Former Government News

A state-appointed commissioner in Italy on Tuesday gave his formal go-ahead to the set up of a new liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal in the port of Piombino, on the western coast of the country.Preparatory works by gas grid operator Snam for the infrastructure can start on Wednesday, Commissioner Eugenio Giani said during a press conference in Florence.The floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU), which is part of a broader plan designed by the former government of Mario Draghi to replace dwindling Russian gas supplies, needs to be operational by end-March.The gas grid operator said

Last year experts raised their eyebrows when the Morrison government announced Australia would abandon its contract for French-built Attack class submarines, in favor of eight nuclear-powered submarines delivered under the AUKUS partnership.Retired Royal Australian Navy Chief Petty Officer Greg Jones was one key individual who questioned whether the choice is appropriate for Australia’s defense needs (at least in the short to medium term).One particularly controversial point is the time it will take for the nuclear submarines to become operational.

The Coopérative de transport maritime et aérien’s (CTMA) procurement effort to purchase a ferry to replace the CTMA Vacancier and the CTMA Voyageur has been thrown into question by a court proceeding which alleges that the former government’s support for the acquisition was tainted with serious procedural irregularities and must be suspended and, ultimately, declared invalid.Last May, the outgoing Liberal government announced that financial support would be granted to CTMA for the acquisition of a new ship.

French govt has made 50/50 ownership offer to Italy; Minister says offer on the table until Thursday. The French state said on Wednesday it would nationalise the STX France shipyard if Italy does not accept its offer to split STX's capital equally, putting down a marker on the limits of economic liberalism under new President Emmanuel Macron. The threat raises the stakes in a standoff with Rome over the shipyard's fate, the only one in France with facilities large enough to build aircraft carriers. Economy Minister Bruno Le Maire said nationalisation would give the state more time to find a better shareholder deal, but even if temporary, it would mark the first major state intervention in the corporate world by Macron's government which was elected on a pro-business platform.

The Australian Government has thrown domestic shipbuilders an A$89 billion (US$ 66 billion) lifeline. It plans to deliver a long-term plan for a strong and sustainable naval shipbuilding industry. Over the next 20 years the Government will invest the $89 billion in ships and submarines for the Navy. It's also still unclear whether local yards will benefit from a submarine program that accounts for a hefty chunk of the promised funding. This critical investment will generate significant economic growth and sustain several thousand Australian jobs over decades. It is a key part of our commitment to a safe and secure Australia. The Government will implement a continuous build of surface warships in Australia.

Senator David Johnston, the Australian Minister of Defence announced about the government's was committed to creating a sustainable naval shipbuilding industry. He informed that the Government would be investing in a safe and secure Australia. As part of this commitment – and building towards the release of the Defence White Paper – the Government today announces a three point plan that will create a sustainable naval shipbuilding industry that supports shipbuilding jobs. * Firstly, the Government will work with industry to fix the Air Warfare Destroyer program. * Secondly, the Government will create a sovereign submarine industry and avoid a submarine capability gap.

Former Afloat Programs Manager at the United States Navy Military Sealift Command (MSC), Kenny E. Toy, was sentenced to 96 months in prison for receiving bribes, the U.S. Department of Justice said. Toy was sentenced by United States Chief Judge Rebecca Beach Smith of the Eastern District of Virginia Tuesday, July 29. Toy pleaded guilty on Feb. 12, 2014 to criminal information charging him with one count of bribery. According to Toy’s plea agreement, he was employed as the Afloat Programs Manager in the N6 Command…

Scott B. Miserendino, Sr., 55, a former government contractor who performed work for the United States Navy Military Sealift Command , and Timothy S. Miller, 57, a businessman whose company sought contracting business from the Military Sealift Command, were indicted today on charges including conspiracy and bribery. Acting Assistant Attorney General David A. O’Neil of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, Acting U.S. Attorney Dana J. Boente of the Eastern District of Virginia…

China's capital has ordered more than 50 companies to shut down this year in an effort to cut pollution but pushing factories out could raise objections in surrounding areas reluctant to host Beijing's polluters. Smog-shrouded Beijing and the surrounding province of Hebei have become a front in a "war against pollution" declared by Premier Li Keqiang last month. But experts say efforts to cut coal consumption and industrial output in big cities like Beijing is likely to put pressure on other regions to endure more pollution to keep the economy growing, with overall coal consumption expected to rise by a quarter from 2011 to 2015. "Moving Beijing's plants to Hebei isn't the best way…

Labor’s warning over the future of Australian defense manufacturing is absolute hypocrisy, Defense Minister David Johnston said today. Speaking from Perth, Senator Johnston, said the so-called shipbuilding Valley of Death was created by Labor because rather than steering the country forward and making sound strategic decisions they spent six years bickering in the back seat over who should be driving. “It was the former government which cut Defense spending to its lowest levels since 1938," Senator Johnston said.

Speaking from Perth, Defence Minister Senator Johnston, said the so-called ship-building 'Valley of Death' was created by Labor because rather than steering the country forward and making sound strategic decisions they spent six years bickering in the back seat over who should be driving. Labor’s warning over the future of Australian defence manufacturing is absolute hypocrisy, claimed the Defence Minister in a government news release.“It was the former government which cut Defence spending to its lowest levels since 1938," Senator Johnston said.

In the wake of the recent ethics scandal at Boeing1, Congress has begun to focus on the many issues that arise when government contractors hire former federal government employees. Because of Congress' involvement, government contractors are under close scrutiny when they hire such individuals, particularly those with whom the contractor had dealings prior to the offer of employment. While the "revolving door" between the federal government and private industry is controlled by the 1996 Procurement Integrity Act2 and the 1989 Ethics Reform Act3, many members of Congress have called for additional legislation further tightening the laws limiting post-government employment.

The Croatian will subsidize the ailing shipbuilding industry to boost the country's stagnating exports, officials said, adding that while Croatia has few products it can export, a product it does have is ships. Officials said that, given the new government's proclaimed goal of entering the EU, Croatia had to find a way of balancing its current and trade accounts. The country's trade gap in the first 11 months of 1999 stood at $3.2 billion, while the current account gap is forecast at around $1.5 billion or 6-7 percent of gross domestic product. The government was prepared to help put the ailing industry back on track, but will not pay for their current expenditures such as wages, which was a standard practice of the former government, officials said.