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Category: Aviation

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Press Release – Alderney Budget 2025 Wednesday 16 October 2024

    Source: Channel Islands – States of Alderney

    Press Release

    Date:  16th October 2024

    Alderney balances the books despite a fragile economy

    Alderney’s senior politician presented a balanced budget to the States today (October 16th) but he warned Members that the Island was “living beyond its means”.

    Policy & Finance Chair Nigel Vooght announced a revised £400,000 surplus in this year’s forecast which allowed the States to approve a 2025 Budget with no increases in Alderney Property Tax (APT) or Water Rates.

    He told the States meeting:

    “Despite delivering this balanced budget, we must be conscious of the simple fact that Alderney is living beyond its means as the cost of transferred services such as healthcare, education, the airport and emergency services exceed the taxes paid to the Bailiwick to help to pay for these. Despite the likelihood that income tax may increase, these services cost more than we contribute to the Guernsey Treasury.

    “The 1948 agreement was set up post-war when Alderney needed expertise and resources in return for which we entered a fiscal union which initially resulted in us producing a surplus of revenue versus the cost of transferred services. This is not the case today.

    “We are grateful to Guernsey for these transferred services but we must be mindful that this is not a sustainable position, especially given the financial difficulties Guernsey faces. Although we are a separate jurisdiction, we are in a fiscal union and partnership with Guernsey and must look for ways to grow our economy to generate new revenue streams.”

    The immediate priority is a refurbished runway and improved air connectivity which will help make Alderney more attractive as a place to live and work, thus growing the economy and attracting inward investment. In the medium term, seeking new sustainable economic growth that will create revenue streams.

    Key points in the 2025 Budget approved by the States include:

    ·         No increase to APT in 2025

    ·         Fuel Duty to be consistent with the States of Guernsey rate for 2025

    ·         Document Duty pegged at 2024 levels

    ·         No increase to Water Rates which went up marginally in 2024

    An increase in investment interest and higher than expected returns from Document Duty and Property Transfer duties were key factors contributing to a revised £400,000 surplus for this year, despite an increase in the cost of services.

    However, the budget for next year indicates a more modest “break even” surplus of £29,000 as operational costs are budgeted to increase by £354,000 compared with 2024, accounting for almost all of expected operating income and taxation.

    Mr Vooght explained:

    “Alderney is reliant on limited income streams such as APT, Fuel Duty, and Document Duty and this needs to be taken into consideration for future budgets and how we manage growing costs. Efforts to improve efficiency and reduce costs across various departments is being addressed with all budget holders.”

    Meanwhile, the States’ Capital Programme is mainly funded by Alderney Gambling Control Commission (AGCC) surpluses, together with income from asset sales. Estimated AGCC gross distribution for 2025 is expected to be in the region of £1.9M, a decrease in the income from 2024 which has been maintained at £2.2M.

    There is no cash allocation received from the States of Guernsey in respect of Capital funding.

    Mr Vooght concluded:

    “While the budget demonstrates a responsible financial approach, it’s essential to remain vigilant about potential risks and uncertainties. Factors such as geopolitical and economic fluctuations, changes in government policies and unforeseen expenses could impact future budgets.

    “Recommendations for future consideration will include exploring alternative revenue sources to diversify the States’ income streams and reduce reliance on a few key taxes. We also need to continue to review and optimise operational costs to identify areas for further efficiency gains.”

    His report paid tribute to the Head of Finance, Liz Maurice, supported by the Treasury team as well as budget holders for their work involved in preparing the Budget.

    Ends

    States of Alderney media enquiries:Alistair.Forrest2@gov.gg

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

    January 23, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Russia: The forum “Advanced digital and production technologies” has started at the Polytechnic University

    MILES AXLE Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

    Source: Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University – Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University –

    On October 15, SPbPU opened the VI International Forum “Advanced Digital and Manufacturing Technologies”. The key topic of the forum is the development and application of advanced digital and manufacturing technologies as the basis for Russia’s technological leadership. The business program includes events dedicated to the most pressing topics of the national technological agenda.

    Over the course of two days, leading experts will discuss the specifics of the development of the unmanned aircraft systems industry in Russia, trends and potential of domestic engineering software, the use of digital twin technology and new materials in industry, the advantages of seamless engineering education: “school — college — university — industry”, the possibilities of university technological entrepreneurship, as well as the specifics of ensuring legal protection and use of intellectual property and many other issues.

    The organizers of the annual expert event are the structural divisions of the country’s leading technical university, which are the basis of the university’s technological development ecosystem. The forum is held with the support of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation within the framework of the national project “Science and Universities”, the federal project “Advanced Engineering Schools”.

    The central event of the first day was the plenary session. It was attended by representatives of government agencies, development institutes, universities and leading enterprises in the high-tech industry.

    First Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Committee of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation on Economic Policy Denis Kravchenko, Rector of the National Research Nuclear University MEPhI Vladimir Shevchenko, Deputy Chairman of the Council for the Development of the Digital Economy under the Federation Council of the Russian Federation Artem Sheikin, Director for Innovative Development of PJSC UEC-Saturn Dmitry Ivanov, Director of Science of PJSC Gazprom Neft Mars Khasanov became speakers of the session. The moderator of the event was Vice-Governor of St. Petersburg Vladimir Knyaginin.

    A video address by the Minister of Science and Higher Education Valery Falkov opened the welcoming part. Valery Nikolaevich emphasized the importance of the forum as a platform for discussing the current agenda for the development of advanced digital and production technologies: The forum has acquired special significance in the context of solving the problems of achieving technological leadership in Russia. In order for these problems to be solved as quickly and efficiently as possible, the Ministry of Science and Higher Education is launching new projects for more effective interaction between universities and businesses. One of these projects is the Advanced Engineering School. It has proven its effectiveness precisely due to the close interaction of universities with companies. We are pleased to inform you that you will be presented with the positive experience and developments of one of the best advanced engineering schools – the school of the St. Petersburg Polytechnic University “Digital Engineering”. Specialists will tell you about new effective solutions and experience in the development and implementation of breakthrough technologies, as well as how to prepare a new generation of engineers.

    On behalf of the Polytechnic University, the Rector of SPbPU, Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences Andrey Rudskoy welcomed the forum participants: Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University has always implemented a practice-oriented educational model aimed at fast and effective results for industry. We interact very closely with the industry. St. Petersburg Polytechnic University is a flagship university of PJSC Gazprom Neft, and among the university’s strategic partners are the state corporations Rosatom and Rostec, PJSC Severstal and other major enterprises that are systemically important for their industries. Representatives of many of them will participate in our forum as experts and speakers. The forum “Advanced Digital and Manufacturing Technologies” is a unique opportunity for direct communication, discussion of the most pressing issues on the educational, industrial, and technological agenda.

    After this, the Vice-Governor of St. Petersburg Vladimir Knyaginin moved on to the main issues on the agenda of the plenary session.

    Over the five years of its existence, the International Forum “Advanced Digital and Manufacturing Technologies” has become an authoritative platform for discussing current challenges and tasks. It is important that the organizer of this large-scale event is the Polytechnic University, which is one of the leaders in technical education and engineering sciences, not only in Russia, but also in the world. On the basis of the university, with the support of the Ministry of Education and Science of Russia and the Government of St. Petersburg, significant initiatives are being implemented aimed at the innovative development of our state and achieving its technological leadership, – Vladimir Nikolaevich emphasized.

    Elena Druzhinina, Managing Director for Science and Business Cooperation at the Rostec State Corporation, presented the view of a participant in the real sector of the economy on the scientific, technological and educational agenda of the forum.

    The St. Petersburg Polytechnic University and Rostec enterprises have been building various forms of interaction for a long time. We are ready to go further and create new forms of cooperation between science and business with the university. For example, the creation of a research and production association is a topic that is currently being actively discussed in this context. Also, the head of the Rostec State Corporation Sergey Chemezov supported the idea of creating an industrial postgraduate program, – concluded Elena Druzhinina.

    First Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Economic Policy Denis Kravchenko supported the thesis on the need to expand cooperation between educational institutions and high-tech enterprises: I would like to emphasize the importance of close work on the part of the management of educational institutions and future employers in terms of equipping educational institutions and training students in working with domestic application software on real production equipment.

    Vice-Rector for Digital Transformation of SPbPU Alexey Borovkov highlighted the approaches applied to the transformation of engineering education in his report and noted the dynamic growth of interest in advanced digital and production technologies, in particular, in the technology of digital twins. As well as in modern cross-industry platform solutions from industrial enterprises and government agencies: Digital twin technology is at the forefront, meeting the goal of achieving technological leadership, which consists in the superiority of technologies and products in key parameters over foreign analogues. The focus on technological leadership has pushed industries and the state to standardize and regulate those areas that were previously very cautiously discussed by the expert community. In recent years, we have seen how almost the same notes of our lectures with the terminology of advanced digital and production technologies are approved in regulatory documents, consolidating the scientific and technological groundwork formed by the ecosystem of technological development of SPbPU over many years.

    Thus, the speaker noted the adoption of the national standard GOST R 57700.37-2021 “Computer models and modeling. DIGITAL DOUBLES OF PRODUCTS. General provisions” in Russia and in the international arena.

    In 2023, the global digital twin market was valued at $10 billion, and by 2028, experts estimate it will reach $110 billion with an unprecedented annual CAGR growth of 61%. World leaders recognize digital twins as one of the technologies of the future, the speaker explained.

    Alexey Ivanovich presented the ecosystem of technological development of SPbPU, which forms the “gold standard” of interaction between various federal structures, organized based on the results of victories in prestigious competitions of the Ministry of Education and Science of Russia with the aim of developing, replicating and expanding the scope of application of advanced digital and production technologies in industry and education.

    Alexey Borovkov spoke about the key results of R&D of the SPbPU technological development ecosystem, carried out on the Digital Platform for the Development and Application of Digital Twins CML-Bench® in 2024.

    In conclusion, Aleksey Borovkov noted the flagship role of the SPbPU Advanced Engineering School “Digital Engineering” in the ecosystem of technological development of the Polytechnic University and emphasized the growing interest in it from applicants and partner companies: Following the results of the admissions campaign in 2023, students were recruited to the SPbPU Advanced Engineering School “Digital Engineering” for 72 budget places. This year, the number of budget places and open educational programs has almost doubled, but we managed to maintain a high competition for admission, which is 4 people per place. The geography of admission covers almost all regions of our country, – Aleksey Ivanovich summed up.

    Based on the methodology of the federal project “Advanced Engineering Schools”, the rector of the National Research Nuclear University MEPhI Vladimir Shevchenko identified common patterns in organizing cooperation between partner companies and advanced engineering schools in the context of transforming approaches to engineering education and developing a system for training highly qualified personnel.

    The education of a modern engineer should, from the very beginning, assume an understanding that modern engineering and production activities occur in parallel in two worlds: physical and digital. I would like to emphasize the benefits of conducting early career guidance activities with applicants, which over the past year has made it possible to equalize the number of graduates taking the Unified State Exam in physics and computer science. For a modern engineer, these two disciplines should be in tandem, concluded Vladimir Igorevich.

    Deputy Chairman of the Council for the Development of the Digital Economy under the Federation Council of the Russian Federation Artem Sheikin spoke in detail about the main barriers to the introduction of artificial intelligence in real sectors of the economy in order to automate business processes, reduce costs and increase the efficiency of enterprises, and also spoke about the cybersecurity of processes for handling large volumes of industrial data.

    Director of Innovative Development of PJSC UEC-Saturn, Honorary Doctor of SPbPU Dmitry Ivanov shared his practical experience in developing digital twin of marine gas turbine engine gearbox as part of the unit within the framework of research work of national importance, carried out jointly with SPbPU, and highlighted a number of aspects.

    Everyone perceives digital twin technology differently. Very often, the technology is presented to enterprises as another calculation tool, work with which should be transferred down the hierarchy of engineering teams. This is a mistake. The digital twin changes the ideology of product design and production, including changes in the system of division of labor, business processes at the enterprise level, – Dmitry Stanislavovich emphasized to the audience.

    Director of Science at Gazprom Neft PJSC, Honorary Doctor of SPbPU Mars Khasanov presented an expert opinion on the implementation of system digital engineering technology, including digital twin technology, and considered the possibilities of combining it with neurosymbolic artificial intelligence to solve the company’s problems. Mars Magnavievich emphasized the need for practice-oriented training of personnel and highlighted various formats of project interaction at Gazprom Neft PJSC to form the required set of competencies of a future specialist.

    At the plenary session, representatives of research centers, leading universities and industrial enterprises exchanged experience in the application of new technologies, assessed the dynamics of their development and the speed of implementation in real production practice, held a discussion on the main trends in the development of domestic engineering software and discussed current issues in engineering education. More details about the plenary session read here.

    The business forum program traditionally consists of discussions, scientific and educational debates, pitch sessions, presentations. The full program of the forum can be found atevent website.

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

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

    https://vvv.spbstu.ru/media/nevs/science_and_innovations/forum-advanced-digital-and-production-technologies has started at the Polytechnic University/

    MIL OSI Russia News –

    January 23, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Banking: Find cheaper airfare with this new Google Flights feature

    Source: Google

    Google Flights adds new “Cheapest” tab for budget flights<meta name="optimize_experiments" content="[]"><meta name="description" content="We’re adding a new “Cheapest” tab on Google Flights that shows more options with lower prices."><meta name="keywords" content="None"><meta name="article-author" content="Wishy Arora"><meta name="robots" content="max-image-preview:large"><meta property="og:type" content="article"><meta property="og:title" content="Find cheaper airfare with this new Google Flights feature"><meta property="og:description" content="We’re adding a new “Cheapest” tab on Google Flights that shows more options with lower prices."><meta property="og:image" content="https://storage.googleapis.com/gweb-uniblog-publish-prod/images/Ink_GoogleFlightFeatureCheapestAirfare.width-1300.png"><meta property="og:site_name" content="Google"><meta property="og:url" content="https://blog.google/products/search/google-flights-cheapest-tab/"><meta property="article:publisher" content="https://www.facebook.com/Google/"><meta property="article:published_time" content="2024-10-16"><meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image"><meta name="twitter:url" content="https://blog.google/products/search/google-flights-cheapest-tab/"><meta name="twitter:title" content="Find cheaper airfare with this new Google Flights feature"><meta name="twitter:description" content="We’re adding a new “Cheapest” tab on Google Flights that shows more options with lower prices."><meta name="twitter:image:src" content="https://storage.googleapis.com/gweb-uniblog-publish-prod/images/Ink_GoogleFlightFeatureCheapestAirfare.width-1300.png"><meta name="twitter:site" content="@google"><link rel="preconnect" href="https://fonts.googleapis.com"><link rel="preconnect" href="https://fonts.gstatic.com" crossorigin=""><link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/static/keyword/css/blog/index.min.css?version=pr20241003-1647"><link rel="stylesheet" href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Google+Sans:400,500,600,700%7CProduct+Sans:400&display=swap&lang=en"><link href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/css2?family=Noto+Color+Emoji&display=swap" rel="stylesheet"><link href="https://www.gstatic.com/glue/cookienotificationbar/cookienotificationbar.min.css" rel="stylesheet"><link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/static/keyword/css/print/index.min.css?version=pr20241003-1647" media="print"><link rel="canonical" href="https://blog.google/products/search/google-flights-cheapest-tab/"><link href="/favicon.ico" rel="icon"><link href="/static/blogv2/images/apple-touch-icon.png" rel="apple-touch-icon"><meta property="gtm-tag" content="GTM-TRV24V"></p> <article class="uni-article-wrapper"> <section class="article-hero"> It shows you the lowest airfare options, even if they’re not the most convenient.<br />You might have to make some trade-offs, like longer layovers or flying to a different airport.<br />Book your holiday flights in October to get the best deals.Cheapest fares revealed<br />For those who dare to saveCreative itineraries<br />Lowest prices await</p> </section> </article> <p>

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

    January 23, 2025
  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Smith Sends Letter Urging Contract Negotiations Between Boeing and International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Adam Smith (9th District of Washington)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Yesterday, Representative Adam Smith (D-Wash), alongside Representative Rick Larsen (D-Wash), Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash), and Senator Patty Murray (D-Wash), sent a letter to Boeing President and CEO Kelly Ortberg, IAM District W24 President Brandon Bryant, and IAM District 751 President Joe Holden urging further contract negotiations between their organizations. 

    See the full letter below. 

    Dear Mr. Ortberg, Mr. Holden, and Mr. Bryant:

    We are writing about the contract negotiations between the Boeing Company and the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (1AM) Districts 751 and W24. With the machinist strike now lasting well over a month, and with no further talks currently scheduled, we urge you to redouble your efforts to reach a mutually beneficial resolution. 

    With over 42,000 single-aisle and wide body commercial aircraft projected to be manufactured over the next twenty years, valued at $8 trillion, now is the time to rebuild the historic partnership between management and workers in order to restore Boeing’s reputation for engineering and manufacturing excellence. This will require investing in next generation manufacturing techniques, innovative new materials, and providing workers with wages and benefits that acknowledge the essential and irreplaceable work they perform for the Company. 

    1AM 751 and W24 represent a vital workforce in the Pacific Northwest and for nearly a century have made it possible for Boeing to produce aircraft that fly millions of passengers each day, connecting communities and economies around the world. With these contributions in mind, we hope you will expeditiously work out a fair and durable deal that recognizes the importance of the machinist workforce to Boeing’s future, the aerospace economy of the Pacific Northwest, and the nation. 

    Thank you for your attention to this matter, we look forward to your timely response. 

    A full copy of the letter can be found at the link above.

    MIL OSI USA News –

    January 23, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Canada: Speech for the Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change, at the Canadian Climate Institute and Net-Zero Advisory Body’s Fourth Annual Climate Conference

    Source: Government of Canada News

    Speech for the Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change, at the Canadian Climate Institute and Net-Zero Advisory Body’s Fourth Annual Climate Conference

    October 10, 2024 – Ottawa, Ontario

    Check against delivery. This speech has been translated in accordance with the Government of Canada’s official languages policy and edited for posting and distribution in accordance with its communications policy.

    Hello.

    Thank you Gaëtan for that great scene-setting intro.

    I would first like to recognize the fact that we are on the unceded traditional territory of the Algonquin Anishinaabeg People.

    I am grateful to the caretakers of this land and water, and I ask that you join me in honouring the connection that the Anishnaabeg People have had to this land for millennia.

    This conference comes at a pivotal time.

    Building a cleaner and stronger economy in Canada is the course we are on.

    It is why we are all gathered here – we share a collective understanding and appreciation for both the economic opportunities and the environmental necessity in front of us.

    Now, I see many familiar faces around the audience.

    I know many of you have likely come from out of town.

    There are lots of hard-working people constructively working to attract and steer investment.

    Building a clean economy, like anything that is transformational, requires a vision and clear, bold steps to advance toward it.

    In every sector, we can see examples of that leadership—those stepping up with real vision.

    I think we just heard some great examples of that vision from the previous keynote.

    Two and a half years ago, the Government of Canada launched its climate plan, the most comprehensive plan in our history.

    We did our homework, building on the work of our predecessors, to give Canada a truly credible path towards carbon neutrality.

    Sector-by-sector, we showed how we could do it – how we could really do it – together.

    And since then, with the help of everyone in this room, we’ve put that plan into motion.

    Combine industry leadership, with a careful but ambitious balance of investments and regulatory tools: we are bending the curve on Canada’s emissions.

    I can tell you this is something I hear all the time.

    But more importantly our plan is working. Evidence of progress is rolling in.

    Recently, the Canadian Climate Institute, showed our country’s net emissions are starting to drop, between 2022 to 2023.

    The Institute also found that Canada’s economy continued to grow while emissions declined—what we call “decoupling.”

    What does that mean?

    It means growing the economy in 2024 does not mean more pollution.

    In fact, it points to the larger transformation underway.

    Now, Canadians may best associate our climate plan with carbon pricing.

    Could you blame them?

    But there are in fact over 100 measures we have put in place as part of our climate plan that serve as the foundation of a cleaner economy for Canada.

    Those measures have taken us from a place where, in 2015, we were projected to blow past our emission targets for 2030, to where we are now.

    Our emissions are now at their lowest point in 25 years.

    Never have we seen a drop in emissions, while our economy is chugging at full steam.

    This progress should not be taken for granted.

    We need to keep our horse in the race of a global economy that is moving faster than ever.

    I’m very pleased to share some exciting news from yesterday on how we’re trying to move the dial further on developing a clean energy economy.

    First: yesterday, the Deputy Prime Minister Freeland announced the guidelines for a Made-in-Canada sustainable investment taxonomy and mandatory climate disclosures for the largest Canadian private businesses.

    The sustainable investment taxonomy gives investors certainty on whether their investments are consistent with meeting global climate targets.

    It provides needed clarity that will boost financing from the private sector for sustainable activities across the Canadian economy.

    That includes things like building EV batteries, generating clean energy and decarbonization projects in heavy industries.

    The taxonomy will help direct investment to much-needed job-creating activities.

    Many of you will have seen the headlines on this…

    Simply put: Projects need to be credibly aligned with limiting temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius to be considered a “green” or “transition” investment.

    Of course, developing these guidelines do not prevent investors from deciding where they wish to put their money.

    They are purely voluntary.

    But they do provide a common language on whether investments support climate goals or not.

    Similarly, requiring large businesses to provide climate-related financial disclosures to shareholders will help attract investment into sustainable activities across the economy.

    Disclosures help investors better understand how large businesses are thinking about and managing risks related to climate change.

    And we look forward to fleshing out that regulatory approach.

    We are building on the success of our Green Bond program.

    Like the taxonomy, Green Bonds direct financial flows towards those business opportunities that are key to reaching our net-zero targets.

    We have now launched Green Bonds twice in the market. First in 2022, and again earlier this year.

    Both times, the final book orders far exceeded the original offering.

    And because of that demand, we re-opened a third Green Bond this week.

    I am pleased to report that demand is still strong, and we are well over the offering amount.

    So, sustainable finance is the way to go.

    Let me give you another more tangible example.

    Last year, the Government of Canada delivered on the Clean Fuel Regulations, which encourages oil and gas refineries to lower the carbon intensity of their fuel production.

    Because of built-in incentives within this policy, we have already seen significant investments:

    Over $53 billion in investments have been announced across Canada in low-carbon intensity fuels such as green hydrogen, renewable diesel, and sustainable aviation fuel.

    For example, the oil refinery in Come-By-Chance, Newfoundland was converted into a major renewable diesel facility.

    The federal government supported Braya Renewable Fuels to commercialize its production of renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel.

    It started operations in February 2024 and now produces up to 18,000 barrels per day of renewable diesel.

    Two hundred people work there full-time.

    These and similar companies now have the ability to create and sell valuable credits for supplying low carbon fuel to Canada.

    That’s progress.

    And it comes from creating the right support and incentive structures for the industry.

    I was delighted to listen to our previous speaker Adam Auer, the President and CEO of the Cement Association of Canada.

    It has taken determination to turn words into action, and guide the change we’ve witnessed in the cement industry over the past two years.

    It takes a lot of heat and energy to make cement using conventional processes.

    As you heard earlier this morning, the Cement Association of Canada decided they had to change.

    This industry released their roadmap to cleaner sources of fuel. And as you heard, they stuck to their plan.

    The results were apparent to me this summer, when I visited a green cement plant in St. Marys, Ontario.

    This is where carbon pricing—and in this case industrial carbon pricing—really gets a chance to shine.

    With money collected by the federal government from carbon pricing system on industry, we re-invested those revenues into an emissions reduction project at St. Marys Cement.

    There is so much misinformation coming at us through various channels that not everyone is sure carbon pricing works.

    It does, and here’s how:

    With money collected by the federal government from industrial pollution pricing, we re-invested in an emissions reduction project at St. Marys Cement.

    New kiln technology was installed that uses low-carbon fuels.

    This new process reduces the use of high-priced carbon-intensive fuels by up to 30%.

    This means less climate pollution and cleaner air for the town.

    It also increases the company’s long-term competitiveness and sustainability. And pride!

    Take a town like St. Marys with a population of under nine thousand people.

    A major employer in that town makes a significant low-carbon change in its production process.

    From that, we get direct positive results:

    • First, the sustainability of the jobs at the cement plant.
    • Second, the drop in greenhouse gas emissions, equivalent to 9,400 gas-powered cars off the road for a year.
    • Third, they are saving energy costs for their business.

    Examples like this play out in countless communities across the country.

    Government has an important role in mobilizing the investments to get these projects underway.

    But how does Canada keep up the momentum? Well, let’s just look at the growing clean energy sector.

    Internationally, this sector has achieved lift-off.

    I mean, Europe is now at three quarters of renewable and clean energy sources. It’s incredible.

    Clean sources of power are reliable, they are increasingly cheaper to build and the energy generated is cheaper to store.

    Clean energy enterprises are in a state of super-evolution.

    In New Brunswick, the Burchill Wind Energy Project is one of the largest battery energy storage facilities in Atlantic Canada.

    It’s just outside of Saint John and is overseen by the Tobique First Nation.

    When I visited earlier this year, Tobique First Nation Chief Ross Perley, said it best:

    “One of our traditional values as a nation is to take care of the environment.

    Green energy projects are going to start taking over, and they’re going to dominate, and that’s the way to the future.”

    Chief Perley got it right.

    And it’s no coincidence that Indigenous Peoples in Canada are playing such a major role in the clean energy revolution. We see it from coast-to-coast-to-coast.

    Canada is already in a good position with the vast majority of our electricity from non-emitting sources.

    We know that demand will likely double over the coming decades.

    It is no longer a matter of doing the “right thing for the environment” but also the “right thing for business”

    Across the countries, companies are shifting investment towards cleaner industry to meet our future energy demands.

    That’s why we launched new investment tax credits for clean electricity production, which add to a range of programs supporting electricity.

    Labour groups have endorsed these credits because for employers to receive their full value they must commit to fair payment of good-paying union-level jobs.

    And we will launch the clean electricity regulations that back our strategy for a cleaner grid in Canada.

    There are so many opportunities awaiting, nationwide.

    You’re in this room because you have seen a business pivot or you have guided a business to respond to events, to adjust, to morph, to reinvent itself.

    Changing the way we power our daily lives and our Canadian society really starts with changing the way that we THINK.

    The federal government is here to guide growth, to support the science and to spark investment.

    Canada’s robust, clean economy will allow us to enjoy prosperous lives while respecting the natural environment, instead of destroying or exploiting it.

    The climate crisis requires us to be innovative together, to encourage each other, and to keep the conversations going.

    Thank you for your time, your thoughtfulness and for the perspective you’ll bring back home from this conference.

    Enjoy the day.

    MIL OSI Canada News –

    January 23, 2025
  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Djibouti

    Source: New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade – Safe Travel

    • Reviewed: 17 October 2024, 13:22 NZDT
    • Still current at: 17 October 2024

    Related news features

    If you are planning international travel at this time, please read our COVID-19 related travel advice here, alongside our destination specific travel advice below.

    Do not travel to the border area with Eritrea. A long-running border dispute has caused tensions between Djibouti and Eritrea. The security situation remains fragile and further conflict is a possibility (level 4 of 4).

    Do not travel within 10km of the border with Somalia (Somaliland) due to the threat of kidnapping (level 4 of 4).

    Exercise increased caution elsewhere in Djibouti due to the threat from terrorism (level 2 of 4).

    Djibouti

    Terrorism
    There is an ongoing threat from terrorism in Djibouti. The Somalia-based terrorist group Al-Shabaab has previously issued public threats against Djibouti. Past attacks have resulted in foreign fatalities and the possibility of future indiscriminate attacks, particularly in areas frequented by foreigners, cannot be discounted.

    New Zealanders in Djibouti are advised to keep themselves informed of potential risks to safety and security by monitoring the media and other local information sources. We recommend following any instructions issued by the local authorities and exercising vigilance in public places and in areas known to be frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers.

    Civil unrest
    Demonstrations occur from time to time in Djibouti, mostly linked to domestic political developments.  New Zealanders in Djibouti are advised to avoid all demonstrations, protests and large public gatherings as even those intended as peaceful have the potential to turn violent with little warning.

    Crime
    Petty crime such as bag snatching, pickpocketing and theft from vehicles occurs in Djibouti and is common in tourist areas. We advise New Zealanders to be alert to their surroundings, be security conscious at all times and take steps to safeguard and secure their personal belongings. 

    New Zealanders in Djibouti are advised to avoid wearing or displaying items that appear valuable, such as electronic devices and jewellery.

    New Zealanders should avoid walking and travelling at night, particularly to isolated areas, such as Dorale and Khor Ambado beaches and to avoid all public transportation, including taxis as these are considered unsafe. Hotel, airport shuttle services, or privately hired transport are a safer alternative.

    Kidnapping
    There is a threat of kidnapping throughout Djibouti, especially within 10kms of Djibouti’s border with Somalia (Somaliland). Kidnappers may be motivated by financial gain or terrorism. See our page on hostage taking and kidnapping for more advice.

    Piracy
    Piracy remains a significant problem in the coastal areas of Djibouti. Attacks against all forms of shipping are common in and around Djibouti’s waters and the Gulf of Aden. Mariners are strongly advised to take appropriate precautionary measures in these waters. For more information view the International Maritime Bureau’s piracy report.

    General travel advice
    There is a danger from unexploded landmines in Djibouti along the border with Eritrea, Somalia and Ethiopia. Mined areas may be unmarked. New Zealanders are advised not to stray from well-used roads and paths in rural areas.

    Djibouti is a mostly Muslim country and the Islamic holy month of Ramadan is one of Djibouti’s most important religious dates.  

    New Zealanders are advised to respect religious, social and cultural traditions in Djibouti to avoid offending local sensitivities. Modesty and discretion should be exercised in both dress and behaviour.

    Same-sex relationships are legal in Djibouti, but not widely accepted. See our advice for LGBTQI+ travellers here.

    Photography of any official infrastructure is prohibited, and could result in detention. If in doubt, don’t take a picture.

    Modern medical services in Djibouti are very limited, so we advise New Zealanders travelling or living in Djibouti to have a comprehensive travel insurance policy in place that includes provision for medical evacuation by air.

    As there is no New Zealand diplomatic presence in Djibouti, the ability of the government to provide consular assistance to New Zealand citizens is severely limited.

    New Zealanders in Djibouti are encouraged to register their details with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.


    The New Zealand Embassy Addis Ababa, Ethiopia is accredited to Djibouti

    Street Address Bole Sub City, Woreda 03, House No 111, Behind Atlas Hotel/close to Shala Park, (Namibia Street), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Postal Address New Zealand Embassy, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Private Bag 18-901 Wellington Mail Centre 5045, Wellington Telephone +251-11-515-1269 Fax +251-11-552-6115 Email aue@mfat.govt.nz Web Site https://www.mfat.govt.nz/ethiopia Hours Open to the public: Monday – Friday, 9am-12pm by appointment Note In an emergency or if you require urgent assistance after hours, please call the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s 24/7 Consular Emergency line on +64 99 20 20 20.

    See our regional advice for Africa

    Top of page

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

    January 23, 2025
  • MIL-OSI USA: Secretary Del Toro Travels to Argentina for the XVI Conference of Defense Ministers of the Americas

    Source: United States Department of Defense

    MENDOZA, Argentina – From October 13-16, 2024, Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro led the United States delegation to the XVI Conference of Defense Ministers of the Americas (CDMA) in Mendoza, Argentina. The delegation included senior officials from the Office of the Secretary of Defense for Policy. U.S. Southern Command and U.S. Northern Command were also represented.

    CDMA is the premier defense forum in the Western Hemisphere, convening the senior most national security and defense officials biennially to address hemisphere-wide challenges while forging strong partnerships throughout the region. This year’s event featured discussions on the responsible use of artificial intelligence, and climate and environmental challenges from a defense perspective.

    Secretary Del Toro held bilateral meetings with Ministry of Defense leaders from the following countries:

    Argentina

    Secretary Del Toro and Minister of Defense Petri reaffirmed their mutual commitment to the U.S.- Argentina defense relationship and discussed efforts to strengthen bilateral cooperation, including in Women, Peace, and Security, and peacekeeping operations. Secretary Del Toro thanked Minister Petri for hosting the XVI CDMA and for Argentina’s contributions to global security.

    Brazil

    Secretary Del Toro and Minister Múcio discussed cooperating on emerging defense areas, including cyber, space, and special operations; military-to-military activities in the South Atlantic; and expanding defense industrial base cooperation. The two sides recognized the progress made towards finalization of the U.S.-Brazil Reciprocal Defense Procurement Agreement.

    Colombia

    Secretary Del Toro and Vice Minister Suárez discussed the strong bilateral U.S.-Colombia defense relationship, and tackling emerging challenges such as counter-unmanned aircraft system, climate change, and support to special operations. The delegations discussed countering transnational criminal organizations, and regional security.

    Peru

    Secretary Del Toro and Minister Astudillo discussed the strength of the U.S.-Peru bilateral defense relationship, especially in areas of security cooperation and countering transnational criminal organizations (TCOs). The U.S. commended Peru’s recent progress toward the lifting of aerial interdiction restrictions.

    The Ministers endorsed the United States’ proposal to host the XVIII CDMA in 2028.

    MIL OSI USA News –

    January 23, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Security: Ex-Mexican Secretary of Public Security Genaro Garcia Luna Sentenced to Over 38 Years’ Imprisonment

    Source: United States Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF)

    Former Highest Ranking Law Enforcement Official in Mexico Took Millions of Dollars in Bribes from the Sinaloa Cartel and Enabled Transportation of More Than One Million Kilograms of Cocaine to the United States

    Genaro Garcia Luna, the former Secretary of Public Security in Mexico from 2006 to 2012, was sentenced today by United States District Judge Brian M. Cogan to 460 months’ imprisonment and a $2 million fine for his decade-long assistance to the Sinaloa Cartel in exchange for millions of dollars in bribes.  Following a four-week trial in February 2023, Garcia Luna was convicted by a jury of engaging in a continuing criminal enterprise, international cocaine distribution conspiracy, conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine, conspiracy to import cocaine and making false statements.

    Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Anne Milgram, Administrator, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and Katrina W. Berger, Executive Associate Director, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), announced the verdict.

    “Today’s sentencing of Genaro Garcia Luna is a critical step in upholding justice and the rule of law.  His betrayal of the public trust and the people he was sworn to protect resulted in more than one million kilograms of lethal narcotics imported into our communities and unleashed untold violence here and in Mexico. This sentence sends a strong message that no one, regardless of their position or influence, is above the law.” stated United States Attorney Peace.  “After years of destructive narcotrafficking and deceit, Garcia Luna will spend nearly 40 years where he belongs: federal prison.”

    “Today’s sentencing of Mexico’s former Secretary of Public Security, Genaro Garcia Luna, sends a clear message to corrupt leaders around the world who use their positions of power to help the cartels: no amount of power will shield you from justice,” said DEA Administrator Anne Milgram. “Garcia Luna accepted millions of dollars in bribes from the Sinaloa Cartel to allow millions of kilograms of cocaine to flood the streets of the United States.  Instead of protecting the citizens of Mexico, Garcia Luna was protecting drug cartels.  The DEA will continue to relentlessly pursue drug trafficking organizations and those who protect them.”

    “Today’s sentencing sends a powerful message that no one is above the law,” said HSI Executive Associate Director Katrina W. Berger. “HSI continues its partnered commitment to disrupting and dismantling the criminal networks responsible for bringing deadly narcotics into the U.S.”

    As proven at trial, from 2006 to 2012, Garcia Luna was Mexico’s top law enforcement official, serving as Secretary of Public Security and, in that capacity, controlled Mexico’s Federal Police Force.  Previously, from 2001 to 2005, the defendant was the head of Mexico’s Federal Investigative Agency (AFI).  The defendant used his official positions to assist the violent Sinaloa Cartel (the Cartel) in exchange for millions of dollars in bribes.  Garcia Luna’s conduct included facilitating safe passage of the Cartel’s drug shipments, providing sensitive law enforcement information about investigations into the Cartel and helping the Cartel attack rival drug cartels, thereby facilitating the importation of multi‑ton quantities of cocaine and other drugs into the United States.

    In exchange for bribes, the defendant’s Federal Police Force acted as bodyguards and escorts for the Cartel, allowing Cartel members to wear police uniforms and badges and helping to unload shipments of cocaine from planes at Mexico City’s airport, then delivering the cocaine to the Cartel. The defendant was paid in U.S. currency, stuffed variously in suitcases, briefcases and duffel bags.  The bribe amounts increased over the years as the Sinaloa Cartel grew in size and power through the assistance of the defendant.   Former members of the Cartel testified that bribe money was handed off to the defendant in a variety of locations, including at a “safe house” located in Mexico City where large amounts of cash were hidden in a false wall, at a car wash in Guadalajara and at a French restaurant in Mexico City across the street from the U.S. Embassy.  Further, in exchange for the millions of dollars in bribes, the defendant’s Federal Police Force leaked sensitive information that enabled the Cartel to evade detection by law enforcement or use the information in attacks on rival traffickers.  Finally, after moving to the United States in 2012, Garcia Luna submitted an application for naturalization in 2018, in which he lied about his past criminal conduct on behalf of the Cartel in an attempt to become a U.S. citizen.

    In connection with post-trial proceedings, the Court also found that, while he was awaiting sentencing, Garcia Luna obstructed justice when he sought to bribe fellow inmates to provide false testimony in an attempt to overturn the jury’s verdict.

    The investigation was led by the New York Strike Force, a crime-fighting unit comprising federal, state and local law enforcement agencies supported by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force and the New York/New Jersey High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area.  The Strike Force is based at the DEA’s New York Division and includes agents and officers of the DEA, New York City Police Department, New York State Police, Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation Division, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Secret Service, United States Marshals Service, New York National Guard, Clarkstown Police Department, U.S. Coast Guard, Port Washington Police Department and New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision.

    HSI New York’s El Dorado Task Force (EDTF) played an important role in this investigation. The EDTF is comprised of more than 200 law enforcement personnel representing approximately thirty-five (35) federal, state, and local law enforcement and regulatory agencies, including the DEA.

    The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s International Narcotics and Money Laundering Section.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Saritha Komatireddy, Erin Reid, Ryan C. Harris, Philip Pilmar and Adam Amir are in charge of the prosecution, with the assistance of Paralegal Specialists Huda Abouchaer and Melissa Bennett.

    The Defendant:

    GENARO GARCIA LUNA
    Age:  56
    Miami, Florida

    E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 19-CR-576 (S-1) (BMC)

    MIL Security OSI –

    January 23, 2025
  • MIL-OSI USA: Rosen Secures Additional Direct Flight to Las Vegas, Boosting Local Tourism Economy

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV)
    LAS VEGAS, NV – Today, U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV) announced that she has secured a new direct flight to Las Vegas, helping bring more visitors and boost the local tourism economy. Following a Rosen-led letter of support, the Department of Transportation has awarded Southwest Airlines a direct flight between Ronald Reagan National Airport (DCA) and Harry Reid International Airport (LAS).
    “Travel and tourism are critical for the Las Vegas economy, which is why I’ve been working to increase transportation options and bring more visitors to our city. I’m proud to announce that I helped secure a new direct flight route to Las Vegas from Ronald Reagan National Airport,” said Senator Rosen. “The addition of this flight will bolster Nevada’s travel and tourism economy that sustains thousands of good-paying jobs.”
    Senator Rosen has been a leader in working across party lines to support Nevada’s travel and tourism industry. Last year, she officially announced $3 billion in funding she secured for the historic Brightline West high-speed rail project that will serve Las Vegas and Southern California. As a lead author of the airports section of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Senator Rosen helped create the Airport Terminal Program to provide funding to help airports expand and rebuild their terminals. Earlier this year, Senator Rosen and Senator Cortez Masto announced nearly $28 million from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for improvements at Harry Reid International Airport. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

    January 23, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Australia: Forestry firefighters brief Minister on bushfire preparations

    Source: New South Wales Government 2

    Headline: Forestry firefighters brief Minister on bushfire preparations

    Published: 17 October 2024

    Released by: Minister for Regional NSW


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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Minister for Regional New South Wales Tara Moriarty:

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

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

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

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

    Forestry Corporation Senior Manager Fire and Natural Hazards Rebel Talbert:

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

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

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

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

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

    MIL OSI News –

    January 23, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Economics: Indigenous nuclear-powered attack submarines to enhance India’s maritime security in IOR, says GlobalData

    Source: GlobalData

    Indigenous nuclear-powered attack submarines to enhance India’s maritime security in IOR, says GlobalData

    Posted in Aerospace, Defense & Security

    In a significant move towards bolstering maritime security, India’s Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) has recently approved the indigenous construction of two Project 75-Alpha nuclear attack submarines (SSNs). The procurement of indigenous nuclear-powered submarines capable of undertaking hunter-killer operations positions the Indian Navy as a formidable force capable of conducting anti-submarine warfare in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), says GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.

    GlobalData’s report, “Global Submarine Market Analysis and Forecast to 2033”, reveals that India will be spending about $31.6 billion on procuring various types of submarines over the next 10 years. Out of which, 30.5% will be directed towards the procurement of Project 75-Alpha SSNs during the same period. India is expected to procure a total of six SSNs under this program at an estimated value of $17 billion.

    Udayini Aakunoor, Aerospace & Defense Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “The acquisition of SSNs is a strategic move by India to modernize its Navy and tackle regional security challenges. To be built at the Ship Building Centre located in Vishakhapatnam with participation from the domestic private sector, they are expected to boost the country’s autonomy in complex naval shipbuilding.

    “Designed to operate at greater depths and for longer durations than conventional submarines, the SSNs will enhance the Indian Navy’s ability to perform multiple roles, ranging from offensive operations to intelligence gathering, while also enabling it to maintain a continuous and discreet presence in strategically important maritime chokepoints, such as the Strait of Malacca, the Gulf of Aden, and the Persian Gulf.”

    With their unlimited underwater endurance and offensive power, the SSNs will enable India to project power in the Indo-Pacific region while supporting self-reliant advancements in critical defense technologies. These advanced SSNs, coupled with the Indian Navy’s P-8I maritime patrol aircraft, would enhance the service’s ability to detect and track Chinese submarines operating in the IOR.

    Aakunoor concludes: “India will also likely use these Project 75-Alpha SSNs to protect its in-service Arihant-class nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine (SSBN), which serves as the sea-based leg of the country’s nuclear triad. This, in turn, will enhance India’s second-strike capability as the survivability of its fleet of Arihant-class SSBNs will increase significantly owing to the protection provided by the Project 75-Alpha SSNs.”

    MIL OSI Economics –

    January 23, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Russia: Three important steps for a hotelier: Mosturism has prepared instructions for opening a hotel

    MILES AXLE Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    The number of tourists visiting Moscow is constantly growing and has already approached pre-pandemic levels: 24.5 million people visited it last year. Due to the increase in tourist flow, the capital will need to expand its hotel stock by 25.7 thousand rooms by 2030. This means that the hotel business is expecting a new rise, and opening hotels remains a profitable investment. But where should an entrepreneur who wants to work in the hospitality industry start? Head of the Hotel Management Department of Mostourism Ekaterina Kirillova has prepared step-by-step instructions for those planning to open a new hotel.

    Opening a hotel is not only a significant financial investment, but also the competent execution of the necessary documents. It is important to take into account all the nuances: from the design of rooms and public areas to the selection of a suitable location. Investors are responsible for the funds, desire and opportunities when opening a hotel, and the city will help with the solution of bureaucratic and technical issues. If any questions arise, including after studying the checklist, you can contact the specialists of Mosturism, who provide online consultations.

    The first step will be to calculate the financial business model. To begin with, the investor must determine the required (desired) capacity of the room stock and the category of the future hotel. In Moscow, guests’ expectations even from a three-star hotel are already quite high. Therefore, during construction, it is worth considering even the smallest details, without trying to save on quality. Moreover, such requirements are becoming even more relevant for four- and five-star hotels.

    You can build a hotel yourself or organize the redevelopment of your inefficiently used building (or purchase such a building with various rights of use).

    The location plays a vital role here. Here are the main points to consider in the infrastructure of the chosen area:

    transport accessibility (availability of nearby metro stations, convenient transfer from airports and train stations to the hotel and back); availability of nearby business centers, attractions, etc.; proximity to the city center.

    The second step is to determine the possibility of using the territory for a hotel. Mosturism draws the attention of investors to the fact that financing the creation of a hotel facility does not cancel the rules of use provided for in a specific territory. The purpose for which the land plot will be used in the future is determined only by the urban development regulations of a specific territory. Therefore, it is very important to first familiarize yourself with the extract on the land plot, which will indicate the possible type of permitted use.

    If the required type of permitted use is not available (4.7. “Hotel services”), changes must be made to the land use and development regulations. How to do this, Mosturism will tell you.

    To obtain detailed information, you need to be honest about your plans. In the future, by attaching a concept of a hotel project indicating the planned hotel category, number of rooms and management contract with a hotel operator, you will be able to obtain a conclusion from Mosturism.

    The third step is construction. After receiving all the necessary permits, it is necessary to start construction on time, designing the hotel in accordance with the technical specifications.

    Due to the fact that tourists’ interest in the capital is constantly growing, the demand for comfortable and cozy small hotels with the best price-to-service ratio is also increasing. Since tourism is a priority industry, the Moscow Government is interested in building new high-quality hotels of three-star categories. Good hotels meet the high expectations of guests from the Russian capital and support Moscow’s reputation as one of the most progressive cities in the world.

    The city provides comprehensive support to the hotel industry as an important part of the tourism infrastructure and is constantly in dialogue with the hotel business, responding to industry requests. Moscow provides various preferential programs to investors opening new hotels. For example, they can receive the right to preferential rent of buildings and premises at a cost of one ruble per square meter per year. New facilities also appear thanks to the concession mechanism – one of the forms of public-private partnership, which makes it possible to develop hotel infrastructure through investor investments. The Moscow City Tourism Committee forms an up-to-date information field on the dynamics of tourism development in the capital.

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

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

    http://vvv.mos.ru/nevs/item/145395073/

    MIL OSI Russia News –

    January 23, 2025
  • MIL-OSI: Unable to get its cosmetics plant project financed, Global Bioenergies is now focusing all its efforts on SAF opportunities

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    PRESS RELEASE

    Unable to get its cosmetics plant project financed, Global Bioenergies is now focusing all its efforts on SAF opportunities

    Evry, 17 October 2024 – 07:30 a.m.: After several months of efforts, the Company has been unable to find investors for its 2,500-ton plant dedicated to the cosmetics market, in a highly unfavorable context for the financing of first-of-a-kind projects. The Company is now devoting all its energy to applying its technology to the production of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (“SAF”), with a model of industrial partnerships.

    Samuel Dubruque, Chief Financial Officer of Global Bioenergies, commented: “Despite all our efforts over the last few months, and with the conviction that we have presented the most mature case possible, we are now coming to the conclusion that our plant project will not reach final investment decision. Like all first-of-a-kinds, this project necessarily involves risks at various levels. The prospect of a significant return on investment linked to the cosmetics market should have been a sufficient counterbalance, allowing us to convince private investors to commit to the project, but we must realize that this is not the case in the current political, economic and financial context. Today, infrastructure investors limit themselves to less risky industrial replica projects1, and to projects more directly focused on energy markets.”

    Marc Delcourt, co-founder and Chief Executive Officer, added: “Global Bioenergies regrets that this project is not moving forward, and draws the necessary conclusions: the Company will therefore not be carrying out any plant projects of its own in the short or medium term, and will be focusing all its efforts on a partnership model. The intrinsic value of the process developed by Global Bioenergies is not diminished by the non-realization of this first industrial project designed to meet the needs of the niche cosmetics market. Our main ambition remains to produce much larger volumes of SAF, in order to reduce the carbon footprint of the aviation sector and fight global warming, now an absolute priority. To achieve this, the technology partnership approach is the most appropriate.”

    As a reminder, the Company’s process is one of only a dozen solutions to have obtained ASTM certification. The SAF market is currently in the start-up phase, and will really accelerate in 2030, when the European mandate increases to 6% (i.e. around 3 million tons/year) and production in the United States reaches the “Grand Challenge” target of 3 billion gallons per year (i.e. 9 million tons/year)2. The Company still aims to contribute to achieving these 2030 objectives on both sides of the Atlantic. Alongside this future large-scale SAF production, the Company intends to continue serving niche markets, in particular cosmetics.

    About GLOBAL BIOENERGIES

    As a committed player in the fight against global warming, Global Bioenergies has developed a unique process to produce SAF and e-SAF from renewable resources, thereby meeting the challenges of decarbonising air transport. Its technology is one of the very few solutions already certified by ASTM. Its products also meet the high standards of the cosmetics industry, and L’Oréal is its largest shareholder with a 13.5% stake. Global Bioenergies is listed on Euronext Growth in Paris (FR0011052257 – ALGBE).

    Contacts


    1 Réussir le passage à l’échelle des cleantech en France (website-files.com) – Cleantech for France (in French
    2 Sustainable Aviation Fuel Market Outlook – June 2024, SkyNRG

    Attachment

    • Global Bioenergies_Unable to get its cosmetics plant project financed Global Bioenergies is now focusing all its efforts on SAF opportunities_EN

    The MIL Network –

    January 23, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Russia: How to get there, where to buy a ticket and what to take with you: instructions for guests of the Moskino cinema park

    MILES AXLE Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

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

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

    How to get there

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

    Visiting rules

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

    Select and book an excursion

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

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

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

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

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

    Think about clothes

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

    Have a camera ready

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

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

    Be careful

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

    Relax after a walk

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

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

    Follow the poster

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

    Find out more about Moscow in cinema

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

    January 23, 2025
  • MIL-OSI: Draganfly to Showcase Latest Drone Innovations at Wings of Saskatchewan in Regina, October 30-31

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Advancements in drone technology to be presented at the leading aviation industry event, fostering cross-industry collaboration.

    Saskatoon, Sask., Oct. 17, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Draganfly Inc. (NASDAQ: DPRO) (CSE: DPRO) (FSE: 3U8A) (“Draganfly” or the “Company”), an award-winning, industry-leading developer of drone solutions and systems, proudly announces its participation in the upcoming Wings of Saskatchewan event in Regina, from October 30 to October 31, 2024. Draganfly will showcase its latest drone technology advancements, contributing to discussions on industry trends, safety, and regulatory considerations alongside key stakeholders in the aviation sector.

    The Wings of Saskatchewan Conference, hosted by the Saskatchewan Aerial Applicators Association and the Saskatchewan Aviation Council, serves as a vital gathering for the aviation community. This year’s event will bring together leaders from both civil and commercial aviation sectors to discuss technological advancements, regulatory updates, and future trends within the industry.

    Draganfly will emphasize the need for synergy across the aviation industry at the conference by addressing essential topics, including airspace safety and the regulatory challenges impacting the drone sector. This presentation will spotlight the benefits of enhanced communication and collaboration between fixed-wing, helicopter, and RPAS (Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems) to promote safe, efficient, and integrated airspace management.

    “We’re thrilled to be a part of the Wings of Saskatchewan and to share our newest innovations with industry leaders,” said Cameron Chell, CEO of Draganfly. “This event provides a great platform for us to explore key industry trends, discuss airspace safety, and address the regulatory challenges that impact our sector. It also allows us to demonstrate how Draganfly’s technology can foster collaboration across fixed-wing, helicopter, and RPAS industries, transforming operations in challenging environments like those found in Saskatchewan.”

    In addition to its presentation, Draganfly will feature its latest UAV systems, including the APEX Drone and the Commander 3XL, known for their versatility, advanced autonomy, and interoperability. Conference attendees will have the opportunity to explore these state-of-the-art technologies firsthand and discover their applications in surveying, environmental monitoring, and search and rescue operations, among other use cases.

    About Draganfly Inc.

    Draganfly Inc. (NASDAQ: DPRO) (CSE: DPRO) (FSE: 3U8A) is a global leader in the UAV and drone solutions space, providing cutting-edge technology for public safety, agriculture, industrial inspection, and mapping and surveying. With over two decades of experience, Draganfly has developed an extensive portfolio of award-winning drone systems and software that continue to set the standard for quality and performance. Draganfly is committed to driving industry advancement through innovation, collaboration, and a steadfast focus on safety.

    For more information on Draganfly, please visit us at http://www.draganfly.com. For additional investor information, visit:

    Media Contact Email: media@draganfly.com

    Company Contact Email: info@draganfly.com

    The MIL Network –

    January 23, 2025
  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Progress for investment in Grangemouth’s future

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    UK and Scottish Governments step up plans to support workers at Grangemouth refinery, with immediate investment in skills and training.

    • UK and Scottish Governments respond to Petroineos’ decision to close the refinery with investment in local community
    • Forth Valley College mobilised to support affected workers with bespoke skills support
    • Energy Secretary reiterates UK Government’s willingness to engage on how the National Wealth Fund could fund viable Project Willow outcomes, working with trade unions and industry

    The UK and Scottish Governments are jointly stepping up plans to support workers at the Grangemouth refinery affected by the risk of redundancy, with immediate investment in skills and training. 

    In addition to UK Government and Scottish Government’s joint £100m investment in the Falkirk and Grangemouth Growth Deal, Forth Valley College will receive funding to deliver bespoke support for workers affected by Petroineos’ decision to decommission the oil refinery.  

    Backed by this £100m funding, workers at Grangemouth refinery at risk of redundancy will be contacted in the coming weeks and offered tailored support to access new jobs in the local area that will shape the future of Grangemouth as an industrial hub for years to come.   

    Forth Valley College will shortly begin contacting workers to start building a skills and support package to meet their individual needs, mapping their current skills and qualifications to the future skills needed for local clean energy roles in the area and analysing where the gaps are. 

    The UK and Scottish Governments will use the findings to deliver targeted interventions to upskill the local workforce ahead of redundancies next year.  

    It comes as UK Energy Secretary Ed Miliband and Cabinet Secretary Gillian Martin attended a meeting of the Grangemouth Future Industry Board today (Thursday 17 October) at Forth Valley College alongside UK Energy Minister Michael Shanks, Scotland Secretary Ian Murray, local industry leaders, Falkirk Council, trade bodies and trade unions.  

    The £100 million Falkirk and Grangemouth Growth Deal will support projects and skills interventions in the local area. It is estimated that the Falkirk & Grangemouth Growth Deal will deliver over £628 million in economic benefits and create 1,660 jobs across the Falkirk Council area. 

    The Energy Secretary also reiterated the UK Government’s willingness to engage on how the National Wealth Fund could back projects that have the potential to yield a viable long-term future for the site, as part of the ongoing Project Willow investigation into a viable industrial Grangemouth.  

    Project Willow is urgently assessing credible options to begin building a new long-term industry at the refinery site, including low carbon hydrogen, clean eFuels and sustainable aviation fuels on the site. The Scottish Government will also soon publish the draft Grangemouth Industrial Just Transition Plan. 

    UK Government Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said:

    We continue to stand with Grangemouth workers and we are putting money on the table to secure workers good onward employment.

    By working in partnership with the Scottish Government, we’ve unlocked an unprecedented joint investment plan to support workers and secure Grangemouth’s future, and I will continue to spare no effort to drive this work forward.

    Scottish Government Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Energy Gillian Martin said:

    Our immediate priority remains to support the workers directly affected by the regrettable closure of the refinery. We will do everything we can to ensure they are supported to retrain and move into adjacent industries within the wider Grangemouth area.

    These workers are highly skilled and have an important contribution to make locally and nationally.  Our investment will help to unlock valuable new opportunities for them and ensure that their skills and experience continue to benefit industry in the area and the wider community.

    The new skills and training package is open to workers at both Grangemouth and Finnart Oil Terminal and will also be supported by the UK Government’s Office for Clean Energy Jobs.

    Kenny MacInnes, Principal of Forth Valley College, said:

    Forth Valley College are uniquely placed to help and upskill any Petroineos employees who are impacted as a result of the closure of the oil refinery, and we will be there to offer the necessary training and support with the help of funding from the Scottish and UK Governments.

    The College is proud to have had a long term partnership with the Grangemouth Refinery – helping to train their Modern Apprentices – and will continue to build on this in our role of making learning work for the people of Forth Valley to ensure they have the skills for the future.

    We are committed to working with PACE (Partnership Action for Continuing Employment) and Falkirk Council to help guide former Petroineos employees onto courses at Forth Valley College which will help them transfer to new jobs in another industry or sector.

    Notes to editors 

    See details of the joint investment plan.

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    Published 17 October 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

    January 23, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Security: Defense News: VP-10 Participates in Subject Matter Expert Exchange with Royal New Zealand Air Force

    Source: United States Navy

    SMEEs allow crews to exchange best practices and sharpen the edges of their technical expertise in foreign environments.

    “It was an invaluable experience and incredibly beneficial getting to work alongside our peers in the 5 Squadron” said Lt. Brian DePaola, aircraft commander, VP-10. “Sharing our experiences and skills not only strengthens our partnership but fosters a unified approach to maritime security in the Indo-Pacific.”

    The Red Lancer crew conducted multiple briefings, flights, and exchanges with their RNZAF counterparts covering topics ranging from anti-submarine warfare to search and rescue.

    “Search and rescue operations were a particular area that the RNZAF was able to showcase and demonstrate their extensive expertise in,” said DePaola. “Since the U.S. Navy and RNZAF both operate the P-8A Poseidon, the techniques for surveillance and rescue operations were exchanged seamlessly, supporting unified and refined responses to catastrophic events.”

    Among the many opportunities over the seven-day event, the VP-10 crew practiced anti-submarine warfare tactics on an Expendable Mobile Anti-Submarine Warfare Training Target (EMATT) alongside MH-60Rs from the Royal Australian Navy 816 Squadron and a Royal New Zealand Navy Anzac-class frigate, the HMNZS Te Kaha. This provided invaluable experience for interoperating with allies and partners in both the air and sea domains.

    The Red Lancer crew also participated in community outreach, volunteering at a local animal shelter and helping to build animal enclosures for the Hayward Heights branch of New Zealand’s largest no-kill animal shelter, HUHA (Helping You Help Animals).

    “I can confidently speak for the entire VP-10 detachment in saying that we truly enjoyed the uniqueness and the hospitality that New Zealand had to offer,” said DePaola.

    The “Red Lancers” of VP-10 are based in Jacksonville, Florida. The squadron conducts maritime patrol and reconnaissance as well as theater outreach operations, supporting Commander, Task Force 72, U.S. Seventh Fleet, and U.S. Indo-Pacific Command objectives throughout the Indo-Pacific region.

    U.S. Seventh Fleet is the U.S. Navy’s largest forward-deployed numbered fleet, and routinely interacts and operates with allies and partners in preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific region.

    MIL Security OSI –

    January 23, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Global: A new generation of telescopes will probe the ‘unknown unknowns’ that could transform our knowledge of the universe

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Richard Massey, Professor of extragalactic astrophysics (dark matter and cosmology), Durham University

    Illustration of the Extremely Large Telescope, currently under construction in Chile’s Atacama desert. ESO, CC BY

    In recent decades, we’ve learnt huge amounts about the universe and its history. The rapidly developing technology of telescopes – both on Earth and in space – has been a key part of this process, and those that are due to start operating over the next two decades should push the boundaries of our understanding of cosmology much further.

    All observatories have a list of science objectives before they switch on, but it is their unexpected discoveries that can have the biggest impact. Many surprise advances in cosmology were driven by new technology, and the next telescopes have powerful capabilities.

    Still, there are gaps, such as a lack of upcoming space telescopes for ultraviolet and visible light astronomy. Politics and national interests have slowed scientific progress. Financial belts are tightening at even the most famous observatories.


    This is article is part of our series Cosmology in crisis? which uncovers the greatest problems facing cosmologists today – and discusses the implications of solving them.


    The biggest new telescopes are being built in the mountains of Chile. The Extremely Large Telescope (ELT) will house a mirror the size of four tennis courts, under a huge dome in the Atacama desert.

    Reflecting telescopes like ELT work by using a primary mirror to collect light from the night sky, then reflecting it off other mirrors to a camera. Larger mirrors collect more light and see fainter objects.

    The Extremely Large Telescope under construction atop the Cerro Amazones peak in northern Chile.

    Another ground-based telescope under construction in Chile is the Vera C. Rubin telescope. Rubin’s camera is the largest ever built: the size of a small car and weighing about three tonnes. Its 3,200 megapixels will photograph the whole sky every three days to spot moving objects. Over the course of 10 years, these photographs will be combined to form a massive time-lapse video of the universe.

    Astronomy used to be a physically demanding job, requiring travel to remote telescopes in dark sites –- but many astronomers began working from home long before COVID. In the late 20th century, major ground observatories started to put in place technology to allow astronomers to control telescopes for observations at night, even when they were not there in person. Remote observing is now commonplace, carried out via the internet.

    Expect the unexpected

    The view of any telescope on the ground is limited, though, even if it’s on top of a mountain. Launching telescopes into space can get around these limitations.

    The Hubble Space Telescope’s operational history began when the space shuttle lifted it above the atmosphere on April 25 1990. Hubble got the full 1960s sci-fi treatment: a rocket to launch it, gyroscopes to point it, and electronic cameras instead of photographic film. But one plan fell through: for Hubble to host a commuting astronaut-astronomer, working decidedly away from home.

    Hubble was designed to take a census of the Milky Way and its neighbouring galaxies. Its successor, the James Webb Space Telescope, would study even more distant galaxies.

    Both telescopes have revolutionised our understanding of the universe, but in ways nobody foresaw. Hubble’s original plans mention none of the discoveries now seen as its greatest hits: plumes of water erupting from Jupiter’s moon Europa, the vortex around black holes, invisible dark matter that holds the universe together, and the dark energy that is pulling it apart.

    The Hubble Space Telescope being deployed from the space shuttle in April 1990.
    Nasa/Smithsonian Institution/Lockheed Corporation

    Webb, launched on December 25 2021, now spends a third of its time looking at planets around other stars that weren’t even known about when it was designed.

    The stated goal of an expensive telescope is usually just a sales pitch to space agencies, governments and (shhh…) taxpayers. The Webb telescope should achieve its original science goals, but astronomers have always known that seeing further, finer or in more colours can achieve so much more. The unexpected discoveries by telescopes are often more significant than the science objectives stated at the outset.

    Taking the long view

    For scientists, it’s a relief that telescopes go beyond their brief, because Hubble and Webb both took more than 25 years from napkin to launch. In that time, new scientific questions arise.

    Building a large space telescope typically takes about two decades. The Chandra and XMM-Newton space telescopes took 23 years and 15 years to build, respectively. They were designed to observe X-rays coming from hot gas around black holes and galaxy clusters, and were launched very close together in 1999.

    They were followed by Japan’s Hitomi X-ray satellite, which took 18 years to build, and the German eRosita instrument on Russia’s Spektr-RG space observatory, which took 20 years.

    Similar timescales apply to the European Space Agency’s Hipparcos and Gaia space telescopes, which have mapped all the stars in the Milky Way. The Cobe and Planck missions to study the microwave-light afterglow of the Big Bang also took two decades. Precise dates depend how you count, and a few exceptions have been “faster, better, cheaper”, but national space agencies are generally risk averse and slow when developing these projects.

    Chandra and XMM-Newton were launched to study X-rays from hot gas around black holes.
    ESO, Esa/Hubble, M. Kornmesser, CC BY

    The latest space telescopes are therefore millennials. They were designed at a time when astronomers had measured the universe’s newborn expansion following the Big Bang, and also its old-age, accelerating expansion. Their main goal now is to fill the gap –- because, surprisingly, interpolations from early times to late times don’t meet in the middle.

    The measured rates for the expansion of the universe are inconsistent, as are results for the clumpiness of matter in the cosmos. Both measurements create challenges for our theories of how the universe evolved.

    Observing the middle age of the universe requires telescopes operating at long wavelengths, because light from distant galaxies is stretched by the time it reaches us. So, Webb has infrared zoom cameras, while the European Space Agency’s Euclid space telescope, launched in 2023, and Nasa’s Nancy Grace Roman telescope, which is set to launch in 2026, both have infrared wide-angle views.

    Three buses come along at once

    Most stars shine in ultraviolet and infrared colours that are blocked by the Earth’s atmosphere, as well as the colours our eyes evolved to see.

    Extra colours are useful. For example, we can weigh stars on the other side of our galaxy because massive stars are bright in infrared, while smaller ones are faint – and they stay that way throughout their lifetimes. However, we know where stars are being born because only young stars emit ultraviolet light.

    In addition, independent measurements of the same thing are vital for rigorous science. Infrared telescopes, for example, can work together and have already made surprising discoveries. But it’s not great for diversity that the Webb, Euclid and Roman space telescopes all see infrared colours.

    Hubble’s visible light camera has just been switched off due to budget cuts. Nasa will not swing back to ultraviolet wavelengths until the 2030s, with the Ultraviolet Explorer and Habitable Worlds Observatory.

    Earthly politics gets in the way, too. Data from China’s Hubble-class space telescope, Xuntian, is unlikely to be shared internationally. And in protest at Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, in February 2022 Germany switched off its eRosita X-ray instrument that had been operating perfectly, in collaboration with Russia, a million miles from Earth.

    Cheap commercial launches may save the day. Euclid was to have lifted off on a Russian Soyuz rocket from a European Space Agency spaceport in French Guiana. When Russia ended operations there in tit-for-tat reprisals, Euclid’s launch was successfully switched at the last minute to a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.

    If large telescopes can also be folded inside shoebox-size “cubesat” satellites, the lower cost would make it viable for them to fail. Tolerating risk creates a virtuous circle that makes missions even cheaper.

    Telescopes are also being tried in innovative locations such as giant helium balloons and aeroplanes. One day, they might also be deployed on the Moon, where the environment is advantageous for certain types of astronomy.

    But perhaps the most unusual telescope technology, which may bring the most unexpected discoveries, is gravitational wave detectors. Gravitational waves are not part of the electromagnetic spectrum, so we can’t see them. They are distortions, or “ripples”, in spacetime caused by some of the most violent and energetic processes in the universe. These might include a collision between two neutron stars (dense objects formed when massive stars run out of fuel), or a neutron star merging with a black hole.

    If telescopes are our eyes, gravitational wave detectors are our ears. But again, current gravitational wave detectors on Earth are mere dry runs for the ones astronomers will ultimately deploy in space.

    Asked what the next generation of observatories will discover, I have no idea. And that’s a good thing. The best science experiments shouldn’t just tell us about the things we expect to find, but also about the unknown unknowns.

    Richard Massey receives funding from the UK Space Agency to support Euclid, and leads UK involvement in the SuperBIT balloon-born telescope.

    – ref. A new generation of telescopes will probe the ‘unknown unknowns’ that could transform our knowledge of the universe – https://theconversation.com/a-new-generation-of-telescopes-will-probe-the-unknown-unknowns-that-could-transform-our-knowledge-of-the-universe-240078

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

    January 23, 2025
  • MIL-OSI: Commercial Drone Industry Has Expanded Significantly as Billion Dollar Market is Awarding Lucrative Opportunities for Manufacturers

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    PALM BEACH, Fla., Oct. 17, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — FN Media Group News Commentary – The business use cases of commercial drones have expanded significantly over the past few years and the commercial drone market is growing to interior uses in warehouses/facilities in additions to all of the well know exterior used. They are also being increasingly adopted in the construction and real estate sectors due to their ability to survey the property, offer constant and exact project alerts, increase safety, and prevent harmful accidents on construction sites. Moreover, their conventional applications, such as monitoring, surveillance, and security, have instigated the product demand for search and rescue operations, identifying unstable roofs in dangerous and inaccessible positions, tracking out elevated infrastructure that might have damaged electrical cables, etc. A recent report issued by Grand View Research, discussed the segments on the market, saying: “Product Insights: The rotary blade segment held the largest revenue share of over 78.9% in 2024. The demand for rotary blade drones is anticipated to surge for inspection activities owing to its ability to hover and execute agile maneuvering while maintaining a visual on a particular target for prolonged periods. These drones are often seen as a suitable alternative for various business applications such as surveillance, filmmaking, photography, and monitoring. In addition, they are easier to control than hybrid and fixed-wing counterparts. The hybrid segment is expected to attain a CAGR of over 18% over the forecast period owing to the advantages associated with these commercial drones. These drones enhance their efficiency and power by integrating the capabilities of batteries and fuel. Moreover, these drones can fly for long periods with heavier payloads, even in severe weather conditions. Tech giants like Facebook and Amazon use hybrid drones to transport packages effectively and quickly while enabling internet access in remote locations.” Active Tech Companies in the markets today include ZenaTech, Inc. (NASDAQ: ZENA), Red Cat Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: RCAT), Joby Aviation, Inc. (NYSE: JOBY), EHang Holdings Limited (NASDAQ: EH), AeroVironment, Inc. (NASDAQ: AVAV).

    Grand View Research continued: “Application Insights: The commercial application segment accounted for a revenue share of over 74.02% in 2024. – End Use Insights; The media & entertainment segment accounted for a revenue share of over 21.4% in 2024 and is expected to record a notable growth from 2025 to 2030. – Range Insights: The visual line of sight (VLOS) segment accounted for the largest revenue share of over 69% in 2024 and the beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) segment is expected to grow at the fastest CAGR of over 11.2% over the forecast period. – Operating Mode Insights: The remotely piloted segment accounted for the largest revenue share of over 59% in 2024 and the fully autonomous segment is expected to grow at the fastest CAGR of 12.4% over the forecast period. The electric propulsion type segment accounted for the largest revenue share of over 72% in 2024. The segment dominance is attributed to the popularity of electric drones using rechargeable batteries. These drones have gained widespread adoption due to numerous advantages such as quiet operations, flight efficiency, longer flight times, and easy maintenance, among others. This, in turn, is expected further to drive the segment demand over the forecast period.”

    ZenaTech Inc.’s (NASDAQ:ZENA) ZenaDrone Team Begins US Flight Testing of ZenaDrone 1000 Drone in the Arizona Desert – ZenaTech, Inc. (“ZenaTech”), a technology company specializing in AI (Artificial Intelligence) drone solutions and enterprise SaaS (Software-as-a-Service) solutions, announced today that its subsidiary, ZenaDrone, has begun the first US flight testing of the ZenaDrone 1000 drone, including new hardware and software configurations, in the desert near Phoenix, Arizona. The company has also been concurrently working towards setting up offices, operations and partnerships in the state.

    “After years of development work and recently achieving US FAA approval, it is gratifying to be able to conduct live test flights and further build our company base in Arizona. This is the first of many test flights and demonstrations that will help us refine and build the reliability of the ZenaDrone 1000 solutions for agriculture, defense, security, land surveying and other applications where we see demand,” said CEO Shaun Passley, Ph.D. One of the company’s longstanding collaboration partners is the Arizona Commerce Authority (ACA), the State of Arizona’s economic development organization.

    “We are thrilled that ZenaDrone has further grown and strengthened its Arizona presence by choosing Arizona as its base of U.S. operations. And we are now delighted that they have chosen Arizona’s skies to begin live testing of the ZenaDrone 1000 product. We look forward to continued work with ZenaDrone to grow their business in Arizona and throughout the world, including via participation at international trade shows and on international trade missions,” said Kevin O’Shea, Senior Vice President of International Trade for the ACA. Read the full press release and more for ZenaTech at:  https://www.financialnewsmedia.com/news-zena/

    Additional Groundbreaking ZenaTech Inc. Developments include:

    ZenaTech recently announced that its subsidiary, ZenaDrone, has begun the first US trial of the IQ Nano product solution for inventory management, beginning with a multinational auto part and components customer. The drone will be reading the bar codes and collecting inventory information as part of a paid trial. The IQ Nano indoor drone is designed for customers with warehouse, logistics and distribution operations to help them save costs and improve productivity by managing various tasks such as taking inventory, turning a weeklong activity into one day.

    “After two years of product development work, the initiation of the first IQ Nano drone trial inside a customer’s warehouse is an important milestone. We believe the technology will help innovate and improve their inventory management process. Further, receiving feedback from our first paying customer will be extremely valuable as we continue to fine tune our IQ series solutions, enabling us to expand our offerings with this and additional new customers,” said CEO Shaun Passley, Ph.D.

    ZenaTech also recently announced that its subsidiary, ZenaDrone, is launching its IQ Nano product, part of the IQ series of indoor/outdoor drones. The IQ Nano is designed for customers in sectors such as warehousing and logistics to save costs and improve productivity while performing indoor inspection, monitoring and tracking processes including inventory management.

    The ZenaDrone IQ Nano is a 10×10-inch drone designed to perform regular and frequent inspections for applications such as bar code or RFID scanning, facility maintenance inspections, security monitoring, and 3D mapping specific to the needs of companies with warehouse, distribution, plants and industrial facilities. It is designed for autonomous use featuring integrated sensors, high-quality cameras and data collection. Weighing 1.5kg and with a flight time of up to 20 minutes before utilizing the automatic battery charging station, it is designed for hovering stability and for safety with obstacle avoidance capabilities.

    And finally, ZenaTech recently announced that its subsidiary, ZenaDrone, has commenced aerial operations to launch commercial drone services in the US. This was made possible due to recently achieving Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) exemption approval.

    Other recent developments in the Drone and/or Technology industry include:

    Red Cat Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: RCAT) recently announced it secured a $1 million contract for its Edge 130 Blue drones from the United States Army Communications-Electronics Command (CECOM). The contract was secured through Noble, a leading provider of global sustainment and operations support for the U.S. Military and civilian government agencies, and was coordinated for procurement by the U.S. Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) on behalf of CECOM.

    FlightWave, an industry-leading provider of VTOL drone, sensor and software solutions was acquired by Red Cat in September 2024. The acquisition brings FlightWave’s flagship drone, the Edge 130 Blue into its family of low-cost, portable unmanned reconnaissance and precision lethal strike systems. FlightWave’s size, weight and vertical take off capabilities makes it ideal for maritime operations and littoral environments. FlightWave’s recent TACFI award will accelerate advanced enhancements to the Edge 130 Blue.

    Toyota Motor Corporation (TM) and Joby Aviation, Inc. (NYSE: JOBY), a company developing electric air taxis for commercial passenger service, recently announced that Toyota will invest an additional $500 million to support the certification and commercial production of Joby’s electric air taxi, with the aim of realizing the two companies’ shared vision of air mobility.

    The investment, which will be made in two equal tranches, is subject to standard regulatory approvals and certain other conditions, finalization of collaborative and commercial agreements and, with respect to the second tranche, the finalization of terms related to a strategic alliance focused on commercial manufacturing and certain other conditions. The investment, which will bring Toyota Motor Corporation’s total investment in Joby to $894 million, will be made in the form of cash for common stock, with the first tranche targeted to close later this year and the second in 2025. Further details of the investment are available via the companies’ regulatory filings with the SEC.

    EHang Holdings Limited (NASDAQ: EH), the world’s leading Urban Air Mobility (“UAM”) technology platform company, recently announced a major milestone with the successful completion of the first flight of its EH216-S pilotless eVTOL in Brazil.

    EHang’s first trial flight in Brazil took place in Quadra, located in the São Paulo region, in partnership with its local operator, Gohobby Future Technologies (“Gohobby). This achievement holds significant importance for the future development of UAM solutions in Brazil, a country known as the birthplace of Latin American aviation, home of one of the world’s leading aeronautical industries, and one of the world’s largest eVTOL markets. As for now, EHang and its local partners have carried out over 50,000 safe flights in 17 countries across Asia, Europe, North America, and Latin America.

    AeroVironment, Inc. (NASDAQ: AVAV) recently showcased the maritime prowess of its combat-proven JUMP® 20 uncrewed aircraft system (UAS) during the NATO REPMUS 2024 (Robotic Experimentation and Prototyping using Maritime Uncrewed Systems) exercise off the coast of Portugal. This dynamic demonstration reinforced JUMP 20’s advanced Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities, autonomously launching and landing on a moving vessel in rough seas, with conditions reaching sea state level 5 and winds over 20 kts.

    The JUMP 20 also highlighted its multi-sensor mission versatility, seamlessly executing wide-area search and detection tasks. Its advanced Electro Optical and Mid-Wave Infrared (MWIR) turret automatically slewed to investigate identified targets without repositioning the platform, ensuring constant operational focus. Full-motion video was captured and later analyzed using AV’s cutting-edge computer vision technology, SPOTR-Edge™, enabling perception analysis using its robust library of object classifications, including persons, vehicles, and maritime vessels. Additionally, video from this event will further enhance the solution, making the JUMP 20 even more capable for future deployments by refining its object recognition and situational response capabilities.

    About FN Media Group:

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    The MIL Network –

    January 23, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Security: Defense News: CNO Press Briefing: Atlantic Council

    Source: United States Navy

    GENERAL JAMES L. JONES: Good morning, everybody. And welcome to today’s event with Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Lisa Franchetti—chief of naval operations of the world’s finest Navy, I might add—to discuss her 2024 Navigation Plan for America’s Warfighting [Navy].

    My name is Jim Jones, and I serve as executive chairman emeritus here at the Atlantic Council and as chairman of the Scowcroft Center. So, on behalf of the Scowcroft Center and the Atlantic Council, as well as its Forward Defense Program, I would like to welcome you to this exciting fourth installment of our 2024 Commander Series.

    As we all know, since its origin the United States has relied on her Navy to maintain global maritime dominance, ensuring freedom of navigation, the ability to project US power across the globe and played a critical role in the nation’s strategic deterrent capabilities. As we continue into this era of strategic competition with peer or near-peer adversaries, potential adversaries, namely China and Russia, and the threat landscape evolves, the Navy faces many challenges, and its capabilities are stretched across the world.

    The Navy, and I might add the Marine Corps—you’re not going to get away with a commandant introducing you without mentioning the Marine Corps—but the Navy and her Marines must be ready for the possibility of war in the near future. But beyond that, it will need to continue to enhance its long-term advantage to deter future aggression and ensure a major contribution to global stability. A critical component in the effectiveness of this strategy will be leveraging technological innovation to maintain a ready and modern force. The Navy will need to invest in newer platforms, newer weapon systems, and embrace robotic and autonomous systems as well.

    The key advantage that the United States holds over its adversaries is the strong alliance network the US maintains. The Navy must continue to strengthen these relationships, to enhance collective security, deter adversarial aggression by improving interoperability with joint and allied forces. With so many threats looming on the not-so-distant horizon, it is also imperative that the Navy has a forward-thinking strategic vision that leverages all the advantages the United States holds, and enables the readiness to respond in competition, crisis, and conflict if necessary.

    And so today, we’re extremely fortunate to be joined by the 33rd Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Lisa Franchetti, who will discuss her recently published Navigation Plan for America’s Warfighting Navy. This is her strategic guidance for the US fleet during her tenure. A native of Pittsford, New York, Admiral Franchetti is a graduate of the Medill School of Journalism and was commissioned through Northwestern University NROTC program in 1985. She earned her Surface Warfare qualification on the USS Shenandoah, went on to command at all levels, including Naval Reserve, Central Point, Oregon, USS Ross, Destroyer Squadron 21, US Naval Forces Korea, Carrier Strike Group 9 and 15, the US Sixth Fleet in Italy, and Striking and Support Forces NATO in Portugal.

    In addition to command, she has worked across the Navy and the joint force with emphasis on strategy, international engagement, and interagency collaboration, serving as the director Strategy, Plans, and Policy, J-5, and most recently as the vice chief of naval operations. As chief of naval operations, Admiral Franchetti is responsible for the command, use of resources, and operational efficiency of the naval operating forces and the Navy’s shore activities assigned by the secretary of the navy.

    Admiral Franchetti, we look forward to hearing from you today, and we’re very grateful for your presence here. After the admiral’s keynote remarks, she will be joined by Dan Lamothe for a moderated discussion. Dan has held a long career as a journalist and has written extensively about the armed forces for more than fifteen years. Since 2014, he has been covering the United States military and the Pentagon for The Washington Post. Dan, thank you very much for joining us today.

    I would also like to thank everyone attending this conversation with the admiral, whether in person or virtually. [Convenings] such [as] these are integral to the Atlantic Council’s [Scowcroft] Center for Strategy and Security, which works to develop sustainable, nonpartisan strategies to address the most important security challenges facing the United States and her allies and partners. Consistent with that mission, Forward Defense generates ideas and connects stakeholders in the defense ecosystem to promote an enduring military advantage for the United States, her allies, and partners. Its work identifies the defense strategies, capabilities, and resources of the United States needed to deter and, if necessary, prevail in any future conflict.

    I would like to extend a special thanks to Saab Corporation and Michael Anderson, who, unfortunately, couldn’t be here today but is usually in attendance. Saab and the Atlantic Council launched the Commander Series back in 2009. The vision was to establish a flagship speakers forum for senior military and defense leaders to discuss the most important security challenges, both now and in the future. Over the years, the program has become one of the Council’s main institutions. And we’re thankful to Saab for their continued support and collaborations. Before I turn it over to Admiral Franchetti for her keynote remarks, I’d like to remind everybody that this event is public and on the record. Thank you all for joining the Atlantic Council for what I know will be a captivating conversation.

    Admiral Franchetti, without any further ado, the floor is yours. Welcome.

    LISA FRANCHETTI: Well, thank you, General Jones, for your kind introduction and warm welcome. And I also want to thank the Atlantic Council for letting me be part of the Commander Series. It’s an incredible opportunity. And I’m very excited to have the opportunity to speak with all of you today.

    So, as General Jones just mentioned, I recently released my Navigation Plan for America’s Warfighting Navy, which is my overarching strategic guidance to the Navy to make our nation’s fleet more ready for potential conflict with the PRC by 2027, while also enhancing our Navy’s long-term warfighting advantage. But before I talk a little bit more about that, I want to talk about the why—the why behind the NAVPLAN, and what your navy is doing all around the world to protect our nation’s security and prosperity, to deter any would-be adversary, and to always be ready to fight and win decisively, if called to do so.

    As you all know, our Navy—our nation is and always has been a maritime nation. Seventy percent of our planet is made up of water. Eighty percent of the world’s population lives within two hundred kilometers of the coastline. Ninety percent of the global economy moves by sea. And 95 percent of international communications and about ten trillion dollars of financial transactions transit via undersea fiber optic cables every single day. In the United States alone, seaborn trade carries more tonnage in value than any other mode of transportation each year, generating about $5.4 trillion annually and supporting thirty-one million American jobs. And when our access to the sea is impacted, so too is our economy, our national security, and really our way of life.

    And I could think about a lot of different examples over the past years that demonstrate that intimate connection. Just think back to the impacts of COVID-19, the grounding of the Ever Given in the Suez Canal, and now Houthi attacks in the Red Sea, and even the port strikes on the east and west coast—gulf coast just a few weeks ago. It’s really clear that the seas are the lifeblood of our nation. And since the days of the Revolutionary War, as General Jones pointed out, our Navy and our Marine Corps team has protected and guaranteed our access to that sea. And on Sunday, we just celebrated our 249th birthday.

    I think the events of this year and the actions taken by your Navy-Marine Corps team in the Indo-Pacific, in the Mediterranean, in the Red Sea, and beyond really underscore the enduring importance of American naval power throughout our nation’s history. With an average of about 110 ships and seventy thousand sailors and Marines deployed on any given day, the Navy-Marine Corps team is operating forward, defending our homeland, and keeping open the sea lines of communication that fuel our economy. In the Indo-Pacific right now, the USS George Washington Carrier Strike Group and the America Amphibious Readiness Group, with the 31st MEU embarked, are working alongside allies and partners to sustain a free and open regional order and enhance our collective interoperability.

    In the Baltic, the Atlantic, the high north, and the Mediterranean, our navies continue to work alongside NATO and other partner navies to defend NATO and to support Ukraine as they defend their country and their democracy, to further deter Russian aggression, and to ensure that Russia’s continued unjustified and horrific invasion of the sovereign nation of Ukraine is a strategic failure. And in the eastern Mediterranean, the Red Sea, the western Indian Ocean, our naval forces—including aircraft carrier strike groups, amphibious readiness groups, submarines and multiple destroyers—working alongside allies and partners, are containing the Israel-Hamas conflict, deterring others, especially Iran and its proxies, from escalating hostilities into regional war, and continuing to support Israel’s defense.

    Over the last few weeks, more American destroyers—the Bulkeley, the Frank E. Petersen, Michael Murphy, and the Cole—have joined about a dozen other naval assets over the last year in knocking down Iranian and Houthi-launched ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and drones in defense of the rules-based international order, in defense of innocent civilian mariners, and in defense of Israel. The ability of our forces to seamlessly operate in any theater speaks to the value our Navy has provided to our nation for the last 249 years.

    We operate in a unique domain. It’s a domain that knows no boundaries. It’s a domain that transcends lines that are drawn on a map, and one in which the Navy provides agile, flexible options and decision space to our nation’s leaders every single day. I could not be more proud of that Navy team. It’s the active and reserve sailors. It’s our civilians. And it’s our families. There’s no other Navy in the world that can operate at this scale. No other Navy in the world can train, deploy, and sustain such a lethal, globally deployed, combat credible force at the pace, the scale, and the tempo that we do.

    And while all that we have achieved these past 249 years has filled me with confidence, I know that we cannot take our foot off the gas, because there’s no doubt that our nation is at an inflection point in history. We are facing a changing and challenging security environment, a changing character of war, and real challenges in ship, submarine, aircraft, construction and maintenance, munitions production, recruiting, and infrastructure maintenance. All while acknowledging the industrial and budgetary constraints complicating our efforts to address these challenges.

    I’ve already talked a little bit about the security environment, but I want to expand on how that’s changed a little bit more. As we are seeing, the rules-based international order that we have upheld, protected, and defended for over three-quarters of a century is under threat, in every ocean. The People’s Republic of China is our pacing challenge and presents a complex, multi-domain and multi-axis threat. I am eyes wide open that the challenge posed by the PRC to our Navy goes well beyond just the size of the PLAN fleet.

    It includes gray zone and economic campaigns, expansion of dual-use infrastructure like airfields and ports, and dual-use forces like the Chinese maritime militia, and a growing nuclear arsenal. It’s backed by a massive defense industrial base, which is on a wartime footing and includes the world’s largest shipbuilding capacity. The growing capabilities, capacity, and reach of the PRC military, along with its increasingly aggressive behavior in the East and South China Seas, underscore what Chairman Xi has told his forces, that they should be ready for war by 2027.

    The PRC is not our only competitor. Russia continues to be an acute threat. Iran, a stabling actor in the Middle East. And we are seeing increasing alignment of these competitors, the PRC, Russia, Iran, North Korea, violent extremist organizations, and globally sponsored terrorist organizations like Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis, ISIS-K, and more. In addition to this dynamic security environment, we’re also facing a changing character of war, with advancements in battlefield innovation and cheaper, more accessible technology available to state and nonstate actors alike. We’re all learning a great deal from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the continued Houthi ballistic missile, cruise missile, and drone attacks in the Red Sea.

    To get after all these challenges, I would love to have the resources and the industrial base capacity to just expand the size of our force overnight. And I acknowledge the need for a larger, more lethal force. But it’s no secret to any of you that we are facing financial and industrial headwinds at getting, what I like to call, more players on the field. Our budget falls short of the 3 to 5 percent increase above inflation needed to support the Navy’s growth. And we’ve had continuing resolutions for fourteen of the past fifteen years, which stifle our momentum and slow any progress in delivering the warfighting capability and capacity needed to meet the needs of today and tomorrow.

    And while we’re investing significant resources to address our industrial base challenges, change will not happen overnight. We cannot manifest a bigger Navy—a bigger traditional Navy in just a few short years. So as I came into this position, I took all of this in—the changing security environment, the changing character of war, and our own challenges—and that is what provided the context that framed my Navigation Plan. It’s a plan that lays out where we need to go to make our Navy more ready for potential conflict anytime and anywhere. As the CNO who will be at the helm into 2027, I am compelled to do more, and do more faster, to ensure that our Navy is more ready. I can’t stand still as we work to secure long-term investments for our force.

    And so my Navigation Plan essentially parks these known challenges in a box. I’m still going to work on them, but they’re not the only thing I’m going to think about. And it helps me set a course to make strategic gains in the fastest time possible with the resources I can influence. It builds on America’s Warfighting Navy, a document that I released in January that lays out my priorities of warfighting, warfighters, and the foundation that supports them. And the NAVPLAN continues where my predecessor’s 2022 NAVPLAN left off. It lays out my plan to raise our fleet’s baseline level of readiness and put more players on the field—platforms that are ready with the requisite capabilities, weapons, and sustainment, and people that are ready with the right mindset, skills, tools, and training.

    And it does that really in two ways. First, by implementing what I call Project 33, seven key areas in which we need to accelerate, areas where I will invest my personal time and resources and put my thumb on the scale to urgently move the needle, with 2027 as our North Star. And second, by expanding the Navy’s contribution to the joint warfighting ecosystem. This is all about building enduring warfighting advantage by investing in key capabilities and creating the layered effects that the Navy can contribute across all domains, to those of the joint force and those of our allies and partners. This is fundamental to my vision of how we will deter and, if necessary, fight and win our future wars.

    So, going back to the first I’d like to briefly just touch on these seven equally important Project 33 targets, as they align to my priorities of warfighting, warfighters, and the foundation that supports them.

    Under warfighting, my first target is readying our platforms.

    The second target is operationalizing robotic and autonomous systems.

    My third target is fighting from the Maritime Operations Center. That’s our command and control nerve center and it will help synchronize how we deliver effects as a Navy and as a broader joint and combined force.

    Under the warfighters’ bucket, my fourth target is recruiting and retaining talented people.

    My fifth target is delivering the quality of service that our sailors and their families deserve.

    My sixth target is investing in warfighter competency, making our live virtual constructive training as reliable, realistic, and as relevant as possible.

    And finally in the foundation bucket, my seventh target is restoring the critical infrastructure that generates, sustains, and postures our force to fight, prioritizing the Pacific theater.

    Together, these seven targets—really, stretch goals—they represent my plan to make strategic gains in the fastest time possible with the resources I can influence. I know that moving out with purpose and urgency on these targets will deter the PRC and any other potential adversary, and make us even more ready to fight and win decisively should that deterrence fail.

    I’d like to end with just a few comments about the joint warfighting ecosystem I mentioned before because my Navigation Plan is critical to expanding our Navy’s contribution to it. I know that our Navy will never fight alone, so we are laser-focused on developing and integrating key Navy capabilities with those of our joint teammates and of our allies and partners, because it’s the aggregate effects that we deliver collectively that will matter.

    The joint warfighting ecosystem is all about pooling and creating those aggregate effects. It’s a system in which a capability enables and then is enabled by each of its participants. It’s on display in the Middle East right now, and I know it’s one that Admiral Paparo will leverage in the Indo-Pacific.

    Achieving these objectives in my Navigation Plan is an all-hands-on-deck effort where everyone has a role to play—industry, Congress, academia, our joint teammates, our allies and partners, and of course our sailors and our civilians. So I would like to thank all of you here for your interest in our Navy, and I would like to thank you for all that you have done to support our Navy team and will continue to do in the future to support America’s warfighting Navy.

    I have a clock in my office that tells me that there are 807 days left until 1 January 2027. There is no time to waste, and your Navy is ready to get after it. Thank you very much, and I look forward to discussion today. Thank you.

    Dan.

    DAN LAMOTHE: All right. Good morning, everyone.

    LISA FRANCHETTI: Good morning.

    DAN LAMOTHE: Thank you for your time today, ma’am.

    You just spent several minutes articulating your plan. I know you must have spent a lot of time planning that. This town often sees plans that run into headwinds, run into real-life events. Can you walk us through a bit what you think you can do to make this plan durable, make this happen, kind of clear-eyed, noting the headwinds, the budgetary constraints, and other things like that?

    LISA FRANCHETTI: Yeah. Well, thank you. And again, thanks for the chance to talk a little bit about the plan today.

    You know, I think this plan is a little bit different from some of the plans that we have had in the past, and I worked to make sure that it would be durable and it would stick. And I really spent about the last year working on this plan alongside all of our four-star commanders, our fleet commanders, our type commanders to really get after what are the things that we need to do and what we do we need to do to think, act, and operate differently to stay ahead of the challenges that we have with the resources that we can influence right now.

    And so when you look at the plan, it’s very focused—I would say it’s different in a few ways from previous plans.

    First, it’s focused on 2027. It’s focused on the PRC. So I’ve set my priorities, my sight. It’s narrowly focused on getting after those challenges.

    The other thing is that it really builds on Navigation Plan 2022, in which we had about eighteen different areas which we were really focused on and a lot of structure was put in place with single accountable individuals to drive progress in each one of those areas. I took a look, I took a fix, and I said, all right, here’s where we are based on NAVPLAN 2022, and here are seven areas where I think we can really put our foot on the gas and accelerate our progress in those to be real gamechangers in what we need to be able to do in the future.

    I think the last thing I would say what’s different about it is that it does have this single accountable individual responsible for each one of the targets that we’re trying to get after. And what we’ve found through our perform-to-plan and naval sustainment systems, processes have been put in place, if you have a stretch goal, a single accountable individual, and a cadence of accountability, that drives success.

    And the Navigation Plan will change my focus. It changes where I go, what I visit, what reports I get, what meetings I go to. And so my personal attention will be on these Project 33 goals as well as building the capabilities I talk about as the key capabilities for warfighting advantage that will get us where we need to be in the future.

    DAN LAMOTHE: OK. One of your stated goals is boosting surge readiness to 80 percent. I know talking to a lot of analysts in this town, they raise concerns whether real-life events, physics, other things would really challenge this. And I know you’ve raised previously the aircraft as a kind of parallel. Do you see 80 percent as aspirational, achievable, both? And I guess, how do you put your foot on the gas with that?

    LISA FRANCHETTI: Thanks. This is one of the most important—all seven are equally important, but you know, I’ve long said that we need to get more players on the field. There’s a lot of ways to do that. You know, one is to buy new ones. One is to get them in and out of maintenance on time, which is—that’s why I put this goal in here. One is to use what you have differently.

    I am focused on this, because the aviation example is really illustrative of what we know we can achieve. So in 2018, Secretary Mattis challenged our aviation community to get F/A-18 readiness up from 50 percent readiness/availability to 80 percent. And over the process of these—the last couple of years, and now six years on, we’ve been able to sustain 80 percent readiness in the F/A-18s because of the processes that we put in place, data-driven, daily drumbeats of accountability to make sure that we understood what the readiness was, what the barriers were to achieving that readiness, and moving forward.

    They’ve been able to scale that now through other type model series, and we’ve expanded it to the submarine force and also the surface force. So it’s a stretch goal, but I am committed and the team is committed to going after that stretch goal. So we are putting all those—we have, actually, all those processes in place now, and I’m really looking forward to that.

    I will just give another example, a metric in surface that might be useful. So, you know, on-time completion of maintenance availabilities is really important. So if you think back in 2022 we had about 27 percent completion on time, 2023 we moved it up into the 30 percents, and this year we’ll be up to 67 percent. So we put in a lot of procedures to be able to plan maintenance availabilities early in a surface, a submarine, and aviation, making sure we understand what parts we need, having available pool of parts, investing in those parts so they can be there on time; planning our stuff—maintenance availabilities at least six months ahead of time and locking them in to let industry know what’s coming and also get those parts on order. Those are some of the things we’re doing.

    So these are stretch goals, but I am confident that we’re going to work hard to get after them. And if we don’t make exactly 80 percent, we’re going to be farther along the road than we would be if I hadn’t set such an ambitious goal.

    DAN LAMOTHE: OK.

    LISA FRANCHETTI: And I will say all the communities are locked hands on these goals, so we are all committed to working together to get after them.

    DAN LAMOTHE: A lot of discussions about the future of the Navy tend to focus on ship numbers. I heard in your comments there you kind of addressed that head on. To what do you—what degree do you consider that construct limiting, and to what degree do you consider that construct necessary? You know, I—there’s a pragmatic aspect to this, but numbers are numbers, and I’m sure that’s something that you get an earful on a lot as well.

    LISA FRANCHETTI: Certainly. Well, I fully acknowledge that we need a larger, more lethal Navy. You know, we have multiple assessments that say that we need to have a larger Navy, and I really want to work closely, you know, with Congress, with industry to be able to deliver that Navy that we need. And that’s a really important thing.

    But the size of the Navy is not the only thing that matters. I think if you look at that future warfighting ecosystem, it’s really about the effects you can deliver with that Navy from a widely dispersed, disaggregated force integrated with all of the other forces of our joint force, whether it’s cyber, space, Air Force, Army, Marines. You can definitely envision a different type of warfighting environment where all of those effects are layered together, and that is really how we’re going to beat any adversary.

    So, to me, it’s both. We need to focus on getting the fleet that we need with the capabilities we need, but we also need to understand how we’re going to better integrate them with the joint force and alongside our allies and partners. And really, how do we build that interoperability from the ground up with allies and partners through both weapons systems but also exercises, and make sure that we can really plug and play, plug and fight any time that we need to be able to do that?

    DAN LAMOTHE: OK. Thank you.

    Let’s talk some current ops and maybe tie it back to the plan a bit. The Navy’s been extremely busy in the Red Sea and other parts of the Middle East over the last year. You know, I think a lot of us are tracking ship movements and things like that on a level that, you know, is not always common. What is the service learning as a result as seemingly almost daily sailors are knocking, you know, munitions out of the sky? And how long do you think the service can keep this up? It seems to me that there would be concern as this stretches on on magazine depth and also on just, you know, as you’re trying to pivot elsewhere this seemingly doesn’t go away.

    LISA FRANCHETTI: Well, first, I couldn’t be more proud of our Navy and Marine Corps team that’s out there. As I said earlier, you know, from day one we’ve been there to deter further escalation. And you know, I’m very proud of all of our ships—working alongside allies and partners, I would add—there in the Red Sea and in the—in the Indian Ocean to really uphold that rules-based international order.

    I think we’re learning a lot by being in the Red Sea. First, the value of allies and partners. And again, all of these exercises and training that we do all around the world, that’s enabled us to work together to get after this challenge.

    I would say a few other things. First, that our sailors are confident in their weapons system. And that’s really a testament to the development of these weapons systems over the last many years, but also to the training, the certification, all of the work we do to get our sailors, our ships, our aircraft, everything ready to go before they head into harm’s way. And our systems have performed as designed. So, again, it’s a real testament to the designers, the engineers, and now our people who are able to employ them effectively.

    I think the other thing that we’re learning is that we’ve been able to observe all of the different engagements, everything that the Houthis have used, all of their Iranian-supplied weapons systems, and we’ve been able to look at their tactics that they’re using. We’ve been able to use data and extract that information from our weapons systems, bring that back here to the US in a matter of hours. And getting that to our engineers; to our warfighting development centers where they develop tactics, techniques, and procedures; this has been really a gamechangers because then all the experts can work together, understand what’s going on. As tactics evolve, then we can introduce different tactics, adjustments to radars, whatever it is we need to do to be able to get after that.

    I’ll just give a small example. When I was out visiting one of our ships, I got to promote a fire controlman second class to first class. And he was a technician who worked with a gun weapons system, and he had an idea about how he could make the gun more effective against Houthi threats. And he wrote up his idea, he sent it back to the technical authorities, they validated it, and they put it out the rest of the fleet because it was a better way to use the gun and more effective. And so we got to put technology into the hands of a warfighter; we got him to think about how to think, act, and operate differently; and he was really a pioneer in innovating there on the battlefield.

    I always like to say in Ukraine they innovate on the battlefield every single day. They take what they have and they use it differently. We need to be able to do the same. So I think that’s another lesson that we’ve learned there.

    DAN LAMOTHE: OK.

    LISA FRANCHETTI: And to your last point about, you know, are we concerned about our sustainability to be there, of course, our job is to be there, and that is what we train our people to do. So I’m very proud to be able to do that mission. And we’re continuing to work, again, to invest in the munitions as I talk about the foundation—munitions, bases, infrastructure—all those things we need to generate and sustain the force, committed to getting after that.

    DAN LAMOTHE: All right.

    And I think we have just time for one more question. We’ve seen the Abraham Lincoln Strike Group extended. We’ve seen the Marine Expeditionary Unit extended along with the ARG. As we see this extend, you know, it occurs to me we don’t necessarily have a follow-on ARG new behind it. To what degree are you concerned about being able to sustain the tempo out there?

    LISA FRANCHETTI: Well, as you know, we train, deploy, and certify all of our forces to be able to meet the requirements that are set forth, you know, by the secretary. We’re a globally deployed force, and I think that’s one of the greatest things about the flexibility of our Navy. We can generate the forces, we can send them where they need to go, and allow the secretary to be able to move them between the different theaters to get after the missions that we have. So I’m confident in our ability to do that.

    I am very focused on readiness for all of our ships. You know, when you think about in the big picture what are my priorities, first, Columbia, our number-one acquisition priority. But after that, readiness, capability, and then capacity. I’m really focused on readiness and getting after all of these maintenance challenges that have caused some of the delays in the past, whether it’s in our amphibious force or in any one of our platforms. So, again, that’s how we’re going to get after this. And that’s why that’s a key part of our Navigation Plan.

    DAN LAMOTHE: OK. Thank you all for your time today. I’d ask you to remain seated so that the admiral can depart for another meeting.

    LISA FRANCHETTI: Thank you very much.

    DAN LAMOTHE: All right.

    LISA FRANCHETTI: Thank you.

    DAN LAMOTHE: Thank you.

    LISA FRANCHETTI: Oh, thanks. That was fun.

    DAN LAMOTHE: Thank you.

    MIL Security OSI –

    January 23, 2025
  • MIL-OSI USA: Media Advisory: media invited to view aircraft, equipment slated to map Iowa, Illinois and Wisconsin critical mineral potential during low-level flights

    Source: US Geological Survey

    Members of the news media are invited to attend a media day at the Dubuque Regional Airport to see firsthand the aircraft and equipment that will be used to image geology during a U.S. Geological Survey Earth Mapping Resources Initiative (Earth MRI) low-level airborne survey of the tristate region later this month. The aircraft will fly about 100 to 200 feet above the land surface. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

    January 23, 2025
  • MIL-OSI USA: Sen. Moran to Introduce Legislation After Reports of Unidentified Aircrafts Hovering Over U.S. Military Base

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Kansas – Jerry Moran
    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) today announced that he will introduce legislation following reports of unidentified aircrafts hovering over a U.S. military base:
    “As drone technology continues to evolve, the tactics used against the United States grow more alarming each day. The recent reports of unidentified aircrafts hovering for 17 days over a U.S. military base without intervention is not just concerning, but an affront to our national security. This violation of our airspace highlights the threat of below-the-threshold activity that hostile actors can pose to our nation.
    “Military leaders currently lack the authority to engage until there is an imminent threat posed to our men and women in uniform. I am working on legislation to provide the Department of Defense with the necessary authorities to engage drones or unidentified aircrafts that breech our military airspace before it is too late to respond.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

    January 23, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Text of the Vice President’s address at the foundation stone laying ceremony of the Meghalaya Skill and Innovation Hub in Mawdiangdiang (Excerpts)

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Posted On: 16 OCT 2024 7:10PM by PIB Delhi

    Very good afternoon to all of you. 

    After landing in Meghalaya my spirits are high. I am having a heavenly feeling, you all are blessed to be living here. 

    Let me assure you all, the Honourable Governor pointed out, the demographic composition of the state is very soothing wholesome and is a perfect recipe for success, the teenage youth, the mid-level youth, the mature youth.

    What I saw here and much of it is already in progress, I can visualise that the days of this state are for the better and role model for other similar states. My congratulations to you and your team for being very thoughtful, futuristic and taking into consideration our contemporaneous needs and requirements.

    It was a delightful moment for the entire country when we had Madam Droupadi Murmu as our President, the first tribal woman to occupy such a high office. I must share my joy that we have amongst us a bureaucrat, Idashisha Nongrang, the first woman DGP of Meghalaya and the first tribal lady from Meghalaya to be DGP. These twin credentials define changing profile of India’s growth trajectory. As Chairman, Rajya Sabha I was in the chair when reservation was made for one-third women to be in the Lok Sabha and state legislatures.

    Distinguished bureaucrats and most importantly, boys and girls at the outset let me extend an invitation to two categories. I will request the Honourable Chief Minister that in batches I would invite students to be my guests at new building of Parliament.

    This is an ongoing exercise and I get energised, enthused, motivated, and inspired when I interact with them in Rajya Sabha Secretariat. I can assure you, you will have a lifetime experience to see the new building of Parliament. In the face of COVID, the building came into being in less than 30 months with old infrastructure. Depicting our civilisational depth of 5,000 years and I am sure the batches will start coming from November. I will recruit an officer to coordinate with the Office of the Chief Secretary to make things smooth. 

    I also take the opportunity and that I have done with some other states in the Northeast to invite their legislators to be my guests and I am sure here also, the Honourable Chief Minister, Leader of the House, and keeping in mind that his father was a very illustrious speaker of the Lok Sabha, he himself has been in that theatre so has been the Honourable Governor.  A visit by legislators to the Indian Parliament will make all the difference. It will add value to their work pattern. 

    The subject of skilling is indeed of contemporary relevance and in that context it was my delightful moment to be associated with two significant programmes and presence for the third one. Laying the foundation stone for the Meghalaya Skill and Innovation Hub is not a small step. It will bring about big change. I am sure it will come into being functionally quite soon, unfolding of the infrastructure reveals that its size is going to be gigantic and will attract attention beyond the state but human resource involvement would also give a cutting edge. 

    I would particularly request the Honourable Minister for Skilling Government of India, Shri Jayant Chaudhary to have deliberations with the Honourable Chief Minister and the team. He is a dynamic minister with independent charge and has already revealed his mind by two very important articles. So, the kind of passion I saw in the Chief Minister, the mission mode in which he reflected, the execution for which he is known, I am sure this is going to be a real boon to the youth because these are the times where skilling is no longer a quality, it is our need, it is our daily need. 

    It was equally delightful to launch CM Business Catalyst: Student B-Plan challenge. That was amazing. I was a student of physics not of chemistry but I learned over the years that a catalyst is something very important. You have to catalyse the change, you have to bring about the change you believe in. Someone has to take that step and that step was taken by visionary Prime Minister Narendra Modi ten years back. No one is more informed than I am about the situation of the country in 1989 when I was a member of parliament and a minister.

    How shaky weaver on economy, how fragile was our foreign exchange balance and what was mood of the nation. Prime Minister, thoughtfully by visionary steps has uplifted the mood of the nation to one of hope and possibility. An ecosystem is in place now where every young boy and girl can look for a larger basket of opportunities. Must beyond, just getting into government service. The innovation which is our obvious forte, and skilling for which we have to be a global source centre. Now the programme has taken a structured method but even without it, our health workers have contributed so massively outside the country. Particularly our girls, they have earned laurels for the entire country.

    When I went to the Middle East and when I got accolades and what has come in several countries of the Middle East that infrastructure they stand out in the world for that, the underline backdrop of human resource is Indian genius, Indian skilled human resource.

    When Prime Minister Modi could get the entire world on the same page, with the United Nations declaring in the shortest time with the largest support of nations ‘International Yoga Day.’ The Prime Minister made a statement that we will have yoga instructors in every part of the globe. Yoga has become a science, yoga has become an industry, yoga has been associated with fitness and yoga has been associated with our civilisation depth. Because the greatest knowledge platform for health the Honourable Minister is aware of it, our Vedas ‘Atharvaveda’ you will find it.

    Boys and girls, this day indeed is a unique day and this makes my maiden visit to the state of Meghalaya very very special. It shall ever be etched in my memory. Honourable Chief Minister has been very kind, he has already extended invitation for a second visit. I remember when as president of the bar, I invited one of the persons, “Are you free for dinner today?” I was president of the bar and the great lawyer, who is no more, Ram Jethmalani, he said, “Think for a second time, Mr. Dhankhar.” I was young. I had the good fortune to be a member of parliament alongside him. He said, “I am in the habit of accepting good invitations for dinner.” But they say in the United States, there is nothing like a free lunch so, I accept the invitation with two caveats. I will entertain at least one group of students  boys and girls, and one group of legislators before I visit state of Meghalaya and this should happen in 2024. 

    Skill development has to be understood. It is not something we are discovering or innovating. We would need a plumber, we would need an electrician, we would need a driver, we would need a carpenter, we will need someone who can deal with our computer. We will need them, they’re already there. Skill means it gets the best out of you, skill is optimal exploitation of the talent of a person in that specified field and that gives the human resource a qualitative cutting edge. 

    Focus on this aspect by the Prime Minister has been laboured on and has consistently reflected on this and a big change has come.

    One, there’s a dedicated ministry. 

    Two, there is an allocation of 60,000 crores over a period of five years, where five lakh youth will be given such kind of internship. 

    Now, when we think of it, we have to get it closer to the requirement. Villages and semi-urban towns must be hub of skill centres of a kind, you can have them graded for some, you need a higher level of urbanisation because of human resource requirements. But this will be a great game changer and this skill for the state of Meghalaya can bring about wonders, incremental growth in your trajectory, a big economic upsurge related to tourism, for instance. Nature has bountifully gifted you. So soothing, this whole is air-conditioned by nature. Just imagine, elsewhere we have a tough time.

    So tourism by itself is sustaining the economy of several countries. You have to exploit it fully by having very talented skilled people in the shape of human resources. Every tourist carries memorable moments of professionalism, excellence because the rest of the things nature has given you. The engine of your economy can be driven singularly and on all cylinders by tourism. I was happy to note when I was interacting with the Honourable Chief Minister that he has a plan. The plan is in execution but these days, while I advise every young boy and girl to be patient, I want the 15% category to which the Chief Minister belongs to be impatient. To be functional 24×7 because if we shape their future, if we shape their career, if we keep them away from stress and tension, if we keep them away from the fear of failure, we will be contributing hugely to the growth of the nation and therefore, this has to be done.

    Skilling by itself is capacity building, I have seen for myself, we don’t take the first step, we fear it, we fear it thinking it is difficult. Let me tell you, there is no step which our youth cannot take. All are equal, You must be guided by your attitude and aptitude. Therein, if you get an idea in your mind, please don’t make your mind a parking place, your mind is meant to be a crucible of innovation. Try it, don’t fear failure because failures are just not there. 

    There are people who will always say the glass is half empty, don’t listen to them. Listen to those who say the glass is half full. Chandrayaan-2, I witnessed as the governor state of West Bengal, after midnight around 2 AM, Chandrayaan-2 was very close to the lunar surface but did not reach. Some took it as a failure. Chandrayaan-3 has demonstrated the success of Chandrayaan-3 giving Bharat the status of being the only country in the world to have landed its spacecraft at that part of the moon. It was majorly because of Chandrayaan-2.

    Skilling is fine, growth of the economy is fine but there has to be another spirit and the spirit of nationalism. North-East is a very important part of the country culturally, ethnically, historically and economically. In the 90s, a great step was taken ‘Look East’ but Prime Minister Modi gave it a cutting edge. He frog-leaped into larger space by indicating ‘Look East act East’ and that act East has resulted in communication getting exponential connectivity being there, interaction taking place, airports number being doubled, and most of it being in the pipeline also. It’s a great place but challenging in several ways also when it comes to infrastructure development. 

    One thing is for sure North-East is on the radar of the nation’s development. North-East is a significant contributor to India’s unity economic progress, cultural essence and it is because of this policy of the present government that when I attended ASEAN for the first time as Vice President, there was a keen interest in several countries of that region and it was fructifying. When I talked about the impact we are having, I can tell you things are in the right frame but some of us out of ignorance or being ill-informed do not appreciate what a nation is. 

    A nation is not divisible as to who has how many roads, how many dams, how many airports. We are one whole, this is our identity. It’s an identity that has survived in spite of the nation having been assaulted from outside on a number of occasions in the last several hundred years. Therefore, boys and girls, the mantle is on you. The onus is on you. Be informed. 

    Thanks to technological advancement, thanks to disruptive technologies, everyone now has a right of expression. An expression which earlier was captive of newspapers, TV channels expression otherwise could not find a way in the public domain. Suddenly we find we can ourselves be the epicentre of expression but can we afford to be loose cannons, ignoring our basic commitment to our nation? Can we allow on public platforms free fall of information that has no factual foundation? Let me come to the state of the nation today. The entire world is in admiration of Bharat, its economy, its prosperity, its innovation, its human resource, its creativity.

    They can’t believe that a nation of 1.4 billion people has internet connectivity virtually in every village, electricity in every house. The day is not far when every house will have tap water. These are big things but these big-ticket accomplishments are a ground reality. Therefore, boys and girls, you are much luckier than us. You are really lucky to be living in a land that is known as Bharat. Which other country can rival in our cultural wealth? No other country. Which country can claim to be a repository of knowledge, wisdom as our Bharat? 

    I therefore beseech our young friends that when we are destined to be a developed nation in 2047, you are the most vital contributors. You are the most significant stakeholders, you are drivers of that engine and I have no doubt this engine will not fail. 

    Look around, if there is heaven,it is in india. If there is heavenly spirit, it is in Meghalaya. Boys and girls, I am leaving this place with full confidence, with certainty that Bharat that is on the rise at the moment and the rise is unstoppable. This rise no one can impede, I am optimistic because I see your potential. I can read your intent, I know you will exploit all your energy to make this nation great. Make yourself a worthy citizen and make your families and teachers ever proud. I am indeed privileged to be part of this unique program.

    Thank you so much.

    ****

    JK/SM

    (Release ID: 2065539) Visitor Counter : 79

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

    January 23, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: North-East is on the radar of nation’s development, asserts Vice-President

    Source: Government of India (2)

    North-East is on the radar of nation’s development, asserts Vice-President

    North-East is significant contributor to unity, economic progress and cultural essence of the nation, notes VP

    If there is heaven it is in India, if there is heavenly spirit, it is in Meghalaya, remarks VP

    Look East and Act East Policy resulted in exponential growth in the region, says VP

    Freefall of information that has no factual foundation can not be allowed on public platforms, emphasises VP

    We can not afford to be loose cannons, ignoring our basic commitment to our nation -VP

    Posted On: 16 OCT 2024 7:02PM by PIB Delhi

    The Vice-President, Shri JagdeepDhankhar, today remarked, “North-East is on the radar of nation’s development.” He emphasized that the North-East is significant contributor to unity, economic progress and cultural essence of the nation. Acknowledging the North-East as a very important part of our country, Shri Dhankhar lauded the Look East and Act East Policy which have resulted in exponential growth in communication, connectivity and development of airports in the region.

    Expressing concern over ignorance and ill-informed narratives, the Vice-President questioned if freefall of information that has no factual foundation be allowed on public platforms. He further asked if we could afford to be loose cannons, ignoring our basic commitment to our nation. He upheld that Bharat is on the rise and it is indivisible and stressed on the youth being informed. Shri Dhankhar further exhorted the youth by calling them the most vital contributors and significant stakeholders in India’s march to being a developed nation by 2047.

    Addressing the gathering at the foundation stone laying ceremony of Meghalaya Skill and Innovation Hub At Shillongtoday, the Vice-President highlighted that skill is neither discovered nor innovated, it is in fact the optimal exploitation of talent of a person in that specified field which gives the human resource a qualitative cutting-edge. He underscored that skilling is no longer a quality, it is our need.

    The Vice-President also highlighted the formation of a dedicated Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship and allocation of 60,000 crores towards internship of 5 lakh young individuals over a period of five years, adding that villages and semi-urban towns must be hub of skill centres.

    On his experience in Meghalaya, the Vice-President said, “If there is heaven it is in India, if there is heavenly spirit, it is in Meghalaya.” He asserted that the engine of Meghalaya’s economy could be driven by tourism alone. He further added that nature has bountifully gifted Meghalaya and urged them to exploit it fully by having very talented skilled people in the shape of human resource.

    Shri C.H. Vijayashankar, Governor of Meghalaya, Shri Conrad K Sangma, Chief Minister of Meghalaya, Dr. Mazel AmpareenLyngdoh, Cabinet Minister, Shri Donald Phillips Wahlang, Chief Secretary to the Govt. of Meghalaya and other dignitaries were also present on the occasion.

    ****

    JK/SM

    (Release ID: 2065533) Visitor Counter : 24

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

    January 23, 2025
  • MIL-OSI USA: Brown Joins Ashtabula Community to Demand That Coast Guard Make Ashtabula Station Fully Operational

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Ohio Sherrod Brown

    ASHTABULA, OH – Today, U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) joined community members at the Ashtabula Fire Department to call on the Biden Administration to reopen the United States Coast Guard’s Ashtabula Harbor Station and restore Ashtabula and U.S. Coast Guard Fairport to full-time operation to better protect Ohioans on Lake Erie. Having a continued, fully-staffed Coast Guard presence at U.S. Coast Guard Ashtabula and Fairport Stations is critical to securing the water-based border and supporting the entire region’s coastal economy and tourism industry.

    “Together with the Ashtabula community, I’m demanding the Administration restore Ashtabula Harbor Station to its full capacity. Its closure is unacceptable,” said Brown. “Lake Erie is vital to our way of life in Northeast Ohio. Ohioans rely on our lake as a driver of economic growth that supports both commerce and recreation – but that hinges on a fully operational and well-staffed Coast Guard to keep Ohioans and visitors safe on the Lake.”

    Since 1893, the U.S. Coast Guard has had a presence in Ashtabula, serving a vital public safety role for the entire region by protecting our water-based border, combating the trafficking of illegal drugs like fentanyl, engaging in counterterrorism operations, supporting commerce, and protecting boaters. But last year, the Biden Administration significantly downsized the U.S. Coast Guard presence in Ashtabula and U.S. Coast Guard Fairport. As there are every year, there have been a number of emergencies and safety issues on Lake Erie this year – including one weekend where one boater died and 13 others were rescued.

    “We have an outstanding relationship with the men and women of our Coast Guard Station Ashtabula and their presence in our community is vital to the safety of our tourists, outdoor enthusiasts, boaters, and commercial vessels. It is a strain on our resources when they are not in port, and although we take the time to train for emergencies on the water, this is not our expertise. We cannot replace the skills and response of the Coast Guard when they are in our station. We are hopeful complete coverage will be restored,” said Jim Timonere, City Manager, City of Ashtabula.

    “The City of Conneaut is the Northeastern Gateway to our region with a seven-mile coastline for swimming, recreational boating and deepwater port commerce. It is crucial as a network of port communities like Ashtabula and Conneaut, steeped in diverse maritime history, to have these assets close to us in here in the City of Ashtabula,” said Nicholas A. Sanford, City Manager, City of Conneaut.

    Brown is leading the fight to reopen the station full-time and has repeatedly  urged the administration to reopen all operations along Lake Erie. Following Brown’s push, the U.S. Coast Guard staffed Ashtabula Harbor on weekends until this past Labor Day but have stopped since. Brown is continuing to demand the restoration of full-time staffing at U.S. Coast Guard Ashtabula and U.S. Coast Guard Fairport.

    MIL OSI USA News –

    January 23, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Banking: Phillips 66 provides notice of its plan to cease operations at Los Angeles-area refinery

    Source: Phillips

    Facility expects to cease operations in the fourth quarter of 2025
    Company will work with the state of California to supply fuel markets and meet ongoing consumer demand

    HOUSTON–(BUSINESS WIRE)– Phillips 66 (NYSE: PSX) announced plans to cease operations at its Los Angeles-area refinery in the fourth quarter of 2025 and will work with the state of California to supply fuel markets and meet ongoing consumer demand.
    “We understand this decision has an impact on our employees, contractors and the broader community,” said Mark Lashier, chairman and CEO of Phillips 66. “We will work to help and support them through this transition.” Approximately 600 employees and 300 contractors currently operate the Los Angeles-area refinery.
    “With the long-term sustainability of our Los Angeles Refinery uncertain and affected by market dynamics, we are working with leading land development firms to evaluate the future use of our unique and strategically located properties near the Port of Los Angeles,” said Lashier. “Phillips 66 remains committed to serving California and will continue to take the necessary steps to meet our commercial and customer demands.”
    As the California Energy Commission’s analysis has indicated, expanding supply capabilities will be critical. Phillips 66 supports these efforts and will work with California to maintain current levels and potentially increase supplies to meet consumer needs. The company will supply gasoline from sources inside and outside its refining network as well as renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuels from its Rodeo Renewable Energy Complex in the San Francisco Bay area.
    Phillips 66 has engaged Catellus Development Corporation and Deca Companies, two leading real estate development firms, to evaluate the future use of the 650-acre sites in Wilmington, California, and Carson, California. The firms bring strong track records of solving complex redevelopment challenges and will collaborate with Phillips 66 in an advisory role to advance potential commercial development options that support the regional economy and other key stakeholder objectives.
    “These sites offer an opportunity to create a transformational project that can support the environment, generate economic development, create jobs and improve the region’s critical infrastructure,” Lashier said.
    About Phillips 66
    Phillips 66 (NYSE: PSX) is a leading integrated downstream energy provider that manufactures, transports and markets products that drive the global economy. The company’s portfolio includes Midstream, Chemicals, Refining, Marketing and Specialties, and Renewable Fuels businesses. Headquartered in Houston, Phillips 66 has employees around the globe who are committed to safely and reliably providing energy and improving lives while pursuing a lower-carbon future. For more information, visit phillips66.com or follow @Phillips66Co on LinkedIn.
    CAUTIONARY STATEMENT FOR THE PURPOSES OF THE “SAFE HARBOR” PROVISIONS OF THE PRIVATE SECURITIES LITIGATION REFORM ACT OF 1995
    This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws relating to Phillips 66’s operations. Words such as “anticipated,” “estimated,” “expected,” “planned,” “scheduled,” “targeted,” “believe,” “continue,” “intend,” “will,” “would,” “objective,” “goal,” “project,” “efforts,” “strategies” and similar expressions that convey the prospective nature of events or outcomes generally indicate forward-looking statements. However, the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. Forward-looking statements included in this news release are based on management’s expectations, estimates and projections as of the date they are made. These statements are not guarantees of future events or performance, and you should not unduly rely on them as they involve certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Therefore, actual outcomes and results may differ materially from what is expressed or forecast in such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements include: changes in governmental policies or laws that relate to our operations, including regulations that seek to limit or restrict refining, marketing and midstream operations or regulate profits, pricing, or taxation of our products or feedstocks, or other regulations that restrict feedstock imports or product exports; our ability to timely obtain or maintain permits necessary for projects; fluctuations in NGL, crude oil, refined petroleum, renewable fuels and natural gas prices, and refining, marketing and petrochemical margins; the effects of any widespread public health crisis and its negative impact on commercial activity and demand for refined petroleum or renewable fuels products; changes to worldwide government policies relating to renewable fuels and greenhouse gas emissions that adversely affect programs including the renewable fuel standards program, low carbon fuel standards and tax credits for biofuels; unexpected changes in costs for constructing, modifying or operating our facilities; our ability to successfully complete, or any material delay in the completion of, any asset disposition, acquisition or conversion that we may pursue; unexpected difficulties in manufacturing, refining or transporting our products; the level and success of drilling and production volumes around our midstream assets; risks and uncertainties with respect to the actions of actual or potential competitive suppliers and transporters of refined petroleum products, renewable fuels or specialty products; lack of, or disruptions in, adequate and reliable transportation for our products; potential liability from litigation or for remedial actions, including removal and reclamation obligations under environmental regulations; failure to complete construction of capital projects on time and within budget; our ability to comply with governmental regulations or make capital expenditures to maintain compliance with laws; limited access to capital or significantly higher cost of capital related to illiquidity or uncertainty in the domestic or international financial markets, which may also impact our ability to repurchase shares and declare and pay dividends; potential disruption of our operations due to accidents, weather events, including as a result of climate change, acts of terrorism or cyberattacks; general domestic and international economic and political developments, including armed hostilities (such as the Russia-Ukraine war), expropriation of assets, and other diplomatic developments; international monetary conditions and exchange controls; changes in estimates or projections used to assess fair value of intangible assets, goodwill and property and equipment and/or strategic decisions with respect to our asset portfolio that cause impairment charges; investments required, or reduced demand for products, as a result of environmental rules and regulations; changes in tax, environmental and other laws and regulations (including alternative energy mandates); political and societal concerns about climate change that could result in changes to our business or increase expenditures, including litigation-related expenses; the operation, financing and distribution decisions of equity affiliates we do not control; and other economic, business, competitive and/or regulatory factors affecting Phillips 66’s businesses generally as set forth in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Phillips 66 is under no obligation (and expressly disclaims any such obligation) to update or alter its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

    Source: Phillips 66

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

    January 23, 2025
  • MIL-OSI USA: Biden-Harris Administration Approves More Than $1.8 Billion for Hurricane Response and Recovery Efforts

    Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency

    Headline: Biden-Harris Administration Approves More Than $1.8 Billion for Hurricane Response and Recovery Efforts

    Biden-Harris Administration Approves More Than $1.8 Billion for Hurricane Response and Recovery Efforts

    WASHINGTON — The Biden-Harris Administration has approved more than $1.8 billion in federal assistance for individuals and communities affected by Hurricanes Helene and Milton. FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell continues to lead the federal response, working in coordination with state and local partners to ensure that survivors receive the resources they need to jumpstart their recovery. 

    Currently, FEMA has deployed more than 4,400 personnel to the affected areas, working side by side with over 8,000 federal responders to support state and local governments in their recovery efforts. FEMA personnel on the ground are actively coordinating with local officials, conducting damage assessments and helping individuals apply for disaster assistance programs.

    Federal assistance for those affected by the hurricanes includes $597 million to support survivors with housing repairs, personal property replacement and other essential recovery efforts. Additionally, over $934 million has been approved for debris removal and emergency protective measures, which are necessary to save lives, protect public health and prevent further damage to public and private property.

    Applying for assistance is a critical first step towards recovery. Disaster survivors in certain areas of Georgia, Florida (Helene), Florida (Milton), North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia can begin their recovery process by applying for federal assistance through FEMA. Individuals affected by the hurricanes are encouraged to apply as soon as they are able to by visiting DisasterAssistance.gov, which is the fastest way to get an application started. Individuals can also apply using the FEMA App, calling 1-800-621-3362 or in person at a local Disaster Recovery Center. Disaster Recovery Centers in the affected communities can provide survivors with in-person help on their applications and answer questions. Center locations can be found at FEMA.gov/DRC. FEMA also has Disaster Survivor Assistance team members in the field supporting survivors and helping them with the application process.

    Federal assistance for individuals may include upfront funds to help with essential items like food, water, baby formula, breastfeeding supplies 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. Homeowners and renters with damage to their home or personal property from previous disasters, whether they received FEMA funds or not, are still eligible to apply for and receive assistance for other federally declared disasters.   

    FEMA’s National Flood Insurance Program is ready to respond to insured flood losses. Those with an NFIP-backed flood insurance policy that suffered flood damage should begin filing their claim by contacting their flood insurance agent or company. 

    Recovery Update

    For those affected by Hurricane Helene, FEMA has approved over $911.1 million in assistance. This includes $581.1 million in assistance for individuals and families, along with more than $330 million for debris removal and efforts to protect public health and safety. In response to Hurricane Milton, FEMA has approved more than $620.2 million in assistance, with $16.2 million allocated for individuals and families and over $604 million for debris removal and safety measures.

    To support response and recovery efforts, FEMA delivered over 12.6 million meals and 12.9 million liters of water to states impacted by Helene. For Milton, FEMA delivered more than 2.2 million meals and 780,000 liters to Florida.

    FEMA continues to open Disaster Recovery Centers in affected communities, offering in-person assistance, information on available resources and help with FEMA assistance applications. Disaster Survivor Assistance Teams are also on the ground in all affected states, helping survivors apply for aid and connect with additional resources from state, local, federal and voluntary agencies.

    Support for North Carolina

    As ongoing response efforts continue in western North Carolina, FEMA has approved over $100 million in housing and other types of assistance for over 77,000 households.

    More than 3,000 families who cannot return home are staying in safe and clean lodging through FEMA’s Transitional Sheltering Assistance program. Shelter numbers remain steady, with 13 shelters housing just over 560 occupants. 

    Commodity distribution, mass feeding and hydration operations remain in areas of western North Carolina. Voluntary organizations are supporting feeding operations with bulk food and water deliveries coming via truck and aircraft. 

    • Residents can visit: ncdps.gov/Helene to get information and additional assistance.  
    • Residents can get in touch with loved ones by calling 2-1-1 or visiting unitedwaync.org to add them to search and rescue efforts.  

    There are over 370 Disaster Survivor Assistance members in communities providing support. There are also six Disaster Recovery Centers now open in Asheville, Bakersville, Boone, Lenoir, Marion and Sylva where survivors can speak directly with FEMA and state personnel for assistance with their recovery. To find the nearest center, visit FEMA.gov/DRC.

    Support for Florida 

    In response to Helene, FEMA has approved over $213 million in housing and other types of assistance for more than 71,000 households. Additionally, FEMA has approved more than $330 million in Public Assistance for debris removal and emergency work. In response to Milton, FEMA has approved over $16 million in housing and other types of assistance for over 19,000 households. Additionally, FEMA has approved more than $604 million in Public Assistance for debris removal and emergency work. 

    There are 120 Disaster Survivor Assistance members in communities to provide support. There are also 12 Disaster Recovery Centers now open supporting survivors from Debby, Helene and Milton where survivors can speak to state and federal personnel to help with their recovery. Survivors may find their closest center by visiting FEMA.gov/DRC.

    Residents in need of information or resources should call the State Assistance Information Line (SAIL) at 1-800-342-3557. English, Spanish and Creole speakers are available to answer questions.  

    Support for South Carolina 

    FEMA has approved over $132 million in housing and other types of assistance for more than 146,000 households. 

    There are 92 Disaster Survivor Assistance members in communities providing support. There are also five Disaster Recovery Centers now open in Anderson, Barnwell, Batesburg, Easley, Greenville and North Augusta where survivors can speak to state and federal personnel to help with their recovery. Survivors may find their closest center by visiting FEMA.gov/DRC.

    Residents with questions on Helene can call the state’s toll-free hotline, open 24 hours a day, at 1-866-246-0133. Residents who are dependent on medical equipment at home and who are without power due to Helene may be eligible for a medical needs shelter. Call the state’s Department of Public Health Care Line at 1-855-472-3432 for more information. 

    Support for Georgia 

    FEMA has approved over $119 million in housing and other types of assistance for more than 118,000 households. 

    There are 139 Disaster Survivor Assistance members in communities providing support. There are also four Disaster Recovery Centers now open in Valdosta, Douglas, Sandersville and Augusta where survivors can speak to state and federal personnel to help with their recovery. Survivors may find their closest center by visiting FEMA.gov/DRC.

    Residents can find resources like shelters and feeding sites at gema.georgia.gov/hurricane-helene. 

    Support for Virginia  

    To date, FEMA has approved over $4.7 million in housing and other types of assistance for more than 1,500 households. 

    There are about 57 Disaster Survivor Assistance members in communities providing support. There are also four Disaster Recovery Centers open in Damascus, Dublin, Independence and Tazewell where survivors can speak to state and federal personnel to help with their recovery. Survivors may find their closest center by visiting FEMA.gov/DRC.

    Residents can find resources like shelters and feeding sites at: Recover – Hurricane Helene | VDEM (vaemergency.gov).

    Support for Tennessee 

    FEMA has approved more than $11.8 million in housing and other types of assistance for more than 2,400 households. FEMA Disaster Survivor Assistance Teams are on the ground in neighborhoods across the affected counties, helping survivors apply for FEMA assistance and connecting them with additional state, local, federal and voluntary agency resources.

    There are more than 42 Disaster Survivor Assistance members in communities providing support. There is now one Disaster Recovery Center open in Erwin where survivors can speak to state and federal personnel to help with their recovery. Survivors may find their closest center by visiting FEMA.gov/DRC.

    Counties continue to establish donation centers. For the evolving list, visit TEMA’s website. 

    FEMA remains steadfast in its mission to support survivors as they begin their recovery from these historic storms. The agency will continue to work with federal, state and local partners to ensure the safety and well-being of those impacted by Milton and Helene.

    amy.ashbridge
    Wed, 10/16/2024 – 19:02

    MIL OSI USA News –

    January 23, 2025
  • MIL-OSI: Willis Lease Finance Corporation Announces Timing of Third Quarter 2024 Earnings and Conference Call

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    COCONUT CREEK, Fla., Oct. 16, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Willis Lease Finance Corporation (NASDAQ: WLFC) (“WLFC”) plans to announce its financial results for the third quarter 2024 before the opening of Nasdaq on Monday, November 4, 2024.

    WLFC plans to hold a conference call with members of WLFC’s executive management team on Monday, November 4, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Standard Time to discuss its third quarter 2024 results. Individuals wishing to participate in the conference call should dial: US and Canada (888) 632-5004, International +1 (646) 828-8082, wait for the conference operator and provide the operator with the Conference ID 512645. A digital replay will be available two hours after the completion of the conference call. To access the replay, please visit our website at http://www.wlfc.global under the Investors section for details.

    A copy of the press release and an earnings supplement will be posted to the Investor Relations section of the Company’s website, http://www.wlfc.global prior to the call.

    Willis Lease Finance Corporation

    Willis Lease Finance Corporation leases large and regional spare commercial aircraft engines, auxiliary power units and aircraft to airlines, aircraft engine manufacturers and maintenance, repair, and overhaul providers worldwide. These leasing activities are integrated with engine and aircraft trading, engine lease pools and asset management services through Willis Asset Management Limited, as well as various end-of-life solutions for engines and aviation materials provided through Willis Aeronautical Services, Inc. Additionally, through Willis Engine Repair Center®, Jet Centre by Willis, and Willis Aviation Services Limited, the Company’s service offerings include Part 145 engine maintenance, aircraft line and base maintenance, aircraft disassembly, parking and storage, airport FBO and ground and cargo handling services.

    CONTACT: Scott B. Flaherty
      Executive Vice President &
    Chief Financial Officer
      sflaherty@willislease.com
      561.413.0112

    The MIL Network –

    January 23, 2025
  • MIL-OSI: Gevo Secures Conditional Commitment from U.S. Department of Energy Loan Programs Office for its Net-Zero 1 Sustainable Aviation Fuel Plant in South Dakota

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    ENGLEWOOD, Colo., Oct. 16, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Gevo, Inc. (NASDAQ: GEVO), a leading developer of net-zero hydrocarbon fuels and chemicals, is pleased to announce it received a conditional commitment for a loan guarantee with disbursements totaling $1.46 billion (excluding capitalized interest during construction) from the U.S. Department of Energy (“DOE”) Loan Programs Office (“LPO”) for its Net-Zero 1 project (“NZ1”) in South Dakota. With capitalized interest during construction, the DOE loan facility has a borrowing capacity of $1.63 billion.

    The NZ1 facility is being built in Lake Preston, South Dakota. It will use 100-percent U.S.-sourced feedstocks and is designed to produce approximately 60 million gallons of sustainable aviation fuel (“SAF”), approximately 1.3 billion pounds of protein and animal feed products, and approximately 30 million pounds of corn oil per year. The design capability of the NZ1 facility, when combined with the Gevo business system, is expected to yield SAF with a net-zero carbon footprint on a lifecycle basis, including through the burning of the fuel. Gevo net-zero SAF projects are expected to catalyze the accelerated adoption of climate smart agricultural practices, support rural jobs and economic development, and reinforce domestic energy security.

    NZ1 is the first-ever large-scale alcohol-to-jet (“ATJ”) project to receive a DOE LPO conditional commitment and is expected to provide critical new opportunities for South Dakota workers, farmers, and residents. We believe Gevo’s proprietary ATJ plant design represents the lowest cost-per-ton of carbon abatement among all of the current SAF production technologies.

    “This marks a watershed moment for the Net-Zero 1 project and a critical step forward in Gevo’s mission to transform the aviation industry by providing a scalable, sustainable, and economical renewable-carbon-based jet fuel—SAF,” said Gevo CEO Dr. Patrick Gruber. “This valuable commitment to help finance NZ1, if finalized, should also attract other capital investments to unlock SAF commercialization given the robust due diligence conducted by the agency. The due diligence work by the DOE has been incredibly detailed and thorough, and the benefit is a substantially reduced execution risk profile for the project. We are grateful for the support from the Department of Energy’s Loan Programs Office.”

    “NZ1 is the largest economic development project in South Dakota history,” said Gevo’s Senior Vice President of Public Affairs, Lindsay Fitzgerald. “We expect that NZ1 will kickstart new growth in the economy, create jobs, and present additional opportunities for the agricultural community in the region around Lake Preston, across South Dakota, and even reaching other states.”

    According to a recent report from Charles River Associates (“CRA”), Net-Zero 1 is projected to generate significant economic and climate benefits. Specifically, the plant is expected to create more than 1,300 indirect jobs during its construction phase and 100 permanent jobs at the plant itself. This is in addition to hundreds of local indirect jobs created across the agricultural, manufacturing, and transportation industries, generating an annual economic impact of over $100 million.

    The project design and engineering; and the operating and financing model, should serve as a template for future Gevo net-zero projects—potentially accelerating the timeline of SAF commercialization. Gevo also expects to track and verify the sustainability and carbon intensity of its products through its wholly owned subsidiary, Verity Holdings, LLC.

    We believe this conditional commitment milestone reduces execution risk for securing the remaining large-scale equity investors who would accompany the proposed DOE-guaranteed debt and Gevo equity. Currently, the project is projected to generate high teens returns to equity investors.

    While this conditional commitment indicates DOE’s intent to finance the project, DOE and the company must satisfy certain technical, legal, environmental, commercial, and financial conditions before the Department can enter into definitive financing documents and fund the loan guarantee.

    For more information, review the DOE’s announcement blog LPO Announces Conditional Commitment to Gevo Net-Zero for Corn Starch-to-Sustainable Aviation Fuel Facility in South Dakota | Department of Energy

    ADVISORS 

    Citi is acting as financial advisor to Gevo. Latham & Watkins LLP is acting as legal counsel to Gevo.

    INVESTOR CALL 

    A conference call will be held on Thursday, October 17, 2024 at 9:00am ET to discuss the announcement.

    To participate in the live call, please register through the following event weblink:  https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_nWu63-22QpWuF9SeBcNEfQ

    A webcast replay will be available after the conference call ends on October 17, 2024. The archived webcast and accompanying presentation materials will be available in the Investor Relations section of Gevo’s website at http://www.gevo.com.

    ABOUT GEVO

    Gevo’s mission is to convert renewable energy and biogenic carbon into sustainable fuels and chemicals with a net-zero or better carbon footprint. Gevo’s innovative technology can be used to make a variety of products, including SAF, motor fuels, chemicals, and other materials. Gevo’s business model includes developing, financing, and operating production facilities for these renewable fuels and other products. It currently runs one of the largest dairy-based renewable natural gas (“RNG”) facilities in the United States. It also owns the world’s first production facility for specialty ATJ fuels and chemicals. Gevo emphasizes the importance of sustainability by tracking and verifying the carbon footprint of its business systems through its Verity subsidiary.

    Learn more at Gevo’s website: http://www.gevo.com

    FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

    Certain statements in this press release may constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements relate to a variety of matters, including, without limitation, NZ1’s timing and capabilities, NZ1’s design and the Gevo business system, the ability of NZ1 to produce net-zero fuels, the economic impacts of NZ1, and other statements that are not purely statements of historical fact. These forward-looking statements are made based on the current beliefs, expectations and assumptions of the management of Gevo and are subject to significant risks and uncertainty. Investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements. All such forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and Gevo undertakes no obligation to update or revise these statements, whether because of new information, future events or otherwise. Although Gevo believes that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, these statements involve many risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from what may be expressed or implied in these forward-looking statements. For a further discussion of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ from those expressed in these forward-looking statements, as well as risks relating to the business of Gevo in general, see the risk disclosures in the Annual Report on Form 10-K of Gevo for the year ended December 31, 2023, and in subsequent reports on Forms 10-Q and 8-K and other filings made with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission by Gevo.

    PUBLIC AFFAIRS CONTACT

    Heather Manuel 
    VP of Stakeholder Engagement & Partnerships 
    PR@gevo.com

    INVESTOR CONTACT

    Eric Frey, PhD 
    VP of Finance & Strategy  
    IR@gevo.com

    The MIL Network –

    January 23, 2025
  • MIL-OSI USA: Sacrifice and Success: NASA Engineer Honors Family Roots

    Source: NASA

    Lee esta historia en Español aquí.
    Born and raised in Peru, Daniel Velasquez moved to the United States when he was 10 years old. While that decision was a big transition for his family, it also created many opportunities for him. Now Velasquez is an operations engineer for NASA’s Air Mobility Pathfinders project at NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California.
    Velasquez develops flight test plans for electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, specifically testing how they perform during various phases of flight, such as taxi, takeoff, cruise, approach, and landing. He was drawn to NASA Armstrong because of the legacy in advancing flight research and the connection to the Space Shuttle program.
    “Being part of a center with such a rich history in supporting space missions and cutting-edge aeronautics was a major motivation for me,” Velasquez said. “One of the biggest highlights of my career has been the opportunity to meet (virtually) and collaborate with an astronaut on a possible future NASA project.”

    Velasquez is incredibly proud of his Latino background because of its rich culture, strong sense of community and connection to his parents. “My parents are my biggest inspiration. They sacrificed so much to ensure my siblings and I could succeed, leaving behind the comfort of their home and family in Peru to give us better opportunities,” Velasquez said. “Their hard work and dedication motivate me every day. Everything I do is to honor their sacrifices and show them that their efforts weren’t wasted. I owe all my success to them.”
    Velasquez began his career at NASA in 2021 as an intern through the Pathways Internship Program while he was studying aerospace engineering at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey. Through that program, he learned about eVTOL modeling software called NASA Design and Analysis of Rotorcraft to create a help guide for other NASA engineers to reference when they worked with the software.
    At the same time, he is also a staff sergeant in the U.S Army Reserves and responsible for overseeing the training and development of junior soldiers during monthly assemblies. He plans, creates, and presents classes for soldiers to stay up-to-date and refine their skills while supervising practical exercises, after action reviews, and gathering lessons learned during trainings.

    “This job is different than what I do day-to-day at NASA, but it has helped me become a more outspoken individual,” he said. “Being able to converse with a variety of people and be able to do it well is a skill that I acquired and refined while serving my country.”
    Velasquez said he never imagined working for NASA as it was something he had only seen in movies and on television, but he is so proud to be working for the agency after all the hard work and sacrifices he made that lead him to this point. “I am incredibly proud to work every day with some of the most motivated and dedicated individuals in the industry.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

    January 23, 2025
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