NewzIntel.com

Category: Australia

  • MIL-OSI: Altus Group to Announce Q3 2024 Financial Results on November 7, 2024

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    TORONTO, Oct. 07, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Altus Group Limited (ʺAltus” or “the Company”) (TSX: AIF), a leading provider of asset and fund intelligence for commercial real estate (“CRE”), announced today that it plans to release its third quarter financial results for the period ended September 30, 2024 after market close on Thursday, November 7, 2024. Altus executives Jim Hannon, Chief Executive Officer, and Pawan Chhabra, Chief Financial Officer, will host a conference call and webcast at 5:00 p.m. (ET) the same day to review the financial results and discuss corporate developments.

    About Altus Group

    Altus Group is a leading provider of asset and fund intelligence for commercial real estate. We deliver intelligence as a service to our global client base through a connected platform of industry-leading technology, advanced analytics, and advisory services. Trusted by the largest CRE leaders, our capabilities help commercial real estate investors, developers, proprietors, lenders, and advisors manage risks and improve performance returns throughout the asset and fund lifecycle. Altus Group is a global company headquartered in Toronto with approximately 2,900 employees across North America, EMEA and Asia Pacific. For more information about Altus (TSX: AIF) please visit altusgroup.com.

    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:

    Camilla Bartosiewicz
    Chief Communications Officer, Altus Group
    (416) 641-9773
    camilla.bartosiewicz@altusgroup.com  

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Applications open to deliver historic pay rise for early childcare workers

    Source: Australian Ministers for Education

    From today, early learning providers can apply for Commonwealth Government funding to deliver early childhood education and care workers a historic 15 per cent pay rise.

    To be eligible to receive the Albanese Government’s funding for the wage increase, early childhood education and care services must agree not to increase their fees by more than 4.4 per cent between 8 August 2024 and 7 August 2025.

    This is good for early childhood educators and good for families.

    There will also be a limit on fee growth in the second year of the wage subsidy. The  percentage limit on fee growth that will apply from August 2025 will be determined by a new ECEC cost index being developed by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).

    This is an important condition that will keep downward pressure on out-of-pocket costs for families.

    Services must also pass on funding in full to employees through increased wages.

    The 15 per cent pay rise will be phased in over two years, starting with a 10 per cent increase from December 2024, with a further 5 per cent increase from December 2025.

    This means a typical early childhood educator who is paid at the award rate will receive a pay rise of more than $100 per week this year, increasing to more than an additional $150 per week from December 2025.

    This significant wage increase is an important next step in the Government’s reforms to the sector, building on the successful Cheaper Child Care policy.

    Latest data shows that Cheaper Child Care has seen the average out-of-pocket costs for families decrease by more than 13 per cent from the June quarter 2023 to the June quarter 2024.

    The Government’s Cheaper Child Care policy increased the base subsidy rates from July 2023 for all families earning up to $530,000, and set the maximum subsidy to 90 per cent for families earning $80,000 or less.

    Thanks to the increased subsidy, a family earning $120,000, with one child in care three days a week, paid around $2,140 less last financial year than they otherwise would have.

    The Government is currently considering the Productivity Commission’s report handed down earlier this month.

    For further information on the 15 per cent wage increase, grant eligibility and how to apply visit education.gov.au/early-childhood/workforce/wages/how-apply-worker-retention-payment.

    Quotes attributable to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese: 

    “Early educators shape lives and change lives. They deserve more than our thanks – they deserve to be paid fairly.  

    “Parents want their children to be safe, happy and to have the very best start in life. This funding is about fair pay for the people who make this possible.

    “Importantly, we’re making sure that our early educators are getting fair wages without putting cost of living pressure on families.

    “This is part of our Government’s agenda to make sure that Australians are making more and keeping more of what they earn, while providing that vital cost of living relief.”

    Quotes attributable to Minister for Education Jason Clare:

    “The child care debate is over. It’s not babysitting. It’s early education and it’s critical to preparing children for school.

    “They lift our kids up and now we are lifting their pay.

    “This means wages up for workers and keeping prices down for families.

    “A pay rise for every early childhood educator is good for our workforce, good for families and good our economy.”

    Quotes attributable to Minister for Early Childhood Education and Minister for Youth Anne Aly:

    “We’re boosting the wages of early childhood education workers, while relieving cost of living pressures on Australian families.

    “Properly valuing the early childhood education and care workforce is crucial to attracting and retaining workers and vital to achieving the quality universal early learning sector Australian families deserve.

    “A quality early childhood education sector is necessary to support children’s learning and development as well as workforce participation in the broader economy – particularly for women.

    “I urge all eligible early learning services to sign up to this important initiative, so their hardworking staff get the full benefit of this wage increase.”

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Stansbury Hosts Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries for Community Conversation

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Melanie Stansbury (N.M.-01)

    ALBUQUERQUE — Congresswoman Melanie Stansbury (NM-01) was proud to welcome Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries for a community conversation at the New Hope Full Gospel Baptist Church in Albuquerque.

    The conversation brought together community members, local leaders, and advocates to discuss pressing issues impacting New Mexicans. Leader Jeffries and Rep. Stansbury touched on a broad range of topics including how Democrats are delivering for Americans in tangible ways like lowering costs for Americans, expanding access to healthcare, protecting the environment, and ensuring our democracy stays secure.

    “I am so proud to welcome Leader Jeffries to our beautiful state and share the stage with him and to showcase all the work Democrats are doing for New Mexicans,” said Stansbury. “We have brought millions of dollars back to New Mexico through federal programs, legislation, and Community Project Funding that support education, housing, healthcare, infrastructure, and economic development. We will continue this momentum – including tackling pressing issues such as climate change, economic inequality, and access to quality education as we continue to work for New Mexico and our communities.”

    “House Democrats will continue to lean into lowering housing costs and growing the middle class with a particular emphasis on access to affordable homeownership,” said Leader Jeffries. “Being able to purchase a home, keeping that home and being able to pass it onto the next generation is central to the great American dream. And we will fight to maintain the principles of free and fair elections and ensure the right to vote, which John Lewis would always say to us, is sacred, is sacrosanct and is essential to the integrity of our democracy. We have to push back against the extreme right-wing efforts to take it away, so one of our top priorities in Congress will be to pass the John Robert Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act.”

    Find photos from the event here. 

    Since taking office, Rep. Stansbury has secured more than a billion dollars in funding for New Mexico’s First Congressional District, including more than $44.5 million for 37 community projects for public safety, economic development, and other needs. 

    Some of what Congresswoman Stansbury has delivered to New Mexico’s First Congressional District include: 

    Crime Prevention and Public Safety: 

    • Last month, the Congresswoman introduced the Stop the Opioid Pill Presser and Fentanyl Act (STOPP Fentanyl Act) to disrupt global criminal networks and suppliers of illicit drugs like fentanyl. 

    Behavioral Health Resources: 

    • In Congress, Rep. Stansbury has secured millions for NM-01 to improve community well-being through behavioral health-focused solutions. This includes leading efforts to secure funding for mental health and addiction recovery programs, such as workforce development, school-based support, crisis intervention, and veterans’ suicide prevention. 

    Gun Violence and Safety: 

    • Congresswoman Stansbury has cosponsored key bills aimed at addressing gun safety, including the Keep Americans Safe Act, the SAFES Act, the Identify Gun Stores Act, the Gun Violence Prevention Research Act of 2023, the Break the Cycle of Violence Act), and the AMMO Act. 
    • These bills focus on universal background checks, bans on military-style rifles and untraceable weapons, and enhancing research and oversight related to gun violence and ammunition. 

    Reproductive Rights: 

    • Congresswoman Stansbury voted to defend reproductive rights against the House GOP’s systematic efforts to criminalize abortion and abortion providers. 
    • Rep. Stansbury joined other House Democrats to sponsor legislation to restore Roe vs. Wade, condemn violence and attacks on healthcare facilities, personnel, and patients, and to pass the Women’s Health Protection Act. 
    • Rep. Stansbury co-sponsored a resolution by House Democrats to condemn attacks on abortion clinics that threaten the safety of patients and health care workers. 
    • Rep. Stansbury also voted to pass the Ensuring Access to Abortion Act and the Right to Contraception Act to safeguard access to contraception and the right of pregnant individuals across the nation to travel to seek safe, legal care. 

    Economy and Jobs: 

    • Rep. Stansbury helped pass the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Inflation Reduction Act, and the CHIPS and Science Act and her bill the Partnerships for Energy Security and Innovation Act, to invest in our infrastructure, tackle climate change, and build a clean energy economy. 
    • The Congresswoman led the Rail Worker and Community Safety Act to improve federal rail safety regulations, including mandates for a two-person crew, changing the ways hazardous materials can be transported, increasing funding for rail safety inspectors, and codifies mandatory sick leave for all rail workers. 
    • Rep. Stansbury co-sponsored the Protecting the Right to Organize Act (PRO ACT) which is a comprehensive bill aimed at strengthening labor rights by amending key labor laws to enhance protections for workers, particularly in union organizations and collective bargaining efforts. 

    Water Access and Water Rights:

    • Since her time in the New Mexico Statehouse, the Congresswoman has been a leader in fighting for access to clean water and securing water rights for communities across New Mexico. 
    • She introduced the Water Data Act to establish a framework for standardizing water data across federal agencies, so data is interoperable and easily accessible to water managers and communities.   
    • She also introduced the Rio Grande Water Security Act providing necessary operational flexibility for water managers in the Rio Grande Basin.  The bill also reauthorizes a vital lifeline to address the irrigation infrastructure needs of the Pueblo nations who have used these waters for countless generations.   

    Environmental Justice and Protection:

    • Along with her work in other areas, the Congresswoman has been a champion for climate protections and ensuring a just transition occurs during the efforts to address the climate crisis in communities in New Mexico and across the country. 
    • She co-sponsored several pieces of legislation, including House Resolution 37 – Acknowledging a Climate Emergency, the Civilian Climate Corps for Jobs and Justice Act, the Environmental Justice For All Act, the Promoting Youth Mental Health and Well-Being in a Changing Climate, the Climate and Health Protection Act, and the Excess Urban Heat Mitigation Act. 

    Housing: 

    • Congresswoman Stansbury has been focused on bringing more affordable housing to New Mexicans and has championed several bills including the Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act of 2023, the Expansion of Attainable Homeownership Through Manufactured Housing Act of 2023, the Eviction Protection Act of 2023, the Housing for All Act of 2023, the Ending Homelessness Act of 2023, the Affordable Housing Stability During Shutdowns Act of 2023. 
    • Some of her legislative actions include working closely with local tribal leaders to address concerns regarding a lack of funding to meet tribal housing needs in New Mexico and across the country. 

    Healthcare: 

    • The Congresswoman is focused on lowering the costs of healthcare for all New Mexicans and ensuring people who need care can find it when needed. Some of her work includes introducing the Stopping Addiction and Falls for the Elderly (SAFE) Act, the Small Practice, Underserved, and Tural Support Program Extension Act, the Public Health Nursing Act, the Keep Physicians Serving Patients Act, and co-sponsoring the Telehealth Access for Tribal Communities Act of 2024 and the Protecting Access to Ground Ambulance Medical Services Act. 

    ### 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: SPEECH BY MR ONG YE KUNG, MINISTER FOR HEALTH, AT THE OFFICIAL OPENING OF REDEVELOPED PASIR RIS POLYCLINIC, 7 OCTOBER 2024, 2.30PM, AT PASIR RIS POLYCLINIC

    Source: Asia Pacific Region 2 – Singapore

    Senior Minister Teo Chee Hean

    SMS Dr Janil Puthucheary

    SMS Desmond Tan

    Advisors Ms Yeo Wan Ling and Mr Sharael Taha

    Mr Cheng Wai Keung, Chairman, SingHealth

    Professor Ng Wai Hoe, Group CEO, SingHealth

    Colleagues and friends

    1.     It is my pleasure to join you today at the official opening of the redeveloped Pasir Ris Polyclinic. A couple of years ago, we started a new practice in the Ministry of Health (MOH), which is that we will officially open a polyclinic on its first day of operations, instead of waiting months later when you are operationally ready. We thought to have a smaller event to open on the first day of operations. 

    2.     I was told we cannot roll pineapples in a Polyclinic, even if it is on the first day, but I am very happy to be able to share this day with everyone. But just for the record, at a Polyclinic, we wish for health, not wealth. 

    Primary Care in Singapore

    3.     Pasir Ris Polyclinic is one of our 26 polyclinics in Singapore. Together with the private General Practitioner (GP) clinics, they form the primary care system of our healthcare system. 

    4.     Primary care is probably the most critical part of any healthcare system. It provides universal access to healthcare for everyone. It ensures efficiency because through primary care, we can treat an illness before it becomes serious. In an ageing society like Singapore, primary care moves further upstream, to deliver preventive care and build health in our community and the population. 

    5.     Many countries recognise that. I have been visiting healthcare and primary care systems in many parts of the world. In China, for example, over the last 10 years, they have been building the equivalent of polyclinics – what they call Community Health Centres – in their cities. I have visited a few of them. In Beijing, there is one centre for every 50,000 residents. 

    6.     Indonesia is also expanding its network of community health centres, called “Pusat Kesihatan Masyarakat”, throughout the archipelago of 18,000 islands. 

    7.     The Philippines is actively building community primary care centres, called BUCAS (Bagong Urgent Care and Ambulatory Service) centres. Their Health Minister told me their system is in fact modelled on our polyclinics system. 

    8.     In Singapore, we have always placed strong emphasis and invested significantly in primary care. This includes upgrading the competencies of our family doctors, organising doctors, nurses and care coordinators into teams to deliver more holistic and effective care, and building new polyclinics, facilities and infrastructure. 

    9.     Today, our polyclinics manage almost seven million outpatient visits every year, including 40% of all chronic care patient load. Primary care accounts for about 15% to 20% of total healthcare spending. It is a reasonable and healthy level, which reflects its importance, and we should try to maintain this even as overall healthcare expenditure increases. 

    10.     We will focus on a few key areas of primary care in the coming years. The first is infrastructure, namely the expansion of the polyclinics network. The number of polyclinics will grow from 26 today to 32 by 2030. 

    11.     Second, in preventive care, through the Healthier SG strategy. This is a long journey. But we have an encouraging start, judging by the number of enrollees in the programme. More importantly, I think there is a palpable shift in health habits amongst Singaporeans. We always say Healthier SG depends on three up’s – sign up, turn up and follow up. We have achieved signing up and turning up, and now, we need to follow up. We need to continue to put resources in incentives, outreach, community programmes, new care protocols, technology and IT systems, to make Healthier SG successful in building health for the long term. 

    12.     Third, we also need to upgrade the private family doctor clinics. Excluding aesthetics clinics, we have about 1,600 private clinics. They are an integral part of the national healthcare system. They deliver subsidised primary care through the Community Health Assist Scheme (CHAS), help manage patients with chronic diseases, and coordinate care with polyclinics, hospitals, as well as social agencies. During pandemics like COVID-19, they stepped forward and became our first line of defence, directly attending to infected patients. 

    13.     We are looking into ways to enhance the professional competencies of private family doctors, improve their premises to encourage multi-disciplinary practice, and strengthen their partnerships with community organisations and other healthcare providers. 

    Uniqueness of Pasir Ris Polyclinic

    14.     This newly redeveloped Pasir Ris Polyclinic is a good example of our commitment to improving primary care in Singapore. Our planning team had put in extra effort to create a polyclinic that is community- and patient-centric

    15.     It is an impressive polyclinic. There will be a wide range of services, including physiotherapy and dental services. In the coming months, the Grace Memory Clinic and Health Wellness Clinic will be opened to support residents with dementia and mental health needs. 

    16.     This polyclinic will be a training site for family doctors. It will also feature an Academic Family Medicine Centre, dedicated to training doctors under the Family Medicine residency programme. 

    17.     It will also enhance service delivery through the use of technology such as telemonitoring, electronic registration, appointment making and payment options for a more seamless patient experience. Teleconsultation services will not only cover traditional areas like preventive care and chronic disease management, but also dietician and physiotherapy services. 

    Closing

    18.     I thank everyone who has put in so much effort to plan, design and execute this newly redeveloped Polyclinic. I also want to thank the Grassroots Advisers who have paid a lot of attention to this redeveloped Polyclinic, and helped MOH ensure that it will serve the needs of the community and its residents. 

    19.     As an Adviser in Sembawang who is heavily involved in the development of our community hub called Bukit Canberra, I can fully appreciate what it is like for other Advisers to oversee such a major integrated development like the Pasir Ris Mall. 

    20.     It doesn’t open with a big bang, but facilities are added in phases. Each addition makes the destination even more attractive, evolving into a hub for residents. I am glad that MOH gets to contribute to this key community project in Pasir Ris town. On that note, let me now invite Senior Minister Teo Chee Hean, the lead Adviser of this area, to deliver his remarks. 

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Better protections for telco customers experiencing domestic and family violence

    Source: Australian Ministers 1

    The Albanese Government has taken an important step to strengthen protections for telecommunications customers experiencing domestic and family violence, by ensuring they can access timely support when they need it most.
     
    The Minister for Communications will direct the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) to make an enforceable industry standard to ensure appropriate support is provided to telecommunications customers experiencing domestic and family violence.
     
    Violence against women and children is a problem of epidemic proportions in Australia. One in three women has experienced physical violence since the age of 15, and one in five has experienced sexual violence.
     
    Telecommunication services need to be a safe, secure and reliable avenue for victim-survivors to access information, conduct critical safety planning and seek the support they need to leave a violent situation, as well as remain connected with family members, friends and important social support networks.
     
    Communications Alliance’s May 2023 Guideline, Assisting Consumers Affected by Domestic and Family Violence, has provided practical, operational-level guidance about the policies, training, and supporting materials telcos should have in place to identify and provide support in domestic and family violence situations. However, a voluntary guideline is unable to provide sufficient levels of consistent protections for victim-survivors and this needs to be developed into an enforceable industry standard.   
     
    A current review of the Telecommunications Consumer Protections Code has also shown the Code to be an ineffective solution to establish necessary protections in an appropriate timeframe, and there is a need to act quickly and directly on an issue of utmost importance.
     
    Directly regulated safeguards on domestic and family violence will address the serious issues being faced by victim-survivors in accessing support from their telcos when they need it most.
     
    Examples of safeguards include: 

    • Minimum requirements for policies and staff training, with compliance reporting
    • Prohibiting alleged perpetrator involvement in discussions with a victim-survivor
    • Obligations relating to the privacy, safety and security of accounts
    • Removing requirements for victim-survivors to provide evidence or tell their story multiple times
    • Requirements for telcos to recognise domestic and family violence as a potential cause of payment difficulties and to consider the impact of any service suspension or disconnection

    The Government encourages all stakeholders to work constructively with the ACMA on the development of the Domestic and Family Violence Industry Standard to ensure that it is effective, robust and able to respond adequately to the needs of telco customers experiencing domestic and family violence.   
     
    Quotes attributable to Minister for Communications, the Hon Michelle Rowland MP:
     
    “Whilst I acknowledge the best efforts of many telcos to improve their services and establish higher standards in the industry, it is clear to me that more needs to be done, and quickly.
     
    “An enforceable industry standard, developed by the ACMA in consultation with industry and other stakeholders, will provide the best opportunity to deliver effective, important and necessary protections for victim-survivors of domestic and family violence.
     
    “Victim-survivors should not be forced to contact alleged perpetrators when making necessary changes to their telco accounts and services, provide evidence of abuse or tell their often harrowing stories multiple times. We also need to ensure that frontline staff are educated and supported to provide appropriate services to victim-survivors of domestic and family violence, with a clear priority to keep them connected.”
     
    Quotes attributable to Minister for Social Services, the Hon Amanda Rishworth MP:
     
    “Family, domestic and sexual violence destroys lives and one life lost is one too many – it must end.
     
    “Since the day we were elected, our Government has made the safety of women and children experiencing family, domestic and sexual violence a national priority.
     
