NewzIntel.com

Category: Asia Pacific

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Man charged with murder in relation to Ngāruawāhia death

    Source: New Zealand Police (National News)

    To be attributed to Detective Senior Sergeant Andrew Saunders:

    A 34-year-old man has been charged with the murder of Turipapa Tukere, who died following an altercation in Ngāruawāhia on 27 December.

    The man was arrested this morning, following two search warrants in Hamilton carried out with the assistance of the Armed Offenders Squad, and a search warrant in Tauranga. 

    He is scheduled to appear in Hamilton District Court today.

    We would like to thank the Ngāruawāhia community for their support during the investigation into Turipapa’s death. 

    The investigation is ongoing and we are not ruling out further arrests.

    If you have information which could assist the investigation team but have not yet spoken to us, please get in touch via 105, either online or over the phone.

    Please reference file number 241227/6958.
     

    ENDS

    Issued by Police Media Centre. 

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Universities – Covid strategies ‘fell short’ for Pacific people, research finds – UoA

    Source: University of Auckland (UoA)

    Research on the impacts of Covid-19 highlights high death rates among Pacific people in Aotearoa and the need to provide better support in the future.

    A report has just been publicly released – Pacific contribution to the New Zealand COVID-19 response – Strengths, Weaknesses and Missed Opportunities.

    It notes that despite the overall success of New Zealand’s response to Covid, Pacific people were hard hit and the response failed to target their needs adequately, says research lead, Professor Sir Collin Tukuitonga, co-director of Te Poutoko Ora a Kiwa – Centre for Pacific and Global Health at the University of Auckland.

    “Despite clear and consistent evidence related to the disproportionate impact of Covid-19 on Pacific communities, the national response fell short of engaging with Pacific leaders, instead adopting a generic ‘one size fits all’ approach,” the report states.

    Pacific people were twice as likely to be hospitalised with Covid as non-Pacific and non-Māori in Aotearoa, according to the research, which was funded by the Ministry of Health and carried out by the Centre for Pacific and Global Health and two Pacific health and social service providers, the Pasifika Medical Association and the Fono.

    A far higher percentage of Pacific people aged under 80 died within 28 days of being reported as a case, than those aged under 80 in other ethnic groups. Of the people aged under 59 years who died within 28 days of being reported as a case, 20 percent were Pacific, compared to eight percent of those categorised as European/other ethnicities of the same age.

    The experiences of 147 Pacific people were gathered for the report, which states the virus and ensuing lockdowns took a significant toll on the mental health of all the participants.

    Media coverage named a Pacific church as central to a large Covid cluster in August 2021, fuelling “racist vilification” of the Sāmoan community, stigma and discrimination, the report says.

    “Government officials, media and Pacific community leaders need to collaborate closely and quickly to prevent similar occurrences of racism from media reports for future pandemics,” it states.

    Many Pacific people were essential workers, who experienced fear and anxiety of the virus, in addition to racism.

    The challenges of lockdowns and self-isolation were exacerbated for many Pacific families living in multi-generational households.

    “The findings from the Covid-19 global pandemic emphasise the existing socioeconomic disparities, such as overcrowded living conditions, high rates of co-morbidities, and delayed access to healthcare, contributing to the disproportionate impact on Pacific and Māori communities.

    “Recognising and addressing these structural inequalities are essential components of any comprehensive public health strategy aimed at mitigating the impact of pandemics on vulnerable populations,” the report states.

    About 28 percent of Pacific peoples felt they couldn’t access mental health support during alert levels two, three and four, and 26 percent felt they could not access healthcare.

    The report recommends that in the future, Pacific health services be given clear guidelines as soon as possible, so they can begin outreach work with Pacific communities and ensure patients still receive healthcare for long-term conditions.

    It recommends reviewing policies on hospital visitors, because these were the most challenging of all protective measures for Pacific families.

    Plans should enable Pacific communities to establish testing and vaccination centres at the beginning of an outbreak and factor in mental health impacts.

    The importance of the church in offering guidance, combating misinformation and offering social support during a pandemic is highlighted in the reports.

    While vaccine uptake was initially slow among Pacific people, 95 percent were fully vaccinated by December 2021. About 68 percent of the participants said caring for family motivated their decision to get vaccinated.

    Pacific households faced disproportionate economic hardship during 2020 compared to the general population, with 18 percent of households losing half of their income or more.

    Education also suffered, as online learning replaced classroom teaching. The research found 20 percent of Pacific students did not have or did not know if they had access to a device at home for distance learning.

    “Long-term impacts of loss in learning and disengagement from school require further investigation,” the report states.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Social Issues – Disability support services consultation underway – from Invercargill to Whangarei

    Source: Ministry of Social Development

    People in the disability community are invited to have their say in a six-week consultation that begins this week and runs until 24 March 2025.
    Disability Support Services was transferred from the Ministry of Disabled People – Whaikaha to the Ministry of Social Development (MSD) last year, after an Independent Review recommended changes to stabilise the system.
    The head of Disability Support Services at MSD, Chris Bunny, says feedback is being sought on specific proposals for change.
    “We are seeking feedback on:
    • how needs are assessed, and decisions made on how support is allocated
    • options for changes to flexible funding.
    “My message to the disability community is I know the changes of last year have been difficult for some people, and this year we want to make progress on strengthening the disability support system for disabled people, their whānau and carers.
    “We are working to stabilise disability support services so they are more fair, consistent, transparent and sustainable.
    “This is a major round of consultation which builds on what the disabled community told us in a survey late last year.
    “There’s lots of different ways people can have their say.
    “In-person workshops will be held in Auckland, Christchurch, Dunedin, Christchurch, Wellington, Hamilton, Invercargill, Lower Hutt, Napier, Nelson, New Plymouth, Palmerston North, Porirua, Rotorua, Wellington, and Whangarei.
    In addition, people can attend an online workshop, make a written or video submission, or complete an online survey. There are also DIY resources for people or organisations who want to host their own workshops to support their submissions.
    “Please register to book your place for a workshop in-person or online. You can do that at the Disability Support Services website, disabilitysupport.govt.nz
    “We’ve released a discussion document outlining the issues and proposals on the way forward.
    “Your feedback will help Government to make decisions to stabilise services, before considering further work to strengthen those supports,” says Mr Bunny.
    Editor’s notes
    What is this consultation about?
    The consultation is focused on essential disability support people receive after an assessment from a Needs Assessment Service Coordination provider, or an Enabling Good Lives site.
    While everyone is welcome to participate, Disability Support Services especially want to hear from people receiving these services and whānau, carers, and advocates. 
    The changes under discussion do not apply to people who only receive supports from other agencies, such as ACC, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Transport, or Work and Income. 
    What is being proposed?
    Needs assessments
    • Improving how the tool reflects the diversity of disability
    • Proposals that the needs of family/whānau become part of the assessment
    • Making sure services continue to meet their needs – how often should supports be reviewed or reassessed?
    • Proposal that NASCs identify supports that are available through other agencies and provide guidance on how these can be accessed
    Flexible Funding – two options
    • Option 1 – Linking flexible funding to the person’s plan, with oversight of how it is used
    • Option 2 – Adjust current lists of what can and can’t be funded using flexible funding.
    There are also proposals to introduce criteria for receiving flexible funding, and questions on what these should be.
    How do people register for workshops?
    Can media attend workshops or film them?
    Community consultation will begin with a presentation followed by work in smaller groups. To protect the privacy of those attending, these events are closed to media, unless reporters are there in a personal capacity to take part in the consultation. However , you may wish to talk to people outside the venue if you would like to.
    Is the consultation going to be accessible?
    Yes, alternate formats are available of the discussion document summary, including Easy Read, Braille, Audio, Large Print and New Zealand Sign Language. There are also translations in te reo Māori, Samoan, and Tongan.
    We will also have sign language interpreters at our in-person and online workshops.
    Venues for our in-person workshops have been selected because they are accessible, including access points, toilets, and the working spaces themselves.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Calling rangatahi changemakers: Applications now open for Save the Children’s 2025 Youth Ambassador programme

    Source: Save the Children

    Save the Children is searching for passionate young changemakers to join Generation Hope New Zealand, an inspiring youth leadership programme that empowers rangatahi aged 14 – 18 to take action for children’s rights and global issues.
    Now more than ever, young people need the support, skills, and opportunities to make their voices heard. From leading workshops and hosting panel discussions to advocacy and engaging with political leaders. Generation Hope Youth Ambassadors take real action to shape a fairer world.
    “This programme really stands out as an opportunity for young people to not only learn about the work of Save the Children and their own rights but also to feel empowered to act – for themselves, their peers, and their wider communities,” says Vira Paky, Save the Children NZ’s Youth Engagement Co-ordinator.
    “Bringing together like-minded young people who care about fairness, education, and community creates an unparalleled environment. Watching the friendships and knowledge blossom from this programme is such a privilege.”
    Through Generation Hope, youth ambassadors receive leadership training, advocacy skills, and a platform to drive meaningful change. During the programme, past members have held youth-led events and panel discussions, met with politicians, including presenting children’s climate action messages to Ministers at Parliament. Past members have gone on to set up their own youth councils and youth-led organisations.
    “Generation Hope allowed me to form so many friendships with so many other young people willing to advocate for the issues in their communities, that I’m sure will last for many years to come.” says Generation Hope alumna Annamieka.
    “Just go for it and apply,” says Generation Hope alumna Cassie. “There’s nothing for you to lose and everything for you to gain.”
    SCNZ Media and Communications Director Amie Richardson is currently travelling for work. For interviews, please contact Advocacy and Research Director Jacqui Southey on 027 647 7004.  About Save the Children NZ: Save the Children works in 120 countries across the world. The organisation responds to emergencies and works with children and their communities to ensure they survive, learn and are protected. Save the Children NZ currently supports international programmes in Fiji, Cambodia, Bangladesh, Laos, Nepal, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea. Areas of work include child protection, education and literacy, disaster risk reduction and climate adaptation, and alleviating child poverty.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Health and Fitness – Postie Bike Challenge – from delivering mail to delivering a vital message for kiwi males – Prostate Foundation

    Source: Prostate Cancer Foundation

    It takes a special kind of human to load up a small motorbike, with a top speed of 80 km/hr, and head off from one end of the country to the other. But that’s exactly what an intrepid group of self-described “Mild Hogs” all on the wrong side of 50, are doing to make a difference to those affected by the most commonly diagnosed cancer in kiwi men – prostate cancer.
    The Mild Hogs Charity Motorcycle Ride aka the ‘Postie Bike Challenge’ will see the six hogs (Brian, Murray, Martin, Ian, Julian and Scott) embark on a 12-day 2,500 km odyssey on 109cc motorbikes designed for delivering mail – the trusty Honda NBC110 – without a support vehicle or backup.
    “It could be a long journey, but we all felt the need for a good adventure and it’s all in aid of a good cause,” said Hog spokesperson Ian Pringle.
    Behind this two-wheeled adventure a serious issue – 1 in 8 kiwis will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime, it is now the most commonly diagnosed cancer in the country and the second leading cause of cancer death in NZ men.
    “This is why the Postie Bike Challenge is so important and why we are very proud and grateful to the Mild Hogs for raising awareness of the disease and vital funds for those affected by it” said Peter Dickens, Chief Executive of Prostate Cancer Foundation NZ.
    In a valiant display of spirit (or perhaps a touch of madness?) these daring souls will stamp their mark on men’s health, avoiding motorways, salads and late nights. From the majestic Cape Reinga (16 th February) they will traverse the heart of the North Island, the charming North Canterbury, onward to the breathtaking Central Otago via the rugged West Coast, to arrive at Bluff – culminating at Bluff on 27 th February -signed, sealed, and delivered.
    “I have very fond memories of waiting for important news to arrive in the letterbox delivered by my friendly postie on their trusty bike, little did I know that years later six intrepid men would be making such an amazing effort on these same machines, in support of all those affected by prostate cancer in Aotearoa New Zealand”, says Peter Dickens.
    Through their efforts, the Mild Hogs will be making a real difference to those diagnosed, and their families, helping to provide vital support and raising awareness of the disease as they traverse the country. We’re very grateful and humbled by their efforts and will be cheering them on in every town they visit along the way.
    It will be amazing if our fellow kiwis can do the same and also take a moment to visit their GiveALittle page to show these mad buggers some support by making a donation. Hyperlink: https://givealittle.co.nz/fundraiser/postie-bike-challenge

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Therapy helps peanut-allergic kids tolerate tablespoons of peanut butter

    Source: US Department of Health and Human Services – 2

    News Release

    Monday, February 10, 2025

    NIH trial informs potential treatment strategy for kids who already tolerate half a peanut or more.

