Source: United States of America – Federal Government Departments (video statements)
Investing in America: The Power of Western Winds centers on Carbon County, Wyoming, a historic coal community that is building one of the largest wind farms and transmission systems in the United States. These projects will create over 1,500 jobs for union workers.
In June 2023, U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm and U.S. Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland visited Carbon County to celebrate the groundbreaking of the TransWest Express Transmission Project, which will carry clean energy from the Chokecherry and Sierra Madre Wind Energy Project across the American West.
Western Winds of Change is the latest video in DOE’s new clean energy jobs series. It follows three more videos highlighting workers across the United States.
Source: United States of America – Federal Government Departments (video statements)
This Week: Interior announces a nearly $82 million investment to bring clean, safe drinking water to Tribal communities in the West; more than $74 million is on the way for Kentucky to address dangerous and polluting abandoned mine lands; Interior announces an international effort for conservation of the American bison; Interior invests nearly $46 million for ecosystem restoration activities in the Klamath Basin; Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks Shannon Estenoz visits Arizona and Tennessee to highlight efforts to expand and rehabilitate urban parks; the Provo River Delta Restoration Project in Utah is now complete, providing an improved ecosystem and better recreational opportunities; the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management completes the sixth offshore wind lease sale of the Biden-Harris administration, and the first in the Gulf of Maine; the U.S. Geological Survey awards $4.8 million to preserve vital geologic and geophysical data and samples; and we summon up a haunted and historic landscape for our social media Picture of the Week! Make sure you follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube!
Source: United States of America – Federal Government Departments (video statements)
The Office of Family Violence Prevention and Services wants to thank all the advocates, shelters, States, Tribes, Coalitions, Federal Partners, and community members for their 40 years of unwavering commitment to survivors, children and youth. You have provided advocacy, leadership, and organization that has changed lives and improved our nation’s ability to help, believe and support all survivors.
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U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) | http://www.hhs.gov
Source: United States of America – Federal Government Departments (video statements)
Watch the launch of a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft delivering science investigations, supplies, and holiday food to the International Space Station. The 31st SpaceX commercial resupply mission to the orbiting lab will lift off on a Falcon 9 rocket from our Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 9:29 p.m. EST, Monday, Nov. 4 (0229 UTC, Tuesday, Nov. 5).
Dragon will carry several new experiments to the station, including the Coronal Diagnostic Experiment, to examine solar wind and how it forms. Dragon will also deliver Antarctic moss to observe the combined effects of cosmic radiation and microgravity on plants. Other investigations include a device to test cold welding of metals in microgravity, and an investigation that studies how space impacts different materials.
More about the research aboard Dragon: https://science.nasa.gov/science-research/biological-physical-sciences/nasa-science-on-health-safety-to-launch-on-31st-spacex-resupply-mission/
Source: United States of America – Federal Government Departments (video statements)
No two stories are the same.
Disaster assistance is not one-size-fits all—we will consider your specific situation & needs when we review your application.
Learn how disaster assistance is helping Tyler and the people he works with in western North Carolina.
Source: United States of America – Federal Government Departments (video statements)
Secretary Becerra explains how new this year, DACA recipients can sign up for health coverage and receive tax credits at HealthCare.gov. DACA recipients can go to HealthCare.gov to see what they qualify for and sign up during open enrollment, which runs November 1 through January 15.
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U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) | http://www.hhs.gov | HHS Privacy Policy | http://www.hhs.gov/Privacy.html
Source: United States of America – Federal Government Departments (video statements)
Exciting news for Knoxville, Tennessee! Thanks to funding from the Biden-Harris infrastructure law, the city’s getting the boost it needs to make streets safer for everyone and improve climate resiliency.
Climate change and nature loss are affecting all aspects of our lives, including our economies . What is the latest research telling us, and what is the cost to the economy? Stefania Secola talks to Executive Board member Frank Elderson and Deputy Director General and researcher Livio Stracca about how rising physical risks will affect our economies.
The views expressed are those of the speakers and not necessarily those of the European Central Bank.
This episode was recorded before the tragic floods in Spain.
Published on 1 November.
In this episode:
01:42 Floods, wildfires and droughts
How do climate change and nature degradation affect our economies? And how high was the economic loss caused by recent extreme weather events ?
05:52 Catastrophe insurance
What is it? How many people have it? And what does it mean for our preparedness if disaster were to strike?
06:57 Adapting to a changing economy
It’s clear that our environment is changing. How can we adapt our activities in the face of these changes?
10:05 The Network for Greening the Financial System
What is it, and what does it do? And what does it have to do with central banks and supervisors?
12:32 How do climate change and nature loss affect our economies?
How much higher are the expected losses than we previously thought? What’s the latest scientific research telling us?
14:58 Climate messages during the Conference of the Parties (COP) meetings
Which topics need more attention? And what can we do about it?
19:19 Our guests’ hot tips
Further reading:
The impact of climate change and policies on productivity
https://www.ecb.europa.eu/pub/pdf/scpops/ecb.op340~0173592e52.en.pdf
Policy options to reduce the climate insurance protection gap
https://www.ecb.europa.eu/pub/pdf/other/ecb.policyoptions_EIOPA~c0adae58b7.en.pdf
Living in a world of disappearing nature: physical risk and the implications for financial stability
https://www.ecb.europa.eu/pub/pdf/scpops/ecb.op333~1b97e436be.en.pdf
What to do about Europe’s climate insurance gap
https://www.ecb.europa.eu/press/blog/date/2023/html/ecb.blog.230424~4cdc3a38ba.en.html
Failing to plan is planning to fail – why transition planning is essential for banks
https://www.bankingsupervision.europa.eu/press/blog/2024/html/ssm.blog240123~5471c5f63e.en.html
The climate insurance protection gap
https://www.ecb.europa.eu/ecb/climate/climate/html/index.en.html
The Network for Greening the Financial System
https://www.ngfs.net/en
Measuring economic losses caused by climate change
https://cepr.org/voxeu/columns/measuring-economic-losses-caused-climate-change
“Know thyself” – avoiding policy mistakes in light of the prevailing climate science
https://www.bankingsupervision.europa.eu/press/speeches/date/2024/html/ssm.sp240412~c256dc168c.en.html
Hothouse Earth by Gill McGuire
https://www.google.com/search?safe=active&sca_esv=0d2d5197637c41d9&rlz=1C1GCEA_enDE1060DE1060&q=hothouse+earth+bill+mcguire&udm=3&fbs=AEQNm0Aa4sjWe7Rqy32pFwRj0UkWd8nbOJfsBGGB5IQQO6L3J_86uWOeqwdnV0yaSF-x2jqw-AzvpDFRWNmLZKilfTrfO0pl9dtT9e2t2elzSdzPviJlaPtdkm_zev73LcACj_Zt3WoLu1loKbhUBQ0BvD6_OC9OERnpW26hAPVqw_fTJrjRkQgEJf5SXlzvVj2JhcxyIvER&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwi2yfiVobGJAxX6_7sIHZckMjAQs6gLegQIExAB&biw=1280&bih=665&dpr=1.5
Source: United States of America – Department of State (video statements)
Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken hosts and delivers remarks at a Diwali reception at the Department of State, on November 1, 2024.
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Under the leadership of the President and Secretary of State, the U.S. Department of State leads America’s foreign policy through diplomacy, advocacy, and assistance by advancing the interests of the American people, their safety and economic prosperity. On behalf of the American people we promote and demonstrate democratic values and advance a free, peaceful, and prosperous world.
The Secretary of State, appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate, is the President’s chief foreign affairs adviser. The Secretary carries out the President’s foreign policies through the State Department, which includes the Foreign Service, Civil Service and U.S. Agency for International Development.
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Press conference by Arif Husain, Chief Economist, World Food Programme, and Rein Paulsen, Director of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Office of Emergencies and Resilience. They briefed reporters virtually on the Hunger Hotspots report.
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Acute food insecurity is set to increase in both magnitude and severity across 22 countries and territories, according to a new United Nations report. The report warns that the spread of conflict, particularly in the Middle East – coupled with climate and economic stressors – is pushing millions of people to the brink. The report spotlights the regional fallout from the crisis in Gaza which has seen Lebanon engulfed in conflict and warns that the La Niña weather pattern could impact climates through March 2025, threatening fragile food systems in already vulnerable regions.
Food and Agriculture Organization’s (FAO) Director of Emergencies Rein Paulsen and World Food Programme’s (WFP) Chief Economist Arif Husain briefed reporters today (31 Oct) in New York, via video link.
The report draws attention to famine in the Zamzam camp in North Darfur and famine risk in other areas of Sudan, the enduring risk of famine in Palestine (Gaza Strip) and the catastrophic levels of acute food insecurity in, Haiti, Mali and South Sudan – warning that without immediate humanitarian action and concerted efforts to overcome severe access constraints and resolve ongoing conflicts, further starvation and death are likely.
The report – ‘Hunger Hotspots – FAO-WFP early warnings on acute food insecurity’ – issued today by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) calls for urgent humanitarian action to save lives and livelihoods and prevent starvation and death in hotspots where acute hunger is at high risk of worsening between November 2024 and May 2025.
In total, 22 countries/territories are classified as “hunger hotspots”, where high levels of acute food insecurity are expected to further deteriorate due to the combination of conflict, economic instability, and climate shocks during the outlook period. Without immediate intervention, including increased funding for food and livelihoods assistance, hundreds of thousands more people are expected to face starvation in the coming months.
“The situation in the five hunger hotspots of highest concern is catastrophic. People are experiencing an extreme lack of food and face unprecedented enduring starvation fuelled by escalating conflicts, climate crises and economic shocks. If we are to save lives and prevent acute hunger and malnutrition, we urgently need a humanitarian ceasefire, and to restore access to and availability of highly nutritious food, including reactivating local food production. But this alone is not enough; we need longer-term.
stability and food security. Peace is a pre-requisite for food security. Without peace and stability, farmers cannot grow food, harvest or sustain their livelihoods. Access to nutritious food is not just a basic need – it is a fundamental human right,” said QU Dongyu, FAO Director-General.
“Worldwide, conflicts are escalating, economic instability is rising, and climate disasters are becoming the new norm. With more effective political and financial support, humanitarians can and will continue to implement proven and scalable solutions to address hunger and reduce needs over the long term,” said Cindy McCain, WFP Executive Director.
“It’s time for world leaders to step up and work with us to reach the millions of people at risk of starvation – delivering diplomatic solutions to conflicts, using their influence to enable humanitarians to work safely, and mobilizing the resources and partnerships needed to halt global hunger in its tracks,” Director McCain added.
The effects of the La Niña weather pattern, anticipated to impact global climates from November 2024 through March 2025, are expected to further exacerbate some of the food crises. While some areas may benefit from improved agricultural conditions, La Niña is likely to cause devastating floods in countries such as Nigeria and South Sudan, while potentially contributing to dry conditions in Somalia, Kenya, and Ethiopian. These extreme weather events threaten already fragile food systems, putting millions at risk of hunger.
The report stresses that early, targeted action is essential to prevent the further deterioration of the crisis and avert mass hunger-related mortality. FAO and WFP are urging world leaders to prioritize conflict resolution, economic support, and climate adaptation measures to protect the most vulnerable populations from the brink of famine.
Briefing by Adedeji Ebo, Director and Deputy to the High representative for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA), on threats to international peace and security.
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The Director of the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA), Adedeji Ebo, today (31 Oct) told the Security Council both Russia and Ukraine have continued to receive arms, ammunition and other forms of military assistance, and urged all concerned “to refrain from any steps that may lead to further spill over and intensification of the war.”
Ebo said the armed forces of Ukraine have reportedly received “heavy conventional weapons such as battle tanks, armoured combat vehicles, combat aircraft, helicopters, light calibre artillery systems, missile systems and uncrewed combat aerial vehicles, as well as remotely operated munitions and small arms and light weapons and their ammunition.”
While Russia has also reportedly received weapons such as uncrewed aerial vehicles, ballistic missiles and ammunition, Ebo highlighted recent reports that refer to “the presence of third party military personnel in the Russian Federation to assist in military operations against Ukrainian forces.”
Press conference by Nicholas Koumjian, Head of the Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar on the situation in Myanmar.
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“Very, very regrettably, the frequency and the brutality of crimes in Myanmar has only increased in the past year,” Nicholas Koumjian, Head of the Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar, said.
Koumjian spoke to reporters today (31 Oct) in New York, highlighting the concern of the increase in aerial attacks, “which are impacting largely the civilian population and creating terror among the population.”
“The number of casualties that have been affected by these attacks has increased,” he added.
The head of the Investigative Mechanism also stressed the systematic use of torture in detention, “the evidence that we have gathered has indicated that detention that torture is used frequently, regularly, and particularly note the very disturbing use of sexual violence and against those who are detained, and that includes against both women and men, people of all genders, of all sexual preferences and people, including against both adults and minors,” he said.
Moving on to the situation for the Rohingyas refugees, Koumjian said, “they’ve been both victims of collateral damage and directly targeted in attacks.”
He went on saying, “Frequently they’ve been told to leave their homes, but there really is nowhere for them to go. They cannot cross the border, although some have managed to cross the border into Bangladesh, and Bangladesh has accepted some the borders generally closed. People have to pay bribes to get across into the safety of the refugee camps.”
The head of the Investigative Mechanism also expressed concerns that much of the evidence shows attacks against the civilian population by the Myanmar military.
He said, “We’ve seen increasing evidence of very brutal crimes committed by opposition forces, and we’re concerned with that, and we want the message to go out. Our mandate is to collect evidence of the most serious international crimes committed by in Myanmar, and that’s regardless of the ethnicity, religion, political persuasions of either the perpetrators or the victims.”
“We will collect evidence of crimes committed by opposition forces also if those rise to the level that they fall within our mandate,” the head of the Investigative Mechanism concluded.
Koumjian is the first Head of the Myanmar Mechanism, which was established by the Human Rights Council on 27 September 2018, and welcomed by the General Assembly on 22 December 2018.
Press conference by Erik Mose, Pablo de Greiff and Vrinda Gover, of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine.
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According to the United Nations’ Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine, the “Russian authorities acted pursuant to a coordinated state policy of torturing Ukrainian civilians and prisoners of war. Therefore, in addition to torture as a war crime, they also committed torture as a crime against humanity,” said Erik Mose, a member of the commission, during a press briefing in New York.
The report highlights violent practices reportedly transported from Russian Federation detention facilities to occupied areas in Ukraine. These included the recurrent use of sexual violence and a division of labor among Russian security forces deployed in Ukrainian territories.
“This report contains evidence of further common elements, including, first, the transposition of violent practices common in Russian Federation detention facilities to similar facilities in occupied areas of Ukraine,” Mose added. “Second, the recurrent use of sexual violence. Third, the deployment of specific services and security forces from the Russian Federation to the occupied areas they controlled in Ukraine, who acted in a coordinated manner and according to a specific division of labor, and fourth, orders of superiors, as well as an apparent sense of impunity among perpetrators.”
Vrinda Grover, another commission member, described a pattern of consistent torture methods used in detention facilities, detailing what she called a “replication of practices” aimed at controlling and punishing detainees.
“Detainees consistently described the use of the same harsh practices in the same sequence, demonstrating the replication of practices of torture,” Grover said. “Testimonies described a brutal so-called admission procedure, harsh practices designed to scare, break, humiliate, coerce, and punish detainees were used routinely. Personnel monitored compliance with their rules through surveillance cameras and imposed severe collective punishment for any breach. Interrogations were accompanied by some of the most violent treatment documented.”
The Commission of Inquiry, established by the Human Rights Council in March 2022, has been investigating alleged human rights violations in Ukraine amid Russia’s ongoing invasion. Tuesday’s report to the General Assembly marks the Commission’s latest findings to date.
Source: International Monetary Fund – IMF (video statements)
OUT NOW: Read our latest Regional Economic Outlook for Asia and Pacific: Resilient Growth But Higher Risks
Growth in Asia was resilient in the first half of 2024. As a result, we have upgraded our growth forecast for the region to 4.6% for this year, and to 4.4% for 2025. With this, Asia remains the world’s growth engine, accounting for 60% of global growth this year.
At UN Headquarters in New York, Under-Secretary General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix will discuss issues related to the ongoing conflict in Lebanon and continued attacks against UN troops stationed along the so-called ‘Blue Line.’ The interview conducted by the UN’s Director of News & Media, Ian Phillips.
Ambassador Barbara Woodward, Permanent Representative of the United Kingdom to the UN and President of the Security Council for the month of November 2024 will brief reporters on the programme of work of the Security Council in November 2024.
Source: United States of America – Federal Government Departments (video statements)
An installment in EERE’s Clean Energy in Action series, this video highlights how the Philadelphia Eagles became the first professional sports team in North America to make use of clean hydrogen that is produced on site. https://www.energy.gov/eere/articles/fuel-eagles-fuel
The report – ‘Hunger Hotspots – FAO-WFP early warnings on acute food insecurity’ – issued today by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) calls for urgent humanitarian action to save lives and livelihoods and prevent starvation and death in hotspots where acute hunger is at high risk of worsening between November 2024 and May 2025
With climate and biodiversity on the global agenda, the business benefits of net zero are clear, says Gim Huay Neo, co-chair of a Global Alliance of CEO Climate LeadersIn an open letter ahead of #COP29, the Alliance of CEO Climate Leaders calls for urgent action to combat climate change.
Highlighting the critical role of collaborative leadership from business and government, the world’s largest CEO-led climate community is advocating for ambitious, science-based targets to support climate action and spur investment.
Read the full letter: wef.ch/COP29OpenLetter24
The World Economic Forum is the International Organization for Public-Private Cooperation. The Forum engages the foremost political, business, cultural and other leaders of society to shape global, regional and industry agendas. We believe that progress happens by bringing together people from all walks of life who have the drive and the influence to make positive change.
Source: Republic of South Africa (video statements-2)
Fikile Marakalla, a SADEC award winner and a professional photographer alongside Marcia Ramodika, an multi award-winning publisher and author share with us how they managed to be at this level at a young age.