Category: Weather

MIL-OSI New Zealand: Dream of starting own business leads student to enrol in business at EIT | EIT Hawke’s Bay and Tairāwhiti

Source: Eastern Institute of Technology – Tairāwhiti

4 mins ago

James McKinley-Blake is currently in his second year of the Bachelor of Business Studies (Marketing and Management).

James McKinley-Blake always had a dream of starting his own business, so he decided to act on it by enrolling in a business programme at EIT.

James, who was born in Australia and grew up in Hawke’s Bay, decided to take a gap year to work in retail and ponder his future after completing his final year at Napier Boys’ High.

“I was really interested in the arts and science and thought that’s what I wanted to do, but when I got to the end of my final year at school, I was a bit unsure of where I wanted to go to.”

“I took a gap year to think about what I actually wanted to do before I hopped into making this decision. But during that time, I always had the passion to start up or eventually manage my own business.”

“I thought business studies would be perfect. I saw that it was advertised at EIT and I thought, why not? Let’s do it, see what happens and I’m really enjoying it.”

James, 20, is currently in his second year of the Bachelor of Business Studies (Marketing and Management) at EIT Hawke’s Bay and he is loving it.

However his time at EIT got off to a tough start because the programme started the day before Cyclone Gabrielle struck, and the campus had been closed as a precaution. The classes were moved online and then moved off campus.

“The lecturers were great. They handled it well and just got into it. But when we ended up getting back to campus, you could tell a significant difference with that interaction because, personally, I prefer that face-to-face interaction.”

“Personally, I didn’t know what to expect with the business studies. I did go to an open day and heard about it for a bit, but when I got into it, it was a lot more than what I thought.”

James says that he would have no hesitation in recommending the Bachelor of Business at EIT.

“I may explore the sciences or arts a bit later in life, but at the moment just to build a steady foundation for my business, the business studies course is really enjoyable.”

He says that he is interested in starting his own business within horticulture or agriculture, but is keeping his options open.

He says he is also open to continuing studying and may look to do the Postgraduate Diploma in Business at EIT after he finishes his degree.

“James has already proven himself to be a conscientious student who is focused on his goals and impressed his lecturers with a positive and mature attitude,” says Russell Booth, Programme Co-ordinator for the Bachelor of Business Studies at EIT.

“He has also been discussing with me ways he can expand his experience whilst at EIT through applying for the Prime Minister’s Scholarship and has volunteered his time to help other students as a valued peer mentor. James is already making his intentions clear that he intends on taking advantage of every opportunity he can whilst studying at EIT and for someone like James, we are more than happy to help in whatever way we can!” says Russell.

MIL OSI New Zealand News –

January 23, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Governor Cooper Issues Executive Order Increasing Unemployment Payments for North Carolinians in the Wake of Hurricane Helene

Source: US State of North Carolina

Headline: Governor Cooper Issues Executive Order Increasing Unemployment Payments for North Carolinians in the Wake of Hurricane Helene

Governor Cooper Issues Executive Order Increasing Unemployment Payments for North Carolinians in the Wake of Hurricane Helene
bconroy
Wed, 10/16/2024 – 17:01

Today, Governor Roy Cooper issued an emergency Executive Order authorizing the North Carolina Department of Commerce, Division of Employment Security, to increase the amount of weekly unemployment payments available to North Carolinians in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene.

“As I’ve traveled for days around western North Carolina I’ve heard concern from many small business owners about their employees who are unemployed because their businesses are temporarily closed,” said Governor Cooper. “This Executive Order will increase unemployment benefits and help ease the financial burden for impacted North Carolinians as they work to recover from the storm.”

As a result of this Order, weekly unemployment benefits will increase from a maximum of $350 a week to a maximum of $600 a week. Prior to the executive order, many low-income and part-time workers would have received less than the $350 weekly maximum. To ensure that these workers receive necessary benefits in the wake of Helene, the order will also increase benefits by $250 a week (up to the $600 cap) for all eligible workers. This order is tied to the State of Emergency for Hurricane Helene, and will remain in effect until the end of the Emergency or until it is rescinded.

State unemployment benefits will still be capped at 12 weeks, but workers who lived or worked in the impacted North Carolina counties and are out of work due to the disaster will qualify for up to 26 weeks of federal benefits, to be paid through March 29, 2025 under the federal Disaster Unemployment Assistance program. To provide relief to employers impacted by Helene, and due to the extraordinary size of the trust fund balance, employers would not see any increase in unemployment taxes due to the increased benefit.

While federal law requires the elevated state payment to apply statewide, the increased benefits would largely go to workers from counties impacted by Helene, with unemployment data through October 13th showing that workers from those counties make up 79% of new claims — 19,735 — since the disaster. This percentage is likely to increase as more counties are added to the disaster declaration.

Only eight states have a lower weekly maximum unemployment benefit than North Carolina. The $350 cap was set in 2013 and has not been changed since, even as rising wages in the state continue to grow North Carolina’s Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund from which benefits are paid. Meanwhile, the balance in North Carolina’s Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund now stands at over $4.8 billion, the second-largest such fund in the United States.

The Division of Employment Security, which administers both the traditional state unemployment benefits and federal disaster unemployment assistance benefits, estimates that, for every 10,000 North Carolinians who receive elevated state benefits, the additional cost to the Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund would be $2.5 million per week. If 50,000 North Carolinians from impacted counties received the full additional state benefit for all 12 weeks, the additional cost to the Trust Fund is estimated to be $150 million. Those same 50,000 workers would then be eligible for an additional 14 weeks of federal benefits, totaling an additional $175 million paid by the federal government.

Many currently unemployed workers will likely return to work before receiving the full benefit they are entitled to claim, so the actual fiscal impact of the increased benefits is expected to be lower.

The Division of Employment Security estimates that it may take between two and three weeks for impacted individuals to see the impact in their weekly benefit checks. The benefits for eligible claimants will be retroactive to September 29, 2024 and adjustment payments will be issued for benefit weeks going back to that date.

The North Carolina Council of State unanimously concurred with this executive order, consistent with the North Carolina Emergency Management Act.

Read the Executive Order here.

Oct 16, 2024

MIL OSI USA News –

January 23, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: Wildlife, climate and plastic: how three summits aim to repair a growing rift with nature

Source: The Conversation – UK – By Jack Marley, Environment + Energy Editor, UK edition

By the end of 2024, nearly 200 nations will have met at three conferences to address three problems: biodiversity loss, climate change and plastic pollution.

Colombia will host talks next week to assess global progress in protecting 30% of all land and water by 2030. Hot on its heels is COP29 in Azerbaijan. Here, countries will revisit the pledge they made last year in Dubai to “transition away” from the fossil fuels driving climate breakdown. And in December, South Korea could see the first global agreement to tackle plastic waste.

Don’t let these separate events fool you, though.

“Climate change, biodiversity loss and resource depletion are not isolated problems” say biologist Liette Vasseur (Brock University), political scientist Anders Hayden (Dalhousie University) and ecologist Mike Jones (Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences).

Read more:
Humanity’s future depends on our ability to live in harmony with nature

“They are part of an interconnected web of crises that demand urgent and comprehensive action.”

Let’s start with the climate.

This roundup of The Conversation’s climate coverage comes from our award-winning weekly climate action newsletter. Every Wednesday, The Conversation’s environment editor writes Imagine, a short email that goes a little deeper into just one climate issue. Join the 35,000+ readers who’ve subscribed.

Earth’s fraying parasol

“How hot is it going to get? This is one of the most important and difficult remaining questions about our changing climate,” say two scientists who study climate change, Seth Wynes and H. Damon Matthews at the University of Waterloo and Concordia University respectively.

The answer depends on how sensitive the climate is to greenhouse gases like CO₂ and how much humanity ultimately emits, the pair say. When Wynes and Matthews asked 211 authors of past reports by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, their average best guess was 2.7°C by 2100.

“We’ve already seen devastating consequences like more flooding, hotter heatwaves and larger wildfires, and we’re only at 1.3°C above pre-industrial levels — less than halfway to 2.7°C,” they say.

Read more:
New survey of IPCC authors reveals doubt, and hope, that world will achieve climate targets

There is a third variable that is harder to predict but no less important: the capacity of forests, wetlands and the ocean to continue to offset warming by absorbing the carbon and heat our furnaces and factories have released.

This blue and green carbon pump stalled in 2023, the hottest year on record, amid heatwaves, droughts and fires. The possibility of nature’s carbon storage suddenly collapsing is not priced into the computer models that simulate and project the future climate.

Parched forests can emit more carbon than they soak up.
Matthew James Ferguson/Shutterstock

However, the ecosystems that buffer human-made warming are clearly struggling. A new report from the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) showed that the average size of monitored populations of vertebrate wildlife (animals with spinal columns – mammals, birds, fish, reptiles and amphibians) has shrunk by 73% since 1970.

Read more:
Wildlife loss is taking ecosystems nearer to collapse – new report

Wildlife could become so scarce that ecosystems like the Amazon rainforest degenerate, according to the report.

“More than 90% of tropical trees and shrubs depend on animals to disperse their seeds, for example,” says biodiversity scientist Alexander Lees (Manchester Metropolitan University).

“These ‘biodiversity services’ are crucial.”

Read more:
Without birds, tropical forests won’t bounce back from deforestation

The result could be less biodiverse and, importantly for the climate, less carbon-rich habitats.

Plastic in a polar bear’s gut

Threats to wildlife are numerous. One that is growing fast and still poorly understood is plastic.

Bottles, bags, toothbrushes: a rising tide of plastic detritus is choking and snaring wild animals. These larger items eventually degrade into microplastics, tiny fragments which now suffuse the air, soil and water.

“In short, microplastics are widespread, accumulating in the remotest parts of our planet. There is evidence of their toxic effects at every level of biological organisation, from tiny insects at the bottom of the food chain to apex predators,” says Karen Raubenheimer, a senior lecturer in plastic pollution at the University of Wollongong.

Read more:
Scientists reviewed 7,000 studies on microplastics. Their alarming conclusion puts humanity on notice

Plastic is generally made from fossil fuels, the main agent of climate change. Activists and experts have seized on a similar demand to address both problems: turn off the taps.

In fact, the diagnosis of Costas Velis, an expert in ocean litter at the University of Leeds, sounds similar to what climate scientists say about unrestricted fossil fuel burning:

“Every year without production caps makes the necessary cut to plastic production in future steeper – and our need to use other measures to address the problem greater.”

Read more:
A global plastic treaty will only work if it caps production, modelling shows

A production cap hasn’t made it into the negotiating text for a plastic treaty (yet). And while governments pledged to transition away from coal, oil and gas last year, a new report on the world’s energy use shows fossil fuel use declining more slowly than in earlier forecasts – and much more slowly than would be necessary to halt warming at internationally agreed limits. The effort to protect a third of earth’s surface has barely begun.

Each summit is concerned with ameliorating the effects of modern societies on nature. Some experts argue for a more radical interpretation.

“Even if 30% of Earth was protected, how effectively would it halt biodiversity loss?” ask political ecologists Bram Büscher (Wageningen University) and Rosaleen Duffy (University of Sheffield).

Read more:
Biodiversity treaty: UN deal fails to address the root causes of nature’s destruction

“The proliferation of protected areas has happened at the same time as the extinction crisis has intensified. Perhaps, without these efforts, things could have been even worse for nature,” they say.

“But an equally valid argument would be that area-based conservation has blinded many to the causes of Earth’s diminishing biodiversity: an expanding economic system that squeezes ecosystems by turning ever more habitat into urban sprawl or farmland, polluting the air and water with ever more toxins and heating the atmosphere with ever more greenhouse gas.”

– ref. Wildlife, climate and plastic: how three summits aim to repair a growing rift with nature – https://theconversation.com/wildlife-climate-and-plastic-how-three-summits-aim-to-repair-a-growing-rift-with-nature-241419

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

January 23, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: How the invasive spiny water flea spread across Canada, and what we can do about it

Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Sam Lucy Behle, PhD Student, Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue (UQAT)

Across the tranquil waters of Canada’s vast network of lakes and rivers, a quiet invader is on the move. The spiny water flea, Bythotrephes cederströmii, is a microscopic predator that is forever altering the ecological fabric of aquatic habitats in Canada.

Originally from Eurasia, Bythotrephes casts a long shadow over the ecosystems it invades. Its presence in Canadian waters represents an ongoing ecological challenge, one that intertwines the fate of native species with the spectre of climate change.

Our lakes: their secrets and challenges, is a series produced by La Conversation/The Conversation.

This article is part of our series Our lakes: their secrets and challenges. The Conversation and La Conversation invite you to take a fascinating dip in our lakes. With magnifying glasses, microscopes and diving goggles, our scientists scrutinize the biodiversity of our lakes and the processes that unfold in them, and tell us about the challenges they face. Don’t miss our articles on these incredibly rich bodies of water!

Diminutive and destructive

Despite its name, Bythotrephes is neither a flea nor a parasite.

A member of the crustacean zooplankton family, the Bythotrephes belongs to a group of microscopic arthropods that are near the base of the aquatic food web and related to other crustaceans like shrimp and lobsters.

Its diet primarily consists of other crustacean zooplankton, with herbivores being the preferred food source. By preying on these critical organisms, Bythotrephes can destabilize a local food web. This destabilization leads to a decrease in native fish populations that rely on zooplankton for nourishment.

The Bythotrephes is equipped with a long, barbed tail spine, which makes it difficult prey for most fish, further allowing its populations to grow mostly unchecked in many lakes.

The Bythotrephes is well protected against predation and feeds on a number of key species.

Alarmingly, the Bythotrephes is spreading rapidly.

Human activities, particularly recreational boating and fishing, serve as the primary vectors for this invasive species. Boats and equipment used in infested waters can harbour Bythotrephes’ and its eggs, which are remarkably resistant to freezing and drying and able to survive out of water for extended periods of time.

Unknowingly, outdoor enthusiasts can transport these invaders to uninvaded habitats, sometimes seeding new infestations far from the original point of invasion. However, the insidious spread of Bythotrephes is not solely the direct result of human activities but is also exacerbated by climate change.

Changing conditions

The Canadian climate has been historically hostile to the Bythotrephes. But as global temperatures rise and weather patterns shift, more and more of Canada is experiencing conditions favourable for the proliferation of invasive species like Bythotrephes.

Warmer water temperatures, in particular, extend its breeding season, allowing for more reproductive cycles within a single year. This amplifies their population growth and colonization potential, hastening their spread across Canadian waters.

Read more:
Climate change means we may have to learn to live with invasive species

Milder winters and earlier ice melt may also enable Bythotrephes to survive and reproduce in regions where it was previously unable to establish populations. These changes in environmental conditions create novel opportunities for Bythotrephes to expand its range and out-compete native species for resources, exacerbating the ecological disruption caused by its invasion.

As we confront the dual challenges of invasive species management and climate change adaptation, it becomes increasingly clear that addressing the spread of Bythotrephes requires a holistic and interdisciplinary approach.

Commonly viewed as fleas, the Bythotrephes actually possess a number of key differences.

Solutions remain

The battle against the spread of Bythotrephes is multifaceted, requiring a blend of scientific research, policy action and public participation. After prevention, monitoring for early detection is critical.

Enhanced surveillance of known potential habitats can help identify new infestations early, enabling quicker actions to contain or eradicate outbreaks.

Public awareness and education are equally important. The adage “clean, drain, dry” should become a mantra for anyone engaging in aquatic recreation. By thoroughly cleaning and drying boats, gear and equipment, individuals can dramatically reduce the risk of transporting Bythotrephes and other invasive species to new locations.

Awareness campaigns can also inform the public about the critical role they play in stopping the spread of invasive species and protecting Canada’s aquatic biodiversity.

Investing in research to understand the ecological impact of Bythotrephes and to develop effective control measures is vital. Biological control strategies, habitat restoration and public education programs can all contribute to a comprehensive approach to managing this invasive threat.

Read more:
Invasive species are reshaping aquatic ecosystems, one lake at a time

The invasion of Bythotrephes in Canada is a stark reminder of the fragility of aquatic ecosystems and the complexity of managing invasive species in the face of climate change. By understanding the impact of Bythotrephes and taking deliberate steps to curb its spread, Canadians can protect their waterways and the diverse life they support.

There is power in informed action and collective will. It is a battle that requires the engagement of all — from scientists and policymakers to local communities and individuals. Together, we can halt the forward march of Bythotrephes cederströmii and preserve the ecological integrity of Canada’s precious aquatic ecosystems for future generations.

Sam Lucy Behle receives funding from MRC-Abitibi, NSERC, MELCCFP, CREAT and Fondation de la Faune du Québec.

Beatrix Beisner receives funding from NSERC and the FRQNT. She is Co-Director of the Groupe de recherche interuniversitaire en limnologie (GRIL), a research network of 12 Québec universities.

Guillaume Grosbois receives funding from MRC-Abitibi, NSERC, MELCCFP, CREAT and Fondation de la Faune du Québec.

– ref. How the invasive spiny water flea spread across Canada, and what we can do about it – https://theconversation.com/how-the-invasive-spiny-water-flea-spread-across-canada-and-what-we-can-do-about-it-227546

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

January 23, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: CONGRESSMAN BISHOP ANNOUNCES NEW ELIGIBILITY FOR HURRICANE HELENE FEMA DISASTER RELIEF
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Sanford D Bishop Jr (GA-02)

THOMASVILLE, Ga. – Congressman Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (GA-02) announced that several counties in Georgia’s Second Congressional District were added to the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Major Disaster Declaration for Hurricane Helene. The counties include:
- Thomas County – Individuals and households are now eligible to apply for financial and direct services (FEMA Individual Assistance)
- Dooly County, Grady County, Mitchell County, and Thomas County – local governments are now eligible for FEMA Public Assistance for repairs or replacement of disaster-damaged facilities (roads, bridges, water control facilities, public buildings and equipment, public utilities, parks, recreational, other facilities)
More information about these developments as well as federal, state, and local resources in response to Hurricane Helene are available on Congressman Bishop’s website at https://bishop.house.gov/resources-services/hurricane-preparedness.

Before and since Hurricane Helene hit Georgia and the southeast United States, Congressman Bishop has been in contact with the White House, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and FEMA. He and his staff have also been in regular contact with the Georgia Governor’s office, Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency (GEMA), and nongovernmental partners as they prepared for and responded to fallout from the hurricane.

“I have worked with federal, state, and local officials to make sure our efforts are coordinated to expedite assistance to our families, farmers, business owners, cities, and counties,” said Congressman Bishop. “Working with Congressman Austin Scott, Senators Ossoff and Warnock, the entire Georgia Delegation, and our Georgia state government partners we helped guide President Biden, Vice President Harris, and other federal emergency agencies through our Georgia communities that were hit hard by this storm.”

“Seeing the impact, first-hand, is crucial in understanding the challenges we face and appreciating the resilient spirit of Georgians as we rebuild,” added Congressman Bishop. “I will continue working to assure that Congress provides the needed resources to Georgia communities impacted by this hurricane.”

In response to Hurricane Helene, Congressman Bishop, along with his congressional colleagues urged President Biden to issue an expedited major disaster declaration for Georgia counties significantly impacted by the storm. That request was honored within 24 hours. He also sent a letter to U.S. House and U.S. Senate leadership asking for appropriations to be made available as soon as possible to fully fund unmet agricultural disaster relief needs.

Over 8,500 federal personnel have been on the ground, working side-by-side with state and local officials, to help survivors get what they need to begin their recovery. As of today, FEMA has approved over $860 million, which includes $507 million in assistance for individuals and communities affected and over $351.5 million for debris removal and activities to save lives, protect public health and safety and prevent damage to public and private property.

Georgia residents that need emergency or immediate assistance should contact GEMA via https://gema.georgia.gov/hurricane-helene or apply for financial assistance at disasterassistance.gov. These websites provide updated information on resources and shelters.

Georgia residents that need farm or ranch assistance can reach out to the USDA either by calling 877-508-8364 or visiting https://www.farmers.gov. For personalized assistance for your individual operation, use the Disaster Assistance Discovery Tool (https://www.farmers.gov/protection-recovery/disaster-tool) to determine eligibility.

Local governments requiring rural development assistance, such as housing, sewer, and water, can reach out to USDA at https://www.rd.usda.gov/resources/rural-development-disaster-assistance.

Poultry and livestock producers affected by Hurricane Helene can get assistance with emergency animal mortality disposal through USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Environmental Quality Incentives Program. You can learn more at https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs-initiatives/eqip-environmental-quality-incentives or by contacting your local USDA Service Center (find yours here by visiting https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/contact/find-a-service-center).

###

MIL OSI USA News –
January 23, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: NC Health and Human Services Secretary Kody H. Kinsley Travels to Buncombe and Henderson Counties

Source: US State of North Carolina

Headline: NC Health and Human Services Secretary Kody H. Kinsley Travels to Buncombe and Henderson Counties

NC Health and Human Services Secretary Kody H. Kinsley Travels to Buncombe and Henderson Counties
stonizzo
Wed, 10/16/2024 – 17:34

North Carolina Health and Human Services Secretary Kody H. Kinsley will travel to Buncombe and Henderson counties tomorrow with Senator Jim Burgin to survey damage and meet with people impacted by Hurricane Helene in these counties. They will first stop in Henderson County at the Disaster-SNAP (D-SNAP) Assistance Center in Hendersonville and then travel to the Henderson County Health Department to discuss recovery efforts and hold a brief media availability. Later, they will travel to Buncombe County with stops at the General Public Shelter at the Western NC Agricultural Center and Beloved Asheville, where there will be a brief media availability.

WHAT: NC Health and Human Services Secretary travels to

Buncombe and Henderson Counties

WHO: Kody H. Kinsley, Secretary, NCDHHS

Jim Burgin, NC State Senator, R-District 12

WHEN: Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024

WHERE: D-SNAP Assistance Center

Blue Ridge Commons Shopping Center

2111 Asheville Hwy

Hendersonville, NC 28739

Tour and Media Availability

12:15 p.m. – 1 p.m.

BeLoved Asheville

32 Old Charlotte Hwy

Asheville, NC 28803

Tour and Media Availability

2:30– 3 p.m.

MEDIA: Credentialed media should RSVP to news@dhhs.nc.gov for each stop they plan to attend.

Oct 16, 2024

MIL OSI USA News –

January 23, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Governor Cooper Visits Yancey and Mitchell Counties to Survey Storm Damage as Federal, State, Local and Non-profit Partners Continue Unprecedented Response to Helene
Source: US State of North Carolina

Headline: Governor Cooper Visits Yancey and Mitchell Counties to Survey Storm Damage as Federal, State, Local and Non-profit Partners Continue Unprecedented Response to Helene

Governor Cooper Visits Yancey and Mitchell Counties to Survey Storm Damage as Federal, State, Local and Non-profit Partners Continue Unprecedented Response to Helene
mseets
Wed, 10/16/2024 – 17:27
Today, Governor Roy Cooper traveled to Pensacola and Bakersville where he was joined by FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell, NCDPS Secretary Eddie Buffaloe and Commander of the State Highway Patrol Colonel Freddie Johnson to assess storm damage, witness relief operations and speak with those affected by Helene. In Pensacola, the Governor visited a supply distribution center operating at the Pensacola Volunteer Fire Department. In Bakersville, the Governor joined Mayor Charles Vines for a walking tour to see areas that sustained damage during the storm.

“Today I was on the ground in Pensacola, Yancey County and Bakersville, Mitchell County, talking with folks affected by Helene and seeing how hard people are working to rebuild from this storm,” said Governor Cooper. “The people of Western North Carolina are strong, and we will keep working with them to surge resources and to recover and rebuild their communities.”

The Major Disaster Declaration requested by Governor Cooper and granted by President Biden now includes the following North Carolina counties and designations which were added Tuesday night:
- Cabarrus, Cherokee, Forsyth, Graham, Iredell, Lee, Nash, Rowan, Stanly, Surry, Union, and Yadkin counties for Individual Assistance,
- Cabarrus, Cherokee, Forsyth, Graham, Iredell, Lee, Nash, Rowan, Stanly, Surry, Union and Yadkin counties for debris removal and emergency protective measures, including direct Federal assistance, under the Public Assistance program.
- Swain County for permanent work (already designated for Individual Assistance and assistance for debris removal and emergency protective measures, including direct Federal assistance, under the Public Assistance program.
The Major Disaster Declaration already includes 27 North Carolina counties (Alexander, Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Caldwell, Catawba, Clay, Cleveland, Gaston, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Lincoln, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mecklenburg, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Swain, Transylvania, Watauga, Wilkes and Yancey) and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.

Also today, Governor Cooper issued an emergency Executive Order authorizing the North Carolina Department of Commerce, Division of Employment Security, to increase the amount of weekly unemployment payments available to North Carolinians in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. As a result of this Order, weekly unemployment benefits will increase from a maximum of $350 a week to a maximum of $600 a week. Prior to the executive order, many low-income and part-time workers would have received less than the $350 weekly maximum. To ensure that these workers receive necessary benefits in the wake of Helene, the order will also increase benefits by $250 a week (up to the $600 cap) for all eligible workers. This order is tied to the State of Emergency for Hurricane Helene, and will remain in effect until the end of the Emergency or until it is rescinded.

Law enforcement is working to ensure the safety of responders amid reports of threats and misinformation. FEMA officials remain in communities and are conducting operations to help people impacted by these storms recover as quickly as possible following reports of threats on the ground. Governor Cooper has directed the Department of Public Safety to work with local law enforcement to identify specific threats and rumors and coordinate with FEMA and other partners to ensure the safety and security of all involved as this recovery effort continues.

North Carolina National Guard and Military Response

Nearly 3,400 Soldiers and Airmen are working in Western North Carolina. Joint Task Force- North Carolina, the task force led by the North Carolina National Guard is made up of Soldiers and Airmen from 12 different states, two different XVIII Airborne Corps units from Ft. Liberty, a unit from Ft. Campbell’s 101st Airborne Division, and numerous civilian entities are working side-by-side to get the much-needed help to people in Western North Carolina.

National Guard and military personnel are operating 12 aviation assets and approximately 1,200 specialized vehicles in Western North Carolina to facilitate these missions. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is helping to assess water and wastewater plants and dams. Residents can track the status of the public water supply in their area through this website.

FEMA Assistance

More than $102 million in FEMA Individual Assistance funds have been paid so far to Western North Carolina disaster survivors and approximately 181,000 people have registered for Individual Assistance. More than 2,000 households are now housed in hotels through FEMA’s Transitional Sheltering Assistance.

Approximately 1,400 FEMA staff are in the state to help with the Western North Carolina relief effort. In addition to search and rescue and providing commodities, they are meeting with disaster survivors in shelters and neighborhoods to provide rapid access to relief resources. They can be identified by their FEMA logo apparel and federal government identification.

North Carolinians can 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. FEMA may be able to help with serious needs, displacement, temporary lodging, basic home repair costs, personal property loss or other disaster-caused needs.

Help from Other States

More than 1,500 responders from 38 state and local agencies have performed 142 missions supporting the response and recovery efforts through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC). This includes public health nurses, emergency management teams supporting local governments, veterinarians, teams with search dogs and more.

Beware of Misinformation

North Carolina Emergency Management and local officials are cautioning the public about false Helene reports and misinformation being shared on social media. NCEM has launched a fact versus rumor response webpage to provide factual information in the wake of this storm. FEMA also has a rumor response webpage.

Efforts continue to provide food, water and basic necessities to residents in affected communities, using both ground resources and air drops from the NC National Guard. Food, water and commodity points of distribution are open throughout Western North Carolina. For information on these sites in your community, visit your local emergency management and local government social media and websites or visit ncdps.gov/Helene.

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.

Power Outages

Across Western North Carolina, approximately 11,000 customers remain without power, down from a peak of more than 1 million. Overall power outage numbers will fluctuate up and down as power crews temporarily take circuits or substations offline to make repairs and restore additional customers.

Road Closures

Some roads are closed because they are too damaged and dangerous to travel. Other roads still need to be reserved for essential traffic like utility vehicles, construction equipment and supply trucks. However, some parts of the area are open and ready to welcome visitors which is critical for the revival of Western North Carolina’s economy. If you are considering a visit to the area, consult DriveNC.gov for open roads and reach out to the community and businesses you want to visit to see if they are welcoming visitors back yet.

NCDOT currently has approximately 2,000 employees and 900 pieces of equipment working on approximately 7,000 damaged road sites.

Fatalities

Ninety-five storm-related deaths have been confirmed in North Carolina by the Office of Chief Medical Examiner. This number is expected 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.

Volunteers and Donations

If you would like to donate to the North Carolina Disaster Relief Fund, visit nc.gov/donate. Donations will help to support local nonprofits working on the ground.

For information on volunteer opportunities, please visit nc.gov/volunteernc

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.

For 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.

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Oct 16, 2024

MIL OSI USA News –
January 23, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Disaster Recovery Center to Close in St. Charles Parish
Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency

Headline: Disaster Recovery Center to Close in St. Charles Parish

Disaster Recovery Center to Close in St. Charles Parish
BATON ROUGE, La. – The Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) serving Louisiana survivors of Hurricane Francine in New Sarpy will close permanently at 3 p.m., today, Oct. 16.

The center is located at the Alan Arterbury Building, 14564 River Road, New Sarpy LA 70078.

Additional locations in Ascension, Assumption, Lafourche, Jefferson, St. James, St. John the Baptist, St. Mary and Terrebonne parishes are open. To find the DRC nearest to you, visit DRC Locator (fema.gov).

The centers will operate from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Saturday.

Residents in all nine parishes can visit any DRC to meet with representatives of FEMA, the U.S. Small Business Administration, along with other community partners. No appointment is needed to visit the center.

The centers are accessible to people with disabilities or access and functional needs and are equipped with assistive technology. If you need a reasonable accommodation or sign language interpreter, please call 833-285-7448 (press 2 for Spanish).

You do not have to visit a center to apply for FEMA disaster assistance. The quickest way to apply is by going online at disasterassistance.gov/.

Additional options when applying include:
- Download the FEMA App for mobile devices.
- Call the FEMA helpline at 800-621-3362 between 6 a.m. and 11 p.m. Help is available in most languages. If you use a relay service, such as video relay (VRS), captioned telephone or other service, give FEMA your number for that service.
- To view an accessible video about how to apply visit: Three Ways to Register for FEMA Disaster Assistance – YouTube.
For the latest information visit fema.gov/disaster/4817. Follow FEMA Region 6 social media at X.com/FEMARegion6 or on Facebook at facebook.com/femaregion6.
alexa.brown
Wed, 10/16/2024 – 22:08

MIL OSI USA News –
January 23, 2025
MIL-OSI New Zealand: Future focus critical for Doubtless Bay restoration | Conservation blog

Source: Department of Conservation

Erosion-prone banks, sedimented estuaries and waterways smothered with all the worst weeds. This is the confronting riverscape in Doubtless Bay on Northland’s east coast.

Scratch below the surface though and you find secretive native fish, kōura and insects thriving in little pockets, excellent swimming holes, hapū who care deeply for their awa and whenua, and a community that totally supports work to restore the rivers. It’s for their children, mokopuna and future generations.

Climate change effects in the bay

DOC’s Ngā Awa river ranger Maddy Jopling lives in the area and has seen issues with flooding, erosion and pollution after storms and heavy rain first-hand. She’s not alone.

Farmers have come to fear heavy rain warnings, knowing they will be faced with costs to move and repair fences. Slips destabilise plantation forests and add to fine sediment being carried downstream. Hapū have noticed the loss of prime cockle beds near the Taipā River mouth in the last 20 years. Lifestyle block owners are concerned about the rivers nibbling away at their land and its value diminishing.

“We’re already seeing climate change happening here with more intense weather and more frequent, damaging floods,” says Maddy.

“And sadly, there are other things we’ll have to contend with in the future, such as worse droughts, increased risk of wildfires and sea-level rise affecting land around the coast.”

Taipā River estuary where hapū have noticed increased sediment and falling numbers of cockles in the last 20 years. Image credit: Sarah Wilcox.

Healthy rivers need healthy land

Maddy’s job as river ranger for Doubtless Bay is to work with hapū and community to restore the biodiversity of the rivers from source to sea. The bay’s three rivers and their tributaries are treated as a single catchment, so there’s a big area involved.

“It’s critical to think about the future when planting or restoring habitat for native species in Doubtless Bay. Otherwise we won’t get the improvements in river health and biodiversity that we all want.”

A local hapū collective and many local landowners, groups and agencies are interested in or are already involved in restoration work. There is also support from industry representatives.

“The hapū collective wanted to know more about how climate change is likely to affect their rohe and what they could do now to build resilience. I’d also heard a lot of people talk about how the trees they’d put in had collapsed or fencing that had been washed away by floods.”

River ranger Maddy Jopling pointing out locations of the day’s site visits. Image credit: Sarah Wilcox.

Equipping the community with best practice revegetation information

Maddy says she saw an opportunity for DOC to support future work by providing best-practice, practical information to help advise and prioritise restoration planting in the catchment.

“We wanted to help people make the best decisions about what to plant where and how to tackle the really difficult issues.

“People also told me about what had worked for them in the past. So when we were setting up the project, we knew it was going to be important to visit a whole range of different places, especially those that are typical of many places here. It makes sense that local people know their land better than anyone.”

Drawing on ecology and mapping expertise

The project started with hapū, community members and DOC science and technical staff taking forest ecologist Dr Adam Forbes and mapping specialist Dr Brad Case on a tour of the catchment. The group visited more than 20 diverse sites in the in the Awapoko, Oruru and Oruaiti subcatchments over 3 days in late summer.

Brad Case presenting maps at a community seminar before the site visits. Image credit: Sarah Wilcox.

Based on this information and the site visits, the pair have created treatments for 12 different types of habitat in the catchment. The treatments outline possible changes to the vegetation to take climate change and human preferences into account, protect the coast and freshwater and restore wetlands.

Adam says visiting all the different sites in Doubtless Bay was really important.

Adam Forbes discussing revegetation options on a site visit. Image credit: Sarah Wilcox.

“I couldn’t have done this without going to the sites and talking to everyone. It enabled me to find out what’s out there and what the issues are.”

He has mined a range of databases to create the treatments, drawing on list of plants for the area, planting densities, flammability ratings and listed options to tackle some of the catchment’s big issues.

“I’ve included a list of species that are relevant for restoration in these catchments for both the pioneer stage and the enrichment stage, once the canopy has been established. There are some neat regionally specific endemic species included, which provide options for people.”

Adam has helpfully provided information on timing, risks, management, maintenance and avenues of support.

Some examples of revegetation treatments

One suggested treatment is for sites in the lower rivers where īnanga spawn. The areas are currently open and weedy with willows and poplars that can keel over into the river during floods. Adam suggests getting light native forest established, including species that īnanga favour for spawning.

Alligator weed, crack willow and ginger are among the profilic weeds established at many sites in the lower rivers. Image credit: Sarah Wilcox.

Another treatment is for steep hill country with a tendency to slip. These areas are currently in pasture but establishing native vegetation would stabilise the hillsides and reduce erosion downstream.

Mapping reveals hotspots for priority work

Brad has created a series of catchment maps that show different information about the catchment such as susceptibility to erosion and flooding. Overlaying the maps highlights hotspots where multiple issues overlap.

Adam has included many of these areas in his 12 revegetation treatments.

Map of the Doubtless Bay catchment showing vulnerability to climate change effects from lowest (green) to highest (red).

Maddy continues, “When I saw the catchment mapping, I was really excited about the fact that it will help us prioritise restoration as a community at a landscape scale.”

“When you’re going out and doing your restoration work, the scale can be quite overwhelming. There’s so much to do! But the way Brad’s done the modelling makes it really obvious where we need to focus a bit more effort from a climate change perspective.”

Sharing the findings

The report is now available from our website: Doubtless Bay rivers webpage (or download Doubtless Bay revegetation options)

“Adam and Brad have shared the report and discussed their findings with the community already. We’re really interested in feedback though and will continue to work with the community to put the information into practice.”

About Ngā Awa river restoration programme

Taking a whole catchment approach, Ngā Awa is working in partnership with iwi, hapū and communities to restore the biodiversity of 12 rivers from mountains to sea. The three rivers in Doubtless Bay are one of the restoration catchments.

The programme’s goal is to see river ecosystems and species thriving from mountains to sea, which enrich people’s lives. This is achieved by collaborating with others, co-designing and co-leading with iwi, hapū and whānau and recognising climate change. Planning the restoration work is underpinned by sound technical and scientific advice.

From left, Adam Forbes, Brad Case and Tiger Tukariri (Matarahurahu, Kenana) checking possible sites to visit in the upper Oruaiti catchment. Image credit: Sarah Wilcox.

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MIL OSI New Zealand News –

January 23, 2025
MIL-OSI New Zealand: International Energy Agency issues wake-up call on climate action

Source: Green Party

Today’s report from the International Energy Agency highlights how far this Government’s actions are dragging us backwards in the fight against climate change.

“Luxon’s decision to pour fossil fuel on the climate crisis fire actively undermines not only energy security and resilience, but a climate-safe future,” says Green Party Co-Leader and spokesperson for Climate Change Chlöe Swarbrick.

“Today the International Energy Agency issued its annual energy outlook with the key message: energy security and climate action are inextricably linked.

“The IEA have once again underscored that efficient, cleaner energy systems reduce energy security risks.

“Unfortunately, we have a Government operating in half-truths, weaponising the energy crisis created by reliance on fossil fuels and incentivised by profit-at-all-costs to somehow justify reinforcing and worsening those very settings.

“The Prime Minister and his Government have tied themselves in knots with the tentacles of the fossil fuel industry, lifting the oil and gas ban, tearing through pristine biodiversity with more coal mines and opening our shores to LNG imports. These actions actively undermine a clean, green transition which is not only critical for a stable climate, but a resilient energy system too.

“A better world is possible. Affordable, more reliable, renewable and resilient energy distribution is possible. Communities across Aotearoa New Zealand want and deserve it. The Greens will continue to fight to deliver that future owed to all of us,” says Chlöe Swarbrick.

MIL OSI New Zealand News –

January 23, 2025
MIL-OSI Australia: Gympie Bypass opens to traffic

Source: Australian Ministers 1

The Albanese and Queensland Government funded Gympie Bypass has opened to traffic, a significant improvement for residents with heavy vehicles no longer needing to travel through Gympie.

The $1.162 billion Bypass cuts travel times, improves motorist safety, access and flood immunity.

The project has constructed a new 26-kilometres, four-lane divided highway between the existing Bruce Highway interchange at Woondum, just south of Gympie, and Curra.

It includes three new interchanges – at Flood Road, Gympie Connection Road and Curra. There are also 42 new bridges at 23 locations.

Over the next couple of weeks and months, the Gympie community will begin to see the positive impact of fewer heavy vehicles, while freight efficiency will be improved.

Motorists can still also access Gympie from the Old Bruce Highway via the interchange at Woondum and from Curra in the north.

The Gympie Bypass is jointly funded, with the Australian Government contributing $929.6 million and the Queensland Government contributing $232.4 million.

It is the final section of a 62-kilometre Bruce Highway program of works between Cooroy and Curra, totalling $2.549 billion. Construction of the overall Cooroy to Curra program began in September 2009.

While major construction for the bypass is finished, there will be some intermittent works over the next few weeks while the crew finishes some minor activities on the connections at either end of the new highway.

Further details can be found on the Transport and Main Roads website at http://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/cooroytocurra (select ‘Section D’).

Quotes attributable to Prime Minister of Australia Anthony Albanese:

“This vital infrastructure project has been a long time coming for the locals and visitors who travel throughout the Gympie region.

“We recognise the importance of upgrading the Bruce Highway, which is why we have committed almost $1 billion to the project.

“This is the culmination of 15 years’ worth of construction on the 62-kilometre Bruce Highway upgrade between Cooroy and Curra, and it is wonderful to see motorists will now be able to reap benefits of a completed Gympie Bypass.”

Quotes attributable to Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Catherine King:

“The Gympie Bypass opening to traffic today is a monumental achievement by the Australian and Queensland governments.

“This stretch of highway will improve safety, flood resilience and capacity for motorists as well as meet the transport needs of the Gympie and Sunshine Coast communities well into the future.

“We know how important continued investment in major infrastructure upgrades is, and that’s why in this year’s Federal Budget we allocated a further $467 million towards several projects along the Bruce Highway like the Gympie Bypass to ensure they get delivered for Queenslanders.”

Quotes attributable to Minister for Assistant Minister for Regional Development and Senator for Queensland Anthony Chisholm:

“This opening has been a long time coming. Gympie residents and regular visitors to this popular part of Queensland will be thrilled to hear that the bypass is ready to use.

“Today’s opening is the culmination of 15 years’ worth of construction on this 62-kilometre upgrade to the Bruce Highway, which will improve safety, flood resilience and is designed to meet the transport needs of the Gympie, Maryborough and Sunshine Coast communities well into the future.”

MIL OSI News –

January 23, 2025
MIL-OSI Australia: Fogbow, solar eclipse and an aurora captured in 2025 Australian Weather Calendar

Source: Weather Warnings – Australia

15/10/2024

Issued: Tues 15 October 2024

An elusive optical effect caused by light bending through fog, space weather and a total solar eclipse are among the weather phenomena captured in the Bureau of Meteorology’s Australian Weather Calendar for 2025.

Photos submitted by professional and amateur photographers from across the country are featured in the latest edition of the popular annual calendar.

The photos in the 2025 calendar takes viewers on a journey throughout the country’s many climate zones from Tasmania’s central highlands in the south to the Arafura Sea off the Northern Territory.

The calendar features photos from across Australia which were entered and judged through the Bureau’s yearly photo competition.

National Community Information Manager Andrea Peace said the images were selected from a strong offering of over 500 entries.

“Each month features a photo of a different weather phenomenon alongside a meteorological description written by the Bureau’s meteorologists,” Ms. Peace said.

“The photos offer a glimpse into the science behind how the weather works, and how the Bureau’s services meet the needs of the Australian community and industries.

“Some of the fascinating weather phenomena captured on camera in this year’s selection include unusual cloud formations known as Cirrus uncinus, glowing anticrepuscular sun rays, a glorious sunrise in regional WA, a colourful Aurora australis and moody thunderstorms.”

Featured as the February photo is a waterspout, captured by hobby photographer Cathryn Vasseleu off the Arafura Sea in the NT, after she spotted the unusual sight by chance while birdwatching.

The phenomenon is a tornado that occurs over water and forms a twisting funnel of liquid and vapour, usually only lasting about 5-10 minutes but which can create havoc with winds of over 100km/h.

The much less destructive phenomenon of a fogbow — an optical effect caused by light bending through fog, producing a colourless rainbow — was captured by weather chaser David Metcalf in country NSW and features as the June image.

The perfectly wintery scene of a wombat braving the snow as it journeys through Tasmania’s central highlands was captured by Tassie local Gill Dayton and selected as the cover image for the 2025 edition.

Several of the photos within the calendar reflect the dedication often needed to capture fleeting weather phenomena on camera like spectacular lightning strikes captured in split-second moments.

The December photo of a dazzling Aurora australis display taken by weather-obsessed photographer Rusli Hashim in Northern Tasmania was the photographer’s dream image, captured in the early hours of the morning following an all-night aurora stakeout.

Now in its 41st year, the weather calendar has been celebrating the best of Australian weather photography since 1983.

The 2025 Australian Weather Calendar is on sale now.

Order online at https://shop.bom.gov.au/

ENDS

More information, including detailed meteorological information and photographer profiles, is available by contacting media@bom.gov.au.

Please contact media@bom.gov.au for high-res copies of all images in this year’s Calendar.

Detailed information on each photo’s location and weather phenomenon are listed below, with photo credits.

Per the conditions of entry when photos are submitted, all winning images can only be published in support of Australian Weather Calendar promotion or story. The images cannot be used for any other purpose or project, or in conjunction with any other Bureau media. The photographers retain all rights so image copyright line must accompany each image.

Photo credits:

Cover – Snow, Central Highlands, Tas – Gill Dayton

January – Sunrise and fog, Mornington, WA – Bernard Shaw

February – Water spout, Rapid Creek, NT – Cathryn Vasseleu

March – Lightning strike, Sydney, NSW – Philipp Glanz

April – Solar eclipse, Exmouth, WA – Barend Becker

May – Rainbow and lightning, Derby, WA – JJ Rao

June – Fogbow, Tuena, NSW – David Metcalf

July – Streaky clouds, Yamanto, Qld – Sharon Smolenski

August – Lightning strike, San Remo, Vic – Anna Carson

September – Dust cloud, Merredin, WA – Grant Stainer

October – Rainbow and storm, Nightcliff, NT – Patch Clapp

November – Fog, Mount Beerwah, Qld – Billy Tillott

December – Aurora australis, Squeaking Point, Tas – Rusli Hashim

MIL OSI News –

January 23, 2025
MIL-OSI New Zealand: Falling Inflation Reflects a Falling Economy

Source: Council of Trade Unions – CTU

Data released by Stats NZ today showed inflation slowed to an annual rate of 2.2%, reflecting lower petrol prices and a weaker economy, said NZCTU Economist Craig Renney.

“The data shows that petrol prices fell 8% annually, and vegetable prices fell 18% annually. These reflect both softer global demand and a return to normal harvests after Cyclone Gabrielle. Prices for discretionary spending items such as furniture, electronics, or second-hand vehicles fell. This suggests weak demand and low consumer confidence, which is exactly what you would expect when unemployment is rising,” said Renney.

“Inflation and rising costs that can’t be avoided by households kept rising much faster than the headline rate. Electricity costs are up 7.4% a year. Rates bills rose 12% last year. Pharmaceutical products rose 17% with the reintroduction of prescription fees. Housing insurance was up 20% from last year.

“Rents were the biggest contributor to annual inflation, up 4.5%. It’s clear that the landlord tax cuts aren’t working to reduce rents. Low-income households, struggling after real terms cuts to the minimum wage this year, will still be feeling the pinch of these increases.

“One of the biggest drivers of the fall in inflation was the reduction in early childhood costs associated with the new family boost payment. Without that change quarterly inflation would have risen from 0.6% in September to 0.9%. Yet we know that more than half of all eligible households aren’t claiming that support – meaning that fall is unlikely to be translating into families’ pockets for many. Petrol pricing was supported by the one-off removal of the Auckland Fuel Tax, and with rising oil prices globally that fall is unlikely to be sustained.

“Inflation is falling right now, but low-income workers might not be feeling the benefit as inflation they can’t escape keeps rising. Lower inflation is good news if it doesn’t come at a cost of much higher unemployment, which every forecast tells us will be happening.

“With inflation now being back in the target band, the Government has no reason to not invest in making sure that unemployment doesn’t happen. Anything else is a choice,” said Renney.

MIL OSI New Zealand News –

January 23, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Photos: Rubio Visits Charlotte County Post-hurricane Milton

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator for Florida Marco Rubio

Photos: Rubio Visits Charlotte County Post-hurricane Milton

Oct 15, 2024 | Press Releases

Following Hurricane Milton’s catastrophic impact on communities throughout Florida, U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) met with Charlotte County emergency management personnel, local officials, and small business owners to discuss the storm’s impact and current recovery efforts.

Photo courtesy of Senator Rubio’s office.

Senator Rubio meets with emergency management personnel at the Charlotte County Emergency Operations Center.

Senator Rubio meets with constituents in Charlotte County.

Senator Rubio discusses Hurricane recovery with Punta Gorda Mayor Lynne Matthews and River City Grill and River City Italia owners Doug and Diane Ameral.

Senator Rubio surveys damage at Leroy’s in Charlotte County.

MIL OSI USA News –

January 23, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Senator Markey Maps Need for Climate Action and Highlights Federal Investments in Massachusetts Climate Resilience, Following Extreme Weather Events Across the Country

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts Ed Markey

Calls for more investment in resilient schools and hospitals and for a federal climate emergency declaration

WATCH: Senator Markey, advocates discuss climate resilience

Senator Markey joined by City Councilor Gabriela “Gigi” Coletta Zapata; Brian Swett, Boston’s Chief Climate Officer; Dwaign Tyndal, Executive Director of Alternatives for Community and Environment (ACE); and John Walkey, Noemy Rodriguez, and Roseann Bongiovanni from GreenRoots.

Boston (October 15, 2024) – Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) today was joined in Boston by local officials and advocates to call for increased federal investment to bolster the climate resilience of regions at risk of sea level rise – exacerbated by devastation from climate change-fueled storms, as well as highlight ongoing resiliency projects in Massachusetts, following two devastating hurricanes in the southeastern United States that are expected to cost $300 billion and have resulted in more than 250 deaths. Senator Markey announced that over the past two years, Boston, Chelsea, and Revere have already secured more than $75 million from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act for resiliency projects that include building resilient transportation corridors in Roxbury, greening the Chelsea Creek waterfront, and making the MBTA (Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority) Blue Line more flood resistant. In total, Massachusetts has secured approximately $200 million for climate resiliency projects from those two laws so far. Senator Markey was joined by Brian Swett, Chief Climate Officer for the City of Boston; Boston City Councilor Gabriela Coletta Zapata; Roseann Bongiovanni, Noemy Rodriguez, and John Walkey from GreenRoots; and Dwaign Tyndal, Executive Director of Alternatives for Community and Environment (ACE).

“If we don’t drive down our emissions as a country, we could see more than six feet of sea level rise by the end of the century. That’s sunny-day flooding in neighborhoods from East Boston to Back Bay. TD Garden wouldn’t be flooded with a sea of fans—it would be flooded by the sea itself. Back Bay will go back to the bay,” said Senator Markey. “Our task is twofold. One, cut climate pollution by ushering in a clean energy revolution unlike any we’ve seen before, dismantling our dependence on fossil fuels. And two, prepare for the future by investing in resilient buildings and strong communities. Thanks in part to the Inflation Reduction Act and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, we are well on our way to meet that second goal. In Massachusetts, we don’t wait, we create.”

“Chelsea and East Boston, the two communities that we serve at GreenRoots, are frontline environmental justice communities that are disproportionately impacted by environmental assault. On a daily basis, environmental justice communities throughout the United States and in the Global South face increased frequency of severe storms, storm surge, sea level rise, drought, heat island impacts, wildfires and much more. We need federal leadership like that of Senator Markey’s to prioritize policies and investments in climate resilience and climate justice, an end to fossil fuel use, and implementing greater renewable, resilient energy,” said Roseann Bongiovanni, Executive Director of GreenRoots.

“Many of the people here have immigrated as a result of natural disasters in their home countries, and with climate change, we know that natural disasters are only going to be increasing in number. When this happens, we need to ask the questions, ‘Where are we going to go? What is going to happen to us?’ These are the questions and worries that many of us have, not just for East Boston, but all over the country. We are the first generation feeling the effects of climate change and we may be the last generation that can do something about it,” said Noemy Rodriguez, Waterfront Initiative Organizer at GreenRoots.

“We know that when climate change happens, the least among us are the first affected and the worst affected. We frequently say that people are a paycheck away from disaster. According to FEMA, just an inch of floodwater in a home causes roughly about $25,000 in damages. There are over 400,000 Massachusetts residents living in the hundred-year flood zone which means more than a one in four chance of having a flood during a 30-year mortgage period. If home ownership is the route to generational wealth that we would leave to the next generation, we need to be planning and prepared for this,” said John Walkey, Director of Climate Justice & Waterfront Initiatives.

“Boston is deeply grateful for Senator Markey’s unwavering leadership in securing critical federal funds that are bolstering our city’s climate resilience. Thanks to our partners in the federal government, Boston has secured over $60 million in grants for coastal resilience projects helping us protect our neighborhoods from rising sea levels and extreme storms. However, with the increasing frequency of extreme weather, much more work remains, and additional funding is essential to fully safeguard our city and its most vulnerable communities,” said Brian Swett, Chief Climate Officer for the City of Boston.

“We have a moral obligation to move quickly to identify all strategies and tools that are at our disposal to ensure that Boston’s forty-seven-mile coastline is resilient and to protect these residents. I want to thank Senator Markey for his leadership in the Senate, and President Biden’s leadership in securing these necessary federal funds that Boston is now being awarded, which will help protect our communities. This is our next big challenge. We need the resources, capital, and collaboration to adequately protect Boston. We need the vital investments coming down the pike from the federal government in both green and gray infrastructure to protect our future. I am hopeful, with the level of partnership and leadership on display here across all levels of government, advocacy groups and philanthropy, and I know that we will continue to lean in and get it done,” said Boston City Councilor Gabriela “Gigi” Coletta Zapata.

“This is a reminder, a call to arms, a warning and a reality check. We may have more resources than imagination to deal with this issue. We have all the policy, the information, and the possible solutions. The struggle now is to push beyond our imagination to do what we need to get this done. This is not going to be a part of the political cycle, or fundraising cycles, but part of the continual struggle and persistence that many of us are here today are taking part in,” said Dwaign Tyndal, Executive Director of Alternatives for Community and Environment (ACE).

The destruction of extreme weather events is disproportionately felt by Black, Brown, low-income, and immigrant communities, who are burdened by historical disinvestment and the compounded effects of legacy pollution and dangerous infrastructure sited in their neighborhoods. Under the Biden-Harris administration, including through the historic Inflation Reduction Act and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, federal funding has come to Massachusetts to help prevent the worsening impacts of climate change and support the Commonwealth’s climate resilience efforts, but continued federal investment in resiliency and clean energy will be needed to help avoid worsening disasters and billion-dollar storm recoveries in the future.

Senator Markey has been working to ensure that Massachusetts is climate resilient and prepared for extreme weather events, which are only increasing in frequency due to climate change. On October 4, Senator Markey joined Mayor Jennifer Macksey for a briefing on the Hoosic River Flood Mitigation Study, a project that aims to evaluate potential flood risk reduction measures and support development of a new flood mitigation system built with 21st-century engineering standards. Senator Markey led the effort to get the study included in the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA), advocated for $750,000 in funding for the Army Corps of Engineers this year, and has secured $950,000 in the pending appropriations bill for Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25).

In September, Senator Markey announced a grant of $472 million from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to the MBTA to fully replace the North Station Draw One Bridge and renovate Platform F at North Station. The grant is the largest federal award the MBTA has won to date. The nearly half a billion-dollar grant will provide critical support for one of MBTA’s top priority projects and a vital transportation asset to MBTA’s north-side operations. It will also support more than 14,500 jobs, make the bridge more climate resilient by bringing it above projected sea-level rise, and lower emissions.

In August, on the second anniversary of the historic Inflation Reduction Act, Senator Markey launched his Climate Hub, a centralized site with resources to help stakeholders navigate opportunities from both the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) and the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). Together, these two laws have created the largest and most significant climate and clean energy investments in history, putting the United States on a path to address the climate crisis, repair historic harms to disadvantaged communities, create good-paying union jobs in the clean energy economy, and work towards a Green New Deal future.

MIL OSI USA News –

January 23, 2025
MIL-OSI New Zealand: Parliament Hansard Report – Petitions, Papers, Select Committee Reports, and Introduction of Bills – 001419
Source: New Zealand Parliament – Hansard

PETITIONS, PAPERS, SELECT COMMITTEE REPORTS, AND INTRODUCTION OF BILLS

SPEAKER: No petitions have been delivered to the Clerk, but Ministers have delivered 18 papers.

CLERK:
- 2023-24 annual reports of ACC, Crown Irrigation Investments, Crown Law, Inland Revenue, Kāinga Ora, LINZ, MBIE, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, NZQA, the Remuneration Authority, Stats NZ
- Reports on the 2023-24 non-departmental appropriations for Vote Education, Vote Housing and Urban Development, and the Emergency Management and Recovery portfolio
- Government response to the Climate Change Commission’s Monitoring report: Emissions reduction (July 2024); the ACC 2023-24 climate report and 2024-25 service agreement.
SPEAKER: Those papers are published under the authority of the House. No select committee papers have been presented. No bills have been introduced.

MIL OSI New Zealand News –
January 23, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Senator Reverend Warnock, Georgia Delegation Colleagues Demand EPA Regulate BioLab Chemicals Following Latest Incident at Conyers Facility

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock – Georgia

Senator Reverend Warnock, Georgia Delegation Colleagues Demand EPA Regulate BioLab Chemicals Following Latest Incident at Conyers Facility

Senator Reverend Warnock is calling on the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to strengthen federal oversight of facilities manufacturing or storing certain hazardous chemicals
Senator Reverend Warnock joined Senator Jon Ossoff in the bicameral push with Representatives Hank Johnnson, David Scott, Lucy McBath, and Nikema Williams
ICYMI from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Georgia congressional leaders demand EPA scrutiny of BioLab chemicals
Senator Reverend Warnock, lawmakers: “Given TCCA’s involvement in multiple safety incidents due to its highly reactive properties, we urge the EPA to include it on the list of regulated substances under the Risk Management Program (RMP)”
Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA) led a bicameral push to urge the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to strengthen federal oversight of facilities manufacturing or storing certain hazardous chemicals in the wake of the latest incident at the BioLab plant in Conyers.
Leading alongside Senator Jon Ossoff (D-GA), Congressman Hank Johnson (D-GA-04), and joined by U.S. House Representatives David Scott (D-GA-13), Lucy McBath (D-GA-07) and Nikema Williams (D-GA-05), Senator Warnock sent a letter to EPA Administrator Michael Regan urging the agency to enhance federal oversight of facilities that manufacture and/or store the hazardous chemical Trichloroisocyanuric Acid (TCCA), which is at the heart of the incident at the BioLab plant in Conyers. The environmental and public health crisis that has been ongoing since September 29.
“We are concerned that facilities like BioLab Conyers, which manufacture and/or store TCCA are improperly managing these substances,” the lawmakers wrote. “When not handled correctly, these chemicals can contaminate local air, water, and soil, posing severe public health risks which include respiratory issues, skin irritations, and long-term conditions like lung and heart disease.”
Specifically, the lawmakers urge the EPA to “include it on the list of regulated substances under the Risk Management Program (RMP),” which would prompt federal and state agencies to develop more effective safety protocols and management strategies, ensuring stricter adherence to safety standards for facilities handling this chemical.
“The gravity of this situation underscores the need for changes to the federal and state regulatory systems,” concluded the lawmakers.
The lawmakers are also requesting the agency respond to nine key questions surrounding the reactive chemical in question.
Read the letter HERE or below.
The Honorable Michael Regan
Administrator
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20460
Dear Administrator Regan,
We are writing to urge the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to take immediate action to enhance federal oversight of facilities that manufacture and/or store the hazardous chemical Trichloroisocyanuric Acid (TCCA).
On September 29, 2024, just after Hurricane Helene slammed the area, a catastrophic chemical fire took place at the BioLab facility in Conyers, Georgia, that stores TCCA. The fire released a large, billowing plume of hazardous, toxic gasses into the air, which caused the closure of parts of Interstate 20 for nearly 17 hours, with local businesses and government offices forced to close while 17,000 residents living near the plant were forced to evacuate.
As of today, toxic substances continue to rise into the air from the smoldering ruins of the plant, with corporate and government officials being unable to offer a specific timetable as to when the danger will end. People not just in the immediate vicinity of the plant but also millions across southeastern metropolitan Atlanta are under constant exposure to hazardous air quality. This incident has raised serious concerns about the community’s vulnerability to toxic chemical exposure. The danger is heightened by approaching rain which will douse the collapsed building under which millions of pounds of TCCA remain exposed to moisture.
BioLab, a division of KIK Consumer Products, manufactures and stores millions of pounds of chemical mixtures primarily composed of TCCA at the Conyers, Georgia facility. When TCCA comes into contact with small amounts of water, a hazardous chemical reaction is triggered that generates heat and causes decomposition of the chemical and can in turn produces toxic chlorine gas and can also produce explosive nitrogen trichloride. The Conyers BioLab facility has experienced three separate chemical incidents in the past seven years, four in the past 20. Each event resulted in dangerous chemical reactions and fires, releasing toxic gases like chlorine into the air.
There have been conflicting reports on what caused the most recent fire at the Conyers facility. One report cited water used to douse a fire on the roof of the plant seeping in, while another report blames the fire on a malfunctioning sprinkler system. Rainwater from Hurricane Helene seeping into the BioLab facility during and after Hurricane Helene has not been ruled out as a cause as well.
We are concerned that facilities like BioLab Conyers, which manufacture and/or store TCCA are improperly managing these substances. When not handled correctly, these chemicals can contaminate local air, water, and soil, posing severe public health risks which include respiratory issues, skin irritations, and long-term conditions like lung and heart disease.
A similar incident occurred on August 27, 2020, at the Lake Charles BioLab facility in Westlake, Louisiana, in the aftermath of Hurricane Laura. The facility sustained severe damage after TCCA manufactured and stored therein was moistened by small amounts of water and decomposed, producing toxic chlorine gas and nitrogen trichloride. These gases ignited, causing a fire and noxious clouds of toxic gases. The U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazardous Investigation Board (CSB) investigated the incident and issued safety recommendations to minimize the consequences of future accidental chemical releases like the Lake Charles incident.
The 2023 (CSB) report on BioLab Lake Charles found a regulatory gap regarding the oversight of chemicals like TCCA, particularly in their classification and management under existing federal regulations. Given TCCA’s involvement in multiple safety incidents due to its highly reactive properties, we urge the EPA to include it on the list of regulated substances under the Risk Management Program (RMP).
This action will prompt federal and state agencies to develop more effective safety protocols and management strategies, ensuring stricter adherence to safety standards for facilities handling this chemical. We hope the Conyers debacle will prompt the inclusion of TCCA to the Process Safety Management (PSM) Standard under the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).
We call on the EPA to collaborate with states to implement training programs specifically designed for emergency responders and facility staff. These programs should address the unique challenges posed by reactive chemicals that adversely react to water used to extinguish fires, focusing on appropriate firefighting techniques, chemical behavior, and risk assessment. The EPA, in partnership with state fire marshals and chemical safety experts, can establish comprehensive guidelines for fire suppression techniques tailored to reactive chemicals, including recommendations for effective alternative extinguishing agents, such as dry chemical extinguishers or foam.
Considering these concerns, we respectfully request clarification by November 20, 2024, on the following matters regarding regulatory oversight and preventative measures at chemical facilities like BioLab:
1. Has the EPA, in conjunction with the State of Georgia, initiated any investigations or inspections regarding BioLab Conyers’ compliance with federal environmental and chemical safety and risk management standards following its incidents since 2020?
2. What immediate actions are the EPA and State agencies taking in response to this latest fire, given the history of public safety concerns at the Conyers facility?
3. The 2023 Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) found that TCCA and TCCA-based formulations are not covered by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Process Safety Management (PSM) Standard. Has there been any progress in addressing this regulatory gap?
4. Following the BioLab Conyers incident, is the EPA considering adding TCCA to the list of regulated substances under the Risk Management Program (RMP)?
5. How is the EPA collaborating with state agencies to ensure that chemical facilities like BioLab Conyers are prepared for extreme weather events that could worsen fire hazards or hazardous material spills?
6. In response to BioLab Conyers’ repeated safety failures, what specific measures will the EPA implement with state agencies to improve fire preparedness protocols, particularly for training facility staff and local emergency responders on handling fires involving non-water extinguishable substances?
7. Does the EPA anticipate monitoring potential groundwater, soil, and water contamination from the chemical fire at the Conyers BioLab facility?
8. We understand that the EPA is working to monitor air quality following the chemical fire. What steps has the EPA taken to inform affected communities of their findings and recommendations to safeguard the health and safety of these communities and their environment?
a.How have the locations and spatial extent of the EPA’s air quality monitoring area changed as the location and direction of the smoke plume has shifted?
9. What specific additional authority and resources does the EPA need to effectively prevent future incidents at chemical facilities like BioLab Conyers?
The gravity of this situation underscores the need for changes to the federal and state regulatory systems. We look forward to your prompt response and urge robust, decisive measures to address the serious environmental and safety concerns posed by incidents like this.

MIL OSI USA News –

January 23, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: U.S. Marines Complete Typhoon Krathon Humanitarian Assistance Efforts

Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

MANILA, Philippines –

U.S. Marines across multiple forward-deployed commands concluded six days of foreign disaster relief efforts in the Philippines Oct. 10, 2024, supporting the U.S. Agency for International Development’s humanitarian response to Typhoon Krathon (locally known as Julian) at the request of the Philippine government.

Marines and Sailors from Marine Rotational Force – Southeast Asia (MRF-SEA); 1st Marine Aircraft Wing (1st MAW); III Marine Expeditionary Force (III MEF); and the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit (15th MEU) embarked aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Boxer (LHD 4) delivered nearly 96,000 pounds of foreign disaster relief supplies to Batan Island, a remote island in the Batanes Province and one of the locations most impacted by Krathon.

Typhoon Krathon originated 155 miles southwest of Okinawa before moving northwest, reaching peak intensity Oct. 1, with sustained winds of 195 kph (120 mph). Krathon heavily battered the northern islands of the Philippines, leading to evacuations, infrastructure damage, and food supply insecurity in affected communities.

At the request of the Government of the Republic of the Philippines, U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin directed U.S. Indo-Pacific Command to support USAID’s relief efforts due to the unique capabilities and high state of readiness of forward-deployed U.S. Marine Corps forces.

MRF-SEA first arrived in the Philippines in late September to participate in upcoming training exercises with the Armed Forces of the Philippines. Operating out of Fort Bonifacio, Philippines, MRF-SEA immediately began coordination with the U.S. Department of State, USAID, the AFP, and other U.S. Marine Corps units to plan support for the relief effort. Two teams of Marines and Sailors from MRF-SEA integrated with USAID and AFP personnel in Manila and Laoag to plan and prepare for the arrival of KC-130J Super Hercules aircraft from 1st MAW in Okinawa, Japan, and personnel from 3rd Marine Logistics Group.

“Before Marine Corps aircraft ever touched down in the Philippines, Marines and Sailors with MRF-SEA were integrated with our partners in the U.S. and Philippine governments, on site at Villamor Air Base and Laoag International Airport, with the manpower and heavy equipment needed to package and move aid material,” said Col. Stuart Glenn, commanding officer, MRF-SEA. “Forward-deployed Marine Corps forces allow us to quickly respond to humanitarian missions because we’re already in the region. I am extremely proud that our team was able to set the necessary conditions to quickly provide relief to the Philippine people.”

After arriving on Oct. 5, the cargo planes were loaded with supplies at Villamor Air Base and flown to Laoag International Airport in northern Luzon for staging and preparation to move the supplies to their final destination on Batan Island. The KC-130 crews conducted 26.2 hours of flight operations, successfully transported all aid materials to Laoag.

As U.S. and Philippine personnel worked to move supplies north, the 15th MEU arrived aboard USS Boxer and began flight operations to support relief efforts on Oct. 8. MV-22B Ospreys, assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 165 (Reinforced), landed in Laoag, and combined teams from the 15th MEU, MRF-SEA, and Philippine Marines spent the next three days loading Ospreys, the Marine Corps’ medium-lift tiltrotor V/STOL platform, with disaster relief supplies for the final leg of the movement to the Basco Airport on Batan Island. Pilots and aircrews from VMM-165 (Rein.) conducted more than 55 flights and successfully delivered the final disaster relief material on Thursday, Oct. 10.

“The primary focus of our mission is helping the people of the Philippines recover as quickly and safely as possible,” said Col. Sean Dynan, commanding officer, 15th MEU. “Humanitarian assistance in an expeditionary environment is what we train to do, and it is one of the reasons we are forward-deployed as an amphibious force.”

The forward presence and ready posture of U.S. Marine forces in the Indo-Pacific region was pivotal to the rapid and effective response to Typhoon Krathon, demonstrating the U.S.’s commitment to its allies and partners during times of need.

POINT OF CONTACT:
Capt. Mark McDonough
Communication Strategy & Operations Director
Marine Rotational Force – Southeast Asia
+1 (760) 799-4590
mark.mcdonough@usmc.mil

MIL Security OSI –

January 23, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: CE’s speech in delivering “The Chief Executive’s 2024 Policy Address” to LegCo (3)

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

III. Consolidate and Enhance Our Status as an International Financial, Shipping and Trade Centre

29. The development of international financial, shipping and trading centres are closely intertwined. Besides expanding and strengthening our existing businesses, we will also explore new growth areas, specifically by creating a commodity trading ecosystem to attract relevant enterprises to establish presence in Hong Kong, turning our city into an operation centre for international commodity trading, storage and delivery, shipping and logistics, risk management, and more. This will help develop the markets in international gold, nonâ€‘ferrous metal, green transportation, and others, further promoting the integrated development of Hong Kong as an international financial, shipping and trade centre.

30. Hong Kong ranks among the world’s largest import and export markets for gold by volume. The current complexity in geopolitics underscores our city’s edge in security and stability, and hence an attractive location for investors for gold storage, spurring relevant activities such as gold trading, settlement, and delivery. We will capitalise on our strengths as an international financial centre to build Hong Kong into an international gold trading centre.

31. The Government will facilitate an international commodity exchange to set up accredited warehouses in Hong Kong. We will also introduce measures such as a preferential tax regime to attract enterprises to expand their business in Hong Kong, and to increase storage and trade volume of commodities.

32. Green shipping and aviation is a global trend. The Government will nurture industrial development of sustainable aviation fuel and green maritime fuel, and establish a fuel bunkering centre, leveraging the development opportunities in finance, trading and maritime sectors stemming from new energy.

(A) International Financial Centre

33. Hong Kong is an international financial centre, ranking third globally and first in investment environment. The Government will continue with reforms to reinforce and enhance our status as an international financial centre.

Deepen Mutual Market Access and Enrich Offshore Renminbi Business

34. We will continue to enhance the mutual market access regime and reinforce our status as the world’s largest offshore Renminbi (RMB) business hub, contributing to the internationalisation of RMB. Key measures include continuously improving our infrastructure and upgrading the Central Moneymarkets Unit to facilitate the settlement of various assets in different currencies by international investors. We will also develop the fixed income market infrastructure by, for instance, setting up a central clearing system for RMBâ€‘denominated bond repurchase (repo) transactions, making RMB sovereign bonds issued in Hong Kong a more popular choice of collateral in offshore markets. We will look to enhance the Crossâ€‘boundary Wealth Management Connect Scheme as well.

35. We will also strive to bolster offshore RMB liquidity and make good use of the currency swap agreement between the HKSAR and our country, enabling the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) to better support Hong Kong’s economic and trade development; expand the nightâ€‘time, crossâ€‘boundary service capability of Hong Kong’s RMB Real Time Gross Settlement System to facilitate global settlement in offshore RMB markets; and explore the provision of more diversified channels for obtaining offshore RMB financing.

36. We will provide more RMBâ€‘denominated investment productsâ€¯–

(i) the Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (HKEX) to encourage more listed companies to have shares listed in the RMB stock trading counter, and expand the scope of RMB equities;

(ii) to increase issuance of RMB bonds and support issuance of more green and sustainable offshore RMB bonds in Hong Kong;

(iii) to seek support from the Ministry of Finance for boosting the size and frequency of issuing RMB sovereign bonds, and launching offshore RMB sovereign bond futures as soon as possible, in Hong Kong; and

(iv) to actively liaise with the Mainland authorities to expand the Bond Connect (Southbound Trading) as appropriate, including expanding the scope of eligible Mainland investors to nonâ€‘bank financial institutions such as securities firms and insurance companies; and enriching liquidity management tools that facilitate offshore investors’ investment in onshore bonds by actively exploring and introducing, at appropriate juncture, various bond repo and collateral products and arrangements using onshore RMB bonds.

Further Enhance Our Status as an International Risk Management Centre

37. Hong Kong has the highest concentration of insurance companies and the highest insurance density in Asia. To further strengthen Hong Kong’s position as a global risk management centre, the Insurance Authority will initiate a review next year. We will examine capital requirements for infrastructure investment, enriching insurance companies’ asset allocation for risk diversification and driving investment in infrastructure such as the Northern Metropolis. We will also continue to invite Mainland and overseas enterprises, including large stateâ€‘owned enterprises in the Mainland, to establish captive insurers in Hong Kong.

Further Enhance Our Status as an International Asset and Wealth Management Centre

38. There are 2â€¯700 singleâ€‘family offices in Hong Kong, and the industry has predicted that Hong Kong will become the world’s largest crossâ€‘boundary wealth management centre by 2028. We will make every effort to attract more global capital to be managed in Hong Kong, including facilitating the opening of new distribution channels for private equity funds through HKEX’s listing, and:

(i) collaborating with sovereign wealth funds in regions along the Belt and Road (B&R)â€¯–â€¯We will strive to collaborate with largeâ€‘scale sovereign wealth funds in regions such as the Middle East, in financing the setting up of funds to invest in assets in the Mainland and other regions;

(ii) enhancing the New Capital Investment Entrant Schemeâ€¯–â€¯Effective today, investment in residential properties is allowed provided that the transaction price of the residential property concerned is no less than $50 million, with the amount of real estate investment to be counted towards the total capital investment capped at $10 million. In addition, investments made through an eligible private company wholly owned by an applicant will be counted towards the applicant’s eligible investment with effect from 1 March 2025; and

(iii) expanding the scope of tax concessionsâ€¯–â€¯The Government will consult the industry on the proposal to add qualifying transactions eligible for tax concessions for funds and singleâ€‘family offices.

Proactively Expand Markets and Deepen Overseas Networks

39. We will continue to actively expand and deepen our overseas networks, including forging financial coâ€‘operation with the Middle East and the region of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN), organising more international financial mega events, and exploring further collaboration with Islamic markets in the area of finance.

Further Enhance the Securities Market

40. Relevant measures include:

(i) opening up new sources of capital overseasâ€¯–â€¯Exchange Traded Funds (ETF) tracking Hong Kong stock indices will be launched in the Middle East, seeking to attract allocation of capital in the market to Hong Kong stocks;

(ii) striving for more listing of enterprises in Hong Kongâ€¯–â€¯We will leverage the advantages brought about by our mutual access with the Mainland’s financial markets to attract international enterprises to list in Hong Kong. We will also encourage largeâ€‘scale Mainland enterprises to list here, particularly aiming to have more prominent initial public offerings in the near term;

(iii) optimising vetting of listing applicationsâ€¯–â€¯The Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) and the HKEX will announce specific measures for further optimising relevant procedures to provide greater certainty regarding the time required for vetting of listing applications; and

(iv) boosting market efficiencyâ€¯–â€¯The SFC and the HKEX will boost market efficiency and lower transaction costs, including reviewing the arrangement for deposit of margin, and refining the requirements on placement of margin and collateral.

Provide Convenient Cross-boundary Financial Services Arrangement

41. To promote financial inclusion, we will facilitate members of the public in making crossâ€‘boundary transactions and payments. The HKMA and the People’s Bank of China are pushing forward the linkage of fast payment systems in the two places, i.e. the Faster Payment System (FPS) in Hong Kong and the Internet Banking Payment System (IBPS) in the Mainland, to facilitate realâ€‘time, crossâ€‘boundary smallâ€‘value payments by residents on both sides; and they will implement the arrangement enabling issuance of bank cards by Mainland branches of Hong Kongâ€‘incorporated banks in the Mainland.

Build an International Gold Trading Market

42. Hong Kong ranks among the world’s largest import and export markets for gold by volume. Amidst the increasingly complicated geopolitics, our city’s security and stability gives us a clear edge as an attractive place for physical gold storage, driving more gold trading, settlement and delivery activities, and potentially propelling Hong Kong into a gold trading centre. This will spur development of the related industry chain, ranging from investment transactions, derivatives, insurance, storage, to trading and logistic services.

43. The Government will promote the development of worldâ€‘class gold storage facilities, facilitating the storage and delivery of spot gold by users and investors in Hong Kong, and driving demand for related services such as collateral and loan businesses, opening up new growth areas of the financial sector.

44. The Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau (FSTB) will set up a working group to take forward the establishment of an international gold trading centre. This will include, among other things, strengthening the trading mechanism and regulatory framework, promoting application of cuttingâ€‘edge financial technology, and actively exploring with the Mainland authorities on the inclusion of goldâ€‘related products in the mutual market access programme.

Enhance the Green Finance Ecosystem

45. Hong Kong is a leading sustainable finance hub in Asia. The international carbon market (Core Climate) launched by the HKEX is the world’s only carbon market to offer Hong Kong dollar (HKD) and RMB settlement for trading of international voluntary carbon credits.

46. The HKMA will roll out the Sustainable Finance Action Agenda. In addition, the FSTB will launch a roadmap on the full adoption of the International Financial Reporting Standardsâ€¯–â€¯Sustainability Disclosure Standards (ISSB Standards) this year, leading Hong Kong to be among the first jurisdictions to align its local requirements with ISSB Standards.

(B) International Shipping Centre

47. Hong Kong is one of the world’s busiest and most efficient ports, and ranks fourth in the International Shipping Centre Development Index (ISCDI). The average length of stay of container vessels in the Hong Kong port is 0.95 days, about half the average of 1.85 days for the world’s top 20 container ports, earning our city the reputation as a “catchâ€‘up port” for vessels to make up for delays in other ports.

48. The shipping business is composed of the port sector and maritime services, in which maritime services (including professional services such as ship broking, financing and leasing, maritime insurance, maritime law and arbitration) are the highâ€‘valueâ€‘added segment of shipping business and the source of growth, having grown by nearly 40% over the past three years (from 2019 to 2022) in terms of economic contribution. We will step up our efforts in fostering Hong Kong’s maritime industry while taking a multiâ€‘pronged approach to consolidate our status as an international shipping centre.

Establish the Hong Kong Maritime and Port Development Board

49. The existing Hong Kong Maritime and Port Board will be reconstituted into the “Hong Kong Maritime and Port Development Board”, a highâ€‘level advisory body to assist the Government in formulating policies and longâ€‘term development strategies. To be chaired by a nonâ€‘official member, with other members largely from the maritime sector, the new body will be underpinned by dedicated staff to undertake research and publicity work. Additional funding will be provided to enhance its research capabilities, strengthen its Mainland and overseas promotional work and step up manpower training, supporting the Government in policy implementation more effectively and promoting the sustainable development of Hong Kong’s maritime industry.

Promote Development of High Value-added Maritime Services

50. We will strive to promote the development of high valueâ€‘added maritime and professional services. Indeed, the Government has been encouraging more shipping commercial principals and maritime service enterprises to establish presence in Hong Kong by providing tax exemptions for ship leasing business and offering halfâ€‘rate tax concessions for marine insurance, ship management, ship agency and ship broking. We will continue to boost Hong Kong’s maritime strengths. Relevant measures include:

(i) enhancing and promoting tax concessionsâ€¯–â€¯To strengthen the local maritime ecosystem, we will step up promotion of existing tax concessionary measures for maritime services and enhance the preferential tax regime (including introducing new tax deduction arrangements for ship lessors pursuant to international tax rules);

(ii) attracting maritime service enterprises to establish presence in Hong Kongâ€¯–â€¯We will encourage leading or highâ€‘potential marine insurance business operators to establish presence in our city to broaden the range of marine insurance products; and

(iii) developing maritime services talentsâ€¯–â€¯We will strengthen collaboration with international marine insurance organisations to promote the training of marine insurance talents, and expand the scope of the Maritime and Aviation Training Fund to cover more green energy courses, marine insurance examinations, and others.

Advance Development of Green Maritime Centre

51. We will develop Hong Kong into a green maritime centre through:

(i) promoting the green transformation of registered shipsâ€¯–â€¯The Marine Department earlier this year began offering cash incentives to ships meeting relevant international standards on decarbonisation, and it will step up promotion of this initiative;

(ii) developing a green maritime fuel bunkering centreâ€¯–â€¯We will promulgate the Action Plan on Green Maritime Fuel Bunkering by the end of this year. We will take forward the related infrastructural development such as green maritime fuel bunker terminals, promote port emissions reduction, offer incentives to encourage green maritime fuel usage, coâ€‘operate with ports in the GBA, and construct a green shipping corridor with major trading partners; and

(iii) offering green fuel bunkering facilitiesâ€¯–â€¯We will provide green ships with smart information concerning navigational safety, and enhance the ship monitoring systems to ensure safety during fuel bunkering.

Create a Commodity Trading Ecosystem

52. Commodities including metals and minerals account for more than half of the global shipping trade volume. Shipowners and commodity traders are the key users of shipping routes and maritime services. Their presence and operation in Hong Kong can drive the maritime services industry, and boost demand for related financial and professional services such as hedging activities of related futures products, conducive to consolidating and enhancing Hong Kong’s status as an international financial, shipping and trade centre. We will explore the introduction of tax concessions and support measures to attract relevant enterprises in the Mainland and overseas to set up businesses in Hong Kong, building a commodity trading ecosystem in our city.

53. There has been an international commodity exchange expressing its intention to establish accredited warehouses in Hong Kong for storage and delivery of commodities, including nonâ€‘ferrous metal products. We will capitalise on this opportunity to establish relevant supporting facilities so as to attract Mainland enterprises to engage in commodity trade, especially of nonâ€‘ferrous metal, in Hong Kong, further expanding the demand for our maritime and trade services.

Develop the Smart Port and Conduct International Promotions

54. The Government will complete installation of a port community system next year. It will be equipped with functions such as shipment tracking, realâ€‘time transport information, electronic information and document retrieval, and port data analysis, enabling the flow and sharing of data among stakeholders in the maritime, port and logistics industries.

55. The Government will also organise more major events with international maritime organisations and enterprises to showcase to the world Hong Kong’s maritime strengths.

Expand High Value-added Logistics Services

56. We are taking forward the Action Plan on Modern Logistics Development, and will release four quality logistics sites for industry to develop modern, highâ€‘end, multiâ€‘storey logistics facilities. The findings of the planning study on the development of modern logistics clusters in the Hung Shui Kiu/Ha Tsuen New Development Area (NDA) will be published next year.

57. The Government will continue to strengthen coâ€‘operation in the logistics sector with the western part of Guangdong and other neighbouring areas, making good use of the Hong Kongâ€‘Zhuhaiâ€‘Macao Bridge (HZMB) to expand the catchment area of our cargo services and facilitate more goods to go through Hong Kong.

(To be continued.)

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

January 23, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Photos: Rubio Visits Sarasota County Post-Hurricane Milton

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator for Florida Marco Rubio

Photos: Rubio Visits Sarasota County Post-Hurricane Milton

Oct 15, 2024 | Press Releases

Following Hurricane Milton’s catastrophic impact on communities throughout Florida, U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) met with county and local officials, emergency personnel, small business owners, and members of the National Guard in Sarasota County to discuss the storm’s impact as well as ongoing recovery efforts.

Photos courtesy of Senator Rubio’s office.

Senator Rubio visits the Emergency Operation Center in Sarasota County.

Senator Rubio talks about recovery efforts with the owners of Sharky’s at the Pier.

Senator Rubio meets with members of the National Guard.

Senator Rubio thanks members of the National Guard while visiting the Venice Point of Distribution.

MIL OSI USA News –

January 23, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: CE’s speech in delivering “The Chief Executive’s 2024 Policy Address” to LegCo (7)

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

VI. Promote Integrated Development of Culture, Sports and Tourism and Foster Economic Diversification

(A) Eastâ€‘meetsâ€‘West Centre for International Cultural Exchange and Integrated Development of Culture, Sports and Tourism

121. The currentâ€‘term Government set up the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau (CSTB) to consolidate the integrated development of culture, the creative industry, sports and tourism. To enhance Hong Kong’s role as the Eastâ€‘meetsâ€‘West centre for international cultural exchange, the Government strives to deepen the institutional reform of our cultural system, improve the cultural and economic policies, and further enhance our cultural confidence.

Enhance Cultural Soft Power and Promote Development of Cultural and Creative Industries

122. The CSTB consulted the arts and cultural community last year on the formulation of the Blueprint for Arts and Culture and Creative Industries Development. The blueprint will cover four major development directions: promoting the development of diverse arts and culture with an international perspective, promoting Chinese culture, fostering arts and cultural exchange between China and the rest of the world, and driving industry development. The CSTB will consult the Culture Commission shortly and promulgate the blueprint later this year.

123. Established in June, the Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency adopts an industryâ€‘oriented approach to promote the development of the cultural and creative industries. Relevant measures include:

(i) incubating more cultural and creative projects with potential for industrialisation through the CreateSmart Initiative and strengthening crossâ€‘sectoral collaboration and leveraging market resources, facilitating the industries to explore business opportunities;

(ii) facilitating more registration of local and nonâ€‘local cultural and creative products on the Asia IP Exchange Portal to foster crossâ€‘sectoral exchange, collaboration and business matching, and promoting transactions and transformation of cultural IP; and

(iii) making the new flagship Hong Kong Fashion Design Week an annual signature event to develop Hong Kong into a fashion design hub in Asia.

Strengthen Long-term Industry Development in the West Kowloon Cultural District

124. The West Kowloon Cultural District (WKCD) is one of the largest arts and cultural projects in the world. The WKCD Authority will take a leading role in establishing an industry chain for the arts and culture and creative industries of Hong Kong, driving cultural and creative tourism, and enhancing its financial sustainability through diverse and innovative industrialisation measures, including:

(i) further building Hong Kong’s strengths in arts tradingâ€¯–â€¯Promote the creation of a comprehensive arts trading ecosystem, and build storage, restoration and exhibition facilities for highâ€‘end private art collections;

(ii) promoting the WKCD as a prime destination for major international cultural, creative and commercial eventsâ€¯–â€¯With more than 20 venues for different kinds of mega events, the WKCD Authority will step up efforts to host more major international cultural, creative and commercial events, attracting more inbound visitors and stimulating local spending;

(iii) exporting more arts, cultural and creative projectsâ€¯–â€¯Organise and curate performing arts programmes and exhibitions to be staged as longâ€‘run events locally, in the Mainland and overseas on a commercial basis, and expand the sales channels for cultural and creative merchandise; and

(iv) branding the WKCD as a mustâ€‘visit landmark for cultural and creative tourismâ€¯–â€¯Roll out more special experience activities, and step up worldwide promotion in collaboration with the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) to bring in more tourists.

Promote Sports Development and Build Hong Kong into a Centre for Mega International Sports Events

125. In recent years, Hong Kong athletes have achieved outstanding results in international competitions. Hong Kong has abundant resources and support. With our soonâ€‘toâ€‘complete new landmark Kai Tak Sports Park (KTSP), and our coâ€‘hosting of the 15th National Games with Guangdong and Macao late next year, our city has unrivaled advantages for developing itself into a platform for international sports activities. The Government will continue to foster sports development by promoting sports in the community, supporting elite sports, maintaining Hong Kong as a centre for major international sports events, enhancing professionalism, and developing sports as an industry. Relevant measures include:

(i) enhancing the development of elite athletes and coachesâ€¯–â€¯The Government has invited the Hong Kong Sports Institute to review the mechanism of direct financial support for athletes (including athletes with disabilities) to enhance the training system, and has set up a committee to oversee the development of sports medicine and sports science. The Government will also strengthen training for coaches, and explore the feasibility of establishing a standardised accreditation system for coaches;

(ii) boosting sports promotion in the communityâ€¯–â€¯Provide more sports and recreational facilities, including building a swimming complex suitable for hosting international competitions and a sports arena with fencing training and competition facilities. We will also regularise the Pilot Scheme on Subvention for New Sports;

(iii) reforming the governance of national sports associations (NSAs)â€¯– The Sports Federation and Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China will conclude its review on the governance and operation of NSAs, and make recommendations, ensuring the NSAs are operating effectively so that athletes (including athletes with disabilities) can realise their potential in a fair and professional environment; and

(iv) developing a host city economy in the sports industryâ€¯–â€¯The Government will continue to support athletes to participate in different largeâ€‘scale international competitions. We will make full use of the KTSP and other existing venues to host largeâ€‘scale international competitions so that Hong Kong teams can compete on home soil, building their own audience. These will be conducive to the longâ€‘term development of the sports industry.

126. The Government will review the redevelopment plan for the Hong Kong Stadium to ensure its synergy with the KTSP.

Develop Kai Tak Sports Park into a Sports and Mega Event Landmark

127. Opening in the first quarter of 2025, the KTSP is the largest sports infrastructure project ever commissioned in Hong Kong. It will boost sports development and inject impetus into related industries such as recreation, entertainment and tourism, and also megaâ€‘event economy.

128. The interâ€‘departmental Task Force on KTSP, led by the Chief Secretary for Administration, will ramp up efforts in overseeing the smooth completion and commissioning of the KTSP and its publicity work, fostering the synergistic development of major sports events, innovative entertainment, dining, conventions and exhibitions, as well as tourism activities. The task force will also formulate thorough plans and conduct comprehensive drills on security deployment, crowd management, emergency response, and other areas.

Enhance Cultural Confidence and Revitalise Hong Kong’s Tourism Industry

129. We will develop Hong Kong into a premier tourism destination through innovative thinking and making better use of our rich and unique resources such as the Victoria Harbour, outlying islands, rural areas, cultures, cuisines, lifestyles and historic buildings. These elements, combined with our edges in technology, animation and comics, the performing arts, film and television culture, and more, will help to instill the concept of “tourism is everywhere in Hong Kong”.

130. The CSTB will publish the Development Blueprint for Hong Kong’s Tourism Industry 2.0 (Blueprint 2.0) later this year, with the focus on promoting culture, sports, ecology and mega events, covering such areas as:

(i) developing ecoâ€‘tourismâ€¯–â€¯We will explore more itineraries with characteristics related to the countryside and coastal routes, such as islandâ€‘hopping tours in Yan Chau Tong, and enhance related amenities; expedite the development of the South Lantau Ecoâ€‘recreation Corridor; develop the exâ€‘Lamma Quarry site into an area for resort and outdoor recreational uses; and develop Tsim Bei Tsui and Pak Nai into ecoâ€‘tourism nodes;

(ii) developing visitor sources from the Middle East and ASEANâ€¯–â€¯We will actively encourage various sectors of the community to enhance tourismâ€‘support measures for creating a friendly environment for visitors. They include providing information at the airport in Arabic and encouraging taxi fleets to provide fleet service information in Arabic; compiling a list of restaurants offering halal food; encouraging more commercial establishments to provide appropriate facilities, such as worship facilities in hotels; and stepping up staff training to strengthen their knowledge on receiving visitors from different cultural backgrounds;

(iii) developing tourism products with characteristicsâ€¯–â€¯We will promote yacht tourism in the expansion area of Aberdeen Typhoon Shelter, the exâ€‘Lamma Quarry area and the development of the waterfront site in the vicinity of the Hung Hom Station. We will also promote panda tourism, horse racing tourism, and the like. The CSTB will promote cultural and ecoâ€‘tourism itineraries and products at Sha Tau Kok. The Security Bureau (SB) will increase the daily visitor quota under the Sha Tau Kok openingâ€‘up plan to 3â€¯000 by the end of this year. Facial recognition technology will be adopted to enable people living or working at Chung Ying Street to enter and leave the street unimpededly via a “contactless” mode on a pilot basis. The SB will explore the application of relevant technology to complement the future opening up of Chung Ying Street for tourism;

(iv) developing megaâ€‘event tourism economyâ€¯–â€¯The Mega Events Coordination Group, led by the Deputy Financial Secretary, will continue to take a proactive role in attracting different mega events to Hong Kong with emphasis on quality and quantity, boosting the retail and hotel industries. We will drive the development of the site above the Exhibition Station in Wan Chai North, as well as the waterfront and pier sites in the vicinity of the Hung Hom Station, into new landmarks providing additional event venues;

(v) strengthening the appeal of traditional tourismâ€¯–â€¯The HKTB will draw up a gourmet guide covering the 18 districts, organise gastronomic events, and promote gourmet food in different districts. The CSTB will publish the action plan on the development of cruise tourism, alongside the Blueprint 2.0, to enhance the Kai Tak Cruise Terminal’s role as a homeport and a venue for conventions, exhibitions and other events; and

(vi) promoting smart tourism and enhancing service quality of the tourism industryâ€¯–â€¯The HKTB will strengthen its efforts in developing and promoting tourism products with Hong Kong characteristics to both locals and visitors, making use of technologies such as AI to provide oneâ€‘stop assistance and attraction recommendations. We will also launch a new outstanding services award scheme to consolidate our hospitable culture.

Develop New Tourist Hotspots

131. The Government will set up a Working Group on Developing Tourist Hotspots. Led by the Deputy Chief Secretary for Administration, it will strengthen cross departmental coâ€‘ordination and leverage community efforts, identifying and developing tourist hotspots of high popularity and with strong appeal in various districts.

Increase Tourist Arrivals

132. The HKSAR Government has proposed to the Central Government further enhancements on Mainland residents’ tourism visit endorsements to Hong Kong, including resuming the “multipleâ€‘entry” Individual Visit Endorsements for Shenzhen residents and expanding the coverage of pilot cities for implementing policies on the “one trip per week” Individual Visit Endorsements. The Central Government has advised that relevant departments are studying the expedited implementation of the proposal proactively.

133. To foster closer people ties with ASEAN countries, starting today, the Government will relax the criteria for nationals of Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar applying for multipleâ€‘entry visas for travel and business, and extend the validity period of multipleâ€‘entry visas for these countries from two years to three years. The arrangement also applies to Vietnamese, who have benefitted from the relaxation of the visa policy since last year. Under a fastâ€‘track arrangement, we will expedite the processing of visa applications from group visitors of ASEAN countries submitted via local travel agents. In addition, we will provide selfâ€‘service immigration clearance for invited persons participating in business, development and related activities from the 10 ASEAN countries, and provide oneâ€‘stop handling of their applications for selfâ€‘service immigration clearance and visa through a dedicated desk. Various bureaux will provide assistance in drawing up the list. Effective today, the requirement for visitors to furnish an arrival or departure card is cancelled, facilitating a faster and more convenient immigration clearance.

(B) Foster Economic Diversification

Support Small and Medium Enterprises

134. To address the challenges commonly encountered by small and medium enterprises (SMEs) during economic restructuring, the Government will introduce the following support measures:

(i) reâ€‘launching the principal moratoriumâ€¯–â€¯Borrowing enterprises under the SME Financing Guarantee Scheme (including the existing loans already granted under the 80%, 90% and special 100% guarantee products as well as new loans under the 80% and 90% guarantee products) will be allowed to apply for principal moratorium for up to 12 months. The maximum loan guarantee periods of the 80% and 90% guarantee products will be extended to ten years and eight years respectively, while the partial principal repayment options will be offered to new loans under the two guarantee products. The HKMA is also actively considering to provide flexibility in banks’ capital requirement to facilitate their lending to SMEs;

(ii) injecting $1 billion into the BUD Fundâ€¯–â€¯Support will be provided for SMEs to upgrade their business operations and develop new markets through the Dedicated Fund on Branding, Upgrading and Domestic Sales (the BUD Fund), including expanding the geographical coverage of Eâ€‘commerce Easy to the 10 ASEAN countries, and providing targeted funding support for enterprises to implement green transformation projects;

(iii) supporting digital transformation of SMEs and capitalising on eâ€‘commerce opportunitiesâ€¯–â€¯The scope of Cyberport’s Digital Transformation Support Pilot Programme will be expanded to cover the retail and food and beverage sectors, as well as industries such as tourism and personal services, subsidising SMEs for digital transformation on a oneâ€‘toâ€‘one matching basis. The Hong Kong Shopping Festival is to be relaunched in the next two years to help SMEs tap into the Mainland eâ€‘commerce sales market, and will be held in the ASEAN market in due course;

(iv) strengthening brand development of SMEsâ€¯–â€¯The HKTDC will formulate plans for setting up more Hong Kong Pavilions in Mainland and overseas exhibitions to further promote Hong Kong brands. The Trade and Industry Department and the HKTDC will also enhance support for SMEs in developing brands and expanding the sales network of eâ€‘commerce;

(v) enhancing the services of the Hong Kong Design Centreâ€¯–â€¯The organisation and functions of the Hong Kong Design Centre will be reâ€‘structured, so as to assist SMEs in the design industry to enhance their services in product and brand design, and strengthen collaboration and interface with startâ€‘ups and Mainland enterprises operating in Hong Kong;

(vi) enhancing incentives for recurrent exhibitionsâ€¯–â€¯An additional provision of $500 million will be allocated for launching the Incentive Scheme for Recurrent Exhibitions 2.0, targeting new and international exhibitions of large scale, in order to further promote megaâ€‘event economy and the development of the convention and exhibition industry;

(vii) supporting participation in government procurementâ€¯–â€¯The HKHA will refine the application procedures for admission to the list of maintenance works contractors, providing more tendering opportunities for contractors; and

(viii) enhancing security of payment in the construction industryâ€¯–â€¯The Government has introduced the Construction Industry Security of Payment Bill, which prohibits the use of unfair payment terms such as “conditional payment” in contracts and introduces an adjudication mechanism to resolve payment disputes.

Develop Silver Economy

135. Given the rapid expansion of the silver market, there is growing demand for products and services catering to the elderly. Developing new products and services to meet the needs of the elderly will help enhance their quality of life, and also generate business opportunities.

136. The Government will set up a Working Group on Promoting Silver Economy, led by the Deputy Chief Secretary for Administration. The working group will implement measures in five areas:

(i) boosting “silver consumption”â€¯–â€¯We will work with all sectors to foster elderlyâ€‘friendly consumption, and encourage incorporation of silver economy elements into their business, for example, by offering discounts to the elderly. Efforts will also be made to safeguard the rights and interests of elderly consumers;

(ii) developing the “silver industry”â€¯–â€¯We will promote marketisation and industrialisation of products catering to the elderly by consolidating funding resources to support product provision and market expansion by the business sector;

(iii) promoting “quality assurance of silver products”â€¯–â€¯We will promote the certification of products catering to the elderly to enhance their recognition and appeal. Standards adopted will be aligned with those of the Mainland and overseas to facilitate sales network expansion;

(iv) enhancing “silver financial and security arrangements”â€¯–â€¯We will assist the elderly in making proper financial arrangements and strengthening their financial security. Relevant measures include promoting retirement financial planning products offered by the Hong Kong Mortgage Corporation Limited, and providing investor education for the elderly; and

(v) unleashing “silver productivity”â€¯–â€¯We will help unleash the productivity of the elderly through retraining, reâ€‘employment and other measures.

Promote Sustainable Development of the Agriculture and Fisheries Industries

137. The Government will continue to take forward the Blueprint for the Sustainable Development of Agriculture and Fisheries. Relevant work includes developing deep sea mariculture at Wong Chuk Kok Hoi and Mirs Bay new fish culture zones, conducting preparatory work for the Agricultural Park Phase 2 development, implementing urban farming strategy in NDAs, facilitating the livestock sector to construct modernised and environmentalâ€‘friendly multiâ€‘storey livestock farms and promoting leisure farming and fisheries.

(To be continued.)

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

January 23, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: HK hones its financial edge

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

Chief Executive John Lee unveiled bold plans in his 2024 Policy Address for consolidating and enhancing Hong Kong’s status as an international financial centre.

Upon highlighting the fact that Hong Kong is an international financial centre, ranking third globally and first in investment environment, he stated that the Government will continue with reforms to reinforce and enhance the city’s status.

The Chief Executive explained that Hong Kong is an attractive location for investors for gold storage, spurring relevant activities such as gold trading, settlement, and delivery.

As such, his administration will capitalise on Hong Kong’s strengths as an international financial centre to build the city into an international gold trading centre.

The Chief Executive provided details of the objective of building an international gold trading market given the city ranks among the world’s largest import and export markets for gold by volume.

“The Government will promote the development of world-class gold storage facilities, facilitating the storage and delivery of spot gold by users and investors in Hong Kong, and driving demand for related services such as collateral and loan businesses, opening up new growth areas of the financial sector.”

He added that the Financial Services & the Treasury Bureau (FSTB) will set up a working group to take forward the establishment of an international gold trading centre.

“This will include, among other things, strengthening the trading mechanism and regulatory framework, promoting application of cutting-edge financial technology, and actively exploring with the Mainland authorities on the inclusion of gold-related products in the mutual market access programme.”

Mr Lee also outlined his plan to deepen market access and enriching offshore renminbi business.

“We will continue to enhance the mutual market access regime and reinforce our status as the world’s largest offshore renminbi business hub, contributing to the internationalisation of RMB. Key measures include continuously improving our infrastructure and upgrading the Central Moneymarkets Unit to facilitate the settlement of various assets in different currencies by international investors.

“We will also develop the fixed income market infrastructure by, for instance, setting up a central clearing system for RMB-denominated bond repurchase (repo) transactions, making RMB sovereign bonds issued in Hong Kong a more popular choice of collateral in offshore markets. We will look to enhance the Cross-boundary Wealth Management Connect Scheme as well.”

The Chief Executive indicated that the Government will strive to make better use of the currency swap agreement between the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region with our country to enhance offshore RMB liquidity.

In doing so, it will provide more RMB-denominated investment products.

Part of that plan calls for the Hong Kong Exchanges & Clearing (HKEX) to encourage more listed companies to have shares listed in the RMB stock trading counter.

Apart from increasing the issuance of RMB bonds and supporting issuance of more green and sustainable offshore RMB bonds in Hong Kong, it will also seek support from the Ministry of Finance for boosting the size and frequency of issuing RMB sovereign bonds, and launching offshore RMB sovereign bond futures as soon as possible, in Hong Kong.

Additionally, the Government will actively liaise with Mainland authorities to expand the Bond Connect (Southbound Trading) as appropriate, including expanding the scope of eligible Mainland investors to non-bank financial institutions, and enriching liquidity management tools that facilitate offshore investors’ investment in onshore bonds by actively exploring and introducing various bond repo and collateral products and arrangements using onshore RMB bonds.

Mr Lee shared the Government’s plans to enhance Hong Kong’s status as an international risk management centre and an international asset and wealth management centre.

“Hong Kong has the highest concentration of insurance companies and the highest insurance density in Asia. To further strengthen Hong Kong’s position as a global risk management centre, the Insurance Authority will initiate a review next year.

“We will examine capital requirements for infrastructure investment, to enriching insurance companies’ asset allocation for risk diversification and driving investment in infrastructure such as the Northern Metropolis. We will also continue to invite Mainland and overseas enterprises, including large state-owned enterprises in the Mainland, to establish captive insurers in Hong Kong.”

He added that there are 2,700 single-family offices in Hong Kong, and the industry has predicted that Hong Kong will become the world’s largest cross-boundary wealth management centre by 2028.

“We will make every effort to attract more global capital to be managed in Hong Kong, including facilitating the opening of new distribution channels for private equity funds through HKEX’s listing.”

On top of that, he stressed that the Government will collaborate with sovereign wealth funds in regions along the Belt & Road.

“We will strive to collaborate with large-scale sovereign wealth funds in regions such as the Middle East, in financing the setting up of funds to invest in assets in the Mainland and other regions.”

Mr Lee also explained the measures to enhance the New Capital Investment Entrant Scheme, effective today. This means that investment in residential properties is allowed provided that the transaction price of the residential property concerned is no less than $50 million, with the amount of real estate investment to be counted towards the total capital investment capped at $10 million.

Additionally, by expanding the scope of tax concessions, the Government will consult the industry on the proposal to add qualifying transactions eligible for tax concessions for funds and single-family offices.

The Government is committed to proactively expanding markets and deepening overseas networks, Mr Lee said, as he conveyed its strategy to accomplish such a goal.

“We will continue to actively expand and deepen our overseas networks, including forging financial co-operation with the Middle East and the region of the Association of South East Asian Nations, organising more international financial mega events, and exploring further collaboration with Islamic markets in the area of finance.”

Mr Lee expounded on how the Government will accomplish its aim of further enhancing the securities market.

Relevant measures include opening up new sources of capital overseas, striving for more listing of enterprises in Hong Kong, optimising vetting of listing applications and boosting market efficiency.

He also noted the Government’s proposal for providing convenient cross-boundary financial services arrangement.

“To promote financial inclusion, we will facilitate members of the public in making cross-boundary transactions and payments.

“The Hong Kong Monetary Authority and the People’s Bank of China are pushing forward the linkage of fast payment systems in the two places, ie the Faster Payment System in Hong Kong and the Internet Banking Payment System in the Mainland, to facilitate real-time, cross-boundary small-value payments by residents on both sides; and they will implement the arrangement enabling issuance of bank cards by Mainland branches of Hong Kong-incorporated banks in the Mainland.”

Mr Lee revealed that his Policy Address embraces measure to enhance Hong Kong’s green finance ecosystem, due to the fact that the city is a leading sustainable finance hub in Asia.

“The international carbon market (Core Climate) launched by the HKEX is the world’s only carbon market to offer Hong Kong dollar and RMB settlement for trading of international voluntary carbon credits.

“The Hong Kong Monetary Authority will roll out the Sustainable Finance Action Agenda. In addition, the FSTB will launch a roadmap on the full adoption of the International Financial Reporting Standards – Sustainability Disclosure Standards this year, leading Hong Kong to be among the first jurisdictions to align its local requirements with the standards of the International Sustainability Standards Board.”

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

January 23, 2025
MIL-Evening Report: Claims that Qantas is greenwashing build a case for carbon assurance: here’s what it is

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Md Safiullah (Safi), Senior Lecturer in Finance, RMIT University

ChristianChan/Shutterstock

Qantas is being taken to Australia’s consumer regulator over its claim it is committed to achieving net zero emissions by 2050.

The Environmental Defenders Office and the advocacy group Climate Integrity say the claim is “not backed up by credible targets or substantiating strategies” making it potentially misleading and in breach of the Australian Consumer Law.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has yet to decide whether to investigate the complaint, and Qantas has yet to respond.

The complaint follows a ruling by a Dutch Court earlier this year that the airline KLM had misled consumers by creating the false impression it was sustainable.

The win has spurred the European Commission to write to 20 airlines identifying potentially misleading claims and inviting them to bring their practices in line.

Of most concern to the European regulators are claims the carbon emissions caused by flights can be offset by climate projects and the use of sustainable fuels, to which the consumers can contribute by paying additional fees.

Carbon assurance assesses claims ahead of time

These kinds of complaints would be much easier for airlines (and other compnies) to deal with if they had submitted themselves to a process known as carbon assurance ahead of time.

Usually entered into voluntarily, and conducted by an independent assessor in accordance with an international standard, the process verifies the accuracy, transparency, and credibility of an organisation’s carbon emissions claims.

My own research with Linh Nguyen, just published in Finance Research Letters, finds firms with high carbon assurance scores are more likely to obtain more trade credit from their suppliers.

Europe and Australia are moving towards making carbon assurance mandatory for large corporations.

Few firms submit themselves to it

A survey by KPMG International finds that while nearly all of the world’s 250 largest firms report on the sustainability of their operations, only two-thirds submit themselves to carbon assurance.

Another survey of 5,183 companies from 42 countries that publish emissions data finds half don’t engage a carbon assuror.

This could be because they are afraid of what the assuror will find.

An international survey of 750 companies that sought some level of external assurance found just 14% received a reasonable assurance.

Many firms aren’t ready

Assessors are hard to find.
NattapongPunna/Shutterstock

Assurors, and the skills within the organisation to handle the process are hard to find. While international standards are in place, there isn’t yet a professional or regulatory body to certify assurors.

The Australian government intends to make assurance reports for the
Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions of large firms mandatory from July 2026.

Scope 1 and scope 2 emissions are the direct and indirect emissions of the corporation itself.

The government intends to make Scope 3 emissions (those in other parts of the corporation’s supply and distribution chain) mandatory from July 2030.

It will be important to get the systems in place.

While what the firms report will matter a lot, what will matter almost as much is an assurance we can believe what they report.

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

– ref. Claims that Qantas is greenwashing build a case for carbon assurance: here’s what it is – https://theconversation.com/claims-that-qantas-is-greenwashing-build-a-case-for-carbon-assurance-heres-what-it-is-239592

MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

January 23, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Renters in South Carolina Can Apply for FEMA Assistance After Hurricane Helene

Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency

Headline: Renters in South Carolina Can Apply for FEMA Assistance After Hurricane Helene

Renters in South Carolina Can Apply for FEMA Assistance After Hurricane Helene

FEMA assistance is available to renters, including students, with uninsured losses from Hurricane Helene in Abbeville, Aiken, Allendale, Anderson, Bamberg, Barnwell, Beaufort, Cherokee, Chester, Edgefield, Fairfield, Greenville, Greenwood, Hampton, Jasper, Kershaw, Laurens, Lexington, McCormick, Newberry, Oconee, Orangeburg, Pickens, Richland, Saluda, Spartanburg, Union and York counties and the Catawba Indian Nation.

FEMA may be able to help renters as well as homeowners with serious needs, displacement, temporary lodging, basic home repair costs, personal property loss or other disaster-caused needs.

The quickest way to apply is to go online to DisasterAssistance.gov. You can also apply in person at a Disaster Recovery Center where you can meet with representatives of FEMA, the state of South Carolina and the U.S. Small Business Administration. No appointment is needed. To find center locations, go to fema.gov/drc or text “DRC” and a Zip Code to 43362.

You can also apply using the FEMA App for mobile devices or by calling toll-free 800-621-3362. The telephone line is open every day and help is available in many languages. If you use a relay service, such as Video Relay Service (VRS), captioned telephone or other service, give FEMA your number for that service. For a video with American Sign Language, voiceover and open captions about how to apply for FEMA assistance, select this link.

FEMA programs are accessible to survivors with disabilities and others with access and functional needs.

kwei.nwaogu
Wed, 10/16/2024 – 04:42

MIL OSI USA News –

January 23, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: £21 million approved to help boost Sheffield City Centre businesses A project aimed at providing more space for people, allowing businesses to expand and for people to shop, eat and spend more time in Sheffield City Centre has been given a major investment boost. 16 October 2024

Source: City of Sheffield

A project aimed at providing more space for people, allowing businesses to expand and for people to shop, eat and spend more time in Sheffield City Centre has been given a major investment boost.

South Yorkshire’s Mayor, Oliver Coppard, together with local leaders, has approved £21million of investment into the Connecting Sheffield: City Centre project.

The funding will help Sheffield City Council to deliver the project, improving public spaces and connecting key developments like the improvements on Fargate, Heart of the City and The Moor.

Connecting Sheffield: City Centre will also provide more space for people and will allow businesses to use more outdoor space for people to shop, eat and spend time – subject to licences. It is part of a drive by the council to boost the city centre.

In addition, the project will provide new, connected walking, wheeling and cycling routes in the city centre which, coupled with changes to make bus journeys more reliable, will give people more choice in how they travel.

Cllr Ben Miskell, Chair of the Transport, Regeneration and Climate Policy Committee, said,

“Sheffield is changing. It’s transforming into an incredible city offering something for everyone whether you’re a resident here or visiting from further afield. Our Connecting Sheffield: City Centre project links up all the key areas in the city centre. From the Heart of the City’s great shops, services, dining, and entertainment to our fantastic shopping experience at The Moor and the new Fargate project as it nears completion. This investment will contribute further to the ongoing transformation of our cleaner, greener, more thriving city centre.

“By giving you more space in the city centre, and more choice in how you travel, we can reduce congestion on the roads to make bus journeys more reliable. We’re also introducing safer walking, wheeling, and cycling routes that will connect to other parts of the city. The changes we’ve already made to improve reliability of bus journeys mean the Connecting Sheffield: City Centre project will make travelling into the city centre by bus an even more realistic option too.”

Construction is due to start on the project in January 2025, and the Traffic Regulation Orders to make the required changes to roads are being advertised until Thursday 17 October. To view the orders and comment, visit http://www.sheffield.gov.uk/roads-pavements/traffic-orders

Oliver Coppard, South Yorkshire’s Mayor, said: “Building a healthier, wealthier and happier South Yorkshire is central to my ambition as South Yorkshire’s Mayor.

“This important city centre project will not just give us greater freedom and choice about how we travel and move, but will also support our plans to make South Yorkshire the healthiest region in the country.

“It is part of the steps we are taking across our region to build new walking and cycling routes over the next three years – creating better places and more opportunities for us all to move more and move differently.”

Funding was approved by the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) Board on 8 October and forms part of SYMCA’s £166 million Transforming Cities Fund investment across South Yorkshire.

You can find more information on the Connecting Sheffield: City Centre project via Have Your Say Sheffield: https://haveyoursay.sheffield.gov.uk/connecting-sheffield-city-centre

MIL OSI United Kingdom –

January 23, 2025
MIL-OSI Europe: Briefing – Confirmation hearings of the Commissioners-designate: Wopke Hoekstra – Climate, Net Zero and Clean Growth – 15-10-2024

Source: European Parliament

Wopke Hoekstra has served as the Commissioner for Climate Action since October 2023. In this role, he represented the European Union at the UN Climate Change Conference (COP28) in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, in November 2023. Starting in early 2024, Hoekstra, along with the Executive Vice-President in charge of the European Green Deal, Maroš Šefčovič, has been communicating on behalf of the Commission regarding its 2040 climate target and managing climate risks. He has also been representing the Commission in clean transition dialogues with industry. From 2011 to 2017, Hoekstra was a Member of the Dutch Senate representing Christian Democratic Appeal (the CDA), affiliated to the European People’s Party (EPP) group in the European Parliament. In October 2017, he became the minister of finance, a position he held until 2022, also becoming the leader of the CDA in 2020. From January 2022 he served concurrently as deputy prime minister and minister of foreign affairs. Prior to taking on the role of Commissioner, he stepped down from both of those positions in July 2023. Born in 1975, Hoekstra studied law at Leiden University, from which he graduated in 2001. In 2005, he obtained an INSEAD MBA degree. Early in his career Hoekstra held commercial posts at Shell. In 2006, he joined global consulting company McKinsey, becoming a partner in 2013. This is one of a set of briefings designed to give an overview of issues of interest relating to the portfolios of the Commissioners designate. All these briefings can be found at: https://epthinktank.eu/commissioner_hearings_2024.

MIL OSI Europe News –

January 23, 2025
MIL-OSI Europe: Briefing – Confirmation hearings of the Commissioners-designate: Teresa Ribera Rodríguez – Executive Vice-President for Clean, Just and Competitive Transition – 15-10-2024

Source: European Parliament

Teresa Ribera Rodríguez has held senior posts in the Spanish government since 2018, most recently serving as third vice-president of the government and minister for ecological transition and demographic challenge (2021-2024), fourth vice-president of the government and minister for ecological transition and demographic challenge (2020-2021) and minister for ecological transition (2018-2020). Since 2000, Ribera Rodríguez has been involved in the international climate negotiations for the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. From 2013 to 2014, she was advisor on energy and climate programme at the Institute for Sustainable Development and International Relations, and in 2019, she was responsible for organising the UNFCCC COP25 in Madrid. Member of the Spanish parliament, representing the Socialist party, since 2019, Ribera was state secretary for climate change and biodiversity in a previous government from 2008 to 2011. Born in 1969 in Madrid, Ribera Rodríguez holds a law degree from Madrid’s Complutense University and a diploma in constitutional law and political science from the Centre for Political and Constitutional Studies. This is one of a set of briefings designed to give an overview of issues of interest relating to the portfolios of the Commissioners designate. All these briefings can be found at: https://epthinktank.eu/commissioner_hearings_2024.

MIL OSI Europe News –

January 23, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Updated plans to protect Pevensey and Eastbourne from flooding
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

Efforts include reversing power of the storms as public gets to shape project
The Environment Agency wants people in Eastbourne and Pevensey to come to drop-in events to hear about plans to protect the area from flooding and coastal erosion

Moving thousands of tonnes of sand by lorry to fight the forces of nature along the Sussex shore.

Loosening stormy weather’s grip on how we live and work is behind plans to protect 10,000 homes and businesses in the Eastbourne area.

Local people now have the chance to see how the Environment Agency will defend the coastline from flooding. Drop-in events are being held in the coming days across Eastbourne and Pevensey, and the plans have also been posted online.

The Met Office warns of sea levels rising by at least a metre by the end of the century, so the Environment Agency is laying out proposals to defend 15kms of coast either side of the Eastbourne from flooding and erosion, and wants feedback from the public.

The Environment Agency estimates some 30,000 cubic square metres of sand and shingle is swept eastwards from Holywell to Cooden Beach every year.

Quite literally shifting sands in huge dumper trucks back the other way is a key plank of phase one of proposals to protect 18,000 homes and businesses, transport links and other services. With the sand and shingle back in place, the sea will lose power as it hits the beach.

Nick Gray, flood-risk manager for the Environment Agency in Sussex, said:

“It’s about adapting to the changing climate. We know far more now. Sea levels could rise by 10cm in the next ten years, and around a metre by 2100.

“Small changes to the beach management that already happens will put us in a better place to the end of the 2040s and beyond as storms get more frequent and intense.

“Everyone has seen more wet weather and in greater bursts over the past couple of years. The named storms put a greater focus on preparing for the next one.

“We can make a difference if we all play our part. The public are welcome at the drop-ins held across Eastbourne and Pevensey. They should also sign-up for free flood alerts and warnings at http://www.gov.uk/flood or on Floodline: 0345 988 1188.”

A football club, community centre and church hall will host events to outline phase one of the 15-year Pevensey Bay to Eastbourne Coastal Management Scheme, a project between the Environment Agency and 4 local councils, East Sussex, Eastbourne, Rother and Wealden. It’s one of the largest coastal flood-risk schemes in the country.

The Met Office says sea levels will rise by about a metre by the end of the century, while the Environment Agency calls on everyone to check their flood-risk and learn how to deal with flooding

Other ideas to protect the area from flooding and coastal erosion include building up the coastline by importing sand and shingle from the sea bed to the beach to widen the coastal squeeze – the gap between the sea and the properties and infrastructure like roads and the prom.

The Environment Agency also wants to raise the height of the many timber groynes that punctuate the beach to stop the constant movement of sand and shingle from west to east and to hold back floodwater.

The drop-ins to see and give feedback on the proposals, plus an online presentation of the work, kick off Flood Action Week, between 14 and 20 October, a concerted effort by the Environment Agency to make people recognise their flood-risk.

Environment Agency staff will be on hand at all three venues to explain the flood-protection scheme. All 3 sessions run from 6pm to 7.30pm.

Tuesday 15 October: Eastbourne Borough football club, Priory Lane, Langney BN23 7QH.

Tuesday 22 October: Sovereign Harbour Community Centre, The Crumbles, Pevensey Bay Rd, Eastbourne BN23 6JH.

Friday 1 November: St Wilfrid’s Church Hall, 2 Collier Rd, Pevensey Bay BN24 6EZ.

The online presentation of phase one can be found at: https://consult.environment-agency.gov.uk/solent-and-south-downs/pevensey-to-eastbourne-phase-1-survey, where the public can also give feedback.

Contact us:

Journalists only: 0800 141 2743 or communications_se@environment-agency.gov.uk.

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Updates to this page

Published 15 October 2024
MIL OSI United Kingdom –
January 23, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: FEMA Specialists in Florida Communities

Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency

Headline: FEMA Specialists in Florida Communities

FEMA Specialists in Florida Communities

TALLAHASSEE, Fla.- FEMA Disaster Survivor Assistance (DSA) crews will be working in Florida neighborhoods helping people apply for FEMA assistance after Hurricanes Milton and Helene.

DSA specialists carry federal photo identification. They go door to door in affected neighborhoods to help people apply for federal assistance, check the status of an application, identify potential needs and make connections with organizations that can provide resources. DSA crews never ask for, or accept, money.

How to Apply

Homeowners and renters are encouraged to apply for FEMA assistance. The quickest way to apply is online at DisasterAssistance.gov or by using the FEMA App. You may also apply by phone at 800-621-3362. FEMA is increasing staff at call centers but wait times may be longer due to increased call volume for multiple recent disasters. Lines are open every day and help is available in most languages. If you use a relay service, captioned telephone or other service, give FEMA your number for that service. For an accessible video on how to apply for assistance go to FEMA Accessible: Applying for Individual Assistance – YouTube.

If you applied to FEMA after Hurricanes Helene or Debby and have additional damage from Hurricane Milton, you will need to apply separately for Milton and provide the dates of your most recent damage.

For the latest information about Hurricane Milton recovery, visit fema.gov/disaster/4834. Follow FEMA on X at x.com/femaregion4 or on Facebook at facebook.com/fema.

kirsten.chambers
Tue, 10/15/2024 – 14:35

MIL OSI USA News –

January 23, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Brown: Any National Disaster Package Must Deliver for Ohio Farmers Devastated by Historic Drought

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator for Ohio Sherrod Brown

CLEVELAND, OH – U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) is demanding that any national disaster package put together by Congress deliver for Ohio farmers affected by historic drought.

As Congress considers a national emergency disaster package in the wake of Hurricanes Helene and Milton, Brown is making clear that any package must include emergency disaster assistance for Ohio farmers who are facing the worst drought in decades. Brown is also pushing his colleagues to include support for Ohio farmers facing drought in the next government funding package.

“Ohio farmers are facing a historic drought, and any disaster package must provide the support they need to come out of this crisis,” said Brown. “We will not let Ohio farmers and the communities hurt by drought be forgotten – and I will fight to ensure that they have what they need to make it through this crisis.”

Drought conditions started in Ohio back in mid-June, intensified throughout summer, and are expected to continue into the fall and potentially into the winter, affecting spring planting season. Half of Ohio’s 88 counties are currently covered by U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) disaster designations – an occurrence without any recent comparison. In response to the drought conditions, USDA has issued five natural disaster designations (Aug. 30, Sept. 3, Sept. 9, Sept. 16, and Oct. 1) which have in total designated 44 counties as primary disaster counties with an additional 12 counties classified as contiguous. USDA has made a number of disaster and emergency programs available to farmers struggling with the drought but Brown is concerned it will not be enough to help Ohio farmers and rural communities weather this historic drought. Brown is also concerned that many Ohio farms that are feeling the full brunt of the disaster are smaller operations, diversified farms, and agritourism operations in which current risk management and disaster assistance tools are not suited for their operations.

Brown, the first Ohioan to serve on the Senate Agriculture Committee in nearly 50 years and a long time leader for Ohio rural communities, has been fighting for Ohio farmers during this historic drought. In early September, Brown hosted a webinar to help connect farmers and agriculture leaders with permanent Farm Bill disaster assistance programs available through the USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA). In September, Brown also hosted a conference call with Ohio Farm Bureau Executive Vice President, Adam Sharp and Ohio FSA State Executive Direct Dr. John Patterson to draw further attention to this historic drought. Brown has also called on the USDA to provide additional flexibility for Ohio farmers experiencing drought conditions to conduct emergency haying and grazing on Conservation Reserve Program enrolled land.

In addition to pushing for support for Ohio agriculture, Brown is working to ensure that any disaster relief and government funding package fully invests in the low-interest loan program for small businesses like those in downtown Youngstown affected by the Realty Tower explosion. Last week, Brown pushed the administration to approve Governor DeWine’s request to make Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) available to Youngstown businesses.

MIL OSI USA News –

January 23, 2025