    Eating gradually increasing doses of store-bought, home-measured peanut butter for about 18 months enabled 100% of children with peanut allergy who initially could tolerate the equivalent of at least half a peanut to consume three tablespoons of peanut butter without an allergic reaction, researchers report. This easy-to-implement treatment strategy could potentially fulfill an unmet need for about half of children with peanut allergy, who already can tolerate the equivalent of at least half a peanut, considered a high threshold. The findings come from a trial sponsored and funded by the National Institutes of Health’s National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) and published today in the journal NEJM Evidence.

    “Children with high-threshold peanut allergy couldn’t participate in previous food allergy treatment trials, leaving them without opportunities to explore treatment options,” said NIAID Director Jeanne Marrazzo, M.D., M.P.H. “Today’s report focuses on this population and shows that a very safe and accessible form of therapy could be liberating for many of these children and their families.”

    The food allergy treatments currently approved by the Food and Drug Administration were tested in children with low-threshold peanut allergy, who cannot tolerate the equivalent of even half a peanut. These treatments are designed to decrease the likelihood of a reaction to a small amount of peanut despite efforts to avoid it, as might occur with accidental exposure. This approach is not relevant to the estimated 800,000 U.S. children who may have high-threshold peanut allergy, leaving them with only one management strategy prior to the new report: peanut avoidance.

    To address this need, researchers tested whether a low-cost, convenient treatment strategy could help children with high-threshold peanut allergy tolerate a much greater amount of peanut protein than they already did. The mid-stage trial involved 73 children ages 4 to 14 years. Based on parent or guardian report, nearly 60% of the children were white, 19% were Asian, 1.4% were Black, and 22% were more than one race. The study team assigned the children at random to either test the new treatment strategy or continue avoiding peanut.

    Those in the peanut-ingestion group began with a minimum daily dose of 1/8 teaspoon of peanut butter. They gradually increased their dose every eight weeks up to 1 tablespoon of peanut butter or an equivalent amount of a different peanut product, such as peanut flour or candies. Dose increases took place under medical supervision at the study site. None of the children in the peanut-ingestion group needed epinephrine to treat severe allergic reactions during home dosing, and only one child needed epinephrine during a supervised dosing visit at the study site.

    After undergoing the treatment regimen, the peanut-consuming children participated in an oral food challenge carefully supervised by the study team to see how much peanut butter they could eat without an allergic reaction. All 32 children who participated in the challenge could tolerate the maximum amount of 9 grams of peanut protein, the equivalent of 3 tablespoons of peanut butter. By contrast, only three of the 30 children in the avoidance group who underwent the oral food challenge after a similar amount of time in the trial could tolerate 9 grams of peanut protein. Three additional children in the avoidance group tolerated a challenge dose at least two doses greater than the amount they could tolerate at the start of the study.

    The trial took place during the COVID-19 pandemic, and some families preferred to avoid indoor close contact with others at that time, so some children did not return to the study site for the oral food challenge. Using a common statistical technique to account for those missing challenge results, 100% of the ingestion group and 21% of the avoidance group tolerated at least two doses greater than they could at the outset.

    Children in the peanut-ingestion group who could tolerate 9 grams of peanut protein during the oral food challenge consumed at least 2 tablespoons of peanut butter weekly for 16 weeks, then avoided peanut entirely for eight weeks. At that point, they were asked to return to the study site for a final oral food challenge.

    Twenty-six of the 30 treated children (86.7%) who participated in the final challenge continued to tolerate 9 grams of peanut protein, indicating they had achieved sustained unresponsiveness to peanut. The three children in the avoidance group who could eat 9 grams of peanut protein without a reaction at the earlier challenge were considered to have developed natural tolerance to peanut. Analyzing these outcomes and including all 73 children who began the trial, regardless of whether they participated in the final challenge, investigators found that 68.4% of the peanut-ingestion group achieved sustained unresponsiveness, while only 8.6% of the avoidance group developed natural tolerance.     

    Based on these encouraging results, the investigators want to learn if the same treatment strategy would work for food allergens other than peanuts. Future follow-up is needed to determine the therapy’s effectiveness at inducing long-lasting tolerance of peanut.

    Scott H. Sicherer, M.D., and Julie Wang, M.D., led the trial, which took place at the Elliot and Roslyn Jaffe Food Allergy Institute in Mount Sinai Kravis Children’s Hospital, New York. Dr. Sicherer is director of the Institute and the Elliot and Roslyn Jaffe Professor of Pediatric Allergy and Immunology. He is also chief of the Division of Allergy and Immunology in the Department of Pediatrics and medical director of the Clinical Research Unit in the ConduITS Institute for Translational Sciences at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. Dr. Wang is a professor of pediatric allergy and immunology in the Elliot and Roslyn Jaffe Food Allergy Institute. 

    More information about the clinical trial, called the CAFETERIA study, is available at ClinicalTrials.gov under study identifier NCT03907397.

    NIAID conducts and supports research—at NIH, throughout the United States, and worldwide—to study the causes of infectious and immune-mediated diseases, and to develop better means of preventing, diagnosing and treating these illnesses. News releases, fact sheets and other NIAID-related materials are available on the NIAID website.

    About the National Institutes of Health (NIH): NIH, the nation’s medical research agency, includes 27 Institutes and Centers and is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. NIH is the primary federal agency conducting and supporting basic, clinical, and translational medical research, and is investigating the causes, treatments, and cures for both common and rare diseases. For more information about NIH and its programs, visit www.nih.gov.

    NIH…Turning Discovery Into Health®

    Reference

    SH Sicherer et al. Randomized trial of high dose, home measured peanut oral immunotherapy in children with high threshold peanut allergy. NEJM Evidence DOI: 10.1056/EVIDoa2400306 (2025)

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI: Sen. Joni Ernst in WSJ: USAID Is a Rogue Agency

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA)
    WASHINGTON – In case you missed it, U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) detailed in the Wall Street Journal how the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) acts against our nation’s best interests and stonewalled her oversight of where tax dollars are going and why. 
    As Senate DOGE Caucus chair and founder, Senator Ernst will continue to work with President Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to examine how taxpayers’ money is spent and put an end to any waste, fraud, and abuse.
    WSJ: Sen. Joni Ernst: USAID Is a Rogue Agency
    It dodges congressional questions about money that went to sex traffickers and the Wuhan virus lab.
    By: Senator Joni Ernst
    In moments of crisis, America can be counted on for leadership. Our nation’s compassionate giving has saved millions of lives around the world that were at risk from starvation or disease. All Americans should be able to take great pride in our generosity. And the government agencies coordinating aid efforts should be eager to share details about how they’re using taxpayers’ money to make the world a better place.
    Yet the U.S. Agency for International Development, entrusted with disbursing tens of billions of aid dollars to other nations annually, is a rogue bureaucracy. I’ve uncovered that the agency often acts at odds with our nation’s best interests and uses intimidation and shell games to hide where money is going, how it’s being spent and why.
    USAID repeatedly rebuffed my requests for a list of recipients of U.S. tax dollars sent to Ukraine, claiming that the information was classified. Despite the pushback, I persisted. Eventually, USAID permitted my staff to review documents under surveillance in a highly secure room at USAID headquarters, with note-taking prohibited.
    What warranted such secrecy? We learned that the aid that was supposed to alleviate economic distress in the war-torn nation was spent on such frivolous activities as sending Ukrainian models and designers on junkets to New York City, London Fashion Week, Paris Fashion Week and South by Southwest in Austin, Texas.
    I faced the same stonewalling from USAID when I asked about tax dollars being diverted from project missions for largely unrelated costs, known as the negotiated indirect cost rate. The agency claimed that it wasn’t possible to track. My team debunked that by providing USAID staff with a link to a public database. The agency fired back, warning that divulging this information would violate federal laws, including the Economic Espionage Act.
    When I launched a formal investigation in cooperation with the House Foreign Affairs Committee, USAID relented. Turns out, the agency is allowing grantees to skim significant amounts of money, up to and even beyond half of the total, for themselves.
    We need guarantees that U.S. assistance is helping people in need, but a recent review by the agency’s own inspector general found USAID still “does not have proper documentation to support indirect costs charged” by grant recipients.
    I shouldn’t have to ask these questions. All federal spending is required to be publicly available on the website USAspending.gov, a searchable database created nearly two decades ago by a bipartisan law.
    USAID’s sketchy spending schemes were the impetus for this law aimed at making federal funding more transparent. Congressional investigators in 2005 caught the agency supporting an organization involved with the trafficking of teenage girls in Asia. USAID staff called the claims “destructive” and vehemently denied them. The evidence proved otherwise. A pass-through group, set up with the help of former agency employees, was found funneling U.S. tax dollars into abetting the sex trade operation.
    The agency has learned to exploit loopholes in the law, as my investigation into the origins of the pandemic exposed. The watchdog organization White Coat Waste Project was the first to release evidence that both USAID and Anthony Fauci’s National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases were financing bat studies involving coronaviruses at the Wuhan Institute of Virology. Yet no grants to the Chinese lab appeared in USAspending.gov. Audits later uncovered that more than a million dollars from the U.S. government were paying for the dangerous research. The bulk of the money was provided by USAID, not Dr. Fauci.
    USAID evaded the obligation to report this transaction to USAspending.gov by using multiple pass-through organizations, including the nefarious EcoHealth Alliance, which is now barred from receiving U.S. government grants.
    What was our international development agency developing at China’s Wuhan Institute of Virology? If the Central Intelligence Agency and Federal Bureau of Investigation are correct that the Covid virus likely originated from a lab leak, USAID may have had a hand in a once-in-a-century pandemic that claimed the lives of millions.
    There’s no shortage of other questionable USAID projects. More than $9 million intended for civilian food and medical supplies in Syria ended up in the hands of violent terrorists. Another $2 million was spent promoting tourism to Lebanon, a nation the State Department warns against traveling to due to the risks of terrorism, kidnapping and unexploded land mines.
    USAID spent millions of dollars paying people to dig irrigation ditches in Afghanistan and encouraging farmers to grow food crops instead of poppies for opium. The result: Poppy cultivation nearly doubled.
    Many other groups supported by USAID are doing great work, such as caring for orphans and people living with HIV. Imagine how much more good work could be supported with the dollars that instead ended up enriching terrorists, sex traffickers, mad scientists and drug cartels.
    After keeping its spending records hidden from Congress and taxpayers, USAID employees are now protesting the review of the agency’s records by President Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency. It’s no surprise that Washington insiders are more upset at DOGE for trying to stop wasteful spending than at USAID for misusing tax dollars.
    The question we should be asking isn’t why USAID’s grants are being scrutinized, but why it took so long.
    Ms. Ernst, an Iowa Republican, is founder and chairwoman of the Senate DOGE Caucus.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Noting Terrorist Groups’ Resilience, UN Counter-Terrorism Chief Tells Security Council Lasting Global Collaboration Key to Address Conditions Conducive to Lawlessness

    Source: United Nations General Assembly and Security Council

    Speakers Discuss Risk ISIL/Da’esh, Their Affiliates Pose in Syria, Afghanistan, Across Africa

    The resilience of terrorist groups underscores the need for sustained international collaboration and comprehensive, long-term responses that address the conditions conducive to terrorism, the Security Council heard today during a briefing on the threat posed by Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL/Da’esh).

    Vladimir Voronkov, Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism, discussing the Secretary-General’s twentieth biannual strategic-level report on the topic, highlighted the volatile situation in Syria, and “the risk that stockpiles of advanced weapons could fall into the hands of terrorists”.  An estimated 42,500 individuals, some with alleged links to Da’esh, remain in detention camps in the north-east.  Member States must “facilitate the safe, voluntary and dignified repatriation of their nationals still stranded in those camps and facilities”, he said. 

    Providing details on the global terrorism landscape during the past six months, he said that, in Afghanistan, ISIL-Khorasan continued to pose a significant threat noting that its supporters plotted attacks in Europe and were actively seeking to recruit individuals from Central Asian States.  In West Africa and the Sahel, Da’esh affiliates and other terrorist groups intensified attacks, including against schools in Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, while in Somalia, the organization successfully recruited foreign terrorist fighters. 

    Sub-Saharan Africa has become the epicenter of global terrorism, he said, noting that the United Nations has prioritized capacity-building support to the continent.  His office increased its delivery of technical assistance by 16 per cent, relying notably on the work of its Rabat Office.  Highlighting the Fusion Cells programme which delivered specialized training to 124 analysts from 21 African Member States, he stressed the need to further strengthen border security to counter movements of terrorists.  His office partnered with the Governments of Kuwait and Tajikistan to organize a conference on this.

    The Countering Terrorist Travel programme, he said, continued to expand with 63 beneficiary Member States who are increasingly relying on the goTRAVEL software to collect and process passenger data to detect and prevent terrorist movements.  Noting that the Pact for the Future renewed the international community’s commitment to a future free from terrorism, he urged Member States to translate these commitments into action, prioritizing inclusive, networked and sustainable responses.

    Approach Centered on Prevention, Respect for Human Rights Key to Countering Terrorist Threat

    Also briefing the Council was Natalia Gherman, Executive Director of Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate, who voiced concern over the humanitarian and security crisis in north-eastern Syria, with over 40,000 individuals confined in camps and detention facilities, under conditions marked by overcrowding, inadequate shelter and limited access to clean water and sanitation.  Beyond the Middle East, Da’esh remains agile, taking advantage of ongoing conflicts and regions experiencing growing instability, she continued.  The group now poses a threat to security and sustainable development across the African continent.

    Armed terrorist groups, such as Islamic State West Africa Province, are exploiting fragile conditions to recruit children, commit abductions and attack schools and hospitals.  In the Sahel and the Lake Chad Basin, Da’esh’s centralized operations continue to proliferate as regional cooperation declines, she said, adding that the role of the regional financial hubs used by the group and its affiliates has also expanded.

    “Addressing these threats requires an approach centered on prevention, grounded in respect for human rights, and with regional cooperation as the linchpin,” she stressed, noting the Committee’s visits to Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Malawi, Mauritania and the United Republic of Tanzania.  Assessments revealed gaps in border security and the need for stronger regional collaboration to counter the transnational nature of Da’esh’s activities.  For its part, the Executive Directorate has recently adopted the non-binding guiding principles on preventing, detecting and disrupting the use of new and emerging financial technologies for terrorist purposes — the so-called “Algeria Guiding Principles”, she said.

    Council Members Concerned Over Terrorists’ Adeptness at Expanding Operations, Attractomg New Recruits

    In the ensuing discussion, Council members expressed concern that, despite decades of counter-terrorism efforts, the phenomenon has transformed adeptly, taking advantage of new technology and financial innovations.  Sierra Leone’s delegate said that ISIL/Da’esh and their affiliates “continue to demonstrate resilience and adapt their modus operandi with extensive propaganda, as well as increased finances, fighters’ expertise and technology”.  14,000 fatalities were recorded on the African continent alone in 2024, he said, noting the impact on women and girls.  A security-centered approach alone is insufficient, he stressed.

    Along similar lines, Algeria’s delegate said that terrorist groups use the lack of development and marginalization to recruit and expand — therefore, security arrangements and development initiatives are equally necessary to combat this.  Highlighting the Sahel, he said that well-equipped armed groups are adopting advancing military strategies as well as using organized crime, narcotic trafficking, kidnapping and new technologies to finance such operations.

    France’s speaker noted that Da’esh, Al-Qaida and their affiliates are misappropriating new technology — such as drones — to carry out more targeted and lethal attacks. “These groups thrive on the soil where basic human rights are being violated, where women are marginalized,” she stated, adding that their use of sexual violence as a means of sowing terror has been documented.

    “Our work is far from complete,” said Somalia’s representative, spotlighting “patterns of expansion” across regions, with groups establishing networks that transcend national borders.  For its part, his Government has successfully conducted military operations with international partners to neutralize foreign Da’esh affiliates and implement joint security initiatives.

    The representative of the United States highlighted her Government’s “precision air strikes” against ISIS in Somalia on 1 February.  Her country “stands ready to find and eliminate terrorists who threaten the United States and our allies,” she said.  She also urged Council members to list more ISIL and Al-Qaida affiliates in the 1267 Sanctions Committee list so that they will be subject to its worldwide assets travel ban and arms embargo.  While the Sahel has become “the global epicenter for fatalities from terrorist attacks”, ISIS-Khorasan is increasing its capabilities to conduct attacks and recruit in Afghanistan and Pakistan, she said.

    Counter-terrorism Policies Must Oppose Double Standards and Selectivity 

    Pakistan’s delegate drew attention to the need to address white supremacy and far-right extremism, as well.  Counter-terrorism policies have so far singled out only one religion — Islam — but they must address the negative impact of stigmatizing Muslims and fanning the flames of Islamophobia, he said.  His country is at the forefront of counter-terrorism efforts, fighting not only Da’esh, but also TTP [Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan] and Majid Brigade.  Further, “the international community has failed to address State terrorism, including the use of State power to suppress legitimate struggles for self-determination or to continue foreign occupation”, he said.

    It was the North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s (NATO) invasion into Libya and the invasion of Iraq which spawned ISIL, the Russian Federation’s delegate said.  Further, the United Nations’ counter-terrorism officials must “study the facts” on assistance to terrorists provided by Western countries, he said, adding that Ukraine, for instance, has become a logistic hub from which weapons disseminate across the world.  NATO troops who hastily left Afghanistan also abandoned vast quantities of weapons which fell into the hands of ISIL and affiliates, he said.

    The Council should oppose double standards and selectivity in counter-terrorism efforts, China’s representative, Council President for the month, speaking in his national capacity, underscored.  He also voiced concern over the Turkistan Islamic Party in Syria, and called on Damascus to fulfil its counter-terrorism obligations and prevent any terrorist forces from using the Syrian territory to threaten the security of other countries.

    Calls to Ensure Terrorist Groups Do Not Take Advantage of Instability in Syria 

    Several speakers, including the delegates of Denmark and Slovenia, stressed the need to ensure that terrorist groups do not take advantage of the instability in Syria.  Greece’s delegate underlined the need for a political road map in that country that includes constitutional reform, free and fair elections and inclusive governance. “This is the only way towards the eradication not only of Da’esh, but terrorism in general,” he added.  The United Kingdom’s delegate spotlighted the Global Coalition’s efforts to reduce the risk Da’esh poses as Syria embarks on its historical political transition.  However, “we cannot fight terrorism with force alone”, he emphasized, calling for a whole-of-society approach — with the meaningful participation of women — to address the long-term drivers of terrorism.

    Terrorists’ Increased Use of Information and Communications Technology Draws Concern

    Delegates also considered how to tackle terrorist groups’ increased use of information and communications technology (ICT), with Guyana’s representative noting that gaming and social media platforms bolster resources and recruitment.  The Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team has reported extensively on the increased risk of online radicalization and recruitment targeting youth and minors and the increasing use of cryptocurrencies by Da’esh, she said.

    Also noting Da’esh’s use of cryptocurrencies, Panama’s delegate said:  “Terrorism thrives on secrecy and underground flows of money.”  His country is the only Latin American nation to participate in the Global Coalition against Da’esh and is committed to preventing terrorists from using the Panamanian banking system for their financing.

    The Republic of Korea’s speaker stressed that the international community must respond by leveraging artificial-intelligence-driven analytics to improve threat detection, disrupt terrorist narratives and bolster information integrity.  Seoul’s new “AI and Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism” project, designed in collaboration with the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism, seeks to map out how terrorists exploit AI and build States’ capacity to counter these tactics by incorporating AI solutions, he said.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Update: Overnight shift of SH1 southbound traffic

    Source: New Zealand Transport Agency

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    NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi advises the eastward shift of the two southbound lanes on State Highway 1 between the BP motorway service centre and Drury Interchange previously planned for tonight as part of the SH1 Papakura to Drury project has now been delayed.

    This shift is now expected to occur later this week on a date to be confirmed.

    When implemented, the temporary realignment will see the two southbound lanes shift to the east. The two northbound lanes between the Drury Interchange and the BP motorway service centre will then be shifted westward in the coming weeks. These lane realignments will provide additional workspace in the central median for motorway widening and stormwater improvements.

    There will be further lane shifts in both directions across the life of Stage 1B of this project, similar to traffic layouts during Stage 1A of this project.

    During motorway closures necessary as part of this project, traffic will be detoured along Great South Road.

    For more information on the project and to sign up to updates, please visit the project page:

    Papakura ki Pukekura – Papakura to Bombay

    Tags

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: SH2 Hewletts Road rail crossing repairs – 24 hour road closure

    Source: New Zealand Transport Agency

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    Contractors will soon be carrying out essential repairs to the State Highway 2 (SH2) rail crossing near the Hewletts Road/Maunganui Road/Golf Road roundabout.

    Due to the nature of the repairs, and to enable them to be completed in shortest time possible with the least impact, there will be a 24-hour full road closure on the short section of SH2 Hewletts Road, between Newton Road roundabout and Golf Road roundabout, in both directions.  

    The closure is for 24 hours from 6am Saturday 15 February to 6am Sunday 16 February.  

    While the closure is in place traffic will detour via Newton Street, Hull Road and Maunganui Road. 

    As this work is weather dependent, these timeframes are approximate and subject to change.  

    While contractors aim to minimise disruption, people should expect some travel delays due to the nature and location of these works.

    There will be some noise and vibration associated with the works. 

    Tags

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cassidy, Hassan Reintroduce Bill to Connect Individuals to The Workforce

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Louisiana Bill Cassidy

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) reintroduced the Improve and Enhance the Work Opportunity Tax Credit Act to build the U.S. workforce and help connect individuals to good jobs. The bill will strengthen the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC), which has a proven track record of helping disadvantaged individuals secure employment. Companion legislation was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by U.S. Representative Lloyd Smucker (R-PA-11).
    “It’s not always easy to rejoin the workforce,” said Dr. Cassidy. “By helping employers connect with prospective employees struggling to find work, we boost the American economy and reduce the reliance on government assistance. It’s a win-win.”
    “Ensuring that every American has access to a good-paying job is critical to the success of our country and our local communities,” said Senator Hassan. “This commonsense, bipartisan legislation will help connect more Granite Staters to good-paying jobs, while also lowering costs for businesses that invest in hiring veterans, people with disabilities, and others who may face barriers to employment.”
    “The best anti-poverty program is a good job. The Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) is a program that supports employers and employees as they reenter the workforce. I am committed to helping disadvantaged Americans get back to work by advancing legislation to improve this proven tool. WOTC is a bipartisan solution that every Member of Congress should support,” said Representative Smucker.
    The WOTC provides a federal tax credit to employers who invest in American workers who have consistently faced barriers to employment, including eligible veterans, SNAP recipients, individuals with disabilities, and long-term unemployed individuals. Employers incur higher recruitment and training costs to reach WOTC eligible populations and support their successful transition back into employment. WOTC has not been updated since its enactment twenty-seven years ago, and its value has been eroded significantly due to inflation. The National Employment Opportunity Network reports that the WOTC has saved federal governments an estimated $202 billion over ten years.
    The Improve and Enhance the Work Opportunity Tax Credit Act would:

    Update the WOTC, which has not been changed since its enactment twenty-seven years ago and encourage longer-service employment. 
    Increase the current credit percentage from 40% to 50% of qualified wages.
    Add a second level of credit for employees who work 400 or more hours. 
    Eliminate the arbitrary age cap at which SNAP recipients are eligible for WOTC. This change will provide an incentive to hire older workers and better align the credit with previously adopted work reforms.  

    The bill is supported by the Louisiana Retailers Association, Albertsons, American Health Care Association, American Hotel & Lodging Association, American Seniors Housing Association, American Staffing Association, American Trucking Associations, Argentum, Asian American Hotel Owners Association, Associated Builders and Contractors, Associated General Contractors of America, Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc., Brookshire’s, Brookshire Grocery Company, Coalition of Franchisee Associations, Critical Labor Coalition, Due Process Institute, Dunkin Donuts Independent Franchisee Organization, FMI – The Food Industry Association, Franchise Business Services, Fresh By Brookshire’s, Giant Eagle and GetGo Café + Market, H-E-B. Honest Jobs, ICSC, International Franchise Association, The Worldwide Cleaning Industry Association, The Kroger Co., NAACP, NAPEO, National Association of Convenience Stores, National Association for Home Care and Hospice, National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors, National Beer Wholesalers Association, National Employment Opportunity Network (NEON), National Franchisee Association, National Grocers Association, National Restaurant Association, National Urban League, NATSO, Pete & Gerry’s Organics, LLC, Reasor’s, Retail Industry Leaders Association, Retail Grocers Association MO&KS, Retail Merchants Association, SIGMA: America’s Leading Fuel Marketers, Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council, Society for Human Resource Management, Spring Market, Super 1 Foods, UPS, and Wakefern Food Corp.
    “The restaurant industry has hundreds of thousands of jobs that it needs to fill every month, many of which can be filled by individuals who have traditionally faced barriers to employment. Getting these people back to work is valuable to the individual, the restaurant operator and the community. We appreciate Sens. Cassidy and Hassan’s efforts to improve on WOTC as a tool for restaurant operators to hire needed staff and increase their business viability,” said Sean Kennedy, Executive Vice President of Public Affairs, National Restaurant Association.
    “The Louisiana Restaurant Association applauds Sen. Cassidy for his leadership in introducing the Improve and Enhance the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) Act. Restaurants in Louisiana are not just places to enjoy great food; they are training grounds for skill development and second chances for many individuals facing employment barriers. The WOTC program is essential for fostering opportunities, strengthening our workforce, and contributing to the economic vitality of our communities,” said Stan Harris, President and CEO, Louisiana Restaurant Association. 
    “America’s workforce is facing a perfect storm. The labor shortage, exacerbated by demographic shifts, aging population, declining participation, mismatch of skills and the lingering effects of the pandemic, has left employers struggling to fill jobs in critical industries. The Critical Labor Coalition strongly supports the Improve and Enhance the Work Opportunity Tax Credit Act, which will modernize WOTC to reflect today’s labor market realities and ensure that businesses—especially those hit hardest by workforce shortages—are incentivized to hire individuals from historically underemployed groups who may otherwise face barriers to entering the workforce,” said Misty Chally, Executive Director, Critical Labor Coalition.
    “FMI – The Food Industry Association applauds Senators Bill Cassidy (R-LA) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) for introducing this legislation to improve the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC). WOTC is an important workforce-building tool, utilized by our grocery, wholesaler, and product supplier members, to hire individuals facing barriers to employment. FMI is excited to work with Senators Cassidy and Hassan and House companion bill sponsors Representatives Lloyd Smucker (R-PA) and Terri Sewell (D-AL) on strengthening the path for veterans, SNAP participants, justice-involved individuals, and others to obtain meaningful employment in the food industry through enactment of this measure,” said Christine Pollack, FMI Vice President, Government Relations.
    “The Work Opportunity Tax Credit has been a vital resource for franchise business owners that provide job opportunities to workers who have faced barriers to employment. IFA applauds Sens. Cassidy and Hassan for taking this important step to help franchised businesses hire workers from underserved communities and provide additional relief, especially since finding labor remains the most significant challenge for local franchises,” said Mike Layman, Chief Advocacy Officer, International Franchise Association.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Jesse Walsh: Possibility at the Cutting Edge of Flight

    Source: NASA

    Name: Jesse Walsh
    Formal Job Classification: Project Formulation Manager
    Organization: Project Formulation and Development Office, Flight Projects Directorate (Code 401.0)
    What do you do and what is most interesting about your role here at Goddard? How do you help support Goddard’s mission?
    As a formulation manager, I am the project manager in the room as we are designing science space flight missions. We develop proposals to be competed on the agency level against other NASA centers, and outside institutions.
    I am also our office’s representative on the Earth science line of business.

    What is your background?
    In 2000, I graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy with a B.S. in mechanical engineering. In the Navy I went to flight school in Pensacola, Florida, and became a naval flight officer. I was the “Goose,” not “Maverick,” in the P-3 Orion, a four-engine prop plane that primarily hunts for submarines. I was then stationed in Hawaii as part of Patrol Squadron 9, that deployed to the Far East and Middle East. Next, I worked at the Naval Research Lab in Washington, D.C., as a project officer for science experiments on P-3s from Patuxent River Naval Air Station in Patuxent River, Maryland.
    I developed migraines that disqualified me from flying. In 2007, I got a master’s in civil engineering project management from the University of Maryland. I then worked in Bethesda, Maryland, constructing buildings around the beltway, as a physics teacher at our local high school, and as a project manager of secure facilities with the Army Corps of Engineers.
    In 2016, I became the assistant branch head for facilities planning at Goddard. I later entered the Flight Projects Development Program, a two-year project manager training program, during which time I worked at the Flight Projects Development Office and as the payload manager for Space Infrastructure Dexterous Robot (SPIDER), a payload on OSAM-1. I had a proposal selected for a second step, and I came back to PFDO to work proposals.
    Why is this your dream job?
    We are on the cutting edge of what will fly. We are designing the missions and figuring out what the world of possible will be in space in five to seven years. Scientists come to the table with ideas and engineers make those ideas reality. I make sure the whole team is working together and that all these ideas and solutions fit within our budget and schedule. We make ideas realities.
    How do you translate between scientists and engineers?
    It is primarily about understanding incentives. Everyone is thinking differently with different solutions, but we have the same goal. Some scientists have had an idea for years, but the idea still has to be workable. If the resulting instrument or spacecraft fails, technical issues are often the first to be examined. I help the engineers push what they are comfortable making and help the scientists understand the limits of technology.
    Please talk about the competing pressures of your job.
    We are responsible for taxpayer’s money. If one thing goes wrong, even on a smaller mission, the monetary loss can run into many millions. The missions we build have cost limits. We fit cutting edge science into a cost-limited opportunity.
    NASA is extremely thorough. We safeguard taxpayer funds, but also push cutting-edge science.
    We are on a seesaw. The engineers are more focused on technical solutions while the scientists are more focused on scientific results. I help everyone negotiate a balance that fits within the cost and schedule. The diversity between and among scientists, engineers, and financial experts is what creates NASA’s innovative solutions.

    What are some of your negotiating techniques?
    I try to build trust between team members by understanding everyone’s incentives and making sure all team members understand the different incentives. We may have different angles of approach, but we all have the same goal. People are more likely to compromise the means if they know we will end up at the same place.
    What is your proudest accomplishment?
    I am proudest of our Dorado proposal because it was cutting edge science. We were trying to discover where heavy metals like gold are created in the universe. We were trying to prove that we could do fundamental science on a very lean budget, $35 million.
    We did not win the final proposal, but I was extremely proud of our team, a very small, high-functioning team, that made us feel like we could discover the world.
    You recently transferred to support the Geospace Dynamics Constellation (GDC) mission. What do you most enjoy about your new role?
    I am still learning what I don’t know about GDC. I am finding is fascinating to see how the plans that are made in early stages of formulation change and adapt as they run into unforeseen obstacles during implementation. I am really enjoying being part of a small, high performing team, that is mission focused.

    Who is your favorite author?
    I married a librarian, and books and stories are fundamental parts of our life. I love Hemingway because he portrays extremely complex, emotional scenarios in very simplistic terms.
    Who is your science hero?
    My high school physics teacher, Mr. Finkbeiner, who taught me that you understand science in your gut, not your head. Science is not memorizing equations; it is understanding how the world around you works.
    What are your hobbies?
    I love flyfishing on the Chesapeake’s tidal rivers and also on fresh water for trout. Flyfishing involves actively engaging with nature; reading the water and the tides, figuring out nature’s puzzle and trying to crack the code.
    What is your “six-word memoir”? A six-word memoir describes something in just six words.
    I can’t wait for what’s next! 
    By Elizabeth M. JarrellNASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md.

    Conversations With Goddard is a collection of Q&A profiles highlighting the breadth and depth of NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center’s talented and diverse workforce. The Conversations have been published twice a month on average since May 2011. Read past editions on Goddard’s “Our People” webpage.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Melissa Gates: Keeping Goddard Running

    Source: NASA

    Name: Melissa Gates
    Title: Secretary III
    Organization: Mission Systems Engineering Branch, Engineering Technology Directorate (Code 599)

    What do you do and what is most interesting about your role here at Goddard? How do you help support Goddard’s mission?
    As a branch secretary, I support my branch office by ordering supplies, managing the meeting calendars, onboarding new employees and otherwise supporting the managers. I help keep the office running.
    How did you come to work at Goddard?
    In 2005, I got a bachelor’s degree in communications from Fairleigh Dickinson University. In 2012, I got a master’s degree in communications from Regis University.
    For over 20 years, I managed our family business in New Jersey involving competitive pool. I helped run the competitions and the daily activities, but I never played pool.
    In 2016, I moved to Maryland to work in customer service at MGM National Harbor. In 2019, I started at Goddard through Melwood, a non-profit organization that helps disabled people find employment. 
    What are the most important skills for a good branch secretary?
    Listening. Being prompt. Being organized. Prioritizing tasks. Good people skills. I am a people person, and I can relate well to different personalities. I am very flexible. With teleworking, I am always available.
    Where do you see yourself in five years?
    I really want to work in communications, especially NASA TV, because I want to continue my first loves of writing and public relations. I enjoy working with the public and getting people’s stories out to others. I like learning about people and sharing what I have learned.
    How has having a disability impacted your job choices?
    I have had to make people comfortable with my disability. I use a cane and a scooter to get around. Melwood helped me find a job at Goddard, which fulfilled my 20-year dream.
    What are your goals as a member of the GSFC Equal Accessibility Employee Resource Group?
    As a member of the GSFC Equal Accessibility Employee Resource Group, my focus is to help promote the Ability One Program, a federal program that assists people with all levels of disability find federal jobs. I have my Melwood job through this program. I am very thankful to Melwood and Goddard for giving me a job that offers good benefits and security.
    I offer my life experience as a person with a disability now working at Goddard. I try to make management aware of accessibility needs such as bathrooms, removal of snow from sidewalks and parking lots, assistive technology for hearing and sight impaired people and other issues. Goddard is very responsive to our accessibility needs.
    What do you do for fun?
    I love to read, especially Terry McMillan’s rom-coms. I love bungee jumping, zip lining and roller coasters. I love adrenaline rushes and am a thrill seeker!
    I enjoy traveling and have been to Hawaii and Mexico. I would like to take the train across the country. That way I would not have to move around, the train would be moving and I could still see the country. I would enjoy talking to everyone on the train and have a good time.
    What is your “six-word memoir”? A six-word memoir describes something in just six words.
    Caring. Outgoing. Loves people. Adventurous. Joyful. Grateful. 
    By Elizabeth M. JarrellNASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md.

    Conversations With Goddard is a collection of Q&A profiles highlighting the breadth and depth of NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center’s talented and diverse workforce. The Conversations have been published twice a month on average since May 2011. Read past editions on Goddard’s “Our People” webpage

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Mark SubbaRao Brings Data to Life Through Art

    Source: NASA

    Name: Mark SubbaRao
    Title: Lead, Scientific Visualization Studio (SVS)
    Formal Job Classification: Information Technology Specialist
    Organization: SVS, Science Mission Directorate (Code 606.4)
    What do you do and what is most interesting about your role here at Goddard? How do you help support Goddard’s mission?
    I have an amazing job. I get to work with all the most interesting NASA science and make it visual to help people can understand it. The Scientific Visualization Studio, the SVS, supports all of NASA and is located at Goddard.
    What is your educational background?
    I have B.S. in engineering physics, minor in astronomy, from Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. I have a Ph.D. in astrophysics from Johns Hopkins University.
    What is data visualization? How is it different from animation?
    Data visualization is the graphical representation of actual data (in our case usually scientific data). At its most basic it takes the forms of charts, graphs, and maps. In contrast, conceptual animation, such as the work of our colleagues in the CI Lab, is the graphical representation of ideas. Conceptual animation and data visualization are both needed to communicate the full scientific process.
    How did your work for the University of Chicago develop your interest in visualization?
    I worked on software for the Sloan Digital Sky Survey, a project to create the biggest 3D map of the universe. Our goal was to map 3D positions of a million galaxies, which we did. My role was to develop the software to determine the distance to galaxies. To see the result we needed a way to see how the galaxies were distributed in 3D, which led to my interest in visualization.
    Viewing this map, I felt like we had revealed a new world which no one had yet seen altogether. The desire to share that with the public led me a position at the Adler Planetarium in Chicago.

    How did planetariums evolve during your 18 years of working for the Adler Planetarium?
    I led their visualization efforts for their Space Visualization Laboratory, a laboratory that was on the museum floor and had multiple specialized displays. The local scientific community used our laboratory to present to the public including other scientists and students.
    I also produced planetarium shows and designed exhibits. My last project, “Astrographics” for Art on the Mart, was a 2.6-acre, outdoor projection onto a building near the Chicago River. We believe that this is the largest, permanent outdoor digital projection in the world.
    I began to see the power of the planetarium as a data visualization environment. Traditionally, a planetarium has been a place to project stars and tell stories about constellations. Planetariums have now evolved into a general-purpose visualization platform to communicate science.
    I got more involved with the planetarium community, which led to me becoming president of the International Planetarium Society. A major focus of my presidency was promoting planetariums in Africa.
    Why did you come to NASA’s SVS at Goddard?
    I came to Goddard in December 2020. I always admired NASA’s SVS and had used their products. I consider the SVS the preeminent group using scientific visualization for public communication.
    I wanted to work on visualizations for a broader variety of sciences, in particular, climate science. Our group created visualizations for the United Nations Climate Conference (COP26) in Glasgow, Scotland, the fall of 2021. In March 2022, I created a visualization called Climate Spiral, which went viral.

    [embedded content]
    This visualization shows monthly global temperature anomalies (changes from an average) between the years 1880 and 2021. Whites and blues indicate cooler temperatures, while oranges and reds show warmer temperatures.Credits: NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center / NASA’s Scientific Visualization StudioDownload high-resolution video and images from NASA’s Scientific Visualization Studio

    As the lead, how do you hope to inspire your group?
    Our group is very talented, experienced, and self-motivated. Data visualization has recently exploded as a communication tool. Our goal is to continue to stay on top of this rapidly evolving field. Coupled with this, there has been an explosion in scientific data from satellites and super computers. As data becomes bigger and more complex, visualization becomes an even more important tool for understanding that data.

    Your work combines art and science. What are the benefits of combining art and science?
    One huge benefit is that you can reach people through an artistic visual presentation of science who may not be interested in simply reading an article. You can go beyond teaching people, you can move them emotionally through a good, artistic presentation.
    For example, in “Climate Spiral,” we did not want to just inform people that global average temperatures have increased, we wanted people to feel that the temperature has increased.
    Also, our universe is just beautiful. Why not let the beauty of the universe create something artistic for you? I sometimes feel like I cheat by letting the universe do my design for me.
    What do you do for fun?
    Since moving to Maryland, and living near the Chesapeake Bay, I have taken up stand up paddleboarding. I like to cook too. My father is Indian, so I cook a lot of Indian food.
    Who inspires you?
    Arthur C. Clarke, the science fiction writer, also wrote a lot of popular science. He played a big part in my decision to become a scientist.

    Conversations With Goddard is a collection of Q&A profiles highlighting the breadth and depth of NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center’s talented and diverse workforce. The Conversations have been published twice a month on average since May 2011. Read past editions on Goddard’s “Our People” webpage.
    By Elizabeth M. JarrellNASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NASA-Led Study Pinpoints Areas Sinking, Rising Along California Coast

    Source: NASA

    The elevation changes may seem small — amounting to fractions of inches per year — but they can increase or decrease local flood risk, wave exposure, and saltwater intrusion.
    Tracking and predicting sea level rise involves more than measuring the height of our oceans: Land along coastlines also inches up and down in elevation. Using California as a case study, a NASA-led team has shown how seemingly modest vertical land motion could significantly impact local sea levels in coming decades.
    By 2050, sea levels in California are expected to increase between 6 and 14.5 feet (15 and 37 centimeters) higher than year 2000 levels. Melting glaciers and ice sheets, as well as warming ocean water, are primarily driving the rise. As coastal communities develop adaptation strategies, they can also benefit from a better understanding of the land’s role, the team said. The findings are being used in updated guidance for the state.
    “In many parts of the world, like the reclaimed ground beneath San Francisco, the land is moving down faster than the sea itself is going up,” said lead author Marin Govorcin, a remote sensing scientist at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California. 
    The new study illustrates how vertical land motion can be unpredictable in scale and speed; it results from both human-caused factors such as groundwater pumping and wastewater injection, as well as from natural ones like tectonic activity. The researchers showed how direct satellite observations can improve estimates of vertical land motion and relative sea level rise. Current models, which are based on tide gauge measurements, cannot cover every location and all the dynamic land motion at work within a given region.
    Local Changes
    Researchers from JPL and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) used satellite radar to track more than a thousand miles of California coast rising and sinking in new detail. They pinpointed hot spots — including cities, beaches, and aquifers — at greater exposure to rising seas now and in coming decades.
    To capture localized motion inch by inch from space, the team analyzed radar measurements made by ESA’s (the European Space Agency’s) Sentinel-1 satellites, as well as motion velocity data from ground-based receiving stations in the Global Navigation Satellite System. Researchers compared multiple observations of the same locations made between 2015 to 2023 using a processing technique called interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR).

    Homing in on the San Francisco Bay Area — specifically, San Rafael, Corte Madera, Foster City, and Bay Farm Island — the team found the land subsiding at a steady rate of more than 0.4 inches (10 millimeters) per year due largely to sediment compaction. Accounting for this subsidence in the lowest-lying parts of these areas, local sea levels could rise more than 17 inches (45 centimeters) by 2050. That’s more than double the regional estimate of 7.4 inches (19 centimeters) based solely on tide gauge projections.
    Not all coastal locations in California are sinking. The researchers mapped uplift hot spots of several millimeters per year in the Santa Barbara groundwater basin, which has been steadily replenishing since 2018. They also observed uplift in Long Beach, where fluid extraction and injection occur with oil and gas production.
    The scientists further calculated how human-induced drivers of local land motion increase uncertainties in the sea level projections by up to 15 inches (40 centimeters) in parts of Los Angeles and San Diego counties. Reliable projections in these areas are challenging because the unpredictable nature of human activities, such as hydrocarbon production and groundwater extraction, necessitating ongoing monitoring of land motion.  
    Fluctuating Aquifers, Slow-Moving Landslides
    In the middle of California, in the fast-sinking parts of the Central Valley (subsiding as much as 8 inches, or 20 centimeters, per year), land motion is influenced by groundwater withdrawal. Periods of drought and precipitation can alternately draw down or inflate underground aquifers. Such fluctuations were also observed over aquifers in Santa Clara in the San Francisco Bay Area, Santa Ana in Orange County, and Chula Vista in San Diego County.
    Along rugged coastal terrain like the Big Sur mountains below San Francisco and Palos Verdes Peninsula in Los Angeles, the team pinpointed local zones of downward motion associated with slow-moving landslides. In Northern California they also found sinking trends at marshlands and lagoons around San Francisco and Monterey bays, and in Sonoma County’s Russian River estuary. Erosion in these areas likely played a key factor.
    Scientists, decision-makers, and the public can monitor these and other changes occurring via the JPL-led OPERA (Observational Products for End-Users from Remote Sensing Analysis) project. The OPERA project details land surface elevational changes across North America, shedding light on dynamic processes including subsidence, tectonics, and landslides.
    The OPERA project will leverage additional state-of-the-art InSAR data from the upcoming NISAR (NASA-Indian Space Research Organization Synthetic Aperture Radar) mission, expected to launch within the coming months.
    News Media Contacts
    Jane J. Lee / Andrew WangJet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif.818-354-0307 / 626-379-6874jane.j.lee@jpl.nasa.gov / andrew.wang@jpl.nasa.gov
    Written by Sally Younger
    2025-015

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NASA Scientists Spot Candidate for Speediest Exoplanet System

    Source: NASA

    Astronomers may have discovered a scrawny star bolting through the middle of our galaxy with a planet in tow. If confirmed, the pair sets a new record for the fastest-moving exoplanet system, nearly double our solar system’s speed through the Milky Way.
    The planetary system is thought to move at least 1.2 million miles per hour, or 540 kilometers per second.
    “We think this is a so-called super-Neptune world orbiting a low-mass star at a distance that would lie between the orbits of Venus and Earth if it were in our solar system,” said Sean Terry, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Maryland, College Park and NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. Since the star is so feeble, that’s well outside its habitable zone. “If so, it will be the first planet ever found orbiting a hypervelocity star.”
    A paper describing the results, led by Terry, was published in The Astronomical Journal on February 10.
    A Star on the Move
    The pair of objects was first spotted indirectly in 2011 thanks to a chance alignment. A team of scientists combed through archived data from MOA (Microlensing Observations in Astrophysics) – a collaborative project focused on a microlensing survey conducted using the University of Canterbury Mount John Observatory in New Zealand — in search of light signals that betray the presence of exoplanets, or planets outside our solar system.
    Microlensing occurs because the presence of mass warps the fabric of space-time. Any time an intervening object appears to drift near a background star, light from the star curves as it travels through the warped space-time around the nearer object. If the alignment is especially close, the warping around the object can act like a natural lens, amplifying the background star’s light.

    In this case, microlensing signals revealed a pair of celestial bodies. Scientists determined their relative masses (one is about 2,300 times heavier than the other), but their exact masses depend on how far away they are from Earth. It’s sort of like how the magnification changes if you hold a magnifying glass over a page and move it up and down.
    “Determining the mass ratio is easy,” said David Bennett, a senior research scientist at the University of Maryland, College Park and NASA Goddard, who co-authored the new paper and led the original study in 2011. “It’s much more difficult to calculate their actual masses.”
    The 2011 discovery team suspected the microlensed objects were either a star about 20 percent as massive as our Sun and a planet roughly 29 times heavier than Earth, or a nearer “rogue” planet about four times Jupiter’s mass with a moon smaller than Earth.
    To figure out which explanation is more likely, astronomers searched through data from the Keck Observatory in Hawaii and ESA’s (European Space Agency’s) Gaia satellite. If the pair were a rogue planet and moon, they’d be effectively invisible – dark objects lost in the inky void of space. But scientists might be able to identify the star if the alternative explanation were correct (though the orbiting planet would be much too faint to see).
    They found a strong suspect located about 24,000 light-years away, putting it within the Milky Way’s galactic bulge — the central hub where stars are more densely packed. By comparing the star’s location in 2011 and 2021, the team calculated its high speed.

    But that’s just its 2D motion; if it’s also moving toward or away from us, it must be moving even faster. Its true speed may even be high enough to exceed the galaxy’s escape velocity of just over 1.3 million miles per hour, or about 600 kilometers per second. If so, the planetary system is destined to traverse intergalactic space many millions of years in the future.
    “To be certain the newly identified star is part of the system that caused the 2011 signal, we’d like to look again in another year and see if it moves the right amount and in the right direction to confirm it came from the point where we detected the signal,” Bennett said.
    “If high-resolution observations show that the star just stays in the same position, then we can tell for sure that it is not part of the system that caused the signal,” said Aparna Bhattacharya, a research scientist at the University of Maryland, College Park and NASA Goddard who co-authored the new paper. “That would mean the rogue planet and exomoon model is favored.”
    NASA’s upcoming Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope will help us find out how common planets are around such speedy stars, and may offer clues to how these systems are accelerated. The mission will conduct a survey of the galactic bulge, pairing a large view of space with crisp resolution.
    “In this case we used MOA for its broad field of view and then followed up with Keck and Gaia for their sharper resolution, but thanks to Roman’s powerful view and planned survey strategy, we won’t need to rely on additional telescopes,” Terry said. “Roman will do it all.”
    Download additional images and video from NASA’s Scientific Visualization Studio.
    By Ashley BalzerNASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md.
    Media contact:
    Claire AndreoliNASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md.301-286-1940

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Euclid Discovers Einstein Ring in Our Cosmic Backyard

    Source: NASA

    Euclid, an ESA (European Space Agency) mission with NASA contributions, has made a surprising discovery in our cosmic backyard: a phenomenon called an Einstein ring.
    An Einstein ring is light from a distant galaxy bending to form a ring that appears aligned with a foreground object. The name honors Albert Einstein, whose general theory of relativity predicts that light will bend and brighten around objects in space.
    In this way, particularly massive objects like galaxies and galaxy clusters serve as cosmic magnifying glasses, bringing even more distant objects into view. Scientists call this gravitational lensing.
    Euclid Archive Scientist Bruno Altieri noticed a hint of an Einstein ring among images from the spacecraft’s early testing phase in September 2023.
    “Even from that first observation, I could see it, but after Euclid made more observations of the area, we could see a perfect Einstein ring,” Altieri said. “For me, with a lifelong interest in gravitational lensing, that was amazing.”
    The ring appears to encircle the center of a well-studied elliptical galaxy called NGC 6505, which is around 590 million light-years from Earth in the constellation Draco. That may sound far, but on the scale of the entire universe, NGC 6505 is close by. Thanks to Euclid’s high-resolution instruments, this is the first time that the ring of light surrounding the galaxy has been detected.  
    Light from a much more distant bright galaxy, some 4.42 billion light-years away, creates the ring in the image. Gravity distorted this light as it traveled toward us. This faraway galaxy hasn’t been observed before and doesn’t yet have a name. 
    “An Einstein ring is an example of strong gravitational lensing,” explained Conor O’Riordan, of the Max Planck Institute for Astrophysics, Germany, and lead author of the first scientific paper analyzing the ring. “All strong lenses are special, because they’re so rare, and they’re incredibly useful scientifically. This one is particularly special, because it’s so close to Earth and the alignment makes it very beautiful.” 
    Einstein rings are a rich laboratory for scientists to explore many mysteries of the universe. For example, an invisible form of matter called dark matter contributes to the bending of light into a ring, so this is an indirect way to study dark matter. Einstein rings are also relevant to the expansion of the universe because the space between us and these galaxies — both in the foreground and the background — is stretching. Scientists can also learn about the background galaxy itself.
    “I find it very intriguing that this ring was observed within a well-known galaxy, which was first discovered in 1884,” said Valeria Pettorino, ESA Euclid project scientist. “The galaxy has been known to astronomers for a very long time. And yet this ring was never observed before. This demonstrates how powerful Euclid is, finding new things even in places we thought we knew well. This discovery is very encouraging for the future of the Euclid mission and demonstrates its fantastic capabilities.” 

    By exploring how the universe has expanded and formed over its cosmic history, Euclid will reveal more about the role of gravity and the nature of dark energy and dark matter. Dark energy is the mysterious force that appears to be causing the universe’s expansion. The space telescope will map more than a third of the sky, observing billions of galaxies out to 10 billion light-years. It is expected to find around 100,000 strong gravitational lenses.  
    “Euclid is going to revolutionize the field with all this data we’ve never had before,” added O’Riordan.  
    Although finding this Einstein ring is an achievement, Euclid must look for a different, less visually obvious type of gravitational lensing called “weak lensing” to help fulfil its quest of understanding dark energy. In weak lensing, background galaxies appear only mildly stretched or displaced. To detect this effect, scientists will need to analyze billions of galaxies.
    Euclid launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida, July 1, 2023, and began its detailed survey of the sky Feb. 14, 2024. The mission is gradually creating the most extensive 3D map of the universe yet. The Einstein ring find so early in its mission indicates Euclid is on course to uncover many more secrets of the universe. 
    More About Euclid
    Euclid is a European mission, built and operated by ESA, with contributions from NASA. The Euclid Consortium — consisting of more than 2,000 scientists from 300 institutes in 15 European countries, the United States, Canada, and Japan — is responsible for providing the scientific instruments and scientific data analysis. ESA selected Thales Alenia Space as prime contractor for the construction of the satellite and its service module, with Airbus Defence and Space chosen to develop the payload module, including the telescope. Euclid is a medium-class mission in ESA’s Cosmic Vision Programme.
    Three NASA-supported science teams contribute to the Euclid mission. In addition to designing and fabricating the sensor-chip electronics for Euclid’s Near Infrared Spectrometer and Photometer (NISP) instrument, NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory led the procurement and delivery of the NISP detectors as well. Those detectors, along with the sensor chip electronics, were tested at NASA’s Detector Characterization Lab at Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. The Euclid NASA Science Center at IPAC (ENSCI), at Caltech in Pasadena, California, will archive the science data and support U.S.-based science investigations. JPL is a division of Caltech.
    Media Contacts
    Elizabeth LandauHeadquarters, Washington202-358-0845elandau@nasa.gov
    Calla CofieldJet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif.626-808-2469calla.e.cofield@jpl.nasa.gov

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: F&M Bank Welcomes Peter Schork as Market President for Toledo, OH & Birmingham, MI

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    ARCHBOLD, Ohio, Feb. 10, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — F&M Bank (“F&M”), an Archbold, Ohio-based bank owned by Farmers & Merchants Bancorp, Inc. (Nasdaq: FMAO) announced that Peter Schork has joined F&M as Market President of the Toledo, Ohio and Birmingham, Michigan markets.

    Lars Eller, President and CEO of F&M stated, “As a proven community banker, Peter brings a wealth of experience to F&M. His leadership, deep market knowledge, and commitment to building strong relationships will be an invaluable resource to F&M as we continue to grow and serve our communities. We look forward to the impact he will make in driving success for our customers, employees, and stakeholders.”

    In his new role, Peter will oversee F&M’s presence in the Toledo, Ohio, and Birmingham, Michigan markets, including offices in Waterville, Swanton, Perrysburg, Sylvania, and Downtown Toledo, as well as F&M’s Loan Production Office in Troy and its Birmingham, Michigan location.

    Peter brings over 25 years of banking and financial experience to F&M. Prior to joining the Company, he served as the Ann Arbor President for Oxford Bank and co-founded the Ann Arbor State Bank serving as its President and CEO. In addition to his community bank experience, Peter was the CFO at Catalyst Commercial Real Estate, and the President of a Michigan based title, mortgage, and real estate company. In addition to his business experience, Peter is a proud supporter of various community organizations. Currently he serves on the Michigan Theater Board of Trustees, is a member of the Ray and Eleanor Cross Foundation and the Kiwanis Club of Ann Arbor and is a Board Member and Treasurer for the Homeless/Unhoused Mission. Peter holds a Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) with a specialization in Finance from Eastern Michigan University.

    About F&M Bank:
    F&M Bank is a local independent community bank that has been serving its communities since 1897. F&M Bank provides commercial banking, retail banking and other financial services. Our locations are in Butler, Champaign, Fulton, Defiance, Hancock, Henry, Lucas, Shelby, Williams, and Wood counties in Ohio. In Northeast Indiana, we have offices located in Adams, Allen, DeKalb, Jay, Steuben and Wells counties. The Michigan footprint includes Oakland County, and we have Loan Production Offices in Troy, Michigan; Muncie, Indiana; and Perrysburg and Bryan, Ohio.

    Safe harbor statement
    Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Statements by F&M, including management’s expectations and comments, may not be based on historical facts and are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21B of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Actual results could vary materially depending on risks and uncertainties inherent in general and local banking conditions, competitive factors specific to markets in which F&M and its subsidiaries operate, future interest rate levels, legislative and regulatory decisions, capital market conditions, or the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, and its impacts on our credit quality and business operations, as well as its impact on general economic and financial market conditions. F&M assumes no responsibility to update this information. For more details, please refer to F&M’s SEC filing, including its most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. Such filings can be viewed at the SEC’s website, www.sec.gov or through F&M’s website www.fm.bank.

    Company Contact: 
    Lars B. Eller
    President and Chief Executive Officer
    Farmers & Merchants Bancorp, Inc.
    (419) 446-2501
    leller@fm.bank    		 Investor and Media Contact:
    Andrew M. Berger
    Managing Director
    SM Berger & Company, Inc.
    (216) 464-6400
    andrew@smberger.com
       

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/e11179be-cf20-449e-9416-ca1e8ff1fd2f

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Defense News: U.S. Navy, 35+ Partners Commence International Maritime Exercise (IMX) 2025

    Source: United States Navy

    The week began with academic discussions covering a series of topics including the naval planning process, maritime operations center procedures, and disaster response coordination.

    IMX25 is a 12-day naval training event hosted by U.S. Naval Forces Central Command (NAVCENT). This year’s iteration of IMX is linked with exercise Cutlass Express. Cutlass Express, led by U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa, is an annually scheduled exercise designed to enhance regional maritime awareness and the combined capabilities of partner nations to respond to maritime threats. The exercises are link through information sharing between maritime operations center to strengthen theater-to-theater coordination, reducing regional seams and strengthening U.S. and partner nation capabilities and interoperability.

    More than 5,000 personnel from more than 35 nations and international organizations will take part in both exercises.

    IMX is designed to demonstrate global resolve in preserving the rules-based international order, offering a unique opportunity for participants to collaborate and showcase regional maritime security cooperation.

    “Exercises like IMX show that we are at our best when we work together and that our resolve is unwavering,” said U.S. Navy Rear Adm. Jeff Jurgemeyer, NAVCENT vice commander, during his remarks at the opening ceremony. “The Middle East region is a critical crossroads for worldwide commerce and trade. IMX is our combined assurance that the potential for economic success is greatest when international waterways are safe and open for all.”

    The operational phase will include partner exchanges on mine and countermeasures; visit, board, search and seizure; unmanned systems and artificial intelligence integration; explosive ordnance disposal; vessel defense; search and rescue; and mass casualty response, among other focus areas.

    This is the ninth iteration of IMX since its establishment in 2012.

    The U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations encompasses nearly 2.5 million square miles of water area and includes the Arabian Gulf, Gulf of Oman, Red Sea, parts of the Indian Ocean and three critical choke points at the Strait of Hormuz, Suez Canal and Bab al-Mandeb.

    More information about IMX is available at: https://www.cusnc.navy.mil/IMX/.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Video: President Trump Welcomes Prime Minister of Japan

    Source: United States of America – The White House (video statements)

    “For nearly 80 years the American and Japanese people have enjoyed a friendship like few others… After our meeting today, I’m confident that the cherished alliances between our two countries… will continue to flourish long into the future.” –President Donald J. Trump

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2jK1cw5WznM

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Update – woman found injured in Christchurch park

    Source: New Zealand Police (District News)

    Police are making good progress with the investigation into the circumstances that led to a woman being found in a Christchurch park with critical injuries.

    The woman was found at the Richmond Village Green on Wednesday 5 February.

    She was transported to hospital, where she remains. Her condition is improving and she is now stable, and she has been able to speak with us.

    Police have also been interviewing witnesses and family members as we work towards establishing the full picture of what has occurred, and who is responsible.

    While Police do not believe there is an ongoing risk to the wider public, additional patrols have been operating in the area to ensure the community feels safe.

    We are still appealing to anyone who may have information that would help us determine what happened.

    Information can be passed to Police via our 105 phone service, or by going online and using ‘Update Report’, referencing file number 250205/8067.

    ENDS

    Issued by Police Media Centre

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: 2025-20 AG NEWS RELEASE – ATTORNEY GENERAL LOPEZ SUES TRUMP ADMINISTRATION FOR DEFUNDING MEDICAL AND PUBLIC HEALTH INNOVATION RESEARCH

    Source: US State of Hawaii

    2025-20 AG NEWS RELEASE – ATTORNEY GENERAL LOPEZ SUES TRUMP ADMINISTRATION FOR DEFUNDING MEDICAL AND PUBLIC HEALTH INNOVATION RESEARCH

    Posted on Feb 10, 2025 in Latest Department News, Newsroom

     

    STATE OF HAWAIʻI

    KA MOKU ʻĀINA O HAWAIʻI

     

    DEPARTMENT OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL

    KA ʻOIHANA O KA LOIO KUHINA

     

    JOSH GREEN, M.D.
     GOVERNOR

    KE KIAʻĀINA

     

    ANNE LOPEZ

    ATTORNEY GENERAL

    LOIO KUHINA

     

    ATTORNEY GENERAL LOPEZ SUES TRUMP ADMINISTRATION FOR DEFUNDING MEDICAL AND PUBLIC HEALTH INNOVATION RESEARCH

     

    News Release 2025-20

     

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                       

    February 10, 2025

     

    HONOLULU – – Attorney General Anne Lopez and 21 other attorneys general today sued the Trump Administration, the Department of Health and Human Services, and the National Institutes of Health (NIH), in an effort to bar them from unlawfully cutting funds that support cutting-edge medical and public health research at universities and research institutions across the country. 

     

    On Friday, February 7, the NIH announced it would abruptly slash indirect cost rates to an across-the-board 15% rate, which is significantly less than the cost required to perform cutting edge medical research. The NIH purported to make this cut effective today (February 10), giving universities and institutions no time to plan for the enormous budget gaps they are now facing. Without immediate relief, this action could result in the suspension of lifesaving and life-extending clinical trials, disruption of research programs, layoffs, and laboratory closures. 

     

    The coalition is challenging the Trump Administration’s attempt to unilaterally cut “indirect cost” reimbursements at every research institution throughout the country. These reimbursements cover expenses to facilitate biomedical research, like lab, faculty, infrastructure and utility costs. Without them, the lifesaving and life-changing medical research in which the United States has long been a leader, could be compromised.

     

    Indirect cost reimbursements are based on each institution’s unique needs, negotiated with the federal government through a carefully regulated process, and then memorialized in an executed agreement.

     

    “President Trump’s total lack of compassion for all Americans knows no bounds. In just three weeks, he has cut programs providing healthcare and education, resources for climate change and clean air, and policies promoting diversity and equity. Now, he is making massive cuts to lifesaving medical research. Here in Hawai‘i, the University of Hawai‘i is supported by 175 awards and subawards from the NIH with a current value of $211M. I joined this lawsuit with my fellow democratic attorneys general because we are the last line of defense to enforce the rule of law,” said Attorney General Lopez.

     

    The coalition also argues that this action to slash indirect costs violates the Administrative Procedure Act, including a directive Congress passed during President Trump’s first term to fend off his earlier proposal to drastically cut research reimbursements. That statutory language, still in effect, prohibits the NIH from requiring categorial and indiscriminate changes to indirect cost reimbursements.

     

    The NIH is the primary source of federal funding for medical research in the United States. Medical research funding by NIH grants have led to innumerable scientific breakthroughs, including the discovery of treatment for cancers of all types, the first sequencing of DNA and the development of the MRI. Additionally, dozens of NIH-supported scientists have earned Nobel Prizes for their groundbreaking scientific work.

     

    Attorney General Lopez is joined by a coalition of attorneys general from Arizona, California, Connecticut, Colorado, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington and Wisconsin.

     

    The lawsuit was filed today in U.S. District Court for Massachusetts and can be found here.

     

     

    # # #

     

    Media contacts:

    Dave Day

    Special Assistant to the Attorney General

    Office: 808-586-1284                                                  

    Email: [email protected]        

    Web: http://ag.hawaii.gov

     

    Toni Schwartz
    Public Information Officer
     Hawai‘i Department of the Attorney General
    Office:     808-586-1252
    Cell: 808-379-9249
    Email:     [email protected] 

    Web: http://ag.hawaii.gov

     

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Growing Colorado’s Leading Aerospace Industry: Gov. Polis Announces Digantara Expansion in Colorado Springs

    Source: US State of Colorado

    COLORADO SPRINGS – Today, Governor Polis and the Global Business Development Division of the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT) announced that Digantara, a leading space surveillance and intelligence company specializing in space domain awareness, has selected Colorado Springs, Colorado, for expansion. 

    “I’m thrilled to welcome Digantara to Colorado, the best place to live, work, and do business. Digantara will bring 61 new, good-paying jobs while supporting safer space operations,” said Governor Polis. 

    Based in India, Digantara develops space surveillance systems designed to manage increasing orbital traffic and enhance space operations by delivering accurate and real-time orbital insights. The company’s systems pair constellations of cost-efficient nanosatellites in low earth orbit with precise modeling to enable the space industry to secure long-term spaceflight safety and build maps for space. 

    “Colorado is a leader in aerospace innovation, and we’re thrilled to welcome Digantara to our growing Aerospace community,” said Lt. Governor Dianne Primavera and co-chair of the Colorado Space Coalition. “With top research institutions, a skilled workforce, and strong industry partnerships, our state is the ideal place for companies shaping the future of space. We look forward to seeing Digantara’s impact on space sustainability and security.” 

    Digantara specializes in patented space-to-space tracking Optical and LiDAR systems. The company plans to establish a Satellite Assembly, Integration and Testing (AIT) facility in Colorado Springs to develop these payloads locally, catering to the Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) needs of U.S. Government and Department of Defense agencies. 

    “Colorado stands at the heart of the US aerospace-defense ecosystem, making it the perfect base for Digantara. Here, we aim to collaborate with the US aerospace and defense community locally, advancing global space security through innovation and partnership. Our mission is clear: contribute to U.S. and its allies’ defense efforts and help ensure a safe, sustainable space for a secure future,” said Anirudh Sharma, CEO of Digantara. 

    Digantara champions space sustainability, with active advocacy in the Paris Peace Forum’s Net Zero Space Initiative and the UN Space Bridge Dialogue on Global Space Traffic Coordination. In Colorado Springs, the company plans to establish a U.S. base to pursue opportunities to collaborate with U.S. defense agencies on surveillance and defense initiatives. This includes a capital investment of $35 million. Proximity to talent and the opportunity to locate in a leading aerospace market were key considerations. 

    “Colorado is now home to 2,000 aerospace companies, an increase of 26% over the last five years. When companies like Digantara expand in our state, they continue to strengthen this key sector of our economy while advancing innovative new technologies that will be critical to space and space missions,” said OEDIT Executive Director Eve Lieberman. 

    Digantara expects to create 61 net new jobs at an average annual wage of $82,645, which is 130% of the average annual wage in El Paso County. The positions will include software engineers, systems engineers, business developers, human resources, and finance roles. 

    The Colorado Economic Development Commission approved up to $759,034 in a performance-based Job Growth Incentive Tax Credit for the company over an eight-year period. These incentives are contingent upon Digantara, referred to as Project Diamond throughout the OEDIT review process, meeting net new job creation and salary requirements. The Colorado Springs City Council approved $198,225 over a four-year period in performance-based incentives. The sales and use tax rebates apply to the purchases of construction materials, equipment, machinery, furniture, and fixtures. The City’s Economic Development Department also offered to support the company through its Rapid Response Program, as well as talent and workforce development support. Additionally, El Paso County approved $812,030 in incentives. 

    “We are thrilled to welcome Digantara as they open their first U.S. office right here in our Colorado Springs, Olympic City USA,” said Mayor Yemi Mobolade. “As a key player in space surveillance and intelligence, specializing in space domain awareness, they are a perfect fit for our growing ecosystem of tech, aerospace, space, and cybersecurity companies. This is yet another example of the exciting expansion we’re seeing in this critical sector, further solidifying Colorado Springs’ position at the forefront of space innovation.” 

    “El Paso County is proud to support Digantara, which enhances our region’s leadership in the aerospace and defense industries—sectors that drive our local economy and safeguard our national security. We are committed to supporting businesses that create jobs, invest in our workforce, and strengthen our local economy. This investment goes beyond a single project; it represents a commitment to the future of our region, reinforcing our position as a place where businesses can innovate, expand, and thrive,” said El Paso County Commissioner and Chair Carrie Geitner. 

    “Digantara’s expansion is a big win for Colorado Springs and the Pikes Peak region, boosting our space talent and reinforcing our reputation as a prominent force in national security and a top location for aerospace and defense investments,” said Johnna Reeder Kleymeyer, President & CEO of Colorado Springs Chamber & EDC. “With our strong and diverse economy, highly skilled workforce, and cutting-edge technologies, it’s clear that Colorado Springs is the ideal place for space companies to innovate and thrive.”

     In addition to Colorado, Digantara considered North Carolina, Texas and California for expansion. The company currently has 70 employees, none of whom are in Colorado. 

    About Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade 

    The Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT) works to empower all to thrive in Colorado’s economy. Under the leadership of the Governor and in collaboration with economic development partners across the state, we foster a thriving business environment through funding and financial programs, training, consulting and informational resources across industries and regions. We promote economic growth and long-term job creation by recruiting, retaining, and expanding Colorado businesses and providing programs that support entrepreneurs and businesses of all sizes at every stage of growth. Our goal is to protect what makes our state a great place to live, work, start a business, raise a family, visit and retire—and make it accessible to everyone. Learn more about OEDIT. 

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Former Keshena Resident Receives 115-Month Prison Sentence for Serious Domestic Violence Offense on Menominee Indian Reservation

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Gregory J. Haanstad, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on February 6, 2025, John V. Miller, Jr. (age: 43), an enrolled member of the Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin and former resident of Keshena, received a 115-month prison sentence following convictions for strangulation and assault resulting in serious bodily injury.

    The sentence, imposed by Senior United States District Judge William C. Griesbach, was the result of guilty pleas entered by the defendant on September 27, 2024. Miller will also face three years of supervised release once he completes his sentence.

    According to publicly filed court documents, Miller severely injured his ex-wife during an assault in a wooded area outside Keshena, which is a community on the Menominee Indian Reservation. Miller kicked, struck, and punched the victim, who suffered a facial fracture and severe bruising and swelling. Miller also strangled the victim to the point of unconsciousness before leaving her in the woods. The victim awoke and found her way to a nearby mobile home, where the resident there called for help.

    In sentencing the defendant, Judge Griesbach noted the seriousness of the crime the defendant committed and remarked upon the need to punish the defendant for his “brutal” and “horrendous” acts. The court discussed the seriousness of the offense from the perspective of the effect it had on the victim and the children she shares with the defendant. The defendant’s documented history of violence against this victim and a total of 20 prior convictions also factored in the court reaching its sentence. Judge Griesbach also observed the need to incarcerate the defendant for a lengthy period to protect the victim and public.

    The case was investigated by the Menominee Tribal Police Department and FBI. Assistant United States Attorney Andrew J. Maier prosecuted the case in U.S. District Court in Green Bay.

    # #  #

    For further information contact: 
    Public Information Officer 
    Kenneth.Gales@usdoj.gov
    (414) 297-1700
    Follow us on Twitter  
     

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Former Keshena Resident Pleads Guilty to Fentanyl Distribution and Involuntary Manslaughter Related to Overdose Deaths in Tribal Jail

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Gregory J. Haanstad, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on February 7, 2025, Senior United States District Judge William C. Griesbach accepted the guilty pleas of Warren J. Grignon to one count of distribution of fentanyl in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841 and one count of involuntary manslaughter in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 1111 and 1153(a).

    According to the indictment and plea agreement, Grignon was an inmate at the Menominee Tribal Detention Center in Keshena on the Menominee Indian Reservation. On December 23, 2024, Grignon distributed fentanyl he smuggled into the jail to three other inmates. All three inmates overdosed. Two inmates were revived through the efforts of additional inmates, corrections staff, and responding officers from the Menominee Tribal Police Department. One inmate could not be revived and was pronounced dead. A later autopsy revealed the cause of death to be a fentanyl overdose.

    The sentencing hearing is scheduled for May 16, 2025, at 10:30 a.m., before Judge Griesbach. Grignon faces a total sentence of up to 28 years in prison as well as fines and assessments for each count. Grignon also faces a minimum term of three years, and up to a lifetime of supervised release after completing any period of imprisonment.

    The Menominee Tribal Police Department and FBI investigated the case, with valuable assistance from the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health. Assistant United States Attorney Andrew J. Maier is prosecuting the case in the United States District Court in Green Bay.

    # #  #

    For further information contact: 
    Public Information Officer 
    Kenneth.Gales@usdoj.gov
    (414) 297-1700
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    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Non-Governmental Organizations Brief the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women on the Situation of Women in Sri Lanka

    Source: United Nations – Geneva

    The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women was this afternoon briefed by representatives of non-governmental organizations on the situation of women’s rights in Sri Lanka, the report of which the Committee will review this week.

    The Committee will also review the reports of Belize, Congo and Liechtenstein this week, but there were no non-governmental organizations speaking on those countries.

    Non-governmental organizations speaking on Sri Lanka raised concerns relating to discriminatory legislation, gender-based violence, and the treatment of sex workers, among other issues.

    The following non-governmental organizations spoke on Sri Lanka: Women and Media Collective and Social Scientists Association; Women and Media Collective; 

    Suriya Women’s Development Centre; Centre for Equality and Justice; Sex Workers and Allies South Asia; Women’s Action Network; and Global Campaign for Equality in Family Law, Equality Now.

    The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women’s ninetieth session is being held from 3 to 21 February.  All documents relating to the Committee’s work, including reports submitted by States parties, can be found on the session’s webpage.  Meeting summary releases can be found here.  The webcast of the Committee’s public meetings can be accessed via the UN Web TV webpage.

    The Committee will next meet in public at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, 11 February to consider the fifth to ninth periodic report of Belize (CEDAW/C/BLZ/5-9). 

    Statement by Committee Chair 

    NAHLA HAIDAR, Committee Chair, said this was the second opportunity during the present session for non-governmental organizations to provide information on States parties whose reports were being considered during the second week of the session, namely Belize, Congo, Sri Lanka and Liechtenstein.  It was regretful that non-governmental organizations from Belize, Congo and Liechtenstein were not present, but the presence of representatives from Sri Lanka was greatly appreciated.  The Committee greatly appreciated that they had travelled all the way to Geneva, as the information they provided was crucial.

    Statements by Non-Governmental Organizations from Sri Lanka

    Sri Lanka

    Speakers on Sri Lanka said the economic crisis which had engulfed the country since 2020 had exacerbated the economic rights of women there, compounding labour market inequalities, unpaid care work, the lack of comprehensive and inclusive social protection, and rural economic challenges.  Women’s labour force participation remained low at 32.1 per cent, with many employed in low-wage, insecure jobs in the informal sector as well as in the formal sector.  The gender pay gap remained high, with women earning 27 per cent less than men on average. Proposed labour law reforms promoting part-time and ‘flexible’ work risked further job insecurity for women. In the plantation sector, Malaiyaha Tamil women continued to experience intense labour exploitation and wage discrimination

    A speaker said that Sri Lanka must urgently abolish the centralised power in the office of the Executive President and enable a judicial review of legislation.  Despite international treaty obligations, several discriminatory laws persisted.  The Penal Code continued to criminalise consensual same sex relations and abortion. Statutory rape of married girls between the ages of 12 and 16 by their husbands was exempt.  Urgent legal reforms were therefore a priority.

    The Economic Transformation Act and the policy to create new economic zones without adequate protections for labour, land and local economic development was a serious concern.  The weak national action plan on women peace and security 2023-2027 needed to be revised.  The independent National Commission on Women needed to be established without delay.  Increasing women in decision making required urgent attention and the low representation of women in the new Cabinet was concerning.

    Gender based violence continued with impunity.  Protections, support services and judicial sensitivities under the Prevention of Domestic Violence Act needed to be strengthened.  Technology-facilitated sexual and gender-based violence, a continuum of offline violence, was a fast-evolving form of violence against women. It was imperative that specific laws on technology-facilitated sexual and gender-based violence were included. Women sentenced to death faced intersectional discrimination.  As of 2024, 23 women were on death row.  It was vital that Sri Lanka regularly published disaggregated data regarding people charged with capital crimes.   

    While sex work was not criminalised, sex workers were arbitrarily arrested and subjected to violence under the vagrants and brothels ordinances.  Police violence and systemic discrimination against sex workers persisted, including through the vagrants ordinance.  In custody, sex workers were subjected to sexual bribery, forced sexually transmitted disease testing, physical violence, and prolonged detention. The practice of sexual bribery against sex workers continued with no consequence for the perpetrators.  A speaker urged the State to fulfil the Committee’s recommendation to repeal the vagrants ordinance and other provisions criminalising sex workers.

    In 2024, exam results of 70 advanced level Muslim students were withheld by the Department of Examinations because the girls’ hijabs covered their ears in violation of examination rules. Muslim women and girls were deprived of State protection under the Muslim Marriage and Divorce Act which had no minimum age of marriage, prevented women from signing marriage contracts, excluded Muslim women from becoming judges, prohibited two Muslims marrying under the general marriage registration ordinance, and allowed unconditional polygamy and non-registration of marriage.  It also contained unequal divorce provisions.  The bill which addressed these concerns needed to be enacted without delay.  In 2024, a study conducted across nine districts indicated that almost 50 per cent of Muslim women reported being victims of female genital mutilation, or knowing someone who was.  Victims of female genital mutilation in Sri Lanka were newborn girls after seven days, nine days, 15 days, 40 days and some at six to eight years.

    A speaker said the Penal Code only criminalised marital rape in the context of a married woman raped by her husband if she was judicially separated from him.  The Code needed to be amended to include marital rape in all circumstances. Several provisions in the personal laws discriminated against women, for example, the Thesawalamai law restricted Tamil women from disposing of separate property.  Women faced severe obstacles in accessing justice in family law: litigation costs were high; legal aid was limited; and there was a lack of gender-sensitivity among personnel in the justice sector.

    Comprehensive reform towards an effective and efficient family court system was imperative.  In the plantation communities, there was a lack of Tamil-speaking personnel in law enforcement.  Lesbian, bisexual, transgender and intersex persons were unable to access police as same-sex conduct was criminalised.  The State must ensure prompt, effective and adequate measures for access to justice for women, including from minorities and vulnerable groups.

    Questions by Committee Experts

    A Committee Expert asked about the national action plan on women, peace and security which needed to be revised; what kind of revision was required?  What was the status of the Truth, Reconciliation and Non-Repetition Commission?  How was conflict-related sexual violence being addressed in this context?  What was the status of abortion, including data and access to safe abortion?

    Another Expert asked for the main factors which hindered women’s access to justice?   Could more information be provided on how to improve the impact of the National Women’s Council, the Human Rights Ministry, and other bodies? How could they improve their relationship with civil society organizations?   

    A Committee Expert asked about the economic reform, in view of women’s participation in the labour market?

    An Expert asked about women’s representation in political institutions.  Had quotas and their enforcement been successful?  Was technology-facilitated abuse prevalent for women in decision-making positions and did it act as a deterrence for their participation?

    Another Committee Expert asked about difficulties women experienced in transferring their citizenship to their children?  What measures were in place to ensure migrant women could regularise their position, and obtain identification documents? 

    An Expert asked if there was information available about the changes in the Penal Code concerning the explicit clarification of marital rape?  Were positive changes implemented concerning the law on domestic violence?

    Responses by Non-Governmental Organizations

    Sri Lanka

    Responding to questions on Sri Lanka, a speaker said access to justice was a difficult and lengthy process for victims of gender-based violence, particularly those in the Tamil area. This was due to stigma around reporting, and the lack of police officers near the plantation sector who could speak in the Tamil language.  Typically, the average court procedure took 17 years to complete one case, while the victims faced repeated victimisation.

    The reforms suggested aimed to increase women’s workforce participation through part-time and flexible work. However, there were concerns that the current leave provisions and other benefits would not be included.

    Abortion was considered illegal in Sri Lanka unless the life of the mother was at risk.  However, despite rules that any woman could seek post-abortion care, stigma prevented many women from accessing this option, and many women instead accessed abortion in unsafe and back-alley settings.

    There was no family court system in Sri Lanka and privacy of proceedings was not always guaranteed, nor was the best interest of the child.

    Obtaining identification documents remained challenging for sex workers.  Many sex workers did not possess identity documents or birth certificates, and were reluctant to seek assistance due to police harassment.  Not having these documents meant these women could not obtain legal documents which impacted their access to education. 

    Women in politics were among the primary victim survivors of technology-assisted gender-based violence, in the form of hate speech and degrading memes and images shared online. This was seen in the most recent election, with female candidates’ being targeted for their education, the way they dressed, and the way they spoke.  Women politicians who supported family law reforms faced social media attacks, and this included Sri Lanka’s female Prime Minister who was recently elected. Social media companies such as Meta had not taken down harmful content.

    A private members bill had been raised in the previous government regarding the amendment for allowing same sex marriage.  However, after a second reading the bill was not passed.  The Government was then dissolved, and a new Government was elected. There had been no updates to the amendment to the Penal Code regarding marital rape since March 2024.

    The last parliamentary elections in 2024 doubled the number of women in parliament without a quota.  However, a quota came into effect in 2018 for local authority elections.  Political parties were legally mandated now to ensure 25 per cent of women were represented in politics; however, no political party had nominated more than 10 per cent of women in seats.  It was hoped the State would move to parity and not stop at a limit of 35 per cent in relation to quotas.

     

    Produced by the United Nations Information Service in Geneva for use of the media; 
    not an official record. English and French versions of our releases are different as they are the product of two separate coverage teams that work independently.

     

    CEDAW25.006E

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Dragon boat challenge stages in Dubai to promote Hong Kong culture and heritage (with photos)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Dragon boat challenge stages in Dubai to promote Hong Kong culture and heritage (with photos)
    Dragon boat challenge stages in Dubai to promote Hong Kong culture and heritage (with photos)
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         The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Dubai (Dubai ETO) sponsored the Hong Kong Dragon Boat Challenge 2025, which took place in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), on February 8 and 9 (Dubai time), to promote Hong Kong’s unique culture and heritage.      Held at the Dubai Creek, this year’s races attracted more than 40 teams per day with a total of about 1 400 competitors during the two-day event. Among them was a team formed by the Dubai ETO, consisting of members of the Hong Kong community living in the UAE.      Other than competitive races in various categories, the Dubai ETO also set up a promotional booth at the venue over the weekend to promote Hong Kong and provide information on her latest developments.      Speaking at the award presentation ceremony, the Acting Director-General of the Dubai ETO, Mr Leo Poon, highlighted that the Dubai ETO has brought the dragon boat racing to Dubai for the third year not just to share the fun of dragon boat racing with the local community, but also to strengthen cultural ties and social connections between the two communities of Hong Kong and Dubai.      “Hong Kong is not just an international trade hub and financial centre, we are also a dynamic city where East meets West, and home to a multitude of mega events. With the state-of-the-art Kai Tak Sports Park set for grand opening next month, Hong Kong will be hosting more international sports and cultural events, showcasing our city’s remarkable charm,” he added.      The Dubai ETO will continue to organise various events in the member states of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf with the aim of deepening exchanges and promoting closer co-operation.

     
    Ends/Tuesday, February 11, 2025Issued at HKT 2:35

    NNNN

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Fourth India-UK Energy Dialogue- Advancing India’s energy transition held in New Delhi today

    Source: Government of India

    Fourth India-UK Energy Dialogue-   Advancing India’s energy transition held in New Delhi today

    Phase-2 of the India-UK bilateral Accelerating Smart Power & Renewable Energy in India (ASPIRE) programme announced

    Posted On: 10 FEB 2025 8:44PM by PIB Delhi

    The Fourth India-UK Energy Dialogue, co-chaired by Shri Manohar Lal, Union Minister of Power and Housing and Urban Affairs of India, and Mr. Ed Miliband, Secretary for Energy Security and Net Zero for United Kingdom, was held today in New Delhi.

    The dialogue focused on reviewing progress made in the energy sectors of both nations, including power and renewable energy, and reaffirming the commitment to a sustainable, resilient, and inclusive energy future. The Ministers underscored the importance of ensuring that the energy transition and economic growth proceed together, while maintaining affordable and clean energy access for all.

    The Ministers underscored the importance of ensuring energy security and sustainable development and emphasized expanding the cooperation in the areas of power distribution, sector reforms, industrial energy efficiency and de-carbonization, and electric mobility while exploring new opportunities in the emerging fields such as energy storage, green data centers, and offshore wind, with an increased focus on MSMEs.

    The Ministers were pleased to announce the launch of Phase-2 of the India-UK bilateral Accelerating Smart Power & Renewable Energy in India (ASPIRE) programme. This phase will aim to provide technical support for ensuring round-the-clock power supply, expanding renewable energy initiatives, and accelerating industrial energy efficiency and de-carbonization, in collaboration with the Ministry of Power (MOP) and Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE).

    The Ministers were pleased to observe the bilateral collaboration between the two sides to promote growth and jobs, through technical assistance cooperation and investment.  They also discussed the progress of trade missions focusing on offshore wind and green hydrogen, as well as the cooperation between the UK’s Energy Systems Catapult and India’s Power Trading Corporation.

    Recognizing the shared ambition for advancing offshore wind development, the Ministers announced the establishment of a UK-India Offshore Wind Taskforce, which will focus on advancing offshore wind ecosystem development, supply chains, and financing models in both countries.  Mr. Miliband commended India’s ambitious initiatives in the renewable energy sector and shown a strong interest in gaining insights from India’s experience in implementing the Solar Rooftop Programme (PM – Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojna).

    The Ministers agreed on the importance of power market regulations in driving the energy transition and ensuring greater energy security and access. To support this, they announced the continuation of the Power Sector Reforms programme under the UK Partnering for Accelerating Climate Change (UKPACT). Additionally, a new taskforce has been proposed between the UK’s Office of Gas and Electricity Markets (OFGEM) and India’s Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) to support renewable energy integration and grid transformation in India.

    Both Ministers emphasized the ongoing value of the India-UK Energy Dialogue in advancing mutual energy transition goals, ensuring energy access, and building secure and sustainable clean energy supply chains while aligning these efforts with economic growth.

    The Ministers expressed their intention to further strengthen their collaboration through the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and looked forward to the fifth UK-India Energy Dialogue in 2026. The dialogue concluded with the launch of the ‘Best Practices Compendium of Industrial Energy Efficiency/Decarbonisation’ and a ‘Pathways for Energy Efficiency and Decarbonisation in the Indian Aluminium Sector’.

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    JN/ SK

    (Release ID: 2101542) Visitor Counter : 44

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Signing Ceremony of the Executive Programme of Cooperation (EPC) between the National Archives of India and the National Records and Archives Authority of Oman for Cooperation in the Field of Archives

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Posted On: 10 FEB 2025 8:57PM by PIB Delhi

    The National Archives of India and the National Records and Archives Authority of Oman are the custodians of the non-current records of the Government of India and the Government of the Sultanate of Oman, respectively, providing public access to historical records.

    To strengthen the friendship between the two countries, an Executive Programme of Cooperation (EPC) for 2025-2028 between the National Archives of India and the National Records and Archives Authority of Oman has been signed today, 10 February 2025, at 10:30 AM in the Committee Room of the National Archives of India, New Delhi.

    The signing of the EPC reflects the Indian Government’s commitment to promoting and showcasing the historical connections between the two nations, fostering a dynamic and shared future. It also serves as a vision statement to enhance friendly relations, particularly in the field of archival cooperation.

     

    Shri Arun Singhal, IAS, Director General of Archives, National Archives of India, Government of India, signed the agreement on behalf of India, while His Excellency Dr. Hamed Mohd. Al Dhawaini, Chairman, National Records & Archives Authority, signed on behalf of the Government of the Sultanate of Oman. This collaboration marks a significant step in strengthening cultural and historical ties between India and Oman.

    ***

    Sunil Kumar Tiwari

    pibculture[at]gmail[dot]com

    (Release ID: 2101552) Visitor Counter : 58

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Government revises Market Intervention Scheme (MIS) guidelines

    Source: Government of India

    Government revises Market Intervention Scheme (MIS) guidelines

    Procurement limit of crops under MIS increased from 20 percent to 25 percent

    FPOs, FPCs, State-nominated agencies, Central Nodal Agencies to undertake procurement of top crops under MIS

    Approval given to NCCF for reimbursement of cost for transportation of Kharif tomato up to 1,000 MT from Madhya Pradesh to Delhi.

    Posted On: 10 FEB 2025 8:26PM by PIB Delhi

    Market Intervention Scheme (MIS) is a component of PM-AASHA scheme. Market Intervention Scheme (MIS) is implemented on the request of State/UT Government for procurement of various perishable agricultural/horticultural commodities such as tomato, onion and potato etc. for which Minimum Support Price (MSP) is not applicable and there is a reduction of at least 10% in the market prices in the States/UTs as compared to the rates of the previous normal season, so that farmers are not forced to sell their produce under distress.

    To encourage more States for implementation of MIS, Government has revised the MIS Guidelines in the following provisions:

     1. Made MIS a component of the integrated scheme of PM-AASHA.

     2. MIS will be implemented only when there is a minimum reduction of 10% in the prevailing market price as compared to the previous normal year.

    3. The procurement/coverage limit of production quantity of crops has been increased from the existing 20 percent ​​to 25 percent.

    4. The State has also been given the option to pay the difference between the Market Intervention Price (MIP) and the selling price directly into the bank account of the farmers in place of physical procurement.

    Further, where there is a difference in the price of TOP crops (tomato, onion and potato) between the producing and consuming States, the operational cost incurred in storage and transportation of crops from the producing State to other consuming States will be reimbursed by Central Nodal Agencies (CNA) like NAFED and NCCF, in the interest of farmers. Approval has been given to NCCF for reimbursement of cost for transportation of Kharif tomato upto 1,000 MT from Madhya Pradesh to Delhi. It is being proposed to include, apart from NAFED and NCCF, Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs), Farmer Producer Companies (FPCs), State nominated agencies and other Central Nodal Agencies, to undertake procurement of top crops under MIS and to make arrangements for storage and transportation from the producing state to the consuming State in case of price difference between the producing State and the consuming State, in coordination with the implementing state.

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    MG/KSR

    (Release ID: 2101530) Visitor Counter : 53

    Read this release in: Hindi

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –