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  • MIL-OSI NGOs: Concrete action needed in fight against antimicrobial resistance

    Source: Médecins Sans Frontières –

    • Governments must take bold action to make meaningful progress against drug resistance worldwide.
    • Drawing on our years of experience tackling drug resistance, we urge governments to build on their commitments at the second-ever United Nations High Level Meeting on antimicrobial resistance.

    Geneva/New York – Ahead of the second-ever United Nations (UN) High Level Meeting on antimicrobial resistanceAMR — when microbes like bacteria, viruses, and fungi evolve and survive despite the antimicrobial medicines, such as antibiotics, used against them — can make medical care less effective and much more difficult, prolonged, and costly for patients and treatment providers. (AMR) tomorrow, where world leaders will come together to agree on commitments to advance the global response to AMR, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) calls on governments to take swift, bold action to translate this political declaration into meaningful progress against drug resistance.

    Headway against AMR since the first declaration nearly a decade ago has been inadequate and inequitable, with low- and middle-income countries – and humanitarian contexts, in particular – least equipped to respond despite bearing the highest burdens of drug-resistant infection. Drawing on years of experience tackling drug resistance around the world, MSF urges governments to build on the commitments made and take an ambitious set of follow-on steps to empower those most affected by AMR to prevent, detect, and respond to it.

    AMR is a leading cause of death worldwide, and contributed to to 4.95 million deaths in 2019 alone, with recent estimates showing the threat is still growing at alarming rates, possibly contributing to 8.2 million deaths annually by 2050.https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(24)01867-1/fulltext

    “We are seeing staggering rates of drug-resistant infections in many of the low-resource and humanitarian settings where we work, in large part because healthcare workers don’t have what they need to prevent, detect, and respond to AMR,” says Dr Christos Christou, International President of MSF. “The UN Political Declaration on antimicrobial resistance is a welcome step towards strengthening the global AMR response and expresses important aspirations for global equity and solidarity.” 

    “Considering the magnitude of the challenge of AMR though, and how few of the hardest-hit countries have been able to fund and implement national action plans, the declaration text should have been much more concrete and ambitious,” he says. “The declaration must now go beyond words on paper: governments must not only enact and be accountable to the commitments they’ve made, but they must also build on and refine them to ensure low-resource and humanitarian settings are no longer left behind.”

    People in low- and middle-income countries experience the highest rates of AMR and infectious diseases globally, but are the least likely to have access to healthcare, including the medicines, vaccines, and diagnostics they need. In humanitarian settings, other factors compound the AMR crisis. Conflicts or natural disasters, for example, can result in traumatic injuries that can easily become infected and force people to take refuge in overcrowded settings where resistant bacteria can spread easily.

    In the political declaration, governments acknowledged the importance of addressing AMR in humanitarian settings like those in which MSF works, as well as several issues that MSF has highlighted as key priorities in responding to AMR. However, the commitments made to address these issues should have been bolder and more precisely calibrated to address global inequities. MSF recommends that governments build on and refine these commitments in the following ways:

    • The declaration’s commitment to include affected communities and humanitarian organisations in the governance of platforms and mechanisms to address AMR must now be put into practice. Only by ensuring the inclusive participation of these groups in global AMR initiatives can an effective roadmap for reaching the most underserved settings take shape. For example, if established, the proposed Independent Panel on Evidence for Action Against AMR must adhere to principles of impartiality, transparency, and accountability to all countries, and prioritise research in and for communities most affected by AMR. This is important, because communities in conflict-affected, fragile and humanitarian settings are more vulnerable to AMR, but evidence needed to inform the response in these settings is acutely lacking.
    • The declaration recognizes the need for strengthening laboratory capacity and commits to “improve access to diagnosis and care,” but this broad commitment must be made more specific and precise in follow-on agreements and accountability frameworks to ensure expanded and equitable availability of quality-assured microbiology laboratories. Access to microbiology laboratories is a critical foundation for preventing, detecting and controlling AMR more effectively, but many places with high rates of AMR do not have quality laboratories. 
    • The commitment to increased international financing and technical assistance to enable low- and middle-income countries to implement national action plans to address AMR must result in stronger and more ambitious funding, as the currently proposed US$100 million to see 60 per cent of countries achieve funded plans to tackle AMR by 2030 is not sufficient to address a health issue of this magnitude.
    • The commitment to ensure timely and equitable access to affordable medical tools, including antimicrobials and diagnostic tests, must translate into concrete action. The significant global gaps in access to medical tools must be tracked and quantified to guide efforts to achieve more equitable access, and resources allocated accordingly for both access strategies and antimicrobial stewardship programs. Furthermore, when governments provide funding for research and development for new antimicrobials, they should prioritise public and nonprofit initiatives, as these facilitate access, stewardship, and collaborative approaches to research. Funders must also attach upfront conditions ensuring equitable global access to any resulting medical tools into agreements when providing the “push” and “pull” funding called for in the declaration.

    “To effectively combat AMR globally, governments must address the significant discrepancies in the amount of evidence for action available in high-income and low-resource settings,” said Dušan Jasovský, Antimicrobial Resistance Pharmacist with the MSF Access Campaign. “This means that the Independent Panel on Evidence for Action Against AMR proposed in the declaration must prioritise research in communities most affected by AMR, which are often in humanitarian or low-resource settings where there is currently the least evidence to guide action.”

    “This panel is in a great position to inform a response to drug resistance in the hardest-hit areas based on interventions that work, but to do so it must operate with transparency, accountability, and impartiality, backed by ambitious financial means of implementation, and in close collaboration with affected communities,” says Jasovský.

    MSF is a leading actor in preventing, detecting, and responding to AMR in humanitarian settings, with infection prevention and control, and stewardship initiatives across multiple contexts and 50 sites with planned or existing access to diagnostic microbiology in 20 countries worldwide. MSF has developed an interdisciplinary approach to addressing AMR which includes targeted training and support for infection prevention and control, and antimicrobial stewardship, and in some cases also efforts to provide access to microbiology lab-based diagnosis.

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI Translation: AFRICA/DR CONGO – Two churches desecrated by guerrillas in Ituri closed

    MIL OSI Translation. Region: Italy –

    Source: The Holy See in Italian

    Mgr. Dieudonné Uringi Uuci, Bishop of Bunia

    Kinshasa (Agenzia Fides) – Two churches desecrated by a group of rebels have been closed in the diocese of Bunia, the capital of Ituri in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo. This was announced by Dieudonné Uringi Uuci, Bishop of Bunia, during the mass on Sunday 22 September. Mgr. Uringi in his statement states that “Considering the reprehensible acts committed by elements of the armed group CODECO (Cooperative for the Development of Congo), who closed the churches of Kpandroma and Jiba on the night between 28 and 29 August, acts qualified as desecration and which require compensation pursuant to canon 1211, Considering their threat against the physical and moral integrity of the priests working in these ecclesial structures and the arbitrary taking hostage of two faithful collaborators of the priests, Considering their voluntary intention to extort money for the release of these faithful with the sole aim of causing damage to the Church; Considering our immediate ordinary power under canon 381 paragraph 1, we decree: the closure of the Marie-Reine parish of Jiba and the sector of the pastoral institution of Kpandroma for an indeterminate period”. Msgr. Uringi has also decided to withdraw the priests who were working in the two churches. Canon 2011 of the Code of Canon Law establishes that “Sacred places are desecrated if gravely outrageous actions are committed in them with scandal, which in the judgment of the Ordinary of the place, are so serious and contrary to the sanctity of the place that it is not lawful to exercise worship in them until the outrage is repaired with the penitential rite, according to the liturgical books”. The Bishop emphasizes that the violence began after the Church launched an appeal for dialogue and to lay down arms. In response, the CODECO militiamen asked to see the priests. Not finding them, they attacked their collaborators, ransacked the premises and blocked the doors of the two churches. A similar episode had occurred six months ago in one of the parishes involved. The militiamen had mistreated and imprisoned several priests, demanding the release of the prisoners belonging to CODECO. This acronym indicates an association of various militias based on the Lendu ethnic group. The original acronym Cooperative for the Development of Congo, quite unusual for a guerrilla group, derives from the fact that when it was founded in the 1970s, CODECO was a real agricultural development cooperative composed of Lendu farmers. Over the years, land disputes with the Hema shepherds have caused two groups to arm themselves and CODECO has become an acronym indicating an association of various Lendu militias fighting against the Hema. CODECO is accused of various crimes against humanity including massacres in villages and refugee camps. (LM) (Agenzia Fides 25/9/2024)Share:

    EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is a translation. Apologies should the grammar and/or sentence structure not be perfect.

    MIL Translation OSI

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Secretary-General of ASEAN delivers lecture at Guangxi University

    Source: ASEAN

    Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, today delivered a lecture at Guangxi University in Nanning, China. The lecture was titled “Fostering Friendship and Cooperation: The Role of People-to-People Connections and Exchanges in ASEAN-China Relations” and was attended by hundreds of college students from multidisciplinary backgrounds. During the lecture, Dr. Kao shared various achievements that both ASEAN and China have made in realizing people-to-people connections, particularly in the areas of culture, education, youth, and the digital economy.

    The post Secretary-General of ASEAN delivers lecture at Guangxi University appeared first on ASEAN Main Portal.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Time for fair work in the hospitality sector

    Source: Scottish Greens

    25 Sep 2024 Economy

    Every worker deserves a real living wage and protections.

    More in Economy

    Every worker deserves a real living wage and protections, says Scottish Greens MSP Maggie Chapman, who has called on the Scottish Government to support and impelment recommendations from the Fair Work Convention’s Fair Work Hospitality Inquiry Report. 

    The report, launched yesterday, made 12 recommendations, including the creation of tax incentives for businesses who pay the Real Living Wage, developing accredited training for managers to champion fair work practices, and creating a single Fair Work Charter under which hospitality businesses can operate. 

    Speaking after the launch, Maggie Chapman said “The hospitality sector is a vibrant and essential part of our culture and economy, and those working in it deserve clear protections.  

    “The Fair Work Convention has shown what many already know about the hospitality sector: it is plagued by precarity, built into its structures, with a clear lack of collective bargaining and a low expectation for what is considered ‘fair’ in work. 

    “Hospitality workers come from such a diverse range of backgrounds in Scotland, from the small independent coffee shops to the big city centre bars and restaurants.  

    “The Scottish Greens look forward to working further with the Convention as well as trade unions, to ensure that the report’s recommendations are taken forward as quickly as possible.” 

    The recommendations are a response to significant reports of accidents, bullying, and job insecurity, due to a lack of clarity on the protections which hospitality workers are owed. 

    The Convention is also working directly with Unite Hospitality’s ‘Get Me Home Safely’ campaign, which is pushing for employers to ensure their workers can get home safely after late night shifts. This campaign was established after a Unite member was sexually assaulted while walking home from a late-night shift, having been refused a taxi by her employer. 

    Following the report’s launch, Inquiry member from Unite Hospitality, Bryan Simpson added: “This inquiry set a really important precedent, giving workers in the sector the voice they deserve.  

    “Unite Hospitality workers have been working hard to deliver better conditions for their colleagues, and it is high time these voices were heard at the same table as government ministers and industry leaders. For Scotland’s lowest-paid sector, it is vital that these workers are properly recognised. 

    “If the recommendations are accepted and rolled out, it will be transformational for the sector. Workers’ lives will improve. And the industry as a whole will be better for it.” 

    Ms Chapman has also submitted a parliamentary motion recognising the work of the Convention and its report.  

    Text of Maggie Chapman’s Motion 

    Title: Fair Work Hospitality Industry Inquiry 

    That the Parliament recognises what it sees as the important activities of the Fair Work Convention; notes that the Convention undertook an inquiry into fair work in the hospitality industry and how this could be improved for the benefit of both employers and workers; understands that the inquiry recommends the establishment of a voluntary Fair Work Charter for Hospitality that stipulates a range of workers’ protections, from payment of the Real Living Wage and recognition of Real Living Hours to effective voice through trade union access and recognition, robust anti-bullying procedures and “safe home” policies for all workers asked to travel to or from work after 11pm; further understands that Unite Hospitality’s Get Me Home Safe campaign has, and continues to promote, the adoption of “safe home” policies associated with the charter; believes that there is a continued requirement to raise awareness of the Fair Work Convention, its work and the Fair Work Charter for Hospitality, and commends and congratulates the Fair Work Convention on its ongoing work. 

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Serious crash, Depot Road, View Hill

    Source: New Zealand Police (District News)

    Emergency services are responding to a serious crash on Depot Road, View Hill, in Waimakariri District.

    The single vehicle crash occurred near Eyre River and was reported to Police at 8pm. 

    The road is closed between Woodstock Road and Woodside Road.

    At this stage there is no confirmed information regarding injuries.

    ENDS

    Issued by Police Media Centre.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Communication proposals get support

    Source: Hong Kong Information Services

    The Financial Services & the Treasury Bureau today published the consultation conclusions on promoting paperless corporate communication for Hong Kong companies, outlining the views received during the consultation, along with the Government’s response and the way forward.

    The public consultation was conducted from November 27, 2023, to January 26, 2024, during which nine submissions were received from the community, including business chambers, professional bodies and public organisations.

    Noting that the paperless corporate communication proposals received general support from the community, the bureau said the respondents agreed that the proposals will enhance cost-effectiveness and operational efficiency of companies, thereby achieving the objectives of streamlining procedures and promoting a green business environment.

    Respondents also provided valuable comments on different aspects of the proposals, including introducing an implied consent mechanism, removing the separate notification requirement, and enhancing protection of shareholders’ interest, it added.

    The bureau has briefed the Legislative Council Panel on Financial Affairs on the legislative proposals, consulted the Standing Committee on Company Law Reform and organised a briefing session for seven industry organisations.

    Additionally, it is drafting the amendment bill and plans to introduce it into the Legislative Council within this year. The Government hopes the community will continue to support the implementation of the legislative proposals.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI: Form 8.5 (EPT/RI) – musicMagpie Plc

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    FORM 8.5 (EPT/RI)

    PUBLIC DEALING DISCLOSURE BY AN EXEMPT PRINCIPAL TRADER WITH RECOGNISED INTERMEDIARY STATUS DEALING IN A CLIENT-SERVING CAPACITY
    Rule 8.5 of the Takeover Code (the “Code”)

    1.        KEY INFORMATION

    (a)        Name of exempt principal trader: Shore Capital Stockbrokers Ltd
    (b)        Name of offeror/offeree in relation to whose relevant securities this form relates:
            Use a separate form for each offeror/offeree    		 musicMagpie Plc
    (c)        Name of the party to the offer with which exempt principal trader is connected: musicMagpie Plc
    (d)        Date dealing undertaken: 24 September 2024
    (e)        Has the EPT previously disclosed, or is it today disclosing, under the Code in respect of any other party to this offer? No

    2.        DEALINGS BY THE EXEMPT PRINCIPAL TRADER

    (a)        Purchases and sales

    Class of relevant security Purchases/ sales Total number of securities Highest price per unit paid/received Lowest price per unit paid/received
    Ordinary Purchases N/A N/A N/A
    Ordinary Sales 1,761 5.708p 5.708p

    (b)        Derivatives transactions (other than option)

    Class of relevant security Product description
    e.g. CFD    		 Nature of dealing
    e.g. opening/closing a long/short position, increasing/reducing a long/short position    		 Number of reference securities Price per unit
             

    (c)        Options transactions in respect of existing securities

    (i)        Writing, selling, purchasing or varying

    Class of relevant security Product description e.g. call option Writing, purchasing, selling, varying etc. Number of securities to which option relates Exercise price per unit Type
    e.g. American, European etc.    		 Expiry date Option money paid/ received per unit
                   

    (ii)        Exercising

    Class of relevant security Product description
    e.g. call option    		 Number of securities Exercise price per unit
           

    (d)        Other dealings (including subscribing for new securities)

    Class of relevant security Nature of dealing
    e.g. subscription, conversion    		 Details Price per unit (if applicable)
           

    The currency of all prices and other monetary amounts should be stated.

    Where there have been dealings in more than one class of relevant securities of the offeror or offeree named in 1(b), copy table 2(a), (b), (c) or (d) (as appropriate) for each additional class of relevant security dealt in.

    3.        OTHER INFORMATION

    (a)        Indemnity and other dealing arrangements

    Details of any indemnity or option arrangement, or any agreement or understanding, formal or informal, relating to relevant securities which may be an inducement to deal or refrain from dealing entered into by the exempt principal trader making the disclosure and any party to the offer or any person acting in concert with a party to the offer:
    If there are no such agreements, arrangements or understandings, state “none”

    None

    (b)        Agreements, arrangements or understandings relating to options or derivatives

    Details of any agreement, arrangement or understanding, formal or informal, between the exempt principal trader making the disclosure and any other person relating to:
    (i)        the voting rights of any relevant securities under any option; or
    (ii)        the voting rights or future acquisition or disposal of any relevant securities to which any derivative is referenced:
    If there are no such agreements, arrangements or understandings, state “none”

    None
    Date of disclosure: 25 September 2024
    Contact name: Justin Ball
    Telephone number: 0207 647 8130

    Public disclosures under Rule 8 of the Code must be made to a Regulatory Information Service and must also be emailed to the Takeover Panel at monitoring@disclosure.org.uk. The Panel’s Market Surveillance Unit is available for consultation in relation to the Code’s dealing disclosure requirements on +44 (0)20 7638 0129.
    The Code can be viewed on the Panel’s website at www.thetakeoverpanel.org.uk.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Auction of Treasury Bills on 27 September 2024

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    The treasury bills for sale have the following stock exchange codes:        

    Name Stock exchange code Maturity
    DGTB 02/12/24 24 / IV 98-19666 2 December 2024
    DGTB 03/03/25 25 / I 98-19740 3 March 2025

    The sale will settle on 1 October 2024 at the stop-rate for each serie. In case of bid on stop-rate a pro-rata ratio may occur.

    The deadline for bidding is 10.15 on the day of the auction.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI China: Announcement on Open Market Operations No.191 [2024]

    Source: Peoples Bank of China

    Announcement on Open Market Operations No.191 [2024]

    (Open Market Operations Office, September 25, 2024)

    In order to keep liquidity adequate at a reasonable level in the banking system at quarter-end, the People’s Bank of China conducted reverse repo operations in the amount of RMB196.5 billion through quantity bidding at a fixed interest rate on September 25, 2024.

    Details of the Reverse Repo Operations

    Maturity

    Volume

    Rate

    14 days

    RMB196.5 billion

    1.85%

    Date of last update Nov. 29 2018

    2024年09月25日

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Regulator of Social Housing publishes regulatory judgements for ten landlords

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    As part of a set of judgements published today, RSH found that Harlow District Council failed to meet the new consumer standards.

    As a result, RSH has given the landlord a C3 grade, which means there are serious failings and it needs to make significant improvements.

    RSH investigated Harlow Council after reviewing its Tenant Satisfaction Measure (TSM) results. RSH concluded that the council had:

    • Carried out fire risk assessments for only 20% of buildings that it should have done, out of its 9,100 social housing homes.
    • Over 500 high risk fire safety remedial actions overdue, and a further 1,500 medium risk actions overdue (the majority of which are more than 12 months overdue).

    Harlow Council has employed an external consultant to help it to develop a detailed improvement plan as a priority and the RSH will be engaging with the landlord as it addresses these failings

    The Council is working to complete the outstanding fire risk assessments and resulting actions, starting with the highest risk blocks. RSH continues to scrutinise the Council closely and it must demonstrate that it is reducing risks to tenants as it puts these issues right.

    Kate Dodsworth, Chief of Regulatory Engagement at RSH, said:

    It is unacceptable that Harlow Council has failed to meet fire safety requirements. Providing safe, decent homes for tenants begins with robust data, and this must include fire risk assessments for every home that needs one. 

    We identified these failings by scrutinising the council’s TSM results. It is the landlord’s responsibility to notify us themselves of material issues.

    Our new proactive approach and expanded consumer remit is helping to bring issues to the surface earlier. We expect all providers to regularly review and evaluate their services to improve outcomes for tenants.

    The investigation was carried out as part of RSH responsive engagement.

    RSH has also today published a range of other judgements resulting from its ongoing regulatory activity, including seven programmed inspections as well as RSH’s first stability check for a for-profit provider.

    RSH carries out annual stability checks to see whether a provider’s current viability grade is consistent with the financial information submitted in their regulatory returns.

    Provider Governance Viability Consumer Engagement Process Notes
    Saxon Weald G1 Assessed and unchanged V2 Assessed and unchanged C2 First grading Programmed inspection  
    Great Places Housing Group G1 Assessed and unchanged V2 Assessed and unchanged C2 First grading Programmed inspection  
    Calico Homes G2 Assessed and unchanged V2 Regrade C2 First grading Programmed inspection  
    Bolton at Home G2 Assessed and unchanged V2 Regrade C2 First grading Programmed inspection  
    The Havebury Housing Partnership G1 Assessed and unchanged V2 Assessed and unchanged C1 First grading Programmed inspection  
    Rooftop Housing Group G1 Assessed and unchanged V2 Assessed and unchanged C2 First grading Programmed inspection  
    Mossacre St Vincent’s Housing Group Limited G1 Assessed and unchanged V2 Assessed and unchanged C2 First grading Programmed inspection  
    Legal and General Affordable Homes G1* V1* N/A Stability check RSH does not assess consumer grades as part of its annual stability checks
    Islington and Shoreditch Housing Association Limited G2 Downgrade V2 Assessed and unchanged N/A Responsive engagement following a self-referral Responsive engagement related to governance issues, so consumer grade not yet assessed

    Landlords must meet the outcomes of the economic and consumer standards set by RSH.

    Governance and financial viability remain cornerstones of RSH’s regulation of housing associations and other private registered providers (including for-profits). Landlords must manage the risks associated with financial viability and reduced capacity with robust governance in place to meet the outcomes of RSH’s standards.

    A C1 grading means that, overall, the landlord is delivering the outcomes of the consumer standards, and they identify issues when they occur and put plans in place to remedy them and minimise their recurrence. We expect that, even where a landlord is assessed as C1, it will continue to review, evaluate and improve its services to tenants.

    C2 means there are some weaknesses in the landlord delivering the outcomes of the consumer standards, and it needs to make improvements.

    Notes to editors

    1. On 1 April 2024 RSH introduced new consumer standards for social housing landlords, designed to drive long-term improvements in the sector. It also began a programme of landlord inspections. The changes are a result of the Social Housing Regulation Act 2023 and include stronger powers to hold landlords to account. More information about RSH’s approach is available in its document Reshaping Consumer Regulation.
    2. We use an asterisk with a for-profit landlord’s grade (for example, G1, V1, C2*) to make it clear that the assessment refers to a landlord that is designated on the register as being for-profit.

    3. More information about RSH’s responsive engagement, programmed inspections and consumer gradings is also available on its website.

    4. RSH promotes a viable, efficient and well-governed social housing sector able to deliver more and better social homes. It does this by setting standards and carrying out robust regulation focusing on driving improvement in social landlords, including local authorities, and ensuring that housing associations are well-governed, financially viable and offer value for money. It takes appropriate action if the outcomes of the standards are not being delivered.

    For general enquiries email enquiries@rsh.gov.uk. For media enquiries please see our Media Enquiries page.

    Updates to this page

    Published 25 September 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: The Ceramicist’s Garden: Pride in Place Walk

    Source: City of Stoke-on-Trent

    Published: Wednesday, 25th September 2024

    A walk with Deb Rogers and Maurice Greenham, hosted by Anna Francis.

    Join the Friends of Spode Rose Garden for a series of walks aimed at exploring the city ceramics and the natural world.

    This walk will celebrate the diversity of plants, nature and our city’s green spaces. It will also celebrate Hanley Park as the annual venue for Stoke Pride.

    Stoke-on-Trent Pride Legends Maurice Greenham and Deb Rogers will be there to welcome everyone, and particularly those from the LGBTQ+ community.

    Maurice has been campaigning to support people living with HIV and the older LGBT community and Deb Rogers is an artist and researcher whose practice explores the relationship between humans and animals, and has lead the Stoke-on-Trent Pride Arts programme for many years.

    The walk will begin in the Spode Rose Garden, and end the Potteries Museum and Art Gallery.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Preston Pride 2024 Returns to Celebrate Diversity and Inclusivity

    Source: City of Preston

    Preston Pride is set to return in 2024, bringing together people from all walks of life to celebrate diversity, inclusivity, and equality.

    This year’s event will take place on Saturday 28 September in the heart of Preston, offering a day filled with activities, performances, and opportunities to show your support for the LGBTQIA+ community.

    Building on the success of previous years, Preston Pride will feature a wide range of entertainment, including live music, drag performances, and local artists.

    The event aims to create a welcoming space for everyone, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, or background. Attendees can expect to see a variety of stalls from local organisations, charities, and businesses that support the LGBTQIA+ community.

    There will be road closures between 10:15am – 11:15am for the Pride Parade beginning at Kendal Street on the city’s Adelphi Square at the University of Central Lancashire campus and then runs down Friargate to the Flag Market.

    Councillor Hindle, Cabinet Member for Culture and Arts at Preston City Council said:

    “Preston Pride is a cornerstone event for our city, showcasing our commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion. 

    It is vital that we continue to support and celebrate the LGBTQIA+ community, not just during Pride but every day of the year. Preston Pride is an opportunity for us all to stand together, demonstrate our solidarity, and foster a city where everyone feels welcome and valued. I encourage everyone in Preston and beyond to join us for this important day and feel welcome to show our solidarity.”

    Preston Pride is more than just a celebration, it is a statement of solidarity and support. It is an opportunity for the community to come together and promote a message of acceptance.

    The event also serves as an important platform to raise awareness of the ongoing challenges faced by LGBTQIA+ individuals and to encourage dialogue and education.

    Preston Pride is expected to draw a large crowd, as it has in previous years, and preparations are well underway to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for all attendees. The family-friendly environment will also include activities for children, ensuring the event is accessible to all ages.

    To learn more about Preston Pride 2024 visit the website Visit Preston – Preston Pride 2024, or follow Visit Preston on social media.

    Additional Information

    Preston City Council actively applies and prioritises the principles of Community Wealth Building wherever applicable and appropriate. Community Wealth Building is an approach which aims to ensure the economic system builds wealth and prosperity for everyone.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Inside job starts on Guildhall

    Source: City of Plymouth

    We’ve done the outside – now the inside of Plymouth’s Guildhall is to be given a makeover to help bring the buzz back to this landmark building.

    Contractors TEC Construction will take over the building this week to prepare for a major overhaul that will bring this historic landmark bang up to date for gigs, entertainment events, conferences, training and weddings.

    The project will involve installing features such as acoustic curtains in the Great Hall, acoustic panels from the ceiling to improve the sound quality for different types of events. Facility panels will also be provided in the Great Hall to enable event organisers better audio visual connectivity for productions.

    Also in the Great Hall, the roof trusses are being strengthened to enable higher spec lighting to be used and modular staging is to be installed offering organisers who hire the building more flexibility.

    Toilets on the ground floor and within the Lounge Bar will also be refurbished, and a commercial kitchen installed adjacent to the Great Hall, while outside a ramp for wheelchairs and prams is being created to improve access.

    The existing Lounge Bar will be demolished and replaced with a new larger and more modern bar increasing the number of covers and improving the customer experience. The building will also benefit from new lighting in key areas and upgraded WiFi throughout.

    Councillor Chris Penberthy, Cabinet Member for Housing, Cooperative Development and Community, said: “This is a massively important building for the city and it deserves to be back in the spotlight and play a bigger part in people’s lives and the life of the city centre.

    “It’s played host to some incredible artists – Bowie, Queen and the Who in the 70s, but the needs of bands, orchestras and events organisers have changed over the years. It’s great to see the work get underway.”

    The alterations are sympathetic to the building’s character and interior which Historic England describe as a ‘rare and unusually rich example’ of an unaltered `Festival of Britain’ interior. There are some glorious touches including an imposing black and white marble staircase, a mural depicting famous sons of Plymouth and the city’s maritime history and three stunning 1950s chandeliers.

    Over the last few months, the Council has been in discussions with the contractor to value engineer the original specification to reduce the price to a more affordable sum that still delivers the scheme’s key outcomes, which is to create a space in the city centre that will attract a new wave of visitors and users.

    A separate programme of restoration for the Guildhall’s exterior has just been completed to clean and repair the effects of decades of pollution and salty sea air, which has damaged stonework and detailing.

    Work was carried out in three phases, initially focussing on the northern Royal Parade-facing side and the western tower. The work started at the end of 2022 and scaffolding has recently down from the front of the building to reveal crisp clean stonework. Repairs were also carried out to the wave-shaped awning over the front doors and roof repairs.

    A compound is being set up in front of the entrance ahead of work starting in full.

    The Guildhall was originally built in the 1870s but reduced to a shell during the Blitz.

    It was one of the few damaged buildings to be restored rather than rebuilt, with the restoration continuing through most of the 1950s.