    “We’ve invested more than $3.4 billion to support efforts under the National Plan, in addition to our recent investment of $4.4 billion to prevent violence and support legal service. This change with relation to Telecommunications will add to our efforts to keep women and children safe.” 
     
    If you or someone you know is experiencing, or at risk of experiencing, domestic, family, or sexual violence, call 1800 737 732, text 0458 737 732 or visit http://www.1800RESPECT.org.au for online chat and video call services.
     
    If you are concerned about your behaviour or use of violence, you can contact the Men’s Referral Service on 1300 766 491 or visit http://www.ntv.org.au.
     
    Feeling worried or no good? Connect with 13YARN Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Crisis Supporters on 13 92 76, available 24/7 from any mobile or pay phone, or visit http://www.13yarn.org.au. No shame, no judgement, safe place to yarn.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Interview, Triple M Hobart

    Source: Australian Ministers 1

    ANDY ‘TUBES’ TAYLOR, HOST: The Federal Communications Minister is Michelle Rowland, and she joins us live on the show right now. Good morning to you, Minister.
    ​
    MICHELLE ROWLAND, MINISTER FOR COMMUNICATIONS: Good morning, Kaz and Tubes.

    Telstra, Optus and TPG Telecom, including Vodafone, are switching off their 3G mobile networks at the end of this month. What does that mean for Tasmanians, Michelle?

    ROWLAND: Well that’s right. There’s three weeks to go. So it means a couple of things for the good people of Tasmania. The first is it’s important to check that your mobile device is compatible when the switchover happens. Your listeners can do that by texting the numeral ‘3’ to the number ‘3498’. That’s just the number ‘3’ to ‘3498’, and immediately they will be told whether their device is compatible after the switchover. So that’s really important.

    The second thing is, this is the first switchover of mobile technology that’s been done in the era of the Internet of Things. We’ve got medical devices, smartwatches, so many things that rely on mobile connectivity. My key message to all your listeners is to check your tech. There’s a national public awareness campaign that’s being run right now. Your listeners can go to http://www.3Gclosure.com.au.

    Please make sure that you check the compatibility of all these devices after the switchover, especially with medical alarms, and especially if you’ve got family, friends and loved ones who rely on them.

    And, I should say, it is a good thing that this is happening in three weeks. It does need to be done in a safer way, and the operators have put off the switchover and deferred that so that we could get this public education campaign done. They’ve been working closely with the Government and with industry overall.

    What it will mean is better quality mobile in the regions, because it’s using the radio communications spectrum in a better way, better performance, better signals and less interference. But we need to make sure that it’s done in the safest way possible.

    KAZ MCMULLEN, HOST: So, Minister, can you tell me what 3G actually is?

    ROWLAND: So, the 3G network is really a generation. It started off obviously with 1G. We had 2G networks that utilised spectrum in a certain way. 3G gets a little bit better. G just refers to the evolution of the different generations of technology.

    TUBES: Technology, yeah.

    ROWLAND: Now, what they go to, it’s things like- how people actually notice it in real life- better data capacity, better speeds, more reliability. So these are actually good things to be developing, and Australians have always been early adopters. I don’t know if you’ve seen in the media today, smartphone sales are really increasing, both because of the switchover but because people want better AI-enable devices. Australians have always been interested in getting the best handsets, the best underlying tech.

    And of course governments need to support that as well by having the best quality underlying networks. And of course, the mobile operators need to do that too. So, we’re looking for a better experience overall.

    But with three weeks to go, my key message is for everyone to check their tech, make sure that they’ve got devices that are compatible when 3G gets switched over to 4G and 5G.

    TUBES: Now, this question comes through on our text line from Annie in Murdunna: ‘For decades now we’ve had average, at best, mobile service in Murdunna. What’s the Government doing for our community here to improve the services? We are literally 50 kilometres as the crow flies from Hobart.

    ROWLAND: Well, it’s a really good question. And Annie, I think, is asking what a lot of Tasmanians are asking, and that’s why aren’t mobile operators investing more in these areas, and what can governments do to support that? One of the key things we’re doing here is our National Audit of Mobile Coverage that’s happening right now. It’s happening in Tasmania, and it’s the first time that this has actually been done, because we don’t have a good sense and a really overall experience of how people are consuming mobile coverage. We’ve got maps and the carriers put out their maps, but, as I’m sure Annie and your listeners will tell you, they’re not based on real life. You’ll be in areas where your mobile operator will say, yes, you’ve got a signal here, but in real life, it’s not sufficient to be able to use data to upload and do sometimes even just basic voice and text. So this is happening right now.

    We’re also utilising Australia Post. We’ve got Australia Post long-haul vehicles, their delivery vans, and also Australia Post retail outlets right around Tasmania in places from Bicheno to Port Arthur, Queenstown, Strahan, that are measuring, in real time, what that coverage is. So this is really going to be a step change. It’s going to be able to inform the carriers about where they need to invest. And importantly, for governments where we need to target investments as well, because governments have a role to play here, but also the mobile carriers.

    We need to ensure that we get that really good map of coverage, that’s something that- you know, is living, this is running until 2027. And your listeners can actually go right now and check it out. If you just search up the mobile audit visualisation tool, it’s pretty cool. You can actually search by carrier, by different roads, by areas, and you can see how that coverage is right now. This is going to be a really important tool going forward to fix exactly what’s been a long-standing problem.

    And I’ll just end by saying, Annie, I totally hear you. So many Australians rely on mobile connectivity not just for their day-to-day usage, but how they transact with government, how they conduct their businesses. So, we understand how important it is, including in natural disasters and emergencies.

    TUBES: Absolutely. And I know this technology advances so quickly. Michelle Rowland, it’s been a pleasure to talk to you. The Federal Communications Minister, thank you so much for taking the time to chat to us. For those that need more information, as the Minister said, you can text the numeral ‘3’ to the number ‘3498’ to find out whether your device is ready for the 3G network to be switched off.

    Michelle Rowland, the Federal Communications Minister, we really appreciate your time on Triple M.
     

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI: Launch Two Acquisition Corp. Announces the Pricing of $200,000,000 Initial Public Offering

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    New York, NY, Oct. 07, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Launch Two Acquisition Corp. (the “Company”) announced today the pricing of its initial public offering of 20,000,000 units. The units are expected to be listed on The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC (“Nasdaq”) and begin trading tomorrow, October 8, 2024, under the ticker symbol “LPBBU.” Each unit consists of one Class A ordinary share and one-half of one redeemable warrant, each whole warrant entitling the holder thereof to purchase one Class A ordinary share at a price of $11.50 per share, subject to certain adjustments. No fractional warrants will be issued upon separation of the units and only whole warrants will trade. Once the securities constituting the units begin separate trading, the Class A ordinary shares and warrants are expected to be listed on Nasdaq under the symbols “LPBB” and “LPBBW,” respectively. The offering is expected to close on October 9, 2024, subject to customary closing conditions. The Company has granted the underwriters a 45-day option to purchase up to an additional 3,000,000 units at the initial public offering price to cover over-allotments, if any.

    The Company is a blank check company formed for the purpose of effecting a merger, amalgamation, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses. The Company may pursue an acquisition opportunity in any business or industry or at any stage of its corporate evolution. The Company’s primary focus, however, will be on technology and software infrastructure companies whose products and services target financial services, real estate and asset management companies. The Company will pursue completing a business combination with an established business of scale poised for continued growth, led by a highly regarded management team.

    The Company’s management team is led by James J. McEntee III, its Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Directors (the “Board”), and Jurgen van de Vyver, its Chief Financial Officer. The Board also includes Lynn Eisenhart, Jeffrey M. Shanahan, and Alfred J. Pierce III.

    Cantor Fitzgerald & Co. is acting as sole book-running manager for the offering.

    The offering is being made only by means of a prospectus. When available, copies of the prospectus may be obtained from Cantor Fitzgerald & Co., Attention: Capital Markets, 499 Park Avenue, 5th Floor New York, New York 10022, or by email at prospectus@cantor.com.

    A registration statement relating to the securities has been filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and became effective on October 7, 2024. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such an offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    This press release contains statements that constitute “forward-looking statements,” including with respect to the proposed initial public offering and search for an initial business combination. No assurance can be given that the offering discussed above will be completed on the terms described, or at all.

    Forward-looking statements are subject to numerous conditions, many of which are beyond the control of the Company, including those set forth in the “Risk Factors” section of the Company’s registration statement and prospectus for the Company’s initial public offering filed with the SEC. Copies of these documents are available on the SEC’s website, http://www.sec.gov. The Company undertakes no obligation to update these statements for revisions or changes after the date of this release, except as required by law.

    Investor Contacts

    Launch Two Acquisition Corp.
    Jurgen van de Vyver
    jurgen@launchpad.vc
    (510) 692-9600

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Dundee Corporation Completes Sale of 8,000 Shares of TauRx Pharmaceuticals Ltd. for Proceeds of US$1 Million

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    TORONTO, Oct. 07, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Dundee Corporation (TSX: DC.A) (the “Company” or “Dundee”) announces that further to the news release disseminated on September 26, 2024, it has now received the requisite board approval from TauRX Pharmaceuticals Ltd. (“TauRx”) for the sale of 8,000 shares to a private investor at a price of US$125 per share for proceeds to the Company of US$1,000,000. The transaction has now been completed. Dundee continues to hold 1,007,008 shares of TauRx.

    ABOUT DUNDEE CORPORATION

    Dundee Corporation is a public Canadian independent holding company, listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol “DC.A”. Through its operating subsidiaries, Dundee Corporation is an active investor focused on delivering long-term, sustainable value as a trusted partner in the mining sector with more than 30 years of experience making accretive mining investments.

    FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS:

    This press release may contain forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities legislation, which reflects Dundee Corporation’s current expectations regarding future events. Forward-looking information is based on a number of assumptions and is subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond Dundee Corporation’s control, which could cause actual results and events to differ materially from those that are disclosed in or implied by such forward-looking information. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the factors discussed under “Risk Factors” in the Annual Information Form of Dundee Corporation and subsequent filings made with securities commissions in Canada. Dundee Corporation does not undertake any obligation to update such forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as expressly required by applicable law.

    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:

    Investor and Media Relations
    T: (416) 864-3584
    E: ir@dundeecorporation.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Waldencast plc Announces Board Appointments and Annual General Meeting

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NEW YORK, Oct. 07, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Waldencast plc (NASDAQ: WALD) (“Waldencast” or the “Company”), a global multi-brand beauty and wellness platform, announced today that Hind Sebti, Kelly Brookie and Roberto Thompson have been appointed to its board of Directors (the “Board”), effective September 26, 2024. These executives bring extensive professional experience further enhancing the breadth of talent and expertise possessed by the Board. Ms. Brookie will replace Sarah Brown who has informed the Board of her intention to not renew her mandate ahead of the Company’s Annual General Meeting. The Company also announced that its Annual General Meeting is scheduled for October 28, 2024 during which the Company’s shareholders will be asked to vote on the renewal of Class I and Class II directors. Following this announcement, the Board will include 11 members, each of whom possesses significant expertise, particularly in the beauty, financial and consumer products sectors.

    Hind Sebti is the co-founder and Chief Growth Officer of Waldencast. Ms. Sebti has more than 20 years of experience leading and managing beauty brands across multiple categories and stages during her tenures at L’Oréal and Procter & Gamble. Ms. Sebti co-founded Waldencast Ventures alongside Mr. Brousset in 2019. Ms. Sebti brings in-depth knowledge and understanding of the beauty industry as well as consumer insights to identify and invest in the next-generation beauty brands. Importantly, Ms. Sebti plays a key role in helping portfolio brands scale, leveraging her extensive multi-category and brand management experience. Previously, Ms. Sebti also served as Chief Executive Officer of Waldencast Brands, a subsidiary of Waldencast Ventures, to incubate and commercialize new brands, where she led the brand creation process, with a focus on creative and operational optimization, through all stages from conception and product development to go-to-market strategy.

    Kelly Brookie retired from Deloitte in 2020 with over 25 years of experience in financial accounting and reporting, internal controls and governance matters. As an Audit Partner, Ms. Brookie worked with companies on accounting and auditing matters, transactions, transformation and strategic risks. At Deloitte, Ms. Brookie served consumer products, manufacturing, distribution, and retail companies. Throughout her career, she has performed audit services for public and private companies as well as gained experience with audit committees in performing the required communications and procedures. She is active in supporting multiple non-profit organizations, including serving on Boards and committees. Ms. Brookie is a Certified Public Accountant and a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. She received her Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science from the University of Washington and a Master of Accounting from University of Southern California. Ms. Brookie will be serving as a member of the Audit and Governance Committee.

    Roberto Thompson Motta received a BS in Mechanical Engineering from Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro and an MBA from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. Mr. Thompson was a co-founder and board member of 3G Capital, a global investment firm headquartered in New York. Mr. Thompson is currently a strategic advisor to the Board of Directors of AB InBev and has served as board member since 2004. Mr. Thompson has also served on the Board of Directors of AmBev S.A., Restaurant Brands International, Lojas Americanas S.A., São Carlos Empreendimentos e Participações S.A. and StoneCo Ltd. He was one of the founding partners of GP Investments Ltd. and a member of its Board of Directors until 2010. Mr. Thompson is a member of The Graduate Executive Board of The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, and of The International Council of The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. He is also a Patron of the Museum of Modern Art of São Paulo. Mr. Thompson will be serving as a member of the Finance Committee.

    Felipe Dutra, Chairman of the Board stated: “We are pleased to announce that Hind, Kelly and Roberto are joining our Board of Directors. Each bring distinct and diverse skill sets that we believe will be highly valuable to us as we execute our long-term vision. These appointments reflect the Company’s commitment to maintaining a strong and diverse Board and we look forward to their collective contributions as we execute the strategy that maximizes the power, performance and growth of our brands.”

    The Company extends its sincere thanks to Ms. Brown for her dedicated service and valuable contributions during her tenure, including in her role as chair of the Company’s Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee as well as member of the Audit Committee.

    Annual General Meeting

    The Company will hold its 2024 annual meeting of shareholders (the “Annual General Meeting”) on October 28, 2024, at 5:00 p.m. BST, at Michelin House, 81 Fulham Rd., London SW3 6RD, United Kingdom. Only those persons entered on the register of members of the Company as at September 24, 2024 (the “Record Date”) shall be entitled to attend or vote at the Annual General Meeting in respect of the number of shares registered in their name at that time. As of the Record Date, the Company had 122,584,658 ordinary shares outstanding, consisting of 111,518,130 Class A ordinary shares outstanding and 11,066,528 Class B ordinary shares outstanding.

    Materials made available in connection with the Annual General Meeting are available on the Company’s website at https://ir.waldencast.com/financial-information/annual-meeting.

    About Waldencast plc

    Founded by Michel Brousset and Hind Sebti, Waldencast’s ambition is to build a global best-in-class beauty and wellness operating platform by developing, acquiring, accelerating, and scaling conscious, high-growth purpose-driven brands. Waldencast’s vision is fundamentally underpinned by its brand-led business model that ensures proximity to its customers, business agility, and market responsiveness, while maintaining each brand’s distinct DNA. The first step in realizing its vision was the business combination with Obagi Medical and Milk Makeup. As part of the Waldencast platform, its brands will benefit from the operational scale of a multi-brand platform; the expertise in managing global beauty brands at scale; a balanced portfolio to mitigate category fluctuations; asset light efficiency; and the market responsiveness and speed of entrepreneurial indie brands. For more information please visit: https://ir.waldencast.com/.

    Obagi Medical is an industry-leading, advanced skin care line rooted in research and skin biology, refined with a legacy of 35 years’ experience. First known as leaders in the treatment of hyperpigmentation with the Obagi Medical Nu-Derm® System, Obagi Medical products are designed to diminish the appearance of premature aging, photodamage, skin discoloration, acne, and sun damage. More information about Obagi Medical is available on the brand’s website at http://www.obagi.com.

    Founded in 2016, Milk Makeup quickly became a cult-favorite among the beauty community for its values of self-expression and inclusion, captured by its signature Live Your Look, its innovative formulas and clean ingredients. The brand creates vegan, cruelty-free, clean formulas from its Milk Makeup HQ in Downtown NYC. Currently, Milk Makeup offers over 300 products through its US website http://www.MilkMakeup.com, and its retail partners including Sephora in North America, Europe, the Middle East and Australia and Cult Beauty and Selfridges in the UK.

    Contacts:

    Investors
    ICR
    Allison Malkin
    waldencastir@icrinc.com

    Media
    ICR
    Brittney Fraser/Alecia Pulman
    waldencast@icrinc.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: High range drink driver arrested- Launceston

    Source: Tasmania Police

    High range drink driver arrested- Launceston

    Tuesday, 8 October 2024 – 9:11 am.

    A 45 year old man has been arrested and charged following a drink driving incident in Launceston recently.
    Police received numerous calls about the man driving a white Ford Ranger in an erratic manner through Launceston on Friday 4 October, causing several crashes in Launceston and Nunamara.
    Police arrested the man in Launceston a short time later where he returned a breath analysis reading of .202 (over four times the legal limit).
    The man was immediately disqualified from driving for 12 months, was charged with driving offences and will appear in the Launceston Magistrates Court at a later date.
    Acting Sergeant Caitlin Rawlings said one driver doing the wrong thing, was one too many.
    “Police will continue to conduct targeted high visibility traffic operations, however road users can expect to see us anywhere, anytime,” she said.
    “Being caught doing the wrong thing is one risk, but causing a crash that results in serious injury or death is a far more serious consequence. Police are committed to enforcing the road rules, to keep people as safe as possible on our roads – but we can’t do it alone.
    “If you’re out on the roads we need you to pay attention, buckle up, watch your speed, rest if you’re tired, and never drink drive.”

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Capital Gains Tax… Again

    Source: ACT Party

    The Haps

    Devastation in Dunedin and the loss of HMNZS Manawanui are hurting New Zealanders in different ways. They also underline what Free Press argued last week, that the Government needs to think hard about its capital assets. It holds over half a trillion in assets, but does it own the right things, do core infrastructure and defence need more commitment? Meanwhile we’ve received voluminous praise for David Seymour’s performance Q+A with Jack Tame last week.

    Capital Gains Tax… Again

    ANZ CEO Antonia Watson revived the unending debate about a capital gains tax for New Zealand. Free Press welcomes business leaders talking about public policy. We’d all benefit if they did it more. Too often we hear business leaders say things privately that we wish they’d say publicly but they’re usually too afraid of criticism.

    We just don’t agree with Watson about the capital gains tax. It always seems to be a band-aid for concerns about housing, but it won’t fix that, and what New Zealanders really need is more capital. This week, once more with feeling, Free Press goes through the usual arguments for a capital gains tax and sets out why they’re wrong.

    Perhaps the worst argument for a capital gains tax is ‘everyone else has one.’ Practically every other Government imposes a capital gains tax on its citizens, except the Swiss Federal Government. Being like Switzerland can’t be the worst thing for the New Zealand economy.

    Even if ours was the only Government not levying a capital gains tax on its citizens, the argument still doesn’t work. Governments do silly things all over the world, and we don’t need to copy every one of them.

    Others say the Government needs the money. We’d argue that it needs to spend better, and it is improving, but there is better evidence the Government doesn’t need more money, at least not from a capital gains tax.

    The New Zealand Government is the second biggest taxer in the Asia Pacific region (behind Japan) with total revenues of 33.8 per cent of GDP. Every Asia-Pacific Government has a Capital Gains Tax. It’s difficult to argue a Government raising more revenue than dozens of Governments with capital gains taxes needs a capital gains tax for lack of money.

    Then there’s the fairness argument. People who make money from capital should pay tax like people who work for their money. Sounds fair, but the reality is capital gains are already caught by income tax.

    Anyone who buys a farm, a business, or a property is really buying a stream of income in the future. That income is taxed. A company with future income worth $10 million before tax is not worth $10 million though. It is only worth the after-tax income. You’ll be lucky to get $7 million. You’ll already lose $3 million-odd, that’s the tax that whoever buys it will pay.

    Putting a tax on the price of the asset each time it’s sold is just nasty. The argument with housing is that house prices go up regardless of how much rental income they produce.

    People even claim a capital gains tax would make housing more affordable. Any realistic capital gains tax would apply to all businesses, but only to houses you don’t live in. Nobody who wants a capital gains tax wants one ‘on the family home.’ On balance it would be more of a tax on businesses than on houses, so much for shifting investment away from housing.

    Maybe it would at least stop ‘speculators’ from pushing up house prices by buying ‘more houses than they need to live in’? Unlikely when the new tax has gone on every other kind of investment, too.

    Just like L.A., London, Sydney, Hong Kong, and Vancouver have all had outrageous house prices with a capital gains tax, a capital gains tax won’t make housing affordable in Auckland. Prices are set by supply and demand, and so long as supply doesn’t keep up with demand, prices will rise.

    A capital gains tax really just makes the Government a silent partner in property investment, it doesn’t change the underlying fundamentals of the housing market. It certainly doesn’t comfort a first home buyer to know that the Government took a share of their eye-watering purchase price.

    We hope these arguments are helpful for repelling demands for a capital gains tax. They’re technical though. The real question is whether the goal is to grow the pie, or divide the pie?

    If you think New Zealand can’t get any richer, and it’s just a matter of pulling the ‘rich’ down a peg or two and dividing up the wealth, maybe it’s time to talk about a new tax. On the other hand, maybe it’s time to shelve the distraction, acknowledge our lack of a CGT is a strength, and get back to making New Zealand wealthier overall.

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    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: DELIVERY OF AMMUNITION CUM TORPEDO CUM MISSILE BARGE, LSAM 21 (YARD 131)

    Source: Government of India

    Posted On: 04 OCT 2024 9:39PM by PIB Delhi

    The delivery of ‘Ammunition Cum Torpedo Cum Missile Barge, LSAM 21’, 7th Barge of 11 x ACTCM Barge Project, built by MSME Shipyard, M/s Suryadipta Projects Pvt Ltd, Thane for Indian Navy, was undertaken on 04 Oct 24 at Naval Dockyard, Mumbai for NAD(Karanja). The Induction Ceremony was presided over by Cmde SV Shidore, AGM (PR), ND (Mbi). 

    The contract for building 11 X ACTCM Barge was signed between MoD and M/s Suryadipta Projects Pvt Ltd, Thane on 05 Mar 21. Induction of these Barges would provide impetus to operational commitments of IN by facilitating Transportation, Embarkation and Disembarkation of articles/ ammunition to IN Platforms both alongside jetties and at outer harbours.

    These Barges are indigenously designed and built under relevant Naval Rules and Regulation of Indian Register of Shipping. The model testing of the Barge during design stage was undertaken at Naval Science and Technological Laboratory, Visakhapatnam. These Barges are proud flag bearers of Make in India initiative of Government of India.

    _______________________________________________________________

    VM/SKY              

    (Release ID: 2062253) Visitor Counter : 62

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Police investigate fatal Beaconsfield crash

    Source: Tasmania Police

    Police investigate fatal Beaconsfield crash

    Saturday, 5 October 2024 – 7:24 am.

    Police are investigating a fatal vehicle crash that occurred on Weld Street Beaconsfield at approximately 5pm on Friday 4/10/2024.
    A blue Mitsubishi was being driven in a southerly direction, on Weld Street, by a 44-year-old Beaconsfield woman, when the vehicle collided with a tree. Tragically the driver died at the scene.
    A 20-year-old woman was walking along the roadside at the time of the crash, and she was also injured. The woman is currently in the Launceston General Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
    Police will be preparing a report for the coroner.
    Police offer heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of the deceased woman and also would like to thank the members of the community who assisted both victims at the scene.
    Anyone with information, or who saw the blue Mitsubishi driving in Beaconsfield prior to the crash, is asked to contact police on 131 444 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or at crimestopperstas.com.au. Information can be provided anonymously.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: DLNR News Release – KAHAUALEʻA NATURAL AREA RESERVE REOPENS, October 4, 2024

    Source: US State of Hawaii

    DLNR News Release – KAHAUALEʻA NATURAL AREA RESERVE REOPENS, October 4, 2024

    Posted on Oct 4, 2024 in Latest Department News, Newsroom

    DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES

    JOSH GREEN, M.D.
    GOVERNOR

    DAWN CHANG
    CHAIRPERSON

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

    October 4, 2024

    KAHAUALEʻA NATURAL AREA RESERVE TO REOPEN FOLLOWING VOLCANIC ACTIVITY

    (HILO) – Access is being restored to Kahaualeʻa Natural Area Reserve on Hawaiʻi Island, effective October 4, 2024 at noon. The Kahaualeʻa Trail, also known as the Captain’s Trail, will also reopen at the same time.

    The reserve was closed in mid-September due to unsafe conditions related to volcanic activity at Kīlauea Volcano. That activity has subsided, allowing restoration of public access. DLNR’s Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW) encourages visitors to Kahaualeʻa to check eruption information from the U.S. Geological Survey Hawaiian Volcano Observatory web page before visiting.

    For general information about closures of trails and Natural Area Reserves on the Big Island, call DOFAW at 808-974-4221.

    # # # 

    RESOURCES 

    (All images/video courtesy: DLNR) 

    Kīlauea eruption information: http://volcano.wr.usgs.gov/hvostatus.php

    Kahaualeʻa Natural Area Reserve: https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/ecosystems/nars/hawaii-island/kahaualea-2/

    Kahaualeʻa Trail: https://hawaiitrails.ehawaii.gov/trails/#/trail/kahaualea/291

    Media Contact: 

    Patti Jette

    Communications Specialist

    808-587-0396

    [email protected]

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: USAID Announces Additional Support to Pacific Island Countries

    Source: USAID

    Today in Suva, Fiji, Deputy Administrator Isobel Coleman, as head of an interagency U.S. delegation to the Pacific, announced that USAID intends to provide more than $4 million in additional support to strengthen inclusive and sustainable economic growth in the Pacific and increase efforts to help Pacific Island countries withstand the effects of climate change. 

    Mobilizing Public-Private Partnerships for Sustainable Tuna Fisheries

    USAID is investing $3 million under its EDGE Fund to unleash private sector-led solutions to global development challenges. This funding will accelerate the pace and scale of investments, including public-private sector partnerships, in the fisheries sector so that Pacific Island countries can more directly benefit from the global tuna value chain. Inspired by Pacific Island Tuna (PIT), a cooperative of Pacific Island Nations and The Nature Conservancy that supplies sustainably sourced tuna, this funding will support efforts to sustainably catch and manage tuna to protect the long-term health of this critical resource. Additionally, the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC), in partnership with USAID and the Australia Infrastructure Finance Facility for the Pacific (AIFFP), intends to announce a new private sector investment in the fishery sector in the Republic of the Marshall Islands in the coming months.

    To complement this effort, USAID is launching a series of comprehensive roundtable discussions to convene public, private, and civil society stakeholders to advance the Pacific Island countries’ goals of increased monitoring and dockside offloading in order to more actively and equitably participate in the tuna value chain. 

    Supporting disaster preparedness and climate adaptation in Fiji

    To build locally-led disaster risk reduction, USAID’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance is providing nearly $1.2 million to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) to work closely with its implementing partner, Fiji Red Cross, on an innovative disaster resilience program in Fiji. This initiative will empower 15 remote, high-risk communities through smart climate adaptation activities. The IFRC and Fiji Red Cross will develop community action plans, implement early warning systems, conduct disaster simulations, provide first aid training, and address protection issues with a focus on gender equality. This program aims to create a lasting impact, empowering Fijians to lead their own disaster risk reduction efforts for years to come.

    Continuing Support for Climate Resilience and Women’s Economic Empowerment

    Since launching the up to $50 million Microfinance Facility for micro, small-, and medium-enterprises across the Pacific Islands during the US-Pacific Island Forum Summit in 2023, DFC and USAID have now identified four target institutions to receive support to advance climate resilience and women’s economic empowerment across the region.

    Unlocking Sustainable Economic Growth

    In 2025, USAID will launch a program to support public financial management and domestic resource mobilization; facilitate greater trade and private investment; support local small- and medium-enterprises; and improve business resiliency in the Pacific Islands region. This effort will follow through on USAID commitments made at the 2023 Pacific Islands Forum-U.S. Summit.

    Signing the Bilateral Framework Agreement Between USAID and the Government of Fiji

    Deputy Administrator Coleman also witnessed the signing of the bilateral framework agreement between USAID and the Government of Fiji. This Agreement demonstrates the United States’ commitment to the Pacific and further solidifies our Pacific Islands regional mission’s presence in Suva, Fiji. USAID Pacific Islands oversees programs in nine Pacific Island countries: Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Samoa, Tonga, Tuvalu, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, and Palau.

    These announcements reflect USAID’s enduring commitment to listen, partner, and deliver – together with Pacific Island countries. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Serious Crash at Port Elliott

    Source: South Australia Police

    Just after 1.30am this morning (Saturday 5 October), police and emergency services were called to North Terrace, Port Elliot in relation to a blue Ford sedan which had collided with a group of people out the front of licensed premises before leaving the area.

    Upon arrival, police identified numerous victims and also had a number of witnesses come forward providing information in relation to the vehicle involved.

    A short time later, the driver of the suspect vehicle returned to the scene and was promptly arrested by local patrols. The 37-year-old man has since been taken to the Christies Beach Police station where he is currently being interviewed by detectives and is likely to be charged later today.

    The vehicle believed to have been involved in the incident was located nearby on Sturt Street.

    A 21-year-old man from Goolwa Beach, a 37-year-old woman from Port Elliott, a 20-year-old woman from Inman Valley and a 30-year-old man from Blackwood were all treated at hospital for minor injuries.

    A 22-year-old man from Hindmarsh Island received serious life-threatening injuries and was flown to Adelaide where he remains in hospital.

    North Terrace will remain closed for most of the day whilst the scene is examined. Diversions are in place, and members of the public are advised to be patient when driving in the area.

    Anyone who witnessed the incident or may have CCTV of the incident is asked to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a tip online at http://www.crimestopperssa.com.au

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI USA News: President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. Amends South Carolina Disaster  Declaration

    Source: The White House

    Today, President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. made additional disaster assistance available to the State of South Carolina by authorizing an increase in the level of Federal funding for emergency work undertaken in the State of South Carolina as a result of Hurricane Helene beginning on September 25, 2024, and continuing.

    Under the President’s order today, Federal funds for debris removal and emergency protective measures, including direct Federal assistance has been increased to 100 percent of the total eligible costs for a period of 90 days of the State’s choosing within the first 120 days from the start of the incident period.

    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION MEDIA SHOULD CONTACT THE  FEMA NEWS DESK AT (202) 646-3272 OR FEMA-NEWS-DESK@FEMA.DHS.GOV.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA News: President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. Approves Disaster Declaration for the San Carlos Apache  Tribe

    Source: The White House

    Today, President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. declared that a major disaster exists for the San Carlos Apache Tribe ordered federal aid to supplement the Tribal Nation’s efforts in the areas affected by the Watch Fire from July 10 to July 17, 2024.

    The President’s action makes Federal funding available to affected individuals for the San Carlos Apache Tribe.

    Assistance can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses, and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster.

    Federal funding also is available to the San Carlos Apache Tribe and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and the repair or replacement of facilities damaged by the Watch Fire.

    Lastly, Federal funding is available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures for the San Carlos Apache Tribe.

    Mr. Benigno Ruiz of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has been appointed to coordinate Federal recovery operations in the affected areas. 

    Additional designations may be made at a later date if requested by the Tribal Nation and warranted by the results of further damage assessments.

    Residents and business owners who sustained losses in the designated areas can begin applying for assistance at http://www.DisasterAssistance.gov, by calling 800-621-FEMA (3362), or by using the FEMA App. Anyone using a relay service, such as video relay service (VRS), captioned telephone service or others, can give FEMA the number for that service. 

    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION MEDIA SHOULD CONTACT THE FEMA NEWS DESK AT (202) 646-3272 OR FEMA-NEWS-DESK@FEMA.DHS.GOV.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Danala opens as the future of higher education in Darwin

    Source: Australian Ministers 1

    It’s an important day for higher education in the Northern Territory with the official opening of Danala, the new Charles Darwin University Education and Community Precinct campus.

    Next semester, the new campus will throw its doors open to students, delivering courses in information technology, software engineering, law, accounting and more. 

    Students studying at Danala will be welcomed by first-class facilities in a modern, spacious environment, centrally located, close to public transport and retail facilities.

    Danala will feature two levels open to the public, including a new library co-locating the Charles Darwin University and Northern Territory Library collections – and will also support entertainment and events in the Darwin CBD.

    The opening of Danala is the culmination of over half a million work hours through the planning and construction phases, and provided over 1,500 jobs including nearly 1,000 for Territorians. First Nations employees comprised 12 per cent of the workforce, exceeding 70,000 work hours.

    The facility is expected to create 54 new direct jobs, as well as ongoing benefits across the broader Darwin CBD and community.  

    The $239.8 million project was supported with $97.3 million from the Australian Government and a $126.5 million loan from the Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility with Charles Darwin University contributing the remainder of the funding. 

    Quotes attributable to Federal Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Minister Catherine King:

    “It’s been a privilege to see the development of this extraordinary campus over the past few years. 

    “Its construction has created over 1000 jobs for Territorians, and Danala’s completion is now revitalising the Darwin CBD and honouring Larrakia culture. 

    “Australia is known globally as a leader in world-class education and campuses like Danala mean that our students can access world-class facilities, no matter where they live.”

    Quotes attributable to Minister for Education Jason Clare: 

    “This modern, state of the art facility will make CDU an even better place to study.

    “It is great news for students, staff and the Top End.”

    Quotes attributable to Federal Minister for Northern Australia Madeleine King:

    “This is another example of NAIF investment creating jobs and driving economic growth across northern Australia. 

    “A strong north means a strong Australia.”

    Quotes attributable to Member for Solomon Luke Gosling:

    “We said we’d deliver more community infrastructure in Darwin and Palmerston and that’s exactly what we’re doing.

    “As part of the Darwin City Deal, NAIF generously provided a loan of over $126.5 million towards the ECP.

    “Supporting projects like the new city campus supports Territorians, creating more jobs for locals and opportunities for local businesses. 

    “Danala will be a centre of educational excellence, attracting students from all over the country—and the world—to live, work, and study in the centre of Darwin.”

    Quotes attributable to CDU Vice-Chancellor Scott Bowman: 

    “Danala will stand as a beacon for Darwin, proudly showcasing the city as an education hub. 

    “This precinct will attract students from across Australia, around the world, and most importantly, from across the Northern Territory.

    “Danala will serve as a hub where ideas flourish and connections are made, reinforcing our commitment to being Australia’s most connected university.”

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. Amends Virginia Disaster  Declaration

    US Senate News:

    Source: The White House
    Today, President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. made additional disaster assistance available to the Commonwealth of Virginia by authorizing an increase in the level of Federal funding for emergency work undertaken in the Commonwealth of Virginia as a result of Tropical Storm Helene beginning on September 25, 2024, and continuing.
    Under the President’s order today, Federal funds for debris removal and emergency protective measures, including direct Federal assistance has been increased to 100 percent of the total eligible costs for a period of 90 days of the Commonwealth’s choosing within the first 120 days from the start of the incident period. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION MEDIA SHOULD CONTACT THE  FEMA NEWS DESK AT (202) 646-3272 OR FEMA-NEWS-DESK@FEMA.DHS.GOV

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: IPhsa at ICMM: Strengthening Indo-Pacific Health Security

    Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

    BRISBANE, Australia  –  

    During the International Committee for Military Medicine (ICMM) 45th World Congress “Military Medicine Shaping Global Health” held in Brisbane from September 22-27, 2024, the Indo-Pacific health security alliance (IPhsa) hosted a session co-chaired by the Australian Defence Force (ADF) and U.S. Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM). This gathering brought together regional and international stakeholders to discuss strategies for enhancing health security and future collaboration.

    Key session highlights included the announcement of the next IPhsa event in Papua New Guinea (PNG) in 2025, as well as the continued participation of the African Partnership Outbreak Response Alliance (APORA) in sharing lessons learned. These discussions focused on best practices and expanding partnerships to address health threats in the Indo-Pacific.

    CAPT Jeffrey Bitterman of INDOPACOM opened the session by emphasizing the critical importance of regional cooperation to address evolving health threats, including infectious diseases and natural disasters.

    “By building health security capacity, together, we foster global stability, will cultivate key partnerships and mitigate harmful influences and enhance readiness in our collective interoperability. Collaboration with public health authorities, media organizations and other stakeholders is also crucial for building public trust and health security efforts”. – CAPT Bitterman, U.S. INDOPACOM Command Surgeon.

    He underscored IPhsa’s milestones, such as the 2022 signing of the Memorandum of Cooperation and the 2024 Terms of Reference, which formalized military-civilian partnerships. He highlighted that strengthening preparedness and interoperability across sectors is key to protecting public health and maintaining regional stability.

    A pre-recorded message from Mr. Ludy Prapancha Suryantoro of the World Health Organization emphasized the need for enhanced civil-military collaboration in health emergencies. He introduced the Civil-Military Mapping tool, designed to improve coordination and identify gaps in health emergency preparedness, especially in biosecurity/laboratories, CBRN, one health and disaster response.

    ADF’s AIRCDRE Nicole dos Santos closed the session by reflecting on the significance of global health security as a cornerstone of national and regional safety. She drew upon themes of interconnectedness, referencing the term “Ubuntu” to highlight shared humanity and collective responsibility. AIRCDR dos Santos emphasized the growing convergence of geopolitical, geostrategic, and geoeconomic factors, noting the need for a multilateral, whole-of-government approach to health security. She celebrated IPhsa’s role in fostering collaboration between military and civilian sectors and called for sustained partnerships to face global challenges.

    “Leading to improved global health security, we are very privileged to be a founding member of the alliance, and we look forward to contributing to the development of the Indo Pacific health security alliance over the coming years. As we progress and mature, we would like to welcome more of you to join the alliance and work with us to improve the health security of our region and our world for those who follow.” – AIRCDRE dos Santos, Director General Operational Health – Joint Health Command

    As the session concluded, participants echoed the call for stronger cooperation and looked ahead to the upcoming IPhsa meeting in PNG in 2025, emphasizing the need for continued collaboration to bolster regional health resilience.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Unexplained death at Mount Gambier

    Source: South Australia Police

    Limestone Coast police are investigating an unexplained death at Mount Gambier.

    Just before 8am on Saturday 5 October police and emergency services were called to a property on Lake Terrace East after reports a woman was unconscious at the address.

    On police arrival they located a 52-year-old woman who sadly could not be revived.

    Mount Gambier police are speaking with a 53-year-old male who is assisting with enquiries.

    Anyone who has any information that may assist the investigation is asked to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or online at http://www.crimestopperssa.com.au

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Man arrested for drug offences

    Source: South Australia Police

    As a result of the public statement made on social media by MP David Speirs in which he reveals he had been arrested, police can confirm that on September 26 2024 Mr Speirs was arrested at Berri and charged with two counts of supplying a controlled substance between August 2 and 3 and on August 9.

    Following this his residential premises was subsequently searched. Mr Speirs was given police bail and will appear in court at a later date.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Hurricane Helene update #8 from Congressman Edwards

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Chuck Edwards (NC-11)

    Dear Friend,

    We are turning a corner. Resources are here, the community is coming together, and it has been made very clear that victims are not in this recovery effort alone. Let me repeat that: You are not alone, and you will not have to recover from this hurricane alone.

    I want to start today’s update by applauding every single person who has reached out to offer aid, traveled to Western North Carolina to help, donated their time, money, or supplies, or prayed for the people of these mountains.

    For every new community I have visited over the past week, I have seen dozens of new volunteers serving North Carolinians in need, and this help isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. Volunteers, you depict hope, which is something that has been desperately needed in NC-11 over the past week. Thank you.

    Today’s update is jam packed. New information or resources have been added in just about every category and I’ve added a few completely new categories as well. These include resources for farmers, prescription access for veterans and the uninsured, new federal nutrition program flexibilities, and arguably most in-demand – resources for how to vote in a post-Hurricane Helene environment.

    Today is update number eight and I will, of course, be continuing to provide you with more information over the coming days and weeks. 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.
      • 96 water systems are on a boil advisory.
      • 37 treatment plants have reported having no power and 41 systems are out of water.
        • Water restoration trends continue to move in a positive direction.
    • The state of North Carolina is continuing to provide a minimum of 40 trailer loads of water and 20 trailer loads of food daily through at least October 6, per their promise to the people of Western North Carolina.
    • The Federal Emergency Management Agency has promised 120 truckloads a day of food and water with no specified end date.
      • To date, FEMA has delivered 5.4 million meals and 6.3 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.
    • Walmart will also be hosting activities at the following locations:
      • Hendersonville, NC Store 1242
        • 250 Highlands Square Dr., Hendersonville, NC 28792
          • Portable restrooms
          • 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
      • Resource pick-up locations are listed below by county. As I learn more, I will keep you posted:
        • 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.
        • 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:
            • 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
          • 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 takes place daily, starting at 9:00 a.m., at the following locations:
            • Etowah Elementary: 320 Etowah School Rd., Etowah, NC 28729
            • Rugby Middle School: 3345 Haywood Rd., Hendersonville, NC 28791
            • 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.
        • Madison County
          • The following locations are offering food and water distribution in Madison County:
            • 5580 US-25, Marshall, NC 28753
            • 225 Carl Eller Rd., Mars Hill, NC 28754
            • 63 N. Serpentine Ave., Hot Springs, NC 28743
        • 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:
            • Hicks Chapel Church
              • 6008 US 221 N., Marion, NC 28752
            • Former TJ’s Discounts
              • 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
              • 7860 NC 226 S., Nebo, NC 28761
          • 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.
        • Polk County
          • The following locations are offering food and water distribution for residents in need:
            • 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
            • The Roseland Center
              • 56 Peake St., Tryon, NC 28782
        • 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 – also has bathroom and shower stations
              • 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., 4:30 p.m., and 6:30 p.m.
            • 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

    • Additionally, the following counties have resources for where to take debris waste.
      • 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, as of noon on Tuesday, October 1
      • 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.

    • 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:
          • Barnardsville – 28709
          • Cedar Mountain – 28718
          • Hot Springs – 28743
          • Rosman – 28772
          • Swannanoa – 28778
        • 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
            • Daily hours M-F: 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., closed 12:00-1:00 p.m.
          • Edneyville – 28727
            • 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.
        • The following sites are attempting delivery where safe to do so:
          • Arden – 28704
          • Asheville London Rd. – 28803
          • Asheville S&DC – 28810
          • Black Mountain – 28711
          • Brevard – 28712
          • Burnsville – 28714
          • Candler – 28715
          • Clyde – 28721
          • Columbus – 28722
          • East Flat Rock – 28726
          • Etowah – 28729
          • Fairview – 2873
          • Fletcher – 28732
          • Hendersonville Annex – 28792
          • Horse Shoe – 28742
          • Lake Toxaway (cash only/PO box) – 28747
          • Marion – 28752
          • Mars Hill – 28754
          • Old Fort – 28762
          • Rutherfordton – 28139
          • Saluda – 28773
          • Sapphire – 28774
          • Spruce Pine – 28777
          • Tryon – 28782
          • Weaverville – 28787
        • 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.
    • 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.

    • 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

    • 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.
    • On Monday, October 7, at 11:00 a.m., USDA is hosting a virtual briefing to share information on disaster assistance programs.
      • You can join the event on Microsoft Teams using this link.
      • Add the event to your calendar: Google, iCal, or Outlook.

    • 174,000 customers remain without power in Western North Carolina.
      • Duke Energy is on track to restore an additional 27,000 customers by Sunday evening, October 6.
        • The remaining outages are in the hardest-hit areas of Western North Carolina.
      • In the areas where catastrophic damage exists, 105,000 customers are without power.
        • Duke Energy is working closely with the state on plans to address these areas as quickly as possible.
      • The number of customers seeing their power turn back on each day is slowing, but that is only because Duke Energy has been conducting significant work to repair and bring back online the 360 substations that were damaged or destroyed by Hurricane Helene.
        • The substations are the backbone of our energy grid.
        • Once restored, service for private homeowners and businesses will rapidly begin to come back online.
      • So far, 95 percent of substations have been restored and significant substation work is continuing today.
      • Power for the Greenwood Rock Quarry has been restored.
        • Restoration of the quarry’s power will help NCDOT to address gravel needs for road repairs.
      • 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.
    • NCDOT continues to make steady progress reopening roads in response to Hurricane Helene.
      • New road reopenings include:
        • U.S. 19 – Partially open with two-lane two-way traffic into Tennessee
        • U.S. 321 – Cleared to the Tennessee line with a few one-lane stretches.
        • Bee Tree Road
          • Clearing of this road has restored critical access to the reservoir in Buncombe County.
    • NCDOT is partnering with Duke Energy to reopen roads leading to their substations to restore power.
    • In addition to repair and debris removal efforts, NCDOT has provided support and helped coordinate relief efforts for many agencies near or in storm-impacted areas.
      • As of Friday, October 4, there has successfully been:
        • 472 evacuation trips
        • 2,003 people transported to safety
        • 523 trips to shelters
        • 2,076 people transported to the shelters
    • Air traffic has increased 300% in Western North Carolina since Helene recovery began.
      • NCDOT’s aviation division is working 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.Air traffic has increased 300 percent in Western North Carolina since Helene recovery began.
        • 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.
    • The United States Forest Service is now and has been active in the Pisgah and Nantahala National Forests for the last few days.
      • USFS’ primary mission is gaining access to remote communities through the forest.
        • This access is being used to:
          • Supplement normal transportation routes
          • Help isolated communities get their water systems back online
    • 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 diligently working with local energy and cell providers to restore service for customers across Western North Carolina.
    • 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

    • Even though you may have service again, you may notice it is different from your pre-storm service.
      • The temporary connection links put in place as a temporary fix while the fiber is being repaired can accommodate smaller amounts of traffic.
        • Network capacity on temporary connection links may be maxed out more frequently, so service providers are encouraging customers to use the network sparingly to maintain room for first responders and community members who still need to reach help or critical resources.
        • Support and recovery personnel are also encouraged to minimize cell usage.
      • Service providers are working to add additional capacity to cell sites and move mobile assets where needed to accommodate data increases, so I am requesting a little more patience on their behalf as providers work to fully restore our community’s network.
    • 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.
    • 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
      • 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) in Asheville, 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
    • 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.

    • More than 1,475 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.
    • Further, more than 525 vehicles, including 90 high-water vehicles, and 50 rotary wing assets have been deployed to Western NC.
      • Georgia, Virginia, Kentucky, South Carolina and Ft. Liberty have all sent helicopters to assist with aerial initiatives in NC-11.
    • As of the afternoon of October 3, the National Guard has:
      • Rescued more than 1,000 Western North Carolinians, including almost 200 by hoist, and 150 animals.
      • Delivered nearly 2 million lbs. of resources to impacted communities by air.
    • The National Guard is continuing C-17 transport of supplies to Asheville.
    • 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).
      • Many of these soldiers have arrived in Western North Carolina and are supporting the delivery of food, water and other critical aid to communities impacted by Hurricane Helene.
        • 400 soldiers have already been stationed in Western North Carolina, with hundreds of others being positioned nearby to await directives while logistics are being finalized.
      • The Department of Defense has also committed 22 helicopters to assist with search and rescue operations.
        • Seven CH-47 Chinook helicopters from Ft. Liberty have already been flying resupply missions for the past two days.
    • 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, 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 $17 million in housing and other types of assistance to more than 19,000 North Carolina households.

    • 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.

    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
        • YMCA of Western North Carolina
          • 348 Grace Corpening Dr., Marion, NC 28752
      • Polk
        • Polk County High School
          • 1681 NC 108 Hwy. E., Columbus, NC 28722
      • Rutherford
        • Rutherfordton/Spindale Central High School
          • 641 US 221 Hwy. N., Rutherfordton, NC 28139
      • Transylvania
        • Transylvania Parks & Rec
          • 1078 Ecusta Rd., Brevard, NC 28712
      • Yancey
        • Cane River Middle School
          • 1128 Cane River School Rd., Burnsville, NC 28714

    With my warmest regards,

    Chuck Edwards
    Member of Congress

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA News: Interested Parties Memo: Fighting Hurricane Helene Falsehoods with  Facts

    Source: The White House

    Senior Advisor to the President and Communications Director Ben LaBolt, and Director of Digital Strategy Christian Tom

    Under President Biden and Vice President Harris’s direction, the Administration has mobilized a robust, intensive, and whole-of-government effort to respond to the impacts of Hurricane Helene. This includes extensive pre-landfall preparations, as well as an immediate surge of additional resources and personnel to impacted communities. More than 6,400 Federal personnel are on the ground, and more than $110 million in Federal assistance has been given to survivors, with more to come. We are sparing no resource as we work to ensure communities across the Southeast have prompt access to Federal resources that will enable them to both purchase essential items and begin their road to recovery and rebuilding.

    Unfortunately, as our response and recovery efforts continue, we have seen a large increase in false information circulating online related to the federal response to Hurricane Helene. A number of scam artists, bad-faith actors, and others who want to sow chaos because they think it helps their political interests are promoting disinformation about the recovery effort, including ways to access critical and live-saving resources. This is wrong, dangerous, and it must stop immediately.

    Combatting misinformation and disinformation is always important – but it is especially important when responding to disasters like Hurricane Helene. In fact, disinformation after a hurricane or other natural disaster can discourage people from seeking critical assistance when they need it most. It is imperative that we encourage impacted residents to register for FEMA assistance, not discourage it, by allowing falsehoods to spread.

    Leaders from across the country, including local, state, and federal elected officials in both parties, are pleading with people to stop sharing “this junk.”

    1. CNN: With misinformation swirling in Hurricane Helene’s wake, officials urge residents to ‘stop this conspiracy theory junk’
    2. HuffPost: North Carolina Republican Pleads To End Right-Wing Conspiracy Theories About Helene Disaster Recovery
    3. The Hill: Tennessee mayor on FEMA attacks post-Helene: ‘Quit spreading those rumors’
    4. WVLT: ‘A lot of misinformation’ | Gov. Lee, FEMA address donation rumors

    Here are some of the falsehoods being spread online – and the facts we are fighting back with:

    FALSEHOOD: Disaster relief funds were used on immigrants in the U.S. illegally.

    FACT: No money is being diverted from disaster response needs. None. FEMA’s disaster response efforts and individual assistance is funded through the Disaster Relief Fund, which is a dedicated fund for disaster efforts. Disaster Relief Fund money has not been diverted to other, non-disaster related efforts.

    1. Washington Post: No, Biden didn’t take FEMA relief money to use on migrants — but Trump did
    2. NBC News: False claims about FEMA disaster funds and migrants pushed by Trump
    3. CNN: ‘This is FALSE’: White House responds to Trump’s FEMA disaster relief claims

    FALSEHOOD: FEMA is in the process of confiscating Helene survivor property. If I apply for disaster assistance and my land is deemed unlivable, my property will be seized.

    FACT: FEMA cannot seize your property or land. Applying for disaster assistance does not grant FEMA or the federal government authority or ownership of your property or land.

    1. Verify: No, the government isn’t seizing land in Chimney Rock, N.C., and bulldozing the town

    FALSEHOOD: FEMA will only provide $750 to disaster survivors to support their recovery.

    FACT: This is a type of assistance that you may be approved for soon after you apply, called Serious Needs Assistance. It is an upfront, flexible payment to help cover essential items like food, water, baby formula, breastfeeding supplies, medication and other emergency supplies. There are other forms of assistance that you may qualify for to receive, and Serious Needs Assistance is an initial payment you may receive while FEMA assesses your eligibility for additional funds. $750 is what is immediately available to eligible survivors. In addition, survivors may qualify for more FEMA financial assistance, including to repair storm-related damage to homes and property, find a temporary place to stay, and receive compensation for lost crops and livestock.

    FALSEHOOD: FEMA and the FAA are restricting air space in North Carolina, preventing private citizens from delivery relief.

    FACT: There are no airspace restrictions in place in North Carolina as rescue efforts continue because of Hurricane Helene. Pilots looking to come into Asheville or Rutherford airports need to reach out to the airport for permission to land. The FAA is working with local authorities to ensure rescue efforts happen safely.

    The Biden-Harris Administration continues to work via the official White House digital channels to inform the public of the response and recovery efforts to dispel the misinformation being shared, with higher volume on X than other platforms. Updates will continue to be shared about the volume and scope of federal aid being delivered.

    The Biden- Harris Administration is also engaging trusted online publishers and influencers to connect with FEMA as a way to meet people where they are and provide them with accurate information. One example of this partnership includes MeidasTouch: Trump lies instantly debunked by FEMA spokesperson. This digital video resulted in reach across both digital and traditional media, including a local Alabama newspaper combatting misinformation.

    In addition, the White House will leverage our opt-in SMS messaging platform to share messages to those in affected areas. SMS is a more resilient form of communication where data connectivity might still be recovering, and this is a further example of using all parts of digital communications to reach people who need information and assistance. 

    More information on Hurricane Helene falsehoods and facts can be found here: https://www.fema.gov/disaster/current/hurricane-helene/rumor-response

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Police investigate firearms discharge in Herdsmans Cove

    Source: Tasmania Police

    Police investigate firearms discharge in Herdsmans Cove

    Sunday, 6 October 2024 – 9:43 am.

     
    Police are investigating a reported firearm discharge at an unoccupied parked vehicle in Herdsmans Cove in the early hours of this morning.

    No one was physically injured during the incident and it’s believed the parties are known to one another.

    Police were called to the scene in Lamprill Circle about 12.30am following a reported firearm discharge. Upon arrival, a rear passenger door and window was determined to have been damaged.

    Investigations are continuing, Anyone with information should contact Police on 131444 or report to Crime Stoppers on 1800333000 or crimestopperstas.com.au. You can remain anonymous.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: New strategy to tackle the rise in eating disorders

    Source: Government of Victoria 2

    Eating disorders have been on the rise, particularly since the COVID-19 pandemic, where changes in work and study, plus limited social connections, created highly stressful environments.

    Eating disorders, when combined with disordered eating, are estimated to affect 16.3% of the Australian population.

    That’s why the Victorian Government has released the Victorian eating disorders strategy 2024–2031.

    The strategy aims to reverse this trend, and to enable a person, family and supporter-centred care which is accessible, interconnected and evidence-informed to promote prevention and early intervention.

    It will shift the focus from acute services to a stepped system of care while fostering a new understanding of the roles families, carers, supporters, communities, and services play in advocating for and supporting people who are affected or at risk of eating disorders.

    Importantly, it’s been developed through consultation with people who have lived and living experience of eating disorders, as well as with people who know what it is like to care for and support someone who does.

    We’ve also relied on the expertise of sector partners, eating disorder researchers, clinicians, and experts from across the sector to ensure that our way forward is supported in a strong evidence base.

    This strategy is an important part of rebuilding Victoria’s mental health and wellbeing system and addresses key recommendations from the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System and through it, it is our vision that all Victorians have a safe and empowered relationship with body, food and movement, free of stigma or weight discrimination.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Serious crash at Hope Valley

    Source: South Australia Police

    Emergency services are at the scene of a serious crash at Hope Valley.

    The collision occurred on Grand Junction Road, near Valley Road, Hope Valley at 1.30pm on Sunday 6 October.

    The road is closed in both directions between Awoonga Road and Valley Road and is expected to remain closed for several hours.  Diversions are in place.

    Motorists are advised to avoid the area if possible.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: TECO Sydney Hosted the 113th National Day Reception of the R.O.C. (Taiwan)

    Source: Republic Of China Taiwan 2

    Happy 113th National Day to the ROC (Taiwan)!
    The 113th National Day Reception of the Republic of China (Taiwan), hosted by TECO Sydney, was held at the historic landmark, the Fullerton Hotel, on the evening of October 3rd. Director General David Cheng-Wei Wu and Mrs. Vicki Wu were delighted to celebrate this special occasion with over 350 dignitaries from the Federal and NSW State Parliament, Taiwanese communities, business sector, cultural and arts industries, and the media. The incredible turnout reflected the strong support for democratic Taiwan!
    In his speech, DG Wu outlined the new government’s roadmap for development, Taiwan’s key priorities in the current international security environment, and our vision for the future.
    Facing serious global threats to democracy, our top priority is maintaining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait through our Four Pillars of Peace action plan: strengthening national defense, building economic resilience, deepening partnerships with fellow democracies, and upholding stable and principled cross-strait leadership.
    Federal MP, the Hon. Paul Fletcher, shared his experiences co-leading the federal bipartisan delegation to Taiwan. During the trip, they met with former President Tsai Ing-Wen and President Lai Ching-Te, who was then Vice President. He was deeply impressed by the dedication of Taiwanese politicians to serving the public good
    Federal Senator David Shoebridge spoke of Taiwan’s ethnic harmony and the calm, resolute response of the Taiwanese people in the face of military coercion from the PRC, during his family’s visit to Taiwan. He emphasized that Australia shares the same values with Taiwan and should work together to maintain security and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region.
    Deputy President of the NSW Legislative Council, the Hon. Rod Roberts, appreciated the opportunity to visit Taiwan and witness the passionate election campaigns. He highly praised Taiwan’s mature constitutional governance, which highlights its strong and healthy democratic resilience.
    All 7 guest speakers reiterated that Taiwan has proven to be an indispensable partner in global supply chains and looked forward to further strengthening the bonds between Taiwan and Australia for mutual prosperity.
    A big thanks to our friends from city councils, officials from the Sydney Diplomatic Corps, experts and scholars from think tanks, and senior officials from the NSW Police and Sydney City Your continued support means so much to us, and your participation made this event a huge success!

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: KASM slams government decision to fast-track dangerous seabed mining

    Source: Kiwis Against Seabed Mining

    Kiwis Against Seabed Mining today slammed the government for putting a failed and hugely dangerous and experimental project like Trans Tasman Resources bid to mine the seabed in the South Taranaki Bight on the fast track list.

    “It’s a sad day for Aotearoa New Zealand when an experimental industry that has been examined in detail and ultimately failed by this country’s Supreme Court, gets to be rushed through with limited consideration,”  said KASM Chairperson Cindy Baxter.

    “This 100% Australian-owned company is in a terrible financial state:  it has no idea how to extract the so-called ‘critical minerals’ out of the ironsands, and it hasn’t been able to prove seabed mining safe.  It cannot be allowed to go ahead. There will be nothing in it for the people of Taranaki, and it would set a huge and dangerous precedent.”

    “This is a long way from over: we will do everything we can to stop this monstrosity from going ahead, and we have tens of thousands of Kiwis behind us,” she said.

    The TTR’s failed bid to dig up 50 million tonnes of the South Taranaki Bight every year for 35 years –  in a 66 square kilometre area – would be the first off the ranks, but it could set the precedent to grow into a massive 877 square kilometre seabed mining zone. (The company already has a mining licence for a 242 sqkm area and is already touting this area plus another 635 square kms to its investors).

    The resulting sediment plume from seabed mining will spread right across the Bight, interfering with feeding grounds for seabirds and marine mammals.

    The Bight is home to a population of pygmy blue whales unique to New Zealand, with whales experts describing the impact of the noise from seabed mining as “like living next to a vacuum cleaner for 35 years.”

    Also affected will be little blue penguins, or Kororā, some of whom swim 100kms from the Marlborough Sounds to feed at the Patea Shoals.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –