Latest news with #BASC
Scotsman
5 days ago
- Business
- Scotsman
Scottish shooting generates more than £246 million, reports shows
Scotland's shooting sector delivers more than £246 million in annual natural capital benefits, according to a new report launched by the British Association for Shooting and Conservation (BASC) at the Scottish Game Fair earlier this month. Sign up to our Scotsman Money newsletter, covering all you need to know to help manage your money. Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... The Natural Capital Benefits of Shooting report assesses the environmental and public goods generated through land management associated with shooting activities. From carbon storage and habitat creation to biodiversity improvements and public access, the findings highlight the sector's vital role in supporting Scotland's natural environment. Speaking at the launch reception, Minister for Agriculture and Connectivity Jim Fairlie MSP praised the shooting community's contribution to Scotland's natural capital. He acknowledged the importance of the sector's work in helping to deliver environmental outcomes aligned with the country's sustainability goals. Scotland-specific highlights include: Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad BASC Scotland director Peter Clark with Jim Fairlie MSP Carbon sequestration: £120.5 million through woodland, peatland and habitat management Public health benefits: £4.6 million via improved mental and physical wellbeing and air quality Recreational value: £92.4 million from participation in shooting and countryside access Food, farming and forestry: £29.3 million through game meat, woodland productivity and crop protection Jim Fairlie MSP told attendees: 'When it comes to natural capital, and investment in restoring and protecting Scotland's natural environment, it is essential that we are able to tackle the nature and climate emergencies at pace and the scale required. If we don't do that then we're going to fall behind. 'The Scottish Government is investing significantly in nature-based solutions and that includes £250 million for a 10-year peatland restoration programme, major funding for woodland creation and strong support through the Agriculture Reform Implementation Oversight Board (ARIOB) to help us meet our farming and our climate ambitions.' He also underscored the importance of responsible private investment: 'That investment must support nature, climate action and our communities. That's why we've developed the Scottish Natural Capital Market Framework; it sets out clear principles for responsible investment. It ensures investment is high integrity, guards against greenwashing and recognises the intrinsic value of our natural assets.' On BASC's findings, the Minister added: 'This is an important piece of work that shows that shooting contributes more than £246 million in natural capital benefits to the people of Scotland every year.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad BASC Scotland director Peter Clark said: 'The report highlights the measurable environmental returns delivered by shooting-related land management. From carbon capture to healthy rural communities, this is proof that our members are part of the solution to Scotland's nature and climate goals.
Telegraph
6 days ago
- Politics
- Telegraph
Game shooting on Scottish estates ‘saves NHS millions'
Game shooting on Scotland's estates is 'saving the NHS millions of pounds', a Scottish Government-sanctioned report claims. The British Association for Shooting and Conservation (BASC) has found that Scotland's shooting sector delivers more than £246 million in benefits to the Scottish economy. That includes a saving of £4.6 million in public health for the NHS and local authorities in improved mental and physical wellbeing and air quality, the organisation believes. Peter Clark, BASC Scotland director, said shooting-related land management delivers 'measurable environmental returns' by helping ensure 'healthy rural communities'. Mr Clark added: 'The report reinforces the shooting community 's essential role in habitat conservation, environmental protection and the responsible care and management of Scotland's natural environment, directly complementing the Scottish Government's climate and nature restoration priorities.' The report considers the environmental and public goods generated through land management for shooting at Scotland's popular hunting estates. Its findings show woodland and peatland management generates £120.5 million in carbon sequestration; £92.4 million in recreational access to the countryside; and £29.3 million through game meat and crop protection. Jim Fairlie, Scotland's minister for agriculture and connectivity, attended the launch of the report. He said: 'This is an important piece of work that shows that shooting contributes more than £246 million in natural capital benefits to the people of Scotland every year.' The MSP also told attendees: 'When it comes to natural capital, and investment in restoring and protecting Scotland's natural environment, it is essential that we are able to tackle the nature and climate emergencies at pace and the scale required. If we don't do that, then we're going to fall behind.' Mr Fairlie also highlighted the importance of responsible private investment. He said: 'That investment must support nature, climate action and our communities. That's why we've developed the Scottish Natural Capital Market Framework; it sets out clear principles for responsible investment. 'It ensures investment is high integrity, guards against greenwashing and recognises the intrinsic value of our natural assets.' However, the Nationalist administration has come under fire from its former coalition partners the Scottish Greens. Ross Greer, the Scottish Greens finance spokesman, said: 'The barbaric murder of helpless animals by the ultra-rich isn't something the Scottish Government should be celebrating. It's cruel, outdated and should be banned. 'Shooting estates take up an unbelievable amount of Scotland's rural land. They are mostly owned by a motley collection of aristocrats, billionaires, tax avoiders and Tory MSPs. 'Regardless of the slick propaganda their lobbyists produce, the real evidence shows that these estates are devastating for the environment and for Scotland's iconic native species, like mountain hares and birds of prey.' Mr Greer went on to say that rural estates 'take advantage' of tax breaks designed for small businesses, taking money from the public purse. He added: 'The public are being forced to subsidise the ultra-wealthy's desire to kill animals for fun, all while SNP ministers sadly cheer them on. 'Small-scale farmers and crofters play an invaluable role in our country's food production and in their local communities, we must ensure that they are properly supported to create sustainable businesses and jobs, but taxpayer funding is instead going to these super-rich playgrounds. 'Vital Scotland's land delivers' Scottish Labour said the work highlighted in the BASC report was to be 'welcomed'. Rhoda Grant, the party's rural affairs spokesman, said: 'It is vital that Scotland's land is used in a way that delivers for our country. 'Game sports have long played a role in rural Scotland, and the work being done to improve biodiversity and help meet our climate goals is to be welcomed. 'It is important that all shooting is appropriately licensed and managed in a sustainable way that delivers real benefits to rural communities and the country as a whole.'
BBC News
30-06-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
New plan hopes to turn children in Jersey away from crime
A plan designed to help children who have come into contact with the youth justice system has been made by the Government of Youth Justice Roadmap aims to guide services and professionals who work with children to help them lead safe lives. The government said services and the community across Jersey, including the police, Royal and Youth Courts and Jersey Youth Service will work to ensure children and families receive minister for justice and home affairs, Connétable Richard Vibert said: "A child diverted from crime is not just a reduction in offending, it is a family strengthened, a victim restored, and a safer island." He added: "This is about putting children's rights at the centre of how we build a safer, more supportive Jersey. "It's not just about reducing crime – it's about creating opportunities, restoring trust, and making sure every child has the chance to succeed, no matter what has happened in their past."The roadmap is part of the Building A Safer Community (BASC) Framework, which aims to bring together government departments, the emergency services, courts, community services, charities and families to work in partnership to prevent crime, respond and support young people.
Mint
30-06-2025
- Business
- Mint
India looks east to this new ally to ease China's grip on EV batteries
With a globally dominant China tightening controls on exports of some critical minerals used in manufacturing of electric vehicles (EVs), Indian and Japanese companies are huddling in Delhi this week to figure a way out of the supply-chain logjam, according to two people aware of the matter. More than a dozen major Japanese players from the EV battery and critical mineral supply chain, including Panasonic, Mitsubishi Chemicals, Sumitomo Metals and Mining, Asahi Kasei and Nichia, among others, are currently in India to explore partnerships with Indian companies. All these companies are part of Japan's industry body, Battery Association of Supply Chain (BASC). From the Indian side, businesses 'like Amara Raja and Reliance are participating in discussions with the Japanese industry", one of the persons mentioned above said on condition of anonymity. The talks are expected to focus on developing a diversified supply chain for lithium-ion batteries used in EVs and energy storage systems, as well as for critical minerals like lithium and graphite, with discussions likely to explore technological collaboration and joint R&D to counter China's dominance across these markets. Mintcould not independently verify the full list of Japanese and Indian companies who will be part of discussions. Queries sent to the Japanese and Indian firms remained unanswered till press time. For Indian companies, the need to collaborate with other countries has become important as they struggle to source rare earth magnets from China, which controls 90% of their global supply and imposed restrictions on their exports this April. Alongside, several estimates peg China's global market share in lithium battery production at around 80%, while Japan is estimated to have about 10% share. Experts, though, are sceptical. Srihari Mulgund, partner at consultancy EY-Parthenon, said Indian players have to look for technology transfer and invest jointly in efforts to localise the battery technology. But partnerships with Japanese companies can only offer limited benefits, he argued. 'Collaborations with Japanese players in the EV battery and critical mineral chain offer limited scope because of the fact that China controls most of the value chain," Mulgund said. 'Mining, refining, and processing are dominated by China. Japanese players can help with battery material and technology, but their work has been more substantial on the hybrid front." In 2021, around 55 companies in Japan came together to form the BASC to strengthen the domestic industry's competitiveness in the battery supply chain. While the total number of members in the grouping isn't available, some publicly reported numbers keep it around 150 companies. Other major names include Nissan Motor Co and Toyotsu Lithium Corporation. The background Currently, Indian EV companies import more than three-fourths of their batteries from China, specifically from firms such as BYD, CATL, and EVE. Other countries that supply batteries include South Korea and Japan. While Indian companies are building their own battery factories that are likely to go live between this fiscal and FY27, they are worried about the ability to match prices of cheaper Chinese batteries as domestic players are currently fully reliant on imports of key raw material lithium. 'I think everybody would have observed that the pricing coming out of China right now is quite aggressive," Vikramadithya Gourineni, executive director for new energy business at Amara Raja Energy, told analysts in an earnings call on 30 May. 'The cell pricing, the energy storage system (ESS) pricing. So definitely, that's been on a downward trend." According to an industry executive working on EV cells, India-made batteries from domestic companies such as Amara Raja, Exide Industries, and Ola Electricare expected to be 20-30% costlier than Chinese counterparts who don't have to rely significantly on imports for sourcing key raw materials. The country's government has set a target of achieving 100GWh of lithium-ion battery capacity that can feed the surge in EV sales, which touched nearly 2 million in 2024, growing at 27% over 2023, data from Vahan portal showed. In 2021, the government announced a ₹18,100-crore production linked incentive (PLI) scheme for building battery capacity. Ola Electric, Reliance Industries and Rajesh Exports are among the firms that received a nod from the government to build the gigafactories. However, none of them has so far managed to achieve the required milestones under the scheme and are behind their schedule of commercial production. They face a possible fine from the government but the companies have cited issues with sourcing raw materials and required technology to progress at the previously stated pace. Other firms like Amara Raja, Exide Industries, and Tata Group's Agratas are also building their own lithium-ion plants. Sajjan Jindal's JSW Group, too, had previously expressed interest in making an EV battery plant.
Business Wire
28-04-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
BigBear.ai to Join Global Leaders at BASC Panama 2025 Forum to Discuss the Future of Secure Trade and Logistics
MCLEAN, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- (NYSE: BBAI), a leading provider of AI-powered decision intelligence solutions for national security, travel, and trade, today announced its invitation to participate in the Business Alliance for Secure Commerce (BASC) Panama 2025 International Forum, a premier event hosting global leaders in finance, logistics, maritime operations, and international trade to discuss the future of secure and competitive commerce. representatives from the Company's border and homeland security sector will join stakeholders of the Panamanian government and international corporate leaders in scheduled panel discussions. Under the theme 'Navigating Panama's Maritime and Logistics Future: Security for Global Trade,' the forum intends to provide a platform for dialogue on the evolving challenges and opportunities in today's trade ecosystem, specifically on Panama's role in the global economy. ' looks forward to contributing our expertise during discussions on port modernization, supply chain security, and the regulatory shifts shaping global commerce,' said Kevin McAleenan, CEO of 'This event marks an important step in fostering cross-sector cooperation and identifying actionable strategies for a safer, more agile international trade environment.' representatives and affiliates participating in the forum include: Mr. Troy A. Miller, Former Acting Commissioner of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP); Mr. Todd C. Owen, President of the Cross Border Advisory Network, LLC, and Former Executive Assistant Commissioner (EAC) of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Field Operations (OFO); Mr. James (Jim) McLaughlin, Senior Vice President, Technology Solutions, Mr. Brian Lodwig, Vice President of Homeland Security Delivery, Mr. Ryan M. Rawding, Vice President of Homeland Security Business Development, The forum will be held on April 29, 2025, in Panama City, Panama at the Hilton Hotel. For more information about BASC, visit: About is a leading provider of AI-powered decision intelligence solutions and services for national security, defense, travel and trade, manufacturing and supply chains. Customers and partners rely on artificial intelligence and predictive analytics capabilities in highly complex, distributed, mission-based operating environments. Headquartered in McLean, Virginia, is a public company traded on the NYSE under the symbol BBAI. For more information, visit and follow on LinkedIn: @ To receive email communications from register here. About BASC BASC started in 1996 as a voluntary cooperation program between the Private Sector and the United States Customs Administration known as Business Anti-Smuggling Coalition, and its purpose was solely to avoid using legal trade for smuggling and drug trafficking. The program was proposed by Mattel company as a program to avoid using Mattel merchandise and toys for drug smuggling. After 9/11 Events terrorist attacks, the management of security in global supply chains gained attention and priority in businesses as well as in government agendas. After the attacks in the year 2002-World BASC Organization –WBO was created and legally constituted in the State of Delaware as a non-profit organization with the purpose of having an international entity to ensure the global functioning and credibility of the program. The program changed its name to Business Alliance for Secure Commerce with Headquarters in Miami, Florida with a mission to Promote secure commerce through global security standards and norms applied throughout the international supply chain. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains 'forward-looking statements.' Such statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the intended use of proceeds from the private placement and may be preceded by the words 'intends,' 'may,' 'will,' 'plans,' 'expects,' 'anticipates,' 'projects,' 'predicts,' 'estimates,' 'aims,' 'believes,' 'hopes,' 'potential' or similar words. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, are based on certain assumptions and are subject to various known and unknown risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the Company's control, and cannot be predicted or quantified and consequently, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including changes in domestic and foreign business, market, financial, political, and legal conditions; risks related to the uncertainty of the projected financial information (including on a segment reporting basis); risks related to delays caused by factors outside of our control, including changes in fiscal or contracting policies or decreases in available government funding; changes in government programs or applicable requirements; budgetary constraints, including automatic reductions as a result of 'sequestration' or similar measures and constraints imposed by any lapses in appropriations for the federal government or certain of its departments and agencies; influence by, or competition from, third parties with respect to pending, new, or existing contracts with government customers; our ability to successfully compete for and receive task orders and generate revenue under Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity contracts; potential delays or changes in the government appropriations or procurement processes, including as a result of events such as war, incidents of terrorism, natural disasters, and public health concerns or epidemics; and increased or unexpected costs or unanticipated delays caused by other factors outside of our control, such as performance failures of our subcontractors; risks related to the rollout of the business and the timing of expected business milestones; the effects of competition on our future business; our ability to issue equity or equity-linked securities in the future, and those factors discussed in the Company's reports and other documents filed with the SEC, including under the heading 'Risk Factors.' More detailed information about the Company and the risk factors that may affect the realization of forward-looking statements is set forth in the Company's filings with the SEC, including the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K and its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. Investors and security holders are urged to read these documents free of charge on the SEC's web site at The Company assumes no obligation to publicly update or revise its forward-looking statements as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.