    The work is expected to be complete by early summer 2025.

    The project will cost in the region of £3.9m and is funded by the Future High Streets Fund.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Groundbreaking study revises the origins of biodiversity An international team of scientists has made a groundbreaking discovery that could reshape our understanding of how global biodiversity evolved.

    Source: University of Aberdeen

    The findings of the study could revolutionise the way we think about the evolution of biodiversityAn international team of scientists has made a groundbreaking discovery that could reshape our understanding of how global biodiversity evolved.
    By reconstructing the evolution of species over the past 45 million years, researchers found that the geographic origins of many plants, insects and mammals are more closely linked than previously thought.
    Led by the University of Aberdeen in collaboration with Bangor University in Wales, Lakehead University in Canada, and several Indonesian institutes including IPB University in Bogor, the team used Southeast Asia – one of the world’s most biodiversity-rich regions – as a natural laboratory to trace the geographic origins of a wide range of species.
    Their findings challenge long-standing theories that groups of flora and fauna evolved separately on different landmasses before diversifying across the region.
    Central to this research is a new evolutionary model, developed at the University of Aberdeen, which enabled the team to include extinct species in their analysis for the first time.
    This innovative approach has not only provided a more complete evolutionary picture but has paved the way for a fresh understanding of how biodiversity arose and spread across landmasses. The model is now being used in international collaborations to revisit the evolutionary history of other continents, promising to reshape our understanding of global biodiversity.
    “We wondered whether several groups of plants and animals could have the same geographic origin as new geological evidence contrasted with current reconstructions of species’ origin and spread,” said Dr Leonel Herrera Alsina, Research Fellow at the University of Aberdeen’s School of Biological Sciences. “However, the ongoing extinction of species throughout evolution takes away key information to reconstruct the past.”
    The inclusion of extinct species in the modelling process allowed researchers to trace evolutionary patterns further back in time, revealing that many groups of species in Southeast Asia spread across the entire region earlier than previously thought.
    This result reinforces the idea that land bridges existed and acted as stepping stones in the spread of species out of Borneo and Continental Asia.
    “Previous methods ignored the impact of extinct species but, by incorporating them, we’ve been able to create a more accurate and comprehensive picture of how the incredible biodiversity of this region evolved,” said Professor Lesley Lancaster, Personal Chair at the University of Aberdeen.
    “This new understanding aligns with recent geological findings and could transform how we view the origins and spread of species globally.”
    Professor David Burslem, Director of the Interdisciplinary Institute at the University of Aberdeen, emphasised the broader significance of the study: “This research underscores the importance of studying ecological and geological processes in unison. The evolutionary patterns we see today are deeply intertwined with the region’s geological history. Integrating these disciplines allows us to better understand the origins of biodiversity and how it has developed over millions of years.”
    The study, published this week by the Royal Society, sheds new light on the evolutionary history of life on Earth and offers valuable insights into how evolutionary processes can be integrated into conservation prioritisation, helping to safeguard biodiversity as ecosystems face increasing pressures from climate change.
    “Our findings revolutionise the way we think about the evolution of biodiversity, not just in Southeast Asia but globally,” added Professor Justin Travis, Personal Chair at the University of Aberdeen. “This model, now being used in collaborations around the world, opens the door to revisiting long-held theories about evolution on other continents as well.
    “The work sets the stage for future research that will revise our understanding of how species have adapted and diversified over millions of years.”
    The research was funded by UKRI’s Natural Environment Research Council (NERC). The paper is published in the journal, Proceedings of the Royal Society, Series B.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Making public ownership of rail work for London

    Source: Mayor of London

    With the Government promising to bring Britain’s railways back into public ownership, how should that look in practice and implementation in London?

    Tomorrow, the Transport Committee will ask guests what needs to be done to ensure that new arrangements result in a better experience for passengers, and what role the Mayor should have in any further devolution of services.
     
    The Committee will also ask the Deputy Mayor for Transport and Transport for London (TfL) for an update on the impact on passengers of the ongoing cyber incident at TfL.
     
    Panel 1 (10am – 10.40am)

    • Prof Iain Docherty, Dean of the Institute for Advanced Studies, University of Stirling

    Panel 2 (10.45am – 1pm)

    • Seb Dance, Deputy Mayor for Transport, Greater London Authority 
    • Geoff Hobbs, Director of Public Transport Service Planning, Transport for London

    From 12.30 pm, the Committee will hear how TfL is trying to help passengers affected by the impact of the recent cyber attack.
     
    The ongoing impacts of the attack include passengers being unable to apply for or renew discounted Oyster passes, and delays to the rollout of contactless payments to 47 stations.
     
    The meeting will take place on Thursday 26 September from 10am, in the Chamber at City Hall, Kamal Chunchie Way, E16 1ZE.
     
    Media and members of the public are invited to attend.
     
    The meeting can also be viewed LIVE or later via webcast or YouTube.
     
    Follow us @LondonAssembly.
     

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Guests of the Moskino Cinema Park will watch a color version of the film Cinderella on the big screen

    MIL OSI Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    On September 29, the Moskino Cinema Park cinema will show the legendary Russian film Cinderella from 1947. The film will be shown in color on a big screen for the first time. Visitors will be able to examine everything in the smallest detail.

    You can watch the film for free. You must register in advance. on the websiteThe show will start at 13:00.

    An hour before the show, a masquerade ball for children under 14 will be held in the cinema lobby. To participate, you need to come in a themed fairy-tale costume, such as a princess, a sorceress, a prince or a king. At the end of the ball, there will be a costume contest, with the participants themselves serving as judges. Winners will receive invitations to screenings of animated films in the Moskino cinema chain. In addition, the organizers will treat all young viewers to cotton candy. Admission is free.

    The plot of “Cinderella” is one of the most popular in the world. The story of a hard-working girl is close and understandable to everyone. For Russians, the main Cinderella was the actress Yanina Zheimo. The stepmother in the film was played by the incomparable Faina Ranevskaya, the king – by Erast Garin. The role of a sincere page boy was played by Igor Klimenkov. It was he who was remembered by viewers for the phrase “I am not a wizard, I am just learning!”

    The film “Cinderella” was released in 1947. At that time, the head of the Lenfilm studio, Sergei Vasiliev, said at a meeting of the artistic council of the USSR Ministry of Cinematography: “This fairy tale was conceived in such a way that it would be made in colors. The fact that it was released without colors impoverished it to some extent, and we are very sorry about that.”

    The creators’ idea was brought to life, and in 2010, a color version of the film was released. They did not colorize the film stored in the State Film Fund, but a digitized copy of the film. Each frame was processed separately. 120 thousand frames passed through the hands of restorers. To accurately convey the color and texture of the fabrics, costume designer Natalia Moneva (the films Love and Doves, Formula of Love, and others) worked in the archives of the Lenfilm studio, made watercolor sketches, and selected materials. She ensured that modern technology did not violate the texture of the fabrics that viewers see on the screen. Therefore, they all look believable: velvet – like velvet, silk – like silk. The final color correction of the already colored film was carried out under the supervision of cameraman-colorist Alexei Lebeshev. In total, about 200 professionals of 30 different specialties participated in the work.

    The Moscow Film Cluster is an infrastructure facility, services and facilities for film producers, which are being developed by the Moscow Government within the framework of Sergei Sobyanin’s “Moscow — City of Cinema” project. The film cluster structure includes cinema park “Moskino” in TiNAO, the M. Gorky Film Studio on three sites – on Ryazansky Prospekt, Sergei Eisenstein Street and Valdai Passage, a cinema chain, a film commission and cinema platform “Moskino”.

    In the Moskino cinemas, residents and guests of the capital can watch classic and modern feature films and documentaries, as well as attend special film screenings and other events.

    Sobyanin: The Moskino film platform will create a poster of all film events in the capitalUp to 80 percent of Russian films will be shot in the Moscow film clusterSobyanin: Gorky Film Studio to Become Part of World-Class Film Cluster

    Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    Please note; This information is raw content directly from the information source. It is accurate to what the source is stating and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    http://vvv.mos.ru/nevs/item/144424073/

    EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is a translation. Apologies should the grammar and or sentence structure not be perfect.

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: From metal products to ice cream: what Moscow supplies to new export markets

    MIL OSI Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    Thanks to the city’s support, Moscow producers have increased exports of processed and food products to Africa and Southeast Asia since the beginning of 2024. This was reported by the Deputy Mayor of Moscow for Transport and Industry Maxim Liksutov.

    “In accordance with the order of Sergei Sobyanin, the city is actively helping the capital’s enterprises develop trade and economic cooperation. For example, the volume of mutual trade between Moscow and Indonesia for the first half of 2024 compared to the same period in 2023 has almost doubled. Among industrial goods, the drivers of development were metalworking products, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, as well as products of the food and processing industries,” said Maxim Liksutov.

    The capital’s enterprises supply products for healthy nutrition, dentistry, as well as medicines and cosmetics.

    “Moscow’s non-resource, non-energy exports to Indonesia in the first half of 2024 have grown almost 10-fold compared to the same period last year. For example, in 2024, Moscow producers supplied semi-finished steel products to this country for the first time. The food industry is also showing positive dynamics – compared to the first six months of last year, supplies have grown by more than 19 percent,” said the Minister of the Moscow Government, Head of the Moscow Department of Investment and Industrial Policy

    Anatoly Garbuzov.

    The mutual trade between the Russian capital and Senegal has also increased almost 2.5 times compared to the previous similar period. Thus, supplies of Moscow ice cream, popular there, have grown by 78 percent.

    Starting from 2022, the capital’s producers of non-raw materials, non-energy products have reoriented their export flows and found new partners in the markets of Latin America, Africa, the Middle East, Southeast Asia and the CIS countries. This became possible, among other things, thanks to the support of the Mosprom center.

