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Category: Climate Change

  • MIL-OSI Global: ‘It seemed like a good job at first’: how people are trafficked, trapped and forced to scam in Southeast Asia – Scam Factories podcast, Ep 1

    Source: The Conversation – Global Perspectives – By Gemma Ware, Host, The Conversation Weekly Podcast, The Conversation

    Scam Factories is a podcast series from The Conversation Weekly taking you inside Southeast Asia’s brutal fraud compounds. It accompanies a series of articles on The Conversation.

    Hundreds of thousands of people are estimated to work in these scam compounds. Many were trafficked there and then forced into criminality by defrauding people around the world via email, phone and social media.

    The Conversation collaborated for this series with three researchers: Ivan Franceschini, a lecturer in Chinese Studies at the University of Melbourne, Ling Li, a PhD candidate at Ca’ Foscari University of Venice, and Mark Bo, an independent researcher. They’ve spent the past few years researching the expansion of scam compounds in the region for a forthcoming book. They’ve interviewed nearly 100 survivors of these compounds, analysed maps and financial documents related to the scam industry, and tracked scammers online to find out how these operations work.

    In this first episode of the podcast series, No Skills Required, we find out how people are recruited and trafficked into the compounds – with many believing they’re going there to do a legitimate job.

    Our researchers travel to a village in Cambodia, Chrey Thom, to see what these compounds look like. And we hear from two survivors, a Ugandan man we’re calling George and a Malaysian woman we’re calling Lee to protect their real identities, about how they were tricked into travelling to compounds in Laos and Myanmar.

    Read an article by Ivan Franceschini and Ling Li which accompanies this episode.

    The Conversation contacted all the companies mentioned in this series for a comment, except Jinshui, which we could not contact. We did not receive a response from any of them.

    This episode was written and produced by Gemma Ware, with assistance from Mend Mariwany and Katie Flood. Leila Goldstein was our producer in Cambodia and Halima Athumani recorded for us in Uganda. Hui Lin helped us with Chinese translation. Sound design by Michelle Macklem and editing help from Ashlynee McGhee and Justin Bergman.

    Listen to The Conversation Weekly podcast via any of the apps listed above, download it directly via our RSS feed or find out how else to listen here.

    Mark Bo, an independent researcher who works with Ivan Franeschini and Ling Li, is also interviewed in this podcast series. Ivan, Ling, Mark, and others have co-founded EOS Collective, a non-profit organisation dedicated to investigating the criminal networks behind the online scam industry and supporting survivors.

    – ref. ‘It seemed like a good job at first’: how people are trafficked, trapped and forced to scam in Southeast Asia – Scam Factories podcast, Ep 1 – https://theconversation.com/it-seemed-like-a-good-job-at-first-how-people-are-trafficked-trapped-and-forced-to-scam-in-southeast-asia-scam-factories-podcast-ep-1-250444

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Scam Factories: the inside story of Southeast Asia’s brutal fraud compounds

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ashlynne McGhee, Digital Storytelling Editor

    Scam Factories is a special multimedia and podcast series by The Conversation that explores the inner workings of Southeast Asia’s brutal scam compounds.

    The Conversation’s digital storytelling and podcast teams collaborated with three researchers: Ivan Franceschini, a lecturer in Chinese Studies at the University of Melbourne; Ling Li, a PhD candidate at Ca’ Foscari University of Venice; and Mark Bo, an independent researcher.

    The researchers have spent the past few years interviewing nearly 100 survivors of these compounds and documenting the rise of the industry in Southeast Asia for a forthcoming book.

    Scam Factories will unfold across three multimedia articles and three podcast episodes this week. We’ll update this page as more is published.

    Part 1

    Our first article explores how people are lured into the industry and what life is like inside the compounds, where scammers are forced to work long hours and are often subjected to violence.

    And in our first podcast episode, No skills required, our researchers travel to a village in Cambodia called Chrey Thom to see what these compounds look like. And we hear from two survivors, a Ugandan man we’re calling George and a Malaysian woman we’re calling Lee, about how they were recruited into compounds in Laos and Myanmar.

    The Conversation contacted all the companies mentioned in this series for a comment, except Jinshui, which we couldn’t contact. We did not receive a response from any of them.

    Credits

    The podcast series was written and produced by Gemma Ware with production assistance from Katie Flood and Mend Mariwany. Sound design by Michelle Macklem. Leila Goldstein was our producer in Cambodia and Halima Athumani recorded for us in Uganda. Hui Lin helped us with Chinese translation. Photos by Roun Ry, KDA, Halima Athumani and Ivan Franceschini.

    Justin Bergman at The Conversation in Australia edited the articles in the series and Matt Garrow worked on the graphical elements of the stories. Series oversight and editing help from Ashlynne McGhee.

    – ref. Scam Factories: the inside story of Southeast Asia’s brutal fraud compounds – https://theconversation.com/scam-factories-the-inside-story-of-southeast-asias-brutal-fraud-compounds-250448

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: A powerful force is stopping the Indian Ocean from cooling itself – spelling more danger for Ningaloo

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kelly Boden-Hawes, PhD Candidate in oceanography, The University of Western Australia

    Violeta Brosig/Blue Media Exmouth

    Widespread coral bleaching at Ningaloo Reef off Western Australia’s coast has deeply alarmed scientists and conservationists.

    Photos captured by divers, published by The Guardian last week, show severe bleaching at several sites along the reef, which runs for 260 kilometres off the state’s northwest.

    A severe marine heatwave in the Indian Ocean off WA has caused the coral bleaching. In some places, surface temperatures up to 4°C warmer than usual have been recorded.

    Hotter temperatures aren’t only happening at the ocean’s surface – data indicates they also extend several hundred metres deep. Warm, deeper water can shut down the ocean’s natural cooling process, putting corals at even greater risk of bleaching.

    Counting the cost

    The full extent of damage to Ningaloo won’t be known until scientists conduct field surveys in coming months.

    So far, bleaching has been documented at several sites, including Turquoise Bay, Coral Bay, Tantabiddi, and Bundegi (Exmouth Gulf).

    Other sites such as Scott Reef, Ashmore Reef, the Rowley Shoals and Rottnest Island are also at risk.

    Damage wrought by the heatwave extends beyond coral. More than 30,000 fish have died since the September onset.

    The below images show the heatwave’s progression. Temperatures from February last year are included for comparison.

    The white circle shows the location of Ningaloo. Cooler temperatures are in blue and purple. Warmer temperatures are in yellow and orange.

    The images show the heatwave reached Ningaloo in December last year and moved south in January. Temperatures fell slightly in February due to strong southerly winds. From March, temperatures are forecast to increase again.

    A complex warming picture

    According to recent data and modelled forecasts, hotter ocean temperatures off northern WA run several hundred metres deep.

    This has been caused by developing La Nina conditions. La Nina and its opposite, El Nino, influence ocean temperatures and weather patterns across the Pacific.

    During La Nina, trade winds strengthen and push warm water westward. This intensifies two important ocean currents.

    The first is the Indonesian Throughflow – which carries warm Pacific waters through the Indonesian seas and into the eastern Indian Ocean. The second is the Leeuwin Current, which picks up this warm water and takes it further south towards Perth.

    This has led to a build-up of hotter water along the WA coastline.

    La Nina is also affecting WA’s reefs in other ways.

    Some coral reefs are naturally cooled by local tides which pull deep, colder water towards the surface. This process, which has been likened to an ocean’s “air conditioner”, can temporarily relieve heat stress for reefs.

    The process relies on “stratification” – that is, layers of seawater that differ in temperature, salinity and density (or weight). Warmer, less dense water collects at the surface and colder, denser water falls to deeper levels.

    La Nina conditions can suppress, or even shut down, this cooling effect in two ways.

    First, it reduces the difference in density between ocean layers. This causes water to draw upwards from shallower depths. Second, it increases water temperatures at depth.

    All this means the water pumped to the surface isn’t much cooler than temperatures at the surface.

    For many reefs along the coast of WA, the suppression of this tidal cooling is probably contributing to worsening conditions, and more coral bleaching.

    Most bleaching forecasts rely on sea surface temperatures. This means scientists may be underestimating the vulnerability of deeper reefs.

    What’s in store for Ningaloo and surrounds?

    Looking ahead, the situation at Ningaloo and surrounding reefs remains critical.

    Bleached reefs are able to recover if temperatures cool quickly. This means theoretically, Ningaloo and other affected reefs may survive the summer.

    But unfortunately, temperatures are rising again and the marine heatwave is expected to continue until April, as the below image shows.

    Sea surface temperature anomaly forecast for March to May. Ningaloo denoted with black ‘X’.
    Bureau of Meteorology

    Climate change is making marine heatwaves more intense and frequent. It means reefs often don’t have time to recover between destructive bleaching events.

    All this is compounded by the general trend towards warmer oceans as the planet heats up.

    Drastic action on climate change is needed now. If this alarming pattern continues, the world’s reefs risk being lost entirely.

    Nicole L. Jones receives funding from the Australian Research Council and the Western Australian government.

    Kelly Boden-Hawes does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. A powerful force is stopping the Indian Ocean from cooling itself – spelling more danger for Ningaloo – https://theconversation.com/a-powerful-force-is-stopping-the-indian-ocean-from-cooling-itself-spelling-more-danger-for-ningaloo-250151

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Sea-level rise: a new method to estimate the probability of different outcomes – including a worst case

    Source: The Conversation – France – By Benjamin P. Horton, Director of the Earth Observatory of Singapore, Nanyang Technological University

    Here is a depressing fact: over the coming decades, sea-level rise will continue to threaten ecosystems, communities and cities. No matter how quickly we reduce our carbon emissions, our past emissions commit us to ongoing sea-level rise, given the long-drawn-out impact of climate warming on the oceans and ice sheets. Just how bad it gets, however, will depend on our current and future emissions.

    Even as we strive for net-zero emissions, we must prepare for devastating possibilities. But decision-makers face a major obstacle: the specific rate and magnitude of future sea-level rise is deeply uncertain. Different methods produce different projections of long-term sea-level rise. The problem of reconciling these different methods and projections has undermined planning to protect people from future sea-level rise.

    In a recent paper published in Earth’s Future, we and our colleagues tackle this problem. We propose a new method that combines the complementary strengths of different sea-level projections. We use our method to quantify the uncertainty of future sea-level rise. It allows us to estimate a “very likely” range. “Very likely” means that there is a 9-in-10 chance (90% probability) that future sea-level rise will lie within this range, if our future emissions follow an assumed emissions scenario.

    Under a low-emissions scenario that corresponds to approximately 2°C warming above pre-industrial levels, global sea level will “very likely” rise between 0.3 and 1.0 metres by the end of this century. Under a high-emissions scenario that corresponds to approximately 5°C warming, global sea level will “very likely” rise between 0.5 and 1.9 metres. Given that we will likely exceed 2°C warming, preparing for more than a metre of sea-level rise by 2100 is, therefore, necessary.

    Adapted from Grandey et al. (2024).
    Benjamin P. Horton and Benjamin S. Grandey, CC BY-ND

    The challenge of poorly understood processes

    Our method builds on and complements the current reference document for many decision-makers: the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s Sixth Assessment Report IPCC 6AR. For five emissions scenarios, the IPCC published a most-likely “median” projection and a “likely” range. “Likely” means that there is at least a 2-in-3 chance (66% probability) of sea-level rise within this range. The “likely” range may understate the risk of more extreme possibilities, a weakness that can be addressed by a complementary “very likely” range. However, the IPCC did not estimate a “very likely” range because poorly understood ice sheet processes posed a challenge. We address this challenge, to provide decision-makers with more reliable estimates of future possibilities.

    Many processes contribute to sea-level rise. Of particular importance are ice sheet processes in Greenland and Antarctica. Some of these ice sheet processes are well understood, but others less so. We have only a poor understanding of processes that could drive abrupt melting of ice, producing rapid sea-level rise.



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    We used 1,000 historical photos to reconstruct Antarctic glaciers before a dramatic collapse

    Climate models and ice sheet models, such as those used in the IPCC 6AR, are very good at simulating well-understood processes, such as thermal expansion of the ocean. The IPCC used model-based projections to derive a reliable median projection and “likely” range. However, these models often neglect poorly understood processes that could cause the ice sheets to melt much faster than we expect. To complement the models, experts can provide alternative projections based on their understanding of these processes. This is known as expert elicitation. Therefore, the use of models and expert elicitation can provide complementary sea-level projections, but planners have great difficulty deciding when and where to apply the two different approaches.

    In our paper, we have developed a novel method to combine the complementary sea-level projections from models and experts. We use our method to quantify the full uncertainty range of future sea-level rise using a probability distribution. This is how we can estimate a “very likely” range and explore the question, “What high-end sea-level rise should we plan for?”

    A high-end projection

    To make informed judgements, decision-makers often need information about low-likelihood, high-cost possibilities. A high-end projection of sea-level rise is especially useful when planning long-lasting critical infrastructure that is vital for the functioning of society and the economy. A high-end projection can also highlight a catastrophic risk associated with unrestrained carbon dioxide emissions.

    We define our high-end projection as the 95th percentile of the probability distribution under the high-emissions scenario. Our high-end projection of global sea-level rise is 1.9 metres by the end of this century.

    Our high-end projection complements existing high-end projections of 21st century sea-level rise. The IPCC 6AR included two: 1.6 metres and 2.3 metres. Our projection of 1.9 metres falls between these two values.

    In contrast to the IPCC 6AR, we estimate the probability of reaching the high-end projection. If our future emissions follow the high-emissions scenario, we estimate that the probability of reaching 1.9 metres by the end of this century is 5% (1 in 20). Considering that the high-emissions scenario is unlikely, our high-end projection can be interpreted as a worst-case outcome. We also estimate the probability of exceeding 1.0 metres by the end of this century: 16% (about 1 in 6) under the high-emissions scenario, and 4% (1 in 25) under the low-emissions scenario.

    Reducing the uncertainty

    Through climate science, we have learned much about the Earth’s climate system. However, we still have much more to discover. As our understanding improves, the uncertainty in sea-level rise should reduce. Therefore, the “very likely” range of future sea-level rise should narrow, due to the ongoing research efforts of the climate science community.

    In the meantime, we need to identify potential solutions that can reduce coastal flood risk in ways that support the long-term resilience and sustainability of communities and the environment, and reduce the economic costs associated with flood damage. Alongside local adaptation, the best way to mitigate sea-level rise is to slow down climate change by implementing the commitments laid out in the Paris Agreement in 2015.

    If we can limit warming to well below 2°C, consistent with the agreement, we estimate that the probability of reaching 1.9 metres by the end of the century shrinks to less than 0.2% (1 in 500). The more the world limits its greenhouse gas emissions, the lower the chance of triggering rapid ice loss from Greenland and Antarctica, and the safer we will be.

    This research is supported by the National Research Foundation, Singapore, and National Environment Agency, Singapore under the National Sea Level Programme Funding Initiative (Award No. USS-IF-2020-3) and Ministry of Education, Singapore, under its AcRF Tier 3 Award MOE2019-T3-1-004.

    Created in 2007 to help accelerate and share scientific knowledge on key societal issues, the Axa Research Fund has supported nearly 700 projects around the world conducted by researchers in 38 countries. To learn more, visit the website of the Axa Research Fund or follow @AXAResearchFund on X.

    Benjamin P. Horton was supported by the Singapore Ministry of Education Academic Research Fund: MOE2019-T3-1-004.

    Benjamin S. Grandey’s research is supported by the National Research Foundation, Singapore, and National Environment Agency, Singapore under the National Sea Level Programme Funding Initiative (Award No. USS-IF-2020-3).

    – ref. Sea-level rise: a new method to estimate the probability of different outcomes – including a worst case – https://theconversation.com/sea-level-rise-a-new-method-to-estimate-the-probability-of-different-outcomes-including-a-worst-case-250180

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governors Approve Federal Priorities at Winter Meeting

    Source: US State of Colorado

    WASHINGTON, DC – At the 2025 Winter Meeting of the National Governors Association (NGA), Governors approved federal priorities to advocate to the 119th Congress and the administration. The priorities were developed by three bipartisan, Governor-led task forces who meet regularly to discuss issues and policies that impact states, territories and commonwealths. The federal priorities are backed by a resolution that was unanimously voted on at today’s business session to serve as a roadmap for NGA’s advocacy efforts at the federal level. 

    “As Governors, we are always looking for new ideas that can help us deliver better results,” said NGA Chair Colorado Governor Jared Polis. “State input is key to avoid abrupt changes that create uncertainty and adversely impact the countless services we run to support infrastructure, education, health care, economic growth and disaster response in our states. Governors are ready and willing to work together, and with the administration and Congress, to evaluate and improve the efficiency of these services. We are open to bipartisan conversations with anyone from state and local governments, fellow governors, Congress, and the federal government.” 

    “Governors of both parties share common purpose when it comes to making our economy, infrastructure, and education and health systems the best they can be,” said NGA Vice Chair Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt. “I appreciate the opportunity to talk with fellow Governors to discuss how states and territories can work with the White House and Congress to reduce debt and grow the economy. Governors balance our budgets, and we are the ones building roads and implementing education reforms. The perspective of Governors is critical to ensure states and territories work effectively with the federal government to achieve the best possible outcomes for Americans.” 

    The full resolution text adopted by Governors for 2025: 

    Governors believe federal action should be limited to the powers expressly conveyed by the Constitution, preserving state sovereignty in legislative and regulatory matters the Executive Committee has added the following bipartisan priorities: 

    • Enhancing emergency management; 
    • Streamlining permitting processes; 
    • Supporting flexibility and waiver opportunities and funding for state and territorial designed Medicaid, SNAP, and TANF; 
    • Ensuring the federal government meets its already committed obligations for federally funded projects across states, territories and Commonwealths. 

    The task forces have developed the following list of federal priorities to advance the mission of the Association: 

    Task Force on Economic Development and Revitalization 

    • Accelerating infrastructure project delivery and streamlining permitting, while establishing Governors priorities for the next surface transportation reauthorization; 
    • Advancing technology innovation and securing energy resilience to strengthen the country’s economy and national security; 
    • Working with Congress on the most impactful programs for states and territories contained in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), and the CHIPS and Science Act; 
    • Investing in state and territorial efforts to protect water resources and clean water. Ensuring Governors have a voice as Congress considers tax reform and international trade agreements. 

    Task Force on Public Health and Disaster Response 

    • Ensure Governors are consulted, and their gubernatorial authorities are maintained, in the areas of defense, homeland security, emergency management, health, and human services, including those outlined in U.S.C. Title 10 and 32 pertaining to National Guard readiness and structure; 
    • Advocate for flexibility and support for a robust health and human service system including safety net programs, such as Medicaid and SNAP, and oppose shifting essential federal funding obligations to states and territories without adequate planning; 
    • Ensure the National Guard is equipped with sufficient resources and capabilities to fully recruit and man a force ready to support domestic emergencies and fulfill its role as the operational reserve for national security missions; 
    • Enhance emergency response and disaster recovery by ensuring federal programs, such as Disaster Relief Fund, National Flood Insurance, and Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery, are sufficient, adaptable, and streamlined to meet the diverse needs of states and territories, and easier to navigate for individuals, businesses, and all levels of governments; 
    • Strengthen preparedness efforts by fostering both inter-state and federal-state collaborations to maintain resilient supply chains and stockpiles for critical infrastructure before, during, and after emergencies; Support federal initiatives that provide tools and flexibility to states and territories to ensure safe communities for all Americans in areas such as malicious unmanned aircraft systems, cyberattacks, border security, trafficking, substance use disorder, justice-involved re-integration, crisis response systems, and comprehensive safety measures. 

    Task Force on Education, Workforce and Community Investment 

    • Supporting reauthorization of the Farm Bill; 
    • Supporting efforts to expand innovative educational experiences, apprenticeship opportunities and non-degree pathways including but not limited to the reauthorization of WIOA; 
    • Working with the House and Senate bipartisan Paid Leave Working Groups as they consider a legislative framework around paid family leave; 
    • Supporting continued investment in federal education programs that address workforce needs and efforts to improve state longitudinal data systems; 
    • Increasing supply of housing by strengthening the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) and giving states and territories the tools necessary to streamline burdensome zoning, permitting, and land use policies. 

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: COLUMN: Walker: Week Six Under the Gold Dome

    Source: US State of Georgia

    By: Sen. Larry Walker, III (R–Perry)

    With Legislative Day 20 behind us, we have officially reached the halfway mark of the 2025 Legislative Session.

    One of our biggest legislative priorities this session has been lawsuit reform. Reining in the costly legal environment that burdens small businesses, healthcare providers, and consumers has been long overdue, and I am proud to report that the Senate has taken a significant step forward with the passage of Senate Bill (SB) 68. These commonsense reforms will help stabilize insurance costs, prevent frivolous litigation and ensure that businesses—especially small, family-owned operations—can operate without the constant threat of excessive verdicts. By curbing lawsuit abuse, we protect jobs and keep costs down for Georgia consumers. I look forward to working with our colleagues in the House to send these bills to the Governor’s desk.

    This week, we also passed SB 52, the “Timberlands Recovery, Exemption, and Earnings Stability (TREES) Act,” which provides vital tax relief to timberland owners impacted by Hurricane Helene. The storm caused catastrophic damage, destroying an estimated $1.3 billion in standing timber across South Georgia. Many of these landowners depend on their timber harvest for income, and the economic impact has been devastating. This bill, sponsored by Sen. Russ Goodman (R–Cogdell), will help stabilize the market, ease the financial strain on affected families and support the long-term recovery of Georgia’s forestry industry—one of the largest in the nation.

    Another key legislative win this week was the passage of SB 89, which expands Georgia’s Child Tax Credit to provide direct financial relief to families with young children. Sponsored by Sen. Brian Strickland (R–McDonough), this bill builds on the recommendations of the Senate Study Committee on Access to Affordable Childcare, which spent months gathering input from working parents, childcare providers, and business leaders. The bill increases the state tax credit for childcare expenses to 40% of the federal level and creates a new tax credit for families with children under seven. Additionally, SB 89 incentivizes businesses to help employees with childcare costs by raising the employer tax credit cap from 50% to 75%. With the rising cost of childcare making it harder for parents—particularly mothers—to remain in the workforce, this legislation will provide real relief for Georgia families and help grow our state’s economy.

    In addition to these major policy advancements, I introduced SB 125 to address the arduous process that professional engineers face to obtain certification. SB 125 would decouple the current sequential order of experience and examination requirements, which would allow engineers to acquire their license more quickly. This reform would also help prepare engineers to enter the Georgia workforce and advance in their careers. SB 125 was passed out of the Senate Committee on Regulated Industries and Utilities, and I look forward to bringing it to the Senate floor in the coming weeks.

    On a personal note, I was honored to celebrate Future Farmers of America (FFA) Day on Tuesday. Georgia is home to the third-largest chapter of this excellent organization, whose work is instrumental in directing young people to the forefront of agriculture and preparing them for career success. The future of farming depends on our youth, and with the help of FFA, Georgia agriculture will continue to be our state’s top industry.

    As always, I am grateful for the opportunity to serve the 20th Senate District. Please don’t hesitate to ask any questions, concerns, or ideas. Your input helps shape the policies that impact our state, and I value your voice in this process.

    # # # #

    Sen. Larry Walker serves as Secretary of the Majority Caucus and Walker: Week Six Under the Gold DomeChairman of the Senate Committee on Insurance and Labor. He represents the 20th Senate District, which includes Bleckley, Dodge, Dooly, Laurens, Treutlen, Pulaski and Wilcox counties, as well as portions of Houston County.  He may be reached by phone at (404) 656-0095 or by email at Larry.Walker@senate.ga.gov.For all media inquiries, please reach out to SenatePressInquiries@senate.ga.gov.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Stein, North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality Announce $265M for Drinking Water and Wastewater Projects Statewide

    Source: US State of North Carolina

    Headline: Governor Stein, North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality Announce $265M for Drinking Water and Wastewater Projects Statewide

    Governor Stein, North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality Announce $265M for Drinking Water and Wastewater Projects Statewide
    lsaito

    Raleigh, NC

    Governor Josh Stein announced today that communities statewide will receive more than $265 million in funding for drinking water and wastewater infrastructure projects. These loans and grants will help to pay for 99 projects in 45 different counties. The awards include funding to address emerging contaminants (PFAS) and identify and replace lead pipes.

    “When we invest in our infrastructure, we build a stronger and safer state for every North Carolinian,” said Governor Josh Stein. “This funding will help ensure more North Carolinians have access to safe and clean drinking water and will strengthen our communities for decades to come.”

    “Every family expects and deserves clean water when they turn on the tap,” said DEQ Secretary Reid Wilson. “These investments will provide critical infrastructure to help improve public health and quality of life for North Carolinians in communities large and small across our state.” 

    Notable projects include:

    • Kings Mountain (Gaston County) will receive $2 million in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Drinking Water funds for a lead and copper service line replacement project.
    • The Town of Fair Bluff (Columbus County) will receive $1 million in Drinking Water State Revolving Loan Funds for construction of a well outside the 500-year floodplain, with connection to the water system via approximately 4,000 linear feet of waterline. This will replace a well that was damaged in Hurricanes Florence and Matthew.
    • The Town of Nags Head (Dare County) will receive $500,000 in Clean Water State Revolving Loan Funds to finance repairs and replacements to approximately 400 malfunctioning residential septic systems. This is the first award from the Decentralized Wastewater Treatment System Pilot Program.
    • New Hanover County will receive $3 million in funding from the Community Development Block Grant-Infrastructure program to install 1.3 miles of water lines and connect 50 occupied residential units to the water system.
    • The Town of River Bend (Craven County) will receive $10.4 million in Drinking Water State Revolving Loan Funds to complete improvements to water treatment systems and water supply wells.
    • Columbus County Water District IV will receive $15 million in Drinking Water State Revolving Loan Funds to install one 250,000-gallon elevated water tank, a booster pump station, a deep-water supply well, and to extend waterlines to serve more than 500 residences in the Waccamaw Siouan Tribal Area.
    • Roanoke Rapids Sanitary District (Halifax County) will receive $5 million from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding for Emerging Contaminants to begin work on constructing a post-filter granular activated carbon adsorption facility to remove PFAS from its drinking water.
    • Bessemer City (Gaston County) will receive $2.5 million in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law – Lead Service Line Replacement funds to replace approximately 150 galvanized water service lines with new water service lines, from the water main to the homes.
    • A list of all projects selected for funding is available on the Department of Environmental Quality website.

    The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (NCDEQ)’s Division of Water Infrastructure reviewed 203 eligible applications, which requested a total of $1.63 billion. The State Water Infrastructure Authority approved the awards during its Feb. 19 meeting. 

    Funding this round came from the Drinking Water (DWSRF) and Clean Water (CWSRF) State Revolving Loan Funds, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Emerging Contaminants funds, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Lead Service Line Replacement fund, the Drinking Water and Wastewater State Reserves, the Viable Utilities Reserve, and the Community Development Block Grant-Infrastructure (CDBG-I) program. Projects funded with Viable Utility Reserve funds are subject to approval by the Local Government Commission. The upcoming Spring 2025 funding applications for drinking water, wastewater, lead service line, and emerging contaminants projects opens on March 4 and ends on April 30 by 5 p.m. Funding application training for this round will be provided between March 4 and March 12 through four in-person statewide sessions and a recorded virtual option.

    The State Water Infrastructure Authority is an independent body with primary responsibility for awarding federal and state funding for water infrastructure projects. NCDEQ also administers emergency funding for communities in western North Carolina to repair and build resilience into drinking water and wastewater systems damaged by Tropical Storm Helene. Local governments can request emergency funding from the Division of Water Infrastructure directly by contacting Cathy.Akroyd@deq.nc.gov.

    Feb 21, 2025

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Help FEMA Help You

    Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency

    Headline: Help FEMA Help You

    Help FEMA Help You

    As FEMA assistance applications are processed, individual situations can change. It is important that you keep FEMA informed of your current contact information. This will ensure any benefits you are eligible for reach you without delay.A simple way to provide FEMA with missing or new information is to create an account at DisasterAssistance.gov. If you do not have internet access or need services not available on FEMA’s website, call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362. Multilingual staff will take your call from 7 a.m. to midnight ET, seven days a week.If more information is needed to process your application, FEMA may call you. These calls may come from unfamiliar area codes or phone numbers. It is important to answer the call. The specialists will already have your nine-digit FEMA registration number and will not ask you for it. Always verify a caller is from FEMA to avoid scams and fraud.Survivors who need extra time to apply for FEMA assistance have until Friday, March 7. The initial application period for the Tennessee disaster has closed, but late applications are still being accepted. Call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362.Some information that you come across about FEMA may be inaccurate and come from unreliable sources. Don’t let rumors and scams about FEMA assistance delay your recovery. Get the facts here: Hurricane Rumor Response | FEMA.gov.
    kwei.nwaogu
    Fri, 02/21/2025 – 19:21

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: BOLSTERING INNOVATION: GOVERNOR HOCHUL AND SENATOR SCHUMER ANNOUNCE $65 MILLION EXPANSION OF NEXT-GENERATION BATTERY INNOVATION COMPANY BAE SYSTEMS IN THE SOUTHERN TIER

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New York Charles E Schumer
    BAE Systems Commits To The Creation Of More Than 130 New Good-Paying Jobs At Village Of Endicott Location
    Continued New York State Investments Support The Southern Tier Region’s Comprehensive Strategy To Revitalize Communities And Grow the Economy By Focusing On Clean Energy Solutions
    Governor Kathy Hochul and Senator Charles Schumer today announced that BAE Systems is investing $65 million to expand operations in the Village of Endicott, Broome County. The company will add a total of 150,000 square-feet to its existing site to make way for the addition of a new battery production line and lab space, and new office space. As a result of the expansion, the company has committed to creating up to 134 good-paying jobs onsite. BAE Systems is a global defense, aerospace and security company with approximately 93,500 employees worldwide. The BAE Systems facility in Endicott designs, develops and produces a broad portfolio of safety-critical electronic systems from flight and engine controls to power and energy management systems. The company has been operational at the Huron Campus site since 2011.
    “BAE Systems’ decision to further expand its business represents yet another win for New York State and for the Southern Tier, which is laser focused on becoming a global hub for next-generation battery innovation efforts,” Governor Hochul said. “Since taking office, I have remained committed to bringing jobs back to Upstate New York. This incredibly successful company chose to grow its operations here, spurring top-quality, good-paying job creation in the region because they have seen firsthand how hardworking New Yorkers are.”
    Senator Charles Schumer said, “BAE Systems is adding 130+ good-paying jobs right here in the Southern Tier to make sure the next generation of America’s batteries are stamped ‘Made in Upstate NY.’ This $65 million expansion to add a new battery production line, research lab, and office helps show how we can bring this supply chain back from overseas, with the Southern Tier leading the way to make sure the future of battery manufacturing is manufactured in Broome County, not Beijing. BAE Systems is a vital part of the Southern Tier economy, with a world-class workforce of over 1200 people, and selecting this area for their major battery production expansion is no accident. I’m proud of the millions in federal support I’ve delivered – via the American Rescue Plan and my bipartisan CHIPS & Science Act – to the region to make it a global center for battery research and set the stage for today’s announcement. Today BAE is helping add another loop to establish this region as a core of manufacturing and innovation for America’s battery belt.”
    The project involves the expansion of BAE Systems battery production line, including the purchase and installation of machinery and equipment to efficiently produce an energy storage system for electric/hybrid electric aircraft. This facility will include an automated state-of-the-art production line, an engineering lab, and an aftermarket center, and is expected to be fully complete in 2027.
    Empire State Development is assisting the project with up to $8.5 million in performance-based Excelsior Jobs Tax Credit Program in exchange for the job creation commitments. Broome County is also providing assistance for the project.
    BAE Systems Senior Director Jim Garceau said, “This facility expansion reinforces our commitment to the Southern Tier and builds on New York State’s vision to create a regional hub for battery innovation.  With this investment, we will enhance our capabilities to address the emerging needs of the next-generation hybrid/electric aircraft.”
    Bolstering Next-Generation Battery Innovation
    Governor Hochul and Senator Schumer were instrumental in the company’s decision having worked closely with company officials to ensure that the project would move ahead in New York’s Southern Tier region which is laser-focused on supporting next-generation energy efforts – a top priority for the governor and senator.
    In January 2024, the Governor and Senator announced that the U.S. National Science Foundation had designated the New Energy New York (NENY) Storage Engine as a Regional Innovation Engine (NSF Engine), which was created by the Senator’s bipartisan CHIPS & Science Law. The NENY Storage Engine, anchored at Binghamton University in the Southern Tier Region, will receive up to $15 million in federal funding for two years and up to $160 million over 10 years to establish a hub that will accelerate innovation, technology translation and the creation of a skilled workforce to grow the capacity of the domestic battery industry. Through Empire State Development, New York State will match up to 20 percent for the first five years of the project as well as provide support through established programs. The NENY Storage Engine was chosen for its diverse, cross-sector coalition that will build a leading ecosystem driving battery technology innovation, workforce development and manufacturing to support U.S. national security and global competitiveness.
    Schumer has long fought to secure federal investment to boost the Southern Tier’s battery manufacturing and R&D. In 2021, Schumer created the Build Back Better Regional Challenge in the American Rescue Plan that he led to passage as Majority Leader. The senator personally advocated for the selection of the Binghamton University-led New Energy New York’s (NENY) battery hub proposal, helping deliver a $63.7 million federal investment with a $50 million funding match from New York State. In 2023, Schumer also delivered the prestigious federal Tech Hub designation, also created by his bipartisan CHIPS & Science Law for the Binghamton University-led NENY proposal.
    Empire State Development President, CEO & Commissioner Hope Knight said, “Governor Hochul’s strategic and laser-focused support for next-generation clean energy companies accelerates this cutting-edge industry’s growing presence in New York State. BAE Systems’ expansion will create top-quality jobs and opportunities in the Southern Tier, furthering the region’s leadership in battery technology innovation.”
    New York State’s Climate Agenda
    New York State’s climate agenda calls for an affordable and just transition to a clean energy economy that creates family-sustaining jobs, promotes economic growth through green investments, and directs a minimum of 35 percent of the benefits to disadvantaged communities. New York is advancing a suite of efforts to achieve an emissions-free economy by 2050, including in the energy, buildings, transportation, and waste sectors.
    New York Power Authority President and CEO Justin E. Driscoll said, “BAE Systems has been a major driver of economic growth in Broome County, and I congratulate them on their new $65 million expansion. Thanks to strategic investments from Governor Hochul and Senator Schumer, New York has become a testbed for battery storage innovation, and NYPA will continue to support firms like BAE Systems developing cutting-edge technology and spurring economic growth with low-cost power.”
    New York State Energy Research and Development Authority President and CEO Doreen M. Harris said, “With this investment in next generation battery technology at their Broome County location, BAE Systems is supporting local jobs and strengthening the state’s clean energy supply chains, ensuring New York continues to lead the way in innovation and clean tech economic opportunity. The expansion will also advance clean transportation in the aviation industry and support NYSERDA’s efforts in research, development, and demonstration of new technologies in the energy storage sector.”
    State Senator Lea Webb said, “It’s exciting to see BAE Systems expand its next-generation battery innovation operations right here in the Southern Tier, bringing up to 134 new jobs to the Village of Endicott, ” said State Senator Lea Webb. “This investment strengthens our region’s role as a leader in clean energy technology and advanced manufacturing. I want to thank Governor Hochul for her commitment to growing our local economy and everyone who made this expansion possible. This investment not only creates new opportunities for workers but also reinforces New York’s leadership in the future of sustainable energy solutions.”
    Assemblymember Donna Lupardo said, “Years of hard work and dedication have made our area a designated hub for battery innovation and manufacturing. BAE’s expansion to include a new battery production line will further establish our community as a leader in clean-energy technology. Their work on electric/hybrid bus and aircraft battery systems are game changers for the industry and for our local workforce. I’d like to thank BAE Systems for their continued investment in our community, and the Governor and Empire State Development for their ongoing support of this important work.”
    Broome County Executive Jason Garnar said, “BAE Systems’ expansion in Endicott is another major win for Broome County, reinforcing our region’s role as leader in next-generation battery innovation while creating even more job opportunities for our community. Thank you to Governor Hochul for her continued commitment to economic growth in the Southern Tier and to BAE Systems for choosing to expand here in Broome County.”
    Village of Endicott Mayor Nick Burlingame said, “BAE Systems’ decision to expand its operations in Endicott is a testament to the strength of our community, our workforce, and our region’s commitment to innovation. This investment not only reinforces Endicott’s legacy as a hub for cutting-edge technology but also brings new opportunities for local families and businesses. We are proud to support BAE Systems as they continue to grow and shape the future of clean energy and battery innovation right here in our village. We look forward to the jobs, economic impact, and advancements this expansion will bring to Endicott.”
    For additional information about BAE Systems, visit: https://jobs.baesystems.com/global/en/.
    Accelerating Economic Development in the Southern Tier
    Today’s announcement advances the Southern Tier Strategic Plan and complements “Southern Tier Soaring” strategy by facilitating economic growth and community development. These regionally designed plans focus on attracting a talented workforce, growing business and driving next-generation innovation. More information is available here.
    About Empire State Development
    Empire State Development is New York’s chief economic development agency, and promotes business growth, job creation, and greater economic opportunity throughout the state. With offices in each of the state’s 10 regions, ESD oversees the Regional Economic Development Councils, supports broadband equity through the ConnectALL office, and is growing the workforce of tomorrow through the Office of Strategic Workforce Development. 
    The agency engages with emerging and next generation industries like clean energy and semiconductor manufacturing looking to grow in New York State, operates a network of assistance centers to help small businesses grow and succeed, and promotes the state’s world class tourism destinations through I LOVE NY. For more information, please visit esd.ny.gov, and connect with ESD on LinkedIn, Facebook and X, formerly known as Twitter.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Flood and landslide risk assessment in Sicily: a decade of inertia and consequences for public safety – E-002993/2024(ASW)

    Source: European Parliament

    1. Sicily’s second Flood Risk Management Plan[1] plans the updating of flood hazard and risk maps[2]. The Italian authorities informed the Commission that, although the updating of such maps was suspended for administrative reasons, the Regional Council gave a mandate to the Regional Department for Financial Planning and Programming to avail itself of the funding available for updating the maps by 31 December 2026.

    2. Cohesion policy[3] supports climate change adaptation, disaster risk prevention, and resilience. Under the European Regional Development Fund[4], EUR 103 million are indicatively allocated for floods and landslides, with the possibility for prevention measures[5]. Still, under shared management, in line with the applicable regulations, responsibility to select measures lies with the Managing Authority based on a programme approved by the Commission. While the Recovery and Resilience Facility[6] supports Italy in hydrogeological risk reduction and the development of a monitoring system to predict and mitigate climate change risks with a focus on Southern Italy, the Council Implementing Decision Annex[7] does not require resource allocation specifically to Sicily. Any allocation to this region is a decision of the Italian authorities[8].

    3. Existing measures to assess landslides include the European landslide susceptibility map[9] and the European Ground Motion Service[10]. Strengthening the knowledge base and promoting soil health can mitigate floods and droughts whilst making the environment more resilient to landslides and soil erosion thanks to improved water retention[11].

    • [1] Covering 2022-2027, https://environment.ec.europa.eu/topics/water/floods_en
    • [2] Page 55 https://pti.regione.sicilia.it/portal/page/portal/PIR_PORTALE/PIR_LaStrutturaRegionale/PIR_PresidenzadellaRegione/PIR_AutoritaBacino/PIR_Areetematiche/PIR_Pianificazione/PIR_PianoGestioneDirettiva200760CE/PIR_PianoGestioneRischioAlluvioni2021/PIR_PGRAIICiclo/PIR_RelazioneMedotologicaPGRAIICiclo/Relazione%20metodologica%20PGRA%20II%20ciclo%20di%20gestione.pdf
    • [3] https://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/policy/what/investment-policy_en
    • [4] 2021-2027 Regional Programme for Sicily, https://commission.europa.eu/funding-tenders/find-funding/eu-funding-programmes/european-regional-development-fund-erdf_en
    • [5] Such measures could include the implementation of databases, the development of forecasting models and territorial analyses for risk studies and mitigation models.
    • [6] https://commission.europa.eu/business-economy-euro/economic-recovery/recovery-and-resilience-facility_en#national-recovery-and-resilience-plans
    • [7] Annex to the Council Implementing Decision amending Implementing Decision of 13 July 2021 on the approval of the assessment of the recovery and resilience plan for Italy: https://data.consilium.europa.eu/doc/document/ST-15114-2024-ADD-1-REV-1/en/pdf
    • [8] For example: https://pnrr.protezionecivile.gov.it/it/il-pnrr-il-dipartimento-della-protezione-civile/. Projects in Sicily are relevant for reporting under the RRF if they contribute to the milestones and targets of the investments mentioned above, as set out in the annex of the Council Implementing Decision.
    • [9] https://esdac.jrc.ec.europa.eu/content/european-landslide-susceptibility-map-elsus-v2
    • [10] https://land.copernicus.eu/en/products/european-ground-motion-service
    • [11] https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/qanda_23_3637
    Last updated: 21 February 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Fischer, Smith Lead Delegation in Reintroducing Bill to Honor North Platte Canteen Volunteers

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Nebraska Deb Fischer
    U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) and U.S. Representative Adrian Smith (NE-03) led their Nebraska colleagues in reintroducing the North Platte Canteen Congressional Gold Medal Act. The bill would award the Congressional Gold Medal to the collective individuals and communities who volunteered or donated food and other items to the North Platte Canteen in North Platte, Nebraska, during World War II. 
    U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.) is an original cosponsor of the Senate legislation. U.S. Representatives Don Bacon (NE-02), and Mike Flood (NE-01) are original cosponsors of the House legislation.
    “During the world’s darkest time, a host of patriotic Nebraskans volunteered to give our service members a taste of home and of hope at the North Platte Canteen. Those volunteers included my own mother, Florence. I’m proud to reintroduce this legislation, which will honor the Nebraskans who ran the North Platte Canteen for nearly five years during World War II,” said Senator Fischer.“For four and a half years, the North Platte Canteen gave a sense of home to more than 6 million American troops traversing the country by train to serve in the Second World War. Volunteers from Nebraska communities came from as much as 200 miles away to lend a hand and provide meals, refreshments, and baked goods to up to 5,000 soldiers per day at the Canteen’s peak. This bill will honor this monumental patriotic effort as a great moment in American history. I thank Sen. Fischer for bringing legislation in the Senate and the entire delegation for supporting its introduction,” said Congressman Smith.
    “The North Platte Canteen is an excellent example of Nebraska’s tradition of patriotism. Our nation needs to be inspired by stories of service now more than ever. This bill will give these volunteers the recognition they deserve,” said Senator Ricketts.
    “During World War II, 55,000 Nebraskans showed their patriotism and love for this country by volunteering time and donating food to the North Platte Canteen, which in turn served millions of soldiers. As a veteran, I know how much those soldiers appreciated the acts of kindness exhibited to them and I am honored to join this movement to recognize their work,” said Congressman Bacon.
    “The North Platte Canteen has long been remembered as a symbol of Nebraska’s patriotism and our state’s love for our country’s Armed Forces. This measure is a salute to the people and communities who supported the canteen, and I look forward to working with my colleagues towards awarding them a Congressional Gold Medal as a token of our appreciation,” Congressman Flood.
    “The Nebraska American Legion is proud to endorse Senator Fischer’s bill regarding the North Platte canteen and its many volunteers that served the greatest generation going into battle. For many years, trains carrying our GI’s across America would stop in North Platte to allow railroad workers a short time to perform whatever maintenance was required on the train and get it ready for its next journey. The good people of North Platte took advantage of this opportunity and would provide refreshments to the GI’s during the brief stop. These volunteers demonstrated first-hand the patriotic spirit of Nebraskans and our tremendous Nebraska hospitality,” said Nebraska American Legion Department Adjutant Dave Salak.
    “We appreciate Senator Deb Fischer’s leadership on the effort to award the Congressional Gold Medal to the those who supported the North Platte Canteen. From Christmas Day of 1941 throughout World War II, 55,000 Nebraska women volunteered to provide refreshments and support to nearly seven million American servicemen who passed by rail through North Platte, Nebraska. Stopping by the North Platte Station, many times only for a few minutes, receiving a sandwich, a slice of pie or a cup of coffee, in their route across the country, allowed Nebraska to show their appreciation and support. To recognize the effort of these Nebraskans by awarding them the Congressional Gold Medal is incredibly fitting and perfect timing. Nebraska mobilized 144,000 servicemembers during the second World War,” said Nebraska Department of Veterans’ Affairs Director John Hilgert. “We are recognizing their service on this 80th anniversary of the victory in World War II by presenting them each with a medal and ribbon especially minted by the State of Nebraska’s Department of Veterans Affairs. To recognize the outstanding effort of those who served on the home front through the efforts made at the North Platte Canteen is only fitting. From the home front to the battle front, Nebraska gave her all for victory. Awarding the Congressional Gold Medal to the effort is not simply a remembrance but rather it is a lesson for generations to come. A lesson of sacrifice, teamwork, and dedication to mission. As Nebraska’s Governor Jim Pillen often says, “Together we can!”
    “The Friends of the National World War II Memorial proudly endorses the North Platte Canteen Congressional Gold Medal Act. We commend Senator Fischer for championing this important legislation to recognize the extraordinary volunteers who selflessly served at the North Platte Canteen during World War II. Through their dedication, these volunteers provided warmth, nourishment, and encouragement to more than six million American service members traveling to the European and Pacific theaters. Their efforts embodied the spirit of the Greatest Generation—whose sacrifices, both on and off the battlefield, helped secure victory over tyranny. Honoring the North Platte Canteen volunteers with the Congressional Gold Medal is a long-overdue tribute to their remarkable service and enduring legacy,” said Friends of the National World War II Memorial Executive Director Holly Rotondi.
    “The volunteers of the North Platte Canteen embodied the true Spirit of American patriotism not through combat, but through kindness. In the darkest days of World War II, they turned a small Nebraska train depot into a beacon of hope, serving over six million soldiers with warmth, gratitude and unwavering support. Their selfless dedication to the troops, many of whom were mere teenagers heading to the front lines, exemplifies the highest ideals of service and sacrifice. Honoring them with a Congressional gold medal is not just a recognition of their deeds, but a tribute to the power of unity, generosity, and the American spirit,” said North Platte Mayor Brandon Kelliher.  
    “During the horrors of World War II something amazing happened. Out of the upheaval of war a group of ladies began an effort that would forever affect the lives of six million service personnel. Beginning with a handful of ladies and growing to 55,000 volunteers, the North Platte Canteen became a home away from home for so many young men and women travelling to and from war. These volunteers served food but more importantly they brought love to a group of young people far from home and headed to far away places that they might never return from. Many were returning from experiences most can never imagine. This love (and food) left an indelible mark on all those that experienced it. It was simply America at its best,” said Lincoln County Historical Museum Director and Curator James Griffin.More information:
    The North Platte Canteen was a railroad stop in North Platte, Nebraska, that was recognized during World War II for providing hospitality to soldiers traveling through the area. An estimated 55,000 people from 125 communities throughout Nebraska, Colorado, and Kansas contributed food, money, or time to serve the Canteen’s estimated 6 million visitors.
    The North Platte Canteen operated from Christmas Day, 1941 to April 1, 1946. It was the largest community-based canteen in the U.S. and one of the largest volunteer efforts during World War II.
    Read the full text of the bill here.
    Read more about the North Platte Canteen here. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Prime Minister announces changes to the parliamentary secretary team

    Source: Government of Canada – Prime Minister

    The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, today announced changes to the parliamentary secretary team.

    In their new roles, the parliamentary secretaries will support their respective cabinet ministers to make progress on the priorities that matter most to Canadians. They will engage directly with Canadians on key initiatives and represent the government at home and abroad. Their appointments are effective immediately.

    The changes to the parliamentary secretary team are as follows:

    • Vance Badawey becomes Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Transport and Internal Trade
    • Jaime Battiste becomes Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs and Minister responsible for the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency
    • Chris Bittle becomes Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Families, Children and Social Development
    • Mike Kelloway becomes Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Rural Economic Development and Minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
    • Irek Kusmierczyk becomes Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Seniors
    • Bryan May becomes Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister
    • Yasir Naqvi becomes Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and Associate Minister of Health
    • Taleeb Noormohamed becomes Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance and Intergovernmental Affairs (Canada-U.S.)
    • Jennifer O’Connell becomes Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Safety (Cybersecurity)
    • Marc G. Serré becomes Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources
    • Terry Sheehan becomes Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Indigenous Services and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario
    • Ryan Turnbull becomes Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance and Intergovernmental Affairs and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry
    • Adam van Koeverden becomes Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Sport and Minister responsible for Prairies Economic Development Canada

    The Prime Minister also welcomed the following new members to the parliamentary secretary team:

    • Kody Blois becomes Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Rural Economic Development and Minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
    • Julie Dzerowicz becomes Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs (Consular Affairs and Latin America)
    • Arielle Kayabaga becomes Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Small Business
    • Viviane Lapointe becomes Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Official Languages and Associate Minister of Public Safety
    • Tim Louis becomes Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Canadian Heritage
    • Francesco Sorbara becomes Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance and Intergovernmental Affairs

    These new parliamentary secretaries will work to deliver real, positive change for Canadians. They join the following parliamentary secretaries remaining in their portfolio:

    • Paul Chiang, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship
    • Julie Dabrusin, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources
    • Peter Fragiskatos, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities
    • Lisa Hepfner, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Youth
    • Anthony Housefather, Parliamentary Secretary to the President of the Treasury Board
    • Iqra Khalid, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Revenue
    • Annie Koutrakis, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Tourism and Minister responsible for the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec
    • Marie-France Lalonde, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Defence
    • Kevin Lamoureux, Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons
    • Stéphane Lauzon, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Citizens’ Services
    • James Maloney, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada
    • Rob Oliphant, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs
    • Sherry Romanado, Parliamentary Secretary to the President of the King’s Privy Council for Canada and Minister of Emergency Preparedness 
    • Randeep Sarai, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence
    • Maninder Sidhu, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Export Promotion, International Trade and Economic Development
    • Charles Sousa, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Services and Procurement 
    • Anita Vandenbeld, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of International Development
    • Sameer Zuberi, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Diversity, Inclusion and Persons with Disabilities

    Quote

    “Our government is laser-focused on the issues that matter most to you and your family. With these additions to our strong team, we will create and protect Canadian jobs, build more homes, reduce emissions, make life cost less, and defend Canadian interests.”

    Quick Facts

    • Parliamentary secretaries are chosen by the Prime Minister to assist ministers.
    • The responsibilities of parliamentary secretaries generally fall into two broad categories: House of Commons business and department-related duties.
    • Parliamentary secretaries are not members of Cabinet and do not play a formal role in the Cabinet decision-making process. They support their ministers, but overall responsibility and accountability remains with the minister.

    Associated Links

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Hickenlooper Votes Against 2025 Senate Budget Resolution

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator John Hickenlooper – Colorado

    Republicans’ national budget will cut critical services for Coloradans, increase the deficit, and give tax cuts to billionaires

    Republicans voted down critical Democratic-led amendments, including Hickenlooper’s amendment to prevent energy price increases 

    WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper released the following statement after he voted against the fiscal year 2025 Senate Budget Resolution:

    “The Republicans’ extreme budget proposal will cut critical services like health care to bankroll tax breaks for the ultra-wealthy,” said Hickenlooper.“We’re all for making government more efficient and cutting actual waste and abuse. This budget will not do that. It will increase inflation and our deficit, which is why I’m voting against it.”

    Hickenlooper voted “No” on the budget resolution after Republicans voted against critical Democratic-led amendments – including provisions to prevent cuts to Medicaid, Medicare, and the Affordable Care Act.

    Hickenlooper spoke on the Senate floor in support of his amendment to protect the low cost of energy by blocking Republican-led attempts to slow renewable energy development. Video of his full remarks HERE. 

    “Most of the energy that’s ready to go today is clean and affordable. Any action that blocks the rollout of [this energy] will raise prices for working Americans, it’s going to kill jobs, and cede complete control of emerging industries to China,” Hickenlooper said on the Senate floor.  

    In total, Hickenlooper introduced and joined over 20 amendments to the 2025 Senate Budget Resolution to oppose Republican provisions that would harm Coloradans, including amendments to:

    Protect Affordable, Clean Energy

    Defend Essential Health Care

    • Protecting Maternal Health: Opposes legislation that would reduce health care coverage for moms and babies covered by Medicaid. Medicaid covers about 1.5 million births each year.
    • Defending Children’s Health Care: Opposes legislation that would reduce health care benefits for children enrolled in Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). In 2024, 37 million U.S. children were enrolled in Medicaid or CHIP. 
    • Protecting Health Care in Schools: Opposes legislation that would reduce funding for school-based health centers. Medicaid helps fund 3,900 school health centers across the country.
    • Protecting TRICARE: Protects health care access for military families, including reinstating the TRICARE reimbursement exemption for children’s hospitals.

    Safeguard the Federal Workforce

    • Protect National Park Service Workers: Requires the federal government to maintain a sufficient workforce to support recreational access and land management on Department of the Interior lands, including for the National Park Service and Bureau of Land Management.
    • Bolstering the VA Workforce: Establishes a reserve fund to reverse workforce cuts at the Veterans Health Administration, particularly for personnel who provide care in rural areas.
    • Supporting Funding for NIH: Promotes U.S. competitiveness and innovation by protecting funding for research and development at the National Institutes of Health.

    Protect Immigrant Rights

    • Protecting Sensitive Locations from ICE: Establishes a reserve fund to prohibit school resource officers from assisting with immigration enforcement operations on children during school hours while on school property.
    • Affirming Birthright Citizenship: Hickenlooper’s amendment with Senator Rosen upholds the Constitution of the United States and affirms that birthright citizenship applies to all persons born or naturalized in the United States.

    Prevent Wildfires and Combat Western Drought:

    • Preventing Wildfire Risk: Hickenlooper joined an amendment with Senators Schiff, Bennet, Heinrich, Lujan, and Padilla to establish a reserve fund for sufficient staffing and resources for wildfire risk reduction.

    Budget resolutions guide federal spending and revenue policies for the year, but do not have the power of law. The Senate and the House must pass identical budget resolutions to start the larger budget reconciliation process.

    Budget resolution and budget reconciliation bills only require a simple majority to pass the Senate.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Barrasso Bill Ends Outdated Handouts to China

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Wyoming John Barrasso

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) recently introduced legislation that would end handouts to China funded by American taxpayers by removing China’s outdated designation as a “developing country” in international treaties.
    The Ending China’s Unfair Advantage Act would prohibit any American taxpayer dollars from funding a United Nations treaty known as the Montreal Protocol and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) until China is no longer defined as a developing country. China’s current designation as a developing nation under these treaties allows it to abide by a different set of rules and access funding – including American taxpayer dollars – from the multilateral funds.
    “American tax dollars have been funneled to China for decades because of special treatment from the United Nations,” said Senator Barrasso. “By maintaining its classification as a developing country, China keeps getting handouts from American taxpayers and gets to play by a different set of rules. This ridiculous and outdated policy must end now. This bill forces the United Nations to end China’s unfair advantage once and for all.”
    Cosponsors of this legislation include U.S Senators Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), Jim Justice (R-W.Va), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), and Roger Wicker (R-Miss.)
    Full text of the legislation can be found here.
    Background:
    Under the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol, developing countries are eligible for financial assistance through a special multilateral fund. The U.S. is the largest contributor to the fund, giving almost $1 billion.
    China has received nearly $1.4 billion from this multilateral fund over the years, due to their classification as a developing country under the Montreal Protocol.
    The U.S. is required to phase down production and consumption of hydrofluorocarbons, or HFCs, by 85% by 2036 and China has until 2045 to reduce HFC use by 80%. China is given an extra decade, under the Kigali Amendment, to produce HFCs. It is also allowed an extra 5% in HFC production and consumption.
    In 2023, the U.S. delegation at the 35th Meeting of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol (MOP35) proposed removing the PRC from the Protocol’s list of “developing countries.” Objections from the PRC and its supporters prevented its inclusion in the agenda.
    In 2022, the Senate passed an amendment declaring that China is not a developing country and that the United Nations and other intergovernmental organizations should not treat China as such. It also conditioned the Senate’s ratification on the administration submitting a proposal to remove China as a developing country before the next meeting of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol.
    Senator Barrasso introduced this bill in the 117th and 118th Congresses.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Smart Agriculture Under Climate Change

    Source: Asia Development Bank

    Climate change remains at the forefront of global discourse and policymaking, driving an unprecedented push for impactful climate action. Yet, despite its prominence in the collective consciousness, deep divisions persist over what constitutes effective policy. Now more than ever, understanding the complexities of global policy, financing, and their impact—particularly on agriculture—is crucial.

    This book lays the foundation for a holistic understanding of the linkages between climate change and agriculture, exploring the historical drivers of environmental challenges and the evolving interconnections between global economies. It examines how sectoral interdependencies have shifted over time and what this means for designing effective climate policies and shaping the future of climate finance.

    As a comprehensive guide to the what, how, and why of climate change and agriculture development, this book brings together key aspects of policy, practice, and finance. It identifies critical gaps in climate action within the context of agricultural growth and offers strategies to bridge them—equipping stakeholders at all levels with the insights needed to drive sustainable and impactful change.
     

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Budd Advances Bill to Bring Accountability to SBA Disaster Loan Program

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Ted Budd (R-North Carolina)

    Washington, D.C. — Last night, the Disaster Loan Accountability and Reform Act was approved by the Senate Small Business Committee with bipartisan support and sent to the Senate floor for consideration.

    The bill is led by Senator Ted Budd (R-NC), Chair Joni Ernst (R-IA), Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC), and Senator Tim Scott (R-SC).

    The legislation strengthens oversight, financial safeguards, and transparency within the Small Business Administration’s disaster loan account.

    Key provisions include:

    • Requires detailed monthly reports on funding status, assumptions, and depletion estimates, with penalties for non-compliance.
    • Requires budget requests follow a 10-year program average for disaster loan subsidy and administrative costs.
    • Limits unsecured loan thresholds when funding falls below 10% of the 10-year average cost of the program.
    • Directs comprehensive reviews of recent funding shortfalls and program inefficiencies, with actionable recommendations for improvement.

    Senator Budd said in a statement:

    “As we learn the lessons from Hurricane Helene and the federal response, it’s imperative that we improve disaster response in a fiscally responsible way. My bill adds much-needed accountability, transparency, and oversight to SBA’s disaster loan account. I thank my colleagues for joining this effort to help those in need, while protecting the integrity of taxpayer dollars.”

    Chair Ernst said:

    “SBA’s mismanagement resulted in the disaster loan program running out of money for 66 days last year. This unacceptable failure left disaster victims across the country out in the cold. By advancing this legislation, the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship is ensuring that more Americans in need can get critical relief as soon as possible after disaster strikes.”

    Senator Tillis said:

    “Small businesses across Western North Carolina were hit hard by Hurricane Helene, and it’s our responsibility to ensure they have the resources to recover and rebuild. This legislation will enhance oversight, tighten financial controls, and eliminate wasteful spending by instituting clear reporting and budgeting standards. It’s essential that we not only support our small businesses during times of crisis, but also uphold the highest levels of accountability to ensure those resources are available when urgently needed.”

    Senator Tim Scott said:

    “Far too long have government agencies gone unchecked when dealing with taxpayer dollars. The Disaster Loan Accountability and Reform Act will implement the necessary measures to ensure that hard-earned tax dollars are used in the American people’s best interest and that Congress has a say in any financial decision from the Small Business Administration. I am grateful for Senator Budd’s efforts on this legislation.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: American Rebel Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: AREB) CEO Andy Ross Promotes the American Dream and Patriotic Products on NBC KSHB 41 Kansas City Morning Show KC Spotlight

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Nashville, TN, Feb. 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — American Rebel Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: AREB) (“American Rebel” or the “Company”), creator of American Rebel Light Beer (americanrebelbeer.com), and a designer, manufacturer, and marketer of branded safes and personal security and self-defense products (americanrebel.com), proudly announces that CEO Andy Ross will appear on the local NBC television affiliate, KSHB 41, in his home state, promoting the values of the American Dream and the Company’s patriotic products.

    Hometown “American Rebel” Andy Ross appears on Kansas City NBC affiliate KSHB 41

    NBC affiliate KSHB 41 (KSHB 41 Kansas City: News, Weather, Chiefs, Traffic and Sports), home of the Kansas City Chiefs and known for its award winning news, is owned by the E.W. Scripps Company and is the Kansas City market’s fastest growing news outlet. The segment featuring American Rebel Andy Ross is schedule to air Friday, February 20, 2025, at some point during the 11 am Central hour-long broadcast.

    “We believe in the American Dream, and our products reflect the values and pride that come with it,” said Andy Ross – CEO American Rebel Holdings, Inc. “I’m thrilled to share our story on KSHB 41, the home of my favorite team, the Kansas City Chiefs, and with the people of Kansas. I’ve spent my time in Kansas City visiting key accounts to ensure that American Rebel Light Beer is readily available to those who appreciate quality and patriotism.”

    American Rebel Holdings, Inc. Focuses on Media Exposure to Expand America’s Patriotic Beer in New Markets

    A key strategic focus at American Rebel is to continually share America’s Patriotic Brand Story as told by our CEO – Andy Ross. To truly expand America’s Patriotic Brand, we needed to have a product that reaches the masses and is consumable. American Rebel Beer has always been at the top of the list and due to current events and opportunities that have opened up in the market, American Rebel is well positioned to continue to expand into new markets that allow our consumers to enjoy America’s Patriotic Beer (americanrebelbeer.com).

    The American Rebel Brand Story is all about chasing the American Dream as a NASDAQ company

    “I have been blessed to turn my passions into success. On my show, Maximum Archery World Tour, I bowhunted the world for 10 years on outdoor TV. By incorporating my music into the show, and with the emergence of digital music distribution, I had a springboard to develop a great music career. In 2015 a decision was made to build a brand around my song ‘American Rebel,’ and America’s Patriotic Brand was born. In February 2022, we became a publicly traded company on NASDAQ, symbol: AREB.” – Andy Ross, CEO American Rebel Holdings

    American Rebel Light Beer positioned for success throughout Kansas and the Kansas City Area

    During his appearance, Mr. Ross passionately discussed the inspiration behind American Rebel Light Beer, a premium light lager that embodies the spirit of America’s Patriotic, God-Fearing, Constitution-Loving, National Anthem-Singing, Stand Your Ground Beer. He also highlighted Champion Safe Co., a wholly-owned subsidiary of American Rebel Holdings known for its American-made safes designed to protect what matters most to American families. Champion Safe Co. manufactures Champion, Superior and American Rebel branded safes.

    In addition to his media appearance, Mr. Ross has been actively focusing on expanding American Rebel Beer’s presence in the eastern Kansas area. With the support of distribution partner Standard Beverage, the Company is strategically targeting key accounts to enhance both on-premise and off-premise locations. This effort is part of a larger initiative to bring American Rebel’s exceptional products to a wider audience.

    Mr. Ross’s recent meetings with several key accounts in Kansas have yielded promising results, further solidifying the Company’s growth plans in the region. By leveraging the strength of the Standard Beverage distribution network, American Rebel is poised to make a significant impact in the Kansas market.

    Premium Safes, Concealed Carry Backpacks and Apparel at our Overland Park, Kansas store.

    We build American Rebel Safes – one of the most desirable residential safes on the market. We are also the proud owners of Champion Safe Co. Our safes are specifically designed to meet the needs of homeowners and gun aficionados.

    In a time when National Spirit is being rekindled, American Rebel positions itself as “America’s Patriotic Brand.” We are proud advocates of the 2nd Amendment and encourage safe and responsible gun ownership.

    American Rebel’s store is located at 8500 Marshall Drive in Overland Park, Kansas, next to the Bushnell Factory Outlet conveniently located right off I-35.

    For more information about American Rebel Holdings, Inc. and its products, please visit americanrebel.com, championsafe.com and americanrebelbeer.com.

    About American Rebel Holdings, Inc.

    American Rebel Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: AREB) has operated primarily as a designer, manufacturer, and marketer of branded safes and personal security and self-defense products and has recently transitioned into the beverage industry through the introduction of American Rebel Light Beer. The Company also designs and produces branded apparel and accessories. To learn more, visit americanrebel.com and americanrebelbeer.com. For investor information, visit americanrebel.com/investor-relations.

    About American Rebel Light Beer

    Produced in partnership with AlcSource, American Rebel Light Beer (americanrebelbeer.com) is a premium domestic light lager celebrated for its exceptional quality and patriotic values. It stands out as America’s Patriotic, God-Fearing, Constitution-Loving, National Anthem-Singing, Stand Your Ground Beer.

    American Rebel Light is a Premium Domestic Light Lager Beer – All Natural, Crisp, Clean and Bold Taste with a Lighter Feel. With approximately 100 calories, 3.2 carbohydrates, and 4.3% alcoholic content per 12 oz serving, American Rebel Light Beer delivers a lighter option for those who love great beer but prefer a more balanced lifestyle. It’s all natural with no added supplements and importantly does not use corn, rice, or other sweeteners typically found in mass produced beers.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. American Rebel Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: AREB; AREBW) (the “Company,” “American Rebel,” “we,” “our,” or “us”) desires to take advantage of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and is including this cautionary statement in connection with this safe harbor legislation. The words “forecasts,” “believe,” “may,” “estimate,” “continue,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “should,” “plan,” “could,” “target,” “potential,” “is likely,” “expect” and similar expressions, as they relate to us, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. We have based these forward-looking statements primarily on our current expectations and projections about future events and financial trends that we believe may affect our financial condition, results of operations, business strategy, and financial needs. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ from those in the forward-looking statements include benefits of marketing outreach efforts, actual placement timing and availability of American Rebel Beer, success and availability of the promotional activities, our ability to effectively execute our business plan, and the Risk Factors contained within our filings with the SEC, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023. Any forward-looking statement made by us herein speaks only as of the date on which it is made. Factors or events that could cause our actual results to differ may emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for us to predict all of them. We undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future developments, or otherwise, except as may be required by law.

    Media Inquiries:
    Matt Sheldon
    Precision Public Relations
    Matt@PrecisionPR.co
    917-280-7329

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Video: In memoriam…#heroic #pets

    Source: United States of America – Federal Government Departments (video statements)

    @k9hurricane sadly passed just a few days ago.  This fine pawfficer left a legacy as the most decorated dog in U.S. History:

    Served as an apprehension K9 for the USSS Emergency response team from 2012-2016

    In 2014, K9 Hurricane neutralized an intruder on the White House lawn while the President was inside with the First Family.

    Made history as the first U.S. dog to receive the PDSA Order of Merit at British Parliament and the Animals in War and Peace Distinguished Service Medal at the US Capito, landing him in Guinness Boof of World Records in 2023.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dwoyTJ9PQyI

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Union Minster Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan to visit the inaugural function of Pusa Krishi Vigyan Mela 2025 at ICAR-IARI in New Delhi tomorrow

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Union Minster Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan to visit the inaugural function of Pusa Krishi Vigyan Mela 2025 at ICAR-IARI in New Delhi tomorrow

    The theme of the mela is Unnat Krishi – Viksit Bharat

    Posted On: 21 FEB 2025 3:53PM by PIB Delhi

    Union Minster of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan will visit the Pusa Krishi Vigyan Mela 2025 in New Delhi tomorrow. Shri Chouhan will be the Chief Guest of the inaugural function. Pusa Krishi Vigyan Mela (PKVM) 2025 of Indian Council of Agricultural Research -Indian Agricultural Research Institute (ICAR-IARI) is going to be held during February 22-24, 2025. The theme of the mela is Unnat Krishi – Viksit Bharat. Ministers of State for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Shri Ramnath Thakur and Shri Bhagirath Choudhary will be the Chief Guest of the Valedictory Session on 24th February 2025. Secretary DARE and Director General, ICAR, Dr. Himanshu Pathak will preside over the inaugural and valedictory sessions.

    The main attractions of the PKVM this year will be:

    • Live demonstrations of the new varieties and technologies developed by IARI
    • Exhibitions on promising technologies, products and services of IARI as well as ICAR Institutes, Agricultural Universities, KVKs, FPOs, entrepreneurs, start-ups, public and private companies
    • Technical Sessions and Farmers-Scientists interactions on important issues like Climate Resilient Agriculture, Crop Diversification, Digital Agriculture; Entrepreneurship Development of Youth and Women; Agricultural Marketing, Farmers Organizations and Start-ups; and Farmers’ Innovation
    • Sale of Pusa Seeds of important varieties
    • On-Spot agro-advisories

    Realizing the growing significance of climatic risk and nutrition, the research program at IARI laid emphasis upon on developing climate-resilient crop varieties and bio-fortified cultivars with enhanced nutrient profile along with higher productivity. During 2024, a total of 27 crop cultivars in 10 different crops namely, 7 in bread wheat, 3 in rice, 8 maize hybrids, 1 pearl millet hybrid, 2 chickpea cultivars, 1 pigeon pea hybrid, 3 mung bean varieties, 1 lentil variety, 2 double zero mustard varieties and 1 soybean variety have been released. These include 16 varieties and 11 hybrids. IARI has been making stupendous contributions in Basmati rice production and trade through development of superior varieties. Basmati rice varieties including Pusa Basmati 1718, Pusa Basmati 1692, Pusa Basmati 1509 and the ones with resistance to both bacterial blight and blast diseases namely, PB 1847, PB 1885, and PB 1886 contribute to about 90% of the 5.2 million tons of Basmati rice exports earning of Rs. 48389 crores from India in 2023-2024. During April to November 2024, the export earnings from our Basmati rice stands at Rs 31,488 crores. Two short duration non-Basmati rice varieties namely, Pusa 1824 and Pusa 2090 have been released, which can help provide sufficient time for after-harvest operations. Pusa RH 60 is a high-yielding, short-duration, aromatic rice hybrid with long slender grains, best suited for Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. Pusa Narendra KN1 and Pusa CRD KN2 are improved Kalanamak varieties with better resistance and higher yield, recommended for Uttar Pradesh.

    Institute’s research program also laid focus upon nutritional security and developed eight biofortified cultivars. One bread wheat variety (HI 1665) and one durum wheat, HI 8840 was developed with high iron and zinc content, suitable for central zone. A multi-nutrient hybrid Pusa Biofortified maize Hybrid 5 has been developed, which is enriched with α-tocopherol (21.60 ppm) provitamin A (6.22 ppm), high lysine (4.93%) and tryptophan (1.01%). Pusa Biofortified Maize Hybrid-4 is biofortified with high provitamin A, lysine, and tryptophan. Pusa Popcorn Hybrid-1 and Hybrid-2 offer high popping percentage and butterfly-type popped flakes, ideal for NWPZ and PZ zones. Pusa HM4 Male Sterile Baby Corn-2 is a male sterile-based hybrid developed for NEPZ, PZ, and CWZ zones.

    Two double zero mustard varieties (Pusa Mustard 35 and Pusa Mustard 36) were released with low erucic acid and glucosinolates content; which  provide high yield under timely sown irrigated conditions in Zone-III (Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Rajasthan). Pearl Millet Pusa 1801 (MH 2417) is a dual-purpose variety (grain and fodder) biofortified with high iron (70 ppm) and zinc (57 ppm) content. It is resistant to multiple diseases and is best suited for the NCT of Delhi. Chickpea var Pusa Chickpea Vijay 10217 is a high-yielding variety resistant to Fusarium wilt, recommended for irrigated conditions in Uttar Pradesh. Chickpea var Pusa 3057 has high seed protein content (24.3%) and is resistant to multiple diseases, including Fusarium wilt, collar rot, and dry root rot. It is also moderately resistant to pod borer and has large seeds with excellent grain color and shape. Pigeon pea var Pusa Arhar Hybrid-5 is a high-yielding variety (23.35 q/ha on average, with a potential of 25.46 q/ha) resistant to SMD, Phytophthora stem blight, Macrophomina blight, and Alternaria leaf spot, making it suitable for Delhi and NCT.

     

    Striving towards attainment of goals of crop diversification for economic as well as ecological benefits, Institute has standardized Integrated Farming System Models (IFS).  Integrated farming system model of 1.0 ha area for small farmers involving crops, dairy, fishery, duckery, biogas plant, fruit trees and agro-forestry developed by ICAR-IARI has potential to generate the net returns up to Rs. 3,79,000/ha/year with an employment generation of 628 man-days. Similarly, Integrated Farming System Model of 0.4 ha area for marginal farm holders integrating polyhouse culture, mushroom cultivation along with crop and horticulture enterprises has the potential to generate the net income of Rs. 1,75,650/acre/year. 

    Horticulture-based crop diversification has been popular among farmers. Cultivation of vegetables, fruits and flowers has been profitable, while fruits and vegetable cultivation is also useful in promotion of nutritional security.  To promote vegetable cultivation, IARI has developed 268 improved vegetable varieties in 48 vegetable crops comprising of 41 hybrids and 227 varieties. IARI has developed nutritionally superior varieties in carrot (Pusa Prateek, Pusa Rudhira, Pusa Asita), okra (Pusa Lal Bhindi-1), Indian bean (Pusa Lal Sem), broccoli (Pusa Purple Broccoli-1) & Vitamin C rich spinach variety (Pusa Vilayati Palak) to address the issue of malnutrition. Yellow vein mosaic virus (YVMV) resistant andEnation leaf curl virus ELCV tolerant okra varieties (Pusa Bhindi-5 and DOH-1) were released to minimize the application of pesticides use and reduction in cost of cultivation. Six varieties and one hybrid in brinjal, three varieties in onion, two varieties and one hybrid in cucumber, three varieties in Indian bean, three hybrids in bitter gourd, two varieties and one hybrid in musk melon were released for cultivation. Two soft-seeded guava varieties, Pusa Aarushi (red pulp) and Pusa Pratiksha (white pulp), have been developed along with a gynodioecious, semi-dwarf papaya variety, Pusa Peet. One marigold variety i.e. Pusa Bahar has been recommended for release. A mid-season gladiolus var. Pusa Sinduri has been released for West Bengal, Punjab, New Delhi and Rajasthan. The production of quality seeds has increased more than four times since 2018-19 (239.861 tons) to 975.478 tons in 2023-24. The nutritious food products developed by the Division of Biochemistry are Divine Dough which is pearl millet flour with richness of quality protein, resistant starch, fibre and micronutrients like Fe and Zn. Pearly Loaf is a gluten-free bread pre-mix made entirely from whole pearl millet, offering a nutritious alternative to wheat-based bread. With a low glycemic index (pGI 68-69%), it supports blood sugar management while being rich in fiber, essential minerals, and bioactive compounds.

    A rapid colorimetric test kit named ‘Speedy Seed viability kit’ has been developed by our institute to distinguish between viable and non-viable seeds within 1–4 hours, depending on the seed type. Pusa STFR Meter developed by ICAR-IARI is a low cost, user-friendly, digital instrument to analyses fourteen important soil parameters including secondary and micronutrients viz., soil pH, EC, organic carbon, available N (derived from organic carbon), P, K, S, B, Zn, Fe, Cu, Mn as well as lime and gypsum requirement. Pusa Decomposer developed by ICAR-IARI is an eco-friendly and economically viable effective microbial solution for in-situ and ex-situ residue management. It has also been developed into ready to use powder formulation, which is completely dissolvable in water and can be used easily with mechanical sprayers. 500g per acre is recommended for decomposition of paddy straw in the field. The farm Sun Fridge developed by ICAR-IARI is an off-grid, battery-less solar refrigerated and evaporative cooled (SREC) structure. The objective of the technology is to have a solar cold store on farm fields. The cold store is used for storage of perishables. “PUSA MeFly KIT” and “PUSA CueFly KIT” are ready-to-use kits to manage fruit fly menace in a wide range of fruit and cucurbit vegetables, respectively. Point of care diagnostic kit and Easy PCR detection kit have been developed for rapid detection of chilli leaf curl virus and mung bean yellow mosaic virus, respectively. Pusa Dhan Bakanae parikshan kit has been developed for identifying pathogens causing bakanae disease in seed as well as in soil.

    *****

    MG/RN

    (Release ID: 2105262) Visitor Counter : 62

    Read this release in: Hindi

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Sweater Weather in North America

    Source: NASA

    Despite global temperatures being well above normal in the third week of February 2025, a blast of frigid Arctic air spilled south across Canada into the central and eastern United States. The cold air came on the heels of a winter storm that pushed east across the Great Plains, Southeast, and Mid-Atlantic, bringing heavy snowfall to parts of Kentucky, West Virginia, North Carolina, Maryland, and Virginia.
    This map shows the extent of the cold snap on the morning of February 19. It was derived from the GEOS (Goddard Earth Observing System) model and represents air temperatures at 2 meters (about 6.5 feet) above the ground. The darkest blue areas are where the model indicates temperatures dropped to minus 22 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 30 degrees Celsius) or lower.
    In Antelope Creek, North Dakota, the National Weather Service reported a daytime low of -45°F (-43°C) on February 18. That same day, record-breaking cold hit both Bismarck and Minot, also in North Dakota, where temperatures plunged to -39°F and -33°F, respectively. Broad swaths of the Lower 48 faced temperatures that plummeted as much as 30-40°F below average for the time of year, according to news reports. National Weather Service offices issued cold weather advisories and extreme cold warnings for more than 93 million Americans, including people in Florida and Texas.
    The cold and snow in the United States came amid a period of unusual warmth in the Arctic. Arctic sea ice extent was at record lows for February, while temperatures in parts of Greenland and the Northwest Territories in Canada were running 15-30°F above average. Some researchers think that Arctic warming may contribute to cold weather outbreaks in the mid-latitudes by altering the polar vortex and the behavior of the jet stream, though meteorologist Bob Henson reported in Yale Climate Connections that “vigorous scientific debate” continues about this idea.
    NASA Earth Observatory image by Michala Garrison, using GEOS-5 data from the Global Modeling and Assimilation Office at NASA GSFC. Story by Adam Voiland.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Newsom announces appointments 2.20.25

    Source: US State of California 2

    Feb 20, 2025

    Sacramento, California –Governor Gavin Newsom today announced the following appointments:

    Mayumi Kimura, of Temecula, has been appointed Deputy Secretary of Woman Veterans at the California Department of Veterans Affairs. Kimura has been the Founder and Director of Warriors Insight Therapy since 2022. She was a Readjustment Counselor at Lowell Vet Center from 2019 to 2022. Kimura was a Program Director at Middlesex Sheriff’s Office, Housing Unit for Military Veterans from 2018 to 2019.  She was an Emergency Services Clinician at Riverside Community Care from 2017 to 2018. Kimura was a Social Services Clinician at Butler Psychiatric Hospital from 2016 to 2017. She was a Psychosocial Manager/Hospice Social Worker at Bayada Hospice from 2013 to 2017. Kimura served in multiple roles for the United States Navy from 2001 to 2010, including Active-Duty Operations Specialist, Petty Officer First Class, and Active Reserves. This position does not require Senate confirmation, and the compensation is $154,860. Kimura is a Democrat.

    Justin Turner, of Sacramento, has been appointed Chief Counsel at the California Department of Conservation. He has been Assistant Chief Counsel at the Department of Conservation since 2015 and Attorney III from 2008 to 2015. Turner was a Contract Attorney at the California Department of Public Health from 2005 to 2008. He was a Contract Attorney at Update Legal in 2004. Turner earned his Juris Doctor degree from the University of California, College of the Law, San Francisco, and a Bachelor of the Arts degree in Spanish from the University of Oregon. This position does not require Senate confirmation and compensation is $208,440. Turner is a Democrat.

    Anthony “Tony” Marino, of Sacramento, has been appointed Deputy Director of Energy at the Office of Energy Infrastructure Safety. Marino has been the Deputy Director of the Underground Infrastructure Directorate at the Office of Energy Infrastructure Safety since 2022. Marino was the Executive Officer of the Underground Safety Board at the Department of Foresty and Fire Protection from 2017 to 2021. He served as Consultant on the Subcommittee on Gas, Electric, and Transportation Safety in the Office of Senator Jerry Hill from 2012 to 2017. Marino held multiple positions in the Office of Assemblymember Jerry Hill from 2010 to 2012, including Legislative Aide and Science Fellow. He earned a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Chemistry from the University of Chicago and a Bachelor of the Arts degree in English and Chemistry from Davidson College. This position does not require Senate confirmation and compensation is $175,512. Marino is registered without party preference.  

    Travis Nichols, of Sacramento, has been appointed Cyber Incident Response Manager at the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services. Nichols has been an Operations Officer/Defensive Cyberspace Weapons Officer with the United States Marine Corps Reserve since 2010. He was a Consultant at Level9 Group in 2023. Nichols was a Cyber Security Operations Architect at Smith & Nephew from 2022 to 2023. He was an Information System Security Officer/Engineer at Defense Microelectronics Activity from 2021 to 2022. Nichols was a Systems Administrator – Server/Network Team Lead at Blackwatch International from 2019 to 2021. He was a Systems Administrator – Tier III – Team Lead at Cincinnati Bell Technical Solutions from 2018 to 2019. Nichols was a Service Support Engineer at Pathforward IT from 2016 to 2018. This position does not require Senate confirmation, and the compensation is $137,616. Nichols is a Democrat.

    Lynda Hopkins, of Sebastopol, has been appointed to the California Air Resources Board. Hopkins has been the Fifth District Supervisor on the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors since 2016. She was a Co-Owner at Foggy River Farm from 2008 to 2020. Hopkins was a Reporter at the Sonoma West Times & News from 2009 to 2013. She was the Executive Director at Sonoma County Farm Trails from 2008 to 2010. Hopkins was a Head Teaching Assistant at the Stanford University Earth Systems Program from 2005 to 2007. She is a member of the Bay Area Air Quality Management District. Hopkins earned a Master of Science degree in Earth Systems, a Bachelor of Science degree in Earth Systems, and a Bachelor of the Arts degree in Creative Writing and Poetry from Stanford University. This position requires Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Hopkins is a Democrat.

    Dawn Ortiz-Legg, of San Luis Obispo, has been appointed to the California Air Resources Board. Ortiz-Legg has been the Third District Supervisor on the San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors since 2020. She was a Right of Way Agent at Pacific Gas and Electric Company from 2018 to 2020. Ortiz-Legg was a Project Manager & Public Affairs Liaison at First Solar from 2010 to 2018. She was North American Sales and Marketing Manager at PTEC Corporation from 1999 to 2010. Ortiz-Legg is a member of the San Luis Obispo County Air Pollution Control District. She earned her Master of Public Policy degree in Climate Change and Technology Policy from the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, and a Bachelor of the Arts degree in Organizational Communication from Pepperdine University. This position requires Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Ortiz-Legg is a Democrat.

    Tina Thomas, of Sacramento, has been appointed to the Wildlife Conservation Board. Thomas has been Of Counsel at Downey Brand LLP since 2023. She was Founding Partner at Thomas Law Group Sacramento from 2012 to 2023. Thomas has held multiple positions at Remy, Thomas, Moose, and Manley, LLP from 1982 to 2011, including Counsel and Managing Partner. She was an Associate Attorney at Remy and Associates from 1979 to 1982. Thomas is a Board Member at the Steinberg Institute, Sacramento Federal Judiciary Library, and Meristem, and Member Emeritus at the Sacramento Food Bank. She earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of San Diego, and a Bachelor of the Arts degree in Sociology and Political Science from Stephens College. This position does not require Senate Confirmation, and there is no compensation. Thomas is a Democrat.

    Frances “Fran” Pavley, of Agoura Hills, has been reappointed to the Wildlife Conservation Board, where she has served since 2018. Pavley has been the Environmental Policy Director at the University of Southern California Schwarzenegger Institute since 2018. She served as a Senator in the California State Senate from 2008 to 2016. Pavley served as an Assemblymember in the California State Assembly from 2000 to 2006. She served as Mayor/City Councilmember for the City of Agoura Hills from 1982 to 1998. Pavley earned her Master of the Arts degree in Environmental Planning from California State University, Northridge, and her Bachelor of the Arts degree in Social Science from California State University, Fresno. This position does not require Senate Confirmation, and there is no compensation.  Pavley is a Democrat.

    Travis Clausen, of Garden Grove, has been appointed to the Underground Safe Excavation Board. Clausen has been Regional Construction Manager – Aviation and Defense at Sully-Miller Contracting Company since 2025, where he was Senior Operations Manager from 2015 to 2025. Clausen was a Project Manager at OHL USA from 2014 to 2015 and at Sully Miller Contracting Company from 2006 to 2014. Clausen served in the United States Army from 1995 to 1998. He earned a Bachelor of the Arts degree in Business Administration – Finance from California State University, Fullerton. This position does not require Senate Confirmation and there is no compensation. Clausen is a Republican.

    Press Releases, Recent News

    Recent news

    Feb 19, 2025

    News SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom today announced the following appointments:Andrew “Andy” Nakahata, of San Francisco, has been appointed Chief Deputy Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer at the California Infrastructure and Economic Development Bank….

    Feb 19, 2025

    News What you need to know: A court has denied the city of Norwalk’s request to dismiss the state’s lawsuit against the city for its unlawful ban on homeless shelters.  NORWALK — Governor Gavin Newsom issued the following statement in response to a court decision…

    Feb 19, 2025

    News What you need to know: Steve Jobs, a visionary of global scale, has been nominated to represent California on the American Innovation Coin. The coin, which will be minted by the U.S. Mint, highlights U.S. innovations and innovators, including California’s legacy…

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Climate change could make more turtles female – but some are starting to adapt

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Mollie Rickwood, PhD Researcher, Marine Conservation, University of Exeter

    A loggerhead turtle nesting. Mollie Rickwood, CC BY-NC-ND

    Rising global temperatures are a particularly acute threat for the world’s sea turtles. That’s because the temperature of a turtle’s nest controls the sex of their offspring.

    Coming ashore onto a beach (often the beach from where they hatched), sea turtles use their flippers to carefully scoop out the sand and create flask-shaped nests in the sand in which they lay their eggs. There is no maternal care for these nests – their success depends solely on the environment. Hotter nests will produce more female hatchlings, but fewer babies will survive into adulthood once temperatures rise above a critical threshold.

    Unless sea turtles find a way to counteract rising nest temperatures, climate change could produce an increasing number of females and fewer offspring – a frightening scenario for sea turtle biologists like us.

    Fortunately, we were pleased to discover that green and loggerhead turtles that breed in North Cyprus are arriving earlier in the year to offset some of the impacts of rising incubation temperatures.

    Since the early 1990s, the Society for the Protection of Turtles and our team at the University of Exeter have been working together to monitor and protect the green and loggerhead turtles that nest on the beaches of North Cyprus.

    Every summer, a team of dedicated volunteers patrols nesting beaches to record every nest that has been laid. They place temperature data-loggers into these nests and tag every female they encounter. The result is a unique database of over 1,300 individual female turtles for whom the date, location and hatching success of her nests is known.

    Using this database, we were able to show that, since 1992, green and loggerhead turtles in North Cyprus are nesting more than half a day earlier each year (greens 0.61 days, loggerheads 0.78 days). Before the mid 2000s, no turtles had been recorded nesting before June, but now we expect to see quite a few nests from the start of May.

    Do the seasons feel increasingly weird to you? You’re not alone. Climate change is distorting nature’s calendar, causing plants to flower early and animals to emerge at the wrong time.

    This article is part of a series, Wild Seasons, on how the seasons are changing – and what they may eventually look like.

    If temperatures keep rising at current rates, we estimated that to maintain current sex ratios, the loggerhead turtles would need to keep nesting half a day earlier each year. To prevent a decrease in hatching rates, they’ll need to nest 0.7 days earlier each year.

    This means that, for the time being, our loggerheads are shifting their nesting dates early enough to maintain current incubation temperatures and, therefore, sex ratios and hatching success. Good news.

    Though our study in loggerheads offers cause for optimism, there is no guarantee that the females will continue to nest earlier and earlier each year. To try to understand if this might be the case, we wanted to understand whether temperature was the main factor driving this earlier nesting.

    Temperature isn’t everything

    For individual green turtles, we confirmed that the temperature is an important factor in causing them to nest earlier. In fact, we found that individual females will nest 6.47 days earlier for every degree celsius increase in sea temperature.

    However, we also showed that how many times a female has bred before and the number of times she lays eggs in a breeding season explain an equal amount of the variation in her lay dates. These observations have important effects when we think about what is happening to the green turtle population as a whole.

    As a result of conservation measures such as protecting the nests from predation and relocating nests laid too close to the high water line we have seen a big population increase in the green turtles at our study site in North Cyprus. Since 1992, numbers have grown from 55 nests per year to over 400.

    Understanding the current trend of earlier nesting is complicated. But, for now, we can be assured that sea turtles are doing just enough to counteract the negative effects of climate change – which is fantastic news.

    The turtles are doing their bit. Now, it is up to us to ensure the continued conservation and long-term monitoring of this charismatic ocean ambassador to give them the best chance of survival in our changing world.

    Don’t have time to read about climate change as much as you’d like?

    Get a weekly roundup in your inbox instead. Every Wednesday, The Conversation’s environment editor writes Imagine, a short email that goes a little deeper into just one climate issue. Join the 40,000+ readers who’ve subscribed so far.

    Annette Broderick receives funding from the Darwin Initiative, MAVA Foundation, Natural Environment Research Council and the Royal Society

    Robin Snape is affiliated with The Society for the Protection of Turtles (SPOT).

    Mollie Rickwood does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. Climate change could make more turtles female – but some are starting to adapt – https://theconversation.com/climate-change-could-make-more-turtles-female-but-some-are-starting-to-adapt-249619

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: African Development Bank and World Food Programme support Nigerian Government in tackling acute hunger in Northeastern Nigeria

    Source: World Food Programme

    BORNO – In the wake of the devastating floods that hit Borno State in September 2024, the African Development Bank (AfDB) has contributed US$ 1 million from its Special Relief Fund to support emergency food response for flood-affected communities in Northeastern Nigeria.

    The support comes at a critical time, when humanitarian funding is in short supply and the country faces alarmingly high rates of food insecurity exacerbated by conflict, floods and rising poverty. The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) will use this contribution, on behalf of the Federal Government of Nigeria, to provide emergency food assistance to 120,000 women, men, and children. Each household will receive 35kg worth of staple food supply. 

    ““AfDB’s support is timely and comes as a lifeline for those struggling to feed themselves amidst rising food prices and economic turmoil,” said David Stevenson, WFP’s Country Director in Nigeria. Communities which, after years of conflict and violence, started rebuilding their lives were struck by the floods and once again displaced, meaning more and more people cannot support themselves and their families.” 

    The recent floods of September 2024 exacerbated years of prior displacement, food insecurity and economic hardship, resulting in disastrous consequences, that have pushed hunger levels even higher. According to the November 2024 Cadre Harmonisé food security analysis, conducted across 26 states and the federal capital, it is projected that 33 million people in Nigeria will face food insecurity by August 2025.

    “I hope that this additional funding will mitigate the suffering of vulnerable people on the brink of acute hunger, at a time when more Nigerians than ever before are in need of humanitarian assistance”, said Abdul Kamara, African Development Bank Director General in Nigeria. “I commend the Federal Government of Nigeria and WFP for the continuous efforts to operate in such a challenging environment to improve the lives of Nigerian families.”

    This new contribution complements AfDB’s ongoing effort to restructure activities of the Programme for Integrated Agricultural Development, Adaptation to Climate Change (PIDACC) and the Inclusive Basic Service Delivery and Livelihood Empowerment Program to avail critically needed services in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states.

    As part of the government’s Borno State Development Plan, WFP and partners deliver food and specialised nutrition assistance to 1 million people in Borno state each month. WFP also trains and mentors health facility staff to conduct screenings and manage acute malnutrition among women and children whilst promoting appropriate maternal, infant, and young child nutrition practices. The Government of Nigeria is a firm supporter of WFP’s humanitarian food systems solutions in Borno state. 

     

     

    #                    #                      #

     

    About AfDB

    The African Development Bank Group (AfDB) is Africa’s premier development finance institution. It comprises three distinct entities: the African Development Bank (AfDB), the African Development Fund (ADF) and the Nigeria Trust Fund (NTF). On the ground in 44 African countries with an external office in Japan, the AfDB contributes to the economic development and the social progress of its 54 regional member states. 

    For more information: www.afdb.org

    About WFP

    The United Nations World Food Programme is the world’s largest humanitarian organization, saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change. 

    Follow us on X, via @wfp_media, @AfDB_Group, @AfDB_RDNG 

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Stobswell Community Clean-Up

    Source: Scotland – City of Dundee

    A Take Pride in Your City Community Clean-Up has taken place in Dundee’s Stobswell area this week.

    The initiative saw Council teams carry out additional works in the area with general litter and debris removal, the strimming of vegetation from buildings and fence lines, the tidying up of communal areas where required, and sweeping to path & street areas.

    Skips were also made available throughout the three-day event to residents to dispose of unwanted household items with Council employees on hand to answer queries about recycling and waste disposal.

    Climate, Environment & Biodiversity Convener Cllr Heather Anderson said: “The Community Clean-Ups are helping to make a positive difference in areas of Dundee with focused environmental work being carried out with additional skip provision for residents to dispose of their larger waste items in a safe and responsible way.

    “Take Pride in Your City is a long-standing campaign now and we are encouraging communities around the city to get involved and do their bit for their own neighbourhood.

    “It’s been great to see the buy-in from the community in Stobswell as a collaborative approach is key to tackling persistent issues like litter, fly-tipping and graffiti.

    “The Council’s Environment staff will continue to work with the local community to make improvements which benefit those who live in the area.”

    The Stobswell Forum SCIO, run by local volunteers for the good of their neighbourhood, are one of the partners supporting the Community Clean-up.

    Stobswell Forum Chair Colin Clement said: “It’s great that the Council and the community are working together to improve the local streets through the clean up, everyone benefits when our community looks and feels well looked after.”

    More information about future community clean-ups will be communicated directly to residents ahead of them taking place.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-Evening Report: The promise of green iron, steel and ammonia is keeping the green hydrogen dream alive

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Changlong Wang, Research fellow in Civil and Environmental Engineering, Monash University

    D.Alimkin, Shutterstock

    Hydrogen was once sold as a universal climate fix — a clean, green wonder fuel for cars, homes, power grids and even global export. But reality has cooled that buzz.

    This week, the South Australian government shelved plans for a A$593 million hydrogen power plant, in favour of injecting that money into the $2.4 billion Whyalla steelworks rescue package. Premier Peter Malinauskas said there was “no point in producing hydrogen” without a customer: the steelworks.

    It’s the latest in a series of setbacks for hydrogen. Last year, Australian mining and energy giant Fortescue pared back its green hydrogen projects as a result of increasing costs and changing financial circumstances in the United States.

    Then, gas and oil heavyweight Woodside withdrew plans for two large-scale green hydrogen projects and Origin Energy dropped out of the Hunter Valley Hydrogen Hub.

    Meanwhile, the Hydrogen Energy Supply Chain project in Victoria, meant to ship hydrogen to Japan, has met with delays and overruns. Earlier this month, the new Queensland government chose to halt further investment in the Central Queensland Hydrogen Project, putting plans to export hydrogen in doubt.

    These setbacks show hydrogen isn’t the ultimate solution to all our energy needs, especially if we want to export it. But they don’t spell doom. Instead, they nudge us toward where hydrogen really shines: in heavy industry, right where it’s made.

    Heavy industry: where hydrogen makes sense

    Heavy industries such as steel manufacturing and ammonia production are where hydrogen proves its worth. These sectors are significant contributors to climate change — steel accounts for about 8% of global greenhouse gas emissions, ammonia a further 2%.

    Most emissions from steelmaking come from burning coal in blast furnaces to convert ore into iron and carbon dioxide.

    In a cleaner alternative, hydrogen (when produced using renewable energy) can be used to strip oxygen from the ore and make iron, with water as a byproduct. The result is green iron, ready to be turned into steel in an electric arc furnace – with a fraction of the emissions.

    Ammonia is used to make fertiliser and industrial chemicals, and hydrogen is one of the main ingredients in its production. Hydrogen bonds with nitrogen from the air to form ammonia. No hydrogen, no ammonia — it’s that simple. Conventional ammonia plants get hydrogen from methane, producing CO₂ in the process. Green ammonia uses renewable energy to produce hydrogen by splitting water via electrolysis.

    Our recent research crunched the numbers on producing these new green commodities. We found making green iron in Australia with hydrogen and shipping it to Europe for steel production could be 21% cheaper than exporting raw iron ore and hydrogen separately. Plus, it could cut emissions by up to 95% compared to traditional methods.

    There are huge economic opportunities for Australia too. Instead of shipping low-value raw materials, Australia could export ready-to-use green iron or green steel, reshaping global supply chains while cutting costs and carbon. That’s the kind of rethink hydrogen enables.

    Industry hubs: a practical fix

    Transporting hydrogen long distances is costly and inefficient. The fix? Industry hubs that produce hydrogen right where it’s needed — next to steel mills, ammonia plants, desalination plants, water treatment plants or even aluminium smelters. Putting producers and consumers together slashes transport costs and unlocks efficiencies.

    We’ve built tools to pinpoint places with the greatest potential to produce these new green commodities.

    The Hydrogen Economic Fairways Tool maps where renewable energy, infrastructure and industrial sites align for cost-effective hydrogen production.

    The Green Steel Economic Fairways Mapper zooms in on prime locations for green steel, spotlighting places such as Eyre Peninsula in SA and the Pilbara in Western Australia, among others (see below). These locations have abundant wind and solar resources alongside an existing industrial base.

    The Green Steel Economic Fairways Mapper compares the levelised cost of steel, including production and transport to the port. a) Regional changes across Australia b) Example of how to optimise the system to minimise the levelised cost of producing 1 million tonnes per annum c) Breakdown of costs d) Hourly system performance, in terms of energy flows.
    Green Steel Economic Fairways Mapper, Geoscience Australia

    Challenges remain

    Green hydrogen promises to revolutionise heavy industries, but significant hurdles stand in the way of widespread domestic adoption. The biggest challenge comes from the unpredictable nature of renewable energy, which makes it hard to maintain the steady hydrogen supply industries need.

    The costs remain steep, too. Splitting water into hydrogen using renewable electricity isn’t cheap, particularly when you need backup storage systems to keep production going during cloudy or windless periods.

    Getting hydrogen where it needs to go poses another major challenge. As hydrogen is both bulky to transport and highly flammable, it requires special handling and infrastructure, driving up costs, especially for facilities far from production sites.

    Many companies also hesitate to invest in hydrogen-compatible equipment, as retrofitting existing plants or building new ones requires substantial upfront costs without guaranteed returns.

    The $2.4 billion rescue package for the Whyalla Steelworks (ABC News)

    Government backing: a push in the right direction

    Thursday’s announcement of A$2.4 billion investment in the Whyalla steelworks along with plans for a $1 billion green iron investment fund are a bold bet on green steel. Furthermore, the landmark Future Made in Australia legislation introduces a $6.7 billion Hydrogen Production Tax Incentive, offering $2 per kilogram of renewable hydrogen produced between 2027–28 and 2039–40, alongside a 10% tax credit for critical minerals processing.

    Meanwhile tax credits for green aluminium and alumina should help another heavy industry to navigate the energy transition using clean hydrogen.

    These measures aim to unlock tens of billions in private investment, boost regional economies, and position Australia as a leader in clean energy manufacturing. This isn’t just about one-off projects. It’s laying the groundwork for hubs that link renewable energy and hydrogen production to industrial demand.

    There’s more in the pipeline. The Hydrogen Headstart program pumps funds into hydrogen innovation, and the Future Made in Australia initiative backs clean industry with billions more. Add in policies like carbon pricing or low-interest loans, and the economics tilt even further toward green steel and ammonia. Government buying power — in the form of procurement targets for low-carbon materials — could seal the deal by guaranteeing demand.

    These policies aren’t just wishful thinking — they’re practical steps that are already working elsewhere. Sweden’s HYBRIT project, which paired green steel with government-backed demand, has already led to construction starting on new industrial-scale green steel facilities. At the same time, the European Union’s hydrogen strategy leans on carbon pricing and subsidies to guide industries and suppliers through the energy transition, while Japan offers incentives for the use of green steel in their automotive industry.

    Australia has the renewable energy and the industrial base to take advantage of these opportunities. With the right leadership, we can turn hydrogen’s stumbles into a global triumph for heavy industry.

    Changlong receives funding from the South Australian Department for Energy and Mining to conduct the SA Green Iron Study, and from Geoscience Australia under the Exploring for the Future program to develop the Hydrogen and Green Steel Economic Fairways tool. Changlong is affiliated with Melbourne Climate Futures, University of Melbourne, and is a visiting fellow at Engineering Science, Oxford University, UK.

    Stuart Walsh receives funding from Geoscience Australia supporting the development of the Bluecap software suite, which highlights opportunities for new renewable energy and critical mineral projects in Australia. Stuart received funding from the South Australian Department for Energy and Mining to conduct the SA Green Iron Study and from Geoscience Australia under the Exploring for the Future program to develop the Hydrogen and Green Steel Economic Fairways tool.

    – ref. The promise of green iron, steel and ammonia is keeping the green hydrogen dream alive – https://theconversation.com/the-promise-of-green-iron-steel-and-ammonia-is-keeping-the-green-hydrogen-dream-alive-250410

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Welch Amendments to GOP’s Budget Would Lower Costs for Families, Protect Health Care, Combat DOGE, Safeguard Federal Resources 

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont)
    Welch filed more than 70 amendments to the budget resolution 
    WASHINGTON, D.C.—U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), a member of the Senate Finance Committee and Ranking Member of the Agriculture Committee’s Subcommittee on Rural Development, Energy, and Credit, filed amendments to Senate Republicans’ budget resolution which, as proposed, will cut millions in federal funds for working families to give tax cuts to the richest Americans. 
    Senator Welch’s amendments to the Republican budget resolution focus on lowering costs for Vermonters, protecting access to health care, supporting rural care providers, combatting President Trump’s lawlessness and Elon Musk’s DOGE, and defending federal programs and disaster recovery resources Vermont communities rely on. 
    “President Trump and Congressional Republicans are busy trying to pass a massive tax cut for their billionaire friends at the expense of hardworking families, while Democrats are working to lower costs and protect the programs and services Americans depend on. The contrast couldn’t be more clear,” said Sen. Peter Welch. “It’s an absolute disgrace that Republicans are proposing to cut Medicaid funding, kick people off their health care, and are targeting the nutrition programs families need—all to pay for their tax cut.” 
    Senator Welch added: “This will be my first ‘vote-a-rama’ in the Senate, and I can already say this is the image of dysfunctional legislating. We need to return to regular order, respect the regular process, and recommit to finding common ground.”  
    Senate Republicans’ proposed budget blueprint will slash Medicaid and increase health care costs for millions of seniors, children, veterans, people with disabilities, and people with chronic diseases in order to give tax handouts to the ultra-wealthy. Their budget will cut funding for education, scientific research, nutrition programs, and more. 
    Senator Welch filed more than 70 amendments to the budget resolution, including amendments to:  
    Lower Costs for Working Families:   
    Senator Welch filed an amendment to block legislation that reduces or eliminates essential programs like Head Start, child care funding, and Meals on Wheels, which support families, children, and communities. 
    Senator Welch filed amendments to prohibit tax increases for households making less than $200,000 in taxable income and stop any legislation that will increase childhood poverty. 
    Senator Welch filed amendments to prohibit cuts to the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, the Weatherization Assistance Program, and to improve rural access to nutrition programs. 
    Senator Welch filed amendments to protect rural broadband deployment and promote internet affordability.  
    Senator Welch filed an amendment to block tariffs on energy imports, which would raise costs for consumers.   
    Senator Welch filed amendments to ban the budget from increasing costs for American consumers by repealing investments in renewable energy and energy efficiency.  
    Protect Access to Affordable Health Care and Prescription Drugs:  
    Senator Welch filed amendments to prohibit the reduction or elimination of funding for rural care providers, health centers, and critical access hospitals.   
    Senator Welch filed an amendment to prohibit raising the cost of prescription drugs for seniors.  
    Senator Welch filed amendments to prohibit funding for criminal investigations, prosecutions, and surveillance of women’s reproductive health decisions, including abortion and IVF, and health care providers who provide emergency medical abortions.  
    Senator Welch filed an amendment to prohibit cuts to programs that support substance use disorder treatment and prevention.  
    Defend Federal Programs and Disaster Recovery Resources for Rural America:  
    Senator Welch filed amendments to block the budget resolution from making cuts to critical agriculture programs and ensure communities have the necessary resources for disaster response, recovery and resilience. 
    Senator Welch filed an amendment to ensure USDA’s Rural Development, Farm Service Agency, and Natural Resources Conversation Service State offices operate at full capacity.  
    Senator Welch filed an amendment to support federal dairy programs and improve the resilience of U.S. food systems.  
    Senator Welch filed an amendment that protects Congress’ constitutionally-granted power of the purse and end the Trump Administration’s illegal federal funding freeze. 
    Combat the Influence of President Trump’s Lawlessness and Elon Musk’s DOGE:  
    Senator Welch filed an amendment to prohibit the government from entering into contracts with DOGE-associated officials.  
    Senator Welch filed an amendment to require the staff and activities of the so-called “Department on Government Efficiency” (DOGE) are vetted, have proper oversight, and access to government information is restricted to those with the appropriate security clearances.    
    Senator Welch filed an amendment to require federal agencies to fully comply with all lawfully issued court orders.  

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Energy – CCUS announcements move New Zealand toward a lower emission future

    Source: Energy Resources Aotearoa

    Energy Resources Aotearoa welcomes the Government’s announcement on a Carbon Capture, Utilisation, and Storage (CCUS) framework that will enable businesses to benefit from storing carbon underground.
    CCUS projects are an essential technology for meeting our emissions goals. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has previously stated that CCUS is “unavoidable” for countries aiming to achieve net emission reduction targets.
    Energy Resources Aotearoa Chief Executive John Carnegie says that CCUS has considerable potential for reducing our emissions as New Zealand’s energy mix evolves and is encouraged to see the Government aiming to eliminate unnecessary duplication and overlap of regulatory requirements.
    “A clear, risk-based framework is essential to give firms interested in potential CCUS projects confidence in predictable regulatory settings. Having a framework now opens the door to the possibility that projects will get off the drawing board”
    “Many jurisdictions we look to for effective policy examples have already implemented supportive regulatory frameworks to manage CCUS. While we’re still navigating the learning curve, this technology provides substantial emissions reduction and economic growth potential.”
    Carnegie says that moves to enable a CCUS framework go hand-in-hand with government aspirations to secure our future gas supply.
    “These two things can’t be seen in isolation – without a strong supply of gas, New Zealand won’t be able to maximise the benefits of this technology or achieve secure and abundant energy for households and businesses.”
    Carnegie says that while the framework provides clarity for investors, a standalone permitting regime to govern CCUS would give them confidence investing in these long-term projects.
    CCUS will play a vital role in our journey toward net-zero emissions, and Carnegie says Energy Resources Aotearoa is committed to collaborating with the Government to help it thrive.
    “The Government’s second emissions reduction plan clearly outlines CCUS as a vital action required to meet the second and third emissions budgets. We look forward to collaborating with them to cut through red tape, get projects underway and secure our affordable energy future.”

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: STATEMENT FROM BUREAU OF METEOROLOGY – BUREAU OF METEOROLOGY CEO AND DIRECTOR OF METEOROLOGY

    Source: Weather Warnings – Australia

    20/02/2025

    Issued: Thursday 20 February

    The CEO of the Bureau of Meteorology and Director of Meteorology, Dr Andrew Johnson PSM has today advised of his intention to conclude his term in early September 2025.

    Dr Johnson joined the Bureau in September 2016 and over the last 9 years has led its transition to a fully integrated national weather service providing trusted and critical services to the Australian community every day.

    Under Dr Johnson’s leadership, the Bureau has implemented new and upgraded weather, water, marine and space services, expanded its observing capabilities, and improved the accuracy and timeliness of its forecasts and warnings, while ensuring more secure, stable and resilient operations. International relationships have also strengthened, especially in the Pacific where the Bureau has played a leading role in supporting Pacific Islands nations to prepare for and respond to the impacts of severe weather in a changing climate.

    This work has ensured that the Bureau remains one of the world’s most respected meteorological agencies.

    Statement from The Hon Tanya Plibersek: Statement: Bureau of Meteorology CEO and Director of Meteorology | Ministers

    Quotes attributable to Bureau CEO Dr Andrew Johnson PSM:

    “I have a deep sense of gratitude for having had the opportunity to contribute to the safety, security and prosperity of our nation.”

    “I am immensely proud of what our organisation has achieved during my time at the Bureau. We have delivered a significant expansion and uplift in the vital services we provide every day to the Australian community.”

    “Most importantly, we have delivered during successive fire, flood and tropical cyclone emergencies when our nation has needed us most.”

    “I feel fortunate to have worked with the many talented, dedicated and professional people at the Bureau, and I thank my colleagues for their tireless work.”

    ENDS

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cantwell Urges Lutnick to Protect Critical Work at National Weather Service & NOAA

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington Maria Cantwell
    02.20.25
    Cantwell Urges Lutnick to Protect Critical Work at National Weather Service & NOAA
    “American lives depend on it,” writes Cantwell
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Last night, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), ranking member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, sent a letter to Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick, calling on him to exempt the National Weather Service (NWS) from the federal hiring freeze, and protect all National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) workers from firings “that would jeopardize the safety of the American public.”
    “Without NOAA’s workforce, communities will not be prepared for the next big Nor’easter, hurricane, wildfire, or drought,” wrote Sen. Cantwell. “Ships will not be able to safely navigate through our waterways. Farmers will not have the data they need to manage their crops. NOAA’s workforce keeps people alive and provides communities with the scientific support tools to protect their families and grow their businesses. I urge you to appreciate these critical government functions and reverse the hiring freeze and refrain from mass firings of these invaluable public servants—American lives depend on it.”
    Sen. Cantwell has spoken out forcefully against the firings of federal workers.
    “The Trump Administration is trying to illegally cut the federal workforce in an attempt to come up with a budget and tax increases on middle class Americans, all while giving $4 trillion in tax breaks to corporations and the wealthiest individuals,” Sen. Cantwell said in a statement released Saturday. “Our deficit and essential programs like Medicaid can’t take the Trump hack job.”
    On Sunday, Sen. Cantwell sounded the alarm about reports that safety-critical Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) workers had been fired. “Now is not the time to fire technicians who fix and operate more than 74,000 safety-critical pieces of equipment like radars, navigational aids, and communications technology,” Sen. Cantwell said in a statement. “The FAA is already short 800 technicians and these firings inject unnecessary risk into the airspace — in the aftermath of four deadly crashes in the last month. The FAA’s safety workforce needs to be a priority for this Administration.”
    On Tuesday, speaking in opposition to the nomination of now-Secretary Lutnick on the Senate floor, Sen. Cantwell cited his “tepid support” for NOAA as a key reason for her decision to vote against his confirmation.
    “When asked for the record, ‘Should NOAA be dismantled, as called for in Project 2025?’, Mr. Lutnick would only say he’ll figure it out once he’s confirmed,” Sen. Cantwell said. “We needed a bigger commitment to NOAA. NOAA already supplies a big, important aspect of what we deal with, with weather forecasting, tracking extreme weather, hurricanes, wildfires, managing our fisheries, operating ships that conduct important charting for national security. Mr. Lutnick gave very tepid support for NOAA.”
    Project 2025 calls for NOAA to be “dismantled and many of its functions eliminated,” calling it part of the “climate change alarm industry.” NOAA provides critical services to the nation including weather forecasts, extreme storm tracking and monitoring, tools to enable communities to adapt to sea level rise and climate change, supporting fisheries management, and conserving marine mammals and other protected species including salmon and orcas.
    Sen. Cantwell is a champion of NOAA and helped secure $3.3 billion in NOAA investments in the Inflation Reduction Act to help communities prepare for and adapt to climate change, boost science needed to understand changing weather and climate patterns, and invest in advanced computer technologies that are critical for extreme weather prediction and emergency response. Her Fire Ready Nation Act, bipartisan legislation to strengthen NOAA’s ability to help forecast, prevent, and fight wildfires, passed the Commerce committee unanimously earlier this month and now heads to the full Senate for consideration.
    The full text of last night’s letter is HERE and below.
    Dear Secretary Lutnick,
    I urge the Administration to protect the critical workforce of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (“NOAA”). NOAA’s National Weather Service (“NWS”) should be exempt from the January 20th executive order titled “Hiring Freeze”, which instituted a hiring freeze for all federal civilian employees, due to the critical role the agency plays in public safety and supporting our economy. In light of highly publicized firings at other agencies, all NOAA employees, including probationary or temporary employees, should be protected from firing or reduction in force initiatives that would jeopardize the safety of the American public.
    NOAA is the nation’s leading scientific agency charged with forecasting weather, monitoring our oceans and atmosphere, managing our fisheries, restoring our coasts, and supporting maritime commerce. NOAA products and services, such as forecasts, are crucial to the U.S. economy and affect more than one-third of America’s gross domestic product.
    Within NOAA, the NWS is responsible for protecting public safety and property and supporting the economy by providing timely and accurate weather forecasts and warnings. Our communities are extremely reliant on the data and research that NOAA and NWS scientists make available for decision-makers, emergency responders, and the public. According to the National Centers for Environmental Information, last year there were 27 weather disaster events that cost over $1 billion each and resulted in 568 deaths. NWS meteorologists, using a network of satellites, buoys, balloon launches, ships, aircraft, and weather stations, collect data and develop forecasts and warnings on which communities rely for preparedness for hurricanes, heat waves, wildfires, tornadoes, blizzards, drought, and other extreme weather events.
    The NWS also supports real-time forecasts and services needed to protect the safety of the traveling public. The NWS Center Weather Service Units embed meteorologists at 21 Air Route Traffic Control Centers to provide tailored forecasts that ensure it is safe for aircraft to fly. The meteorologists identify, forecast, and communicate weather hazards, such as thunderstorms, turbulence, and icing, to help pilots and air traffic controllers make informed decisions that minimize risks to flights and delays.
    When a hurricane approaches our coasts, the National Hurricane Center sends Hurricane Hunters into the eye of the storm to give forecasters a better idea of the storm’s intensity and when it’s likely to make landfall. The Storm Prediction Center warns communities when a tornado or severe storm is developing to give them time to protect property and get to safety. The NWS also creates forecasts for emergency responders to plan for wildfire season, issues warnings to help communities prepare when fire conditions are severe, deploys specially trained forecasters to provide real-time lifesaving forecasts on the frontlines to keep firefighters safe, and models how smoke will move and impact air quality across the country.
    And far beyond our atmosphere, the NWS monitors space weather, such as solar flares and geomagnetic storms, to protect satellite systems, communication networks, and power grids. The Space Weather Prediction Center forecasts and helps mitigate the worst impacts of space weather including the potential for widespread and long-lasting blackouts, significant disruption of satellite and radio communication networks that are essential for safe air travel and military operations, and unreliable GPS signals that hamper navigation for ships, planes, and farm equipment.
    In addition to the NWS, NOAA provides a host of other life-saving data and services. The NOAA Office of Coast Survey ensures safe shipping routes in our waters by charting 95,000 miles of shoreline and 3.4 million square nautical miles of waters, providing more than $2.4 billion in annual benefits to the U.S. economy. NOAA manages the nation’s fisheries, which support 1.7 million jobs across the United States. The two Tsunami Warning Centers monitor seismic activity and ocean conditions to detect potential tsunamis, issuing timely warnings and advisories to protect coastal communities from disaster. And finally, NOAA plays a vital role in monitoring, forecasting, and researching harmful algal blooms (“HABs”) that produce toxins that can be deadly. NOAA scientists track HAB events using satellite imagery, water samples, and oceanographic data to provide early warnings to coastal communities, fisheries, and public health officials, helping to ensure commercially harvested fish and shellfish are safe to eat.
    Without NOAA’s workforce, communities will not be prepared for the next big Nor’easter, hurricane, wildfire, or drought. Ships will not be able to safely navigate through our waterways. Farmers will not have the data they need to manage their crops. NOAA’s workforce keeps people alive and provides communities with the scientific support tools to protect their families and grow their businesses. I urge you to appreciate these critical government functions and reverse the hiring freeze and refrain from mass firings of these invaluable public servants—American lives depend on it.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Carbon capture one step closer

    Source: New Zealand Government

    The Government has made key decisions on a Carbon Capture, Utilisation, and Storage (CCUS) framework to enable businesses to benefit from storing carbon underground will support New Zealand’s businesses to continue operating while reducing net carbon emissions, Energy and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says.
    “Economic growth is a key focus for this Government, and we want the energy sector to be the engine for our economy – driving electrification and unlocking economic growth,” Mr Watts says.
    “The Government is committed to removing regulatory barriers to enable the supply of abundant, affordable energy to power our homes and businesses – and to reduce net carbon emissions.”
    The Government has made decisions on the key elements of a CCUS framework, designed to enable carbon capture and storage in New Zealand, with legislation expected to be introduced this year.
    “Under our CCUS framework, businesses that capture and store CO2   will be rewarded through the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS), our Government’s key tool to reducing net emissions. This will help reduce emissions obligations for New Zealand businesses as we progress towards a low-emissions economy,” Mr Watts says.
    “By making these decisions, we are aligning New Zealand with other countries that are successfully utilising CCUS to drive economic growth and attract investment. Our framework not only supports innovation but also provides a pathway for businesses to remain competitive while reducing net emissions.
    “Ensuring safe and effective storage of CO2 is critically important. That’s why our framework will require any CCUS project to undertake a thorough assessment of storage site suitability and proposed operations, followed by ongoing monitoring.
    “CCUS is gaining momentum internationally as a way to reduce net emissions and support economic growth. In New Zealand, this innovative approach has significant untapped potential of capturing CO2 emissions that would not otherwise benefit Kiwis to create valuable products and materials.
    “Our Government’s second emissions reduction plan, which was released at the end of last year, highlighted carbon capture and storage as a key tool to meeting the second and third emissions budgets.”

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –