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Category: Vehicles

  • MIL-OSI Security: Jury Convicts Colorado City Men in Child Sexual Abuse Conspiracy

    Source: United States Department of Justice (Human Trafficking)

    PHOENIX, Ariz. – Today, a federal jury in Phoenix found LaDell Jay Bistline, Jr., 45, and Torrance Bistline, 36, both of Colorado City, Arizona, guilty of multiple charges related to their participation in a years-long child sexual abuse conspiracy that spanned several states and victimized at least 10 children. The defendants committed their crimes with others, including co-defendant Samuel Rappylee Bateman, the self-proclaimed leader of a religious sect based in Colorado City. Bateman and nine of his other followers pleaded guilty to charges related to the child sexual abuse conspiracy and were not part of the trial against brothers LaDell Jay Bistline, Jr. and Torrance Bistline.

    “Today’s verdict is a step towards justice for the victims of LaDell and Torrance Bistline,” said U.S. Attorney Gary Restaino. “The Bistlines used their positions of power and trust to sexually exploit children and to profane their community. The devastating trauma and harm they inflicted is unfathomable. But today’s guilty verdicts hold them to account – for their despicable acts, for their breach of trust, and for their complete indifference to the mental and psychological scars their victims will live with for the rest of their lives. The United States Attorney’s Office, along with its state and federal law enforcement partners and other agencies, will continue to work tirelessly to protect the most vulnerable from abuse and exploitation, and to help them heal.”

    “Protecting children is one of the many noble missions of the FBI,” said FBI Phoenix Special Agent in Charge Jose A. Perez. “Adults who exploit children for illicit activities are a danger and a disgrace. Today’s verdicts reflect the unwavering dedication by the FBI and its partners to ensure those who prey on children are held accountable and brought to justice.”

    LaDell Jay Bistline, Jr. was convicted of one count of Receipt of Child Pornography; one count of Transfer of Obscene Material to a Minor; two counts of Persuading or Coercing Travel to Engage in Sexual Activity; two counts of Using a Means of Interstate Commerce to Persuade or Coerce a Minor to Engage in Sexual Activity; and two counts of Transportation of a Minor for Criminal Sexual Activity.

    Torrance Bistline was convicted of one count of Using a Means of Interstate Commerce to Persuade or Coerce a Minor to Engage in Sexual Activity; two counts of Destruction of Records in an Official Proceeding; one count of Conspiracy to Commit Destruction of Records in an Official Proceeding; one count of Tampering with an Official Proceeding; and one count of Conspiracy to Commit Tampering with an Official Proceeding.

    LaDell Jay Bistline, Jr. and Torrance Bistline were followers of Bateman, who represented himself as a religious prophet. In 2020 and 2021, Bateman’s followers gave their minor daughters and wards to him as child “brides” to sexually abuse. Bateman and others transported the victims between states, including Nebraska, Colorado, Utah, and Arizona to facilitate the sexual abuse. LaDell Jay Bistline, Jr. delivered two of his own daughters to Bateman to become child “brides” when the girls were nine and 11 years old. LaDell Jay Bistline, Jr. also participated in group sexual activity involving children, including one event he watched over a video livestream. Torrance Bistline, who financially supported Bateman’s group, sexually abused one of Bateman’s child “brides” during a group sexual activity. Torrance Bistline later tried to destroy and hide evidence to interfere with the investigation.

    LaDell Jay Bistline, Jr. and Torrance Bistline each face a minimum penalty of 10 years in prison and a maximum penalty of life in prison. Sentencing for LaDell Jay Bistline, Jr. is currently scheduled for December 16, 2024, and sentencing for Torrance Bistline is currently scheduled for December 20, 2024, before United States District Judge Susan M. Brnovich. Bateman is currently scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Brnovich on October 28, 2024. Several other defendants have already been sentenced, and the remaining defendants will be sentenced in the coming months.

    The Phoenix Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation in this case. The United States Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Phoenix, is handling the prosecution. The United States Attorney’s Office continues to extend special gratitude to the Arizona Department of Child Safety for its work rescuing and protecting Arizona children impacted by this matter, the Colorado City Police Department, the Iron County (Utah) Sheriff’s Office, the U.S. Marshals Service, and the St. George Resident Agency of the FBI’s Salt Lake City Field Office for their assistance in this matter.

    CASE NUMBER:            CR-22-8092-PHX-SMB
    RELEASE NUMBER:    2024-135_Bistline

    # # #

    For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
    Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on X @USAO_AZ for the latest news.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: PHOTOS AVAILABLE: Governor Cooper and President Biden Survey Damage from Hurricane Helene During Aerial Tour, Hold Briefing for Federal Officials at State Emergency Operations Center

    Source: US State of North Carolina

    Headline: PHOTOS AVAILABLE: Governor Cooper and President Biden Survey Damage from Hurricane Helene During Aerial Tour, Hold Briefing for Federal Officials at State Emergency Operations Center

    PHOTOS AVAILABLE: Governor Cooper and President Biden Survey Damage from Hurricane Helene During Aerial Tour, Hold Briefing for Federal Officials at State Emergency Operations Center
    mseets

    Today, Governor Roy Cooper and President Joe Biden took an aerial tour of areas damaged by Hurricane Helene before holding a briefing on storm impacts at the State Emergency Operations Center. During the briefing, President Biden announced the approval of 100% FEMA Reimbursement for six months, a significant funding commitment from the federal government. The briefing was attended by President Biden, United States Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas, United States EPA Administrator Michael Regan, FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell and other top state and federal officials.

    Prior to the visit, President Biden approved Governor Cooper’s request for active-duty military personnel and equipment to support ongoing operations in Western North Carolina. The active-duty military personnel are in addition to more than 1,000 North Carolina National Guard soldiers currently deployed who are surging food, water, supplies and conducting search and rescue operations. The NC National Guard has already performed more than 1,400 rescues and delivered more than 700,000 pounds in supplies.

    “The damage caused by Hurricane Helene to Western North Carolina is immense, and we are continuing our unprecedented efforts to surge resources into affected communities,” said Governor Cooper. “We’re grateful to President Biden, FEMA and all of our federal partners for their support and commitment to helping our state respond, recover and rebuild from this disaster.”

    State, federal and local partners continue to work together to surge resources into Western North Carolina in response to unprecedented damage from Hurricane Helene across the region. Throughout the week, Governor Roy Cooper has traveled to Western North Carolina to assess storm response, meet with those affected and thank volunteers for their hard work.

    Photos of the Governor’s briefing with President Biden can be found here.

    Food, Water and Commodity Points of Distribution

    Efforts are underway to provide food, water and basic necessities to residents in affected communities, utilizing both ground resources and air drops from the NC National Guard. FEMA has delivered 1.89 million meals and 2.5 million liters of water. More than 21,000 people have been registered for assistance.

    • Buncombe County – Biltmore Baptist Church, 35 Clayton Road, Arden, NC 28704
    • McDowell County – Grace Community Church, 5182 Highway 70 West, Marion, NC 28752
    • Watauga County – First Baptist Church, 375 West King Street, Boone, NC 28607

    Points of distribution for commodities have been established in each impacted county. These locations are also providing free public Wi-Fi for area residents. Seek information from local governments for counties not listed below.

    • Ashe County – Westwood Elementary School, Mountain View Elementary School
    • Buncombe County – UNC-Asheville, Asheville Buncombe Tech Ferguson, WNC Ag. Center, Asheville-Buncombe Tech Conference Center, Biltmore Baptist Church, The Greens at Weaverville, Fletcher Nursing and Rehabilitation.
    • Henderson County – First Baptist Church Hendersonville, Greens at Hendersonville
    • Madison County – Madison County Cooperative Extension Service
    • McDowell County – Nebo Crossing Church, Grace Community Church
    • Mitchell County – First Baptist Spruce Pine
    • Polk County – Polk County High School
    • Rowan County – Rowan-Cabarrus YMCA
    • Watauga – Cove Creek Volunteer Fire Department, Zionville VFD, Foscoe Christian Church, Watauga EOC, Holmes Convocation Center, Meat Camp Road, Town of Boone PD, First Baptist Boone. 

    Power Outages

    Across the region, approximately 408,000 customers remain without power, down from a peak of more than one million. Power has been restored to more than 500,000 customers.

    Missing Persons

    To report a missing person or request non-emergency support, please call NC 211 or 1-888-892-1162 if calling from out-of-state.

    Shelters

    A total of 26 shelters have been opened in Western North Carolina, housing 1,244 people. Plans are in place to open additional shelters as needed to accommodate additional needs.

    Search and Rescue Operations

    Search and rescue operations are ongoing in Western North Carolina. A total of 55 search and rescue teams from North Carolina and beyond, consisting of more than 1600 personnel have conducted search and rescue operations during this event. More than 500 people have been rescued by the NC National Guard. More than 150 pets have also been rescued.

    Road Closures

    Travel remains dangerous, with approximately 450 roads closed as of Wednesday afternoon. NCDOT is asking people to refrain from unnecessary travel to or in Western North Carolina. Road access is limited to local and hurricane response traffic as crews work to restore critical routes and access to communities isolated by damage. First responders also want to keep the roads as clear as possible to help ensure they may carry out all response missions. NCDOT has posted at ncdot.gov an interstate detour map for travelers to avoid western N.C. NCDOT has dispatched the following resources to assist with the recovery process:

    • 1,600 employees, plus 68 contract crews
    • 220+ employees in less-impacted areas have been sent to western N.C.
    • 1,500+ trucks, graders & backhoes/loaders
    • 1,000+ chainsaws
    • 8,000+ barricades & signs

    Cellphone Provider Coverage

    Cellphone providers are working to fix the damage and coverage issues caused by the storm and get stopgap solutions, such as temporary cell phone towers, in place and rapid progress is being made. Restoring communications is critical to saving lives, finding where people are and getting in supplies, and Governor Cooper been in constant contact with cellphone companies urging action and offering support. Please turn your cell phone off and restart it periodically to allow it to reconnect when a network is reestablished.

    Fatalities

    Fifty-six storm-related deaths have been confirmed in North Carolina by Office of Chief Medical Examiner. We do expect that these numbers will continue to rise over the coming days. The North Carolina Office of the Chief Medical Examiner will continue to confirm numbers twice daily. If you have an emergency or believe that someone is in danger, please call 911. To report that you have been unable to reach a person in Western North Carolina, please call 211.

    North Carolina National Guard Deployed

    Gov. Cooper has activated more than 1000 North Carolina National Guard soldiers and airmen to both conduct search and rescue operations and deliver critical supplies to Western North Carolina. As of Wednesday, 300 specialized vehicles and aircraft have been deployed in Western North Carolina to facilitate these missions.

    Volunteers and Donations

    As of Wednesday morning, the North Carolina Disaster Relief Fund has raised $2.3 million dollars to help those in Western North Carolina.

    Due to dangerous road conditions, and the need to maintain open routes for emergency operations, travel to Western North Carolina is strongly discouraged. Instead, consider the following options for donations and volunteer opportunities:

    Storm Damage Cleanup

    If your home has damages and you need assistance with clean up, please call Crisis Cleanup for access to volunteer organizations that can assist you at 844-965-1386.

    Major Disaster Declaration and FEMA Assistance

    President Biden approved Governor Cooper’s request for an expedited request declaring a Major Disaster for 25 North Carolina counties and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. This declaration paves the way for Public Assistance to help our hard-hit local governments, as well as access to FEMA’s Individual Assistance program.

    FEMA may be able to help with serious needs, displacement, temporary lodging, basic home repair costs, personal property loss or other disaster-caused needs. Homeowners and renters in Alexander, Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Caldwell, Catawba, Clay, Cleveland, Gaston, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Lincoln, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Transylvania, Watauga, Wilkes and Yancey counties and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians can apply.

    North Carolinians may apply for Individual Assistance by calling 1-800-621-3362 from 7am to 11pm daily or by visiting www.disasterassistance.gov, or by downloading the FEMA app.

    Additional Assistance

    There is no right or wrong way to feel in response to the trauma of a hurricane. If you have been impacted by the storm and need someone to talk to, call or text the Disaster Distress Helpline at 1-800-985-5990. Help is also available to anyone, anytime in English or Spanish through a call, text or chat to 988. Learn more at 988Lifeline.org.

    If you are seeking a representative from the North Carolina Joint Information Center, please email ncempio@ncdps.gov or call 919-825-2599.

    If you would like general information, access to resources, or answers to frequently asked questions, please visit ncdps.gov/helene.

    If you are seeking information on resources for recovery help for a resident impacted from the storm, please email IArecovery@ncdps.gov.

    Written Pool Report of Briefing Provided by Adam Wagner, Raleigh News & Observer

    Air Force One landed at Raleigh-Durham International Airport around 4:21 pm.

    President Joe Biden and Gov. Roy Cooper disembarked about 10 minutes later.

    They were joined by U.S. Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas, EPA Administrator Michael Regan and FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell.

    They were met on the tarmac by a reception line that included Congresswoman Deborah Ross, NC Attorney General Josh Stein, NC State Auditor Jessica Holmes, Morrisville Mayor TJ Crawley, Raleigh Mayor Pro Tem Jonathan Melton, Durham Mayor Leo Williams and Wake County Commission Chairwoman Shnica Thomas.

    Everyone drove to the N.C. Emergency Operations Center, where a briefing was assembled in the situation room. Biden sat with Cooper on his right and Mayorkas to Cooper’s right. N.C. Emergency Management Director Will Ray on Biden’s left and Regan to the left of Ray. Behind them, screens showed several maps of North Carolina. In front of them were gathered numerous members of North Carolina’s emergency management team, including several members of the National Guard.

    Cooper discussed the damage, saying Hurricane Helene had wiped towns “off the map, bridges damaged or completely destroyed, critical infrastructure and water systems, electrical grids, communications all remain seriously damaged. Countless homes and businesses that are lost.

    He continued, “An entire region of our state is still in a dangerous situation.”

    Cooper then said 92 search and rescue teams have saved “countless” lives before thanking the 18 states that have sent assistance to North Carolina. Cooper also said North Carolina is “grateful” for Biden and FEMA’s aid.

    “This is going to be a long and difficult recovery, but talking with person after person in Western North Carolina, I know that we can come back and that we will come back because the people of Western North Carolina are resilient,” Cooper said.

    Cooper then called on “my friend” before turning it over to Biden.

    Biden also thanked Cooper, a Democrat; South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster, a Republican; and “all the elected officials who have focused on the task at a hand. In a moment like this, we put politics aside. Or at least we should put it all aside, and we have here. There are no Democrats or Republicans, only Americans. And our job is to hep as many people as we can as quickly as we can and as thoroughly as we can.”

    Wednesday, Biden said, he’d approved a request from Cooper for the federal government to cover all of the costs of debris removal for the next six months. Cooper then led a round of applause.

    Biden said there are 70 dead North Carolinians and a hundred more who are still missing. From the air, Biden said, he could see damaged homes that had clearly been washed downstream. Chimney Rock, he said, was “reduced to piles of wood and debris. As you look down, that’s what you see as we flew over in a circle in the helicopter.”

    Biden also discussed his order that the Department of Defense move up to 1,000 soldiers from Fort Liberty up tp participate in the disaster response. Biden also said 50 StarLink satellites have been deployed, with more on the way. And FEMA is making hotel rooms and temporary housing available to victims of the storm.

    Biden then said that in the car from the airport to the Emergency Operations Center, he’d been discussing how the storm is showing how neighbors can help each other in the wake of disaster.

    “Volunteers, first responders are standing side by side. People lean on each other to pick up the pieces that are left over and that’s the best of America. I firmly believe and I’ve been saying it and saying it and saying it for three years, there’s nothing beyond our capacity to do — nothing, nothing, nothing. This is the United States of America for God’s sake. Whenever we’ve worked together, we’ve never failed to get something done,” Biden said before thanking first responders.

    Ray then welcomed Biden before giving an operational update on Helene’s impacts.

    Ray said “extreme and unrelenting” rain caused the damage to Western North Carolina. There are about 350,000 remaining power outages in Western North Carolina, Ray said. The storm caused flash flood emergencies in 21 different Western North Carolina. Ray said North Carolina is focused on life safety missions, increasing the speed of commodity distribution in Western NC and helping with infrastructure like healthcare, water, power and communications.

    There are 26 open shelters in counties with just over 1,200 occupants.

    There are North Carolina search and rescue teams operating, along with 13 from other states and 18 from the federal government, Ray said. There have been more than 5,000 search and rescue “interactions” which can include rescues, evacuations or shelter assessments.

    “The teams continue to do really incredible work in some pretty austere conditions,” Ray said.

    North Carolina has 26 aircraft in the area that have lifted over 700,000 ponds of cargo into the region.

    Ray also said that more than 33,000 North Carolinians have applied for FEMA Individual Assistance programs.

    The open press section of the meeting lasted about 17 minutes.

    The full briefing ended around 5:50 pm.

    ###

    Oct 2, 2024

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: P Plater caught 40km over the speed limit near Fingal

    Source: Tasmania Police

    P Plater caught 40km over the speed limit near Fingal

    Thursday, 3 October 2024 – 10:26 am.

    A 21-year-old provisional licence holder from Hobart has been issued with a $858.50 infringement notice that carries the loss of six demerit points and a three-month licence disqualification after he was detected travelling at 141 km/h in a sign posted 100km/h zone on Esk Main Road near Fingal about 1.30pm yesterday.
    As a provisional licence holder, he will be subject to a further period of disqualification.
    Divisional Sergeant, Ben Kromkamp said speeding is a major contributor towards fatal and serious crashes on our roads.
    “Choosing to drive at 41 km/h over the sign posted limit on any road is not only dangerous for yourself, but also for passengers in the vehicle and all other road users.”
    “Coupled with being an inexperienced driver, the consequences could have been disastrous had police not intercepted the vehicle.”
    “We will continue to patrol highways, rural roads and country areas where we know serious and fatal crashes occur to improve driver behaviour. Remember we can be anywhere anytime.”

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Lessons from Cyclone Gabrielle: 5 key health priorities for future disaster response

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Holly Thorpe, Professor in Sociology of Sport and Gender, University of Waikato

    Getty Images

    “The climate crisis is a health crisis.” So says World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Ghebreyesus.

    The World Economic Forum agrees. Its report this year highlighted how climate change is taking a toll on global health due to increasingly frequent extreme weather events.

    These issues are on the official agenda here too, especially since severe tropical cyclone Gabrielle caused extensive damage in the South-west Pacific and northern New Zealand in early 2023.

    Between February 13 and 14 it slammed into Te Tairāwhiti/East Coast and Te Matau a Māui/Hawkes Bay, with disastrous results for the land and its inhabitants. Communities were displaced, homes destroyed, power and telecommunications cut, water systems compromised, and many roads and bridges badly damaged.

    Shortly after Gabrielle hit, Manatū Hauora/Ministry of Health commissioned us to investigate the impacts of adverse weather events on health systems and community health and wellbeing.

    Our community research teams interviewed 143 residents in the two affected regions. They included first responders, heath workers, council staff and members of the public. Their stories were emotional, powerful and insightful.

    Our recently published report amplifies these community voices and local knowledge, and offers recommendations about planning for future, inevitable events. Here we offer five key messages.

    1. Prioritise vulnerable people

    Many older people and those with disabilities or existing health conditions were deprioritised or simply forgotten during evacuations and in the days and weeks after the cyclone. As one community responder in Tairāwhiti recalled:

    Some of them couldn’t move out because they were so old and frail. The water was so powerful, they couldn’t move anywhere. Some just stayed in their room until somebody turned up. For instance, there was a lady [who] was stuck in her wheelchair, and by the time people found her, the water was at her neck.

    Our report identified the need for health and social services to work more closely to ensure at-risk, vulnerable older people and those with disabilities or complex needs are prioritised during evacuations, so their medical and physical needs are met during and after an extreme weather event.

    2. Invest in mental health support and trauma recovery

    Those in the most affected communities had high levels of stress, grief and trauma during and after emergencies and evacuations.

    Staff and volunteers in front-line roles during the state of emergency experienced similar mental health effects. Many felt mental health support was not there when they needed it most.

    Almost everyone we spoke to had some negative mental health impacts. These included sleep disruption, rain anxiety and stress from road closures, insurance claims and land instability.

    Māori participants also told of their grief over environmental damage and destruction, highlighting the links between whenua (land) and hauora (health). They described drawing on cultural practices to support whānau recovery. For example, a leader of local volunteer efforts spoke about the personal impact of the cyclone:

    I was not good […] it was seeing the impact on how it was for your own community whānau. I think it hit me quite a bit later on. I fell into depression […] It just built up over time. I’m still in healing therapy for the last probably six to seven months since Gabrielle, just trying to get my wairua [spirit] and my tinana [body] and everything back in place.

    Overall, the research shows a need for greater awareness and investment in weather-related trauma recovery and mental health support.

    3. Ensure medical supplies can reach remote areas

    Rural and isolated communities had heightened health challenges, particularly due to road and communication failures.

    Transporting medical staff into these communities often required creative solutions (driving, using helicopters or hiking through bush and across farmland when roads were damaged, for example).

    Access to medicines was a major concern. It took co-ordinated effort to get pharmaceuticals to such communities. Helicopters were crucial in getting supplies and patients in and out of remote areas. Not everyone who needed attention received it, however.

    The most effective responses involved organisations (such as the NZ Police and Civil Defence) working together with communities. As one police officer told us:

    Our whānau up the coast needed medicine, prescriptions. Getting access from the helicopter to the home was a challenge. So, the police leant in and helped out. We used [an all-terrain vehicle] to get to places and spaces to get medicine in.

    People need to be prepared for power and telcommunications failures.
    Getty Images

    4. Resource and co-ordinate local support networks

    Fiscally challenged health systems were stretched during the emergency and struggled with power and telecommunications outages. But we heard of many health workers going “above and beyond” to care for patients and communities.

    Many continued working even when their own families, homes and communities were directly under threat. Anticipating this and supporting these workers will be important as adverse weather becomes more frequent with climate change.

    We also found marae, schools, local social services and non-profit organisations played key roles after the cyclone, but were often outside the direct ambit of the health system.

    Often the people working in these organisations have strong community relationships and knowledge that is essential to supporting emergency and recovery processes. These connections should be mapped and integrated for future events.

    5. Shift resources and build common will

    Local communities are full of knowledge. Many have learnt from recent events to better prepare their families, workplaces and organisations.

    Whānau told us about the importance of having cash in case of power outages and telecommunications failure. Others identified battery-powered radio as a critical source of information when systems were down. Pharmacists and doctors told of the importance of hard-copy evidence of prescriptions, to be able to dispense when electronic systems are out.

    Checking in on neighbours, sharing resources and making time for a cup of tea were all important for people in the recovery and rebuilding phases. A key lesson is to harness the power of community connections, trust and relationships in climate change resilience and recovery.

    Although knowledge, experience and wisdom lie in the hands of communities, our research highlights how financial resources mostly sit with central government. The challenge is to shift resources and build common will for climate action, before the inevitable next event.

    The report is receiving attention in parliament. We hope local experience can be central to planning around the health impacts of climate change and decision-making at all levels.

    We acknowledge the important contributions of our wider research team and community partners, particularly Manu Caddie (Te Weu Charitable Trust), Josie McClutchie (project lead), Dayna Chaffey, Haley Maxwell and Hiria Philip-Barbara (community researchers) in Tairāwhiti, and Emma Horgan and John Bell (Sustainable HB Centre for Climate & Resilience) in Hawkes Bay.

    Holly Thorpe received support from the Manatū Hauora/Ministry of Health funding secured to conduct this research.

    Fiona Langridge received support from the Ministry of Health funding secured to conduct this research.

    George Laking received funding from The Ministry of Health to conduct the research. He is an Executive Board member of OraTaiao, the New Zealand Climate and Health Council.

    Judith McCool receives funding from the Ministry of Health (Polynesia Health Corridors) and the Health Research Council.

    – ref. Lessons from Cyclone Gabrielle: 5 key health priorities for future disaster response – https://theconversation.com/lessons-from-cyclone-gabrielle-5-key-health-priorities-for-future-disaster-response-239392

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Don’t let the bad weather catch you out

    Source: New Zealand Police (District News)

    Southern District Police are urging drivers to take care and obey road closure signs after heavy rain flooded roads and snow trapped cars.

    High alpine passes in the Central Otago Lakes have experienced heavy snowfall today. This morning, Police worked with NZTA Waka Kotahi to help a number of vehicles that were trapped on the Lindis Pass (State Highway 8) by heavy snow that closed the road. It has since reopened and caution is advised.

    Motorists should check NZTA’s Journey Planner at https://www.journeys.nzta.govt.nz/.

    “We’re urging people not to put themselves at risk,” Senior Sergeant Blair Dalton says. “Police have noticed multiple vehicles drive around road closure signs and attempting to continue their journey.

    “It’s not worth the risk, so for the safety of yourself, your passengers, other motorists and emergency services, please follow and adhere to the road signage in place.”

    A number of roads in the Dunedin area have been affected by surface flooding, and it is expected that the biggest impact along coastal areas will arrive with the high tides this evening.

    Dunedin Council and Otago Regional Council are monitoring the impacts closely and are working alongside emergency services.

    “Motorists are to be advised to stay off flooded roads and not to attempt to enter any flooded sections or cross fords.”

    To ensure a safe journey, keep your following distances, reduce your speed, use your headlights, and watch your visibility.

    For more information on roads, go to NZTA Journey Planner, Dunedin City Council, Otago Regional Council, and Environment Southland websites.

    ENDS

    Issued by the Police Media Centre

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Speech to the Minerals West Coast Forum

    Source: New Zealand Government

    Introduction

    Good morning!

    What a pleasure to be back in the stunning West Coast at one of my favourite events in the calendar. 

    Every time I come back here, I’m reminded of the Coast’s natural beauty, valuable resources, and great people.

    Yet, every time I come back here, I’m also reminded about how much of a handbrake the Resource Management Act (RMA) is for this region and the mining industry that plays such a vital role here.

    Under the RMA, we have devolved from a land of great potential to one of wasted opportunity, and the West Coast is a region of immense opportunity.

    As someone recently remarked to me, because of laws like the RMA, there are too many referees in this country and not enough players.

    Whether it’s Woodstock Quarries seeking an extension at Waimakariri, which was declined and is now under appeal to the Environment Court, or the drawn-out consenting process for the Barrytown sand mining venture, the RMA undermines prime opportunities to meet our needs with New Zealand’s own resources, and we are forgoing economic development opportunities because of it.

    What could we do about this?

    One option is to bury our heads in the sand and get distracted by the noise.

    We could pretend there’s nothing fundamentally wrong with the RMA. 

    We could pretend the problem is a mere ‘perception’ of unjustified regulation, or of a system too rigid.

    We could pretend that the issue is simply that the RMA has ‘not been implemented correctly’, much like the supposed reason for the failure of communism…

    Believe it or not, these are all things some have argued, but it’s pretty clear what this thinking delivers.

    Thankfully, we’ve built a coalition around a much better vision which accepts the necessity to provide for human needs.

    What are we doing about resource management?

    Fast-track

    Ministers Jones and Bishop have been leading the charge on delivering a one-stop-shop fast-track approvals process for consenting projects of regional and national significance.

    This is an important jump start to get some of the big wheels turning.

    RMA amendments

    Minister Bishop has also announced a suite of panel-beating changes to the RMA to clear some immediate congestion in the system we’re currently stuck with.

    The first amendment Bill includes the re-alignment of the treatment of coal with that of other extractive activities around wetlands, removing what is currently an arbitrary additional hurdle. Minister Jones has done great work in this space.

    Another important element is the streamlining of the pathway for making and amending RMA national direction.

    This streamlined pathway will pave the way for a package of national direction work to follow to address the incoherence of existing instruments and fill the gaps that currently exist. I trust this will provide long-fought relief for my friends in the quarrying sector whose constructive solutions to sloppy inconsistencies – inconsistencies which have blocked the provision of critical aggregate materials – are finally being picked up.

    Quarrying is one of these essential services ‘ancillary’ to infrastructure, without which neither infrastructure nor the things it enables can be built, and these ancillary services are part of what I am considering in my work on a National Policy Statement for Infrastructure. This NPS has a key role in enabling infrastructure and addressing the fact there is currently no instrument properly promoting its benefits.

    Phase three

    The fast-track jump-start and the amendment panel-beating are important steps to get us moving. 

    However, a lemon can only take us so far.

    Through the RMA, we have veered so far off track that many have lost sight of the role of the resource management vehicle, and what it should deliver. 

    This is why Minister Bishop and I recently announced the “Phase 3” plan to replace the Resource Management Act with a system based on the enjoyment of property rights.

    This is a core commitment in the ACT-National coalition agreement, and it will liberate different sectors across the country. The mining sector is no exception.

    A property rights foundation provides a narrow and focused scope for resource management, which is something the current system has lost control of.

    This focus anchors us to the issue resource management needs to solve – that is managing situations where one’s enjoyment of property rights materially spills over into that of another’s. In other words, managing material effects. 

    One of the most common objections to this focus stems from concern about the environment, and a perception that a property rights approach is somehow incompatible with environmental goals.

    What this ignores is our ambition to for the environment to get a property right, too.

    The environment should have a property right centred on environmental limits, where a breach of those limits undermines the ability for the environment to continue to provide for human needs in the future.

    This “human needs” aspect is important. It forms half of a “double bottom line” that embeds acceptance that development must provide for human needs now, with the environmental limits bottom line serving to ensure these needs can continue to be met in the future.

    What is not negotiable is that human needs will be met. Frustrating development to resist growth doesn’t abate the need for it, nor does it change the reality that human existence necessarily has effects on the environment. If development cannot occur within an environmental limit in one place, then it must occur in another. But development must, and will, occur.

    This focus, and the acceptance of the fact that some effects are unavoidable, brings us to a place where we can have the grown-up conversation about what we need and where we need it, and provide pathways for that to be delivered. 

    This includes pathways for accepting significant environmental effects where there are net benefits at play, and recognising the great mitigation, offset, and restoration work done by many people and organisations – I’ve heard some great stories about the conservation work around the Roa coal mine and the OceanaGold Globe Progress mine restoration. The ACT-National coalition commitment to promote the use of Crown minerals is just one of many important things contingent on a net benefits approach.

    A narrow effects-based scope and double bottom line also allows us to filter out the oodles of vexatious objections from every Tom, Dick, and Harry that frustrate development. No effect, no objection.

    This may not stop the hypocrites locking themselves in buildings of mining companies while live streaming on their iPhones (it’s hard to know whether these people are NIMBYs or just a few sandwiches short of a picnic…) What it will do, however, is reduce their ability to use the resource management system to obstruct access to New Zealand’s critical resources.

    What about other frustrating factors? 

    Having to ask permission to do anything, when already know how to do most things, is an unnecessary problem. 

    Through codifying into standards established and accepted ways of doing things, the new system will drive a big shift from pre-project consenting to compliance monitoring and enforcement, restoring both trust and incentives to do things right.

    What if councils insist on consents for these things anyway?

    Cabinet has agreed to something along the lines of a ‘Planning Tribunal’. Among other things, this will provide an avenue to strike out unwarranted consent requests from councils which is a critical accountability mechanism to ensure the new de-scoped system is properly embedded.

    Conclusion

    We have an important window to drive a step change in this country to liberate us from the shackles that have restrained us for so long.

    As a civil engineer, I’m proud to be working on this resource management reform programme with Minister Chris Bishop.

    I’m looking forward to the work the RMA Reform Expert Advisory Group has been tasked to deliver, which will be based on the 10 principles agreed by Cabinet, including those I’ve covered off today.

    Relief is finally on the horizon.

    Thank you.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Commerce Minister urges industry to promote Brand India through focus on quality

    Source: Government of India

    Commerce Minister urges industry to promote Brand India through focus on quality

    Shri Goyal interacted with CEOs of PLI Beneficiary Companies as part of Make in India campaign

    Shri Goyal lauded PLI beneficiaries for bringing innovation, making India self reliant in vital sectors and generating employment

    PLI scheme has been a great success in terms of attracting investments and increasing exports: Shri Goyal

    Posted On: 29 SEP 2024 5:34PM by PIB Delhi

    Marking a decade of the transformative “Make in India” initiative, Minister of Commerce and Industry, Shri Piyush Goyal, today urged the Indian industry to  focus on prioritizing the production of high-quality goods to promote Brand India through sustainable practices in line with Prime Minister’s vision of Make in India with “Zero Effect; Zero Defect”.

    Shri Goyal said this while engaging with the CEOs of over 140 PLI beneficiary companies in an interactive session, celebrating their achievements under the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme.

    Addressing the gathering, Shri Piyush Goyal applauded the efforts of PLI beneficiary companies which have been instrumental in driving growth across vital sectors, creating jobs, and positioning India as a global leader in manufacturing. Shri Goyal also expressed gratitude to global champions for their dedication, significant investment in producing innovative products and contribution in generating employment through the PLI Schemes.

    Shri Goyal further urged CEOs to focus on increasing domestic value addition in their products to make India self-reliant. He also urged the industry to support domestic manufacturers in this regard.

    During the three hour long interaction, CEOs of beneficiary companies shared their perspectives on the PLI Schemes, offering valuable insights into their experiences, success stories, and suggestions for improving the schemes’ effectiveness and streamlining implementation. The discussion provided a productive platform for open communication between industry stakeholders and the Government. He also sought feedback from industry leaders on decriminalization/ liberalization of laws to promote ease of doing business.

    Shri Goyal encouraged continued dialogue between industry leaders and the government through implementing Ministries/ Departments & respective PMAs in coordination with DPIIT, emphasizing the importance of policy support and creating an enabling environment for future growth. He mentioned that the industry stakeholders may approach Invest India, National Investment Promotion and Facilitation Agency, to facilitate technology transfer & foreign collaborations.

    Shri Goyal thanked global champions for their hard work, massive investment & generating employment under PLI Schemes. He further stated that the Government is committed in fast tracking all the necessary approvals related to PLI industry and also providing handholding support in achieving greater market access.

    Senior officials from implementing Ministries/ Departments and Project Management Agencies (PMAs) were also present. The interaction focused on the tangible outcomes delivered by PLI Scheme across 14 sectors, which has led to a manufacturing surge and transcended India’s global competitiveness.

    Mann ki Baat

    As a part of the interaction, all the participants tuned in to the 114th edition of Prime Minister’s Mann ki Baat broadcast wherein Hon’ble Prime Minister reflected on how “Make in India” campaign has contributed in making India a manufacturing powerhouse resulting in increased exports in electronics, defence, textiles, aviation, automobiles among other sectors along with continuous rise in Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). Hon’ble Prime Minister emphasized that the country is now focussing on “Quality: Products of Global Standards” and “Vocal for Local: Promotion of Local Products”.

    PLI Impact

    Overall achievement of PLI Schemes was also discussed during the meeting. Actual investment of Rs. 1.46 lakh crore has been realized (till August’24) and is likely to reach Rs. 2 lakh crore in the next year or so. This has resulted in production/ sales worth Rs. 12.50 lakh crore and employment generation of around 9.5 lakhs (direct & indirect) which is expected to reach 12 lakhs soon. Exports have exceeded Rs. 4 lakh crore, with substantial contribution from key sectors such as electronics, pharmaceuticals & food processing.

    In the electronics sector, mobile phone manufacturing now accounts for half of India’s total output, with a 3x increase in exports since FY 2020-21. The pharmaceutical industry has revitalized domestic production of bulk drugs and complex generics, reducing import dependence. In the automobile sector, global champions have rolled out electric vehicles, with substantial investment in the country. The medical devices industry has seen technology transfers for critical equipment like CT scanners, fostering local production. Similarly, the food processing sector contributed to sustainable agricultural practices and production of millet and organic products. Emerging sectors like drones have experienced a sevenfold increase in turnover, driven by MSEMs & Startups. Solar PV Module and specialty steel industries are also witnessing robust growth, with significant investments and localized production.

    *****

    AD/AN

    (Release ID: 2060117) Visitor Counter : 22

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Seven learn lesson following flee

    Source: New Zealand Police (National News)

    Seven youths have narrowly avoided a dire outcome after failing to stop near Maraetai.

    Just before 5am on Saturday, Police observed a vehicle, believed to be stolen, with multiple youths inside parked on Clevedon Road with its hazards on.

    Counties Manukau East Area Prevention Manager, Inspector Rakana Cook, says the unit activated its lights and sirens however the vehicle took off heading towards Whitford Park Road.

    “Police elected not to pursue and the Police Eagle helicopter was able to get overhead to track the vehicle, while also noticing the vehicle had a broken quarter light.

    “The vehicle was successfully spiked on Murphys Road, Flat Bush and came to a stop with seven occupants running into a paddock.”

    Inspector Cook says all seven were quickly taken into custody without incident.

    “This situation could have had a very different outcome.

    “It’s exceptionally lucky no one was injured or even killed.

    “The reckless actions of this group could have had a catastrophic effect on our community and I hope people realise Police will continue to hold these offenders to account.”

    Seven youths, aged 14-17, have been referred to Youth Aid Services.

    ENDS.

    Holly McKay/NZ Police

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Ron DeSantis Launches Operation Blue Ridge

    Source: US State of Florida

    TALLAHASSEE, Fla.—Today, Governor Ron DeSantis announced that Florida is rapidly deploying recovery assistance to North Carolina and Tennessee to help with Hurricane Helene’s impacts in Operation Blue Ridge. This multi-state agency response will include the Florida Division of Emergency Management, Florida State Guard, Florida National Guard, Florida Department of Transportation, Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission, Florida Law Enforcement Coordination Task Force, and a Law Enforcement Strike Team. Additionally, today Governor Ron DeSantis announced that Floridians seeking rescue in Western North Carolina will be aided by the State of Florida. Floridians can fill out our assistance form at  FloridaDisaster.org/OperationBlueRidge.

    This mission will begin with the following assets and personnel:
    Florida Division of Emergency Management

    • One All-Hazards Incident Management Team
    • One Communication Unit Strike Team
    • One Telecommunications Emergency Response Task Force
    • Ten Truck Loads of Water (which equates to 42, 550 gallons of water)
    • Over 100 Starlinks

    Florida State Guard

    • Two Special Missions Search and Rescue Teams
      • 8 search and rescue soldiers
      • 1 aerial assessment pilot

    Florida National Guard

    • Two National Guard Response Teams
      • 8 National Guard soldiers
    • Equipment
      • 2 CH-47 Chinooks and crew

    Florida Department of Law Enforcement

    • One Law Enforcement Coordination Taskforce
      • 7 FDLE agents and analysts
    • One Law Enforcement Strike Team
      • 7 FDLE agents and officers

    Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Division of Law Enforcement

    • 22-man team
      • 2 Captains
      • 2 Team Leaders
      • 12 Officers/Investigators
      • 1 LE PIO
      • 1Mechanic
    • Equipment
      • 1 SOG trailer
      • 4 High-water vehicles (buggy/high water UTV)
      • 3 Airboats
      • 3 Shallow Draft vessels
      • 18 4×4 trucks
    • Aviation
      • Fixed wing aircraft
      • 1 pilot
      • 1 tactical flight officer

    Florida Department of Transportation
    The Florida Department of Transportation has made the following resources available to support the immediate inspection and assessment of transportation infrastructure maintained by NCDOT and TDOT:

    • Emergency Cut and Toss Strike Teams
    • Infrastructure Damage Assessment Teams
    • Bridge Inspection Team (including structures impacted by flood waters)
    • Temporary Bridge Materials
    • Hydraulic Modeling Professional
    • Project & Contract Management Teams
    • Public Information Officer & Emergency Communications Technology

    Florida stands ready to continue assisting our neighbors as they begin to recover from Hurricane Helene’s effects. Under Governor Ron DeSantis’ leadership, Florida’s strong disaster preparation and efficient response efforts have made it possible to provide much-needed assistance to other states.

    Follow FDEM on X, Instagram, and Facebook for updates and visit FloridaDisaster.org/Updates for information relating to Hurricane Helene.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Disaster Response Surges in Western North Carolina Following Hurricane Helene

    Source: US State of North Carolina

    Headline: Disaster Response Surges in Western North Carolina Following Hurricane Helene

    Disaster Response Surges in Western North Carolina Following Hurricane Helene
    mseets

    Critical supplies are starting to reach Western North Carolina communities hit hard by devastating Hurricane Helene as crews make progress toward restoring power and cell phone service and repairing roads.

    Food, water and other needs are arriving in Asheville and also being airlifted by the North Carolina National Guard into counties across Western North Carolina. Cellphone providers are working to fix the damage and get stopgap solutions in place and rapid progress is being made. Across the region, more than 500,000 customers remain without power, down from a peak of more than one million.  

    “People are desperate for help — and we are pushing to get it to them. Please know that we are sending resources, and coordinating closely with local governments, first responders, state and federal partners, and volunteer organizations to help those impacted by this tragic storm,” Governor Roy Cooper said. “This is an unprecedented tragedy that requires an unprecedented response.”

    NC National Guard members are working alongside local emergency responders conducting search and rescue missions, delivering needed supplies, and helping to restore infrastructure. Approximately 550 North Carolina National Guard personnel have been deployed in response to the storm, along with more than 100 vehicles and 11 aircraft.

    Twenty-four emergency shelters have opened, providing capacity for 942 residents. Shelter information can be found at readync.gov.

    Eleven storm-related deaths have been confirmed in North Carolina in the wake of Hurricane Helene and dozens of people have been reported missing. This number is the confirmed number reported by North Carolina Office of the Chief Medical Examiner and is expected to rise. First responders have received hundreds of calls for rescue and more than 1,000 requests for welfare checks. State search and rescue teams have conducted hundreds of rescues and are being assisted from teams from more than a dozen other states.

    More than 1,600 North Carolina Department of Transportation employees and contract crews are working to clear roads and get them open again, but 280 state-maintained roads remain closed including parts of Interstate 40 and Interstate 26. NCDOT is getting food and water supply trucks, power and cellphone utility trucks, and other vehicles through damaged roads and into Western North Carolina.

    People are urged to stay off Western North Carolina roads so that emergency responders, utility crews, and desperately needed supplies can get through. Real time road conditions are available at drivenc.gov.

    The federal government late yesterday granted Gov. Cooper’s request for a Federal Major Disaster Declaration, providing immediate help for 25 North Carolina counties and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. This disaster declaration will provide both individual assistance for people living in those counties and public assistance to reimburse local governments, state agencies and non-profits for funds spent repairing facilities and infrastructure. Additional information about these resources can be found at disasterassistance.gov or by calling the FEMA helpline at 1-800-621-3362.

    Residents affected by the storm should pay close attention to advisories and updates from their local government and emergency services, as this is an evolving situation. Residents with storm-related issues or questions should call 211 for assistance and press 1. This includes requests for welfare checks for loved ones in the affected area. Call 911 for emergencies only.

    Information resources and information regarding Hurricane Helene can be found at www.ncdps.gov/helene. The most up-to-date information on local conditions, shelters, and resources can be found by following county government social media and websites or by visiting ReadyNC.gov, which features traffic, power outage and shelter information. 

    ###

    Sep 29, 2024

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Biden-Harris Administration Supports Continued FEMA, Federal Family Helene Response

    Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency

    Headline: Biden-Harris Administration Supports Continued FEMA, Federal Family Helene Response

    Biden-Harris Administration Supports Continued FEMA, Federal Family Helene Response

    WASHINGTON — Together with state, tribal and federal partners, the Biden-Harris Administration and FEMA are actively supporting Hurricane Helene response and recovery efforts. People should be aware of ongoing post-storm hazards that can be life-threatening. Everyone in affected areas should continue to follow instructions from local officials to stay safe. 

    Yesterday, President Joseph R. Biden approved Major Disaster declarations for Florida and North Carolina. These designations help individuals so they can start their recovery. These declarations also provide federal assistance to help communities clean up and start the rebuilding process. 

    At the direction of President Biden, FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell is on the ground in Georgia today and will be in North Carolina tomorrow to survey damage and assessing the need for federal resources. 

    FEMA has more than 800 deployed staff supporting states affected by the hurricane. Our distribution centers are fully stocked and ready to provide commodities and equipment to any impacted state as requested. FEMA is coordinating a federal force of more than 3,200 personnel each contributing their expertise and manpower to this mission. 

    Emergency declarations are still in effect for Tennessee, South Carolina, Georgia and Alabama. Under an emergency declaration, FEMA can provide support for urgent disaster response activities. FEMA and state partners continue to assess affects from the hurricane in these states to determine if further federal assistance is needed. Visit FEMA.gov to learn how a disaster gets declared.

    • Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas activated the Surge Capacity Force (SCF). The SCF makes rostered federal employees available to support FEMA’s response and recovery missions. 
    • Urban Search and Rescue (US&R) Urban Search and Rescue (US&R) deployed a total of 24 teams with more than 1,302 personnel to affected states. All teams are equipped with Swift Water Rescue Capabilities. In Florida, eight US&R teams are actively responding. Four team are in North Carolina, two are in Tennessee. Additional teams and four Swift Water Mission Ready Packages are in route to the impacted areas.
    • U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) Crews saved or assisted 11 lives and four pets in the Hurricane Helene response to date. USCG units in the affected areas are ready to support search and rescue, conducting post-storm assessments and providing interagency support. More than 8,000 personnel are assisting in response efforts.
    • U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) has teams positioned to provide temporary emergency power, with others prepared to deploy if needed. In addition to temporary emergency power, personnel assist the states with assessments of critical infrastructure including water/wastewater treatment facilities, debris management, and road and bridge inspections as needed. USACE is also providing technical expertise for flood responses. They have activated eight emergency operation centers in the affected regions to coordinate operations. 
    • Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) declared Public Health Emergencies for Florida and Georgia to address the health impacts of Hurricane Helene. The declarations give the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services health care providers and suppliers greater flexibility in meeting emergency health needs of their beneficiaries. HHS staff are assessing public health and health care infrastructure. The Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response medical responders are in Alabama, Florida and North Carolina to help secure heal care services. These personnel include Health Care Situational Assessment teams and National Disaster Medical System Disaster Medical Assistance Teams along with several tons of medical equipment and supplies to provide medical surge support. A Disaster Mortuary Operational Response Team Subject Matter Expert activated for North Carolina. HHS is offering free crisis counseling through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Disaster Distress Helpline. Call or text 1-800-985-5990. Español: Llama o envía un mensaje de texto 1-800-985-5990 presiona “2.” For Deaf and Hard of Hearing ASL Callers: To connect directly to an agent in American Sign Language, click the “ASL Now” button below or call 1-800-985-5990 from your videophone. ASL Support is available 24/7. FAQs for ASL NOW users. 
    • Department of Energy (DOE) activated the Energy Response Organization (ERO) and is closely monitoring impacts and restoration efforts related to Helene, including power, fuel, and supply chain interruptions. The ERO and field responders are in contact with industry partners and local officials. DOE responders deployed to the Florida Emergency Operations Center, Georgia Emergency Operations Center, and the North Carolina Emergency Operations Center. 
    • Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is working closely with federal, state, local and Tribal partners to help water systems, prepare for debris management and ensure facilities, including Superfund sites, maintain critical public health and environmental protections. The agency has personnel on the ground in regional and national operations centers who are offering technical assistance and guidance to those affected by Helene. 
    • American Red Cross (ARC) has more than 745 Red Cross responders deployed to affected areas with another 320 responders in route. As of Sunday morning, systems reporting indicates 2,033 people are still in 73 shelters. As anticipated, ARC is seeing this count rise as they continue to gain connectivity and more clarity about the evolving need in the Carolinas.  More than 45 Emergency Response Vehicles are supporting this event and two dozen additional vehicles are moving into position throughout affected areas. Anyone who needs a safe place to go can find information on redcross.org or by texting GETEMERGENCY to 90999 to download the free Red Cross Emergency app. 
    • Salvation Army is increasing its services in response to community needs. In Florida, they are providing meals through 17 mobile feeding units: five in Live Oak and 12 in Perry, where they are serving hot meals. Teams are also assisting survivors and responders along Florida’s west coast, delivering cleanup kits, blankets, and meals. In Georgia, The Salvation Army is serving meals at six shelters and will begin operations in Douglas/Alma and Vidalia on Sunday through mobile feeding units. In South Carolina, they are supporting meal service at the Greenwood County shelter and have activated a mobile unit. In Tennessee, Salvation Army is working alongside Baptist Kitchen, serving meals at two state shelters. Two mobile units are in Johnson City and Newport will start meal service beginning Monday. Full details and service locations are available at disaster.salvationarmyusa.org.
    • USA.gov published a one-stop-shop for hurricane information. 

    amy.ashbridge

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Hurricane Helene update #2 from Congressman Edwards

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Chuck Edwards (NC-11)

    Dear Friend,

    Two days post-disaster and the country is showing up for us. More than 30 swift water and helicopter rescue crews from across North Carolina and seven nearby states have rescued more than 200 people since Thursday. Thousands of linemen from across North America, including crews from Canada, have been deployed to our community to restore power, and we’ve seen the state come together to transport dozens of trucks filled with potable water and food to our shelters.

    While resources are certainly on the top of many communities’ minds, I have heard from numerous families that are still trying to connect with their loved ones who may be in areas with limited cell service. Residents trying to connect with family members may call NC 211 (or 1-888-892-1162 if calling from out-of-state) to report missing loved ones.

    Additionally, people in the impacted areas can indicate that they are safe by reporting themselves safe through Red Cross Reunification by calling 1-800-ED-CROSS (1-800-733-2767). Please only use 911 for life-threatening emergencies so the lines remain open for critical situations.

    Lastly, North Carolina has officially received a Major Disaster Declaration, making individuals in Buncombe, Clay, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Polk, Rutherford, Transylvania, and Yancey Counties and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians eligible for Individual Assistance through the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

    Individual Assistance provides financial aid and services to eligible individuals and households that have been affected by a disaster to assist with the recovery process. Individuals can officially begin applying for Individual Assistance online at http://www.DisasterAssistance.gov, or by calling the application phone number at 1-800-621-3362 (TTY: 800-462-7585) between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m. EST.

    Just a reminder that today is update number two of many, with more information to follow in the coming days. Please make sure to read everything and share it with your friends and family.

    Food and Water

    • Supplying drinkable water remains a top priority for emergency crews.
      • Water plants in Haywood, Jackson, Rutherford and Yancey counties are closed, impacting tens of thousands of households.
      • A total of 17 water plants have reported having no power and an additional 23 are operating on backup power.
    • A total of 50 water systems are on a system-wide boil water advisory.
    • Dozens of trucks with potable water and meals have successfully been delivered to western NC, including to the WNC Agricultural Center, and many more are en route.
      • Air operations for food and water deliveries began Saturday afternoon in areas without roadway access.
    • Walmart, Sam’s Club, and the Walmart Foundation have committed up to $6 million in support of hurricane relief efforts, including donations of food, water, essential supplies and grants to organizations providing relief.
    • My office continues to work with additional private companies to get much needed food and water delivered across our district.

    Power and Gas

    • Power outages remain widespread in Western North Carolina, but NCDOT is working diligently to clear roadways and increase accessibility for repairs.
      • Currently, there is still no established timeline for restorations, but Duke Energy hopes to publish restoration power timelines in the coming days.
      • I will keep you posted when we learn of those timelines.
    • Energy providers are working around the clock to restore power and have successfully restored power for over 544,000 customers across the state, but here is the lay of the land in NC-11:
      • 630,000 customer accounts remained without power Saturday afternoon.
        • The bulk of the outages are in Buncombe County.
      • 3,400 critical customer accounts are out – critical accounts include hospitals, fire stations, police, EMS, water treatment facilities, etc.
        • 1,600 are healthcare accounts
        • 200 are nursing facilities
          • As of Saturday evening, power has been restored to AdventHealth in Fletcher and my office has been assured that power at Pardee Hospital should be restored later this afternoon, Sunday, September 29.
        • 360 substations are out
          • A substation is responsible for transmitting electricity throughout Western North Carolina.
            • Many of these substations were completely flooded and Duke Energy is unable to assess the damage until the flooding has lowered, the water has been pumped out and the equipment is thoroughly dried.
          • The flooding provides a unique challenge not previously faced by substations in Western North Carolina.
            • There is a high likelihood that the substations are not reparable, and replacement of the substation equipment will be necessary.
            • Duke Energy is prepared to both repair or replace damaged equipment once the equipment has been dried and assessments are complete.
        • Duke Energy continues to warn that Western North Carolinians should be prepared for multi-day outages.
          • Over 11,000 linemen are continuing to work quickly and safely on repairs, including additional crews from 19 states and Canada.
        • Fuel planning continues to be ongoing for both rescue operations and communications resources.
          • Fuel contracts have been activated.
            • A fuel contract provides a steady fuel reserve during an emergency.
          • Air deliveries have already begun in hard-to-reach areas.

    Roads

    • A “DO NOT DRIVE” message remains in place from the North Carolina Department of Transportation for Western North Carolina.
      • Unless it is an emergency, please do not travel.
    • As of 5 p.m. on Saturday, September 27, 385 roads remain closed in Western North Carolina, with the majority being in Henderson (48), Buncombe (25) and Jackson (20) counties.
      • Over 15 closed roads have been cleared of debris and reopened since Saturday morning.
        • 59 of these are on primary routes including I-40 at mile marker three near the Tennessee-North Carolina border and dozens of U.S. and N.C. routes.
        • A previously closed section of I-26 south of Asheville has reopened.
      • Crews have opened a path through the rock/landslide on I-40 near Old Fort to allow stranded vehicles and emergency responders to pass through with assistance from Highway Patrol.
        • The remaining closures remain due to high water, land/rockslides, downed power lines, pipe failures and fallen trees.
      • More than 100 additional NCDOT employees have been deployed from across the state to assist Western North Carolina in clearing debris and addressing storm-related road closures, bringing the total number of deployed NCDOT personnel to 1,600 employees.

    Asheville Regional Airport

    • Asheville Regional Airport closed mid-day on Friday, September 27, due to risk of flooding.
    • The airport was expected to reopen by mid-day Saturday, September 28, but was unable to do so.
      • The airport was unable to reopen for commercial flights due to a lack of internet service, preventing commercial airlines from processing their passengers for boarding.
      • No commercial flights are permitted in or out of Asheville Regional Airport at this time.
    • Asheville Regional Airport has reopened for non-commercial air traffic, including planes delivering National Guard supplies for in-need counties.

    Cell Service

    • Western North Carolina continues to see severe cell service outages due to the flooding.
    • Service providers have deployed additional Compact Rapid Deployables since Friday, with more on the way.
      • Current on-air network recovery equipment include:
        • Buncombe County – 1 Compact Rapid Deployable
        • Henderson County – 1 SatCOLT
      • Network recovery equipment en route to in-need counties include:
        • Buncombe County – 4 SatCOLTs
        • Cherokee County – 1 SatCOLT, 1 Compact Rapid Deployable
        • Clay County – 1 Compact Rapid Deployable
        • Haywood County – 2 SatCOLTs, 3 Compact Rapid Deployables
        • Henderson County – 3 SatCOLTs, 1 Compact Rapid Deployable
        • Macon County – 1 SatCOLT
        • Madison County – SatCOLT
        • McDowell County – 1 SatCOLT
        • Transylvania County – 1 SatCOLT
        • Rutherford County – 1 SatCOLT, 1 Compact Rapid Deployable
      • Compact Rapid Deployables are a transportable cell tower and internet access point that can generate wired internet and wi-fi coverage anytime and anywhere.
      • SatCOLT stands for “Satellite Cells on Light Trucks” and are vehicles with mobile cell sites that connect via satellite and do not rely on commercial power supply.

    North Carolina National Guard

    • 410 North Carolina National Guard soldiers and airmen have been deployed to provide support to Western North Carolina so far.
      • This includes the deployment of 76 High Water Vehicles, 12 Palletized Load Systems for commodity distribution and six Forestry Support Teams for debris clearance.
    • The National Guard currently has 10 operating aircraft.
      • The National Guard is actively awaiting 2 additional CH-47 aircraft from New York and two to four additional hoist-equipped aircraft from other states.
    • The Asheville National Guard Armory remains relocated in East Flat Rock due to lost power.
      • Despite the relocation, the Asheville National Guard Armory has continued operations and is providing support to Western North Carolina.
    • The National Guard has Readiness Centers actively monitoring and serving Western North Carolina in the following locations:
      • Asheville
      • Morganton
      • Charlotte
      • Greensboro
      • Rockingham
      • Raleigh – aviation assets only
        • Readiness Centers can serve as Joint Operation Centers when disasters exceed local capabilities.
        • The above-mentioned Readiness Centers work with North Carolina’s Office of Emergency Management to respond to western NC as military first responders.

    For Local Government Resource Requests

    • For county leaders: This is a reminder to make sure your Emergency Operation Center has submitted the request for gasoline, food, water, cell service deployables, etc. with North Carolina Emergency Management to have your request processed and resources delivered.
      • My office stands ready to assist with checking the status of your request if the county or municipality has not heard back from NC Emergency Management within 24 hours.

    Shelters

    • For those unable to evacuate to a safe location or in need of a place to go, the following shelters are currently open and available as of September 29:
      • Buncombe
        • A-B Technical Community College
          • 340 Victoria Rd., Asheville, NC 28801
        • First Baptist Church Swannanoa
          • 503 Park St., Swannanoa, NC 28778
        • WNC Agricultural Center
          • 1301 Fanning Bridge Rd., Fletcher, NC 28732
      • Haywood
        • Haywood County Government Armory
          • 285 Armory Dr., Clyde, NC 28781
      • Henderson
        • Edneyville Elementary School
          • 2875 Pace Rd., Hendersonville, NC 28792
        • Henderson County Recreation Center
          • 708 S. Grove St., Hendersonville, NC 28792
      • Jackson
        • Cashiers Recreation Center
          • 355 Frank Allen Rd., Cashiers, NC 28717
        • Jackson County Department of Aging
          • 100 County Services Pk., Sylva, NC 28779
      • Madison
        • Madison County Wellness Center
          • 5734 US 25-70 Hwy., Marshall, NC 28752
      • McDowell
        • First Baptist Church of Old Fort
          • 203 E. Main St., Old Fort, NC 28762
        • Glenwood Baptist Church
          • 1550 Old US 221 S., Marion, NC 28752
        • McDowell County Senior Center
          • 100 Spaulding Rd., Marion, NC 28752
      • Polk
        • Polk County High School
          • 1681 NC 108 Highway E., Columbus, NC 28722
      • Rutherford
        • Rutherfordton/Spindale Central High School
          • 641 US 221 Hwy. N., Rutherfordton, NC 28139
      • Swain
        • Swain Community College
          • 125 Brendle St., Bryson City, NC 28713
      • Transylvania
        • Pisgah Forest Baptist Church
          • 494 Hendersonville Hwy., Pisgah Forest, NC 28768
      • Yancey
        • South Toe Elementary School
          • 139 South Toe School Rd., Burnsville, NC 28714
        • West Yancey Volunteer Fire Department
          • 6557 US Hwy. 19, Burnsville, NC 28714

    With my warmest regards,


    Chuck Edwards
    Member of Congress

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Backgrounder: Investing in active communities and access to transit in Belleville

    Source: Government of Canada News

    Backgrounder

    The federal government is investing $4,696,742 through the Public Transit Infrastructure Stream of the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program to support six public transit projects in Belleville. The Government of Ontario is contributing $3,913,561 and the City of Belleville is investing $4,164,698.

    Project Information:

    Location

    Project Name

    Project Details

    Federal Funding

    Provincial Funding

    Municipal Funding

    City of Belleville

    New Bus Purchases

    Purchasing four new, 12-metre hybrid buses and one seven-metre conventional bus.

    $2,246,742

    $1,872,098

    $2,531,160

    City of Belleville

    Construction of the Hydro Corridor Trail (Sidney to Moira River)

    Building a multi-use path within the Hydro One transmission corridor to provide access to public transportation stops.

    $1,400,000

    $1,166,550

    $933,450

    City of Belleville

    Smart Fare Card Project

    Upgrading the existing technology to allow a wider range of payment options and better security on buses.

    $480,000

    $399,960

    $320,040

    City of Belleville

    AODA Bus Stop & Shelter Upgrades

    Upgrading 10 bus stops to increase their accessibility to the public.

    $280,000

    $233,310

    $186,690

    City of Belleville

    College St. East Sidewalk Construction (Jamieson Bone Rd to East End)

    Building approximately 1.5 kilometres of new sidewalk to allow active transportation for commuters.

    $200,000

    $166,650

    $133,350

    City of Belleville

    Hybrid Commercial Accessible Vans

    Purchasing two hybrid fully accessible vans, which will be used as flexible emergency mobility transport vehicles.

    $90,000

    $74,993

    $60,008

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: We are in a safe place, for now

    Source: Médecins Sans Frontières –

    On Friday, the 27th of September, we heard and felt a huge series of blasts while we were in meetings at the office. We wrapped up work and got stuck in heavy traffic. I had just relocated to a safer place since the bombing around Beirut and across the country intensified on Monday. When I reached my new home around 10 p.m., my relatives had already joined us – leaving their homes, thinking it would be safer where we were.

    From my balcony, I saw dozens and dozens of people walking in the streets carrying what they could, plastic bags, backpacks, or nothing. People in the southern suburbs around ours had received evacuation orders from the Israeli armed forces. We saw people fleeing on foot, some walking with sticks, young and elderly. Some people were in cars. We were not in the neighborhood that was targeted but we heard drones and planes. We felt them close by. Suddenly, there was darkness all around and bombing started everywhere. There was heavy smoke and people in the streets were coughing. I was with my mum, brother and sister, and trying to figure out what to do next. Are the roads safe? Where do we go?

    I had just left my house in Dahieh—the southern suburb of Beirut—a few days ago because of the heavy bombardments and moved to this one’s. We thought we would be safer here. Now we had to leave again. I grabbed a bag of essential items I had at hand. We were told that it’s better to bring mattresses, so we stuffed two in our car and took a pack of water bottles. I didn’t know what to do. There were fires everywhere following the airstrikes, and I heard a huge blast. We heard, felt and saw the strikes. Our building was shaking. There was a huge blast in a place with no advance warning for evacuation.

    Surrounded by fire and smoke, I was repeating to myself, “all we need is a plan and to take action, a plan and take action; do not wait here.” We just left the place as fast as we could. I don’t know what happened to my own house, or the new house. We kept calling around and drove for a couple of hours before we figured out where to go. Around 5 a.m, we found a place on the other side of the mountains.

    We were very lucky that we left when we did because the fires after the airstrikes were still raging where we had been. We just needed a place to rest a little, to see where to go next, and we still haven’t slept. Some people are still in cars. Now we’re watching the news and shocking footage of what is happening. I know that my colleagues, MSF teams, are in the field, supplying water by trucks to shelters and schools in Beirut and Mount Lebanon, where displaced families are staying. Some people are lying down on the sidewalks. MSF managed to provide 86,000 liters of water in 24 hours, and is also distributing kits containing basic hygiene and relief items, as well as mattresses to the displaced people. Our mental health teams are on the streets providing psychological first aid to people who are traumatized and to people seeking refuge in schools. I am used to being a humanitarian worker, but now I am also a person displaced by air strikes in my own country. We are in a safe place, for now.

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI Global: It would be a mistake for Israel to invade Lebanon – here’s why

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Vanessa Newby, Assistant Professor, Leiden University

    The death of Hezbollah’s leader, Hassan Nasrallah, in an Israeli airstrike in Beirut on September 27 has left the militant Lebanese organisation leaderless at a critical time. Two days earlier in a speech broadcast around the world, the head of the Israel Defense Forces’ (IDF) northern command, Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi, had told his soldiers to prepare for a possible incursion into Lebanon.

    There is every reason to believe Friday’s airstrike, which targeted Hezbollah’s headquarters building in the southern Beirut suburb of Dahiyeh, was in preparation for a possible incursion. It came after days of strikes which Israel claims have eliminated much of Hezbollah’s senior leadership.

    Halevi told his troops on September 25 that they would “go in, destroy the enemy there, and decisively destroy” Hezbollah’s infrastructure. As Hezbollah is embedded within the Lebanese population, this strategy promises the deaths of innocent civilians.

    Since 2006, both Hezbollah and the IDF have sought to avoid a direct confrontation. For years, they have played tit-for-tat with the rationale of proportionality to prevent an all-out war.

    Although the horrific October 7 attacks on Israel by Hamas triggered a resumption of hostilities, until last week both sides were calling for restraint. What has changed? Is a ground invasion now inevitable? And if so, what would that mean for Hezbollah and Lebanon?

    Israel has a track record of engaging in military adventures in Lebanon that have only ever served to make its opponents stronger in the long term. The destruction of the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) did not prevent the emergence of Hamas – indeed, it helped to create it. Similarly, Israel’s pursuit of the PLO in south Lebanon triggered the creation of Hezbollah. Despite five invasions since 1978, Israel has shown itself incapable of successfully occupying even the smallest sliver of Lebanese land.

    While both sides have been preparing for a new conflict for years, the trigger for the escalation began on September 18, when Israel struck the first blow by detonating thousands of pagers and mobile devices owned by Hezbollah operatives, killing at least 32 and injuring several thousand people.

    This technological attack had been years in the making and could be described as a strategic masterstroke to disable the enemy. The timing appears to have been because Hezbollah was becoming suspicious about the devices, so the IDF had to act or lose the “surprise”. This suggests operational considerations are taking precedence over strategic and political ones, which research suggests is rarely a good idea.

    Nonetheless, these strikes are believed to have crippled Hezbollah’s command in the short term, and emboldened the IDF’s leadership. On September 18, Israel’s defence minister, Yoav Gallant, told Israeli troops: “We are at the start of a new phase in the war — it requires courage, determination and perseverance.” While he made no mention of the exploding devices, he praised the work of Israel’s army and security agencies, noting their results were excellent.

    A tactic used in recent days by the IDF is one that has been developed over many years on the “Blue Line” – the de facto border that divides Israel and Lebanon. Emboldened by the failure of the IDF to defeat it in the July war of 2006, Hezbollah’s senior operatives have been active and visible on the Blue Line, which is monitored closely by the IDF.

    This has enabled the IDF to photograph, identify and track senior Hezbollah leadership, which is why since October 7 we have seen a succession of assassinations of its key operatives, including Ibrahim Aqeel, a commander of Hezbollah’s elite Radwan force, and more recently, Mohammed Sarour in Beirut, as well as many others.

    The IDF now believes it has Hezbollah on its knees – or at least, on one knee. The escalation we are currently witnessing is because the IDF is driving home its advantage and applying the same strategy as in Gaza: bombing any area it can plausibly claim to be a Hezbollah target.

    This has had devastating consequences for the Lebanese population. The Health Ministry stated on Friday that 1,540 people had been killed since October 8 2023, with thousands of innocent civilians injured. Over 70,000 civilians have reportedly registered in 533 shelters across Lebanon, with an estimated 1 million people having been displaced from their homes.

    Can Hezbollah fight back?

    The death of Nasrallah has left Hezbollah temporarily leaderless, while the killing of several of its senior figures has deprived it of seasoned commanders, many of whom had recent combat experience in Syria. And the bombing of south Lebanon is reducing Hezbollah’s supply of rockets and other weapons.

    However, Israel should not assume that Hezbollah is out of the game or underestimate the group. Hezbollah’s real strength has always lain in its ability to melt into the population – and it will be ready to commence a war of attrition with hit-and-run tactics if the IDF makes the mistake of putting boots on the ground again. The fact that all five previous invasions failed should be an indication that the outcome may be a repeat of what occurred between 1982 and 2006.

    Furthermore, while Iran’s response to the escalation has been muted thus far, it is unlikely to abandon Hezbollah. A long, drawn-out, low-intensity conflict would favour the kind of asymmetric tactics used by the “axis of resistance”, which also includes Lebanon’s neighbour, Syria.

    By bombing and displacing the Lebanese population, the IDF aims to reduce morale. It is now destroying private homes and public buildings on the grounds they are Hezbollah ammunition and weapons depots.

    In Lebanon, the Palestine issue has always been regarded as the primary cause of the civil war that took place from 1975 to 1990. As such, the IDF is banking on Lebanese people turning against Hezbollah for bringing a new war down on them as a result of its rocket barrages into northern Israel, in solidarity with Hamas since the October 7 attack.

    But, while there are many people in Lebanon who do not support Hezbollah and its activities in south Lebanon, the IDF should remember the past. Even if sentiment against Hezbollah is high today, indiscriminate bombing of the kind we are currently witnessing in Lebanon will not be tolerated by the population indefinitely.

    It’s worth noting that in 1982, when the IDF invaded south Lebanon, some Lebanese welcomed them with rice and flowers – viewing them as liberators from the PLO. But that welcome did not last long.

    In 2006, the IDF applied a similar strategy, targeting civilian evacuation convoys and UN compounds. And once again, the tide of public opinion swiftly swung back in favour of “al-muqawimah” (the resistance).

    The stated IDF aim is to drive Hezbollah back north of the Litani river, to force it to comply with UN resolution 1701 and allow displaced people in northern Israel to return to their homes. But it is naive of Israel and the IDF to think that an invasion or a bombing campaign, no matter how successful in the short term, will enable Israeli civilians to live in peace along the Blue Line for the long term.

    Ultimately, the only way forward is for both parties to come to the table and negotiate. The human cost of Israel’s current strategy in Lebanon is appalling to contemplate, and in all likelihood will create more hatred – fostering a new generation of anti-Israel fighters, rather than creating the basis for a durable peace.

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

    This article was written with assistance from John Molloy, lt. col. (rtd.) Irish Defence Forces and former senior Unifil political & civil affairs officer, 2008-2017.

    – ref. It would be a mistake for Israel to invade Lebanon – here’s why – https://theconversation.com/it-would-be-a-mistake-for-israel-to-invade-lebanon-heres-why-240028

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Man arrested for crime spree from Adelaide to Jamestown

    Source: South Australia Police

    A man will face court tomorrow following a crime spree spanning from Adelaide to the States Mid North.

    Just before 2pm on Saturday 28 September an off-duty police member spotted a Haval SUV ​in Ary Street, Jamestown bearing false number plates and a man attempting to leave in the vehicle.

    The car had allegedly been stolen in early August in Victoria and had committed several petrol thefts in Adelaide and Clare in the last month.

    The off-duty officer attempted to speak with the driver who drove at him causing him to take evasive action to prevent being hit by the car.

    A second off-duty member together with members of the public rushed to assist the officer and the man was arrested.

    Following investigation police searched an address at Springbank Road where several firearms together with suspected stolen property was located.

    A 43-year-old man of no fixed address has been charged with a wrath offences including assault prescribed emergency worker, firearms offences, unlawful possession, going equipped, hinder police, serious criminal trespass and theft.

    He has been refused police bail and will appear before the Port Pirie Magistrates Court on Monday 30 September.

    Investigations are continuing into further offences committed by the suspect.

    Anyone with information is asked to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or online at http://www.crimestopperssa.com.au ​– you can remain anonymous.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Lasting peace in Ethiopia? More needs to be done to stop Tigray conflict from flaring up again

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Madhav Joshi, Research Professor & Associate Director, Peace Accords Matrix (PAM), Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies and Keough School of Global Affairs, University of Notre Dame

    It has been nearly two years since the African Union brokered a peace deal that put an end to the war between the Ethiopian state and the Tigray regional government. The signing of the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement in November 2022 brought an end to a deadly two-year conflict.

    The agreement has achieved a number of outcomes. These include:

    • an end to the fighting between Tigrayan and Ethiopian armed forces

    • the creation of a transitional government in Tigray, run by the Tigray People’s Liberation Front

    • the demobilisation of 50,000 Tigrayan troops

    • the Tigray People’s Liberation Front regaining its legal status as a political party registered under special conditions

    • the approval in Addis Ababa of a transitional justice policy

    • the establishment of an AU-led monitoring and verification mission.

    But a great deal still remains to be done if the peace is going to last. We have studied 42 comprehensive and 236 partial peace agreements in the last three decades. Based on this experience, we argue that urgent issues remain to be addressed in the Ethiopian agreement. If left unattended, they raise the risk of a return to war.

    Empirical research suggests that a higher overall implementation rate of civil war peace agreements leads to sustainable peace. It is the only proven pathway for resolving remaining conflicts in a country. Doing what was agreed is necessary for post-war recovery.

    In Ethiopia, the disarmament and demobilisation of Tigrayan combatants needs urgent attention. So do the protection of civilians and returnees in disputed territories in western and northern Tigray, and the restoration of basic infrastructure in the region. The state also needs to ensure the smooth delivery of humanitarian aid, the withdrawal of foreign troops from Tigray and the representation of the Tigray People’s Liberation Front in the federal government.

    The gaps

    A substantial reason for the lack of progress in building sustainable peace is that the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement has holes in it.

    Firstly, only the immediate cessation of hostilities, and the demobilisation and disarmament of the Tigray People’s Liberation Front combatants, were set out clearly. Other principles – such as civilian protections, delivery of humanitarian aid and ensuring accountability for the conflict – were left to “good faith implementation”.

    The peace agreement and its implementation process in Tigray lack safeguard mechanisms. These are procedures involving the power-sharing government, dispute resolution and robust mechanisms to verify the implementation of the agreement. However, only the verification mechanism is in place among these three pillars, and it’s very weak. Safeguard mechanisms create ownership, inclusion and accountability. They amplify the urgency of implementing peace deals.

    Secondly, the underlying causes of conflict and grievances haven’t been dealt with as agreed. These include the withdrawal of foreign troops from Tigray, the reconstruction of conflict-affected communities and the Tigrayan government’s representation in the federal government. Addressing these grievances might create the mutual trust that is necessary to revive the stalled process of building peace.



    Read more:
    What is federalism? Why Ethiopia uses this system of government and why it’s not perfect

    Thirdly, while the overt conflict with Tigrayan forces has subsided, the political dialogue between the regional and national governments hasn’t happened. This dialogue is key to addressing ambiguities in the peace deal. The agreement’s success depends on actions at the federal level – such as the reparation of internally displaced persons. Yet, the Tigray People’s Liberation Front isn’t represented at this level.

    Fourth, conflict-displaced Tigrayans are slowly returning to their communities. But insecurity remains acute because it’s not clear if all Tigrayan combatants are demobilised and all troops from Eritrea withdrawn. The monitoring mechanism in place is weak and cannot independently verify what’s been achieved.

    Fifth, the Ethiopian government’s transitional justice policy is unclear. It doesn’t provide guidance on who to prosecute as there are still ongoing conflicts in Ethiopia. The policy also avoids international scrutiny. It lacks critical aspects to prevent the recurrence of atrocities by adhering to international standards.

    Political factors

    The lack of progress in building lasting peace can also be put down to a lack of political will on the part of both parties.

    The federal government lacks resources for reconstruction. For example, there has been little rebuilding of basic infrastructure. The cost of recovery from the war in Tigray is estimated to be over US$44 billion.

    For its part, the Tigray People’s Liberation Front is in the throes of a growing rift between its chairman, Debretsion Gebremichael, and the deputy chairman and head of the interim government in Tigray, Getachew Reda. This has diverted attention to managing intra-party rivalries rather than pressuring the federal government to take necessary actions.

    Debretsion is prioritising the Tigray People’s Liberation Front’s return to its past glory with control over the political structure in Tigray. Getachew is pushing for a reconciliatory approach with the government and showing a willingness to compromise the party’s position for peace and security.

    What remains to be done

    Ethiopia is facing a watershed moment. The peace agreement can be carried out faster if the Tigray People’s Liberation Front maintains its cohesiveness. When broken into factions, it cannot hold the Abiy Ahmed regime accountable.

    Research shows that rebel movements such as the Tigray People’s Liberation Front often form factions after signing peace deals because of disagreements on the compromises made to reach a deal. A slow implementation process can further divide a rebel movement as it cannot cater to its supporters, or justify the war and unaddressed humanitarian and human rights abuses.

    Factions weaken the party, create instabilities and hurt the peace building process.

    The Tigray People’s Liberation Front’s unity is crucial for the success of the deal and its aspiration to return to political power in Tigray.

    The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. Lasting peace in Ethiopia? More needs to be done to stop Tigray conflict from flaring up again – https://theconversation.com/lasting-peace-in-ethiopia-more-needs-to-be-done-to-stop-tigray-conflict-from-flaring-up-again-239847

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Lasting peace in Ethiopia? More needs to be done to stop Tigray conflict from flaring up again

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Madhav Joshi, Research Professor & Associate Director, Peace Accords Matrix (PAM), Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies and Keough School of Global Affairs, University of Notre Dame

    It has been nearly two years since the African Union brokered a peace deal that put an end to the war between the Ethiopian state and the Tigray regional government. The signing of the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement in November 2022 brought an end to a deadly two-year conflict.

    The agreement has achieved a number of outcomes. These include:

    • an end to the fighting between Tigrayan and Ethiopian armed forces

    • the creation of a transitional government in Tigray, run by the Tigray People’s Liberation Front

    • the demobilisation of 50,000 Tigrayan troops

    • the Tigray People’s Liberation Front regaining its legal status as a political party registered under special conditions

    • the approval in Addis Ababa of a transitional justice policy

    • the establishment of an AU-led monitoring and verification mission.

    But a great deal still remains to be done if the peace is going to last. We have studied 42 comprehensive and 236 partial peace agreements in the last three decades. Based on this experience, we argue that urgent issues remain to be addressed in the Ethiopian agreement. If left unattended, they raise the risk of a return to war.

    Empirical research suggests that a higher overall implementation rate of civil war peace agreements leads to sustainable peace. It is the only proven pathway for resolving remaining conflicts in a country. Doing what was agreed is necessary for post-war recovery.

    In Ethiopia, the disarmament and demobilisation of Tigrayan combatants needs urgent attention. So do the protection of civilians and returnees in disputed territories in western and northern Tigray, and the restoration of basic infrastructure in the region. The state also needs to ensure the smooth delivery of humanitarian aid, the withdrawal of foreign troops from Tigray and the representation of the Tigray People’s Liberation Front in the federal government.

    The gaps

    A substantial reason for the lack of progress in building sustainable peace is that the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement has holes in it.

    Firstly, only the immediate cessation of hostilities, and the demobilisation and disarmament of the Tigray People’s Liberation Front combatants, were set out clearly. Other principles – such as civilian protections, delivery of humanitarian aid and ensuring accountability for the conflict – were left to “good faith implementation”.

    The peace agreement and its implementation process in Tigray lack safeguard mechanisms. These are procedures involving the power-sharing government, dispute resolution and robust mechanisms to verify the implementation of the agreement. However, only the verification mechanism is in place among these three pillars, and it’s very weak. Safeguard mechanisms create ownership, inclusion and accountability. They amplify the urgency of implementing peace deals.

    Secondly, the underlying causes of conflict and grievances haven’t been dealt with as agreed. These include the withdrawal of foreign troops from Tigray, the reconstruction of conflict-affected communities and the Tigrayan government’s representation in the federal government. Addressing these grievances might create the mutual trust that is necessary to revive the stalled process of building peace.

    Read more: What is federalism? Why Ethiopia uses this system of government and why it’s not perfect

    Thirdly, while the overt conflict with Tigrayan forces has subsided, the political dialogue between the regional and national governments hasn’t happened. This dialogue is key to addressing ambiguities in the peace deal. The agreement’s success depends on actions at the federal level – such as the reparation of internally displaced persons. Yet, the Tigray People’s Liberation Front isn’t represented at this level.

    Fourth, conflict-displaced Tigrayans are slowly returning to their communities. But insecurity remains acute because it’s not clear if all Tigrayan combatants are demobilised and all troops from Eritrea withdrawn. The monitoring mechanism in place is weak and cannot independently verify what’s been achieved.

    Fifth, the Ethiopian government’s transitional justice policy is unclear. It doesn’t provide guidance on who to prosecute as there are still ongoing conflicts in Ethiopia. The policy also avoids international scrutiny. It lacks critical aspects to prevent the recurrence of atrocities by adhering to international standards.

    Political factors

    The lack of progress in building lasting peace can also be put down to a lack of political will on the part of both parties.

    The federal government lacks resources for reconstruction. For example, there has been little rebuilding of basic infrastructure. The cost of recovery from the war in Tigray is estimated to be over US$44 billion.

    For its part, the Tigray People’s Liberation Front is in the throes of a growing rift between its chairman, Debretsion Gebremichael, and the deputy chairman and head of the interim government in Tigray, Getachew Reda. This has diverted attention to managing intra-party rivalries rather than pressuring the federal government to take necessary actions.

    Debretsion is prioritising the Tigray People’s Liberation Front’s return to its past glory with control over the political structure in Tigray. Getachew is pushing for a reconciliatory approach with the government and showing a willingness to compromise the party’s position for peace and security.

    What remains to be done

    Ethiopia is facing a watershed moment. The peace agreement can be carried out faster if the Tigray People’s Liberation Front maintains its cohesiveness. When broken into factions, it cannot hold the Abiy Ahmed regime accountable.

    Research shows that rebel movements such as the Tigray People’s Liberation Front often form factions after signing peace deals because of disagreements on the compromises made to reach a deal. A slow implementation process can further divide a rebel movement as it cannot cater to its supporters, or justify the war and unaddressed humanitarian and human rights abuses.

    Factions weaken the party, create instabilities and hurt the peace building process.

    The Tigray People’s Liberation Front’s unity is crucial for the success of the deal and its aspiration to return to political power in Tigray.

    – Lasting peace in Ethiopia? More needs to be done to stop Tigray conflict from flaring up again
    – https://theconversation.com/lasting-peace-in-ethiopia-more-needs-to-be-done-to-stop-tigray-conflict-from-flaring-up-again-239847

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI China: Chinese, European EV professionals call for cooperation

    Source: China State Council Information Office 3

    This photo taken on Sept. 27, 2024 shows a scene at the 2024 World New Energy Vehicle Congress (WNEVC) in Haikou, south China’s Hainan Province. [Photo/Xinhua]

    Both Chinese and European electric vehicle (EV) makers and experts are calling for global cooperation and opposing trade protectionism at the ongoing 2024 World New Energy Vehicle Congress (WNEVC).

    With the deep development of advanced technologies, collaborative research and global industrial chain cooperation have become more important to the automotive industry, Hildegard Mueller, president of the German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA), said Saturday on the congress.

    “However, in 2024, we observe a rise in protectionist sentiments globally. An example is the EU’s anti-subsidy investigation into EVs imported from China,” Mueller said.

    “For EU, imposing anti-subsidy tariffs is not yet an answer to the challenges facing the European automotive industry. Rather, it could easily escalate into a new trade conflict, sparking a spiral of protectionism,” Mueller said.

    She believed that for any country and region, any market, any industry, what’s needed is simply an active industrial strategy, adding that Europe in particular must ensure that the conditions for business are improved.

    She noted that the German automotive industry stands firm on the principles of free and fair trade. “We at the VDA will continue to advocate for open markets, globalization, international trade and investment and, above all, cooperation and continued dialogue,” she added.

    Gan Jiayue, CEO of Geely Auto Group, also called on the new energy vehicle (NEV) industry to strengthen its collaboration to achieve mutual benefits.

    Some countries and regions are trying to restrict the application of China’s NEVs by imposing additional tariffs and setting technical standards, Gan said on Saturday’s congress, adding that if imposing additional tariffs, the EU will not only hamper China’s economic development but also harm its own interests.

    The automobile industry is an industry of global cooperation, and Geely always adheres to free trade and fair competition, Gan said.

    Jochen Goller, member of the board of management of BMW AG, also addressed the conference, sharing insights on low-carbon transition and global cooperation, and expressing optimism about China’s NEV market.

    “BMW Group strongly believes technology openness is the only sustainable path towards a carbon-neutral future, as we need to cater to the diverse needs of customers worldwide, and to advance individual mobility towards a green future,” Goller said in his speech.

    BMW firmly believes that cooperation fosters prosperity and growth, he said, adding that to continue the unique automotive success story, key challenges have to be tackled and resolved jointly.

    Themed with “Low Carbon Evolution and Global Cooperation,” the 2024 WNEVC is taking place in Haikou, capital of south China’s Hainan Province, running from Sept. 27 to 29.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: New tech at expo signals China’s foreign trade momentum

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    Robots perform dance at a booth during the third Global Digital Trade Expo in Hangzhou, east China’s Zhejiang Province, Sept. 25, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]

    The third Global Digital Trade Expo, currently unfolding in Hangzhou, capital of east China’s Zhejiang Province, is offering a glimpse into avant-garde technologies that are unlocking the country’s burgeoning potential in foreign trade.

    Over the span of five days, the exhibition is featuring 446 new products and technologies, ranging from robots performing remarkable tasks like opening bottles and sorting waste to AI-driven digital humans engaging in debate competitions.

    “I was impressed most by medical AI displayed at the exhibition, such as robotic surgical arms and screening clinics,” said Kgaladi Melia Thema, a consultant for innovation and technology of Small Enterprise Development Agency, South Africa.

    “Nurses can use chronic disease management screening products for patients, which can be applied both at home and in clinics. This reduces costs and enables remote patient monitoring, offering great potential,” she added.

    Digital technologies such as big data, cloud computing and blockchain are taking center stage at the expo, underscoring how China is harnessing these innovations to propel its foreign trade.

    At the booth of iFLYTEK Co., Ltd., a front-runner in China’s AI and speech technology industry, several African visitors were immersed in real-time conversations with staff through a state-of-the-art multilingual AI-powered translation screen. Despite the bustling environment, the screen, equipped with advanced voice recognition technologies, accurately captured and responded to human voices.

    “Overseas business is poised to become a significant growth engine for us in the coming years. Our aspiration is for it to constitute one-third of our business segments in the future,” said Liu Qingfeng, chairman of iFLYTEK.

    Chinese cultural exports are also stealing the show at the exhibition. In the digital entertainment zone, innovative exhibits such as an AI-powered representation of Su Dongpo, a celebrated poet from the Song Dynasty (960-1279), a virtual museum of traditional Chinese music, as well as a 3D display of the four bronze animal heads from the Old Summer Palace (Yuanmingyuan), are offering visitors a fascinating glimpse into the richness of Chinese culture.

    “The fusion of digital technology with the splendor of traditional Chinese culture has not only expanded our export opportunities, but also invigorated the growth of China’s culture industry,” said Wu Shuang, a staff member of Zhejiang Kayou Animation Co., Ltd., a domestic card game creator.

    Visitors are also being treated to futuristic transportation solutions, including autonomous boat taxis and the electric Vertical Take-off and Landing (eVTOL) vehicles, all being showcased for the first time at this year’s expo.

    “China is rightly regarded as a global leader in digital technologies and innovations,” said Zhaslan Madiyev, minister of Digital Development, Innovations and Aerospace Industry of the Republic of Kazakhstan, adding that China’s advancement in digital trade is not only creating new avenues for cooperation, but also enhancing global trade infrastructure, fostering sustainable development worldwide.

    “Chinese technologies and innovations are enhancing supply chains, making them faster and more efficient, while also improving access to goods and services,” Madiyev noted.

    According to the Global Digital Trade Development Report 2024 released during the event, global digital trade soared to around 7.13 trillion U.S. dollars (about 1.02 trillion yuan) in 2023, up from 6.02 trillion U.S. dollars in 2021, marking an average annual growth rate of 8.8 percent.

    The report also highlighted that the import and export scale of China’s cross-border e-commerce reached 2.37 trillion yuan last year, up 15.3 percent year on year.

    Mercado Libre, a leading Latin American e-commerce platform, witnessed a 70-percent increase in online Chinese sellers and a 75-percent surge in their sales on its platform in 2023.

    The company has opened its cross-border e-commerce services to Chinese sellers in Mexico, Brazil, Chile and Colombia, according to its representative at the expo, who also emphasized the escalating significance of the Chinese market.

    As China’s sole national-level event focusing on the theme of digital trade, the expo has drawn over 1,500 enterprises, including more than 300 international companies, and over 30,000 purchasers this year.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Three arrested after Waipawa fires

    Source: New Zealand Police (National News)

    Police have arrested and charged three Hawke’s Bay men after large vegetation fires in Waipawa earlier this month.

    The 23-year-olds were arrested after weeks of enquiries into the fires, which began about 11.30pm on 7 September – shortly after fireworks were seen being shot out of a vehicle’s window as it drove along Hautope Road.

    Three significant fires were sparked as a result, and flames were fanned by strong winds.

    The fires had the potential to cause injury and widespread damage and Police want to thank the quick-thinking member of the public who raised the alarm and prevented the situation from getting any worse.

    Police made the arrests on 27 September. The men face charges of arson and are due to appear in the Hastings District Court on Tuesday 1 October.

    ENDS

    Issued by Police Media Centre. 

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Warm summer predicted as bush fire season officially commences

    Source: New South Wales Premiere

    Published: 30 September 2024

    Released by: Minister for Emergency Services

    Tomorrow marks the official start of the 2024-25 bush fire season, as high fuel loads present challenges for fire agencies across the state.

    The NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) is prepared for a predicted warm summer, with firefighters having responded to more than 1,600 bush and grass fires across the state since 1 July.

    Minister for Emergency Services Jihad Dib joined Commissioner of the RFS Rob Rogers for a helicopter flight to survey some of Sydney’s most at-risk suburbs today.

    Taking off from Arcadia Rural Fire Brigade station, the Minister and Commissioner inspected recent hazard reduction work undertaken in the Hornsby area, as fire agencies and land managers continue work to reduce fuel loads for the warm months ahead.

    The NSW Government has funded 100 additional hazard reduction crew members to conduct this important work.

    RFS firefighters train and prepare year-round to respond to fire and other emergency incidents and with most of NSW now in the Bush Fire Danger Period (BFDP), it is important that the community prepares as well.

    Residents are encouraged to take simple steps to lower their fire risk, including:

    1. Trim overhanging trees and shrubs.
    2. Mow grass and remove the cuttings and have a cleared area around your home.
    3. Remove material that can burn around your home, such as door mats, wood piles, mulch and flammable liquids.
    4. Clear and remove all debris and leaves from gutters surrounding your home.
    5. Prepare a sturdy hose or hoses that will reach around your home.

    While some areas have already entered the Bush Fire Danger Period, the statutory bush fire season runs from 1 October 2024 to 31 March 2025.

    Bush Fire Survival Plans and information on preparing your property and family are available on the RFS website at http://www.rfs.nsw.gov.au. Residents can stay up to date on fires in their area using the RFS website, the Hazards Near Me app, listening to your local radio station, or by calling the RFS Bush Fire Information Line on 1800 679 737.

    Minister for Emergency Services Jihad Dib said:

    “We have already seen dangerous fire conditions in NSW, with recent hot, dry and windy weather rapidly drying out bush and grass land areas, increasing the fire risk.

    “With high temperatures forecast this summer, we cannot be complacent. Everyone needs to take the time now to make sure they understand their risk, discuss their Bush Fire Survival Plan with their family and download the Hazards Near Me app.”

    “I thank all our RFS volunteers and emergency service personnel for their work to protect communities across the state and encourage residents and landowners to do their part to prepare themselves, their families and properties.”

    Commissioner of the RFS Rob Rogers said:

    “Consecutive years of wet weather have fuelled growth of vegetation like grass lands, particularly west of the Great Dividing Range. Grass fires can be especially dangerous because they start quickly and spread rapidly, destroying homes and stock.”

    “Our firefighters are out on the ground doing everything they can to mitigate the risk of fire, but preparation is a shared responsibility, and we need property owners to do their part, too.

    “There can never be a fire truck outside every home, so people need to have a plan in place if threatened by fire. Make sure your whole family knows whether you will stay and defend your home or will leave early – and if so, where you will go.”

    Fire and Rescue NSW Acting Commissioner Paul McGuiggan said:

    “If you’re planning to travel, especially over the holiday period, be aware of the risk of fast-moving grass fires.

    “Before you leave, check the weather forecast and fire danger ratings for that area and have a plan to leave should a grass or bush fire take hold.”

    NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service Executive Director Park Operations Coastal Naomi Stephens said:

    “NPWS is working hard to prepare for the upcoming bushfire season. We are slashing and mowing areas of highest risk next to houses and other property and ensuring that our fire trails are cleared and available for firefighters in the event of bushfire.”

    “Our trained firefighters are carrying out hazard reduction burning, where and when conditions allow, to reduce the risk and are ready to respond to bushfires to protect the community and the parks.” 

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: NSW powering up for cleaner cruise ship visits

    Source: New South Wales Premiere

    Published: 30 September 2024

    Released by: Minister for Transport

    In an Australian-first, New South Wales is charging up for a cleaner cruise industry, with a $20 million contract awarded to begin the landmark Shore Power project at White Bay Cruise Terminal.

    Shore Power is wharf-side infrastructure that provides cruise ships with electricity by connecting to a landside charger, which results in fewer emissions as the engine does not have to stay running while docked.

    This marks a huge step towards reducing cruise ship pollution, ensuring the cruise industry can be more sustainable and continue to thrive in NSW.

    It comes as the summer cruise season officially kicks off in NSW, with the arrival of Diamond Princess into our harbour on Thursday morning and the Pacific Adventure at White Bay on Friday morning.

    The latest data shows the cruise industry contributed $2.75 billion to the NSW economy in 2022-23 and created approximately 9,000 jobs.

    This project means cleaner air and less noise for the residents of Balmain and Rozelle, with the precinct and population expected to grow in the coming decade as the Bays Metro West opens and much-needed housing is delivered.

    Shore Power is estimated to reduce emissions associated with the White Bay precinct by over 4,000 tonnes every year.

    The contract for the charger at White Bay berth 5 has been awarded to global leader in shore power technology, Powercon, with initial work to prepare the site set to begin by the end of 2024.

    The move puts Sydney on par with other global cities adopting this technology, such as in Europe, where shoreside electricity will be mandatory at all main ports from 2030.

    With critical equipment in high demand, the White Bay Cruise Terminal Shore Power project is targeted for completion by late 2026.

    Once operational in 2026, it will be mandatory for any ship that docks at White Bay Cruise Terminal that is shore power enabled to use available shore power.  The vast majority of ships that use White Bay are already shore power enabled.

    Port Authority will determine the best mechanism to implement the shore power mandate, likely to be through contract obligations with its cruise industry partners. 

    Both NSW and Federal Labor announced their support for shore power in 2019. The former NSW Liberal Government promised to deliver it in 2022 and said it would be ready by 2024 but failed to allocate funding to the project.

    The Minns Labor Government is leading the rollout of Shore Power at other ports across Australia by supporting the development of Australian Standards that will inform future projects.

    Federal Member for Sydney Tanya Plibersek said:

    “Five years ago, Labor promised we would deliver shore power for White Bay Cruise Terminal, and cleaner air for the community on the Balmain peninsula. Today that promise is being kept.

    “This will be the first project of its kind in Australia, and it will be run on renewables. Awarding the contract for the Shore Power equipment design, fabrication, supply and installation, marks a major milestone in this complex project.

    “The community in Balmain has had to wait far too long for shore power to become a reality. They will remember that the former NSW Liberal Government claimed to support this project, but would not commit a single dollar of government funding.”

    NSW Minister for Transport Jo Haylen said:

    “Today the contract to deliver shore power at White Bay Cruise Terminal has been signed, sealed, and delivered, ensuring less cruise ship pollution for generations to come.

    “This will be the first major shore power infrastructure in southern hemisphere and the carbon emissions reduction this project at White Bay will achieve is equivalent to taking 1,100 cars off Sydney’s roads or planting 20,000 trees each year.

    “The Minns Labor Government has done what the former government could never do. We’ve put pen to paper and begun the process to deliver cleaner air for the Balmain Peninsula and set White Bay Cruise Terminal up for a sustainable future.”

    Port Authority NSW CEO Philip Holliday said:

    “Port Authority is focused on progressing the Shore Power project to our revised delivery date and creating a world-class, integrated, sustainable port of the future that supports our economy, the community and the NSW Government’s vision for the area.”

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI USA News: FACT SHEET: UPDATE: Biden-⁠ Harris Administration’s Continued Response Efforts to Hurricane  Helene

    Source: The White House

    Under President Biden and Vice President Harris’s leadership, the Administration is continuing to provide robust and well-coordinated Federal support for the ongoing response and recovery efforts to Hurricane Helene’s impacts. The President and Vice President are closely monitoring these efforts and receive regular updates from their teams.
     
    At the President’s direction, FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell visited Florida over the weekend to assess damage alongside local and state officials. She continued surveying damage today in parts of Georgia before she moves into North Carolina on Monday.

    Earlier this evening, Administrator Criswell and Homeland Security Advisor Liz Sherwood-Randall briefed President Biden on the ongoing impacts of Hurricane Helene in multiple states, including Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Alabama, Tennessee, and Virginia. Administrator Criswell also updated the President on Federal actions to support response and recovery.  

    The President directed Administrator Criswell to determine what more can be done to accelerate support to those who are having the most difficult time accessing assistance in isolated communities. He also advised the FEMA Administrator that as soon as it will not disrupt emergency response operations, he intends to travel this week to impacted communities.

    Additionally, the Federal government is closely monitoring an additional weather disturbance in the Caribbean Sea that has the potential to form into another storm in the coming week. Residents throughout the Gulf Coast should remain alert, listen to local officials, and make additional preparations as needed.
     
    Additional Federal response actions include:
     
    Approving Major Disaster Declarations
     
    Yesterday, President Biden approved Major Disaster declarations for the states of Florida and North Carolina, allowing survivors to immediately access funds and resources to jumpstart their recovery. People in 17 counties in Florida and 25 counties in North Carolina, including the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, can now apply for assistance with FEMA. People can apply in three ways: online by visiting disasterassistance.gov, calling 1-800-621-3362 or on the FEMA App.
     
    FEMA assistance in Florida and North Carolina may include upfront funds to help with essential items like food, water, baby formula, and other emergency supplies. Funds may also be available to repair storm-related damage to homes and personal property, as well as assistance to find a temporary place to stay.
     
    Emergency declarations were also approved for Florida, North Carolina Tennessee, South Carolina, Georgia, Virginia, and Alabama. Under an emergency declaration, FEMA provides direct Federal support to states for life saving activities and other emergency protective measures, such as evacuation, sheltering, and search and rescue.
     
    Supporting On-The-Ground Response Efforts
     
    As of today, more than 3,300 personnel from across the Federal workforce are deployed and supporting Hurricane Helene response efforts across the impacted states. This includes the most experienced incident management teams to help identity Federal resources to address unmet needs, as well as Urban Search and Rescue personnel using high water rescue equipment for rescue missions across the region. 
     
    At least 50,000 personnel from 31 states and the District of Columbia and Canada are responding to power outages and working around the clock throughout parts of Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina to restore power to those communities that can receive power. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is moving generators and additional power generation assets into the hardest hit areas of South and North Carolina as flood waters recede and debris removal allows. As of this afternoon, approximately 2.3 million customers are without power, down from the region-wide peak of 4.6 million on September 27.
     
    Additional Interagency Support Efforts
     
    Together with state and local partners, the Federal government is actively supporting Hurricane Helene response efforts and is coordinating requests for Federal assistance.

    • FEMA distribution centers are fully stocked and ready to provide commodities and equipment to any impacted state, as required.
    • FEMA is trucking dozens of trailers containing food and water in North Carolina to support the State as they start to set up care-sites for survivors.
    • FEMA is also working with the Federal Communications Commission and private sector telecommunications partners to deploy emergency mobile communications assets while they work to restore network services, particularly in remote areas.
    • The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services declared a Public Health Emergency for Florida and Georgia, giving health care providers and suppliers greater flexibility in meeting emergency health needs of Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries. About 200 medical responders are in Florida, Alabama, and North Carolina, along with medical equipment and supplies, to help ensure the delivery of health care services following the landfall of Hurricane Helene.
    • Twenty-four federal Urban Search and Rescue Task Forces are deployed across the affected regions. Roughly 1,302 Urban Search and Rescue personnel are assisting in the impacted areas. Together with local and state responders, teams have rescued and supported over 1,400 of people across the impacted area.
    • The U.S. Coast Guard has thousands of personnel working on response efforts and are conducting post-storm assessments to support the rapid reopening of impacted ports.
    • The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers deployed teams for temporary emergency power, debris removal, and infrastructure assessment, including for dams throughout the region.
    • The Environmental Protection Agency has personnel on the ground who are offering technical assistance and guidance on water systems, debris management, and maintaining critical public health and environmental protections in place as storm impacts are assessed.
    • The U.S. Small Business Administration deployed more than 50 personnel to support survivors and small businesses as they recover from the hurricane.
    • The U.S. Department of Energy has responders deployed across the region and are closely monitoring power, fuel, and supply chain interruptions.
    • The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency has deployed personnel to the impacted region to extend much-needed emergency credit to farmers and agriculture producers who lost crops and livestock.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Drink drivers charged after two separate traffic crashes on grand final day

    Source: Tasmania Police

    Drink drivers charged after two separate traffic crashes on grand final day

    Monday, 30 September 2024 – 10:46 am.

    Two men will appear in the Hobart Magistrates Court after they were involved in two separate traffic crashes on Saturday.
    Huonville Police responded to reports of a hit and run traffic crash on Wilmot Road, Huonville about 4.45pm on Saturday.
    Investigations revealed that a driver was attempting to turn into their driveway when they were struck from behind and the driver had left the scene of the crash.
    Police located the driver a short time later and a 43-year-old male from Ranelagh, was taken into custody where he returned a breath alcohol content reading of 0.270, more than five times the legal limit.
    He was charged with drink driving and failing to stop and bailed to appear in the Hobart Magistrates Court at a later date.
    About 8.55pm on Saturday, Huonville Police responded to reports of a second traffic crash on Conlans Road South.
    A 20-year-old male from Huonville, the sole occupant of the vehicle lost control of his vehicle colliding with guard rail before coming to rest down the embankment.
    The driver was taken into police custody where he returned a breath alcohol content reading of 0.119 and was charged with drink driving and bailed to appear in the Hobart Magistrates Court at a later date.
    Thankfully, nobody was hurt as a result of either crash.
    Senior Constable Adam Bertoli said this sort of dangerous driving behaviour puts innocent people at risk, and won’t be tolerated.
    “Police are out on the roads every day enforcing the rules to keep our community safe, and we will continue to do everything we can to stop illegal and dangerous driving occurring.”
    “Anyone who sees such driving should call police immediately on 131 444, or Triple Zero (000) in an emergency.”

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Scientists recently studied the body of one of the world’s strongest men. This is what they found

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Justin Keogh, Associate Dean of Research, Faculty of Health Sciences and Medicine, Bond University

    The development of “superhuman” strength and power has long been admired in many cultures across the world.

    This may reflect the importance of these physical fitness characteristics in many facets of our lives from pre-history to today: hunting and gathering, the construction of large buildings and monuments, war, and more recently, sport.

    Potentially, the current peak of human strength and power is demonstrated in the sport of strongman.

    What is strongman?

    Strongman is becoming more common, with competitions now available at regional, national and international levels for men and women of different ages and sizes.



    Read more:
    Strongman used to be seen as a super-human novelty sport. Now more women and novices are turning to it

    Strongman training and competitions typically involve a host of traditional barbell-based exercises including squats, deadlifts and presses but also specific strongman events.

    The specific strongman events – such as the vehicle pull, farmer’s walk, sandbag/keg toss or stones lift – often require competitors to move a range of awkward, heavy implements either higher, faster or with more repetitions in a given time period than their competitors.

    Researching one of the greats

    Strongman has enjoyed substantial growth and development since the introduction of the World’s Strongest Man competition in the late 1970s.

    However, from a scientific perspective, there are few published studies focusing on athletes at the elite level.

    In particular, very little is currently known about the overall amount of muscle mass these athletes possess, how their mass is distributed across individual muscles and to what extent their tendon characteristics differ to people who are not training.

    However a recent study sought to shed some light on these extreme athletes. It examined the muscle and tendon morphology (structure) of one of the world’s strongest ever men – England’s Eddie Hall.

    Measuring an exceptionally strong person such as Hall – who produced a 500kg world record deadlift and won the “World’s Strongest Man” competition in 2017 – provided the opportunity to understand what specific muscle and tendon characteristics may have contributed to his incredible strength.

    Eddie Hall is one of world strongman’s finest competitors.

    What can we learn from a single case study?

    A limited number of athletes reach the truly elite level of strongman and even fewer set world records or win premier events.

    Because it’s so difficult to recruit even a small group of such rare athletes, conducting a case study with one elite strongman provided a unique opportunity to understand more about his muscle and tendon characteristics.

    Case studies have many limitations, including an inability to determine cause and effect or generalise findings to other individuals from the same group.

    However, the study of Hall was insightful, as his muscle and tendon results could be compared directly with various groups from the authors’ earlier published research.

    These groups included untrained people, people who have regularly resistance trained for several years, and competitive track sprinters.

    The inclusion of these comparative populations allowed meaningful interpretation of what makes Hall’s muscle and tendon characteristics so special.

    What they found

    Hall’s lower body muscle size was almost twice that of an untrained group of healthy active young men.

    And the manner in which his muscle mass was distributed across his lower body exhibited a very specific pattern.

    Three long thin muscles, referred to as “guy ropes”, were particularly large (some 2.5 to three times bigger) compared to untrained people.

    The guy rope muscles connect to the shin bone via a shared tendon and provide stability to the thigh and hips by fanning out and attaching to the pelvis at diverse locations.

    Highly developed guy rope muscles would be expected to offer enhanced stability with heavy lifting, carrying and pulling.

    Hall’s thigh (quadriceps) muscle structure was more than twice that of untrained people, yet the tendon at the knee that is connected to this muscle group was only 30% larger than an untrained population.

    This finding indicates muscle and tendon growth, within this case of extreme quadriceps muscle development, do not occur to the same extent.

    What do the results mean?

    The obvious implication is, the larger the relevant muscles, the greater the potential for strength and power.

    However, sports like strongman and even everyday activities like climbing stairs, carrying groceries and lifting objects off the ground require the coordinated activity of many stabilising muscles as well as major propulsive muscles such as the quadriceps.

    While Hall’s quadriceps were substantially bigger than untrained people, the largest relative differences occurred in the calves and the long thin “guy rope” muscles that help stabilise the hip and knee.

    These results pose a question about whether additional or more specific training for these smaller muscles may further enhance strength and power.

    This could benefit strongman athletes as well as everyday people.

    Also, the relatively small differences in tendon size between Hall and untrained populations suggests tendons do not grow to the same extent as muscles do.

    As muscular forces are transmitted through tendons to the bones, the substantially greater growth of muscle than tendon may mean athletes such as Hall have a greater relative risk of tendon than muscle injury.

    This view is somewhat consistent with the high proportion of tendinitis and strains reported in strength sport athletes, including strongman and weightlifters.

    Justin Keogh is the Associate Dean of Research, Faculty of Health Sciences and Medicine, Bond University, an exercise scientist and a former strongman competitor.

    Tom Balshaw is a Lecturer in Kinesiology, Strength and Conditioning employed by Loughborough University

    – ref. Scientists recently studied the body of one of the world’s strongest men. This is what they found – https://theconversation.com/scientists-recently-studied-the-body-of-one-of-the-worlds-strongest-men-this-is-what-they-found-238873

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI China: German carmakers eye increased, deeper NEV cooperation with China

    Source: China State Council Information Office 3

    German carmakers have expressed optimism about cooperation with China in the new energy vehicle (NEV) industry when speaking at the 2024 World New Energy Vehicle Congress which concluded Sunday in Haikou, capital of south China’s Hainan Province, with China’s NEV market continuing to boom.

    Jochen Goller, a member of the board of management of BMW AG, credited the success of China’s NEV market to supportive government policies, suitable regulations and technological innovations.

    Goller emphasized BMW’s commitment to keeping the market open and expressed hopes of having more Chinese battery manufacturers in Europe.

    Oliver Blume, chairman of the board of management of Volkswagen AG, noted that this year marks a significant milestone as Volkswagen celebrates 40 years in the Chinese market.

    “Over the past four decades, we have taken great pride from having become an integral part of Chinese life and in shaping the development of the Chinese automotive industry,” Blume said, while highlighting that the foundation of Volkswagen’s success lies in its strong partnerships — particularly with Chinese EV companies like SAIC and FAW.

    Blume added that China has emerged as “the epicenter of the automotive industry’s future,” while Volkswagen is committed to being an even more integral part of the local industry ecosystem.

    “We have significantly enhanced our local research and development capacities and concluded partnerships with local original equipment manufacturers and technology leaders in the fields of software, autonomous driving and batteries,” he explained.

    In April, Volkswagen announced an investment of 2.5 billion euros (about 2.79 billion U.S. dollars) in expanding its production and innovation hub in the city of Hefei in east China — to increase its pace of innovation in the country.

    The company also committed to accelerating the production of two Volkswagen-brand smart electric vehicles, which are currently under joint development with Chinese manufacturer Xpeng.

    China’s production and sales of NEVs continued to maintain fast growth, with the NEV market share steadily increasing in the domestic market.

    Data from the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers revealed that in the first eight months of 2024, NEV production had reached about 7.01 million units, rising 29 percent year on year, while sales during this period stood at around 7.04 million units — growing by 30.9 percent from a year earlier.

    Wan Gang, chairman of the China Association for Science and Technology, said that expanding bilateral trade cooperation and investment, along with increasingly close industrial and supply chain collaboration between the Chinese and German automotive industries, have become vital for the high-quality development of the global automotive sector.

    “In the future, we hope that the automotive industries of China and Germany will embrace development and reform, jointly promoting the further advancement of the NEV industry to contribute to global low-carbon transformation and sustainable development,” Wan added.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Cutting-edge technologies, products of NEV showcased in Hainan

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    Cutting-edge technologies, products of NEV showcased in Hainan

    Updated: September 30, 2024 10:14 Xinhua
    This photo taken on Sept. 28, 2024 shows an exhibition featuring cutting-edge technologies and products of new energy vehicle (NEV) in Haikou, south China’s Hainan Province. More than 30 NEV firms showcased their new energy vehicles, batteries and intelligent-connected technology at the exhibition. [Photo/Xinhua]
    This photo taken on Sept. 28, 2024 shows a Global Intelligent Electric Architecture (GEA) at the booth of Geely during an exhibition featuring cutting-edge technologies and products of new energy vehicle (NEV) in Haikou, south China’s Hainan Province, Sept. 28, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]
    This photo taken on Sept. 28, 2024 shows a MIGHTY Fuel Cell vehicle at the booth of Hyundai during an exhibition featuring cutting-edge technologies and products of new energy vehicle (NEV) in Haikou, south China’s Hainan Province. [Photo/Xinhua]
    This photo taken on Sept. 28, 2024 shows a chassis with AI technology at the booth of Geely during an exhibition featuring cutting-edge technologies and products of new energy vehicle (NEV) in Haikou, south China’s Hainan Province, Sept. 28, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]
    This photo taken on Sept. 28, 2024 shows a hydrogen fuel cell system at the booth of Hyundai during an exhibition featuring cutting-edge technologies and products of new energy vehicle (NEV) in Haikou, south China’s Hainan Province. [Photo/Xinhua]
    This photo taken on Sept. 28, 2024 shows Shendun short-blade battery at the booth of Geely during an exhibition featuring cutting-edge technologies and products of new energy vehicle (NEV) in Haikou, south China’s Hainan Province. [Photo/Xinhua]

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Allens advises Northern Minerals on $48m equity raising

    Source: Allens Insights

    Allens has advised Northern Minerals on a capital raising to progress its Browns Range heavy rare earth element (HREE) Project, including a $43 million two-tranche private placement and $5 million share purchase plan.

    The private placement, offered to existing and new institutional and sophisticated investors, attracted a significant level of demand.

    Located in Western Australia’s East Kimberley region, the Browns Range Project is one of the most high grade and advanced HREE projects outside China. The dysprosium and terbium resources it expects to supply are essential for high-performance permanent magnets used in electric vehicles and wind turbines.

    Allens advised on all elements of the capital raising from concept to execution, including capital raising structures, execution of the equity raising and regulatory considerations.

    ‘Strong demand continues among investors for rare earths exposure, as evidenced by the response to Northern Minerals’ private placement as well as sizeable raisings conducted by other developing players in the space throughout this year,’ said lead Partner Bryn Hardcastle.

    ‘We congratulate Northern Minerals on its successful capital raising and look forward to seeing what’s ahead for the Browns Range Project.’

    Allens legal team

    Bryn Hardcastle (Partner), Andrew Wong (Mergers and Acquisitions Counsel), Chris Bailey (Senior Associate), Alex Forster (Associate), Christopher Shields (Lawyer)

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Woman charged with high range drink driving following Kings Meadows crash

    Source: Tasmania Police

    Woman charged with high range drink driving following Kings Meadows crash

    Monday, 30 September 2024 – 2:23 pm.

    A 45-year-old woman from Nunamara has been charged with drink driving following a crash at Kings Meadows on Saturday.
    Inspector Craig Fox said police and other emergency services were called to the scene on Kings Meadows Link about 2pm, arriving to find the woman nearby the crashed vehicle.
    “The woman later returned a breath analysis reading of 0.314, over six times the legal limit,” he said.
    “She was arrested and charged with exceeding the prescribed alcohol limit, driving whist disqualified, breaching bail, and other related offences.”
    “Her vehicle was also seized and police will apply for it to be forfeited.”
    “Police would like to thank those members of the public who contacted police and provided information about the crash.”
    The woman is due to appear in the St Helens Magistrates Court on 2 October.
    Anyone with further information is asked to contact police on 131 444 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or at crimestopperstas.com.au. Information can be provided anonymously.

    MIL OSI News –