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Category: KB

  • MIL-OSI Video: Reporters Without Borders Thibaut Bruttin reviews the final report of the General Assembly of Information

    Source: Reporters Without Borders (RSF) (Video Release)

    #EDITORSF The modern jungle of algorithms, the impoverishment of journalism, the media’s independence – these are just a few of the subjects covered in France’s General Assembly of Information.

    Thibaut Bruttin, RSF’s new Director General, looks back at the issues and solutions addressed in the Assembly’s final report, which dedicated to Christophe Deloire, Bruttin’s predecessor who passed away in June.

    #journalism #tech #medias #humanrights #pressfreedom #journalists #journalisme #libertedelapresse #droitshumains #media #journalistes #journalismisnotacrime #rsf

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PcRcl7w06xo

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI Video: Secretary Blinken remarks at the Summit of the Future

    Source: United States of America – Department of State (video statements)

    Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken remarks at the Summit of the Future in New York City, New York, on September 23, 2024.

    ———-
    Under the leadership of the President and Secretary of State, the U.S. Department of State leads America’s foreign policy through diplomacy, advocacy, and assistance by advancing the interests of the American people, their safety and economic prosperity. On behalf of the American people we promote and demonstrate democratic values and advance a free, peaceful, and prosperous world.

    The Secretary of State, appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate, is the President’s chief foreign affairs adviser. The Secretary carries out the President’s foreign policies through the State Department, which includes the Foreign Service, Civil Service and U.S. Agency for International Development.

    Get updates from the U.S. Department of State at www.state.gov and on social media!
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    #StateDepartment #DepartmentofState #Diplomacy

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vut6138pmMc

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI: Hickenlooper: ‘IVF is personal for me. It’s Jack. It’s my family.’

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Colorado John Hickenlooper

    Hickenlooper: “Every family should have that same opportunity. But if MAGA Republicans have their way, Americans will be stripped of that freedom to grow their families and have control over their own bodies.”

    In case you missed it, U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper told his family’s IVF story in his Giddy Up-Date email newsletter to Coloradans in the wake of Republicans blocking the Right to IVF Act for a second time last week.

    “Government doesn’t belong in a doctor’s office when a woman is making some of the most personal health care decisions about her body and her family. You’re not free if you don’t have the freedom to decide when and how to have a family,” wrote Hickenlooper. “That’s why we’re going to keep bringing up this bill and voting on it until every American has their freedom to begin or expand their family.” 

    Hickenlooper also released a statement directly after last week’s vote on the Senate floor. In June, Hickenlooper spoke on the Senate floor about his family’s personal experience with IVF story prior to the Senate’s first vote on the Right to IVF Act.  

    Read more on Hickenlooper’s Substack HERE.  

     

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Readout of Vice President Harris’s Meeting with His Highness President Mohamed bin Zayed of the United Arab  Emirates

    US Senate News:

    Source: The White House
    Vice President Kamala Harris met with His Highness President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) at the White House today, where they reaffirmed the growing partnership between the United States and the UAE and discussed joint efforts to promote a more secure, stable, and prosperous Middle East region. The Vice President welcomed the UAE’s continued leadership and close partnership with the United States on advanced technology, including the safe, secure, and trustworthy use of artificial intelligence, as well as our shared efforts on strategic investments, diversifying supply chains, and space exploration.  They discussed the immense potential of our two countries to secure the future and generate prosperity for our people and the world. The two leaders also reaffirmed the continued importance of the strong defense partnership between the United States and the UAE for each country’s security and for regional stability.  The two leaders discussed the war in Gaza and efforts to secure a ceasefire and hostage deal, and the Vice President underscored the importance of protecting innocent civilians and sustaining the flow of life saving humanitarian assistance.  They discussed the importance of continued coordination to bring this war to an end and plan for the Day After. They also discussed the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, and our work to prevent the conflict from escalating and reach a diplomatic solution that would allow populations on both sides of the border to return to their homes.  The Vice President raised her deep concerns about the conflict in Sudan, which has displaced nearly 10 million people and left 25 million in need of humanitarian aid.  She expressed alarm at the millions of individuals who have been displaced by the war and the atrocities committed by the belligerents against the civilian population.  She underscored the critical importance of getting the warring parties to the table, ending the conflict, and allowing unfettered humanitarian access.  Both leaders reaffirmed their shared commitment to de-escalate the conflict, alleviate the suffering of the people of Sudan, ensure humanitarian assistance reaches the Sudanese people, and prevent Sudan from attracting transnational terrorist networks once again.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: House Passes Congressman Valadao’s Online Dating Safety Act

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman David G. Valadao (California)

    WASHINGTON – Today the House unanimously passed H.R. 6125, the Online Dating Safety Act. Congressman David G. Valadao (CA-22) and Congresswoman Brittany Pettersen (CO-07) introduced the bipartisan bill last year, which would require dating apps and services to issue fraud ban notifications to users who have interacted with a person removed from the app. The Federal Trade Commission reported that romance scams resulted in victims losing $1.3 billion in 2022 alone.

    “With more and more people using online dating services, there are a number of bad actors who use these platforms to commit fraud,” said Congressman Valadao.  “These apps have been around for over 10 years, but still there are little safeguards in place to protect users. The Online Dating Safety Act is an important step to enhance online safety, combat fraud, and help people make more informed decisions. I look forward to working with my Senate colleagues to get this bill across the finish line.”

    “Online dating services are being used as a platform for bad actors to target and exploit individuals, yet protections continue to lag behind,” said Congresswoman Pettersen. “Notifying users if they have been in contact with a potential scammer is a basic security feature that every online dating service should provide. This bipartisan bill will help reduce online crime and keep people safe from online scammers. I’m grateful this legislation has passed the House with bipartisan support, and I will keep working to see it signed into law.”

    “As Americans increasingly use online dating services, con artists are attempting to prey on people searching for companionship, particularly seniors. I commend Rep. Valadao for his leadership on this bill to give adults of every age the information they need to protect themselves from romance scams online,” said House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers.

    Congressman Valadao spoke on the House Floor during debate on the legislation. Watch his remarks here.

    Remarks as prepared:

    M. Speaker.,

    I rise to urge support for my bill, the Online Dating Safety Act.

    Each year, millions of people are deceived, defrauded, or misled by users of online dating apps.

    While it’s sadly common to see people lie about things like their age or occupation, this bill takes aim at the more sinister fraudsters who make their livelihoods preying on vulnerable individuals.

    According to the Federal Trade Commission, romance scams resulted in victims losing $1.3 billion in 2022 alone, with senior citizens being the most at-risk age group.

    There are countless horror stories of people being conned out of their entire life savings, all because they trusted someone they met online.

    Individuals who meet online often take their conversations to other communication platforms, so even when a fraudulent account is removed, someone might not know they are talking to someone who has been removed from the platform.

    This bill requires the dating platform to issue fraud ban notifications to users who have ever interacted with a person who has been removed from the app for fraudulent activity.

    While we can’t stop all criminals, this is a simple and important step to fill a communication gap and help people make more informed decisions about who they’re really talking to.

    These apps have been around for over 10 years, but still there are little safeguards in place to protect users.

    I urge my colleagues to support this bill to help prevent this widespread fraud.

    Thank you and I yield back.

    Background:

    Over 55 million Americans reported using an online dating service in 2022. As Americans continue to go online to find meaningful relationships, scammers are following suit. The Federal Trade Commission reported that romance scams resulted in victims losing $1.3 billion in 2022 alone. When an online dating service provider becomes aware of a user committing fraudulent activity, such as illegally obtaining money, the online dating service provider immediately deactivates the fraudulent user’s account. However, individuals who meet online often take their conversations to other communication platforms, so even when a fraudulent account is removed, an individual might not know they are still communicating with someone who has been removed from the dating platform. The Online Dating Safety Act seeks to fill this communication gap by requiring these platforms to send a fraud ban notification to anyone who has communicated with someone with a fraudulent account.  

    Read the full text of the bill here.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Cai Guo-Qiang’s big bang of art, science and AI

    Source: China State Council Information Office 3

    When art meets science, the result can be explosive and revolutionary.

    This fusion lies at the heart of Cai Guo-Qiang: A Material Odyssey, an exhibition currently on at the University of Southern California Pacific Asia Museum, which runs until next June.

    The exhibition goes beyond the traditional gallery format, merging art with chemistry, physics and artificial intelligence to display the pioneering work of contemporary artist Cai Guo-Qiang, who uses gunpowder in his creations.

    “Cai’s work is a masterful demonstration of how art and science can converge to create something entirely new,” Bethany Montagano, director of USC Museums, told reporters at a preview event on Sept 13.

    “We are excited to host this transformative exhibition, which not only celebrates Cai’s innovative use of gunpowder, but also highlights the important research and collaboration happening at the intersection of art, science and AI,” she says.

    A Material Odyssey features a series of gunpowder test pieces produced for the Getty Research Institute to study.

    The 67-year-old was born in Quanzhou, Fujian province, and trained in stage design at the Shanghai Theatre Academy in the early 1980s. From December 1986 to September 1995, he worked in Japan and has lived and worked in New York since then.

    Best known for his use of gunpowder in intricate paintings, drawings and large-scale pyrotechnic performances, Cai has spent decades pushing the boundaries of art by incorporating volatile materials into his creative process.

    These materials have been central to his philosophy and creative practice, symbolizing both destruction and creation.

    “I am often inspired by the calmness and the natural strength manifested in the work after the vibrant colors fade. Changes in the gunpowder bring about uncontrollability and unpredictability, which is what makes working with gunpowder so fascinating. The change itself is part of my work,” Cai says.

    According to Rachel Rivenc, lead curator and head of Conservation and Preservation at the Getty Research Institute, A Material Odyssey highlights something rarely seen in exhibitions: science as a tool for understanding artistic techniques, and presents imagery that explores the molecular behavior of gunpowder, and its evolution as an artistic medium in the artist’s hands.

    “Cai has embraced the use of gunpowder because he wanted to relinquish control over the creative process. No matter how precisely a gunpowder drawing is planned, the results are still unpredictable,” Rivenc says.

    “The awe-inspiring nature of Cai Guo-Qiang’s work embodies many of the values we hold dear at our museum,” says Rebecca Hall, USC PAM curator. “His gunpowder drawings and paintings, when presented alongside the museum’s permanent collection and housed in this historic building, remind us that as we push the boundaries of art and science, we remain deeply connected to the wisdom and creativity of the past.”

    The event serves as a companion to the artist’s latest project, WE ARE: Explosion Event for PST ART, which lit up the skies above the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on Sept 15. Integrating AI-driven choreography with fireworks, drones and data science, the free daytime performance commissioned by Getty launched PST ART’s new theme, Art & Science Collide, in a spectacular fashion.

    “Today, with the rapid rise of technologies like AI, culture and the arts often seem powerless. I hope WE ARE will serve as a monumental gesture of how the art world can merge the virtual and real in this new AI-driven era, while also standing as a strong voice and decisive action in these turbulent times,” says Cai, who has been researching AI since 2017.

    The event was one of the first large-scale daytime fireworks display in the US to incorporate drone formations equipped with pyrotechnic devices, according to Katherine Fleming, president and CEO of the J Paul Getty Trust.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Summit of the Future reaches consensus on UN updates to address challenges

    Source: China State Council Information Office 3

    Philemon Yang, president of the General Assembly of the United Nations, speaks at the Summit of the Future at the UN headquarters in New York, Sept. 22, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]

    The Summit of the Future opened at the United Nations (UN) headquarters in New York on Sunday, with the adoption of a Pact for the Future, as well as its annexes the Global Digital Compact and the Declaration on Future Generations, which cover a broad range of themes including peace and security, sustainable development, climate change, digital cooperation, human rights, gender, youth and future generations and the transformation of global governance.

    The Pact for the Future is the UN’s master plan for tackling challenges that lie ahead for humanity, with 56 “actions” covering everything from peacekeeping to the potential threats posed by artificial intelligence. The pact underlines the “increasingly complex challenges” to world peace, notably the threat of nuclear war, with the document reiterating the UN’s core tenets.

    The pact promises to accelerate efforts to attain the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which aim for the eradication of extreme poverty by 2030, an intensified battle against hunger, promotion of gender equality and education. Most of the objectives were set in 2005, but are far from being realized. Against that backdrop, and with poor countries particularly mobilized for change, the pact especially calls for “reform of the international financial architecture.”

    What UNGA president says?

    “We stand at a crossroads of global transformation, facing unprecedented challenges that demand urgent, collective action,” Philemon Yang, president the UN General Assembly, said at the opening segment of the two-day summit. “From conflict and climate change to the digital divide, from inequalities to threats against human rights, together, we all face profound challenges. Yet, alongside these challenges, there is hope,” because challenges come along with opportunities.

    The Pact for the Future represents the world body’s pledge not only to address immediate crises, but lay the foundations for a sustainable, just, and peaceful global order, for all peoples and nations, he said, adding that the commitments embodied in the pact and its annexes reflect the collective will of UN member states to promote international peace and security, invigorate implementation of the SDGs, foster just and inclusive societies, and ensure that technologies always serve the common good of humankind.

    “The Summit of the Future is a call to action. We must shape our future to protect ourselves and our planet Earth,” said the president. “Action that recommits us to the principles of international law, the goals of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the promise of the United Nations Charter to save future generations from the pain of war.”

    The world body’s mission is to eradicate poverty in all its forms, tackle inequalities, and promote peace and security, tolerance and respect for diversity, and the summit offers a historic opportunity to ensure that progress is shared equitably across all nations and communities everywhere, he said.

    “We have an obligation to harness the power of science, technology, and innovation, in order to prepare the future of humankind. It is also important that we reproduce our human successes across generations all the time,” noted the president. “Let us continue our efforts to reform and strengthen global institutions that support peace, security, sustainable development, and financial stability.”

    What UN secretary general says?

    “I called for this summit to consider deep reforms to make global institutions more legitimate, fair and effective, based on the values of the UN Charter,” said UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres at the meeting. “I called for this summit because 21st century challenges require 21st century solutions: frameworks that are networked and inclusive; and that draw on the expertise of all of humanity … our world is heading off the rails — and we need tough decisions to get back on track.”

    Conflicts are raging and multiplying, from the Middle East to Ukraine and Sudan, with no end in sight, he said, adding that the world’s collective security system is threatened by geopolitical divides, nuclear posturing, and the development of new weapons and theaters of war, while resources that could bring opportunities and hope are invested in death and destruction.

    “In short, our multilateral tools and institutions are unable to respond effectively to today’s political, economic, environmental and technological challenges. And tomorrow’s will be even more difficult and even more dangerous,” noted the secretary general, stressing that things are changing fast but the world’s peace and security tools and institutions, as well as its global financial architecture, reflect a bygone era.

    Technology, geopolitics and globalization have transformed power relations and the world is going through a time of turbulence and a period of transition, he addressed the meeting. With the adoption of the Pact for the Future, the Global Digital Compact and the Declaration on Future Generations, pathways are opened to new possibilities and opportunities — a breakthrough on peace and security reforms to make the Security Council more reflective of today’s world is promised.

    These three landmark agreements are a step-change toward more effective, inclusive, networked multilateralism, said Guterres, noting that their implementation will prioritize dialogue and negotiation, end the wars tearing the world apart, and reform the composition and working methods of the Security Council. “To rebuild trust, we must start with the present and look to the future. People everywhere are hoping for a future of peace, dignity, and prosperity.”

    What Summit of the Future Means?

    In 2020, the United Nations turned 75 and marked the occasion by starting a global conversation about hopes and fears for the future. This was the beginning of a process that would eventually lead, four years later, to the convening of the Summit of the Future, a major event this September, just before the annual high-level debate of the General Assembly.

    The summit was conceived at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, when there was a perception at the UN that countries and people pulled apart instead of cooperating to face this global threat.

    “We were really confronted with the gap between the aspirations of our founders, which we were trying to celebrate at the 75th anniversary, and the reality of the world as it is today,” said Michele Griffin, the policy director of the summit.

    UN member states tasked Guterres to come up with a vision for the future of global cooperation. His answer to their call was “Our Common Agenda,” a landmark report with recommendations on renewed global cooperation to address a host of risks and threats, and a proposal to hold a forward-looking summit in 2024.

    The event consists of sessions and plenaries based around five main tracks — sustainable development and financing; peace and security; a digital future for all; youth and future generations; and global governance — and other topics that cut across all of the work of the UN, including human rights, gender equality and the climate crisis.

    The immediate outcome is the finalized version of the Pact for the Future, with the Global Digital Compact and the Declaration for Future Generations as annexes, all of which were adopted by member states during the summit on Sunday.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Annual film, cultural exchange event kicks off in Moscow

    Source: China State Council Information Office 3

    The annual launch of “UPanda Cinema” and the BRICS film and cultural exchange event kicked off in Moscow on Sunday with the participation of over 900 representatives from media organizations, film institutions, and youth groups of BRICS countries.

    Organizers of the event said that cooperation in the film and television sector is an essential part of cultural exchanges and mutual learning, expressing hope that this event will allow people in BRICS countries to better understand China’s development in the new era.

    They affirmed their commitment to carrying forward the BRICS spirit of openness, inclusiveness, and win-win cooperation, fostering cultural exchanges and cooperation, and painting a picture of shared friendship.

    Andrey Denisov, first deputy minister of foreign affairs of the Russian Federation, said that thanks to the joint efforts of the Russian and Chinese media, “UPanda Cinema” was successfully launched in Russia, with Chinese programs welcomed by Russian viewers and praised by Russian critics.

    Galina Kulikova, first deputy chairperson of the Russia-China Friendship Association and recipient of China’s Friendship Medal, said that the event will provide more Russian audiences with opportunities to learn about China.

    The event will not only bring exciting television programs to Russian audiences but also convey the friendship and warmth of the Chinese people to them, she said, expressing hope that through this “BRICS Broadcasting Season,” cultural exchanges and cooperation among BRICS countries will become closer and more cohesive.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Music school anniversary marked

    Source: China State Council Information Office 3

    Alumni, students and teachers of the vocal and opera department of the China Conservatory of Music staged a concert at Beijing Concert Hall on Sunday, marking its 60th anniversary.

    Veteran singers, who graduated from the China Conservatory of Music, including tenors Yan Weiwen, Lyu Jihong and sopranos Wu Bixia and Wang Lida, shared the stage, performing classic Chinese songs, such as Ode to Plum Blossoms and Fisherwomen of the Yellow River.

    During the past 60 years, the institution has been training Chinese opera singers, allowing opera to be enjoyed by a wider audience. Graduates from the vocal and opera department of the school have performed leading roles in classic Chinese operas, such as The White-Haired Girl, and The Wilderness.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Allens advises SK Group

    Source: Allens Insights

    Allens has advised SK Group on an agreement to extend the timeline for its put option with Masan Group (MSN) and its sale of a 7.1% stake in WinCommerce to MSN for US$200 million. 

    SK Group is a leading conglomerate, ranking second among Korean enterprises in total assets. Since 2018, SK Group has invested over US$1.2 billion in MSN and its affiliates, including approximately US$470 million for a 9.5% stake in MSN with a put option to sell the shares back to MSN in 2024, which has now been extended.  

    Together with extending the put option, Allens also advised SK Group on the sale of its 7.1% stake in WinCommerce to MSN for US$200 million.

    ‘We are delighted to have worked with SK Group on these significant transactions and look forward to our continued work together in the future,’ said Partner Linh Bui.

    Allens legal team

    Linh Bui (Partner), Ngoc Anh Tran (Partner), Ha Nguyen (Senior Associate), Thuy Linh Nguyen (Associate), Tien Tran (Associate), Nhi Duong (Junior Associate), Phu Tran (Junior Associate)

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Activist shareholders are becoming more efficient, more sophisticated and better resourced

    Source: Allens Insights

    How companies can stay ahead of evolving campaigns 6 min read

    Shareholder activists are increasingly using novel tactics to influence the strategies of companies. While campaigns continue to focus on the full spectrum of key issues like M&A activity, business operations and strategy, regulatory concerns and ESG-related matters, we are seeing a change in the type of shareholder launching campaigns. Large institutional players and funds (including super funds) are moving into this space, resulting in better-funded and more sophisticated campaigns. Activists are also increasingly willing to take campaigns public without first engaging with the company, meaning they are less predictable.

    This escalation underscores the need for companies and boards to understand the interests of their stakeholders and anticipate potential activist agendas, and to take a proactive approach to managing those issues in order to be prepared and minimise the risk of becoming a target of a campaign.

    In this Insight, we discuss recent shareholder activism trends in Australia, explore some of the novel tactics used by activists and discuss strategies for companies to prepare for an activist campaign.

    Key takeaways 

    • With large institutional players and funds (including super funds) becoming more active, campaigns are becoming more efficient, sophisticated and resourced.
    • There has been an increasing trend for activists to go public without prior engagement with the company, meaning an impending campaign is not always easy to identify or predict.
    • The tactics and objectives of activist shareholders are wide-ranging, with shareholders using novel tactics such as fast-paced public campaigns through online platforms and seeking access to internal company documents.
    • To mitigate against these risks and disruption to the business, companies and boards must plan and execute effective strategies that anticipate and respond to activist campaigns.

    Who is launching campaigns?

    Super funds and other large institutional investors are increasingly pursuing an active role in the oversight of their investments – which is pertinent, given super funds currently hold an interest in approximately 34% of the ASX, which is estimated to eventually increase to more than 50%.1 Further, the Australian market has seen activist investment firms, including Australian-based hedge funds, join forces to exert greater influence over company strategy. 

    Key issues driving activists

    M&A activity

    Where a prospective M&A opportunity requires shareholder approval, then by its nature, it needs to be viewed favourably by shareholders to satisfy any applicable approval thresholds. However, even where shareholder approval isn’t being sought, we are seeing a rise in shareholders using their influence to oppose or otherwise alter the terms of M&A activity, putting pressure on the company to pursue alternative strategies or alter the terms of a deal. Tactics used by shareholders to exert influence on emerging M&A transactions can range from confidential non-public engagement with the company, to (increasingly) public criticism of the deal and launching a campaign to actively oppose the relevant transaction and seek support from other shareholders. For instance, earlier this year, Pendal Group, Qantas’ largest investor, publicly voiced concerns about Qantas’ ability to meet projected earnings margins amidst plans to purchase aircraft assets worth over $3 billion. Following the widespread criticism, the company was reported to have pulled back from public presentations on the matter. Whitehaven was also targeted by Bell Rock, a hedge fund investor, as it pursued a transaction to acquire metallurgical coal assets from BHP. The public campaign opposed the proposed acquisition and use of Whitehaven funds, and subsequently targeted the company’s remuneration policies, including writing letters to Whitehaven shareholders and creating a website encouraging shareholders to take action at the upcoming AGM. It culminated in Whitehaven applying to the Panel seeking a declaration of unacceptable circumstances (see our Insight for more details on Bell Rock’s misadventure here).

    We have seen an increase in highly publicised activist campaigns that have successfully resulted in shareholders rejecting takeover bids and schemes of arrangement. Historically, shareholders opposing M&A activity were often competing bidders seeking to advance their own position. Recently, there has been an increase in campaigns by shareholders that are not competing bidders, but rather they oppose the transaction because they see the proposal as opportunistic or otherwise have different views on the longer term value of the company. Notable recent examples are AustralianSuper’s opposition to the Origin takeover and Tanarra Capital’s push for change at Bapcor.

    Business operations and strategy 

    Shareholders have a clear incentive to pursue an activist campaign against a company where, in the eyes of the activist, there are perceived strategy or governance shortcomings or an underperforming share price or asset base.

    Activists can and more frequently will look to challenge corporate strategies in the pursuit of what they perceive as better value or alignment with long-term growth objectives. In May this year, an Australian-based oil and gas producer faced shareholder dissent at its AGM and received a ‘first strike’ against its remuneration report. Shareholders had been advocating for a higher dividend payout ratio and a greater return of cash.

    Activist investment firms, in particular, are increasingly making public statements regarding their own business strategies for investee companies – for example, recommending dividends and buybacks over M&A activity and development. As mentioned earlier in this article, Bell Rock’s campaign against Whitehaven was borne from the hedge funds’ dissatisfaction with the corporate strategy to cease a buyback and deploy the capital on an M&A opportunity. Lendlease, similarly, experienced significant pressure from activist firms Tanarra Capital, Allan Gray, and HMC Capital to refocus its activities on domestic operations rather than offshore expansion.

    Regulatory concerns

    Australian companies and boards are navigating Australia’s ever-changing and complex regulatory landscape. With increasing shareholder expectations regarding a company’s legal and regulatory compliance, we are seeing a rise in shareholders advocating for changes that they believe will enhance compliance, protect a company from legal risks, and strengthen its financial health and public reputation.

    In the gambling sector, for example, non-compliance has compelled shareholders to demand changes to cultural practices and the reconfiguration of boards. Recently, the Alliance for Gambling Reform voiced its plans to target Nine Entertainment and Seven West Media from within, as shareholders, in an attempt to stop gambling advertisements. Shareholder resolutions were publicly revealed as the activism tactic of choice. Unsurprisingly, there remains a consistent push for corporate behaviour to align with regulatory best practices and investor expectations.

    Environment, social and governance considerations

    Historically dominated by individual investors and smaller single-issue activist groups, shareholder activism in the ESG space is now also characterised by the involvement of large institutional investors, with significant resources to dedicate to activist campaigns. Earlier this year, HESTA voted against the re-election of the Chair of the Santos board on the basis of climate-related factors. The activity of these types of investors is often driven by their own ESG-related targets and other commitments they have made to their investors.

    Beyond climate, we anticipate that future shareholder activism in the ESG space may be driven by nature-related considerations. Allens recently discussed the growing need for boards to exercise due care and diligence in relation to nature-related risks and opportunities following elevated investor scrutiny and agitation in this area. In particular, boards must understand the risks associated with a company’s nature-related dependencies and impacts in order to appropriately consider, manage and/or disclose a company’s nature-related matters to meet shareholder expectations.

    Developing strategies to address ESG interests of shareholders and more broadly adapting to the shift in societal expectations will be paramount. The constant advancement of tools and methodologies used to evaluate ESG successes will further drive shareholder scrutiny. M&A front-runners are progressively turning their attention towards these issues, devising innovative approaches to embed relevant ESG factors into their M&A strategies.2

    Activist tactics

    While activism can take many forms depending on the specific goals of the shareholder involved, there are some common tactics employed in the Australian market. 

    Established tactics

    The more typical activist tactics involve utilising the mechanisms available under the Corporations Act to do one or a combination of calling a meeting, proposing resolutions, distributing materials to shareholders and nominating candidates to the board, each with the purpose of placing a spotlight on an issue or advancing an agenda.

    With a spotlight on the experience of the ASX300 during the 2023-24 financial year:

    • of the 37 remuneration reports voted down by shareholders, around five appear to have been a protest vote due to shareholder concerns beyond remuneration-related issues; and
    • four companies had shareholders approve amendments to their constitution, where those amendments were proposed by shareholders and opposed by the board.

    The window for these types of activist campaigns was in the lead-up to AGM season.

    Historically, activists would generally engage with the company as a first step, before going public with a campaign in the month or two ahead of the relevant AGM, which meant companies had more lead time to prepare.

    However, we are now seeing these campaigns being launched outside that typical AGM window. Activists are also becoming more aggressive and are increasingly willing to take the campaign public without first engaging with the company, which can surprise the company and put them on the back foot.

    Emerging tactics

    The existing toolkit is being supplemented with new tactics that are coming to the fore.

    Harnessing the power of the internet and social media, shareholders are reaping the benefits of activism in a tech-savvy world. Novel online platforms are providing new and unpredictable ways for activists to join forces and launch powerful campaigns. The Alliance for Gambling Reform, mentioned earlier in this article, used online share-trading platform SIX, a trading platform that unites shareholders, to begin its campaign against gambling advertising. Similarly, the widespread reach of social media means that shareholders have more power than ever to captivate the public and influence a market. In a successful campaign against a proposed demerger in 2022, the largest shareholder of an Australian-based energy provider launched a sharp website and employed X (then Twitter) to broadcast a video that appealed to other shareholders. Companies must become comfortable with the reality that one activist could quickly and unexpectedly gain substantial online support.

    Shareholders are also seeking opportunities to obtain a company’s own documents and policies (not all of them public) and hold them to account against a particular activist agenda. This approach has seen shareholders seek preliminary discovery of documents relating to the target company’s internal risk management framework. More recently shareholders have used document inspection powers under the Corporations Act to seek to obtain the target company’s internal documents relating to its climate exposure, as well as human rights issues.

    How to prepare

    Campaigns can be launched without warning and escalate quickly. All companies should take steps to prepare, even if they aren’t anticipating being a target. To be able to be decisive and act swiftly, companies should:

    • actively monitor securities trading and share registers for any early signs of stakes being accumulated;
    • ensure public-facing documents clearly and consistently articulate the company’s strategy;
    • proactively communicate with stakeholders regarding the company’s strategies and values, particularly around points that could be open to challenge, such as operational costs, executive remuneration, ESG related performance and regulatory compliance;
    • consider the breadth of their ESG related public commitments and statements and areas that may be open to scrutiny based on gaps in practice against those commitments or trends in stakeholder activism focus areas;
    • undertake training exercises and work through scenarios with the board and senior leadership to be familiar with how a campaign could play out and potential responses; and
    • have standing appointments for financial, legal and other specialist advisers (such as communications experts) that can be called on quickly if the need arises.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Government undermines public service with WFH crackdown

    Source: Green Party

    The Green Party says the Government’s retrograde move to tighten up on Work from Home arrangements is the latest in a series of blows to the Public Service.

    “This is shallow soundbite policy and a cheap shot to a public service that is being gutted by the Government,” says the Green Party Spokesperson for the Public Service, Francisco Hernandez.

    “Our public service needs to be supported so it can support our communities. Undermining our public servants at every opportunity will only lead to an erosion of the services we all rely on. 

    “We saw firsthand during the pandemic the benefit of flexible work arrangements and how they can support people to achieve a better work life balance, being beneficial to productivity and morale. 

    “This gimmick Government wants to take us back to the pre-internet days when we lacked the flexibility to adopt working arrangements that work for our workers. This Government quite clearly mistrusts and undervalues the public service. 

    “How can the Government claim this is about improving the performance of the public service when it has repeatedly punched down on our public servants? 

    “It is laughable for the Prime Minister to claim that this will be good for the Wellington CBD when his Government has cut almost 7,000 public service jobs, which has had devastating down-stream effects to the local economy. 

    “If we want to reinvigorate the heart of our cities, we need to support public and active transport, bolster our urban density and stop gutting public services, slashing jobs and cutting incomes.

    “Public servants should have the right to safe, decent and meaningful work that affords them the right balance of working from home and from the office. This should be a discussion between employers and employees, not something that is dictated by Nicola Willis.  

    “The Greens would reform our employment laws for all workers in New Zealand to enable flexible working arrangements, including working from home,” says Francisco Hernandez.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China, Nepal launch joint army training in Chongqing

    Source: China State Council Information Office 3

    A joint army training, co-organized by Chinese and Nepali militaries, kicked off Sunday in southwest China’s Chongqing Municipality.

    This is the fourth iteration of joint training between the two militaries, with the previous session held in 2019.

    Under the theme of “joint counter-terrorism operations in urban blocks,” the joint training will include small arms shooting in special operations, counter-terrorism squad tactics, drone operations, emergency rescue, and comprehensive counter-terrorism exercises.

    The training will last until Oct. 1. In addition to joint exercise sessions, the two militaries will engage in research and exchange on disaster reduction and relief in earthquakes, avalanches and landslides.

    A series of cultural exchange activities will also take place during the training to enhance mutual trust and understanding.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Single-vehicle traffic crash, Grove

    Source: Tasmania Police

    Single-vehicle traffic crash, Grove

    Monday, 23 September 2024 – 4:30 pm.

    Sadly, a 66-year-old man has died following a single-vehicle crash at Grove in the states South.
    Police and emergency services were called to the scene about 2.00pm this afternoon.
    Initial inquiries indicate the man, who was the sole occupant of the vehicle, has experienced a medical episode.
    Our thoughts are with the man’s family and loved ones.
    A report will be prepared for the coroner.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Nigeria: fears of disease outbreaks grow in Maiduguri following severe flooding

    Source: Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF)

    Maiduguri, Borno state, 23 September 2024 – Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF) is highly concerned about the significant risk of malaria and waterborne diseases, including cholera, following the recent flooding that has inundated vast parts of Maiduguri. in north-eastern Nigeria. MSF fears that this crisis could increase the levels of malnutrition in the area and calls for urgent additional support, especially in terms of water, sanitation, and medical care, to protect people already heavily impacted by long-term insecurity and unprecedented levels of malnutrition.

    On 10 September, heavy rain caused the Alau Dam in Borno State to overflow, leading to major floods in and around the city of Maiduguri. The deluge heavily impacted houses, markets, fields, livestock, and several health facilities. According to Borno State authorities, close to 400,000 people have been registered in 30 makeshift displacement sites.[1] Most of the sites are schools with too few latrines, and a lack of safe drinking water.

    “We are very concerned about the precarious living conditions and the potential outbreaks of cholera and malaria”, says Dr Issaley Abdel Kader MSF Head of mission in Nigeria. “The number of children affected by malaria and acute watery diarrhoea had already started to increase before the flooding, and we have seen some with clinical signs of cholera since the floods. We are afraid that the number of cases will rise without an increase in medical and humanitarian support, particularly support for water, sanitation and hygiene services.”

    Last week, MSF teams visited several displacement sites (Galtimari, Yerwa, Ali Sheriff, Vocational Enterprise Institute, Teachers Village) to assess people’s needs and start the provision of essential services such as access to water through water-trucking and water tanks, the installation and repair of latrines, and the distribution of mosquito nets. Teams are also running outpatient consultations in the sites, including mental health support, and referring critical patients to the facilities we support. Given the risks posed by malaria and cholera, MSF is also planning to expand the paediatric facility it supports by 100 beds and have begun setting up a cholera treatment centre that can be increased to a 100-bed capacity, if needed.  

    The Borno State government has announced the closure and merging of most displacement sites in the coming days. They plan to keep three main sites to accommodate people who still have no place to stay for one more week, and a mass cholera vaccination is upcoming.

    “All parties involved in the humanitarian response must continue providing assistance to the people affected by the floods as long as it will be necessary and ensure immediate and easy access to medical care for those who need it. The closure of most sites means that many will find themselves in a very vulnerable situation. For those remaining in the sites, prompt action must be taken to swiftly improve hygiene conditions, including access to latrines, safe water and mosquito nets”, says Dr. Issaley.

    Support for communities won’t just be needed at the new displacement sites. Well before the flooding, the entire population of Maiduguri was already facing huge challenges, including one of the worst malnutrition crises recorded in northeast Nigeria. In the past months, hundreds of severely malnourished children have been admitted every week into MSF’s nutritional care hospital.

    “Admissions to the nutritional facilities had just started to reduce when the flooding occurred”, says Dr. Ashok Shrirang Sankpal, deputy medical coordinator MSF Nigeria. “With markets and businesses heavily impacted, the harvest damaged and livestock washed away, there is huge concern that admissions will start to rise again.”

    This is the second time in just a few weeks’ that MSF has had to launch emergency responses linked to flooding in northern Nigeria. In August in Gummi, Zamfara state, homes and farms were destroyed and thousands left newly displaced by severe flooding. Like Maiduguri, people in this area already face significant challenges, including malnutrition, persistent insecurity and lack of access to healthcare. MSF teams have been supporting communities in Gummi over the last few weeks by delivering clean drinking water, repairing boreholes and delivering kits which include plastic sheets for temporary shelter and mosquito nets.

    [1] Nigeria: Floods – Maiduguri (MMC) and Jere Floods Flash Update 3 (18 September 2024) – Nigeria | ReliefWeb

    MSF Australia was established in 1995 and is one of 24 international MSF sections committed to delivering medical humanitarian assistance to people in crisis. In 2022, more than 120 project staff from Australia and New Zealand worked with MSF on assignment overseas. MSF delivers medical care based on need alone and operates independently of government, religion or economic influence and irrespective of race, religion or gender. For more information visit msf.org.au  

    MIL OSI – Submitted News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: SNP must rethink rail fare hike

    Source: Scottish Greens

    23 Sep 2024 Transport Climate Action

    Peak rail fares are an unfair tax on people who have no say when they need to travel for work or study.

    More in Transport

    The SNP must reconsider its decision to bring back punishing and unfair peak rail fares, say the Scottish Greens.

    The party’s transport spokesperson, Mark Ruskell MSP, has branded it “a disaster for commuters and our climate”, urging the SNP to make off peak all day fares permanent.

    The scheme to remove peak rail fares was secured in October 2023 by the Scottish Greens as part of the party’s time in government. The SNP will be reintroducing peak fares at the end of this week.

    Mr Ruskell said: “The return of peak rail fares will be a disaster for commuters and our climate. Rail users in Scotland already pay some of the highest fares in Europe.

    “We need to reduce the number of cars on our roads if we are to hit our climate targets, but we can’t encourage people to make the switch to rail if we are making trains even more expensive.

    “Ending peak fares is something that the Scottish Greens were proud to work with campaigners and trade unions to achieve during our time in government. It has helped thousands of workers and families who have no say in when they need to travel for work or study.

    “Cheaper, greener railways have a key role to play in boosting public transport and protecting our planet. The cost of removing peak fares is a fraction of what is being spent every year on major road building projects.

    “Even at this late stage, I urge the Scottish Government to think again, and to scrap peak fares for good.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: In 2023, one in every four single-family houses was equipped with a heat pump.

    Source: Switzerland – Department of Home Affairs

    Neuchâtel, 23.09.2024 – Switzerland had 1.79 million residential buildings and 4.79 million dwellings in 2023. 37% of buildings were heated by oil and 17% by gas. 21% of buildings were equipped with heat pumps, a fivefold rise since 2000. One single-family house in four is equipped with a heat pump. These are some of the results from the Building and Dwelling Statistics compiled by the Federal Statistical Office (FSO).

    This press release and further information on this topic can be found on the FSO website (see link below)

    Address for enquiries

    Info StatBL, BFS, Population section, tel.: +41 58 467 25 25, e-mail: info.gws@bfs.admin.ch

    Publisher

    Federal Statistical Office
    http://www.statistics.admin.ch

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Charges – Stolen motor vehicle and pursuit – Greater Darwin Region

    Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

    Northern Territory Police have arrested a 32-year-old male in relation to an aggravated robbery in Stuart Park earlier today.

    Around 12:00pm, police received reports that a man had allegedly threatened multiple people with an edged weapon at a business on the Stuart Highway.

    A short time later, the offender attended a business on Presley Street and allegedly threatened a staff member with an edged weapon before stealing a vehicle and fleeing the scene.

    The stolen vehicle was later reported to be driving erratically outbound on the Stuart Highway.

    General Duties and Road Policing Units located the vehicle stationary on Gunn Point Road before it drove directly at them at 150km per hour. Members were able to take evasive action to avoid a collision.

    Police then deployed additional units including Dog Operations Unit, TRG and a helicopter to form a coordinated response to locate the offender on the ground.

    The offender had abandoned the stolen vehicle and fled into nearby bushland.

    The 32-year-old was arrested in nearby bushland at Gunn Point by TRG with an edged weapon on his person and tested positive to methamphetamine. 

    He has been charged with the following:

    • 2 x Assault with intent to steal.

    • 3 x Aggravated Robbery
    • 1 x Theft
    • 2 x Recklessly endangering life
    • 1 x Driver with prohibited drug in body
    • 1 x Driver drive under influence of drugs
    • 1 x Drive manner dangerous.
    • 1 x Drive Motor vehicle unsafe to drive.
    • 1 x Cross double white lines.
    • 2 x Person cause bushfire.

    He is remanded to appear in Darwin Local Court Tuesday 24 September 2024.

    Detective Acting Senior Sergeant Trent Abbott said, “I would like to commend all the officers involved in the apprehension of this individual.

    “This man’s actions are reprehensible and could have caused serious damage or loss to life.

    “His arrest almost certainly prevented further offending.

    “We take a zero-tolerance approach to this type of behaviour, so if you conduct yourself in this way, you can expect to be prosecuted.

    “This man will be no exception.”

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: NSU publications are recognized as the best at interregional and all-Russian book competitions

    MIL OSI Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

    Source: Novosibirsk State University – Novosibirsk State University –

    In mid-September, the award ceremony for the winners and prize-winners of the Interregional Competition “Book of the Year: Siberia – Eurasia – 2024” took place on the main stage of the “Book Siberia” festival. This year, the competition was held for the eighth time, and all these years it has successfully achieved the goals set before it: support for publishers, innovative ideas and practices in the field of literature, book publishing, popularization of books and reading among the population, in scientific, educational and cultural circles. The winner in the nomination “Best educational book” was the textbook “Course in Computational Physics” by Academician M. P. Fedoruk, published by the Publishing and Printing Center (PPC) of NSU. In total, about two hundred publications from different cities of Russia participated in the competition.

    NSU has consistently been the leader of the All-Russian competition of scientific and educational publications “University Book” from year to year. The geography of the competition is vast; this year it was held in Yekaterinburg at the Ural Federal University. More than 500 publications took part in the competition, and the geography of the competition covered 37 cities of the Far East, Siberia, the Urals, the European part of Russia, and the Republic of Belarus. Books of the Publishing and Printing Center of NSU received three certificates and five diplomas in the following nominations: “Best Scientific Publication in Earth Sciences”, “Best Scientific Publication in Economics and Management”, “Best Scientific Publication in Historical Sciences”, “Best Scientific Publication in Culture and Art”, “Best Educational Publication in Physics and Mathematics and Programming”, “Best Educational Publication in Natural Sciences”, “Best Scientific Publication in Philology”, “Best Biographical Publication”.

    NSU publications were also highly appreciated at the oldest all-Russian competition “Best Books of the Year” of the Association of Book Publishers of Russia (ASKI). In 2024, more than 700 publications from all over Russia were submitted to the competition. N. I. Krasnyakov (“Best publication in the field of humanitarian knowledge”) and M. P. Fedoruk (“Best educational publication for higher education”) were awarded diplomas.

    — If we talk about the All-Russian ASKI competition “Best Books of the Year”, it is the most prestigious and significant. We managed to win diplomas in 2017, 2023, 2024. In other years, our university’s publications were consistently included in the competition’s long list, and this is no more than 10 publications in a nomination. Every year, university teachers present worthy, high-level publications. The publishing house’s staff does everything to ensure that these works receive the best editorial preparation and design. We are very proud that the work of the authors and the Publishing and Printing Center not only bears fruit in the educational and scientific environment, but is also highly appreciated in professional competitions, — noted Dmitry Shamov, Director of the NSU IPC.

    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.nsu.ru/n/media/nevs/science/NSU publications-recognized-the-best-at-interregional-and-all-Russian-book-competitions/

    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 Asia-Pac: Dance drama “Awakening Lion” to showcase charm of Lingnan culture in Hong Kong in October (with photos)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    　　The Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) has invited the Guangzhou Song and Dance Theatre to perform in October its grand Chinese dance drama “Awakening Lion”, a production that won the Lotus Award, China’s highest award for dance. Set against the backdrop of the Sanyuanli Anti-British Uprising in Guangzhou during the Opium War, the lion dancers of the day look back at their predecessors and retrace the history of a century ago, showcasing the inheritance of national spirit that has been passed down through generations, and allowing the audience to experience the charm of Lingnan culture. The programme is part of the 4th Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Culture and Arts Festival and the Guangzhou Culture Week.
     
    　　The “Awakening Lion” is the first dance drama on the Mainland featuring Guangdong lion dancing, a representative item of the national intangible cultural heritage. With “awakening” as its spirit and “lion” as its form, the production reflects the awakening of Chinese national identity. It depicts two teenage lion dancers who achieve self-awakening and growth while making various life decisions involving the emotional dynamics and the righteous cause of the nation. In terms of artistic style, the dance drama shows strong characteristics of South China and indigenous features of old Canton. By integrating innovative elements and multimedia technology, together with music and costumes rich in regional characteristics, the staging exudes both modern appeal and visual impact.
     
    　　In terms of choreography, “Awakening Lion” is a fusion of Chinese dance and traditional lion dance. It incorporates the stances of Nanquan (southern-style boxing) and the difficult movements of southern lion dance, such as falling forward, tumbling, leaping and “picking the greens”, into its dance vocabulary. It also blends various southern Guangdong intangible cultural heritages elements, such as Nanquan, Choy Li Fut-style martial arts, wooden fish songs, Yingge dance and big head buddha, to fully realise the creative transformation and innovative inheritance of outstanding traditional culture, and to demonstrate the culture of Lingnan and the spirit of the Bay Area. The production has won the 11th China Dance Lotus Award for Dance Drama and the 11th Five One Project Award. Since its premiere in 2018, it has toured the Mainland, giving over 250 performances, and has been well received by audiences. This time, principal dancers of the Theatre, Iliwan Umar, Pang Guanyu, Liang Qiqi, Li Ao and more, will participate in the Hong Kong performances.
     
    　　The story is about an impoverished boy, Xing, and a wealthy young man, Long, who are preparing for a lion dance competition in the Sanyuanli village of Guangzhou. One day, they have a fight in a teahouse. Xing wins by a narrow margin, and Long is not convinced. Long’s sister, Feng’er, is secretly in love with Xing, while Xing’s mother is against her son’s participation in the lion dance competition. On the day of the competition, the invaders attack the Guangzhou city. Putting aside their grudges, Xing and Long join together with the villagers to fight against the foreign enemies.
     
    　　The Guangzhou Song and Dance Theatre, formerly known as the Guangzhou Song and Dance Troupe, was founded in 1965. The Theatre upholds the development philosophy of “repertoire as basics, talent as drive, and market as booster”, and has created a number of masterpieces, including the dance drama “Awakening Lion”, “Loong”, “Yingge”, “Xinghai．Yellow River” and dance epic “Guangzhou in the Old Days”, etc. It has won numerous top awards, and has received attention and praise from all walks of life.
     
    　　Guangzhou Culture Week: Dance Drama “Awakening Lion” by Guangzhou Song and Dance Theatre will be held at 8pm on October 26 (Saturday) and at 3pm on October 27 (Sunday) at the Auditorium of Sha Tin Town Hall. Tickets priced at $200, $260, $340 and $420 are now available at URBTIX (www.urbtix.hk). For telephone bookings, please call 3166 1288. Discount schemes including a Guangzhou Culture Week package discount, group booking discount and concessionary tickets are available for the programmes under the Guangzhou Culture Week (including A New Cantonese Opera “Princess Wencheng” by Guangzhou Cantonese Opera Theatre Company on October 22 and 23). An additional early bird discount is available until September 26 for purchasing the above-mentioned programmes through any of the discount schemes. For programme enquiries and concessionary schemes, please call 2268 7323 or visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/CulturalService/Programme/tc/dance/programs_1768.html.

    　　The programme will feature a dance workshop (conducted in Putonghua) in which participants will get a taste of the dance and martial arts elements of the performance by learning selected scenes guided by the theatre’s dancers. The workshop will be held at 7.30pm on October 25 (Friday) at the Podium Workshop of the Hong Kong Cultural Centre. Tickets priced at $200 are now available at URBTIX. For details, please refer to the above-mentioned website.
     
    　　A number of free extension activities will be organised for this programme. A pre-performance talk entitled “From lion dance to ‘Awakening Lion’ – A sharing on innovation and integration of intangible cultural heritage elements in the creation of dance drama” (in Putonghua) will be held at 7.30pm on October 24 (Thursday) at AC1, 4/F, Administration Building, Hong Kong Cultural Centre. The speakers include chief choreographers Qian Xin and Wang Sisi, as well as the main cast. In addition, a backstage tour (in Putonghua) will be held at 4.30pm on October 26 (Saturday) at the Auditorium of Sha Tin Town Hall, with free admission for ticket holders of the performance of “Awakening Lion”. Participants will be able to enjoy an exclusive pre-performance access to the backstage of “Awakening Lion” to take photos and explore the stage with sets and props with Lingnan characteristics. Online registration is required (www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/CulturalService/Programme/tc/dance/programs_1768.html#tab_7_0) for both the pre-performance talk and backstage tour on a first-come, first-served basis.
     
    　　The LCSD will hold the “Guangzhou Culture Week” Programme Exhibition from October 8 to 27 at the Foyer of Sha Tin Town Hall. The exhibition will feature the costumes and props of the Cantonese opera “Princess Wencheng” and dance drama “Awakening Lion”. Admission is free. Members of the public are welcome to join on the spot. The Guangzhou Culture Week is jointly presented by the LCSD and the Guangzhou Municipal Culture, Radio, Television and Tourism Bureau.
     
    　　Hong Kong is the host city of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Culture and Arts Festival for the first time. It organises and co-ordinates over 260 performances and exchange activities to be held across the “9+2” cities of the Greater Bay Area. The festival aims to showcase the vibrant and diverse cultural richness of the region and foster cultural exchanges and co-operation among the cities. For detailed information about the festival, please visit www.gbacxlo.gov.hk.               

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Translation: 500 Years of the Three Leagues Free State – Exactly 500 Years Ago: The Three Leagues Seal Their Union

    MIL OSI Translation. Region: Italy –

    Source: Switzerland – Canton Government of Grisons in Italian

    Exactly 500 years ago, on 23 September 1524, the Three Leagues, namely the Grey League, the Caddean League and the League of Ten Jurisdictions, united to form the Free State of the Three Leagues and affixed their seals to the League Charter. From this aggregation, the Canton of Graubünden was created over time. In addition to numerous activities for the people of Graubünden, the Government is celebrating this historic event with guests from Switzerland and abroad.

    On 23 September 1524, three leagues united, forming an independent state and laying the foundation for today’s Canton of Graubünden. This event is attested by the League Charter. This is a document bearing the seals of the Three Leagues and those of the Lord of Rhäzüns and the Abbot of Disentis. The Bishop of Chur joined later. The document is now kept in the State Archives of Graubünden. The most important provision is that no League may start a war without the consent of the others. The League Charter also guarantees mutual aid and assistance, the protection of roads and free trade. The central units of the Three Leagues are the jurisdictional municipalities, with their own jurisdiction. In the event of disputes, conciliation procedures are provided for. All this is agreed “forever”, without time limits.

    Graubünden had long been linked to the Confederation as an allied country. In 1799, the Free State was forcibly integrated into the Helvetic Republic, and since 10 March 1803, Graubünden has been part of Switzerland as a Canton. At that time, Switzerland was still a Confederation of States, which left extensive powers to the Cantons. However, an independent foreign policy was no longer possible.

    Government celebrates with guests In the anniversary year 2024, numerous events will allow you to see and experience the history of the Canton of Graubünden. In addition to projects and activities in all language regions, the Government of the Canton of Graubünden has invited the Federal Council, guests from neighboring countries and cantons, and numerous representatives of various institutions in Graubünden to Lantsch/Lenz for an anniversary event on Saturday, 21 September 2024.

    After the welcome speech by the Prime Minister Jon Domenic Parolini, Federal Councillor Elisabeth Baume-Schneider addressed the government and the guests. The guests were then introduced to the open-air theatre performance «1524» by Origen director Giovanni Netzer and were able to experience the first performance on the plateau in a spectacular setting. The event was rounded off with a sumptuous aperitif, created by the renowned chef Hansjörg Ladurner and served by hotel communication specialists in training at the EHL Passugg hotel school.

    Open-air theatre performance «1524»Origen’s open-air theatre performance tells the story of the foundation of the Free State at the beginning of the 16th century. The country and the lives of the people are exposed to the lust for power of individual «great lords». A narrator, inspired by the historical figure of Gian Travers, guides the audience through the performance and interprets the era. Like a diary, he recalls the events of his life, which take shape on stage. A large ensemble of amateurs and professionals moves across the stage. In the lively performance, the performers engage with the history of Graubünden and reflect on the future of the Free State and the future Canton.The stage, a refined wooden structure, stands within a gentle arena created by nature. A high, irregular framework of dancing triangles supports the open roof. The theatre opens onto the unspoiled landscape on all sides.

    Further information on the performance and advance tickets are available at www.origen.ch/theater. Performances from today until October 12, at 6:30 pm.

    Other activities for the JubileeThe numerous activities in all linguistic regions continue and can be consulted at https://500.gr.ch/it.

    The site also features a chronological representation of historical events: https://500.gr.ch/chronologie

    Attached images:

    The Government in corpore with the League Charter (Photo: Mattias Nutt)

    Link to photos of the jubilee event (©Mattias Nutt)

    Contact persons:

    Questions about the 500th anniversary celebrations:

    Prime Minister Dr. Jon Domenic Parolini, Director of the Department of Education, Culture and Environmental Protection, e-mailJondomenic.Parolini@ekud.gr.ch
    Daniel Camenisch, Project Manager 500 Years of the Three Leagues Free State, Tel. 41 78 659 63 60, e-mailcamenisch@vinavant.ch

    Questions about the open-air theatre performance «1524»:

    Dr. Giovanni Netzer, author and director of the open-air theatre performance, director of Origen, tel. 41 81 637 16 81, e-mailinfo@origen.ch; g.netzer@origen.ch

    Competent body: Department of Education, Culture and Environmental Protection

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

    MIL Translation OSI

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: HKMA commences Phase 2 of e-HKD Pilot Programme and expands Project e-HKD to explore new forms of digital money

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:

         The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) today (September 23) commenced Phase 2 of the e-HKD Pilot Programme (Phase 2) to delve deeper into innovative use cases for new forms of digital money, including e-HKD and tokenised deposits, that can potentially be used by individuals and corporates. As Project e-HKD expands its coverage from e-HKD only to a more comprehensive exploration of the digital money ecosystem, the project has been renamed as Project e-HKD+, reflecting the evolving fintech landscape and the HKMA’s commitment to unlocking the full potential of digital money.

         The e-HKD Pilot Programme is an integral part of Project e-HKD+. Under Phase 2, 11 groups of firms from various sectors have been selected to explore innovative use cases for e-HKD and tokenised deposits across three main themes, namely settlement of tokenised assets, programmability and offline payments (see Annex). The selected firms will also examine the commercial feasibility, within a real-world setting, of new forms of digital money that may potentially be accessible to individuals and corporates.

         The outcome of Phase 2 will help the HKMA understand the practical issues that may be faced in designing, implementing and operating a digital money ecosystem that comprises both publicly and privately issued digital moneys. Project e-HKD+ will continue to advance the technology and legal groundwork to support the potential issuance of an e-HKD for the use of individuals and corporates in the future.

         The HKMA will also establish the e-HKD Industry Forum to provide a collaborative platform for participating institutions to discuss common issues and further explore the possible implementation and adoption of new forms of digital money in a scalable manner. Under the Forum, industry-led working groups will be established to make recommendations on specific topics, with an initial focus on issues related to programmability.

         Similar to Phase 1, an e-HKD sandbox will be made available to pilot participants to accelerate their prototyping, development and testing of use cases. The HKMA will work closely with the selected firms in the next approximately 12 months in conducting Phase 2, with the aim of sharing the key learnings from Phase 2 with the public by the end of 2025.

         The Chief Executive of the HKMA, Mr Eddie Yue, said, “Project e-HKD+ signifies the HKMA’s commitment to digital money innovation. The e-HKD Pilot Programme has provided a valuable opportunity for the HKMA to explore with the industry how new forms of digital money can add unique value to the general public. The HKMA will continue to adopt a use-case driven approach in its exploration of digital money. We look forward to working closely with industry participants in Phase 2 to co-create various innovative use cases.”

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI: Ageas announces its new three-year strategic plan: Elevate27

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Regulated information • Inside information

    Ageas announces its new three-year strategic plan: Elevate27

    Today, Ageas announces its next 3-year strategic plan, Elevate27, for the period 2025-2027. As the name suggests, it is about taking the Group’s strong performance to the next level, building on Ageas’s unique growth profile and strong long-term track record, and the experience it has garnered over the years. A new chapter in Ageas’s journey, Elevate27 is a plan for sustained profitable growth and accelerated progress in key areas of strength, that respond to the needs of the ageing population and SMEs, with the ambition to extend the Group’s leadership in technical insurance and operational excellence while future-proofing distribution capabilities and enriching the customer experience.

      ”As the world continues to change at speed, we will need to stay agile and alert. This is why our focus is on what comes next. That means always asking ourselves – can we do better? Or can we do more? That’s what excites us about Elevate27. It is about further elevating our performance as a Group, building on our strengths, embracing technological advancements where they add value, to deliver on evolving expectations of our stakeholders and on their hopes and dreams for the future. We’ve successfully delivered and outperformed in the past and we’re ready to do so again.”
      Hans De Cuyper, CEO Ageas
    ELEVATE27 COMMITMENTS  
    AS A BUSINESS AND TO INVESTORS. Target by end 2027
    Average earnings per share growth 6% to 8%
    Holding Free Cash Flow EUR 2.2+ billion
    Shareholder Remuneration EUR 1.9+ billion (Progressive Dividend per Share)
    TO CUSTOMERS  
    Delivering the best customer experience Top quartile NPS scores across all our markets
    TO EMPLOYEES  
    Employee NPS Top quartile
    Women in senior and middle management 40%
    TO SOCIETY  
    Products 35+ % of GWP from products that stimulate the transition to a more sustainable and inclusive world.
    ESG Ratings Top quartile with 3 out of 6 rating agencies we actively engage with

    Over the past three years, we have successfully executed our Impact24 growth strategy, delivering on most targets we have set. This was achieved through strong commercial progress and robust operational performance, enabling us to meet our commitments to investors regarding earnings per share and dividend growth, while meeting Net Operating Result guidance. Besides our operational and financial achievements, we are increasingly recognised for our dedication to non-financial goals, as evidenced by improved scores from ESG rating agencies and various recognitions we received such as TOP Employer and the Platinum ECOVADIS label (AG Insurance). We also advanced well on our commitments to customers and employees, as reflected in our high NPS and eNPS scores. As we near the end of our three-year strategic plan, we are confident that we will successfully deliver on Impact24, providing the Group a solid foundation to start Elevate27.

    Elevate27 is built on three strategic drivers: driving profitable growth, leading in technical insurance and operational excellence to sustain and improve margins, and future-proofing distribution and enriching customer experience.

    By focusing on three strategic drivers, we aim to leverage the Group’s strengths to elevate our performance in the coming years. Elevate27 will follow two dynamics: continuing what we already excel at and accelerating our efforts in areas where we see new potential to generate additional value for our stakeholders. Central to this strategy will be our increased emphasis on our People and Tech, Data & AI capabilities at the level of the Group, which will enable us to deliver on our ambitions.

    Our actions are guided and influenced by a commitment to sustainability, long-term thinking, and our partnership DNA.

    Drive profitable growth

    Leveraging our strong presence in Life and Non-Life throughout Europe and Asia, and the successful launch of a fully-fledged Reinsurance arm that provides a solid cash and diversification engine, we will continue to focus on market segments that align with our core competencies, and that open up new opportunities to create and accelerate profitable growth moving forward. We will further accelerate the development of our offering to SMEs, which is already a significant part of our portfolio and where the market is expected in time to outgrow the retail market. We will also accelerate the provision of our solutions for an ageing population, a market opportunity seen in all markets in which Ageas is active, by capitalising on our strong position in the Life market and experience in the over 50 customer segment.

    Lead in technical insurance and operational excellence

    Ageas has a strong track record in terms of technical insurance and operational excellence and wants to grasp the opportunity to maintain and also elevate its leadership in that respect. Taking a lead in these areas, including making use of the new opportunities offered by Technology, Data and AI, ensures attractive margins for the business and intrinsically offers customers an efficient and seamless service.

    To achieve leadership in technical insurance and operational excellence, we will continue to invest in our systems and processes, supporting at the same time our partners in their own digital (transformation) journeys. We want the operational aspect of delivery to be invisible to the customer, the ultimate beneficiary, and to add value to our employees. We want to maintain our financial discipline and strong risk culture, allowing us to sustain and improve our margins. And we want to step up group empowered synergies by leveraging assets and expertise across the entities, demonstrating the power of the Group in this specific area.

    And finally, we have a strong expertise in Data & AI. We want to put these technologies to work for us – adding value but in a disciplined and controlled way, allowing us to better serve our customers, and making insurance more accessible and inclusive.

    Future-proof distribution and enrich customer experience

    In a distribution landscape that is continuously changing, we remain committed to working through all distribution channels that allow us to best reach our customers and gain access to new types of customers.

    By leveraging on our strong partnership model and new possibilities offered by AI, we want to develop innovative propositions and services for customers by combining the data insights and expertise of Ageas and our partners. With full confidence in our traditional distribution partners – Banks, Agents and Brokers – we will pay special attention to jointly enhancing our digital capabilities. At the same time, and in the context of continued diversification, we will further accelerate our engagement with digital B2B2C sales platforms.

    In Impact24 we have successfully implemented solutions designed to provide the best experience for customers focusing on CX Culture, Customer Journey Management and Tech & Data, giving the Group the capabilities to develop a leading on- and offline customer experience, while promoting greater efficiency. This will continue to be our primary focus. We aim to advance even further by reinventing the way we interact with customers across different channels and platforms by innovating our client-interaction model, prioritising self-service solutions and automated customer assistance, and investing in hyper-personalised services.

    Leveraging on two critical assets to deliver on our plan: ‘People’ and ‘Tech, Data & AI’

    Through Elevate27 we will reconfirm the commitment we made to our people to deliver a Great place to Grow, both today and for future, and we will take optimal advantage of the opportunities offered by Tech, Data & AI to meet our ambitions. We have put in place high-quality data management and established a pipeline of over 300 AI initiatives group-wide that under Elevate27 will be fully deployed.

    The rapid evolutions in these areas require us to act fast as a Group to maintain a leading position. By harnessing the collective strength of the Group, we can offer our entities and partnerships access to essential resources and skills, generate economies of scale, increase our speed-to-market and adopt the most effective approaches and methodologies, that benefit all.

    As a prerequisite to delivering on the drivers of Elevate27, we will continue to invest in our technological capabilities, such as ensuring our IT architecture is open and composable to easily integrate with partners and increase our speed to market. Furthermore, we will accelerate the adoption of new Data and (Gen)AI solutions where they add value, as their integration in areas such as Pricing, Underwriting and Product Development, Claims Processes, Fraud Management & Customer Journeys will become even more prominent moving forward.

    Sustainability and Long-term thinking as guiding principles

    As a true supporter of the lives of all our stakeholders, our dedication to sustainability and adopting a long-term perspective will continue to underpin our actions. Leveraging 200 years of solid business experience along with recent successes and learnings from Impact24, we will further strengthen our group-wide efforts in sustainability and long-term thinking.

    A targeted performance

    As a true stakeholder driven company, we hold ourselves accountable for delivering on our promises by 2027. This translates to setting clear financial and non-financial targets that allow us to measure our progress over time.

    For investors and our business in general, we have set out a range of targets that demonstrate the strength of our balance sheet, our financial performance, and our ability to drive profitable growth and attractive returns, providing confidence in the sustainability of our investment case in the long term. Our commitment to create value is reflected in 3 financial targets:

    • Average earnings per share growth: 6% to 8%
    • Holding Free Cash Flow: EUR 2.2+ billion
    • Shareholder Remuneration: EUR 1.9+ billion (Progressive Dividend per Share)

    For customers, we aim to be recognised for excellence at every interaction. To underscore our commitment to delivering the best customer experience, we will strive to reach top quartile NPS scores across all our markets.

    For our partners, we want to be the partner of choice both for our traditional partners and new types of partnerships and will closely monitor and actively address partnership feedback at local level.

    For our employees we want to be recognised as a Great place to Grow. This commitment is demonstrated through two specific targets:

    • Employee NPS: top quartile
    • 40% women in senior and middle management

    For society we continue to place sustainability at the heart of our business, influencing decisions about products, investments, and emissions, with external acknowledgment of our ESG initiatives.

    • Products: 35+ % of GWP from products that stimulate the transition to a more sustainable and inclusive world.
    • ESG ratings: top quartile with 3 out of 6 rating agencies we actively engage with.

    INVESTOR DAY WEBCAST

    23 September 2024 – 17:00 CET (16:00 UK Time)
    Audio webcast via https://ageaspresents.com/aid2024/live

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Sampo plc’s share buybacks 20 September 2024

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Sampo plc, stock exchange release, 23 September 2024 at 8:30 am EEST

    Sampo plc’s share buybacks 20 September 2024

    On 20 September 2024, Sampo plc (business code 0142213-3, LEI 743700UF3RL386WIDA22) has acquired its own A shares (ISIN code FI4000552500) as follows:                

    Sampo plc’s share buybacks Aggregated daily volume (in number of shares) Daily weighted average price of the purchased shares* Market (MIC Code)
      4,020 41.31 AQEU        
      42,539 41.26 CEUX
      777 41.17 TQEX
      53,342 41.31 XHEL
    TOTAL 100,678 41.29  

    *rounded to two decimals                

    On 17 June 2024, Sampo announced a share buyback programme of up to a maximum of EUR 400 million in compliance with the Market Abuse Regulation (EU) 596/2014 (MAR) and the Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/1052. On 16 September 2024, the Board of Directors of Sampo plc resolved to increase the share buyback programme to EUR 475 million. The programme, which started on 18 June 2024, is based on the authorisation granted by Sampo’s Annual General Meeting on 25 April 2024.

    After the disclosed transactions, the company owns in total 7,129,997 Sampo A shares representing 1.30 per cent of the total number of shares in Sampo plc, taking the issuance of shares on 16 September 2024 into account.

    Details of each transaction are included as an appendix of this announcement.

    On behalf of Sampo plc,
    Morgan Stanley

    For further information, please contact:

    Sami Taipalus
    Head of Investor Relations
    tel. +358 10 516 0030

    Distribution:
    Nasdaq Helsinki
    Nasdaq Stockholm
    Nasdaq Copenhagen
    London Stock Exchange
    The principal media
    FIN-FSA
    DEN-FSA
    www.sampo.com

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: 209-2024: Scheduled Service Disruption: Friday 27 September to Sunday 29 September 2024 – BICON, DAFF messaging, SeaPest

    Source: Australia Government Statements – Agriculture

    23 September 2024

    Who does this notice affect?

    All clients required to use the department’s Biosecurity Import Conditions System (BICON) during this planned maintenance period.

    All clients submitting the below declarations:

    • Full Import Declaration (FID)
    • Long Form Self Assessed Clearance (LFSAC)
    • Short Form Self Assessed Clearance (SFSAC)
    • Cargo Report Self Assessed Clearance (CRSAC)
    • Cargo Report Personal Effects (PE)

    …

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI: Tryg A/S – Q3 2024 pre-silent newsletter

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Tryg will host pre-close analysts calls and meetings during the week that starts on September 23 ahead of the Q3 2024 results to be published on October 11. Tryg has decided to publish a quarterly newsletter, ahead of the pre-silent period, to remind capital markets participants about the most important items impacting the company’s financial performance. The newsletter is also in alignment with recent ESMA (European Securities and Markets Authority) guidance on the topic.

    • Tryg derives approximately 20% of the revenue from Norway and 30% from Sweden, the average expected NOK/DKK exchange rate is in Q3 2024 around 64.1 (Q3 2023 64.77) while the average expected SEK/DKK exchange rate is around 65.2 (Q3 2023 63.42). The level of the exchange rates is relevant when translating local revenues in Danish kroner, Tryg’s reporting currency.
    • Q3 is the summer/autumn quarter where some 20% of the annual weather claims are expected. As a reminder Tryg expects DKK 800m of annual normalized weather claims split (percentages wise) by quarter as 40%-10%-20%-30%. The definition of weather claims includes “storms and cloudbursts” but it also reflects the seasonality of claims where winter is the most important driver.
    • Large claims are guided also at DKK 800m per annum but without any seasonality, it should therefore be assumed an amount of DKK 200m per quarter.
    • At times information regarding large weather events or large claims may be available in local press, mass media or industry associations websites.
    • Tryg runs a stable business therefore recent trends of underlying performance ought to be taken as a good guidance for short term trends at least, the group underlying claims ratio was 67.5% in Q3 2023
    • The free portfolio of approximately DKK 17bn is the most volatile part of Tryg’s investment result, the return to date (in percentage) of the free portfolio is observable on a daily basis tryg.com. Tryg has disclosed a recurrent component of DKK 90m, related to interest income on premiums provisions, as part of the match portfolio (DKK 44bn of Scandinavian covered bonds) quarterly return. Other financial income and expenses (booked against the investment result) are guided at a normalized quarterly level around DKK -90m as previously written in quarterly reports.
    • Other income and costs in the profit and loss are expected to be on a normalized basis between DKK -350m and DKK -370m primarily driven by intangibles amortization from the Alka and RSA Scandinavia acquisitions.
    • Tryg pays a flat quarterly dividend, the company paid 1.95 per share in Q1 and Q2 in 2024. The solvency ratio movements are primarily driven by operating earnings (earnings adjusted for intangibles amortization) and dividend payment impacting the Own Funds while the SCR (solvency capital requirement) does not move significantly between quarters assuming an unchanged business and investments profile.
    • Following the Q2 2024 results in July no other announcement has been published while investors meetings in Copenhagen, New York, Zurich & London have been or will be attended during the summer quarter.
    • A transcript of the Q2 2024 earnings call from July 11 is available on Tryg.com.
    • Tryg will publish its Q3 results on October 11 at around 7:30 CET and will host a conference call on the day of the release at 10:00 CET. CEO Johan Kirstein Brammer, CFO Allan Kragh Thaysen and CTO Mikael Karsten will present the results in brief, followed by a Q&A session. The conference call will be held in English.

    Tryg will publish the Group’s Q3 results for 2024 on 11 October 2024 at around 7:30 CET.

    Conference call

    Tryg will host a conference call on the day of the release at 10:00 CET. CEO Johan Kirstein Brammer, CFO Allan Kragh Thaysen, CTO Mikael Kärrsten and SVP Gianandrea Roberti will present the results in brief, followed by a Q&A session.

    The conference call will be held in English.

    Date 11 October 2024
    Time 10:00 CET
     

    Dial-in numbers

    Pin code

    		 +45 (DK) 78 76 84 90

    +44 (UK) 203 769 6819

    +1 (US) 646 787 0157

    560768

    You can sign up for an e-mail reminder on tryg.com. The conference call will also be broadcasted on this site. An on-demand version will be available shortly after the conference call has ended.

    All Q3 material can be downloaded on tryg.com shortly after the time of release.

    Contact information:

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Bitget and Foresight Ventures Invest $30 Million in TON Blockchain to Accelerate Growing Telegram-based Projects

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    VICTORIA, Seychelles, Sept. 23, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Bitget, the world’s leading cryptocurrency exchange and Web3 company, and Foresight Ventures, a leading Web3 investment firm, have announced a strategic investment of $30 million into TON (The Open Network) Blockchain. This investment will be allocated through the acquisition of TON tokens and aims to accelerate further the adoption of Tap-to-Earn, GameFi, and new emerging trends within the TON ecosystem.

    The TON-based projects present a strong use case for mass adoption through the Telegram ecosystem, which has seen substantial growth in recent years as it expands its offerings for Web3 startups. According to a recent TON report from Bitget Research, TON Blockchain, which benefits from Telegram’s 950 million users, has rapidly become one of 2024’s fastest-growing blockchains. It has experienced over tenfold growth in on-chain transactions, ecosystem TVL, and DEX trading volume, with viral dApps like Catizen, DOGS, and Tomarket amassing millions of users.

    The commitment to TON Blockchain comes at a time when Bitget has witnessed remarkable growth in its user base. By focusing on ecosystem development and expanding its services, Bitget has grown its global user count to 45 million in Q3 2024, almost doubling in the past 12 months. This surge is partly attributed to the increasing demand for innovative projects, particularly those driven by platforms like TON.

    In 2024, Bitget Wallet contributed to the TON ecosystem with TONNECT 2024, a major online event aimed at accelerating the growth of emerging dApps in the TON ecosystem. Thanks to TON’s growing user interest in Bitget’s decentralized wallet, Bitget Wallet continuously topped the charts amongst all apps in Nigeria taking over world-famous apps such as TikTok and WhatsApp on Apple’s App Store.

    “As Bitget continues to BUIDL around The Open Network, our investment in the TON ecosystem provides a solid foundation for driving initiatives that align with our vision. By integrating our expertise in crypto infrastructure with TON’s decentralized architecture, we are well-positioned to strengthen the development of innovative products and solutions. Together, we are bringing the crypto industry closer to mass adoption than ever before.” commented Gracy Chen, CEO at Bitget.

    “The surge of the TON ecosystem represents the biggest growth opportunity in the cryptocurrency market this year, and in the next 3 to 5 years. Over the past six months, TON’s TVL has increased 18-fold, reaching $350 million.” Forest Bai, Co-Founder and CEO of Foresight Ventures, stated: “The ecosystem currently boasts over 1,000 dApps, with many applications having millions of users. We hope to continue supporting developers within the TON ecosystem by providing investment, incubation, and marketing support.”

    With the $30 million investment, Bitget and Foresight Ventures will engage more deeply in the future development plans of TON Blockchain, supporting the emergence and go-to-market of more blockbuster dApps on TON.

    About Bitget

    Established in 2018, Bitget is the world’s leading cryptocurrency exchange and Web3 company. Serving over 25 million users in 100+ countries and regions, the Bitget exchange is committed to helping users trade smarter with its pioneering copy trading feature and other trading solutions. Formerly known as BitKeep, Bitget Wallet is a world-class multi-chain crypto wallet that offers an array of comprehensive Web3 solutions and features including wallet functionality, swap, NFT Marketplace, DApp browser, and more. Bitget inspires individuals to embrace crypto through collaborations with credible partners, including legendary Argentinian footballer Lionel Messi and Turkish National athletes Buse Tosun Çavuşoğlu (Wrestling world champion), Samet Gümüş (Boxing gold medalist) and İlkin Aydın (Volleyball national team).

    For more information, visit: Website | Twitter | Telegram | LinkedIn | Discord | Bitget Wallet

    For media inquiries, please contact: media@bitget.com

    About Foresight Ventures
    Foresight Ventures is the first and only crypto VC bridging East and West. With a research-driven approach and offices in the US and Singapore, we are a powerhouse in crypto investment and incubation. Our premier media network includes The Block, Foresight News, BlockTempo, and Coinness. We aggressively invest in the most daring innovations and are dedicated to partnering with visionary projects and top teams to help them succeed, reshaping the future of digital finance and beyond.

    Risk Warning: Digital asset prices may fluctuate and experience price volatility. Only invest what you can afford to lose. The value of your investment may be impacted and it is possible that you may not achieve your financial goals or be able to recover your principal investment. You should always seek independent financial advice and consider your own financial experience and financial standing. Past performance is not a reliable measure of future performance. Bitget shall not be liable for any losses you may incur. Nothing here shall be construed as financial advice. For more information, see our Terms of Use.

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/d47bf052-c6ad-4223-b4cf-bf2554a6fafc

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Virtune AB (Publ) announces its expansion into the Netherlands through the listing of Virtune Staked Solana ETP on Euronext Amsterdam

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Amsterdam, 23rd of September 2024 — Virtune, a Swedish regulated digital asset manager and issuer of crypto Exchange Traded Products (ETPs) based in Stockholm, Sweden, announces its expansion into the Netherlands through the listing of its Virtune Staked Solana ETP on Euronext Amsterdam.

    With strong traction and consistent inflows in the Nordic regions driven by increasing interest and crypto adoption, expanding into the Netherlands is a strategic milestone for Virtune. Virtune has since its inception in May 2023 been growing rapidly in the Nordics where it has listed a total of 12 products and reached more than 31 000 investors in its products in just about one year.

    The key success factors have been an educational focus, a transparent market approach and through its regulated status. This move not only addresses growing investor enthusiasm but also enhances our market presence across Europe.

    Christopher Kock, CEO of Virtune, stated:

    “We are thrilled to expand into the Netherlands with the introduction of our Staked Solana ETP to the Dutch investor community after its successful launch in the Nordic markets. Since our inception in May 2023, we have worked tirelessly to drive crypto adoption through educational efforts in the Nordics and we are excited to extend these efforts to the Dutch financial market. This ETP provides investors with enhanced exposure to Solana, one of the leading and most influential blockchains globally, while also offering additional returns through included staking.”

    About Virtune Staked Solana ETP
    Virtune Staked Solana ETP provides exposure to Solana combined with the benefits of staking. With staking incorporated, the ETP offers an additional annual return of approximately 3% on the investment made in the ETP, while at the same time offering an attractive annual fee of 0.95%.

    Like all of Virtune’s ETPs, Virtune Staked Solana ETP is 100% physically backed and fully collateralized, is denominated in EUR for the Dutch audience and is available on brokerage platforms like Degiro. Virtune uses Coinbase as the crypto custodian where the underlying SOL tokens are being stored with highest institutional grade security in cold-storage. The underlying SOL tokens are being staked directly from cold-storage and the staking rewards are being reflected in the daily price of the ETP.

    Key Product Information:

    Exposure to Solana with approximately 3% annual return through staking
    100% physically backed by SOL
    0.95% annual management fee
    Non-custodial staking

    Virtune Staked Solana ETP:

    Trading Currency: EUR
    First Day of Trading: Tuesday, 17th of September 2024
    Euronext Exchange Ticker: VRTS
    Bloomberg Ticker: VIRSOL
    ISIN: SE0021309754
    Exchanges: Euronext Amsterdam, Euronext Paris, Nasdaq Stockholm

    About Virtune AB (Publ)
    Virtune is a registered financial institution with the Swedish Financial Supervisory Authority (FSA) for trading and managing digital assets and has an approved EU Base Prospectus, renewed with the Swedish FSA on April 5, 2024 which has enabled Virtune’s strategy of listing ETPs on regulated European exchanges. Virtune’s mission is to provide seamless access to crypto assets for both institutional and retail investors through innovative ETPs, transparency, and education.

    Virtune has a wide offering of crypto ETPs that includes Virtune Bitcoin ETP, Virtune Staked Ethereum ETP, Virtune Staked Solana ETP, Virtune Crypto Top 10 Index ETP, Virtune XRP ETP, Virtune Chainlink ETP, Virtune Avalanche ETP, Virtune Staked Polkadot ETP, Virtune Staked Polygon ETP, Virtune Arbitrum ETP and Virtune Staked Cardano ETP.

    About Solana
    Solana is a high-performance blockchain platform designed to offer fast and scalable decentralized application operations and cryptocurrency transactions. By using a unique consensus mechanism known as Proof of History (PoH) along with Proof of Stake (PoS), Solana can handle thousands of transactions per second with low transaction costs, which is a significant improvement over older blockchains like Bitcoin and Ethereum. This combination of technologies not only allows for instant transaction verification but also a significant increase in network throughput without compromising security or decentralization.

    About staking
    Staking enables crypto asset owners to earn passive income by participating in the validation and confirmation of transactions on a blockchain through a process known as Proof of Stake. This mechanism is a fundamental component of Proof of Stake blockchains, like Ethereum and Solana, and plays a vital role in ensuring the security and authenticity of blockchain transactions. To facilitate a transaction on the blockchain securely and accurately, a validator must stake a certain amount of crypto asset as a guarantee of the transaction’s legitimacy.

    The validator aims to stake as much crypto assets as possible to increase the likelihood of receiving rewards, which are paid out in the same type of crypto asset that was staked. For instance, if you stake Solana, you receive additional SOL tokens as a reward. The annual reward percentage for staking can vary and may range from 0-14% or higher for some blockchains. Most crypto asset holders cannot act as validators themselves, as it requires significant amounts of crypto assets. Therefore, many choose to stake their assets through an established and trusted validator. Virtune includes staking rewards in its products that have ‘staked’ included in their names.

    Flow Traders will act as the market maker for the ETP, ensuring that Dutch investors can access the product easily and efficiently during Euronext market hours.

    Stockholm, 23rd of September 2024

    For further inquiries, please contact:
    Christopher Kock, CEO & Member of the Board of Directors
    Email: hello@virtune.com

    About Virtune AB (Publ)
    Virtune with its headquarters in Stockholm is a regulated Swedish digital asset manager and issuer of crypto exchange traded products on regulated European exchanges.

    With regulatory compliance, strategic collaborations with industry leaders and our proficient team, we empower investors on a global level to access innovative and sophisticated investment products that are aligned with the evolving landscape of the global crypto market.

    Cryptocurrency investments are associated with high risk. Virtune does not provide investment advice. Investments are made at your own risk. Securities may increase or decrease in value, and there is no guarantee that you will recover your invested capital. Please read the prospectus, KID, terms at www.virtune.com.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Organizations are ramping up efforts to meet sustainability targets, despite geopolitical challenges

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Press contact:
    Victoire Grux 
    Tel.: +33 6 04 52 16 55 
    Email: victoire.grux@capgemini.com 

    Organizations are ramping up efforts to meet sustainability targets, despite geopolitical challenges

    • 69% of executives say that anticipating stricter future regulations is a key driver of sustainability initiatives, up from 57% last year
    • Nearly two thirds say geopolitics is driving a slowdown in their sustainability investments
    • Six out of ten are concerned that their organization’s sustainability efforts might appear insincere to the public, up from only 11% in 2023.

    Paris, September 23, 2024 – Organizations continue to make progress in their sustainability initiatives, despite facing geopolitical challenges. Regulation and technology are proving to be a vital part of this progress, with two thirds of executives agreeing that their organization will never be able to achieve its sustainability goals without climate tech. This is according to the Capgemini Research Institute’s latest report, ‘A world in balance 2024: Accelerating sustainability amidst geopolitical challenges’, which tracks advancements in organizations’ environmental and social sustainability over the last three years. The third edition of the report highlights marked improvements in circularity, sustainable design, measurement, water stewardship, biodiversity, and sustainability skilling, despite shortfalls in tackling Scope 3 emissions and consumer skepticism.

    Collectively, organizations are ramping up their efforts to meet their sustainability targets, and their maturity in adopting sustainable practices has increased steadily since 2022. 84% of executives this year say their organization is on target to meet its carbon emissions goals; less than a tenth say they are behind. As organizations look to minimize their impact on the environment, progress is particularly visible in terms of circularity, sustainable product design, measurement, and water management. For instance, nearly three quarters of executives say that recycling products is a core aspect of their manufacturing strategy, up from 53% in 2022, while over two thirds said they were redesigning products to remove fossil fuel feedstock sources, up from less than half in 2022. In addition, three-quarters of executives have implemented a water-stewardship program, up from 55% in 2022.

    In late 2023, executives were planning to increase investments in sustainability this year. However, companies have not followed through: average annual investment in sustainability initiatives and practices now stands at 0.82% of total revenue, down from 0.92% in 2023.

    “This year’s report shows sustainability projects continuing to build momentum in 2024 despite current headwinds,” said Cyril Garcia, Capgemini’s Head of Global Sustainability Services and Corporate Responsibility and Group Executive Board Member. “Business leaders have the power and the responsibility to steer us towards a more sustainable economy. Water stewardship, biodiversity preservation, and circular practices are now established as key business imperatives. Executives are being very pragmatic, and CO2reduction must now be translated into cost savings. We continue to see sustainability efforts bolstered by new climate tech innovations and regulations. The best way to build trust and credibility with consumers is by demonstrating tangible outcomes and planning for a future with sustainability at its heart.”

    Consumers unconvinced about progress
    Consumers want to see corporations going even further and demand transparency. The report finds three-quarters of consumers expecting corporations to play a larger role in reducing GHG emissions in 2024. Furthermore, even as organizations ramp up sustainability initiatives, consumers are more skeptical than ever about corporate sustainability, as more than half believe that organizations are greenwashing their sustainability initiatives, up from 33% in 2023.

    Geopolitics and regulations impacting corporate sustainability initiatives
    Executives pointed to climate-related regulations as a key driver of sustainability projects. A full three-quarters of executives believe that sustainability regulation is necessary to achieve global climate goals, and nearly two thirds even agree that without regulation, their organization would not have launched many environmental sustainability initiatives.

    Globally, 73% of executives agree that the EU’s Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) is honing sustainability measurement and tracking capabilities. However, organizations continue to fall short in terms of reporting on sustainability initiatives, especially on Scope 3 emissions. Among organizations required to report for CSRD in 2025, just over a third say that they are prepared to report Scope 3 downstream emissions next year, while 86% are prepared for Scope 1.

    Meanwhile, tensions such as US-China relations, the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, and the European energy crisis, are leading to disruption to supply chains and business operations, and uncertainty around government funding. This year, nearly two thirds of executives pointed to geopolitics as an increasing consideration in sustainability investments, and 69% are concerned about the impact of the uncertain US political scene. This is felt across countries, but Swedish executives are most concerned (75%), compared with 71% of US executives and 59% of executives in India.

    To access the full report: https://www.capgemini.com/insights/research-library/sustainability-trends-2024

    Methodology
    The Capgemini Research Institute surveyed 2,152 executives employed at 727 organizations, each with more than $1 billion in annual revenue, across 13 countries in North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific and in 12 industries and sectors, in June and July 2024. Executives surveyed were director level and above and 50% were from corporate functions, such as strategy, sustainability, sales, and marketing; 50% were from value chain functions, such as product design, R&D, procurement, and logistics. The Institute also surveyed 6,500 consumers over the age of 18 across the 13 countries and conducted interviews with 12 senior sustainability executives at leading organizations globally.

    About Capgemini
    Capgemini is a global business and technology transformation partner, helping organizations to accelerate their dual transition to a digital and sustainable world, while creating tangible impact for enterprises and society. It is a responsible and diverse group of 340,000 team members in more than 50 countries. With its strong over 55-year heritage, Capgemini is trusted by its clients to unlock the value of technology to address the entire breadth of their business needs. It delivers end-to-end services and solutions leveraging strengths from strategy and design to engineering, all fuelled by its market leading capabilities in AI, cloud and data, combined with its deep industry expertise and partner ecosystem. The Group reported 2023 global revenues of €22.5 billion.

    Get the Future You Want | www.capgemini.com

    About the Capgemini Research Institute
    The Capgemini Research Institute is Capgemini’s in-house think-tank on all things digital. The Institute publishes research on the impact of digital technologies on large traditional businesses. The team draws on the worldwide network of Capgemini experts and works closely with academic and technology partners. The Institute has dedicated research centers in India, Singapore, the United Kingdom and the United States. It was recently ranked #1 in the world for the quality of its research by independent analysts. 

    Visit us at https://www.capgemini.com/researchinstitute/ 

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