NewzIntel.com

Category: Natural Disasters

  • MIL-OSI USA: Speaker Johnson: American Taxpayers Will Not Bail Out Sanctuary Cities

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Mike Johnson (LA-04)

    WASHINGTON — Speaker Johnson released the following statement after the House passed HR 5717, the No Bailout for Sanctuary Cities Act:

    “While the Biden-Harris Administration was busy opening our borders to allow illegal aliens to flood into American communities, sanctuary cities were providing them with things like with free housing and healthcare – at the same time shielding them from federal law enforcement. Every municipality should obviously prioritize serving their own citizens instead of illegal aliens.

    “But since sanctuary jurisdictions refuse to make the right choice and protect Americans, Congress is standing up for the people of this great nation. As its name suggests, the No Bailout for Sanctuary Cities Act ensures no federal funding can be used to bail out cities, counties, and states that drain their budgets, breaking the law and catering to illegals who don’t have the right to be here.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: The long road to recovery for Gaza’s war-wounded children story Sep 20, 2024

    Source: Doctors Without Borders –

    “I heard that when you die, you can still hear people’s voices as they bury you—their prayers and their footsteps as they walk away from your final resting place,” says Karam.

    Karam is receiving care at the hospital run by Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) in Amman, Jordan, where our teams provide reconstructive surgery for patients from countries experiencing war, such as Iraq, Yemen, and Gaza, Palestine. 

    The home of Karam (left) was obliterated in an Israeli airstrike, killing everyone in his family except for his sister Ghina and father Ziad (right). Karam was badly injured, with burns across his whole face and body.
    Jordan 2024 © Moises Saman

    “He had no human features”

    On February 14, 2024, an Israeli airstrike obliterated Karam’s home in Gaza, killing everyone in his family except for his 7-year-old sister, Ghina, and his father, Ziyad. Karam was badly injured, with burns across his whole face and body.

    “In the ambulance, I could feel the speed bumps but I couldn’t open my eyes,” Karam says. “I could still hear voices, so I was afraid that maybe I was already dead.”

    That day, Al-Aqsa Hospital was overwhelmed with casualties after the bombing of Nuseirat camp in central Gaza by Israeli forces. When Karam arrived at the hospital, the emergency room team worked to resuscitate him, but they eventually had to move on to treat other patients because they, too, thought he was dead.

    In the ambulance, I could feel the speed bumps but I couldn’t open my eyes. I could still hear voices, so I was afraid that maybe I was already dead.

    Karam, 17, MSF patient

    One hour later, Karam’s uncle, who worked as a nurse at Al-Aqsa Hospital, entered the emergency room and realized that his nephew was still breathing. He rushed Karam to the operating theater, where MSF staff performed CPR and emergency surgery, saving his life.

    His father, Ziyad, is a psychologist for UNRWA and was working at a refuge center when their family home in Nuseirat was hit.

    “When I found out about the strike, I rushed to Al-Aqsa, as my neighbor told me that Ghina and Karam had been taken there,” says Ziyad. “I got to the emergency room and there were bodies everywhere, all over the floor. I found Ghina with first-degree burns on her face, shoulders, and back.”

    The impact of the bomb dropped on Ziyad’s home was so strong that all that remains of the house is a crater. The blast killed 13 members of Ziyad’s family, including his wife, his youngest son Mohammed, and his eldest son Tareq, who was stuck in Gaza due to the war while visiting from Russia, where he was studying dentistry. 

    Ziyad with his daughter Ghina and son Karam in the hospital room they share at MSF’s hospital in Amman. Ziyad’s elder son Tareq, who was visiting from Russia where he was studying to be a dentist, was killed in the strike that injured Ghina and Karam.
    Jordan 2024 © Moises Saman/MSF

    “When Karam was brought into the emergency room, I didn’t notice it was my son,” says Ziyad. “He had no human features on him. There were no clothes left on him. His body was completely black. His eyes were closed.”

    After stabilizing Karam, MSF and Ministry of Health staff at Al-Aqsa Hospital performed six rounds of plastic surgery on Karam’s severely burned body. For seven days he was in a coma.

    Karam was later evacuated to the Emirati floating hospital in Al-Arish, Egypt and then was flown to MSF’s reconstructive surgery hospital in Amman, where he is currently receiving comprehensive rehabilitation, along with his sister and other patients who have been medically evacuated from Gaza.

    Thousands in Gaza need specialized care but are trapped

    The small number of patients from Gaza receiving vital rehabilitation at MSF’s hospital in Amman are barely a ripple on the surface of needs across the Gaza Strip.

    “We know from our experience at the reconstructive surgery hospital in Amman, where we have treated people with war wounds from the region for nearly 20 years, that typically up to 4 percent of people who suffer war injuries will need reconstructive surgery,” says Moeen Mahmood Shaief, MSF head of mission in Jordan.

    “In the case of Gaza, we are talking about nearly 100,000 people who have been injured since October 7, 2023. Therefore we are looking at up to 4,000 people in Gaza who need reconstructive surgery and comprehensive rehabilitation,” he says.

    Deema was almost killed when she fell four storeys from her balcony following an Israeli airstrike and was buried under the rubble for an hour.
    Jordan 2024 © Moises Saman/MSF

    Almost 60 percent of medical evacuation requests are denied

    According to OCHA, at least 41,000 people have been killed—not counting at least 10,000 still missing under rubble—in Gaza since the war started last year, and over 95,000 people have been injured, with at least 14,000 in need of medical evacuation. 

    However, the process that allows a wounded patient to be referred abroad for care is long and complicated. The Israeli authorities’ criteria for approving requests are unclear and patients often have to wait months for a response. Almost 60 percent of requests for medical evacuations from Gaza are turned down, according to the World Health Organization. This includes requests to evacuate wounded children and their caretakers, according to MSF.

    MSF calls for medical evacuations without prejudice to Palestinians’ right to return

    Thousands of Palestinians in Gaza require complex and sustained medical care that is unavailable in the Strip due to the collapse of its health system during the war. Israel must resume issuing medical referral permits for treatment in the West Bank and Jerusalem for severe cases that cannot be treated in Gaza. All medical referrals, patients, and their caregivers must be guaranteed safe, voluntary, and dignified return to Gaza.

    Learn more

    “Of the eight cases for which we applied for medical evacuation in August, only three were approved with their caretakers by the Israeli authorities,” says Dr. Hani Isleem, MSF project coordinator for medical evacuations from Gaza.

    “We will apply again for the next batch, but it is 100 percent clear that they will not approve all the patients. Perhaps they are suspicious of allowing adults to leave the Gaza Strip, but even that suspicion cannot explain the refusal to evacuate children.” 

    MSF calls on the Israeli authorities to ensure medical evacuations for Palestinians in need of specialized medical care, including their caregivers, and for other states to receive and facilitate treatment outside of Gaza, while ensuring that all patients and their caregivers are guaranteed safe, voluntary, and dignified return to Gaza.

    Deema’s little brother Hazem was playing football outside when their home collapsed, leaving him severely injured, while Deema was holding her baby nephew inside. After being trapped under the rubble, Deema survived, but the baby was never found.
    Jordan 2024 © Moises Saman

    “It was pitch black under the rubble”

    Deema, 11, and her family were sheltering at their home in Gaza City when their neighbor’s house was hit by an airstrike on October 10, 2023. Deema was on the fourth floor, holding her baby nephew in her arms, when the building collapsed around them. She fell four stories to the ground floor.

    “It was pitch black under the rubble,” says Deema. “I couldn’t open my eyes and could barely breathe. I couldn’t hear anyone and I couldn’t speak. There was dust and stones covering my face. I was convinced that I was going to die.”

    “I managed to move my hand under the rubble and used a cable to signal to people that I was there,” she continues. “I remember hearing voices, and I felt air on my leg, and soon people were pulling me out and rushing me to the ambulance. To this day, they haven’t found my baby nephew.”

    Seventy-five people were killed in the strike, including Deema’s 14-year-old brother, Hamza. Her younger brother, Hazem, was playing football outside and was also severely injured when the building collapsed. After the dust settled and rescue teams arrived at the scene, Deema and Hazem were rushed to Al-Shifa Hospital, where they received emergency medical care.

    The most dangerous place in the world to be a child

    Read more

    Due to the incessant bombardment of Gaza City, Deema, Hazem, and their mother, Eman, stayed at Al-Shifa Hospital for six months. They were eating, sleeping, and receiving care there, along with thousands of other Palestinians who were taking shelter inside the hospital.

    On March 18, 2024, Israeli forces surrounded the hospital, forcing the thousands of people inside to flee. In the chaos of the evacuation, Deema became separated from her mother and Hazem, who were forced to move south. Meanwhile, Deema managed to reunite with her father and took shelter with him at Asma’a School in Gaza City, where they remained for 45 days.

    “We stayed in a classroom with around 50 families,” explains Deema. “We had almost no food or water, and there was no electricity or gas, so we had to light fires. My shoulder was broken, and I couldn’t move it at all and I was barely able to walk at that time.”

    In early May, Deema was at last able to travel to the south of Gaza, where she was reunited with her mother and Hazem in Rafah. One week later they were medically evacuated, first to Egypt and then to MSF’s hospital in Amman, where Deema and Hazem continue to receive reconstructive surgery, physiotherapy, and mental health support. 

    As a result of the attack on her home, Deema suffered fractures to her right femur and shoulder as well as an open wound to her forehead. In Amman, the MSF physiotherapy team works with her daily to encourage her fractured bones to heal before the external fixator in her leg can be removed. With time, she hopes to be able to regain full function of her limbs.

    “I wasn’t able to move my ankle or my arm when I first arrived in Jordan, but with the help of surgery and physiotherapy I can move them both again,” says Deema. “But it’s hard for me to think of the future as long as there is war in Gaza.”

    Adolescents are particularly vulnerable to the acute stress and life-changing injuries they have suffered in Gaza.
    Jordan 2024 © Moises Saman

    The mental health impact on Gaza’s war-wounded

    MSF mental health teams at the Amman hospital have noted that before the start of the war, Palestinians from Gaza already suffered from depression and frustration, often related to unemployment, poverty, and high addiction rates, as well as to disabilities and amputations caused by previous wars. However, since the war started last October the mental health of Gazans has deteriorated dramatically.

    “A lot of patients coming from Gaza to the Amman hospital are experiencing not only post-traumatic stress disorder, but even acute stress syndrome,” says Dr. Ahmad Mahmoud Al Salem, MSF psychiatrist at the hospital in Amman. “This means that the patients usually have a lot of nightmares and a lot of flashbacks, as well as low mood, insomnia, and avoidance of the whole memory.”

    This is not a normal trauma. This is a huge, tormenting catastrophe, and psychologically their minds are unable to bear all of this stress.

    Dr. Ahmad Mahmoud Al Salem, MSF psychiatrist

    Many Palestinians in Gaza have witnessed the destruction of their homes and the killing of their families, and many have suffered life-changing injuries. On top of that, they are constantly learning of the loss of more family members and friends.

    “This is not a normal trauma,” says Dr. Al Salem. “This is a huge, tormenting catastrophe, and psychologically their minds are unable to bear all of this stress.”

    The mental health team at MSF’s hospital in Amman provide patients who have suffered acute trauma with comprehensive therapy. Children are offered one-on-one psychological support, as well as educational activities and occupational therapy to help them feel more empowered. The more severe cases are referred to Dr. Al Salem for psychiatric support and medication.

    Longing for Gaza after medical evacuation: Abdul Rahman’s story

    Read about Abdul Rahman

    Adolescents are particularly vulnerable to the acute stress and life-changing injuries they have suffered.

    “Adolescents can suffer real misery, as they are just starting to form their personality and their identity,” adds Dr. Al Salem. “They are beginning to understand their place in the world and they are asking themselves: ‘Will I be productive one day, will I be attractive, will I be able to earn money?’”

    According to Dr. Al Salem, adolescent patients who have suffered horrific, life-changing wounds will need long-term psychotherapy and support, not only to deal with painful memories and mental trauma, but to rebuild their sense of self-worth and learn to live with a disability.

    “These kids need support to rebuild their self-worth and self-esteem,” says Dr. Al Salem. “But it takes time.”

    Shahed, 16, from Rafah, Gaza, survived a December 9, 2023, airstrike that killed her father and sister. “I remember waking up in the ambulance.”
    Jordan 2024 © Moises Saman/MSF

    Living life by the moment

    For young Palestinian patients at MSF’s Amman hospital, the future remains dark and unclear. There is still no safe place in Gaza, and while they may be able to return to Gaza physically at some point, the prospects are bleak. All of them have lost family members, as well as their homes and their schools.

    Deema wants to go back to school and to see her family, but not until the war is over and Gaza has been rebuilt.

    “I would like to become an engineer,” says Deema. “I wish that Gaza could return to how it once was. We don’t want to be displaced or pushed out, we just want to go back to our lives before the war.”

    I wish that Gaza could return to how it once was. We don’t want to be displaced or pushed out, we just want to go back to our lives before the war.

    Deema, 11, MSF patient

    Five months after the catastrophic attack on his home, Karam is walking again, he is able to move his left arm, and his left eye is slowly reopening—a nearly miraculous recovery considering he was originally thought dead by medical staff at Al-Aqsa Hospital. 

    Today, Karam is smiling as he lets go of his crutches in the physiotherapy department and grabs hold of the parallel stabilizing bars to take a few steps forward. Before the war he had wanted to become a dentist, like his older brother Tareq, but since he was injured, he is not sure if it will be possible.  

    “I’m taking it one step at a time,” says Karam. “If the war ends, God willing, we will head back to Gaza. It’s my country, it’s where I spent my whole life. My friends are there. But for now, I’m here and I want to get better, one second at a time.” 

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Panetta Praises Early Success of His REPLANT Act to Help Restore National Forests

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jimmy Panetta (D-Calif)

    Monterey, CA – United States Representative Jimmy Panetta (CA-19) praised the progress being made to help reforestation efforts in our National Forests due to his REPLANT Act.  Rep. Panetta authored the bipartisan and bicameral bill and ensured that it was included in the historic Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act that passed in the 117th Congress and was signed into law by President Joe Biden.  The REPLANT Act mandates federal investment in the Reforestation Trust Fund that helps reduce the backlog of projects to plant more trees in burn-scarred areas.  Since the REPLANT Act became law, the U.S. Forest Service has reforested 360,000 acres.

    National Forests account for 193 million acres of land across the United States. These forests store 25% of the nation’s carbon, filter drinking water for 60 million Americans, are home to 3,000 species, host 159 million visitors annually, and contribute $13.7 billion to local economies. In 2021, the U.S. Forest Service had a reforestation backlog of 3.6 million acres, largely due to destructive wildfires and other hazards.

    The REPLANT Act increased investments in reforestation projects on national forests and removed the previous $30 million annual cap in the Reforestation Trust Fund, making an average of $123 million available for reforestation each year.

    “As stewards of our environment, it was long past time that we stopped talking about replanting our treasured National Forests and started taking action,” said Rep. Panetta.  “I am not only proud to have authored the bipartisan REPLANT Act and have it signed into law, but I’m also very pleased to see that the landmark investments are having a significant impact in replanting and revitalizing our forests.  We have more work to do when it comes to managing and protecting our environment, but the early results of the REPLANT Act should give us hope that the United States Congress can properly promote and perpetuate our National Forests.”

    The goal of the REPLANT Act is to help reforest 4.1 million acres by planting 1.2 billion trees over the next 10 years. This level of reforestation is expected to sequester 758 million metric tons of carbon over the trees’ lifetimes, the equivalent of 85.3 billion gallons of gasoline, improve soil health and wildlife habitats, and create nearly 49,000 jobs over the next 10 years.  Rep. Panetta led the REPLANT Act with Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) and then Senator Rob Portman (R-OH) as well as Representative Mike Simpson (ID-02).

    In addition to the REPLANT Act’s investments, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act includes key measures for climate and community resiliency, such as $3.37 billion for wildfire risk reduction, $27.65 billion to modernize energy grids, $7.7 billion to strengthen clean energy supply chains, and $55 billion to improve water infrastructure.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: House Committee Approves Rep. Carbajal Bill to Rename Santa Maria Post Office in Honor of Mayor Larry Lavagnino

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Salud Carbajal (CA-24)

    Congressman Salud Carbajal’s (CA-24) legislation to formally rename the U.S. Post Office on E. Battles Road in Santa Maria in honor of Larry Lavagnino — the City’s former Mayor, City Councilmember, and longtime resident — advanced out of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform by a unanimous vote and now moves to the House Floor for consideration by the full U.S. House of Representatives.

    “Proud to see my bill to rename the Santa Maria Post Office in Honor of Mayor Larry Lavagnino passed out of committee and now moving to the House Floor,” said Rep. Carbajal. “Having worked closely with Mayor Lavagnino throughout his extensive career in local government, I can confidently say that this recognition is a fitting testament to his decades of dedicated public service to Santa Maria and the Central Coast.”

    “I’m deeply honored and humbled,” said Mayor Larry Lavagnino. “I know there are many more deserving of this recognition but I am also very excited for my entire family. I only wish my mom and dad were around to witness this.”

    “Moving any piece of federal legislation isn’t easy so I’m extremely grateful to Salud and his staff for getting this through committee. I can’t wait to see my dad’s face when we finally unveil the new sign,” said Supervisor Steve Lavagnino.

    Larry Lavagnino served as Mayor of Santa Maria from 2002 to 2012, and as a Member of the Santa Maria City Council from 1996 to 2002.

    During his time as Mayor, Santa Maria saw a significant number of improvements and additions, including a new library, multiple new fire stations, a new transit center, a new police department building, the expansion of the city’s wastewater treatment plant, and the widening of Santa Maria River Bridge and Highway 101.

    On top of the above improvements during his tenure, Mayor Lavagnino was also able to help secure more than $46 million in federal funding for improvements to the Santa Maria River Levee, which protects thousands of homes and businesses in the area. He also helped bring about the Abel Maldonado Youth Center, which continues to provide a safe and welcoming space for teens.

    Lavagnino is a graduate of Santa Maria Union High School and Allan Hancock College, and still lives four houses down from the Santa Maria home that he grew up in.

    The legislation was unveiled in January of 2024 at Santa Maria City Hall with Santa Barbara County Supervisor, and son of the longtime Mayor, Steve Lavagnino, and current Santa Maria Mayor Alice Patino.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Davenport Man Indicted for Armed Carjacking and Possessing Ammunition as a Convicted Felon

    Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime Alerts (b)

    Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the return of an indictment charging Armoni Moody (23, Davenport) with carjacking, brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a violent crime, and possession of ammunition by a convicted felon. If convicted on all counts, Moody faces a minimum mandatory penalty of seven years, up to life, in federal prison. The indictment also notifies Moody that the United States intends to forfeit a SCCY firearm and assorted rounds of ammunition, which are alleged to have been used in the commission of the offense. 

    According to the indictment, on June 12, 2024, Moody used a firearm to commit a carjacking during which he took a vehicle from the victim with the intent to cause death and serious bodily harm. Prior to the offense, Moody had previously been convicted of robbery with a weapon on May 13, 2021. Therefore, he is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition under federal law.

    An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.

    This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Polk County Sheriff’s Office. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jeff Chang.

    This case is part of the Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence for occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Florida Man Pleads Guilty to Assault with a Deadly Weapon

    Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime Alerts (b)

    MIAMI – On September 16, a tribal member pleaded guilty in federal court to assault with a dangerous weapon with intent to bodily harm, assault resulting in serious bodily injury, and discharging a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence.

    According to court records, on April 26, Sutanga Rex Cypress, 42, was arguing with the victim when Cypress brandished a firearm. Cypress then pointed the gun at the victim and shot the victim in the abdomen. The victim was airlifted to the hospital due to the severity of the injuries sustained by the gunshot.  

    Sentencing is set for December 9, 2024, before U.S. District Judge Jacqueline Becerra. Cypress faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years for one count and up to 10 years in federal prison for each of the remaining counts. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines along with other mitigating, aggravating and statutory factors.

    U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida, Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey B. Veltri of FBI, Miami Field Office, and Chief Roland Pandolfi of the Miccosukee Police Department made the announcement.

    FBI Safe Trails, Miami and Miccosukee Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Latoya C. Brown and Vanessa E. Bonhomme are prosecuting the case.  

    You may find a copy of this press release (and any updates) on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida at www.justice.gov/usao-sdfl.

    Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case number 24-cr-20195-JB.

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    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Delays expected following Redoubt Road crash

    Source: New Zealand Police (District News)

    Motorists are being advised to expect delays following a crash on Redoubt Road earlier this morning.

    At about 2.15am, emergency services responded to a report of a vehicle crashing into a power pole on Redoubt Road, Totara Park.

    The driver was uninjured, however power lines were brought down which caused a small fire.

    The road has been closed while the scene is cleared.

    Diversions are in place and motorists are advised to seek an alternative route or expect delays.

    ENDS.

    Holly McKay/NZ Police

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Celebrating 10 Years at Mars with NASA’s MAVEN Mission

    Source: NASA

    A decade ago, on Sept. 21, 2014, NASA’s MAVEN (Mars Atmospheric and Volatile EvolutioN) spacecraft entered orbit around Mars, beginning its ongoing exploration of the Red Planet’s upper atmosphere. The mission has produced a wealth of data about how Mars’ atmosphere responds to the Sun and solar wind, and how these interactions can explain the loss of the Martian atmosphere to space.

    [embedded content]

    During its first 10 years at Mars, MAVEN has helped to explain how the Red Planet evolved from warm and wet early on into the cold, dry world that we see today. Download this video in high-resolution from NASA’s Scientific Visualization Studio: https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/14690/Credit: NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center/Dan Gallagher

    Today, MAVEN continues to make exciting new discoveries about the Red Planet that increase our understanding of how atmospheric evolution affected Mars’ climate and the previous presence of liquid water on its surface, potentially determining its prior habitability.

    “It is an incredibly exciting time for the MAVEN team as we celebrate 10 years of Martian science and see the tremendous impact this mission has had on the field,” said Shannon Curry, the principal investigator of MAVEN and a researcher at the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics at the University of Colorado Boulder. “We also look forward to the future discoveries MAVEN will bring.”

    In celebration of this mission milestone, we recap some of the most significant scientific results of this unique and long-lasting Mars aeronomy mission.

    Extreme atmospheric erosionOne of MAVEN’s first big results was discovering that the erosion of Mars’ atmosphere increases significantly during solar storms. The team studied how the solar wind — a stream of charged particles continually streaming from the Sun — and solar storms continually strip away Mars’ atmosphere, and how this process played a key role in altering the Martian climate from a potentially habitable planet to today’s cold, arid planet.
    Sputtering to spaceTo better understand how Mars lost much of its atmosphere, MAVEN measured isotopes of argon gas in the upper Martian atmosphere. Argon is a noble gas, meaning it rarely reacts with other constituents in the Martian atmosphere. The only way it can be removed is by atmospheric sputtering — a process where ions crash into the Martian atmosphere at high enough speeds that they knock gas molecules out of the atmosphere. When the MAVEN team analyzed argon isotopes in the upper atmosphere, they were able to estimate that roughly 65% of the argon originally present had been lost through sputtering over the planet’s history.
    A new type of auroraMAVEN has discovered several types of auroras that flare up when energetic particles plunge into the atmosphere, bombarding gases and making them glow. The MAVEN team showed that protons, rather than electrons, create auroras at Mars. On Earth, proton auroras only occur in very small regions near the poles, whereas at Mars they can happen everywhere.
    Martian dust stormIn 2018, a runaway series of dust storms created a dust cloud so large that it enveloped the planet. The MAVEN team studied how this “global” dust storm affected Mars’ upper atmosphere to understand how these events affect how the escape of water to space. It confirmed that heating from dust storms can loft water molecules far higher into the atmosphere than usual, leading to a sudden surge in water lost to space.
    Map of Martian windsMAVEN researchers created the first map of wind circulation in the upper atmosphere of Mars. The new map is helping scientists better understand the Martian climate, including how terrain on the planet’s surface is disturbing high-altitude wind currents. The results provide insight into how the dynamics of the upper Martian atmosphere have influenced the Red Planet’s climate evolution in the past and present.
    Twisted tailMars has an invisible magnetic “tail” that is twisted by its interaction with the solar wind. Although models predicted that magnetic reconnection causes Mars’ magnetotail to twist, it wasn’t until MAVEN arrived that scientists could confirm that the predictions were correct. The process that creates the twisted tail could also allow some of Mars’ already thin atmosphere to escape to space.
    Mapping electric currentsResearchers used MAVEN data to create a map of electric current systems in the Martian atmosphere. These form when solar wind ions and electrons smash into the planet’s induced magnetic field, causing the particles to flow apart. The resulting electric currents, which drape around the planet, play a fundamental role in the atmospheric loss that transformed Mars from a world that could have supported life to an inhospitable desert.
    Disappearing solar windMAVEN recently observed the unexpected “disappearance” of the solar wind. This was caused by a type of solar event so powerful that it created a void in its wake as it traveled across the solar system. MAVEN’s measurements showed that when it reached Mars, the solar wind density dropped significantly. This disappearance of the solar wind allowed the Martian atmosphere and magnetosphere to balloon out by thousands of kilometers.
    Ultraviolet views of the Red PlanetMAVEN captured stunning views of Mars in two ultraviolet images taken at different points along the Red Planet’s orbit around the Sun. By viewing the planet in ultraviolet wavelengths, scientists gain insight into the Martian atmosphere and view surface features in remarkable ways.
    Mars’ response to solar stormsIn May 2024, a series of solar events triggered a torrent of energetic particles that quickly traveled to Mars. Many of NASA’s Mars missions, including MAVEN, observed this celestial event and captured images of glowing auroras over the planet.

    MAVEN’s principal investigator is based at the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics (LASP) at the University of Colorado Boulder. LASP is also responsible for managing science operations and public outreach and communications. NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, manages the MAVEN mission. Lockheed Martin Space built the spacecraft and is responsible for mission operations. NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California provides navigation and Deep Space Network support.

    By Willow ReedLaboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics (LASP), University of Colorado Boulder

    Media Contact: Nancy N. JonesNASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Additional Support to Estevan and Coronach Regions for Coal Transition

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    Released on September 23, 2024

    The Government of Saskatchewan is investing $10 million to build new economic opportunities and support coal transition efforts in the Estevan and Coronach regions. 

    “This investment by the Government of Saskatchewan will develop a strong business environment in the communities that are most impacted by the federal government’s decision to force the closure of coal power facilities by 2030,” Crown Investments Corporation Minister Dustin Duncan said. “The funding will directly contribute to economic development and investment attraction, bringing new projects and ideas to grow local economies and keep these communities strong and vibrant.”

    As Saskatchewan continues its own plan to build out grid capacity to support a growing province, retaining and developing our skilled workforce and technical expertise through business opportunities in Estevan, Coronach and area is critical to facilitate the unprecedented energy transition.

    The newly announced funding is in addition to the $10 million invested by the provincial government in 2020 to support coal transition in the area. The new investment will be equally distributed to the two community regions: 5 million to the Coronach region and $5 million to the Estevan region.

    “Today’s investment shows our government’s commitment to coal reliant communities by building their capacity to rise to the significant economic challenges imposed by the federal government’s decision to close coal power plants by 2030,” Agriculture Minister and MLA for Wood River David Marit said. “I am pleased to see the economic growth that has been created in the Coronach region through the 2020 investment provided by the Government of Saskatchewan, and this additional investment will further boost the positive economic trajectory of Southern Saskatchewan.”

    “With the challenges imposed by the federal government’s decision to force the shutdown of Saskatchewan’s coal fired power plants, retaining and reskilling the workforce in this sector through business opportunities in this region is crucial,” Highways Minister and MLA for Estevan Lori Carr said. “Power generation has always been an important part of Estevan’s economy, and with the recent SaskPower announcement that identified two high-potential Small Modular Reactor sites in the Estevan area, our community has many new opportunities to look forward to.”

    Government will provide $5 million to South Saskatchewan Ready, an economic partnership of nine rural communities and RMs in the Coronach region, and $5 million to the Municipal Coal Transition Committee, comprised of representatives from the City of Estevan, RM of Estevan, RM of Coalfields, and the Town of Bienfait. Both organizations will administer the new funding in partnership with local municipalities. 

    -30-

    For more information, contact:

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor issues executive order expanding and investing in climate-ready and infrastructure workforce for New Mexico

    Source: US State of New Mexico

    SANTA FE – Today, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham announced an Executive Order to expedite New Mexico’s transition to a clean energy economy and address the critical need for infrastructure development across the state.

    The Executive Order reflects pressing needs of New Mexico communities such as Ruidoso and the Mescalero Apache Nation, which suffered extensive fire and flooding damage which the governor discussed with residents during town halls last week.

    Gov. Lujan Grisham’s Executive Order will enable the state to leverage billions of federal and state dollars to ensure that New Mexico’s workforce is prepared for the work of modernizing transportation, telecommunications, water, and energy systems. The Executive Order also dovetails with Lujan Grisham’s role as co-chair of the U.S. Climate Alliance and her leadership of the organization’s upcoming Climate-Ready Workforce Initiative.

    “Communities that have been devastated by natural disasters are wisely demanding that we sustainably manage the forests, build bridges that withstand flooding, and harden our telecommunications infrastructure against the threat of fire,” said Gov. Lujan Grisham. “In short, they are demanding climate-ready infrastructure.”

    Lujan Grisham said record investments in public infrastructure and the clean energy transition have spiked demand for labor, necessitating a coordinated approach to training workers from all backgrounds to fill these high-quality jobs.

    “New Mexico is ready to get to work on implementation of the U.S. Climate Alliance Climate-Ready Workforce Initiative, and this Executive Order provides the blueprint for doing so,” the governor said.

    So far, New Mexico is investing nearly $2.5 billion through the American Rescue Plan, $5.3 billion from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, and over $217 million from the Inflation Reduction Act. These historic investments, combined with $2.5 billion allocated by the state in the 2024 legislative session, will help the state strengthen infrastructure and climate resilience.

    Federal initiatives, including the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Inflation Reduction Act, and CHIPS and Science Act, are expected to create nearly 3 million jobs nationwide, with approximately 70% of these jobs accessible to workers without a college degree. In addition, the state’s new Office of Housing is tackling the statewide housing shortage of 40,000 units, while working across sectors to ensure we meet the range of public infrastructure needs associated with new housing. 

    The increasing risks of heat, fire, floods, and other severe weather also demand investments in infrastructure that is designed, built and maintained to withstand climate impacts and meet the needs of communities for decades to come. For example, the Ruidoso wastewater treatment plant is investing in solar power to provide more resilient services when disaster occurs.

    As New Mexico embarks on large-scale infrastructure projects such as roads, bridges, dams, water systems, broadband, and affordable housing, the collaborative work outlined in the Executive Order will help mitigate rising construction costs and address workforce shortages in many high-demand sectors.

    “Achieving the ambitious goals that Gov. Lujan Grisham has set out in this Executive Order will require participating agencies to establish innovative new partnerships with industry, trade unions, apprenticeship programs, educational institutions and other partners,” said Department of Workforce Solutions Cabinet Secretary Sarita Nair. “Recent natural disasters in New Mexico demonstrate the need to build an energy sector that can help prevent and mitigate the impacts of climate change. Together, we can overcome gaps in New Mexico’s workforce and fulfill the promise of federal and state climate-ready infrastructure investments.

    The Executive Order sets the framework for a strategic and unified approach to enhance infrastructure and clean energy workforce training, including: 

    • Collaborative Effort Across 11 State Agencies and Offices: Key state agencies—including the Departments of Workforce Solutions, Transportation, Environment, Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources, Public Education, and Higher Education—will coordinate efforts to plan, develop, and track infrastructure and climate-ready workforce training.  
    • Equity and Inclusion:  Workforce policies and programs will prioritize equity and expand opportunities for workers from rural, underrepresented, and underserved communities.  
    • Infrastructure and Climate-Ready Workforce Goals: New Mexico will train 2,000 workers in climate-ready professions by 2026. 
    • Support for Workers and Communities: Innovative strategies, including wraparound services such as childcare and transportation, will help ensure that workers can successfully enter and advance in clean energy careers. The order also calls for strong collaboration with Tribes, pueblos, nations, and other local communities. 

    In coordination with federal, state, and private entities, the state has already embarked on the following climate-ready and infrastructure workforce development initiatives: 

    • Industry Credential Pipeline Program: Led by the New Mexico Department of Transportation in coordination with the Department of Workforce Solutions, this program addresses worker shortages in the transportation sector through targeted credentialing. 
    • Workforce Training & Apprenticeship Fund: A $30 million state investment to support registered apprenticeship programs in key sectors, ensuring pathways to high-paying jobs. 
    • Higher Education Programs: The New Mexico Higher Education Department has secured $20 million per year for the next three years to fund students pursuing non-credit certifications and industry-recognized credentials, with additional funding for expanding Integrated Education & Training programs. 
    • Residential and Commercial Electrification and Energy Efficiency: The Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department is managing over $2 million across three grant programs to train workers on the newest building codes, train and certify contractors for residential energy projects, and train workers to conduct energy audits of commercial and residential buildings. 
    • Technical Assistance: The Department of Workforce Solutions recently received a $1.5 million technical assistance grant from the Families and Workers Fund to develop plans and convene key partners to expand the state’s qualified infrastructure and clean energy workforce capacity.  

    The Executive Order connects to several Lujan Grisham administration initiatives that direct climate readiness into all aspects of infrastructure development. For example, the 2024-2027 Statewide Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act Plan identified infrastructure, climate resilience, and clean energy as priority sectors for the state.

    The order also directs state agencies to appoint a liaison to work with the Department of Workforce Solutions to track progress and ensure alignment with the state’s broader workforce, infrastructure, and climate goals. Additionally, the order encourages collaboration across sectors to foster climate-ready skills and credentials that support economic mobility.

    The Department of Workforce Solutions will publish an annual Infrastructure and Climate-Ready Workforce Report starting in 2025, providing comprehensive data on workforce outcomes, investments, and areas for improvement.

    The Governor’s Executive Order is available here. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Activities of the Emergency Response Coordination Centre – P-001773/2024

    Source: European Parliament

    Priority question for written answer  P-001773/2024
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Anna Bryłka (NI)

    During a plenary debate in Strasbourg on the subject of floods on 18 September 2024, Janez Lenarčič, Commissioner for Crisis Management, stated explicitly that:

    ‘In Central and Eastern Europe, we have been monitoring the situation closely since 9 September. Providing regular updates from the Emergency Response Coordination Centre, our 24/7 operational crisis hub in Brussels, whilst in close collaboration with the Joint Research Centre […] we provided early warnings to areas in danger from 10 September onwards, liaising with national authorities to raise awareness of the situation and to offer help, as well as sending over 100 warnings to authorities across the region by 13 September.’

    • 1.At what point did the Emergency Response Coordination Centre increase monitoring in the part of Europe at risk of flooding?
    • 2.For what reason was monitoring increased on 9 June, and what did this early warning consist of for the areas at risk?
    • 3.Could the Commission please list the Member States that received such an early warning?

    Submitted: 20.9.2024

    Last updated: 23 September 2024

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI: U.S. Climate Alliance launches Governors’ Climate-Ready Workforce Initiative, aims to train 1 million new registered apprentices by 2035

    Source: Washington State News

    Gov. Jay Inslee, who co-founded the bipartisan U.S. Climate Alliance in 2017, joined his co-chairs and national climate advisor Ali Zaidi at Climate Week NYC to announce a new workforce initiative. This initiative complements programs already underway in Washington state to help more people train for jobs and careers in clean energy, climate resiliency and restoration.

    Full press release below. A livestream of the press event is available at USCA’s Climate Week NYC webpage.

    U.S. Climate Alliance launches Governors’ Climate-Ready Workforce Initiative, aims to train 1 million new registered apprentices by 2035

    NEW YORK, NY — The U.S. Climate Alliance, a bipartisan coalition of 24 governors representing approximately 60 percent of the U.S. economy and 55 percent of the U.S. population, today launched the Governors’ Climate-Ready Workforce Initiative to grow career pathways in climate and clean energy fields, strengthen workforce diversity, and jointly train 1 million new registered apprentices by 2035 across the Alliance’s states and territories.

    Today’s announcement was made at a Climate Week NYC event featuring Alliance co-chairs New York Governor Kathy Hochul and New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham, founding member Washington Governor Jay Inslee, and White House National Climate Advisor Ali Zaidi.

    “In New York, we’re showing how climate action and economic growth go hand-in-hand,” said New York Gov. Kathy Hochul. “As a co-chair of the U.S. Climate Alliance, I’m proud to be collaborating with states, industry leaders, labor unions, higher education and community organizations to create the jobs of the future required to build a clean, equitable, and resilient economy. A skilled and well-prepared workforce will drive innovation, create new businesses, and ensure a sustainable, resilient future for our country.”

    “We need a climate-ready workforce — from EV technicians and heat pump installers to solar panel manufacturers — to meet our carbon reduction goals,” said New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham. “The Executive Order I’m issuing today in conjunction with the Alliance’s new Workforce Initiative will help ensure that workers from all backgrounds have access to the skills and training needed for high-quality, climate-ready jobs across New Mexico.”

    “We’re aligning our ambitious climate policies with workforce development to have 1 million more workers poised to take these good-paying, union jobs that serve our communities and strengthen our economies,” said Washington Gov. Jay Gov. Inslee. “These are economy-wide jobs, not just in clean energy but building trades, land management, clean technology and more. Climate Alliance states have a track record of meeting our ambitious goals and that momentum continues today.”

    “Under President Biden and Vice President Harris’s leadership, we are bringing down the barriers to economic opportunity, lowering costs for American families, and catalyzing a renaissance of American-made manufacturing that is creating jobs across America. In fact, just last year, we added over 250,000 new American energy jobs — with clean energy jobs growing twice as fast as the rest of the sector,” said White House National Climate Advisor Ali Zaidi. “Governors across America are at the forefront of our efforts to spur growth in union jobs, expand American energy production, and invest in the economic success of our communities. Today’s announcement will help capitalize on our momentum to create a climate-ready workforce that is rebuilding our nation’s infrastructure, communities, and industrial strength.” 

    The Initiative’s launch comes as historic federal investments, combined with ambitious state climate action, have unleashed a significant expansion of good-paying and union jobs in climate-ready fields — with millions more anticipated in the coming years under the Biden-Harris administration’s Inflation Reduction Act and Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. This includes high-quality jobs not only in clean energy and clean technology sectors — such as wind, solar, electric vehicles, energy efficiency, and batteries — but also in fields associated with climate resilience and natural climate solutions.

    Under this Initiative, Alliance states and territories will collaborate to collectively support 1 million new workers in completing Registered Apprenticeship programs across the coalition by 2035. These programs, registered with the U.S. Department of Labor or federally approved State Apprenticeship Agencies, provide an especially valuable and proven career pathway, empowering workers to earn while they learn in key climate-ready occupations and industries.

    Alliance members will also advance a series of collective goals aimed at strengthening and expanding pathways into a wide variety of climate-ready professions critical to building a clean, equitable, and resilient net-zero future. The Initiative’s goals include boosting job quality and ensuring climate-ready employment pathways lead to good-paying, high-quality jobs; expanding opportunities for workers from underrepresented and underserved communities; and promoting the use of stackable and portable credentials in climate-ready fields to build transferable skills, support reskilling and upskilling, and strengthen workers’ economic mobility. A full list of the Initiative’s goals can be found here.

    Finally, to advance sector-specific strategies, Alliance members will work together through new multi-state cohorts focused on in-demand, climate-ready fields. These cohorts will provide a platform for states and territories to increase collaboration, share evidence-based practices, engage experts and stakeholders, and develop sectoral workforce solutions that can be scaled across the country. Cohorts to be launched in the Initiative’s first year will focus on careers in the following areas:

    • Clean Energy, Fuels, and Technologies: Led by Michigan and New Jersey, this cohort will focus on careers in the design, construction, and maintenance of a clean, affordable, and resilient power system; the manufacturing and deployment of zero-emission vehicles and technologies; and the development and distribution of alternative, low-carbon fuels.
    • Clean Buildings and Industry: Led by Maine and Massachusetts, this cohort will focus on careers in the engineering, design, construction, retrofitting, maintenance, and operation of buildings and industrial processes that are clean, energy-efficient, healthy, and resilient.
    • Resilient Communities and Lands: Led by Arizona and Vermont, this cohort will focus on careers in the development and maintenance of safe, livable, and resilient communities; preparedness for and response to climate impacts such as extreme heat, wildfires, severe storms, flooding, and drought; and the deployment of natural climate solutions and climate-smart stewardship of our lands and waters. 

    The Initiative will be led by Alliance states and territories with support from the Alliance’s Secretariat. In implementing the Initiative, Alliance members will customize efforts to meet their individual needs and challenges, while working together to achieve the collective goals. States and territories will also collaborate directly with their workforce development system partners, labor unions, higher education institutions, industry, and other key partners that bring substantial expertise and experience in this work.

    This Initiative builds on a number of federal-state collaborations between the Alliance’s members and the Biden-Harris Administration, including a White House convening with Alliance governors’ offices in May focused on creating good-paying jobs and mobilizing a diverse workforce in climate and clean energy.

    Additional information on the Governors’ Climate-Ready Workforce Initiative can be found here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: In Rome, Gillibrand Announces Legislation To Address Epidemic Of Traumatic Brain Injuries In Service Members And Veterans

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New York Kirsten Gillibrand

    Following a disturbing report showing that service members are sustaining crippling traumatic brain injuries as a result of firing their own weapons, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand visited Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2246 in Rome to announce legislation to address traumatic brain injuries among service members and veterans. 

    Service members who regularly fire heavy weapons are at increased risk of brain injury as a result of repeated exposure to explosions or blasts from their own weapons and explosives – otherwise known as blast overpressure. These brain injuries can cause depression, anxiety, cognitive problems, hallucinations, panic attacks, violent outbursts, suicidal tendencies, psychiatric disorders, dementia, and a variety of other serious health problems. At least a dozen Navy SEALs who have died by suicide over the past decade were later found to have suffered blast injuries, and many more service members have complained of health issues after blast exposure. Despite this, the Pentagon has struggled to properly investigate the impact of blast overpressure, effectively track the prevalence of blast overpressure-related injuries, or offer appropriate care to service members and veterans. Gillibrand is calling for more research and better treatment for those affected.

    Gillibrand was joined by VFW Post 2246 Post Commander Will Ginter; VFW Department of NY Legislative Chair Ann Marie Hogancamp; VFW Department of NY District 4 Commander Matthew VanEtten; and Mayor of Rome Jeff Lanigan.

    “After repeatedly being exposed to blasts from their own weapons during both training and combat, our service members are sustaining severe and crippling brain trauma,” said Senator Gillibrand. “This bill will require the DoD to investigate the prevalence and causes of these brain injuries; to track each service member’s exposure to blasts; and to help service members access care. This is a critical bill and I look forward to getting it passed in the NDAA.” 

    Specifically, the Blast Overpressure Safety Act would: 

    1. Mandate regular neurocognitive assessments over a service member’s career, including a baseline neurocognitive assessment before training. 
    2. Create blast overpressure exposure and TBI logs for all service members.
    3. Increase transparency regarding blast overpressure safety in the weapons acquisition process. DoD must consider the minimization of blast overpressure during the acquisition process, require contracting entities to provide blast overpressure safety data, and publish blast overpressure safety data for weapons systems and its plans to better protect service members from in-use weapons systems. 
    4. Improve data on concussive and subconcussive brain injuries service members sustain. This includes information on discharges related to and medical providers trained in these injuries, as well as efforts with allies and partners to better address these injuries. 
    5. Enhance efforts to mitigate exposure and help service members access care. This includes retaliation protections for those who seek care; modifying existing weapons system to reduce blast exposure; updating and making publicly available blast overpressure thresholds and creating a waiver system for exceeding these thresholds; training high-risk service members to help them recognize exposure symptoms and creating strategies to mitigate their risk; and expanding the types of technologies in the Warfighter Brain Health Initiative pilot blast monitoring program. 
    6. Support service member treatment by establishing a Special Operations Comprehensive Brain Health and Trauma program, making the National Intrepid Center of Excellence (NICoE) a program of record and requiring DoD to provide child care services to those seeking treatment there, and mandating training for medical and training personnel on blast overpressure and exposure and TBI. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Gillibrand Announces 3,000 Illegal Guns Off Our Streets – A Direct Result Of Her Anti-Gun Trafficking Provision In The Bipartisan Safer Communities Act

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New York Kirsten Gillibrand

    In Just Over Two Years, Gillibrand’s Statute Has Allowed Law Enforcement To Seize More Than 3K Guns Nationwide And 250 In New York

    Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand held a video press conference to announce a major new milestone in the seizure of illegal guns under the anti-gun trafficking statute in the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, which was shaped by Gillibrand’s Hadiya Pendleton and Nyasia Pryear-Yard Gun Trafficking and Crime Prevention Act. As of this month, the anti-gun trafficking statute has gotten more than 3,000 illegal guns off our streets, including 1,000 confirmed within the last 6 months alone.  

    The seized weapons included: 

    • 317 AR-15s and AR-style weapons;
    • 478 machine gun conversion devices, which can convert semi-automatic pistols and rifles into fully automatic weapons in under a minute;
    • 206 ghost guns, homemade firearms that are completely untraceable – and a favorite of criminals.

    The statute has also been used to charge 423 defendants in 33 states, plus D.C. and Puerto Rico, and to secure at least 118 convictions nationwide. 

    “While we still have a lot of work to do to fight the scourge of gun violence, we’ve made incredible progress prosecuting criminals and getting dangerous and deadly weapons off our streets in the two years my anti-gun trafficking statute has been in effect,” said Senator Gillibrand. “I anticipate many more gun seizures, arrests, and convictions as a result of this statute in the years to come, and I will continue to work with my colleagues across the aisle to pass commonsense gun safety legislation.”

    Senator Gillibrand’s Hadiya Pendleton and Nyasia Pryear-Yard Gun Trafficking and Crime Prevention Act formed the centerpiece of BSCA’s anti-gun trafficking provision. Gillibrand first introduced the bill in 2009 after meeting with the family of Nyasia Pryear-Yard, who tragically lost her life at 17 years old when she was shot by a perpetrator using an illegally trafficked gun. Gillibrand worked with Nyasia’s mother, Jennifer Pryear, to pass the bill into law, and they attended the bill signing together in 2022.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Statement by Principals of the IASC on the situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory – These atrocities must end

    Source: World Food Programme

    NEW YORK/GENEVA/ROME/WASHINGTON – As world leaders gather in New York for the 79th United Nations General Assembly, and as the threat of a wider regional escalation looms, we renew our demand for an end to the appalling human suffering and humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza.

    We mourn the loss of innocent life everywhere, including those killed on October 7 and during the 11 months of conflict since then. 

    We urgently call for a sustained, immediate and unconditional ceasefire. This is the only way to end the suffering of civilians and save lives.

    All hostages and all those arbitrarily detained must be released immediately and unconditionally. 

    Humanitarians must have safe and unimpeded access to those in need.

    We cannot do our jobs in the face of overwhelming need and ongoing violence. More than 41,000 Palestinians in Gaza – the majority of them civilians, including women, children, older persons and at times entire families – have reportedly been killed, and more than 95,500 have been injured, according to the Ministry of Health in Gaza. It is estimated that a quarter of the injured in Gaza, or around 22,500 people, will require lifelong specialized rehabilitation and assistive care including individuals with severe limb injuries, amputations, spinal cord damage, traumatic brain injuries, and major burns.

    More than 2 million Palestinians are without protection, food, water, sanitation, shelter, health care, education, electricity and fuel – the basic necessities to survive. Families have been forcibly displaced, time and time again, from one unsafe place to the next, with no way out. 

    Women and girls’ dignity, safety, health and rights have been severely compromised. 

    The risk of famine persists with all 2.1 million residents still in urgent need of food and livelihood assistance as humanitarian access remains restricted.

    Healthcare has been decimated. More than 500 attacks on health care have been recorded in Gaza.

    Aid hubs have been forced to relocate and re-build many times over; convoys carrying life-saving aid have been shot at, delayed and denied access; and relief workers have been killed in unprecedented numbers. The number of aid workers killed in Gaza in the past year is the highest ever in a single crisis.

    Unnecessary and disproportionate force unleashed in the West Bank, combined with escalating settler violence, house demolitions, forced displacement and discriminatory movement restrictions, have caused increased fatalities and casualties.

    The war is also jeopardizing the future for all Palestinians and rendering eventual recovery far from reach.

    Meanwhile, close to 100 hostages remain in Gaza, while freed hostages have reported ill treatment, including sexual violence.

    The parties’ conduct over the last year makes a mockery of their claim to adhere to international humanitarian law and the minimum standards of humanity that it demands. 

    Civilians must be protected and their essential needs must be met. There must be accountability for serious violations of international humanitarian and human rights law.

    Humanitarian and aid organizations have been doing their utmost to provide relief in Gaza and the West Bank, often at great personal risk, and with many aid workers paying the ultimate price. 

    Our capacity to deliver is indisputable if we are granted the access we need. The first round of the polio vaccination campaign, reaching more than 560,000 children under the age of 10, is but one example. The second round of vaccinations must be carried out safely and reach all children in Gaza.

    We urge world leaders, once again, to wield their influence to ensure respect for international humanitarian law, international human rights law and the rulings of the International Court of Justice – through diplomatic pressure and cooperation in ending impunity. 

    Let us be clear: The protection of civilians is a bedrock principle for the global community and in all countries’ interest. Allowing the abhorrent, downward spiral caused by this war in the Occupied Palestinian Territory to continue will have unimaginable, global consequences. 

    These atrocities must end.

    Signatories:

    • Ms. Joyce Msuya, Acting Emergency Relief Coordinator and Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)
    • Ms. Sofia Sprechmann Sineiro, Secretary General, CARE International 
    • Dr. Qu Dongyu, Director-General, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) 
    • Ms. Amy E. Pope, Director General, International Organization for Migration (IOM) 
    • Mr. Tom Hart, President and Chief Executive Officer, InterAction
    • Ms. Tjada D’Oyen McKenna, Chief Executive Officer, Mercy Corps
    • Mr. Volker Türk, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) 
    • Ms. Paula Gaviria Betancur, United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights of Internally Displaced Persons (SR on HR of IDPs)  
    • Mr. Achim Steiner, Administrator, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) 
    • Ms. Janti Soeripto, President and Chief Executive Officer, Save the Children US 
    • Ms. Anacláudia Rossbach, Executive Director, United Nations Human Settlement Programme (UN-Habitat) 
    • Mr. Filippo Grandi, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)  
    • Dr. Natalia Kanem, Executive Director, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) 
    • Ms. Catherine Russell, Executive Director, UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF)  
    • Ms. Sima Bahous, Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director, UN Women 
    • Ms. Cindy McCain, Executive Director, World Food Programme (WFP)  
    • Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General, World Health Organization (WHO)

    [1] The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) fully supports the statement and the call by Principals of the IASC, for a sustained, immediate and unconditional ceasefire.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI Translation: 23/09/2024 Varsovia Help for flood victims and the tourism industry

    MIL ASI Translation. Region: Polish/Europe –

    Fuente: Gobierno de Polonia en poleco.

    During Monday’s meeting of the crisis team in Warsaw, Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced that members of the Council of Ministers are working intensively on statutory changes that are to help flood victims. The government will provide information on the actions taken during the next session of the Sejm. Donald Tusk also presented an optimal solution to provide temporary shelter for the victims – some of them will live in nearby hotels and holiday resorts. The next meeting of the crisis team with the participation of the Prime Minister will take place on Tuesday evening in Wrocław. Intensive práctica of the Council of Ministers El primer minister Donald Tusk took part in another meeting of the crisis team. This time, the meeting was held in the form of a video conference at the Chancellery of the Prime Minister. The head of government announced that on Tuesday, September 24, during the meeting of the team in Wrocław, he will provide important information. “Tomorrow evening in Wrocław, we will present statutory changes. On Wednesday late afternoon, we will be giving information in the Sejm on the flood situation,” announced the Prime Minister. Individual ministers are currently working on statutory changes that will facilitate the process of rebuilding areas destroyed by the flood. Donald Tusk also confirmed that he had signed a nomination for Minister Marcin Kierwiński, who will be a member of the Council of Ministers responsible for coordinating the reconstruction effort. Temporary shelters in local hotels and holiday resorts Flood victims who cannot return to their homes will be able to stay in nearby hotels and holiday resorts. “We must rationalize our actions wherever replacement housing is needed and where there are hotels available nearby,” explained Donald Tusk. The state will pay for the stay of people who need shelter. “We will find funds so that hotels and holiday resorts that have not been damaged can serve as temporary places of residence for all those who have lost their homes,” assured the Prime Minister. The advantage of this solution is that it will also provide support for the owners of resorts and hotels who have to deal with cancellations by tourists. The costs of paying for the stay of flood victims in these places should not be higher than those resulting from the installation of so-called container apartments. Appeal to provide only verified and reliable information False information is still being spread in the public sphere, the purpose of which is to introduce chaos and disinformation. The Prime Minister reminded that the provision of data regarding the victims of the element requires particular reliability. All media reports should be based on information confirmed by the police, which states that 7 people died as a result of the flood, and one person is considered missing. “Spreading panic is a truly grave sin and it is very damaging to the aid operation, building trust in the services and generally the atmosphere, which is already difficult there, where these tragedies occurred,” emphasized Donald Tusk. The head of government also asked to refrain from speculations concerning the work of Polish Waters and the maintenance of the reservoirs, which are not supported by reliable analysis. “We will examine every minute of the operation in detail. It will be in the interest of the Polish state and all of us to investigate whether something has failed somewhere. But we have to leave it to the experts,” appealed the Prime Minister. The process of checking whether all procedures have been followed and where any negligence has been committed will be transparent. Access to drinking water As part of the aid campaign, the services also organized the transport of drinking water to flood areas. “We must be 100% sure that this water is available everywhere,” emphasized Donald Tusk. El prime minister expressed the expectation that the services will inform in the most effective way possible what water can be drunk. We appeal to residents to listen carefully to the announcements of the sanitary and epidemiological services.

    MILES AXIS

    EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is a translation. Apologies should the grammar and/or sentence structure not be perfect.

    MIL Translation OSI

  • MIL-OSI Translation: 23/09/2024 Meeting of the Minister of Finance with the EU Commissioner for Economy

    MIL ASI Translation. Region: Polish/Europe –

    Fuente: Gobierno de Polonia en poleco.

    Meeting of the Minister of Finance with the EU Commissioner for Economy23.09.2024

    On September 23, 2024, Finance Minister Andrzej Domański met with Paolo Gentiloni, EU Commissioner for Economic Affairs. The discussion focused on the current economic situation in the European Union and Poland, including the potential impact of flooding. Undersecretary of State Paweł Karbownik also participated in the meeting. During the conversation, issues related to Poland’s preparation of a medium-term budgetary and structural plan, which will define the framework for fiscal policy for 2025-2028, were raised. In accordance with the new rules of economic governance in the EU, Member States are required to submit such plans to the European Commission by mid-October. Minister Domański presented Poland’s strategy for exiting the excessive deficit procedure, which Poland was subject to this year, paying particular attention to military expenditure, which is responsible for a part of the deficit of the general government sector.

    MILES AXIS

    EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is a translation. Apologies should the grammar and/or sentence structure not be perfect.

    MIL Translation OSI

  • MIL-OSI Video: Lebanon, Occupied Palestinian territory, Gaza & other topics – Daily Press Briefing (23 Sep 2024)

    Source: United Nations (Video News)

    Noon briefing by Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.

    Highlights:
    -Lebanon
    -Lebanon/humanitarian
    -Occupied Palestinian territory
    -Gaza
    -Syria
    -Sudan
    -Ukraine
    -Summit of the Future
    -Afghanistan
    -Briefings
    -SDG Media Zone
    -Week by the numbers
    -Day of Sign Languages

    LEBANON
    The Secretary-General is indeed alarmed by the escalating situation along the Blue Line. He’s very concerned about the large number of civilian casualties being reported by the Lebanese authorities, as well as the thousands of displaced persons, amidst the most intense exchange of fire across the Blue Line since October of last year.
    He expresses grave concern for the safety of civilians both in southern Lebanon and in Northern Israel, as well as the UN staff in those areas.
    The Secretary-General notes the ongoing efforts by the UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon and the UN Peacekeeping Force in Lebanon to reduce tensions and reiterates the urgent need for de-escalation and that all efforts be devoted to a diplomatic solution. Our Special Coordinator for Lebanon, Jeannine Hennis-Plasschaert, is currently in Israel where she is meeting with Israeli officials as we speak to discuss the latest situation.
    Meanwhile the Head of Mission and Force Commander, Lt. Gen. Aroldo Lázaro, has been in contact with both Lebanese and Israeli parties, emphasizing the urgent need for de-escalation. Efforts are ongoing to reduce tensions and halt the shelling.
    Their message from both the Special Coordinator and the Head of the UN Peacekeeping Force is the same, which is there is no military solution that will make either side safer. With the wellbeing of civilians on both sides of the Blue Line and the stability of the region at stake, space must be given for diplomatic efforts to succeed.
    All involved parties in this conflict must honour their responsibilities to protect civilians and ensure the safety and security of all UN personnel and assets.
    The Secretary-General urges all parties to recommit to the full implementation of Security Council resolution 1701 and immediately return to a cessation of hostilities and to restore stability. We do expect a more official statement to be issued at some point.

    LEBANON/HUMANITARIAN
    On the humanitarian front, our Humanitarian Coordinator for Lebanon Imran Riza, met with Lebanese Government officials, including the Prime Minister, Najib Miqati, and the Minister of Environment, Nasser Yassin. Our humanitarian agencies and others also participated in those discussion.
    At these talks, the Lebanese Government announced the activation of an emergency operations centre and also that schools ought to be designated as shelters. The Ministry of Education in Lebanon had announced the closure of all public and private schools for tomorrow. Many people are being displaced from areas impacted by the airstrikes, with heavy traffic reported toward Beirut and Mount Lebanon regions.
    Also, on the Israeli side, during the weekend and following an uptick of hostilities, Israel’s Military Home Command announced that schools in northern Israel, which run from Sunday to Friday, have been closed until at least today until 6 p.m. local time.
    Humanitarian organizations urgently need $50 million to preposition basic needs – such as food and shelter supplies – for an immediate response for the next two to four weeks in southern Lebanon, Lebanon in general.
    Our colleagues at OCHA tell us that, according to the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health, more than 274 people have been killed and at least 700 injured, including women and children, following the continued airstrikes in southern Lebanon.

    Full Highlights: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date%5Bvalue%5D%5Bdate%5D=23%20September%202024

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

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI Security: One of the Largest Methamphetamine Distributors in New England Sentenced to 23 Years in Prison

    Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime Alerts (b)

    Defendant believed to be responsible for distributing more than 660 pounds of methamphetamine over the course of six months

    BOSTON – The leader of a nationwide drug trafficking ring has been sentenced in federal court in Boston. During the investigation over 160 pounds of pure methamphetamine, as well as an AK-47, a Glock with no serial number, two loaded Smith & Wesson handguns and over 4,200 rounds of ammunition were seized. An illegal marijuana grow operation with hundreds of marijuana plants was also dismantled.

    Reshat Alkayisi, 63, a Turkish national residing in Covington, R.I., was sentenced on Sept. 17, 2024 by U.S. District Court Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton to 23 years in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release. In April 2024, Alkayisi pleaded guilty to five counts of a second superseding indictment, charging him with conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine; possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense; money laundering conspiracy; and two counts of money laundering. 

    “This defendant was one of the largest methamphetamine distributors in New England, whose massive drug operation fueled addiction and devastation across our communities. He is now going to pay a very heavy price for the havoc he wreaked across Massachusetts. This sentencing sends a powerful message to anyone engaged in pumping deadly narcotics onto our streets,” Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy. “As demonstrated by this prosecution, the dedicated prosecutors and law enforcement partners will be relentless in our efforts to disrupt and dismantle drug trafficking operations and ensure that individuals like Mr. Alkayisi are held accountable.”

    “Reshat Alkayisi was the leader of a nationwide drug trafficking organization that pushed massive amounts of methamphetamine onto New England streets, and profited from the pain and misery of others,” said Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division. “Thankfully, this 23-year sentence officially puts his 24/7 operation, protected in part by illegal firearms, including an AK-47, out of business. Operation Ice Cats is an example of how the FBI and our partners are hard at work dismantling dangerous trafficking operations as we work to make our communities safer.”

    “DEA stands committed to keeping highly addictive drugs like methamphetamine off the streets of Massachusetts,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Stephen Belleau, Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division. “This substantial sentence not only holds Mr. Alkayisi accountable for his crimes but serves as a warning to those traffickers who are contributing to the drug crisis in New England and throughout America. This investigation demonstrates the strength of collaborative law enforcement efforts and our strong partnership with the U.S. Attorney’s Office.”

    In late 2020, Alkayisi was identified as a large-scale methamphetamine trafficker, who distributed multi-pound quantities to distributor customers throughout the New England area. Between October 2020 and April 2021, 12 controlled purchases of methamphetamine were made from the drug trafficking organization—two of which were delivered personally by Alkayisi and one that was negotiated with Alkayisi and delivered by a co-conspirator. 

    Intercepted communications revealed that Alkayisi supplied multiple distributor customers with supplier quantities of pure methamphetamine. Alkayisi also regularly bragged to these distributors about quality of his methamphetamine, saying, “You’re gonna get nice, big crystals,” and “Ur contacts should b happy with the size of product.” Alkayisi also operated a large-scale marijuana grow out of his Rhode Island residence, including while on probation for a state conviction for unlawful marijuana distribution.

    Alkayisi typically charged his distributor customers $5,000 to $6,000 per pound of methamphetamine and utilized multiple methods to conceal the nature of these proceeds. These included paying the bail of his distributors, structuring cash deposits to avoid reporting requirements, utilizing peer-to-peer transfers and purchasing vehicles with cash. Alkayisi also created and utilized a shell company to launder his proceeds and recruited and directed others, including his wife, to launder his drug proceeds for him.

    On June 1, 2021, four packages were seized containing a total of approximately 100 pounds of 100% pure methamphetamine that were picked up on behalf of Alkayisi from a UPS store in Rhode Island. Each of the boxes were addressed to Alkayisi’s shell company, which he used to launder his drug proceeds. 

    On June 25, 2021, another package was seized, destined for Alkayisi that contained approximately 30 pounds of 100% pure methamphetamine. In total, approximately 160 pounds of methamphetamine was seized throughout the investigation from controlled purchases, motor vehicle stops and package seizures.

    During a search of Alkayisi’s residence in Rhode Island, an AK-47 assault rifle, a Glock handgun with no serial number, over 4,200 rounds ammunition and over $23,000 cash were also seized. Additionally, numerous electronics, including a computer that contained a ledger documenting Alkayisi’s methamphetamine sales for January through June of 2021 was seized. Based on the ledger, as well as the seizures, Alkayisi was responsible for over 660 pounds of methamphetamine over the course of six months. Law enforcement also located his large unlawful marijuana grow operation with hundreds of marijuana plants in all stages of production for distribution. 

    Alkayisi is the seventh defendant to be sentenced in the case. All remaining defendants have pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing.

    Acting U.S. Attorney Levy, FBI SAC Cohen and DEA Acting SAC Belleau made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Hampshire and Maine State Police; Massachusetts Department of Correction; Norfolk County Sherriff’s Office; and Concord, Hudson, Peabody, Reading, Watertown and Waltham Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alathea Porter and Katherine Ferguson of the Criminal Division are prosecuting the case.

    This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Prime Minister’s meeting with Vietnam’s State President and Party General Secretary

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Posted On: 24 SEP 2024 12:17AM by PIB Delhi

    Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi met H.E. Mr. To Lam, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam and State President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam in New York on the sidelines of the Summit of the Future at UNGA on 23 September 2024.

    Prime Minister congratulated President To Lam on assuming enhanced leadership responsibilities and expressed hope for continued collaboration towards strengthening bilateral ties between India and Vietnam.

    Prime Minister reiterated his sympathies and solidarity with Vietnam in the face of loss and damage caused by Typhoon Yagi earlier this month. President and General Secretary To Lam thanked Prime Minister for the timely supply of emergency humanitarian assistance and disaster relief by India under Operation Sadbhav.

    Both leaders reaffirmed the importance of deep civilizational and cultural links and growing strategic ties, marked by unwavering mutual trust, understanding and shared interests between the two countries. Recalling the visit of Vietnamese Prime Minister H.E. Mr. Pham Minh Chinh to India last month, they discussed prospects of advancing bilateral cooperation and further strengthening the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two countries. The leaders also exchanged views on important regional and global issues, including the Indo-Pacific and underscored a collective role for Global South at international platforms.

    *****

    MJPS/VJ/SR/SKS

    (Release ID: 2058085) Visitor Counter : 25

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI USA News: U.S.-UAE Joint Leaders’ Statement Dynamic Strategic  Partners

    Source: The White House

    His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates, and President Joseph R. Biden Jr. met today at the White House during an official visit of His Highness President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed to the United States.  The visit is the first-ever by a President of the United Arab Emirates to Washington and marks the leaders’ fourth bilateral meeting in the Biden-Harris Administration.  The leaders affirmed the enduring U.S.-UAE strategic and defense partnership, bolstered areas of deepening cooperation in advanced technology and investments, and discussed global and regional matters.  The leaders pledged to pursue new opportunities to strengthen their economic and defense partnership; promote peace and stability across the Middle East and wider region; and deliver global leadership on issues of shared importance.  The five decades of U.S.-UAE ties and friendship are rooted in a strong foundation of close collaboration that has underpinned our countries’ prosperity and security. 

    The leaders welcomed the significant progress between the United Arab Emirates and the United States during their tenure through cooperation in building trusted technology ecosystems, the Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment (PGI), the U.S.-UAE Partnership for Accelerating Clean Energy (PACE) initiative, and the Economic Policy Dialogue (EPD), all of which serve to uplift economic and trade ties between the two countries. 

    On particular issues of discussion:

    Dynamic Strategic Partnership: Trade and Advanced Technology

    Our countries’ strong foundation of partnership is reflected in our close alignment on key economic objectives and in the excellence of our private sectors that generate more than $40 billion of bilateral trade annually and an access of $26 billion of U.S. exports to the UAE.  The Leaders charted an ambitious course for the United Arab Emirates and the United States to lead global efforts to develop and expand new fields central to the global economy, particularly in advanced technologies and the clean energy required to power Artificial Intelligence.

    They welcomed the partnership between Microsoft and UAE’s Group 42 (G42) through Microsoft’s $1.5 billion investment in April 2024.  This investment is accelerating joint AI development to bring advanced AI and digital infrastructure to countries in the Middle East, Central Asia, and Africa.

    The leaders further welcomed Microsoft and G42’s ongoing digital transformation in Kenya, which will leverage 1GW of geothermal energy to power data-centers to enable the deployment of cloud infrastructure and AI services for the public sector and regulated industries as well as enterprises.  Further, the partnership will support the development of local Large Language Models and the establishment of an East African Innovation Lab.  Additionally, the partnership hopes to encourage international and local connectivity investments, and collaboration with the government of Kenya to enable digital transformation programs across East Africa.

    These initiatives mark the beginning of our partnership and investments in the responsible deployment of advanced technologies, clean energy, and frontier technologies that will be the engine that powers our interconnected world.

    To meet the promise of this transformational moment and harness the potential of leading-edge technologies to improve human welfare globally, President Biden and His Highness President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed welcomed the Common Principles for Cooperation on AI, endorsed today by National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan and UAE National Security Advisor Tahnoon bin Zayed, and through which the United States and the United Arab Emirates aim to further strengthen cooperation, develop regulatory frameworks, promote the safe and trusted deployment of critical and emerging technologies, and enable enhanced support for joint private-public sector research and academic exchanges.  

    Building on our collaboration in the field of advanced technology, this partnership incorporates safeguards to protect the national security of both countries, enable trusted investments and entrepreneurship, and facilitate cross-border innovation, while creating jobs and facilitating the protection of advanced U.S. technologies and respect for international principles, best practices, and human rights.  Moving forward, the leaders decided to promote the expansion of relationships among scientific, academic, and research and development communities. 

    Strengthening Critical Infrastructure and Supply Chain Resiliencies

    The leaders reviewed progress on efforts to build a more interconnected, integrated world in committing to secure and resilient supply chains through the Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment (PGI). 

    His Highness President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed and President Biden discussed progress on the landmark India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) launched at the 2023 G20 Leaders’ Summit in New Delhi together with the leaders of India, Saudi Arabia, France, Germany, Italy, and the European Union.  The leaders reaffirmed that the corridor – connecting India to Europe by ship-to-rail connections through the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Israel, and Europe through Greece – will generate economic growth, incentivize new investments, increase efficiencies and reduce costs, enhance economic unity, generate jobs, lower greenhouse gas emissions, and enable the transformative integration of Asia, Europe, and the Middle East. 

    They underscored that this transformative partnership has the potential to usher in a new era of international connectivity to facilitate global trade, expand reliable access to electricity, facilitate clean energy distribution, and strengthen telecommunication. The two leaders emphasized the importance of joint initiatives to promote a circular economy, reduce waste, facilitate recycling, and advance sustainable practices, underscoring their commitment to innovation for resource efficiency and environmentally responsible growth.

    The leaders also reaffirmed their commitment to continue their efforts with international partners and the private sector to connect the continents to commercial hubs and facilitate the development and export of clean energy; support existing trade and manufacturing synergies; strengthen food security and supply chains; and link energy grids and tele-communication lines through undersea cables to expand access to electricity, enable innovation of advanced clean energy technology, and connect communities to secure and stable internet.

    The leaders additionally discussed the importance of ongoing efforts to cooperate on strategic investments in hard infrastructure and critical minerals-supply chains in Africa and emerging markets globally.  These investments aim to diversify sourcing of critical minerals that are essential components to clean energy and advanced technologies, including batteries, wind turbines, semiconductors, and electric vehicles.  President Biden recognized the United Arab Emirates’ leadership in strategic investments globally to ensure reliable access to critical infrastructure including, ports, mines, and logistics hubs through the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, the Abu Dhabi Developmental Holding Company, Abu Dhabi Ports, and DP World. 

    Both leaders committed to remain in close touch on future investment opportunities and maintain cooperation on strategic investments.  

    The leaders additionally highlighted that the U.S.–UAE 123 Agreement, which provides a comprehensive framework for peaceful nuclear cooperation based on a mutual commitment to nuclear nonproliferation, is the “gold standard” for securing and propelling the next generation of technologies.

    Partnering to Protect our Planet Through the Clean Energy Transition

    The leaders underscored the importance of U.S.-UAE leadership at COP28, which galvanized world leaders to take action and address the climate crisis.  President Biden thanked His Highness President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed for his extraordinary commitment that was central to the groundbreaking outcomes at COP28 in Dubai resulting in the UAE Consensus. 

    The two leaders recognized that this moment represents a unique opportunity to create sustainable and clean energy jobs, revitalize communities, improve quality of life, and power digital infrastructure with renewable energy across both countries and around the globe.  In this context, the two leaders affirmed their shared commitment to protecting our precious planet and securing a sustainable future for humanity through united leadership across various platforms, including the upcoming COP29 and beyond, which will serve to advance climate action and strengthen global partnerships.

    The two leaders expressed their determination to leverage visionary initiatives, including the Partnership for Accelerating Clean Energy (PACE), the Agricultural Innovation Mission for Climate (AIM4C), the First Movers Coalition, the Net Zero Producers Forum, the Global Methane Pledge, Carbon Management Challenge, the Oil and Gas Decarbonization Charter (OGDC), the Industrial Transition Accelerator (ITA), the Global Biofuels Alliance, and Global Flaring and Methane Reduction (GFMR) Trust Fund; and encourage commercial partnerships to decarbonize our energy systems, reduce emissions in pursuit of a net zero economy, and deliver prosperity to future generations. 

    President Biden and His Highness President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed reaffirmed their strong commitment to collaborate on sustainability and climate resilience, emphasizing their commitment to addressing global challenges through innovative solutions. The two leaders underscored their joint efforts in advancing agri-tech and vertical farming innovations, key drivers in enhancing food security for future generations. They highlighted ongoing cooperation in humanitarian initiatives aimed at addressing food insecurity in vulnerable regions, particularly through agricultural development and capacity building in climate affected areas. Recognizing the impact of climate change on public health, the leaders emphasized the need to integrate health resilience into comprehensive climate action strategies.

    President Biden also congratulated the United Arab Emirates on its many successes in its two Years of Sustainability (2023-2024), including the recent announcement on co-hosting the next UN Water Conference in 2026 with Senegal, noting the critical importance of accessible and affordable clean water to all; and its significance within various sectors in the clean energy transition, addressing climate change, and the sustainable development agenda.

    Partnership to Accelerate Clean Energy (PACE)

    Under the U.S.-UAE Partnership to Accelerate Clean Energy (PACE) initiative, the United States and the UAE are announcing several initiatives that will continue our efforts to ensure a swift and smooth transition towards clean energy. The United States and United Arab Emirates remain committed to investing together in Africa and working to end energy poverty across sub-Saharan Africa.  Today, the UAE-based Averi Finance and AMEA Power are both private sector partners under the U.S.-led Power Africa Initiative, joining an existing partnership with UAE-based company Phanes. As private sector partners, these firms will be offered tailored assistance from transaction advisors and technical experts and can benefit from services offered by participating U.S. government departments and agencies.

    To support the Power Africa initiative, Averi Finance intends to facilitate $5 billion in investments, build 3GW of power generation projects, construct over 3,000 kilometers of transmission or distribution lines, establish over 500,000 new home and business connections, and aim for a CO2 equivalent reduction or avoidance of 90 million tons.  AMEA Power and Power Africa have recently entered into a partnership to accelerate power projects.  AMEA Power is targeting 5GW of renewable energy capacity in Africa by 2030, and to realize this target, intends to mobilize $5 billion in capital. 

    Additionally, under PACE, ADNOC has announced a 35 percent stake in ExxonMobil’s proposed low-carbon hydrogen and ammonia production facility in Baytown, Texas.  This facility aims to produce up to approximately 900,000 tons of low-carbon ammonia per year, enabling the transition to cleaner fuels in hard-to-abate sectors.  Plynth Energy – a recently established Abu Dhabi government-owned early-stage fund focused on fusion technologies and supply chains – invested in the U.S. company Zap Energy, which plans to build scalable and commercially-viable fusion energy.  This investment will help fund the further development of Zap Energy’s small-format commercial fusion technology. Zap Energy is a participant in the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Milestone-Based Fusion Development Program, and will receive DOE funding based on reaching development milestones to support the design of a fusion pilot plant.

    Lastly, as two of over 155 participants in the Global Methane Pledge, the U.S. and the UAE will accelerate their respective domestic methane reductions, work together to support countries undertaking methane abatement, and call on others to do the same by advancing methane reduction projects, strengthening methane standards and regulations, addressing methane super emitter events, and identifying appropriate financing for methane reduction.

    Partners in Space Exploration

    As founding nation members of the Artemis Accords, His Highness President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed and President Biden reinforced the U.S. and UAE’s groundbreaking cooperation in space, the future of human exploration, and our shared interest in deepening our understanding of the universe. 

    The leaders recalled the role of this partnership in the historic launch of the first Arab probe to Mars, the Hope Probe in 2021, and the resulting and ongoing global scientific collaboration and contribution to the study of Mars’ atmosphere.  This strategic partnership in deep space missions is further exemplified by the UAE Space Agency’s announcement of the Emirates Mission to the Asteroid Belt, the first multi-asteroid tour and landing mission to the main belt, with the partner, Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics at the University of Colorado Boulder.

    The leaders highlighted the January 2024 Mohammed bin Rashid Space Center agreement with NASA for the Center to provide an airlock for Gateway, humanity’s first space station to orbit the Moon supported by NASA’s missions for long-term Moon exploration under the Artemis Program.  The airlock will allow crew and equipment transfers to-and-from the habitable environment of Gateway’s pressurized modules to the vacuum of space.  This agreement will also enable the first Emirati astronaut to fly to the Gateway for joint exploration of the Moon. 

    This cooperation builds on NASA and the UAE’s previous human spaceflight collaboration.  In 2019, Hazaa Al Mansouri became the first Emirati astronaut to fly to space during a visit to the International Space Station (ISS), where he worked with NASA to perform experiments and educational outreach.  A second Emirati astronaut, Sultan Al Neyadi, launched to the ISS in 2023, where he participated in the floating laboratory’s scientific research to advance human knowledge and improve life on Earth.  The leaders welcomed continued training of astronauts, including two Emirati astronaut candidates in training at the Johnson Space Center, as well as ongoing work on Mars research and scientific studies to support mutual exploration goals.

    Sharing the common spirit and ambition of humanity’s journey in space, the leaders reaffirmed the principles of the Artemis Accords to explore and use outer space for peaceful purposes and usher in a new era of exploration, as well as obligations under the Outer Space Treaty, including the requirement that countries not place in orbit around the Earth any objects carrying nuclear weapons or any other kind of weapons of mass destruction.

    Partners in Security and Defense

    His Highness President Sheikh Mohamed and President Biden praised the strong security and defense partnership with the UAE.  President Biden strongly affirmed the United States’ commitment to the United Arab Emirates’ security and territorial defense, and to facilitating its ability to obtain necessary capabilities to defend its people and territory against external threats.  The leaders reaffirmed their commitment to a strong bilateral security and defense relationship and to expanding defense and security cooperation to bolster joint defense capabilities against external threats, including through the Department of Defense’s State Partnership Program.

    The leaders affirmed a shared vision of an interconnected, peaceful, tolerant, and prosperous region as outlined by President Biden during the GCC+3 Summit Meeting in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on July 16, 2022.  They reviewed the proud legacy of standing shoulder-to-shoulder, in peace and in conflict, including the UAE’s support for American-led counterterrorism missions since the attacks in New York, Pennsylvania, and Washington on September 11, 2001, to deter threats, de-escalate conflicts, and reduce tensions globally.  Specifically, the leaders recalled the United States and the United Arab Emirates standing alongside each other in the global coalition against Da’esh, and prior conflicts: Somalia, the Balkans, Iraq, Afghanistan, and Libya.

    The leaders reviewed ongoing initiatives and investments in advanced systems that have made the United Arab Emirates one of the most capable U.S. military partners in the region, in addition to a robust schedule of bilateral and multilateral exercises.  They underscored the importance of strengthening efforts to combat regional threats, advance counterterrorism initiatives, reinforce maritime security and counter-piracy efforts, increase security cooperation, and intercept illicit shipments of weaponry and technology. 

    The leaders discussed deepening investment in U.S. defense systems and acknowledged that military-to-military cooperation with the United Arab Emirates’ armed services helps ensure interoperability with the United States through the provision of advanced defense articles and services.  They further decided to explore potential investment in our most advanced defense systems and to maintain regular exchanges to deepen partnership in research and development. 

    The leaders reaffirmed the 2017 Defense Cooperation Agreement, an important step for both countries that underscored their vital and longstanding collaboration in defeating terrorist groups, such as Da’esh and al-Qaida, securing regional stability, and combatting threats against their common interests including terrorist financing.  They underscored the importance of the annual Joint Military Dialogue as the foremost bilateral defense forum for advancing the U.S.-UAE defense partnership, including reviewing shared security interests, as well as discussing strategic objectives for the relationship and challenges in the region, such as maritime security, counter-piracy, counterterrorism cooperation, and domain awareness in the Middle East, the Indian Ocean, and East Africa.  They further noted the recognition by the Security Council in Resolution 2686 that hate speech, racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia, related forms of intolerance, gender discrimination and acts of extremism can contribute to driving the outbreak, escalation and recurrence of conflict.   

    Designation as a Major Defense Partner of the United States

    Acknowledging the U.S. and UAE’s deepening security partnership and cooperation in advanced technology and acquisition, shared interest in preventing conflict and de-escalation, President Biden today recognized the United Arab Emirates as a Major Defense Partner of the United States, joined by only India, to further enhance defense cooperation and security in the Middle East, East Africa, and the Indian Ocean regions.  This unique designation as a Major Defense Partner will allow for unprecedented cooperation through joint training, exercises, and military-to-military collaboration, between the military forces of the United States, the UAE, and India, as well as other common military partners, in furtherance of regional stability.

    Both leaders committed to close and sustained cooperation among our militaries. 

    Partners in a Stable, Integrated, and Prosperous Middle East and Wider Region

    The leaders stressed the importance of reaching a peaceful solution to the dispute over the three islands, Greater Tunb, Lesser Tunb, and Abu Musa, through bilateral negotiations or the International Court of Justice, in accordance with the rules of international law including the UN Charter.

    The leaders discussed persisting and emerging threats to peace and stability in the Middle East and the wider region.  They renewed their commitment to upholding international law, particularly international humanitarian law, work with parties to resolve conflicts and protect civilians, and to provide urgently needed aid to alleviate human suffering.  They reiterated the importance of sustainable and enduring solutions to the security threats in the region, including those posed by non-state terrorist actors.  They discussed the enduring importance of the Abraham Accords and continuing on the path of peace, integration, and prosperity in the region.

    The leaders discussed the war in Gaza. They underscored their commitment to continue working together towards ending the conflict, calling for a lasting and sustainable ceasefire and the release of hostages and detainees in accordance with the United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 2735, and affirmed that all sides to the conflict must adhere to their obligations under international humanitarian law. President Biden commended the UAE’s extraordinary humanitarian efforts in Gaza, which have been critical in addressing the humanitarian crisis, including through the launch of a maritime corridor for movement of aid, opening a field hospital in Gaza, and supporting evacuations of wounded civilians and cancer patients.

    The two leaders emphasized the ongoing need for the urgent, unhindered, and sustained delivery of life-saving humanitarian assistance, at a scale commensurate with the growing needs among the civilian population throughout Gaza.  They called on all parties to ensure the safety, security, and sustained access of aid workers to all those in need, and to create the conditions needed to facilitate an effective humanitarian response in Gaza.

    His Highness President Sheikh Mohamed commended the mediation efforts by the United States, along with Egypt and Qatar, to reach a lasting and sustainable ceasefire and hostage release deal to help end the war in Gaza.  His Highness also echoed the principles laid out by President Biden on May 31, 2024, and stressed the importance of building on this proposal in order to create a serious political horizon for negotiation.  To that end, the leaders discussed a path to stabilization and recovery that responds to the humanitarian crisis, establishes law and order, and lays the groundwork for responsible governance.  The leaders expressed their commitment to the two-State solution, wherein a sovereign and contiguous Palestinian state lives side-by-side in peace and security with Israel, as the only way to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in accordance with the internationally-recognized parameters and the Arab Peace Initiative.  They stressed the need to refrain from all unilateral measures that undermine the two-State solution, and to preserve the historic status quo of Jerusalem’s holy sites, recognizing the special role of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan in this regard.

    On the conflict in Sudan, the leaders expressed their deep concern over the tragic impact the violence has had on the Sudanese people and on neighboring countries.  Both leaders expressed alarm at the millions of individuals who have been displaced by the war, the hundreds of thousands experiencing famine, and the atrocities committed by the belligerents against the civilian population.  They stressed that there can be no military solution to the conflict in Sudan and underscored their firm and unwavering position on the imperative for concrete and immediate action to achieve a lasting cessation of hostilities, the return to the political process, and transition to civilian-led governance.

    Both leaders reaffirmed their shared commitment to de-escalate the conflict, alleviate the suffering of the people of Sudan, ensure humanitarian assistance reaches the Sudanese people, and prevent Sudan from attracting transnational terrorist networks once again. Noting their shared concern about the risk of imminent atrocities, particularly as fighting continues in Darfur, they underscored that all parties to the conflict must comply with their obligations under international humanitarian law, and all individuals and groups that commit war crimes must be held accountable.  The leaders emphasized that the priority right now must be the protection of civilians, particularly women, children and the elderly, securing humanitarian pauses in order to scale up and facilitate the movement of humanitarian assistance into the country and across conflict lines, and ensuring the delivery of aid to those in need, especially to the most vulnerable.

    Partners in Cyberspace

    The leaders emphasized that safety and stability in cyberspace is critical for digital economic growth and development, and reaffirmed their commitment to an open, interoperable, secure, and reliable internet, underpinned by the multistakeholder model of internet governance. 

    They committed to deepen cooperation on cybersecurity and to enhance cyber collaboration to protect critical infrastructure, counter malicious cyber activity by state and non-state actors, and noted that the UAE’s significant contributions to the International Counter Ransomware Initiative reflects the strength of our cooperation.  The leaders committed to promote stability in cyberspace based on the applicability of international law including the United Nations Charter, the promotion of voluntary norms of responsible state behavior during peacetime, and the development and implementation of confidence building measures between states. 

    Looking Forward

    The United States and the United Arab Emirates are both entrepreneurial nations, joined together by a relentless focus on the future.  Our aspirations are rooted in a common resolve to pursue innovative partnerships in new fields, including AI, food security, infrastructure investment, and supply chain resilience, even as we continue to strengthen the foundational element of our partnership: our longstanding people-to-people ties.  These connections between our countries drive progress and expand horizons, from clean energy technologies, to AI, defense cooperation, space exploration, and ongoing coordination across priority areas of science, education, and culture.  This first-ever official visit by a President of the United Arab Emirates to the United States sets a new foundation for our countries’ cooperation for decades to come

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: State launches new initiative to mobilize one million Californians for climate action

    Source: US State of California 2

    Sep 23, 2024

    What you need to know: California is launching a campaign to empower one million Californians to take climate action in their communities. 

    SACRAMENTO – During Climate Week, Governor Gavin Newsom announced a new state initiative to mobilize one million Californians to take climate action at home and in their neighborhoods to help build resilient communities.

    California’s Climate Action Counts initiative aims to educate and inspire people to reimagine the power of volunteerism by taking impactful, everyday actions in their communities.

    “Every day, Californians are taking small actions that collectively are helping us create a better world for our kids and grandkids. From saving water and planting trees to taking public transit and being disaster ready – we’re all in this together.

    The Climate Action Counts campaign will empower Californians to be a part of something big and impactful – making all of our climate action truly count.”

    Governor Gavin Newsom

    The campaign highlights 10 priority actions and encourages participants to take the pledge to action. Those taking the pledge join hundreds of California Climate Action Corps fellows in efforts to combat the effects of climate change.

    👗 Reduce waste: Donate, upcycle and thrift.

    🍎 Compost food scraps: Toss in your green bin or compost in your yard. 

    🛒 Support local farmers: Shop at local farmers markets or join a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture). 

    🚲 Green your ride: Walk, bike, use public transit, carpool whenever you can – or consider a zero-emission vehicle.

    🌱 Get planting: Plant trees and native plants or start a community garden. 

    🔥 Be disaster ready: Be prepared for wildfire and extreme heat.

    💡 Save energy, water and money: Use a smart thermostat, conserve water and capture savings. 

    🌄 Discover nature: Enjoy nature at your local parks and trails.

    📣 Tell a friend: Encourage your friends and family to take part in Climate Action Counts.

    💚 Get connected: Sign up to serve or volunteer in your community!

    Campaign partners span cities, colleges and universities, state agencies, community-based organizations, business and climate leaders, including the cities of Long Beach, Riverside and Sacramento, California Community Colleges, University of California, California State University, California Natural Resources Agency, CalRecycle, California ReLeaf, Sierra Club, Jane Goodall Institute and Patagonia.

    “This campaign will inspire hope – showing when it comes to the climate crisis, we are not powerless,” said California Chief Service Officer Josh Fryday. “We are calling on one million Californians to take simple, everyday actions for collective impact.”

    “The best solutions to the climate crisis come from the grassroots,” said Corley Kenna, Vice President of Communications and Public Policy at Patagonia. “We’re partnering with the Climate Action Counts campaign to help one million Californians build thriving communities while protecting the natural world. Everyone has a role to play in this movement.”

    As a part of California’s comprehensive strategy to address the climate crisis, Governor Gavin Newsom created the California Climate Action Corps in 2020 – the nation’s first state-level service and volunteer program focused on combating climate change. Since then, numerous states have adopted California’s model to establish their own Climate Corps. 

    Recent news

    Sep 22, 2024

    News SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom today announced that he has signed the following bills: AB 262 by Assemblymember Chris R. Holden (D-Pasadena) – Children’s camps: safety and regulation.AB 460 by Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan (D-Orinda) – State Water…

    Sep 21, 2024

    News What you need to know: Governor Gavin Newsom signed legislation to provide more safety, care, and accountability for services that help older adults and their families thrive, as more Californians live longer lives. This action further advances California’s…

    Sep 20, 2024

    News SACRAMENTO – Moving to protect the health and well-being of youth on digital platforms, Governor Gavin Newsom today signed SB 976 by Senator Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley), which prohibits online platforms from knowingly providing an addictive feed to a minor without…

    Sep 23, 2024

    What you need to know: The passage of Proposition 1 by California voters adds rocket fuel to Governor Gavin Newsom’s transformational overhaul of the state’s behavioral health system. These reforms refocus existing funds to prioritize Californians with the most serious mental health and substance use issues, who are too often experiencing homelessness. They also fund more than 11,150 new behavioral health beds and supportive housing units and 26,700 outpatient treatment slots.

    Los Angeles, California – California took a major step forward in correcting the damage from 50 years of neglect to the state’s mental health system with the passage of Proposition 1. This historic measure — a signature priority of Governor Gavin Newsom — adds rocket fuel to California’s overhaul of the state’s behavioral health systems. It provides a full range of mental health and substance abuse care, with new accountability metrics to ensure local governments deliver for their communities.

    This is the biggest reform of the California mental health system in decades and will finally equip partners to deliver the results all Californians need and deserve. Treatment centers will prioritize mental health and substance use support in the community like never before. Now, it’s time to roll up our sleeves and begin implementing this critical reform – working closely with city and county leaders to ensure we see results.

    Governor Gavin Newsom

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    What they’re saying: 

    • Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg, original author of the Mental Health Services Act: “Twenty years ago, I never could have dreamed that we would have the strong leadership we have today, committing billions and making courageous policy changes that question the conventional wisdom on mental health. Now, with the passage of Proposition 1. California is delivering on decades old promises to help people living with brain-based illnesses, to live better lives, to live independently and to live with dignity in our communities. This is a historic moment and the hard work is ahead of us.“
    • Senator Susan Eggman (D-Stockton), author of Senate Bill 326: “Today marks a day of hope for thousands of Californians who are struggling with mental illness – many of whom are living unhoused. I am tremendously grateful to my fellow Californian’s for passing this important measure.  And I am very appreciative of this Governor’s leadership to transform our behavioral health care system!”
    • Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin (D-Thousand Oaks), author of Assembly Bill 531: “This started as an audacious proposal to address the root cause of homelessness and today, Californians can be proud to know that they did the right thing by passing Proposition 1. Now, it’s time for all of us to get to work, and make sure these reforms are implemented and that we see results.”

    Bigger picture: Transforming the Mental Health Services Act into the Behavioral Health Services Act and building more community mental health treatment sites and supportive housing is the last main pillar of Governor Newsom’s Mental Health Movement – pulling together significant recent reforms like 988 crisis line, CalHOPE, CARE Court, conservatorship reform, CalAIM behavioral health expansion (including mobile crisis care and telehealth), Medi-Cal expansion to all low-income Californians, Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative (including expanding services in schools and on-line), Older Adult Behavioral Health Initiative, Veterans Mental Health Initiative, Behavioral Health Community Infrastructure Program, Behavioral Health Bridge Housing, Health Care Workforce for All and more.

    More details on next step here

    Recent news

    Sep 22, 2024

    News SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom today announced that he has signed the following bills: AB 262 by Assemblymember Chris R. Holden (D-Pasadena) – Children’s camps: safety and regulation.AB 460 by Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan (D-Orinda) – State Water…

    Sep 21, 2024

    News What you need to know: Governor Gavin Newsom signed legislation to provide more safety, care, and accountability for services that help older adults and their families thrive, as more Californians live longer lives. This action further advances California’s…

    Sep 20, 2024

    News SACRAMENTO – Moving to protect the health and well-being of youth on digital platforms, Governor Gavin Newsom today signed SB 976 by Senator Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley), which prohibits online platforms from knowingly providing an addictive feed to a minor without…

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Peters Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Reform FEMA Individual Assistance Programs

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Michigan Gary Peters
    Published: 09.23.2024

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Gary Peters (D-MI), Chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, introduced bipartisan legislation to reform the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Individual Assistance program. This bill would improve how FEMA provides assistance to individuals to rebuild their lives in the aftermath of a disaster. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, there were 28 weather and climate disasters in 2023, surpassing the previous record of 22 in 2020, and with a price tag of at least $92.9 billion in recovery costs.   
    “Severe weather and natural disasters are becoming more frequent, more catastrophic and more costly, leaving people across the country in need of swift federal resources to help assist their recovery,” said Senator Peters. “My commonsense bipartisan legislation would reform the FEMA disaster assistance process and improve how the agency provides assistance to individuals for home repairs, disaster housing, and mitigation activities.”  
    The bipartisan Disaster Survivors Fairness Act would reform individual federal disaster assistance programs to best support survivors. The bill would provide FEMA with new authorities to increase its ability to fund disaster mitigation projects and expand support to homeowners. The bill would also enable FEMA to reimburse states that implement their own innovative post-disaster housing solutions and bolster development of post-disaster solutions for renters. The bill requires FEMA and the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to complete a series of reports and studies that would identify additional challenges regarding the administration of post-disaster assistance for survivors and boost transparency. 
    As Chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, Peters has led several efforts to strengthen our federal disaster preparedness and response. Earlier this year, Peters’ bipartisan bill to create one deadline to apply for two FEMA disaster assistance programs was signed into law. Peters’ bipartisan bill to simplify the federal application process by creating a universal FEMA application across federal agencies passed in the Senate. Peters secured $500 million in funding as part of the bipartisan infrastructure bill for a program he created to help states establish revolving loan programs for local governments to carry out mitigation projects that reduce the risk of shoreline erosion, extreme flooding, and other natural disasters. Peters’ bipartisan legislation to protect FEMA Reservists from losing their full-time employment when they are called up to assist communities with disaster response was also signed into law. Finally, Peters’ bill to help protect pets and other animals during and in the aftermath of natural disasters and emergencies was also signed into law. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Dr. P. K. Mishra, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister chairs High Level Task Force meeting on air pollution in Delhi-NCR

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Dr. P. K. Mishra, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister chairs High Level Task Force meeting on air pollution in Delhi-NCR

    Reviews various measures being undertaken to prevent and abate air pollution in Delhi-NCR

    Emphasized on the need to shift to e-vehicles and also develop EV charging infrastructure in NCR areas

    Calls for strict implementation of the actions listed in GRAP

    Ensure commitment in eliminating paddy stubble burning across Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh: Principal Secretary

    Various steps to improve preparedness for dealing with the issue of adverse air quality in Delhi-NCR decided in the review meeting

    Posted On: 23 SEP 2024 8:29PM by PIB Delhi

    Dr. P. K. Mishra, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, chaired a High-Level Task Force meeting today at the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) to assess the readiness of stakeholders in addressing the issue of deteriorating air quality in Delhi-NCR, particularly as the winter season approaches.

    The meeting focused on evaluating ongoing efforts to tackle pollution from various sources, including paddy stubble burning, vehicular emissions, road and construction dust, solid waste management, and diesel generator (DG) sets. Dr. Mishra emphasized the critical importance of strict and timely implementation of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) by all relevant agencies to mitigate worsening air quality during the winter months.

    Chairman, Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) Shri. Rajesh Verma presented details on the upcoming paddy straw generation, estimating 19.52 million tonnes in Punjab and 8.10 million tonnes in Haryana. Both states have committed to eliminating stubble burning this year. Punjab plans to manage 11.5 million tonnes of its paddy straw through in-situ crop residue management and the rest via ex-situ methods. Haryana will similarly manage 3.3 million tonnes in-situ and use ex-situ methods for the remainder. Over 1.50 lakh crop residue management (CRM) machines will be available in Punjab, supported by 24,736 Custom Hiring Centres (CHCs), while Haryana has 90,945 CRM machines supported by 6,794 CHCs.

    In addition, 2 million tonnes of paddy straw will be co-fired in 11 thermal power plants across the NCR region. The meeting stressed the need for regular monitoring of thermal plants to ensure co-firing targets are met, with penalties for non-compliance.

    Regarding industrial pollution, CAQM informed that 220 out of 240 industrial areas in the NCR region are now equipped with gas infrastructure, with the remaining areas set to be connected soon. Dust pollution from construction and demolition (C&D) activities is being remotely monitored through a web portal, with mandatory registration for projects over 500 square meters.

    Dr. Mishra instructed Chief Secretaries of Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh to rigorously monitor and implement action plans aimed at eliminating stubble burning as committed in their action plans. He stressed the need for full utilization of CRM machines, strengthening the supply chain for ex-situ management, and supporting small industries in briquetting and pelletizing operations to enhance the economic use of paddy straw. Strict enforcement actions against violators, with appropriate penalties and record entries, were also highlighted.

    Principal Secretary also requested Chief Secretary’s of NCR region states to augment their e-Bus services in the region. PM eBus Sewa Scheme aims to increase the e-Buses in our country by 10,000 e-Buses. States/UTs should judiciously aim to use the scheme to increase their fleet of eBuses.

    He also emphasized on the importance of Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam program and its sentimental value for every individual should be used in greening the City.

    In terms of firecracker pollution, state governments and law enforcement agencies were asked to strictly enforce bans and restrictions, while the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas was urged to expedite the collection of biomasses and accelerate the construction of compressed biogas (CBG) plants.

    The meeting was attended by Cabinet Secretary Dr.T.V Somanathan, Delhi Police Commissioner and key officials from the Ministries of Environment, Agriculture, Power, Petroleum, Road Transport, Housing and Urban Affairs, and Animal Husbandry, along with representatives from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs), and the Chief Secretaries and their representatives from the states of Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, and UT of Delhi.

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    GS

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Apply Now: FEMA Assistance Available for Damage after July Storms and Flooding

    Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency 2

    strong>CHICAGO – Illinois homeowners and renters in Cook, Fulton, Henry, St. Clair, Washington, Will, and Winnebago counties affected by the severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and flooding on July 13 – 16, 2024, may now call or go online to apply for disaster assistance from FEMA.

    If you have insurance coverage for the damage to your property, first file a claim. If you have uninsured or underinsured losses, apply for FEMA assistance by going online to DisasterAssistance.gov, downloading the FEMA app or calling the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362. If you use video relay service, captioned telephone service or others, give FEMA your number for that service. When calling the FEMA Helpline, multilingual operators are available (press 2 for Spanish and 3 for other languages).

    FEMA can provide money to eligible applicants for help with serious needs, paying for a temporary place to live, home repairs and other needs not covered by insurance.

    Have the following information ready when you apply with FEMA: 

    • A current phone number where you can be contacted,
    • Your address at the time of the disaster and the address where you are now staying,
    • Your social security number (or the social security number of a minor child in your household, if you’re applying on their behalf),
    • A general list of damage and losses,
    • Banking information if you choose direct deposit, and
    • If insured, the policy number or the agent and/or the company name.

    When applying, one member of a household needs to comply with citizenship criteria. That means a minor child who is a citizen, non-citizen national or qualified non-citizen can have a parent or guardian who is not eligible apply for assistance on the child’s behalf. Learn more about citizenship and immigration status requirements to qualify for disaster assistance by visiting www.fema.gov/assistance/individual/program/citizenship-immigration-status. 

    Getting help to those who need it most is FEMA’s priority. Recovery teams will be out soon in the neighborhoods affected by the disaster to provide one-on-one support to individuals. Recovery centers will also be opening for individuals to get additional in-person help. 

    For even more information about the disaster recovery operation in Illinois, visit www.fema.gov/disaster/4819.  

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Transcript: Fireside Chat on Gun Violence Prevention

    Source: US State of New York

    Earlier today, Governor Kathy Hochul participated in a Clinton Global Initiative fireside chat on gun violence prevention.

    VIDEO: The event is available to stream on YouTube here and TV quality video is available here (h.264, mp4).

    AUDIO: The Governor’s remarks are available in audio form here.

    PHOTOS: The Governor’s Flickr page has photos of the event here.

    A rush transcript of the Governor’s remarks is available below:

    Gabriel Arana, Texas Observer Former Editor-in-Chief: So the issue we are about to talk about, gun violence, is urgent, complex, and multifaceted. Before we jump into some of the solutions and approaches you’ve taken in New York, I’d like to talk to you about how you’ve addressed the issue here. First to start out I’d like to talk about one of the countless tragedies that has befallen our state. The May 2022, mass shooting at a grocery store in Buffalo, your hometown. Tell me what that was like and what actions you’ve taken as a result.

    Governor Hochul: Well, it was the most horrific event in Buffalo’s history and that was ten minutes from where I live. That was an area I’ve been to so many times. I knew the people. And to have an individual who was radicalized online, which again is another topic, but really important as to how people are developing these horrible, horrible thoughts. And his intent was to replicate the shooting in New Zealand just a few years before. So he learned how to do it online is the point.

    He was able to walk into a store on his 18th birthday and to be able to buy an AK-47. Okay? Buy it. Go over to Pennsylvania where they have different laws and a magazine enhancer so he could have the highest number of casualties possible. And what he did was he looked geographically to find the largest black population closest to him. It was 3 hours and 10 minutes to Buffalo, it would have been 3 hours and 20 minutes to Brooklyn. Or to, to the Bronx. So he was trying to find a population that he intentionally wanted to slaughter. He scoped out the location. He knew where he was going. And when I went there and saw the scene of that massacre and held weeping families and hugging them and just trying to give some comfort to them, I knew I had to do something in that moment. Dramatic. And change the whole dynamic, change every law I could in the State of New York. And that has been an inspiration to me, to know that can happen in an innocent place. A sunny day in May, where people are shopping for groceries, including a dad who is buying a birthday cake for his little girl’s third birthday that he never got to see. I’ve held that little girl. And this just tears at you. At a very human level.

    And all of us in government – we shouldn’t have to wait to have the kind of slaughter I saw in Buffalo or you experienced in covering Uvalde, and other people have day after day to a point where my fear is that people become desensitized to this and they don’t have that shock and that sense of urgency to do something. I don’t ever want to get to that place in this country because it would be a sad commentary on how far we’ve fallen.

    Gabriel Arana, Texas Observer Former Editor-in-Chief: In the last few years, more than 20 states including New York, have passed new laws restricting how people can buy and carry guns but we’re seeing data that indicates there’s a thriving underground market for guns. Can you talk about the 2022 Interstate Task Force to stop the illegal trafficking of guns?

    Governor Hochul: When I took office three years ago, we were in the throes of a major crime wave nationwide, not just New York. It was a nationwide phenomena. And my husband was the United States Attorney for Barack Obama. And I saw how collaboration can help and eradicate crime. And I thought, why don’t we harness the power of not just New York State, but all of our neighbors? Because 80 percent of the guns in New York come from out of state. We don’t manufacture them. So there is a pipeline that’s bringing these guns right to the streets of New York, and we have to stop that.

    So I reached out to other Governors. We had nine at first. We now have 12 states that are all contiguous. And if we’re sharing data, identifying perpetrators, stopping them at the border, we can stop the flow of illegal guns from coming into our state. And the numbers have been incredibly successful.

    The number of gunned addictions about 9,500. We’ve taken 10,000 guns off the streets. These are numbers that were just escalating year after year until someone finally says, “We’re gonna work together. I’ll put the resources behind it.” We have spent over 800 million directly on gun interdiction measures and another billion dollars to help support our local communities for the gun violence disrupter program. So combined almost $2 billion into in three years to say no more, no more slaughter in my state.

    Gabriel Arana, Texas Observer Former Editor-in-Chief: Following our conversation here I’m going to dive in with our panelists on community based solutions and approaches that they’re doing on the ground throughout the country. We know that these solutions from the communities themselves are promising toward reducing gun related injuries and killings. In a similar vein from your perch what do you see as promising solutions and approaches to the issue?

    Governor Hochul: It does absolutely come down to engaging the community. They’re the ones who are victimized. They’re the ones who often see perpetrators. They’re the ones who have evidence that can come forward.

    But also, how do we change the hearts and minds of particularly young men? Young kids in these neighborhoods who think that the only alternative they have is to be part of a gang because they’re not getting the love and nurture they need at home. This becomes their family. And that is what’s so tragic about this.

    But, what you can do with these violence disruptor programs, and we funded so many of them, all across the state – is that oftentimes these might be former gang members, these are people who’ve been involved with the law. And so they’re the ones who have the story to say, don’t make the same mistake I did. And if we fund them and increase the number of them in every community, they are making a real difference. So I’m going to continue focusing on not just the law enforcement side, which has been quite extraordinary.

    And back to changing our laws, the Supreme Court of the United States struck down a law that we had on the books for over 100 years. A concealed carry law that says you should not be able to walk into this venue right now with a gun in your pocket, go on our subways, walk around Times Square. And the Supreme Court took that power away from me as the Governor of New York to protect my citizens. And I said, the next day, we’re fighting back. We’re going to structure a different law. We’ll go right up to the line. to where we can go and now we’ve identified sensitive locations, which is a large part of New York where you cannot carry a gun, including Times Square and houses of worship and other places. So I had to come around and do an end run basically around what the Supreme Court was trying to do, taking away my rights.

    So the violence disruptor programs, the massive funding into law enforcement, the community policing, the interdiction at the borders with our consortium is making a difference to a point where our murders are down almost to the 1960s levels, which is extraordinary. In one year, we had, in 1990, we had 2,600 murders in the State of New York. We’re trending to be about 350 this year. Look at the difference in that. It’s gone. Shootings are down 47 percent since I became Governor because we had an intentional strategy that said, “We’re not going to lose any more lives senselessly to guns.”

    And again the laws are so important the laws that we have on the books – the red flag laws. We had about 1,300 Extreme Risk Protection Orders – when you identify someone who shows a propensity to do harm to themselves or to others, someone sees that red flag – a school counselor, a family member, a, law enforcement, a principal, a teacher, someone’s seeing this behavior, someone’s watching it. And they don’t think they have the power to do something about it. But we said, “You do have the power.” And by changing the law to say you are required to notify the authorities so they can identify whether they have access to a gun, we have had a 1,300 percent increase in the number of Extreme Risk Protection Orders where other states aren’t doing anything.

    And I need to, this should be a national policy. This should be a national policy passed by Congress because we have taken guns out of the hands that we know from people that could do harm to others before there’s a tragedy that happens. This is what smart policies are all about. Getting there before you have to go to another funeral of a child. And that’s what I want to continue doing here in New York. And I hope other states will follow suit.

    Gabriel Arana, Texas Observer Former Editor-in-Chief: The Supreme Court stands poised to knock down any legislation, attempts to legislate the gun violence epidemic. You mentioned going right up to the line. What is that line? What can you do? What can’t you do?

    Governor Hochul: We weren’t allowed to ban concealed carry weapons, but I put in place more restrictions on who can apply for them. We are able to look at your social media. That’s where people are telegraphing what they’re going to do. That was our Buffalo killer. It was all out there on social media. It’s often out there. People are telegraphing what they’re going to do. And if you can’t be aware of that and you can’t see what’s out there about them, then you’re not protecting yourself or society.

    My number one job as Governor of the State is to protect our citizens. Full stop. And this is part of that strategy. So we made – we have more requirements on background checks. Our background checks are very strong, but even if someone is able to secure a concealed weapon permit and many of them are legitimate, there’s people in security and there are legitimate purposes that I will agree with, but it’s time, place and manner.

    And again, I don’t want them on the streets of New York. I don’t think that’s appropriate. I don’t think it should be in a schoolyard. That’s not appropriate. A playground. So many places, they don’t make that. So we went right, when they said, I can’t ban them, I said, but they threw some words about sensitive places and I define sensitive places in New York and our law is holding, so far.

    Gabriel Arana, Texas Observer Former Editor-in-Chief: You mentioned violence diversion programs. What’s entailed in these programs?

    Governor Hochul: We fund an enormous number of these. We know the neighborhoods where they need them. These are individuals who – community based organizations, SNUG is one of them. It’s just “guns” spelled backwards.

    It’s one I was familiar with in Buffalo, New York. Like I said, I was – I have a family member in law enforcement, a prosecutor, and I saw the power of these organizations when they got together. I did a lot of events with them. We announced a lot of funding for them all over the state. And what they do is, they develop relationships.

    They intervene because if a young person has a strong role model at home, both parents, one parent, grandparents, someone that’s taking care of them and watching them and knows where they are after school and keep an eye on them. There’s not likely to be a problem, but that’s not the reality for so many families in so many of our communities.

    The parents have to work, the mom has to work, and there’s no one there after school. And this is where the temptation is great to find alternatives. These members, like I said, many of them have done time themselves. They can speak truth to what they saw. They’re credible messengers that are the only ones who can break through and make a difference.

    And they’ve been successful and I’ll keep supporting them over and over again as part of a holistic strategy. But another part of that strategy deals with mental health. We have seen the radicalization of people on social media, but also our teenagers are – many of them are despairing. And I’ve seen this because I’ve convened countless roundtables with teenagers over the last year as I look at social media, the effect it has on their well being, how they feel about themselves, and also cell phones in schools.

    This is an issue I’m looking intensely at because kids are spiraling. They’re not paying attention in class. They’re being bullied all day long. They don’t have a break from it. And one young woman said to me at one of our forums, “You have to save us from ourselves. You have to help us. You have to stand up and say we shouldn’t be doing this because we can’t do it alone.”

    So that’s only tangentially related to gun violence, but it also goes to the psychology of people. And if we’re not helping children and teenagers be healthy now, what are we supposed to expect from them when they turn to adults? We’re supposed to not just raise children, but raise adults who are healthy and fully functioning and have human connections that they’re being denied right now. The way this device has taken over their lives.

    Gabriel Arana, Texas Observer Former Editor-in-Chief: I have to wrap up here. But one more question. If there’s one key message that you’d the audience here, to walk away with, what would it be?

    Governor Hochul: We have seen in New York State, that leadership that is committed to ensuring that you look at all the levers at our disposal, the platforms we have, the ability to change.

    There are ways that we can stop gun violence in this country. We can be like the other countries who are gathering in our city right now that don’t know a fraction of the shootings we have. It’s accessibility to guns. I continue to call on Congress to do the right thing and reinstate the ban on assault weapons that was so effective for an entire decade until it was repealed.

    That’s number one. Call on other states to do as we’ve done with the red flag law. Just pass what we did here in New York and you could have prevented so many of the mass shootings. Every time you look at and analyze the social media and the footprint that’s out there for these shooters, it’s always telegraphed in advance.

    You can – and they – and there’s always someone who says, “Yeah, I thought that kid was – Something wrong was there.” The evidence is there. We have to give people the responsibility to report it to law enforcement. Let them get the order of protection. And let’s start protecting people. That’s what this is all about.

    I would say, don’t give up hope. The situation is dire. It is spiraling. One more mass shooting on the news is just making us sick and it’s taking us to a dark place, but it does not have to be that way. I reject the notion that this has to be our destiny. There are policies out there that are working.

    Otherwise, how do we cut shootings down 47 percent? This is all since I’ve been Governor in just a few years. Look at the impact that we have had here in the State of New York. I want every state to be just like that. And then we start reclaiming our kids and our safety and the mental health that we need to know that we are safe in our country.

    Gabriel Arana, Texas Observer Former Editor-in-Chief: Governor Hochul, thank you so much for being here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: OceanFirst Financial Corp. Schedules Earnings Conference Call

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    RED BANK, N.J., Sept. 23, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — OceanFirst Financial Corp. (NASDAQ:OCFC), the holding company for OceanFirst Bank, today announced that it will issue its earnings release for the quarter ended September 30, 2024 on Thursday, October 17, 2024 after market close. Management will then conduct a conference call at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time, on Friday, October 18, 2024 to discuss highlights of the Company’s quarterly operating performance.

    The direct dial number for the call is 1-833-470-1428, toll free, using the access code 257920. For those unable to participate in the conference call, a replay will be available. To access the replay, dial 1-866-813-9403, Access Code 120573, from one hour after the end of the call until November 15, 2024.

    The conference call will also be available (listen-only) by accessing the Company’s Web address: www.oceanfirst.com – Investor Relations. Web users should go to the site at least fifteen minutes prior to the call to register, download, and install any necessary audio software. The webcast will be available for at least 30 days.

    OceanFirst Financial Corp.’s subsidiary, OceanFirst Bank N.A., founded in 1902, is a $13.3 billion regional bank providing financial services throughout New Jersey and the major metropolitan markets of Philadelphia, New York, Baltimore, and Boston. OceanFirst Bank delivers commercial and residential financing, treasury management, trust and asset management, and deposit services and is one of the largest and oldest community-based financial institutions headquartered in New Jersey.

    OceanFirst Financial Corp.’s press releases are available at http://www.oceanfirst.com.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    In addition to historical information, this news release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 which are based on certain assumptions and describe future plans, strategies and expectations of the Company. These forward-looking statements are generally identified by use of the words “believe,” “expect,” “intend,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “project,” “will,” “should,” “may,” “view,” “opportunity,” “potential,” or similar expressions or expressions of confidence. The Company’s ability to predict results or the actual effect of future plans or strategies is inherently uncertain. Factors which could have a material adverse effect on the operations of the Company and its subsidiaries include, but are not limited to: changes in interest rates, general economic conditions, levels of unemployment in the Bank’s lending area, real estate market values in the Bank’s lending area, future natural disasters and increases to flood insurance premiums, the level of prepayments on loans and mortgage-backed securities, legislative/regulatory changes, monetary and fiscal policies of the U.S. Government including policies of the U.S. Treasury and the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, the quality or composition of the loan or investment portfolios, demand for loan products, deposit flows, competition, demand for financial services in the Company’s market area and accounting principles and guidelines. These risks and uncertainties are further discussed in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 and subsequent securities filings and should be considered in evaluating forward-looking statements and undue reliance should not be placed on such statements. The Company does not undertake, and specifically disclaims any obligation, to publicly release the result of any revisions which may be made to any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of such statements or to reflect the occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated events.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Dingell, Moore, Murray Introduce SAFE for Survivors Act to Provide Economic Security for Domestic Violence Survivors

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (12th District of Michigan)

    Today, Representatives Debbie Dingell (MI-06) and Gwen Moore (WI-04), along with Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), introduced the Security and Financial Empowerment (SAFE) for Survivors Act to establish provisions that promote the safety and security of survivors of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, gender-based violence, and stalking. 

    The 2024 SAFE for Survivors Act allows victims to take time off from work without fear of penalty, requires that employers provide reasonable accommodations to assist survivors dealing with the aftermath of violence, provides access to unemployment benefits for survivors, and establishes insurance protections to support survivors–ensuring that victims are not punished for their abusers’ crimes.

    “Financial abuse occurs in nearly every case of domestic violence. So many survivors are financially tied to their abuser, which ends up being one of the main reasons survivors stay with an abusive partner,” Dingell said. “Survivors have unique needs in their journey to economic independence, and the provisions in this bill will support their ability to provide for their families safely and independently, whether they choose to enter, remain, or take time off from the workplace.”

    “Domestic violence survivors shouldn’t face financial hardship as they work to pick up the pieces after experiencing abuse,” Moore said. “But too many endure a financial cost, which is why we must work to remove these barriers, so that survivors can access the resources they need. That’s why I am thankful to partner with my House and Senate colleagues in much-needed legislation to strengthen survivors’ access to health care, unemployment benefits, and paid leave.”

    “No survivor of domestic violence or sexual assault should be forced to choose between their safety and their paycheck, job, or ability to support their family,” Murray said. “Survivors who are dealing with the mental and physical impacts of assault and violence often can’t afford to miss a day of work or can’t provide for their families on their own if they choose to leave a dangerous situation. We must do everything we can to change this heartbreaking reality. The SAFE Act for Survivors Act would take a huge step toward ensuring no woman or person is stuck between worrying for their safety and making ends meet.”

    One in four women in the U.S. experience physical violence from an intimate partner in their lifetime and one in four women report an attempted or completed rape during their lifetime. Individuals who experience intimate partner violence, sexual assault, gender-based violence and stalking often find that abuse and threats follow them from home into the workplace. This type of violence has direct consequences for survivors’ economic security, which can affect their ability to recover, provide for their families, and remove themselves from dangerous situations. 

    According to the Domestic Violence Hotline,  44% of full-time employed adults in the US reported experiencing the effect of domestic violence in their workplace; 21% identified themselves as victims of intimate partner violence. Domestic violence issues lead to nearly 8 million lost days of paid work each year, the equivalent of over 32,000 full-time jobs.

    Highlights of the 2024 SAFE for Survivors Act include: 

    Increased Access to Leave

    1. The SAFE for Survivors Act allows victims to take time off from work—40 days of leave, ten of which must be paid—without penalty in order to contend with the consequences of gender-based violence, including attending court appearances, seeking legal assistance, and getting help with safety planning. For too many victims, access to these essential services can mean the difference between life and death.

    Enhanced Workplace Protections

    1. The SAFE for Survivors Act prohibits discriminatory employment practices in connection with survivors of domestic or sexual violence and requires employers to provide reasonable accommodations to assist survivor dealing with the aftermath of violence.

    Access to Unemployment Benefits

    1. The SAFE for Survivors Act allows victims in every state access to unemployment benefits if they are fired or forced to leave their job because of abuse.

    Insurance Protections for Survivors

    1. The SAFE for Survivors Act prohibits denial or restriction of insurance coverage based on the status of the applicant or insured regarding abuse or abuse related claims, ensuring that victims are not punished for their abusers’ crimes.

    A section by section of the SAFE for Survivors Act is available HERE.

    In the House, the SAFE for Survivors Act is cosponsored by: Ann Kuster (NH-02), Delia C. Ramirez (IL-03), Mark Pocan (WI-02), Raul Grijalva (AZ-07), Barbara Lee (CA-12)

    In the Senate, the SAFE for Survivors Act is cosponsored by: Baldwin, Blumenthal, Casey, Hirono, Klobuchar, Padilla, Sanders, Shaheen.

    The SAFE for Survivors Act is endorsed by: National Partnership for Women & Families, The National Domestic Violence Hotline, Ascend Justice, Just Solutions, Legal Momentum, The Women’s Legal Defense and Education Fund, Family Values @ Work, Center for American Progress, Futures Without Violence, A Better Balance, Legal Aid at Work, Asian Pacific Institute on Gender-Based Violence, MomsRising, Center for Law and Social Policy, Women’s Center & Shelter of Greater Pittsburgh, Women Employed, Project Safeguard, The Restaurant Opportunities Centers United (ROC UNITED), Family Forward, Caminar Latino-Latinos United for Peace and Equity, National Resource Center on Domestic Violence, National Network to End Domestic Violence, The Network Advocating Against Domestic Violence.

    “In Illinois, we are fortunate to have job-protected leave for survivors under the Victims’ Economic Security and Safety Act,” said Katherine Gaughan-Palombi, Senior Attorney of Economic Justice Project, Ascend Justice. “However, passage of the Federal SAFE Act would enhance employment protections and economic security for survivors in Illinois – such as including paid leave. It would also provide crucial safe leave and job protections for survivors across the nation.”

    “In our decades of work to enact workplace protections for survivors of gender-based violence and harassment, Legal Momentum has seen how essential these laws are to ensuring the safety of survivors. Yet, the slim patchwork of state and local laws leaves too many survivors at risk,” said Seher Khawaja, Director of Economic Justice, Legal Momentum, The Women’s Legal Defense and Education Fund. “We are grateful to Representative Dingell, Representative Moore, and Senator Murray for their leadership in introducing a comprehensive bill that would establish federal paid safe leave, anti-discrimination protections and reasonable accommodations in the workplace, and access to unemployment insurance for survivors. These protections are at the heart of safeguarding and empowering survivors, and we are proud to endorse the SAFE Act.”

    “At The Hotline, we hear time and time again that economic insecurity is the largest barrier preventing survivors from leaving abusive situations,” said Katie Ray-Jones, CEO of The National Domestic Violence Hotline. “The SAFE for Survivors Act, introduced by Senator Murray, and Representatives Dingell and Moore, answers this call by giving survivors the protections they need—whether it’s leave from work, unemployment benefits, or increased protections—they can better focus on their safety and recovery. We commend their efforts to prioritize survivors’ economic security,”

    “Family Values @ Work is proud to support Representatives Dingell and Moore’s and Senator Murray’s SAFE For Survivors Act of 2024,” said Family Values @ Work (FV@W) Deputy Director Erica Clemmons Dean. “We have long championed and advocated for the need for paid sick and safe time for all, and ensuring victims of domestic violence have access to paid sick and safe time is good policy. For 20 years, FV@W has worked to win paid time to care for all workers. We’ve been fortunate to have the support of the Congresswomen and Senator, and are proud to endorse the SAFE Act as well.”

    “Survivors deserve the opportunity to seek the care they need to leave their abusive partner without the looming fear that they will lose their job or income, and job-protected, paid safe leave provides that opportunity,” said Jocelyn Frye, president of the National Partnership for Women & Families. “We thank Senator Murray and Representative Dingell for their tremendous efforts to protect survivors and to support vulnerable workers and their families.”

    “Survivors of domestic and sexual violence deserve paid leave from work so they can be safe and seek justice and healing while still being able to keep their jobs,” said Esta Soler, President and Founder of Futures Without Violence. “Thank you Senator Murray and Representatives Dingell and Moore for introducing the SAFE for Survivors Act and always fighting for the economic security of all of survivors.”

    “For survivors of violence, safety and economic security go hand in hand,” said Molly Weston Williamson, Senior Fellow, Center for American Progress. “The SAFE for Survivors Act would give survivors the tools they need to pursue safety without compromising their economic independence, including paid, protected safe leave from work for needs like relocating to safety or accessing legal or support services.”

    “Through our free and confidential legal helpline, A Better Balance hears far too often from workers who are forced to choose between their jobs and their personal or family safety,” said Jared Make, Vice President of A Better Balance. “It is imperative to provide safe leave to workers across the United States, to ensure that survivors of domestic and sexual violence are able to stay connected to the workforce while also remaining safe.”

    Dingell has long been a leader in Congress in combating domestic violence. She has led the Strengthening Protections for Domestic Violence and Stalking Survivors Act to close the boyfriend loophole and keep guns out of the hands of abusive dating partners and stalkers. In 2018, she established the Bipartisan Working Group to End Domestic Violence to bring together a bipartisan group of members to identify ways to strengthen resources and protections for survivors and their children.

    She has been working to address funding shortfalls in the Victims of Crime Act’s (VOCA) Crime Victims Fund (CVF), the largest source of federal grant funding for victim services organizations, including organizations supporting survivors of domestic and sexual violence, child abuse, stalking, and other crimes. 

    In April, Dingell led a letter to Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel, urging the Commission to take proactive measures to address the threat of domestic abusers exploiting connectivity tools in vehicles to harass and intimidate their partners.

    This year she co-led the Justice in Sentencing for Survivors Act, which authorizes the court to impose a sentence that is below the mandatory minimum if the offender’s crime is connected to their survivor status, and the TAKE IT DOWN Act, which bans the publication of non-consensual intimate images (also known as deepfakes) prohibits their distribution and creates a criminal penalty for doing so, and requires websites to have a removal process.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Climate change is a pollution problem, and countries know how to deal with pollution threats – think DDT and acid rain

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Alexander E. Gates, Professor of Earth and Environmental Science, Rutgers University – Newark

    Adding scrubbers in coal-fired power plants helped reduce acid rain, but they continued to fuel climate change. Drums600 via Wikimedia, CC BY-SA

    Climate change can seem like an insurmountable challenge. However, if you look closely at its causes, you’ll realize that history is filled with similar health and environmental threats that humanity has overcome.

    The main cause of climate change – carbon dioxide from the burning of fossil fuels – is really just another pollutant. And countries know how to reduce harmful pollutants. They did it with the pesticide DDT, lead paint and the power plant emissions that were causing acid rain, among many others.

    In each of those cases, growing public outcry eventually led to policy changes, despite pushback from industry. Once pressured by laws and regulations, industries ramped up production of safer solutions.

    I am an earth and environmental scientist, and my latest book, “Reclaiming Our Planet,” explores history’s lessons in overcoming seemingly insurmountable hazards. Here are a few examples:

    Banning DDT despite industry pushback

    DDT was the first truly effective pesticide and considered to be miraculous. By killing mosquitoes and lice, it wiped out malaria and other diseases in many countries, and in agriculture, it saved tons of crops.

    After World War II, DDT was applied to farms, buildings and gardens throughout the United States. However, it also had drawbacks. It accumulated in mother’s milk to levels where it could deliver a toxic dose to infants. Women were advised against nursing their babies in the 1960s because of the danger.

    U.S. bald eagle populations were decimated by DDT. Once the chemical was banned, they began to rebound.
    U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

    In addition, DDT bioaccumulated up the food chain to toxic levels in apex species like raptors. It weakened the eggshells to the point where brooding mothers crushed their eggs. Bald eagles were reduced to 417 breeding pairs across North America by 1967 and were placed on the endangered species list.

    Biologist Rachel Carson documented DDT’s damage in her 1962 book “Silent Spring” and, in doing so, catalyzed a public environmental movement. Despite disinformation campaigns and attacks from the chemical industry, tremendous public pressure on politicians led to congressional hearings, state and federal restrictions and eventually a U.S. ban on the general use of DDT in 1972.

    Rachel Carson, whose book ‘Silent Spring’ led to a study of pesticides, testifies before a Senate committee in Washington on June 4, 1963.
    AP Photo/Charles Gorry

    Bald eagles recovered to 320,000 in the United States by 2017, about equal to populations from before European settlement. The chemical industry, facing a DDT ban, quickly developed much safer pesticides.

    Building evidence of lead’s hazards

    Lead use skyrocketed in the 20th century, particularly in paints, plumbing and gasoline. It was so widespread that just about everyone was exposed to a metal that research now shows can harm the kidneys, liver, cardiovascular system and children’s brain development.

    Clair “Pat” Patterson, a geochemist at the California Institute of Technology, showed that Americans were continuously exposed to lead at near toxic levels. Human skeletons from the 1960s were found to have up to 1,200 times the lead of ancient skeletons. Today, health standards say there’s no safe level of lead in the blood.

    Lead paint was banned for residential use in the U.S. in 1978, but existing lead paint in older homes can still chip, creating a health risk for children today.
    EPA

    Despite threats both personally and professionally and a disinformation campaign from industry, Patterson and his supporters compiled years of evidence to warn the public and eventually pressured politicians to ban lead from many uses, including in gasoline and residential paints.

    Once regulations were in place, industry ramped up production of substitutes. As a result, lead levels in the blood of children decreased by 97% over the next several decades. While lead exposure is less common now, some people are still exposed to dangerous levels lingering in homes, pipes and soil, often in low-income neighborhoods.

    Stopping acid rain: An international problem

    Acid rain is primarily caused when sulfur dioxide, released into the air by the burning of coal, high-sulfur oil and smelting and refining of metals, interacts with rain or fog. The acidic rain that falls can destroy forests, kill lake ecosystems and dissolve statues and corrode infrastructure.

    Acid rain damage across Europe and North America in the 20th century also showed the world how air pollution, which doesn’t stop at borders, can become an international crisis requiring international solutions.

    The problem of acid rain began well over a century ago, but sulfur dioxide levels grew quickly after World War II. A thermal inversion in London in 1952 created such a concentration of sulfur dioxide and other air pollutants that it killed thousands of people. As damage to forests and lakes worsened across Europe, countries signed international agreements starting in the 1980s to cut their sulfur dioxide emissions.

    Trees killed by acid rain in the Czech Republic in 1998. Forests across many parts of Europe and North America suffered from acid rain damage.
    Seitz/ullstein bild via Getty Images

    In the U.S., emissions from Midwestern power plants killed fish and trees in the pristine Adirondacks. The damage, health concerns and multiple disasters outraged the public, and politicians responded.

    Sulfur dioxide was named as one of the six criteria air pollutants in the groundbreaking 1970 U.S. Clean Air Act, which required the federal government to set limits on its release. Power plants installed scrubbers to capture the pollutant, and over the next 40 years, sulfur dioxide concentrations in the U.S. decreased by about 95%.

    Parallels with climate change

    There are many parallels between these examples and climate change today.

    Mountains of scientific evidence show how carbon dixoide emissions from fossil fuel combustion in vehicles, factories and power plants are warming the planet. The fossil fuel industry began using its political power and misinformation campaigns decades ago to block regulations that were designed to slow climate change.

    And people around the world, facing worsening heat and weather disasters fueled by global warming, have been calling for action to stop climate change and invest in cleaner energy.

    The first Earth Day, in 1970, drew 20 million people. Rallies in recent years have shifted the focus to climate change and have drawn millions of people around the world.

    Public campaigns and huge rallies for action on climate change, like this one in New York City in 2023, help put public pressure on politicians.
    Erik McGregor/LightRocket via Getty Images

    The challenge has been getting politicians to act, but that is slowly changing in many countries.

    The United States has started investing in scaling up several tools to rein in climate change, including electric vehicles, wind turbines and solar panels. Federal and state policies, such as requirements for renewable energy production and limits on greenhouse gas emissions, are also crucial for getting industries to switch to less harmful alternatives.

    Climate change is a global problem that will require efforts worldwide. International agreements are also helping more countries take steps forward. One shift that has been discussed by countries for years could help boost those efforts: Ending the billions of dollars in taxpayer-funded fossil fuel subsidies and shifting that money to healthier solutions could help move the needle toward slowing climate change.

    Alexander E. Gates is affiliated with The Newark Green Team.

    – ref. Climate change is a pollution problem, and countries know how to deal with pollution threats – think DDT and acid rain – https://theconversation.com/climate-change-is-a-pollution-problem-and-countries-know-how-to-deal-with-pollution-threats-think-ddt-and-acid-rain-236479

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Police drill down on pair following aggravated robbery

    Source: New Zealand Police (District News)

    Police have unscrewed a pair’s plans after two men allegedly stole tools from a hardware shop and presented a firearm at store workers in East Tāmaki yesterday.

    Detective Inspector Karen Bright, from Counties Manukau CIB, says the incident at a commercial address on Harris Road was reported to Police at around 3.42pm yesterday.

    “A man has entered the store and walked around for close to an hour before allegedly leaving the store with tools that weren’t paid for.

    “Two employees have then chased after the alleged offender as he was leaving.”

    Detective Inspector Bright says the man has run to a vehicle where another man was waiting.

    “The person in the car is alleged to have presented an imitation firearm towards the workers before the pair fled in a black Subaru.

    “Our staff managed to track the vehicle and the Police Eagle helicopter quickly located at an address on Kemble Close, Māngere.

    “They have attempted to leave that address, however an armed vehicle stop was conducted and both males were taken into custody.”

    She says the stolen power tools and a replica pistol were located.

    “This was exceptional work by the officers involved, and thankfully no one was injured.

    “But this incident should serve as a reminder, we take any incident where there are threats of violence or presentation of firearms towards the community seriously.”

    Two men, aged 38 and 27, will appear in Manukau District Court on Thursday facing charges including aggravated assault, shoplifting and presenting an object like a firearm.

    ENDS.

    Holly McKay/NZ Police

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –