private sector in six Portugues-speaking African countries, demonstrated her commitment to advancing regional integration. She also initiated several vital programs, including the Bank’s Africa Trade Fund, the Visa Openness Index, and the Regional Integration Index with the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa and the African Union Commission. 

    Mupotola managed the African Development Fund’s Regional Operations Envelope and oversaw the Bank’s regional project preparation facility. She led the Bank’s trade and regional integration agenda by supporting research, infrastructure projects, capacity-building programs and the reform of regulations and policies in regional member countries. 

    Before joining the African Development Bank Group, Mupotola held several senior positions. These included Regional Policy Specialist for the Food and Agriculture Organization in Zimbabwe, Trade Specialist at the Southern African Development Community Trade Hub in Botswana and Zimbabwe, and Division Head of Trade and Marketing at the Ministry of Agriculture in Namibia. She also served as a Researcher at the Namibian Economic Policy Research Unit and a Banker at Zambia National Commercial Bank. 

    Mupotola holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from Bennington College, Vermont, United States of America and an MPhil in Development and Sociology from Cambridge University, United Kingdom.  

    Commenting on her appointment, she said: “I am deeply honored by this opportunity and grateful to President Adesina for his trust and confidence in me. The role of Deputy Director General for the Southern Africa Regional Development, Integration and Business Delivery Office is challenging and exciting. I look forward to working efficiently with our teams and stakeholders to deliver on the Bank’s vision and High 5 priorities for sustainable development.” 

    Dr. Akinwumi A. Adesina, President of the African Development Bank Group, stated: “I am delighted to appoint Mrs. Moono Mupotola as Deputy Director General for the Southern Africa Regional Development, Integration and Business Delivery Office. Moono has extensive experience in regional operations, having served previously as Director of Regional Operations. She was subsequently assigned to Zimbabwe as Country Manager. Moono has demonstrated exceptional leadership, diplomatic acumen and strong execution capacity in working with the Government of Zimbabwe and all the development partners in advancing the structured dialogues for the arrears clearance for Zimbabwe, as well as major reforms. Her astute leadership and experience and in-depth knowledge of the countries in the Southern Africa region will significantly advance the work and partnerships with the African Development Bank Group in the region.” 

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Turning industrial waste into energy

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    [embedded content]

    Around the world, demand for industrial and manufacturing products is rising rapidly. Companies are looking for more ways to repurpose waste, decrease costs and increase operational efficiency while reducing emissions, but these improvements can be expensive and complex.

    Alberta’s government and industry are stepping up and setting an example for the world, investing in two new programs to help more industrial and manufacturing companies reduce emissions, re-use waste and keep powering the world. In partnership with Lafarge Canada, the province will launch a program to expand the use of recycled spare tires and will invest $10 million in a second program to help industry save on their energy bills.

    “We are investing in lower-emission fuels and facility upgrades to set our energy sector up for continued success. These new initiatives will keep our province at the forefront of technological advancement and ensure Alberta continues to lead the way to reduce emissions and turn waste into energy.”

    Rebecca Schulz, Minister of Environment and Protected Areas

    New Tire-Derived Fuel Pilot Project

    Alberta is launching a Tire-Derived Fuel pilot to test the effectiveness of turning old, worn-out tires into energy to power industrial facilities. Led by the Alberta Recycling Management Authority (ARMA), the pilot will turn up to 1.5 million used tires into up to 15,750 tonnes of chips that will become tire-derived fuel in the coming months.

    Lafarge Canada’s new Low-Carbon Fuel Facility will participate in the pilot project. They have the equipment needed to burn waste-derived fuels, reducing their use of natural gas. Results from the pilot will be used to help determine whether tire-derived fuel should be permanently added to the province’s existing Tire Recycling Program.

    New Strategic Energy Management for Industry Program

    Alberta’s government is also investing $10 million from the industry-funded Technology Innovation and Emissions Reduction (TIER) fund to help launch the new Strategic Energy Management for Industry program, open for applications on Oct. 17.

    Delivered through Emissions Reduction Alberta, the program will cover the cost of energy assessments and capital retrofits to save Alberta-based industrial and manufacturing facilities money on their energy bills. It will also provide energy management training, knowledge sharing and technical support.

    Agriculture, forestry, fishing, hunting, mining, oil and gas, and cement companies will all be eligible for funding. Additional funding will also be provided by the Government of Canada and announced soon. More information will be shared on Emissions Reduction Alberta’s website.

    New Low-Carbon Fuel Facility

    Thanks in part to $10 million in TIER funding delivered through Emissions Reduction Alberta, Lafarge Canada has opened a cutting-edge Low-Carbon Fuel Facility that will replace up to 50 per cent of the natural gas it uses with low-carbon fuel from construction demolition waste. This will keep up to 120,000 tonnes of construction and demolition materials out of landfills and produce up to 30,000 fewer tonnes of emissions.

    “The Tire-Derived Fuel Pilot program is another step in resource recovery. We appreciate the support from the Government of Alberta and industry partners like Lafarge Canada, enabling us to explore innovative recycling technologies to assess its viability. This pilot initiative not only addresses near-term tire stockpile reduction needs from our Tire Recycling Program, but also brings the potential to further boost economic opportunities across the province.”

    Ed Gugenheimer, president and CEO, Alberta Recycling Management Authority

    “Improving the efficiency of industrial and manufacturing processes and facilities is the quickest, most cost-effective way to lower energy bills and stay competitive. But it takes knowledge, expertise, training and capital. With SEMI, Alberta companies will soon have even more opportunity to invest in energy and cost-saving technologies.”

    Justin Riemer, CEO, Emissions Reduction Alberta

    “We’re pleased to see the Government of Alberta’s continued commitment to technology and innovation funding, which plays a crucial role in driving innovation and sustainability across all industries. Lafarge Canada has directly benefited from past support, helping us advance our low-carbon solutions. These funding opportunities empower us to accelerate our efforts to reduce emissions and contribute to a more sustainable future for Alberta.”

    Brad Kohl, president and CEO, Lafarge Canada (West)

    Quick facts

    • Albertans have recycled more than 149.5 million tires and diverted hundreds of thousands of tonnes of tires from landfills since 1992 through ARMA’s existing Tire Recycling Program.
    • Scrap tires are currently processed under ARMA’s Tire Recycling Program and turned into drainage material in municipal landfills, playground surfaces, sidewalk blocks, roofing tiles and landscaping mulch, but with markets for recycled tire products declining, alternative outlets are needed to avoid tire stockpiles.
    • To date, Emissions Reduction Alberta has invested $960 million from the industrial carbon price toward more than 290 projects worth over $8.6 billion, estimated to reduce 40 million tonnes of emissions by 2030.

    Related information

    • Emissions Reduction Alberta
    • ARMA: Tire Recycling Program
    • Technology Innovation and Emissions Reduction System

    Multimedia

    • Watch the news conference

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Gangs’stories : A glimpse of hard lives around the world

    Source: The Conversation – France – By Dennis Rodgers, Research Professor, Anthropology and Sociology, Graduate Institute – Institut de hautes études internationales et du développement (IHEID)

    Gangs and gang members arguably constitute fundamental lenses through which to think about and consider the world we live in. They need to be understood in a balanced and nuanced manner, however, that goes beyond stereotyping and vilification. For the past five years, the GANGS project, a European Research Council-funded project led by Dennis Rodgers, has been studying global gang dynamics.

    Among the project’s various activities, researchers collected 31 gang member life histories from 23 countries around the world, to help us better understand the motivations, drivers, and events that can shape gang members’ choices and trajectories. Taken together, the stories offer a panorama of triumph and defeat, of ruin and redemption, of discrimination and emancipation, and highlight the frequent persistence of human beings, even in the most difficult of circumstances. The 31 stories will be published in different forms – including as an Open Access edited volume with Bloomsbury Press, and in two journal special issues – over the coming years. In the meantime, this special series for The Conversation offers a preliminary selection, each illustrating a key issue that has emerged from GANGS project research.

    Kieran Mitton tells us about the life of Gaz, a former Sierra Leonean gang member who became a poet and then a farmer. His remarkable trajectory is a testament to the way that gangster lives are by no means deterministic and that opportunities to leave the gang and change can present themselves in all sorts of ways at different moments in time.

    Ellen Van Damme offers us a portrait of Jennifer, the first female Honduran gang leader. Her story illustrates the frequently gendered nature of gangs, and the way that machismo and patriarchy constrain Jennifer’s life, even as a gang leader, highlighting the frequently fundamentally masculine essence of street gangs.

    Sally Atkinson-Sheppard worked closely with Sharif, who 10 years ago was her research assistant, to write the story of his journey from gang member in war-torn Bangladesh to human rights worker and advocate for street children’s rights today. His story is one of overcoming exceptional adversity and drawing on his past experiences to do good in the world today.

    Steffen Jensen recounts the story of Marwan, whose life is in many ways a reflection of contemporary South African history, as he has had to navigate the violence of apartheid, prison, the Cape Flat drug wars, and more. Central to his narrative are the binary notions of damnation and redemption, with gangs frequently the sources of both at different points in his life, highlighting the different ways in which they can influence life trajectories.

    Alistair Fraser and Angela Bartie present a portrait of 70-year-old Danny, a retired Glaswegian businessman who was a gang member in his youth, and that is based, uniquely, on interviews carried out over a 50-year period, in 1969, 2011, and 2022. They trace his changing self-reflexion about his past, highlighting how this mirrors the broader transformation of Glasgow from a “Mean City” in the 1950s to a thriving metropolis that was Europe’s Capital of Culture in 1990.

    From a very young age, Soraya was involved in drug trafficking in the barrio Luis Fanor Hernández, a poor neighbourhood in Managua, the capital of Nicaragua, where Dennis Rodgers has worked for over 20 years. Known locally as “la Reina del Sur” (“the Queen of the South”), her story shows how rather than being empowering, her participation in the drugs trade reinforced forms of macho violence and patriarchal dynamics of domination.

    Dennis Rodgers received an Advanced Grant (no. 787935) from the European Research Council (https://erc.europa.eu) for a project on “Gangs, Gangsters, and Ganglands: Towards a Global Comparative Ethnography” (GANGS).

    – ref. Gangs’stories : A glimpse of hard lives around the world – https://theconversation.com/gangsstories-a-glimpse-of-hard-lives-around-the-world-227166

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Hickenlooper, Colleagues Push DOD to Fix Rule Hurting Colo. Springs Children’s Hospitals

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator John Hickenlooper – Colorado

    Rule change has caused financial challenges for Children’s hospitals serving defense communities, limited their ability to provide care

    WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators John Hickenlooper and Michael Bennet and U.S. Representatives Doug Lamborn and Jason Crow, along with 16 of their Senate and House colleagues, sent a letter to Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin urging the Defense Health Agency (DHA) to address the financial burden caused by a change in the way children’s hospitals are reimbursed for the care they provide to military families covered by TRICARE, the government health care program for active duty service members and their families.

    “We write to express our deep concerns about a 2023 Defense Health Agency (DHA) rule that catalyzed a major shift in the TRICARE reimbursement methodology for children’s hospitals,” wrote the lawmakers. “Children’s hospitals situated in defense communities in our home states are now grappling with the impacts of this change.”

    DHA previously exempted children’s hospitals from the adult Medicare reimbursement process because the program’s policies aren’t applicable to the care children typically need. Over 2.4 million children obtain care from children’s hospitals through TRICARE each year, and the change has placed an outsized burden on children’s hospitals in major defense communities, like Colorado Springs. Specifically, the Children’s Hospital Colorado said one in five patients in their Colorado Springs facility pay with TRICARE. The rule change is expected to cost them over $25 million annually.

    The Children’s Hospital Association (CHA) sent letters to the Department of Defense in 2020 and 2023 expressing their concerns about the proposed rule. However, they did not receive a response before the DHA implemented the change in October 2023.

    The lawmakers specifically asked the following questions:

    • What dialogue has DHA had with the affected children’s hospitals to understand how this new reimbursement methodology impacts operations and access to care?
    • What data and sources informed the agency’s analysis of the impact on children’s hospitals that care for TRICARE patients?
    • How did the agency account for the financial impacts of military families traveling for care in circumstances where local services are no longer available?
    • How did the agency develop the contingency payment and why did the DHA set a lower contingency payment for pediatrics?
    • Can the agency verify the number of children’s hospitals that are expected to qualify for the contingency payment that is outlined in the rule?

    Hickenlooper has publicly supported reversing the rule change and offered an amendment to the annual National Defense Authorization Act that would have defrayed some of these costs.

    The full text of the letter is available HERE.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Canada announces $29.4 million in funding to support small-scale financial institutions in developing countries

    Source: Government of Canada News

    Canada is helping companies of every size get a fair chance to succeed. But too often in developing countries around the world, financing, such as loans and insurance, is tough to access. That means that opportunities to grow are scarce.

    October 16, 2024 – Montréal, Quebec – Global Affairs Canada

    Canada is helping companies of every size get a fair chance to succeed. But too often in developing countries around the world, financing, such as loans and insurance, is tough to access. That means that opportunities to grow are scarce.

    Canada is changing that by improving access to financial services for underserved global populations, including women.

    Today, the Honourable Ahmed Hussen, Minister of International Development, announced $22.9 million in funding for the Aequitas Impact Investment Fund and $6.5 million for the fund’s Technical Assistance Facility, for a total of $29.4 million. This 12-year project, in partnership with Desjardins International Development (DID), will help make personalized financial services available to underserved communities around the world—helping them to grow and succeed.

    The Aequitas Impact Investment Fund, launched in 2021, invests in small-scale financial institutions in developing countries to help them improve the availability of financial products, such as bank accounts, loans and insurance. These investments increase the availability of financial products and services for entrepreneurs who run micro-, small and medium-sized businesses, including women, youths and small-scale farmers in Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe and Latin America. Canada’s investment in this fund represents a key milestone in Canada’s progress in implementing the UN Sustainable Development Goals, particularly with investments in gender equality and international development.

    Canada’s investment is supported by a technical assistance facility that helps financial institutions and their clients improve their access to financial products and services to build and sustain their businesses. 

    “We are extremely proud of the Government of Canada’s commitment to the Aequitas Impact Investment Fund. By pooling our efforts and resources, we will be able to do more to promote the economic empowerment of women, young people and entrepreneurs of micro-, small and medium-sized businesses. This investment lines up perfectly with our goal of having a positive impact on gender equality, climate action and sustainable development—not just in Canada, but around the world.”

    – Guy Cormier, President and CEO, Desjardins Group

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: FACT SHEET: Biden-⁠ Harris Administration Approves Nearly $2 Billion for Hurricane Response and Recovery  Efforts

    US Senate News:

    Source: The White House
    The Biden-Harris Administration continues its response and recovery efforts across the Southeast and Appalachia following Hurricanes Helene and Milton. Nearly 8,000 Federal personnel remain on the ground working side-by-side with State and local officials to help survivors with recovery and rebuilding.
    As part of our commitment to remaining with impacted communities as long as it takes, under President Biden’s direction, the Administration has already approved more than $1.8 billion in assistance for hurricane recovery efforts.
    This includes assistance for individuals – including funding for temporary housing, essential needs like food, water, baby formula, and other emergency supplies – as well as public assistance to states for costs related to debris removal, life-saving emergency protective measures, and restoring public infrastructure, including roads, bridges, schools, and courthouses.
    In North Carolina, where the Administration continues to surge resources, more than $100 million in assistance has been approved for more than 77,000 survivors.
    This funding supplements additional investments announced by President Biden during his visit to Florida this weekend, where he awarded more than $600 million from the Department of Energy to six projects across the Southeast to enhance the reliability and resilience of the electric grid in the face of more extreme weather events.
    Specific funding for impacted communities includes:
    For those affected by Hurricane Helene, FEMA has approved over $911 million, which includes $581 million in assistance for individuals and affected communities and over $330 million for public assistance costs like debris removal and other activities to save lives, protect public health and safety, prevent damage to public and private property, and restore public infrastructure.
    For individual assistance related to Hurricane Helene, specific funding approved includes:
    Florida: More than $213 million for 71,000 survivors
    South Carolina: More than $132 million for 146,000 survivors
    Georgia: More than $119 million for 118,000 survivors
    North Carolina: More than $100 million for 77,000 survivors
    Tennessee: More than $11.8 million for 2,400 survivors
    Virginia: More than $4.7 million for 1,500 survivors
    For those affected by Hurricane Milton, FEMA has already approved over $620 million, which thus far includes $16 million in assistance for individuals and affected communities and over $604 million in public assistance.  
    The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has offered over $48 million in tentatively approved disaster loan funding to survivors of Hurricanes Helene and Milton. The SBA also has hundreds of staff working on the ground supporting communities in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia in 48 disaster recovery centers, as well as in loan processing and customer service centers. 
    Disaster Recovery Centers open throughout impacted states:
    Additional Disaster Recovery Centers are opening throughout the affected communities to provide survivors with in-person assistance. These centers serve as “one stop shops,” offering help with applications for FEMA assistance, information on available resources from other Federal agencies, and guidance on navigating the recovery process. Disaster Survivor Assistance Teams remain on the ground in neighborhoods in all affected states helping survivors apply for assistance and connecting them with additional state, local, federal and voluntary resources.
    Survivors can visit Disaster Recovery Centers in the following cities/towns:
    Florida:
    Twelve Disaster Recovery Centers are open in Bradenton, Branford, Glen Saint Mary, Homosassa, Lake City, Largo, Live Oak, Madison, Perry, Sarasota, and Tampa, and more will open in the coming days and weeks. DRCs will support survivors impacted by both Helene and Milton. In addition, 120 Disaster Survivor Assistance Team members are going into neighborhoods to connect with survivors.
    North Carolina:
    Six Disaster Recovery Centers are open in Asheville, Bakersville, Boone, Lenoir, Marion and Sylva. FEMA expects to open up to ten more Disaster Recovery Centers in impacted communities in the coming days. More than 1,200 FEMA staff are on the ground, and 379 Disaster Survivor Assistance Team members are going into neighborhoods to connect with survivors.
    Georgia:
    Four Disaster Recovery Centers are open in Valdosta, Douglas, Sandersville and Augusta. 152 Disaster Survivor Assistance Team members are going into neighborhoods to connect with survivors.
    South Carolina:
    Six Disaster Recovery Centers are open in Anderson, Greenville, Barnwell, Batesburg, Easley, and North Augusta. 92 Disaster Survivor Assistance Team members are going into neighborhoods to connect with survivors.
    Tennessee:
    One Disaster Recovery Center is open in Erwin. 48 Disaster Survivor Assistance Team members are going into neighborhoods to connect with survivors.
    Virginia:
    Four Disaster Recovery Centers are open in Damascus, Dublin, Independence, and Tazewell. 57 Disaster Survivor Assistance Team members are going into neighborhoods to connect with survivors.
    Additional assistance to agriculture producers includes:
    The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that people in parts of Georgia, North Carolina and Tennessee recovering from Tropical Storm Helene may be eligible for food assistance through the USDA’s Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (D-SNAP). Approximately 982,930 households in Georgia, 152,572 households in North Carolina and 54,692 households in Tennessee are estimated to be eligible for this relief to help with grocery expenses. Through this program, which USDA makes available through states in the aftermath of disasters, people who may not be eligible for SNAP in normal circumstances can participate if they meet specific criteria, including disaster income limits and qualifying disaster-related expenses.
    USDA also announced additional assistance to help agriculture producers impacted by Hurricane Helene in the recovery process. Producers will receive over $233 million in indemnities for losses from Hurricane Helene. These payments will directly help farmers and rural communities recover.
    Currently, Hurricane Helene estimated indemnities by state include:
    Georgia: $207.7 million 
    Florida: $12.8 million
    Alabama: $5.0 million 
    North Carolina: $4.1 million 
    South Carolina: $4.1 million
    Virginia: $61,000

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA News: FACT SHEET: Biden-⁠ Harris Administration Approves Nearly $2 Billion for Hurricane Response and Recovery  Efforts

    Source: The White House

    The Biden-Harris Administration continues its response and recovery efforts across the Southeast and Appalachia following Hurricanes Helene and Milton. Nearly 8,000 Federal personnel remain on the ground working side-by-side with State and local officials to help survivors with recovery and rebuilding.

    As part of our commitment to remaining with impacted communities as long as it takes, under President Biden’s direction, the Administration has already approved more than $1.8 billion in assistance for hurricane recovery efforts.

    This includes assistance for individuals – including funding for temporary housing, essential needs like food, water, baby formula, and other emergency supplies – as well as public assistance to states for costs related to debris removal, life-saving emergency protective measures, and restoring public infrastructure, including roads, bridges, schools, and courthouses.

    In North Carolina, where the Administration continues to surge resources, more than $100 million in assistance has been approved for more than 77,000 survivors.

    This funding supplements additional investments announced by President Biden during his visit to Florida this weekend, where he awarded more than $600 million from the Department of Energy to six projects across the Southeast to enhance the reliability and resilience of the electric grid in the face of more extreme weather events.

    Specific funding for impacted communities includes:

    For those affected by Hurricane Helene, FEMA has approved over $911 million, which includes $581 million in assistance for individuals and affected communities and over $330 million for public assistance costs like debris removal and other activities to save lives, protect public health and safety, prevent damage to public and private property, and restore public infrastructure.

    For individual assistance related to Hurricane Helene, specific funding approved includes:

    • Florida: More than $213 million for 71,000 survivors
    • South Carolina: More than $132 million for 146,000 survivors
    • Georgia: More than $119 million for 118,000 survivors
    • North Carolina: More than $100 million for 77,000 survivors
    • Tennessee: More than $11.8 million for 2,400 survivors
    • Virginia: More than $4.7 million for 1,500 survivors

    For those affected by Hurricane Milton, FEMA has already approved over $620 million, which thus far includes $16 million in assistance for individuals and affected communities and over $604 million in public assistance.  

    The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has offered over $48 million in tentatively approved disaster loan funding to survivors of Hurricanes Helene and Milton. The SBA also has hundreds of staff working on the ground supporting communities in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia in 48 disaster recovery centers, as well as in loan processing and customer service centers. 

    Disaster Recovery Centers open throughout impacted states:

    Additional Disaster Recovery Centers are opening throughout the affected communities to provide survivors with in-person assistance. These centers serve as “one stop shops,” offering help with applications for FEMA assistance, information on available resources from other Federal agencies, and guidance on navigating the recovery process. Disaster Survivor Assistance Teams remain on the ground in neighborhoods in all affected states helping survivors apply for assistance and connecting them with additional state, local, federal and voluntary resources.

    Survivors can visit Disaster Recovery Centers in the following cities/towns:

    Florida:

    • Twelve Disaster Recovery Centers are open in Bradenton, Branford, Glen Saint Mary, Homosassa, Lake City, Largo, Live Oak, Madison, Perry, Sarasota, and Tampa, and more will open in the coming days and weeks. DRCs will support survivors impacted by both Helene and Milton. In addition, 120 Disaster Survivor Assistance Team members are going into neighborhoods to connect with survivors.

    North Carolina:

    • Six Disaster Recovery Centers are open in Asheville, Bakersville, Boone, Lenoir, Marion and Sylva. FEMA expects to open up to ten more Disaster Recovery Centers in impacted communities in the coming days. More than 1,200 FEMA staff are on the ground, and 379 Disaster Survivor Assistance Team members are going into neighborhoods to connect with survivors.

    Georgia:

    • Four Disaster Recovery Centers are open in Valdosta, Douglas, Sandersville and Augusta. 152 Disaster Survivor Assistance Team members are going into neighborhoods to connect with survivors.

    South Carolina:

    • Six Disaster Recovery Centers are open in Anderson, Greenville, Barnwell, Batesburg, Easley, and North Augusta. 92 Disaster Survivor Assistance Team members are going into neighborhoods to connect with survivors.

    Tennessee:

    • One Disaster Recovery Center is open in Erwin. 48 Disaster Survivor Assistance Team members are going into neighborhoods to connect with survivors.

    Virginia:

    • Four Disaster Recovery Centers are open in Damascus, Dublin, Independence, and Tazewell. 57 Disaster Survivor Assistance Team members are going into neighborhoods to connect with survivors.

    Additional assistance to agriculture producers includes:

    The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that people in parts of Georgia, North Carolina and Tennessee recovering from Tropical Storm Helene may be eligible for food assistance through the USDA’s Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (D-SNAP). Approximately 982,930 households in Georgia, 152,572 households in North Carolina and 54,692 households in Tennessee are estimated to be eligible for this relief to help with grocery expenses. Through this program, which USDA makes available through states in the aftermath of disasters, people who may not be eligible for SNAP in normal circumstances can participate if they meet specific criteria, including disaster income limits and qualifying disaster-related expenses.

    USDA also announced additional assistance to help agriculture producers impacted by Hurricane Helene in the recovery process. Producers will receive over $233 million in indemnities for losses from Hurricane Helene. These payments will directly help farmers and rural communities recover.

    Currently, Hurricane Helene estimated indemnities by state include:

    • Georgia: $207.7 million 
    • Florida: $12.8 million
    • Alabama: $5.0 million 
    • North Carolina: $4.1 million 
    • South Carolina: $4.1 million
    • Virginia: $61,000

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Sorensen Joins South Pekin Leaders to Announce Funding Request for Clean Drinking Water

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

    PEORIA, IL – Congressman Eric Sorensen (IL-17) joined local leaders in South Pekin to provide updates on funding he requested from the federal government to fix the village’s water system and provide clean drinking water to families. 

    “In South Pekin, we are seeing what happens when our communities don’t have the resources to repair broken infrastructure,” said Sorensen. “The water mains need to be replaced, and we need to make sure South Pekin has a new manganese filter, so dangerous chemicals stay out of the water and out of glasses that my neighbors use to drink. That is why I have requested millions from Congress for South Pekin to replace its water mains and ensure everyone has access to safe drinking water. I will continue working across the aisle, with Republicans and Democrats to get this passed so we can deliver this funding to my neighbors here at home.” 

    “The Village of South Pekin is greatly appreciative of Representative Sorensen and the House Appropriations Committee for taking up our request for funding, which will go a long way to help South Pekin achieve the goal of installing filtering, replacing water mains, and replacing the lead pipes and/or fixtures from the curb to the resident’s dwelling. The Village of South Pekin and its residents extend their thanks,” said Eric Stout, Mayor, Village of South Pekin.  

    Photos of the event are available for use by the media here.  

    Sorensen’s request comes as the Village of South Pekin looks to overhaul its water system that has been found to have levels of manganese levels that exceed the allowable limit, according to the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency. 

    Sorensen requested federal funds for South Pekin as part of the Community Project Funding process, which allows members of Congress to secure funds in spending legislation for critical initiatives in their communities. 

    In the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies House Appropriations bill, Sorensen fought to include $1,105,800 in investments for South Pekin. This legislation has passed the House and is awaiting a vote in the Senate. 

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

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: National Drought Group discusses preparations for extreme weather

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Water resources are healthy following the wettest 12 months in England since 1836

    The changing climate means we will see more extreme weather in the coming years, the National Drought Group heard at its latest meeting today (16 October 2024), which was attended by Water Minister Emma Hardy.

    The Environment Agency chaired a routine meeting of the expert group today in which it was confirmed that water resources are currently healthy following the wettest 12 months (October 2023 to September 2024) on record in England. However, the Group discussed that flood and drought should be viewed as different sides of the same coin and England needs to be prepared for an increase of both in the coming years.

    Despite recent warnings about flood preparedness, the Environment Agency reiterated that droughts are likely to become more frequent and more severe in future, and we need to be ready for all rainfall scenarios. Extreme dry weather can come unexpectedly, as happened in the summer of 2022, and can impact our lives in various ways, including on agriculture. At the meeting, attendees heard about the challenges farmers and growers have experienced this year in managing the variable weather conditions. The importance of making the environment more resilient to the impacts of all weather extremes was also discussed.  

    It comes a week after the Environment Agency warned there were significant areas of under-delivery against water resource management plans, meaning improvements are needed in order to manage water supplies efficiently and sustainably.

    Chairing the meeting, Environment Agency Director of Water, Helen Wakeham said:

    Heavier rainfall and drier summers are the shape of things to come, and this will be an enormous challenge over the next few decades.  

    As well as preparing for floods, we must ensure we are resilient to drought, and we cannot be complacent even when water resources are healthy. 

    Water companies must deliver on their commitments to improve infrastructure and rollout smart water meters, but we can all take small steps to reduce demand such as installing a water butt to capture rain to water the garden.

    Water and Floods Minister Emma Hardy said:

    Population growth and climate change is putting tremendous pressure on our water system, and we all saw in 2022 how quickly drought can take hold.  

    We need to be prepared for all eventualities and the government is taking decisive action to improve the resilience of our precious water supplies.  

    This Government will secure investment to upgrade our crumbling water infrastructure, which in turn will help fix leaks and ensure water is used more efficiently.

    The National Drought Group – which includes the government, regulators, water companies, farmers, conservation experts and the Met Office   – heard about the current water resources situation:

    • The last 12 months has been the wettest October to September on record since 1836 for England. Some parts of the country received more than three times the average rainfall in September.

    • Reservoir storage across England was at 76% of total capacity at the end of September.

    • River flows in September were normal or higher at three-quarters of sites, with a third ‘exceptionally high’ for the time of year.

    • Groundwater levels usually continue to decline in September and, despite the wet weather, this is the case for the majority of sites. However, we are now seeing groundwater levels in early October rising in many aquifers in response to the exceptionally wet September. 

    Water resources

    By 2050, England will need to find an additional 5 billion litres of water a day to meet demand for public water supply. This is more than a third of the 14 billion litres of water currently put into the public water supply. To bridge the gap between supply and demand, proposed developments over the next three decades include nine new reservoirs. However, earlier this month the EA warned of under-delivery against these plans, noting that some water companies wouldn’t have had sufficient water supply to meet planned levels of resilience in the event of a drought last year.

    In the last six months, regulators – including the EA, Ofwat and Natural England – have been working with all water companies on their final 2025-2030 Water Resource Management Plans. National Drought Group members also heard that the EA will launch an eight-week public consultation in the coming weeks on how drought is managed in England, calling for public views on the document and input into its operational area drought plans.

    Further information

    The meeting follows recent measures announced by the government and the Environment Agency to drive improvements across the water sector.  

    • 100% of storm overflows are monitored which helps the Environment Agency to inspect water companies and ensure they are operating within their permits. 

    • The EA is implementing a fourfold increase in water company inspections to hold companies to account – 4000 will be carried out by the end of March 2025, and 10,000 in 2025/26. 

    • The EA is recruiting up to 500 additional staff and using more data-driven analytics to identify any non-compliance and take action.  

    • The EA is conducting its largest ever criminal investigation into potential widespread non-compliance by water and sewerage companies at thousands of sewage treatment works. Tough enforcement action has already led to over £151m in fines since 2015.   

    • In his first week, the Secretary of State for Environment Food and Rural Affairs Steve Reed announced a series of initial steps towards ending the crisis in the water sector.

    • After writing to Ofwat, the Secretary of State has secured agreement that funding for vital infrastructure investment is ringfenced and can only be spent on upgrades benefiting customers and the environment. Ofwat will also ensure that when money for investment is not spent, companies refund customers, with money never allowed to be diverted for bonuses, dividends or salary increases.

    • Water companies will place customers and the environment at the heart of their objectives. Companies have agreed to change their ‘Articles of Association’ – the rules governing each company – to make the interests of customers and the environment a primary objective.

    • There will be strengthened protection and compensation for households and businesses when their basic water services are affected. Subject to consultation, the amount of compensation customers are legally entitled to when key standards are not met will more than double. The payments will also be triggered by a wider set of circumstances including Boil Water Notices.

    • The Secretary of State has announced that the Government will be carrying out a review to fundamentally transform how our water system works and clean up our rivers, lakes and seas for good.

    • The Water (Special Measures) Bill has been introduced to Parliament. It will:

      • Strengthen regulation to ensure water bosses face personal criminal liability for lawbreaking.
      • Give the water regulator new powers to ban the payment of bonuses if environmental standards are not met.
      • Boost accountability for water executives through fitness and proprietary tests.
      • Introduce new powers to bring automatic and severe fines.
      • Require water companies to install real-time monitors at every sewage outlet with data independently scrutinised by the water regulators.

    Updates to this page

    Published 16 October 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congresswoman Monica De La Cruz Introduces the Water Delivery Transparency Act to Ensure South Texas Stakeholders Are Heard

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Monica De La Cruz (TX-15)

    Congresswoman Monica De La Cruz (TX-15) recently introduced the Water Delivery Transparency Act to address South Texas’ water challenges by ensuring agricultural producers and local stakeholders have a voice in negotiations under the 1944 Water Treaty with Mexico. As Mexico continues to fall short on water deliveries, the bill mandates the U.S. International Boundary and Water Commission (IBWC) to host public forums, create an online portal for stakeholder input, and issue public reports detailing how this input will influence future treaty updates.

    “South Texas’s farmers and communities have been carrying the weight of these water shortages for too long,” said De La Cruz. “It’s time for a new approach that prioritizes transparency, stakeholder engagement, and accountability from our neighbors to the south. The Water Delivery Transparency Act will give our agricultural community and local leaders a real voice in the process, ensuring that their concerns are heard and that the IBWC is held accountable to the needs of our region.”

    The bill is co-sponsored by House Budget Committee Chairman Jodey Arrington (TX-19) and Congresswoman Kay Granger (TX-12).

    Support from the Agriculture Community

    The Water Delivery Transparency Act has garnered strong support from key agricultural groups in Texas, including the Texas Farm Bureau, the Texas International Produce Association, the Texas Vegetable Association, and Texas Citrus Mutual.

    “Having a process to record stakeholder comments and suggestions has become necessary as the Rio Grande Valley approaches a critical state in this water shortage. Many farmers feel they’re living a nightmarish déjà vu from 20 and 30 years ago when they shared concerns about the 1944 Treaty and Mexico’s lack of compliance,” said Dante Galeazzi, President and CEO of the Texas International Produce Association. “We thank Congresswoman De La Cruz for her steadfast commitment to supporting the South Texas agriculture community and introducing sensible legislation such as this.”

    “Texas Farm Bureau (TFB) thanks Congresswoman Monica De La Cruz for introducing commonsense legislation to provide farmers more input and more transparency during the minute drafting process related to the 1944 Water Treaty,” said TFB President Russell Boening. “The current lack of communication and opportunity for stakeholder input in the minute process is concerning. We look forward to our continued work to ensure Mexico starts upholding the obligations set forth in the treaty. It is critical to achieve this goal to secure the future of agriculture in the Rio Grande Valley.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Government of Canada invests $535,000 to modernize and expand Muskoka North Good Food Co-op

    Source: Government of Canada News

    Today, the Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Indigenous Services and Minister responsible for FedNor, announced a Government of Canada investment of $535,000 to help Muskoka North Good Food Co-op purchase new equipment and expand to meet demand.

    FedNor funding to support jobs, agriculture and food security in the region

    October 16, 2024 – Huntsville, ON – Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario – FedNor

    Today, the Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Indigenous Services and Minister responsible for FedNor, announced a Government of Canada investment of $535,000 to help Muskoka North Good Food Co-op purchase new equipment and expand to meet demand.

    Provided through FedNor’s Northern Ontario Development Program, this targeted investment will allow the organization to acquire a second modular farm pod, purchase and install a walk-in cooler and freezer, and establish a micro-bakery. This strategic initiative is helping the co-op double in size, increase profitability, enhance efficiencies, and create five full-time jobs. Once complete, this priority project will help ensure local families have improved access to safe, reliable, fresh and nutritious foods.

    Based in Huntsville, Muskoka North Good Food Co-op places community benefit alongside profitability and connects local farmers to a growing consumer base through a grocery retail market, café, and commercial production kitchen. As a community-owned grocery store & food hub, the co-op provides sustainable, ethical, and good food for the communities it serves.

    “Today’s investment of $535,000 will support Northern Ontario’s agriculture industry and ensure that local families in Huntsville and Muskoka will have consistent access to safe, reliable, fresh and nutritious foods from local famers and producers throughout the region.”

    –       The Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Indigenous Services and Minister responsible for FedNor

    “We’re proud to be building capacity by expanding Muskoka North Good Food Co-op at this stage in our development, and FedNor funding was pivotal in helping make this happen! At the heels of our Co-op’s 7th Anniversary, the grand opening of our newly expanded space will be a celebration of co-operative dedication, collaboration and regional food systems growth. We’ll be unveiling an array of new equipment and upgraded facilities which will allow us to create greater impact and better serve health conscious families and community members. Supporting our region’s farm and agri-food producers continues to make it easier for people to access fresh, nutritious foods while building a strong and sustainable agri-food sector in Muskoka.”

    –       Kelli Ebbs, Manager, Muskoka North Good Food Co-op

    Jennifer Kozelj
    Press Secretary
    Office of the Minister of Indigenous Services and Minister responsible for FedNor
    jennifer.kozelj@sac-isc.gc.ca

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: World Food Day: How the new Mobilizing Access to the Digital Economy (MADE) Alliance will use digital technologies to help farmers in Africa feed the continent

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

    ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast, October 16, 2024/APO Group/ —

    The African Development Bank Group (www.AfDB.org) and Mastercard are co-chairing a new initiative called Mobilizing Access to the Digital Economy (MADE) Alliance Africa, which aims to provide digital access to critical services for 100 million people and businesses in Africa over the next 10 years. In the first phase of its $300 million commitment to the Alliance’s initial five years of programming, the African Development Bank aims to bring 3 million farmers in Kenya, Tanzania and Nigeria into the digital economy via Mastercard Community Pass. Community Pass gives farmers a digital credential to access a network of digital agricultural agents.

    Alliance members include Equity Bank Group, Microsoft, Heifer International, Sustainable Agriculture Foundation, Unconnected.org, Yara, Kenya National Farmers’ Federation, Shell Foundation, and CRDB Bank. The Alliance also utilizes financial support from the U.S. Agency for International Development.

    For World Food Day, we asked African Development Bank Vice President for Agriculture, Human and Social Development, Dr. Beth Dunford, about the possibilities digitalization brings to Africa’s farmers and food systems.

    Why did MADE Alliance Africa choose to focus on the digitization of agriculture for smallholder farmers and women as its first initiative, and why do you think the African agriculture sector holds so much potential?  

    Dunford: Africa is home to 65% of the planet’s remaining uncultivated, arable land, and we believe that agriculture is a critical sector to drive Africa’s development. Agriculture accounts for nearly 60% of total employment in Africa and accounts for more than 25% of GDP in its low-income countries. Across the continent, there’s no agriculture without women. They provide an estimated 60% to 80% of labor input to the sector. Growth in agriculture is terribly effective compared to many other sectors in lifting people out of poverty, providing degrees of agency to women, feeding Africa’s people, and positioning the continent as a breadbasket to the world.

    Our challenge is that the majority of Africa’s food systems producers are smallholder farmers who, simply put, struggle from season to season due to a lack of access to quality inputs like seeds and fertilizer, or access to affordable financing to purchase farming necessities. Africa’s smallholder farmers have various needs that the MADE Alliance Africa can solve by boosting sustainable digital access to critical services. Through the MADE Alliance, Mastercard Community Pass works with local banks to provide digital credentials to millions of smallholder farmers and women. Digital identities are the gateway to accessing digital services and to high-quality inputs. Digitalizing agriculture and the distribution of goods will bring enormous efficiencies to the marketplace, as well as reduce waste and fraud across the ecosystem.

    Mastercard’s Community Pass can help establish digital credentials for millions of farmers, bring more transparency to pricing and help them access agricultural inputs. What are the challenges involved in bringing this solution to market, and how can they be overcome?

    Dunford: Community Pass is designed to operate in remote and rural communities — often with limited connectivity and energy access. This technology, to adapt a popular phrase, “meets farmers where they are.” However, there are challenges involved in delivering these solutions and connecting smallholder farmers and women to financial institutions — challenges that we believe can be overcome or mitigated through capacity building, infrastructure and new models for governments and the private sector to work together.

    To scale these technologies to more farmers in a timely manner, we need to work with farmer cooperatives and networks of member farmers who reap many benefits of doing business as a unit. The challenge is that the majority of farmer cooperatives in Africa are not as operationally efficient as they are in other regions, and the prevalence of digital literacy is relatively low. Africa needs significant investment to educate farmers on how they can benefit from digital technologies to access resources.

    MADE Alliance’s digital services can connect farmers to new buyers and suppliers who are physically far away, but costs to transport goods to market remain a barrier. Critically, farmers and women need digital devices and reliable connectivity to take advantage of the digital economy.

    Can you talk a little more about how the MADE Alliance will benefit women?

    Dunford: Roughly half of Africa’s smallholder farmers are women, with the majority of agriculture sector labor carried out by women. However, compared to their male counterparts, female farmers struggle to create a sustainable livelihood in agriculture because they are less likely to own property titles or other assets often needed to access financial services. Women farmers have less access to information and extension services, and they lack access to inputs such as seeds and fertilizers. They are disproportionately impacted by climate risks. Collectively, these challenges result in women farmers typically producing up to 20% to 30% less output than male farmers.

    Community Pass helps women make farming a sustainable livelihood by enabling access to critical service providers like banks and agricultural buyers, as well as creating transparency.

    Women are the backbone of African economies, and investing in women entrepreneurs fosters women’s empowerment and agency over decisions around business, family and community. Investing in Africa’s women entrepreneurs is smart economics. Investing in Africa’s women has been a cornerstone of the Bank’s work. In fact, no Bank project or program will receive Bank financing unless it details how it will benefit women.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Dmitry Patrushev discussed the pace of construction of the fishing fleet with representatives of federal authorities and the industry community

    MILES AXLE Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

    Source: Government of the Russian Federation – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

    Dmitry Patrushev held a meeting of “Incident No. 42” “Fishing vessels”

    October 16, 2024

    Dmitry Patrushev held a meeting of “Incident No. 42” “Fishing vessels”

    October 16, 2024

    Dmitry Patrushev held a meeting of “Incident No. 42” “Fishing vessels”

    October 16, 2024

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    Dmitry Patrushev held a meeting of “Incident No. 42” “Fishing vessels”

    Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Patrushev held a meeting of “Incident No. 42” “Fishing Vessels”. With the participation of representatives of the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Federal Agency for Fisheries, other interested departments, the United Shipbuilding Corporation, shipyards and the industry business community, current issues of construction of the fishing fleet were considered.

    “In the second half of 2024, four vessels were delivered to customers: two fishing vessels and two crab vessels. In total, 30 vessels have been built to date within the first stage of investment quotas. Six more should be delivered by the end of the year,” said Dmitry Patrushev. According to the Deputy Prime Minister, the achieved dynamics cannot be reduced.

    The implementation of the second stage of investment quotas is also ongoing. An auction for crabs has already taken place, as well as two bidding campaigns for other types of aquatic bioresources. As a result, contracts for the construction of 31 vessels have been concluded, one of which has been delivered to the investor.

    The meeting participants paid special attention to issues related to the termination of contracts with investors who were unable to fulfill their obligations, as well as the extension of the construction deadlines for the first stage of crab catchers. Dmitry Patrushev recalled that the initial deadlines for 20 current contracts expire on October 30 of this year. The issue of extending the construction deadlines was discussed. In this regard, Rosrybolovstvo, together with the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Ministry of Agriculture, must promptly develop decisions on terminating contracts, extending deadlines, or transferring the construction of vessels to other shipyards.

    Following the meeting, Dmitry Patrushev instructed interested federal executive bodies to ensure the timely delivery of financial resources to shipbuilding organizations.

    Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    Please note; This information is raw content directly from the information source. It is accurate to what the source is stating and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    http://government.ru/nevs/53013/

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cassidy, Rubio, Cornyn, Scott Announce Bill to Replenish Disaster Relief Fund

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Louisiana Bill Cassidy

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), Marco Rubio (R-FL), John Cornyn (R-TX), and Rick Scott (R-FL) today announced legislation to appropriate $20 billion to the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Disaster Relief Fund (DRF) to help states recover following Hurricanes Francine, Helene, and Milton. The DRF assists individuals, households, states, and non-federal government entities with recovery following natural disasters. As a result of an above-average hurricane season, the DRF is quickly dwindling.
    “Americans help Americans. FEMA needs resources to help those impacted by Hurricanes Milton, Helene, and Francine,” said Dr. Cassidy. “Related to this, I will continue working to make flood insurance affordable again.”
    “Unfortunately, this is a hurricane season no one will soon forget. The Disaster Relief Fund (DRF) is the front line for states, and our constituents, to receive support in the aftermath of natural disasters. While assessments of the full extent of these storms are underway, the DRF cannot be allowed to be depleted. I am proud to announce my colleagues and I will be introducing a bill to provide additional funding to support communities affected by the recent hurricanes,” said Senator Rubio.
    “It is alarming that FEMA has spent almost half of its disaster fund, and there are still weeks left in hurricane season. Congress must take action to ensure critical agencies have sufficient resources to help those impacted by natural disasters recover while also maintaining long-term rebuilding projects,” said Senator Cornyn.
    “I’ve been on the ground in Florida surveying damage and talking to Floridians for weeks as our state prepared for and now responds to and recovers from Hurricanes Helene and Milton. What’s clear is that Florida families and businesses need their federal government to show up where they are and help them get back on their feet. This bill, providing $20 billion for FEMA’s Disaster Relief Fund, will ensure that the agency has what it needs to provide immediate aid to folks in Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, the Carolinas and other states impacted by disasters while our local communities determine their needs from FEMA, SBA, USDA and other federal agencies. The federal government’s response to hurricanes over the last two years has left too many Floridians, especially our farmers, hurting and with unmet needs. Unfortunately, I am already hearing from local officials and families in Florida that are frustrated by the fact that these disasters have stretched FEMA’s current resources too thin. That is unacceptable. No state is immune from disasters and I hope that none of our colleagues in the Senate will object to the quick passage of this needed funding. Even with this bill, I continue to urge Majority Leader Schumer to bring back the Senate to fully fund other disaster relief functions at the SBA and USDA block grants, and I’m glad that, in my conversations with President Biden, he has completely agreed with me on the need to get this done. While Floridians are incredibly resilient and will rebuild stronger than ever, it’s going to be an all hands on deck effort at the local, state and federal level to come together and support these communities. I’m going to keep fighting like hell to deliver the federal resources Floridians need to recover,” said Senator Scott.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Baldwin Pushes USDA to Provide Immediate Assistance for Wisconsin Farmers Impacted by Pure Prairie Poultry Closure

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Wisconsin Tammy Baldwin
    WISCONSIN – Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) called on the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to provide immediate assistance for Wisconsin farmers impacted by the sudden closure of Pure Prairie Poultry, which has left poultry farmers in Wisconsin staring down crippling financial losses without feed and a processor for their birds.
    “Hard-working Wisconsin farmers across our state have been left high and dry by the abrupt closure of Pure Prairie Poultry,” said Senator Baldwin. “Our agriculture industry is the beating heart of many of our communities and, in the face of this dire situation, I’m calling on USDA to do everything they can for these Wisconsin farmers who now stare down financial ruin through no fault of their own.”
    In September, Pure Prairie Poultry, an Iowa-based Poultry processor, abruptly closed its plant, leaving farmers across Wisconsin, Iowa, and Minnesota without access to feed for their chickens or capacity to process the birds. In her letter today, Senator Baldwin continues her to call on USDA to intervene and assist farmers who now face extreme financial hardship, especially given USDA’s substantial investment of over $47 million in Pure Prairie Poultry prior to their closure. 
    Senator Baldwin also raised concerns for the animal’s well-being and the potential for this closure to exasperate the avian flu outbreak as farmers are resorting to giving away chickens by the tens of thousands.
    Today, Senator Baldwin called on USDA to immediately address this emergency for Wisconsin farmers by:
    Engaging with the Wisconsin State Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection (DATCP) to locate all impacted producers;
    Providing feed and/or financial assistance to all impacted farmers to make them whole again;
    Providing recommendations for legislative or regulatory solutions to ensure a preventable emergency like this never happens again.
    A full version of this letter is available here and below.
    Dear Secretary Vilsack,
    I write to you to request immediate assistance for Wisconsin farmers and producers impacted by the bankruptcy of Pure Prairie Poultry.
    In September, Pure Prairie Poultry filed for bankruptcy and has since abruptly closed, leaving farmers without access to feed for their chickens or capacity to process the birds. As the lead federal agency with a significant financial interest in the company, including over $47 million in investments by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, I urge to use your resources and authority to mitigate this hardship for impacted farms in Wisconsin.
    This situation remains urgent due to the hundreds of thousands of animals’ lives at risk and the financial hit for the farmers that contracted with this processor. I believe there is a strong case for the agency to intervene based on the animal welfare concerns. There is also an ongoing outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza that poses a serious risk of spreading as farmers have no better option than to give away chickens by the tens of thousands. The hardship for producers and potential threat of this disease underscores the need for timely support for Wisconsin farmers.
    Therefore, I request that the agency take the following steps to mitigate the ongoing animal welfare and farmgate emergency in Wisconsin:
    Engage with the Wisconsin State Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection to locate all impacted producers;
    Provide feed and/or financial assistance to all impacted farmers to make them whole again;
    Provide recommendations for legislative or regulatory solutions to ensure a preventable emergency like this never happens again.
    Thank you for your time an attention to this matter. I hope we can work together to provide a solution to Wisconsin farmers who need it.
    Sincerely,

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Green transition key for agri-food sector

    Source: China State Council Information Office 2

    The venue of the 2024 World Agri-food Innovation Conference (WAFI 2024) is seen in Beijing, capital of China, Oct 11, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]
    A global panel of agrarians has called for the innovation-driven green transition of the world’s agri-food system, as part of efforts to curb carbon emissions and mitigate the impact of climate change on food production.
    While some food-producing regions have initially benefited from warmer weather, the substantial uncertainties caused by global warming are disrupting agriculture across Asia, Africa and South America, the experts said.
    They made the remarks on the sidelines of the 2024 World Agri-Food Innovation Conference, held in Beijing earlier this month. The event was organized by China Agricultural University.
    Sun Qixin, president of China Agricultural University and an academician at the Chinese Academy of Engineering, told China Daily that mainstream models indicate a 6 to 8 percent decrease in food production for every 1 C increase in global temperatures, unless technological innovations are introduced to alleviate these effects.
    “However, the impact of a warmer climate is not uniform across the globe,” he said.
    Despite instances of warmer and wetter climate boosting food production in some areas that were previously cold and prone to drought, the sudden and extreme shifts in weather patterns are causing widespread disruptions in food production globally, Sun noted.
    Given that the green transition necessitates a substantial reduction in agricultural inputs such as fertilizers, it is crucial to invest in research and technological innovations to ensure that these reforms do not result in decreased output, Sun said.
    “We must proceed in this direction despite the challenges,” he added.
    An estimate by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the United Nations body for evaluating climate science, showed that the agri-food sector, covering the entire cycle from food cultivation to consumption, contributes one-third of global greenhouse gas emissions.
    Fu Wenge, a professor at China Agricultural University, said that innovations facilitating green transition do not always require groundbreaking scientific discoveries, adding that sometimes, minor and cost-effective reforms in management models and other fields can bring significant changes.
    Fu cited the university’s Science and Technology Backyard project, which encourages students to live and work alongside smallholding farmers in rural areas as part of their education programs. The arrangement aims to help promote high-yield crop varieties and environmentally friendly farming practices among rural farming communities. “This model has been implemented in Africa and other regions,” he said.
    Ismahane Elouafi, executive managing director of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research, or CGIAR, a global partnership that unites research groups for a food-secure future, said that the green transition could be achieved through innovations that span technological, policy and institutional levels and include models for countries to work together.
    “The impact of climate change is multiplying every day, and the only way forward for us is to adopt innovation in its broad sense to really transform the agriculture system,” she said.
    The experts also called for greater awareness of increasing food production with reduced carbon footprint and more care for the environment.
    Patrick Caron, vice-chair of the CGIAR system board, said that humans have managed to increase food production throughout history, as living conditions improved and consumption patterns changed.
    “However, at the moment, we are looking at the increase of production with a different angle,” he said, referring to greater care to avoid climate change and degradations of land, water and biodiversity.
    Makers of food policy point to China as a source of hope amid the gloomy outlook of increasing food insecurity worldwide, citing the country’s ambitious goal to boost its annual food production capacity to approximately 700 million metric tons by 2030, up from the 695 million tons in 2023.
    Elouafi, the CGIAR executive managing director, said, “I think China really is a bright spot in the global picture, and not only in increasing productivity in a very smart way, but also in reducing poverty and hunger.”
    Despite a recent reversal in global progress, the world made significant strides in alleviating hunger and poverty between 2000 and 2017, largely because of China’s efforts, she said.
    Elouafi noted that China’s adoption of technologies and innovations in the agri-food sector, along with its initiatives to enhance rural incomes, played a pivotal role in the success.
    Wednesday marked World Food Day, which has been celebrated annually on Oct 16 since 1981 to raise awareness and promote action for fighting hunger and ensuring food security for all.
    At a news conference on Wednesday, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said that as the world’s largest food producer, China attaches great importance to global food security.
    “China has provided more funding and experts and undertaken more projects than any other developing country under the framework of the Food and Agriculture Organization’s South-South Cooperation Programme,” she said.
    Mao added that China is willing to continue strengthening cooperation on food security with all parties to strive for a world free of hunger.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Autumn harvest in Linhe District of Bayannur, N China

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

    Autumn harvest in Linhe District of Bayannur, N China

    Updated: October 17, 2024 10:12 Xinhua
    A farmer drives a harvester to harvest sunflower seeds in a field in Linhe District of Bayannur, north China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Oct. 15, 2024.  [Photo/Xinhua]
    A farmer airs chili peppers in a field in Urad Front Banner of Bayannur, north China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Oct. 16, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]
    An aerial drone photo taken on Oct. 15, 2024 shows farmers airing chili peppers in a field in Linhe District of Bayannur, north China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. [Photo/Xinhua]
    An aerial drone photo taken on Oct. 16, 2024 shows farmers airing chili peppers in a field in Urad Front Banner of Bayannur, north China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. [Photo/Xinhua]
    An aerial drone photo taken on Oct. 16, 2024 shows a farmer harvesting corns in a field in Urad Front Banner of Bayannur, north China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Farmers air chili peppers in a field in Linhe District of Bayannur, north China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Oct. 15, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Farmers air chili peppers in a field in Linhe District of Bayannur, north China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Oct. 15, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]
    An aerial drone photo taken on Oct. 16, 2024 shows farmers airing chili peppers in a field in Urad Front Banner of Bayannur, north China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. [Photo/Xinhua]

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Chinese agricultural scientists win FAO Achievement Award

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    Qu Dongyu (R), director-general of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), presents the FAO Achievement Award to the Institute of Plant Protection of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (IPPCAAS) at a ceremony to mark the World Food Day in Rome, Italy, on Oct. 16, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]

    The Institute of Plant Protection of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (IPPCAAS) was awarded the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Achievement Award Wednesday at a ceremony held by the FAO to mark the 44th World Food Day in Rome, Italy.

    FAO Director-General Qu Dongyu presented the prestigious FAO Achievement Award to the IPPCAAS and described their groundbreaking work in combating the Fall Armyworm as having a profound impact in China, across Asia, and globally, making significant strides in protecting crops and securing food supplies.

    This year’s World Food Day, with the theme “Right to foods for a better life and a better future,” aims to raise global awareness about the right to foods and advocates for transforming agrifood systems to support peaceful, resilient, and inclusive livelihoods for all.

    According to the FAO, around 730 million people are currently facing hunger, and over 2.8 billion people cannot afford a healthy diet. This means that even if their calorie intake is sufficient, they may not be receiving the necessary nutrients and dietary diversity to maintain good health.

    In his address, Qu called for renewed “commitment to building more efficient, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable agrifood systems that can nourish the world,” saying, “There is no time to lose; we must take immediate action.”

    In a video message, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said that a zero-hunger world was possible, but “food systems need a massive transformation,” to become more efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable.

    As part of the World Food Day celebrations, a World Food Forum event is being held at FAO headquarters from Oct. 14 to 18.

    The FAO Award for Achievement is awarded every two years to honor an entity or individual for outstanding technical cooperation or humanitarian work in the fields of sustainable agriculture, rural development, or food security at the country level.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Forestry firefighters brief Minister on bushfire preparations

    Source: New South Wales Government 2

    Headline: Forestry firefighters brief Minister on bushfire preparations

    Published: 17 October 2024

    Released by: Minister for Regional NSW

    Minister for Agriculture and Minister for Regional New South Wales Tara Moriarty has met with Forestry Corporation fire specialists to discuss bushfire preparations on the Mid North Coast.

    Minister Moriarty attended Forestry Corporation’s Wauchope depot to speak with fire crews, who are geared up and ready to put their training into action protecting forests and communities during the NSW bushfire season.

    Forestry Corporation is one of the state’s four fire authorities joining the NSW Rural Fire Service, Fire and Rescue NSW and National Parks and Wildlife.

    The organisation oversees land management, bushfire preparation and response across more than 2-million hectares of state forests.

    Forestry Corporation has more than 500 trained firefighters rostered on to respond to state forest fires across NSW.

    Firefighters are trained in national firefighting competencies and its highly experienced managers undertake Incident Management Team roles on major firegrounds.

    Forestry Corporation has a statewide fleet of more than 450 fire appliances, 35 pieces of heavy plant, four contracted aircraft and over 130 drones and trained pilots.

    Heavy plant machinery, which the broader forestry industry uses to harvest sustainable timber is also available to fight fires.

    This machinery including bulldozers, excavators and specialist harvesting machines are used to create control lines for firefighting, set up back burns and remove dangerous trees for firefighting safety.

    In 2023/24 Forestry Corporation firefighters and fire managers were engaged in a total of 184 fires, this impacted 98,250 hectares of land.

    During the 2019-2020 Black Summer bushfires, this heavy plant machinery played an instrumental role in stopping the spread of fast burning bushfires saving life, property and assets across NSW.

    Outside of the bushfire season, Forestry Corporation also conducts forest hazard reduction burns and undertakes cultural burns in partnership with local Aboriginal communities.

    Forestry Corporation also sends its expert fire specialists abroad in the winter months to assist international firefighting agencies in the Northern hemisphere.

    Six staff members deployed to the United States and Canada this year and last year Port Macquarie local Matt Model was one of Forestry’s fire specialists, who deployed to Canada bringing back firefighting skills and expertise to the region.

    Minister for Regional New South Wales Tara Moriarty:

    “The NSW Forestry Corporation has managed fire in state forests for more than 100 years.

    “Forestry Corporation’s trained firefighters work in State forests every day of the year, protecting lives, the environment, forestry resources and local communities.

    “They have decades of experience in managing forest fires, working with the RFS, managing heavy equipment across major firegrounds and maintaining thousands of kilometres of fire trails,

    “When bushfires are reported in our NSW state forests, our forest firefighters rapidly respond using their large fleet of appliances and bringing in heavy plant machinery from the broader forest and timber industry.”

    Forestry Corporation Senior Manager Fire and Natural Hazards Rebel Talbert:

    “As one of the four statutory firefighting authorities in NSW, Forestry Corporation works collaboratively with the other agencies to protect communities, the environment and the State’s essential timber assets from the risk of fire.

    “We are well prepared heading into the fire season with a workforce of skilled firefighters, a fleet of equipment, drones and heavy plant ready to deploy and networks of fire trails and fire towers maintained to aid rapid detection and early suppression of fires.

    Forestry Corporation Fire and Operations Team Leader, Wauchope, Matt Model:

    “In managing more than 200,000 hectares of state forests here on the Mid North Coast, we keep the Mid Coast Bush Fire Management Committee briefed on fuel loads and fire conditions in state forests.

    “Since the Black Summer Bushfires here on the Mid North Coast firefighting technology has been rapidly expanded across NSW to include drones and satellite technology, which this summer will  help our crews with early detection, mapping, response and containment of forest fires.” 

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Death of an idol: response to Liam Payne’s death highlights the power of childhood and music

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Liz Giuffre, Senior Lecturer in Communication, University of Technology Sydney

    Former One Direction band member and solo artist Liam Payne has been found dead outside a hotel in Buenos Aires, media reports have confirmed. Payne was just 31 years old – a loved friend and father.

    Alongside his former One Direction band mates Niall Horan, Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson and Zayn Malik, Payne had a huge influence on popular culture in his home country of the United Kingdom and internationally.

    The group formed in 2010 on the British talent show X Factor and stayed together for about five years before officially splitting in 2016. Throughout this time, Payne remained a valuable member of the band and a clear talent in his own right.

    Although each member auditioned seperately, they were eventually hand-picked by Simon Cowell to form a group.

    After the split (and a brief hiatus from music-making), Payne continued to release music periodically as both a songwriter and collaborator. He most recently released the single Teardrops in March, ahead of an anticipated second solo album.

    News of Payne’s death has led to an outpouring of tributes. Like many young people thrust into stardom seemingly overnight, his life wasn’t without controversy. But the response to his death by fans and industry colleagues alike is proof of the impact he had.

    The making of a pop supergroup

    While One Direction may have not been together for as long as other globally successful acts, their influence far exceeded bands that have been together for decades. They released five studio records – and broke many more, including six Guinness World Records. And even though they didn’t make it to their 10th anniversary together, they had still sold some 70 million records by 2020.

    In the years since the split, fans continued to gather, listen and celebrate – with the most recent anniversary (14 years) seeing fan-led events held in Australia and the rest of the world.

    It’s easy to dismiss pop music and its influence, especially in the face of what feel like increasingly dire global circumstances. But pop, like many other forms of entertainment, provides a practical way for people to gain momentary pleasure and comfort.

    It also provides connection with others – and relief from politics and other daily pressures. For example, one of One Direction’s biggest hits, That’s What Makes You Beautiful, sought to empower young people who might otherwise be overwhelmed by negative messaging.

    Within a year of their debut, the group was met with massive crowds of fans almost everywhere they want.

    One Direction has been compared to The Beatles in terms of their influence on young people – and female and queer fans in particular.

    The impact on fans when their idol dies

    The loss of life, especially a young person’s life, is always a tragedy.

    For some young fans, this might be the first person they “know” who has died. While it may not be the same as losing a family member or close friend, the feeling of loss is significant. Young fans will need support. And in 2024, many will find this support through social platforms and online forums.

    I still remember the impact the deaths of stars such as Kurt Cobain and Jeff Buckley had on people like me who were teenagers in the 1990s. These were artists I admired and listened to – and whose art I relied on during times of pleasure and pain.

    A similar pang was felt when artists such as George Michael, Aretha Franklin and David Bowie died, albeit later in my life and theirs.

    The experience of losing a music idol is in many ways a universal one. People whose art we attach to our own life experiences become inseparable from our lives. And when they die, it can feel like those experiences are over too.

    After news of Payne’s death broke, hundreds of fans took to the streets of Palermo in Buenos Aires, where Payne had been visiting. They held a vigil, cried and consoled one another in front of the Casa Sur hotel where Payne had been staying.

    One fan, 25-year-old Yamila Zacarias, probably spoke for many when she said:

    He meant a lot to me because the band came into my life at this time when you’re trying to be a part of something, and being a One Direction fan became that something for me.

    Lifelong fandom and memories

    There’s a stereotype of “fans” as hordes of screaming girls, which can really take away from the depth of fandom.

    Anyone at any stage of life can be a fan of just about anything. And the best thing about fandom is that it can, and often does, allow lots of different types of people an outlet for connection throughout their lives.

    Many fans have left comments on old music videos.
    YouTube/screenshot

    The death of US actress Betty White in 2021, as sad as it was, brought people across generations and walks of life together. And not just those who knew her personally, but those who had connected with each other through their love of her work. It reminded me of my own family, including my Nan and Dad, now gone, and the laughs we’d share as we watched her.

    As more details and tributes to Payne’s life and death emerge, the fans will have each other to lean on. If you yourself know someone who is a fan of Payne or One Direction, even reaching out to just acknowledge that person’s grief and experience is important. It says to them, “what you love is valid, and so are you”.

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

    Liz Giuffre 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. Death of an idol: response to Liam Payne’s death highlights the power of childhood and music – https://theconversation.com/death-of-an-idol-response-to-liam-paynes-death-highlights-the-power-of-childhood-and-music-241554

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Dad is Near: How to Celebrate Father’s Day at VDNKh

    MILES AXLE Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    On the third Sunday of October, our country celebrates Father’s Day. In honor of the holiday, VDNKh has prepared a special promotion, within the framework of which on October 20, fathers with children will be able to receive a 30 percent discount when visiting several exhibition spaces. Guests will also enjoy thematic excursions at the sites of the VDNKh Museum City, events at the robot exhibition “Robostation”, in the robotics and innovation center “Kulibin Pro” and at the “City Farm”. And in the pavilion “House of Russian Cuisine”, fathers who are cooks with many children will hold master classes on preparing various dishes from the cuisines of the peoples of Russia.

    On October 20, a 30 percent discount can be received when visiting two facilities of the Orion family amusement park: the Aerial Tram cable car and the House of Fears attraction. And also the City Farm, the Museum of the Special Purpose Garage of the Federal Protective Service of Russia, the exhibitions In the Galaxy Far, Far Away, Terracotta Army. Immortal Warriors of China and Find Banksy, the SkyTown rope park, the Robostation and the Kulibin Pro center. To receive a discount at the box office, fathers with children must say the code phrase “it’s not scary with dad” and present identification documents, as well as proof of relationship. You can read the terms of the promotion on the VDNKh website.

    Interesting excursions

    On October 20 at 10:30, 13:00, 15:30 and 18:00 you can visit thematic excursions around the territory of the country’s main exhibition “Male images of VDNKh”. Guests will learn little-known facts about the people who left their mark on the history of VDNKh: for example, who was its first director or in whose honor the first chestnut tree was planted on the Cosmonauts’ Alley. Guests will gather at the VDNKh Museum.

    At 13:00, 15:00 and 17:00 the Cosmonautics and Aviation Center invites you to thematic excursions “Space Fathers”. Tour guides will tell you about the children of famous cosmonauts who followed in their fathers’ footsteps, about the founders of cosmonautics itself and the difficulties of orbital flight.

    And at 17:00, 18:00 and 19:00 in the pavilion “Worker and Kolkhoz Woman” thematic excursions will take place “Father’s Day at VDNKh: Inspiration and Traditions”. We will talk about who became the architect of this pavilion, who was the inventor in the field of cinema technology for the unique cinema at the main exhibition of the country, thanks to whom the revival of VDNKh took place.

    At 19:00, guests of the Museum of Slavic Literature “Slovo” are invited to a thematic excursion “Where there is a good father, there is a good son”. The father always served as an unconditional example for the younger generation, which was reflected in numerous Russian epics, fairy tales, sayings, proverbs and chronicles. You can learn about this and much more on the excursion.

    Celebration at the “Robostation” and in the “Kulibin Pro” center

    In honor of Father’s Day, the largest robotics exhibition “Robostation” (Pavilion No. 2) printed more than five thousand festive keychains on a 3D printer, which all guests will receive. On October 20 at 13:00, there will be a master class where children will make a gift for dad with their own hands and learn the basics of robotics and soldering. At the same time, there will be a master class “Constructor from Childhood”, where dads will be able to reminisce and assemble a Soviet metal constructor. At 14:00, as part of the karaoke guessing game, guests will be divided into two teams and will sing the famous song “Papa Can”, but they must remember the correct words and sing them instead of the gaps. The winners will be determined by the least number of mistakes, and everyone will receive gifts for participation.

    Throughout the day, there will be sparring sessions between dads and kids, where they will control robot boxers. The winners will receive gifts printed on a 3D printer. To participate in the activities, you must purchase entrance ticket to the exhibition.

    The Kulibin Pro Robotics and Innovation Center, which is located in the Cosmonautics and Aviation Center at VDNKh, has also prepared a festive program for Father’s Day. On October 20 at 1:00 p.m., a master class on construction for fathers and children will be held, during which guests will be able to assemble a suspension bridge from construction set parts. At 2:00 p.m., you can listen to a lecture entitled “Calling – Inventor.” Throughout the day, all fathers will be congratulated by Boris the Robot. To participate, you must purchase an entrance ticket to the center. “Cosmonautics and Aviation”.

    Walking with animals

    The “City Farm” at VDNKh has prepared its own festive program. The main characters will be not only human dads, but also animal fathers: alpaca Pedro, goat Ivan and goose Vasily. On October 19 and 20, guests will enjoy master classes and farm games. Walks with animals will also be organized. Over the course of two days, from 11:00 to 18:00, there will be master classes “Postcard for Dad”, “Autumn Craft”, “Toy for Animals”, “Animal Portraits”. At the same time, you can take part in the sports relay race “My Dad and Me”. At 13:00 and 16:00, there will be an interactive lecture “The Best Fathers in the Animal World”, and at the end of the event – a quiz.

    In addition, on October 19 and 20, guests of the City Farm will be able to walk with animals: a donkey (from 11:00 to 11:30), a sheep (from 12:00 to 12:30), goats (from 12:00 to 12:30, from 14:00 to 14:30 and from 16:00 to 16:30), an alpaca (from 15:00 to 15:30), and a reindeer (from 17:00 to 17:30).

    During the holiday weekend, you can also watch the feeding of nutria (at 11:00), poultry (at 16:00), goats, sheep, reindeer, alpacas and donkeys (from 17:30). Participation in all events is subject to an entrance ticket to the “City Farm”. The cost can be found out on the website.

    Master classes by fathers-chefs

    On October 20, the House of Russian Cuisine pavilion at VDNKh invites you to International Chef’s Day and Father’s Day. In 2024, these dates coincided, and in honor of this, regional entrepreneurs and chefs of the House of Russian Cuisine, and part-time fathers of many children, will hold free master classes from 12:00. They will dedicate them to preparing dishes from the cuisines of the peoples of Russia. Among the presenters are Mikhail Gavrilov (chef of the V Karelia Yest corner and father of three children), Alexander Volkov-Medvedev (chef of the Ruski restaurant and father of three children), Danila Kozlov (founder of a chain of northern delicacies stores, brand chef of the Azbuka Severa corner of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia), father of three children), Alexey Votintsev (founder of the Perepechkin Udmurt cuisine chain, author and inventor of the mobile Russian stove, father of five children), Damdin Dashiev (founder of the Orda Buryat cuisine restaurants, father of four children).

    Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    Please note; This information is raw content directly from the information source. It is accurate to what the source is stating and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    https://vvv.mos.ru/nevs/item/145398073/

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Loss of an idol: response to Liam Payne’s death highlights the power of childhood and music

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Liz Giuffre, Senior Lecturer in Communication, University of Technology Sydney

    Former One Direction band member and solo artist Liam Payne has been found dead outside a hotel in Buenos Aires, media reports have confirmed. Payne was just 31 years old – a loved friend and father.

    Alongside his former One Direction band mates Niall Horan, Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson and Zayn Malik, Payne had a huge influence on popular culture in his home country of the United Kingdom and internationally.

    The group formed in 2010 on the British talent show X Factor and stayed together for about five years before officially splitting in 2016. Throughout this time, Payne remained a valuable member of the band and a clear talent in his own right.

    Although each member auditioned seperately, they were eventually hand-picked by Simon Cowell to form a group.

    After the split (and a brief hiatus from music-making), Payne continued to release music periodically as both a songwriter and collaborator. He most recently released the single Teardrops in March, ahead of an anticipated second solo album.

    News of Payne’s death has led to an outpouring of tributes. Like many young people thrust into stardom seemingly overnight, his life wasn’t without controversy. But the response to his death by fans and industry colleagues alike is proof of the impact he had.

    The making of a pop supergroup

    While One Direction may have not been together for as long as other globally successful acts, their influence far exceeded bands that have been together for decades. They released five studio records – and broke many more, including six Guinness World Records. And even though they didn’t make it to their 10th anniversary together, they had still sold some 70 million records by 2020.

    In the years since the split, fans continued to gather, listen and celebrate – with the most recent anniversary (14 years) seeing fan-led events held in Australia and the rest of the world.

    It’s easy to dismiss pop music and its influence, especially in the face of what feel like increasingly dire global circumstances. But pop, like many other forms of entertainment, provides a practical way for people to gain momentary pleasure and comfort.

    It also provides connection with others – and relief from politics and other daily pressures. For example, one of One Direction’s biggest hits, That’s What Makes You Beautiful, sought to empower young people who might otherwise be overwhelmed by negative messaging.

    Within a year of their debut, the group was met with massive crowds of fans almost everywhere they want.

    One Direction has been compared to The Beatles in terms of their influence on young people – and female and queer fans in particular.

    The impact on fans when their idol dies

    The loss of life, especially a young person’s life, is always a tragedy.

    For some young fans, this might be the first person they “know” who has died. While it may not be the same as losing a family member or close friend, the feeling of loss is significant. Young fans will need support. And in 2024, many will find this support through social platforms and online forums.

    I still remember the impact the deaths of stars such as Kurt Cobain and Jeff Buckley had on people like me who were teenagers in the 1990s. These were artists I admired and listened to – and whose art I relied on during times of pleasure and pain.

    A similar pang was felt when artists such as George Michael, Aretha Franklin and David Bowie died, albeit later in my life and theirs.

    The experience of losing a music idol is in many ways a universal one. People whose art we attach to our own life experiences become inseparable from our lives. And when they die, it can feel like those experiences are over too.

    After news of Payne’s death broke, hundreds of fans took to the streets of Palermo in Buenos Aires, where Payne had been visiting. They held a vigil, cried and consoled one another in front of the Casa Sur hotel where Payne had been staying.

    One fan, 25-year-old Yamila Zacarias, probably spoke for many when she said:

    He meant a lot to me because the band came into my life at this time when you’re trying to be a part of something, and being a One Direction fan became that something for me.

    Lifelong fandom and memories

    There’s a stereotype of “fans” as hordes of screaming girls, which can really take away from the depth of fandom.

    Anyone at any stage of life can be a fan of just about anything. And the best thing about fandom is that it can, and often does, allow lots of different types of people an outlet for connection throughout their lives.

    Many fans have left comments on old music videos.
    YouTube/screenshot

    The death of US actress Betty White in 2021, as sad as it was, brought people across generations and walks of life together. And not just those who knew her personally, but those who had connected with each other through their love of her work. It reminded me of my own family, including my Nan and Dad, now gone, and the laughs we’d share as we watched her.

    As more details and tributes to Payne’s life and death emerge, the fans will have each other to lean on. If you yourself know someone who is a fan of Payne or One Direction, even reaching out to just acknowledge that person’s grief and experience is important. It says to them, “what you love is valid, and so are you”.

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

    Liz Giuffre 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. Loss of an idol: response to Liam Payne’s death highlights the power of childhood and music – https://theconversation.com/loss-of-an-idol-response-to-liam-paynes-death-highlights-the-power-of-childhood-and-music-241554

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: UK and Solomon Islands Environment Ministry support waste management education initiatives

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    The UK government’s Ocean Country Partnership Programme and the Solomon Islands government through its Ministry of Environment provide education packs to schools.

    Group photo with students at St Nicholas Anglican College displaying the education packs.

    The Kukum Seventh Day Adventist School, Florence Young Christian School and Saint Nicholas Anglican College in Honiara are the first beneficiaries of primary and secondary education packs to help students understand how to better manage waste and why this is so important for our oceans.

    These education packs are being provided to schools alongside recycling bins, as the Solomon Islands and UK look to tackle marine pollution.

    These have been possible through the UK Government’s Ocean Country Partnership Programme (OCPP) and the Solomon Islands Government through its Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management and Meteorology (MECDM).

    At the handing over of the education packs to each school on Tuesday 15 October, British High Commissioner to Solomon Islands and Nauru, His Excellency Thomas Coward said:

    Children are our country’s future and educating them about marine biodiversity, marine pollution and sustainable seafood is important. We are pleased to present these education packs to the students and teachers, and we are hopeful they will learn to protect marine pollution.

    The Literacy Association of Solomon Islands (LASI) was engaged by the Centre for Environment Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas) to translate the education packs into Solomon Islands pijin making them simple for both teachers and students at the schools.

    Senior Research Scientist at Cefas, Freya Goodsir said:

    Through the Ocean Country Partnership Programme, we are delighted to collaborate with the Solomon Islands and support initiatives to tackle marine pollution. These education packs and recycling bins will make a real difference to the school communities and inspire the next generation to be leaders in protecting their incredible marine environment.

    Chief Environment Officer, Environment and Conservation Division at the Solomon Islands Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management and Meteorology, Wendy Beti said:

    The ministry is thankful to the British High Commission through its OCPP for publishing the primary and secondary education packs we are giving you. The ministry is actively supporting this programme through various initiatives including the provision of recycling bins with some schools having received them and other schools that will be delivered later. OCPP also supports the ministry through coastal water quality monitoring, awareness campaigns and billboards and provincial workshops. We look forward to collaborating with schools and important stakeholders of the programme.

    The school leaders of Kukum SDA School, Florence Young School and St Nicholas School expressed their gratitude for the education packs saying children are at the core of such initiatives as they are the country’s future.

    Construction of eight recycling bins is progressing, and the three schools are expected to receive theirs this month.

    OCPP is funded by the UK Government International Development and delivered by the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas), the Joint Nature Conservancy Committee (JNCC) and the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) on behalf of the UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).

    Updates to this page

    Published 17 October 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Government meeting (2024, No. 30)

    MILES AXLE Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

    Source: Government of the Russian Federation – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

    1. On the draft federal law “On Amendments to Article 111 of the Federal Law “On Compulsory Civil Liability Insurance of Vehicle Owners””

    The bill establishes the possibility for insurers to issue a notification of a road traffic accident in the form of an electronic document without the participation of authorized police officers using the Unified Identification and Authentication System (UIAS).

    2. On the allocation of budgetary appropriations to the Ministry of Finance of Russia in 2024 from the reserve fund of the Government of the Russian Federation for the provision of subsidies to the joint-stock company DOM.RF for the purpose of compensating credit and other organizations for lost income on housing (mortgage) loans (credits) issued to citizens of the Russian Federation

    The decision is aimed at ensuring compensation to credit and other organizations for lost income on housing (mortgage) loans (credits) issued under the preferential mortgage programs “Preferential Mortgage”, “Family Mortgage” and “Far Eastern and Arctic Mortgage”.

    3. On the distribution of subsidies to support measures to ensure the balance of the budgets of the Donetsk People’s Republic, the Lugansk People’s Republic, the Zaporizhia region and the Kherson region

    The decision is aimed at providing additional financial assistance to the Donetsk People’s Republic, the Luhansk People’s Republic, the Zaporizhia region and the Kherson region.

    4. On the allocation of budgetary appropriations to Rosavtodor in 2024 to provide the budget of the Smolensk region with a subsidy from the federal budget for bringing highways and artificial road structures into compliance with the standard

    The funding is aimed at ensuring the restoration and repair of the road overpass in the city of Vyazma, Smolensk region.

    5. On the allocation by the Ministry for the Development of the Russian Far East in 2024 of budgetary allocations reserved in the federal budget for the provision of a subsidy in the form of a property contribution of the Russian Federation to the state development corporation VEB.RF

    The decision is aimed at implementing priority investment projects in the Far Eastern Federal District and state support for regular transportation along the Northern Sea Route.

    6. On the allocation in 2024 by the Ministry for the Development of the Russian Far East of budgetary allocations reserved in the federal budget for the provision of subsidies to the constituent entities of the Russian Federation that are part of the Far Eastern Federal District for the implementation of measures of the social development plans of economic growth centers

    7. On the draft federal law “On Amending Article 353 of the Labor Code of the Russian Federation”

    Establishing the possibility of implementing state control (supervision) over the activities of organizations conducting special assessments of working conditions, and improving the quality of such assessments.

    8. On the allocation in 2024 of budgetary appropriations to the Ministry of Labor of Russia for the provision of subventions to the budgets of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation and the city of Baikonur for the payment of housing and communal services to certain categories of citizens

    The decision is aimed at ensuring the timely provision of social support measures for the payment of housing and communal services to citizens exposed to radiation as a result of the Chernobyl disaster, the accident at the Mayak production association and the discharge of radioactive waste into the Techa River, nuclear tests at the Semipalatinsk test site, as well as certain categories of citizens from among veterans and disabled people.

    9. On the Government Commission on issues of nature management and environmental protection, development of forestry and water management complexes

    The draft resolution provides for the formation of an updated Government Commission on Nature Management and Environmental Protection, Development of the Forestry and Water Management Complexes and the approval of the regulations on the commission, as well as the abolition of the Government Commission on Nature Management and Environmental Protection and the Government Commission on Development of the Forestry Complex.

    10. On the draft order of the Government of the Russian Federation on the allocation of budgetary allocations to the Ministry of Agriculture of Russia in 2024 for the provision of subsidies from the federal budget to Russian credit institutions and the joint-stock company DOM.RF

    The funding is intended to compensate for lost income on housing (mortgage) loans (credits) issued to citizens for the construction (purchase) of housing in rural areas, as well as to compensate for lost income on consumer loans (credits) issued to improve the level of improvement of households located in rural areas.

    11. On the draft order of the Government of the Russian Federation on the allocation in 2024 of budgetary appropriations to the Ministry of Agriculture of Russia for the provision of subsidies from the federal budget to Russian credit institutions and the state development corporation VEB.RF to compensate for lost income on loans issued to agricultural producers, organizations and individual entrepreneurs engaged in the production, primary and subsequent processing of agricultural products and their sale, at a preferential rate

    The decision is aimed at ensuring the implementation of the preferential lending program for the agro-industrial complex in 2024.

    12. On the allocation of budgetary appropriations to the Russian Emergencies Ministry in 2024 from the reserve fund of the Government of the Russian Federation for the purpose of providing another inter-budget transfer to the budget of the Kursk region

    The decision is aimed at providing citizens who suffered as a result of the attack by the Ukrainian armed forces on the territory of the Kursk region with financial assistance in connection with the partial or complete loss of essential property.

    13. On amendments to certain acts of the Government of the Russian Federation

    The changes concern the clarification of the powers of federal and regional executive bodies in the field of heat supply, as well as the procedure for organizing heat supply, regulating relations on the development and approval of heat supply schemes for municipal districts.

    14. On the draft federal law “On Amending Article 7 of the Federal Law “On Combating the Legalization (Laundering) of Criminally Obtained Incomes and the Financing of Terrorism”

    The adoption of the draft federal law will allow banks to test the most optimal methods of remote identification within the framework of an experimental legal regime.

    15. On the progress of the implementation of the comprehensive state program of the Russian Federation “Construction” in 2024

    Moscow, October 16, 2024

    The content of the press releases of the Department of Press Service and References is a presentation of materials submitted by federal executive bodies for discussion at a meeting of the Government of the Russian Federation.

    Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    Please note; This information is raw content directly from the information source. It is accurate to what the source is stating and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    http://government.ru/meetings/53021/

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: How to get there, where to buy a ticket and what to take with you: instructions for guests of the Moskino cinema park

    MILES AXLE Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    The Moskino Cinema Park is a new point on the tourist map of Moscow. Here you can visit real film sets with decorations, take part in master classes and attend film screenings. Every weekend, a rich entertainment program and excursions are organized for guests, which also take place on weekends.

    Despite its growing popularity, many city residents and visitors have not yet been to this place. You can learn about the journey into the world of cinema in service Rosspas.

    How to get there

    The Moskino Cinema Park is located 27 kilometers from the Moscow Ring Road. You can get to the site by your own or public transport, one of the four express routes E142, E143, E144 and E148 from the Teply Stan and Olkhovaya metro stations. Travel time is about 35 minutes. The territory has a parking lot, a restaurant, a food court and the Moskino Cinema Park cinema.

    Visiting rules

    There are several, and they are simple: keep the area clean, leave large pets at home (entry is only possible with dogs no taller than 35 centimeters), do not use flammable items, do not smoke or drink alcohol, do not damage the infrastructure. It is forbidden to drive a car, bicycle, scooter or roller skate on the territory – guests leave all means of transportation in the parking lot. If desired, you can go on a trip on special transport as part of excursion programs, the option is available only on weekdays.

    Select and book an excursion

    Guides tell in detail the history of the creation of famous films and their sets, introduce the biographies of famous actors and actresses, and take guests around sites that recreate the atmosphere of different eras.

    For children aged 10 and over, there is a quest excursion “Stop! Cut!” — a detective game, the participants of which must identify and find the criminal, figure out how to move around different worlds using chromakey. Young scouts will need 2.5 hours to complete the task.

    For visitors over 18 years old, a guided tour with a demonstration master class on make-up is suitable. “World of Cinema”. During this tour, participants will learn about the main tools on the set. The route lasts 2.5 hours.

    Schoolchildren will learn about the professions of director, director of photography, producer, script supervisor and prop master during the excursion “Camera! Action!”Children aged 10 and over are invited to participate. The excursion lasts 2.5 hours.

    The universal route “Cinema Expedition” is suitable for both adults and children from 10 years old. Viewers will get to the natural sites and see a real Tu-154 aircraft, the streets of Berlin, Moscow of the 1940s and much more. The walk lasts 1.5 hours. On weekends, guests purchase tickets for an excursion on the territory of the cinema park. Payment is made by QR code, cash payment is not allowed. On weekdays, you can sign up for excursions using cinema platforms “Moskino” or service Rosspas.

    Think about clothes

    Tour participants are advised to choose comfortable clothes and shoes for the walk and to prepare for the vagaries of the weather: take an umbrella in case of rain or sunglasses on a clear day.

    Have a camera ready

    During the tour, guests of the cinema park will be offered to take a photo with a clapperboard or in the director’s chair or against the background of unusual decorations that transport them to another era. At the end of the route, the guide breaks a special plaster plate, the fragments of which guests can take with them as a souvenir.

    In addition, to the left of the entrance to the cinema park there is a small grove with three picturesque gazebos. You can have an amateur romantic photo shoot or relax there.

    Be careful

    Participants of the excursions “Camera! Action!” and “Film Expedition” visit the props and costume center “Firebird”, where filming costumes and props are stored – from Soviet telephones to crystal services. Many of these exhibits can be touched, but it is not recommended to enter the premises with backpacks and other bulky items.

    Relax after a walk

    The film park’s educational center has a restaurant where you can have lunch and relax after a tour or event, as well as a food court.

    There is also a modern cinema chain “Moskino” where films, including animated films, are regularly shown.

    Follow the poster

    The cinema park periodically hosts festivals, historical reconstructions and quests. This summer, for the first time, it was made one of the venues for the historical festival “Times and Epochs”. On City Day, a large-scale opening with shows, castings and immersive entertainment took place here. In the future, the cinema park will take an even more active part in city events. You can follow them on the website Russpass service.

    Find out more about Moscow in cinema

    The capital is called one big film set: it is difficult to find a district where no filming has ever taken place. To learn more about this side of the city’s life, you can follow the route “Moscow from the Cinema”, and see the places where legendary films were shot. The Moskino cinema park was also part of this route.

    Cinema Park ceremoniously opened September 7. At the moment, 18 natural sites and four pavilions have been built in it, including the sets “Center of Moscow”, “Moscow of the 1940s”, “Vitebsk Station”, “Yurovo Airport”, “Cathedral Square of Moscow”, “Deaf Village”, “Partisan Village”, “County Town”, “Cowboy Town”, “St. Petersburg Bar” and others.

    The cinema park is part of the Moscow cinema cluster, which unites infrastructure facilities, services and services for filmmakers, which are being developed within the framework of Sergei Sobyanin’s project “Moscow — the city of cinema”. The structure of the cinema cluster also includes the Gorky Film Studio (sites onRyazansky Prospect, Sergei Eisenstein Street and in Valdai passage), the Moskino cinema chain, the Moskino film commission and film platform.

    The current schedule of events at the cinema park can be found atplatform “Moskino”. On weekdays, you can visit the cinema park in excursion groups. You can also find out more about the site and buy a ticket for the excursion on the website tourist service Russpass.

    Historical authenticity and the magic of immersion: what filming locations does the Moskino cinema park offer?

    Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    Please note; This information is raw content directly from the information source. It is accurate to what the source is stating and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    http://vvv.mos.ru/nevs/item/145263073/

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Slash Management – Aratu Forests plans high strength steel nets to manage woody debris

    Source: Aratu Forests Limited

    Aratu Forests Ltd (Aratu) today announced plans for the first of three Swiss-designed high strength steel debris nets which aim to reduce the amount of woody debris flowing into catchments following storm events.
    Aratu plans debris nets at private properties bordering Te Marunga, Waimanu and Wakaroa forests. These will be subject to a resource consent process. The first is planned to span a waterway near Wakaroa Forest on a site straddling two properties.
    These will complement a range of other measures within the forest that have already been implemented or are planned.
    “We’re committed to being a responsible custodian of the environments we operate in, so we’re pleased to be advancing our plans with today’s announcement,” said Neil Woods, Aratu Chief Executive.
    “Debris nets are one part of a toolbox of measures we are using and plan to use to minimise woody debris accumulating in plantations and migrating down waterways after storms.
    “The nets are an extra layer of protection that have been successfully used overseas and in New Zealand. They’ve proven to be very effective at saving lives, buildings and land from the impacts of woody debris and rock falls.
    “We’re proud to be partnering with Swiss-based Geobrugg, the pioneer of debris net technology. In the last 10 years Geobrugg has installed over 250 debris flow barriers of the kind proposed by Aratu in more than 25 countries including New Zealand.
    “The planned net will be the first of its kind in Tairāwhiti. One installed in 2021 in northern Hawke’s Bay has worked well to date to trap debris after storms.
    “The region paid a high price for the devastation caused by cyclones Hale and Gabrielle. Like all forestry companies in Tairāwhiti, we work in a very challenging environment with many trees planted on highly erodible soils on steep hill slopes.
    “We have learnt much from the cyclones and are determined to keep lifting our game to limit the impacts from our operations.”
    Since taking over the forests in 2019, Aratu has introduced a range of measures to improve the management of woody debris (see details in Q&A attached).
    “We look forward to progressing the resource consent process with the Gisborne District Council so we can get on with doing our bit to better manage woody debris in Tairāwhiti,” said Neil Woods.
    Aratu manages 35,000 hectares of forestry plantation land across Te Tairāwhiti. In July 2019, Hikurangi Forest Farms was purchased by New Forests, an Australian-based, international and sustainable forestry investment manager, on behalf of its institutional investment clients. The company was renamed Aratu Forests Ltd. Since taking over ownership, we have continued to develop low impact harvesting techniques to mitigate debris movements from the plantations to ensure its sustainable plantations deliver long term benefits for the local community. We support over 200 permanent jobs and each week our company invests more than $1 million into the local economy through payments to our employees and suppliers. Aratu is committed to being a responsible custodian of the environment it operates in. In learning from the 2023 cyclone events, we have continued to refine our forest management practices with the aim of mitigating any negative impacts on the wider environment.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Greenpeace – Federated Farmers “throwing their toys out of the cot” over freshwater protections

    Source: Greenpeace

    Greenpeace Aotearoa is wading in on the beef between Fish & Game Southland and Federated Farmers. The organisation says that it is backing Fish & Game Southland, who successfully challenged farm pollution discharge rules in the courts, and are now the subject of a Federated Farmers smear campaign.
    Greenpeace Aotearoa spokesperson Will Appelbe says, “Freshwater in Aotearoa has been in decline for decades, and Fish & Game Southland has acted in the interest of all New Zealanders by challenging Environment Southland’s anti-nature legislation.
    “Federated Farmers seem to think they have a right to pollute the water, and now that it has been proven in the courts that they do not, they’re throwing their toys out of the cot.
    “The intensive dairy industry has been allowed to pollute people’s water for too long and we’re seeing the consequences of that with unswimmable lakes and rivers and elevated levels of nitrate in drinking water,” says Appelbe.
    “Christopher Luxon’s Government is pushing ahead with reckless plans to rollback freshwater protections and their list of damaging Fast Track Projects. We all need to resist Luxon’s war on nature, and Fish & Game Southland should be praised for doing so.”
    Already, many rural communities across the country, especially in Canterbury, are facing high levels of nitrate in their drinking water. A growing body of science shows that long-term exposure to levels of nitrate above 1 mg/L can lead to an increased risk of developing bowel cancer, and at levels above 5 mg/L, the New Zealand College of Midwives advises pregnant people to find an alternative water source due to an increased risk of preterm birth.
    “We will continue to back the communities most impacted by water pollution, which is why we’re hosting two free drinking water nitrate testing events in Canterbury this weekend. Everyone should be able to drink a glass of water from their kitchen tap without worrying about getting sick, or take a swim in the lakes and rivers in their region,” says Appelbe.
    Greenpeace is hosting a t own hall meeting this Saturday in Rangiora to discuss the water pollution crisis in Canterbury – the hotspot of freshwater pollution in Aotearoa – and to support local communities in taking action on the issue. Additionally, more than twenty thousand people have signed a Greenpeace petition calling on the Government to leave New Zealand’s freshwater protections alone.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –