NewzIntel.com

Category: Natural Disasters

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Matt Gaetz Spotlights Partisan Smear Against DHS Inspector General Joseph Cuffari Following Swamp Screed Report Recommending His Firing

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Matt Gaetz (1st District of Florida)

    Washington, D.C. — Today, in the wake of last week’s swamp screed report recommending President Joe Biden fire the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Inspector General (IG) Joseph Cuffari, U.S. Congressman Matt Gaetz (FL-01) sent a letter to IG Cuffari highlighting the partisan campaign against him.

    Rep. Gaetz’s letter comes after a panel of Biden-Harris appointees on the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity (CIGIE) released a 1,000-page report accusing IG Cuffari of misconduct in what appears to be partisan retaliation to his diligent oversight of DHS. IG Cuffari investigated and exposed multiple Biden-Harris DHS failures, including the crisis at the southern border, the attempted assassinations of President Trump, and the mishandling of funds by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). During a Judiciary Committee hearing in July, FBI Director Christopher Wray was in agreement with Rep. Gaetz that it would not be a “good idea” to fire IG Cuffari.

    Full text of Congressman Gaetz’s letter to Inspector General Cuffari can be found HERE. Additionally, exclusive coverage of the letter by Daily Caller can be found HERE.

    LETTER TEXT

    Dear Inspector General Cuffari:

    Testifying before Congress shortly after the first assassination attempt on former President Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania, FBI Director Christopher Wray expressly noted that “I don’t think [it] would be a good idea” to remove you from your duties during the pendency of your investigation into that incident. I agree with Director Wray: It would look like a cover-up on the part of President Biden and Vice President Harris. Given two assassination attempts on former President Trump, your continued oversight responsibilities related to the Southern border crisis, and now the numerous whistleblowers coming forward about FEMA mismanagement of the Hurricane Helene response, removing you might be politically convenient for those in power, but Americans would see it as a dirty trick.

    You have independent oversight over the nerve center of the D.C. swamp, and the knives are out for you. I am very concerned that Vice President Harris and others who want to cover up the open border and the assassination attempts on former President Trump will be calling for your firing and privately leaning on President Biden to remove you. I am confident the Vice President would love to have the President remove you before the election, or in the lame duck period, politically the best time to effectuate such a coup. The bureaucracy is trying to give them a fig leaf to get away with it and to pretend it is anything other than a cover- up: last week’s long-awaited 1000-page screed attacking you.

    It is telling, and rather gross, that this report comes out right before the November election. After all, your office has oversight over parts of the Department of Homeland Security that might be asleep at the wheel as our election technology is penetrated by foreign adversaries.

    I, much of Congress, and the American people stand with you. Keep uncovering the truth and performing your constitutional duties faithfully.

    Sincerely, 

    Matt Gaetz​​​​​
    Member of Congress

    ###

    For updates, subscribe to Congressman Gaetz’s newsletter here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Hudson, Tillis Lead NC Colleagues in Urging HHS & FEMA to Operationalize Greensboro Migrant Facility to Support Western North Carolina’s Recovery from Helene

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Richard Hudson (NC-08)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Representative Richard Hudson (R-NC) and Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) led Republican Members of North Carolina’s Congressional Delegation in a letter to Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator Deanne Criswell on the urgent need to operationalize urging the Greensboro Influx Care Facility (ICF) to assist in Western North Carolina’s recovery efforts from Hurricane Helene.

    In addition to Representative Hudson and Senator Tillis, the letter was signed by Senator Ted Budd (R-NC), and Representatives Chuck Edwards (R-NC), David Rouzer (R-NC), Dan Bishop (R-NC), Virginia Foxx (R-NC), Greg Murphy (R-NC), and Patrick McHenry (R-NC).

    The lawmakers wrote, “As you may know, Health and Human Services (HHS) currently operates GCC as an Influx Care Facility (ICF) meant to house and support unaccompanied alien children (UAC) in the case of an emergency. However, in June 2024, HHS’s Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) at the Administration for Children & Families (ACF) announced that GCC has “ramped down its operations to facility upkeep.”

    “Based on our understanding of this facility, we think that it could be incredibly useful in supporting the people of western North Carolina as the region recovers from Hurricane Helene,” the lawmakers continued. “For example, GCC could be used to temporarily house those displaced by the storm or to serve as a staging area for aid workers stationed in the state.”

    “Our delegation is grateful for the work that has been done by your agencies so far to assist the people of North Carolina. However, much more can and should be done to expediently aid those whose lives have been upended by this storm. We believe operationalizing GCC for the purposes of aid and recovery is an effective way to do so,” the lawmakers concluded.

    Read the full letter HERE.

    -###-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: How CBO Uses Discount Rates to Estimate the Present Value of Future Costs or Savings

    Source: US Congressional Budget Office

    Many activities of the federal government have budgetary and other effects that can last far into the future. To produce estimates of those budgetary effects—and to help lawmakers compare different policies—the Congressional Budget Office often has to translate a flow of future income or payments into an equivalent lump-sum value today. This report describes such present-value estimates, particularly how CBO selects and uses discount rates to calculate the value of future cash flows in its analyses.

    • Discount Rates and Present Values. The present value of future cash flows depends on the rate used to convert those flows into a single equivalent value at a specific time, generally the present. Discount rates account for the time value of money: the fact that an amount received or paid today is more valuable than the same amount received or paid in the future. Discount rates can also incorporate factors such as risk, inflation, and other considerations that can affect the value of an asset to a person or business.
    • Types of Estimates That Use Present Values. CBO uses discount rates for a wide variety of estimates. They include estimates of the budgetary cost of federal programs that make or guarantee loans, the financial position of the Social Security trust funds, and the long-term effects of spending for infrastructure or children’s health on federal spending and revenues. CBO also uses discount rates to estimate household wealth, the value of future retirement benefits, the lifetime costs of weapon systems, the likelihood that people will invest in energy-saving technologies, and the cost of future damage from flooding, among other topics.
    • CBO’s Methods and Data for Choosing Discount Rates. The choice of discount rates can have large effects on estimates, especially for cash flows far in the future. To estimate discount rates that are consistent with market prices and rates of return, CBO uses data from an array of sources, including financial markets, the Bureau of Economic Analysis, the Federal Reserve, and academic studies. CBO’s discount rates may differ from those used by the Administration for various reasons, such as differences in economic assumptions, assessments of risk, and decisions about what factors discount rates should reflect.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: North Sydney — RCMP investigates fatal vehicle-pedestrian collision

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    RCMP Northeast Traffic Services (NETS) is investigating a fatal vehicle-pedestrian collision that occurred in North Sydney.

    On October 4, at approximately 7:55 p.m., RCMP NETS, Cape Breton Regional Police (CBRP), fire services, and EHS responded to a report of a crash on Hwy. 125. RCMP officers learned that a pedestrian was on the roadway when they were struck by a Nissan Murano travelling eastbound.

    The pedestrian, a 65-year-old Sydney Mines man, was transported to hospital and pronounced deceased.

    The driver and passenger of the Nissan did not report physical injuries.

    An RCMP collision reconstructionist attended the scene and the investigation is ongoing.

    Hwy. 125 was closed for several hours but has since reopened.

    Our thoughts are with the victim’s loved ones at this difficult time.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Oral question – Irreplaceability of vehicles powered by internal combustion engines in emergency situations – O-000012/2024

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for oral answer  O-000012/2024
    to the Commission
    Rule 142
    Christine Anderson, Ivan David, Ewa Zajączkowska-Hernik, Marcin Sypniewski, Stanisław Tyszka, René Aust
    on behalf of the ESN Group

    It would be extremely challenging to replace internal combustion engines in rescue vehicles, especially during crises like the recent floods in eastern Europe. Internal combustion engines provide high power and reliability, both of which are crucial for coping with extreme conditions such as deep water, debris and unpredictable terrain. Electric or alternative-fuel vehicles often face limitations in range, refueling infrastructure and battery life. During emergencies, vehicles must be able to deploy rapidly and refuel quickly in remote or damaged areas, and current electric-vehicle technology struggles to meet these demands. Moreover, rescue operations often involve heavy-duty equipment, which requires sustained power output – something for which internal combustion engines are well suited. The current technological level of electric vehicles is not sufficient: further advances in battery technology, faster recharging, and guaranteed resilience in harsh environments are required.

    Hence the question:

    Catastrophic floods have shown that rescue work cannot be carried out without vehicles with internal combustion engines. Is the Commission aware that banning the sale of cars with internal combustion engines will paralyse the fire, ambulance and police services, as well as the military, and that it would no longer be possible to deploy these emergency services to save the lives, health and property of citizens and the public sector in the event of natural disasters?

    Submitted: 4.10.2024

    Lapses: 5.1.2025

    Last updated: 7 October 2024

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Financial support for tourism businesses in disaster-stricken Magnesia – E-001908/2024

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-001908/2024
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Yannis Maniatis (S&D)

    After storm Daniel hit in September 2023, extensive parts of the Region of Thessaly were ravaged by floods, which caused severe damage to infrastructure and businesses. On top of this, towards the end of August this year, thousands of dead fish washed up on the shores of the Pagasetic Gulf causing a major environmental disaster, which brought the area to its knees and drove tourists away. The tourism sector, a mainstay of the local economy, in particular Magnesia’s economy, now finds itself in a critical situation as businesses are unable to return to business as usual without direct financial support.

    Given how serious and urgent a matter this is, can the Commission answer the following:

    • 1.Will it deploy available financial instruments to provide direct support to tourism businesses in Magnesia that have been affected by Storm Daniel and the dead fish in the Pagasetic Gulf?
    • 2.Is it considering the possibility of giving priority funding from European programmes to activities focused on rebuilding and strengthening the tourism sector in the regional unit of Magnesia?
    • 3.What steps will it take to ensure the viability of tourism businesses in areas such as Magnesia that are affected by environmental disasters, bearing in mind the increasing risk posed by climate change?

    Submitted: 1.10.2024

    Last updated: 7 October 2024

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Agenda – Monday, 7 October 2024 – Strasbourg

    Source: European Parliament

    1     Resumption of session and order of business
    44   One year after the 7 October terrorist attacks by Hamas
    Commission statement
    [2024/2864(RSP)]
    27   The reintroduction of internal border controls in a number of Member States and its impact on the Schengen Area
    Commission statement
    [2024/2819(RSP)]
    28   Need to fight the systemic problem of gender-based violence in Europe
    Commission statement
    [2024/2847(RSP)]
    29   Facing fake news, populism and disinformation in the EU – the importance of public broadcasting, media pluralism and independent journalism
    Commission statement
    [2024/2848(RSP)]
    43   The extreme wildfires in Southern Europe, in particular Portugal and Greece and the need for further EU climate action on adaptation and mitigation
    Commission statement
    [2024/2861(RSP)]
        Short presentation of the following report:
    18   – Mobilisation of the European Union Solidarity Fund: assistance to Italy, Slovenia, Austria, Greece and France further to natural disasters occurred in 2023
    Report:  Georgios Aftias (A10-0002/2024)
    Report on the proposal for a decision of the European Parliament and of the Council on the mobilisation of the European Union Solidarity Fund to provide assistance to Italy, Slovenia, Austria, Greece and France relating to six natural disasters occurred in 2023
    [COM(2024)0325 – C10-0088/2024 – 2024/0212(BUD)]
    Committee on Budgets
    2     One-minute speeches (Rule 179)

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: South Dakotans Have One Week Left to Apply for FEMA Assistance

    Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency

    Headline: South Dakotans Have One Week Left to Apply for FEMA Assistance

    South Dakotans Have One Week Left to Apply for FEMA Assistance

    SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – South Dakotans in Davison, Lincoln, Turner, and Union counties impacted by this summer’s severe storms have one week remaining to apply for federal disaster assistance. The deadline is October 15, 2024.

    How Individuals can Apply for Disaster Assistance

    • Go online to DisasterAssistance.gov for English, or DisasterAssistance.gov/es for Spanish.
    • Use the FEMA mobile app in English or Spanish.
    • Call the disaster assistance helpline at 800-621-3362 anytime from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. seven days a week until further notice. Multilingual operators are available. Shorter wait times are more likely in the mornings or evenings. Anyone using a relay service, such as video relay service (VRS), captioned telephone service or others, can give FEMA the number for that service.