    A digital platform is operating within the framework of the national project “International Cooperation and Export” “My export”, where entrepreneurs are provided with support. For example, there you can get free expert advice, analytics, help in promoting products on international marketplaces, and also take online training. More information about national projects implemented in the city is available at special page.

    Which BRICS countries have become the main buyers of Moscow products

    Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    Please note; This information is raw content directly from the information source. It is accurate to what the source is stating and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    http://vvv.mos.ru/nevs/item/144405073/

    EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is a translation. Apologies should the grammar and or sentence structure not be perfect.

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Lebanon rolls out measures to shelter displaced

    Source: China State Council Information Office 3

    People fleeing from Lebanon are seen at the Jdeidat Yabous border crossing in the countryside of Damascus, Syria, on Sept. 24, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]

    Lebanese ministers announced on Tuesday measures to shelter 27,000 displaced persons from southern Lebanon and suspension of educational activities until the end of the week due to ongoing Israeli raids.

    The 27,000 displaced were seeking refuge in 252 shelters, according to Lebanese Environment Minister Nasser Yassin.

    Yassin said in a press conference for the Ministerial Emergency Committee that “the national operations room and the Higher Relief Commission have been activated to secure the basic needs of the displaced.”

    For his part, Minister of Education and Higher Education Abbas Halabi suspended educational activities in the country until the end of this week while demanding that public schools be opened to receive the displaced.

    He said that in current circumstances, the closure of educational and vocational institutions in the governorates of the south, Nabatieh, Bekaa, Baalbek-Hermel, and the southern suburbs will be extended until the end of this week. The suspension of classes in schools and universities in the governorates of Beirut, Mount Lebanon, and North will also be extended, the minister added.

    Worries about food security and fuel shortages have prompted local citizens to stockpile food and fuel products, alarming officials about a potential rapid depletion of the country’s reserve stock.

    In this regard, Minister of Economy and Trade Amin Salam called on the public to rationalize the storage of food and vital commodities.

    “Let the goods be stored for a week or two or even a month and not more, to ensure that the rest of the citizens obtain their need for basic commodities under the current circumstances,” Salam said.

    He noted that the current wheat stock in the local market is adequate for at least two months and assured the public that supplies are being consistently secured.

    Fuel stations also witnessed a great demand in light of the escalation of Israeli raids, prompting Minister of Energy and Water Walid Fayyad to reassure citizens that “the necessary reserves of petroleum derivatives are available in the medium term.”

    Hezbollah and the Israeli army have been exchanging fire across the Lebanon-Israel border since Oct. 8, 2023.

    On Monday, Israel began its most extensive bombardment of Lebanon since 2006, resulting in more than 550 deaths, including civilians, and over 1,800 injuries across the country. The casualty tolls and the intensity of the attacks have caused panic among Lebanese people.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: UNGA starts general debate to seek global cooperation

    Source: China State Council Information Office 3

    UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres (at the podium and on the screens) delivers a speech at the opening ceremony of the General Debate of the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) at the UN headquarters in New York, on Sept. 24, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]

    The General Debate of the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) began on Tuesday amid growing calls for more international cooperation to address challenges such as climate change, poverty and inequality, while tackling the fallout from ongoing conflicts and global health crises.

    The session saw world leaders heading to New York to deliver their statements as they took part in high-level discussions on the existential threat of sea-level rise, accelerating progress in combating the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance, and driving forward the United Nation’s long-term goal of achieving global nuclear disarmament with a plenary meeting marking the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons.

    President of the 79th session of the UNGA, Philemon Yang, told the opening ceremony that “the General Debate remains one of the world’s most inclusive, representative and authoritative platforms for global reflection and collective action. This year, the urgency of our task cannot be overstated.”

    He noted that countries are falling behind in the pursuit of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). With just five years to go, less than 18 percent have been met. Meanwhile, the climate crisis is “no longer a distant threat” but “here now, ravaging ecosystems and dismantling the livelihoods of entire communities.”

    Yang also addressed the various conflicts raging from the Middle East to Ukraine, and from Haiti to South Sudan. “I call for an immediate ceasefire in all these conflict settings,” he said.

    UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres opened the General Debate of the 79th session of the General Assembly, saying that the current state of the world is unsustainable, but working together can find solutions.

    “That requires us to make sure the mechanisms of international problem-solving actually solve problems,” he said. “It is time for a just peace based on the UN Charter, international law and UN resolutions.”

    The agenda

    The 79th session of the UNGA opened on Sept. 10, and the first day of the high-level General Debate falls on Tuesday. The 79th session marks a crucial milestone in the global effort to accelerate progress towards the 17 SDGs, according to a UN press release.

    While the overall state of SDGs globally remains of grave concern, the SDG Moment event on Tuesday demonstrates that dramatic progress is still possible between now and 2030. It will do so by highlighting inspiring examples of progress across the world and the role of just and inclusive transitions in accelerating SDG progress.

    World leaders gathered to engage in the annual high-level general debate under the theme “Leaving no one behind: acting together for the advancement of peace, sustainable development and human dignity for present and future generations.” Heads of state and government and ministers will explore solutions to intertwined global challenges to advance peace, security, and sustainable development.

    On Wednesday, the High-Level Meeting on Sea-Level Rise will convene global leaders, experts and stakeholders to address the urgent and escalating threat of rising sea levels. This meeting will focus on building common understanding, mobilizing political leadership and promoting multi-sectoral and multi-stakeholder collaboration and international cooperation towards the objective of “addressing the threats posed by sea-level rise.”

    Participants will work towards developing comprehensive solutions and actionable commitments to combat sea-level rise, ensuring a resilient and sustainable future including for small island developing states and low-lying coastal areas, according to the United Nations.

    On Thursday, the High-level Meeting on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) presents an opportunity for countries and stakeholders to renew efforts and accelerate progress in combating the growing threat of AMR. This meeting will serve as the foundation for executing policies and ensuring accountability for strengthening health systems against AMR.

    “Building on the momentum of previous declarations and commitments, participants will focus on enhancing international cooperation, promoting the responsible use of antimicrobials, and advancing the development of new treatments to safeguard global health,” said the United Nations.

    Also on Thursday, a high-level meeting will be held for International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons.

    On Monday, the United Nations just concluded the highly anticipated two-day Summit of the Future, which underscored the urgent need for enhanced international cooperation to address pressing challenges such as climate change, poverty and inequality, while tackling the impacts of ongoing conflicts and global health crises.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Proposals invited for building revamp

    Source: Hong Kong Information Services

    The Development Bureau today invited revitalisation proposals from non-profit-making organisations (NPOs) for Grade 1 historic building, No. 23 Coombe Road at the Peak.

    Constructed in 1887, the building was originally designed as a private luxury house for residential purposes and is now one of the oldest surviving European houses on the Peak.

    The building is included under the Batch VII of the Revitalising Historic Buildings Through Partnership Scheme

    The application deadline is noon on January 2, 2025.

    Guided tours of No. 23 Coombe Road will be arranged for NPOs on October 15 and a workshop will be held on October 17, for them to learn about the application procedures and assessment criteria.

    Interested NPOs can register online from now until October 9.

    For enquiries, call 2906 1560 or send an email.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Immigration Department repatriates 20 Vietnamese illegal immigrants to Vietnam (with photos)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Immigration Department repatriates 20 Vietnamese illegal immigrants to Vietnam (with photos)
    Immigration Department repatriates 20 Vietnamese illegal immigrants to Vietnam (with photos)
    ******************************************************************************************

         The Immigration Department (ImmD) carried out a repatriation operation today (September 25). A total of 20 Vietnamese illegal immigrants were repatriated to Vietnam. The persons removed comprised seven men and 13 women, all of whom were unsubstantiated non-refoulement claimants. Among them were discharged prisoners who had committed criminal offences and had been sentenced to imprisonment.      The ImmD has been committed to promptly removing unsubstantiated non-refoulement claimants from Hong Kong to maintain effective immigration control and safeguard the public interest. Under the updated removal policy effective from December 7, 2022, the ImmD may generally proceed with the removal of a claimant whose judicial review case has been dismissed by the Court of First Instance of the High Court, thereby enhancing the efficiency of and efforts in removing unsubstantiated claimants.      The ImmD will remain committed to expediting the removal process to repatriate illegal immigrants and overstayers from Hong Kong as soon as practicable according to the actual situation through appropriate measures as necessary.

     
    Ends/Wednesday, September 25, 2024Issued at HKT 16:51

    NNNN

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Interest rate of second interest payment for series of retail green bonds due 2026

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Interest rate of second interest payment for series of retail green bonds due 2026
    Interest rate of second interest payment for series of retail green bonds due 2026
    **********************************************************************************

    The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:     The Hong Kong Monetary Authority, as representative of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, announced today (September 25) the relevant per annum interest rate for the second interest payment of the series of retail green bonds due 2026 (Issue Number: 03GR2610R; Stock Code: 4273) (the Retail Green Bonds) issued under the Government Sustainable Bond Programme (previously known as the Government Green Bond Programme).           According to the Issue Circular dated September 18, 2023 for the Retail Green Bonds, the second interest payment of the Retail Green Bonds is scheduled to be made on October 10, 2024, and the relevant interest rate is scheduled to be determined and announced on September 25, 2024 as the higher of the prevailing Floating Rate and Fixed Rate.            On September 25, 2024, the Floating Rate and Fixed Rate are as follows: Floating Rate: +1.80 per cent (Annex)Fixed Rate: +4.75 per cent      Based on the Floating Rate and Fixed Rate set out above, the relevant interest rate for the second interest payment is determined and announced as 4.75 per cent per annum.

     
    Ends/Wednesday, September 25, 2024Issued at HKT 17:00

    NNNN

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Video Message from Prime Minister Kishida regarding the HeForShe Summit 2024[Speeches and Statements]

    Source: Government of Japan – Prime Minister

    [Provisional translation]

    I would like to extend my congratulations on the 10th anniversary of the HeForShe initiative. It is a great pleasure for me to celebrate this milestone with our host of tonight’s event, Ms. Bahous, Executive Director of UN Women, the champions in attendance, and all of you who support the Initiative.

    As a HeForShe Champion, I have made four commitments: women’s economic independence, proactive dissemination of information on women’s participation and advancement, further enhancement of the partnership with UN Women, and ending conflict-related sexual violence.

    I have contributed to gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls through a range of initiatives, from disclosing information on gender pay gaps in the country and reforming tax and social welfare systems to actively contributing to UN Women and other international organizations.

    As we approach the 15th anniversary of the establishment of UN Women and the 25th anniversary of the adoption of the Security Council resolution on “Women, Peace and Security” next year, Japan will continue to make efforts to achieve gender equality both domestically and abroad.

    Thank you for your attention.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Press Conference Government House, Adelaide

    Source: Minister for Trade

    Minister for Trade, Don Farrell: Good afternoon everybody, and please take a seat, don’t stand on formality. I thank the Governor for making her home available to us today to hold this press conference with my very good friend, the Trade Minister for India, Piyush Goyal, it’s absolutely wonderful to have you here.

    When I first became the Trade Minister for Australia, I was lucky enough to be invited to Piyush’s home in New Delhi, and have a wonderful feast with him and his wife, and a little bit later on today I’m going to return the favour. We’re heading out to the magnificent Clare Valley, and we’re going to have a wonderful meal out in the Clare together this evening.

    We’ve just wrapped up our face‑to‑face meeting, and it’s the first meeting that we’ve had since the Modi Government was recently re‑elected, and of course follows on the weekend’s events between our Prime Minister and Prime Minister Modi in Delaware, with the Japanese and the American leaders.

    I think it’s fair to say that the relationship between Australia and India has never, ever been closer. And to reflect that, is the economic relationship between our two countries, and it has never ever been better.

    Following our Trade Agreement that was ratified during the course of this Parliamentary session, trade with India is turning out to be a really big win for Australia, and today we held in‑depth discussions on how to accelerate that trading relationship. And in addition to that, our investment relationship viability on the enormous growth that we’ve just seen in recent times.

    Just to give you some examples of that, in the 18 months since our Trade Agreement with India came into force, nearly $30 billion worth of Australian exports have entered India either with zero tariffs or lower tariffs than any of our competitors.

    Agricultural exports to India are up around 60 per cent to $1.6 billion, and we know how important that is to the South Australian economy.

    Industrial equipment and manufacturing exports are up 66 per cent or $145 million, and our health exports to India have increased by nearly 40 per cent to $33 million.

    Australian consumers are of course benefitting by our trade deals with savings at the checkouts worth around $225 million, thanks to the lower tariffs on products that are coming in from India.

    During our meeting, Minister Goyal and I discussed how we can grow our two‑way trade and investment even more. The key focus of today’s discussion was our next free trade agreement called the Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement.

    Our trade negotiators recently met in Sydney, and today’s discussions show that there’s real momentum here to get an agreement as we work out the details.

    For Australia, we’ve made it clear that we have much to offer our friends in India, particularly in agriculture, as well as the emerging sectors we are building as part of our Future Made in Australia.

    We also exchanged a Memorandum of Understanding on investment cooperation between Austrade and Invest India, which will help boost two‑way investment between our countries.

    Our Government has also wrapped up consultations on our new India Economic Roadmap. We’ve held over 400 consultation sessions across every Australian State and Territory and in India.

    Over the past two days, Minister Goyal has heard from a range of Australian businesses who see wonderful opportunities to partner with India in sectors like green energy, education skills, tourism, agriculture and technology, and in a few moments the Minister and I will walk up to the Australian Space Agency headquarters to meet some of the Australian space start‑ups that are partnering directly with India.

    Our Government is committed to driving more practical cooperation between Australian and Indian businesses. That’s why today I’m announcing $10 million in new grants for Australian businesses, organisations and universities to boost cooperation with India.

    By extending the $10 million Maitri Grants program, the Government will deliver, firstly, $5 million for Australian organisations working on projects that boost trade and innovation, cultural ties and community leaders, and then a further $5 million for scholars and fellowships to support Australian universities to host some of the brightest Indian students in their research, on some of our biggest shared challenges.

    As I indicated before, the Minister and our wives, will be heading out to the magnificent Clare Valley, and we’ll continue to discuss the wonderful opportunities between our two countries. I’ll invite my good friend Piyush to say some words about today’s events and his time in Australia.

    Indian Minister for Commerce and Industry, Shri Piyush Goyal: Thank you very much Honourable Don Farrell, Member of Parliament and Minister for Trade and Industry, someone I look upon as not only a friend and well‑wisher, but a brother who has been a guide, who has helped me understand trade nuances, very sensitive, ever‑smiling, and a well‑wisher of the Australia-India partnership.

    Thank you very much for your warm hospitality, thank you very much for bringing me to Adelaide for the first time. What a beautiful city, charming, a place we’ve heard about from childhood. Where cricket matters and in the good old days, we had five‑day test matches where every wicket falling was blown all over the television and radio. But to actually be right across from the Adelaide stadium is truly a memorable visit for me.

    We had very good engagement with Australian business persons in Sydney over the last two days, the excitement is truly palpable on both sides, Australian business and Indian business.

    For the first time ever both our major chambers, the conflagration of Indian industries and the conflagration of Indian chambers of commerce and industry were represented by their top leadership together as a testimony of the importance that the Australia relationship is to India.

    We are looking at significantly upscaling our partnerships in trade, investment, tourism and technology, and therefore one of the first announcements I’d like to make is that we shall shortly be setting up in Sydney an office covering all these four areas, ITTT, investment, trade, technology, and tourism. With representatives of Invest India, representatives of the organisation responsible for building industrial smart cities and townships, meeting representatives of our Export Trade and Guarantee Corporation, and other officials related to trade and tourism.

    Along with the private sector, CII jointly manning these offices to act as a bridge between investors and businesses on both sides and working closely together with Austrade with whom Invest India has today exchanged an MOU for mutual investment promotion, technology and trade facilitation, and other insights into economic trade.

    Thank you very much, Don, for giving us the encouragement to work together on these areas. And I’m sure the unprecedented ties that our two countries are sharing today with nine in‑person meetings since May 2022, in less than three years, nine in‑person meetings of our senior leaders, both Prime Ministers, reflecting the big bonding that both Prime Ministers, political leadership have with business-to-business and people‑to‑people connect that Australia and India share.

    Friends, today is a very important day in India. We are celebrating 10 years of our Making India Program. Prime Minister Modi on 25 September 2014, had launched this initiative, and through the Making India Program over the last 10 years we have significantly had a whole of government approach to addressing the challenges that manufacturing in India increase. Whether it’s provision of plug-and-play infrastructure, a national single window for all approvals, regulators reducing compliance burden or decriminalising laws, opening up foreign direct investment in newer sectors making it easier to invest in India, or encouraging the start of ecosystem. It’s been a multi‑pronged approach to attract manufacturing in India, and I do see a lot of promise between the Making India Program and the Future Made in Australia program that your government has launched, so that we can exchange the technologies, exchange opportunities and encourage businesses on both sides to work with each other.

    This enhanced cooperation via education, via skill development, tourism, investments, critical minerals, which we discussed at length today, or renewable energy, green ecosystem towards sustainability, all of these other areas where this relationship holds tremendous potential. And India is committed to partner with Australia to provide a bouquet of opportunities to our business persons on both sides so that we can work towards a greater and more ambitious relationship on the economic front.

    Friends, as Minister Farrell mentioned, ECTA, and I think some of you may recall, ECTA in India, in Hindi, is unity. This agreement has truly been a game‑changer providing greater market access to businesses on both sides and has resulted in a significant increase in merchandise trade. We’re looking at further strengthening the ECTA through to the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, the CECA, and we do hope to see a greater flow of goods and services along with investments flowing out of the CECA, which we are looking to conclude at an early date to unlock new dimensions in this partnership and provide further momentum to this business relationship.

    Friends, I must mention that we have also discussed at length greater cooperation at various multilateral fora like the WTO, the G20, the IPEF and other international organisations where Australia and India share common interests.

    India is the world’s fastest growing economy today. We grew at 8.2 per cent last year. The economy today is the fifth largest in the world, expected to become the third largest in the next three years. We will cross the $7 trillion mark by 2030, and the $10 trillion mark by 2034, 10 years from now.

    We are very confident of achieving a developed country status by 2047. [Indistinct] 2047 is our ambition, is our goal, taking up our economy to 10 times today’s size, to $35 trillion economy in the next 25 years or so, so that we can meet the aspirations of 1.4 billion Indians for a better quality of life. And I see Australia playing an important role in this journey towards making India a developed nation, a role to greater trade, a role to exchange of technologies, a role in our common goals for sustainability and a significant role when it comes to provision of high-tech services and investments.

    India offers the advantage of four Ds. The first is our democracy. We have a vibrant democracy, the world’s largest democracy, the Rule of Law prevails, it provides safety and security for investment and people. And I think in today’s day and age, two democracies working together provides a great comfort to investors in the long run.

    The second D is our demographic dividend, a young population with an average age of 28.4 years, expected to remain young for many, many more years to come, with two‑thirds of our population in the working age to providing skills, talent and huge manpower force to help the economy to move faster.

    The third D is demand. 1.4 billion aspirational Indians, demanding high quality goods and services is a huge market opportunity, and growth opportunity.

    And the fourth D is decisive leadership. The Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Government are willing to reform, transform and perform to take the country to greater heights. I’m very confident that together we shall make the Australia-India partnership a defining partnership of the decade, if not the 21st Century. The kangaroos and the tigers together have a combined strength which is unstoppable. Thank you.

    Minister for Trade: I think we should give Piyush a clap for that. Thank you, very much, my friend, and we’ll open to questions.

    Journalist: This one’s for both Ministers. Can you give an update on the CECA negotiations? You made progress of the outstanding points of difference, and do you see an agreement for Australia [indistinct]?

    Minister for Trade: We are very optimistic that the good work that was done today will result in an expanded agreement. As we saw with the United Arab Emirates, when both parties put their mind to it we can very quickly expedite the discussions to finalise an agreement. I’d be hopeful that goodwill on both sides, and you can see today, that’s been demonstrated here – I think with goodwill we can very quickly resolve this issue, and we can have a new upgraded agreement between Australia and India.

    Piyush Goyal: Madam, I think the important and defining feature of our discussions and negotiations is the sensitivity that both sides have to each other’s issues, defensive interests, offensive interests. All are considered together in a manner which will only result in a win‑win situation. So any issue that I can see Australia will be uncomfortable with I would not like to push, press on that, and likewise our approach has been that if something is very sensitive to a large Indian population given our current status of development, Australia has been very gracious in their understanding of our sensitivities.

    It is my deep confidence in each other that helps us to resolve issues very fast, and I’m very confident that the final agreement will only help grow this relationship. You saw that our first agreement didn’t have any negative press or any negative public outcry. I’m sure the second agreement will correspondingly be a good mix of the good things that people want out of the agreement.

    Minister for Trade: I think it’s worthwhile repeating that when we were last in India together we committed to increasing our trade from its current $49 billion two‑way trade to $100 billion by the end of the decade, and I think we’re ‑ I’m certainly happy, and I think I speak for Piyush here, to restate that today.

    We want to double that trade between our countries between now and the end of the decade.

    Journalist: Just on that, Minister Goyal, India has traditionally been hesitant about removing barriers to Australian exports in sensitive sectors like dairy. Have you had consultations with those domestic producers and has the Government consulted with its Coalition partners on any of those sensitivities?

    Piyush Goyal: First of all, the Government in India is a strong government. The Coalition is a pre‑poll alliance. So we have very seamless consultations and very seamless understanding of any decisions that the Government takes.

    As regards dairy, that sector was discussed even before we started the negotiations with Australia three years ago, and Indian dairy is very significantly different from Australian dairy.

    Our average holding with a farmer is a small two‑acre, three‑acre farm with three or four livestock, whereas Australia’s farms and dairy farms are both very large, and it would be near impossible for these large farms and these small farms to compete with each other on a common footing.

    We have discussed this issue even three years ago and on earlier occasions, and dairy is such a sensitive subject that in any of our FTAs across the world, we have not been able to open up the dairy sector with duty concessions there is permitted in India, but there are certain duties imposed on that.

    This is one sector where there’s no discussion with any Coalition partner, even when we were a full majority government there was no opening up of the dairy. It’s actually two very unequal situations and would not lend themselves to fair trade between the two countries, or between any countries. We have neither opened up dairy in Europe, or planning to open up dairy in Europe, nor have we opened it up even with Switzerland and Norway, with whom we have recently concluded an FTA under the EFTA grouping – Switzerland, Norway, Lichtenstein and Iceland. Even then we have not opened up dairy. It’s the first agreement Switzerland has signed without any component of dairy in it.

    Journalist: You predicted that China will bring its pursuit of all lobster type business. Given your previous predictions on the subject have proven optimistic, why do you have the confidence that this will be resolved in the next few months?

    Minister for Trade: I’m an optimistic sort of person, and I think the only way you can do this job is to be optimistic. If you think about this, when we came to government two and a half years ago, we had $20 billion worth of impediments between Australia and China.

    We have reduced that over time to less than $1 billion and one product that is still outstanding unfortunately is lobster.

    We’ve recently had meetings both with the Chinese Premier, and also my counterpart, Wang Wentao, in fact as Piyush has done. They both came to Adelaide, it’s becoming a bit of a feature of international trade these days, everyone’s coming to Adelaide. I’m confident that we can resolve the outstanding issues in a timely manner.

    It is unfortunate that that issue hasn’t been resolved. The Government is doing its absolute best to resolve it, but these issues do take time, and we’ll continue to work very closely with the Chinese Government to put aside all of the outstanding issues between our two governments.

    Journalist: Paul Starick from The Advertiser in Adelaide. Two questions, one for both ministers. You mentioned agriculture as a significant component of the next stage of your agreement. Do you care to elaborate on that, what particular opportunities do you see? And secondly, for Senator Farrell, regarding an unrelated issue at the Whyalla steelworks. The Premier has talked about the importance of that as a national enterprise. Do you agree, and what response given its current predicament do you think is appropriate at a national level?

    Minister for Trade: Well, look, in terms of agriculture, we’re talking about the removal of all of the tariffs that weren’t removed at the last process, so we’ve made very significant progress, but as the Minister said, some of the more difficult issues were not resolved at that issue, we put them to one side, they’re all back on the table. So things like chickpeas, pistachios, and apples. So, all of the issues, all of the products where there are still tariffs ‑ wine is another one ‑ we are seeking to have those tariffs removed.

    I’m not going to go to the details of the negotiations, it’s not appropriate to do that here, but we’ll continue to work through, and as Piyush said, where issues are difficult, we understand that, and we’re not going to make life any more difficult for the Indian Government.

    On the other issue, I’m aware that there have been some discussions between the Prime Minister and the Premier over the issue of Whyalla. Obviously steel making is a very important business in Whyalla. As a government we want to see steel making continue, and of course all of those jobs be protected, and we will, of course, continue those discussions between the Prime Minister and the Premier.

    Minister, you might like to answer that first question.

    Piyush Goyal: I think as you very rightly put it, we let the negotiators take the discussions forward and give them a chance to look at what other possibilities as we conclude the CEPA.

    Minister for Trade: Well, if there are no other questions, thank you very much for coming along today, and we’ll head up to the Space Agency after a quick lunch with the Premier and the Governor. Thank you very much for attending.

    Piyush Goyal: Thank you friends.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Healthway’s new Executive Director

    Source: Government of Western Australia

    Healthway’s Chief Executive Officer, Colin Smith today announced Carina Tan-Van Baren as the new Executive Director of Healthway.

    Carina has more than 30 years of experience as a lawyer, journalist, communications strategist, government advisor, and commercial executive and will be commencing in her new role on Monday 14 October 2024.

    Carina has delivered positive strategic outcomes for listed and unlisted companies, not-for-profit organisations and government departments and agencies, many in the health sector. Carina brings a strong understanding of the roles played by the wide range of stakeholders participating in Health Promotion across Australia.

    Healthway’s Chief Executive Officer, Colin Smith said that Carina’s multi-disciplined perspective and skill-set means she is well placed to lead Healthway through this next phase to deliver on our new strategic plan.

    “Carina brings a strong understanding of the roles played by the wide range of health promotion stakeholders across Australia,” he said.

    “Her experience will complement the depth and breadth of health promotion experience we already have here at Healthway, with a focus on advocacy, government and stakeholder relations.

    “I look forward to Carina joining us and I’d also like to thank Joanne Graham-Smith for acting in the Executive Director role for 16 months and look forward to her valuable ongoing contribution to achieving our vision of creating a healthier WA together.”

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: ‘We will not remain silent as apartheid is perpetrated against others’ – President Ramaphosa

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    President Cyril Ramaphosa has told the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) that South Africa will not remain silent and watch as apartheid is perpetrated against others.

    In his address to the Assembly’s annual high-level debate on Tuesday, President Ramaphosa said the South African story bears witness to the enduring role of the United Nations in global affairs. 

    In supporting South Africa’s struggle for liberation, the President highlighted that the UN affirmed the principles of the UN Charter – fundamental human rights, the dignity and worth of every person, and the equal rights of nations large and small. 

    “It affirmed the aspiration contained in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights that we should strive for a world free of barbarous acts that outrage the conscience of mankind.

    “We South Africans know what apartheid looks like. We lived through it. We suffered and died under it. We will not remain silent and watch as apartheid is perpetrated against others. Through the United Nations and the instruments it wields, we must end this suffering,” the President said. 

    He further reiterated South Africa’s call for an immediate cease fire, and for the release of all hostages.

    He highlighted that the violence the Palestinian people are being subjected to is a grim continuation of more than half a century of apartheid. 

    “The only lasting solution is the establishment of a Palestinian State, existing side by side with Israel with East Jerusalem as its capital,” he said. 

    Earlier this month, The Presidency announced that South Africa is set to submit its Memorial to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in October 2024, presenting evidence to support its claim that Israel is committing genocide in Palestine.

    The Memorial will outline facts and arguments as part of a broader legal effort to hold Israel accountable under international law.

    READ | SA to file Memorial to the ICJ on Israel matter

    Addressing the conflicts in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Sudan, Yemen, Ukraine, and the Sahel region, the President highlighted the country’s role in supporting international efforts for conflict resolution. 
    “Our moral conscience further demands that we exert every effort to bring peace to the Democratic Republic of Congo, to Sudan, to Yemen, to Ukraine and to the troubled Sahel region. We must realise the aspirations of the people of Western Sahara to self-determination.”

    He emphasised that achieving and maintaining peace and security requires the collective will of the community of nations.

    Reform of the UN Security Council 

    “It requires that the UN Security Council is representative and inclusive. Seventy-eight years since its formation, the structure of the UN Security Council remains largely unchanged. 

    “Africa and its 1,4 billion people remain excluded from its key decision-making structures.  The Security Council has not fulfilled its mandate to maintain international peace and security,” he said. 

    The President called for the UN Security Council to be reformed as a matter of urgency and become more inclusive so that the voices of all nations are heard and considered.

    “Africa stands ready to play its part in building a safer global order. The African Union and its member states are engaged in mediation, dialogue, and diplomacy across the continent, to create conditions under which peace and development can take hold. 

    “There must be greater collaboration between the AU [African Union] and the UN towards resolving these conflicts, and also in addressing their root causes,” he said. 

    President Ramaphosa is leading South Africa’s delegation to the High-Level General Debate of the 79th Session of the General Assembly (UNGA79) in the United States of America.

    The High-Level General Debate of the UNGA79 is taking place at the United Nations headquarters in New York, from 24 to 30 September 2024. 

    Speaking at the African Minerals Forum hosted by the Business Council for International Understanding (BCIU) and Prosper Africa on Monday, the President emphasised the importance of the critical minerals sector in driving global economic growth and sustainability. 

    By leveraging key sectors such as mining, energy, and manufacturing, the President said South Africa is set to improve its business environment and attract much-needed investment.
    The President addressed the session on the sidelines of the UNGA.

    READ | Critical minerals sector key to driving global economic growth

    –SAnews.gov.za

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Reclaiming State property

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    Wednesday, September 25, 2024

    Public Works and Infrastructure Deputy Minister Sihle Zikalala will today undertake Operation Bring Back (OBB), overseeing the implementation of eviction orders in state-owned properties around Mthatha, in the Eastern Cape.

    Zikalala will be accompanied by the Eastern Cape Public Works and Infrastructure MEC, Siphokazi Lusithi. 

    The action is part of the Eastern Cape and nation-wide Government plan to reclaim unlawfully occupied state properties. 

    Operation Bring Back is an initiative of the national Department of Public Works (DPW), which aims to recover land and other properties, including farms that were illegally occupied or stolen from the State prior to and immediately after the 1994 democratic transition.

    In terms of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, No 108 of 1996, all State owned national and provincial immovable assets must be vested in the name of the national government or in the name of the nine provinces. The national government is therefore the custodian of all national government immovable assets.

    In April 2011, the National Department of Public Works started the OBB programme, which was largely dependent on the public coming forward to report cases of misappropriation through a call centre that was launched during a public communication campaign at the time. This OBB programme ceased to function in October 2011 and no cases were investigated.

    Following the evictions under today’s programme, an oversight visit will be carried out at the construction site of the Mqanduli Office Precinct in Mqanduli.

    In the Eastern Cape, there are 82 properties that are currently going through legal channels, including 57 eviction orders. 

    Of these, 21 have been evaluated and are recommended for execution, with a target of completing 36 evictions by the end of the 2024/2025 financial year. 

    All eviction actions will strictly adhere to legal standards and respect tenant rights. 

    The Mqanduli Office Precinct is designed to enhance local government services and stimulate economic growth in the area. 

    This modern facility aims to improve accessibility for residents and provide a collaborative space for various government departments. – SAnews.gov.za

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Department of Health commemorates World Environmental Health Day

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    Wednesday, September 25, 2024

    The Department of Health is joining the global community in commemorating World Environmental Health Day (WEHD). 

    The 26th of September 2024 marks the 13th WEHD to raise awareness about environmental health issues and promote actions to improve and protect the environment for the wellbeing of all living creatures, including humans. 

    South Africa’s WEHD kicked off today, 25 September, and will continue until tomorrow at the Wild Coast Sun International, in Port Edward, Eastern Cape. 

    According to the department, environmental health is critical in addressing climate change mitigation and adaptation, and disaster risk reduction to create resilient and sustainable communities. 

    “Climate change and disaster risks are fundamental threats to sustainable development, the living and health conditions for all humans on the globe and the reduction of poverty,” the department said. 

    The department believes the negative impacts of environmental health issues threaten to roll back decades of development gains. 

    “Building resilient and sustainable communities means addressing both climate change and disaster risks, and integrating these risks and potential opportunities into development planning and budgeting.”

    This year’s WEHD commemoration will focus on creating resilient communities through disaster risk reduction and climate change mitigation and adaptation, which has been adopted in alignment with all the environmental health functions.

    The event will be attended by political principals and environmental health experts. – SAnews.gov.za
     

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: New home for Military Working Dogs at RAF Marham

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    The Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) has recently completed a new kennel facility for the RAF Police’s Military Working Dogs (MWDs), which form part of security in RAF Marham, Norfolk.

    Air Cdre Ady Portlock officially opens the new building. MOD Crown Copyright.

    The £23 million facility includes kennels for 48 Military Working Dogs (MWDs) divided into 3 separate blocks, each with an outdoor exercise area. One of the blocks is a veterinary area with isolation kennels for dogs who are receiving treatment, while another features offices and a relaxation room for the RAF Police.

    The project includes solar panels, plant rooms, underfloor heating, a new access road, parking, cycle storage, and 2 spaces for the loading and unloading of vehicles, diversion and connection of services. The new building replaces an existing facility with a larger, more comfortable space, improving the environment for both dogs and officers.

    The facility was designed in consultation with the military’s Veterinary Services Training and Advisory Team to ensure it met the requirements of the dogs and their handlers and complied with the Animal Welfare Act 2006.

    The work was split into 2 phases, with the enabling work and groundwork done by Amey, and the construction of the foundations and buildings undertaken by VIVO Defence Services due to a transfer of wider DIO contracting arrangements. Both firms used the same subcontractor, Cambridge-based Coulson Building Group, for continuity.

    RAF Marham’s MWDs and their handlers are an important part of the security provisions for the station. They fulfil various roles, including undertaking security patrols and as arms and explosive detection dogs.

    Capt Nick Davenport, Garrison Engineer, said:

    This new facility will provide more space and improved comfort for both MWDs and their RAF Police handlers. The dogs are a key component of the security of RAF Marham and their wellbeing has been our guiding principle throughout the design and build process. I’m very pleased with the end result and look forward to seeing the reaction of the dogs as they explore their new home.

    Group Captain Wigglesworth, Station Commander RAF Marham, said:

    The MWD capability at RAF Marham secures both the Station’s perimeter and the UK’s 5th Generation combat air capability, the F-35B Lightning Force. This new facility will give critical longevity to the MWD capability, providing a base for the dogs and their handlers that now matches their own exceptional standards, professionalism and commitment.

    Provost Marshal (RAF) and Commander of the Air Security Force, Group Captain Samantha Bunn, said:

    The new MWD facility at RAF Marham represents a landmark achievement for the RAF and defence as a whole. It sets a new standard for animal welfare and handler support. MWDs provide a critical ‘protect’ function as part of our layered security methodology to deter and detect against the full spectrum of threats to defence critical assets.

    This flagship facility demonstrates the RAF’s commitment to being at the forefront of MWD care, ensuring our canine partners receive the highest quality housing and welfare provisions in order that they continue to conduct their duties.

    I would also like to extend my sincere gratitude to the hard work and dedication of those working behind the scenes to support the project throughout the whole process.

    RAF Marham is one of the RAF’s frontline operational stations, housing the RAF’s first F35 Lightning Sqn (617 Sqn) as well as 207 Sqn, the Operational Conversion Unit. Additionally, it accommodates a range of engineering support functions and other small units with over 3,600 personnel working on site, including service personnel, civil servants and contractors. The dogs and their handlers are an important element of the security provision to this vital defence location.

    Updates to this page

    Published 25 September 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Making Scotland a global green finance hub

    Source: Scottish Government

    Taskforce identifies four areas for action.

    Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes will collaborate with financial institutions to ensure Scotland becomes a global centre for green and sustainable finance and investment. 

    A new report from the Scottish Taskforce for Green and Sustainable Financial Services makes 31 recommendations on how the public and private sectors can encourage and fund green investments and tackle the climate emergency.

    It stresses the Scottish finance industry is particularly well placed to reap “profound benefits” from becoming a global hub and identifies four areas for action – policy, promotion, investment and skills.

    Suggested initiatives include:

    • work to ensure Edinburgh and Glasgow sustain and improve their rankings in the Global Green Finance Index
    • new initiatives to attract more financial institutions to build their sustainable businesses in Scotland
    • collaboration across sectors and academia to improve the skills of Scotland’s workforce in sustainable finance

    Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes, who will today address the Ethical Finance Global Summit in Edinburgh, welcomed the findings.

    Ms Forbes said:

    “This report is a decisive action plan as we progress towards making Scotland the natural home for green and sustainable finance.

    “The financial services sector is key to delivering the benefits of the transition to net zero and we will use this route map to work together and ensure that Scotland – one of the world’s oldest financial centres – is able to maximise the opportunities ahead of us.

    “This report, complementing our Green Industrial Strategy and the action we are taking such as developing a series of investment opportunities and launching an online investment portal in 2025, will make Scotland more attractive for investment.”

    Taskforce Chair David Pitt-Watson said:

    “Climate may be the greatest challenge facing humankind. Addressing it will require a huge investment and the services of the finance industry. Finance is a jewel in Scotland’s industrial crown. So not only should there be many opportunities for green investment in Scotland, from wind to housing, there is also a huge opportunity for its financial services industry to serve the world.

    “The Taskforce has already stimulated a considerable amount of action. And there is so much more to do. This report is a strategy for Scottish finance to play its proper role in addressing the climate challenge.”

    Chief Executive of Scottish Financial Enterprise (SFE) Sandy Begbie said:

    “The work of the taskforce is a great example of collaboration between government and industry to enhance Scotland’s reputation as a global green and sustainable finance centre.  

    “There are significant recommendations in the report and I am pleased that today marks the start of a formal partnership between the Global Ethical Finance Initiative (GEFI) and SFE to take them forward. GEFI will leverage its considerable global footprint while SFE will use its leadership position here in Scotland and our key relationships in London.”

    Background

    The Scottish Taskforce for Green and Sustainable Financial Services report.

    The Scottish Government’s initial response.

    The Taskforce was established by the Scottish Government in 2022 following the success of COP 26.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –