NewzIntel.com

Category: Weather

  • MIL-OSI USA: Biden-Harris Administration Provides $860 Million for Hurricane Helene and Milton Survivors and Communities

    Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency

    Headline: Biden-Harris Administration Provides $860 Million for Hurricane Helene and Milton Survivors and Communities

    Biden-Harris Administration Provides $860 Million for Hurricane Helene and Milton Survivors and Communities

    WASHINGTON — Helene and Milton recovery efforts continue in North Carolina and the Southeast. Over 8,500 federal personnel are deployed, which includes over 4,200 FEMA personnel who remain on the ground, working side-by-side with state and local officials, to help survivors get what they need to begin their recovery.

    For those affected by Hurricane Helene, 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.

    Survivors can jumpstart their recovery by applying for FEMA assistance. Applying online at disasterassistance.gov is the fastest way to begin the application process. As survivors go through the application process they can access Serious Needs Assistance for essential items like food, water, baby formula, breastfeeding supplies, medication and other emergency supplies. 

    Hurricane Milton Recovery Updates

    Power restoration efforts have significantly improved across the region following Hurricane Milton. Crews have continued to work around the clock and have restored power for nearly 3 million residents. FEMA is currently working with state and local officials on debris removal plans for areas affected by the storms. Residents should pay attention to local guidance related to debris removal in their area.  

    Over 30 shelters are currently housing over 2,950 people impacted by Milton, a significant decrease from nearly 13,000 from last week. FEMA has 7.6 million meals and 4.6 million liters of water available to support survivors of Hurricane Milton, ensuring critical supplies are ready for immediate distribution. 

    Hurricane Helene Recovery Updates

    Hurricane Helene recovery efforts continue, with federal responders working throughout the region to provide immediate and long-term support. FEMA Disaster Recovery Centers are also open across the region to provide support. To date, FEMA has delivered over 12.6 million meals and more than 12.8 million liters of water to the region. 

    Disaster survivors in certain areas of Georgia, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia can begin their recovery process by applying for federal assistance through FEMA. People with damage to their homes or personal property who live in the designated areas should apply for assistance, which may include upfront funds to help with essential items like food, water, baby formula, breastfeeding supplies and other emergency supplies. Funds may also be available to repair storm-related damage to homes and personal property, as well as assistance to find a temporary place to stay. Homeowners and renters with damage to their home or personal property from previous disasters, whether they received FEMA funds or not, are still eligible to apply for and receive assistance for Helene.   

    Apply for FEMA assistance in the following ways:

    • Online by visiting disasterassistance.gov. 
    • Downloading and applying on the FEMA App. 
    • Calling the FEMA Helpline at 1-800-621-3362.  
    • Visiting a Disaster Recovery Center
    • Applying through a Disaster Survivor Assistance member

    Support for North Carolina

    FEMA has approved more than $96 million in housing and other types of assistance for over 75,000 households.

    More than 2,500 families who cannot return home are staying in safe and clean lodging through FEMA’s Transitional Sheltering Assistance program. Under the program, residents in declared counties who have applied for disaster assistance may be eligible to stay temporarily in a hotel or motel paid for by FEMA while they work on their long-term housing plan. FEMA will notify applicants of their eligibility for this assistance through an automated phone call, text message and/or email, depending upon the method of communication they selected at the time of application for disaster assistance. Shelter numbers continue to decline, with 13 shelters housing just over 560 occupants. 

    Commodity distribution, mass feeding, and hydration operations remain in areas of western North Carolina. Voluntary organizations are supporting feeding operations with bulk food and water deliveries coming via truck and aircraft. 

    • Residents can visit: ncdps.gov/helene to get information and additional assistance.  
    • Residents can get in touch with loved ones by calling 2-1-1 or visiting unitedwaync.org to add them to search and rescue efforts.  

    There are four Disaster Recovery Centers now open in Asheville, Lenoir, Marion and Sylva where survivors can speak directly with FEMA and state personnel for assistance with their recovery. To find the nearest center, visit FEMA.gov/DRC.

    Support for Florida  

    As Helene recovery efforts continue in Florida, FEMA has approved more than $177.6 million for over 56,900 households. FEMA specialists are canvassing Florida communities affected by Helene to help survivors apply for assistance. Additionally, FEMA inspectors are visiting applicants’ homes to verify disaster-caused damage.

    There are 122 Disaster Survivor Assistance members going into neighborhoods and there are ten Disaster Recovery Centers supporting survivors from Debby and Helene where survivors can speak to state and federal personnel to help with their recovery. Survivors may find their closest center by visiting FEMA.gov/DRC.

    Residents in need of information or resources should call the State Assistance Information Line (SAIL) at 1-800-342-3557. English, Spanish and Creole speakers are available to answer questions.  

    Support for South Carolina 

    As recovery efforts continue in South Carolina, FEMA has approved over $119 million for more than 133,900 households. FEMA Disaster Survivor Assistance Teams are on the ground in neighborhoods across the affected counties, continuing to help survivors apply for FEMA assistance and connect them with additional state, local, federal and voluntary agency resources. 

    There are 81 Disaster Survivor Assistance members going into neighborhoods, and three Disaster Recovery Centers are open in Greenville, Barnwell and Batesburg where survivors can speak to state and federal personnel to help with their recovery. Survivors may find their closest center by visiting FEMA.gov/DRC.

    Residents with questions on Helene can call the state’s toll-free hotline, open 24 hours a day, at 1-866-246-0133. 

    Residents who are dependent on medical equipment at home and who are without power due to Helene may be eligible for a medical needs shelter. Call the state’s Department of Public Health Care Line at 1-855-472-3432 for more information. 

    Support for Georgia 

    FEMA has approved over $103 million for more than 106,300 households. FEMA Disaster Survivor Assistance Teams are on the ground in neighborhoods across the affected counties helping survivors apply for FEMA assistance and connecting them with additional state, local, federal and voluntary agency resources. 

    There are 139 Disaster Survivor Assistance members going into neighborhoods, and three Disaster Recovery Centers are open in Valdosta, Douglas and Augusta where survivors can speak to state and federal personnel to help with their recovery. Survivors may find their closest center by visiting FEMA.gov/DRC.

    Residents can find resources like shelters and feeding sites at gema.georgia.gov/hurricane-helene. 

    Support for Virginia  

    To date, FEMA has approved over $4.2 million for over 1,330 households. FEMA Disaster Survivor Assistance Teams are on the ground in neighborhoods across the affected counties, helping survivors apply for FEMA assistance and connecting them with additional state, local, federal and voluntary agency resources.

    There are about 39 Disaster Survivor Assistance members going into neighborhoods, and three Disaster Recovery Centers open in Damascus, Independence and Tazewell where survivors can speak to state and federal personnel to help with their recovery. Survivors may find their closest center by visiting FEMA.gov/DRC.

    Residents can find resources like shelters and feeding sites at: Recover – Hurricane Helene | VDEM (vaemergency.gov).

    Support for Tennessee 

    FEMA has approved more than $10.7 million for disaster assistance for over 2,200 households. FEMA Disaster Survivor Assistance Teams are on the ground in neighborhoods across the affected counties, helping survivors apply for FEMA assistance and connecting them with additional state, local, federal and voluntary agency resources.

    There are more than 42 Disaster Survivor Assistance members going into neighborhoods to connect with survivors without cell coverage or power. Counties continue to establish donation centers. For the evolving list, visit TEMA’s website. 

    Voluntary Organizations

    Voluntary organizations are also providing personnel and resources to the hardest hit areas. The American Red Cross has hundreds of trained disaster workers providing comfort and operating shelters. Additionally, they are helping find loved ones through their helpline 1-800-RED-CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or by the Red Cross Hurricane Helene Reunification page where people can enter pertinent information about the person they’re looking for. If someone is missing a child related to this disaster or any other incident, they need to call 9-1-1 and then 1-800-THE-LOST to receive assistance from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. 

    FEMA remains steadfast in its mission to support survivors as they begin their recovery from these historic storms. The agency will continue to work with federal, state, and local partners to ensure the safety and well-being of those impacted by Milton and Helene.

    amy.ashbridge

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: ATF Assembles Federal Law Enforcement Teams; Provides Emergency Support for Hurricanes Helene, Milton

    Source: United States Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF)

    WASHINGTON – The federal government’s Emergency Support Function #13 (ESF #13) was activated to provide federal public safety and security assistance in the aftermath of Hurricanes Helene and Milton. ESF #13 is managed by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) on behalf of the Department of Justice.

    On Oct. 5, ESF #13 was activated to provide force protection for ESF #9 Federal Urban Search and Rescue (US&R) teams and ESF #8 Public Health and Medical Services missions following Hurricane Milton. ESF #13 is also positioned to provide direct federal assistance to Florida if needed. Since arriving in Florida, ESF #13 has:

    • Pre-staged 34 Law Enforcement Strike Teams (LEST) comprised of more than 440 federal law enforcement officers (FLEO) from 12 separate federal agencies, including ATF, Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), Bureau of Prisons (BOP), Customs and Border Patrol (CBP), Coast Guard Investigative Service (CGIS), Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), Federal Air Marshals (FAMS), Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Small Business Administration Office of Inspector General (SBA-OIG), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), and U.S. Marshals Service (USMS). It is anticipated that more FLEOs will be requested to assist with response efforts.
    • Staged resources to provide law enforcement and security support for 22 US&R teams and two Disaster Medical Assistance Teams (DMAT).

    On Sept. 24, ESF #13 was activated for Hurricane Helene to the southeastern part of the United States.

    At its peak, ESF #13:

    • Deployed more than 30 federal LESTs consisting of 400+ FLEOs from 15 federal law enforcement agencies, included ATF, DEA, FBI, USMS, BOP, CBP, BLM, USFWS, CGIS, Environmental Protection Agency Criminal Investigation Division (EPA-CID), Department of Transportation OIG (DOT-OIG), U.S. Treasury Inspector General (TIGTA), Health and Human Services OIG (HHS-OIG), FAMS, and IRS.
    • Deployed to Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, and North Carolina for Helene recovery support.
    • Supported approximately 30 federal US&R teams from Virginia, Tennessee, Ohio, California, Texas, Indiana, Missouri, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Nebraska, Colorado, Utah, Arizona, and Nevada.
    • Deployed more than 40 K-9s to assist in searches.
    • Supported four Health and Medical Task Forces (HMTF) and DMATs in the Western North Carolina area.
    • Deployed approximately 10 peer support personnel from ATF and USMS.

    The federal government’s disaster response includes 15 Emergency Support Functions. ESF #13 coordinates the federal law enforcement response to any disaster requiring the federal whole-of-government response. In Feb. 2006, the Department of Justice was designated the ESF #13 coordinating department. In October 2008, ATF was assigned as the lead coordinating agency for ESF #13 on behalf of DOJ.

    [1:01 PM] Herman, Cara A. (ATF) ATF teams up with multiple agencies to stage resources to provide law enforcement and security support to FEMA’s ESF #9 Urban Search and Rescue teams.

    ATF teams up with multiple agencies to stage resources to provide law enforcement
    and security support to ESF #9 Federal Urban Search and Rescue teams.

    ESF #13 provides force protection for FEMA’s Urban Search and Rescue teams following Hurricane Milton.

    ESF #13 provides force protection for Federal Urban Search
    and Rescue teams following Hurricane Milton.

    ESF #13 provides force protection for a FEMA Urban Search and Rescue team in the southeastern part of the U.S. following Hurricane Helene.

    ESF #13 provides force protection for aUrban Search and Rescue
    team in the southeastern part of the U.S. following Hurricane Helene.

    ESF #13 continues to provide force protection for Urban Search and Rescue teams as they use drones to look for victims across the southeastern part of the U.S. following Hurricane Helene.

    ESF #13 continues to provide force protection for Urban Search
    and Rescue teams as they use drones to look for victims across
    the southeastern part of the U.S. following Hurricane Helene.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Banking: Development Asia: Accelerating Climate Change Financing in the People’s Republic of China

    Source: Asia Development Bank

    Future Proof Climate Change Financing Guideline

    An effective framework is crucial for managing climate finance projects. The project developed the Future Proof Climate Change Financing Guideline to advance climate action by setting clear project criteria, promoting technology adoption, and evaluating environmental benefits. Aligned with national climate goals, it offers a standardized approach to creating and assessing a robust project library.

    By refining green finance frameworks, the guideline prioritizes projects in eight sectors: electricity, industry, transportation, buildings, methane, nitrous oxide, fluorinated gases, and carbon sinks. It also expands mitigation to include low-carbon services and adaptation to cover sponge city infrastructure, ecological restoration, and more.

    The guideline’s assessment process includes project taxonomy, threshold evaluation, and technology analysis. By measuring technological advancements and environmental impacts, it ensures that funded projects deliver meaningful climate benefits. This approach supports the growth of climate finance nationwide, especially in pilot cities.

    China Certified Emission Reduction Plus Guideline

    Meanwhile, the China Certified Emission Reduction Plus Guideline, another output from the project, directs investment toward high-impact voluntary emission reduction projects. By applying strict evaluation criteria, it ensures that social capital backs projects with significant environmental and social benefits, accelerating the PRC’s journey to carbon neutrality.

    Drawing from international practices like the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), Verified Carbon Standard (VCS), and others, this guideline adheres to additionality, permanence, and no-double-counting principles, while considering PRC-specific contexts. It introduces innovative approaches for crediting period management, implementation, and digital Measurement, Reporting, and Verification (MRV).

    By dividing the evaluation into initial and subsequent stages, the guideline allows for thorough project assessment. It mandates environmental monitoring throughout the project lifecycle. Clear evaluation criteria help investors identify high-quality projects. The digital MRV standard enhances efficiency and ensures data integrity through automated monitoring and reporting.

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: “Advancing New Zealand and Asia relations”

    Source: New Zealand Government

    Good evening

    Before discussing the ‘advancing of New Zealand and Asia relations’, we would like to congratulate the Asia New Zealand Foundation and acknowledge its significant contribution to New Zealand’s relationship with, and understanding of, Asia over the past 30 years.

    Can we also welcome Thitinan Pongsudhirak, one of the Foundation’s Honorary Advisers, and Michael Fullilove, Executive Director of the Lowy Institute.  

    I would also like to acknowledge Members of Parliament; members of the diplomatic corps; Asia New Zealand Foundation founders Sir Don McKinnon and Philip Burdon; and its Chair, Dame Fran Wilde.

    A lot has happened over the past 30 years – in New Zealand, in Asia, and indeed in New Zealand’s engagement with Asia.

    30 years ago

    It is, of course, difficult to talk about Asia in general terms. The region has 23 countries, hundreds of languages and a vast swathe of peoples and cultures and political systems. 

    This is to say nothing of the vast distances in Asia.  Indeed, it’s closer from London to Moscow than Auckland to Jakarta, and yet we tend to think Indonesia as our back yard. 

    We tend to zone in on one country, or one issue.

    Our understanding needs to be more nuanced than this – something the Asia New Zealand Foundation knows well and is in fact its core mission.

    We can, however, look at some trends, as we think about New Zealand’s relationship with Asia over the past 30 years.

    In 1994, for example, Asia’s population was over three billion people. The region accounted for one quarter of the world’s GDP, and economic growth was underway in many countries. 

    The region had experienced years of peace and stability, albeit with some notable exceptions. Many parts of the region were at the start of a long, although sometimes uneven, path of rising urbanisation, productivity and incomes.

    In New Zealand, our population had just tipped over three million. Asian countries had become important trading partners – this was 20 years after Britain joined the European Economic Community and forced us to look beyond our traditional trading partners. 

    We had adapted by looking closer to home. 

    Thirty five percent of New Zealand’s exports went to Asia, with Japan accounting for close to half of this. 

    Remarkably, at that time China took just two percent of our exports, compared to 20 percent of today.

    Many New Zealanders had come to realise the importance of Asia to our future prosperity.

    Along with this came a recognition that we needed to better understand the vast range of cultures, languages and peoples of the region. This would be a shift for us. 

    Just three percent of New Zealanders at the time identified as being of Asian origin – compared to 17 percent today. 

    We had the beginnings of some cultural and culinary influences, with tourists and students starting to flow. 

    Under the Colombo Plan, we had welcomed many Asian students to New Zealand. But for the most part, these cultural influences were not mainstream or well-understood at the time.

    It was in this context that the Asia New Zealand Foundation was born and began its important work that we are here to discuss today.

    What has changed in Asia? 

    Even those who were aficionados back in 1994 might have been surprised at just how important Asia would become to New Zealand.

    The Asian financial crisis in 1997 was devastating to the region. It was an unsettled and unpredictable time. But the region has recovered, and in fact boomed.

    The figures are certainly impressive. More than one billion people have been lifted out of poverty in Asia since 1990. Asia now comprises over 40 percent of the world’s GDP. In the next quarter century, this is forecast to reach 50 percent. 

    It is important for us all to remember that there has not been just one linear trajectory in the region. Each country has had its own path, and these paths can have different twists and turns over time.

    China’s growth story is of course well-known, but the statistics remain extraordinary. Today, China stands as the world’s second-largest economy worth nearly 18 trillion US dollars in 2023, soaring a staggering 4,000 percent since the 1990s.

    This is not, however, just a China story. There has been astonishing success in other countries, too. 

    India overtook China to become the most populous country in the world last year, and with 900 million registered voters it is also the world’s largest democracy. This year India’s economy will be the fastest growing in the G20, and it is expected to overtake Germany and Japan to become the world’s third largest economy in the next few years. 

    India’s advances in science, technology, education, and space, are inspiring to many countries around the world. In short, India has become a significant global actor playing a key role in securing a stable and prosperous region.

    Japan itself continues to be an economic powerhouse.

    We must also recognise that ASEAN’s growth, after starting down the path of economic integration, has been remarkable. 

    If ASEAN today were one economy, it would be New Zealand’s fourth-largest trading partner. Its countries are growing at an impressive clip – more than five percent year in, year out. 

    The total GDP of ASEAN reached nearly four trillion US dollars last years, positioning it as the fifth largest economy in the world. 

    Projections indicate that ASEAN’s GDP is poised to reach an estimated four and a half trillion US dollars by the year 2030. This will propel ASEAN to become the world’s fourth-largest economy by 2040.

    Much of Asia’s economic growth has been built on trade and manufacturing. But the region is now also central across many facets of the modern economy – from finance and capital, to people, and to innovation.

    To take just two examples, Asia’s services trade is growing 1.7 times faster than the rest of the world. And by 2030, Asia’s fintech revenues are expected to be larger even than North America’s.

    We know economic growth doesn’t happen in a vacuum. It is regional security that has provided the foundation for the significant rise in living standards we have witnessed across Asia. 

    In this time of global upheaval and challenges to the rules-based order, the role of regional security in our collective economic security is undeniable. 

    In Southeast Asia, ASEAN centrality is playing a pivotal role. ASEAN has led the way in bringing the region together in peaceful dialogue. This includes initiatives like the Regional Forum we attended in July, or last week’s East Asia Summit – which was attended by Prime Minister Luxon.

    Notwithstanding the various peaceful offramps that exist, Asia has had, and continues to have, security challenges. 

    The liberal rules-based order – underpinned by US hegemony – is under strain.

    As China’s power and influence have increased, so too have the areas of difference that we have had to navigate.

    We are seeing a rising and more active India.

    And we shouldn’t forget that Russia considers itself an Indo-Pacific power, too.

    Added to this are hemispheric wild cards: the DPRK; other nuclear powers; arms build-up; and alliance and proxy relationships.

    We also have population trends that will have not just economic but also geostrategic consequences. 

    Also, fierce competition for resources: protein and commodities like rare metals.

    Finally – environmental challenges, which are an existential threat for many countries in the region – are exacerbating all of these factors. 

    What has this meant for New Zealand? 

    For New Zealand, the message is clear: we need to continue to understand and engage Asia.

    The Coalition Government, via the Foreign Policy Reset, is focused on building and advancing relationships in a way that engages more actively the region’s opportunities and risks. 

    The work of the Asia New Zealand Foundation remains as relevant today as it was 30 years ago. 

    Understanding Asia starts here at home. The past 30 years has seen a boom, and our ethnic communities have grown significantly. 

    While there is still some way to go, we have started to see Asian New Zealanders in leadership roles – from Members of Parliament to business leaders, sports, and entertainment. 

    Along with this has come a richness of culture and language. Kiwis have enjoyed new festivities and embraced an array of Asian cuisine, at home and at restaurants – something almost completely unavailable 30 years ago.

    The top 25 languages spoken in New Zealand include many Asian languages, such as Mandarin, with nearly 100,000 speakers, as well as Hindi with almost 70,000, Cantonese, Tagalog, Punjabi, Korean, Japanese, Gujarati, and Tamil.

    We celebrate Diwali, Lunar New Year and Eid – festivals that showcase cultural traditions to New Zealanders.

    Last year, 54,000 students from Asian countries came to study in New Zealand education institutions. 

    In the last year we have welcomed over 700,000 international visitors from Asia – nearly double that of a year ago – and we’re looking forward to seeing this growth continue over the coming years as the pandemic fall-out recedes.

    Over the last 70 years, we have provided scholarships and training to 21 countries from the Asian region under our International Development Cooperation programme. This remains a foundation of our enduring people-to-people connections.

    Thanks to the Asia New Zealand Foundation, we have some tangible evidence of how New Zealanders’ attitudes toward Asia have changed over time. 

    The first Perceptions of Asia survey was conducted in 1997 and showed that New Zealanders saw Asia as something largely external. 

    Today, however, over half of New Zealanders feel a connection to Asia in their daily lives, with more than a third regularly enjoying Asia-related entertainment. 

    Over the past decade, public awareness and engagement with Asia has grown significantly. In 2013, one third of New Zealanders said they felt knowledgeable about Asia. 

    That number has now risen to an all-time high, with nearly 60 percent saying they possess at least a fair amount of understanding about the region.

    This is wonderful and thanks in no small part to the work of the Foundation. We hope we will see this familiarity grow further in the coming years.

    New Zealand in Asia

    Alongside these developments in New Zealand, we have been engaging both with Asia but also in Asia.

    Today you can fly direct from Auckland and Christchurch to 14 destinations across Asia, connecting New Zealand to the region and providing opportunities for New Zealanders to interact with and learn about Asia.

     

    Kiwis have been broadening their traditional “OE” and heading to Asia. As just one example, 3,300 New Zealanders have travelled to Japan under the Japan Exchange and Teaching, or “JET”, programme since its inception, teaching English in Japan. 

    Programmes such as the Prime Minister’s Scholarships for Asia have seen thousands of young New Zealanders study at Asian institutions and return with meaningful skills and experience. 

    The Asia New Zealand Foundation has also contributed to this through the internships, grants, and residencies it offers throughout Asia.

    It is important to highlight that seven of our top 10 export destinations are Asian economies. 

    Exports to China amounted to 20 billion New Zealand dollars last year; Japan more than four billion. Korea, Singapore, Taiwan, Malaysia, and Indonesia round out the list of our top export destinations in Asia.

    This has been supported by the network of free trade agreements we have negotiated to support our commercial partnerships over the past 20 years. It is notable that our second oldest FTA is with Singapore – second only to Australia. 

    The origins of CPTPP, one of our most significant trade agreements, also finds its origins in our relationships with Asia. 

    Its precursor, the P4 agreement with Singapore, Brunei, and Chile in 2006, provided the foundation stone for what would become CPTPP.

    CPTPP is itself a high watermark agreement that includes other economies from the region such as Japan, Malaysia, and Viet Nam, and we continue to encourage others who can meet the agreement’s high standards to seek to join in the future.

    All in all, 95 percent of our trade with Asia takes place under a trade agreement.

    New Zealand has also invested in regional institutions. This architecture provides space for dialogue and the exchange of ideas on key issues impacting us. 

    We were the second country to become an ASEAN dialogue partner, and we will celebrate the 50th anniversary of this next year. In that time New Zealand has been and continues to be a trusted partner to ASEAN and its member states. 

    We know that by contributing to ASEAN’s success, and the success of ASEAN-led councils like the East Asia Summit, we contribute to our own success and to that of the region.

    In 1994, New Zealand was a member of one regional body – APEC, which was founded just five years earlier. 

    This platform gives us a venue to influence regional economic policy together with members, who today make up two thirds of global economic growth and take 80 percent of New Zealand’s exports.

    Just over 10 years later, in 2005, our delegation was proud to take part in the inaugural East Asia Summit in Kuala Lumpur. 

    We had put intensive effort into laying the groundwork for the shape of the grouping and New Zealand’s participation. 

    Our membership as a founding partner made clear to all that New Zealand was part of the region and had a role to play in regional decisions. 

    The EAS is now the premier forum for strategic dialogue and regional cooperation. 

    New Zealand is showing up today, as we did then, because we want to support peace and stability in the region in tangible ways.

    Recent years have seen the emergence of new plurilateral and ‘minilateral’ architecture alongside established multilateral architecture. 

    New Zealand supports new groupings that advance and defend our interests and capabilities, and we no reason why these can’t coexist as long as they are constructive, advanced in an open and transparent way, and are respectful of ASEAN centrality.

    We have championed a stable, peaceful and nuclear-free Korean Peninsula. In the current climate, it is not possible to visit North Korea. But in the past, we have. 

    During a 2007 visit, we met with political leaders and advocated in favour of multi-party peace talks. 

    To this day, New Zealand Defence Force assets and personnel are deployed in Korea to maintain the armistice. The Defence Force also has a separate deployment to monitor and deter North Korea’s evasion of UN sanctions.

    In 2006, we received a request from Timor-Leste, seeking assistance to restore stability and freedom of movement. We responded swiftly, deploying police and military troops. 

    In a testament to our security cooperation in the region, Singaporean personnel were integrated seamlessly into a New Zealand battalion.

    New Zealand has a long-standing development programme in Asia. It is our largest programme outside the Pacific and is growing. 

    It goes beyond training and scholarships to respond to the priorities of our ASEAN partners, as well as humanitarian assistance. 

    Just last month, for example, we contributed humanitarian assistance in response to the devastating impacts of Typhoon Yagi in Viet Nam and Myanmar, and to extreme flooding in Bangladesh. 

    It is also worth noting that, for the past 30 years, New Zealand has advanced its policy towards Asia in a bipartisan way wherever possible. 

    This has ensured successive governments can follow through on policy commitments and is one of our greatest strengths.

    What next? 

    It is instructive to think about how far we have come in the past 30 years

    But it is also clear that we need to do more. 

    The world today is disordered and becoming more dangerous. 

    As we said to the NZIIA in May, “the challenges we face are stark, the worst that anyone today working in politics or foreign affairs can remember.” 

    As MFAT’s own strategic assessment has identified, one of the drivers for this has been a shift from rules to power:  the Cold War era of predominant US western hegemony is over. 

    The multipolar world is here to stay, and states: large, middle, and small are all jostling to advance their interests.

    Added to this is the fact that global problems – whether health, environmental, demographic, or migratory – present global risks, but at the same time require state-to-state cooperation to resolve. 

    We offer this simply to point out that we’re living in a time where relationships, norms and rules – many of which have enabled the rise of countries in Asia, including those which seek to challenge those same rules – are changing at the very time when we need to maximise global cooperation.

    This is at the heart of what’s happening in Asia, as well as around the world more broadly. 

    This is why the Government decided earlier this year on a Foreign Policy Reset. A fundamental driver was that our foreign policy needs to reflect and respond to the challenging strategic context we find ourselves in. We need to act now to bring more energy, ambition and engagement to our relationships. 

    Under the Foreign Policy Reset, we have been explicit: we will be increasing the focus on and resources applied to Southeast Asia, South Asia especially India, and North Asia. This is what will have a major impact on our security and prosperity. 

    We are already delivering on this. The Prime Minister and international-facing Ministers have been incredibly active in our engagements with the region, having travelled between us to over 20 countries.

    We have taken forward concrete initiatives to demonstrate the importance and future trajectory of our partnerships. 

    This ranges from cooperation with Japan on a hospital in Kiribati, to a Customs Cooperation Arrangement with India, to advancing toward Comprehensive Strategic Partnerships with ASEAN and Korea.

    Conclusion 

    New Zealand is an Indo-Pacific country. This is our identity, and we know this is where our future lies. With every forecast about Asia’s trajectory, this becomes clearer and clearer.

    It was this realisation that led to the Asia New Zealand Foundation’s birth 30 years ago. And as we have heard today, a lot has changed since then. Asia has evolved, and New Zealand’s relationship with Asian countries has evolved too, in some ways beyond recognition. 

    As we navigate our own pathway forward, we need to understand Asia. If we don’t, our relationships will be characterised by misconceptions, bias and miscalculation. So, our work has really only just begun. New Zealand’s security and prosperity depends on us continuing it.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Banking: Disasters Trigger More Displacements than Conflicts, Says New ADB-IDMC Report

    Source: Asia Development Bank

    MANILA, PHILIPPINES (15 October 2024) — Global disasters accounted for more displacements in 2023 than conflict and violence, and governments and multilateral development banks must invest more to prevent and manage these crises, according to a new report jointly authored by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC).

    The report found that last year, 26.4 million internal displacements—or forced movements within one’s country—were caused by disasters, compared to 20.5 million caused by conflict and violence.

    The report, Harnessing Development Financing for Solutions to Displacement in the Context of Disasters and Climate Change in Asia and the Pacific, found most of the disaster displacement recorded globally in the past 10 years occurred in Asia and the Pacific, with 177 million internal displacements reported during 2014−2023. ADB’s developing member countries (DMCs) accounted for 95% of that total—more than 168 million displacements. The report warns that the effects of climate change will likely increase the scale, duration, and severity of displaced persons globally.

    “Addressing displacement in the context of climate change and disasters is a significant challenge for the region,” said ADB Vice-President Fatima Yasmin. “However, we know what needs to be done and how to do it. Development and adaptation finance channeled through multilateral development banks, such as ADB, can support member countries in addressing the root causes of displacement through sector investments, technical assistance, and cofinancing.”

    “Disaster displacement can upend lives, cost countries billions of dollars, and set back development efforts by years, but it doesn’t have to be this way,” said IDMC Director Alexandra Bilak. “Investments in disaster risk reduction and climate adaptation plans can reduce the scale and negative impacts of displacement. The payoff could be huge.”

    The report outlines several ways development finance can be used to prevent and respond to displacement. Multilateral development banks can support and encourage displacement-inclusive policies and investments, better national data systems, and raise awareness for countries to include displacement in their development strategies.

    The report says governments also need to better reflect their priorities to reduce displacement through specific and concrete measures in the national development plans, adaptation and disaster risk reduction plans, and nationally determined contributions, and to better recognize the complexity of displacement occurring in the context of climate change.

    ADB is committed to achieving a prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable Asia and the Pacific, while sustaining its efforts to eradicate extreme poverty. Established in 1966, it is owned by 69 members—49 from the region.

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Philip N Jefferson: The Fed’s discount window – 1990 to the present

    Source: Bank for International Settlements

    Thank you, Steve, for that kind introduction and for the opportunity to talk to this group today. 

    Let me start by saying that I am saddened by the tragic loss of life, destruction, and damage resulting from Hurricane Helene in North Carolina, and throughout this region. My thoughts are with the people and communities affected. For our part, the Federal Reserve and other federal and state financial regulatory agencies are working with banks and credit unions in the affected area to help make sure they can continue to meet the financial services needs of their communities.

    Yesterday I shared my historical perspective on the discount window at Davidson College. In 1913, when the Federal Reserve was established, the discount window was the main tool it used to provide the nation with a safer, more flexible, and more stable monetary and financial system. More than 110 years later, the discount window continues to play an important role in supporting the liquidity and stability of the banking system, and the effective implementation of monetary policy.

    Today I would like to discuss with you how the discount window has evolved in the 21st century, including recent steps the Federal Reserve Board has taken to solicit feedback from the public on discount window operations. Before I address our most recent efforts, however, I will review some important episodes in discount window history that brought us to where we are today.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Gabriel Makhlouf: Opening statement – joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach

    Source: Bank for International Settlements

    Good afternoon Chair, Committee members.

    Thank you for the invitation to appear before you today. I am joined by Deputy Governors Vasileios Madouros and Derville Rowland.

    I will begin by giving a brief overview of the economic outlook in the EU and in Ireland, before I touch on some consumer protection issues.

    The economic outlook in the EU

    Turning to the outlook, growth in the euro area as a whole slowed in the second quarter of 2024, driven by weaker investment and consumption. Having said this, the latest projections are for a consumption-led growth recovery, albeit marginally weaker than what was previously expected. Employment growth is projected to be somewhat weaker than its pre-pandemic average.  

    We remain on track to reach our 2 per cent inflation target in the fourth quarter of 2025, although some uncertainty remains around this baseline forecast. In particular more persistent services inflation and stronger than expected wage growth could impact the forecast.

    At the most recent ECB Governing Council meeting, my colleagues and I decided to lower the deposit facility rate by 25 basis points, to 3.5 per cent. This was informed by the euro area inflation outlook, the dynamics of underlying inflation and the strength of monetary policy transmission.

    Last month we also implemented changes we had announced in March to the operational framework for implementing monetary policy, which sees the spread between the main refinancing operations rate (MRO) and our main policy rate – the deposit facility rate – set at 15 basis points.

    The economic outlook in Ireland

    Turning to the Irish economy, it continues to grow at a strong pace supported by the buoyancy of domestic economic activity.  Our latest Quarterly Bulletin – published last month – paints a picture of a resilient domestic economy poised to grow in the region of 2.5 per cent annually through to 2026.  Headline inflation has eased considerably to below 2 per cent, and is expected to remain between 1.5 and 2 per cent out to 2026.

    However, challenges to maintaining such performance are becoming more evident. Stronger than expected growth, over and above the economy’s potential rate, has brought into sharp focus domestic supply and infrastructure constraints. These, in turn, present a situation where globally-determined inflation in Ireland is declining substantially, while more domestically-driven inflation, as reflected in services price inflation, remains significant at around 4 per cent.

    Given current conditions, the continued expansionary fiscal stance adds unnecessary stimulus to an economy at full employment. Against the current macroeconomic backdrop, increasing net spending in excess of 5 per cent over an extended period implies that the fiscal stance will aggravate price inflation and wage pressures, undermining competitiveness and creating risks that could damage sustainable economic growth.

    As my pre-Budget letter of 4 July to the Minister for Finance – and the paper on the housing market we published last month – observed, higher levels of public investment are likely to be required over the coming years given known deficits in housing and to meet longer term structural challenges linked to the climate transition.

    So while the projected increases in public investment are necessary, careful management of the overall fiscal stance is needed to avoid overheating. With the economy already at full employment, there is a risk that increasing public investment on the scale envisaged fuels overheating pressures and results in poor value for money. To avoid this outcome, it would have been preferable if the upward revisions to public investment had been accommodated while keeping overall net spending below 5 per cent. Undoubtedly, this would have presented difficult choices and trade-offs to be made in other areas of expenditure and on taxation.

    Furthermore, to ensure additional government expenditure yields real improvements in services and that infrastructure investment is delivered efficiently, essential change outside of fiscal measures is needed in broader public policy areas. This includes in particular addressing delays and bottlenecks in the planning system, in the building regulation process and in construction. Progress in these areas would also help to further incentivise and crowd-in private investment.

    Consumer protection

    Let me turn to consumer protection.  The Central Bank’s mission is to serve the public interest by maintaining monetary and financial stability while ensuring that the financial system operates in the best interests of consumers and the wider economy. All of our work is aimed at serving the public interest and protecting consumers of financial services, whether it is through the Consumer Protection Code, the mortgage measures, monetary policy, our oversight of payments systems, or supervising to ensure firms are resilient and are acting in the best interests of their consumers.

    The environment in which we operate is changing rapidly, driven by technological change and by consumer preferences. The ways in which we as consumers buy, use and engage with financial services has changed hugely, leading to new risks in the financial sector we supervise and for the consumers we protect.

    As outlined in my two recent letters to yourselves, the Central Bank is making changes to the way we are organised to deliver our financial regulation responsibilities. Consumer protection remains a core part of those responsibilities. But in order to continue to deliver on our mandate both today and into the future, we are changing our approach to ensure that consumers of financial services are protected in an increasingly complex environment. This enhanced approach is based on accumulated experience, on insight, on best practice and is built for a faster moving and more complex financial services sector. We are making the most fundamental strengthening of our consumer protection approach for more than a decade.

    In terms of frameworks, as you know, we will shortly be introducing an updated Consumer Protection Code. This follows the largest, most in-depth review of the Code since it was introduced to ensure that it is fit for purpose into the future, is reflective of the changed nature of financial services and strengthens protections for consumers. This is a tangible demonstration of our ongoing commitment to the protection of consumers of financial services right across the country, and we have consulted widely on it to ensure we hear consumers’ and other stakeholders’ views directly.

    To implement the rules we need the right operational approach internally. This includes moving to an integrated framework where, at an operational level, directorates with oversight of banks, insurance companies and capital markets will be responsible for the supervision of all the functions of their respective sectors (as opposed to separate directorates undertaking supervisory activities for consumer protection, prudential regulation and market supervision).  

    The new approach will make it easier to direct our supervisory resources to the areas of most risk to consumers or the system more widely. Importantly, we are taking the existing team that stood in a single consumer protection directorate and placing them where their expertise is most required, directly in supervisory directorates across banks, insurance and funds. ‘Mainstreaming’ consumer protection activity in this way will enable us to dedicate greater attention and resources to where the particular risk is at a point in time. The new approach will allow us to do more, not less, to protect consumers.

    Let me give an example of how we see the interconnections in our work in relation to consumer protection. Next week we will publish our analysis of the shortfall between the cost of flooding in Ireland and that portion of the cost which is not insured. We know that Ireland will face more frequent and severe floods as the effects of climate change continue to crystallise and as we approach critical tipping points in a range of significant areas that increasingly require urgent action. Climate change has implications for the economy and for the financial system and floods in particular will impact directly on communities and consumers as well as the balance sheets of insurance companies. We cannot require insurance companies to provide flood insurance cover but our analysis can help everyone to understand the risks and support the cooperation and coordination required from the many stakeholders involved in building flood resilience in Ireland.

    Finally, and as set out in my letter, the internal operational changes that we are making will not change the focus on consumer protection at the most senior levels of the Central Bank. Derville Rowland, as Deputy Governor (Consumer and Investor Protection), will continue to have consumer protection at the core of her responsibilities. The Central Bank Commission’s Consumer Advisory Group will also continue to operate as it does now. And the entire senior leadership team led by me will continue to have a focus on consumer protection.

    These changes will come into effect in January and we are convinced that they are the best way for the Central Bank to continue to deliver on its mission, ensuring the financial system continues to operate in the best interests of consumers and the wider economy.

    Conclusion

    We are happy to take your questions.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Plimsoll Address

    Source: Australian Government – Minister of Foreign Affairs

    Thank you to the Australian Institute for International Affairs and the University of Tasmania for inviting me to give this address, in honour of this great statesperson. 

    With a career that spanned the first four decades of independent Australian foreign policy, there are few who have made a contribution comparable to James Plimsoll – or Jim Plim as he was affectionately known.

    He first made his mark in the late 1940s supporting Foreign Minister Evatt during his presidency of the United Nations General Assembly – support that included ghost-writing Evatt’s book, The Task of Nations.

    He later became Secretary of the Department of External Affairs – which we now know as DFAT…

    He was appointed Ambassador in Washington, Tokyo, Brussels and Moscow… 

    High Commissioner in London and Delhi…

    And even Governor of this great state of Tasmania…

    Among all these lofty appointments, his biographer Jeremy Hearder reflected that the highlight of Plimsoll’s career was serving as Australia’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the UN Nations in New York, in the late 1950s and early 1960s.

    And we can understand why. He found himself at the centre of major international issues – and his diplomatic skill meant, in the words of a British colleague, that Plimsoll “exercised an influence on the UN quite disproportionate to Australia’s standing in the world.”

    This was partly because of what the then Secretary of External Affairs, Arthur Tange, described as Plimsoll’s “remarkable capacity… for talking to people in their own terms, freely encouraging them to explain their viewpoints and problems.”

    It is patent that Jim Plim understood deeply how Australia’s interests as a middle power are at stake in the multilateral system.

    Even with all the flaws with the international system, this remains the case today.

    Australia will always be better off in a world that operates by rules that all countries have a say in shaping.

    A world where Australia and other countries have the freedom to decide our own futures, without interference and intimidation.

    A world where we can find collective solutions to our toughest problems.

    Where no country dominates, and no country is dominated.

    I’ve recently returned from the UN General Assembly’s annual High-Level Week, where Australia progressed our most ambitious multilateral agenda in many years.

    I convened meetings of humanitarian leaders and ministers from influential countries to address a serious problem in the international system.

    That is, the growing risk that norms are being eroded in international humanitarian law – what we often refer to as the rules of war.

    We see this in the massive civilian toll in conflicts around the world, and we see this in the increasing numbers of aid workers being killed and kidnapped.

    In order to protect civilians, we must also protect aid workers who deliver the food, water and medicine civilians need to survive.

    Aid workers are the best of humanity. Their dedication to improving the lives of others should not cost them their own.

    Yet 2023 was the deadliest year on record for aid workers, and 2024 is on track to be even worse.

    This has been felt directly by Australians with the IDF’s strike against World Central Kitchen vehicles, which killed Australian Zomi Frankcom and her colleagues.

    This was not a one-off incident. Gaza is the most dangerous place on earth to be an aid worker. More than 300 aid workers have been killed since the start of the conflict.

    Together, the ministerial group I convened agreed to pursue a new Declaration for the Protection of Humanitarian Personnel.

    Work on the Declaration is now underway, with our officials consulting experts and other countries.

    All countries will be invited to join the Declaration, to demonstrate the unity of the international community’s commitment to protect aid workers – and to channel that commitment into action in Gaza, in Sudan, in Ukraine and in all current and future conflicts.

    This is exactly the kind of leadership Australia should be taking in the world.

    We are not a superpower. But we are respected, and at our best we have a reputation for bringing countries together to defend and promote the rules-based order that protects us all.

    From the days helping draft the UN Charter and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, to Gareth Evans’ leadership on the Chemical Weapons Convention, to our more leading role in the Arms Trade Treaty.

    There’s no doubt that reputation waned through the negative globalist years of the previous government.

    But in driving this Declaration we are demonstrating that Australians are indeed constructive internationalists in the mould of the honouree of this address.

    This brings me back to the book Plimsoll ghostwrote for Evatt, which spelled out our shared responsibility to each other. I quote:

    “We should try to raise standards everywhere in order to practice the simple humanitarian doctrine which is the basis of all morality, namely that we should help our neighbour and relieve misery and suffering… [We] can hardly imagine … the common lot of so many of mankind – disease, low expectation of life, and unrelieved pain; flood, famine and epidemics… These wrongs cry out for redress, and can and must be righted by co-operative international effort.”

    A powerful articulation of the motivation for our humanitarian work.

    And tonight we build on that work. Tonight, I am releasing Australia’s new Humanitarian Policy.

    It is a policy that comprehends the serious problems of our times.

    A climate changing faster than our combined efforts to stop it.

    More people displaced – in fact, more than 117 million people forcibly displaced from their homes.

    More people needing humanitarian assistance – 302 million people this year, up by nearly 30 million in just the last two years.

    More conflict than any time since World War Two. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Sudan. Myanmar. And in the Middle East.

    The Albanese Government is committed to humanitarian action which saves lives, alleviates human suffering and builds resilient communities. 

    The Policy outlines the role Australia will play at a time when need is outstripping the world’s capacity to respond and disregard for international humanitarian law is increasing.

    It is a plan of action that is not just about meeting humanitarian needs. It is also about protecting the peace, stability and prosperity that we want for Australia, our region and the world.

    It is a plan that is accountable – to the Australian people, and to the partners and communities we seek to help.

    We will focus on three priorities.

    First, we will build readiness and preparedness, anticipating shocks before they occur and working with our partners to lessen their impact.

    As part of this priority, I announce Australia is providing $5 million to the new Asia-Pacific Regional Humanitarian Fund to pre-position for the next emergency.

    Second, we will respond to crises and disasters, delivering support that meets the needs of crisis-affected populations and protects the most vulnerable, both immediately and over the longer term.

    As part of that effort, I announce $9 million in humanitarian relief to respond to high levels of food insecurity in Yemen. This follows support I announced yesterday for Myanmar, as well as over $80 million in aid to support civilians who have been devastated by the conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon.

    And third, we will reinforce the international humanitarian system, working to take practical and actionable steps to strengthen adherence to international humanitarian law – just as we are doing with the Declaration.

    We act globally, but our focus remains our region. We offer genuine partnerships, based on respect, listening and learning from each other.

    And we are helping build self-reliance, so obviously in Australia’s interests and the region’s interests.

    Now, we know humanitarian assistance can lessen shocks and keep further instability, conflict and displacement at bay.

    But we all want a world where humanitarian assistance is needed far less often.

    This is just one reason why the Albanese Government is acting on climate change.

    We have enshrined our ambitious emissions reduction targets into legislation: 43 per cent by 2030 and net zero by 2050.

    We are transforming our economy.

    Within this decade, 82 per cent of Australia’s electricity generation will be renewable, up from around 32 per cent when we came to office.

    We are building new industries to accelerate our economic transition and to export reliable, renewable energy to the world.

    And we are acting internationally, to respond to our partners.

    By the end of 2025, Australia will offer Climate Resilient Debt Clauses in our sovereign loans.

    And the groundbreaking Australia-Tuvalu Falepili Union treaty entered into force on 28 August – a treaty which provides for both adaptation and mobility with dignity…

    And the first treaty anywhere in the world which provides legal protection for sovereignty in the face of sea level rise.

    But we can’t address climate change on our own, just as we can’t alone resolve all of the conflicts that are driving humanitarian crises.

    What we are doing is using our forthcoming term on the UN Peacebuilding Commission to reform the international peacebuilding and conflict prevention architecture.

    What we are doing is helping Ukraine end Russia’s illegal and immoral war on its own terms.

    Since coming to office, we have more than doubled the military contribution to Ukraine – and Australia is the largest non-NATO contributor to Ukraine’s fight.

    And what we are doing is supporting efforts for long-term peace in the Middle East.

    We have just marked the first anniversary of the October 7 attacks by Hamas.

    We condemn Hamas’ terrorism unequivocally. We call for the release of hostages immediately.

    On that day, Hamas killed 1,200 people: the largest loss of Jewish life on any single day since the Holocaust.

    October 7 is a day that recalls humanity’s darkest memories. 

    The six million European Jews killed in the Holocaust – following thousands of years of persecution and atrocities perpetrated against the Jewish people.

    This long shadow of antisemitism is the history that finally resolved the international community to create the State of Israel.

    At the same time, the world also promised a Palestinian state.

    77 years later, that Palestinian state still does not exist.

    Earlier this year, Australia voted in the General Assembly in support of Palestinian aspirations for full membership of the UN. 

    The international community now must work together to pave a path to lasting peace.

    Australia wants to engage on new ways to build momentum, including the role of the Security Council in setting a pathway for two-states, with a clear timeline for the international declaration of Palestinian statehood.

    The world knows we cannot keep hoping the parties will fix this themselves; nor can we allow any party to obstruct the prospect of peace.

    Because a two-state solution is the only hope of breaking the endless cycle of violence – the only hope to see a secure and prosperous future for both peoples.

    To strengthen the forces for peace across the region and undermine extremism.

    Any future Palestinian state must not be in a position to threaten Israel’s security, with no role for terrorists.

    Right now, the suffering across the region must end.

    In Israel’s response to the attacks, more than 40,000 Palestinians have been killed. More than 11,000 children.

    It is now more than ten months since Australia and 152 other countries voted for a ceasefire in Gaza.

    I repeat that call again. 

    Just as I repeat our call for a diplomatic solution, de-escalation and ceasefire in Lebanon. 

    We want to see civilians on both sides of the Lebanon-Israel border return to their homes and the implementation of UNSC Resolution 1701.

    Australia made our call alongside a number of countries – Canada, European Union, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, the United States and Qatar.

    Shortly thereafter, G7 leaders issued a statement in similar terms.

    Yet somehow Mr Dutton accused the Prime Minister of being at odds with our allies. 

    He said the Prime Minister should be condemned for calling for a ceasefire.

    Now Mr Dutton has realised it is he who is at odds with the international community– but he still can’t bring himself to back a ceasefire.

    I can’t recall a single time over the past year that Mr Dutton has called for the protection of civilians, or for the upholding of international law. 

    He never utters a word of concern for innocent Palestinians and Lebanese civilians.

    From the other side, the Greens political party are being just as absolutist.

    Australians are rightly distressed by the catastrophic conflict, and the distress is felt most acutely in our Jewish, Palestinian and Lebanese communities.

    The lived experiences and understandings of our different Australian communities are distinct.

    There is long, complex and disputed history – deeply felt, close to the heart of many.

    And there is a need to acknowledge the real trauma on all sides, to acknowledge each other’s humanity, and to come together – as peacemakers throughout history have done.

    It is incumbent on any Australian Government to play a responsible role in promoting peace – recognising we are not the crucial player in the Middle East, but we have a respected voice. 

    Leaders must govern for the whole country.

    Our country does not benefit from the conflict being reproduced here. 

    Australians are 26 million people, from more than 300 ancestries. We are home to the oldest continuing civilisation on the planet.

    There is vast power in that.

    The ability to see and understand every part of the world.

    Yet it’s also something we need to nurture. 

    If we allow people to divide our community, if we allow conflicts overseas to be reproduced here; if we shout each other down and insist on respective absolutes; the bedrock of our stability, our security and our prosperity is shaken.

    Nothing is more important for our future than ensuring that Australia remains a pluralist nation, welcoming different races, religions and views, united by respect for each other’s humanity and for each other’s right to live in peace.

    As I said, there is vast power in who we are. Our people are the most elemental aspect of our national power. 

    We must deploy that power at this time in our history…

    This time when we face the most dangerous set of circumstances since World War Two. 

    This time when we need to combine our economic power, our cultural power, our strategic, diplomatic and defence power – all to make Australia stronger and more influential in a more contested and challenging world.

    We are making Australia more economically resilient at home, with a Future Made in Australia setting us on a path to be a renewable energy superpower.

    We are making Australia more economically resilient in the world, with the Southeast Asia Economic Strategy to 2040 that harnesses the opportunities from living in the most competitive and fastest growing region in the world – and so we never are over-reliant on one market again.

    We are rebuilding our diplomatic relationships.

    We are doing the work that should have been done a decade ago to again make Australia a partner of choice in the Pacific.

    We don’t just go around picking fights and blowing up relationships.

    We are investing in our credibility as a partner to the region.

    It is by our actions that we have been able to restore trust among the Pacific family.

    And we are stabilising our own relations with China, so we navigate differences wisely.

    Our calm and consistent approach to the China relationship has seen progress on the removal of trade impediments for wine, barley, coal, cotton, timber logs, copper ores and concentrates; and now lobster – almost $20 billion worth of Australian exports back into China.

    We are increasing our collaboration with new partners and traditional partners; with Southeast Asia, with Japan, with India, and through our Quad partnership.

    We are investing in defence cooperation and our own military capabilities, including through AUKUS.

    And we are working together with our partners to uphold the rules and reform the institutions that we helped establish.

    All of these efforts are to shape the strategic calculus of the region, so no potential aggressor thinks the pursuit of conflict is worth the risk.

    This is how we advance the region we want. A region in balance. 

    Where countries, large and small, have the freedom to decide our own futures.

    These are just some of the ways in which the Albanese Government is driving Australia’s most ambitious international engagement in many years. 

    Being a partner to our region, and a leader in our values. 

    Always working toward a more peaceful, stable and prosperous world for all.

    Where sovereignty is respected and civilians are protected. 

    And I would say, furthering the legacy of creative diplomacy and determined statecraft practised by the great Jim Plim himself.

    Thank you.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Briefing – Confirmation hearings of the Commissioners-designate: Magnus Brunner – Internal Affairs and Migration – 15-10-2024

    Source: European Parliament

    Magnus Brunner has been Austria’s federal minister for finance since December 2021. Prior to this role, he served as a state secretary in the Federal Ministry of Climate Protection, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology from 2020 to 2021. From 2018 to 2020, Brunner was vice-president of the Federal Council of Austria, after having served as a member of this institution from 2009 to 2020. Additionally, he served on the Municipal Council of the Höchst Municipality from 2000 to 2004. From 2009 to 2020 Brunner was a member of the Federal Council of the Austrian People’s Party (ÖVP), affiliated to the European People’s Party (EPP) group in the European Parliament. Brunner’s earlier professional experience includes serving as the political director of the Austrian Economic Association (2002-2005), as well as holding the position of head of corporate development, communication and strategic development at the Austrian energy company Illwerke VKw Group (2006). He was also on the Board of the Austrian energy company OeMAG (2007-2020). Born in 1972, Brunner is a graduate of King’s College London (LLM), the University of Innsbruck and the University of Vienna (where he obtained a PhD in law). 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 –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Briefing – Confirmation hearings of the Commissioners-designate: Dan Jørgensen – Energy and Housing – 15-10-2024

    Source: European Parliament

    Dan Jørgensen has most recently served as Danish Minister for Development Cooperation and Minister for Global Climate Policy. His role has been to oversee Denmark’s international development initiatives and global climate policies, including co-facilitating COP28 climate negotiations and co-chairing a number of working groups and alliances. Jørgensen is a member of the Social Democratic Party in Denmark, which is affiliated to the S&D group in the European Parliament. He has been a member of the Danish parliament since 2015 and previously served as Minister for Food, Agriculture and Fisheries, as well as Minister for Climate, Energy and Utilities, where he co-facilitated COP26 and COP27 negotiations and served as chair of the International Energy Agency’s Global Commission on People-Centred Clean Energy Transitions. Jørgensen was a Member of the European Parliament (2004-2013), where he served as vice-chair of the Committee on Environment, president of the Animal Welfare Intergroup and head of the Danish delegation of Social Democrats (2009-2013). Born in 1975, Jørgensen holds a master’s degree in political science from Aarhus University. His professional career also includes academic positions as adjunct professor and external lecturer. 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 –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Turkey: British Embassy Bilateral Programme Fund

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    The call for bids under The British Embassy Bilateral Programme is now open

    The British Embassy in Ankara invites eligible organisations to submit project proposals for funding under the Bilateral Programme Fund. A total of £100,000 is available for projects in two thematic areas, with £50,000 allocated to each:

    Women and Girls Thematic Area

    • Improved Access to Education and Skills Training
    • Economic Empowerment

    Social Foundations Thematic Area

    • Improved Media Capacity and Training of Journalists
    • Greater Public Awareness of Climate and Gender Issues
    • Strengthened Civic Space

    Eligibility and Guidelines

    We are seeking proposals from NGOs, civil society organizations, academic institutions, and other relevant partners that align with the objectives of the Fund’s strategic priorities. Projects should demonstrate clear impact, measurable outcomes, and strong value for money.

    Given the limited time for implementation, applicants must adhere to the following deadlines:

    • Proposal Submission Deadline: 31 October 2024
    • Spending Requirement: At least 80% of the allocated funds must be spent by 31 December 2024

    Projects with innovative approaches, strategic partnerships, or pilot initiatives with the potential for scale-up are particularly encouraged to apply.

    How to Apply

    Please submit your proposals, using the required format (below), to bef.projects@fcdo.gov.uk by 31 October 2024. Late applications will not be considered.

    Contact Information

    For inquiries or further details, please contact us at bef.projects@fcdo.gov.uk

    British Embassy Bilateral Programme Fund

    Annexes:

    Annex_1_-_British_Embassy_Bilateral_Programme_-_Bidding_Guidance

    ODT, 12.9 KB

    This file is in an OpenDocument format

    Annex 2 – Project Proposal Form above £10k

    ODT, 61.1 KB

    This file is in an OpenDocument format

    Annex 3 – Activity Based Budget Template

    ODS, 10 KB

    This file is in an OpenDocument format

    Annex 4 – Due Diligence Questionnaire

    ODT, 76.2 KB

    This file is in an OpenDocument format

    Updates to this page

    Published 15 October 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: expert reaction to study on the rate of increase of global warming

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    A study published in Nature Communications and Earth & Environment looks at the recent increase of global warming. 

    Dr Kevin Collins, Senior Lecturer Environment and Systems, Open University, said:

    “With many people and places experiencing year on year record temperatures around the globe in the last decade, it is very human to assume global warming is accelerating or ‘surging’.  However, through an authoritative statistical analysis of temperature increases since 1970, this research concludes that there is no detectable surge. Yet.

    “Instead, the results suggest global warming is occurring at a steady state. However, as the authors acknowledge, this may be because the size of any acceleration is either statistically too small, or there is simply not enough data to detect a surge in the last decade.  In other words, it is still too early to tell if the last decade (the warmest on record) represents a ‘leap’ in the warming trend.  By 2035 or 2040 we may look back and be able to see from 2015 onwards there has been a fundamental shift in the warming trend.

    “There is a very real danger that the new research is misinterpreted to show that there is no global warming or that a steady state increase in temperature means we have lots of time to act.

    “The bald statistics of a global warming world are already being lived by many populations and communities whose livelihoods are being severely impacted by heatwaves, droughts, floods, sea-level rise and other environmental changes.”

    Prof Richard Allan, Professor of Climate Science, University of Reading and National Centre for Earth Observations, said:

    “The new research highlights the difficulty in detecting an increase in the rate of surface warming, which is influenced by natural variations such as swings between warm El Niño and cool La Niña events. However, satellite observations and ocean measurements already detect a steady increase in Earth’s heating rate that is less susceptible to year to year fluctuations at the sea surface.

    “In fact, when all lines of evidence are scrutinized it is apparent that climate change is accelerating rather continuing steadily. Halting global warming by stabilizing Earth’s climate and limiting further damage from worsening extreme weather and rising sea levels is only possible through rapid and massive cuts in greenhouse gas emissions.”

     

    ‘Is the Recent Surge in Global Warming Detectable?’ by Claudie Beaulieu et al. was published in Nature Communications Earth & Environment at 22:00 UK time on Monday 14th October.

    Declared interests:

    Dr Kevin Collins: No conflicts to declare.

    Prof Richard Allan: No conflicts to declare.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: The Government of Canada Honours Mr. Floyd H. Prosser as a Hometown Hero

    Source: Government of Canada News

    The Government of Canada Honours Mr. Floyd H. Prosser as a Hometown Hero

    Saturday, October 12, 2024               Halifax, Nova Scotia                         Parks Canada

    The Government of Canada is committed to sharing the stories of the people, places, and events who have contributed to our country’s rich and diverse heritage.  

    Today, Darren Fisher, Member of Parliament for Dartmouth-Cole Harbour paid tribute to Mr. Floyd H. Prosser through Parks Canada’s Hometown Heroes program on behalf of the Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change and Minister responsible for Parks Canada. The ceremony was held in Halifax, Nova Scotia at the Halifax Citadel National Historic Site in the presence of dignitaries and family members.

    Mr. Floyd H. Prosser
    Born in 1920 in Elgin, New Brunswick, Floyd H. Prosser enlisted in the Canadian Army Active Service Force in 1941 in Moncton, New Brunswick. Transferred overseas, Prosser trained for 2 years with the tanks in England and Scotland before being sent to Italy in 1943. Prosser was present at many of the 1st Canadian Armoured Brigade’s famous battles and in addition to the tough enemy soldiers they were fighting, he and the other Canadian troops endured the extreme weather condition of hot summers and frigid winters. After leaving Italy, Prosser landed in France in March of 1945 when the 1st Canadian Armoured Brigade was sent to support the liberation of Europe. During his time away, he saw Winston Churchill, and King George VI in person as he stood on guard for inspection. In addition, he, along with other Canadian troops was blessed by the Pope when they arrived in Rome.

    He returned home to civilian life in 1946 after serving nearly 5 years away from home, working as an industrial electrician for Westinghouse Canada until his retirement in 1975. After retirement, he became actively involved with the Royal Canadian Legion and visited fellow veterans who were in the hospital.

    To mark the 80th anniversary of D-Day in 2024, Parks Canada is honoured to add Floyd H. Prosser to the Hometown Heroes program. This individual joins a growing list of Canadians who have been recognized for their contributions as strong community leaders who are in alignment with the Parks Canada mandate and its priorities, and for their efforts to help protect and promote natural and cultural heritage in Canada as part of the Hometown Heroes program. His story will be added to the Fortress Halifax: A City Shaped by Conflict exhibit at Halifax Citadel National Historic Site in a display dedicated entirely to Parks Canada Hometown Heroes from across the country.

                                                                                                                                        -30-

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NASA Activates Resources to Help Assess Impacts from Hurricane Milton

    Source: NASA

    In the wake of Hurricane Milton, NASA is deploying resources to support Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and state emergency management agencies to aid their response effort including satellite and aerial data collection.
    The agency’s Disasters Response Coordination System and Airborne Science Program are began conducting flights Friday to provide emergency responders with better insight into flooding, damage in Florida, and debris.
    “After the devastating impact from hurricanes Helene and Milton, NASA immediately sprang into action,” said Karen St. Germain, director, Earth Sciences Division at NASA Headquarters in Washington. “Whether it is through observations from space or from airplanes, NASA is ready to assist communities affected by severe storms. We are working together with our federal and state partners to provide a better understanding of what is happening on the ground, in real time. NASA’s Disasters Response Coordination System was designed with the goal of delivering trusted, actionable Earth science information, where and when people need it, to enable effective response when these events strike.”
    NASA’s Uninhabited Aerial Synthetic Aperture Radar Vehicle (UAVSAR) instrument is gathering rapid wide area L-Band synthetic aperture radar data shared directly with FEMA and other organizations. Flights are coordinated directly with FEMA to augment their existing satellite and aerial data collection.
    Since Hurricane Milton struck, persistent cloud cover over the State of Florida has made it challenging to obtain optical satellite observations of conditions in the region. Synthetic aperture radar instruments, such as those aboard UAVSAR, can see through the clouds to observe changes on the ground. This provides much-needed observations of flood inundation across communities in Florida, as well as the extent of inland river flooding and resource deployment.
    The Disaster Response Coordination System has been working closely with FEMA and state emergency management agencies to aid response efforts as Hurricane Milton approached and impacted Florida. The team is actively sharing resources with other agency partners, the state of Florida, and disaster response non-profit organizations.  
    NASA continues to determine the needs of its partners and is sharing maps and data on the NASA Disasters Mapping Portal as they become available.
    Hurricane Milton caused significant wind, flooding, power outages, and damage across central Florida, from Sarasota and Tampa to Palm Springs and the Space Coast. Impacts are currently being assessed alongside lifesaving operations and emergency repairs. The Disasters Response Coordination System is collaborating directly with FEMA, the State of Florida Geospatial Information Office, U.S. Geological Survey, NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration), and the American Red Cross. The Disasters Response Coordination System is also sharing any available Earth observation data with NASA’s Kennedy Space Center emergency managers to support their damage assessment process.
    By using tools like NASA’s Black Marble, and updating daily with differential analysis done to highlight areas with extended power outages, the agency provides FEMA, states, and non-profits the opportunity to distribute temporary generators, life-sustaining resources, and damage assessments.
    The UAVSAR flights are being conducted with support from NASA’s Disasters Program, NASA’s Earth Action Program, and NASA’s Research and Analysis Program, and are being managed by NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California,  a NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern and California, and the California Institute of Technology.
    To learn more about NASA’s Disaster Response Coordination System, visit:
    https://disastersresponsecoordinationsystem.gov

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Biden-Harris Administration Approves $441 Million to Helene Survivors, and $349 Million in Funding to Support Communities, As President Biden Approves Major Disaster Declaration for Florida Following Hurricane Milton

    Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency

    Headline: Biden-Harris Administration Approves $441 Million to Helene Survivors, and $349 Million in Funding to Support Communities, As President Biden Approves Major Disaster Declaration for Florida Following Hurricane Milton

    Biden-Harris Administration Approves $441 Million to Helene Survivors, and $349 Million in Funding to Support Communities, As President Biden Approves Major Disaster Declaration for Florida Following Hurricane Milton

    WASHINGTON – FEMA remains fully committed to assisting survivors affected by Helene and Milton as response teams work tirelessly to address immediate needs. Yesterday, FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell returned to North Carolina to oversee ongoing response and recovery efforts for Hurricane Helene. President Biden will visit Florida tomorrow to support communities impacted by Hurricane Milton. 

    In response to Hurricane Milton, President Biden approved a Major Disaster Declaration for Florida that allows FEMA to provide federal funding to 34 counties, in addition to the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida. This includes assistance to individuals and households, in addition to public assistance for emergency work.

    Throughout the Southeast, FEMA personnel are on the ground, working closely with state officials to ensure survivors receive the support they need. As of today, FEMA has approved $441 million in assistance for individuals affected by Hurricane Helene and over $349 million in public assistance funding to help rebuild communities.   

    Hurricane Milton Recovery Update

    While Hurricane Milton has passed, flooding is expected to continue throughout the weekend. People in Milton-affected areas should continue following safety guidance from local officials – stay clear of downed power lines and continue to practice power outage and generator safety. 

    Power Restoration: Power restoration efforts have significantly improved across the region following Hurricane Milton, with outages decreasing from a peak of 3.3 million to 1.6 million, as crews work around the clock to bring communities back online. 

    Debris: FEMA is currently working with state and local officials on debris removal plans for areas affected by the storms. Residents should pay attention to local guidance related to debris removal in their area.  

    Staffing: More than 600 FEMA staff are on the ground providing support to affected communities. FEMA mobilized search and rescue teams, disaster response units and vital resources across Florida. Urban Search and Rescue continue to support state search and rescue teams, the National Guard and local authorities with rescues. Federal teams supplemented the state’s critical operations, such as water rescues, Emergency Operations Center support, volunteer and donations management and fire/HAZMAT response.

    Sheltering: Over 50 shelters are currently housing over 3,100 people impacted by Milton, a significant decrease from nearly 13,000 yesterday.

    Commodities: FEMA has delivered more than 1.6 million meals and 400,000 liters of water to augment the state’s supplies. FEMA has an additional 5.3 million meals and 3.9 million liters of water available to support survivors of Hurricane Milton, ensuring critical supplies are ready for immediate distribution.

     Hurricane Helene Recovery Efforts

    FEMA has approved $441 million in federal disaster assistance for Hurricane Helene survivors and over $349 million in public assistance funding to help communities rebuild.   

    Hurricane Helene recovery efforts continue, with federal responders working throughout the region to provide immediate and long-term support. FEMA Disaster Recovery Centers are open across the region to provide support.

    The agency is actively working alongside state, local and tribal partners to assess damage and support those affected by Helene. Over 10,000 personnel from across the federal workforce, including FEMA staff, are deployed to affected communities. To date, FEMA has delivered over 12.6 million meals and more than 12.9 million liters of water to the region. 

    Disaster survivors in certain areas of Georgia, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia can begin their recovery process by applying for federal assistance through FEMA. People with damage to their homes or personal property who live in the designated areas should apply for assistance, which may include upfront funds to help with essential items like food, water, baby formula, breastfeeding supplies and other emergency supplies. Funds may also be available to repair storm-related damage to homes and personal property, as well as assistance to find a temporary place to stay. Homeowners and renters with damage to their home or personal property from previous disasters, whether they received FEMA funds or not, are still eligible to apply for and receive assistance for Helene.   

    There are three ways to apply for FEMA assistance:  

    Support for North Carolina

    Financial Support: FEMA has approved more than $79 million in housing and other types of assistance for over 62,000 households.

    Power and Cellular Restoration: More than 95% of originally reported power outages have been restored. Cellular restoration continues to improve, with more than 92% of cellular sites in service as of today.  

    Staffing: As response efforts continue in North Carolina, more than 1,200 FEMA staff are on the ground providing support to affected communities. Over 250 Urban Search and Rescue personnel remain in the field helping people. These teamshave rescued or supported over 3,200 survivors to date.

    Sheltering: More than 1,800 families who cannot return home are staying in safe and clean lodging through FEMA’s Transitional Sheltering Assistance program. Under FEMA’s Transitional Sheltering Assistance program, residents in declared counties who have applied for disaster assistance may be eligible to stay temporarily in a hotel or motel paid for by FEMA while they work on their long-term housing plan. FEMA will notify applicants of their eligibility for this assistance through an automated phone call, text message and/or email, depending upon the method of communication they selected at the time of application for disaster assistance. Shelter numbers continue to decline, with 15 shelters housing just over 500 occupants. 

    Commodities: Commodity distribution, mass feeding, and hydration operations remain in areas of western North Carolina. Voluntary organizations are supporting feeding operations with bulk food and water deliveries coming via truck and aircraft. Mobile feeding operations are helping survivors in heavily affected areas, including mass feeding sites in Buncombe and Watauga counties serving locations across the impacted areas. 

    Resources

    • There are more than 300 Disaster Survivor Assistance members going into neighborhoods to connect with survivors without cell coverage or power.
    • There are three Disaster Recovery Centers now open, where survivors can speak directly with FEMA and state personnel for assistance with their recovery. To find the nearest center, visit FEMA.gov/DRC.
    • Residents can visit: ncdps.gov/helene to get information and additional assistance.  
    • Residents can get in touch with loved ones by calling 2-1-1 or visiting unitedwaync.org to add them to search and rescue efforts.  

    Support for Florida

    As Helene recovery efforts continue in Florida, FEMA has approved more than $157 million for over 51,800 households. FEMA specialists are canvassing Florida communities affected by Helene to help survivors apply for assistance. Additionally, FEMA inspectors are visiting applicants’ homes to verify disaster-caused damage.

    There are 97 FEMA Disaster Survivor Assistance members going into neighborhoods, and three Disaster Recovery Centers are open where survivors can speak to state and federal personnel to help with their recovery. Additional centers will reopen following assessments to the facilities following Milton. Survivors may find their closest center by visiting FEMA.gov/DRC.

    Residents in need of information or resources should call the State Assistance Information Line (SAIL) at 1-800-342-3557. English, Spanish and Creole speakers are available to answer questions.  

    Support for South Carolina

    As recovery efforts continue in South Carolina, FEMA has approved over $106 million for more than 121,500 households. FEMA Disaster Survivor Assistance Teams are on the ground in neighborhoods across the affected counties continuing to help survivors apply for FEMA assistance and connect them with additional state, local, federal and voluntary agency resources. 

    There are 73 Disaster Survivor Assistance members going into neighborhoods and one Disaster Recovery Center open where survivors can speak to state and federal personnel to help with their recovery. Survivors may find their closest center by visiting FEMA.gov/DRC.

    Residents with questions on Helene can call the state’s toll-free hotline, open 24 hours a day, at 1-866-246-0133. 

    Residents who are dependent on medical equipment at home and who are without power due to Helene may be eligible for a medical needs shelter. Call the state’s Department of Public Health Care Line at 1-855-472-3432 for more information. 

    Support for Georgia

    FEMA has approved over $85 million for more than 92,300 households. FEMA Disaster Survivor Assistance Teams are on the ground in neighborhoods across the affected counties helping survivors apply for FEMA assistance and connecting them with additional state, local, federal and voluntary agency resources. 

    There are 129 Disaster Survivor Assistance members going into neighborhoods and two Disaster Recovery Centers open where survivors can speak to state and federal personnel to help with their recovery. Survivors may find their closest center by visiting FEMA.gov/DRC.

    Resources: Residents can find resources like shelters and feeding sites at gema.georgia.gov/hurricane-helene. 

    Support for Virginia  

    To date, FEMA has approved over $3.2 million for over 1,000 households. FEMA Disaster Survivor Assistance Teams are on the ground in neighborhoods across the affected counties helping survivors apply for FEMA assistance and connecting them with additional state, local, federal and voluntary agency resources.

    There are about 38 Disaster Survivor Assistance members going into neighborhoods, and three Disaster Recovery Centers open where survivors can speak to state and federal personnel to help with their recovery. Survivors may find their closest center by visiting FEMA.gov/DRC.

    Residents can find resources like shelters and feeding sites at: Recover – Hurricane Helene | VDEM (vaemergency.gov)

    Support for Tennessee

    FEMA has approved more than $9 million for disaster assistance for over 1,800 households. FEMA Disaster Survivor Assistance Teams are on the ground in neighborhoods across the affected counties helping survivors apply for FEMA assistance and connecting them with additional state, local, federal and voluntary agency resources.

    There are more than 39 Disaster Survivor Assistance members going into neighborhoods to connect with survivors without cell coverage or power.

    Counties continue to establish donation centers. For the evolving list, visit TEMA’s website.

    Voluntary Organizations

    Voluntary organizations are also providing personnel and resources to the hardest hit areas. The American Red Cross has hundreds of trained disaster workers providing comfort and operating shelters. Additionally, they are helping find loved ones through their helpline 1-800-RED-CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or by the Red Cross Hurricane Helene Reunification page where people can enter pertinent information about the person they’re looking for. If someone is missing a child related to this disaster or any other incident, they need to call 9-1-1 and then 1-800-THE-LOST to receive assistance from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. 

    FEMA remains steadfast in its mission to support survivors as they begin their recovery from these historic storms. The agency will continue to work with federal, state, and local partners to ensure the safety and well-being of those impacted by Milton and Helene.

    amy.ashbridge

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Scottish Government must publish A96 Climate Assessment ahead of budget

    Source: Scottish Greens

    12 Oct 2024 Transport

    We badly need to reduce the number of cars on our roads.

    More in Transport

    Scottish Greens spokesperson for transport, Mark Ruskell MSP, has called on the Scottish Government to publish its long overdue Climate Compatibility Assessment for the A96 Dualling project ahead of the publication of this year’s budget. 

    Mr Ruskell has written to the Cabinet Secretaries for Net Zero, Finance, and Transport calling for answers ahead of any further agreements on spending for this project. 

    The commitment to undertake a climate compatibility assessment for the project was made as part of the Bute House Agreement which brought the Scottish Greens into government.

    Mr Ruskell said: “We are heading for climate catastrophe, and we must do everything in our power to invest in solutions rather than making the problem worse.

    “We badly need to reduce our dependency on cars, but the Scottish Government’s commitment to do so looks insincere if it is also pouring billions of pounds into major road building projects that will only increase emissions.

    “This climate assessment is long overdue, and is badly needed before the government commits any more money to the project.

    “Car-use is responsible for almost 40% of transport emissions. We need a more balanced approach to the A96 focussed on safety improvements, and this climate compatibility assessment should be spelling out what the options are.

    “The eye watering sums that have been earmarked could be far better used to improve public transport, which in turn would cut our emissions and provide better transport choices for people across Scotland.

    “The Scottish Government has just reintroduced peak rail fares, hiking up prices for workers and students who have no say over when they travel. This could be scrapped entirely for a fraction of the money it plans to spend on dualling the A96.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Teams connect with minority families

    Source: Hong Kong Information Services

    Kiran Fatima, who is of Pakistani descent, speaks a number of Pakistani languages – namely Urdu, Punjabi and Pashto – as well as English and some Cantonese.

    Her knowledge of different languages helps her in her role as a member of the Ethnic Minority (EM) Care Team at the LINK Centre, one of the support service centres for ethnic minorities commissioned by the Government.

    The establishment of EM Care Teams was announced in last year’s Policy Address, with each of the support service centres being tasked with setting up its own team. Eight teams were launched in July of this year, and each team is expected to assist at least 500 ethnic minority households annually through home visits or outreach activities.

    Community support

    Miss Fatima explained that after establishing contact with families through community networks, as well as referrals from the District Services & Community Care Teams (District Care Teams), the EM Care Teams visit ethnic minority households to connect with them, offer assistance, and disseminate important government messages. “A recent example is dissemination of the latest information on Typhoon Yagi to remind ethnic minorities to take precautionary measures.”

    As EM Care Team members often speak the same languages and share similar cultural backgrounds to the ethnic minority families they visit, Miss Fatima believes they are well equipped to understand the needs of such households. Besides providing information about public services, welfare and medical services, and the services offered by District Care Teams and the support service centres for ethnic minorities, they can assist in referring cases to government departments or other organisations for follow-up, she added.

    Tailored services
    Mohammad Bilal, a father of four, has faced challenges as a parent, not least in relation to his youngest daughter’s behaviour. “It is hard for me and my wife to understand school problems like the kids’ homework and the kids’ school notices. I cannot help them,” he said. 

    After the family reached out to the LINK Centre, they were visited by its EM Care Team, whose members now help with translations of homework assignments and school notices. The team has also arranged play therapy sessions for his daughter at the centre.

    “My wife also attended some parenting workshops offered by the LINK Centre, which were in English and designed to meet the needs of ethnic minorities,” Mr Bilal recounted, adding that the family were thankful to have received assistance from the centre in applying for the Mainland Travel Permits for Hong Kong & Macao Residents (non-Chinese Citizens).

    Outreach efforts

    LINK Centre person-in-charge Ann Tam revealed that the centre’s EM Care Team is led by one social worker and three programme workers who are all familiar with ethnic minority languages and cultures. It also recruits ethnic minorities as volunteers, and provides basic training for them in areas such as how to conduct effective home visits.

    Miss Tam explained that the care team’s services are promoted at street booths and through visits to places where ethnic minorities gather. “We work closely with the District Offices and District Care Teams,” she added. “Whenever the District Care Teams encounter problems or difficulties when serving ethnic minorities, they could refer the cases to us for further follow-up.”

    More service centres

    Excluding foreign domestic helpers, around 300,000 people from ethnic minority groups currently reside in Hong Kong. The Home Affairs Department has adopted a multi-pronged approach to supporting their integration into the community.

    Assistant Director of Home Affairs Wilson Kwong outlined that the department provides a variety of services for ethnic minorities through the eight support service centres. These services include language classes, integration programmes, counselling services, referral services, and more.

    One of the eight centres, the CHEER Centre in Kwun Tong, also provides instant telephone translation services in eight minority languages to facilitate access to public services. “These centres provide services to over 100,000 service recipients every year, and we will set up two more centres by the end of this year. One is in Kowloon Central and the other one is in New Territories East, bringing the total number of centres to 10.”

    Mr Kwong added that the department has regularised the enhanced services to youth and newly arrived ethnic minorities. It will also continue to implement the “District-based Programme for Racial Harmony”, which includes organising activities at the district level to facilitate communication and interaction between ethnic minorities and the wider community.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Biden-Harris Administration Assisting with Seven Major Disaster Declarations Across Southeast Following Helene and Milton

    Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency

    Headline: Biden-Harris Administration Assisting with Seven Major Disaster Declarations Across Southeast Following Helene and Milton

    Biden-Harris Administration Assisting with Seven Major Disaster Declarations Across Southeast Following Helene and Milton

    WASHINGTON – Under the direction of FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell, more than 10,000 federal employees are assisting with Helene and Milton response and recovery across the Southeast.

    Yesterday, President Joseph R. Biden approved a major disaster declaration for Florida following Hurricane Milton. Nearly 700 FEMA staff are in Florida to supplement local and state efforts in response to Helene and Milton.

    President Biden previously approved federal disaster assistance in six states affected by Helene. This opens up federal help for survivors in designated areas in Florida, Georgia North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia. Survivors—who to date have been approved for over $441 million in federal disaster assistance for Helene—may apply for assistance in three ways: online by visiting disasterassistance.gov, by calling 800-621-3362 or using the FEMA App.

    Survivors may receive upfront funds to help with essential items like food, water, baby formula and other emergency supplies. Funds may also be available to repair storm-related damage to homes and personal property, as well as assistance to find a temporary place to stay. 

    These photos highlight response and recovery efforts across states impacted by Helene and Milton.

    View Original‘ data-align=”center” data-asset-link=”1″ data-entity-type=”emerald” data-image-style=”large” data-asset-type=”imageasset” data-asset-id=”56277″ src=”https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/externals/b40ae70075d6eef90116e9e50b30a3a5.jpg?itok=cjrLWps1″ alt=”Caption: St. Lucie, Fla. (Oct. 11, 2024) – FEMA Administrator Criswell greets the local community after Hurricane Milton, meeting survivors where they are.” class=”image-style-large”>
    St. Lucie, Fla. (Oct. 11, 2024) – FEMA Administrator Criswell greets the local community after Hurricane Milton, meeting survivors where they are.
    View Original‘ data-align=”center” data-asset-link=”1″ data-entity-type=”emerald” data-image-style=”large” data-asset-type=”imageasset” data-asset-id=”56275″ src=”https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/externals/e3e67b68db6e4b6560c7b6234606cbf8.jpg?itok=Bh48LpCg” alt=”Caption: St. Lucie, Fla. (Oct. 11, 2024) – FEMA Administrator Criswell greets the local community after Hurricane Milton, meeting survivors where they are.” class=”image-style-large”>
    St. Lucie, Fla. (Oct. 11, 2024) – FEMA Administrator Criswell greets the local community after Hurricane Milton, meeting survivors where they are.
    View Original‘ data-align=”center” data-asset-link=”1″ data-entity-type=”emerald” data-image-style=”large” data-asset-type=”imageasset” data-asset-id=”56274″ src=”https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/externals/1f31274b2a7296cc25e9454dca75837f.jpg?itok=GB60-db9″ alt=”Caption: St. Lucie, Fla. (Oct. 11, 2024) – FEMA Administrator Criswell greets the local community after Hurricane Milton, meeting survivors where they are.” class=”image-style-large”>
    St. Lucie, Fla. (Oct. 11, 2024) – FEMA Administrator Criswell greets the local community after Hurricane Milton, meeting survivors where they are.
    CLEARWATER, Florida — FEMA Urban Search and Rescue Colorado Task Force One conducts wellness check after Hurricane Milton. (Source: FEMA)
    View Original‘ data-align=”center” data-asset-link=”1″ data-entity-type=”emerald” data-image-style=”large” data-asset-type=”imageasset” data-asset-id=”56231″ src=”https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/externals/76466a4941ac4ee2d541f75f5f18c2e8.jpg?itok=7t8ApOIq” alt=”Caption: Clearwater, Fla. (Oct. 11, 2024) – FEMA Urban Search and Rescue Colorado Task Force One condcuts hasty searches after Hurricane Milton.” class=”image-style-large”>
    Clearwater, Fla. (Oct. 11, 2024) – FEMA Urban Search and Rescue Colorado Task Force One conducts searches after Hurricane Milton.
    ST. LUCIE COUNTY, Florida — Soldiers from the Florida and South Carolina National Guard distribute water, meals and sanitation kits to residents who were affected by Hurricane Milton (Source: U.S. Air National Guard)
    View Original‘ data-align=”center” data-asset-link=”1″ data-entity-type=”emerald” data-image-style=”large” data-asset-type=”imageasset” data-asset-id=”56204″ src=”https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/externals/c8e797f53de269c47cee207170221624.jpg?itok=uW_6NQWT” alt=”Caption:

    Smyth County, Va. (Oct. 10, 2024) – A FEMA Disaster Survivor Assistance Specialist leaves a flyer with information on applying for disaster assistance after Hurricane Helene at a home in Smyth County, Va., on Oct. 10. 

    ” class=”image-style-large”>

    Smyth County, Va. (Oct. 10, 2024) – A FEMA Disaster Survivor Assistance Specialist leaves a flyer with information on applying for disaster assistance after Hurricane Helene at a home in Smyth County, Va., on Oct. 10. 
    View Original‘ data-align=”center” data-asset-link=”1″ data-entity-type=”emerald” data-image-style=”large” data-asset-type=”imageasset” data-asset-id=”56258″ src=”https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/externals/1e1844aa868e55e33b024892f8fddbeb.jpg?itok=_AA9r7WJ” alt=”Caption: Douglas, Ga. (Oct. 11, 2024) – FEMA opened a Disaster Recovery Center to help those affected by Hurricane Helene register for aid.” class=”image-style-large”>
    Douglas, Ga. (Oct. 11, 2024) – FEMA opened a Disaster Recovery Center to help those affected by Hurricane Helene register for aid.
    View Original‘ data-align=”center” data-asset-link=”1″ data-entity-type=”emerald” data-image-style=”large” data-asset-type=”imageasset” data-asset-id=”56186″ src=”https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/externals/596380e8a86ee6b20275798d6e28b641.jpg?itok=a3GzrKBF” alt=”Caption: Asheville, N.C. (Oct. 10, 2024) – FEMA Disaster Recovery Center is open to help survivors of Hurricane Helen.” class=”image-style-large”>
    Asheville, N.C. (Oct. 10, 2024) – FEMA Disaster Recovery Center is open to help survivors of Hurricane Helen.
    View Original‘ data-align=”center” data-asset-link=”1″ data-entity-type=”emerald” data-image-style=”large” data-asset-type=”imageasset” data-asset-id=”56266″ src=”https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/externals/4f752822650cb861f9c38425311ac9ca.jpg?itok=422c_ur1″ alt=”Caption: Batesburg, SC (Oct. 11, 2024) – FEMA hosts a Disaster Survivor Assistance event at local factory to help employees register for assistance.” class=”image-style-large”>
    Batesburg, SC (Oct. 11, 2024) – FEMA hosts a Disaster Survivor Assistance event at local factory to help employees register for assistance.

     FEMA’s Disaster Multimedia Toolkit page provides graphics, social media copy and sample text in multiple languages. In addition, FEMA has set up a rumor control web page to reduce confusion about its role in the Helene response. Visit Hurricane Rumor Response.

    amy.ashbridge

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Additional Disaster Recovery Center Now Open in Coffee County

    Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency 2

    Additional Disaster Recovery Center Now Open in Coffee County

    ATLANTA — FEMA opened an additional Disaster Recovery Center in Coffee County to provide one-on-one help to Georgians affected by Hurricane Helene. The center is open Monday to Saturday from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sundays from 1 to 6 p.m. This center, as well as one in Lowndes County, will be open during regular hours on Columbus Day on Monday, Oct. 14. 

    Center location:

    Coffee County

    The Atrium

    114 N. Peterson Ave.

    Douglas, GA

    Additional center in Lowndes County: 

    Lowndes County: 

    4434 North Forrest Street Extension 

    Valdosta, GA 31605

    To find center locations in Georgia, visit FEMA’s Hurricane Helene Georgia Page, FEMA’s DRC Locator or text “DRC” and your Zip Code to 43362. All centers are accessible to people with disabilities or access and functional needs and are equipped with assistive technology. 

    Homeowners and renters in Appling, Atkinson, Bacon, Ben Hill, Berrien, Brantley, Brooks,  Bryan, Bulloch, Burke, Butts, Camden, Candler, Charlton, Chatham, Clinch, Coffee, Colquitt, Columbia, Cook, Dodge, Echols, Effingham, Elbert, Emanuel, Evans, Fulton, Glascock, Glynn, Hancock, Irwin, Jeff Davis, Jefferson, Jenkins, Johnson, Lanier, Laurens, Liberty, Lincoln, Long, Lowndes, McDuffie, Montgomery, Newton, Pierce, Rabun, Richmond, Screven, Tattnall, Telfair, Thomas, Tift, Toombs, Treutlen, Ware, Warren, Washington, Wayne and Wheeler counties can visit any open center to meet with representatives of FEMA, the State of Georgia and the U.S. Small Business Administration. No appointment is needed.

    If you are in an affected county, you are encouraged to apply for FEMA disaster assistance. The quickest way to apply is online at DisasterAssistance.gov. You can also apply using the FEMA App for mobile devices or calling toll-free 800-621-3362. The telephone line is open every day and help is available in most languages.

    Disaster Assistance Teams are also on the ground in affected counties going door-to-door to help survivors register for assistance.

    For the latest information about Georgia’s recovery, visit fema.gov/disaster/4830. Follow FEMA on X at x.com/femaregion4 or on Facebook at facebook.com/fema.

    minh.phan

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Video: FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell Daily Press Briefing – October 11th, 2024

    Source: United States of America – Federal Government Departments (video statements)

    FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell hosts a virtual briefing on Friday to discuss FEMA’s actions responding to Hurricane Milton and the ongoing recovery efforts for Hurricane Helene.
    *Disclaimer: Audio is choppy for the first 9 minutes, and this is an audio only recording.*
    Administrator’s Opening Remarks:
    Good afternoon, everyone. I’m coming to you from Martin County and Port St. Lucie, Florida to provide updates on early recovery efforts to Hurricane Milton and the incredible work being done to help people recover from Hurricane Helene.
    My heart goes out to all those impacted by these two storms, and I want to assure you that the Biden-Harris Administration is committed to being with those impacted every step of the way as they jumpstart their recovery.
    I spent yesterday and today visiting communities across Florida, assessing damage and meeting with survivors.
    I saw neighbors helping neighbors and communities coming together during this difficult time.
    In fact, I just came back from a community event where organizations have banded together to serve barbeque and other hot meals to people who have been impacted by devastating tornados caused by Hurricane Milton.
    When people picture hurricanes, wind and floods most often come to mind. But Milton was a stark reminder of the threat tornados pose and the importance of heeding the warnings provided by emergency alerts.
    Over 30 (38) tornados touched down as Milton swept across the state. As we surveyed the damage, we saw dozens of homes completely destroyed.
    Our strong partnership with Florida enabled us to take swift action to pre-position people, resources and supplies so we could be prepared to meet the needs of survivors as soon as it was safe to do so. I want to recognize the heroic work of first responders and rescue teams, many of which FEMA brought in from across the country before the storm. Together, we were ready for a catastrophic storm.
    While the wind and storm surge impacts from Milton were less than originally forecast on Florida’s west coast, the tornado damage in the eastern parts of the state showed that this was a statewide disaster that will require the whole federal family to support Florida’s recovery.
    Today, I want to break down for you exactly what we are doing to help the state and Floridians recover from both storms.
    I am committed to ensuring people get the help they need and deserve to make a full recovery. In fact, I’m pleased to share that we have already flowed over $150 million dollars to Floridians from Helene alone. Just this morning, Governor DeSantis submitted an expedited Major Disaster Declaration for Hurricane Milton, and I have directed my team to process the request as quickly as possible to open up FEMA’s programs immediately.
    I will be heading back to North Carolina tonight, and I look forward to seeing our progress there. My Deputy Administrator, Erik Hooks, a North Carolina native, has been on the ground the last few days.
    The President and Vice President have called on me to do everything I can to help people recover and my leadership team on the ground across the southeast continues to work every day to do just that.
    As I look back on nearly two weeks in the field since the onset of Helene, I have seen people rise above unimaginable tragedy and communities come together to mend each other’s hearts. Helping people is a simple human reaction, and that’s what we’ll continue to do.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4L3agzcs5JA

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Additional Disaster Recovery Center Now Open in Richmond County

    Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency

    Headline: Additional Disaster Recovery Center Now Open in Richmond County

    Additional Disaster Recovery Center Now Open in Richmond County

    ATLANTA — FEMA opened an additional Disaster Recovery Center in Richmond County to provide one-on-one help to Georgians affected by Hurricane Helene. The center is open Monday to Saturday from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sundays from 1 to 6 p.m. This center, as well as one center in Coffee County and another in Lowndes County, will be open during regular hours on Columbus Day on Monday, Oct. 14. 

    Center location:

    Richmond County

    Hub for Community Innovation

    631 Chafee Ave.

    Augusta, GA 30904

    Additional centers also open in Coffee and Lowndes Counties: 

    Coffee County

    The Atrium

    114 N. Peterson Ave.

    Douglas, GA

    Lowndes County: 

    4434 North Forrest Street Extension 

    Valdosta, GA 31605

    To find center locations in Georgia, visit FEMA’s Hurricane Helene Georgia Page, FEMA’s DRC Locator or text “DRC” and your Zip Code to 43362. All centers are accessible to people with disabilities or access and functional needs and are equipped with assistive technology. 

    Homeowners and renters in Appling, Atkinson, Bacon, Ben Hill, Berrien, Brantley, Brooks,  Bryan, Bulloch, Burke, Butts, Camden, Candler, Charlton, Chatham, Clinch, Coffee, Colquitt, Columbia, Cook, Dodge, Echols, Effingham, Elbert, Emanuel, Evans, Fulton, Glascock, Glynn, Hancock, Irwin, Jeff Davis, Jefferson, Jenkins, Johnson, Lanier, Laurens, Liberty, Lincoln, Long, Lowndes, McDuffie, Montgomery, Newton, Pierce, Rabun, Richmond, Screven, Tattnall, Telfair, Thomas, Tift, Toombs, Treutlen, Ware, Warren, Washington, Wayne and Wheeler counties can visit any open center to meet with representatives of FEMA, the State of Georgia and the U.S. Small Business Administration. No appointment is needed.

    If you are in an affected county, you are encouraged to apply for FEMA disaster assistance. The quickest way to apply is online at DisasterAssistance.gov. You can also apply using the FEMA App for mobile devices or calling toll-free 800-621-3362. The telephone line is open every day and help is available in most languages.

    Disaster Assistance Teams are also on the ground in affected counties going door-to-door to help survivors register for assistance.

    For the latest information about Georgia’s recovery, visit fema.gov/disaster/4830. Follow FEMA on X at x.com/femaregion4 or on Facebook at facebook.com/fema.

    minh.phan

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Journey to a Water World: NASA’s Europa Clipper Is Ready to Launch

    Source: NASA

    Find details about the launch sequences for the orbiter, which is targeting an Oct. 14 liftoff on its mission to search for ingredients of life at Jupiter’s moon Europa.
    In less than 24 hours, NASA’s Europa Clipper spacecraft is slated to launch from the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida aboard a Falcon Heavy rocket. Its sights are set on Jupiter’s ice-encased moon Europa, which the spacecraft will fly by 49 times, coming as close as 16 miles (25 kilometers) from the surface as it searches for ingredients of life. 
    Launch is set for 12:06 p.m. EDT on Monday, Oct. 14, with additional opportunities through Nov 6. Each opportunity is instantaneous, meaning there is only one exact time per day when launch can occur. Plans to launch Europa Clipper on Oct. 10 were delayed due to impacts of Hurricane Milton.

    [embedded content]
    NASA’s Europa Clipper is the first mission dedicated to studying Jupiter’s icy moon Europa, one of the most promising places in our solar system to find an environment suitable for life outside of Earth.

    With its massive solar arrays extended, Europa Clipper could span a basketball court (100 feet, or 30.5 meters, tip to tip). In fact, it’s the largest spacecraft NASA has ever built for a planetary mission. The journey to Jupiter is a long one — 1.8 billion miles (2.9 billion kilometers) — and rather than taking a straight path there, Europa Clipper will loop around Mars and then Earth, gaining speed as it swings past.
    The spacecraft will begin orbiting Jupiter in April 2030, and in 2031 it will start making those 49 science-focused flybys of Europa while looping around the gas giant. The orbit is designed to maximize the science Europa Clipper can conduct and minimize exposure to Jupiter’s notoriously intense radiation.
    But, of course, before any of that can happen, the spacecraft has to leave Earth behind. The orbiter’s solar arrays are folded and stowed for launch. Testing is complete on the spacecraft’s various systems and its payload of nine science instruments and a gravity science investigation. Loaded with over 6,060 pounds (2,750 kilograms) of the propellant that will get Europa Clipper to Jupiter, the spacecraft has been encapsulated in the protective nose cone, or payload fairing, atop a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket, which is poised for takeoff from historic Launch Complex 39A.
    Launch Sequences
    The Falcon Heavy has two stages and two side boosters. After the side boosters separate, the core stage will be expended into the Atlantic Ocean. Then the second stage of the rocket, which will help Europa Clipper escape Earth’s gravity, will fire its engine.

    Once the rocket is out of Earth’s atmosphere, about 50 minutes after launch, the payload fairing will separate from its ride, split into two halves, and fall safely back to Earth, where it will be recovered and reused. The spacecraft will then separate from the upper stage about an hour after launch. Stable communication with the spacecraft is expected by about 19 minutes after separation from the rocket, but it could take somewhat longer.
    About three hours after launch, Europa Clipper will deploy its pair of massive solar arrays, one at a time, and direct them at the Sun.
    Mission controllers will then begin to reconfigure the spacecraft into its planned operating mode. The ensuing three months of initial checkout include a commissioning phase to confirm that all hardware and software is operating as expected.
    While Europa Clipper is not a life-detection mission, it will tell us whether Europa is a promising place to pursue an answer to the fundamental question about our solar system and beyond: Are we alone?
    Scientists suspect that the ingredients for life — water, chemistry, and energy — could exist at the moon Europa right now. Previous missions have found strong evidence of an ocean beneath the moon’s thick icy crust, potentially with twice as much liquid water as all of Earth’s oceans combined. Europa may be home to organic compounds, which are essential chemical building blocks for life. Europa Clipper will help scientists confirm whether organics are there, and also help them look for evidence of energy sources under the moon’s surface.

    More About Europa Clipper
    Europa Clipper’s three main science objectives are to determine the thickness of the moon’s icy shell and its interactions with the ocean below, to investigate its composition, and to characterize its geology. The mission’s detailed exploration of Europa will help scientists better understand the astrobiological potential for habitable worlds beyond our planet.
    Managed by Caltech in Pasadena, California, NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory leads the development of the Europa Clipper mission in partnership with the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) for NASA’s Science Mission Directorate in Washington. APL designed the main spacecraft body in collaboration with JPL and NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland; NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama; and NASA’s Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia. The Planetary Missions Program Office at Marshall executes program management of the Europa Clipper mission.
    NASA’s Launch Services Program, based at Kennedy, manages the launch service for the Europa Clipper spacecraft, which will launch on a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket from Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy.
    Find more information about Europa here:
    europa.nasa.gov

    News Media Contacts
    Meira Bernstein / Karen FoxNASA Headquarters, Washington202-358-1600meira.b.bernstein@nasa.gov / karen.c.fox@nasa.gov
    Gretchen McCartneyJet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif.818-287-4115gretchen.p.mccartney@jpl.nasa.gov 
    2024-139

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Disaster Recovery Centers Open in Barnwell, Lexington Counties

    Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency

    Headline: Disaster Recovery Centers Open in Barnwell, Lexington Counties

    Disaster Recovery Centers Open in Barnwell, Lexington Counties

    Disaster Recovery Centers are open in Barnwell and Lexington counties to provide in-person assistance to South Carolinians affected by Hurricane Helene. These locations join the center previously opened in Greenville County. 

    Center location: Barnwell County 
    Barnwell Regional Airport
    155 State Road S-6-398
    Barnwell, S.C. 29812 

    Hours of Operation: Open Oct. 13–15 from 8 a.m.–7 p.m.  

    Center location: Lexington County 
    Batesburg-Leesville Fire Station 
    537 W. Church St.  
    Batesburg, SC 29006 

    Hours of Operation: Open Oct. 13–16 from 8 a.m.–7 p.m.   

    Center location: Greenville County 
    Freetown Community Center 
    200 Alice Ave. 
    Greenville, SC 29611 

    Hours of Operation: Open daily from 8 a.m.–7 p.m. 

    Additional Disaster Recovery Centers will open soon in other affected areas. You can visit any open center to meet with representatives of FEMA, the state of South Carolina and the U.S. Small Business Administration. No appointment is needed. To find other center locations, go to fema.gov/drc or text “DRC” and a Zip Code to 43362. 

    Homeowners and renters 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 tribal members of the Catawba Indian Nation can apply for federal assistance.

    The quickest way to apply is to go online to DisasterAssistance.gov. You can also apply using the FEMA App for mobile devices or 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. To view an accessible video on how to apply, visit Three Ways to Apply for FEMA Disaster Assistance – YouTube.  

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

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Biden-Harris Administration Approves $825 Million to Helene Survivors and Communities, President Biden and Administrator Criswell Travel to Florida

    Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency

    Headline: Biden-Harris Administration Approves $825 Million to Helene Survivors and Communities, President Biden and Administrator Criswell Travel to Florida

    Biden-Harris Administration Approves $825 Million to Helene Survivors and Communities, President Biden and Administrator Criswell Travel to Florida

    FEMA received over 250,000 applications for assistance in one day, making it the busiest day in the agency’s history for registrations

    WASHINGTON – FEMA remains fully committed to assisting survivors affected by Helene and Milton as response teams work tirelessly to address immediate needs. 

    Today, President Biden and FEMA Administrator Criswell traveled to St. Petersburg, Florida to visit areas impacted by Hurricane Milton and Hurricane Helene. On Friday, in response to Milton, President Biden approved a Major Disaster Declaration for Florida, unlocking federal funds for survivors in 34 counties for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster. Survivors also have access to Serious Needs Assistance, for essential items like food, water, baby formula, breastfeeding supplies, medication and other emergency supplies. 

    Yesterday, FEMA experienced a record-breaking day with over 250,000 applications, making it the busiest day in FEMA history for registrations inclusive of all storms. Applying online at disasterassistance.gov is the best way to apply for assistance.

    Throughout the Southeast, over 9,600 total federal personnel are deployed, including 4,100 FEMA personnel on the ground, working closely with state officials to ensure survivors receive the support they need. As of today, FEMA has approved $474 million in assistance for individuals and communities affected and over $351 million for debris removal and activities to save lives, protect public health and safety and prevent damage to public and private property.

    Hurricane Milton Recovery Update

    While Hurricane Milton has passed, people in Milton-affected areas should continue following safety guidance from local officials – stay clear of downed power lines and continue to practice power outage and generator safety. 

    Power Restoration: Power restoration efforts have significantly improved across the region following Hurricane Milton. Crews have continued to work around the clock and have restored over 71% of the power outages.  

    Debris: FEMA is currently working with state and local officials on debris removal plans for areas affected by the storms. Residents should pay attention to local guidance related to debris removal in their area.  

    Staffing: More than 800 FEMA staff are on the ground providing support to affected communities. FEMA mobilized search and rescue teams, disaster response units and vital resources across Florida. Urban Search and Rescue continues to support state search and rescue teams, the National Guard, and local authorities. Federal teams supplemented the state’s critical operations such as water rescues, Emergency Operations Center support, volunteer and donations management and fire/HAZMAT response.

    Sheltering: Over 40 shelters are currently housing over 2,700 people impacted by Milton, a significant decrease from nearly 13,000 earlier in the week.  

    Commodities: FEMA has delivered more than 1.2 million meals and 392,000 liters of water to augment the state’s supplies. FEMA has an additional 7.2 million meals and 4 million liters of water available to support survivors of Hurricane Milton, ensuring critical supplies are ready for immediate distribution. 

    Hurricane Helene Recovery Updates

    FEMA has approved $474 million in federal disaster assistance for Hurricane Helene survivors and over $351 million in public assistance funding to help communities rebuild.  
     
    Hurricane Helene recovery efforts continue, with federal responders working throughout the region to provide immediate and long-term support. FEMA Disaster Recovery Centers are open across the region to provide support.

    The agency is actively working alongside state, local and tribal partners to assess damage and support those affected by Helene. Over 9,600 personnel from across the federal workforce, including FEMA staff, are deployed to affected communities. To date, FEMA has delivered over 12.6 million meals and more than 12.8 million liters of water to the region. 

    Disaster survivors in certain areas of Georgia, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia can begin their recovery process by applying for federal assistance through FEMA. People with damage to their homes or personal property who live in the designated areas should apply for assistance, which may include upfront funds to help with essential items like food, water, baby formula, breastfeeding supplies and other emergency supplies. Funds may also be available to repair storm-related damage to homes and personal property, as well as assistance to find a temporary place to stay. Homeowners and renters with damage to their home or personal property from previous disasters, whether they received FEMA funds or not, are still eligible to apply for and receive assistance for Helene.   

    There are three ways to apply for FEMA assistance:  

    Support for North Carolina

    Financial Support: FEMA has approved more than $86 million in housing and other types of assistance for over 66,800 households.

    Power and Cellular Restoration: More than 96% of originally reported power outages have been restored. Cellular restoration continues to improve, with more than 93% of cellular sites in service as of today.  

    Staffing: As response efforts continue in North Carolina, more than 1,250 FEMA staff are on the ground providing support to affected communities. Over 350 Urban Search and Rescue personnel remain in the field helping people. These teamshave rescued or supported over 3,100 survivors to date.

    Sheltering: More than 2,225 families who cannot return home are staying in safe and clean lodging through FEMA’s Transitional Sheltering Assistance program. Under FEMA’s Transitional Sheltering Assistance program, residents in declared counties who have applied for disaster assistance may be eligible to stay temporarily in a hotel or motel paid for by FEMA while they work on their long-term housing plan. FEMA will notify applicants of their eligibility for this assistance through an automated phone call, text message, and/or email, depending upon the method of communication they selected at the time of application for disaster assistance. Shelter numbers continue to decline, with 14 shelters housing just over 500 occupants. 

    Commodities: Commodity distribution, mass feeding, and hydration operations remain in areas of western North Carolina. Voluntary organizations are supporting feeding operations with bulk food and water deliveries coming via truck and aircraft. Mobile feeding operations are helping survivors in heavily affected areas, including mass feeding sites in Buncombe and Watauga counties serving locations across the impacted areas. 

    Resources

    • There are more than 300 Disaster Survivor Assistance members supporting neighborhoods in four counties to connect survivors with the assistance they need.
    • There are four Disaster Recovery Centers now open, where survivors can speak directly with FEMA and state personnel for assistance with their recovery.  To find the nearest center, visit FEMA.gov/DRC.
    • Residents can visit: ncdps.gov/helene to get information and additional assistance.  
    • Residents can get in touch with loved ones by calling 2-1-1 or visiting unitedwaync.org to add them to search and rescue efforts.  

    Support for Florida

    As Helene recovery efforts continue in Florida, FEMA has approved more than $164 million for over 53,700 households. FEMA specialists are canvassing Florida communities affected by Helene to help survivors apply for assistance. Additionally, FEMA inspectors are visiting applicants’ homes to verify disaster-caused damage.

    There are 82 FEMA Disaster Survivor Assistance members going into neighborhoods, and three Disaster Recovery Centers are open where survivors can speak to state and federal personnel to help with their recovery. Additional centers will reopen following assessments to the facilities impacted by Milton. Survivors may find their closest center by visiting FEMA.gov/DRC.

    Residents in need of information or resources should call the State Assistance Information Line (SAIL) at 1-800-342-3557. English, Spanish and Creole speakers are available to answer questions.  

    Support for South Carolina

    As recovery efforts continue in South Carolina, FEMA has approved over $114 million for more than 129,500 households. FEMA Disaster Survivor Assistance Teams are on the ground in neighborhoods across the affected counties, continuing to help survivors apply for FEMA assistance and connect them with additional state, local, federal and voluntary agency resources. 

    There are 76 Disaster Survivor Assistance members going into neighborhoods, and one Disaster Recovery Center is open where survivors can speak to state and federal personnel to help with their recovery. Survivors may find their closest center by visiting FEMA.gov/DRC.

    Residents with questions on Helene can call the state’s toll-free hotline, open 24 hours a day, at 1-866-246-0133. 

    Residents who are dependent on medical equipment at home and who are without power due to Helene may be eligible for a medical needs shelter. Call the state’s Department of Public Health Care Line at 1-855-472-3432 for more information. 

    Support for Georgia

    FEMA has approved over $94 million for more than 99,800 households. FEMA Disaster Survivor Assistance Teams are on the ground in neighborhoods across the affected counties helping survivors apply for FEMA assistance and connecting them with additional state, local, federal and voluntary agency resources. 

    There are 129 Disaster Survivor Assistance members going into neighborhoods, and two Disaster Recovery Centers are open with another opening today where survivors can speak to state and federal personnel to help with their recovery. Survivors may find their closest center by visiting FEMA.gov/DRC.

    Resources: Residents can find resources like shelters and feeding sites at gema.georgia.gov/hurricane-helene. 

    Support for Virginia  

    To date, FEMA has approved over $3.9 million for over 1,220 households. FEMA Disaster Survivor Assistance Teams are on the ground in neighborhoods across the affected counties, helping survivors apply for FEMA assistance and connecting them with additional state, local, federal and voluntary agency resources.

    There are about 40 Disaster Survivor Assistance members going into neighborhoods, and three Disaster Recovery Centers open where survivors can speak to state and federal personnel to help with their recovery. Survivors may find their closest center by visiting FEMA.gov/DRC.

    Residents can find resources like shelters and feeding sites at: Recover – Hurricane Helene | VDEM (vaemergency.gov)

    Support for Tennessee

    FEMA has approved more than $10 million for disaster assistance for over 2,036 households. FEMA Disaster Survivor Assistance Teams are on the ground in neighborhoods across the affected counties, helping survivors apply for FEMA assistance and connecting them with additional state, local, federal and voluntary agency resources.

    There are more than 40 Disaster Survivor Assistance members going into neighborhoods to connect with survivors without cell coverage or power.

    Counties continue to establish donation centers. For the evolving list, visit TEMA’s website.

    Voluntary Organizations

    Voluntary organizations are also providing personnel and resources to the hardest hit areas. The American Red Cross has hundreds of trained disaster workers providing comfort and operating shelters. Additionally, they are helping find loved ones through their helpline 1-800-RED-CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or by the Red Cross Hurricane Helene Reunification page where people can enter pertinent information about the person they’re looking for. If someone is missing a child related to this disaster or any other incident, they need to call 9-1-1 and then 1-800-THE-LOST to receive assistance from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. 

    FEMA remains steadfast in its mission to support survivors as they begin their recovery from these historic storms. The agency will continue to work with federal, state, and local partners to ensure the safety and well-being of those impacted by Milton and Helene.

    amy.ashbridge

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Public urged to prepare for floods after wettest 18 months on record

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments 2

    Environment Agency launches Flood Action Week to ensure every person knows their flood risk, marking one year on from Storm Babet

    The Environment Agency is urging the public to ensure they are prepared for a flood as the nation marks the annual ‘Flood Action Week’, which this year runs from 14-20 October. 

    This year’s awareness campaign coincides with the one-year anniversary of Storm Babet, which brought significant flooding across the country.  

    According to the Met Office, Storm Babet saw the third wettest three-day period in a series for England and Wales since 1891. 

    Nearly 96,900 properties were protected by the Environment Agency during Storm Babet, though sadly around 2,150 were flooded. 

    As climate change brings more extreme weather, there has already been flooding this autumn. Only last month, heavy rainfall led to the first major incident of the season with almost a thousand properties flooded. It followed the wettest 18 months on record in England up to February 2024.  

    This campaign is all about showing people that they can easily take a few steps to reduce the devastation caused by floods to their homes and businesses, with around 5.5 million properties in England at risk from flooding. Recent data suggests that nearly half the country is unsure of how to find information on local flood risks, making this campaign all the more important. 

    The best way to protect yourself from flooding is early preparation and knowing what to do in advance. Some of the actions people can take to reduce the dangers are:   

    • Check your long-term flood risk. You can use this free service to find out the long-term flood risk for an area in England, the possible causes of flooding, and how to manage flood risk. 

    • Sign up for flood warnings by phone, text or email  

    • Taking steps to protect yourself from future flooding – including storing important documents in a secure, waterproof location, taking rugs and small furniture upstairs, checking how to turn off your electricity and water, preparing a flood kit. 

    The Environment Agency and its partners are continuing to help communities become more resilient to extreme weather and rising sea levels, but authorities can never stop all flood impacts.  

    Caroline Douglass, Environment Agency Executive Director of Flood and Coastal Risk Management, said:

    Climate change means extreme weather events are happening more frequently, and we have already seen an unusually wet September this year.  

    We can’t always predict where the rain will fall or where flooding will occur, but we do know which areas are at risk.  

    That is why it is essential we all do our part by checking our flood risk and signing up for flood warnings this Flood Action Week.  While we at the Environment Agency are stepping up our preparations to increase the nation’s resilience to flooding as we head into the winter, taking small steps today can immediately improve your own readiness. 

    Following the flooding caused by Storms Ciara and Dennis in 2020, it was estimated that the average insurance claim per household was £32,000. 

    The impacts of flooding to mental health can be equally as harmful as the physical damage and disruption. People whose homes have been damaged by extreme weather are more likely to have poor mental health than the rest of the population. 

    Floods Minister Emma Hardy said:

    Flooding can be a destructive force that puts everything in life on hold. I’ve seen the impacts firsthand and am determined to ensure as much as possible others do not. 

    Through the recent launch of our Floods Resilience Taskforce, this government is taking decisive action to accelerate the development of flood defences and bolster the nation’s resilience to extreme weather. 

    But this Flood Action Week, we must be all be proactive in taking steps to protect ourselves by checking our flood risk and signing up for flood warnings. 

    Last winter, Storm Babet was followed in quick succession by Storms Ciaran and Henk, which each led to more significant flooding, though flood defences operated well overall. While around 5,000 properties were sadly flooded, around 250,000 properties were protected thanks to the investments the Environment Agency has made in flood and coastal defences. 

    In the year since Storm Babet, the Environment Agency has undertaken a thorough assessment of the condition of flood defense assets across the country to ensure they are up to the required standard. 

    It has conducted over 200,000 checks on the state of assets in the past year – up from 150,000 in an average year – and increased our spend on asset maintenance and repair to £236 million, up from £200 million.  

    Pumps have been pre-emptively deployed at seven strategic depots in vulnerable regions around the country to ensure they can be rolled out rapidly as and when required. 

    The public are also urged to explore the longer-term Property Flood Resilience (PFR) measures they can adopt to protect their own homes. The Environment Agency estimates nine out of 10 properties fitted with PFR in England saw the measures delivered via its flood and coastal risk management investment programme, ensuring better protection. 

    Flood Re is a joint initiative between the Government and insurers aiming to make the flood cover part of household insurance policies more affordable. Its Build Back Better initiative enables householders to install property flood resilience measures up to the value of £10,000 when repairing their properties after a flood. 

    Flood Re Interim CEO Stuart Logue said:

    One year on from Storm Babet and we are seeing yet more severe weather and flooding across the country, causing not only physical devastation to homes, but also placing a unique burden on the mental health and wellbeing of families who are affected. 

    This acts as a stark reminder of the importance of our Build Back Better scheme where householders can access up to £10,000 to build resilience into their homes when carrying our flood repairs.  

    Householders can find out which insurance providers are part of the scheme on our website by searching Flood Re Build Back Better.

    During a flood, it is especially important that drivers take particular care on roads, stay away from swollen rivers and do not drive through flood water, just 30cm of flowing water is enough to move your car.   

    Updates to this page

    Published 14 October 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI USA: President Joseph R. Biden and FEMA Administrator Tour Damage in St. Petersburg Post Hurricanes

    Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency

    Headline: President Joseph R. Biden and FEMA Administrator Tour Damage in St. Petersburg Post Hurricanes

    President Joseph R. Biden and FEMA Administrator Tour Damage in St. Petersburg Post Hurricanes

    Today, President Joseph R. Biden and FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell met with federal, state and local officials as well as survivors to receive a briefing on the recovery efforts and tour the damage in areas of Florida impacted by two hurricanes less than a week apart.

    Throughout the Southeast, over 9,600 total federal personnel are deployed, including 4,100 FEMA personnel on the ground in Florida, working closely with state officials to ensure survivors receive the support they need.

    On Friday, Oct. 11, the President approved a major disaster declaration for 34 counties in Florida following Hurricane Milton. President Biden previously approved federal disaster assistance in six states affected by Helene. This opens up federal help for survivors in designated areas in Florida, Georgia North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia. FEMA reported a record-breaking day on Oct. 12 with more than 250,000 applications received for disaster assistance. 

    Those affected by Hurricane Milton can now start to register for disaster assistance. In addition, Hurricane Helene survivors—who to date have been approved for over $474 million in federal disaster assistance—can also continue to apply for assistance. 

    FEMA encourages individuals to apply online as this remains the best way to apply for disaster assistance. The three ways to apply include visiting disasterassistance.gov, calling 800-621-3362 or using the FEMA App. Survivors may receive funds to help with essential items like food, water, baby formula and other emergency supplies. Funds may also be available to repair storm-related damage to homes and personal property, as well as assistance to find a temporary place to stay. 

    These photos highlight response and recovery efforts across states impacted by Helene and Milton.

    View Original‘ data-align=”center” data-asset-link=”1″ data-entity-type=”emerald” data-image-style=”large” data-asset-type=”imageasset” data-asset-id=”56331″ src=”https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/externals/1adfdc1ae08d66d832526d602202b69e.jpg?itok=V6aB1lMJ” alt=”Caption:

    St. Petersburgh, Fla – President Biden and FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell met with community members, local, state, federal officials and disaster survivors to talk about the ongoing Hurricane Milton recovery efforts. 

    ” class=”image-style-large”>

    St. Petersburgh, Fla – President Biden and FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell met with community members, local, state, federal officials and disaster survivors to talk about the ongoing Hurricane Milton recovery efforts. 
    LAKEPORT, Florida – Florida Army National Guard members assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 124th Infantry Regiment load food, water and tarps into a vehicle at a point-of-distribution site. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army Guard)
    STARKE, Florida – Airmen from the Minnesota Air National Guard 148th Fighter Wing, arrive at the National Guard Camp Blanding Joint Training Center to restock supplies for their continued missions in support for Hurricane Milton relief. (Photo credit: U.S. Army Guard) 
    View Original‘ data-align=”center” data-asset-link=”1″ data-entity-type=”emerald” data-image-style=”large” data-asset-type=”imageasset” data-asset-id=”56311″ src=”https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/externals/deebdbe219b8e886e70979f83d19e7dc.jpg?itok=TqaqbOxl” alt=”Caption: Tampa, FL – After Hurricane Milton, U.S. Fire Administrator Dr. Lori Moore-Merrell makes a visit to Tampa and talks with Chris Whitler of Task Force 8, a Florida search and rescue team that primarily focuses on water-based rescues.” class=”image-style-large”>
    Tampa, FL – After Hurricane Milton, U.S. Fire Administrator Dr. Lori Moore-Merrell visited Urban Search and Rescue and emergency workers primarily focused on water-based rescues.
    View Original‘ data-align=”center” data-asset-link=”1″ data-entity-type=”emerald” data-image-style=”large” data-asset-type=”imageasset” data-asset-id=”56268″ src=”https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/externals/4f066b8ad59fa36135e4ab194c997003.jpg?itok=igLEwDnk” alt=”Caption: Greenville, SC (Oct. 11, 2024) – FEMA’s Disaster Recovery Center is open to those affected by Hurricane Helene.” class=”image-style-large”>
    Greenville, SC (Oct. 11, 2024) – FEMA continues to open Disaster Recovery Centers in the states impacted by Hurricane Helene. View this online resource for an update on locations for the Disaster Recovery Centers.
    View Original‘ data-align=”center” data-asset-link=”1″ data-entity-type=”emerald” data-image-style=”large” data-asset-type=”imageasset” data-asset-id=”56291″ src=”https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/externals/30761d701e1ad8455bab482d304acb1a.jpg?itok=aQih8k7D” alt=”Caption: Fort Pierce, Fla. (Oct. 12, 2024) – Volunteers with a faith-based organization support survivors of Hurricane Milton.” class=”image-style-large”>
    Fort Pierce, Fla. (Oct. 12, 2024) – Volunteers with a faith-based organization support survivors of Hurricane Milton.
    View Original‘ data-align=”center” data-asset-link=”1″ data-entity-type=”emerald” data-image-style=”large” data-asset-type=”imageasset” data-asset-id=”56302″ src=”https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/externals/74649b5a2cbeca184114d315e25946ad.jpg?itok=KQpymVeI” alt=”Caption: Tampa, FL – FEMA’s federal partner Health and Human Services (HHS) sent a Disaster Medical Assistance Team (DMAT) from Alabama to Florida in the wake of Hurricane Milton. The 37 team members are supporting St. Joseph’s Hospital in Tampa, as three of the local hospitals are closed due to the hurricane. The DMAT team members assemble their own emergency room and are doctors, nurses, nurse practitioners, pharmacists, psychiatrists, paramedics, logistics, and security personnel and will stay until the mission is complete.” class=”image-style-large”>
    Tampa, FL – As part of the federal response, Health and Human Services (HHS) ASPR reassigned a NDMS Disaster Medical Assistance Team (DMAT) from Alabama to Florida in the aftermath of Hurricane Milton. This team is supporting St. Joseph’s Hospital in Tampa. The 37-person DMAT team consisting of doctors, nurses, nurse practitioners, pharmacists, psychiatrists, paramedics, logistics, and security personnel are augmenting the hospital staff and providing medical care to the community.
    View Original‘ data-align=”center” data-asset-link=”1″ data-entity-type=”emerald” data-image-style=”large” data-asset-type=”imageasset” data-asset-id=”56325″ src=”https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/externals/81375e36d113f3799509b6f384e99cc0.jpg?itok=ArKAEY6d” alt=”Caption: Elizabethton, Tenn. (Oct. 11, 2024) – Salvation Army has joined the River’s Edge Fellowship to provide meals for the evening to local survivors affected by Hurricane Helene.” class=”image-style-large”>
    Elizabethton, Tenn. (Oct. 11, 2024) – Salvation Army has
    joined the River’s Edge Fellowship to provide meals for the
    evening to local survivors affected by Hurricane Helene.
    View Original‘ data-align=”center” data-asset-link=”1″ data-entity-type=”emerald” data-image-style=”large” data-asset-type=”imageasset” data-asset-id=”56308″ src=”https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/externals/eec42c5018f150321910c3b8d147069c.jpg?itok=fryygDUN” alt=”Caption: Jonesborough, Tenn. (Oct. 11, 2024) – FEMA and Red Cross representatives speak with a survivor at the state-initiated Multi-Agency Resource Center which includes the Small Business Administration and several local and state organizations to provide assistance to survivors of Hurricane Helene in Tennessee.” class=”image-style-large”>
    Jonesborough, Tenn. (Oct. 11, 2024) – FEMA and Red Cross representatives speak with a survivor at the state-initiated Multi-Agency Resource Center which includes the Small Business Administration and several local and state organizations to provide assistance to survivors of Hurricane Helene in Tennessee.
    View Original‘ data-align=”center” data-asset-link=”1″ data-entity-type=”emerald” data-image-style=”large” data-asset-type=”imageasset” data-asset-id=”56202″ src=”https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/externals/f7fb86176346e14cbc56c8a24998d9ef.jpg?itok=HZuKFXDX” alt=”Caption:

    Smyth County, Va. (Oct. 10, 2024) – A FEMA Disaster Survivor Assistance Specialist leaves a flyer with information on applying for disaster assistance after Hurricane Helene at a home in Smyth County, Va., on Oct. 10.

    ” class=”image-style-large”>

    Smyth County, Va. (Oct. 10, 2024) – A FEMA Disaster Survivor Assistance Specialist leaves a flyer with information on applying for disaster assistance after Hurricane Helene at a home in Smyth County, Va., on Oct. 10.

    FEMA’s Disaster Multimedia Toolkit page provides graphics, social media copy and sample text in multiple languages. In addition, FEMA has set up a rumor control web page to reduce confusion about its role in the Helene response. Visit Hurricane Rumor Response.

    amy.ashbridge

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Supporting clean energy in the Hunter

    Source: Australian Executive Government Ministers

    The Port of Newcastle and broader Hunter region are on track to become hydrogen-ready and contribute to Australia’s transformation to net zero.

    Supported by $100 million funding from the Albanese Government, the Port of Newcastle’s Clean Energy Precinct has reached a major milestone signing agreements for key design work and environmental impact studies.

    The precinct will renew a disused 220-hectare industrial site to facilitate clean energy production, storage, transmission, domestic distribution and international export. 

    The Government is supporting these latest studies along with the procurement and delivery of enabling works for the precinct. The project is being delivered in partnership with the NSW Government through a Federation Funding Agreement Schedule.

    The Port of Newcastle plays an important economic role as a major deep-water global gateway.

    The commencement of Front-End Engineering Design (FEED) and Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) studies follow previous work by the Port of Newcastle including public and industry engagement and feasibility studies. Formal community consultation and further industry engagement will now be undertaken by the Port. 

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

    “This Clean Energy Precinct demonstrates how legacy infrastructure can be repurposed towards making Australia a renewable energy superpower.

    “Through our investment, we are supporting Australia’s transition to net zero while creating jobs and economic opportunities in the Hunter region.

    “The project will help position Australia as a global leader in technologies and products that reduce carbon emissions including hydrogen and green ammonia.”

    Quotes attributable to Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen:

    “The Hunter has been industrial and economic powerhouse for decades, making the Port of Newcastle an ideal location for a clean energy precinct that can support decarbonisation of heavy industry and connect Australia’s renewable resources to the world.

     

    “The Albanese Labor Government is supporting industrial regions like the Hunter to take advantage of the economic and job opportunities that come with more affordable and reliable renewable energy.”

    Quotes attributable to Federal Member for Newcastle Sharon Claydon:

    “The Clean Energy Precinct is a major economic boost for our region.”

    “Newcastle and the Hunter have powered Australia for Generations. This project makes sure we will continue to do so for generations to come as we lead the transition to Net Zero.”

    “Establishing the Port as a hydrogen exporter will ensure good local jobs are protected and created into the future.”

    Quotes attributable to NSW Minster for the Hunter Yasmin Catley: 

    “The Hunter has powered our state for decades and we’re ensuring it continues to do so for many years to come.

    “Our energy market is transforming and we’re playing a central role; this project will support almost 6,000 local jobs and add billions to the regional economy.

    “Today’s announcement will help ensure a bright future for the Hunter.”

    Quotes attributable to NSW Member for Newcastle Tim Crakanthorp: 

    “I’ve been working closely with the Port of Newcastle over the last ten years to support them in their diversification away from coal.

    “With Newcastle’s existing infrastructure and skilled workforce, there is no better place in NSW for this precinct.”

    Quotes attributable to Port of Newcastle CEO, Craig Carmody:

    “The Port of Newcastle Clean Energy Precinct is expected to support around 5,800 jobs throughout construction and provide new business growth and expanded career pathways for the region, adding an estimated $4.2 billion to the Hunter regional economy.

    “The FEED and EIS studies will cover electrical infrastructure, water services, general infrastructure, storage, berth infrastructure and pipelines to berth. The studies will be completed by successful tenderers Lumea (electrical), coNEXA (water) and GHD (general infrastructure, storage, berth and pipelines), informing future site enablement, site layout and land platform design, which will be used to prepare concept planning approvals.

    “Pending planning and legislative requirements and timeframes, our production partners, KEPCO, are expected to begin construction of facilities in 2027, with the precinct to be operational from 2030.”

    For more information, visit http://www.portofnewcastle.com.au/landside/major-projects/clean-energy-precinct. 

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Cutting power bills for social housing tenants

    Source: New South Wales Premiere

    Published: 14 October 2024

    Released by: Minister for Housing

    Tenants in more than 1,000 NSW social housing properties are saving on their energy bills, thanks to energy efficient upgrades delivered by the Commonwealth and NSW Governments.

    Backed with matched funding by the Albanese and Minns Labor Governments, the $175 million Social Housing Energy Performance Initiative (SHEPI) is providing crucial upgrades to reduce energy bills, keep homes more liveable year-round, and lower emissions.

    Upgrades include new heat pump hot water heaters, solar sharing systems, ceiling insulation, electric stoves and split system air conditioners.

    Since the initiative’s launch in January this year, households in Regional NSW and Western Sydney have received these upgrades with more to be rolled out across the state.

    The upgraded properties so far are a mix of NSW Government-owned and managed homes, along with those managed by Aboriginal community housing providers.

    Approximately 24,000 social housing dwellings in NSW are set to benefit through the course of the initiative to June 2027.

    SHEPI is a collaboration between the Commonwealth and NSW Governments including the NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, Homes NSW, the Aboriginal Housing Office (AHO), and both Aboriginal and Community Housing Providers.

    Along with energy upgrades to their home, tenants are provided with information and guidance on how to best operate their home as efficiently as possible with the new features.

    Quote attributable to Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Chris Bowen:

    “The Albanese Government is driving down energy bills with social housing upgrades to help bring cost of living relief to some 24,000 NSW homes.

    “Working with the Minns Government to deliver better energy performance in social housing means warmer homes in winter, cooler homes in summer and cheaper bills year-round.”

    Quote attributable to Assistant Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Josh Wilson:

    “This milestone shows that the strong Albanese-Minns partnership is making a real difference right now for social housing tenants, who are among the least able to afford energy efficiency upgrades, and yet most affected by energy costs.

    “The Albanese Government is making sure everyone can benefit from technologies that improve the energy performance of their homes.”

    Quote attributable to Minister for Housing Rose Jackson:

    “This program is a crucial initiative that demonstrates our commitment to improving the living conditions of social housing tenants in NSW.

    “The installation of solar systems, heat pumps, and insulation across NSW social housing is a significant step towards creating homes that are more affordable to maintain and better equipped to withstand changing environmental conditions.”

    For more information on the SHEPI program, visit Upgrades for Social Housing | NSW Climate and Energy Action.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Banking: ADB, Partners Open Renewable Based Minigrid to Deliver Clean Electricity to Niuafo’ou

    Source: Asia Development Bank

    NIUAFO’OU, TONGA (14 October 2024) — The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the governments of Tonga and Australia commissioned the Niuafo’ou hybrid minigrid as part of the cofinanced Tonga Renewable Energy Project. The new grid will provide clean, reliable, and efficient electricity supply up to 24 hours per day to the people and businesses of Niuafo’ou.

    Crown Prince Tupouto’a ‘Ulukalala and Crown Princess Sinaitakala Tuku’aho led the commissioning ceremony. They were joined by ADB Senior Country Officer Balwyn Fa’otusia, Australian High Commissioner for Tonga Brek Batley and Tonga Minister for Meteorology, Energy, Information, Disaster Risk Management, Environment, Climate Change and Communication Fekita ‘Utoikamanu.

    “Tonga is obviously preparing for a renewable energy future by reducing dependence on fossil fuels and initiating projects like the Tonga Renewable Energy Project,” said the Director of ADB’s Energy Sector Group Keiju Mitsuhashi. “ADB will continue to support Tonga’s energy transition ambition through accelerating renewable energy investment, and strengthening the transmission and distribution network.”

    The Tonga Renewable Energy Project funded the successful installation of battery energy storage system and modernized Tonga Power Limited’s (TPL) central control center on Tongatapu, as well as the installation of solar photovoltaic plants and battery energy storage systems on ‘Eua and Vava’u. The project is also constructing hybrid minigrid systems on eight outer islands in the Ha’apai and Vava’u Groups, as well as supporting TPL prepare a power purchase agreement for private sector funded investment to help achieve the government’s target of 70% renewable energy penetration by 2025.

    The Tonga Renewable Energy Project is cofinanced by ADB, Green Climate Fund, the governments of Tonga and Australia, and TPL. The $12.2 million ADB financing is sourced from the Asian Development Fund, which provides grants to ADB’s poorest and most vulnerable developing member countries. Total project cost is $53.2 million.

    ADB is committed to achieving a prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable Asia and the Pacific, while sustaining its efforts to eradicate extreme poverty. Established in 1966, it is owned by 69 members—49 from the region.

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: APAC EV infrastructure market to expand at 13.5% CAGR over 2024-29, forecasts GlobalData

    Source: GlobalData

    APAC EV infrastructure market to expand at 13.5% CAGR over 2024-29, forecasts GlobalData

    Posted in Automotive

    Governments worldwide currently face the challenge of creating the strong infrastructure required to accelerate the shift toward electric vehicles (EVs). The Asia-Pacific (APAC) region is experiencing significant growth in this area, with China leading as a major EV market and boasting an extensive infrastructure. Government agencies and private entities in other nations in the region, such as South Korea, India, Japan, and Indonesia, are also actively participating and investing in the expansion of charging station networks. Against this backdrop, the APAC EV infrastructure market is expected to record a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 13.5% over 2024–29, according to GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.

    GlobalData’s latest report, “Global Sector Overview & Forecast: EV Infrastructure Q3 2024,” reveals that the automotive EV infrastructure market covering two types of charging stations, fast charging stations powered by direct current and slow charging stations powered by alternating current, is estimated at 3.3 million units in 2024 and is forecast to reach 6.2 million units by 2029 in the APAC region.

    Madhuchhanda Palit, Automotive Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “To facilitate the widespread adoption of EVs in the APAC region, it is critical to enhance the EV charging infrastructure. Considering that APAC is the most densely populated region in the world, the prospect of long wait times at charging stations may deter potential EV consumers. Therefore, to achieve the electrification goals set by the governments of APAC countries and to drive EV adoption, there is an urgent need to augment the quantity of EV charging stations, with a particular focus on fast charging stations.”

    Several initiatives are underway to address the need to expand EV infrastructure. For instance, Volt, an EV charging company within the infrastructure division of Singapore-based Keppel, announced in July 2024, the deployment of a new fast-charging hub in the country. This hub features ratings of 360 kilowatts and 120 kilowatts, enabling electric cars to be charged in as little as 10 minutes.

    Palit adds: “The expansion of fast-charging stations for EVs is essential, but there is also a pressing need to ensure equitable distribution across the nation. This distribution challenge has impeded EV adoption, even in countries like China, which is the world’s largest EV market. In China, the concentration of EV charging infrastructure in urban areas far exceeds that in rural areas. This disparity may discourage potential EV customers in rural areas and those planning longer journeys.”

    Additionally, the overabundance of chargers in urban areas can lead to underutilization, while those along highways and in rural areas may not meet peak demand during holidays, resulting in potential profit loss and job cuts for EV charging businesses in both urban and rural settings.

    A significant percentage of EV charging stations still rely on electrical power produced using fossil fuels, which can limit the environmental benefits of EVs. However, the landscape has changed significantly in recent years, with multiple initiatives by both the public and private sectors to transition the power source to renewable energy. For example, in India, The Climate Pledge, co-founded by Amazon and Global Optimism, announced in September 2024, an investment of $2.7 million in a new project, the Joint Operation Unifying Last-mile Electrification (JOULE), to build a network of shared EV charging stations powered by renewable energy in Bengaluru.

    Recognizing the concerns and needs for growth in the sector, multiple innovations are being introduced at various stages of implementation. For instance, crowdsourced EV charging, V2G power management, and bidirectional charging are some of the innovations in the early stages of development with steadily rising adoption rates. Meanwhile, EV inductive charging and dual-voltage charging stations are examples of innovations in the maturing stage, which have become well-established within the industry.

    Palit concludes: “Establishing adequate infrastructure is a time-sensitive matter, and the pace of progress varies among different nations. The increasing demand for EVs, coupled with substantial investments and research and development efforts, is expected to drive significant growth in the EV infrastructure sector in the near future.”

    MIL OSI Economics –