Source: European Commission
European Commission Infringement decisions Brussels, 03 Oct 2024 In its regular package of infringement decisions, the Commission pursues legal action against Member States for failing to comply with their obligations under EU law. These decisions aim to ensure the proper application of EU law for the benefit of citizens and businesses.
Source: European Commission
European Commission Press release Brussels, 03 Oct 2024 Today, the European Commission decided to refer Italy to the Court of Justice of the European Union for failing to end the abusive use of fixed-term contracts and discriminatory employment conditions (Council Directive 1999/70/EC).
Source: European Commission
European Commission Press release Brussels, 03 Oct 2024 Today, the European Commission decided to refer Portugal (INFR(2022)2085) to the Court of Justice of the European Union for failing to bring its national legislation fully in line with the Industrial Emissions Directive (Directive 2010/75/EU)
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator for Tennessee Bill Hagerty
Garland’s DOJ did not respond to initial letter demanding answers on prosecutions, as evidence of thousands of cases of illegal aliens registering to vote have emerged
NASHVILLE, TN—United States Senator Bill Hagerty (R-TN), a member of the Senate Rules Committee, and Representative Andy Biggs (R-AZ-05) today led their colleagues in calling out U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland on the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) failure to prevent illegal aliens from registering to vote in American elections or prosecute those who evidently have done so.
“We are deeply concerned by reports of non-citizens registering to vote and voting in federal elections,” the Members of Congress wrote. “As of today, there has been no response from you or your Department regarding the inquiry on July 12, 2024, seeking information on efforts undertaken by your Department to enforce laws prohibiting non-citizen voting. Given that the 2024 Presidential Election is in less than 34 days, your Department’s inaction and refusal to provide any information regarding its efforts to promote public trust and confidence in our elections is especially alarming.”
State officials across the country have recently taken steps to prevent, deter, and investigate cases of illegal voter registration by non-citizens, including in South Carolina, Georgia, Ohio, and Tennessee. Since the Members of Congress sent their initial letter, cases have emerged in the states of Virginia and Texas.
“Clearly, there is a non-negligible amount of voter participation by non-citizens in federal elections, which is not only a serious threat to the integrity of our elections and the democratic process they represent, but also has the potential to reduce Americans’ trust and confidence in election results,” the Members of Congress continued.
The members of Congress, once again, requested the following information by October 16, 2024:
1. Please provide the number of aliens who have been charged, tried, or convicted under 18 U.S.C. § 611 since January 20, 2021, including the status of each case.
2. Please provide the number of aliens who been charged, tried, or convicted under 52 U.S.C. § 20511 since January 20, 2021, including the status of each case.
3. Please provide the number of aliens who have been prosecuted under 18 U.S.C. § 911 since 2021, including the status of each case.
4. Please provide the number of referrals received from other government officials or the public in reference to the statutes cited in questions 1 through 3.
5. How does the Department of Justice investigate allegations received of non-citizen voting or voter registration?
6. What affirmative steps have the Department of Justice taken to detect, prevent, and deter illegal aliens and other non-citizens from registering and voting in federal elections?
7. What affirmative steps have the Department taken to obtain relevant information from the Department of Homeland Security on aliens who have registered or voted in elections?
8. What steps have been taken by U.S. Attorneys and the Public Integrity Section of the Criminal Division, which is responsible forprosecuting election crimes and assisting U.S. Attorneys in prosecuting election crimes, to obtain jury-related information that indicates aliens have unlawfully registered to vote?
9. As the 2024 election nears, what steps will the Department take to detect, investigate, and prosecute non-citizens who violate 18 U.S.C.§ 911, 52 U.S.C. § 20511, or 18 U.S.C. § 611 by voting or registering to vote in the 2024 election?
10. What steps have the Department taken to contact Virginia and Texas election officials to obtain information and the voter registration and voter history files on each of the aliens removed from the voter rolls who were unlawfully registered and voting in those states?
Co-signers of the letter include Senators Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Roger Marshall (R-KS), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Rick Scott (R-FL), James Lankford (R-OK), Jim Risch (R-ID), Ron Johnson (R-WI), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), Josh Hawley (R-MO), Steve Daines (R-MT), Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), Tim Scott (R-SC), Marco Rubio (R-FL), John Thune (R-SD), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Ted Cruz (R-TX), Eric Schmitt (R-MO), John Barrasso (R-WY), Pete Ricketts (R-NE), Katie Britt (R-AL), Deb Fischer (R-NE), Mike Rounds (R-SD), Mike Braun (R-IN), Ted Budd (R-NC), John Hoeven (R-ND), Joni Ernst (R-IA), John Kennedy (R-LA), Roger Wicker (R-MS), and Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), along with Representatives Andy Harris (R-MD-01), Clay Higgins (R-LA-03), Gary Palmer (R-AL-06), Matt Rosendale (R-MT-02), Ralph Norman (R-SC-05), Eli Crane (R-AZ-02), Andy Ogles (R-TN-05), Aaron Bean (R-FL-04), Josh Brecheen (R-OK-02), Nancy Mace (R-SC-01), Bob Good (R-VA-05), Eric Burlison (R-MO-07), Mike Ezell (R-MS-04), Chuck Fleischmann (R-TN-03), Tom Tiffany (R-WI-07), Lauren Boebert (R-CO-03), Claudia Tenney (R-NY-24), Michael Guest (R-MS-03), Diana Harshbarger (R-TN-01), Ben Cline (R-VA-06), Chip Roy (R-TX-21), Barry Loudermilk (R-GA-11), Mary Miller (R-IL-15), Paul Gosar (R-AZ-09), Lance Gooden (R-TX-05), Jeff Duncan (R-SC-03), Harriet Hageman (R-WY-01), Barry Moore (R-AL-02), Mike Collins (R-GA-10), Tim Burchett (R-TN-02), Greg Lopez (R-CO-04), Keith Self (R-TX-03), Brian Babin (R-TX-36), August Pfluger (R-TX-11), Alex Mooney (R-WV-02), Dusty Johnson (R-SD-01), Randy Weber (R-TX-14), Rich McCormick (R-GA-06), and Matt Gaetz (R-FL-01).
A copy of the letter can be found here and below.
Dear Attorney General Garland:
We are deeply concerned by reports of non-citizens registering to vote and voting in federal elections. As of today, there has been no response from you or your Department regarding the inquiry on July 12, 2024, seeking information on efforts undertaken by your Department to enforce laws prohibiting non-citizen voting. Given that the 2024 Presidential Election is in less than 34 days, your Department’s inaction and refusal to provide any information regarding its efforts to promote public trust and confidence in our elections is especially alarming.
Since the initial letter, several more concerning reports have been released by state officials indicating that a large number of non-citizens appear on their voter rolls. For example, the Virginia Attorney General recently announced that 6,303 non-citizens were identified on and removed from Virginia’s voter rolls in 2022 and 2023. In another troubling report released in August, over 6,500 non-citizens registered to vote in Texas were identified and removed from voter rolls. Of the 6,500 non-citizens identified, 1,930 had a voter history.
Clearly, there is a non-negligible amount of voter participation by non-citizens in federal elections, which is not only a serious threat to the integrity of our elections and the democratic process they represent, but also has the potential to reduce Americans’ trust and confidence in election results.
Accordingly, we respectfully reiterate the July 12 request for information on your Department’s enforcement efforts. The initial deadline for providing this information was July 26, 2024, so the response is now 9 weeks overdue.
Please provide responses to the following no later than October 16, 2024:
1. Please provide the number of aliens who have been charged, tried, or convicted under 18 U.S.C. § 611 since January 20, 2021, including the status of each case.
2. Please provide the number of aliens who been charged, tried, or convicted under 52 U.S.C. § 20511 since January 20, 2021, including the status of each case.
3. Please provide the number of aliens who have been prosecuted under 18 U.S.C. § 911 since 2021, including the status of each case.
4. Please provide the number of referrals received from other government officials or the public in reference to the statutes cited in questions 1 through 3.
5. How does the Department of Justice investigate allegations received of non-citizen voting or voter registration?
6. What affirmative steps have the Department of Justice taken to detect, prevent, and deter illegal aliens and other non-citizens from registering and voting in federal elections?
7. What affirmative steps have the Department taken to obtain relevant information from the Department of Homeland Security on aliens who have registered or voted in elections?
8. What steps have been taken by U.S. Attorneys and the Public Integrity Section of the Criminal Division, which is responsible forprosecuting election crimes and assisting U.S. Attorneys in prosecuting election crimes, to obtain jury-related information that indicates aliens have unlawfully registered to vote?
9. As the 2024 election nears, what steps will the Department take to detect, investigate, and prosecute non-citizens who violate 18 U.S.C.§ 911, 52 U.S.C. § 20511, or 18 U.S.C. § 611 by voting or registering to vote in the 2024 election?
10. What steps have the Department taken to contact Virginia and Texas election officials to obtain information and the voter registration and voter history files on each of the aliens removed from the voter rolls who were unlawfully registered and voting in those states?
Thank you for your attention to this matter and we look forward to your prompt reply.
Sincerely,
MILES AXLE Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: Central Bank of Russia –
The Bank of Russia has decided to approve Basic standard protection of the rights and interests of recipients of financial services provided by members of self-regulatory organizations uniting insurance organizations and foreign insurance organizations.
The document was developed by the All-Russian Union of Insurers, a self-regulatory organization in the financial market, and on September 19, 2024, it was approved by the Committee on Standards for the Activities of Insurance Organizations and Foreign Insurance Organizations under the Bank of Russia.
At the same time, the Bank of Russia decided to refuse to approve the Basic Standard, which was agreed upon on August 21, 2024 by the Committee on Standards for the Activities of Insurance Organizations and Foreign Insurance Organizations. The decision was made due to the non-compliance of certain provisions of the standard with the requirements established by Article 6.2 of the Law of the Russian Federation dated November 27, 1992 No. 4015-I “On the Organization of Insurance Business in the Russian Federation”.
Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
Please note; This information is raw content directly from the information source. It is accurate to what the source is stating and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
http://vvv.kbr.ru/press/event/?id=21058
EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is a translation. Apologies should the grammar and or sentence structure not be perfect.
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Lara Herrero, Research Leader in Virology and Infectious Disease, Griffith University
Over the nearly five years since COVID first emerged, you’d be forgiven if you’ve lost track of the number of new variants we’ve seen. Some have had a bigger impact than others, but virologists have documented thousands.
The latest variant to make headlines is called XEC. This omicron subvariant has been reported predominantly in the northern hemisphere, but it has now been detected in Australia too.
So what do we know about XEC?
People are now testing for COVID less and reporting it less. Enthusiasm to track the virus is generally waning.
Nonetheless, Australia is still collecting and reporting COVID data. Although the number of cases is likely to be much higher than the number documented (around 275,000 so far this year), we can still get some idea of when we’re seeing significant waves, compared to periods of lower activity.
Australia saw its last COVID peak in June 2024. Since then cases have been on the decline.
But SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID, is definitely still around.
The main COVID variants circulating currently around the world include BA.2.86, JN.1, KP.2, KP.3 and XEC. These are all descendants of omicron.
The XEC variant was first detected in Italy in May 2024. The World Health Organization (WHO) designated it as a variant “under monitoring” in September.
Since its detection, XEC has spread to more than 27 countries across Europe, North America and Asia. As of mid-September, the highest numbers of cases have been identified in countries including the United States, Germany, France, the United Kingdom and Denmark.
XEC is currently making up around 20% of cases in Germany, 12% in the UK and around 6% in the US.
Although XEC remains a minority variant globally, it appears to have a growth advantage over other circulating variants. We don’t know why yet, but reports suggest it may be able to spread more easily than other variants.
For this reason, it’s predicted XEC could become the dominant variant worldwide in the coming months.
The most recent Australian Respiratory Surveillance Report noted there has been an increasing proportion of XEC sequenced recently.
In Australia, 329 SARS-CoV-2 sequences collected from August 26 to September 22 have been uploaded to AusTrakka, Australia’s national genomics surveillance platform for COVID.
The majority of sequences (301 out of 329, or 91.5%) were sub-lineages of JN.1, including KP.2 (17 out of 301) and KP.3 (236 out of 301). The remaining 8.5% (28 out of 329) were recombinants consisting of one or more omicron sub-lineages, including XEC.
Estimates based on data from GISAID, an international repository of viral sequences, suggests XEC is making up around 5% of cases in Australia, or 16 of 314 samples sequenced.
Queensland reported the highest rates in the past 30 days (8%, or eight of 96 sequences), followed by South Australia (5%, or five out of 93), Victoria (5%, or one of 20) and New South Wales (3%, or two of 71). WA recorded zero sequences out of 34. No data were available for other states and territories.
The XEC variant is believed to be a recombinant descendant of two previously identified omicron subvariants, KS.1.1 and KP.3.3. Recombinant variants form when two different variants infect a host at the same time, which allows the viruses to switch genetic information. This leads to the emergence of a new variant with characteristics from both “parent” lineages.
KS.1.1 is one of the group commonly known as “FLiRT” variants, while, KP.3.3 is one of the “FLuQE” variants. Both of these variant groups have contributed to recent surges in COVID infections around the world.
The WHO’s naming conventions for new COVID variants often use a combination of letters to denote new variants, particularly those that arise from recombination events among existing lineages. The “X” typically indicates a recombinant variant (as with XBB, for example), while the letters following it identify specific lineages.
We know very little so far about XEC’s characteristics specifically, and how it differs from other variants. But there’s no evidence to suggest symptoms will be more severe than with earlier versions of the virus.
What we do know is what mutations this variant has. In the S gene that encodes for the spike protein we can find a T22N mutation (inherited from KS.1.1) as well as Q493E (from KP.3.3) and other mutations
known to the omicron lineage.
The most recent surveillance data doesn’t show any significant increase in COVID hospitalisations. This suggests the current vaccines still provide effective protection against severe outcomes from circulating variants.
As the virus continues to mutate, vaccine companies will continue to update their vaccines. Both Pfizer and Moderna have updated vaccines to target the JN.1 variant, which is a parent strain of the FLiRT variants and therefore should protect against XEC.
However, Australia is still waiting to hear which vaccines may become available to the public and when.
In the meantime, omicron-based vaccines such as the the current XBB.1.5 spikevax (Moderna) or COMIRNATY (Pfizer) are still likely to provide good protection from XEC.
It’s hard to predict how XEC will behave in Australia as we head into summer. We’ll need more research to understand more about this variant as it spreads. But given XEC was first detected in Europe during the northern hemisphere’s summer months, this suggests XEC might be well suited to spreading in warmer weather.
Lara Herrero receives funding from NHMRC.
– ref. XEC is now in Australia. Here’s what we know about this hybrid COVID variant – https://theconversation.com/xec-is-now-in-australia-heres-what-we-know-about-this-hybrid-covid-variant-239292
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Will Visconti, Teacher and researcher, Art History, University of Sydney
When the Moulin Rouge first opened on October 6 1889, it drew audiences from across classes and countries.
The Moulin offered an array of fin-de-siècle (end-of-the-century) entertainments to Paris locals and visitors. Located in Montmartre, its name, the “red windmill”, alluded to Montmartre’s history as a rural idyll. The neighbourhood was also associated with artistic bohemia, crime, and revolutionary spirit. This setting added a certain thrill for bourgeois audiences.
From irreverent newcomer to a French institution, the Moulin Rouge has survived scandal, an inferno and found new ways to connect with audiences.
Read more:
How the Eiffel Tower became silent cinema’s icon
In 1889, the Moulin Rouge was not the only red landmark to open in Paris. The Eiffel Tower, built as part of the Universal Exhibition and originally painted red, had opened earlier that same year. What set them apart, however, was their popularity.
The Moulin Rouge was an instant hit, capitalising on the global popularity of a dance called the cancan. Dancers like Moulin Rouge headliner La Goulue (“The Glutton”, real name Louise Weber) were seen as more appropriate emblems for the city than the Tower, which many considered an eyesore.
In an illustration from Le Courrier Français newspaper, a dancer modelled on a photograph of La Goulue holds her leg aloft, flashing her underwear with the caption “Greetings to the provinces and abroad!”.
Every aspect of the Moulin spoke to the zeitgeist, from its design to the performances, the use of electric lights that adorned its façade, and its advertising.
Its managers, the impresario team of Joseph Oller and Charles Harold Zidler, had a string of successful venues and businesses to their names. They recognised the importance of modern marketing, using print media, publicity photographs, and posters to spark public interest.
Among the most iconic images of the Moulin is Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec’s 1891 poster. At its centre is La Goulue, kicking her legs amid swirling petticoats.
Found primarily in working-class dance halls from as early as the 1820s, the cancan became a staple of popular entertainment the world over.
Part of the dance’s thrill lay in the dancers’ freedom of movement and titillation of spectators, as well as its anti-establishment energy. Women used the cancan to thumb their nose at authority via steps like the coup de cul (“arse flash”) or coup du chapeau (removing men’s hats with a high kick).
The cancan was not the only attraction at the Moulin. There were themed spaces, sideshows, and variety performances ranging from belly dancers and conjoined twins to Le Pétomane (“The Fartomaniac”) who was a flatulist and the highest-paid performer. People watching was equally popular.
Over the years, the Moulin has been no stranger to controversy.
In its early years, it cultivated an air of misbehaviour and featured in pleasure guides for visiting sex tourists.
In 1893 it hosted the Bal des Quat’z’Arts (Four-Arts Ball) held by students from local studios. Accusations of public indecency were made against the models and dancers in attendance, and violent protests followed after the women were arrested.
In 1907 the writer Colette appeared onstage at the Moulin in an Egyptian-inspired pantomime with her then-lover, Missy, the Marquise de Belbeuf. When the act culminated in a passionate kiss, a riot broke out.
Over time, the Moulin Rouge shows changed their format to keep pace with public taste, though the cancan remained. The venue hosted revues and operettas, and various stars including Edith Piaf, Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra and Liza Minnelli.
Famous guests have included British royalty: from Edward VII (while Prince of Wales) to his great-granddaughter, Queen Elizabeth II, and her son, Prince Edward.
Since its opening, the Moulin’s fortunes have waxed and waned.
In 1915 the Moulin Rouge burned down but was rebuilt in 1921. Its famous windmill sails fell off overnight earlier this year but were swiftly repaired.
In the 1930s, it survived the Depression and rise of cinema (also capturing the attention of several filmakers). It also survived the Nazi occupation of Paris in the 1940s.
By the early 1960s, Jacki Clerico was managing the Moulin’s show after his father had revamped the venue as a dinner theatre destination. The younger Clérico oversaw additions like a giant aquarium where dancers swam with snakes, and its now-famous “nude line” – a chorus of topless dancers – in its shows.
In 1963, the Moulin Rouge struck upon a winning formula: revues, all named by Clérico with titles beginning with the letter “F” – from Frou Frou to Fantastique and Formidable. Since 1999, the revue Féerie (“Fairy”, also a French genre of stage extravaganza) has been performed almost without interruption.
Ticket sales were boosted thanks to Baz Luhrmann’s 2001 film Moulin Rouge! and more recently Moulin Rouge! The Musical.
Since COVID, the Moulin Rouge management have diversified. The windmill’s interior has been rented out via AirBnB and the Moulin’s dance troupe has performed on France’s televised New Year’s Eve celebrations. This year, the Moulin Rouge and its dancers were part of the Paris Olympics celebrations, dancing in heavy rain.
Though people have come to appreciate the Eiffel Tower too, the Moulin Rouge can still argue its status as the pinnacle of live entertainment in the French capital: immediately recognisable, internationally visible, and quintessentially Parisian.
Will Visconti is the author of Beyond the Moulin Rouge: The Life & Legacy of La Goulue (2022), published by the University of Virginia Press.
– ref. From cheeky thrill to grande dame – the Moulin Rouge celebrates 135 years of scandal and success – https://theconversation.com/from-cheeky-thrill-to-grande-dame-the-moulin-rouge-celebrates-135-years-of-scandal-and-success-239849
MILES AXLE Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: Government of the Russian Federation – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
On October 4, Mikhail Mishustin will present Government awards in the field of education. The event will be attended by the Minister of Science and Higher Education Valery Falkov.
* * *
By the Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation of August 28, 2013 No. 744 10 annual prizes in the field of education have been established. They are awarded to individual laureates or a group of authors (up to five people) by decision of the Government based on proposals from the Interdepartmental Council for Awarding Government Prizes in the Field of Education.
Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
Please note; This information is raw content directly from the information source. It is accurate to what the source is stating and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
http://government.ru/annuncements/52887/
EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is a translation. Apologies should the grammar and or sentence structure not be perfect.
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts – Elizabeth Warren
October 03, 2024
Lawmakers urge DOJ to investigate Boeing executives’ behavior, criminally prosecute those responsible for crashes
“For too long, corporate executives have routinely escaped prosecution for criminal misconduct… This coddling comes at the expense of customer and worker safety.”
Text of Letter (PDF)
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) wrote to Attorney General Merrick Garland and Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco, urging the Department of Justice (DOJ) to investigate Boeing executives following years of promoting short-term profit over passenger safety. In the letter, the lawmakers urge the DOJ to review the behavior and potential culpability of Boeing’s executives, and criminally prosecute those responsible.
The letter comes as years of safety issues involving Boeing planes – including the fatal Boeing 737 MAX crashes in 2018 and 2019 – have continued to raise alarm about Boeing’s corporate culture. As recently as last week, the National Transportation Safety Board was forced to issue “urgent safety recommendations” for Boeing’s 737 aircraft line due to mechanical issues. Even amidst these continued failures, the Department of Justice has not criminally prosecuted those individuals responsible for harms to deliver justice and hold Boeing accountable. In July 2024, Boeing agreed to plead guilty to a felony charge of conspiring to defraud the federal government, but DOJ did not take the company to trial or charge individual executives. The deal included an additional fine, commitments to update compliance and safety processes, and oversight by a safety monitor for three years.
“For years, the federal government has accused Boeing of putting profits over passenger safety, without pursuing full accountability from the company or the company’s executives directly responsible for compromising passenger safety,” the lawmakers wrote. “[T]he combination of a relatively small fine coupled with a toothless commitment to improve aircraft safety has proven insufficient to effect real change at the company.”
In October 2023, Senator Warren called on the DOJ to immediately reverse its newly unveiled “safe harbor” policy, which would offer a “get-out-of-jail-free” card for mergers involving corporate white-collar criminals. Deputy Attorney General Monaco justified the policy, later noting that “[t]he rule of law demands that those most culpable for a company’s misconduct are the ones being charged, prosecuted, and convicted.”
“For too long, corporate executives have routinely escaped prosecution for criminal misconduct. This coddling comes at the expense of customer and worker safety, and it must end,” wrote the lawmakers.
After 346 people died in two Boeing 737 MAX plane crashes due to apparent failures in the MCAS flight stabilization system, the DOJ deferred prosecution, instead negotiating a deal to resolve criminal charges. This year, after the DOJ found that Boeing violated the terms of the deal, Boeing entered a plea agreement. Again, the DOJ failed to hold any Boeing executives accountable for the serious failures — and since the fatal 737 MAX crashes, countless more safety concerns have surfaced.
“The deadly crashes and reporting on safety issues since 2018 have shined a spotlight on Boeing’s corporate culture of prioritizing profits at the expense of safety…DOJ must do its part to bring the individuals responsible for Boeing’s safety failures to justice,” wrote the lawmakers.
Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency
Headline: Biden-Harris Administration Provides More Than $20 Million to Hurricane Helene Survivors, Ongoing Search and Rescue Operations Continue in North Carolina
Biden-Harris Administration Provides More Than $20 Million to Hurricane Helene Survivors, Ongoing Search and Rescue Operations Continue in North Carolina
Today, President Biden will travel to Georgia and Florida to survey damage, meet with local officials, community leaders and first responders
WASHINGTON — As search and rescue, power restoration and communication capabilities remain top priorities throughout the Southeast, FEMA has already helped thousands of Hurricane Helene survivors jumpstart their recoveries with more than $20 million in flexible, upfront funding.
More than 5,000 personnel from across the federal workforce are deployed, including more than 1,500 from FEMA. To date, FEMA has shipped over 9.3 million meals, more than 11.2 million liters of water, 150 generators and more than 260,000 tarps to the region.
President Biden has approved a Major Disaster declaration for eight counties in Tennessee. This declaration comes in addition to areas in Georgia, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia. Yesterday, the President announced an increase in federal cost share for each state to help state, tribal and local governments and non-profit organizations cover the cost of recovery.
Disaster survivors in declared areas can begin their recovery process by applying for federal assistance through FEMA. People with damage to their homes or personal property who live in the designated counties should apply for assistance, which may include upfront funds to help with essential items like food, water, baby formula and other emergency supplies. Funds may also be available to repair storm-related damage to homes and personal property, as well as assistance to find a temporary place to stay.
There are three ways apply for FEMA assistance:
Homeowners and renters with damage to their home or personal property from previous disasters, whether they received FEMA funds or not, are still eligible to apply for and receive assistance for Hurricane Helene.
Voluntary organizations are also providing personnel and resources to the hardest hit areas. The American Red Cross has more than 850 trained disaster workers providing comfort and operating shelters. Additionally, they are helping find loved ones through their helpline 1-800-RED-CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or by visiting the Red Cross Hurricane Helene Reunification page, where you can enter pertinent information about the person you’re looking for. If someone is missing a child related to this disaster or any other incident, they need to call 9-1-1 and then 1-800-THE-LOST to receive assistance from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
People can receive free services like cutting fallen trees, tarping roofs and mold mitigation with the help of Crisis Cleanup by calling 844-965-1386. The hotline is open through October 11 and can connect people with volunteers from local relief organizations, community groups and the faith-based community who may be able to assist.
Connectivity is crucial for disaster response and lifesaving operations. With areas still experiencing mass communications outages, it’s critical that local, state and federal first responders can communicate with each other to conduct lifesaving operations like search and rescue. Fortunately, FEMA has resources that can ensure communications support in even the most remote areas affected by Helene.
One of FEMA’s tools for emergency communications is Starlink, a mobile unit that allows customers high-speed internet by connecting to satellites. FEMA has successfully deployed Starlink in previous disasters including Guam, Hawaii and Alaska. Because the unit is portable and weighs less than 15 pounds, FEMA can deliver it to the areas that need it most, bringing connectivity to over 100 users.
Over 60 Starlink units have been sent to multiple states in support of Hurricane Helene response efforts, including 40 units to North Carolina with more on the way. FEMA is in the process of purchasing additional units for use in other areas affected by the storm.
In North Carolina, more than 500 FEMA staff are on the ground in North Carolina, with more arriving daily. over 30 Disaster Survivor Assistance staff are on the ground in affected areas to help survivors to apply for FEMA assistance and connect them with additional state, local, federal and voluntary agency resources.
Over 38 state and federal Urban Search and Rescue teams are in North Carolina helping people. As of today, these have rescued or supported over 2,100 survivors. Additional federal search and rescue teams have arrived to support the mission.
Wednesday, President Biden visited the state to survey damage and meet with community leaders and state officials. Administrator Criswell remains in North Carolina and will be on the ground until the situation has stabilized.
FEMA has activated Transitional Sheltering Assistance for North Carolinians displaced by Tropical Storm Helene. Residents in declared counties who have applied for disaster assistance may be eligible to stay temporarily in a hotel or motel paid for by FEMA while they work on their long-term housing plan. People do not need to request this assistance. FEMA will notify them of their eligibility through an automated phone call, text message and/or email, depending upon the method of communication they selected at the time of application for disaster assistance.
As of today, more than 70% of originally reported power outages have been restored. Nearly 8,000 crews continue to assist with remaining power restoration efforts.
To date, over 40,000 people have applied for disaster assistance and FEMA has paid out more than $6.2 million in Individual Assistance directly to survivors.
Cellular restoration continues to improve, with less than 38% of cellular sites down as of today. Ten counties have 50% or more cell sites down. Two Federal Communications Commission surveillance teams are conducting inspection operations on equipment in targeted counties. FEMA is boosting response coordination by providing 40 Starlink units to ensure first responders can communicate with each other.
The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians has full mobile cellular service.
Commodity distribution, mass feeding and hydration operations are underway in areas of western North Carolina. FEMA commodity shipments are enroute to support operations.
Voluntary organizations are supporting mass feeding operations with bulk food and water deliveries coming via truck and aircraft.
The American Red Cross is engaging in targeted distribution of emergency supplies in low-income communities with high levels of minor or affected residential damage.
Twenty-six shelters are housing over 1,000 occupants. Mobile feeding operations continue to help survivors in heavily impacted areas, including 3 mass feeding sites in Buncombe, McDowell and Watauga counties.
The North Carolina National Guard has delivered 12 aircraft pallets, totaling more than 100,000lbs of food and over 38,000lbs of water to Asheville.
Today, President Biden will visit the state to survey damage and meet with state and local leaders.
On Wednesday, five counties were added to the disaster declaration, bringing the total eligible for Individual Assistance to 22 counties. Survivors in Columbia, Gilchrist, Hamilton, Leon and Suwannee counties may now apply for FEMA disaster assistance. FEMA specialists are canvassing Florida communities impacted by Hurricane Helene to help survivors apply for assistance. Additionally, FEMA inspectors have begun visiting applicants’ homes to verify disaster-caused damage.
FEMA has received over 85,000 applications for assistance and has provided more than $7.5 million to survivors.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is conducting either debris assessments or water/wastewater assessments across seven counties.
The American Red Cross is engaging in targeted distribution of emergency supplies in low-income communities with high levels of minor or affected residential damage. More than 450 volunteers continue conducting direct emergency feeding and working with feeding partners to provide distribution in support of partner production. Sixteen shelters remain open with less than 475 occupants.
The Salvation Army has active mobile feeding units serving meals and distributing supplies in 13 counties.
Residents in need of information or resources should call the State Assistance Information Line (SAIL) at 1-800-342-3557. English, Spanish and Creole speakers are available to answer questions.
Today, President Biden will visit to survey damage in various affected areas of Georgia. On Wednesday, Vice President Harris visited Richmond County to meet with community leaders. On Wednesday, Vice President Harris was in Augusta to survey damage and meet with local officials.
FEMA has received nearly 100,000 applications for assistance. FEMA Disaster Survivor Assistance Teams are on the ground in neighborhoods across the affected counties helping survivors apply for FEMA assistance and connecting them with additional state, local, federal and voluntary agency resources.
The Salvation Army has 26 active mobile feeding units providing meals and support to 10 counties in the affected areas.
The American Red Cross is engaging in targeted distribution of emergency supplies in low-income communities with high levels of minor or affected residential damage. The organization continues to conduct direct emergency feeding and working with feeding partners to provide distribution in support of partner production. Two new shelters opened yesterday, totaling 10 shelters with over 500 occupants.
Residents can find resources like shelters and feeding sites at gema.georgia.gov/hurricane-helene.
Today, FEMA Disaster Survivor Assistance Teams are on the ground in neighborhoods across the affected counties helping survivors apply for FEMA assistance and connecting them with additional state, local, federal and voluntary agency resources.
Region 10 Regional Administrator Willie Nunn is on the ground to help oversee response and recovery operations in the state.
In South Carolina, FEMA has received over 88,000 applications and distributed more than $4.4 million to survivors.
The American Red Cross is engaging in targeted distribution of emergency supplies in low-income communities with high levels of minor or affected residential damage. One shelter closed yesterday. Nine shelters remain open with less than 175 occupants.
Team Rubicon is continuing to route clearance operations in Spartanburg County and continues planning for clearing other areas.
The state has established a Mass Feeding Task Force to include multiple voluntary agencies. Three Salvation Army mobile feeding units are in hard hit areas. FEMA is supporting the state’s feeding mission with Meals Ready to Eat and drinking water.
Several federal agencies, including FEMA, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Department of Energy and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, are already in Virginia and working hard with their counterparts with the Virginia Department of Emergency Management and other state agencies. Priorities include coordinating the removal of debris and restoration of critical infrastructure.
Today, the first Disaster Survivor Assistance staff will start working on the ground in neighborhoods across the affected counties. These teams help survivors apply for FEMA assistance and connect them with additional state, local, federal and voluntary agency resources.
Residents of Giles, Grayson, Smyth, Tazewell, Washington and Wythe counties, as well as residents of the city of Galax, are eligible to apply for assistance from FEMA to help with costs from damage and losses due to Tropical Storm Helene.
On Wednesday, President Biden approved a major disaster declaration for the state. This includes individual assistance for Carter, Cocke, Greene, Hamblen, Hawkins, Johnson, Unicoi and Washington counties.
Individual Assistance provides money to survivors for serious needs, including food, gas and medication. It also provides money for the repair and/or replacement of personal property and repairs to a disaster-damaged home.
Shelter and mass feeding operations have expanded with support from National Guard, delivering food to Unicoi, Washington and Carter counties via aircraft.
Ten shelters remain open with decreasing populations, as people are able to safely return home.
Power and cellular restoration continues to improve. Power has been restored to nearly all customers and less than 13% of cellular sites are down across the affected area.
mashana.davis
Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency
Headline: FEMA Specialists in Georgia Communities After Hurricane Helene
FEMA Specialists in Georgia Communities After Hurricane Helene
ATLANTA — FEMA Disaster Survivor Assistance crews are in Georgia neighborhoods helping people apply for FEMA assistance after Hurricane Helene.
DSA teams wear FEMA attire and have federal photo identification badges. The teams go door to door in impacted neighborhoods to help people apply for federal assistance, check the status of an application, identify potential needs and make connections with organizations that can provide resources. DSA crews never ask for, or accept, money.
Homeowners and renters in Appling, Atkinson, Bacon, Ben Hill, Berrien, Brooks, Bulloch, Burke, Candler, Chatham, Clinch, Coffee, Colquitt, Columbia, Cook, Echols, Emanuel, Evans, Glascock, Irwin, Jeff Davis, Jefferson, Jenkins, Johnson, Lanier, Laurens, Liberty, Lincoln, Lowndes, McDuffie, Montgomery, Pierce, Richmond, Screven, Tattnall, Telfair, Toombs, Treutlen, Ware, Washington and Wheeler counties can apply in several ways: Go online to DisasterAssistance.gov, use the FEMA App, or call 800-621-3362 any day of the week. If you use a relay service, such as Video Relay Service (VRS), captioned telephone or other service, give FEMA your number for that service. For an accessible video on how to apply for assistance go to FEMA Accessible: Applying for Individual Assistance – YouTube.
For the latest information about Georgia’s recovery, visit fema.gov/disaster/4830. Follow FEMA on X at x.com/femaregion4 or on Facebook at facebook.com/fema.
sandra.habib
MIL OSI Translation. Government of the Republic of France statements from French to English –
We, the G7 leaders, express our deep concern at the deteriorating situation in the Middle East and strongly condemn Iran’s direct military attack on Israel, which poses a serious threat to regional stability.
We unequivocally reiterate our commitment to Israel’s security. Iran’s deeply destabilizing actions throughout the Middle East, through terrorist proxies and armed groups – including the Houthis, Hezbollah, and Hamas – as well as Iran-aligned militias in Iraq, must cease. Yesterday, we discussed coordinated efforts and actions to prevent escalation in the region.
A dangerous cycle of attacks and retaliation risks fueling an uncontrollable escalation in the Middle East, which is in no one’s interest. We therefore call on all regional actors to act responsibly and with restraint. We encourage all parties to engage constructively to de-escalate current tensions. International humanitarian law must be respected.
On the eve of the tragic anniversary of the Hamas attacks of October 7, 2023, we once again condemn in the strongest terms these acts of deliberate and unjustified violence and remain in solidarity with the families of the victims and the Hamas hostages.
We also reiterate our call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, the unconditional release of all hostages, a significant and sustained increase in humanitarian assistance, and an end to the conflict. We fully support the efforts of the United States, Qatar, and Egypt to reach a comprehensive agreement, in line with United Nations Security Council Resolution 2735. The situation in Gaza is dire, with tens of thousands of innocent lives lost. We reiterate the absolute imperative to protect the civilian population. For this, full, rapid, safe, and unhindered humanitarian access is a top priority. We will continue to work to establish the conditions for a lasting peace, leading to a two-state solution, where Israel and Palestine coexist side by side in peace and security.
We are also deeply concerned about the situation in Lebanon. We reiterate the need for a cessation of hostilities as soon as possible to create the conditions for a diplomatic solution along the Blue Line, in line with United Nations Security Council resolution 1701. This is the only way to sustainably de-escalate tensions, stabilize the border between Israel and Lebanon, fully restore the sovereignty, territorial integrity and stability of Lebanon, and allow the return of displaced citizens to their homes in safety, on both sides. We urge all actors to protect civilian populations. We commit to providing humanitarian assistance to address the urgent needs of civilians in Lebanon.
We also express our sincere condolences to the families of the civilian victims in Israel, Gaza and Lebanon.
We underline the importance of the United Nations in resolving armed conflicts and mitigating the humanitarian impact in the Middle East. In this regard, we recognize the role of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) in restoring peace and security. We commit to strengthening our support to the mission, in line with the relevant United Nations resolutions.
We will continue to stay in close contact with all stakeholders to this end.
EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is a translation. Apologies should the grammar and/or sentence structure not be perfect.
MIL OSI Translation. Government of the Republic of France statements from French to English –
With the death of Victor Perahia, President of the Union of Auschwitz Deportees, France has lost a transmitter of memory, one of the faces of the remembrance of the Shoah for the Nation.
Born on April 4, 1933, Victor Perahia was born into a family of street vendors. From his childhood, and then during the Occupation, the child of a father of Turkish origin and a French mother was confronted with the anti-Semitism of his classmates. On July 15, 1942, in Saint-Nazaire, Victor and his parents were arrested by the SS, then taken to Angers. From there, his father was deported to Auschwitz; Victor Perahia and his mother to Drancy. In the camp, overcrowded by the simultaneous arrival of prisoners from the Vél’ d’Hiv roundup of July 16, they survived hunger, violence and cold, and avoided deportation thanks to his mother’s cunning. The latter in fact claimed to be a prisoner of war’s wife and demonstrated this by tirelessly reciting the story of a life that was not hers. On May 20, 1944, they were deported to the Bergen-Belsen concentration and labor camp where, for a year, Victor Perahia accompanied his mother in the tragedy, with a life force that made him certain he would survive. On April 22, 1945, this time, bloodless, suffering from typhus, Victor Perahia felt his strength leave him: “Victor, if you love me, don’t die,” his mother told him. The next day, the camp was liberated by the Russian army. Orphaned by his father Robert and in mourning for his maternal grandfather, who died at Auschwitz, still ill, the young survivor spent two years in a sanatorium.
Victor Perahia rebuilt his life after the war by resuming his studies, starting a family with his wife Rosette, leaving this “stolen childhood” to silence and oblivion for decades, according to the book he would finally publish in 2015. This book, the fruit of six years of writing, was the first milestone in a work of memory and transmission that Victor Perahia continued, by testifying for the younger generations in the schools of Paris or at the Shoah memorial. With his humanity, his uncompromising words, his lively knowledge of the Drancy camp, he transmitted his experience of deportation. In Drancy, he recounted, at the sight of the buildings, cars, buses seen through the barbed wire, he asked himself “but why am I behind barbed wire, guarded by police, while these people far away can go home”. This childish question, this universal cry of conscience, this intransigence in the face of racism and anti-Semitism still haunted him and guided his strength to awaken minds. As a lesson or testament for future generations, he considered “human cruelty” to be limitless, and the duty to fight against “all forms of intolerance and all attacks on basic human rights” to be imprescriptible.
The President of the Republic and his wife bow before a life guided by the will to never cease believing in humanity, in the hope of justice and freedom. They address to his family, to his loved ones, to the women and men who, like him, bear the memory of the Shoah, their heartfelt condolences.
EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is a translation. Apologies should the grammar and/or sentence structure not be perfect.
MIL OSI Translation. Government of the Republic of France statements from French to English –
President Emmanuel Macron visited Berlin this Wednesday for the Berlin Global Dialogue.
During this new trip to Germany, the 4th since the beginning of the year, the Head of State spoke with Olaf Scholz, Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany, with whom he discussed issues related to the European agenda and international news.
On the site of the European School of Management and Technology, which is hosting this second edition of the Berlin Global Dialogue, the President of the Republic spoke with stakeholders in artificial intelligence following up on the work initiated at the Fraunhofer Institute during the state visit to Germany last May.
He also spoke in plenary session on the challenges of European competitiveness and the place of the European Union in a multipolar world.
EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is a translation. Apologies should the grammar and/or sentence structure not be perfect.
MIL OSI Translation. Government of the Republic of France statements from French to English –
The President of the Republic is considering, on the proposal of the Prime Minister, appointing Ms Catherine Paugam-Burtz as Director General of the National Agency for the Safety of Medicines and Health Products.
The President of the National Assembly and the President of the Senate are notified of this draft appointment, so that the relevant committee of each of the assemblies can decide under the conditions provided for in the fifth paragraph of Article 13 of the Constitution.
EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is a translation. Apologies should the grammar and/or sentence structure not be perfect.
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)
ASHEVILLE, N.C., Oct. 03, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — While the full impact of Hurricane Helene and its aftermath, including catastrophic rain and flooding, is still unknown, relief efforts continue, and HomeTrust Bank is committed and prepared to serve its employees and customers who were affected.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the many families and businesses impacted by the devastating flooding,” said C. Hunter Westbrook, President & Chief Executive Officer. “We want to assure everyone affected of our firm commitment to work with you to provide the banking support needed for your home, your business and our great communities. In addition, the teamwork and dedication of our employees has been tremendous as they restored bank operations while tending to their personal and familial responsibilities. We are also humbled by the support, supplies and outreach from other banks throughout the Southeast.”
As we emerge from the devastation our communities have suffered, our top priority is the safety of our customers and our team members. We have now communicated with and confirmed the safety of all our employees, as well as assessed all our banking locations noting only minimal damage from the storm. We remained functionally operational throughout the storm, including electronic banking services and online operations, and currently all but three of our 36 locations have at least drive-thru banking available. With utilities and communications still impaired and unstable, particularly in our home base of Western North Carolina, please refer to our website at http://www.htb.com/hurricane-helene for the most recent updates and service availabilities.
About HomeTrust Bancshares, Inc.
HomeTrust Bancshares, Inc. (NASDAQ: HTBI) is the holding company for HomeTrust Bank. As of June 30, 2024, the Company had assets of $4.7 billion. The Bank, founded in 1926, is a North Carolina state chartered, community-focused financial institution committed to providing value added relationship banking with over 30 locations as well as online/mobile channels. Locations include: North Carolina (the Asheville metropolitan area, the “Piedmont” region, Charlotte and Raleigh/Cary), South Carolina (Greenville and Charleston), East Tennessee (Kingsport/Johnson City, Knoxville and Morristown), Southwest Virginia (the Roanoke Valley) and Georgia (Greater Atlanta).
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are not statements of historical fact, but instead are based on certain assumptions including statements with respect to the Company’s beliefs, plans, objectives, goals, expectations, assumptions and statements about future economic performance and projections of financial items. These forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results anticipated or implied by forward-looking statements. The factors that could result in material differentiation include, but are not limited to the impact of bank failures or adverse developments involving other banks and related negative press about the banking industry in general on investor and depositor sentiment; the remaining effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on general economic and financial market conditions and on public health, both nationally and in the Company’s market areas; natural disasters, including the effects of Hurricane Helene; expected revenues, cost savings, synergies and other benefits from merger and acquisition activities might not be realized to the extent anticipated, within the anticipated time frames, or at all, costs or difficulties relating to integration matters, including but not limited to customer and employee retention, might be greater than expected, and goodwill impairment charges might be incurred; increased competitive pressures among financial services companies; changes in the interest rate environment; changes in general economic conditions, both nationally and in our market areas; legislative and regulatory changes; and the effects of inflation, a potential recession, and other factors described in the Company’s latest Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and other documents filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission – which are available on the Company’s website at http://www.htb.com and on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov. Any of the forward-looking statements that the Company makes in this press release or in the documents the Company files with or furnishes to the SEC are based upon management’s beliefs and assumptions at the time they are made and may turn out to be wrong because of inaccurate assumptions, the factors described above or other factors that management cannot foresee. The Company does not undertake, and specifically disclaims any obligation, to revise any forward-looking statements to reflect the occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated events or circumstances after the date of such statements.
Source: Government of India (2)
Posted On: 03 OCT 2024 4:50PM by PIB Delhi
The Indian Chair of the World Trade Organization (WTO) Chairs Programme (WCP) organised a regional conference of the Asian and African Chairs on the theme Fostering Resilient and Responsible Trade for Changing Global Order at Vanijya Bhawan, New Delhi on 27thand 28thSeptember, 2024. The Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT) represented through its centres, namely, the Centre for Trade and Investment Law (CTIL) and the Centre for WTO Studies (CWS) administers the WTO Chair in India. The conference was inaugurated by Shri Ajay Bhadoo, Additional Secretary, Department of Commerce, Government of India.
The key takeaways from the Conference are: (i) necessity of aligning regional and multilateral trade strategies for coherent global norms; (ii) importance of addressing barriers to trade using digital tools to ensure inclusivity and equal opportunities for all nations and stakeholders in international trade and (iii) critical need for robust climate action that accommodates the unique challenges faced by developing countries.
Several dignitaries including India’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the WTO Dr. Senthil Pandian C.; Deputy Director General, WTO, Amb. Xiangchen Zhang; Vice Chancellor, IIFT, Prof. Rakesh Mohan Joshi; Head and Professor, CTIL and India Chair, WCP, Prof. James J. Nedumpara; Permanent Representative of France to the WTO, H.E. Ms. Emmanuelle Ivanov-Durand and H.E. Mr. Jung Sung Park, Deputy Permanent Representative of the Republic of Korea to the WTO addressed the gathering.
The conference provided an opportunity for WTO chairholders, leading scholars, trade experts, and policymakers from across Asia and Africa to discuss ways and means of fostering resilient and responsible trade in a dynamic global economy.
The Conference, over the two days, included seven thematic sessions on a broad array of topics relating to resilient and responsible trade, a keynote address by Henry J. Braker Professor of Commercial Law at The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University, United States, Prof. Joel Trachtman and a special address by CEO, NITI Aayog, Shri B. V. R. Subrahmanyam.
The Conference also focused on critical issues at the intersection of global trade and sustainability. The discussions highlighted the need for coherence in trade strategies, the challenges of inclusive digital transformation, and the importance of responsible practices in critical mineral extraction with a specific focus on Asia and Africa regions. The event emphasized collaborative approaches to support developing countries in navigating complex trade dynamics and achieving sustainable development goals.
In the thematic sessions, the representatives from the WCP Chairs from Asian and African institutions presented their ideas and experiences from a national, regional and multilateral perspective. The sessions covered topics such as regional aspects in international trade law, green industrial policies, critical minerals for a clean energy future, WTO dispute settlement system and sustainable climate actions.
A roundtable of WCP Chairs was also held during the Conference to deliberate on collaborations between WCP Chairs of Asia and Africa. During the roundtable, the WCP Chairs discussed the role that the WTO could play in facilitating the network and the different ways in which the WCP Chairs could exchange knowledge, and experience and engage in academic partnerships under the aegis of WTO Chairs Programme.
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AD/VN/CNAN
(Release ID: 2061557) Visitor Counter : 92
MILES AXLE Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: Moscow Department of Transport
Nineteen specialists from the Iraqi Department of Traffic Management recently completed an intensive training program on intelligent transportation systems in Moscow. The educational program, initiated by the Department of Transport and Development of Road Transport Infrastructure of Moscow, was conducted by the Smart Cities Department of Synergy University.
The program included a significant emphasis on practical application, with participants visiting key transport infrastructure facilities throughout the city. They learned about modern methods of road marking at the State Budgetary Institution “Motor Roads” and observed the work of the Unified Dispatch Center of the Moscow Metro and the Traffic Management Center.
Upon completion of the training, Iraqi specialists received certificates confirming successful completion of the program. Representatives of the Iraqi Embassy attended the ceremony and expressed gratitude to the Moscow Department of Transport and Synergy University for the high level of organization and implementation of the course.
Previously, similar training programs were conducted for specialists from Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan.
EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is a translation. Apologies should the grammar and or sentence structure not be perfect.
MILES AXLE Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: Moscow Department of Transport
Nineteen specialists from the Iraqi Department of Traffic Management recently completed an intensive training program on intelligent transportation systems in Moscow. The educational program, initiated by the Moscow Department of Transport and Development of Road and Transport Infrastructure, was delivered by the Smart Cities Faculty of Synergy University.
The program included a significant focus on practical applications, with participants visiting key transportation infrastructure sites throughout the city. They gained firsthand experience with modern road marking techniques at the Automobile Roads State Budgetary Institution, observed the operations of the Moscow Metro Unified Dispatching Center and the Road Traffic Control Center.
At the conclusion of the training, Iraqi specialists received certificates acknowledging their successful completion of the program. The ceremony was attended by representatives of the Iraqi Embassy, who expressed gratitude to the Moscow Department of Transport and Synergy University for the high standard of organization and delivery of the course.
Previous similar training programs have been conducted for specialists from Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan.
EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is a translation. Apologies should the grammar and or sentence structure not be perfect.
Source: Government of India (2)
Posted On: 03 OCT 2024 8:25PM by PIB Delhi
The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the signing of ‘Letter of Intent’ thus enabling India to join the ‘Energy Efficiency Hub’.
India will join the International Energy Efficiency Hub (Hub), a global platform dedicated to fostering collaboration and promoting energy efficiency worldwide. This move solidifies India’s commitment to sustainable development and aligns with its efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Established in 2020 as the successor to the International Partnership for Energy Efficiency Cooperation (IPEEC), in which India was a member, the Hub brings together governments, international organizations, and private sector entities to share knowledge, best practices, and innovative solutions. By joining the Hub, India will gain access to a vast network of experts and resources, enabling it to enhance its domestic energy efficiency initiatives. As of July, 2024, sixteen countries (Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Denmark, European Commission, France, Germany, Japan, Korea, Luxembourg, Russia, Saudi Arabia, United States and United Kingdom) have joined the Hub.
As a member of the Hub, India will benefit from opportunities for collaboration with other member states, sharing its own expertise and learning from international best practices. The country will also contribute to global efforts to address climate change by promoting energy-efficient technologies and practices.
Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE), the statutory agency, has been designated as the implementing agency for the Hub on behalf of India. BEE will play a crucial role in facilitating India’s participation in the Hub’s activities and ensuring that India’s contributions align with its national energy efficiency goals.
By joining the Hub, India is taking a significant step towards more sustainable future. The country’s participation in this global platform will help to accelerate the transition to a low-carbon economy and improve energy security.
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MJPS/BM
(Release ID: 2061655) Visitor Counter : 8
Source: USAID
The below is attributable to Spokesperson Benjamin Suarato:
Today, Administrator Samantha Power traveled to Western Ukraine. She first visited a substation that provides energy to approximately 500,000 residents in the region and has been targeted in Russian air strikes. The Administrator saw new autotransformers purchased by USAID, and saw how, with USAID support, our Ukrainian partners have installed additional protective measures. The Administrator reaffirmed USAID’s commitment to supporting Ukraine in building its energy resilience and security in the face of Russia’s continued ruthless attacks on energy infrastructure.
Next, Administrator Power traveled to Lviv where she visited the site where eight people were killed in the Russian airstrike in Lviv on September 4 and paid respects at a memorial near their home. She then went to Urban Camp, a hub and community space for internally displaced persons, established by Ukrainian NGO Street Culture and supported by USAID, where she spoke with Lviv Mayor Andriy Ivanovych Sadovy and sat down with displaced Ukrainians to hear about their experiences.
Administrator Power then met with business leaders from Ukraine’s vibrant tech sector at the Lviv IT Cluster, which brings together over 300 technology companies from across Ukraine with USAID support. The IT Cluster leadership explained the enormous progress and potential of Ukraine’s tech sector as well as the challenges they’re facing because of Putin’s war on Ukraine. The group discussed joint work to expand private sector investment in Ukraine and Administrator Power emphasized that strengthening the resilience of economic sectors such as IT is a critical component of USAID’s assistance to Ukraine as it defends itself against Russia’s full-scale invasion and revitalizes its economy.
The Administrator concluded her visit with a tour of the historic city with the Mayor of Lviv Andriy Ivanovych Sadovyi.
Source: Ministers for Social Services
E&OE TRANSCRIPT
SUBJECTS: Planned protests to mark one year anniversary of Oct 7 attacks; Australians in Lebanon; NRL grand final
SARAH ABO, HOST: Well, thousands of protesters will take to the streets this weekend to mark a year of the Israel-Gaza conflict, with authorities calling for calm after the rallies were given the green light. For more, we’re joined by NDIS and Government Services Minister Bill Shorten in Melbourne and opposition leader Peter Dutton in Brisbane. Good to see you both. Pete, I’ll start with you. So, New South Wales tried to block this rally, that was overruled. The SA, in South Australia, the police say they don’t oppose it. Those attending say it’ll be peaceful. So how do we strike the right balance here?
PETER DUTTON, LIBERAL PARTY: Well, Sarah, this is the biggest loss of Jewish life since the Holocaust. And that’s what October 7th is. So, it’s the anniversary of the terrorist attack in the kibbutz’s and where people were slaughtered in the Nova music festival. So, there were no attacks, no rockets launched by Israel on October 7th or October 8th or October 9th. The response came after that, as we know. So, this is an anniversary of 1200 people losing their lives. And that’s why the protests shouldn’t go ahead. And you would only be protesting the anniversary of that loss of life if you were trying to be provocative or difficult. If you were marking the anniversary of the Holocaust, people would be outraged. And I just think it’s completely unacceptable that people would be using this opportunity to essentially rub, you know, I just think they’re compounding the grief of people who have lost lives. And it’s completely unacceptable.
ABO: Yeah, I mean, Pete, I guess despite all of that, they are still going ahead. I mean, there’s nothing we can do to stop it. So, it’s really just about upholding the peaceful intended nature of it.
DUTTON: Well, just again, Sarah, I mean, why would people why would people want to do this? And I think there are people within the community, leaders so-called within the community, who should show greater sensitivity and there are other dates that they can commemorate. But October 7th is an anniversary where 1200 people were killed by a terrorist organization and people who were sympathizers to the terrorist organization in this country, frankly, are at odds with our values and our rule of law.
ABO: And, Bill, there are obviously significant sensitivities around this. And as we know, the tensions are escalating currently in the Middle East. There’s a lot of heat in the community, and it seems little is being done to sort of turn down that temperature. Is the government concerned that these protests may cause further rifts in the community?
BILL SHORTEN, MINISTER FOR THE NDIS AND GOVERNENT SERVICES: Well, I agree with a fair bit of what Peter was saying there. October the 7th was a massacre of Israelis. Hamas crossed the border. They killed young people at a concert. They committed shocking crimes. They kidnapped people. They sexually abused people. I don’t know what someone who’s – I don’t know why someone would protest about that or be in some fashion being seen to lend their weight to it. I mean, we are a free country. We don’t want to become like the countries that we criticize. But I just think on October the 7th, that was a massacre of innocent people. Now, there might be some people watching who say, oh, what about, you know, my side of the argument and my hurt and my pain. I accept that, but one, you’ve got to keep it peaceful. Two, why do it on the day where – you know, if you really think that Hamas was right. I do not understand how you think. I do not understand how people would want to celebrate Hamas’ actions.
ABO: Yeah.
SHORTEN: So yeah, but I think most Australians don’t want to see these arguments from overseas coming to these shores. They certainly expect it to be peaceful. And I’ll just say to any protesters, if you think somehow, you’re convincing or changing anyone’s mind, think again.
ABO: It is truly horrific, that’s for sure. The fresh wave of attacks that we’re seeing, bill in Lebanon at the moment. The UN has called this truly catastrophic. We know that the Australian government is doing what it can, deploying the RAAF planes there to try and evacuate some. How is that all tracking at the moment?
SHORTEN: Yeah. I want to thank our people in the Australian Defence Force. We have military resources to help evacuate people pre-positioned in Cyprus. I know the government’s assisted people on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday to get commercial flights out. I know there’ll be opportunities on Saturday for 500 Australian citizens and immediate family members. But also, I have to say that the Prime Minister and the government has been saying since last November, please do not go to Lebanon. Whilst it might have been a surprise on which particular day the fighting escalated, the point is there was a big chance the fighting was going to escalate. So please get out now. Do not go to Lebanon. Please get out now. The Australian Government has a phone number. I think it’s 6261 3305. 6261 3305. But yeah, just let’s get out of there. It’s just – there’s nothing going to be good about being in Lebanon right now.
ABO: Yeah. I think both sides are in agreement on that. Look, it’s all very heavy and really tragic and awful. So, let’s focus on something a little bit different now because this weekend of course we have the big NRL grand final decider. It’s less than 48 hours away with the Storm taking on the Panthers. Pete, I wanted to ask you. I mean, seeing as you’re single handedly responsible for the turning of the political tide in Victoria, you would, of course, be backing the Storm right now, right?
DUTTON: Well, I’ve picked. I’ve picked Penrith, I think. Just an amazing –
ABO: What? Pete.
DUTTON: They are an amazing team. They are an amazing team.
ABO: You need to win Melbourne over mate, come on.
DUTTON: I’m still celebrating the Lions win. I’m still, I’m still – every Victorian was going against the New South Wales team last weekend. So, they were all on the Lions and we were on a unity ticket. So, this week – you know I just think I mean storms had had an incredible season as well. But I just think Penrith will be too strong.
ABO: Billy, surely you’ve got the storm, right?
SHORTEN: Yeah. No, I think the Storm’s a really well-run club. I’ve been lucky enough to have a bit to do with them over the journey and, you know they did beat Penrith in 2020. Craig Bellamy, ten grand finals. Penrith is a really strong team. One thing’s for sure. The two best teams are playing in the grand final. But, you know, Pete, there was that chance for you to sort of cement the deal in Victoria, but given two choices –
ABO: I know, I gave him an opportunity.
SHORTEN: But you went the wrong way, I know
ABO: He didn’t take it.
.
SHORTEN: Sarah just laid it out in the red carpet. I don’t know. I don’t know.
DUTTON: Hey, Bill, I’m just glad that you know there’s an NRL team in in Victoria. Well done.
ABO: We couldn’t leave this chat without a sledge. Right? Okay.
SHORTEN: That’s good. And do you know what? Even though we’re not an NRL, even though we’re not an NRL state, we can still win the flag. I love it. When Victorians turn their mind to something. We’re unstoppable.
ABO: Yes. Let’s go with that.
SHORTEN: It’s actually the third Queensland team anyway.
ABO: Thank you both very much for joining us.
Source: USAID
ADMINISTRATOR SAMANTHA POWER: I just met with a great group of Ukrainians here at the IT Cluster. This is an innovation hub supported by the Government of Ukraine and by USAID. I have learned from Ukrainian entrepreneurs, and I’ll just give you one example of the kinds of innovations that are happening.
Knopka is a member of the IT Cluster here that is revolutionizing medical alert systems. Traditionally, medical alert systems are not wireless. This matters for Ukraine because they would not work during power outages. Power outages have been a real issue for hospitals during the war. So, one Ukrainian entrepreneur here developed a system called “Knopka”. If anything abnormal happens with a patient’s vital signs or the patient indicates that they need care, Knopka sends an alert out to doctors’ and nurses’ phones using cellular data. As long as their phones have some charge left. These doctors and nurses know exactly where to go and who to help us, even when there is no power during the blackout. Knopka technology is 30 percent cheaper than other medical alert systems. While those other systems can often take weeks or even months to install, Knopke’s technology can be installed in just one day.
Supported by USAID, Knopka is growing fast. It has already been installed in 30 hospitals in Ukraine and one in Poland, and now Knopka is in talks with hospitals and clinics in Canada and the United States. Those hospitals and clinics are considering acquiring its system, too. Just in the past six months, Knopka’s workforce has expanded from 20 to 35 employees. Knopka’s Founder and CEO said, “Despite the challenges of war, we demonstrate Ukraine’s capacity for innovation and the talent behind it.”
So, it is this capacity for innovation that has driven Ukraine’s ability to retain business despite being more than two and a half years into Putin’s brutal invasion. In the tech sector alone, 95 percent of Ukraine’s 5,000 tech companies, including household names like Grammarly and GitLab, have retained their national and global contracts, together powering a full 12 percent of Ukraine’s exports. Since 2022, indeed Ukraine’s tech sector has grown seven percent, contributing $14 billion to Ukraine’s economy.
Ukraine’s business leaders in the tech sector and beyond it, are harnessing their creativity and their resilience to lead the country into the future and at USAID, we have been privileged to do what we can to support that effort. Since 2022, we have directly deployed more than $260 million to support businesses in Ukraine, from relocating and restoring the operations of companies on the front lines, to running reskilling programs to train Ukrainians in high demand trades like construction and transportation, to increasing access for businesses and for startups to affordable financing.
This support has itself unlocked $232 million in new investments to Ukrainian companies. This helps them expand operations, hire Ukrainians, and this investment allows them to provide much needed tax revenue to support Ukraine’s defense.
At the same time, we are working closely with our partners in the Ukrainian government to help them shape the business environment. International businesses describe for us the policy and regulatory reforms that they need to be convinced to invest in Ukraine. So, we are working closely with our partners in the Ukrainian government to improve transparency, to reduce opportunities for self-dealing, and to make the judiciary more independent. All of these are critical steps to building confidence that contracts will be honored and investment regulations will be enforced.
And finally, we are thrilled to be able to support Ukraine’s ambition to become a global leader in e-governance. As all of you Ukrainians here well know, the revolutionary Diia app that we have supported for years makes it possible for Ukrainians to access all kinds of services. It allows Ukrainian entrepreneurs to register companies, apply for permits, begin procurement processes, and more. By registering on the Diia City platform, Ukrainian and international companies alike, can access benefits that incentivize them to do business in Ukraine – benefits like reduced taxation and legal and financing support. In the first quarter of this year alone, businesses registered on Diia’s City have contributed over four billion Hryvni tax revenue to the Government of Ukraine, that is the equivalent of nearly $100 million. And, these are taxes, of course, that can be used to rebuild schools, to heat homes in winter and to fuel Ukraine’s defense.
Businesses, like the ones I met with today, are working to build a future where the ingenuity of the Ukrainian people drives progress. Driving that progress not only here in Ukraine, but in places all around the world that will continue to benefit from the products, services, and ideas developed here.
Thank you so much, and I look forward to your questions.
QUESTION (via translation): How much monetary equivalent has the U.S. government financed in technology in Ukraine and especially western Ukraine?
ADMINISTRATOR POWER: We will have to get back to you with the precise figure, especially with the geographic breakdown that you are looking for. But, I am sure someone on the team can provide that.
QUESTION (via translation): If you think about long term supporting perspective, where does [the] U.S. government see Ukraine in [the] future? Is it technological? Is it [an] agrarian country? Is it a country of construction?
ADMINISTRATOR POWER: Thank you for that question. As someone who works at an Agency that addresses food insecurity all around the world, I know firsthand the terrible harm that Putin caused by preventing Ukrainian agricultural exports from leaving Ukraine. I saw kids in sub-Saharan Africa who were hungrier because the food prices went up so much because Ukrainian agricultural exports were blocked by Putin’s forces. So, we are in awe of Ukraine’s farmers and its innovators who have found a way, despite the war, to increase agricultural exports now basically to their pre-war levels. And, we recognize that Ukraine’s farmers, as is evidenced by Ukraine’s flag, are foundational to this country’s economy. Ukraine’s agriculture is also a huge part of Ukraine’s identity, and it is a huge part of keeping people fed around the world.
But, what is really exciting about what we see in the Lviv IT Cluster is the diversification of Ukraine’s economy. And, seeing the steady growth of IT services as exports in this country, gives us, I think, an indication of where the future can take Ukraine. There are apparently 307,000 tech professionals now in Ukraine, and that is a seven percent increase from last year. Ukraine is becoming famous all around the world for the Diia app. Many citizens in other countries who see the Diia app are very jealous of Ukrainians. The simplicity and the government accountability that makes life better and easier for citizens is something many countries would wish to have. The more people learn in Silicon Valley and elsewhere about the kind of innovation that is happening at a place like this, the more we will see investment and increased exports in IT services.
We are, of course, also seeing a lot of innovation in other manufacturing sectors. Because of Russia’s brutal attacks, Ukraine has had to innovate in the defense sector. Even drones, which are being manufactured now in Ukraine, have broad civilian appeal for farmers and other sectors around the world. Ukraine is a home to many critical minerals that provides economic opportunity in the future. And, of course, as Ukraine shifts its energy economy to renewables, that will be something, I’m sure, of great interest outside this country.
My point is not to specify, again, any particular trajectory for Ukraine. It is simply to take note of the incredible innovation and resources that will power Ukraine’s economy in the future. And, of course, it is young people that will drive even more innovation and more ideas of what can come from Ukraine beyond even what I have mentioned today. When I think of all of the innovation that has occurred in Ukraine, just since the full-scale invasion, I marvel at imagining what this country and the Ukrainian people can do in peacetime. And, now Ukraine is more famous than it was before Putin’s full-scale invasion, for the resilience, but also the creativity and innovation of its people.
QUESTION: Ms. Power, I’m very thankful for your generous support that USAID has been giving to both private sector, state institutions, and civil society in Ukraine for years. But, I wanted to ask – I know that from my own feelings – I see that USAID is an institution that is caring [for] both people. And, besides funding, both in trends and investments, we do need people, and we do understand that Ukraine, for boosting its innovations and its economy, needs [to] bring people back. We have six to seven million abroad, we have people dying on the front line, and we have a very low birth rate. Is it something that is in your concern, and that USAID would think about, and would think of some special projects to help, somehow, help this situation.
ADMINISTRATOR POWER: Well, this is something, actually, I discussed yesterday with President Zelenskyy. It is absolutely critical for Ukraine’s future that its population here is thriving. It is crucial, for example, that the tech professionals who are being groomed here, see themselves as having a full future here where they don’t feel they need to move to Silicon Valley.
What USAID is doing is looking at many of the reasons that Ukrainians feel compelled to leave. So, one of the things I discussed with the President is the safety of schools. USAID has invested in refurbishing and rendering more secure around 10,000 bunkers in schools. In Kharkiv, we’ve actually been involved in building a school that is entirely underground because of the situation there. So, education is one example where, as we think about where to make our investments, we do so thinking about a parent who wants nothing more in the world than to keep their children safe.
The other core dimension of our work that is designed, of course, to keep people here or to draw people back, is work on helping the economy grow. When people cannot find work, they go to try to find work somewhere else. So, being very specific about which programs can help create jobs for Ukrainians is another example of this kind of work.
But, in the future, when peace comes back to Ukraine, there will be tremendous opportunities for jobs and, of course, for people to experience the safety that they once knew. And, that is when we and the European Union and, of course, the government and the people here will need to be very intentional on how we advertise all the opportunities that will exist in what will then be a stronger economy and a stronger democracy.
This is why the reforms, tackling corruption, strengthening the judiciary, and making the regulatory environment for business more attractive, none of those reforms can wait. And, if that reform effort can continue to progress, it will make Ukraine, on the other side of war, a place that businesses flock to, even more than we are able to get them to come now.
The very last thing I would say is the obvious, which is a huge part of ensuring or increasing the likelihood that people stay in Ukraine is that the 50-country coalition continues to support Ukraine’s defense. And, that is why the very significant defense package that President Biden just announced is an important part of the answer to your question. More air defense means that citizens can feel safer and that they are less likely to leave the country. That is why we, in the United States, understand that attracting people to stay in Ukraine is a whole-of-U.S.-government enterprise.
Thank you.
Source: US Department of Labor
NEWARK, DE – The U.S. Department of Labor announced that its Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs has entered into a conciliation agreement with Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics Inc. to resolve alleged pay discrimination against female employees at its manufacturing facility in Newark.
A routine OFCCP compliance review found that, beginning Jan. 1, 2020, the employer paid females in system engineer roles less than male counterparts in similar positions at the laboratory diagnostics manufacturing center. Such action violates Executive Order 11246, which prohibits federal contractors from discriminating in employment decisions based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or national origin.
In addition to paying eight female system engineers $57,200 in back wages and interest, Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics made $24,821 in salary adjustments for three women. The company also agreed to review its compensation practices and policies and train managers to ensure future compliance.
“Our conciliation agreement with Siemens reflects the U.S. Department of Labor’s continued efforts to bridge gender wage gaps and hold federal contractors accountable when they fail to comply with the law,” said Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs Regional Director Samuel B. Maiden in Philadelphia.
Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics Inc. is contracted by the National Institutes of Health and employs about 1,300 workers in Newark. Since 2020, the company has held at least $882 million in federal contracts with numerous federal agencies including the National Institute of Health and the Department of Defense.
Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Siemens Medical Solutions USA Inc. in Malvern, Pennsylvania. Siemens Medical Solutions USA Inc. is the holding company of Siemens Healthineers AG’s U.S., based in Germany.
In addition to Executive Order 11246, OFCCP enforces Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act of 1974. These laws, as amended, prohibit federal contractors and subcontractors from discrimination in employment because of disability or status as a protected veteran.
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock – Georgia
New Web Portal from Senator Reverend Warnock Provides One-Stop Shop Resources to Help Georgians Recover from Hurricane Helene
Senator Reverend Warnock debuted a new web resource page to with clearinghouse of Federal and state programs providing hurricane recovery assistance throughout Georgia, from food to health care to relief for farmers
Senator Reverend Warnock: “Georgians need urgent help, and I’m thankful my staff was able to put together this important list of resources to get Georgians the assistance needed to recover from Hurricane Helene”
Click HERE for Senator Reverend Warnock’s Hurricane Helene Resource Page
Washington, D.C. – As Georgians across the state continue working to recover from Hurricane Helene’s devastating landfall, today U.S. Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA) announced a new comprehensive web resource to help Georgians navigate federal and state programs that are providing assistance to people and communities impacted by the storm. The Senator’s new Hurricane Helene Resource Page, located on the Senator’s official website, is updated regularly with new information and designed to help Georgians get the help they need—from securing immediate necessities like food, water, health care, and shelter, to the latest guidance on how to report damages to their homes, businesses, or farms, and spotting frauds and scams.
“My office and I have been on the ground and in frequent contact with communities in every corner of the state as recovery efforts continue, and this new web resource is one more step in our unending work to deliver all of the federal assistance needed to help Georgians come out stronger on the other side of this crisis,” said Senator Warnock. “Our work is just beginning to help families and communities rebuild, and while I’m pushing to make sure Washington is doing everything it can for our state, we’ll keep updating this web resource with the latest information to help connect Georgians with the assistance and support they need following Hurricane Helene’s devastation.”
Senator Warnock has been active in Georgia’s Hurricane Helene response efforts. Earlier this week, Senator Warnock traveled to Augusta to deliver needed supplies and survey the damage caused by Hurricane Helene, participating in a roundtable with community leaders and members at Golden Harvest Food Bank, touring storm damage around Augusta, and handing off cases of bottled water to local volunteers and residents at Tabernacle Baptist Church.
Additionally, ahead of Hurricane Helene’s landfall in Georgia, Senator Warnock and his office had been in touch with state and local leaders to offer support, and in the storm’s devastating aftermath have stayed in frequent contact with elected officials, hospital leaders, and other community leaders across the state to address the needs and provide support, including delivering water, power, and other necessary supplies. Since the storm’s landfall, the Senator has worked urgently to use the tools of the federal government to provide swift and robust support to impacted Georgia families and communities, including successfully pushing President Biden to approve an emergency disaster declaration and most recently joining his Georgia congressional delegation colleagues to urge the President to “promptly” make a major disaster declaration that will unlock additional aid and support for Georgians in need; at their request the Administration has approved several Georgia counties for individual and public disaster assistance, and are actively working to approve assistance for all of Georgia’s counties impacted by the storm. Additionally, as a member of the Senate Agriculture committee, Senator Warnock has been a vocal advocate for additional disaster aid to support Georgia’s farmers, and has called for the Senate to take up and pass legislation to provide additional relief as soon as possible.
Access Senator Warnock’s Hurricane Helene Resource Page HERE, which will be updated accordingly as new information is made available.
Source: United Nations (Video News)
Cooperation between the United Nations and regional and sub-regional organizations (AU) by members of the Joint Pledges on Climate, Peace and Security (France, Guyana, Japan, Malta, Mozambique, the Republic of Korea, Sierra Leone, Slovenia, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States of America).
Source: United Nations (Video News)
Media stakeout by Pascale Baeriswyl, Permanent Representative of Switzerland to the UN and President of the Security Council for the month of October 2024, on the Security Council support for the UN Secretary-General António Guterres.
Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Daniel Rosenbloom, Assistant Professor and Rosamond Ivey Research Chair in Sustainability Transitions, Carleton University
With the end of the supply-and-confidence agreement and plummeting support for the Liberals, Canada’s climate policy mix is becoming increasingly unstable with the future of everything from investment tax credits to carbon pricing seemingly in flux.
Given this uncertainty, some industrial emitters have stated they will refrain from making final investment decisions for major emission reducing projects until they receive certain guarantees. Their rationale is that the potential reversal of any climate policy risks the return on investment for their proposed projects.
Experts have pointed to an obscure mechanism known as a carbon contracts for difference (CCfDs) as an opportunity to allay such concerns.
CCfDs are contractual agreements designed to provide price stability for projects that reduce emissions. Under CCfDs, a government entity guarantees a fixed price for the emissions reductions achieved by an industrial project based on established climate policy (for example, the existing or future carbon price).
If the market price for those reductions falls below this fixed price, the government pays the difference to the project proponents. If the market price exceeds the fixed price, the excess is paid back to the government.
This type of mechanism is used by a number of governments around the world, including the United Kingdom, and some experts have suggested that a “broad-based contracts for difference program is the key to unlocking billions of dollars of investment in industrial decarbonization.”
The elegance and deceptive simplicity of this instrument has made it a policy winner in the eyes of many.
The Canada Growth Fund has allocated up to $7 billion for the issuance of CCfDs to unlock decarbonization projects. In theory, using a CCfD agreement gives an industry partner price stability on investment while the government gets to advance its goals of large emissions reducing projects. Seemingly, a win-win.
However, growing interdisciplinary research suggests that CCfDs may not always be the obvious win many assume they are.
There is a long-held understanding in political science that policies produce important feedback patterns that can either reinforce or erode their durability. For example, the social security program in the United States has created a significant voting bloc of beneficiaries that makes it difficult for policymakers to propose cuts to the program.
Bridging these insights with transition perspectives, my research indicates that harnessing these positive feedbacks can play an important role in building durable climate action.
Read more:
What does the end of the Liberal-NDP agreement mean for Canadians?
In Germany, scholars have found that incentives for new renewable energy (such as in the form of tariffs) helped build coalitions around alternative energy innovations. These coalitions in turn placed pressure upon leaders to ensure continued policy support. Similarly, scholars have shown that industrial policies that support alternative energy innovations and their networks can create positive feedbacks for the climate policy mix.
Translating these insights to the broad-based use of CCfDs reveals that this instrument risks undermining positive feedbacks or encouraging industrial decarbonization projects with limited ability to contribute to a long-term transition to net-zero.
There are three main issues with a CCfD-based approach.
First, as CCfDs protect the recipient’s bottom line, they are not necessarily incentivized to support existing climate policy. Some experts suggest that a way around this issue is to set the guaranteed price for carbon below the genuine carbon pricing policy. However, it is unclear how low such a discounted price would need to be to maintain positive feedbacks, or if the proposed difference would be sufficient to motivate final investment decisions.
Second, providing CCfDs for certain emissions reduction projects (such as carbon capture and storage) may inadvertently support industries that have an interest in reversing the direction of climate policy. This focus on opportunities that extend current systems or deliver least-cost emissions reductions reflects a common tendency in policymaking to misunderstand the climate crisis as simply a market failure, and not an issue requiring whole systems change.
Read more:
Why do we need a Net Zero Economy Authority? And how can it fulfil its promise?
Third, the time required to issue CCfDs on a case-by-case basis may actually encourage industrial actors to hold off on making final investment decisions until they receive a guarantee, delaying action further.
What this shows is that while CCfDs may have a targeted role to play in advancing critical emission reduction projects (such as those that unlock systems change in key sectors), policymakers should be wary of relying too heavily on this instrument.
A more strategic approach is needed that involves charting pathways between where sectors are now and long-term desirable net-zero outcomes — an approach that is being actively advanced by Canada’s Transition Accelerator. A strategic approach would focus support on industries willing to hitch their carts to the future of the climate policy mix and defend climate action no matter who is in office.
As the Ivey Research Chair in Sustainability Transitions, Daniel Rosenbloom would like to acknowledge the generous support of the Ivey Foundation. Rosenbloom is also a Steering Group member of the Sustainability Transitions Research Network, which is a scholarly network working toward the advancement of transition scholarship.
– ref. ‘Carbon contracts for difference’ are not a silver bullet for climate action – https://theconversation.com/carbon-contracts-for-difference-are-not-a-silver-bullet-for-climate-action-237437
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Kat Cammack (R-FL-03)
GAINESVILLE, FL — This afternoon, Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA-04) joined Congresswoman Kat Cammack (R-FL-03) and Congressman Neal Dunn (R-FL-02) for a visit to the areas in North Central Florida devastated by Hurricane Helene.
The group took an aerial tour of the damage, viewing Cedar Key, Suwannee, Horseshoe Beach, and Steinhatchee from above. Hurricane Helene made landfall last Thursday evening, dumping heavy rain that generated 18 feet of storm surge along the coastal areas in Florida’s Big Bend region.
The congressional leaders stopped in Steinhatchee to view the damage on the ground and to visit with local leaders who have been working around the clock to aid in initial cleanup efforts. The lawmakers also spoke with members of local, state, and national media, sharing important updates about recovery efforts and what more Congress can and should do to help the communities devastated by the storm.
“I’m grateful to Speaker Johnson for visiting some of Florida’s hardest-hit communities today. Seeing the damage and destruction from Hurricane Helene firsthand and hearing directly from the folks who continue to struggle with relief from the federal government was critical, especially because these same communities also endured Hurricane Idalia and Debby in the last 13 months. Some of those very same folks have yet to receive the disaster assistance they applied for,” said Rep. Cammack. “We’re going to continue our efforts to get our region back up and running and I’m grateful for the Speaker’s commitment to this work.”
Speaker Johnson, Rep. Cammack, and Rep. Dunn speak to members of the local, state, and national media about their visit.
Speaker Mike Johnson told members of local, state, and national press during a stop in Steinhatchee: “I think this has been an extraordinary effort by Florida, the state and local officials. It’s just really inspiring to see how well it’s been covered and how much the community is rolling up its sleeves and working together. Here in this community, it would inspire the entire country to see how they’re really banded together. They’re undeterred. This is a very resilient community of people. That’s the best of America. We have this disaster now that’s around the country. We have people in North Carolina still stranded in their homes in the mountains, and people in Georgia and a number of other states that have been terribly affected by this storm. So, Congress is on the ground, the representatives who represent all those districts are there with their constituents, with their people trying to help, and we will do what’s necessary to make sure that Americans are taken care of.”
“North Florida is tough, and the resilience of our communities in the wake of Hurricane Helene continues to inspire. Local leaders, residents, and federal officials have come together with strength and determination, showing the grit and dedication needed to rebuild,” Congressman Neal Dunn said. “I am honored to host Speaker Johnson as we work together, and I am committed to advocating for aid and providing the support our communities need through every step of the recovery process.”
Initial damage estimates from the storm could total over $160B.
For assistance with recovery resources from Hurricane Helene, visit cammack.house.gov or call (352) 505-0838.
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Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency 2
North Carolinians May Be Eligible for Transitional Sheltering in Hotels
ATLANTA – FEMA has activated Transitional Sheltering Assistance (TSA) for North Carolinians displaced by Tropical Storm Helene in Alexander, Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Caldwell, Catawba, Clay, Cleveland, Gaston, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Lincoln, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Transylvania, Watauga, Wilkes and Yancey counties and for the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.
Residents in these counties who have applied for disaster assistance may be eligible to stay temporarily in a hotel or motel paid for by FEMA while they work on their long-term housing plan. People do not need to request this assistance. FEMA will notify them of their eligibility through an automated phone call, text message, and/or email, depending upon the method of communication they selected at the time of application for disaster assistance.
Individuals and households may be eligible if they cannot return to their disaster-damaged home and their housing needs cannot be met by insurance, shelters or rental assistance provided by FEMA or another agency.
Under the TSA program, FEMA pays the cost of room, taxes and non-refundable pet fees directly to participating hotels and motels. Pet fees will only be paid up to the approved limit of assistance for individual rooms. Survivors are responsible for all other costs, including laundry, restaurant/room service, parking, telephone, or movie rental.
Eligible survivors may stay in participating TSA hotels in Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia. To locate participating hotels, visit femaemergencyhotels.com/ and enter your FEMA registration number, obtained when you applied for FEMA assistance.
An initial eligibility review will be conducted 60-days after the check-in date. When eligibility ends, survivors will be notified by FEMA seven days prior to checkout date.
TSA participants may also be eligible for other federal financial help, including Displacement Assistance, Rental Assistance, Home Repair Assistance and other aspects of the Individual Assistance program.
To apply for assistance, homeowners and renters can:
For the latest information on North Carolina’s’ recovery from Hurricane Helene visit fema.gov/disaster/4827. Follow FEMA on X at x.com/femaregion4 or on Facebook at facebook.com/fema.
To view an accessible video about how to apply visit: Three Ways to Register for FEMA Disaster Assistance – YouTube.
For North Carolinians seeking general information, please visit ncdps.gov/helene.
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