Latest news with #O'Hanlon
Agriland
25-05-2025
- Business
- Agriland
Kildare breeder sells Wagyu consignment to Portugal
A pedigree Wagyu cattle breeder based in Co. Kildare has secured the sale of a consignment of Wagyu heifers and bulls as well as Wagyu semen and embryos to a customer in Portugal. Based outside Kilcullen, Co. Kildare, Oliver O'Hanlon is the owner of the Ohanasaki Wagyu Herd (pronounced O-Hana-Sa-Ki). The farm is home to a herd of full-blood Wagyu cattle and Agriland caught-up with the Wagyu breeder to hear how the sale came to pass. 'In April this year, a delegation of farmers from Portugal visited our farm in Kilcullen, Co. Kildare to see Wagyu cattle,' O'Hanlon said. 'This resulted in the sale of 20 full-blood registered females, two full-blood registered stock bulls, as well as a selection of Wagyu semen and embryos. The cattle left Ireland on Tuesday, May 20, and arrived at their destination on Friday, May 23,' he added. Wagyu The Kildare farmer told Agriland how he managed to get the cattle to their market destination in Pombal, Portugal. 'The cattle travelled in a new livestock trailer owned by Cormac Morgan from The Moy in Co. Tyrone. This was it's maiden voyage. 'The cattle were rested at lairages on the way and arrived content and happy on Friday evening,' he said. The truck and trailer which the cattle travelled on O'Hanlon said that the purchaser has a number of business interests. 'When I asked the buyer, 'Why do you want to buy Wagyu?' he said owning Waygu in Portugal is like owning a Rolex, only better and [he] also said that it is challenging to source quality Wagyu cattle in Portugal, Spain or France,' O'Hanlon said. The cattle pictured on arrival to their destination on Friday evening: One of the bulls sold to Portugal was Ohanasaki Tucker, which according to O'Hanlon was 'an outstanding son of Arubial Anticipated out of Ohanasaki Jenny Penny (2023 offspring)'. This bull was an embryo transfer calf carried in a Friesian-cross cow. The cattle arriving at their new home in Pombal, Portugal 'The dam's milk quality gave this bull the very best start, making him the pick of that group,' O'Hanlon said. The purchaser has plans to use the foundation cattle to grow his herd and produce Wagyu beef from it.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
How achievable is Trump's Golden Dome plan?
Seven days after his inauguration, Donald Trump issued the 'Iron Dome for America' executive order to create a cutting-edge defense system that protects the U.S. from long-range missile attacks. Trump revealed Tuesday that his administration has settled on a design for the massive system, adding that it will be operational within three years. The president appointed Michael Guetlein, the current vice chief of space operations, to lead the project. 'Once fully constructed, the Golden Dome will be capable of intercepting missiles even if they are launched from other sides of the world and even if they are launched from space, and we will have the best system ever built,' Trump said from the Oval Office. The idea evokes the concept of Israel's missile defense system, but there would be several key differences between the U.S. ally's Iron Dome and Trump's so-called 'Golden Dome'. The Golden Dome would have to cover a much larger area, for starters. The Golden Dome will also have to be a lot more comprehensive, with several different systems that can locate, track and stop any kind of aerial attack the U.S. might face, according to Wes Rumbaugh, a fellow in the Missile Defense Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. By comparison, Israel's Iron Dome is a system designed to specifically protect against just short-range rockets and artillery shells. Congressional Republicans recently proposed allocating $25 billion from this year's budget for the project, further signaling that construction could begin soon. Here's what you need to know about Trump's plan — and why some experts warn it has some 'big issues': Trump's executive order outlines some straightforward aspects to his Golden Dome plan, like an updated missile threat risk assessment or a list of strategic locations where it'd be best to defend against missile threats proactively. But the most significant component is also the most complicated: a network of 'space-based interceptors,' such as lasers, that would be able to stop or destroy warheads shortly after they're launched. This harkens back to President Ronald Reagan's infamous space-based missile defense system, nicknamed 'Star Wars' by critics. Officials building any space-based interceptor system would need to ensure every possible attacker and target are covered — you can't have Florida covered but not California. But this means building a massive web of interceptors to ensure they're always in the correct position, which Michael O'Hanlon, director of research in the Foreign Policy program at the Brookings Institution, argues would be costly and 'hugely inefficient.' 'You've got to be pretty confident you're going to get everything, or at least knock everything off course,' O'Hanlon tells The Independent. O'Hanlon also says lasers themselves also pose a cost issue, because those would have to be sent into orbit with large amounts of fuel and giant mirrors that can focus the laser's energy enough to destroy a warhead. 'This translates into each one of your defensive space-based lasers being the equivalent of the Hubble telescope,' he says. Rumbaugh believes the Golden Dome is feasible on a purely technical level, but other factors will determine whether it ever gets built. By building up such strong defensive systems, the U.S. could provoke an adversary into further strengthening their offense, sparking a global arms race. This could trigger a feedback loop where officials make the country 'less secure and certainly more impoverished,' O'Hanlon said. 'If you really try to make this comprehensive against even a Russian nuclear attack, then you're reigniting all the age-old debates about the likelihood of just triggering an arms race where defense continues to be more difficult and expensive than offense,' O'Hanlon added. Other challenges will include budget and scale. Rumbaugh said some have compared the Golden Dome to the Manhattan Project, America's top-secret effort to construct an atomic bomb during World War II. O'Hanlon similarly estimates the project would cost hundreds of billions of dollars. 'Even if you just sized [the system] to today's Russian nuclear arsenal, and you wanted to build a multi-layer capability that Trump has talked about, that is already enormously expensive,' O'Hanlon said. 'I think I calculated something in the range of $500 billion, and that was just for a limited part of it.' Collaboration and resource-sharing may also prove difficult and the details are still unclear, Rumbaugh added. How will the Missile Defense Agency, the Space Force, the Army, the Navy, the Air Force and various other agencies work together to manage the Golden Dome? That remains unclear. Even if the idea seems farfetched, O'Hanlon says the U.S. does need to expand its missile defense capabilities. 'I think that there could be some benefits to even a limited, partially effective missile defense system, whether it's defending against the North Korean threat that's continued to grow, or a future Iranian threat, or a threat of a limited strike by Russia or China,' he said. The Independent has contacted the White House for comment. O'Hanlon offers that a scaled-back version of Trump's plan could be beneficial overall to U.S. national security. 'I think there is value in doing more than we've done already,' he added.
Irish Independent
16-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Independent
Stage Three of Rás Tailteann to finish in popular Clare town for the first time since 1971
Rás Tailteann, an iconic Irish cycling race, will take place from May 21 to May 25 and stretches for over 760km across Ireland, featuring 13 categorised climbs. Miltown Malbay is to host the Stage Three finish of this year's race on May 23, the first time it has served as a finishing point for the race in over five decades, last doing so in 1971. Beginning in Cong, Co Mayo, riders will journey down the Wild Atlantic Way before a fast finish in Miltown Malbay. The following morning, May 24, will see Ennis take centre stage as the starting point for Stage Four of the race. Starting at 11.45am outside the Clare County Council offices, riders will proceed to take on a category one climb in the Slieve Blooms before a 14km race to the finish in Mountrath, Co Laois. The 70th edition of the Rás Tailteann runs across five stages and begins in Drogheda, Co Louth on May 21 and will eventually finish in Bective, Co Meath on May 25 with further key points in the race in counties set for Roscommon, Mayo, Galway and Kildare. Stage Three of this year's race is especially significant due to its dedication to Sé O'Hanlon on the 60th anniversary of his second overall race victory in 1965, which included five stage wins. Lauded as one of the most iconic figures in the history of Rás Tailteann, O'Hanlon was known for his aggressive riding style, immense stamina and tactical brilliance. The iconic rider remains one of the most successful figures in the history of the race, with four overall wins to his name between 1962 and 1967. Race Director Ger Campbell paid tribute, saying: 'Sé O'Hanlon represents everything the Rás has always stood for — courage, commitment, and a fighting spirit that captured the imagination of the Irish public. 'It's only fitting that we honour him during this 70th edition, and particularly on a day that echoes the era he defined.'
Time of India
10-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
What is Donald Trump's Golden Dome that has sparked a debate in America, is it symbolic patriotism or a costly vanity megaproject?
What is the 'Golden Dome' and how is it different from Israel's Iron Dome? Live Events Is space-based missile defense really part of Trump's plan? How much will the Golden Dome cost taxpayers? Could the Golden Dome make the world less safe? Can different U.S. agencies even work together on this? Do we actually need a Golden Dome? Trump's Golden Dome is bold, but is it realistic? FAQs: (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel Just a week after stepping back into the Oval Office, President Donald Trump signed the 'Iron Dome for America' executive order, launching what he calls the 'Golden Dome' missile defense system. The idea borrows from Israel's successful Iron Dome — a defense shield against short-range rocket attacks — but Trump's plan goes much new U.S. defense strategy aims to protect the country from long-range missile threats, including nuclear warheads. But what would it actually look like? And how realistic is this plan?Trump's Golden Dome missile defense system is inspired by Israel's Iron Dome, but the scale is entirely different. Israel's Iron Dome is designed to intercept short-range rockets and artillery shells within a relatively small geographic area. It's highly mobile, localized, and compare that to the United States — a vast country with major population centers spread across both coasts and thousands of military installations around the world. That's where the Golden Dome becomes a much bigger to Wes Rumbaugh, a fellow at the Missile Defense Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, the Golden Dome would need to cover a massive area and address every kind of aerial threat — from ballistic missiles to hypersonic weapons. 'It has to be comprehensive,' he — and it's the most ambitious (and controversial) part of it. The executive order outlines a system of 'space-based interceptors,' possibly involving lasers that would shoot down warheads in space moments after launch. If this sounds like Ronald Reagan's old 'Star Wars' project from the 1980s, it's because it experts warn: this is a logistical and financial O'Hanlon, Director of Research at the Brookings Institution, points out that putting high-powered laser systems in orbit isn't simple. 'Each one of your defensive space-based lasers would be the equivalent of the Hubble telescope,' he told The Independent. That means huge mirrors, massive fuel loads, and extreme these orbiting interceptors would need to be perfectly positioned to strike at any missile from anywhere in the world, at any time. That means building a massive satellite network, which O'Hanlon says would be 'hugely inefficient.'That's the billion-dollar question — or rather, hundreds of the Pentagon hasn't released an official cost estimate, early figures are eye-popping. Congress has already proposed $25 billion for initial development, but that's just the beginning.O'Hanlon estimates that building a multi-layered missile defense system to defend against even a limited Russian nuclear strike could cost as much as $500 billion. And that's just one threat compares the scale of the Golden Dome to the Manhattan Project, which developed the first atomic bomb during World War II — one of the most expensive and secretive military projects in might seem strange, but a strong missile defense system could actually provoke more aggression.O'Hanlon warns that trying to shield the U.S. from all missile threats might push countries like Russia or China to upgrade their offensive weapons to penetrate the dome. That, in turn, could trigger a new global arms race.'If you really try to make this comprehensive,' he said, 'then you're reigniting all the age-old debates... and potentially making the country less secure and more impoverished.'That's because defense is always more expensive than offense. Building a dome that blocks every missile would require constant updates, upgrades, and coordination — all while other countries develop newer, faster, deadlier big question is who's in Golden Dome would likely involve several government branches — the Missile Defense Agency, U.S. Space Force, Army, Navy, and Air Force — all working together. But there's no clear plan yet on how they would collaborate, manage resources, or make joint lack of clarity could delay progress or even lead to infighting, especially given the high stakes and high costs notes that officials are still figuring this out, and no detailed roadmap has been shared the criticism, not everyone is dismissing the Golden Dome entirely.O'Hanlon says there's a case to be made for a scaled-back missile defense system. Something more focused could help defend against threats from North Korea, Iran, or even limited attacks from Russia or China.'There could be benefits to a limited, partially effective missile defense system,' he said, especially as threats continue to turning Trump's full vision of a space-based Golden Dome into reality? That's still a long shot — both technically and Golden Dome is one of the most ambitious military defense proposals in recent memory. It's packed with big ideas — space lasers, nationwide coverage, layered interception systems — but also faces huge the astronomical costs to the risks of global escalation, experts are raising serious concerns. While some version of improved missile defense may happen, the idea of a fully functioning, all-encompassing Golden Dome protecting the entire U.S. from any missile strike is, at best, decades a large-scale U.S. defense system designed to stop long-range missile attacks using space-based Golden Dome aims to protect the entire U.S. from all missile types, while Iron Dome only covers small areas from short-range rockets.
Yahoo
06-04-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
More than $19.6 million approved by FEMA
CHARLESTON — FEMA representatives have been knocking on the doors of Mercer and McDowell County residents recovering from the February flood that devastated much of the region, but now they're also calling survivors and offering help and advice. Staff from FEMA work from call centers eight hours a day, six days a week to follow up on applications submitted after a federal disaster is declared. They are now calling from an Enhanced Applicant Services center established in the Mingo County community of Williamson. Enhanced Applicant Services specialists have been calling survivors in Mercer, McDowell, Wyoming and other counties hit by the Feb. 15 flood to check on the status of their applications, identify issues that could be slowing the process, discover additional assistance for which they may be eligible, or answer any questions a survivor might want to ask. 'Basically, it's our opportunity to ID people who have applied to FEMA with needs. We can help them clarify what they need and help them understand how FEMA works,' said Federal Coordinator Officer Mark O'Hanlon. 'If they report specific damage – bridges, well, furnaces – we can create a list of those people and application services and call them and help them understand how FEMA can help them.' The FEMA specialists can help survivors applying for assistance learn what kind of documentation they may need, thus helping them get the aid they require, he said. 'They are all trained in the Individual Assistance Program,' O'Hanlon said. 'They can explain things in plain English and help them feel better.' Flood survivors can register for FEMA assistance until April 28. 'While we've been really successful, there are some folks that are thinking they have more time, but that time is running out and we don't want them to miss it,' O'Hanlon said. As of Friday, more than $19.6 million had been approved for flood victims in southern West Virginia. Around $1 million of that is based on calls made by Enhanced Applicant Services specialists, helping about 1,200 families, he said. There have been 4,113 valid registrations across southern West Virginia including: Logan County, 261 registrations; McDowell County, 1,608 registrations; Mercer County, 597 registrations; Mingo County, 889 registrations; Raleigh, 29 registrations; Wayne County, 175 registrations; and Wyoming County, 574 registrations. Enhanced Applicant Services specialists come from all over the United States and they volunteer to come to West Virginia. O'Hanlon said that as a result, the phone numbers they use often do not have the state's 304 area code. It is important for applicants to answer phone calls from FEMA, even if the caller ID is unknown, and take the opportunity to let FEMA know about their current needs and how FEMA can better serve them. Survivors should also beware of fraud calls. Only FEMA knows an applicant's nine-digit application number, so the agency's representatives can provide this number to verify it is a legitimate call. FEMA representatives never ask for money or a full Social Security number, agency officials said. Accepting FEMA funds will not affect eligibility for Social Security. – including Social Security Disability Insurance and Supplemental Security Income – Medicare, Medicaid, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits, or other federal benefit programs, agency officials said. Survivors whose phone numbers or email addresses have changed should provide their new contact information to FEMA. They can update their information through their account at on the FEMA app for their smartphone or by calling the FEMA helpline at 800-621-3362. The helpline is available seven days a week and assistance is available in most languages. Homeowners and renters in West Virginia who have questions about their FEMA application can also call the FEMA helpline. Flood survivors can also visit a Disaster Recovery Center to talk about their applications face-to-face with a FEMA representative, agency officials said. These centers are accessible to all, including survivors with mobility issues, impaired vision, and those who are who are deaf or hard of hearing. Local Disaster Recover Centers are at the following locations: – Mercer County Disaster Recovery Center at the Lifeline Princeton Church of God is located at 250 Oakvale Road near Princeton. Its hours of operation are Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The center is closed on Sundays and will be closed on April 19. – McDowell County Disaster (Bradshaw) Recovery Center #1 is located in Bradshaw Town Hall at 10002 Marshall Highway in Bradshaw. Its hours of operation are Monday to Saturday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. It is closed on Sundays. – McDowell County (Welch) Disaster Recovery Center #2 is located in the Board of Education Building at 900 Mount View High School Road in Welch. Its hours of operation are Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. It is closed on Sundays. Contact Greg Jordan at gjordan@