    For an accessible video on three ways to apply for FEMA assistance, visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LU7wzRjByhI

    U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)

    Disaster Recovery Update

    Since President Biden’s major disaster declaration for South Dakota on August 15, federal agencies have approved $13,970,610.76 in grants and loans to assist in recovery (as of Oct. 6).

    To date, a total of 1,370 people in Davison, Lincoln, Turner, and Union counties have applied with FEMA for assistance. FEMA has approved $8,440,710.76 through the Individuals and Households program, consisting of $5,734,872.33 in Housing Assistance for home repairs and rental expenses, and $2,705,838.43 in Other Needs Assistance for repair or replacement of personal property, vehicle repair or replacement, moving expenses and other disaster-related needs.

    In addition, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has approved $5,529,900 in low interest disaster loans for homeowners, renters, and businesses.

    Stay in Touch with FEMA

    If you have already applied for disaster assistance with FEMA, it is important that you stay in touch and keep your contact information updated. FEMA may need additional information from you in order to process your assistance or determine your eligibility. Please note that calls from FEMA may come from an unknown number on your caller-ID.

    # # #

    FEMA’s mission is helping people before, during, and after disasters. 
    Follow us on X (formerly Twitter) at @femaregion8

    jamie.casterton

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: FEMA Issues Public Notice for North Carolina

    Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency

    Headline: FEMA Issues Public Notice for North Carolina

    FEMA Issues Public Notice for North Carolina

    Raleigh, NC – A public notice has been posted describing available FEMA assistance and proposed FEMA-funded actions, including activities that may affect historic properties, threatened and endangered species, critical habitat, or wetlands and floodplains in North Carolina. 

    FEMA is required by law to provide public notice of its intent to provide federal assistance and grant opportunities via the Individual Assistance, Public Assistance and Hazard Mitigation Grant Programs following the major disaster declaration for Tropical Storm Helene. 

    The public notice is posted on FEMA’s disaster web page at /disaster-federal-register-notice/dr-4827-nc-public-notice and on the North Carolina Division of Emergency Management website at https://www.ncdps.gov/our-organization/emergency-management/hurricane-helene.

    This may be the only public notice. Interested persons may obtain information about these actions or a specific project by writing to the Federal Emergency Management Agency Region 4, 3005 Chamblee Tucker Road, Atlanta, Georgia 30341-4112, or by email to FEMA-R4EHP@fema.dhs.gov. Please include in the subject line of the email, “DR-4827-nc EHAD.” Comments should be sent in writing within 30 days of the date of this notice.

    For the latest information about North Carolina’s recovery, visit fema.gov/disaster/4827. Follow FEMA on X at x.com/femaregion4 or on Facebook at facebook.com/fema.

    martyce.allenjr

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Bennet Statement Recognizing One Year Since the October 7th Hamas Attack on Israel

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Colorado Michael Bennet
    Denver — Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet released the following statement marking one year since the Hamas terrorist attack on Israel: 
    “On October 7th, 2023, Hamas terrorists invaded Israel, brutally killing 1,200 innocent people and kidnapping 250 more. A year later, Hamas still holds almost 100 hostages, among them at least seven Americans: Edan Alexander, Itay Chen z”l, Sagui Dekel-Chen, Gadi Haggai z”l, Omer Neutra, Keith Siegel, and Judith Weinstein z”l. At the same time, Iran and its proxies continue to sow chaos throughout the Middle East – including by attacking U.S. troops and targeting American interests. The U.S. must defend our people and our allies, including Israel.
    “This terrible war has inflicted enormous human suffering and trauma on Israelis, Palestinians, and people far beyond the Middle East, itself. As the families of Hamas’ hostages continue to call for an agreement to free their loved ones and secure a mutual ceasefire in Gaza, the U.S. must continue leading efforts to achieve such a deal. The U.S. must also lead efforts to secure an enforceable agreement that allows tens of thousands of displaced civilians on both sides of the Israel-Lebanon border to return to their homes.
    “These diplomatic efforts are essential; indeed, they are the only way to bring lasting peace and prosperity to the region. These negotiations are a predicate to building a just two-state solution out of the tragedy of the last year.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Bennet, Hickenlooper, Neguse, Crow, Pettersen, DeGette Announce Support for Colorado River District’s Application for Funding to Complete Shoshone Water Rights Purchase

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Colorado Michael Bennet
    Denver — Colorado U.S. Senators Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper, and U.S. Representatives Joe Neguse, Jason Crow, Brittany Pettersen, and Diana DeGette, wrote to the Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) in support of the Colorado River Water Conservation District’s (CRWCD) application for federal funding to purchase two of the oldest water rights on the Colorado River mainstem in Colorado, known as the Shoshone Permanency Project. The lawmakers offered their support as part of an ongoing BOR funding opportunity to provide environmental benefits in response to drought, which remains open for additional projects in Colorado and the rest of the Upper Colorado River Basin.
    “The Colorado River District’s mission is to promote the protection, conservation, use, and development of the water resources of the Colorado River water basin for the welfare of the state of Colorado,” wrote the lawmakers. “Preserving the Colorado River’s historical flow regime as intended by the Shoshone Permanency Project will benefit the Colorado River ecosystem every year, and especially in dry years.”
    The 1902 Senior and the 1929 Junior Shoshone Water Rights currently held by Xcel Energy are used to generate power at the Shoshone Power Plant and then return it to the river. Communities across Western Colorado have already committed over $55 million, and are applying to BOR for funding from the Upper Colorado River Basin Environmental Drought Mitigation program to help complete the purchase and create stability for communities, water and recreational users, and the environment. The Upper Colorado River Basin Environmental Drought Mitigation program funding opportunity is open for application through November 22, 2024, and the lawmakers welcome other applicants to contact their offices on the opportunity to provide support. 
    “This strong show of funding reflects the local recognition of the Shoshone Water Rights’ importance to the health of western Colorado’s environment and local economies,”continue the lawmakers. “We recognize the Shoshone Permanency Project’s complex nature and ongoing technical review, but believe the opportunity to protect historical Colorado River flows deserves your attention.”
    As part of the Shoshone Permanency Project, CRWCD will seek a change in these rights to include an alternate beneficial use and preserve the historical flow regime. The state process for changing these decreed water rights is distinct from any federal funding review or outcome, and will proceed separately. As acknowledged in the letter, data collection and analysis related to the Shoshone water rights’ historic use is ongoing and important to the state of Colorado’s formal review. 
    As the Chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee’s Subcommittee on Conservation, Climate, Forestry and Natural Resources, Bennet has consistently worked with his colleagues to help communities in Colorado and across the American West as they face the effects of climate change. In June 2022, as Subcommittee Chair, Bennet held the Senate’s very first hearing on Western drought. In June 2024, Bennet and Subcommittee Ranking Member U.S. Senator Roger Marshall (R-Kan.) held a field hearing in Burlington, Colorado, to hear from Western producers and agricultural leaders facing historic drought. 
    Bennet and Hickenlooper fought to include $8 billion for Western water infrastructure, $10 billion for forests, $19 billion for agricultural conservation, and $4 billion for drought in the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. In September 2022, Bennet, Neguse, and Crow urged BOR to prioritize funding for long-term, permanent solutions to the Colorado River drought crisis as it worked to allocate the $4 billion for Western drought from the IRA. After calling on the Biden administration to make further investments to address long-term drought caused by climate change in April 2024, Bennet welcomed $400 million from the U.S. Department of Agriculture for investments at the irrigation district scale to address drought in August. The lawmakers will continue to work with communities and water users across the state to ensure as much of this funding as possible comes to the state of Colorado.
    The text of the letter is available HERE and below.
    Dear Commissioner Touton:
    We write in support of the Colorado River Water Conservation District’s (the River District) application to the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation’s (USBR) Upper Colorado River Basin Environmental Drought Mitigation funding opportunity, referred to as Bucket 2E. As you know, the Inflation Reduction Act provided a historic $4 billion to address issues caused by drought, including activities to support environmental benefits, and ecosystem and habitat restoration. If selected, the River District will leverage Bucket 2E funding alongside significant state and local investment to purchase two of the oldest water rights on the Colorado River mainstem in the State of Colorado – the Shoshone Water Rights – to preserve their historical flow regime in perpetuity. 
    The River District was established in 1937 as a local governing entity to represent water users across 15 counties in Western Colorado – including the headwaters of the Yampa, White, Gunnison, and Colorado Rivers. The Colorado River District’s mission is to promote the protection, conservation, use, and development of the water resources of the Colorado River water basin for the welfare of the State of Colorado.
    Now, the River District is pursuing the Shoshone Permanency Project, which aims to preserve the historical Colorado River flow regime created by the 1902 Senior Shoshone Water Right and the 1929 Junior Shoshone Water Right (the “Shoshone Water Rights”). The River District has signed an agreement to purchase the Shoshone Water Rights from Xcel Energy, which currently holds the rights for its Shoshone hydropower plant. Today, the Shoshone Water Rights are decreed as non-consumptive water rights: the water is used to generate hydropower at the Shoshone Power Plant and is returned to the stream. The Shoshone Water Rights’ senior status “pulls” water to Glenwood Canyon, which ensures that water continues to flow and benefits the downstream environment. Preserving the Colorado River’s historical flow regime as intended by the Shoshone Permanency Project will benefit the Colorado River ecosystem every year, and especially in dry years.
    Data collection and analysis of Shoshone Water Rights’ historic use is not yet completed, and ongoing–a key step for understanding the historic flow regime on the Colorado River. The Shoshone Permanency Project seeks to change the water rights to include an alternate beneficial use for instream flow purposes, a legally recognized beneficial use in Colorado, to preserve the historical Shoshone flow regime. The proposed decree associated with these flows is still under technical review by the State of Colorado. The River District is actively discussing the proposal with other water users across the state. The Colorado Water Conservation Board and the State of Colorado Water Court will conduct a formal review in the coming months. Ongoing modeling will also help quantify the environmental benefits of the Shoshone Water Rights flows. One potential benefit is to the critical habitat of four fish in the Colorado River listed under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), known as the 15-Mile Reach, located near Palisade, Colorado.
    The State of Colorado and our water users are making their own significant investments to ensure that the historical Shoshone flows can continue in perpetuity. The Colorado River District has allocated $20 million, the State of Colorado has appropriated another $20 million for the acquisition, provided the State’s instream flow requirements are met, and a coalition of Western Slope water users and local governments have formally committed over $15 million. This strong show of funding reflects the local recognition of the Shoshone Water Rights’ importance to the health of western Colorado’s environment and local economies.
    We recognize the Shoshone Permanency Project’s complex nature and ongoing technical review, but believe the opportunity to protect historical Colorado River flows deserves your attention. We encourage you to give the River District’s proposal your full and fair consideration consistent with all applicable rules and regulations. Thank you for your review, and please notify our offices of any funds awarded.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Duckworth Statement on One-Year Anniversary of Hamas’s Horrific October 7th Attacks

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Illinois Tammy Duckworth
    October 07, 2024
    As conflict in the region escalates, Duckworth reiterates call for permanent mutual ceasefire that secures release of hostages and alleviates suffering of innocent civilians
    [CHICAGO, IL] – U.S. Senator and combat Veteran Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), who serves on the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations and Armed Services Committees, issued the following statement recognizing the one-year anniversary of Hamas’s terror attacks against Israel on October 7th, 2023:
    “One year ago, Hamas committed the single deadliest atrocity against Jews since the Holocaust, killing nearly 1,200 innocents and taking hundreds more hostage—nearly 100 of whom remain in captivity to this day. My thoughts are with them, and with their loved ones, today and every day.
    “My heart breaks for those who lost loved ones during the attacks, for the families of tens of thousands of innocent Palestinian civilians killed in the days since, for those who suffered the unique torture of having their hopes of ever seeing their captive loved ones again so heartlessly dashed—like the parents of Hersh Goldberg-Polin—and for the millions in Gaza who are still suffering through unimaginable, inhumane conditions.
    “As we reflect on the tragedies of the last year—and as tensions in the region rise—the urgent need for a permanent, mutual ceasefire that ends this devastating war is as critical as it’s ever been. For my part, I will do everything in my power to encourage de-escalation that ultimately brings about a two-state future that strengthens the safety of Israel, eliminates the threat posed by Hamas and ends the prolonged and continuing suffering of innocent Palestinians.”
    Since October 7th, 2023, Duckworth has worked with her Senate colleagues to end the war in Gaza and ensure the safe return of hostages. A comprehensive account of the Senator’s efforts can be found on her website.
    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rubio, Scott Support Florida’s Request for Pre-landfall Emergency Declaration Ahead of Hurricane Milton

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Florida Marco Rubio

    Rubio, Scott Support Florida’s Request for Pre-landfall Emergency Declaration Ahead of Hurricane Milton
    Oct 7, 2024 | Press Releases

    Major Hurricane Milton is forecasted to impact Florida with devastating storm surge, winds, and inland flooding. After just being hit by Hurricane Helene, it’s crucial for the State of Florida to have the support of the federal government.
    U.S. Senators Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Rick Scott (R-FL) sent a letter to President Joe Biden urging his immediate approval of the State of Florida’s request for a pre-landfall emergency declaration for 51 Florida counties. 
    “Currently, Milton is expected to make landfall as a major hurricane on Florida’s Gulf coast. Milton’s anticipated strong winds, torrential rains, and devastating storm surge are likely to wreak havoc across much of Florida…. Ensuring that the state has access to the federal resources it needs is imperative to protecting Floridians, property, and our communities. As such, we request that you promptly approve Governor DeSantis’s request for a pre-landfall emergency declaration.”
    The full text of the letter is below. 
    Dear Mr. President:
     We write in support of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’s request for a pre-landfall emergency declaration in preparation for Hurricane Milton, which is expected to strengthen into a major hurricane and impact Florida in the coming days.
    Currently, Milton is expected to make landfall as a major hurricane on Florida’s Gulf coast. Milton’s anticipated strong winds, torrential rains, and devastating storm surge are likely to wreak havoc across much of Florida. Although our state is familiar with the dangers posed by hurricanes, this major hurricane approaches toward Florida’s Gulf coast that recently endured severe impacts from major Hurricane Helene, rendering them particularly vulnerable to catastrophic effects from this approaching storm. 
    Ensuring that the state has access to the federal resources it needs is imperative to protecting Floridians, property, and our communities. As such, we request that you promptly approve Governor DeSantis’s request for a pre-landfall emergency declaration.
    Thank you for your prompt attention to this important matter.
    Sincerely,

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congresswoman Gwen Moore Statement on the Anniversary of October 7, 2023

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Gwen Moore (WI-04)

    Congresswoman Gwen Moore Statement on the Anniversary of October 7, 2023

    “Today, we remember the horrific violence of October 7th, where more than 1,200 Israelis were brutally killed, and hundreds were kidnapped and taken hostage by Hamas, including American citizens.

     I stand with families and communities mourning and feeling the pain of loss as well as those still under threat today throughout the region.  I stand with those whose loved ones are still being held hostage and the millions more in the region who continue to experience fear, anxiety, and uncertainty every day.

    The region today is neither more safe, secure, nor stable for anyone. Not only has the trauma of that day subsided, but continuing violent escalation only means greater insecurity for Israelis, Palestinians, and now the Lebanese and others in the region. Worse, there appears to be no off ramp to ever increasing violent escalation. 

    Long-term political stability and peace are the only way to achieve security for both Israelis and Palestinians and to prevent this conflict from further escalating into a broader war that would cost more innocent lives and put millions more under threat. 

    That is why I continue to support diplomatic efforts being spearheaded by the Biden Administration to not only reach a ceasefire and hostage release deal, but also work to find a durable solution along the Israel-Lebanon border that ends the escalation and finally allows people on both sides of that border to do what they so desperately want – to safely return home.

    I stand with the Biden-Harris administration in these efforts. Innocent civilians have suffered enough.”  

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Ramirez Statement on the Anniversary of October 7: A Year of Pain and Opportunity to Pursue Peace

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Delia Ramirez – Illinois (3rd District)

    CHICAGO — Today, Congresswoman Delia C. Ramirez (IL-03) released the following statement:

    “It has been a year of pain and destruction. October 7 is a dark day – the darkest for many Jewish people since the Holocaust – and we remember Hamas’ deadly attack that took the lives of 1,100 Israelis and separated 251 people from their families. A year later, we grieve for every family who is still not reunited with their loved ones and call for the safe return of the 100 hostages who are still not home. 

    As we hold the pain and grief of Israeli families forever changed that day, we also acknowledge October 7 as the beginning of Israel’s campaign of collective punishment of the Palestinian people. For 364 days since October 7, the Netanyahu administration’s actions have taken the lives of more than 40,000 Palestinians, including 6,000 women and 11,000 children, and displaced more than 2 million Palestinians in Gaza. Settler violence has expanded in the West Bank, the Palestinian prison population in Israeli custody has doubled – with around half of all detainees held without charge – and more than 2,000 people have been killed in Lebanon, including 127 children and 261 women. A year later, we grieve for every Palestinian and Lebanese family who has also lost loved ones and call for the release of Palestinians detained without charge and the State-facilitated evacuation of all Americans in Lebanon.

    As we reflect on what has resulted from a year without a permanent ceasefire, de-escalation, an arms embargo, or accountability, we must admit we are closer to a regional war. A regional war I warned of as I’ve called for us to lead with diplomacy instead of bombs. The only way to end this harm is to commit ourselves to de-escalation and diplomacy. That is how we achieve a permanent ceasefire where hostages come home, prisoners are released, and no Palestinian is a victim of the bombs the U.S. has sent, the aid they have not received, or criminal settler violence that has been tolerated. 

    Today is a moment to recognize that American, Israeli, and Palestinian safety and security are intertwined and interconnected to the safety and security of all those who live in the region. We must honor our shared pain and our shared humanity and pursue peace. Let us be light in dark times and dark places.” 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congresswoman Tenney Releases Statement on the One-year Anniversary of the Horrific October 7th Attacks by Hamas

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (NY-22)

    Oswego, New York – Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (NY-24) today released the following statement on the one-year anniversary of the horrific October 7th attacks by Hamas.

    “On October 7th of last year, Hamas, an Iranian-backed terrorist organization, carried out its heinous October 7th attacks against Israeli civilians,” said Congresswoman Tenney. “More than a thousand innocent civilians, including Americans, were killed, raped, tortured, beaten, brutalized, or kidnapped at the hands of Hamas. October 7th was the deadliest day for the Jewish people since the Holocaust, and I continue to mourn the loss of the precious souls murdered on that day. May their memories be a blessing and their murderers be brought to justice.”

    “One would think that unequivocally condemning this horrific attack would be common sense. Yet, one year later, I am horrified by the pro-Hamas encampments, riots, and mobs that we have seen across our country, particularly on college campuses. Even some of my colleagues in Congress continue to refuse to condemn Hamas’s terrorism. We have witnessed individuals engage in anti-Semitic chants of “from the river to the sea,” calling for the erasure of Israel, the lone democracy in the region. Further, while these individuals claim to support a “ceasefire,” those calls only seem to apply to Israel’s attempts to defend itself and not to Iranian and Iranian-backed attacks against Israel. These individuals also remain shockingly silent in joining calls for Hamas to release its hostages.

    “One year later, Hamas still holds captive over 97 hostages from October 7th, including American citizens. Throughout the last year, I have met with dozens of family members of hostages being held by Hamas, and I have joined their calls for Hamas to immediately and unconditionally release all its hostages. We recently learned that out of fear that Israel may free him, Hamas killed Hersh Goldberg-Polin, an American citizen whom they held captive for almost a year. I continue to mourn the loss of Hersh, along with all the hostages who have been killed. I wholeheartedly support Israel’s ongoing campaign to free the remaining hostages in Gaza and commend the work of the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) to liberate the remaining hostages and recover the bodies of those killed by Hamas.

    “Sadly, one year later, the Biden administration still refuses to address the true root cause of the October 7th attacks: the brutal Iranian regime. Without the backing of the despotic Iranian mullahs, Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis could not have launched the October 7th attacks. Iran provides these terrorist proxies with critical funding, training, arms, and intelligence. Under the Biden administration, the United States has failed to enforce our existing sanctions, allowing Iran to earn an estimated $100 billion in oil and arms sales, which fund their aforementioned terrorist proxies. The Biden administration must reinstate the Trump administration’s Maximum Pressure Campaign and encourage our E3 allies to invoke snapback sanctions on Iran immediately. The Biden administration must also give their full and unequivocal support to Israel as it eliminates the terrorist leadership and infrastructure of Hamas and Hezbollah, which are not only Israel’s enemy but also our enemies. 

    “One year later, however, there is still reason for hope. Over the last year, we have seen the promise of the Abraham Accords in action when the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Jordan helped Israel repel an attack by Iran. Ayatollah Khamenei’s worst nightmare is a peaceful coexistence between Israel and its neighbors. We must continue working to expand and strengthen the Abraham Accords to achieve a lasting peace in the region. I am hopeful that an expansion of the Abraham Accords is possible and that Israel will succeed in freeing the remaining hostages and eliminating the threat posed by Hamas and Hezbollah. I will never waver in my support of Israel, one of our greatest allies, and will continue working to ensure that Never Again truly means Never Again.”

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: Israel/OPT: One year on from 7 October: Ceasefire and hostage release is more pressing than ever

    Source: Amnesty International –

    Monday 7 October 2024 marks a year since the horrific attacks by Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups in southern Israel, in which some 1,200 people were killed and around 250 abducted.

    It also marks one year since the start of an ongoing devastating Israeli onslaught that has killed more than 41,500 people and forcibly displaced 1.9 million in the occupied Gaza Strip.

    To mark the date, Amnesty International’s Secretary General, Agnès Callamard, said:

    “7 October marks a day of mourning for the Israelis whose loved ones were killed and abducted and for thousands who continue to be displaced ever since the heinous attacks by Hamas and other armed groups.

    “7 October also marks a year since the start of the horrifying Israeli forces’ onslaught in Gaza that has killed tens of thousands, forcibly displaced 90% of the population and triggered an unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe, placing Palestinians in Gaza at risk of genocide, as stated by the ICJ. 

    “As the war rages on with no end in sight, the need for a ceasefire, respect for international law and for the rights of all victims to truth, justice and reparation, is more pressing than ever.

    “It is shameful and a collective failure of humanity that one year on still there is no ceasefire, still no release of hostages. Such atrocities should never have been committed let alone be allowed to continue.  

    “This anniversary is a sobering reminder of the urgent need to address the root causes, cut the supply of arms to all parties and end longstanding impunity that have seen Israeli forces, Hamas and other armed groups, flout international law for decades without fearing any consequences. 

    “The world must never forget the victims and the anguish of the affected families. Humanity must prevail. Amnesty International calls for an immediate ceasefire and the unconditional immediate release of civilian hostages held by Hamas and other armed groups and all Palestinians unlawfully detained by Israel.”

    Background

    The crimes committed by Hamas and other armed groups, which the ICC’s Prosecutor is investigating as crimes against humanity, are horrific and completely unjustifiable. A year on, around 100 hostages remain held in Gaza. While some are confirmed dead, those still alive are at risk of death, torture and other abuse. Fears for their safety have grown since Israeli forces retrieved in August the bodies of six hostages and a subsequent Israeli forensic examination concluded they had been shot dead shortly before retrieval. Civilian hostages must be released immediately and reunited with their families.

    Meanwhile in Gaza entire families have been decimated with many people yet to dig the remains of their loved ones from the rubble of their destroyed homes, including children. Hundreds of families in Gaza are still seeking information about loved ones detained in Israeli jails without charges or trial, with many subjected to torture.  

    Amnesty International has conducted in-depth investigations into the crimes committed on 7 October and thereafter. Amnesty International has called for Hamas and other armed groups to be held accountable for the deliberate killings, abductions and indiscriminate attacks, including rocket attacks on Israel.

    Amnesty International has repeatedly called for the immediate release of all civilian hostages held in Gaza. Amnesty International has also investigated Israel’s multiple war crimes, including direct attacks on civilians and civilian objects or indiscriminate and disproportionate attacks, as well as other unlawful attacks and collective punishment of the civilian population. Amnesty International has called for a ceasefire and urged the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court to expedite its investigation into the situation in the State of Palestine.

    The violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and Israel began long before the 7 October attacks. Amnesty has investigated and denounced Israel’s cruel system of apartheid and an unlawful occupation, which was also the object of UN Security Council Resolutions.  

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Mavillette — RCMP investigates fatal crash in Mavillette

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    Meteghan RCMP is investigating a fatal crash that occurred in Mavillette.

    On October 6, at approximately 6:30 p.m., Meteghan RCMP, fire services, and EHS responded to a report of a two-vehicle collision on Hwy. 1. Officers learned that a Pontiac G5 veered out of its lane and collided with a Hyundai Kona travelling in the opposite direction.

    One of the passengers in the Hyundai, a 77-year-old Saint Alphonse woman, was pronounced deceased on scene. The driver and another passenger in this vehicle were transported to hospital with life-threatening injuries.

    The driver of the Pontiac, a 33-year-old man from Saint Alphonse, showed signs of impairment by alcohol, and was arrested and transported to a local hospital where blood samples were obtained. He will face charges of Operation while Impaired Causing Death.

    An RCMP collision reconstructionist attended the scene and the investigation is ongoing.

    Hwy. 1 was closed in both directions for several hours, but has since reopened.

    Our thoughts are with the victim’s loved ones at this difficult time.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Kelly Announces Deployment of Task Force 2 for Swift Water Search and Rescue to Florida – Governor of the State of Kansas

    Source: US State of Kansas

    TOPEKA – Governor Laura Kelly announced today that the Kansas Division of Emergency Management received another Emergency Management Assistance Compact request from Florida for a swift water search and rescue task force in preparation for Hurricane Milton’s arrival. Working with the Office of the State Fire Marshal, Kansas Task Force 2 was deployed last night to Florida.

    “Kansas is once again sending assistance to Florida due to another large and powerful hurricane landing this week in the Gulf Coast,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “We’re committed to mobilizing resources and personnel to provide immediate support to those affected by Hurricane Milton.”

    “The personnel responding to Florida to assist with Hurricane Milton have trained for this kind of disaster response,” Mark Engholm, Kansas Fire Marshal, said. “They are committed to providing professional search and rescue support to those in need. Kansas can be proud of our men and women who have chosen to deploy.”

    Kansas Task Force 2 consists of personnel from the Office of the State Fire Marshal, Chanute Fire Department, Cherryvale Fire-Rescue, Johnson County Med-Act, Manhattan Fire Department, Neodesha Fire Department, Salina Fire Department, Shawnee Kansas Fire Department, and Wichita Fire Department.

    Their objectives will be to search for and rescue individuals, provide basic life support medical care, transport humans and animals to the nearest location for secondary air or land transport, provide shore-based and boat-based water rescue, provide animal rescues, and support helicopter and urban search and rescue in water environments.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA News: FACT SHEET: Biden-⁠ Harris Administration’s Pre-Landfall Preparations for Hurricane  Milton

    Source: The White House

    Hurricane Milton is forecasted to impact the Western coast of the Florida peninsula this week. As communities across the Southeast – including in Florida – continue their road to recovery and rebuilding after Hurricane Helene, the Biden-Harris Administration is mobilizing additional resources and personnel to prepare for the impacts of this new major storm.

    The Federal government is preparing to support affected communities wherever and whenever needed. Preparedness efforts are underway in conjunction with state and local partners. Together we stand ready to respond to any potential impacts on communities.

    FEMA has sufficient funding to both support the response to Hurricane Milton and continue to support the response to Hurricane Helene– including funding to support first responders and provide immediate assistance to disaster survivors.

    Today, President Biden quickly approved the Governor of Florida’s request for an emergency declaration. Under an emergency declaration, FEMA provides direct Federal support to states for life-saving activities and other emergency protective measures, such as evacuation, sheltering, and search and rescue.

    President Biden was first briefed yesterday on Hurricane Milton’s potential impacts to the Florida Gulf Coast and the work FEMA is doing to preposition life-saving resources in advance of the storm. He is also receiving another briefing today from Homeland Security Advisor Liz Sherwood-Randall.

    The Administration has been in touch with officials from the State of Florida, as well as more than 15 local officials in cities and counties along the likely path of impact, to ensure needs are met in advance of the storm. FEMA has been coordinating closely with Tampa Mayor Jane Castor’s team ahead of FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell’s visit to Tampa today. The Administration has also reached out to state officials in South Carolina and Georgia and will continue outreach efforts based on Hurricane Milton’s latest trajectory.

    Florida residents are urged to stay alert, listen to local officials, and make additional preparations as needed.

    Pre-landfall actions taken thus far include:

    Pre-Positioning Resources and Personnel

    The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is flying Hurricane Hunters into the current storm to gather data to models and help hone prediction of the storm’s track and timing.

    FEMA has pre-staged personnel and resources in Florida and the region, including six FEMA Incident Management Assistance Teams, five FEMA Urban Search & Rescue teams, three U.S. Coast Guard Swift Water Rescue teams, four HealthCare System Assessment Teams, two U.S Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) temporary power teams, USACE debris experts, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and wastewater experts, 300 ambulances and 30 High Water Vehicles with ladders from the Department of Defense.

    Additionally, FEMA has two incident staging bases with commodities including food and water. Right now, FEMA currently has 20 million meals and 40 million liters of water in the pipeline to deploy as needed used to address ongoing Helene and Milton response efforts with capacity to expand as needed.

    Currently, a total of nearly 900 staff are already supporting recovery efforts based out of the Joint Field Office in Tallahassee and operating across the designated counties for hurricanes Helene, Debby and Idalia. This includes over 440 supporting Hurricane Helene recovery, over 300 supporting Hurricane Debby recovery, and over 100 supporting Hurricane Idalia recovery.

    Expediting Debris Removal in Florida

    Debris remaining from the impacts of Hurricane Helene poses additional threats to lives and livelihoods if another storm occurs. FEMA is supporting the State of Florida to expedite the removal of debris from Hurricane Helene in the Tampa region in advance of Hurricane Milton’s landfall.

    FEMA is providing all flexibility available for reimbursement for debris removal activities, to help the State take whatever action is required to speed debris removal before Milton’s landfall. To that end, FEMA is supporting Florida in surging additional resources to the Tampa area to get as much debris picked up as possible. State-run debris management sites are open 24 hours a day, and contracted trucks can deliver debris to those sites around the clock.   
    The Governor of Florida has additionally activated 4,000 State active-duty National Guard, many of whom will help with debris removal.

    Pre-Landfall Preparations Supplement Ongoing Helene Response

    The Administration continues to mobilize a whole-of-government response to the impacts of Hurricane Helene. Yesterday, President Biden ordered another 500 active-duty troops with advanced technological assets to move into Western North Carolina and assist with the response and recovery efforts. With a total of 1,500 troops now supplementing a robust on-the-ground effort – including more than 6,100 National Guards and more than 7,000 Federal personnel – the Administration is sparing no resource to support families as they begin their road to rebuilding.

    The Administration has already helped thousands of Hurricane Helene survivors jumpstart their recoveries with more than $210 million in Federal assistance – and there is more to come. Over the last several days, the Administration has contacted nearly 450 state, city, and county officials in impacted States to ensure they have the support and resources they need. To date, FEMA has shipped over 15.6 million meals, more than 13.9 million liters of water, more than 505,000 tarps to the region, and installed 157 generators at critical facilities such as hospitals and water treatment plants.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: 40 Years Ago: STS-41G – A Flight of Many Firsts and Records

    Source: NASA

    The 13th flight of the space shuttle program and the sixth of Challenger, STS-41G holds many distinctions. As the first mission focused almost entirely on studying the Earth, it deployed a satellite, employed multiple instruments, cameras, and crew observations to accomplish those goals. The STS-41G crew set several firsts, most notably as the first seven-member space crew. Other milestones included the first astronaut to make a fourth shuttle flight, the first and only astronaut to fly on Challenger three times and on back-to-back missions on any orbiter, the first crew to include two women, the first American woman to make two spaceflights, the first American woman to conduct a spacewalk, and the first Canadian and the first Australian-born American to make spaceflights.
    Left: The STS-41G crew patch. Right: The STS-41G crew of Jon A. McBride, front row left, Sally K. Ride, Kathryn D. Sullivan, and David C. Leestma; Paul D. Scully-Power, back row left, Robert L. Crippen, and Marc Garneau of Canada.
    In November 1983, NASA named the five-person crew for STS-41G, formerly known as STS-17, then planned as a 10-day mission aboard Columbia in August 1984. When assigned to STS-41G, Commander Robert L. Crippen had already completed two missions, STS-1 and STS-7, and planned to command STS-41C in April 1984. On STS-41G, he made a record-setting fourth flight on a space shuttle, and as it turned out the first and only person to fly aboard Challenger three times, including back-to-back missions. Pilot Jon A. McBride, and mission specialists Kathryn D. Sullivan from the Class of 1978 and, David C. Leestma from the Class of 1980, made their first flights into space. Mission specialist Sally K. Ride made her second flight, and holds the distinction as the first American woman to return to space, having flown with Crippen on STS-7. The flight marked the first time that two women, Ride and Sullivan, flew in space at the same time. In addition, Sullivan holds the honor as the first American woman to conduct a spacewalk and made her second flight and holds the distinction as the first American woman to return to space, having flown with Crippen on STS-7. The flight marked the first time that two women, Ride and Sullivan, flew in space at the same time. In addition, Sullivan holds the honor as the first American woman to conduct a spacewalk, and Leestma as the first of the astronaut Class of 1980 to make a spaceflight.
    Columbia’s refurbishment following STS-9 ran behind schedule and could not meet the August launch date, so NASA switched STS-41G to the roomier and lighter weight Challenger. This enabled adding crew members to the flight. In February 1984, NASA and the Canadian government agreed to fly a Canadian on an upcoming mission in recognition for that country’s major contribution to the shuttle program, the Remote Manipulator System (RMS), or robotic arm. In March, Canada named Marc Garneau as the prime crewmember with Robert B. Thirsk as his backup. NASA first assigned Garneau to STS-51A, but with the switch to Challenger transferred him to the STS-41G crew. On June 1, NASA added Australian-born and naturalized U.S. citizen Paul D. Scully-Power, an oceanographer with the Naval Research Laboratory who had trained shuttle crews in recognizing ocean phenomena from space, to the mission rounding out the seven-person crew, the largest flown to that time. Scully-Power has the distinction as the first person to launch into space sporting a beard.
    Left: Space shuttle Challenger returns to NASA’s Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in Florida atop a Shuttle Carrier Aircraft following the STS-41C mission. Middle: The Earth Resources Budget Satellite during processing at KSC for STS-41G. Right: Technicians at KSC process the Shuttle Imaging Radar-B for the STS-41G mission.
    The STS 41G mission carried a suite of instruments to study the Earth. The Earth Radiation Budget Satellite (ERBS), managed by NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, contained three instruments, including the Stratospheric Aerosol and Gas Experiment-2 (SAGE-2), to measure solar and thermal radiation of the Earth to better understand global climate changes. NASA’s Office of Space and Terrestrial Applications sponsored a cargo bay-mounted payload (OSTA-3) consisting of four instruments. The Shuttle Imaging Radar-B (SIR-B), managed by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California, and an updated version of SIR-A flown on STS-2, used synthetic aperture radar to support investigations in diverse disciplines such as archaeology, geology, cartography, oceanography, and vegetation studies. Making its first flight into space, the 900-pound Large Format Camera (LFC) took images of selected Earth targets on 9-by-18-inch film with 70-foot resolution. The Measurement of Air Pollution from Satellites (MAPS) experiment provided information about industrial pollutants in the atmosphere. The Feature Identification and Location Experiment (FILE) contained two television cameras to improve the efficiency of future remote sensing equipment. In an orbit inclined 57 degrees to the Equator, the instruments aboard Challenger could observe more than 75% of the Earth’s surface. 
    The Orbital Refueling System (ORS), managed by NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, while not directly an Earth observation payload, assessed the feasibility of on-orbit refueling of the Landsat-4 remote sensing satellite, then under consideration as a mission in 1987, as well as Department of Defense satellites not designed for on-orbit refueling. In the demonstration, the astronauts remotely controlled the transfer of hydrazine, a highly toxic fuel, between two tanks mounted in the payload bay. During a spacewalk, two crew members simulated connecting the refueling system to a satellite and later tested the connection with another remotely controlled fuel transfer. Rounding out the payload activities, the large format IMAX camera made its third trip into space, with footage used to produce the film “The Dream is Alive.”
    Four views of the rollout of space shuttle Challenger for STS-41G. Left: From inside the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB). Middle left: From Firing Room 2 of the Launch Control Center (LCC). Middle right: From the crawlerway, with the LCC and the VAB in the background. Right: From atop the VAB.
    Left: The STS-41G astronauts answer reporters’ questions at Launch Pad 39A during the Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test. Right: The STS-41G crew leaves crew quarters and prepares to board the Astrovan for the ride to Launch Pad 39A for liftoff.
    Following the STS-41C mission, Challenger returned to KSC from Edwards Air Force Base in California on April 18. Workers in KSC’s Orbiter Processing Facility refurbished the orbiter and changed out its payloads. Rollover to the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) took place on Sept. 8 and after workers stacked Challenger with its External Tank and Solid Rocket Boosters, they rolled it out of the VAB to Launch Pad 39A on Sept. 13. Just two days later, engineers completed the Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test, a final dress rehearsal before the actual countdown and launch, with the astronaut crew participating as on launch day. They returned to KSC on Oct. 2 to prepare for the launch three days later.
    Left: Liftoff of space shuttle Challenger on the STS-41G mission. Middle: Distant view of Challenger as it rises through the predawn skies. Right: The Earth Resources Budget Satellite just before the Remote Manipulator System released it.
    Space shuttle Challenger roared off Launch Pad 39A at 7:03 a.m. EDT, 15 minutes before sunrise, on Oct. 5, 1984, to begin the STS-41G mission. The launch took place just 30 days after the landing of the previous mission, STS-41D. That record-breaking turnaround time between shuttle flights did not last long, as the launch of Discovery on STS-51A just 26 days after Challenger’s landing set a new record on Nov. 8.
    Eight and a half minutes after liftoff, Challenger and its seven-member crew reached space and shortly thereafter settled into a 218-mile-high orbit, ideal for the deployment of the 5,087-pound ERBS. The crew noted that a 40-inch strip of Flexible Reusable Surface Insulation (FRSI) had come loose from Challenger’s right-hand Orbiter Maneuvering System (OMS) pod, presumably lost during launch. Mission Control determined that this would not have any impact during reentry. Ride grappled the ERBS with the shuttle’s RMS but when she commanded the satellite to deploy its solar arrays, nothing happened. Mission Control surmised that the hinges on the arrays had frozen, and after Ride oriented the satellite into direct sunlight and shook it slightly on the end of the arm, the panels deployed. She released ERBS about two and a half hours late and McBride fired Challenger’s steering jets to pull away from the satellite. Its onboard thrusters boosted ERBS into its operational 380-mile-high orbit. With an expected two-year lifetime, it actually operated until October 14, 2005, returning data about how the Earth’s atmosphere absorbs and re-radiates the Sun’s energy, contributing significant information about global climate change.
    Left: The SIR-B panel opens in Challenger’s payload bay. Right: Jon A. McBride with the IMAX large format camera in the middeck. 
    Near the end of their first day in space, the astronauts opened the panels of the SIR-B antenna and activated it, also deploying the Ku-band antenna that Challenger used to communicate with the Tracking and Data Relay System (TDRS) satellite. The SIR-B required a working Ku-band antenna to downlink the large volume of data it collected, although it could store a limited amount on onboard tape recorders. But after about two minutes, the data stream to the ground stopped. One of the two motors that steered the Ku antenna failed and it could no longer point to the TDRS satellite. Mission Control devised a workaround to fix the Ku antenna in one position and steer the orbiter to point it to the TDRS satellite and downlink the stored data to the ground. Challenger carried sufficient fuel for all the maneuvering, but the extra time for the attitude changes resulted in achieving only about 40% of the planned data takes. The discovery of the 3,000-year-old lost city of Udar in the desert of Oman resulted from SIR-B data, one of many interesting findings from the mission.
    Left: The shuttle’s Canadian-built Remote Manipulator System or robotic arm closes the SIR-B panel. Middle: The patch for Canadian astronaut Marc Garneau’s mission. Right: Spiral eddies in the eastern Mediterranean Sea.
    During the second mission day, the astronauts lowered Challenger’s orbit to an intermediate altitude of 151 miles. Flight rules required that the SIR-B antenna be stowed for such maneuvers but the latches to clamp the antenna closed failed to activate. Ride used the RMS to nudge the antenna panel closed. From the orbiter’s flight deck, Leestma successfully completed the first ORS remote-controlled hydrazine fuel transfer. Garneau began working on his ten CANEX investigations related to medical, atmospheric, climatic, materials and robotic sciences while Scully-Power initiated his oceanographic observations. Despite greater than expected global cloud cover, he successfully photographed spiral eddies in the world’s oceans, particularly notable in the eastern Mediterranean Sea.
    Left: Mission Specialists Kathryn D. Sullivan, left, and Sally K. Ride on Challenger’s flight deck. Right: Payload Specialists Marc Garneau and Paul D. Scully-Power working on a Canadian experiment in Challenger’s middeck.
    The third day saw the crew lower Challenger’s orbit to 140 miles, the optimal altitude for SIR-B and the other Earth observing instruments. For the next few days, all the experiments continued recording their data, including Garneau’s CANEX and Scully-Power’s oceanography studies. Leestma completed several scheduled ORS fuel transfers prior to the spacewalk. Preparations for that activity began on flight day 6 with the crew lowering the cabin pressure inside Challenger from the normal sea level 14.7 pounds per square inch (psi) to 10.2 psi. The lower pressure prevented the buildup of nitrogen bubbles in the bloodstreams of the two spacewalkers, Leestma and Sullivan, that could result in the development of the bends. The two verified the readiness of their spacesuits.
    Left: David C. Leestma, left with red stripes on his suit, and Kathryn D. Sullivan during their spacewalk. Middle: Leestma, left, and Sullivan working on the Orbital Refueling System during the spacewalk. Right: Sullivan, left, and Leestma peer into Challenger’s flight deck during the spacewalk.
    On flight day 7, Leestma and Sullivan, assisted by McBride, donned their spacesuits and began their spacewalk. After gathering their tools, the two translated down to the rear of the cargo bay to the ORS station. With Sullivan documenting and assisting with the activity, Leestma installed the valve assembly into the simulated Landsat propulsion plumbing. After completing the ORS objectives, Leestma and Sullivan proceeded back toward the airlock, stopping first at the Ku antenna where Sullivan secured it in place. They returned inside after a spacewalk that lasted 3 hours and 29 minutes, and the crew brought Challenger’s cabin pressure back up to 14.7 psi.
    STS-41G crew Earth observation photographs. Left: Hurricane Josephine in the Atlantic Ocean. Middle: The Strait of Gibraltar. Right: Karachi, Pakistan, and the mouth of the Indus River.
    False color image of Montreal generated from SIR-B data.
    Left: Traditional inflight photo of the STS-41G crew on Challenger’s flight deck. Right: Robert L. Crippen with the orange glow generated outside Challenger during reentry.
    Left: Kathryn D. Sullivan photograph of NASA’s Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in Florida during Challenger’s approach, minutes before touchdown. Middle: Space shuttle Challenger moments before touchdown at N KSC at the end of the STS-41G mission. Right: The crew of STS-41G descends from Challenger after completing a highly successful mission.
    During their final full day in space, Challenger’s crew tidied the cabin for reentry and completed the final SIR-B and other Earth observations. On Oct. 13, the astronauts closed the payload bay doors and fired the OMS engines over Australia to begin the descent back to Earth. Because of the mission’s 57-degree inclination, the reentry path took Challenger and its crew over the eastern United States, another Shuttle first. Crippen guided the orbiter to a smooth landing at KSC, completing a flight of 8 days, 5 hours, and 24 minutes, the longest mission of Challenger’s short career. The crew had traveled nearly 3.3 million miles and completed 133 orbits around the Earth.
    Left: Missing insulation from Challenger’s right hand Orbiter Maneuvering System pod as seen after landing. Middle: Missing tile from the underside of Challenger’s left wing. Right: Damage to tiles on Challenger’s left wing.
    As noted above, on the mission’s first day in space the crew described a missing strip of FRSI from the right-hand OMS pod. Engineers noted additional damage to Challenger’s Thermal Protection System (TPS) after the landing, including several tiles on the underside the vehicle’s left wing damaged and one tile missing entirely, presumably lost during reentry. Engineers determined that the water proofing used throughout the TPS that allowed debonding of the tiles as the culprit for the missing tile. To correct the problem, workers removed and replaced over 4,000 tiles, adding a new water proofing agent to preclude the recurrence of the problem on future missions.
    Read recollections of the STS-41G mission by Crippen, McBride, Sullivan, Ride, and Leestma in their oral histories with the JSC History Office. Enjoy the crew’s narration of a video about the STS-41G mission.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NASA: New Insights into How Mars Became Uninhabitable

    Source: NASA

    5 min read

    NASA’s Curiosity rover, currently exploring Gale crater on Mars, is providing new details about how the ancient Martian climate went from potentially suitable for life – with evidence for widespread liquid water on the surface – to a surface that is inhospitable to terrestrial life as we know it.

    This is an artist’s concept of an early Mars with liquid water (blue areas) on its surface. Ancient regions on Mars bear signs of abundant water – such as features resembling valleys and deltas, and minerals that only form in the presence of liquid water. Scientists think that billions of years ago, the atmosphere of Mars was much denser and warm enough to form rivers, lakes, and perhaps even oceans of water. As the planet cooled and lost its global magnetic field, the solar wind and solar storms eroded away to space a significant amount of the planet’s atmosphere, turning Mars into the cold, arid desert we see today.
    NASA/MAVEN/The Lunar and Planetary Institute

    Although the surface of Mars is frigid and hostile to life today, NASA’s robotic explorers at Mars are searching for clues as to whether it could have supported life in the distant past. Researchers used instruments on board Curiosity to measure the isotopic composition of carbon-rich minerals (carbonates) found in Gale crater and discovered new insights into how the Red Planet’s ancient climate transformed.

    “The isotope values of these carbonates point toward extreme amounts of evaporation, suggesting that these carbonates likely formed in a climate that could only support transient liquid water,” said David Burtt of NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, and lead author of a paper describing this research published October 7 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. “Our samples are not consistent with an ancient environment with life (biosphere) on the surface of Mars, although this does not rule out the possibility of an underground biosphere or a surface biosphere that began and ended before these carbonates formed.”

    Isotopes are versions of an element with different masses. As water evaporated, light versions of carbon and oxygen were more likely to escape into the atmosphere, while the heavy versions were left behind more often, accumulating into higher abundances and, in this case, eventually being incorporated into the carbonate rocks. Scientists are interested in carbonates because of their proven ability to act as climate records. These minerals can retain signatures of the environments in which they formed, including the temperature and acidity of the water, and the composition of the water and the atmosphere.

    The paper proposes two formation mechanisms for carbonates found at Gale. In the first scenario, carbonates are formed through a series of wet-dry cycles within Gale crater. In the second, carbonates are formed in very salty water under cold, ice-forming (cryogenic) conditions in Gale crater.

    “These formation mechanisms represent two different climate regimes that may present different habitability scenarios,” said Jennifer Stern of NASA Goddard, a co-author of the paper. “Wet-dry cycling would indicate alternation between more-habitable and less-habitable environments, while cryogenic temperatures in the mid-latitudes of Mars would indicate a less-habitable environment where most water is locked up in ice and not available for chemistry or biology, and what is there is extremely salty and unpleasant for life.”

    These climate scenarios for ancient Mars have been proposed before, based on the presence of certain minerals, global-scale modeling, and the identification of rock formations. This result is the first to add isotopic evidence from rock samples in support of the scenarios.

    The heavy isotope values in the Martian carbonates are significantly higher than what’s seen on Earth for carbonate minerals and are the heaviest carbon and oxygen isotope values recorded for any Mars materials. In fact, according to the team, both the wet-dry and the cold-salty climates are required to form carbonates that are so enriched in heavy carbon and oxygen.

    “The fact that these carbon and oxygen isotope values are higher than anything else measured on Earth or Mars points towards a process (or processes) being taken to an extreme,” said Burtt. “While evaporation can cause significant oxygen isotope changes on Earth, the changes measured in this study were two to three times larger. This means two things: 1) there was an extreme degree of evaporation driving these isotope values to be so heavy, and 2) these heavier values were preserved so any processes that would create lighter isotope values must have been significantly smaller in magnitude.”

    This discovery was made using the Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM) and Tunable Laser Spectrometer (TLS) instruments aboard the Curiosity rover. SAM heats samples up to nearly 1,652 degrees Fahrenheit (almost 900°C) and then the TLS is used to analyze the gases that are produced during that heating phase.

    Funding for this work came from NASA’s Mars Exploration Program through the Mars Science Laboratory project. Curiosity was built by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), which is managed by Caltech in Pasadena, California. JPL leads the mission on behalf of NASA’s Science Mission Directorate in Washington. NASA Goddard built the SAM instrument, which is a miniaturized scientific laboratory that includes three different instruments for analyzing chemistry, including the TLS, plus mechanisms for handling and processing samples.

    By William Steigerwald

    NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland

    Media contacts:

    Nancy Neal-Jones/Andrew Good

    NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md./Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif.

    301-286-0039/818-393-2433

    nancy.n.jones@nasa.gov / andrew.c.good@jpl.nasa.gov

    Karen Fox / Molly Wasser

    Headquarters, Washington

    202-358-1600

    karen.c.fox@nasa.gov / molly.l.wasser@nasa.gov

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NEWS: Sanders Statement on the One-Year Anniversary of the October 7th Terror Attacks

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Vermont – Bernie Sanders
    Today marks one year since the horrific Hamas terrorist attack on Israel, which killed 1,200 innocent men, women, and children, and took some 250 hostages, including Americans, many of whom are still being held captive today. Yahya Sinwar and his Hamas accomplices are responsible for mass murder, the taking of hostages, and sexual violence. They are war criminals. Nobody should forgive or forget those atrocities, which began this war.
    Over the past year, I have met with many survivors of that attack and their relatives. It is difficult to comprehend the heartbreak they have experienced. Today, we should all remember those human stories and reflect on that human cost.
    We also cannot mark this date without considering what has happened in the year since the Hamas massacre.
    Israel clearly had a right to respond to the Hamas attack. But Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s extremist government has not simply waged war against Hamas. It has waged total war against the Palestinian people. More than 41,000 Palestinians have been killed and more than 96,000 wounded, sixty percent of whom are women, children, or elderly people. The Netanyahu government has destroyed much of the housing stock of Gaza, the civilian infrastructure, and the health care system. Every one of the 12 universities in Gaza have been bombed, and there are virtually no educational opportunities available for the many children there. Desperate families, with few belongings, have been displaced time and time again.
    Israel has blocked humanitarian aid, cutting off food, water, medical supplies. Severe restrictions remain in place. Humanitarian aid organizations describe the situation as a catastrophe, with many thousands of children facing malnutrition and starvation. These actions by the Netanyahu government have clearly violated U.S. and international law and made Israel less secure.
    Further, Netanyahu has consistently sabotaged efforts to obtain a ceasefire deal and secure the release of the hostages. Every time an agreement has appeared close, he has introduced new demands, sinking the deal and leaving the hostages and Palestinian civilians to continue their suffering.
    Since October 7th, this ongoing conflict and the horrific humanitarian crisis have been a daily torment. Today, as we remember those lost and continue to grapple with the horror of that day, we must re-dedicate ourselves to returning the hostages to their families, bringing about an immediate ceasefire, returning displaced people to their homes, and providing the massive humanitarian aid that the people of Gaza need.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: On One Year Anniversary of October 7, Graham, Senate Colleagues Stand With Israel, Condemn Hamas

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for South Carolina Lindsey Graham
    WASHINGTON – On the one year anniversary of the brutal October 7 attack on Israel, U.S. Senators Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) and 47 of their colleagues are condemning Iran-backed Hamas for its actions, supporting Israel’s right to exist and calling for the safe release of American hostages.
    The entire Senate Republican Conference stands united in opposing violent antisemitic protests and Iran-backed Hamas’ use of rape as a weapon of war. They are also reiterating Israel’s right to defend itself and emphasizing the importance of denying Hamas the ability to reconstitute in the region to ensure the horrific events of that day are never repeated.
    Click here to view the full resolution.
    “The vicious and barbaric October 7 attack against innocent men, women and children by the terrorist organization, Hamas – backed by Iran – will be remembered forever by all decent human beings. The civilized world should be resolved in standing with and eradicating those who want to create a second Holocaust. This attack was not just a heinous crime against the Jewish people, it was a crime against civilization itself,” said Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina).
    “This time last year, I woke up in the Middle East to the unbearable news that Israel was under attack by Iran-backed terrorists and Americans were being killed and taken hostage,” said Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa). “I immediately traveled into Israel to show that our nation’s friendship is unwavering, in good times and bad. Regardless of whether I have been in Jerusalem, Washington, or Iowa, I have worked around the clock to hold the White House accountable to its ‘ironclad’ commitment, bring our hostages home, and cut off the source of terrorism in Tehran. One year since that day, as Israel remains under attack on all fronts, Senate Republicans stand united with our greatest ally in the Middle East.”
    “The United States stands with Israel, on this solemn anniversary and every day, as it defends itself against terrorist entities that seek to undermine peace and stability in the region. We must be unwavering in our support for our great friend and ally,” said Senate Republican Whip John Thune (R-South Dakota).
    “The world watched in horror a year ago as Hamas slaughtered innocent men, women and children in Israel. Our nation must provide unwavering support to Israel’s mission to defend itself and defeat Hamas. We must unite and bring back peace through strength. Our resolution underscores how now more than ever, the American people need to stand with our ally Israel,” said Senate Republican Conference Chair John Barrasso (R-Wyoming).
    “One year ago today, Israel was brutally and indiscriminately attacked by Hamas terrorists in an act of sheer evil that resulted in more than one thousand innocent people viciously murdered by terrorists. I am particularly sickened by Hamas’s use of sexual violence on this dark day, an inexcusable and disgusting war crime that must be universally condemned and never again used as a weapon of war. One year after these terrorist attacks and more recent attacks against the Israeli state, I unequivocally stand with the Jewish people, including our communities in West Virginia,” said Vice Chair of the Republican Conference Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-West Virginia).
    “The United States must stand with Israel. As we saw one year ago, Iran, the world’s leading state sponsor of terrorism, helped Hamas fund and carry out the deadliest attack on the Jewish people since the Holocaust. Hamas murdered nearly 1,200 people, including Americans, and still holds many hostage. As we pause to remember the victims, the free world must stand in solidarity with Israel and support its fight against the evil Iranian regime,” said Senator Steve Daines (R-Montana).
    “Today, people across the world are remembering those lives lost and the hostages who remain in captivity in Gaza. Unfortunately, a year later, Iran-backed groups continue to threaten the safety and security of the Israeli people. Hamas continues to hold innocent hostages in Gaza, while the Houthis in Yemen and Hezbollah in Lebanon fire rockets and missiles towards Israel. The United States can and should continue to do all it can to support our ally Israel and hold Iran and its proxies accountable for their brutal attacks. This resolution is an important message to the people of Israel that we remain committed to defending them,” said Senate Foreign Relations Committee Ranking Member Jim Risch (R-Idaho).
    “Hamas and its Iranian sponsors are intent on nothing less than the destruction of the Jewish state. On this anniversary, we remember the victims, demand freedom for the remaining hostages, and declare our strong and abiding support for our Israeli partners to ensure that these terrorist regimes are relegated to the dustbin of history,” said Senate Armed Services Committee Ranking Member Roger Wicker (R-Mississippi).
    “For the past 12 months, the Israeli military has taken necessary actions to preserve its homeland and neutralize the threat of horrific Iran-backed Hamas terrorism. In the face of ongoing Iranian aggression and rising antisemitism, the United States remains unwavering in our resolve to stand with Israel – our strongest ally in the Middle East,” said Senator Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa).
    “One year ago today, Hamas terrorists launched an unprovoked and deceitful series of terrorist acts inside Israel. The level of barbarism that we saw was nothing short of evil. These crimes against humanity were also visited upon American citizens as well. More than 40 were murdered by Hamas, and dozens were taken hostage. One year later, seven American citizens remain held by terrorists. We must continue to stand shoulder to shoulder with the State of Israel. We must provide them with everything they need to secure the safety of their nation, eliminate the threat of terrorism, and apply maximum pressure on Hamas to release the remaining hostages,” said Senator Ted Budd (R-North Carolina).
    “October 7 left an indelible mark on the Jewish State of Israel. In the last year, we have seen Hamas for the pure evil it is. Today, we reaffirm our commitment to stand with Israel, reinforce our efforts to bring all the remaining hostages, including American citizens, home, and pledge to always stand up to antisemitism,” said Dr. Bill Cassidy (R-Louisiana). 
    “On October 7, 2023, Hamas terrorists murdered hundreds of Israeli people. This was truly Israel’s 9/11. As we reflect on the one-year anniversary of this terrible day, we reaffirm our support for Israel. America must continue to stand with our ally as they defend their nation,” said Senator Mike Rounds (R-South Dakota).
    “The United States continues to stand with our ally Israel a year after Hamas’ brutal attacks. We will never forget the tragedy that occurred on October 7th and the subsequent attacks from Iranian-backed terrorist groups and the rise of antisemitism that has followed. As we recognize this anniversary, we also reaffirm Israel’s right to self-defense,” said Senator Markwayne Mullin (R-Oklahoma).
    “One year after the grievous terrorist attack on Israel, there are still hostages, including Americans, being held captive by Hamas. The United States must continue to support Israel’s efforts to bring every hostage home and ensure its security against Hamas and all Iran-backed terrorist groups,” said Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kansas).
    “There’s no excusing, no equivocating, no explaining the actions of Hamas, who brutally raped, tortured, and beheaded innocent civilians and filmed it all for the world to see. Just as they did one year ago, Israel deserves America’s full and unwavering support, and I stand with the people of Israel in solidarity,” said Senator John Cornyn (R-Texas).
    “One year after Hamas’ barbaric attack on Israel, we stand resolute in our unwavering support for the Jewish state and her right to defend herself. America must stand shoulder to shoulder with Israel – our great ally, friend, and partner – as she works to bring every single hostage home and permanently neutralize the threat of Hamas. Only through strength can we achieve peace — evil is powerless when the good are unafraid,” said Senator Katie Britt (R-Alabama).
    “One year ago, Hamas’ senseless and unprovoked attacks on Israel killed thousands of innocent Israeli civilians and the bloodshed since the war began has been devastating. Now more than ever, we must do everything in our power to hold Hamas accountable for its continued acts of terror and reaffirm our commitment to Israel as they continue to protect themselves against Hamas’ reign of terror,” said Senator Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyoming).
    “On October 7th, the world witnessed a heinous terror attack as Hamas murdered innocent women, men and children. We must remain vigilant and unwavering in our commitment to bringing Hamas terrorists to justice. To the people of Israel, we stand with you, we mourn with you, and we will continue to support you until every hostage is brought home and Hamas surrenders,” said Senator Pete Ricketts (R-Nebraska).
    “On the one year anniversary of the attacks on Israel, we remain committed to standing with Israel in its efforts to fully defeat Hamas and stand up to its terrorist adversaries throughout the region. Israel is our strongest partner in the Middle East and this resolution reaffirms our support for this important ally,” said Senator John Hoeven (R-North Dakota).
    “Israel is America’s closest ally in the Middle East and our partner for peace in the region. They have faced vicious attacks since their founding in 1948, but in the past year the attacks have reached a level never seen in the last half century of Israel. Terror attacks on the streets, rockets and missiles from all four directions and innocent hostages in Gaza have tested Israel’s strength. But, Israel still stands. The United States should stand with Israel in their battle for peace and existence, just as Israel has always stood with us in our battle against terrorism,” said Senator James Lankford (R-Oklahoma).
    “Just as the sun began to rise one year ago, barbaric Hamas terrorists stormed into Israel and launched a widescale attack on thousands of innocent Israeli citizens. Hamas kidnapped, tortured and brutally murdered thousands of innocent people, plunging the Middle East into turmoil once again. I continue to press for the release of the remaining hostages and to stand unwaveringly with our strongest ally in the Middle East and its right to defend itself from ongoing threats from Iran and Iranian-backed terrorists,” said Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho).
    “On this solemn anniversary, I stand firmly with Israel in condemning Hamas and their unspeakable acts of terror. We reaffirm our unwavering support for Israel’s right to defend itself, and we honor the resilience of her people. The United States must remain steadfast to stand with our ally in the fight against terrorism and the pursuit of lasting peace,” said Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Mississippi).
    “Hamas’ brutal attack on innocent victims will never be forgotten. As families still wait to be reunited with loved ones captured one year ago, our resolve is unwavering to bring these hostages home. The United States stands with Israel, one of our closest friends and allies, as it continues to defend itself and its people. I remain committed to supporting our partner in its fight against Iran-backed terrorists,” said Senator John Boozman (R-Arkansas).
    “On October 7, 2023, the world witnessed a truly barbaric and deadly terrorist attack against the Jewish State of Israel. Hamas and other Islamist militants made it clear that their ultimate goal is the complete destruction of Israel, our strongest ally in the Middle East. The U.S. has a moral duty to defend our national security interests and to stand with the people of Israel. We will not waiver,” said Senator Marco Rubio (R-Florida).
    “It has been one year since Iran-backed Hamas terrorists attacked Israel, murdered families, raped innocent women, beheaded babies, and took so many hostage—including Americans who we have still not seen to this day. It is a day that so many will never forget, and not a day goes by that their loved ones wouldn’t do anything to see them again. We must stand with all of those impacted by the heinous attack, continue to stand with their families and support Israel in their fight. We cannot stop fighting until we bring them all home,” said Senator Rick Scott (R-Florida).
    “As hard as it is to believe, it was one year ago today that Hamas launched an attack with the sole purpose of eradicating Israel, kidnapping and slaughtering thousands of Israeli citizens and dozens of Americans in the process. Despite the reckless language of the left, we stand in support of Israel, unequivocally, our friend and our close ally. The United States must do everything we can to champion the continued existence and flourishing of Israel, and deny Hamas the opportunity to rebuild itself,” said Senator Kevin Cramer (R-North Dakota).
    “Today, on October 7, it is important for us to pause and remember the barbaric attack that claimed the lives of more than 1,200 people in Israel one year ago today.  To this day, Hamas continues to hold innocent Israelis and Americans hostage, and the United States must unequivocally stand with our ally in its fight to rescue these individuals from captivity and defend itself against terrorism,” said Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tennessee).
    “One year ago today, the Iranian-backed terrorist group Hamas murdered 1,200 innocent individuals, abducted 240 hostages ranging from 10 months to 85 years old, and viciously raped and mutilated Israeli women. These despicable acts of violence, which resulted in the largest loss of Jewish life in a single day since the Holocaust, sadly continue with the brutal murder of six hostages just a few weeks ago and Iran’s recent missile attack. This resolution sends a strong message against all antisemitic acts and violence committed in support of such terrorist ideology. I urge my colleagues to join us as we stand with the Jewish community and with Israel, our closest ally in the Middle East,” said Senator Susan Collins (R-Maine).
    “One year ago, the world witnessed Hamas commit an unprovoked barbaric attack against Israeli civilians. As we reflect on the anniversary of this horrific event, we must resolve to stand toe-to-toe against global aggressors and vow our unwavering support to defend Israel in their time of need. Showing that we are loyal to our allies and lethal to our adversaries is the only way to deter another tragedy like this from happening. The United States will always stand with Israel,” said Senator Tim Scott (R-South Carolina).
    “One year ago, Hamas terrorists launched an unprecedented attack on Israel, killing innocent Israelis and American citizens and taking hostages in acts of horrific violence. We will never forget those lost in the evil attacks and continue to pray for the safe return of those still held captive by Hamas. We must stand united against the forces of terror that seek to undermine democracy and spread chaos in the region and beyond,” said Senator Roger Marshall (R-Kansas).
    “Today marks the one year anniversary of the worst attack on the Jewish people since the Holocaust. As our resolution makes clear, we condemn Hamas for its brutal terrorist attack on Israel, reject the age-old sickness of antisemitism, and demand the safe release of remaining hostages from the Gaza Strip. The United States stands with Israel and supports its right to defend itself,” said Senator Todd Young (R-Indiana).
    “The October 7th attack on Israel was a horrifying act of terror that claimed 1,200 innocent lives, including U.S. citizens. This resolution rightly condemns those atrocities and the ongoing torture and killing of hostages. Israel has a right to exist and the United States will continue to stand firmly behind them in their fight against evil,” said Dr. Rand Paul (R-Kentucky).

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Kaine Statement on Anniversary of October 7 Hamas Terrorist Attack

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Virginia Tim Kaine
    WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA), a member of the Senate Armed Services and Foreign Relations Committees, released the following statement on the one-year anniversary of Hamas’ terrorist attack in Israel:
    “One year ago, at the end of Sukkot and the beginning of Simchat Torah, Hamas inflicted horrific violence in a sickening attack on Israel, brutally murdering nearly 1,200 Israelis and taking 251 hostages. Today and every day, we mourn the lives lost on October 7 and the suffering of civilians in Israel, Gaza, the West Bank, and Lebanon in the year since. It’s long past time for Israel and Hamas to reach a deal to release the hostages and establish a ceasefire in Gaza. It is in the best interest of U.S. and Israeli national security, as well as for the safety of U.S. servicemembers in the Middle East, that we urgently de-escalate tensions across the region and find a path back to peace—so the Israeli, Palestinian, and Lebanese people can live side by side as neighbors and with the safety and dignity they deserve.”
    Kaine has long supported Israel’s right to defend itself from Hamas, Iran, Hezbollah, and other actors who seek to harm Israel, while also protecting civilians in Gaza and the West Bank. He has repeatedly called for a deal to release hostages, establish a ceasefire, and increase humanitarian aid into Gaza.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: India to host ITU-WTSA24 during October 14th- 24th in New Delhi : The first ever in Asia Pacific region

    Source: Government of India (2)

    India to host ITU-WTSA24 during October 14th- 24th in New Delhi : The first ever in Asia Pacific region

    World leaders and technology experts from more than 190+ countries will join to shape the future of technology standards

    Inauguration of AI Bharat 5G/6G Hackathon phase-2 by Member (Technology)-the first pre-event of WTSA-2024

    Phase-2 of the Hackathon begins with National & International Teams tacking to achieve Sustainable Development Goals(SDGs) using AI in Telecom Innovations

    Global Innovators compete to design the cutting-Edge Solutions in 5G and 6G — Smart City Transit, Flood Monitoring, and Autonomous Networks Among Top Solutions at AI Bharat Hackathon

    “The solutions you create here have the potential to shape the future of global telecommunications.”: Ms. Madhu Arora, Member (Technology)

    Posted On: 07 OCT 2024 7:50PM by PIB Delhi

    The World Telecommunication Standardization Assembly (WTSA) of International Telecommunication Union (ITU) will be held in New Delhi from October 14 to 24, 2024. This will be the first time in the history of ITU that this prestigious global tech event is happening in Asia-Pacific region. Over 3,000 world leaders and technology experts  from 190+ countries will collaborate to shape the future of technology standard in areas like 6G, AI, IoT, Big Data, cybersecurity, M2M communications, and quantum technologies.

    As part of many WTSA side events, the second phase of AI Bharat 5G/6G Hackathon, organized in collaboration with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), Government of India, started today.

    The two-day in-person coding competition kicked off today at Bharat Mandapam, with 12 shortlisted teams—seven Indian and five international—coming together to compete. Over the next two days, these teams will develop cutting-edge AI and machine learning (AI/ML) solutions for next-generation 5G and 6G networks. The hackathon is supported by an elite panel of Indian and international mentors, including 12 Indian and two international experts, along with guidance from an ITU Programme Officer.

    This event, open to both Indian and international participants, provides an exceptional platform for collaboration.

    The first phase, which took place from 7th August to 30th September 2024, was launched by the Secretary, Department of Telecom in the presence of senior ITU officials, and experts from IIT Delhi. During this online phase, participants from diverse backgrounds, including international teams, competed in a series of challenges aimed at integrating AI/ML into 5G/6G infrastructures. Five mentoring sessions were conducted, with all teams submitting detailed project repositories. Primarily sessions were scheduled every Wednesday from August 7, 2024 to August 28, 2024. Additionally, there were a half-hour session as part of the WTSA outreach program on September 26, 2024, in Delhi, Hyderabad, and Bangalore.

    The Hackathon focuses on two problem statements:

    1.         AI Bharat 5G/6G Sandbox – Build Your Own AI/ML Model for 5G/6G: Teams will develop AI/ML pipelines leveraging ITU recommendations, including ITU-T Y.3172 and ITU-T Y.3061, with the aim of creating innovative use cases for 5G/6G.

    2.         AI Bharat 5G/6G Sandbox – Build Your Own xApp for Autonomous 5G/6G: Participants will create xApps to enhance autonomous 5G/6G networks, guided by ITU experts.

    Inaugurating the second phase, Ms. Madhu Arora, Member (Technology), Digital Communication Commission warmly welcomed the distinguished guests, participants, and winners of the first phase, saying,”This international hackathon is a platform for young innovators to turn their visions into reality and make a tangible impact on society.”

    Member (T) also emphasized the hackathon’s importance, stating, “The integration of AI/ML into 5G and 6G technologies opens up limitless possibilities, and I eagerly anticipate the innovative solutions that will emerge from this initiative.”

    Participants are working on critical challenges with real-world applications, including smart city transit, flood monitoring, traffic optimization, womens safety with “AuratRaksha”,

     “Sim Fraud Protection” and network reliability, using AI/ML technologies integrated with 5G and 6G networks. Teams have access to cutting-edge resources such as cloud credits, simulators, and compute servers. The event also features expert talks from global leaders in AI and telecommunications.

    The hackathon’s use cases span a wide range of fields, including:

    • Next Gen: A 5G-enabled smart city public transportation system for seamless data flow and real-time updates.
    • Vajra IITB: A flood monitoring and alerting system for real-time emergency response in urban areas.
    • BLAZE-IITJ: A 5G-enabled drone resource scheduling framework using AI for ultra-reliable low-latency communications.
    • IIITA ECE: A waste management system to prevent riverbed pollution.
    • Tech Rangers: An AI-driven initiative to reduce the 6G standards barrier for African contributors.
    • HexaCore: A women’s safety platform, “AuratRaksha,” designed for real-time alerts in unsafe situations.
    • Neural Nomads: AgriShield – AI-Driven 5G/6G Solutions for Small-Scale Farmers is focused on improving agricultural resilience for small-scale farmers in Zimbabwe and Africa. The platform uses AI-powered crop monitoring and predictive analytics to provide real-time insights, while also streamlining farm-to-market logistics through an integrated AI marketplace., empowering farmers with data-driven decision-making tools.

     Ms. Madhu Arora concluded by encouraging participants to push the boundaries of innovation, “The solutions you create here have the potential to shape the future of global telecommunications.”

    As the event progresses, participants will continue refining their projects, leading to the announcement of winners, who will be awarded and recognized at the closing ceremony.

    Prizes: The top three teams ($1,000, $700, $500). Special recognition will be given to the Best Student Team, Best Start-up, and Best Female Team, each receiving $500.

    The AI Bharat 5G/6G Hackathon has become a hub for innovation, bringing together students, startups, and technology enthusiasts from India and across the globe. It will help shape the future of AI and next-generation telecommunications.

    (For further updates on the hackathon, please visit:

    https://challenge.aiforgood.itu.int/match/matchitem/95.)

    About WTSA2024:

    The prestigious World Telecommunication Standardization Assembly (WTSA) will be held in New Delhi from 15th – 24th Oct 2024, marking a significant step towards the advancements of 5G and 6G networks. It also marks the country’s growing importance in the global technology landscape. The WTSA is a quadrennial event and serves as the governing conference of the ITU (International Telecommunication Union) Standardisation Sector (ITU-T). It is one of the three world conferences organized by the International Telecommunication Union, an entity within the United Nations system. This event plays a pivotal role in setting global telecommunication standards, making India’s hosting of the WTSA a significant milestone.

    It will bring together more than 3,000 delegates from 150+ countries, including over 1,000 foreign delegates and 50 global ministers representing telecom, digital, and ICT sectors. WTSA 2024 will pave the way for bridging the digital divide through universal and affordable connectivity, focusing on critical areas like 6G, AI, IoT, Big Data, cybersecurity, M2M, Broadcasting, Satcom, and quantum technologies.

    WTSA will be preceded by the Global Standards Symposium (GSS) on October 14, 2024, at Bharat Mandapam, Pragati Maidan, New Delhi.  The GSS is a high-level forum for policy debates on ICT standardization, addressing its evolving dynamics and technical implications.

    The WTSA 2024, will be accompanied by other related initiatives such as the ITU Kaleidoscope conference, ITU exhibitions, Network of Women and AI for Good to enrich the discourse and promote inclusivity in the sector.

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    SB/DP

    (Release ID: 2062953) Visitor Counter : 67

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi expresses heartfelt gratitude on completion of 23 years as head of government

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi expresses heartfelt gratitude on completion of 23 years as head of government

    During my 13 years as Chief Minister, Gujarat emerged as a shining example of ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas’: PM

    Over 25 crore people have been freed from the clutches of poverty. India has become the fifth largest economy: PM

    India’s developmental strides have ensured that our country is being viewed with utmost optimism globally: PM

    I will not rest till our collective goal of a Viksit Bharat is realised: PM

    Posted On: 07 OCT 2024 9:06PM by PIB Delhi

    The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has expressed his heartfelt gratitude for completing 23 years as the head of a government. Shri Modi recalled his time as the Chief Minister of Gujarat and said that Gujarat emerged as a shining example of ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas,’ ensuring prosperity for all sections of society. Reflecting on the past decade, the Prime Minister said that India’s developmental strides have ensured that our country is being viewed with utmost optimism globally. He reassured the citizens he would keep working tirelessly and not rest till the collective goal of a Viksit Bharat is realised.

    The Prime Minister posted a thread on X:

    “#23YearsOfSeva…

    A heartfelt gratitude to everyone who has sent their blessings and good wishes as I complete 23 years as the head of a government. It was on October 7, 2001, that I took on the responsibility of serving as the Chief Minister of Gujarat. It was the greatness of my Party, @BJP4India, to task a humble Karyakarta like me with the responsibility of heading the state administration.”

    “When I assumed office as CM, Gujarat was facing numerous challenges – the 2001 Kutch Earthquake, before that a Super Cyclone, a massive drought, and the legacy of many decades of Congress misrule like loot, communalism and casteism. Powered by Jana Shakti, we rebuilt Gujarat and propelled it to new heights of progress, even in a sector like agriculture, for which the state was not traditionally known.”

    “During my 13 years as Chief Minister, Gujarat emerged as a shining example of ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas,’ ensuring prosperity for all sections of society. In 2014, the people of India blessed my Party with a record mandate, thus enabling me to serve as Prime Minister. This was a historic moment, as it marked the first time in 30 years that a party secured a full majority.”

    “Over the past decade, we have been able to address several challenges our nation faces. Over 25 crore people have been freed from the clutches of poverty. India has become the fifth largest economy and this has particularly helped our MSMEs, StartUps sector and more. New avenues of prosperity have opened for our hardworking farmers, Nari Shakti, Yuva Shakti and the poor as well as marginalized sections of society.”

    “India’s developmental strides have ensured that our country is being viewed with utmost optimism globally. The world is keen to engage with us, invest in our people and be a part of our success. At the same time, India is working extensively to overcome global challenges be it climate change, improving healthcare, realising SDGs and more.”

    “Much has been achieved over the years but there is still more to be done. The learnings over these 23 years enabled us to come up with pioneering initiatives which have made an impact both nationally and globally. I assure my fellow Indians that I will keep working tirelessly, with even more vigour in service of the people. I will not rest till our collective goal of a Viksit Bharat is realised.”

     

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  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Ministry of Textiles celebrates ‘World Cotton Day’ 2024

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Ministry of Textiles celebrates ‘World Cotton Day’ 2024

    Adoption of best farm practice can increase yield of Cotton: Textiles Minister

    Industry signs several Memorandum of Understandings to promote Indian Kasturi Cotton Brand

    Posted On: 07 OCT 2024 10:11PM by PIB Delhi

    The Union Minister of Textiles, Shri Giriraj Singh attended the celebration of World Cotton Day 2024 here today. The Ministry of Textiles jointly hosted the conference with Confederation of Indian Textile Industries (CITI) and Cotton Corporation of India focusing on the theme of “Megatrends Shaping Cotton Textile Value Chain”.

    The Textiles Minister while addressing the august gathering reiterated the commitment of the government to achieve the target of USD 350 billion by 2030 including export target of USD 100 billion. This could only be achieved, if all the stakeholders in the cotton value chain join hands together. He also shared the experience that how adoption of best farm practice  like high density planting, closer spacing, drip fertigation etc., can increase the yield to even 1500 Kgs per hectares as against the present national average yield of about 450 kgs. Therefore, there is dire need to adopt best farm practices on saturation mode. The outcome of this pilot project will encourage the farmers of other area to adopt these practices for better yield.

    He also expressed his concern about the problem of weed management in cotton farming which increases labour cost to cotton farmers. Further, cotton being predominantly grown in black soil causes difficulties in wet soil to have timely weed management. The efforts be made to help cotton farmers to overcome weed management problem by adopting suitable new seed varieties and he appealed to take this issue with all seriousness and examine the suitability of this new seed technology available in the world like HT BT for adoption in our country.

    Smt Rachna Shah, Textiles Secretary in her address mentioned about the importance of cotton economy, which provides livelihood to six million cotton farmers directly and another employment to 45 million people engaged directly or indirectly in various other activities in the cotton value chain. She mentioned about the share of cotton fibre to the total fibre in the country at about 60%, where the same is at 23% in the world. However, she urged that all the stakeholders of the cotton value chain to concentrate in increasing cotton productivity, as India ranks 35th in terms of yield. She appealed all stakeholders to adopt collaborative approach to address this serious challenge of productivity, being faced by entire cotton value chain.

    Smt. Shubha Thakur, Additional Secretary, MoA&FW while discussing on the initiatives of the government in increasing yield of cotton, reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to work in close coordination with Ministry of Textiles, in adopting best farm practice by the farmers so as to improve livelihood of the farmers.  

    Smt Prajakta Verma Joint Secretary, Ministry of Textiles while delivering key note address informed that enhancing sustainability is paramount and therefore Ministry has encouraged collaborative approach through formation of Textile Advisory Group (TAG) where the challenges of Textile Industry are being addressed through participative approach. She also highlighted inter-ministerial coordination in launching initiative of holistic plan to increase cotton production and yield which enable the farmers to increase their income.

    The Union Minister of Textiles along with the dignitaries of the event visited to various exhibitor stalls who showcased Kasturi cotton products, recycled textiles, products of scrap fabrics, Handloom products etc.

    The one day conference in commemoration of World Cotton Day 2024, highlighted best practices and sustainable farming methods, traceability, ESG data points for connecting farm to fashion, targeting technology like HDPS,  spanning from Farm to Fibre to Factory to Fashion to Foreign. Brainstorming sessions addressed crucial topics, including “Enhancing Sustainability & Traceability”, “Decent work in cotton supply chain”, “Evolving Trends in Cotton Farming” and “Cotton Trading and Risk Management “for Enhancing Quality & Productivity of Cotton”.

    During inaugural session Shri Rohit Kansal, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Textile highlighted that the country has set a target of creating Textile Ecosystem of USD 350 bn by 2030 from current USD 176 bn. He urged the stakeholders of cotton textile value chain to be cognisant of the challenges that are being posed by current and potential competing fibres so that cotton will be legacy sector of Indian Textile Industry, further he emphasised the sustainability is a sine qua non for cotton textile value chain. 

    Shri Lalit Kumar Gupta, CMD CCI highlighted the important role being played by CCI as central nodal agency in empowering cotton farmers by use of technology and provides an alternate market channel for selling their produce.

    Shri Rakesh Mehra, Chairman CITI emphasized that cotton being the oldest fibre in the textile industry plays a significant role in driving economic growth, employment generation, provides livelihood to farmers, women empowerment. He urged that the cotton to be produced more and more and increase the productivity so that the industry gets the raw material at competitive price.

    The various other eminent speakers shared their experience and valuable insights during the occasion.

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  • MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Millions of dead fish in the Pagasetic Gulf as a result of inaction by the relevant Greek authorities – P-001680/2024(ASW)

    Source: European Parliament

    The Commission services contacted the Hellenic authorities on 13 September 2024 in order to enquire about the causes of this incident.

    The Commission services also asked to be informed about the measures that the national authorities intend to take not only in order to reduce the environmental impact of this incident but also to prevent such a similar event from happening in the future.

    As regards infringement case 2022/2191[1], Greece has made partial progress as all river basin management plans have now been updated and notified to the Commission[2].

    However, Greece still needs to update its flood risk management plans and notify them to the Commission[3].

    • [1] https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/inf_24_663
    • [2] As required by Article 13(7) and 15(1) of Directive 2000/60/EC establishing a framework for Community action in the field of water policy, OJ L  327, 22.12.2000, p. 1-73.
    • [3] As required by Articles 14(3) and 15(1) of Directive 2007/60/EC on the assessment and management of flood risks, OJ L 288, 6.11.2007, p. 27-34.
    Last updated: 7 October 2024

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Still with the Tony Soprano memes? Young audiences are watching the series with fresh eyes

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alexander H. Beare, Lecturer in Media, University of Adelaide

    HBO’s latest crime drama The Penguin came with a flood of memes on TikTok, X and Instagram. They compare actor Colin Farrell’s Oswald Cobblepot to James Gandolfini’s Tony Soprano.

    It’s true, there are undeniable similarities between the two portrayals and shows. HBO’s official TikTok account went so far as to upload an edit of The Penguin trailer cut to the rhythm of Alabama 3’s Woke Up This Morning – the title theme for The Sopranos.

    Running for six seasons from 1999 to 2007, The Sopranos is enjoying a sustained cultural relevancy in 2024 – something other prestige dramas of the same era such as Six Feet Under and The Shield have not achieved. A new two-part documentary about the making of the The Sopranos just premiered on HBO, 25 years after the show made its debut.

    For the last couple of years, fans have been discovering the show and making it their own. But how does it fit the present moment?

    The Sopranos as catharsis

    My research and upcoming book is based on in-depth interviews with a group of new Sopranos fans all aged between 19–26. In other words, not old enough to have watched the show when it first aired.

    During the pandemic, The Sopranos saw a surge in viewership and interest that outstripped its contemporaries like Deadwood.

    Superficially, the show is visually comparable to COVID lockdown. Tony and his kids are regularly shown sleeping in, dressed in baggy clothes, and shuffling around the kitchen picking at cold cuts.

    For those I spoke with, viewing The Sopranos wasn’t a way to escape from lockdown: it was a way to purge pent-up emotion.

    For Darcy, the show became:

    Like a cathartic tool, like, I can relate, this is how life feels right now […] A bit of relief, and a sense of relatability, you know? It was always comforting when things are not good.

    Tom shared this feeling:

    One of the cool things about The Sopranos is that a lot of the stuff is really mundane […] It’s about drudgery more than anything […] That’s what lockdown feels like – and it definitely is what a lot of daily life feels like […] it’s those moments of opening up the fridge and just eating like 20 slices of gabagool because you can’t be fucked making something to eat.

    The Sopranos as nostalgia

    The Sopranos is a profoundly negative show and yet it was being viewed by the young people I spoke to through quite an optimistic lens.

    Alannah said:

    It makes me feel nostalgic for a time when things felt a little bit like […] simpler, even though they have complications. It just seemed like a good stage of history to be in.

    In a similar vein, Callum positively characterised this feeling as an “added bonus” that “drew him into watching the show”. Selina fondly remembered the fashion and music of the show.

    Watching with a new lens

    During its original run, The Sopranos was often lauded by scholars for its deconstruction of patriarchal masculinity. This was not so much the case for the people I spoke to.

    Alannah worried The Sopranos could easily be placed in the toxic online “manosphere”:

    [The Sopranos is] like Fight Club and American Psycho. White dudes will watch it and be like, ‘Yeah, this is fucking sick – that’s me man’. And it’s like, you don’t want to be these people! You have to criticise it yourself because it is not overt in my opinion.

    Stuart expressed a similar concern about The Sopranos’ ability to be a dangerous power fantasy.

    In his experience with online Sopranos content, he observed:

    [There are fans] who see Tony Soprano as the ideal man and don’t notice that the show is supposed to be critiquing his behaviour.

    These concerns about “misunderstanding” the show very much reflect current anxieties. The reporting about how the 2019 Joker film might incite violence from white men provides a salient reference point for these worries.

    For the new viewers I spoke to, there was a real concern The Sopranos could combine dangerously with today’s toxic misogynistic online content. They were worried Tony Soprano could be interpreted as a celebration of patriarchal masculinity rather than a critique.

    Born under a bad sign

    In 2024, The Sopranos is still managing to click with new audiences. But these fans interpret the show differently and take new meaning from it. When we look at their responses, we can see how The Sopranos intersects with the attitudes and anxieties of modern audiences.

    Next time you see a meme about Tony Soprano, consider what context today’s viewers place him in – and whether an audience from 20 years ago would have done the same. Today, he might be considered even more dangerous.

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

    – ref. Still with the Tony Soprano memes? Young audiences are watching the series with fresh eyes – https://theconversation.com/still-with-the-tony-soprano-memes-young-audiences-are-watching-the-series-with-fresh-eyes-237982

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –