Category: Sport

MIL-OSI Submissions: Gebrüder Weiss bikes to the moon and back

Source: Gebrüder Weiss

Third GWcycles cycling campaign sets new record / International bike community comes together to cycle over 768,800 kilometers / Corporate forest project in Nicaragua grows by 7,000 new trees

Lauterach, October 1, 2024. Gebrüder Weiss’ international community of bike enthusiasts has raised the bar with this year’s GWcycles cycling campaign: More than 600 participants came together to cycle over 768,800 kilometers – the distance it would take to the moon and back.

Between March and September, the logistics company ran its third and latest cycling campaign, aptly titled “Cycling to the moon and back,” calling on cyclists around the world to dowload the Radbonus app and cover as many kilometers as possible on two wheels.

“It’s clear that bicycle mobility is growing in popularity,” remarks Frank Haas, Head of Communications at Gebrüder Weiss, “and rightly so: Cycling gives people a chance to enjoy being active and boosts both personal health and climate protection. I’m particularly pleased that we were once again able to encourage so many people to do their best to support a good cause. Thank you to everyone who got involved!”

Another benefit is that each kilometer cycled helps to protect the climate. The 2024 cycling campaign has enabled Gebrüder Weiss to plant 7,000 new trees in the corporate forest in Nicaragua. A total of 19,000 trees have been planted since the campaign was launched in 2022. Once fully grown, these trees will absorb around 285 tons of CO2 from the atmosphere per year.

For more information about “Cycling around the World”, go to: https://info.gw-world.com/gwcycles.

GW Team Lauterach

Frank Haas

Duathlon Malaysia

GW Team Czech republic

GW Team Singapore

Corporate forest Nicaragua

GWcycles Logo

About Gebrüder Weiss

Gebrüder Weiss Holding AG, based in Lauterach, Austria, is a globally operative full-service logistics provider with about 8,600 employees at 180 company-owned locations.

The company generated revenues of 2.46 billion euros in 2023. Its portfolio encompasses transport and logistics solutions, digital services, and supply chain management.

The twin strengths of digital and physical competence enable Gebrüder Weiss to respond swiftly and flexibly to customers’ needs.

The family-run organization – with a history going back more than half a millennium – has implemented a wide variety of environmental, economic, and social initiatives. Today, it is also considered a pioneer in sustainable business practices. http://www.gw-world.com

MIL OSI – Submitted News –

January 23, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya To Lead Nationwide Coastal and Beach Cleanliness Drive in Porbandar, Gujarat on Mahatma Gandhi Jayanti

Source: Government of India (2)

Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya To Lead Nationwide Coastal and Beach Cleanliness Drive in Porbandar, Gujarat on Mahatma Gandhi Jayanti

Over 1,00,000 MY Bharat Youth Volunteers to Remove Single-Use Plastic at 1,000 Locations Along India’s Coastline on 2nd October

As part of Swachhata Hi Seva campaign, over 5.6 million MY Bharat Youth Volunteers Removed Millions of Kilograms of Waste Across India

Posted On: 01 OCT 2024 3:05PM by PIB Delhi

Union Minister for Youth Affairs & Sports and Labour & Employment, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, will lead the nationwide Coastal and Beach Cleanliness Drive organized by MY Bharat from the historic city of Porbandar, Gujarat, on the occasion of Mahatma Gandhi Jayanti tomorrow. This special drive aims to eliminate single-use plastic waste from India’s beaches and coastal areas, marking the culmination of the broader “Swachhata Hi Seva” campaign, which is running from September 17 to October 2, 2024, under the theme “Swabhav Swachhata – Sanskaar Swachhata.”

महात्मा गांधी जी की जयंती के अवसर पर #MYBharat के हमारे 1,00,000+ युवा साथी प्रधानमंत्री श्री @narendramodi जी के स्वच्छता अभियान के साथ जुड़कर देशभर के समुद्र तटों पर 1000 से अधिक जगहों को ‘Single use plastic’ से मुक्त कर उन्हें स्वच्छ करेंगे।

मेरा आप सभी से विशेष आग्रह है कि… pic.twitter.com/hn3WBml3qa

— Dr Mansukh Mandaviya (@mansukhmandviya) September 30, 2024

Dr. Mandaviya, who has been at the forefront of promoting youth-led environmental action, will commence the cleanup in Porbandar, a place of significant historical importance as the birthplace of Mahatma Gandhi. Union Minister’s participation highlights the commitment to sustainable environmental practices, and the drive aligns with the vision of a clean and single use plastic-free India.

MY Bharat under the Department of Youth Affairs has taken a proactive role in this year’s Swachhata Hi Seva campaign, encouraging active youth participation in promoting cleanliness and environmental responsibility. The campaign will culminate on Swachh Bharat Diwas, October 2, 2024, with MY Bharat youth volunteers leading the charge in a massive coastal cleanup effort.

The drive will target over 1,000 locations along India’s vast 7,500 km coastline, focusing particularly on the collection, segregation, and disposal of single-use plastics. More than 1,00,000 MY Bharat volunteers will participate in this nationwide beach cleanup, demonstrating the power of collective action in achieving environmental sustainability.

Union Minister has written letters to MPs of all coastal districts, urging them to participate in the Swachhta Hi Seva campaign.

This year’s Swachhata Hi Seva campaign has already seen tremendous success, with over 5.6 million MY Bharat youth volunteers actively removing millions of kilograms of waste across the country as of September 30, 2024. The cleanup efforts have spanned more than 1 lakh villages, 15,000+ community centres, 9,501 Amrit Sarovars, and various historical and public spaces.

This monumental initiative showcases the youth’s dedication to the Swachh Bharat mission, setting a powerful example for future generations. The coastal cleanup effort reinforces the message that a cleaner India begins with collective action, as envisioned by Mahatma Gandhi.

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Himanshu Pathak

(Release ID: 2060621) Visitor Counter : 101

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

January 23, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: INDIAN ARMY TO CONDUCT CHANAKYA DEFENCE DIALOGUE – 2024 ON 24-25 OCTOBER : CURTAIN RAISER CONDUCTED TODAY

Source: Government of India (2)

Posted On: 01 OCT 2024 3:21PM by PIB Delhi

The Indian Army, in collaboration with the Centre for Land Warfare Studies (CLAWS), is set to conduct the Second Edition of its flagship event, Chanakya Defence Dialogue-2024 on the theme “Drivers in Nation Building: Fuelling Growth through Comprehensive Security”. The much-awaited event, will be conducted on 24^thand 25^thOctober 2024 at Manekshaw Centre, New Delhi.

At the Curtain Raiser event held today at New Delhi, General Upendra Dwivedi, Chief of the Army Staff, reflected on Indian Army’s vision of a resilient, secure and prosperous Bharat@2047, sharing his views on various issues related to national and global security, as also contribution of the Indian Army in nation building.

The COAS shared his thoughts on the theme “Pillars of Security: Powering India’s Path to Viksit Bharat by 2047” in a Fireside Chat. The Chat provided an engaging platform to discuss the role of Indian Armed Forces as Net Security provider in India’s development trajectory. The COAS underscored Indian Army and the importance of robust security frameworks ranging from defence readiness to internal stability for fostering an environment conducive to economic growth and innovation. The conversation highlighted the need for a multi-faceted approach, emphasising collaboration between government, industry, and civil society to address emerging challenges. By framing security as a foundational pillar of national development, the discussion underscored the vision of a prosperous and secure India by 2047, encouraging proactive strategies that align security with the broader goals of societal advancement and sustainable growth.

The Fireside Chat was followed by a panel discussion chaired by Lt Gen NS Raja Subramani, the Vice Chief of the Army Staff. The discussion was titled “Secure Nation and Prosperous Future: Bridging National Security with Growth and Development“. This session explored strategies to create a secure environment that fosters innovation and fuels development. By framing security as a fundamental pillar in India’s journey toward a developed nation by 2047, the dialogue underscored the critical importance of aligning defence initiatives with national prosperity and social progress. The discussion featured Shri Oken Tayeng, MLA Arunachal Pradesh, Mr SS Sarma, Director (Operations), Cert-in, Lt Gen PR Shankar (Retired), a renowned strategist and Lt Gen (Dr) Madhuri Kanitkar (Retired), a shining example of women empowerment in the Indian Armed Forces. The participants during the discussion expressed their views on a wide range of subjects including Border Area Development, Youth, Sports and Women Empowerment towards nation building.

The Curtain Raiser event demonstrated a glimpse of the main event and highlighted the multifaceted dimensions of security, its impact on national growth and role played by the Indian Army in achieving India’s vision of ‘Viksit Bharat’. The second Chanakya Defence Dialogue will facilitate in- depth discussions, foster strategic partnerships and contribute to the formulation of actionable insights for enhancing national security and development. It will provide a platform for national and international leaders, policymakers and subject matter experts to share their expertise and contribute to the discourse on security through development.

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SC

(Release ID: 2060634) Visitor Counter : 17

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

January 23, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Review of Scottish Parliamentary Boundaries
Source: Scotland – Highland Council

Boundaries Scotland is responsible for reviewing and making recommendations for:
- constituencies and regions for the Scottish Parliament;
- the number of councillors on each council in a local government area;
- the number of wards for local government elections and their boundaries; and
- the extent of council areas.
The Second Review of Scottish Parliament Boundaries commenced in September 2022. The Review is required by the Scotland Act 1998 and the report containing the recommendations by Boundaries Scotland must be submitted to Scottish Ministers by 1 May 2025. If subsequently approved by the Scottish Parliament, the new boundaries will be effective at the next Scottish Parliament election, expected in May 2026.

The rules state Boundaries Scotland must review and make recommendations for the boundaries of 73 constituencies and eight regions, with each region represented by seven MSP’s. The overall number of MSPs will remain at 129.

A further consultation has now started on the Provisional results for the Regions and further proposals for constituencies.

Summary Highland Council area – Constituencies

The boundary between the proposed: Inverness and Nairn; and Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch constituencies has been amended south of Inverness at Strathdearn to align with the ward boundary, as suggested during the consultation.

The constituency boundary for Caithness, Sutherland and Ross was retained and there were no changes to any of the 3 constituency names.

Further Proposals Constituencies – Maps

All Scotland | Inverness and Nairn | Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch |

Provisional Proposals for Regions

Summary Highland Council area – Region Highlands and Islands

There is no change in the name of the region and when compared to the existing boundaries there is a minor alignment of the ward boundary within the Moray Constituency.

Provisional Proposals for Regions – Map

Highlands and Islands

The consultation period lasts for one month until 26 October 2024, during which comments concerning the proposals are invited.

Comments on the proposals can be made on the consultation site, where you can view the boundaries of our proposals and compare them with the existing boundaries, see consult.boundaries.scot. Comments can also be made by email to boundaries.scot@scottishboundaries.gov.uk, or by writing to Boundaries Scotland, Thistle House, 91 Haymarket Terrace, Edinburgh, EH12 5HD. All comments should be submitted no later than 26 October 2024 which is the end of the statutory consultation period.

Further information regarding the review is available on the Boundaries Scotland website https://boundaries.scot/
MIL OSI United Kingdom –
January 23, 2025
MIL-OSI USA News: Fact sheet: Fourth Ministerial Meeting on the Los Angeles Declaration on Migration and Protection
Source: The White House

On June 10, 2022, President Biden launched the Los Angeles Declaration on Migration and Protection with leaders from across the Western Hemisphere to tackle together the challenge of migration and forced displacement. Under this framework, the United States has worked with partner countries to collaboratively reduce irregular migration and advance a safe, humane, and orderly approach to migration across the hemisphere. Over the last two years, the 22 endorsing countries have achieved substantial progress across the Los Angeles Declaration’s three core pillars:
1. addressing root causes and supporting the integration of migrants to foster long-term stabilization;
2. expanding lawful pathways for migration and protection; and
3. strengthening humane enforcement.
On September 25, 2024, Secretary of State Antony Blinken hosted the fourth Los Angeles Declaration Ministerial with White House Homeland Security Advisor Dr. Liz Sherwood-Randall, White House Coordinator for the Los Angeles Declaration Marcela Escobari, and foreign ministers and senior representatives from the other 21 endorsing countries.

On behalf of the United States, Secretary Blinken announced more than $686 million in new humanitarian, development, economic, and security assistance to support partner countries to respond to urgent humanitarian needs, strengthen humane enforcement efforts, expand lawful pathways, and facilitate the regularization and integration of migrants within the region. With this announcement, the United States has now committed over $1.2 billion under the Los Angeles Declaration framework in 2024 alone, reflecting the Biden-Harris Administration’s unwavering commitment to collaboratively addressing this hemispheric challenge.

The United States also announced expanded enforcement partnerships to deter irregular migration, including a removal pilot program with the Government of Panama and new visa restrictions against travel agencies and tour operators that prey on vulnerable migrants. These actions aim to hold accountable those who exploit migrants for profit and to dissuade migrants from attempting dangerous irregular journeys.

Endorsing countries agreed to further institutionalize the Los Angeles Declaration through the establishment of a Secretariat, which will be managed by the Pan American Development Foundation and the Organization of American States and will ensure that coordinated progress on migration management is sustained into the future under this framework. The Government of Colombia formally announced that it will assume the role of rotating Country Chair over the next year and will host the fifth Los Angeles Declaration Ministerial in 2025.

The endorsing countries presented progress toward their commitments under the Los Angeles Declaration and announced the following new initiatives:

Strengthening Humane Enforcement
- On June 4, 2024, President Biden announced executive actions to bar migrants who cross the U.S. Southern border unlawfully from receiving asylum during times when high levels of encounters exceed our ability to deliver timely consequences. Since June 4, encounters between ports of entry have dropped by more than 50% and remain at their lowest level in years. Encounters in July and August 2024 dropped to the lowest levels since September 2020.
- Panama is implementing a U.S.-funded removal program that has resulted in the removal of hundreds of foreign nationals who did not have a lawful basis to remain in Panama, after they were screened for protection needs.
- The United States continues to take steps to impose visa restrictions on executives of travel agencies and charter air and maritime transportation companies around the globe that are facilitating irregular migration to the United States. On September 24, 2024, the State Department imposed additional visa restrictions against multiple executives of travel agencies operating in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East that are knowingly facilitating illegal migration.
- Partner countries reaffirmed their commitment to stem extracontinental irregular migration through the strategic use of entry and transit visas and passenger vetting. In total, Los Angeles Declaration endorsing countries have taken over 300 new visa policy actions to restrict travel intended solely for irregular migration.
- The United States has mobilized resources to increase investigations, arrests, and prosecutions of human smuggling and trafficking networks, including in partnerships with other Los Angeles Declaration countries. In August, for example, Guatemalan law enforcement—in an investigation supported by the Departments of Justice and Homeland Security— dismantled a human smuggling network based in Guatemala that was responsible for the deaths of 53 migrants in a tractor-trailer in San Antonio, Texas in June 2022.
- Under the Biden-Harris Administration, the United States has sanctioned eight human smuggling networks, including over 30 individuals and entities, to hold accountable those responsible for the exploitation of migrants. On September 24, 2024, for example, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned five Colombian nationals and two Mexican-based businesses, including two individuals affiliated with the Clan del Golfo transnational criminal organization, who are responsible for the control of migrant flows through the Darien Gap. Colombian authorities are offering a reward of 50 million Colombian pesos for the capture of both wanted criminals.
- The United States has enhanced biometric sharing capabilities throughout the region, enabling law enforcement actions against criminal actors before they enter any of our countries. Guatemala, with support from the United States, announced a new biometric program at La Aurora International Airport to cross-reference travelers with U.S. security databases in near-real time in order to identify high-risk arriving passengers.
Expanding Lawful Pathways for Migration and Protection
- The Biden-Harris Administration has rebuilt the United States’ refugee resettlement program and led a historic expansion of lawful pathways to the United States and partner countries. The United States is now on track to welcome 100,000 refugees from around the world this fiscal year, the largest number in three decades.
- Under the U.S. Government’s Safe Mobility Initiative, over 23,000 refugees from within the Western Hemisphere have been resettled safely and legally in the United States in Fiscal Year 2024, a four-fold increase over FY 2023.
- The United States is incorporating Labor Neighbors as part of the Safe Mobility Initiative to refer migrants to more lawful pathways and help match labor demand to labor supply across the hemisphere.
- Belize announced it is establishing a seasonal migrant worker program focused on agriculture and construction.
- Canada seeks to support labor mobility through its Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot.
- Ecuador is launching a new labor mobility unit with U.S. support.
- As part of the Safe Mobility Initiative, the United States continues to provide migrants and displaced persons with information and resources though the Safe Mobility Offices in Guatemala, Costa Rica, Colombia, and Ecuador.
- Costa Rica and the United States announced that the Safe Mobility Offices in Costa Rica will be extended until December 2025. Costa Rica will also expand eligibility criteria to include nationals from eligible countries who were present in Costa Rica on or before September 15, 2024.
- Canada began receiving referrals from the Safe Mobility Offices in the hemisphere and expects arrivals to Canada starting in 2025.
- The Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela (CHNV) parole processes have helped reduce irregular flows from these four countries, enabling migrants to apply from where they are for lawful entry to the United States.
Addressing Root Causes and Supporting the Integration of Migrants to Foster Long-term Stabilization
- A significant portion of the United States’ $686 million in new funding announced on September 25, 2024 will support regional efforts to respond to urgent humanitarian needs, like basic food, shelter, and health care for migrants and displaced persons, including nearly 8 million Venezuelans. U.S. funding also supports regional partners’ efforts to absorb and integrate migrants, promoting migrants’ financial inclusion and labor market insertion, and supporting host communities.
- More than half of Los Angeles Declaration endorsing countries have implemented policies that provide regular status and help migrants integrate and rebuild their lives in Latin America and the Caribbean, stemming further displacement and reducing migrant vulnerability. Their combined efforts have enabled 4.4 million Venezuelans to attain legal status to date. The following countries took new actions since May to provide regular status and help integrate more migrants:
- Argentina announced a special admission and regularization program that allows Venezuelans with expired identity documents (within the last 10 years) to seek residency in Argentina, and to verify identity or criminal record through a sworn statement in the absence of documents.
- Canada announced a new Francophone minority community student program that will give program participants access to settlement services while they are studying to help them integrate successfully into their communities.
- Colombia announced the signing of a regularization plan that could benefit an estimated 600,000 undocumented parents and legal guardians of children with valid Colombian Temporary Protective Status.
- Ecuador extended its regularization process until April 2025, allowing approximately 100,000 Venezuelan migrants to gain legal status. Separately, Ecuador committed to renew nearly 95,000 two-year visas previously issued to regularized Venezuelans. As part of the U.S. funding announcement, the U.S. is helping Ecuador unlock additional World Bank lending to support Ecuador’s Social Safety Net project that contributes to stabilizing and integrating the 450,000 Venezuelan migrants currently in the country.
- Mexico committed to opening a Multi-Purpose Processing Center in Chiapas to streamline the processing of migrants seeking refuge and to provide them integration support through access to financial, health, and education services.
- Panama announced the intent to begin a process that would allow migrants currently living in Panama irregularly to apply for legal status and obtain work authorizations.
- Peru, working closely with United Nations implementing agencies, announced plans to prioritize documenting migrant children and adolescents in the public education system. Through these efforts, Peru will provide protection and basic services to minors and their families.
- Uruguay approved two decrees to grant legal status to approximately 25,500 non-citizens living in Uruguay with pending asylum claims who likely would not qualify for asylum.
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MIL OSI USA News –
January 23, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Cassidy Named to National Shooting Sports Foundation’s “Dean’s List,” Receives A+ Rating on Second Amendment

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator for Louisiana Bill Cassidy
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) released a statement after being named to the National Shooting Sports Foundation’s “Dean’s List”. Cassidy is one of only 8 senators to be placed on the “Dean’s List”, which recognizes lawmakers who have gone above and beyond the A+ rating to protect Second Amendment rights.
“I am proud to receive this recognition and look forward to continuing my efforts in Congress to defend Americans’ Constitutional rights against an ever-encroaching liberal agenda,” said Dr. Cassidy. “Law-abiding citizens should never be punished for exercising their Second Amendment rights.”
“NSSF is proud to especially recognize Senator Cassidy as a member of the new NSSF Congressional Dean’s List for his exemplary leadership in supporting the firearm and ammunition industry and the nearly 400,000 hardworking Americans employed in the industry. Making the Dean’s List is special recognition that Senator Cassidy has gone above and beyond to protect and preserve the Second Amendment rights of his constituents and the industry that makes the exercise of those rights possible. We applaud Senator Cassidy for his exemplary level of support,” said Lawrence G. Keane, NSSF Senior Vice President for Government & Public Affairs and General Counsel.
Some of Cassidy’s recent efforts to defend the Second Amendment right include:
Cassidy, Cornyn, Tillis, Republican Colleagues Introduce Resolution to Block Unconstitutional Biden ATF Rule
Cassidy, Hagerty, Colleagues Introduce Legislation to Block Biden Rule Restricting Americans’ Second Amendment Rights
Cassidy, Risch, Issa, Colleagues Introduce Bill to Prohibit State Excise Taxes on Firearms
Cassidy, Cramer Introduce Legislation to Allow Interstate Firearm Sale
Cassidy, Risch, Colleague Introduces Bill to Ban Handgun Rosters

MIL OSI USA News –

January 23, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Governor Ron DeSantis Issues Updates on Preparedness Efforts Ahead of Hurricane Helene
Source: US State of Florida

TALLAHASSEE, Fla.—Today, Governor Ron DeSantis was joined by Major General John D. Haas, Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM) Executive Director, and Florida Department of Transportation Secretary Jared Purdue at the State Emergency Operations Center to provide updates ahead of landfall of Hurricane Helene. As of 8:00 am ET, Hurricane Helene’s maximum sustained winds have increased to 100 mph with higher gusts, making it a Category 2 hurricane. Additional strengthening is forecast, and Helene is expected to be a major hurricane when it reaches the Florida Big Bend coast tonight. Sixty-eight shelters are open throughout the state in preparation for severe impacts from Hurricane Helene, including 2 state-operated shelters in Tallahassee and DeFuniak Springs. These shelters have are housing over 2,500 residents from areas that may be severely affected by Hurricane Helene.

Governor DeSantis issued Executive Order 24-209 on September 24, updating EO 24-208 and declaring a state of emergency for 61 counties. This allows state officials to make critical resources available to communities ahead of any potential storm impacts.

Following Governor DeSantis’ request, FEMA approved the state’s pre-landfall disaster declaration request. This provides important federal resources and assistance, including personnel, equipment, and supplies, and makes available funding sources for emergency protective measures. The pre-landfall declaration request is for the 41 Florida counties included in Executive Order 24-208.

Voluntary and mandatory evacuation orders are in effect in multiple counties statewide. Residents need to evacuate if they are under a mandatory evacuation order. Counties under evacuation orders can be found at FloridaDisaster.org/EvacuationOrders.

Residents in the big bed area needing assistance finding or going to a shelter in the Big Bend region for Hurricane Helene can call (800) 729-3413. FDEM team members are conducting callbacks from messages received last night and accepting new calls today to facilitate shelter coordination. For additional resources and assistance, residents can call the State Assistance Information Line (SAIL) at (800) 342-3557. Assistance is available in English, Spanish, and Haitian-Creole.

Watches and warnings in effect include:
Hurricane Warning: Western Alachua, coastal Citrus, Columbia, Dixie, Franklin, Gadsden, Gilchrist, Gulf, Hamilton, coastal Hernando, Jefferson, Lafayette, Leon, Levy, Liberty, Madison, western Marion, coastal Pasco, Suwannee, Taylor and Wakulla counties
Hurricane Watch: Inland Citrus, inland Hernando, coastal Hillsborough, coastal Manatee, inland Pasco, Pinellas, coastal Sarasota
Tropical Storm Warning: Central and eastern Alachua, Baker, Bay, Bradford, Brevard, Broward, Calhoun, Charlotte, inland Citrus, Clay, Collier, DeSoto, Duval, Flagler, Glades, Hardee, Hendry, Highlands, inland Hernando, Hillsborough, Holmes, Indian River, Jackson, Lake, Lee, Miami-Dade, Monroe (including Florida Keys and Dry Tortugas), Manatee, central and eastern Marion, Martin, Nassau, Okeechobee, Orange, Osceola, Palm Beach, inland Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Putnam, Sarasota, Seminole, St. Johns, St. Lucie, Sumter, Union, Volusia, Walton, Washington
Storm Surge Warning: Charlotte, Citrus, Collier, Dixie, Franklin, Gulf, Hernando, Hillsborough, Jefferson, Lee, Levy, Manatee, Monroe, Pasco, Pinellas, Sarasota, Taylor and Wakulla counties

To learn more, residents can visit FloridaDisaster.org/Guide. For updates on county resources available visit FloridaDisaster.org/Counties for a list of all 67 county emergency management contacts.

State Preparedness Efforts
- The Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM) activated the State Emergency Operations Center to Level 1 on Tuesday, September 24, and is leading coordination efforts for the State Emergency Response Team.
- The State Emergency Response Team is engaged in over 1,150 missions to assist counties in their preparation efforts. These missions accomplish vital tasks like staging response resources, protecting critical infrastructure facilities like hospitals and utility stations, and coordinating personnel statewide.
- There are 35,000 shelf-stable meals staged near the anticipated area of storm impact, ready to deploy for response.
- Seven Urban search and rescue task forces are ready to deploy.
- The Florida National Guard (FLNG) has mobilized nearly 3,500 Soldiers and Airmen in preparation for Hurricane Helene and can surge to 5,500 if needed.
- The FLNG is postured to provide logistics support, law enforcement support, route clearance, search and rescue, commodity distribution, flood mitigation, aviation and other support as needed by the state.
- The Florida State Guard (FSG) has prepared the following:
  - 250+ Soldiers ready to deploy.
  - 10 shallow water vessel boat teams
  - 7 flat-bottom-flood rescue skiffs
  - 2 amphibious rescue vehicles
  - 12 UTV’s
  - 15 Cut and toss crews
  - 7 search and rescue teams
  - 2 UH-60 Blackhawk for daytime aerial assessment and logistics missions
- The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) has positioned all assets, including aircraft, and is ready to respond for reconnaissance and damage assessments, including all backup satellite and communications systems. Portable towers have been staged for emergency communications.
- FDLE is prestaging Telecommunication Emergency Response Taskforces for response to ensure continuity of service of the 911 system.
- FDLE’s Criminal Justice Information Services received permission from the FBI to allow law enforcement agencies to perform criminal history queries on behalf of emergency shelters to determine the suitability of shelter staff who may care for vulnerable populations (children, the elderly, the disabled).
- Nearly 2,000 Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) team members work directly on storm response.
- FDOT encourages drivers to download the FL511 app or visit FL511.com for road and bridge closures and potential detours that may be activated. Remember to always follow the direction of local law enforcement and emergency personnel.
- FDOT issued an Emergency Order on September 23, lifting weight restrictions and allowing emergency response vehicles, including utility vehicles staging for rapid response, to bypass weigh stations.
- FDOT Statewide Preparedness Efforts Include:
- Road Ranger Service has expanded service to 24 hours in the storm impact areas.
  - 890 team members conducting pre-storm preparations.
  - 613 team members working in the field conducting pre-storm preparations.
  - 245 pieces of heavy equipment are being used for pre-storm preparations.
  - 307 team members staged for cut and toss operations
  - 120 bridge inspectors staged for deployment
  - 43 team members staged for UAV (drone) deployment
  - 40 large pumps staged
  - 688 generators staged to assist with traffic signal power
  - 4 ITS trailers are staged.
- Seaports:
  - Port Key West, Panama City, Port St. Joe, Tampa Bay, SeaPort Manatee, Port St. Pete, Port of Fernandina, JAXPORT, and Port Canaveral are closed waterside.
- Airports: Some flight cancellations or delays are being reported. Check with airlines directly on specific flight updates. The following airports have suspended service:
  - Tallahassee International Airport (TLH)
  - Tampa International Airport (TPA)
  - St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport (PIE)
- Railroads:
  - Amtrak: Silver Star and Silver Meteor routes (New York to Miami) will terminate in Jacksonville
  - Amtrak: Silver Star and Silver Meteor routes (Miami to New York) will originate in Jacksonville
  - SunRail service has been suspended.
- Freight Rail:
  CSX will limit operations in the Tampa area.
- Florida Gulf & Atlantic will shut down operations except the Pensacola area.
- Apalachicola Northern and BayLine have suspended operations
  - First Coast Railroad will shut down operations on 9/27 .
- The following transit providers have made the following schedule modifications.
  - Service Suspended: Lakeland Area Mass Transit (Citrus Connection), Manatee County Area Transit, Sarasota County Area (Breeze) Transit, Lee County (LeeTran), Charlotte County, Jacksonville Transit Authority (JTA) Skyway and St. Johns River Ferry, St. Johns County (Sunshine Line), Bay County (Bayway), StarMetro, Big Bend Transit, Wakulla County Transit, Jackson County (JTrans), Calhoun County Transit, Liberty County Transit, Gulf County ARC suspending, LYNX, Marion County Transit, Key West Lower Key Shuttle, Hillsborough County (HART), Pasco County, Hernando County (The Bus)
- The Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs (FDVA) The VISN 8 Clinical Contact Center is operational 24/7/365 for virtual care and tele-emergency care and support to Veterans enrolled for VA Health Care in Florida. 1-877-741-3400. Visit https://department.va.gov/integrated-service-networks/visn-08 for more information.
- Department of Management Services (DMS) is working to identify potential evacuation shelter sites for special needs and pet-friendly evacuees as far east as Lake City and west as Panama City.
Health and Human Services
- The Agency for Persons with Disabilities (APD) is tracking APD-licensed group homes in impacted areas to ensure client safety from Hurricane Helene. APD will provide necessary guidance for re-entry when it is appropriate to do so.
- The Florida Department of Health’s (DOH) is deploying over 135 emergency response vehicles. Staging is currently in Leon, Liberty, Osceola, and Pinellas counties.
- DOH has prepared for Special Needs Shelter operations to begin in areas of Helene’s path. A press release has been sent statewide for additional information on special needs shelters. To find a shelter near you, please visit the county emergency management page here.
- DOH and the Agency for Health Care Administration have initiated Patient Movement Mission to support medical transport and evacuations of health care facilities.
- The State Surgeon General signed Emergency Order 24-002, which:
  - Waives competitive procurement requirements in order to procure commodities, goods, and services expeditiously in response to the emergency.
  - Permits emergency medical transportation services to operate across county lines.
  - Permits Paramedics, Emergency Medical Technicians, and Medical Directors, as defined by Chapter 401, Florida Statutes, licensed in other U.S. states, territories, or districts to practice in Florida in response to the emergency without penalty.
  - Authorizes a reporting extension for the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program.
  - Authorizes an extension of the upcoming licensure renewal deadlines for Nursing Home Administrators, Radiological Personnel, and Athletic Trainers until October 31, 2024.
- DOH and the Office of Insurance Regulation (OIR) sent information regarding early prescription refills permitted under Executive Order 24-209. This information was sent to the public, health insurers, managed care organizations, pharmacy benefit managers, pharmacy chains, and health care providers.
- The Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) has activated reporting in the Health Facility Reporting System (HFRS) and has requested that all health care providers report their census, available beds, evacuation status, and generator status information. This information allows AHCA to assist health care providers in transferring patients if needed and ensure that health care providers in impacted areas have the necessary resources and adequate power.
- AHCA made 537 provider calls for Hurricane Helene preparation ahead of landfall.
- As of this morning, 80 health care facilities are reporting that they are evacuating.
  - 38 assisted living facilities
  - 26 nursing homes
  - 8 hospitals
  - 4 residential treatment facilities
  - 2 residential treatment centers for children and adolescents
  - 1 adult family care home, and 1 intermediate care facility for developmentally disabled
- 100% of operating long-term care facilities have a generator on-site. The Generator Status Map for long-term care facilities is available here.
- The Agency has waived all prior authorization requirements for critical Medicaid services until further notice.
Infrastructure, Roads and State Closures
- The Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) is assisting the Florida Department of Corrections with the evacuation of correctional facilities as needed.
- FHP is assisting with evacuations in Taylor County and in Cedar Key in Levy County.
- FHP is removing any abandoned or disabled vehicles left along roadways ahead of storm arrival.
- FHP cut teams, along with FDOT road clearing teams, are staged and ready for post-storm deployment to provide aid to areas impacted by the storm.
- Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) issued Emergency Order 24-05, in support of Executive Order 24-209 which: waives specific requirements for commercial motor vehicles providing emergency relief; and waives the replacement fees for driver’s license and identification credentials, vehicle registrations and titles, vessel registrations and titles and temporary parking permits for impacted individuals.
- The Department of Children and Families (DCF) is working with the Community-Based Care Lead Agencies to contact foster families and group home providers to ensure preparedness. Two group homes are evacuating to safer locations.
- DCF has contacted all licensed providers in potentially impacted areas to ensure disaster preparation plans are in place and unmet needs have been addressed.
- The Department of Elder Affairs (DOEA) contacted all Area Agencies on Aging partners to receive updates on their ongoing preparation efforts and gather the status of any unmet needs.
- The Florida Department of Education (FDOE) has been in contact with all school districts and state colleges and is ready to provide assistance immediately following Hurricane Helene. Currently, 68 school districts have announced closures in addition to 25 State Colleges and 11 Universities. For more information on school closures, visit fldoe.org/storminfo.
- In preparation for Hurricane Helene. Currently, 65 school districts have announced closures in addition to 22 State Colleges and 9 Universities. For more information on school closures, visit fldoe.org/storminfo.
- Following the issuance of the Governor’s Executive Order 24-209, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) issued an Emergency Final Order allowing for the activation of disaster debris management sites to store and process storm-generated solid waste and debris.
- DEP published a storm updates webpage to keep state park visitors updated of closures: FloridaStateParks.org/StormUpdates. Visitors with existing camping and cabin reservations at closed parks have been notified of their reservation status.
Resources for Employees, Businesses and Consumers
- The Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) has partnered with the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association to encourage more than 71,000 Florida-licensed lodging establishments to relax pet policies and waive pet fees for evacuees.
- Through this effort, anti-price gouging information and emergency accommodations resources have also been provided.
- DBPR has proactively communicated with more than 137,000 restaurant and lodging licensees to provide storm preparation and food safety resources.
- The Florida Disaster Contractors Network has been activated to connect homeowners with licensed contractors and suppliers to perform emergency repairs.
- DBPR encourages Florida’s licensed contractors who provide post-storm construction-related services to register with its Florida Disaster Contractors Network at DCNOnline.org.
- FloridaCommerce has activated the private sector hotline at (850) 815-4925, open daily 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Inquiries may also be emailed to ESF18@em.myflorida.com.
- Updates on business closures and business resources are consistently being updated at FloridaDisaster.biz/CurrentDisasterUpdates.
- VISIT FLORIDA has activated Emergency Accommodation Modules on Expedia and Priceline to provide real-time hotel availability and lodging resources for impacted Floridians and visitors.
- Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort has crafted special offers for Evacuees and First Responders in need of accommodations during an evacuation. Please see the linked pages below for more information.
- Rosen Hotels & Resorts activated its Florida Resident Distress Rates* for residents in the 61 counties where Governor Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency. This initiative provides evacuees with a safe and affordable place to stay as they ride out the storm. For more information see https://www.rosenhotels.com/rosen-hotels-resorts-reduces-pricing-ahead-of-helene/
- Visit website for CareerSource openings: careersourceflorida.com
- Comcast has opened more than 52,000 public Xfinity WiFi hotspots in Florida. The free and public hotspots are open for all, including non-Xfinity customers. For more information click here.
- Walmart is working with state partners to provide needed supplies after the storm has passed.
- Publix has provided 10 pallets of water for shelters in Leon County.
- CVS Health is working with state partners to prepare pop-up pharmacies in impacted areas.
- UBER is providing Floridians free rides up to $35 each way to and from a state-approved shelter in counties under a state of emergency for Hurricane Helene. To get a ride users should use promo code HELENERELIEF.
- The Florida Department of State, Division of Elections, has contacted the United States Postal Service (USPS) about election information and vote-by-mail ballots. The Division of Elections recommended that Supervisors of Elections t contact their local district USPS to discuss a mitigation plan for ballot mailing, delivery, and return.
- The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) worked with Florida’s ports and fuel industry partners to ensure adequate fuel supplies are available, and with Florida’s agricultural partners so producers have adequate resources.
- The Florida Forest Service staged equipment, like high-water vehicles.
- The Commissioner of Agriculture, Wilton Simpson, has approved an Emergency Order temporarily suspending the intrastate movement requirements for animal transportation. In addition, the following states have waived their interstate import requirements for Florida pets, horses, and livestock leaving the state: Alabama, Georgia (does not include livestock), Mississippi, North Carolina, and South Carolina.
- The Department of Revenue (FDOR) has issued Emergency Order 24-001: Taxing Authority Millage and Budget Hearings to assist local taxing authorities with altering their plans for annual budget hearings because of Helene. Department of Revenue bulletin PTO 20-07 provides further instructions for local taxing authorities during declared emergencies.
- The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has high-water vehicles staged to deploy.
- 72 FWC officers and staff are ready to deploy with specialized equipment, such as:
  - 6 Airboats
  - 8 Shallow draft boats
  - ATVs/Side-by-sides
  - 71 high-water capable four-wheel drive vehicles
  - 3 aerial surveillance drones
  - 12 high-water capable swamp buggies/Fat Truck/UTVs
  - 4 SOG support trailers
  - 4 BERG self-sustainment container units
  - 4 Hygiene trailers
  - 2 Mobile command units
  - 6 Generators
  - 2 Water trailers
  - 1 Fuel trailer
- The Florida Department of Corrections (FDC) has evacuated 22 satellite facilities and two major facilities and relocated 4,630 inmates into hardened housing units. Inmate visitation has been suspended statewide until Monday, September 30. The FDC will be posting updates publicly and in real-time at FDC.myflorida.com/weather-updates
- The Florida Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) have finalized storm preparations to ensure the safety and security of staff and youth in our care. This includes fueling all vehicles, moving vehicles in low-lying and flood-prone areas to higher ground, testing and ensuring adequate fuel supplies for generators in the event of loss of power, and ensuring food, medicine, and emergency supplies are stocked and ready.
For previous updates see below:
9/24/2024
9/25/2024

Follow FDEM on X, Instagram, and Facebook for updates and visit FloridaDisaster.org/Updates for information relating to Hurricane Helene.

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MIL OSI USA News –
January 23, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Mayor of London meets with NBA Deputy Commissioner and Chief Operating Officer Mark Tatum about major basketball opportunities in the capital
Source: Mayor of London
- Sadiq met NBA Deputy Commissioner and Chief Operating Officer Mark Tatum to discuss their shared ambition to expand basketball in London
- Mayor has committed to establishing a first-of-its-kind taskforce to grow the game and wants London to host more NBA games and activities
- New research shows that 62 per cent of Londoners feel proud of living in London when major sporting events are hosted
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has today pledged to build on the growing success of basketball in the capital, as he announced his desire to bring more NBA games and activities to the capital.

The Mayor met NBA Deputy Commissioner and Chief Operating Officer Mark Tatum to discuss their shared ambition to expand the sport’s reach and influence in the capital, including through live NBA games. A taskforce will be created to grow the game in London.

Basketball is one of the fastest growing sports in the UK and is the country’s second most popular team sport with more than 1.5m playing on a weekly basis.*

Sadiq has pledged to create a first-of-its-kind basketball taskforce to develop and grow the game, boost access to basketball, attract new events to London, including the return of NBA games, and create positive opportunities for young people. The taskforce will bring together leaders in sport, business, national governing bodies and professional basketball teams and players, and the Mayor has invited senior figures from the NBA to participate.

The Mayor has previously backed the London Coaches Program, a collaboration between the NBA and Basketball England to train hundreds of coaches across the city and boost basketball participation.

London has a proud history of hosting high profile North American sporting events and this year hosted the USA Basketball Men’s and Women’s National Teams at the USA Basketball Showcase. The capital also welcomed two Major League Baseball matches between the New York Mets and Philadelphia Phillies. In July, Sadiq also held talks with Paul “Triple H” Levesque to discuss the possibility of bringing WrestleMania to London.

Today’s meeting came as new research showed that Londoners are passionate about major sporting events taking place in the capital**. Polling from YouGov found that 62 per cent of Londoners feel proud of living in London when major sporting events are hosted, with 72 per cent of 18- to 24-year-olds feeling proud. More than two-thirds (69 per cent) of Londoners think that hosting major sporting events impacts positively on London’s economy.

An estimated six million people attended sporting events across the capital this summer including the UEFA Champions League Final and European Professional Club Rugby Finals, cementing London’s position as the undisputed sporting capital of the world*** and significantly boosting the capital’s economy.

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “It was great to meet with NBA Deputy Commissioner Mark Tatum today to discuss the possibility of bringing more NBA games and activities to London and how we can further expand the game in the capital. Basketball continues to go from strength-to-strength and by creating a new taskforce I want to help it grow even further, enabling more young people to access and enjoy the sport.

“London has provided the stage for so many unforgettable sporting moments and I’m committed to making sure we further cement our position as the sporting capital of the world. I look forward to working closely with the NBA and other global sports to extend their activities in London and ensure we continue to have a packed calendar of world-class sporting events.

NBA Deputy Commissioner and Chief Operating Officer Mark Tatum, said: “The NBA has a long history of playing games in London, and we are committed to further growing the game in the city and across the UK. Through grassroots programs for youth and coaches, weekly games that air in primetime on TNT Sports, the beautiful new NBA Store on Oxford Street and more, there has never been a better time to be an NBA fan in London. We look forward to working more closely with Mayor Khan and his administration to build on these efforts in the years to come.”
MIL OSI United Kingdom –
January 23, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Congresswoman Tenney Earns Position on Dean’s List of the National Shooting Sports Foundation Report Card

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (NY-22)

Washington, DC – Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (NY-24) today announced that she was added to the National Shooting Sports Foundation Dean’s List for her dedication to defending the Second Amendment in the 118th Congress.

The NSSF Congressional Report Card evaluates how elected officials defend Second Amendment rights and support law-abiding firearm owners in the 118th Congress. Grades are determined by key factors such as voting records, co-sponsorships, committee involvement, floor speeches, and other official actions. Tenney has earned a spot on the Dean’s List, reflecting her 100% voting alignment with NSSF priorities and full co-sponsorship of all scored bills.

“As a Constitutional Conservative, safeguarding the Second Amendment has always been one of my top priorities in Congress,” said Congresswoman Tenney. “I remain steadfast in opposing any efforts to strip law-abiding Americans of their constitutional freedoms. I am honored to receive this prestigious ranking from the NSSF, and I am committed to continuing my work to defend the Second Amendment for all law-abiding Americans.”

“The 2024 NSSF Congressional Report Card is a comprehensive analysis of our elected representatives’ positions on firearm and ammunition industry priorities in the 118^thCongress. The Report Card’s grades are based on key votes, co-sponsorships, committee activity, floor speeches, and other official actions by Senators and Members of the U.S. House of Representatives. Members of our industry are grateful to have so many strong allies in the Halls of Congress,” said Lawrence G. Keane, NSSF Senior Vice President for Government & Public Affairs and General Counsel. “NSSF is proud to especially recognize Representative Tenney as a member of the new NSSF Congressional Dean’s List for her exemplary leadership in supporting the firearm and ammunition industry and the nearly 400,000 hard working Americans employed in the industry. Making the Dean’s List is special recognition that Rep. Tenney has gone above and beyond to protect and preserve the Second Amendment rights of her constituents and the industry that makes the exercise of those rights possible. We applaud Rep. Tenney for her exemplary level of support.”

Earlier this year, Tenney released her Second Amendment plan, highlighting her legislative accomplishments and how she plans to build upon these existing wins to safeguard our Second Amendment rights. View Tenney’s Second Amendment Plan Here.

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MIL OSI USA News –

January 23, 2025
MIL-OSI Translation: Supporting Tourism in Prince Edward Island

MIL OSI Translation. Canadian French to English –

Source: Government of Canada – in French 1

Media Advisory

Heath MacDonald, Member of Parliament for Malpeque, on behalf of the Honourable Gudie Hutchings, Minister of Rural Economic Development and Minister responsible for ACOA, will join the Honourable Cory Deagle, PEI Minister of Fisheries, Tourism, Sport and Culture, to make an announcement regarding support for tourism in Prince Edward Island.

North Rustico, Prince Edward Island September 26, 2024 Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) Heath MacDonald, Member of Parliament for Malpeque, on behalf of the Honourable Gudie Hutchings, Minister of Rural Economic Development and Minister responsible for ACOA, will join the Honourable Cory Deagle, PEI Minister of Fisheries, Tourism, Sport and Culture, to make an announcement regarding support for tourism in Prince Edward Island.

Date: September 27, 2024

Time: 10:00 a.m.

Location: Eliayhu Wellness Center 20 Recreation Street North Rustico, PEI.

Contact persons

Connor BurtonPress SecretaryOffice of the Minister of Rural Economic Development and Minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities AgencyConnor.Burton@acoa-apeca.gc.ca

David FlemingCommunications ManagerAtlantic Canada Opportunities Agencydavid.fleming@acoa-apeca.gc.ca

April GallantSenior Communications OfficerDepartment of Fisheries, Tourism, Sport and Culturealdgallant@gov.pe.ca

Stay Connected

Follow APECA on Facebook, X, LinkedIn And Instagram.

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

MIL Translation OSI

January 23, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Pandas warmly welcomed to HK

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

Chief Secretary Chan Kwok-ki today officiated at a ceremony to welcome a pair of giant pandas presented by the central government to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region that arrived safely from Dujiangyan, Sichuan.

The two giant pandas, An An and Ke Ke, left the Dujiangyan Base of the China Conservation & Research Centre for the Giant Panda at 3.05am. They then left Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport this morning, arriving at Hong Kong International Airport at 11.05am.

At the ceremony, Mr Chan said: “It doubled the happiness to welcome the two recently matured and energetic giant pandas to join the Hong Kong family in the run-up to the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China.”

He thanked the State Council’s Hong Kong & Macao Affairs Office, the National Forestry & Grassland Administration, the China Conservation & Research Centre for the Giant Panda, and the Sichuan Provincial Government for their time and tremendous effort in arranging the transfer of the giant pandas to Hong Kong over the past few months.

“This fully demonstrates the central government’s care and support for the Hong Kong SAR and recognises our efforts in the conservation, caring and rearing of giant pandas, which is of great significance to Hong Kong,” he added.

Upon their arrival in Hong Kong, the giant pandas were immediately transported to Ocean Park where they will undergo a one-month quarantine period, followed by approximately one month to adapt to their new environment.

Subject to the health and adaptation condition of the pandas, the Culture, Sports & Tourism Bureau will arrange for them to meet the public as early as possible.

The two giant pandas already had names while they were at the China Conservation & Research Centre for the Giant Panda, with the male panda being called An An and the female called Ke Ke.

To welcome them to the Hong Kong family, the bureau will soon hold a citywide naming competition, inviting all Hong Kong citizens to exercise creativity and suggest meaningful new names for the giant pandas that highlight their characteristics.

The bureau will also organise a large-scale painting competition, inviting members of the public to vividly depict the adorable nature of the giant pandas through their artwork. Details of the two competitions will be announced shortly.

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

January 23, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: The floor is yours, Andrey Zaitsev. “May the power of the Polytechnic be with you!”

MIL OSI Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University – Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University –

Exactly one year ago, the Polytechnic launched the Lepota ecosystem project — the discussion club “You have the floor!” During this time, students and university staff have had six distinguished guests as interlocutors: the coach of the Zenit football club Sergey Semak, academician of the Russian Academy of Education Tatyana Chernigovskaya, legendary hockey player Vyacheslav Fetisov, neuropsychologist and psychotherapist Alena Vanchenko, chief architect of the investment and construction holding “A101” Elizaveta Grechukhina, professional developer of educational games and author of additional education programs Andrey Latyshev.

And now a new season has begun in the discussion club. It was opened by the St. Petersburg actor, TV and radio host and blogger Andrey Zaitsev.

Andrey is best known to the general public as a dubbing actor. He voices characters in at least 199 foreign films. Including the main characters: programmer Daniel Domscheit-Berg, played by Daniel Brühl in The Fifth Estate, Sam Hall played by Jake Gyllenhaal in The Day After Tomorrow, Richard Madden’s prince in Cinderella, etc. Fans of the Star Wars saga certainly know that Andrey Zaytsev has been speaking for Anakin Skywalker since 2002. Fans of The Avengers and Guardians of the Galaxy know Andrey as Star Lord. And if you rewatch Terminator, note that in the third part, Andrey voices John Connor. And, of course, Orlando Bloom’s Will Turner in Pirates of the Caribbean.

So, one can say that in Andrey the polytechnicians saw (or rather heard) all their favorite movie characters at once, which is why the atmosphere at the meeting was so light and relaxed. In addition, Andrey has a great sense of humor, and he easily won over the audience. Although he admitted that he was very nervous, because speaking in front of an audience is always difficult. By the way, among the numerous questions to the guest was one about how to overcome constraint in public speaking.

“The most important thing is that I can be useful to you,” Andrey said at the very beginning of the meeting, inviting us to a dialogue. “Today, many people, in parallel with their main activities, try themselves in voice-over work, try to show themselves, primarily on social networks, and this is normal. I will tell you everything that interests you in the industry of dubbing, cinema, sound, artificial intelligence, to which I have also already contributed my voice.”

The guys were interested in whether AI could replace voice actors in the future. In response, Andrey let them listen to his own voice, made by a neural network.

“This is already happening,” he admitted. “For example, Teo Voice signed a contract with me, we made two voices. One is my regular one, and the other is an old man’s. It’s for streamers, for computer games. Artificial intelligence will help us develop further. Today, if we have professional burnout, we go to ChatGPT and solve the problem with its help. But creative brains cannot be replaced by anything.”

Naturally, the audience wanted to know why Andrey took up dubbing films.

I always dreamed of working with a microphone. I graduated from school in 1996. The first place I wanted to get into was the radio. I thought you had to speak endlessly fast there, like DJs in the 90s, and I still speak very fast and often now — such is my professional deformation. I started with Radio Shanson, then worked for 16 years at Avtoradio. I understood that radio people in the 90s were mostly educated as actors.

The meeting did not pass without discoveries. Thus, the students learned that whispering is harmful to the vocal cords, it is a lot of strain. And the best way to restore a torn voice is… regular sleep. And silence.

It also turned out that in dubbing, in addition to the translator, there is also the profession of “stacker”.

“The actors must get not only the intonation right, but also the closure,” Andrey Zaitsev explained. “It’s not enough to translate a film; there’s a concept called ‘lip syncing’ (full synchronization of sound and visuals in films – Ed.). Sometimes it’s not the dubbing that’s bad, it’s just the translation that’s ‘off track.’ And the perfect dubbing is in the film ‘Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.’”

Andrey advised those students who were interested in how to get into voice acting to act on their own.

Come to try at a studio – there is no such practice now. Now there is the Internet. I always recommend starting on your own. But if you try to voice, then choose characters of your age. And sometimes your build. When dubbing, specific actors are selected for specific characters.

The conversation ended with a question about plans and dreams for the future.

I don’t make plans in the dubbing industry, I’ve already done everything there. I’ve made my acting business cards and want to do something where I can be useful 300 percent, and not plug a hole in another run-of-the-mill series. It’s a little comforting to me that Louis de Funes became popular at 54, I still have some time to spare.

According to tradition, two Lepota branded T-shirts appeared on stage at the end of the meeting. One, with the seventh number, was given to the guest. And on the second one, he left an autograph for the Polytechnicians. Andrey wrote a wish: “Live only for what you love.” And, of course, he could not help but add the great words from the star saga, but did it with reference to the meeting place: “May the power of the Polytechnic be with you!”

Photo archive

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.spbstu.ru/media/nevs/student_life/to you-Andrey-zaitsev-may-the-force-of-polytechnic-be-with-you-/

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

MIL OSI Russia News –

January 23, 2025
MIL-OSI Canada: Supporting Tourism in Prince Edward Island

Source: Government of Canada News

Media advisory

Heath MacDonald, Member of Parliament for Malpeque, on behalf of the Honourable Gudie Hutchings, Minister of Rural Economic Development and Minister responsible for ACOA, will join the Honourable Cory Deagle, PEI Minister of Fisheries, Tourism, Sport and Culture to make an announcement regarding support for tourism in Prince Edward Island.

North Rustico, Prince Edward Island · September 26, 2024 · Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA)

Heath MacDonald, Member of Parliament for Malpeque, on behalf of the Honourable Gudie Hutchings, Minister of Rural Economic Development and Minister responsible for ACOA, will join the Honourable Cory Deagle, PEI Minister of Fisheries, Tourism, Sport and Culture to make an announcement regarding support for tourism in Prince Edward Island.

Date: September 27, 2024

Time: 10:00 a.m.

Location: Eliyahu Wellness Centre
20 Recreation St.
North Rustico, PE

Contacts

Connor Burton
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Rural Economic Development and Minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
Connor.Burton@acoa-apeca.gc.ca

David Fleming
Communications Manager
Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
david.fleming@acoa-apeca.gc.ca

April Gallant
Senior Communications Officer
Department of Fisheries, Tourism, Sport and Culture for the Province of Prince Edward Island
aldgallant@gov.pe.ca

Stay connected

Follow ACOA on Facebook, X, LinkedIn and Instagram.

MIL OSI Canada News –

January 23, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: CS co-ordinates Golden Week plans

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

Chief Secretary Chan Kwok-ki today chaired an inter-departmental working group meeting to instruct various departments to better prepare for receiving visitors during the Mainland’s National Day Golden Week from October 1 to 7.

According to the Immigration Department’s (ImmD) estimate, around 7.01 million passengers will pass through Hong Kong’s sea, land and air control points during Golden Week this year, among which 5.98 million are expected to pass through land control points.

In terms of Mainland inbound visitors, it is estimated that about 1.23 million passengers will visit Hong Kong during Golden Week.

The number of outbound and inbound passengers using land boundary control points will peak on October 1.

The Chief Secretary urged various departments to actively co-ordinate and consolidate supporting services of boundary control points (BCPs), traffic and public transport, promptly respond to various emergency situations and strengthen information dissemination.

The Inter-departmental Joint Command Centre set up by Customs, Police, the ImmD and other departments will be activated from September 28 to October 7 to monitor the real-time situation at various control points.

The command centre will maintain close liaison with the Mainland port authorities and take timely contingency actions to flexibly deploy manpower at the BCPs to ensure the smooth operation of the land control points.

The Security Bureau will also activate the Emergency Monitoring & Support Centre in a timely manner to closely monitor and co-ordinate the public order situation at various BCPs and facilitate inter-departmental follow-up action where necessary to respond promptly to various kinds of emergencies.

Police will arrange sufficient manpower to implement corresponding crowd management measures and special traffic arrangements to ensure that all celebrations will be conducted in a safe and orderly manner.

The Transport Department’s Emergency Transport Co-ordination Centre will operate 24 hours to closely monitor the traffic condition and public transport services of different districts, including various BCPs and major stations.

Deputy Chief Secretary Cheuk Wing-hing, Secretary for Culture, Sports & Tourism Kevin Yeung, Under Secretary for Security Michael Cheuk and representatives of relevant bureaus attended the meeting.

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

January 23, 2025
MIL-OSI Economics: Galaxy S24 Series Expands With S24 FE: A Premium Experience That Makes Full Galaxy AI Capabilities Attainable for More Users

Source: Samsung

Samsung Electronics today unveiled the Galaxy S24 FE, the latest addition to the Galaxy AI ecosystem, delivering premium mobile experiences to more users.
Powered by the AI-based ProVisual Engine and Galaxy AI’s Photo Assist features, Galaxy S24 FE showcases an enhanced camera setup that empowers users to be more creative. It’s the perfect device for gaming on the go with a 6.7-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display, a long-lasting 4,700mAh battery,1 and a powerful Exynos 2400 series chipset. The Galaxy S24 FE offers premium Galaxy AI2 tools and ecosystem connectivity to enhance communication, productivity, and creativity — all housed in an iconic design and protected by robust Samsung Knox security.

“We want everyone to enjoy all the benefits of our latest mobile innovations,” said SeaYoung Lee, Corporate EVP and Head of the Smartphone Research and Development team at Samsung Electronics. “Galaxy AI opens so many new experiences for users, helping them communicate, and be more creative and productive. Galaxy S24 FE makes the powerful performance and premium Galaxy AI capabilities of the S24 series available to even more people.”
Unlock Creativity With AI-enhanced Camera and Editing
Galaxy S24 FE makes it easy for anyone to shoot stunning photos and videos. Its premium camera setup features a 50MP wide lens and 8MP telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom — both supported by optical image stabilization (OIS) — plus a 12MP ultra-wide lens and a 10MP selfie camera.

The camera system’s capabilities are further elevated by Samsung’s dynamic ProVisual Engine, an AI-driven camera engine that takes photo quality to incredible heights. Making its debut in the FE series, the ProVisual Engine features innovative technology that leverages advanced AI algorithms to deliver breathtaking detail and remarkably subtle textures:
Nightography with AI image signal processing (ISP) to improve low light performance, enabling beautiful night portraits
The wide camera’s 50MP Adaptive Pixel Sensor helps enable optical-quality performance at 2x and 3x zoom. AI zoom also provides enhanced image quality for distances between digital zoom lengths
Object-Aware Engine to recognize scenes and optimize colors in Super High Dynamic Range (HDR), ensuring vibrant and lifelike photos and videos

When it is time to edit, Photo Assist features help users turn their ideas into reality. Since its introduction on Galaxy S24 series devices, Galaxy AI has become invaluable for editing images and expressing creativity:
Generative Edit3 reassembles the world through object moving and removal capabilities, allowing more creative freedom
Portrait Studio4 reimagines selfies as cartoons, comics, watercolor paintings, or sketches to add flair to online profiles
Edit Suggestions quickly remove pesky flaws, such as reflections, with the press of a button
Instant Slow-mo5 immortalizes every second of life’s important moments in a snap
Game On With Powerful Performance

The powerful Exynos 2400 series chipset enables an uncompromised gaming experience compatible with cutting-edge features such as Ray Tracing. When every bit of speed and efficiency counts, the Galaxy S24 FE utilizes several key features to stay ahead of the competition:
A 1x larger vapor chamber6 improves cooling to maintain peak performance for longer durations.
A higher-capacity 4,700mAh battery7 allows for long, worry-free gaming sessions.
A 7-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display — the largest display ever used in the FE series — with a up to 120Hz adaptive refresh rate, provides a smooth and stunning viewing experience.
Vision Booster optimizes color and contrast for clear and comfortable gaming even in sunlight.
Seamless Galaxy AI Experiences
The Galaxy S24 FE incorporates the same advanced AI experience as the Galaxy S24 series. Designed to enhance work, simplify communication, and increase connectivity, Galaxy AI on the S24 FE offers tools that unlock new possibilities.

Circle to Search with Google8 satisfies curiosity with unprecedented ease by offering instant search results with just a long press of the home button and circle
Interpreter9 instantly translates in-person conversations, lectures, or any other type of presentation, even when offline
Live Translate10 breaks down communication barriers on phone calls, and is now being extended to a selection of popular third-party apps
Composer from Samsung keyboard generates suggested text based on simple keywords for email and supported social media apps
Note Assist11 streamlines the note-taking process and automates formatting and translation. In Samsung Notes you can directly get transcription, translation, and summarization of voice recordings. Text in PDF files can also be translated and overlaid through PDF overlay translation

Connecting and Securing the Samsung Galaxy Ecosystem
Every Galaxy AI-enhanced experience becomes even more useful when the Galaxy S24 FE is connected to Samsung’s expansive mobile ecosystem. It seamlessly transfers files, quickly sets up extended displays, and effortlessly executes complex creative ideas through intuitive inputs. In this hyper-connected Samsung Galaxy ecosystem, Galaxy S24 FE enables experiences that increase productivity, creativity, and efficiency.
Building on the innovative legacy of the S series, the Galaxy S24 FE is fortified with strong security. Samsung Knox, Galaxy’s multi-layer security platform that safeguards critical information and protects against vulnerabilities with end-to-end secure hardware, real-time threat detection, and collaborative protection.
As a continuation of the S24 series tradition of sustainable design, the Galaxy S24 FE has been made to do more with less when it comes to the planet’s resources . It features a wide variety of recycled materials, including recycled plastics, aluminum, glass, and rare earth elements in both internal and external components.12 It also features seven generations of OS upgrades and seven years of security updates,13 and comes in a packaging box made from 100% recycled paper material.14
Enhanced Experiences With Watch FE LTE
In June, Samsung advanced the legacy of FE devices by offering key health and wellness tools to even more users with Galaxy Watch FE. That continues with the upcoming release of Galaxy Watch FE LTE, which allows users to take advantage of their Galaxy Watch from anywhere, by taking calls, tracking their wellness progress, and so much more — all without needing a connection to a phone.

Availability & Offers
The Galaxy S24 FE and Galaxy Watch FE LTE are both available for pre-order on Samsung.com beginning today.
Pricing for Galaxy S24 FE starts at $649.99 and comes in four colors: Blue, Graphite, Gray, and Mint,15 available on Samsung.com and major carriers and retailers nationwide beginning October 3.
Pricing for Galaxy Watch FE LTE starts at $249.99, with availability at Samsung.com and major carriers and retailers beginning October 3.
Those who pre-order Galaxy Watch FE LTE will receive a free light-weight fabric watch band.

Samsung Galaxy S24 FE Specifications

Display  6.7-inch FHD+
Dynamic AMOLED 2X
120Hz Adaptive refresh rate (60/120Hz)
Vision Booster
*Measured diagonally, Galaxy S24 FE’s screen is 6.7-inch in the full rectangle and 6.5-inch accounting for the rounded corners; actual viewable area is less due to the rounded corners and camera hole.
Dimensions & Weight77.3 X 162.0 X 8.0mm, 213g
*Device weight may vary by market.
Camera12MP Ultra-Wide Camera
• F2.2, FOV 123˚ 
50MP Wide Camera
• OIS F1.8, FOV 84˚ 
8MP Telephoto Camera
• 3x Optical Zoom, OIS F2.4, FOV 32˚ 
10MP Front Camera 
• F2.4, FOV 80˚ 
ProcessorExynos 2400e (4nm)
Memory + Storage8 + 128 GB
8 + 256 GB
8 + 512 GB
*Storage options and availability may vary by carrier, country or region. Actual storage availability may vary depending on pre-installed software.
Battery4,700 mAh
* Typical value tested under third-party laboratory condition. Typical value is the estimated average value considering the deviation in battery capacity among the battery samples tested under IEC 61960 standard. Rated (minimum) capacity is 4,565mAh. Actual battery life may vary depending on network environment, usage patterns and other factors.
Charging*Wired charging*: Up to 50% charge in around 30 mins with 25W Adapter** and 3A USB-C cable***
Fast Wireless Charging****
Wireless PowerShare*****
*Wired charging compatible with QC2.0 and PD.
**25W Power Adapter sold separately. Use only Samsung-approved chargers and cables.
*** Results from internal Samsung lab tests, conducted with 25W Travel Adapter connected to newly pre-released version of Galaxy S23 Ultra while device had 0% of power remaining, with all services, features and screen turned off. Actual charging speed may vary depending on the actual usage, charging conditions and other factors.
****Wireless charging compatible with WPC.
*****Limited to Samsung or other brand smartphones with Qi wireless charging, such as Galaxy Z Fold 6, Z Flip6, S24 Ultra, S24+, S24, Z Fold5, Z Flip5, S23 Ultra, S23+, S23, S23 FE, Z Fold4, Z Flip4,, S22 Ultra, S22+, S22, Z Fold3, Z Flip3, S21 Ultra, S21+, S21, S21 FE, Z Fold2, Note20 Ultra, Note20, S20+, S20, S20 FE, Z Flip 5G, Z Flip, Note10+, Note10, S10 5G, S10+, S10, S10e, S10 Lite, Fold, S9, S9+, S8, S8+, S8 Active, S7, S7 edge, S7 Active, S6, S6 edge, S6 Active, S6 edge+, Note9, Note8, Note FE and Note5. Only available with certain Samsung Galaxy wearables such as Galaxy Buds3, Buds3 Pro, Buds FE, Buds2 Pro, Buds2, Buds Pro, Buds Live, Galaxy Watch Ultra, Watch6, Watch5, Watch 5 Pro, Watch4, Watch4 Classic, Watch3, Watch Active2, Watch Active, Gear Sport, Gear S3, Galaxy Watch and Galaxy Buds. If battery power is lower than 30% Wireless PowerShare may not function. May not work with certain accessories, covers, other brand devices or some Samsung wearables. During PowerShare, it may affect call reception or data services, depending on your network environment.
OSAndroid 14
One UI 6.1
Network and Connectivity 5G*, LTE**, Wi-Fi 6E,*** Wi-Fi Direct Bluetooth® v 5.3
*Requires optimal 5G network connection, available in select markets. Check with carrier for availability and details. Download and streaming speeds may vary based on content provider, server connection and other factors.
**Availability of LTE model varies by market and carrier. Actual speed may vary depending on market, carrier, and user environment.
***Wi-Fi 6E network availability may vary by market, network provider and user environment. Requires optimal connection.Will require a Wi-Fi 6E router.
SecurityAuto Blocker, Samsung Knox, Samsung Knox Vault, Samsung Knox Matrix, Passkey
Water ResistanceIP68
* IP68 Rating: Conducted under lab test conditions. Water resistant in up to 1.5 meters of fresh water for up to 30 minutes and protected from dust, dirt, and sand. Rinse residue/dry after wet. Not advised for beach or pool use. Water and dust resistance of device is not permanent and may diminish over time.
1 Charger not included. Use only Samsung-approved chargers and cables. Do not use worn or damaged chargers or cables. An incompatible charger or cable can cause damage to your device and/or serious injuries.
2 Galaxy AI features by Samsung will be provided for free until the end of 2025 on supported Samsung Galaxy devices.
3 Generative Edit requires a network connection and Samsung Account login. Editing with Generative Edit results in a resized photo up to 12MP. A visible watermark is overlaid on the image output upon saving in order to indicate that the image is generated by AI. The accuracy and reliability of the generated output is not guaranteed.
4 Portrait Studio requires a network connection and Samsung Account login. Supports JPG, HEIC (HEIF), BMP and PNG files. The background must not be transparent. Editing with Generative Portrait results in a resized photo up to 12MP. A visible watermark is overlaid on the image output upon saving in order to indicate that the image is generated by AI. The accuracy and reliability of the generated output is not guaranteed.
5 Instant Slow-Mo available only with videos saved in the Samsung Gallery app, recorded at up to 4K@60fps (not available with HDR10+ videos)
6 Compared Galaxy S24 FE to Galaxy S23 FE.
7 Compared Galaxy S24 FE to Galaxy S23 FE (4,500mAh).
8 Requires internet connection; results may vary by uniqueness, clarity and framing of circled image and related factors.
9 Requires Samsung account login and language preset (English and Spanish pre-installed; other languages require free download) Results may vary.
10 Requires compatible Galaxy device. Samsung account login and language preset (English and Spanish pre-installed; other languages require free download). Results may vary.
11 For text in Samsung Notes only (200 – 4,000 characters); requires Samsung account login and internet connection.
12 It features a wide variety of recycled materials, including recycled plastics, aluminum, glass, and rare earth elements in both internal and external components.
13 Availability and timing of Android OS upgrades and security updates may vary by device model and market.
14 100% recycled paper is used in the following packaging components: the Product Packaging Unit Box, Cover Protector, Manual Box, Manual Pad, and DLC Band.
15 Availability of colors may vary by market and carriers.

MIL OSI Economics –

January 23, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Smooth arrival of giant pandas gifted by Central Government in Hong Kong (with photos)

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Smooth arrival of giant pandas gifted by Central Government in Hong Kong (with photos)
Smooth arrival of giant pandas gifted by Central Government in Hong Kong (with photos)
**************************************************************************************

The two giant pandas gifted by the Central Government to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) arrived smoothly in Hong Kong today (September 26) from Dujiangyan, Sichuan. The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, officiated at the Welcome Ceremony to greet the two giant pandas. The two giant pandas left the Dujiangyan Base of the China Conservation and Research Centre for the Giant Panda at 3.05am today. They then left Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport this morning and arrived at the Hong Kong International Airport at 11.05am. Speaking at the ceremony, Mr Chan said that it doubled the happiness to welcome the two recently matured and energetic giant pandas, which were again gifted to the HKSAR by the Central Government, to join the Hong Kong family in the run-up to the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China. He said, “I would like to take this opportunity to express my heartfelt gratitude to the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, the National Forestry and Grassland Administration, the China Conservation and Research Centre for the Giant Panda, and the Sichuan Provincial Government for their time and tremendous effort in arranging the transfer of the giant pandas to Hong Kong over the past few months. This fully demonstrates the Central Government’s care and support for the HKSAR and recognises our efforts in conservation, caring and rearing of giant pandas, which is of great significance to Hong Kong.” Mr Chan also thanked Cathay Cargo for arranging and sponsoring the entire transportation of the giant pandas from Sichuan to the Ocean Park Hong Kong (Ocean Park); and the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust for their contribution in enhancing the new giant panda facilities at the Ocean Park, as well as their support for the Park’s conservational education work related to giant pandas. Upon their arrival in Hong Kong, the giant pandas were immediately transported to the Ocean Park. They will undergo a one-month quarantine period, followed by approximately one month to adapt to the new environment. The Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau (CSTB) will maintain close communication with experts from the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department and Ocean Park, and subject to the health and adaptation conditions of the giant pandas, arrange them to meet the public as early as possible. The two giant pandas have already had names in the China Conservation and Research Centre for the Giant Panda. The male giant panda is named “An An” and the female giant panda “Ke Ke”. To welcome these two giant pandas to the Hong Kong family, the CSTB will soon hold a citywide naming competition, inviting all Hong Kong citizens to exercise creativity and suggest meaningful new names for the giant pandas that highlight their characteristics. Besides, the CSTB will organise a large-scale painting competition, inviting all citizens to vividly depict the adorable nature of the giant pandas through their artwork. Details of the two competitions will be announced shortly. In collaboration with the Ocean Park and Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB), the CSTB is also organising various promotional and marketing activities. The Government will seize the opportunity brought by the arrival of the giant pandas to connect different sectors of the society to actively plan and launch related promotional initiatives and create a joyful atmosphere to welcome the giant pandas in Hong Kong, thereby generating business opportunities for different sectors and boosting the economy. ???To provide citizens and visitors with more information, the HKTB has launched a one-stop “Giant Panda Special Page” on its tourism information platform “Discover Hong Kong”. The Ocean Park has also established a “Hong Kong Giant Panda Fans Page” to provide update on the living condition of the two new giant pandas after their arrival in Hong Kong.

Ends/Thursday, September 26, 2024Issued at HKT 22:45

NNNN

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

January 23, 2025
MIL-OSI Translation: Government of Canada investments in electric vehicles

MIL OSI Translation. Canadian French to English –

Source: Government of Canada – in French 2

The Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, the Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, announced a federal investment of $14.9 million in 20 projects to support infrastructure, awareness measures, and codes and standards for zero-emission vehicles.

We all have a role to play in the fight against climate change. A broad shift to electric vehicles (EVs) is essential to decarbonizing road transportation, which accounts for 18% of Canada’s total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions—50% of which comes from light-duty vehicles or passenger cars.

Additionally, clean fuels such as clean hydrogen, advanced biofuels, liquid synthetic fuels and renewable natural gas will play a critical role in hard-to-decarbonize sectors such as industry and medium- and heavy-duty freight transportation.

The Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, the Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, today announced a federal investment of $14.9 million in 20 projects to support infrastructure, awareness measures, and codes and standards for zero-emission vehicles.

Projects funded under the Zero-Emission Vehicle Infrastructure Program

Kang and Gill Construction, a limited liability company located in Victoria, British Columbia: an investment of $340,000 to install 68 EV charging stations by March 31, 2024. Halifax County Condominium Corporation No. 240, Halifax, Nova Scotia: an investment of $110,000 to install 22 EV charging stations by April 2023. Halifax International Airport, Goffs, Nova Scotia: an investment of $180,000 to install 37 EV charging stations by December 2024. Park Royal Shopping Centre Holdings, a limited liability company located in West Vancouver, North Vancouver and Whistler, British Columbia: an investment of $242,000 from NRCan to install 50 EV charging stations by November 2023. Concert Realty Services, a limited liability company located in Vancouver, British Columbia: an investment of $190,000 from NRCan to install 38 EV charging stations by January 2025. Westbank Projects, a company located in Toronto, Ontario and Vancouver, British Columbia: an investment of $4,914,660 to install 2,635 EV charging stations by May 2025. THE OWNERS, STRATA PLAN BCS4321, Vancouver, British Columbia: an investment of $150,000 to install 30 EV charging stations by June 2024. Austeville Properties, a limited liability company located in Vancouver, British Columbia: an investment of $250,000 to install 50 EV charging stations by October 2025. 2025. 1125 Denman Developments Limited Partnership through its general partner Denman Developments, in Vancouver, British Columbia: an investment of $500,000 for the installation of 16 EV charging stations by July 2025. The Owners Strata Plan LMS1108 “The National”, in Vancouver, British Columbia: an investment of $260,000 for the installation of 60 EV charging stations by May 2024. Strata Corporation LMS4255 “Marinaside Resort”, in Vancouver, British Columbia: an investment of $500,000 for the installation of 140 EV charging stations by May 2024. 1229488 BC, a limited liability company located in Vancouver, British Columbia: an investment of $99,999 for the installation of of 23 EV charging stations by March 2024.

Zero Emission Vehicle Awareness Initiative

Plug’N Drive, Toronto, Ontario: an investment of $1,560,633 to increase awareness of electric vehicles among Canadians through a comprehensive test-drive experimentation and awareness campaign targeting small and medium-sized communities with limited experience or exposure to EVs. Create Climate Equity Association, Coquitlam, British Columbia: an investment of $100,000 to consult with one or more underserved, low-income urban communities in the City of Vancouver on transportation needs and develop a model for developing equity-based zero-emission mobility solutions for participating communities. Steel River Group, a limited liability company located in Calgary, Alberta: an investment of $300,000 to empower and equip Indigenous youth with the knowledge, skills and confidence to lead sustainable transportation and clean energy projects in their communities. Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) in Edmonton, Alberta: an investment of $247,045 to develop non-credit courses on hydrogen fuel cell bus and heavy-duty vehicle maintenance to train fleet owners, drivers, heavy-duty mechanics and technicians on the operation and maintenance of medium- and heavy-duty vehicles and to increase public confidence and knowledge of these zero-emission vehicles. HUB Cycling in Vancouver, British Columbia: an investment of $241,545 to increase awareness and adoption of electric mobility in British Columbia.

Minister Wilkinson also announced $3.6 million in funding for CSA Group to update codes and standards related to zero-emission vehicle infrastructure under the Energy Innovation Program:

CSA Group, Toronto, Ontario: $3,616,373. The funded project aims to establish or update codes and standards, develop guidelines, manage committees, and conduct literature reviews on zero-emission transportation infrastructure, including advanced charging equipment, energy storage, management and various modes of transportation.

Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada – Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program

Finally, Minister Wilkinson announced a joint investment of more than $3.1 million through the Green Infrastructure Stream of the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program for two green infrastructure projects in British Columbia. The projects will improve access to clean transportation options, tap into the province’s clean electricity supply, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Public Electric Vehicle Charging Network Expansion – Phase 3 in Vancouver, British Columbia: o The federal government is investing $824,600 through the Green Infrastructure Stream of the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program. The Government of British Columbia is investing $687,098 through the CleanBC Communities Fund. The City of Vancouver is providing $549,802. o The project involves installing approximately 15 Level 2 and 9 DC fast chargers near parks throughout the city, as well as upgrading electrical and mechanical systems. Public Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure in the District of North Vancouver, British Columbia: o The federal government is investing $217,447 through the Green Infrastructure Stream of the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program. The Government of British Columbia is investing $579,821 through the CleanBC Communities Fund. Finally, the District of North Vancouver is providing $289,965. o The project involves the development of a public network of approximately ten Level 2 charging stations and two DC fast chargers along major roadways, in major buildings, and near multi-family and social housing units in the district.

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

MIL Translation OSI

January 23, 2025
MIL-OSI: ibex Jamaica Holds Back-To-School Event to Support Children of Employees

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

PORTMORE, Jamaica, Sept. 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — ibex (NASDAQ: IBEX), a leading global provider of business process outsourcing (BPO) and customer engagement technology solutions, recently hosted its Back-To-School with ibex event at the company’s Portmore location.

Back-To-School with ibex helps school-aged children of ibex employees prepare for the new school year. Employees from departments across the company in all four Jamaica sites were eligible, including parents with little ones starting school for the first time and those with top performers at the primary and secondary levels. In addition, the Special Country Manager’s Award went to the two top CXC performers along with a new laptop for each.

“Education is the foundation of success, and we are delighted to help support our employees’ children as they begin their next school year,” said ibex SVP of Operations and Jamaica Country Manager Tamara Ricketts-Brown. “ibex brings together the best talent, training, culture and technology in Jamaica to deliver amazing customer experiences for many of the world’s leading brands. By combining our AI-enabled technology, award-winning rewards and recognition programs, and exciting career development opportunities, we offer an engaging and rewarding employee experience that helps our agents grow and succeed.”

In Jamaica, ibex has been recognized for its outstanding culture, employee experience, development opportunities and service, including Best Place to Work for Women in Central America and the Caribbean by Great Place to Work, Nearshore Company of the Year by Nearshore Americas, and Central America and Caribbean Company of the Year by Frost & Sullivan.

ibex is hiring 1,300 new agents in Jamaica over the next two months for multiple client programs supporting top brands in exciting industries, such as retail, technology, health and beauty, and transportation logistics.

Join the winning team at ibex to realize your dream – apply here: https://www.ibex.co/join-us/jamaica/.

About ibex

ibex delivers innovative business process outsourcing (BPO), smart digital marketing, online acquisition technology, and end-to-end customer engagement solutions to help companies acquire, engage and retain valuable customers. Today, ibex operates a global CX delivery center model consisting of approximately 30 operations facilities around the world, while deploying next generation technology to drive superior customer experiences for many of the world’s leading companies across retail, e-commerce, healthcare, fintech, utilities and logistics.

ibex leverages its diverse global team of over 30,000 employees together with industry-leading technology, including the AI-powered ibex Wave iX solutions suite, to manage nearly 175 million critical customer interactions, adding over $2.2B in lifetime customer revenue each year and driving a truly differentiated customer experience. To learn more, visit our website at ibex.co and connect with us on LinkedIn.

Media Contact:
Dan Burris
ibex
Daniel.Burris@ibex.co

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/fb4f7a9a-ab71-4854-87a1-cc53bfe36f61

The MIL Network –

January 23, 2025
MIL-OSI Europe: 2024 National Cybersecurity Conference: focus on geopolitics and operational security

Source: Switzerland – Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sport

National Cyber Security Centre

Bern, 26.09.2024 – Cyberthreats play an important role in today’s tense geopolitical climate, but they have long been an everyday risk for businesses and governments. The National Cybersecurity Conference held today highlighted how a comprehensive approach can be taken to tackle cyberthreats. In her opening remarks, President Viola Amherd stated that the foundations for cybersecurity are now in place so that emphasis can now be placed on setting strategic priorities. The conference, organised by the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) and the Swiss Security Network (SSN), was attended by over 280 participants from business, science, and cantonal and federal offices.

In an increasingly networked and digital world, the lines between national security and everyday operational security become blurred. Cyberattacks are criminal offences that must be countered through a combination of protective measures and law enforcement. At the same time, the significance of such attacks often extends beyond that of a criminal act, as cyberattacks are deliberately employed as a strategic instrument in conflicts.

For this reason, the National Cyberstrategy (NCS) covers the entire spectrum of cyberthreats and their effects. It aims to strengthen protection against cyberthreats in Switzerland and promote cooperation between government institutions, the private sector and civil society. This strategy and its challenges were discussed at the 2024 National Cybersecurity Conference. The event was jointly organised by the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) and the Swiss Security Network (SSN) in Bern and was attended by leading experts from various areas of cybersecurity.

Conference opened by President Amherd

The conference was opened by President Amherd. In her speech, she emphasised that having a national cyberstrategy was a key element of national security policy and that it served as an opportunity to enhance Switzerland’s appeal as a location for business and research. With the National Cyberstrategy and the new structures put in place at the DDPS to address cyber-related matters, a solid foundation has been laid allowing greater attention to now be directed towards setting strategic priorities in cybersecurity. The independent steering committee established in June this year ensures that strategic responses to emerging threats are developed in a timely manner. The reporting requirement for critical infrastructures adopted by Parliament will also make it possible to better assess the threat situation and warn operators at an early stage.

Talks with cybersecurity experts

Maya Bundt, Chair of the newly formed NCS steering committee, presented the role and work of her committee. The coordination team then provided a progress report on the implementation of the National Cyberstrategy. The presentations were followed by a lively panel discussion with Pälvi Pulli, Deputy State Secretary for Security Policy, Hannes Gasser, Member of the Board of CH++, and Michel Bonsera of Cargologic AG. The discussion highlighted the importance of addressing cyberthreats both in day-to-day operations and at the security policy level.

Practical tools and solutions

In addition to high-level discussions, the 2024 National Cybersecurity Conference provided an insight into the work of the NCSC. Workshops on incident management, vulnerability management, reporting centres and awareness campaigns presented practical tools and solutions to help organisations become more resilient to cyberthreats. The workshops were designed to be interactive, giving participants the opportunity to share their experiences and challenges, and provide feedback on existing tools.

Importance of cybersecurity training for governments

Jen Ellis, founder of NextJenSecurity from the UK, closed the conference with a keynote speech. She spoke about the importance of training governments in cybersecurity and emphasised the need for continuous collaboration between external experts, researchers and government institutions to address the ever-changing threats in the digital space.

The conference served as an important platform for exchanging ideas and strategies, and underlined Switzerland’s commitment to further strengthen its cybersecurity.

Address for enquiries

NCSC Communication
+41 58 465 53 56
media@ncsc.admin.ch

Publisher

National Cyber Security Centre
https://www.ncsc.admin.ch/ncsc/en/home.html

MIL OSI Europe News –

January 23, 2025
MIL-OSI: The Open Art by Blum, TONX, and TON Society Draws 11,280+ Registered Attendees, Becoming the Largest Event of Token2049 Week

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

SINGAPORE, Sept. 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The Open Art, hosted by Blum, TONX, and TON Society and co-hosted by CoinGecko, All At Once, TonBit, and Google Cloud, attracted over 11,280 registered attendees—the highest number of registered attendees during Token2049 Week in Singapore. Held on September 19 at the National Gallery Singapore, one of the most prestigious venues in the country, the event saw thousands of people gathered to explore the latest innovations shaping the TON ecosystem.

The event underscored the growing influence of the TON ecosystem with over 60 partners from across Web3 collaborating to showcase its potential through live discussions, keynotes, and networking sessions. Recognized as a driving force for Web3 mass adoption, the TON ecosystem continues to push the boundaries of innovation despite the market’s volatility.

“We at TONX are deeply committed to fostering a culture of innovation within the TON ecosystem. By bringing together thousands of attendees across APAC and beyond, we’re not only pushing the boundaries of what’s possible but also highlighting the power of our SuperApp ecosystem and the new economy,” said Wego, Co-Founder of TONX.

Attendees were treated to an immersive experience featuring The Open Art-themed event design and merchandise. Every detail was meticulously crafted to reflect the values the TON ecosystem stands for—freedom of expression, creativity, and innovation.

“We’re proud to have hosted the largest side event at Token2049, setting another milestone for Blum,” said Vladimir Smerkis, CMO and Co-founder of Blum. “While we operate fully online, there’s a unique value of in-person gatherings. This time, unlike April when Blum launched, TON and Telegram were the clear focus, dominating conversations throughout the whole conference period. Sign of times.”

The Open Art Main Stage Opening (TONX)

35+ Web3 Leaders Share Visionary Insights on the Future of the TON Ecosystem
The event began with the iconic TONX paper airplane ceremony led by Steve Yun, President of TON Foundation; Wego, Co-Founder of TONX; Gleb Kostarev, CEO of Blum; and Ekin Tuna, Co-Founder of TON Society.

The main stage featured opening remarks from Gleb Kostarev, Co-Founder of Blum, followed by keynotes from Wego, Ekin Tuna, Leonard (Co-Founder of All At Once), Ian W. (Co-Founder of TON Ventures), and Eefy Lin (Web3 Solution Architect at Google Cloud). Paul Li, Co-Founder of TonBit, shared TON’s First CTF Challenge to the participants.

One of the event’s highlights was a fireside chat between TM Lee, Co-Founder of CoinGecko, and Dr. Awesome Doge, Co-Founder of TONX, where they discussed the evolution and future of blockchain technology.

Another key panel was the discussion between the Co-Founders of Blum, Catizen, TONX, and TON Society on both the opportunities and challenges within the TON ecosystem and the broader Web3 space. Main stage talks concluded with a special presentation by Sam from Jambo Phone.

The Open Art Speaker Highlights (TONX)

Side Stage Panels and Highlights
The side stage kicked off with “TON Security Unveiled,” a critical discussion on security in the TON ecosystem, featuring Norbert (Global Growth at Nubit) and Luis (Co-Founder of TonBit), moderated by Maeveknows (Co-Founder of Pukecast).

Following this was a fireside chat between Jakob Palmstierna (President & CBO of GSR) and Suji Yan (Co-Founder of Mask Network) was moderated by Andi (Growth Lead of BlockMedia).

The program continued with a keynote by Lemon (Co-Founder of UTonic). Following this was the DeFi panel, “Harnessing the Power of DeFi on TON,” which brought together Ping Chen (Core Contributor at BeaverLand), Joshua (Head of Growth & Partnerships at Tradoor), Pang Xue Kai (Founder & CEO of ForU AI), and Keer Lau (CSO of Orbiter Finance). The panel speakers discussed how DeFi is being leveraged within the TON ecosystem.

11,000+ people registered for The Open Art (TONX)

The Open Art Interactive and VIP Experiences
The Open Art offered attendees a variety of interactive experiences. Booths from participating partners showcased their projects and gave exciting surprises to attendees. The Open Art VIP attendees enjoyed exclusive fast-pass access, allowing them to skip the lines and engage directly with the Web3 community. VIP attendees also received limited-edition wearable art and tote bags inspired by the event’s theme of freedom of expression.

Beyond the booths, the attendees enjoyed The Open Art’s dedicated game area where there were games such as an air hockey table and table football. Light snacks and beverages were also available throughout the event, allowing attendees to recharge in a casual setting.

The Open Art Sponsors and Partners (TONX)

The Open Art Event Sponsors and Partners
The Open Art was made possible by the generous support of its partners. The event was hosted by Blum, TONX, and TON Society, with CoinGecko, All At Once, TonBit, and Google Cloud as co-hosts.

The Gold Sponsors for the event included Catizen, Nubit, IoTeX, The Open Forest, CloudMile, ForuAI, OpenTorch, Tradoor, GGI, and UTonic. The Silver Sponsors were GSR, Yuliverse, Televerse, Beaverland, Orbiter Finance, Duckchain, Duckcoop, PrivateAI, TON Polling, Bitget Wallet, and Miss W.

Key partnerships also included MPost as the Strategic Partner, MVL/TADA as the Trip Partner, and Jambo as the Phone Partner. The VC Partners for The Open Art were SNZ, Summer Ventures, TON Ventures, EVG, DFG, and JSquare.

The Open Art ID Treasure Hunt by Blum and TONX (TONX)

The Open Art ID Treasure Hunt by Blum and TONX
The Open Art featured the exciting The Open Art ID Treasure Hunt (TOA ID), hosted by Blum and TONX. Participants get a chance to win up to 10,000 USDT by minting a TOA ID, creating a Blum account, and completing at least one quest from any of the 12 participating projects.

Participating projects include: Blum, WONTON, All At Once, Yuliverse, QuackQuack, Tradoor, Beaverland, MVL Chain, JamboPhone, ForU AI, Ton AI, and DUCKS.

The Open Art by Blum, TONX, and TON Society, has cemented its place as a defining event of Token2049 Week, bringing together over 11,000 registered attendees, 60+ partners, and 35+ industry leaders to share visionary insights on the future of the growing TON ecosystem.

About The Open Art
The Open Art, hosted by Blum, TONX, and TON Society during Token2049, is an event where attendees get to immerse in a night where innovation meets freedom of expression. Set within the prestigious National Gallery Singapore, attendees will have the opportunity to engage in live discussions and gain exclusive insights into Blum, TONX, and TON Society initiatives.

Event Page

About TONX
TONX is the cornerstone that empowers builders to scale applications with Telegram and TON. As the pioneering partner of TON, TONX offers an open platform that connects developers, investors, and users to shape the new economy. Their acclaimed TON Hacker House in 2024 fueled a wave of innovative Web3 projects. TONX API, a key product of TONX, is the driving force behind the 950 million-user Web3 SuperApp ecosystem.

Website | X | Telegram | TONX Event X | TONX Event Telegram | TONX blog | Build on TONX API

About Blum
Blum is a decentralized exchange on Telegram and beyond, offering access to tokens from centralized and decentralized exchanges, along with simplified derivatives trading—all within one app. Specializing in trading memecoins and new tokens, Blum features a unique memepad for launching new meme-based projects and incorporates gamified mechanics to enhance user engagement. Just like a flower in bloom, Blum represents the potential and beauty in the world of crypto.

Telegram | X | Instagram | Youtube

About CoinGecko
CoinGecko is the world’s largest independent cryptocurrency data aggregator, tracking 14,000+ crypto assets across 1,000+ exchanges globally. It provides a comprehensive 360-degree view of the market and empowers users with actionable insights.

Website | X

About All At Once
All At Once is a next-gen Triple-A game on TON, inspired by Clash Royale. With over 600K players in one month and 50K+ daily active users, All At Once delivers an immersive and rewarding experience. As a Top 14 Finalist in the “TON Hackathon: Code Summer” at ABS 2024, it promises endless value beyond traditional card games.

Website | Join Game | X

About TonBit
TonBit is an early builder and security expert in the TON ecosystem. Supported by TONX, it is dedicated to providing security audits for TON ecosystem. TonBit is a sub-brand of BitsLab.

Website | Get the TON Security Report 2024 | X

For press inquiries, please contact:
CC Chen | hello@tonx.tg

Company website : https://aao.game
Contact person name: Jessica Chastain
Position in the company: Founder
Official email ID: jessica@aao.game

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Contact person name: Kristina Vorobeva
Position in the company: Blum Press office
Official email ID: kristina@sparrowpr.co

Company website : http://www.bitslab.xyz
Contact person name: Paul Li
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Contact person name: Julia Ng
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Official email ID: julia.ng@coingecko.com

Disclaimer: This content is provided by “TONX”. The statements, views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the content provider. The information provided in this press release is not a solicitation for investment, nor is it intended as investment advice, financial advice, or trading advice. It is strongly recommended you practice due diligence, including consultation with a professional financial advisor, before investing in or trading cryptocurrency and securities. Please conduct your own research and invest at your own risk.

Photos accompanying this announcement are available at

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/b9d55c90-d4a6-440c-bb8d-a2d0fec2922e

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/680c5ad2-896d-41c2-82a7-7f7105dd0c51

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/2913ce2a-51df-4f8d-b7ed-fc9e383ccbef

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/b2507ad7-f073-4041-9548-72f4981f210a

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/122f566c-769f-4bce-861e-c22a7c91164d

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/f188c925-0892-4cb2-ac51-847fd5ff6227

The MIL Network –

January 23, 2025
MIL-OSI Europe: OSCE Mission to Montenegro supports municipalities in drafting local youth action plans

Source: Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe – OSCE

Headline: OSCE Mission to Montenegro supports municipalities in drafting local youth action plans

(c) Giovanni Gabassi, Acting Head of OSCE Mission to Montenegro, and (l) Milica Bešović-Ljumović, acting General Director of Directorate for Youth and Co-operation with NGOs in the Ministry of Sports and Youth, opening the three-day workshop “Capacity building training for local authorities for development of local youth action plans”, Kolašin, Montenegro, 25 September 2024. (OSCE/Irena Marunović) Photo details

Strengthening the capacity of local self-government officials to develop youth action plans that support youth participation in local communities is the focus of a training session organized by the OSCE Mission to Montenegro and the Ministry of Sports and Youth in Kolašin from 25 to 27 September.
Over three days, 28 representatives of 19 Montenegrin local self-governments learnt how to design activities for young people based on their needs and to collaborate with different stakeholders when drafting action plans as contemplated by the youth policy.
Opening the training session, Mr. Giovanni Gabassi, Acting Head of the OSCE Mission, said that the Mission had worked with young people and a variety of stakeholders to design activities that promote and enhance youth inclusion in decision making processes, in line with the Youth Strategy. “Today is an opportunity for you as professionals, to develop the skill and tools to include youth in your everyday work through an even and consistent implementation of youth policies at the local level. The knowledge you will gain from this training, and hopefully you will share with your colleagues, should enable you to include young people in the work of your communities, where their voice should be heard and their opinions taken into consideration,” said Gabassi.
Ms. Milica Bešović-Ljumović, Acting General Director of Directorate for Youth and Co-operation with NGOs in the Ministry, emphasized the importance of preparing action plans as a concrete step to improve the position of young people in Montenegro. She added that the Law on Youth was being amended and she invited participants to provide their suggestions and comments on the revised text.
After this week’s training session, the Mission-engaged experts will provide mentoring support to participants in finalizing their local youth action plans for submission to the Ministry of Sports and Youth by 31 October
The 2019 Law on Youth prescribes that local self-governments are obliged to draft and adopt annual local youth action plans, containing youth policy measures and activities for realizing the interests and needs of young people on the local level by 31 December of each year.

MIL OSI Europe News –

January 22, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Barre Disaster Recovery Center to Close September 28
Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency

Headline: Barre Disaster Recovery Center to Close September 28

Barre Disaster Recovery Center to Close September 28
Williston, Vt. – In coordination with state and local partners, we will be permanently closing the Disaster Recovery Center in Barre at 6 p.m. on Saturday, September 28, 2024.

The center is currently open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturdays at:

Barre Municipal Auditorium

20 Auditorium Hill

Barre, Vermont 05641

The adjustment of hours for these temporary centers is coordinated with state and local partners generally based on the volume of visitors and needs of the community.

Vermonters can visit Disaster Recovery Centers to get in-person help regarding disaster assistance. Specialists from FEMA and the U.S. Small Business Administration are available to help upload documents, answer questions and guide you through the appeals process.

Four other Disaster Recovery Centers will remain open Monday to Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. until further notice. These centers are located at:
- Brighton Town Hall Gym – 49 Mill Street, Island Pond, VT 05846
- Lyndon Public Safety Facility – 316 Main Street, Lyndonville, VT 05851
- Waterbury Armory – 294 Armory Drive, Waterbury, VT 05676
- Hinesburg Town Hall – 10632 Route 116, Hinesburg, VT 05461
There are three other ways to apply that don’t require visiting a center:

For information about other Disaster Recovery Center that are currently open, please visit fema.gov/drc.

To watch a video about how to apply, featuring American Sign Language, visit FEMA Accessible: Registering for Individual Assistance (youtube.com).

For the latest information visit 4810 | FEMA.gov. Follow FEMA on X at https://x.com/femaregion1 and at facebook.com/fema.
Billy.domrose
Thu, 09/26/2024 – 12:07

MIL OSI USA News –
January 22, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: New directions, “Longevity exercises” and star guests: how the summer season of the “Moscow Longevity” project went

MIL OSI Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

Every senior Muscovite can fill their lives with bright events. This summer, participants in the Moscow Longevity project attended training sessions with famous athletes, met with actors and writers, went kayaking and SUP boarding, went Nordic walking, opened an exclusive route along Arbat, and participated in many other events.

In 2024, the project’s summer season lasted four months, thanks to September being one of the warmest in the history of the capital.

Training with celebrity guests and outdoor activities

One of the most striking events of the summer season was the “Longevity Exercises”. For 17 weeks, senior citizens participated in morning warm-ups at sites organized in all districts, including in iconic places of the capital – for example, on Sparrow Hills, near the Bolshoi Theater and at the Northern River Terminal. During this time, 87 training sessions were held, which were attended by more than 14 thousand people.

Once a week, the “Longevity Exercises” were held by invited guests, including Roman Kostomarov, Evgenia Medvedeva, Tatyana Totmianina, Ilya Averbukh, Alexey Nemov, Alexey Yagudin, Artur Dalaloyan, Irina Slutskaya, Nikita Nagorny, Daria Dontsova, Anna Semenovich, Elizaveta Tuktamysheva, Elena Vorobey, Yulia Mikhalkova.

Participants of the “Longevity Exercises” mastered qigong, attended dance training, classes with gymnastic ribbons, and even warm-ups with drums.

Throughout the summer, outdoor activities were held for senior citizens in more than 1,500 groups at 800 outdoor venues throughout the city – at the Moscow Zoo, the equestrian club, parks, the City Farm at VDNKh, and other places.

New water directions

In July, the Moscow Longevity project opened classes in SUP surfing and kayaking for the first time. About 1,500 senior Muscovites learned the history of these sports and learned how to operate watercraft.

The classes took place in the waters of the Moscow River at the Academy Rowing Club under the guidance of experienced coaches. Despite the fact that SUPs and kayaks are considered popular among young people, the groups in these areas already broke the record for the number of older participants in the first days.

SUP and kayak rowing classes will be held for the first time as part of the Moscow Longevity project

Unique route

In August, a new exclusive excursion route, “Not Old Arbat”, was opened for participants of “Moscow Longevity”. It was created especially for the project by writer and Moscow expert Alexander Vaskin and is dedicated to long-livers whose fate was connected with the most famous pedestrian street of the city.

Philosopher, polar hero and Russian Rodin: what participants of the excursion “Not Old Arbat” can learn

The walk includes nine thematic points, each of them is connected with the biographies of famous long-livers: writers, actors, sculptors and composers. For example, the excursionists learned about the philosopher Alexey Losev, who continued to pass on knowledge to his students until his last days, and the writer Marietta Shaginyan, who never abandoned her favorite work.

The guides were the participants of Moscow Longevity themselves, who had completed training at the Silver University in the field of Excursion Guidance. 11 graduates mastered a new profession, were employed in the project and regularly conduct excursions for groups.

Fashion collections about family, city and future

This summer, the project held its fourth season of creative laboratories “Designers’ Workshop”, dedicated to the Year of the Family. The final show, held at the forum-festival “Territory of the Future. Moscow 2030” in Gostiny Dvor, was attended by more than 600 people, another 135 thousand watched the live broadcast of the show.

Participants of “Moscow Longevity” under the mentorship of five famous fashion designers – Leonid Alekseev, Igor Gulyaev, Denis Eremkin, Ksenia Novikova and Vadim Merlis – created five clothing collections. They were demonstrated on the podium by “silver” age models from the beauty and style school “Royal Posture”.

The Family Albums line is based on the 1970s style, with prints on clothes that bring to life photographs of the designers’ grandparents, fathers and mothers. The creators of the feminine and elegant Mom collection were inspired by touching memories. Each participant imagined her mother, images from her youth. The Bright Age, Urban Romance and We Are 2030 collections are dedicated to the future, the city and longevity. Bright textured fabrics and artificial intelligence capabilities were used in their creation.

New spaces for healthy living and socializing

The network of Moscow longevity centers continues to expand: 14 spaces opened this summer, now there are 134. Older city residents can do their favorite things in a circle of like-minded people, communicate and lead a healthy lifestyle. Since September 1, the centers have switched to a new, convenient work schedule.

Along with the expansion of the network of centers, new services are also appearing in them. Thus, since this summer, they have been providing consultations on obtaining electronic government services. In each center, city residents can find out how to apply for 71 government services, including obtaining a Muscovite social card, a spa voucher, or housing subsidies.

Bright events of the summer season

Muscovites of the “silver” age celebrated the middle of summer at the festival “Long-lasting Moscow”, which took place on Vorobyovy Gory and brought together more than three thousand guests.

The most popular outdoor classes of Moscow Longevity were held on one site – dancing, Nordic walking, drawing, as well as Longevity Exercises, educational lectures and much more.

One of the central events was a mass gathering of Nordic walking enthusiasts, in which even city residents over 90 years old took part. A choreography master class for guests was conducted by dancer Evgeny Papunaishvili, and in the open air one could compete in drawing caricatures of singer Anna Semenovich and writer Daria Dontsova.

The combined choir of the Moscow Longevity project performed at the Spasskaya Tower International Military Music Festival on Red Square. A program of 13 songs was presented by 350 people. The choir was accompanied by the Central Military Orchestra of the Russian Ministry of Defense under the direction of Honored Artist of Russia Colonel Sergei Durygin.

The combined choir of the Moscow Longevity project performed at the Spasskaya Tower festival

In addition, this summer the group gave five master classes. Choirmasters held open vocal lessons, where they introduced guests to the techniques and methods of choral singing.

In July, the Sokolniki Park hosted the “Dance Stories of Moscow Longevity” festival. One of the main events was the “Purple Waltz” flash mob, which brought together 500 senior citizens. On this day, people of different ages took to the dance floor – from 55 to 90 years old, and the oldest was 90-year-old project participant Valentina Semenova. A competition was also held: 18 couples and 10 groups competed for the title of the best dancers of the project.

“Boulevard of Moscow Longevity”

One of the most striking expositions of the forum-festival “Territory of the Future. Moscow 2030” in Gostiny Dvor was “Boulevard of Moscow Longevity”. Guests immersed themselves in a multimedia space dedicated to a healthy lifestyle and learned how to maintain activity, stay young and happy for many years. During the days of the forum-festival, over 50 thousand people looked into the future, making a “Portrait of Longevity” with the help of neural networks. Guests also walked about seven thousand virtual kilometers on the excursion “Not Old Arbat”, almost 15 thousand visitors participated in a sociological survey, which helped to find out how different generations of Muscovites relate to longevity.

Ahead of the city residents there is an equally busy autumn-winter season. All Muscovites of the “silver” age – women from 55 years old and men from 60 years old – can join the “Moscow Longevity” project. You can sign up at any Moscow Longevity Center or the “My Documents” government services center, as well as online on the mos.ru portal.

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

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

http://vvv.mos.ru/nevs/item/144450073/

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

MIL OSI Russia News –

January 22, 2025
MIL-OSI: Bishop Street Underwriters Makes Strategic Equity Investment into Verve Services

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

NEW YORK and WEST PALM BEACH, Fla., Sept. 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Bishop Street Underwriters (“Bishop Street”), a multi-boutique insurance platform owned by RedBird Capital Partners (“RedBird”), today announced it has made a strategic equity investment in Verve Services, LLC (“Verve”), a leading, full-service auto insurance managing general agency (“MGA”). This partnership marks Bishop Street’s entry into Specialty Private Passenger Auto. Through this equity investment, Verve is positioned for continued innovation and accelerated growth in the auto insurance industry.

“Dan and his team have built Verve into a differentiated passenger auto insurance MGA. They have an exceptional platform that combines advanced analytics with a deep understanding of the market, which drives superior outcomes and has supported their position as a leader in the specialty auto insurance space,” said Chad Levine, Chief Executive Officer of Bishop Street.

“Verve’s focus and commitment to utilizing data and analytics to deliver industry-leading loss ratios that significantly outperform industry results for its insurance and reinsurance partners is perfectly aligned with our strategic vision at Bishop Street. We are excited to build on this momentum and drive value creation for all of Verve’s partners,” said Chad Weber, President of Bishop Street.

“While Bishop Street is predominantly focused on building a diversified platform of commercial-lines MGAs, we will be opportunistic as it relates to differentiated personal-lines MGA businesses, like Verve. Dan and the rest of the Verve team have built a great business, and we look forward to partnering with them for their next stage of growth,” said Mike Zabik, Partner of RedBird Capital.

“We are thrilled to welcome Bishop Street as a key strategic partner. They are the ideal fit for the next stage of Verve’s growth,” said Dan Lazarek, Chief Executive Officer of Verve Services, LLC. “This partnership brings invaluable expertise from a company with a proven track record in both insurance infrastructure and data-driven AI. We look forward to revolutionizing the auto insurance industry together.”

About Bishop Street
Bishop Street Underwriters, a RedBird Capital portfolio company, seeks to partner with Managing General Agents (“MGAs”) as well as niche underwriting teams. Bishop Street aims to combine their best-in-class (re)insurance executive team’s vision with RedBird’s strong track record, expertise, and network in the financial services sector to build a differentiated platform that is uniquely positioned to capitalize on secular growth tailwinds in the industry. For more information, please go to http://www.bishopstreetuw.com.

About RedBird Capital Partners
RedBird Capital Partners is a private investment firm that builds high-growth companies with strategic capital solutions for founders and entrepreneurs. The firm currently manages $10 billion in assets on behalf of a global group of blue chip institutional and family office investors. Founded in 2014 by Gerry Cardinale, RedBird integrates sophisticated private equity investing with a hands-on business building mandate that focuses on three core industry verticals – Financial Services, Sports and Media & Entertainment. Over his 30-year investment career, Cardinale has partnered with founders and entrepreneurs to build some of the most iconic growth companies in their respective industries. For more information, please go to http://www.redbirdcap.com.

About Verve Services, LLC
Verve is a full-service auto insurance managing general agency (MGA) built on a culture of transparency, trust and faith. The company has developed a unique platform that identifies, filters, underwrites, acquires, and services profitable, low-frequency private passenger auto customers. By utilizing a scalable technology and distribution platform, Verve is transforming the auto insurance industry. The company analyzes both internal and external data, using advanced predictive analytics to uncover profitable niches within the $316 billion private passenger auto insurance market. Through its data-driven approach, Verve consistently exceeds industry benchmarks, delivering superior underwriting profits while providing exceptional value and significant returns to its insurance and reinsurance partners. This has established Verve as a trusted leader in the evolving auto insurance landscape. For more information, please go to http://www.goverve.com.

Media Contacts

Bishop Street
Dan Gagnier
Gagnier Communications
redbird@gagnierfc.com
646.569.5897

Verve
Kimberly Hampton
Verve Communications
kimberly.hampton@verveinsurance.com
404-291-9632

The MIL Network –

January 22, 2025
MIL-OSI: Bitget Hosts the Inaugural Blockchain4Her Awards at SheFi Summit

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

VICTORIA, Seychelles, Sept. 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Bitget, the leading crypto exchange and web3 company, hosted its inaugural Blockchain4Her Awards at the SheFi Summit in Singapore on September 17, 2024, with five winners announced across two categories. The event saw over 1,000 participants from around the world, with 100+ nominations received for the Awards. The event was supported by 12 major partners, including tier-1 media BeInCrypto, Crypto.News, The Coin Republic, Input Communications, Genzio, as well as leading community bodies like the Women in Web3 Switzerland.

The Blockchain4Her Awards is an initiative that celebrates and promotes women in the blockchain industry. Launched as part of Bitget’s broader Blockchain4Her program, it addresses the gender disparity in the blockchain space, where female-led startups receive only a small fraction of total funding. The awards feature two main categories – the Rising Female in Blockchain Award and the Innovative Web3 Female Entrepreneur Award.

Gracy Chen, CEO at Bitget, delivered a keynote at the SheFi summit where she exclaimed Bitget’s commitment to supporting women in blockchain. With the $10 million Blockchain4Her initiative, Bitget is taking steps towards empowerment by providing “role models, mentorship, networking, and targeted support, we’re ensuring that more women can step into leadership roles in the blockchain space,” said Chen.

Bitget announced three winners for the ‘Rising Female in Blockchain Award’ category – Alexandra Nicorici, Gesa Schneider, and Rebecca Matsumura.

Alexandra Nicorici is the founder and host of the OOO podcast, a popular Web3 marketing podcast that connects marketing professionals to leading founders who are building transformative communities and products in the industry.

“Two years ago, if someone had told me I would receive a Rising Woman in Web3 Award, I wouldn’t have believed them. I was struggling a lot, in an industry that is not only a boys club, but not very mature yet,“ said Alexandra. “Today, I am more proud of myself and all the amazing women in Web3 who are rising, being present and contributing to this amazing industry.” Through her influence, Alexandra has helped several Web3 and crypto startups grow and drive valuable partnerships over the years.

Gesa Schneider is a renowned Devcon Scholar at the Ethereum Foundation and an active advocate at The Female Factor – one of the largest global communities for female leaders. “To be recognized as a Rising Female in Blockchain is such a great honor,” said Gesa during the Blockchain4Her Awards. “It validates my work to pioneer Web3 innovations for a sustainable future.”

The third winner is Rebecca Matsumura, an Associate Attorney at Fenwick & West. For almost a decade, Rebecca has provided legal guidance to blockchain and fintech firms, helping them manage compliance in the complex regulatory landscape. She is pioneering a new generation of women in law who want to step into the dynamic legal space of Web3 and crypto. Through this award, Bitget celebrates her transformative contribution to increasing inclusivity and openness in this niche sector.

The award for Innovative Web3 Female Entrepreneur went to Maika Isogawa, the co-founder and CEO of Webacy – one of the fastest-growing blockchain security suites. Tech and security have been historically quite underrepresented sectors for women, and the gap is more concerning in the Web3 industry. However, leaders like Maika have been actively inspiring change in this sector. Maika was also listed among the Forbes 30 under 30.

The winners were decided by a panel of four judges, including the CEO of Bitget Gracy Chen, the co-founder of Hacken Yevheniia Broshevan, leading venture capitalist Tess Hau, and the founder of SheFi Maggie Love Wu.

The awards are supported by a $10 million commitment from Bitget to promote diversity and inclusivity in the sector. The support loop for Blockchain4Her focuses on Elevating, Empowering, Educating, and Embracing women in blockchain. Bitget aims to ensure that women in Web3 have the appropriate resources, opportunities, and representation needed to succeed in their role.

The Blockchain4Her campaign provided scholarships for educational programs like SheFi’s 8-week blockchain course, mentorship opportunities, and participation in major industry events. The overall aim is to build a gender-diverse ecosystem where women play a significant role in driving technological advancements and leadership in blockchain. As a part of the campaign, Bitget is also establishing an alumni group, where female entrepreneurs and leaders can exchange ideas and build networks to grow their careers.

After the success of the campaign at SheFi, Bitget is set to host various Blockchain4Her events in different regions.

About Bitget

Established in 2018, Bitget is the world’s leading cryptocurrency exchange and Web3 company. Serving over 45 million users in 150+ countries and regions, the Bitget exchange is committed to helping users trade smarter with its pioneering copy trading, AI bot and other trading solutions. 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 being the Official Crypto Partner of the World’s Top Professional Football League, LALIGA, in EASTERN, SEA and LATAM, as well as a global partner of Olympic 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

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.

Contact

PR team
media@bitget.com

The MIL Network –

January 22, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Appointment of Over 15000 Youth in First 100 Days of Modi 3.0 by Central Ministries and Departments Paving the Path to VIKSIT BHARAT

Source: Government of India

Posted On: 25 SEP 2024 10:28PM by PIB Delhi

The Prime Minister Narendra Modi has always accorded the highest priority to generation of employment opportunities and empowerment of youth in the country. The Prime Minister has always held that our demographic dividend is one of the biggest strengths of our country and the Government of India is according the highest priority to ensure the talent of the youth is fully utilized in the nation building to achieve the goal of Viksit Bharat.

First 100 days of the third term of the present Government have been marked by several key initiatives and decisions which have positively impacted the lives of people and laid a strong foundation for Vikshit Bharat@2047. The citizen-centric decisions have been driven by the vision of the Prime Minister to enhance ease of living and make life better for the poor & middle class, dalit, vanchit, adivasis, Nari shakti and Yuva shakti.

During the period of 100 days, appointment letters have been issued to over 15000 youth for government jobs by Central Ministries and Departments. The new appointments comprised of various ranks, posts and groups, including the following:

Ministry of Home Affairs- Inspector, Assistant Sub Inspector, Constable, Head Constable, Sub Inspector, Carpenter, Store, Driver, Constable (Executive) in Delhi Police etc.

Ministry of Coal– Surveyor (Mining), Senior Medical officer, Medical Specialist, Executive Trainee, Dumper Operator etc.

Ministry of Health and Family Welfare – Doctor, Nursing Officer, Professor, Assistant Professor, Medical Specialist, Pharmacist, MTS, Lower Division Clerk, Radiographer, and Library Clerk, Laboratory Attendant.

Department of Higher Education – Assistant Professor, Registrar, Multi-Tasking Staff, Private Secretary, Controller of Examination, Technical Officer, Sports Officer, Executive Engineer, Counselor, Law Officer.

Department of Revenue –Inspector, Examiner, Preventive Officer, Tax Assistant, Multi -Tasking Staff etc.

Ministry of Power- Engineer (Trainee), Manager, Dy. Manager etc.

Ministry of Defence (Civilian)– Scientist, Multi-Tasking Staff (MTS), Tradesman, Civilian Motor Driver, Clerk, etc.

The newly inducted appointees will also be getting an opportunity to train themselves through “Karmayogi Prarambh”, an e-learning module on iGOT Karmayogi portal, where more than 1200 high quality e-learning courses have been made available for ‘anywhere any device’ learning format. More than 43 Lakh Karmayogis have so far been onboarded onto the portal Mission Karmayogi, launched in September 2020, aiming at promoting citizen-centric governance.

The new appointees will be able to serve the Nation by joining their services in various roles and will be witness to India@2047 and are expected to play a significant role in nation building. They will be, inter alia, involved in the task of strengthening Industrial, Economic and Social Infrastructure of the nation thereby building New India with their innovative ideas, cutting edge technology and public participation in governance. The momentum of transformative change continues to shape the nation’s rise at the global stage.

*****

AG

(Release ID: 2058859) Visitor Counter : 31

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

January 22, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LCSD to present “Glorious Voyage: Splendid Achievements of the People’s Republic of China in Its 75 Years” Exhibition Series to showcase developments and achievements of China (with photos)

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

LCSD to present “Glorious Voyage: Splendid Achievements of the People’s Republic of China in Its 75 Years” Exhibition Series to showcase developments and achievements of China (with photos)
LCSD to present “Glorious Voyage: Splendid Achievements of the People’s Republic of China in Its 75 Years” Exhibition Series to showcase developments and achievements of China (with photos)
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To celebrate the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China, the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) will present the “Glorious Voyage: Splendid Achievements of the People’s Republic of China in Its 75 Years” Exhibition Series, at the Hong Kong Museum of History (HKMH) and the Hong Kong Science Museum (HKScM) from tomorrow (September 27) to illustrate the important developments and achievements of China over the past 75 years from a variety of perspectives. Admission to the exhibitions is free. Addressing the opening ceremony of the exhibition today (September 26), the Deputy Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Cheuk Wing-hing, said that China is a force to be reckoned with in the areas such as economy, manufacturing, trade, technology, infrastructure, culture and sports. Today, China is the world’s second-largest economy, the largest industrial manufacturing country, the largest goods trading country and the largest foreign exchange reserve holding country. These are the results of the people’s forging ahead steadfastly and also the pride of all Chinese people. This exhibition series is one of the signature events organised by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government in celebration of the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China, to promote the spirit of patriotism in the community. Its three exhibitions, namely “Leapfrog Development”, “Scientific Breakthroughs” and “Era of Intelligence”, showcase the country’s modernisation process from the perspectives of economy, education, technology, culture, sports and people’s livelihood. It aimed to enhance the understanding of the public, especially the younger generation, of the achievements of New China over the past 75 years, thereby enhancing their sense of national identity and sense of belonging. Other officiating guests at the opening ceremony included Deputy Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Mr Yin Zhonghua; Vice President and Executive Secretary of the Secretariat of the China Association for Science and Technology, Mr Meng Qinghai; Deputy Commissioner of the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China in the HKSAR Mr Fang Jianming; the Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Mr Kevin Yeung; the Chairman of the Hong Kong Ta Kung Wen Wei Media Group, Mr Li Dahong; the Convenor of the Working Group on Patriotic Education under the Constitution and Basic Law Promotion Steering Committee, Ms Starry Lee; the Chairperson of the History Sub-committee of the Museum Advisory Committee, Professor Joshua Mok; and the Director of Leisure and Cultural Services, Mr Vincent Liu. The “Leapfrog Development” exhibition, located in the Lobby, 1/F, HKMH, presents the developments and achievements of the economy, infrastructure, culture, sports and ecological conservation initiatives of China through text and images. It also displays medals won by athletes in the Olympic and Paralympic Games to showcase their spirit of perseverance and hard work. They include the first gold medal won by Hong Kong, China windsurfer Ms Lee Lai-shan at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics for the HKSAR, the gold medal won by So Wa-wai, representing Hong Kong, China in the men’s 100m races (T36) at the 2000 Sydney Paralympic Games, the gold medal won by Chinese diver Ms Guo Jingjing in the women’s three-metre springboard event at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, and the silver medal won by Ms Siobhan Bernadette Haughey, representing Hong Kong, China in the women’s 100m freestyle events at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. For details of the exhibition, please visit hk.history.museum/en/web/mh/exhibition/75A-Exhibition.html. The country’s scientific and technological endeavours have made remarkable progress over the past 75 years. The “Scientific Breakthroughs” exhibition at the 2/F Exhibition Hall, HKScM is divided into three parts, namely “The Lifeblood of the People’s Republic of China”, “Silent Thunder”, and “A Chip-driven Patriotic Heart”, based on three significant historical events: the 65th anniversary of the discovery of the Daqing Oil Field, the 60th anniversary of the successful detonation of China’s first atomic bomb, and the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the State Preeminent Science & Technology Award. The exhibition showcases China’s outstanding achievements in science and technology through graphics, videos, objects, and interactive exhibits, demonstrating the patriotic spirit and steadfast beliefs of Chinese scientists. Highlight exhibits include the Core Sample from Songliao Basin No.3 Stratigraphic Well (replica), which is important historical evidence for the discovery of the Daqing Oil Field; the immersive space “Big Bang in the East”, which explores significant historical events such as the launch of the Dongfeng-1 missile, atomic bomb detonation, hydrogen bomb detonation, and the launch of the Dongfanghong-1; and the model of the Zuchongzhi Superconducting Quantum Computer, developed independently by a Chinese research team, which is the only one in China and one of only two globally to achieve “quantum advantage”. The “Era of Intelligence” exhibition at the Special Exhibition Hall, G/F, HKScM introduces the transformative technology of artificial intelligence, which has experienced rapid developments in recent years. The application of artificial intelligence in daily life will also be demonstrated at the exhibition. The exhibition features a total of 22 exhibits, with about 70 per cent of them being interactive. These include the immersive zone “Gravitational Battlefield”, which is based on Mainland writer Liu Cixin’s science fiction novel “The Three-Body Problem” and integrates artificial intelligence and mixed reality technologies; a simulation of autonomous driving; and an artificial intelligence model named Master Guess, with which visitors can train and play paper-scissors-stone. Visitors can engage directly with multiple artificial intelligence models to understand how they function in various scenarios such as chess playing, music composition, painting and the implementation of mixed reality. For details of the “Scientific Breakthroughs” and “Era of Intelligence” exhibitions, please visit hk.science.museum/en/web/scm/exhibition/75A2024.html. The exhibition series is presented by the LCSD. The “Leapfrog Development” exhibition is organised by the Chinese Culture Promotion Office and the Hong Kong Ta Kung Wen Wei Media Group, in collaboration with the HKMH, and supported by the Academy of Chinese Studies and the Hong Kong China Sports Alliance. The “Scientific Breakthroughs” exhibition is organised by the HKScM and the China Science and Technology Museum, in collaboration with the Office of Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan Affairs of the China Association for Science and Technology and the Beijing – Hong Kong Academic Exchange Centre. The “Era of Intelligence” exhibition is organised by the HKScM, in collaboration with the Faculty of Engineering, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, the Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics, the Hong Kong Institution of Science and Innovation, the Chinese Academy of Sciences and SenseTime. The exhibitions will run until February 5 next year. Apart from museums, a display titled “Trendsetting Travel in China”, which showcases the remarkable achievements of the motherland through a stunning array of media photographs and a relaxed curatorial approach, will be held at the covered walkway of Sun Yat Sen Memorial Park from September 28, providing members of the public an additional opportunity to learn more about the country’s achievements. The LCSD has long been promoting Chinese history and culture through organising an array of programmes and activities to enable the public to learn more about the broad and profound Chinese culture. For more information, please visit http://www.lcsd.gov.hk/en/ccpo/index.html.

Ends/Thursday, September 26, 2024Issued at HKT 18:55

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MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

January 22, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Park tennis courts in Lancaster and Morecambe set for £79,632 facelift Lancaster City Council and the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) have today announced a partnership..

Source: City of Lancaster

Lancaster City Council and the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) have today announced a partnership to invest in and refurbish public park tennis courts in Lancaster.

New life will be breathed into two park tennis venues at Palatine Recreation Ground in Lancaster and Happy Mount Park in Morecambe. The £79,632 renovation will ensure that quality facilities are available for the local community.

The project is part of a nationwide investment delivered by the LTA and supported by the LTA Tennis Foundation, to refurbish public tennis courts across Great Britain, and open-up the sport to many more people.

This investment will see thousands of existing park tennis courts in poor or unplayable condition brought back to life for the benefit of communities across the country through renovation works, and improved court accessibility with new gate-access technology and booking systems.

Park tennis courts are vital in providing opportunities for children and adults to get active, delivering significant physical and mental health and wellbeing benefits to participants. Accessible facilities in parks are particularly critical to open-up the sport to those from lower socioeconomic backgrounds and women and girls.

Lancaster City Council will also work with the LTA to organise weekly, free park tennis sessions for all ages, playing levels and experience – with equipment provided – meaning anyone can play tennis without needing to find someone else to play with or have their own racket. Local Tennis Leagues will also provide friendly, sociable, opportunities to get active through local competition.

Following the completion of renovation works, all courts and sessions will be available to book online via the LTA website http://www.lta.org.uk/play/

Work on both sites is expected to start in January 2025 and be completed by May 2025.

Lancaster City Councillor Joanne Ainscough, Cabinet Member with responsibility for Environmental Services, said: “The investment is fantastic news for our district. Parks are vital spaces in our community to support health and wellbeing and the Parks Tennis Project will be a much-welcomed enhancement. We are looking forward to working with the LTA on the project, which will enable local people to gain access to refurbished courts, play tennis and get active.”

Julie Porter, Chief Operating Officer at the LTA, said: “We are delighted to be working with Lancaster City Council to improve their park tennis facilities and provide more opportunities for anyone to pick up a racket and get active. This investment will mean that courts will be available for people to use for years to come. We will also be working closely with Lancaster City Council to ensure that the local community have a range of accessible opportunities to get on court, and open up our sport to many more people.”

Last updated: 26 September 2024

MIL OSI United Kingdom –

January 22, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: Bonfire Festival and Sound Therapy: What Program Moscow Parks Have Prepared for the Weekend

MIL OSI Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

Parks under the jurisdiction of the capital’s Department of Culture have traditionally prepared a weekend program for Muscovites and city guests. We tell you what to do from September 27 to 29.

Art Therapy and Music Meditations at the Bonfire Festival

On September 28, the Hermitage Garden will host a bonfire festival. Guests will enjoy meditations with Tibetan bowls, training practices, express quizzes, and a musical program in the format of an apartment concert.

A similar festival will also take place in the N.E. Bauman Garden. They have prepared an autumn art therapy session under the guidance of a qualified psychologist, a soul concert, a game based on the novel by Agatha Christie and a program called “Horror Stories of Russian Classics”. Registration is required. art therapy session Anda game based on the novel.

On September 29 at 17:00, visitors to the N.E. Bauman Garden are invited to a lecture on cocoa culture. At 18:00, guests of the event will be able to join the cocoa ceremony and learn the secrets of making the perfect wish-fulfilling drink.

At 19:00 there will be ecstatic and intuitive dancing to live musical accompaniment, and at 20:30 guests will enjoy sound healing – sound therapy that allows you to relax and meditate to the music of singing bowls, hang, maracas, percussion, flute and gong.

Warm gatherings at park apartments

A colorful two-day event called “Filyovsky Apartment Concert” is planned in Fili Park. On September 28 at 15:00, the Filka art studio will present an immersive performance “Sadeley”, based on the works of Agatha Christie and Keith Chesterton. Each viewer will be able to take part in the performance, directly or indirectly influence the subsequent events. The event is designed for guests over 16 years old. Admission is free, by prior registration.

On September 29 at 6:00 p.m., the Filka art studio invites residents over the age of six to a chamber concert by the leader of the Nezhdan Negadan group, Nikolai Topnikov. The musician will perform his own songs and cover versions of famous Russian rock ballads that were popular during the era of Soviet apartment concerts. Admission is free, but a pre-register.

In Gorky Park, the apartment concerts will last until November 3.

On September 27 from 19:00 to 21:00 in the lecture hall located in the main entrance arch (right pylon), there will be a free master class for adults on Latin choreography and a chamber meeting dedicated to pair dancing. Participants will learn basic techniques. Entrance by prior registration.

Master classes and petanque game

A new all-Russian record will be set in Krasnaya Presnya Park. The largest mug of cocoa with a capacity of 100 liters will be brewed here. The result will be officially registered in the Russian Book of Records. The event will feature various themed activities: master classes on painting mugs and decorating gingerbread, a culinary duel to create an original cocoa recipe. The main prize is a year’s supply of cocoa. The event will start at 15:00, admission is free. On Saturday, a free dance evening “Folk Pyatachok” for residents over 14 years old will be held on the stage of Severnoye Tushino Park. The evening is a traditional festivity where young people meet, chat, play, dance to live music and just relax. At 17:00, guests will enjoy pair dances, folk games and songs performed by the folk group “Top-vechera”.

In the eco-workshop of the Severnoye Tushino Park on September 29 from 11:00 they will create a sea in a shell – decorate it from the inside with amber, pebbles and pearls. Admission is free, by prior registration.

At 12:00, everyone can learn more about the capabilities of their own body at a master class from the Natural Movement series. Free admission, age limit: 14.

On September 29 at 11:00 in Druzhby Park there will be a free painting lesson as part of the cycle “Plein Air with a Light Hand”. At the master class, an experienced teacher will demonstrate an unusual painting technique. Participants can be residents over six years old who have completed pre-registration.

At 12:00 in the Lecture Hall of the Terletskaya Dubrava recreation area, a child psychology specialist will talk to participants about training a child’s attention. Anyone can attend the free lesson of the ABC of Psychology project.

On September 29 at 12:00, the Khodynka Pole Park will host the Collage Newspaper master class. Participants will learn about the collage technique, its methods and features, the history of newspaper design and the basics of layout, and will be able to create and present their own publication. The class is free for children over six years old, all materials are provided.

The game of petanque is scheduled for September 28 and 29 in Kuzminki Park. It does not require any special physical training, and you can participate even in a starched white shirt after work. Admission is free, age limit: 6 .

On September 29, the Lyublino Estate Museum invites you to immerse yourself in the atmosphere of the 19th century. Here they will perform “Wedding by Lanterns” – an early operetta by Jacques Offenbach. Guests will be able to see a light and naive story, the events of which take place in one place during the evening. Admission is free, by prior registration, for visitors over 12 years old.

This weekend, creative classes will be held in the southern service building of the Vorontsovo estate as part of the Klen-fest festival. On September 28 at 2:00 p.m., a creative master class, Painting with Threads, will be held for children over six years old. Admission is free, by prior registration.

On September 29 at 14:00 the master class “Leaf fall” will begin for children over six years old. All those who wish will be able to make an autumn gift using decoupage technique and insert it for themselves or their loved ones. Admission is free, but you need pre-registration.

Dance and Cinema Journey

As part of the free film screenings cycle of the Russian Geographical Society, the Angara Ponds Park invites guests to the amphitheater on weekends from 12:00 to 14:00 for a film journey. Age limit: 0, free admission.

On September 28 from 12:00 to 15:00 in the green theater of Babushkinsky Park there will be an event “Dance evening of historical ballroom dancing”. Participants will be able to feel the elegance and grace of the times, see the exquisite movements that were popular in the aristocratic circles of the 19th century. Dancers under the guidance of experienced instructors will demonstrate various styles and techniques. Admission is free.

From 18:00 to 19:30 in Babushkinsky Park, Tima Barsoff will gather the audience for his big solo concert. He performs songs in the bel canto technique with his own accompaniment on the guitar. The artist has a tenor with a warm timbre and an operatic range. The performance will include arias, romances and ballads of the Classical and Romantic eras, as well as masterpieces of the 20th century, including “Adagio Albinoni”, “Ave Maria”, as well as “Aranjuez”, Ombra mai fu and Una furtivа lagrima.

On September 29, from 11:00 to 14:00, the dance floor of Babushkinsky Park will host an event of the project “Family Club “Igromania”, which is supported by the Presidential Grants Fund. Participants will gain experience in offline games, board games, team-building games, as well as in personal communications. The goal of the project is to reduce gadget addiction in schoolchildren. Admission is free, age limit: 6 .

On September 28, from 11:00 to 16:00, a holiday for the whole family, “Russian Fun”, will be held in the Mitino Landscape Park next to the sports ground. Guests will join sports and games related to the cultural values of the Russian people. The program includes fun games, as well as competitions in wrestling, running, volleyball and football. Admission is free. Residents over six years of age are allowed to participate.

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

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

http://vvv.mos.ru/nevs/item/144497073/

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

MIL OSI Russia News –

January 22, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Trafficking of cultural property: UK statement to the OSCE
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

Emma Logan, UK Delegation to the OSCE, says that by disrupting cultural property trafficking, we can also disrupt broader Serious Organised Criminal activity.
Location:

Vienna

Delivered on:

24 September 2024 (Transcript of the speech, exactly as it was delivered)

Thank you Chair for bringing together a set of very interesting speakers today.

The trafficking of cultural property, be it an antiquity or modern artwork, can be an enabling element to conflict, non-state threats and can facilitate money laundering for Serious Organised Crime (SOC). As today’s panel has illustrated, the protection of cultural property from intentional destruction, looting and trafficking becomes far more complex during times of war.

I will pick up on three points that have been mentioned today. Firstly, the need for continued cooperation of international organisations, agencies and bodies was recently reaffirmed at the G7 in Naples; with Minister Bryant, Minister for Creative Industries, Arts and- Tourism, representing the UK. Today, we thank the OSCE for continuing the dialogue in this critical area.

Secondly, I want to add the UK voice to underline the importance of the OSCE’s Heritage Crime Taskforce. The UK Government has invested specifically in the OSCE project establishing the new national Heritage Crime Task Force in Ukraine. We plan to continue this partnership with the OSCE, and invest in the Taskforce beyond this project, as recognition of the critical role that cross-border cooperation plays in combating transnational crime, including the illicit trafficking of cultural property.

UK organisations are part of that cross-border cooperation. As an example, the Metropolitan Police recently assisted Homeland Security in investigations which revealed new evidence of money laundering by proscribed terrorist organisations through the UK and US art markets.

We agree with what many of other speakers have said: that by enhancing a collective understanding of the linkages between cultural property trafficking and wider Serious Organised Crime, and by demonstrating opportunities to disrupt broader harms through the cultural property lens, we can expose the harms of cultural property trafficking to a wider group of stakeholders. For example, the UK Department for Culture Media and Sport’s International Cultural Heritage Protection Programme has funded investigations into artefacts known to have been looted from Syria and trafficked through pre-existing networks. Providing information and assistance to law enforcement and prosecutorial authorities, namely the Met Police, OSCE and INTERPOL was integral to this project. Additionally the UK Government is a founding member of the Atrocity Crimes Advisory (ACA) Group, which supports Ukraine against Russia’s war of aggression through its own domestic criminal justice system. Over the last year, ACA has made concerted efforts to engage with national-level officials on issues relating to heritage crime.

The Met Police plays an important role in tackling the illicit trade in cultural property, with the support of expertise from the museum and antiquities sectors. Earlier this month, the Met played a pivotal role in repatriating the largest antiquity back to Iraq, a stone relief carving depicting a winged genie from the Palace of Nimrud, looted from Iraq after the first gulf war.

Lastly, every panellist has mentioned recommendations of what more needs to be done. For the UK, we recognise that our museums and art market businesses need to undertake more provenance research and engage more actively in the identification and authentication of looted items. And in cases where looted and illicitly-traded objects cannot be seized, we need to find effective ways within existing legal systems and by cooperating with the trade, so that they can be returned to the country or community to which they belong.

In conclusion, we should continue making the point that by disrupting cultural property trafficking, wider SOC activity can also be disrupted. This may stimulate engagement and a more effective response across operational, policy, programming, and diplomatic partners. The UK remains committed to being part of this network to combat illicit trade in times of war and peace.

Thank you, Chair.

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Published 26 September 2024

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MIL OSI United Kingdom –
January 22, 2025