Indian Air Force’s display of air power & ‘Aatmanirbharta’ resolve marks its 92nd anniversary celebrations at Air Force Station, Tambaram in Chennai Chief of Defence Staff graces the event; Chief of Air Staff reviews ceremonial parade
Current global security environment demonstrates an inescapable need of a strong & capable Air Force: Air Chief Marshal AP Singh
“Adopting latest tech with innovative thinking will play a decisive role in today’s multi-domain environment”
Posted On: 08 OCT 2024 1:24PM by PIB Delhi
An immaculate ceremonial parade, a breath-taking demonstration of air power and a spectacular static display of state-of-the-art equipment marked the celebrations of the 92nd anniversary of the Indian Air Force (IAF) at the Air Force Station, Tambaram in Chennai, Tamil Nadu on October 08, 2024. Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan graced the celebrations, while the ceremonial parade was reviewed by Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal AP Singh.
In his address, the Chief of Air Staff underscored the need for IAF to remain prepared to meet any contingency that challenges the national interests. He stated that the current global security environment is in a state of constant flux and ongoing conflicts have demonstrated an inescapable need to have a strong and capable Air Force. Adopting the latest technology along with innovative and out-of-the-box thinking will play a decisive role in today’s multi-domain environment, he added.
Air Chief Marshal AP Singh emphasised that the theme of Air Force Day 2024, ‘Bhartiya Vayu Sena: Saksham, Sashakt, Aatmanirbhar’ perfectly describes the aspirations of IAF. “Over the years, we have become more empowered with better technology and achieved new levels op-exploitation of systems & weapons. Aatmanirbharta in the field of defence R&D and manufacturing is our priority. Concrete steps have been taken to support Make in India initiatives by engaging MSMEs, start-ups, individual innovators, professionals, R&D institutes and academia,” he added.
The Chief of Air Staff described the Air Force Day as an occasion for the air warriors to rededicate themselves in the service of the nation, introspect on the previous year, celebrate the achievements, recognise the areas of improvement and realign to the present & future requirements. On the previous year’s achievements, he said that IAF has proved its mettle on various fronts. “One of our primary objective is to deliver weapons, on target, on time, every time and this capability was aptly showcased during the firepower demonstration exercise ‘Vayu Shakti’ at Pokhran Range in February 2024,” he said.
Air Chief Marshal AP Singh added that the IAF, this year, expanded its participation in bilateral and multilateral exercises with friendly countries. He stated that the successful conduct of the largest multi-national exercise on Indian soil ‘Tarang Shakti’ was a testimony to the competence and professionalism of India’s air warriors.
The Chief of Air Staff asserted that IAF has always been the first responders in calls of humanitarian assistance and disaster relief both within the country & abroad, highlighting the various ops conducted in the last one year. He reaffirmed IAF’s full commitment towards providing a conducive and working environment to the air warriors, terming the welfare and well-being of the personnel & their families as of utmost importance.
Parade
The parade commenced with the marching-in of the President’s Colours, symbolising pride, unity, strength and esprit-de-corps. The atmosphere became even more melodious through the performance of a Tri-Services Band, which filled the air with patriotic fervor. The Air Warrior Drill Team captivated the audience with their sharp and synchronised movements, leaving a lasting impression on all present.
Airshow
The parade was followed by an aerial display, with various jets including Tejas Light Combat Aircraft, Sukhoi-30 MKI and Pilatus performing daring low-level aerobatic manoeuvres. The skies over Chennai were painted in the colours of the national flag as the Suryakiran Aerobatics Team and Sarang Helicopter Team mesmerised the crowd with thrilling performances.
Static display
The static display featured state-of-the-art such as ALH Mk-4, C-295 Transport aircraft, Akash Missile Defence System, HTT-40, and Rohini radar.
The event was a fitting tribute to IAF’s nearly a century of unwavering dedication and unparalleled service to the nation, embodying the theme of ‘Bhartiya Vayu Sena: Saksham, Sashakt, Aatmanirbhar’.
Indian Air Force’s display of firepower & ‘Aatmanirbharta’ resolve marks its 92nd anniversary celebrations at Air Force Station, Tambaram in Chennai Chief of Defence Staff graces the event; Chief of the Air Staff reviews ceremonial parade
Current global security environment demonstrates an inescapable need of a strong & capable Air Force: Air Chief Marshal AP Singh
“Adopting latest tech with innovative thinking will play a decisive role in today’s multi-domain environment”
Posted On: 08 OCT 2024 1:24PM by PIB Delhi
An immaculate ceremonial parade, a breath-taking aerial demonstration of firepower and a spectacular static display of state-of-the-art equipment marked the celebrations of the 92nd anniversary of the Indian Air Force (IAF) at the Air Force Station, Tambaram in Chennai, Tamil Nadu on October 08, 2024. Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan graced the celebrations, while the ceremonial parade was reviewed by Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal AP Singh.
In his address, the Chief of the Air Staff underscored the need for IAF to remain prepared to meet any contingency that challenges the national interests. He stated that the current global security environment is in a state of constant flux and ongoing conflicts have demonstrated an inescapable need to have a strong and capable Air Force. Adopting the latest technology along with innovative and out-of-the-box thinking will play a decisive role in today’s multi-domain environment, he added.
Air Chief Marshal AP Singh emphasised that the theme of Air Force Day 2024, ‘Bhartiya Vayu Sena: Saksham, Sashakt, Aatmanirbhar’ perfectly describes the aspirations of IAF. “Over the years, we have become more empowered with better technology and achieved new levels op-exploitation of systems & weapons. Aatmanirbharta in the field of defence R&D and manufacturing is our priority. Concrete steps have been taken to support Make in India initiatives by engaging MSMEs, start-ups, individual innovators, professionals, R&D institutes and academia,” he added.
The Chief of the Air Staff described the Air Force Day as an occasion for the air warriors to rededicate themselves in the service of the nation, introspect on the previous year, celebrate the achievements, recognise the areas of improvement and realign to the present & future requirements. On the previous year’s achievements, he said that IAF has proved its mettle on various fronts. “One of our primary objective is to deliver weapons, on target, on time, every time and this capability was aptly showcased during the firepower demonstration exercise ‘Vayu Shakti’ at Pokhran Range in February 2024,” he said.
Air Chief Marshal AP Singh added that the IAF, this year, expanded its participation in bilateral and multilateral exercises with friendly countries. He stated that the successful conduct of the largest multi-national exercise on Indian soil ‘Tarang Shakti’ was a testimony to the competence and professionalism of the India’s air warriors.
The Chief of the Air Staff asserted that IAF has always been the first responders in calls of humanitarian assistance and disaster relief both within the country & abroad, highlighting the various ops conducted in the last one year. He reaffirmed IAF’s full commitment towards providing a conducive and working environment to the air warriors, terming the welfare and well-being of the personnel & their families as of utmost importance.
Parade
The parade commenced with the marching-in of the President’s Colours, symbolising pride, unity, strength and esprit-de-corps. The atmosphere became even more melodious through the performance of a Tri-Services Band, which filled the air with patriotic fervor. The Air Warrior Drill Team captivated the audience with their sharp and synchronised movements, leaving a lasting impression on all present.
Airshow
The parade was followed by an aerial display, with various jets including Light Combat Aircraft, Tejas, Sukhoi-30 MKI and Pilatus performing daring low-level aerobatic manoeuvres. The skies over Chennai were painted in the colours of the national flag as the Suryakiran Aerobatics Team and Sarang Helicopter Team mesmerised the crowd with thrilling performances.
Static display
The static display featured state-of-the-art such as Light Combat Helicopter (Prachand), C-295 Transport aircraft, Akash Missile Defence System, Advanced Light Helicopter Mk-4, HTT-40 Trainer aircraft, and Rohini radar.
The event was a fitting tribute to IAF’s nearly a century of unwavering dedication and unparalleled service to the nation, embodying the theme of ‘Bhartiya Vayu Sena: Saksham, Sashakt, Aatmanirbhar’.
The Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal spent time with the Shramik brothers, especially the rickshaw and cart pullers here today. The MP from Dibrugarh LSC interacted while also savoured Poori Sabji with the Shramik brothers here.
Upholding the spirit of Antyodaya & Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas!
Elated to spend this morning and have breakfast with our Shramik brothers in Dibrugarh.
Their blood and sweat are the driving power of Bharat. In a heart-to-heart, gave them my assurance to address their issues and… pic.twitter.com/cUi8e8DKZW
Speaking on this occasion, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal said, “The objective of Narendra Modi govt is to empower, enable every person of the society with the help of Antodaya philosophy which ensures equal development with honour for everyone. Your hard work has always supported the local economy to run smoothly. It has been a privilege to meet all of you today on this beautiful autumn season of Durga Puja. I relished the opportunity to have Poori Sabji with our Shramik brothers as it replenished memories of my childhood.”
Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya Chairs High-level Meeting on Employment Data Ministry Working on Mechanism for Collation of Employment Data and its Analytics
Posted On: 08 OCT 2024 3:30PM by PIB Delhi
Union Minister of Labour & Employment and Youth Affairs & Sports, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya chaired a high-level meeting focusing on the key issues related to employment data and overseas emigration trends in New Delhi on 07.10.2024. Union Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Sushri Shobha Karandlaje was also present on the occasion.
The deliberations with Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and NITI Aayog aimed to strengthen coordination and data assimilation for both overseas employment and domestic job creation, as well as to enhance the monitoring of recruiting agencies and skill requirements for employment abroad.
Dr. Mandaviya highlighted the need for a mechanism to have complete data of citizens going abroad for jobs / studies to ECR / Non–ECR countries. He also suggested that there should be an integration of National Career Service (NCS) portal, MY Bharat Platform, MADAD, eMigrate, eShram portals, state portals etc for a comprehensive view of supply and demand side of employment.
He further emphasized that industry associations can play a pivotal role in collating the employment data. The Minister underscored the role of NITI Aayog as an umbrella organization that can facilitate the compilation of employment related data from various Ministries.
It was emphasized that contracts with foreign employers should be standardized and the Migration and Mobility Partnership Arrangements (MMPA) & Social Security Agreements (SSA) should be reviewed to get feedback on efficacy of its provisions.
NITI Aayog shared insights from various studies on employment portals in the country, emphasizing the need for a unified platform to integrate employment data across government schemes and sectors.
The meeting underscored Government’s commitment to bridging current data gaps, especially in the informal sector, and to developing a comprehensive, multi-sector employment data portal to drive policy and job creation initiatives.
The meeting concluded with a strong commitment to strengthening employment data coordination, expanding overseas job opportunities, and security of Indian workers abroad. The proposed Unified Employment Data Portal will serve as a transformative tool in centralizing employment data, while the eMigrate and NCS integration will broaden access to international job markets.
Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh held a telephonic conversation with the German Federal Minister of Defence Mr Boris Pistorius on October 08, 2024. They briefly reviewed the ongoing defence cooperation activities including exercises in the air and maritime domains.
The Ministers discussed ways to further strengthen the defence industrial collaboration and enhance supply chain resilience. They planned to meet in the near future to give concrete shape to the defence engagements and joint projects with an aim to transform defence as a key pillar of the India-Germany bilateral relationship.
Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways Shri Nitin Gadkari Unveils ‘Humsafar Policy’ for Onboarding Service Providers for Wayside Amenities Along the National Highways Humsafar Policy aims at providing safe and pleasant travel experience to NH users, says Union Minister Shri Nitin Gadkari
Union Minister says Humsafar Policy to Benefit Marginal Sections and Promote Eco-Friendly Highway Amenities
Humsafar Policy to Enhance Commuter Experience with Standardized Highway Services
Service Providers to Gain Enhanced Online Visibility via NHAI’s ‘Rajmarg Yatra’ App
Posted On: 08 OCT 2024 4:08PM by PIB Delhi
Union Minister of Road Transport & Highways Shri Nitin Gadkari launched today the ‘Humsafar Policy’ in New Delhi to enhance convenience of travelling on National Highways and accelerate development of the Wayside Amenities in presence of Shri Ajay Tamta, Minister of State for Road Transport and Highways.
Speaking at the unveiling, Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Shri Nitin Gadkari said local marginal sections of the society will be benefitted from this initiative. He underscored that this scheme will help in facilitation of smooth, safe and pleasant journey for users. It will be environment friendly and has been prepared keeping the ecology and cleanliness in the perspective. He also said that water conservation, soil conservation, waste recycling, solar energy etc have been kept in mind while formulating this policy.
Union Minister Sh. Nitin Gadkari asked the officials of the ministry to ensure quality service to the passengers through this policy. A number of Green Highways of NHAI have been planned with keeping several amenities in the perspectives, he further added.
He called upon that petrol pump owners alongside NHs to ensure basic amenities at the petrol pump as per norms. He also said that Food court, cafeteria, Fuel station, Electric Vehicle Charging Station, parking facilities, Toilet facility, Baby Care room, ATM, Vehicle repair shop, Pharmacy services under this policy will ensure better experience for NH users.
Speaking on the occasion, Shri Ajay Tamta, Minister of State for Road Transport and Highways said that under the guidance of Shri Nitin Gadkari National Highways of 1.5 lakh KMs have been laid down. Prime Minister’s vision and Union Road Transport and Highways minister’s guidance is changing the course of infrastructure in this country despite several odds, he further added.
On this occasion, Union Minister Sh. Nitin Gadkari and MoS Sh. Ajay Tamta also visited the Exhibition displayed on the theme
The policy aims to provide a comprehensive framework to ensure that the commuters have access to standardized, well-maintained, and hygienic facilities by onboarding both existing and upcoming service providers along National Highways and Expressways. Existing and upcoming service providers under the categories of Eateries, Fuel Station and Trauma Centres will be eligible to register under the Humsafar Policy. The policy aims to benefit all stakeholders. Registered service providers will benefit from waiver of fees for renewal for existing access permission and will be provided space on National Highways to put up signages of their establishment to increase visibility. In addition, the service providers will be featured on NHAI ‘Rajmarg Yatra’, mobile app to boost their online visibility.
The ‘Humsafar’ policy will also benefit commuters by enabling access to standardized, well maintained and hygienic facilities. Commuters will be able to find details of relevant service providers near their location instantly on the ‘Rajmarg Yatra’ app. The app will also empower commuters to report issues and rate the service provided and facilities. Registered service providers will be able to avail a waiver of renewal fees for access permissions, if they maintain an average rating of 3 or higher.
The policy also outlines rigorous provisions for ‘Monitoring & Inspection’ of the registered service providers for maintaining the standard of the facilities and ensuring quality services to the commuters. Regular inspections will be conducted by a third-party agency appointed by the authority. Email/ SMS alerts shall be sent to service providers in case their ratings fall below average of 3-stars and more frequent inspections will be carried out on such facilities with low score.
The ‘Humsafar Policy’ will go a long way in establishing world-class services along the National Highways by standardizing high-quality facilities for commuters and enhancing the overall travel experience of the National Highway users.
The event was attended by Sh. D. Sarangi, Director General & Special Secretary in the Ministry, Sh. Santosh Kumar Yadav Chairman of NHAI, and senior officers of the ministry and NHAI, NHLML with representatives of Wayside Amenities Developers, Hospitality companies, Oil Marketing Companies, EV charging companies, consultants and academicians.
Central Ayurveda Research Institute achieves significant milestones during the first 100 days of the government CARI signs MoU with JNU to initiate a research project on entrepreneurship and commercialization in the Ayush industry
Under Special Camps, 1500 Members of Marginalized Communities Treated
CARI became the first CCRAS institute to receive NABH accreditation
Posted On: 08 OCT 2024 3:35PM by PIB Delhi
The Central Ayurveda Research Institute (CARI), under the aegis of the Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS), Ministry of Ayush, has achieved significant milestones during the first 100 days of the current government. These accomplishments reflect CARI’s commitment to enhancing healthcare through Ayurveda and contributing to the broader Ayush ecosystem.
1. Geriatric Care Program Exceeds Targets:In a special initiative to cater to the healthcare needs of the elderly, CARI set a target of covering 2,000 individuals from the geriatric population. The institute has surpassed this goal, reaching 2,272 elderly individuals through its dedicated OPD. The program provided consultations, therapies, and lifestyle modifications based on holistic Ayurveda practices. This initiative has not only addressed healthcare concerns but also improved the quality of life for senior citizens.
2. Outreach under SCSP: As part of the Scheduled Caste Sub Plan (SCSP), CARI conducted 80 tours, organizing 8 camps and treating 1,500 patients within the first 100 days. The institute also conducted a comprehensive survey of 480 individuals to study their living conditions, dietary habits, and prevalent diseases. Through 1,980 screenings, lifestyle disorders were identified, marking a proactive approach to preventive healthcare in underserved communities.
3. Establishment of Integrated Medicine at Lady Hardinge Hospital: CARI is spearheading the establishment of a Department of Integrated Medicine at Lady Hardinge Medical College and Hospital, New Delhi. This initiative aims to integrate Ayush systems with modern medical services, addressing the need for comprehensive healthcare as advocated by the National Health Policy (NHP) 2017. Baseline OPDs and Panchakarma procedures have already commenced, laying the groundwork for this pioneering department.
4. Strategic Collaboration with Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU)In a significant academic collaboration, CARI signed an MoU with JNU to initiate a research project on entrepreneurship and commercialization in the Ayush industry. The project aims to develop management principles for Ayush products and services. The project was successfully launched within the first 100 days, marking a new phase in Ayush’s research and industry growth
5. Advancing Research and PublicationsCARI has completed two prestigious multi-center survey projects at Base Hospital Delhi Cantt and Air Force Hospital Hindon. 19 research projects are ongoing, with nine collaborative studies involving top institutions like AIIMS, Safdarjung Hospital, and JNU. During this period the institute also published a research article on allergic rhinitis in the Journal of Medical Internet Research (JMIR), indexed in PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science, further enhancing the scientific credibility of Ayurvedic research.
6. Promoting Patient Safety through Ayurveda: To mark Patient Safety Day, CARI organized a two-day national seminar in collaboration with NPvCC and AIIA, New Delhi. To address Patient safety day on September 17, 2024; a National Seminar was held at India International center, Lodhi Road focusing on the role of diagnostic practices in Ayush systems. It brought together 150 students, research scholars, and faculty members across India, fostering greater awareness of patient safety within Ayush practices.
7. Accreditation and Empowerment InitiativesCARI became the first CCRAS institute to receive NABH accreditation and it also obtained NABL accreditation for its Pathology and Biochemistry labs. Additionally, the institute provided administrative training for Ayush officers, empowering them with crucial management skills for their capacity building on 3rd August 2024.
Receiving NABH accreditation certificate from Secretary, Ministry of Ayush
8. Social OutreachCARI ensured the active participation of all staff and officials in national campaigns, including Swachhata Pakhwada and Poshana Maah, organizing public awareness programs, webinars, and cleanliness drives.
9. 9th Ayurveda Day:This institute is committed to hold various activities in order to celebrate 9th Ayurveda Day on 29th October, 2024. Awareness seminars, webinars, public lectures along with other activities like distribution of medicinal plants, competitions in school, etc. will be covered under Ayurveda Day.
SAN JOSE, Calif., Oct. 08, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Infinera (NASDAQ: INFN) announced today that Converge ICT Solutions Inc. (PSE: CNVRG), the leading fiber broadband and technology solutions provider in the Philippines, selected Infinera as its submarine line terminal equipment (SLTE) vendor for the fiber pairs over which Converge has been granted an Indefeasible Right of Use (IRU) on the Bifrost Cable System, using Infinera’s industry-leading GX Series Compact Modular Platform and its next-generation high-performance 1.2T ICE7 optical engine.
Additionally, Converge will use Infinera’s solutions to modernize its nationwide terrestrial fiber network across the Philippines.
Keppel and Converge have entered into agreements for the grant of an IRU to Converge for one fiber pair on the main trunk and the entire Davao branch of the Bifrost Cable System. Developed by Keppel, Meta, and Telin, the Bifrost Cable System is an end-to-end trans-Pacific cable system spanning over 15,000 km, connecting the west coast of North America via Guam with the Philippines, Indonesia, and Singapore. Converge is also the landing party for the Davao branch segment of the Bifrost Cable System and owns the cable landing station in Davao, located in the southern Mindanao region.
Converge is the fastest-growing fiber broadband and Information and Communications Technology (ICT) solutions provider in the Philippines, with total fiber assets extending over 70,000 kilometers. It operates the biggest fiber-to-the-home network in the country, with total homes passed reaching 16 million.
Converge selected Infinera’s solution based on Infinera’s proven track record in subsea networking with industry-leading reach and capacity performance. Leveraging Infinera’s subsea solution will enable Converge to monetize its fiber assets by delivering the highest capacity at the lowest cost over ultra-long distances.
Once deployed, Converge will benefit from the industry’s latest generation of advanced high-speed optics and 5-nm technology, enabling single wavelengths of up to 1.2T and improved capacity-reach. Infinera’s solution provides Converge with an operationally seamless solution including advanced spectrum sharing capabilities in a single platform that supports both ICE7 transponders and next-generation optical line system (OLS) capabilities.
“We are excited to leverage the latest generation of Infinera’s technology for our terrestrial and subsea cable assets. Infinera provides the most advanced subsea networking solution with industry-leading capabilities including advanced power management,” said Dennis Anthony Uy, CEO and Co-Founder of Converge. “Leveraging Infinera’s innovative solution, Converge will be able to effectively scale to meet rapidly growing bandwidth demands across the Philippines and the entire Asia-Pacific region.”
“By selecting Infinera’s ICE7 as the SLTE for the fiber pairs utilized by Converge in the Bifrost Cable System and to modernize its terrestrial backbone, Converge will benefit from the industry’s latest technology, enabling them to provide their customers with access to cost-effective, high-performance, and high-capacity services,” said David Heard, CEO at Infinera. “We are pleased to have been selected for the company’s growth and expansion, which underscores the value of Infinera’s innovative optical engine solutions and expertise in deploying critical networks globally.”
About Converge ICT Solutions Converge Information and Communications Technology Solutions, Inc. (PSE:CNVRG) is the fastest-growing fixed broadband service provider in the Philippines. It is the first to run an end-to-end pure fiber internet network in the country, providing Filipinos simple, fast, and reliable connectivity. Aside from broadband services, Converge also offers integrated data center and network solutions services. With over 70,000 kilometers of fiber optic assets nationwide, it has one of the most extensive fiber networks in the Philippines. With this fiber-powered network, Converge provides premium world-class digital experience for residential, enterprise, and wholesale customers. Go to https://www.convergeict.com for more information.
About Infinera Infinera is a global supplier of innovative open optical networking solutions and advanced optical semiconductors that enable carriers, cloud operators, governments, and enterprises to scale network bandwidth, accelerate service innovation, and automate network operations. Infinera solutions deliver industry-leading economics and performance in long-haul, submarine, data center interconnect, and metro transport applications. To learn more about Infinera, visit http://www.infinera.com, follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn, and subscribe for updates.
Infinera and the Infinera logo are registered trademarks of Infinera Corporation.
This press release contains forward-looking statements, including but not limited to the operational, performance and financial benefits of Infinera’s GX Series Compact Modular Platform and its ICE7 optical engine. These statements are not guarantees of results and should not be considered as an indication of future activity or future performance. Actual results may vary materially from these expectations as a result of various risks and uncertainties. Information about these risks and uncertainties, and other risks and uncertainties that affect Infinera’s business, is contained in the risk factors section and other sections of Infinera’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the Fiscal Quarter ended June 29, 2024 as filed with the SEC on August 2, 2024, as well as any subsequent reports filed with or furnished to the SEC. These reports are available on Infinera’s website at http://www.infinera.com and the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov. Forward-looking statements include statements regarding our expectations, beliefs, intentions, or strategies and can be identified by words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “should,” “will,” and “would” or similar words. Infinera assumes no obligation to, and does not currently intend to, update any such forward-looking statements.
RENO, Nev., Oct. 08, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Ormat Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: ORA), a leading renewable energy company, today announced that it plans to publish its third quarter financial results in a press release that will be issued on Wednesday, November 6, 2024, after the market closes. In conjunction with this report, the Company has scheduled a conference call to discuss the results at 10:00 a.m. ET on Thursday, November 7, 2024.
To join the call, please dial +1-646-960-0440, approximately 15 minutes prior to the scheduled start of the call. The access code for the call is 2705841. Please request the “Ormat Technologies, Inc. call” when prompted by the conference call operator. The conference call will also be accompanied by a live webcast which will be hosted on the Investor Relations section of the Company’s website.
A replay will be available one hour after the end of the conference call. To access the replay, please dial +1-647-362-9199. Please use the replay access code 2705841. The webcast will also be archived on the Investor Relations section of the Company’s website.
ABOUT ORMAT TECHNOLOGIES
With over five decades of experience, Ormat Technologies, Inc. is a leading geothermal company and the only vertically integrated company engaged in geothermal and recovered energy generation (“REG”), with robust plans to accelerate long-term growth in the energy storage market and to establish a leading position in the U.S. energy storage market. The Company owns, operates, designs, manufactures and sells geothermal and REG power plants primarily based on the Ormat Energy Converter – a power generation unit that converts low-, medium- and high-temperature heat into electricity. The Company has engineered, manufactured and constructed power plants, which it currently owns or has installed for utilities and developers worldwide, totaling approximately 3,200 MW of gross capacity. Ormat leveraged its core capabilities in the geothermal and REG industries and its global presence to expand the Company’s activity into energy storage services, solar Photovoltaic (PV) and energy storage plus Solar PV. Ormat’s current total generating portfolio is 1,420MW with a 1,230MW geothermal and solar generation portfolio that is spread globally in the U.S., Kenya, Guatemala, Indonesia, Honduras, and Guadeloupe, and a 190MW energy storage portfolio that is located in the U.S.
Ormat Technologies Contact: Smadar Lavi VP, Head of IR and ESG Planning & Reporting 775-356-9029 (ext. 65726) slavi@ormat.com
Investor Relations Agency Contact: Josh Carroll or Joseph Caminiti Alpha IR Group 312-445-2870 ORA@alpha-ir.com
Foreign influence campaigns, or information operations, have been widespread in the run-up to the 2024 U.S. presidential election. Influence campaigns are large-scale efforts to shift public opinion, push false narratives or change behaviors among a target population. Russia, China, Iran, Israel and other nations have run these campaigns by exploiting social bots, influencers, media companies and generative AI.
At the Indiana University Observatory on Social Media, my colleagues and I study influence campaigns and design technical solutions – algorithms – to detect and counter them. State-of-the-art methods developed in our center use several indicators of this type of online activity, which researchers call inauthentic coordinated behavior. We identify clusters of social media accounts that post in a synchronized fashion, amplify the same groups of users, share identical sets of links, images or hashtags, or perform suspiciously similar sequences of actions.
We have uncovered many examples of coordinated inauthentic behavior. For example, we found accounts that flood the network with tens or hundreds of thousands of posts in a single day. The same campaign can post a message with one account and then have other accounts that its organizers also control “like” and “unlike” it hundreds of times in a short time span. Once the campaign achieves its objective, all these messages can be deleted to evade detection. Using these tricks, foreign governments and their agents can manipulate social media algorithms that determine what is trending and what is engaging to decide what users see in their feeds.
Adversaries such as Russia, China and Iran aren’t the only foreign governments manipulating social media to influence U.S. politics.
Generative AI
One technique increasingly being used is creating and managing armies of fake accounts with generative artificial intelligence. We analyzed 1,420 fake Twitter – now X – accounts that used AI-generated faces for their profile pictures. These accounts were used to spread scams, disseminate spam and amplify coordinated messages, among other activities.
We estimate that at least 10,000 accounts like these were active daily on the platform, and that was before X CEO Elon Musk dramatically cut the platform’s trust and safety teams. We also identified a network of 1,140 bots that used ChatGPT to generate humanlike content to promote fake news websites and cryptocurrency scams.
In addition to posting machine-generated content, harmful comments and stolen images, these bots engaged with each other and with humans through replies and retweets. Current state-of-the-art large language model content detectors are unable to distinguish between AI-enabled social bots and human accounts in the wild.
Model misbehavior
The consequences of such operations are difficult to evaluate due to the challenges posed by collectingdata and carrying out ethical experiments that would influence online communities. Therefore it is unclear, for example, whether online influence campaigns can sway election outcomes. Yet, it is vital to understand society’s vulnerability to different manipulation tactics.
In a recent paper, we introduced a social media model called SimSoM that simulates how information spreads through the social network. The model has the key ingredients of platforms such as Instagram, X, Threads, Bluesky and Mastodon: an empirical follower network, a feed algorithm, sharing and resharing mechanisms, and metrics for content quality, appeal and engagement.
SimSoM allows researchers to explore scenarios in which the network is manipulated by malicious agents who control inauthentic accounts. These bad actors aim to spread low-quality information, such as disinformation, conspiracy theories, malware or other harmful messages. We can estimate the effects of adversarial manipulation tactics by measuring the quality of information that targeted users are exposed to in the network.
We simulated scenarios to evaluate the effect of three manipulation tactics. First, infiltration: having fake accounts create believable interactions with human users in a target community, getting those users to follow them. Second, deception: having the fake accounts post engaging content, likely to be reshared by the target users. Bots can do this by, for example, leveraging emotional responses and political alignment. Third, flooding: posting high volumes of content.
Our model shows that infiltration is the most effective tactic, reducing the average quality of content in the system by more than 50%. Such harm can be further compounded by flooding the network with low-quality yet appealing content, thus reducing quality by 70%.
Curbing coordinated manipulation
We have observed all these tactics in the wild. Of particular concern is that generative AI models can make it much easier and cheaper for malicious agents to create and manage believable accounts. Further, they can use generative AI to interact nonstop with humans and create and post harmful but engaging content on a wide scale. All these capabilities are being used to infiltrate social media users’ networks and flood their feeds with deceptive posts.
These insights suggest that social media platforms should engage in more – not less – content moderation to identify and hinder manipulation campaigns and thereby increase their users’ resilience to the campaigns.
The platforms can do this by making it more difficult for malicious agents to create fake accounts and to post automatically. They can also challenge accounts that post at very high rates to prove that they are human. They can add friction in combination with educational efforts, such as nudging users to reshare accurate information. And they can educate users about their vulnerability to deceptive AI-generated content.
Open-source AI models and data make it possible for malicious agents to build their own generative AI tools. Regulation should therefore target AI content dissemination via social media platforms rather then AI content generation. For instance, before a large number of people can be exposed to some content, a platform could require its creator to prove its accuracy or provenance.
These types of content moderation would protect, rather than censor, free speech in the modern public squares. The right of free speech is not a right of exposure, and since people’s attention is limited, influence operations can be, in effect, a form of censorship by making authentic voices and opinions less visible.
Filippo Menczer receives funding from the Knight Foundation, Sloan Foundation, NSF, DoD, and the Swiss National Science Foundation.
Source: Republic of Taiwan – Ministry of Foreign Affairs
MOFA sincerely congratulates Japanese Representative Ishiba on his election as LDP president
Date：2024-09-27
Data Source：TAIWAN-JAPAN RELATIONS ASSOCIATION
September 27, 2024
No. 319
The ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) of Japan elected Shigeru Ishiba, a member of the House of Representatives, as its new president after two rounds of voting on September 27. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) extends its sincere congratulations and has instructed the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in Japan to promptly send a message of felicitations on behalf of the government of Taiwan.
Taiwan and the LDP have enjoyed close interactions over the years, sharing a robust partnership and like-minded friendship. LDP parliamentary delegations have often visited Taiwan, proactively fostering Taiwan-Japan cooperation and exchanges across various domains and enhancing bilateral relations with concrete actions through values-based and alliance diplomacy.
Representative Ishiba recently led a delegation to Taiwan to exchange views on security issues with various sectors in Taiwan. During the visit, he announced his decision to run in the LDP election. In recent years, the Japanese government, led by the LDP, has reiterated the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait at major international events and endorsed Taiwan’s participation in the World Health Organization and other international organizations. Taiwan expresses deep appreciation for this support.
MOFA sincerely hopes that the LDP, under the leadership of President Ishiba, will continue to strengthen cooperation with Taiwan, as well as promoting a comprehensive and substantive bilateral partnership to jointly uphold peace, stability, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific. (E)
A decade ago, Sercan Canbolat ’17 MA ’23 Ph.D. was a graduate student in his home country of Turkey. His focus was studying the political psychology of leaders.
What makes them think?
How do they make decisions?
What influences them in their decision making?
His particular focus was on political leaders in the Middle East, where he had grown up and completed his undergraduate degrees.
But as a master’s student at Bilkent University in Turkey’s capital city of Ankara, he knew first-hand some of the challenges he would face as he tried to present his research to a broader, international audience.
“I’m from Turkey,” Canbolat says, “and I know in the broader Middle East and North Africa regions, we don’t have a lot of opportunities to get our work published, to present our work to top scholars in the field, and to get good feedback – to learn and acquire the best research skills and presentation skills.”
Sercan Canbolat ’17 MA ’23 Ph.D. at the ISA International Conference 2017 in Hong Kong. (Contributed photo)
It was during his master’s studies that his advisor, Özgür Özdamar, first introduced him to the International Studies Association, or ISA – one of the oldest interdisciplinary organizations dedicated to understanding international, transnational, and global affairs.
“I was writing my MA thesis with him,” Canbolat explains, “and he offered for me to write a paper that we could present at ISA. But I couldn’t get a visa. So, my advisor went to the conference instead, and he presented our paper.”
The following year, though – in 2014 – Canbolat was able to travel to the ISA conference in Toronto, where he put himself in front of a global audience for the first time to present his research.
“I got some feedback from the chair and from the audience, and it was great,” he says. “It helped me to build self-confidence, and actually, through ISA, I met many scholars based in the U.S., Canada, and Western Europe. Those connections helped me to apply for and receive a Fulbright scholarship to come to the U.S. for my Ph.D.”
That Fulbright Ph.D. grant led Canbolat to UConn in 2014, where he started his doctoral studies in political science.
And in 2015, the organization that helped Canbolat make those connections and first share his research on a global stage – the International Studies Association – also came to UConn.
Best-Kept Secret
Founded in 1959, the ISA has long served as a central hub for the exchange of ideas, for networking, and for programmatic initiatives among those involved in the study, teaching, and practice of international studies.
Through its international and regional conferences and its academic journals, the organization works to promote rigorous discussion, research, and writing on a broad range of topics, including foreign policy, environmental studies, global health, diplomacy, human rights, peace studies, law, and religion.
ISA has been headquartered at UConn since 2015. Under agreements with UConn’s Office of Global Affairs, it will remain in residence at UConn until at least 2030.
Sarah Dorr, Ph.D., ISA director of professional development (Contributed photo)
From 2015 to 2024, ISA was under the leadership of Mark Boyer, Board of Trustees Distinguished Professor Emeritus at UConn. As of July 1, 2024, Mike Bosia, professor of political science and international relations and director of gender and sexuality studies at Saint Michael’s College, took over the role of ISA’s executive director.
“ISA is a hidden gem – one of the best kept secrets at UConn,” says Sarah Dorr, the ISA’s director of professional development. “We have over 7,000 members in 120 countries.”
UConn and ISA are a good fit for each other, says Daniel Weiner, a professor of geography and UConn’s vice president for global affairs, because both the organization and the University share similar missions to foster a sense of global-mindedness and facilitate life-transformative educational and research experiences.
“ISA is really a success story about the positive impact of international collaboration,” Weiner says. “One of our major goals in Global Affairs is to support interdisciplinary research and engagement on issues of worldwide importance and impact, so partnership with ISA here at UConn is really a natural pairing.”
Evolving and Growing
In a complex and ever-changing world, adapting to the needs of the time is important for any organization – ISA included.
“Our organization is constantly evolving and growing,” says Dorr, “and we offer different levels of interaction to help people make connections and foster dialogue – something that we feel is particularly critical at this point in time in our increasingly polarized world.”
The ISA publishes seven academic journals, co-sponsors an eighth, and partners with Oxford University Press to publish the International Studies Encyclopedia, the most comprehensive reference work of its kind for the fields of international studies and international relations.
The organization has steadily grown its online and social media presence and, in response to the pandemic in 2020, launched a roster of unique virtual programs to broaden its reach to scholars who might not otherwise have the ability to take part in global opportunities.
Not all students and academics have access to the same resources at their institution. ISA’s virtual initiative provides these programs to level the playing field and create community whilst doing so. — Sarah Dorr, ISA’s director of professional development
“Not all students and academics have access to the same resources at their institution,” says Dorr, who curates virtual programming as part of her role at ISA. “ISA’s virtual initiative provides these programs to level the playing field and create community whilst doing so. Virtual programming allows people to interact with the association throughout the year, and it widens participation and increases accessibility to ISA’s pedagogical and research communities.”
ISA’s virtual programming is available to all members of the UConn community, regardless of membership. To date in 2024, ISA has produced more than 30 programs, with additional virtual events scheduled for the remainder of the calendar year on topics including banal nationalism, Fulbright scholar opportunities, and the impending results of the 2024 U.S. Presidential Election.
But what ISA has historically been known for are its national and regional conferences – gatherings where scholars from all walks of life and levels of experience come together to share their research, build new networks, and contribute to scholarship on a global level.
An Academic Home
Canbolat’s first ISA conference was in Toronto, but in the years since, ISA has taken him to San Francisco, Nashville, Atlanta, and even Hong Kong.
“It was a great experience; my first time in that part of the world,” he recalls about the 2017 Hong Kong conference. “It was amazing. I really enjoyed it.”
ISA supported Canbolat’s travel to its conferences through a grant program that assists junior scholars, senior graduate students, and scholars from low-income countries in attending conferences that would otherwise be out of reach.
“Grad students don’t have a great budget to go to conferences, and it’s expensive,” Canbolat says. “Travel, accommodations – ISA is really great at providing financial help, especially to students and junior scholars. I benefitted a lot from my ISA travel grants. It really helped make it happen, to go and attend the conferences.”
While on those trips, Canbolat says he had opportunities to meet eminent scholars in his field, network and build relationships with them, attend panel discussions, and meet and workshop with both journal editors and book publishers.
UConn President Radenka Maric delivers remarks at the ISA International Conference 2024 at the University of Rijeka in Croatia. (Photo Courtesy of UNIRI)
“Even if you don’t present, it’s still a great experience to go to panels, listen to state-of-the-art research being presented by both prominent scholars and rising scholars,” he says. “I’ve really enjoyed meeting top scholars, prominent scholars, in a personal setting – not in a panel or in a workshop, but at a reception, and to really make personal connections. Tell them about my family. Tell them about my background. Tell them about my plans. And they were very helpful, listening and giving great feedback.
“I think that stands out, meeting those big names. We always read their books, their articles, but it’s something else to meet them, especially in a personal setting, a relaxed environment. Having a coffee with them. That stands out,” he says.
ISA holds a series of regional conferences throughout each year as well as an annual convention, which will be held in Chicago in 2025.
“One of the major benefits of attending ISA regional conferences is they become a source of intellectual community,” says Dorr. “But ISA’s annual convention is where people go to find their ‘academic home.’”
In June 2024, the ISA built on its long-standing collaboration with the Central and Eastern European International Studies Association, or CEEISA, to host a joint international conference at the University of Rijeka in Croatia.
Focused on “Knowing the Global-Local: Imagining Pasts, Debating Futures,” the conference hosted 800 participants – including Weiner and UConn President Radenka Maric – from 65 countries to discuss global and local political science and international relations.
The conference marked the largest gathering of experts in international relations in Croatia to date.
Full Circle
Canbolat wasn’t able to travel to Croatia in June, but earlier this year, he attended an ISA conference in San Francisco – to accept the ISA Foreign Policy Analysis Section Best Book Award for 2024.
In 2023, Canbolat and his co-author, Özdamar, published their book, Leaders in the Middle East and North Africa: How Ideology Shapes Foreign Policy, through Cambridge University Press in 2023.
The book is based on the initial research that Canbolat presented at his very first ISA conference in Toronto in 2014.
Co-authors Sercan Canbolat ’17 MA ’23 Ph.D. (center) and Özgür Özdamar, professor of international relations at Bilkent University in Ankara, Turkey, (right) — with Danielle Lupton, associate professor of political science at Colgate University (left) — accept the 2024 ISA Best Book in Foreign Policy Analysis Award at the ISA 2024 Annual Convention in San Francisco. (Contributed photo)
“We published it as a journal article first,” he says. “After I presented at ISA, I got feedback. We published it in a good journal. It was well-received, and we got great feedback. And then, we discussed and decided to turn it into a book, into a larger project, and we worked on it for like five, six years. It was a blast, because it kept giving.”
Also in 2023, Canbolat completed his Ph.D. at UConn. He’s now serving as the inaugural director of Abrahamic Programs at UConn Global Affairs, and he’s teaching as a postdoctoral lecturer in the Department of Political Science.
He says he tells all his students about ISA – how it’s headquartered at UConn and how they can access the programs and opportunities ISA has to offer.
And he tells other faculty at UConn as well.
“I was surprised that some faculty don’t know that ISA is here at UConn,” Canbolat says. “I strongly suggest for anyone to try and at least give ISA a shot. Attend one year, and actually, they will be hooked.”
To learn more about or connect with the International Studies Association, headquartered at UConn Storrs, visitisanet.org. To stay up-to-date on the latest ISA virtual programs, sign up for ISA Connected atisanet.org/Programs/Virtual-Programs/ISA-Connected.
For more information about global learning, research, and entrepreneurship opportunities available through UConn’s Office of Global Affairs, visitglobal.uconn.edu.
The U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis announced today that the goods and services deficit was $70.4 billion in August, down $8.5 billion from $78.9 billion in July, revised.
U.S. International Trade in Goods and Services Deficit
Deficit:
$70.4 Billion
–10.8%°
Exports:
$271.8 Billion
+2.0%°
Imports:
$342.2 Billion
–0.9%°
Next release: Tuesday, November 5, 2024
(°) Statistical significance is not applicable or not measurable. Data adjusted for seasonality but not price changes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis; U.S. International Trade in Goods and Services, October 8, 2024
Exports, Imports, and Balance (exhibit 1)
August exports were $271.8 billion, $5.3 billion more than July exports. August imports were $342.2 billion, $3.2 billion less than July imports.
The August decrease in the goods and services deficit reflected a decrease in the goods deficit of $8.4 billion to $94.9 billion and an increase in the services surplus of $0.1 billion to $24.4 billion.
Year-to-date, the goods and services deficit increased $47.1 billion, or 8.9 percent, from the same period in 2023. Exports increased $79.0 billion or 3.9 percent. Imports increased $126.1 billion or 4.9 percent.
Three-Month Moving Averages (exhibit 2)
The average goods and services deficit decreased $1.6 billion to $74.1 billion for the three months ending in August.
Average exports increased $3.7 billion to $267.8 billion in August.
Average imports increased $2.0 billion to $342.0 billion in August.
Year-over-year, the average goods and services deficit increased $11.1 billion from the three months ending in August 2023.
Average exports increased $13.3 billion from August 2023.
Average imports increased $24.4 billion from August 2023.
Exports (exhibits 3, 6, and 7)
Exports of goods increased $4.4 billion to $179.4 billion in August.
Exports of goods on a Census basis increased $4.9 billion.
Industrial supplies and materials increased $0.9 billion.
Nonmonetary gold increased $1.5 billion.
Crude oil decreased $1.1 billion.
Automotive vehicles, parts, and engines increased $0.8 billion.
Passenger cars increased $0.6 billion.
Net balance of payments adjustments decreased $0.5 billion.
Exports of services increased $0.9 billion to $92.3 billion in August.
Travel increased $0.5 billion
Government goods and services increased $0.2 billion.
Transport decreased $0.2 billion.
Imports (exhibits 4, 6, and 8)
Imports of goods decreased $3.9 billion to $274.3 billion in August.
Imports of goods on a Census basis decreased $3.8 billion.
Industrial supplies and materials decreased $3.9 billion.
Nonmonetary gold decreased $1.2 billion.
Finished metal shapes decreased $1.0 billion.
Crude oil decreased $1.0 billion.
Automotive vehicles, parts, and engines decreased $1.3 billion.
Passenger cars decreased $1.1 billion.
Net balance of payments adjustments decreased $0.2 billion.
Imports of services increased $0.7 billion to $67.9 billion in August.
Travel increased $0.4 billion.
Charges for the use of intellectual property increased $0.4 billion.
Transport decreased $0.3 billion.
Real Goods in 2017 Dollars – Census Basis (exhibit 11)
The real goods deficit decreased $8.6 billion, or 8.9 percent, to $88.6 billion in August, compared to an 8.5 percent decrease in the nominal deficit.
Real exports of goods increased $5.5 billion, or 3.8 percent, to $150.1 billion, compared to a 2.9 percent increase in nominal exports.
Real imports of goods decreased $3.2 billion, or 1.3 percent, to $238.7 billion, compared to a 1.4 percent decrease in nominal imports.
Revisions
Revisions to July exports
Exports of goods were revised down less than $0.1 billion.
Exports of services were revised down $0.1 billion.
Revisions to July imports
Imports of goods were revised up $0.1 billion.
Imports of services were revised down $0.1 billion.
Goods by Selected Countries and Areas: Monthly – Census Basis (exhibit 19)
The August figures show surpluses, in billions of dollars, with Netherlands ($5.5), South and Central America ($4.0), Australia ($1.9), Hong Kong ($1.6), Brazil ($0.8), Singapore ($0.5), and United Kingdom ($0.3). Deficits were recorded, in billions of dollars, with China ($24.7), European Union ($19.1), Mexico ($14.3), Vietnam ($9.8), Ireland ($8.0), Taiwan ($7.3), Germany ($6.6), Japan ($4.9), South Korea ($4.9), Canada ($3.9), Italy ($2.9), India ($2.7), Switzerland ($2.5), France ($1.7), Malaysia ($1.1), Israel ($1.0), Belgium ($0.6), and Saudi Arabia ($0.1).
The deficit with Canada decreased $3.8 billion to $3.9 billion in August. Exports increased $1.1 billion to $28.5 billion and imports decreased $2.7 billion to $32.3 billion.
The deficit with China decreased $2.6 billion to $24.7 billion in August. Exports increased $1.1 billion to $12.6 billion and imports decreased $1.5 billion to $37.3 billion.
The balance with Belgium shifted from a surplus of $1.0 billion in July to a deficit of $0.6 billion in August. Exports decreased $0.1 billion to $2.8 billion and imports increased $1.5 billion to $3.4 billion.
Foreign Minister Lin hosts welcome luncheon for Ukrainian parliamentary delegation
Date：2024-10-04 Data Source：Department of European Affairs
October 4, 2024 No. 329
Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung hosted a luncheon on October 4 to welcome a delegation of Ukrainian parliamentarians led by MP Mykola Kniazhytskyi, Cochair of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China (IPAC), and MP Akhtem Chyihoz. The two sides exchanged views on the Russia-Ukraine war, the peaceful development of Ukraine, and potential cooperation projects.
Minister Lin said that although Taiwan and Ukraine were geographically distant, both nations stood on the front line of democratic defense against the expansion of authoritarian regimes. He commended Ukraine for demonstrating resilience as well as defense and disaster response capabilities in its war against Russia, adding that this served as a valuable lesson and inspiration to all democratic countries. Minister Lin stated that Taiwan had actively assisted Ukraine with rebuilding critical infrastructure, schools, churches, and hospitals in the spirit of humanitarianism. He pledged that Taiwan would continue to support Ukraine through this difficult time.
The members of the Ukrainian delegation thanked the government of Taiwan and expressed appreciation for Taiwan’s humanitarian assistance and support. They stated that the people of Ukraine were deeply touched by Taiwan’s goodwill. Noting that Taiwan and Ukraine shared the core values of freedom, democracy, and human rights, they expressed the hope that the two countries would continue to support each other and cooperate on the basis of friendship and mutual trust.
Both Taiwan and Ukraine enjoy the common values shared by democracies and are faced with authoritarian expansionism. Since the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine war in February 2022, Taiwan has extended consistent and unwavering support to Ukraine, staunchly backing democracy and freedom. Taiwan will continue to work with like-minded nations to assist Ukraine in overcoming adversity and returning to normal life as soon as possible. (E)
Acting Secretary for Culture, Sports & Tourism Raistlin Lau today extended his congratulations to Hong Kong actor Anson Kong for winning an award during the 29th Busan International Film Festival.
Mr Kong won the Rising Star of the Year award at the 6th Asia Contents Awards & Global OTT (Over-The-Top) Awards during the film festival.
Noting that Mr Kong has gained worldwide recognition among his peers in the industry for his acting skills, Mr Lau said this is a thrilling accomplishment that showcases the talent of Hong Kong actors.
The Asia Contents Awards & Global OTT Awards recognise outstanding television, over-the-top and online content across Asia.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
The seven-day National Day Golden Week of the Mainland ended yesterday (October 7), with the overall number of inbound visitors aligning with earlier estimates. The number recorded on National Day (October 1) reached a daily record high since the post-pandemic full opening of the borders. During the seven-day National Day Golden Week, the Immigration Department recorded a total of around 1.38 million visitors coming to Hong Kong through various sea, land and air control points. Among them, Mainland visitors accounted for about 1.22 million, representing 88 per cent of the total arrivals. The daily average of Mainland visitors was around 170 000, which exceeded that of the 2023 National Day Golden Week and the 2024 Labour Day Golden Week around 27 per cent and some 13 per cent respectively. Mainland inbound visitor arrivals peaked on National Day with around 220 000 visitors arriving in Hong Kong, marking a daily record high since the post-pandemic opening of the borders and setting a corresponding record for the overall number of visitors to Hong Kong in a single day. During the National Day Golden Week, the Lok Ma Chau Spur Line and the Express Rail Link West Kowloon were the two ports with the highest daily average number of Mainland visitors, and operations at various control points and transport services ran smoothly. Regarding large-scale events, the National Day Fireworks Display over Victoria Harbour on October 1 attracted over 330 000 spectators. The event concluded with effective crowd control arrangements and was well-received by local residents and tourists. Visitors went to different parts of Hong Kong during the National Day Golden Week, with high visitor flow observed at major tourist attractions including the West Kowloon Cultural District, Ocean Park, Hong Kong Disneyland, the Peak Tram and Ngong Ping 360. Smooth and effective crowd management measures were implemented. In addition, according to the information provided by the hotel industry, the overall hotel occupancy rate during the first four days of the Golden Week (October 1 to 4) reached 90 per cent. In terms of tour groups, according to the Travel Industry Authority’s information, around 1 050 Mainland inbound tour groups visited Hong Kong during the National Day Golden Week, with around 80 per cent engaged in overnight itineraries. These tour groups involved around 36 000 visitors, accounting for around 3 per cent of all Mainland visitors, and they were generally in good order. The interdepartmental working group on festival arrangements, led by the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, is pleased to note that the rich array of National Day special offers from the Government and various sectors of society were well-received by the public. Among them, the 1st October Movie Fiesta: Half-Price Spectacular 2024 organised by the Hong Kong Theatres Association and subsidised by the Government took place in 59 commercial theatres across Hong Kong. On the day of the event, there were nearly 2 000 screenings, with cumulative admissions reaching 189 000, breaking last year’s record of 155 000 and representing an increase of 22 per cent. Free admission was offered to museums and art spaces under the Leisure and Cultural Services Department on October 1, attracting nearly 60 000 attendees. Among them, there were more than 11 000 visitors to the Hong Kong Space Museum, setting a record for single-day attendance. In addition, several public transportation services provided free rides or discounts during National Day, benefitting a total of approximately 4.43 million passengers. Different sectors such as catering and retail actively launched special offers to attract spending from both locals and visitors, contributing to a festive atmosphere throughout the city. Various trade representatives and merchants reported increased customer flow and business during National Day. The embarkation and disembarkation arrangements for two homeport deployments of a mega cruise ship at Kai Tak Cruise Terminal (KTCT) during the National Day Golden Week of the Mainland were smooth, with various transport services arranged to adequately meet visitor needs. Notably, direct coach services connecting the Heung Yuen Wai Boundary Control Point and KTCT were arranged by the Hong Kong Tourism Board in collaboration with a local coach operator to provide facilitation for a total of 3 500 Mainland visitors. Mr Chan said, “Thanks to the concerted efforts of relevant government departments, organisations and industries in making preparations and responses, this year’s arrangements for receiving visitors during the National Day Golden Week operated smoothly, enabling both locals and visitors to celebrate National Day together. The Government will draw on this experience and further enhance various arrangements in future to provide an even better experience for visitors to Hong Kong during festive periods.”
The ninth edition of Hong Kong FinTech Week (HKFW), themed “Illuminating New Pathways in Fintech” will take place from October 28 to November 1, Invest Hong Kong (InvestHK) announced today.
HKFW 2024 will place a significant emphasis on cutting-edge technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), it added.
The event is expected to draw over 30,000 attendees from more than 100 economies.
The main conference, involving hundreds of distinguished speakers, will take place between October 28 and 29 at Hong Kong AsiaWorld-Expo.
It will feature eight themed forums, namely a Global Forum, an AI & Advanced Tech Forum, a Blockchain & Digital Assets Forum, a Payments & Other FinTech Forum, an InsurTech Forum, a Green FinTech & Impact Forum, a WealthTech & InvestTech Forum, and the Hong Kong Connect Forum.
Meanwhile, a series of community engagement events will take place from October 28 to November 1 in Hong Kong and Shenzhen. These will include a tour of the Greater Bay Area, satellite and networking events, lifestyle activities and workshops, and the inaugural Web3x3 basketball game.
InvestHK said HKFW enjoys the confidence of both Mainland and international companies and markets.
It highlighted that this year’s event will feature a record number of big tech companies from the Mainland showcasing their latest innovations, as well as notable speakers and delegates from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and the Middle East, reflecting Hong Kong’s multifaceted business connections and outlook.
Secretary for Financial Services & the Treasury Christopher Hui said Hong Kong has emerged as a super connector and super value-adder for fintech thanks to its strategic location and robust financial infrastructure.
“Our city is ranked third in the latest Global Financial Centres Index and first in the Asia Pacific Region,” he added. “In terms of fintech, Hong Kong rose five places to ninth, putting it among the top 10 fintech hubs globally.
“This reflects the concerted efforts of the Government, financial regulators, and industry players to promote fintech development in Hong Kong.”
Mr Hui also stressed that, owing to various initiatives aimed at attracting and retaining strategic companies and talent, the city is primed to reap the benefits of Hong Kong FinTech Week. He said the event this year will pave the way for connected, efficient, and sustainable global economic growth from fintech operations.
HKFW 2024 is organised by the Financial Services & the Treasury Bureau and InvestHK, in collaboration with the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, the Securities and Futures Commission, and the Insurance Authority.
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, today met with the Director of Public Policy of TikTok Southeast Asia, Ms. Shinto Nugroho, at the sidelines of the 2024 ASEAN Business and Investment Summit, in Vientiane, Lao PDR. They discussed how the private sector, such as TikTok, could contribute to the region’s continued growth and development as well as explored future opportunities to advance ASEAN’s digital transformation.
The post Secretary-General of ASEAN meets with Director of Public Policy of TikTok appeared first on ASEAN Main Portal.
LOS ANGELES, Oct. 08, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — SADA (an Insight company), a leading business and technology consultancy and award-winning Google Cloud Premier Partner across various products and engagement models, announces the launch of its Managed Security Operations (SecOps) services, available Oct. 8, 2024.
This comprehensive offering provides organizations with a fully managed, 24/7 security solution leveraging the power of Google Security Operations (formerly Chronicle). SADA’s Managed SecOps empowers businesses to achieve:
Enhanced Threat Detection and Rapid Response: Identify and neutralize threats with Google Cloud’s industry-leading, intelligence-driven, and AI-powered security analytics and automation capabilities.
Cost-Effective Security Operations: Reduce the burden on internal resources and eliminate the need for expensive in-house Security Operation Center (SOC) infrastructure.
Improved Security Detection: Gain deeper visibility and continuous monitoring across your entire IT environment, from cloud and SaaS to on-premises.
Addressing the Security Operations Challenge
Today’s organizations grapple with a constant barrage of security data and alerts, often lacking the skills and expertise to manage them effectively. Traditional security information and event management (SIEM) and security orchestration, automation, and response (SOAR) solutions continue to increase in complexity, along with the threats they are trying to defend against. As a result, SOC management is resource-intensive, leaving security teams overwhelmed and unable to maintain 24/7 monitoring.
Building and maintaining an in-house SOC is costly and requires advanced security solutions and analyst resources. There is a growing opportunity for security engineering teams to leverage AI to optimize their operations and tackle the challenges of increasing workloads; however, understanding how to best utilize these tools requires significant investment and technical knowledge.
“The ever-expanding threat landscape requires organizations to adopt advanced security solutions with continuous monitoring and rapid response capabilities,” said Rocky Giglio, Global Director of Security GTM at SADA. “Our Managed SecOps service leverages the power of Google Cloud and its proven ability to handle massive amounts of data and its Security Operations platform, combined with SADA’s global team of experienced security analysts to deliver comprehensive protection and peace of mind to our customers.”
SADA’s Managed SecOps addresses these challenges directly by providing:
Top Experts in Google Security Operations: SADA’s Google Cloud-certified experts leverage the advanced threat detection and automation capabilities of Google Security Operations to deliver comprehensive security monitoring.
Continuous Threat Monitoring and Response: SADA’s security operations center, staffed by highly trained analysts, provides 24/7 monitoring and rapid response to security incidents, including both external and insider threats.
Reduced Alert Fatigue: SADA’s security teams filter out noise and prioritize high-risk threats, enabling customer technical staff to focus on the most critical issues with a high-touch ticket portal providing quick remediation handoff.
Improved Threat Investigation: Leveraging our expertise and Google Cloud’s advanced analytics, SADA can perform threat hunts and investigate complex threats quickly and efficiently, powered by Mandiant Intelligence.
Enhanced Security Posture: SADA’s Managed SecOps helps customers maintain a strong security posture by supporting customers’ regulatory compliance and data security, including receiving an annual Security Assessment to check up on their security configuration across their IT environment.
AI Augmentation: SADA’s Managed Security Team can act quickly and effectively with the help of Google Security Operations’ AI capabilities to build and enhance Security Operation workflows in ways that legacy Managed Security Service Providers cannot, such as rapid, tailored query creation or custom playbook automation development.
About SADA, An Insight company SADA, An Insight company, is a market leader in professional services and an award-winning solutions provider of Google Cloud. Since 2000, SADA has been committed to helping customers in healthcare, media, entertainment, retail, manufacturing, and the public sector solve their most complex challenges so they can focus on achieving their boldest ambitions. With offices in North America, India, and Armenia providing sales and customer support teams, SADA is positioned to meet customers where they are in their digital transformation journey. SADA is a 7x Google Cloud Partner of the Year award winner with 10 Google Cloud Specializations and has been named to Inc. Magazine’s Best Workplaces four years in a row. Learn more at http://www.sada.com
Source: United States Senator for Connecticut – Chris Murphy
October 07, 2024
WASHINGTON–U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Chairman of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Near East, South Asia, Central Asia, and Counterterrorism, on Monday released the following statement on the one-year anniversary of Hamas’ terrorist attack on Israel.
“One year ago today, on the 50th anniversary of the Yom Kippur War, Hamas terrorists launched a brutal attack on Israel, mercilessly killing 1,195 people and taking 251 others hostage. What happened on October 7th was unconscionable, and Hamas must be held accountable. My heart remains with those grieving the loss of their family members and friends, and those still waiting for their loved ones’ return, as well as every member of the Jewish community, which has faced a disgusting rise in antisemitism over the past year. The United States will always stand with the people of Israel against any and all threats. The path to long-term security for the Israeli people remains a diplomatic solution that ensures the safe return of the hostages, an end to this war, and a two-state future.”
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Chuck Edwards (NC-11)
Dear enewsletter.salutation_for_merging.merge,
Here’s to hope: 6,586 people have been rescued, evacuated or assisted by search and rescue teams since Hurricane Helene hit, including 39 survivors being rescued on Saturday, October 5, over eight full days into rescue efforts.
More than 4,000 first responders, national guardsmen, and active-duty military are in Western North Carolina looking for your friends, your family, or if you’re still stranded waiting for help – they’re looking for you. And they won’t stop until every missing person is accounted for.
I’m sure many of you have heard that there is a second hurricane brewing on the coast of Florida. It is not expected to hit Western North Carolina, but if it maintains it’s intensity as a Category 4 hurricane, it is expected to be catastrophic. I’m here to tell you that we will support Florida in any way we can, but I am also committed to making sure Western North Carolina does not get left behind in place of the newest natural disaster.
The resources and help I have listed over the last nine days are here to stay.
Today is update number 10 and includes details on where to find critical health care services including orthopedic care, dialysis treatments, and oxygen tanks, and an updated timeline on power restoration for individuals in the hardest hit areas. More information is to come in the following days.
As always, please make sure to read everything and share it with your friends and family.
Supplying drinkable water remains a top priority for emergency crews.
84 water systems are on a boil advisory.
24 treatment plants have reported having no power and 33 systems are out of water.
Water restoration trends continue to move in a positive direction.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency has promised 120 truckloads a day of food and water with no specified end date.
FEMA has shipped 13 million meals and 13 million liters of water utilizing the $20 billion in funds that I helped to draft and pass for disaster relief just two days before Hurricane Helene hit.
Of the shipped food and water, more than 6 million liters of water and 4 million individual meals have already been delivered to Western NC communities.
Walmart is hosting activities at the following locations:
Serving hot meals at 12:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. daily
Arden, NC Store 1179
60 Airport Rd., Arden, NC 28704
Portable restrooms
Laundry
Showers
Wi-fi hotspot and charging stations
Buncombe County
Buncombe County has begun water distribution at multiple sites. Each will be available daily from 1:00 -7:00 p.m.:
Pack Square Park – you MUST bring your own container for this site
80 Court Plz., Asheville, NC 28801
William W. Estes Elementary School
275 Overlook Rd., Asheville, NC 28803
Sand Hill-Venable Elementary
154 Sand Hill School Rd., Asheville, NC 28806
North Windy Ridge Intermediate School
20 Doan Rd., Weaverville, NC 28787
Fairview Elementary
1355 Charlotte Hwy., Fairview, NC 28730
The following major feeding site is available in Buncombe County, where citizens can access food, water and other basic necessities:
Biltmore Baptist Church
35 Clayton Rd., Arden, NC 28704
Distribution and bulk pickup for volunteers looking to take bulk loads of supplies to in-need community members
Saturday hours: 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Community drive-thru for anyone in the community needing supplies
Saturday hours: 3:00-6:00 p.m.
First Baptist Church – Weaverville
63 N. Main St., Weaverville, NC 28787
Hot showers available from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Unlimited clean drinking water is available, bring your own container.
Supplies and bottled water.
Hot lunch served at 1:30 p.m.
Food and drinking water are available from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. daily at the following locations:
Asheville Middle School
211 S. French Broad Ave., Asheville, NC 28801
Ingles
550 NC-9, Black Mountain, NC 28711
This location also has handwashing stations and portable restrooms
Linwood Crump Shiloh Community Center
121 Shiloh Rd., Asheville, NC 28803
Lucy Herring Elementary
98 Sulphur Springs Rd., Asheville, NC 28806
Oakley Elementary School
753 Fairvew Rd., Asheville, NC 28803
Haywood County
The following locations are providing community members with essential resources such as but not limited to, food, water, cleaning products, baby formula, and pet food, Monday through Fridays:
Fines Creek Community Center
190 Fines Creek Rd., Clyde, NC 28721
Open every day until 6:00 p.m.
Pigeon Community Center
450 Pigeon St., Waynesville, NC 28786
Also offering hot meals every day at 2:00 p.m.
Daily Hours: 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Cruso Community Center
13186 Cruso Rd., Canton, NC 28716
Daily Hours: 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
First United Methodist Church
566 S. Haywood St., Waynesville, NC 28786
Includes shower access.
Daily Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Maggie Valley Pavilion
3935 Soco Rd., Maggie Valley, NC 28751
Daily Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Woodland Baptist Church
545 Crabtree Rd., Waynesville, NC 28786
Daily Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Bethel Elementary School
4700 Old River Rd., Canton, NC 28716
Daily Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Jonathan Valley Elementary School
410 Hall Dr., Waynesville, NC 28786
Daily Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Monday through Friday
St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church – in the Parish Hall
234 Church St., Waynesville, NC 28786
Daily Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Monday to Friday
Hot food available from 4:00 p.m. to 7 :00 p.m. daily.
St. Barnabas Catholic Church
109 Crescent Hill Rd., Arden, NC 28704
Daily Hours: 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Reynolds Baptist Church – Family Life Center
520 Rose Hill Rd., Asheville, NC 28803
Daily Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
This location also has potable water available to residents who bring their own vessels to fill.
The following location offers hot meals daily:
Maggie Valley Fire Department
2901 Soco Rd., Maggie Valley, NC 28751
The following location offers showers daily from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.:
Calvary Baptist Church
2701 Soco Rd., Maggie Valley, NC 28751
Henderson County
Henderson County has stood up Resource Hub locations for water distribution and other supplies as they become available.
Distribution will be taking place daily from 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, October 6 at the following locations:
Etowah Elementary: 320 Etowah School Rd., Etowah, NC 28729
East Henderson High School: 150 Eagle Pride Dr., East Flat Rock, NC 28726
North Henderson High School: 35 Fruitland Rd., Hendersonville, NC 28792
Mills River Town Hall: 124 Town Center Dr., Mills River, NC 28759
Fletcher Town Hall: 300 Old Cane Creek Rd., Fletcher, NC 28732
Each family unit will be provided supplies for one day’s meal and water as available.
Individuals are asked to enter the drive-through and remain in your car unless otherwise instructed by volunteers to ensure an efficient process.
Jackson County
In partnership with the Red Cross, the following is available for citizens of Jackson County:
The Boys & Girls Club of the Plateau are providing shelf-stable meals at the following location:
558 Frank Allen Rd., Cashiers, NC 28717
Hours of operation to come.
The Canada Fire Department is distributing emergency supplies at the following location:
149 Charleys Creek Rd., Tuckasegee, NC 28783
Hours of operation to come.
Madison County
The following locations are offering food, water, and some supply distribution in Madison County:
Beech Glen Community Center
2936 Beech Glen Rd., Mars Hill, 28754
Daily hours: Unable to locate daily hours at this time.
Center Community Center
1300 Grapevine Rd., Marshall, NC 28753
Daily hours: 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Ebbs Chapel Community Center
281 Laurel Valley Rd., Mars Hill, NC 28754
Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Enon Baptist Church
174 Ammons Branch Rd., Marshall, NC 28753
Open Sunday 12:00-4:00 p.m.
Freedom Christian Church
7350 US 25/70 Bypass, Marshall, NC 28753
Daily hours: 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
This location offers additional resources such as hygiene products, blankets, clothes, cleaning supplies, diapers, pet food, etc.
Laurel Community Center – also has supplies
4100 NC 212 Hwy., Marshall, NC 28753
Daily Hours: 8:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Revere-Rice Community Center
3980 Revere Rd., Marshall, NC 28753
Daily hours: 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. (Mon-Sat)
Spring Creek Community Center
13075 NC 209 Hwy., Hot Springs, NC 28743
Daily hours: 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
This location also has additional resources such as pet food, livestock feed and hay.
Walnut Community Center – also has supplies
46 School Rd., Marshall, NC 28753
Daily hours: Unable to locate daily hours at this time.
N.C. Cooperative Extension – Madison County Center
258 Carolina Ln., Marshall, NC 28753
Daily hours: 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
This location is offering drive-thru food distribution only.
McDowell County
McDowell County has established multiple points of distribution that are open daily from 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. and 4:00-6:00 p.m., depending on supply levels.
Distribution takes place daily at the following locations:
Former TJ’s Discounts – North Cove
8153 US 221 N., Marion, NC 28752
Old Fort Town Hall
38 Catawba Ave., Old Fort, NC 28762
New Manna Baptist Church
225 E. Court St., Marion, NC 28752
Solid Rock Free Will Baptist Church – Dysartsville
7860 NC 226 S., Nebo, NC 28761
Zion Hill Baptist Church
1036 Zion Hill Rd., Marion, NC 28752
Hot meals are also being provided at the following location:
Grace Community Church
5182 US 70 W., Marion, NC 28752
Lunch is served every day from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Dinner is available from 4:00-5:30 p.m.
First Baptist Church of Marion is offering hot showers, air conditioning, and areas to charge devices.
Current hours: 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. and 2:00-5:00 p.m., Monday-Saturday.
Polk County
The following locations are offering food and water distribution for residents in need from 1:00-5:00 p.m.:
Mill Spring/Green Creek Community
25 International Blvd., Mill Spring, NC 28756
Columbus Community
95 Walker St., Columbus, NC 28722
Saluda Community Bus Parking Lot
214 E. Main St., Saluda, NC 28773
Tryon Community
301 N. Trade St., Tryon, NC 28782
Sunny View
86 Sunny View School Rd., Mill Spring, NC 28756
Rutherford County
The following locations are open from 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. for citizens to get food and emergency supplies:
Thomas Jefferson High School
2527 US-221A Hwy., Mooresboro, NC 28114
Florence Baptist Church
201 S. Broadway St., Forest City, NC 28043
Rutherford County Health Department
221 Callahan Koon Rd., Spindale, NC 28160
Gilkey Church of God
255 Oak Springs Rd., Rutherfordton, NC 28139
Parks, Recreation, & Lake Office
658 Memorial Hwy., Lake Lure, NC 28746
Lake Lure Baptist Church
6837 US-74 ALT, Lake Lure, NC 28746
Ingles at Lake Lure – meals only
276 NC-9, Lake Lure, NC 28746
Offers hot meals at 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. and 4:30-6:30 p.m.
Also offers showers, restrooms, a mobile health van, a tool trailer, a charging station (please bring your own charging cord), and wi-fi.
Father’s Vineyard – also has shower and charging stations
724 Oakland Rd., Spindale, NC 28160
Spencer Baptist Church – water distribution only
187 N Oak St., Spindale, NC 28160
United Way of Rutherford County – water distribution and charging stations only
668 Withrow Rd., Forest City, NC 28043
The Church at Sapphire – through October 10
620 Whitewater Rd., Sapphire, NC 28774
Daily hours: 12:00 – 4:00 p.m.
Little River Baptist Church – through October 11
51 Little River Church Rd., Penrose, NC 28766
Breakfast hours: 8:00-10:00 a.m.
Lunch hours: 12:30-2:00 p.m.
Dinner hours: 6:00-7:30 p.m.
Transylvania County
The following locations are providing hot meals to county residents:
The Church at Sapphire – through October 10
620 Whitewater Rd., Sapphire, NC 28774
Daily hours: 12:00-4:00 p.m.
Little River Baptist Church – through October 11
51 Little River Church Rd., Penrose, NC 28766
Breakfast hours: 8:00-10:00 a.m.
Lunch hours: 12:30-2:00 p.m.
Dinner hours: 6:00-7:30 p.m.
Cedar Mountain Community Center
10635 Greenville Hwy., Cedar Mountain, NC 28718
Breakfast hours: 9:00-11:00 a.m.
Lunch hours: 12:00-2:00 p.m.
Dinner hours: 4:00-6:00 p.m.
Balsam Grove Community Center – daily until power is fully restored
8732 Parkway Rd., Balsam Grove, NC 28708
Daily hours: 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.Resource pick-up locations are listed below by county. As I learn more, I will keep you posted:
Bottled water is available daily at local fire departments and 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. at Anchor Baptist Church located at:
3232 Hendersonville Hwy., Pisgah Forest, NC 28768
Water filling stations can be found at the following locations:
City Sports Complex
824 Ecusta Rd., Brevard, NC 28712
Daily hours: 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Cedar Mountain Outpost
8431 Greenville Hwy., Brevard, NC 28712
No posted daily hours.
Territory Brevard
43 S. Broad St, Brevard, NC 28712
No posted daily hours.
DD Bullwinkles
60 E. Main St., Brevard, NC 28712
No posted daily hours.
First United Methodist Church
325 N. Broad St., Brevard, NC 28712
Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Pisgah Forest Baptist Church
494 Hendersonville Hwy., Pisgah Forest, NC 28768
Daily hours: 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Newfound Artisan
22 W. Jordan St., Brevard, NC 28712
Through today, October 6.
Hours: 12:00-5:00 p.m.
Food, water, and other supplies such as hygiene products are being distributed at the following locations:
Anchor Baptist Church
3232 Hendersonville Hwy., Pisgah Forest, NC 28768
Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
The Church at Sapphire
620 Whitewater Rd., Sapphire, NC 28774
Through October 10.
Daily hours: 12:00-4:00 p.m.
Yancey County
Yancey County has transitioned to one centralized distribution site for water, food and ice located at the following address:
Altec
150 Altec Rd., Burnsville, NC 28714
Mobile laundry facilities are available in the GO Grocery parking lot located at the following address:
631 W Hwy. 19E Bypass, Burnsville, NC 28714
Additionally, the following counties have resources for where to take debris waste.
Buncombe
Curbside collection will begin Monday for City of Asheville sanitation customers.
There will be no recycling pick up until the recycling plant is operational.
Residents can use both recycling and trash carts for household waste.
The following materials cannot be collected at this time: Mud, construction debris, concrete and other bulky or hazardous items.
Debris collection is estimated to start in mid-October.
The Town of Black Mountain Public Works Department has secured four 15-yard dumpsters located in two sites for Black Mountain residents to throw away household trash ONLY:
Tractor Supply: 125 Old US Hwy. 70 E., Black Mountain, NC 28711
Ingles: 550 NC-9, Black Mountain, NC 28711
Please Note: Yard waste, bulk item, separate recycling and debris collection are not available at this time.
Waste Pro collection service will resume today, October 7, for regular Monday route customers.
Recycling services are currently suspending while repair work is underway at the recycling process facility.
Haywood
Household waste will be accepted at the Materials Recovery Facility at 247 Recycle Rd., Clyde and at Convenience Centers at Jonathan Creek, Beaverdam, Bethel, Hazelwood, Mauney Cove, Jones Cove and Highway 110.
White Oak Landfill has reopened.
Henderson
Henderson County Transfer Station is open and accepting storm debris with normal fees.
Henderson County has begun curbside storm debris removal to county residents as a free service.
The county will pick up storm debris for free if it is pushed to the right of way of a property.
Storm debris includes tree branches, leaves, logs, building materials, furniture, paint etc.
Please be patient.
The county will pick up storm debris for free as quickly as possible.
Madison
The Hot Springs collection center is operating on normal hours for household trash ONLY:
Monday: 7:30 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Wednesday: 7:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Friday: 7:30 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Saturday: 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Hot Springs trash pickup is returning to Mondays like usual.
Please only use this pickup service if you cannot bring it to the collection center yourself.
The pickup service is being led by volunteers at this time.
Polk
The Polk County landfill is open Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. and Saturday 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
322 Landfill Rd., Mill Spring, NC 28756
The service fee is waived through October 8.
Beginning on October 9, drop off of residential trash will be $10.
GFL trash services will continue on the regular schedule. However, certain areas may be inaccessible due to ongoing power outages from Hurricane Helene.
Two dumpsters are located on Gibson Street for immediate trash disposal due to road inaccessibility.
Transylvania
The City of Brevard has resumed regular trash pickup.
Yancey
The Riverside and East Yancey Recycling Centers were expected to resume operations by yesterday, October 5.
No update has been published, but I will keep you posted once I have received confirmation that the facilities have been reopened.
The North Carolina State Board of Elections has provided pertinent information and recommendations for voters in the Helene disaster area during the 2024 general election.
To review information on voting in the 2024 general election after Hurricane Helene, you can follow this link.
The site provides information on absentee voting, how to change your polling location, county board of elections, office closures and more.
For any additional questions on voting post-hurricane, please contact your county Board of Elections.
Please note: Your county Board of Elections is the best place to get any questions answered.
I have been permitted to share the above, nonpartisan information but am prohibited from answering any questions related to the 2024 general election.
USPS anticipates continued improvement of mail delivery operations with local recovery efforts, to include power, connectivity, and roads.
There are some facilities unable to provide full retail and mail delivery due to road closures and current conditions.
No drop shipments will be accepted at any of the locations listed below.
The following sites are closed with no retail or delivery:
Barnardsville – 28709
Cedar Mountain – 28718
Hot Springs – 28743
Rosman – 28772
Swannanoa – 28778
The following site is closed with no retail, but delivery is being attempted where it is safe to do so:
Newland – 28657
The following sites are closed with alternative facilities listed:
Alexander – 28701
Alternative location: 270 N. Main St., Weaverville, NC 28787
Daily hours M-F: 8:45 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Open Saturdays: 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Bat Cave – 28710
Alternative location: 1800 Four Season Blvd., Ste. 11, Hendersonville, NC 28739
Daily hours M-F: 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Open Saturdays: 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Chimney Rock – 28720
Alternative location: 2432 Memorial Hwy., Lake Lure, NC 28746
Alternative location: 1800 Four Seasons Blvd., Ste. 11, Hendersonville, NC 28739
Daily hours M-F: 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Open Saturdays: 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Gerton – 28735
Alternative location: 1352 Charlotte Hwy., Fairview, NC 28730
Daily Hours M-F: 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Open Saturdays: 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Green Mountain – 28740
Alternative location: 670 W. Main St., Burnsville, NC 28714
Daily hours M-F: 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Open Saturdays: 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Marshall – 28753
Alternative Location: 270 N. Main St., Weaverville, NC 28787
Daily hours M-F: 8:45 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Open Saturdays: 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Micaville – 28755
Alternative location: 670 W. Main St., Burnsville, NC 28714
Daily hours M-F: 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Open Saturdays: 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Montreat – 28757
Alternative location: 2 Tucker Rd., Ridgecrest, NC 28770
Daily hours M-F: 12:30-4:30 p.m.
Penland – 28765
Alternative location: 899 Oak Ave., Spruce Pine, NC 28777
Daily hours M-F: 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Open Saturdays: 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
All remaining locations are attempting delivery where it is safe to do so.
Due to internet outages and connectivity issues, the following sites are providing retail services with cash only, PO Box only:
Dana – 28724
Enka – 28728
Flat Rock – 28731
Hendersonville MPO – 28739
Lake Lure (OIC) – 28746
Little Switzerland – 28749
Mountain Home – 28758
Naples – 28760
Pisgah Forest – 28768
Ridgecrest – 28770
Skyland – 28776
Zirconia – 28790
Bostic – 28018
Multiple United Parcel Service (UPS) sites continue to be affected by power, flooding, and downed trees/power and lines/storm related obstacles.
The Hendersonville and Asheville UPS buildings in North Carolina are currently operational and are being powered by portable generators.
Delivery of packages in these areas is increasing as road conditions improve daily.
The Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response under the Department of Health and Human Services has activated the Emergency Prescription Assistance Program (EPAP) for North Carolinians as of Friday, October 4.
The EPAP program helps uninsured residents replace prescription medication or certain medical equipment lost or damaged during Hurricane Helene.
Through the program, uninsured residents can:
Request a free 30-day supply of certain prescription medications at any EPAP-participating pharmacy which can be renewed every 30 days while the EPAP is active.
Replace certain medical equipment and supplies such as canes, crutches, walkers, wheelchairs, blood sugar meters and blood sugar test strips for diabetics.
Uninsured North Carolina residents affected by the recent hurricane can call the EPAP hotline, 855-793-7470, or visit the EPAP website to check their eligibility, determine if their medications or medical equipment are covered, or locate a participating pharmacy.
Prescription Pad is open from 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. and filling prescriptions for Yancey County residents at the following location:
730 E. Main St., Burnsville, NC 28714
For individuals able to safely travel to fill a prescription, CVS at the following locations are actively open as of October 2:
324 Long Shoals Rd., Arden, NC 28704
505 Smokey Park Hwy., Asheville, NC 28806
371 Asheville Hwy., Brevard, NC 28712
3450 Hendersonville Rd., Fletcher, NC 28732
1605 Four Seasons Blvd., Hendersonville, NC 28792
2001 Spartanburg Hwy., Hendersonville, NC 28792
111 S Main St., Rutherfordton, NC 28139
773 Russ Ave., Waynesville, NC 28786
You can also use this link to locate non-CVS pharmacy locations open to the public by county.
How to Acquire a Prescription:
If a store is closed, you can still call the number and the pharmacy’s phone lines have been rerouted to a nearby CVS Pharmacy that is open to help patients access their prescriptions.
Patients can visit any CVS Pharmacy for assistance with immediate prescription needs.
There is a field hospital with physicians, nurses and paramedics who can treat patients at the Burnsville Fire Department. The address is as follows:
305 Pineola St., Burnsville, NC 28714
The following urgent cares are open and accessible for community members with non-life-threatening illnesses and injuries:
Locations open between 8:30 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.:
Mercy Urgent Care Weaverville
61 Weaver Blvd., Weaverville, NC 28787
Mercy Urgent Care West Asheville
1201 Patton Ave., Asheville, NC 28806
Mercy Urgent Care Waynesville
120 Frazier St., Ste. 6, Waynesville, NC 28786
Locations open between 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.:
Mercy Urgent Care Brevard
22 Trust Ln., Brevard, NC 28712
Locations open between 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.:
Mercy Urgent Care Columbus
140 West Mills St., Columbus, NC 28722
Locations open between 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.:
Mobile Urgent Care Clinic
12 Florida Ave., Black Mountain, NC 28711
Mental Health & Basic Medical Support Center
130 Montreat Rd., Black Mountain, NC 28711
Pardee Urgent Care
45 Hendersonville Hwy., Ste. A, Pisgah Forest, NC 28768
Locations open from 12:00-5:00 p.m.
Hot Springs Elementary School – Art Room (mental health services only)
63 N. Serpentine Ave., Hot Springs, NC 28743
The following emergency orthopedic offices are open from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. daily:
800 Fleming St., Hendersonville, NC 28791
2585 Hendersonville Rd., Arden, NC 28704
9 Haywood Office Park, Ste. 102 and 103, Waynesville, NC 28785
Please Note: Emergency orthopedic phone services are down so patients will be seen on a walk-in basis without appointment.
The following location is open and available for dialysis treatments in NC-11:
Pardee Hospital
800 N. Justice St., Hendersonville, NC 28791
This location can dialyze 30 patients a day.
DaVita Kidney Care nurses are reaching out to their patients to coordinate treatment, but the following DaVita locations are available:
DaVita Greer South Dialysis
3254 Brushy Greek Rd., Greer, SC 29650
Contact Number: (864) 801-2065
DaVita Saluda River Dialysis
8080 Augusta Rd., Piedmont, SC 29673
Contact Number: (833) 378-2702
DaVita Wofford at Home
8024 White Ave., Spartanburg, SC 29303
Contact Number: (864) 583-4788
DaVita Boiling Springs Dialysis
196 Sloane Garden Rd., Boiling Springs, SC 29316
Contact Number: (833) 458-4809
Hendersonville High School
1 Bearcat Blvd., Hendersonville, NC 28791
Must be assessed through Pardee Hospital.
Lincare is only serving established patients.
Patients must bring in empty tanks to one of the following locations:
Asheville Lincare
103 Elk Park Dr., Asheville, NC 28804
Fax number: (866) 234-6698
Greenville Lincare
355 Woodruff Rd., Ste. 204 and 205, Greenville, SC 29607
Fax Number: (864) 288-0339
The following locations are available for oxygen refills, but patients must bring their own oxygen equipment – fire departments are available 24/7:
Boiling Springs Fire Department
186 Rainbow Lake Rd., Boiling Springs, SC 29316
Reidville Fire Department
7450 Reidville Rd., Woodruff, SC 29388
Inman City Fire Department
6 Humphrey St., Inman, SC 29349
First Presbyterian Church
393 E. Main St., Spartanburg, SC 29302
Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Greer Relief Indigo Hope Neighborhood Impact Center
113C Berry Ave., Greer, SC 29651
Daily hours: 2:00-5:00 p.m.
Croft Fire Department
370 Cedar Springs Rd., Spartanburg, SC 29302
Arkwright Fire Department
1070 Southport Rd., Spartanburg, SC 29306
Roebuck Fire Department
2639 Stone Station Rd., Roebuck, SC 29376
North Spartanburg Fire Department
8767 Asheville Hwy., Spartanburg, SC 29316
Legionnaires, Sons of the American Legion members and Legion Posts that have been displaced from their primary residence due to damage sustained during Hurricane Helene may be eligible for financial assistance through the American Legion.
Legionnaires and Sons of the American Legion members may be eligible for up to $3,000.
Legion Posts may be eligible for up to $10,000.
To learn more or to request assistance, please use this link.
Applications must be submitted within 90 days of the disaster: Dec. 26, 2024.
The Charles George VA Medical Center in Asheville and Master Sergeant Jerry K. Crump VA Clinic in Forest City are open for essential and emergency services.
Veterans can:
Visit the Asheville VA Hospital pharmacy for medication refills or:
Call the Regional Clinical Contact Center at (855) 679-0074 and press 1 for pharmacy representatives.
Local pharmacies in the VA’s community care network will also fill written prescriptions, or prescriptions as they appear on an active VA prescription bottle that is not older than six months and has available refills, to provide a 30-day supply.
Hickory and Franklin outpatient VA clinics are now operating regularly.
Due to the damage and personal losses caused by Hurricane Helene to the staff of the VA, it will take some time to bring staffing to full capacity.
Please be patient as the VA works to rebuild their workforce.
The United States Department of Agriculture is beginning to put together a list of resources for farmers and other agricultural industry members.
If your agricultural operation has been impacted by Hurricane Helene, you can review this link, farmers.gov, for emergency and disaster assistance programs.
About 117,000 customers remain without power in Western North Carolina.
Customers whose properties are inaccessible or not able to receive power may be without electricity for an extended period of time as Duke Energy works to rebuild critical infrastructure.
Restoration of service for all other customers in the heavily impacted areas is anticipated within a week, by Sunday, October 13.
Crews are working around the clock to restore power as quickly as possible.
As work on substations conclude, Duke Energy is moving personnel to work on the power grid’s thousands of miles of lines and poles that serve individual homes and businesses.
This work can feel slower because the same amount of work restores fewer customers.
For more information on Duke Energy’s power restoration efforts, you can review the following links:
A “DO NOT DRIVE” message remains in place from the North Carolina Department of Transportation for most of Western North Carolina.
Unless it is an emergency, please do not travel to the hardest hit communities.
Cherokee, Graham, Clay and Swain counties ARE FULLY OPEN to people who can access them through safe routes.
Please DO NOT try to visit or travel through the areas hardest hit by the storm such as Henderson and Buncombe counties.
USDOT approved an initial $100 million in Emergency Repair funds to NCDOT.
Damage to our mountain roads exceeds $100 million but USDOT’s investment is a significant and most welcome start.
A total of 2,050 DOT employees are working to restore and repair road access in WNC.
NCDOT also has:
DOT also has:
1,100 pieces of heavy equipment for debris clearance and road repairs in affected areas, including dump trucks, backhoes, loaders, graders, etc.
More than 50 personnel from neighboring states on the ground providing assistance.
NCDOT is reporting about 650 road closures, 106 of which are to primary routes.
Now that communications have been largely restored, NCDOT has a more comprehensive picture of debris blocking roadways, road damage, and necessary repairs in our mountains.
At least 100 bridges are irreparable and will require replacement.
All roadways in Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Caldwell, and Wilkes counties are accessible, although some are requiring four-wheel drive.
While none of the above-listed counties are in NC-11, they are a welcome sign of what’s to come.
Progress has been made on NCDOT and Tennessee DOT’s plans for reconstruction of I-40 in the Pigeon River Gorge.
Bids for stabilization of the westbound lanes of I-40 where the eastbound lanes no longer exist will be opening today, October 7.
A contract will be awarded shortly after the bid closes.
NCDOT is working to expedite the necessary repairs to restore mobility to the area as soon as possible.
Air traffic has sustained at 300 percent above pre-hurricane levels in Western NC.
NCDOT’s aviation division continue to work to make sure flight operations are safe coming into and out of airports, including by:
Scheduling landing/unloading times and aircraft parking so aircraft are spaced out and to reduce the risk of incidents.
Establishing a first of its kind “corridors in the sky” to separate civilian and military aircraft in the air.
Having search and rescue partners use short, time and location specific restrictions on air operations to enhance safety when multiple helicopters are engaged in search and rescue efforts.
The state of North Carolina is NOT turning away civil aviation support so long as it has been coordinated through the proper channels with NC Emergency Management.
If you or someone you know is interested in providing civil aviation support and don’t know where to coordinate your efforts, please call my office and we will help you get in touch with the right folks.
NCDOT has launched a detour map to show motorists how to get around closures on I-26 and I-40 at the Tennessee border.
You can access the map here.
Internet providers are working with local energy and cell providers to restore service for customers across Western North Carolina.
Restoration timelines are not available at this time.
Internet providers including Optimum and Spectrum are working around the clock to restore service for customers. However, part of the network’s infrastructure was destroyed by mudslides and collapsed bridges making restoration a lengthy process.
As a result, some impacted areas will require a rebuild of the network from scratch.
To mitigate the lack of service, Optimum, formerly Altice USA, has set up an Optimum Wi-Fi Trailer that is open from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the following locations:
717 S. Grove St., Hendersonville, NC 28792
1800 Four Seasons Blvd., Hendersonville, NC 28792
The following locations are offering free public wi-fi:
First Baptist Church – Weaverville
63 N. Main St, Weaverville, NC 28787
Downtown Franklin
The Town of Franklin has free wi-fi on the town hill area in downtown.
Transylvania County Library – 24/7
212 S. Gaston St., Brevard, NC 28712
Newfound Artison through today, October 6
High-speed internet and charging outlets
Available 12:00-5:00 p.m.
The Yard Brevard
284 Railroad Ave., Brevard, NC 28712
Brevard Visitor Center
175 E. Main St., Brevard, NC 28712
Available daily from 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Communications in the region are improving rapidly.
Cell service providers reported significant gains in service coverage on Sunday, October 6.
Roughly 80 percent of access to cell service has been restored in Western North Carolina.
More than 100 temporary network assets have been deployed across all service providers in NC-11 to assist with service quality.
Cell service providers have implemented disaster roaming for any phone located in Western North Carolina to maximize phone service for all users.
Disaster roaming allows users to connect to any mobile network during a disaster when other networks are down.
This allows users to access emergency services, such as 911, even when their own network is out.
If you have service one moment, but experience a reduction in service the next, try restarting your phone to jumpstart disaster roaming again.
UpCycle Tech in Transylvania County is offering free computers and phones for use at the following location:
470 Asheville Hwy., Brevard, NC 28712
AT&T has deployed its Mobile Connectivity Center to the following location:
Sam’s Club: 645 Patton Ave., Asheville, NC 28806
The Mobile Connectivity Center is an air-conditioned mobile unit open to the public, equipped with laptops, charging stations and wi-fi.
The public can use the center for various needs including contacting your insurance company, filling out paperwork or connecting with loved ones.
Verizon has deployed Wireless Emergency Communication Centers to help hurricane survivors stay connected to their friends, family and other important contacts.
Wireless Emergency Communication Centers are generator-powered mobile units that have device charging and computer workstations, along with wireless phones, tablets, and other devices available for use.
Verizon’s Wireless Emergency Communication Centers have been set up at the following locations:
A-B Technical Community College
340 Victoria Rd., Asheville, NC 28801
Asheville YMCA
30 Woodfin St., Asheville, NC 28801
Family Justice Center
35 Woodfin St., Asheville, NC 28801
Groce United Methodist Church
954 Tunnel Rd., Asheville, NC 28805
Verizon also has charging stations at the following locations:
YMCA of Western North Carolina
348 Grace Corpening Dr., Marion, NC 28752
Two charging stations at this location
WNC Agricultural Center
761 Boylston Hwy., Fletcher, NC 28732
Three charging stations at this location
A-B Technical Community College
340 Victoria Rd., Asheville, NC 28801
One charging station at this location
T-Mobile has set up satellite cellular on light trucks (SatCOLTs), providing cellular voice and data along with wi-fi and charging stations at the following locations:
Asheville Middle School
211 S. French Broad Ave., Asheville, NC 28801
Dr. Wesley Grant Sr. Southside Community Center
285 Livingston St., Asheville, NC 28801
First Baptist Church
130 Montreat Rd., Black Mountain, NC 28711
Additional T-Mobile satellite cell on trucks are located in Hendersonville and at a Tractor Supply Co. in Asheville, with others planned for Mission Hospital in Asheville, Cherokee County Emergency Operations Center in Murphy, and in Cherokee.
Almost 1,800 North Carolina National Guard soldiers and airmen have been deployed to provide support to Western North Carolina so far.
The total number of deployed guardsmen will continue to increase over the coming days.
The National Guard has more than 700 vehicles and 50 helicopters from six states and two active-duty units in Western NC for rescue and recovery, debris clearing, and other missions.
So far, the National Guard has:
Delivered more than 2,614 tons of commodities to affected areas
Cleared 1,052 obstacles
Rescued nearly 1,000 individuals
The Guard’s key tasks continue to be search and rescue of impacted civilian personnel, followed by:
Delivery of essential relief supplies to points of need
Clearing of routes to gain access to isolated communities
Although airspace is limited due to ongoing missions by the National Guard and Department of Defense, a process has been established for private pilots seeking to fly in humanitarian relief to coordinate with local authorities.
If you are looking to fly in resources and don’t know where to turn, call my office and we will get you in contact with the right coordinators.
On October 2, the Secretary of Defense authorized the movement of up to 1,000 active-duty soldiers, including soldiers from the 82nd Airborne Division from Ft. Liberty (formerly Ft. Bragg).
Nearly all 1,000 of the authorized active-duty soldiers have been mobilized to support the residents and affect counties devastated by Hurricane Helene in Western NC.
These soldiers are providing additional manpower and logistics capabilities to reach the hardest hit areas as quickly as possible.
In addition to the 1,000 previously authorized soldiers, another 500 troops with advanced technological assets were approved for deployment to Western NC to provide greater situational awareness on the ground.
These troops are not yet in NC-11, but coordination is taking place for rapid deployment over the coming days.
The Department of Defense has also committed 22 helicopters to assist with search and rescue operations.
Here are a few key phone numbers from the NCNG:
HOTLINE: 888-892-1162
Emergency management watch: 919-733-3300
Donated goods: 919-825-2474
These lines have very high call volumes. If you do not get through the first try, keep calling.
Asheville Regional Airport closed mid-day on Friday, September 27, due to risk of flooding.
Commercial flights at Asheville Regional Airport have resumed.
If you parked your car in an Asheville Regional Airport lot and could not retrieve the vehicle due to the storm, great news – none of the airport’s lots flooded and all cars are fine.
Stay safe and pick up your car when you are able.
PLEASE NOTE:
No general aviation pilots are allowed to land at Asheville Regional Airport without prior clearance from FEMA to ensure the safety of aircraft and personnel.
Supply deliveries by civilian pilots ARE permitted to land at Asheville Regional Airport so long as they have prior clearance from FEMA.
FEMA is not turning away any pilot that has gone through the proper channels to coordinate delivery and ensure the safety of his fellow aircraft and personnel.
Federal Nutrition Programs
SNAP
North Carolina was granted a waiver for the 10-day reporting requirement for the replacement of food purchased with SNAP benefits lost because of the hurricane.
This waiver provides additional time beyond the standard 10-day time frame for households to report food losses and receive replacement benefits for food that was destroyed and previously purchased with SNAP benefits.
Child Nutrition
The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction was approved for a waiver pertaining to the child nutrition programs.
Under the waiver approval, NCDPI’s local program operators may:
Serve meals in a non-congregate setting
Adjust the time of meal service
Allow parent pick-up
Allow service of meals at school sites
Food and Nutrition Services Program
People and families in North Carolina who are enrolled in the Food and Nutrition Services program can now use their EBT card to purchase hot food.
This flexibility will remain in effect until November 3.
Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, & Children (WIC)
Families participating in WIC who may have relocated to a new area can go to any NC WIC agency to:
Have a new eWIC card issued
Request replacement breastfeeding supplies or breast pumps
Request replacement food that was purchased with current WIC benefits and lost due to Hurricane Helene
If you own a medical practice in NC-11 and are experiencing financial hardship due to Hurricane Helene, the North Carolina Medical Society will be reactivating its Financial Recovery Program (FRP) to help you recover and open your doors again.
The FRP will be back online to provide much needed assistance soon.
More information to follow.
The Department of Health and Human Services through the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has made available:
Accelerated payments to Medicare Part A providers affected by Hurricane Helene
Advance payments to Medicare Part B suppliers affected by Hurricane Helene
For county leaders: This is a reminder to make sure your Emergency Operation Center has submitted the request for gasoline, food, water, cell service deployables, etc. with North Carolina Emergency Management to have your request processed and resources delivered.
My office stands ready to assist with checking the status of your request if the county or municipality has not heard back from NC Emergency Management within 24 hours.
North Carolina received a Major Disaster Declaration for the following counties: Buncombe, Clay, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Polk, Rutherford, Swain, Transylvania and Yancey counties and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.
People with damage to their homes or personal property who live in one of the above-listed counties should apply for Individual Assistance through FEMA, which may include upfront funds to help with essential items like food, water, baby formula and other emergency supplies.
Funds may also be available to repair storm-related damage to homes and personal property, as well as assistance to find a temporary place to stay.
Individual Assistance provides financial aid and services to eligible individuals and households that have been affected by a disaster to assist with the recovery process. Individuals can officially begin applying for Individual Assistance online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov, or by calling the application phone number at 1-800-621-3362 (TTY: 800-462-7585) between 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. EST.
To date, FEMA has paid out more than $30 million in housing and other types of assistance and more than 96,000 Western North Carolinians have registered for Individual Assistance.
Residents trying to connect with family members may call NC 211 (or 1-888-892-1162 if calling from out-of-state) to report missing loved ones or request a welfare check.
People in the impacted areas can indicate that they are safe by reporting themselves safe through Red Cross Reunification by calling 1-800-RED-CROSS (1-800-733-2767).
Please only use 911 for life-threatening emergencies so the lines remain open for critical situations.
If you are still trying to locate a friend or family member, please complete this form to notify local officials of their missing status.
The form was created by Buncombe County but information is being shared amongst all counties.
Regardless of which county your loved one was last known to be in, you can still submit the form.
Buncombe County will share the information with the appropriate officials to initiate search and rescue efforts.
United Way is also fielding missing person/welfare check requests.
Text PERSON to 40403 to add a loved one to search and rescue efforts or fill out this form.
For information on the status of utilities, debris sites, etc., we want to share the following resources. As communications are restored and more information becomes available, these sites will continue to be updated.
Filing FEMA claims and appeals (a process which can be overwhelmingly bureaucratic and burdensome)
Replacement of lost or destroyed legal and government documents, including driver’s licenses and identification cards
Medical and insurance claims
Home repair contracts
Utility disputes related to restoration of services
Consumer protection issues like construction fraud, price-gouging on repairs and identity theft
Housing issues such as unlawful eviction and foreclosures
Bankruptcy
Probate and clearing title for survivors living in generational homes without a clear title
Family law cases and children in need of services (unfortunately, domestic violence tends to rise following a natural disaster)
If you need civil legal assistance, please contact Legal Aid of North Carolina via the following toll-free hotline:
(866) 219-LANC or (866) 219-5262
The hotline is available from:
8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Monday through Friday; and 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Monday and Thursdays.
Constituents can also apply online at legalaidnc.org/get-help/ between 1:00-4:30 p.m., Monday – Friday.
IRS has extended various filing deadlines for taxpayers in impacted areas, including 2024 individual/business returns, certain quarterly estimated income tax payments, and certain payroll/excise taxes.
Tax relief for qualified payments, disaster-related losses:
IRS released provided guidance to taxpayers on how to address disaster-related losses in their 2024 tax return, as well as providing guidance on how qualified disaster relief payments – like government assistance payments – are generally excluded from gross income.
For those unable to evacuate to a safe location or in need of a place to go, the following shelters are currently open and available as of October 5:
Buncombe
A-B Technical Community College
340 Victoria Rd., Asheville, NC 28801
Gold’s Gym
801 Fairview Rd, Asheville, NC 28803
WNC Agricultural Center
1301 Fanning Bridge Rd., Fletcher, NC 28732
Haywood
Haywood County Government Armory
285 Armory Dr., Clyde, NC 28781
Henderson
Edneyville Elementary School
2875 Pace Rd., Hendersonville, NC 28792
Henderson County Recreation Center
708 S. Grove St., Hendersonville, NC 28792
Madison
Madison Early College High School
5374 US Hwy 25-70, Marshall, NC 28755
McDowell
Glenwood Baptist Church
1550 Glenwood Baptist Church Rd., Marion, NC 29640
Headline: Catawba Indian Nation, Jasper and York Counties Eligible for FEMA Assistance in South Carolina
Catawba Indian Nation, Jasper and York Counties Eligible for FEMA Assistance in South Carolina
ATLANTA – Homeowners and renters in Jasper and York counties and tribal members of the Catawba Indian Nation who had uninsured damage or losses caused by Hurricane Helene are now eligible to apply for FEMA disaster assistance.
FEMA may be able to help with serious needs, displacement, temporary lodging, basic home repair costs, personal property loss or other disaster-caused needs. The Catawba Indian Nation, Jasper and York counties join Abbeville, Aiken, Allendale, Anderson, Bamberg, Barnwell, Cherokee, Edgefield, Greenville, Greenwood, Hampton, Laurens, Lexington, McCormick, Newberry, Oconee, Pickens, Richland, Saluda, Spartanburg and Union counties previously authorized for assistance to households.
The quickest way to apply is to go online to DisasterAssistance.gov. You can also apply using the FEMA App for mobile devices or calling toll-free 800-621-3362. The telephone line is open every day and help is available in most languages. If you use a relay service, such as Video Relay Service (VRS), captioned telephone or other service, give FEMA your number for that service. To view an accessible video on how to apply visit Three Ways to Apply for FEMA Disaster Assistance – YouTube.
What You’ll Need When You Apply
A current phone number where you can be contacted.
Your address at the time of the disaster and the address where you are now staying.
Your Social Security number.
A general list of damage and losses.
Banking information if you choose direct deposit.
If insured, the policy number or the agent and/or the company name.
If you have homeowners, renters’ or flood insurance, you should file a claim as soon as possible. FEMA cannot duplicate benefits for losses covered by insurance. If your policy does not cover all your disaster expenses, you may be eligible for federal assistance.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments 3
Ms Libby Green has been appointed His Majesty’s Ambassador to the Republic of Ecuador.
Ms Libby Green
Ms Libby Green has been appointed His Majesty’s Ambassador to the Republic of Ecuador in succession to Mr Christopher Campbell who will be transferring to another Diplomatic Service appointment. Ms Green will take up her appointment during August 2025.
Curriculum vitae
Full name: Elisabeth Clare Green
2022 to Present
New Delhi, Head of Climate and Energy
2017 to 2020
FCO, Deputy Head of Department, Asia Pacific Directorate
2015 to 2017
Department of Health, Head of Department
2012 to 2015
Beijing, First Secretary Health
2010 to 2012
Beijing, First Secretary Climate and Energy
2008 to 2010
Copenhagen, Deputy Head of Mission
2007 to 2008
Copenhagen, Second Secretary
2006 to 2007
Pre-posting training (including Danish language training
After years of negotiations and legal pressure, the UK and the Republic of Mauritius have agreed that Mauritius is sovereign over the Chagos Archipelago.
The Chagos Archipelago is a group of seven coral atolls which comprise more than 60 islands in the Indian Ocean. In 1965, as part of negotiations leading to Mauritian independence, the UK government excised the Chagos Archipelago from colonial Mauritius. The UK kept the islands, which are in a globally strategic location, to make the island of Diego Garcia available to the US military for 50 years, later extended by 20 years.
The islands have been the subject of a diplomatic dispute for decades, with Mauritius maintaining its sovereignty and arguing it was illegally forced to give the archipelago away in exchange for independence.
Under the new political agreement, the UK will provide financial support to Mauritius, including a new trust fund for displaced Chagossians. Mauritius will be able to resettle the Chagos islands, other than Diego Garcia. This island will remain the site of a US-UK military facility for at least 99 years.
This is a significant moment for decolonisation (albeit incomplete), and potentially a landmark moment for the displaced Chagossian community. Decades after being forcibly exiled, they may finally be able to resettle on some of the Chagos islands.
Who are the Chagossians?
The Chagos Archipelago was unpopulated before European expansion in the Indian Ocean, when it was administered as a dependency of colonial Mauritius. French, and later British, colonists populated the islands. This took place first with enslaved labourers, mostly from east Africa and Madagascar via Mauritius, and later with contract workers, mostly from India via Mauritius.
The economy relied on coconut plantations, which became central to Chagossian culture. Coconut features in Chagossian cuisine, handicrafts and song.
The population of the Chagos islands rose over the 19th century. It hovered around 1,000 in the first half of the 20th century.
At the request of the US, the UK authorities depopulated the Chagos Archipelago to make way for the military base. From 1967 to 1973, they forcibly evicted more than 1,500 islanders to Mauritius and Seychelles.
They did this first by preventing the return of islanders who had gone on trips to Mauritius and Seychelles. Later, they restricted supplies and wound down work on coconut plantations. Finally, they coerced the remaining islanders onto crowded ships.
By 1973, between 1,328 and 1,522 Chagos islanders had been relocated to Mauritius, and 232 to Seychelles. Their forced displacement led to further economic, psychological and cultural harms.
The British Overseas Territories Act 2002 and the Nationality and Borders Act 2022 awarded UK citizenship to Chagos islanders and their descendants born in exile. Today, several thousand members of the extended Chagossian community live in the UK, while many still live in Mauritius and Seychelles.
Since 2002, I have conducted anthropological research with the extended and geographically dispersed Chagossian communities. I have witnessed their chronic marginalisation firsthand.
My research has studied how members of this dispersed and fractured community have sustained their relationships to Chagos through shared cultural practices.
One example of this is through music. Chagossian sega songs composed on Chagos paint a nuanced picture of the complexities and turbulence of colonial plantation life. Lyrics protest unfavourable social, political, and economic conditions. They lament personal suffering, depict joyful occasions, or jest via suggestive double entendres.
Meanwhile, sega songs are now also composed in exile. They contrast depictions of the island as an idyllic paradise, with the community’s subsequent experiences of displacement, dislocation and loss.
These cultural practices have brought the exiled Chagossian community together, and served as a vehicle for cultural and political mobilisation. They have also, I argue, drawn attention to the Chagossian cause from outside communities.
Resettlement
Chagossian activists have long campaigned for compensation for their forcible displacement and their legal right of return. They secured limited compensation from the UK government in 1978 and 1982. But they have not yet achieved resettlement in practice.
It is not yet clear whether displaced Chagossians will be able to return to the islands under the new agreement.
Members of the Chagossian community hold differing opinions about resettlement and sovereignty. Some are hopeful that the Mauritian government will facilitate resettlement: something the UK refused to do.
Some Mauritian citizens and Chagos islanders from Diego Garcia are critical of the exclusion of Diego Garcia from the agreement. And many Chagossians are worried that Mauritius might prioritise the interests of Mauritian citizens over non-citizens, or that it might prioritise its economic and military interests over resettlement.
Many Chagossians are concerned
that the negotiations involved representatives of the two governments, but not of the displaced Chagossian community.
The political agreement is subject to the finalisation of a treaty and supporting legal documents. This means there is still time for the governments to involve Chagossians in the conversation.
Laura Jeffery has previously received funding for Chagos research from the UK Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) and the UK Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC).
Source: Africa Press Organisation – English (2) – Report:
LUANDA, Angola, October 7, 2024/APO Group/ —
By 2040, up to 60% of the African energy matrix will be fossil fuel driven, Anibor Kragha, Executive Secretary of the African Refiners and Distributors Association remarked at a FAMAR-sponsored panel discussion during the Angola Oil & Gas (AOG) conference on Thursday. This, he noted, highlights a fundamental need to invest more heavily in downstream infrastructure.
While efforts are being made to reduce petroleum imports, Kragha offered three recommendations to expand downstream infrastructure, strengthen regional trade and bolster energy security.
“The first is coordinated, harmonized, regional regulations – it is critical to do this. If you don’t have harmonized regulations, you won’t have harmonized markets. Secondly, you need market-based pricing and products. Lastly, you must focus on infrastructure to minimize supply chain risks. We use trucks but we should be using rails, optimizing ports and such,” he said.
Orlando Chongo, Head, Coverage in Indian Ocean and Lusophone Africa at the Trade Development Bank, emphasized the need to improve access to financing for downstream players. While plans are in place to strengthen infrastructure capacity, capital needs to be made more available.
Meanwhile, in Angola, to support companies seeking investments in the country’s downstream market, the country’s downstream regulator is putting in place the requisite supportive policies. Dr. Luis Fernandes, Director General at the IRDP said that “Today, the regulatory framework allows everyone that wants to be in the market to be involved. We have new rules that are needed to be implemented to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in compliance with climate change policies. We have a legal framework that supports companies achieve this.”
For the national oil company Sonangol, expanding downstream infrastructure is a top priority. The company is prioritizing investments in refining, distribution and port infrastructure to strengthen regional trade. Three new refining projects are currently under construction, namely the 60,000 barrel per day (BPD) Cabinda project – starting operations this year -; the 100,000 BPD Soyo Refinery and the 200,000 BPD Lobito Refinery.
Other projects include the Barra do Dande Ocean Terminal. According to Mauro Graça, CEO, Sonangol Distribution and Marketing, “This will not only allow us to be self-sufficient in storage capacity but allow us to fulfil our strategic reserves. With that project, we are not only thinking about Angola, but of the region. With the Cabinda refinery, we will need more storage capacity and to be able to export. We are investing in 24,000 cubic meters in additional storage capacity. We also have a project to make a sea-line, so that larger ships can go to Cabinda to conduct operations.”
Angola’s focus on strengthening its port logistics will be instrumental in driving exports – both regionally and internationally. Sara Silva, Legal Compliance Manager at FAMAR, noted that maritime transport is imperative for global trade.
“It is proving to be the most cost-effective manner of transportation, allowing you to transport large volumes of cargo and reducing the cost per unit that you transport. It has the opportunity to connect markets, connecting Africa to the world,” she said.
In the retail sector, efforts are underway to increase the number of retail stations across the country. Óscar Sequesseque, CCO at Pumangol, shared that the company is focused on accelerating Angola’s inland fuel storage capacity. This way, Angola aims to improve access to affordable, locally-sourced fuel products.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
Foreign Secretary, David Lammy, provided an update to the House of Commons on the conclusion of negotiations on the exercise of sovereignty over the British Indian Ocean Territory.
Location:
House of Commons
Delivered on:
With permission, Mr Speaker, I will make a statement on the conclusion of negotiations on the exercise of sovereignty over the British Indian Ocean Territory.
On Thursday the third of October, my Right Honourable Friend the Prime Minister and Mauritian Prime Minister Jugnauth made an historic announcement.
After two years of negotiations,…
…and decades of disagreement,…
…the UK and Mauritius have reached a political agreement on the future of the British Indian Ocean Territory.
Mr Speaker, the treaty is neither signed nor ratified.
But I wanted to update the House on the conclusion of formal negotiations at the earliest opportunity.
Members will appreciate the context.
Since its creation, the Territory and the joint UK-US military base on Diego Garcia has had a contested existence.
In recent years, the threat has risen significantly.
Coming into office, the status quo was clearly not sustainable.
A binding judgement against the UK seemed inevitable.
It was just a matter of time before our only choices would have been abandoning the base altogether.
Or breaking international law.
If you oppose the deal, which of these alternatives do you prefer?
Doing this deal – on our terms – was the sole way to maintain the full and effective operations of the base into the future.
Mr Speaker, this must be why, in November 2022, the then Foreign Secretary, the Right Honourable Member for Braintree, initiated sovereignty negotiations.
It’s also why my immediate predecessor, Lord Cameron of Chipping Norton, ultimately continued with those talks.
Under the previous Government there were eleven rounds of negotiations, the last one held just weeks before the General Election was called.
So, in July, this Government inherited unfinished business.
Where a threat was real, and inaction was not a strategy.
Inaction posed several acute risks to the UK.
First, it threatened the UK-US base.
From countering malign Iranian activity in the Middle East to ensuring a free and open Indo-Pacific, it is critical for our national security.
Without surety of tenure, no base can operate effectively – nor truly deter our enemies.
Critical investment decisions were already being delayed.
Second, it impacted on our relationship with the US,…
…who neither wanted nor welcomed the legal uncertainty,…
…and strongly encouraged us to strike a deal.
I am a trans-Atlanticist.
We had to protect this important relationship.
And third, it undermined our international standing.
We are showing that what we mean is what we say on international law and desire for partnerships with the Global South.
This strengthens our arguments when it comes to issues like Ukraine or the South China Sea.
Mr Speaker, further legal wrangling served nobody’s interests but our adversaries’.
In a more volatile world,…
…a deal benefited us all,…
…the UK, US and Mauritius.
This Government therefore made striking the best possible deal a priority.
We appointed Jonathan Powell.
As the Prime Minister’s Special Envoy for these negotiations, he has worked closely with a brilliant team of civil servants and lawyers.
Their goal was a way forward which serves UK national interests,…
…respects the interests of our partners,…
…and upholds the international rule of law.
This agreement fulfils these objectives.
It is strongly supported by partners,…
…with Present Biden going so far as to ‘applaud’ our achievement within minutes of the announcement!
Secretary Blinken and Secretary Austin have also backed this ‘successful outcome’ which ‘reaffirms [our] special defence relationship’.
And the agreement has been welcomed by the Indian government and commended by the UN Secretary-General.
In return for agreeing to Mauritian sovereignty over the entire islands, including Diego Garcia,…
…the UK-US base has an uncontested long-term future.
Base operations will remain under full UK control well into the next century.
Mauritius will authorise us to exercise their sovereign rights and authorities in respect of Diego Garcia.
This is initially for 99 years, but the UK has the right to extend this.
And we have full Mauritian backing for robust security arrangements…
…including preventing foreign armed forces from accessing or establishing themselves on the outer islands.
The base’s long-term future is therefore more secure under this agreement than without it.
If this were not the case, I doubt the White House, State Department or Pentagon would have praised the deal so effusively.
This agreement will be underpinned by a financial settlement that is acceptable to both sides.
Members will be aware the Government does not normally reveal payments for our military bases overseas.
And so it would be inappropriate to publicise further details of these arrangements at this stage.
Mr Speaker, the agreement also recognises the rights and wrongs of the past.
The whole House would agree that the manner in which Chagossians were forcibly removed in the 1960s was deeply wrong and regrettable.
Mauritius is now free to implement a resettlement programme to islands other than Diego Garcia.
The UK and Mauritius have also committed to support Chagossians’ welfare,…
…establishing a new Trust Fund capitalised by the UK…
…and providing additional Government support to Chagossians in the UK.
And the UK will maintain the pathway for Chagossians to obtain British Citizenship.
Furthermore, Mauritius and the UK will now establish a new programme of visits to the archipelago for Chagossians.
This agreement also ushers in a new era in our relations with Mauritius.
A Commonwealth nation and Africa’s leading democracy.
We have agreed to intensify cooperation on our shared priorities, including security, growth and the environment.
The agreement ensures continued protection of these islands’ unique environment, home to over two hundred species of coral and over eight hundred species of fish.
Finally Mr Speaker, I want to reassure the House,…
…and all members of the UK family worldwide,…
…that this agreement does not signal any change in policy to Britain’s other Overseas Territories.
British sovereignty of the Falkland Islands, Gibraltar and the Sovereign Base Areas is not up for negotiation.
The situations are not comparable.
This, Mr Speaker, has been acknowledged across our Overseas Territories.
Fabian Picardo, Chief Minister of Gibraltar, vocally supported this agreement…
…stating that there is “no possible read across” to Gibraltar on the issue of sovereignty.
Similarly, the Governor of the Falklands has confirmed that the historic contexts of the Chagos Archipelago and Falklands are “very different”.
The Government remains firmly committed to modern partnerships with our Overseas Territories based on mutual consent.
After Mauritian elections, the Government will move towards treaty signature.
And it is then our intention to pursue ratification in 2025,…
…by submitting the Treaty and a Bill to this House for scrutiny.
This is a historic moment, a victory for diplomacy.
We have saved the base.
We have secured Britain’s national interests for the long-term.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Mike Johnson (LA-04)
This morning, Speaker Johnson joined George Stephanopoulos on ABC’s This Week and Shannon Bream on Fox News Sunday to discuss the federal response to Hurricane Helene, standing with Israel, and the need keep the 2024 election about policy, not politics.
Click here to watch ABC interview, here to watch Fox interview
On the federal response to Hurricane Helene:
At the federal level, this has been a massive failure, and you could just ask the people there on the ground. I have been there. I was in Georgia, I was in Florida where Hurricane Helene made landfall there on the coast. And then we’ll be going to the hardest hit parts of North Carolina on Wednesday of this week.
When you talk to the people who are directly affected, they will tell you that this has been an abject failure. FEMA has lost sight of its core mission I think in so many cases, and the administration has not shown that they were prepared for this eventuality and this terrible disaster. The thing about hurricanes, Shannon, is that we know that they’re coming well in advance. You know, they had more than a week’s notice of this, and yet we still have people who have not been served and even rescued in North Carolina. It is a heartbreaking, tragic, and infuriating situation to have the federal government fail as they have.
On FEMA funding to house illegal aliens:
The streams of funding are different, that is not an untrue statement of course. But the problem is what the American people see and what they’re frustrated by, is that FEMA should be involved – they are the Federal Emergency Management Association – their mission is to help people in times like this of natural disaster, not to be engaged in using any pool of funding from any account for resettling illegal aliens who have come across the border. That’s what the Biden Administration, Kamala Harris, and Secretary Mayorkas have been engaged in this program, and they have spent precious treasure of the American people and taxpayers to do just that.
When you see illegals in your local airport and you see them being transported around the country with planes, trains, and automobiles to every community everywhere, every state’s a border stat now because of that. That’s the NGOs, the non-governmental organizations mostly that are transporting those people around. And then they send the receipts to the federal government and Biden Harris and Mayorkas gleefully pay those receipts because they open the border intentionally. The American people are disgusted by this. They’re fed up with it, and so are Republicans in Congress. And it’ll stop after November 5th because we’re going to have unified government with the Republicans in charge and we will bring sanity back to this situation.
On keeping the 2024 election focused on policy:
We have to talk about the greatest collection of challenges that this country is facing, probably since World War II, maybe the Civil War. Let’s put all this political nonsense behind us and talk about how we get out of this mess. And I believe the way we do, and I believe a large number of the majority of the American people understand you have to put steady hands at the wheel. You’ve got to put President Donald J. Trump back in the White House because he will bring stability back.
He will get the economy going again. He will restore our stature on the world stage at a time where we’re almost on the verge of World War III. You have got to get his leadership back in the White House. That’s why the massive crowds are drawn to these rallies, and that’s why I believe we’re going to win in November.
On supporting Israel:
Everything that they have done, since day one, the Biden-Harris Administration, is project weakness on the world stage. And that has put us in the most dangerous situation that we have been in since World War II. Our allies are nervous. Our adversaries do not fear us. They don’t respect us, and that is why China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, terrorists and tyrants around the world are coordinating against us. And that is why you’re seeing the provocations of the war in Israel.
Russia moved on Ukraine, China doing all the things they’re doing and threatening Taiwan. None of this happened on President Trump’s watch because he was a steady hand, a strong hand at the wheel. We have got to reelect him so that we can restore the order in the world and project peace through strength again. That’s what we have to get back to, and it cannot happen soon enough.
Funding will improve the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation’s irrigation systems on the Walla Walla River
Washington D.C. – U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today announced a federal investment of $350,000 for the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation to make improvements that will reduce water losses in the Little Walla Walla Canal System.
“As we face an ever-deepening climate crisis, it’s vital to find efficient ways to conserve resources like water to help communities throughout Oregon thrive,” Wyden said. “I’m gratified that this investment from the Inflation Reduction Act will help the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla continue their long tradition of environmentally sound, sustainable farming.”
“Indigenous peoples in the Pacific Northwest have been caretakers of our waterways since time immemorial,” said Merkley. “As climate chaos fuels longer and more intense droughts in Oregon and across the American West, we must find ways to improve water efficiency while protecting our waterways and the ecosystems they support. It is great news to see these funds supporting the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla as they work with partners to improve the efficiency of the Little Walla Walla Canal System.”
This funding, from the Bureau of Reclamation’s Native American Affairs Technical Assistance Program, was provided through the Inflation Reduction Act to support Tribal efforts to develop, manage and protect water and related resources, and mitigate drought impacts and the loss of Tribal trust resources.
“Thanks to legislation recently passed in Oregon and Washington as part of the Walla Walla Water 2050 Plan, this water will be protected through Oregon, across the state line to the mouth of the Walla Walla River in Washington, and throughout the ceded lands of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, improving stream flows all the way to the Columbia River,” said CTUIR Chairman Gary I. Burke.
“The Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation are pleased to work collaboratively on this project with their partners at the Walla Walla River Irrigation District. By investing in aging infrastructure, this project will improve operations for the district, save water, and restore flows in the Walla Walla River for salmon and steelhead,” said Anton Chiono, CTUIR Department of Natural Resources Habitat Conservation Project Leader.
Global warming has the potential to reshuffle the spaces used by life on Earth, across all ecosystems. And our new research shows whale sharks – the world’s largest fish – could be at risk, as warming oceans may force them into busy human shipping lanes.
More than 12,000 marine species are expected to redistribute in future as seas warm up. Those animals that are unable to move to remain within suitable environments risk being wiped out entirely.
But things are different for larger and highly mobile animals that can move freely to find conditions that suit their needs. For them, changing ocean conditions may not be such a huge threat in isolation, as they can migrate to cooler seas. Rather, shifting conditions may force species into new and more dangerous areas where they come into contact with ship propellers and other direct human threats.
We fear this will happen with whale sharks. These huge sharks can reach up to 18 metres – about four cars end to end – but despite their size and robust appearance, their numbers have already declined by over 50% in the last 75 years.
Whale sharks are big and slow (and are sharks not whales). Sean Steininger / shutterstock
In previous research we discovered this decline may be partly due to collisions with large ships. Whale sharks are particularly vulnerable as they cruise around feeding on plankton and other tiny organisms, rarely needing to swim faster than human walking pace. While spending long periods moving slowly near the surface, they’re often struck by ships and killed.
Our new research builds on this previous work. We find that climate change will put these docile giants in even greater danger as their preferred habitats move in into new areas with heavy ship traffic.
An uncertain future
The research was carried out by an international team of over 50 scientists from 18 countries involved in the Global Shark Movement Project, using 15 years’ worth of satellite tracking data from almost 350 individually tagged whale sharks.
Movement tracks were matched to temperature, salinity and other environmental conditions at the time to determine what sort of habitat the sharks preferred. These relationships were then projected forward in time based on climate models (powerful computer programmes that simulate the climate) to reveal which parts of the ocean may in future have similar conditions to those used by the species today.
Our state-of-the-art approach uncovered totally new areas that may be able to support whale sharks in future, such as US waters in the Pacific in the region of the California bight, Japanese waters in the eastern China Sea and the Atlantic waters of many west African countries. We quickly realised that these regions are home to some of the world’s busiest sea ports and shipping highways, so we overlaid our maps of habitat preference with those of global shipping to determine sharks are expected to run into ships.
The world’s main shipping lanes, with the busiest lanes coloured yellow. Areas C (US west coast), D (west Africa) and E (east Asia) are expected to become more suitable for whale sharks as the oceans warm. Womersley et al / Nature Climate Change, CC BY-SA
Through this we project that co-occurrence between sharks and ships will be be 15,000 times greater by the end of this century if we continue to rely heavily on fossil fuels, compared to only 20 times greater if we follow a sustainable development scenario.
This does not mean that collisions will increase by 15,000 times, or even by 20 times, as we can only predict where whale sharks will be in future and the precise number of ships will vary. However, if the sharks do move into these new areas and their busy shipping lanes, increased mortality is a very real possibility.
We’ve already recorded shark-attached satellite tags abruptly stopping transmissions in shipping lanes, with depth-recording tags showing the sharks slowly sinking – likely dead – to the seafloor.
Changing tack
Our results are alarming but highlight that we do have the capacity to change the population trajectory for whale sharks. In this case, through mitigating climate change, we can also indirectly ensure that the ocean is a safer place for some of its largest residents.
We already know which strategies to trial for limiting collisions between ships and sharks. In February 2024 a meeting of signatories to the UN’s convention on the conservation of migratory species put forward a series of recommendations with specific focus on whale sharks. These include slowing speeds and re-routing around key sites, and setting up a collision-reporting network. It is now up to individual governments to take action.
It’s possible that other species will experience similar pressures as a result of climate change. For example, heat waves in the oceans may force other sharks into cooler surface waters which are being exploited by longline fisheries, or into deeper depths where there is less oxygen.
It’s time to shift our focus on to these interacting stressors in future, so that we can start to quantify the mosaic of threats that marine animals must endure in the oceans of tomorrow and protect those most at risk.
Freya Womersley receives funding from the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) through a University of Southampton INSPIRE DTP PhD Studentship. She is affiliated with the Marine Biological Association (MBA) in Plymouth, UK and the Global Shark Movement Project, which is based at the MBA.
David Sims receives funding from the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), the European Research Council (ERC), and the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation. He is affiliated with the Marine Biological Association (MBA) in Plymouth, UK, and the Global Shark Movement Project, which is based at the MBA.
