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Category: Sport

  • MIL-OSI: GPTBots.ai Partners with QSTP Incubated Startup sKora Tech to Revolutionize AI Services in Sports

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    DOHA, Qatar, Sept. 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — GPTBots.ai, a leading global provider of AI bot services for business operations, is thrilled to announce a groundbreaking partnership with sKora Tech, a QSTP (Qatar Science & Technology Park) incubated startup. This strategic collaboration marks the first formal partnership between an international tech company and a QSTP incubated startup, and it promises to create significant advancements in the integration of AI technology in the sports industry.

    GPTBots.ai is renowned for its no-code AI platform that seamlessly integrates artificial intelligence across various enterprise domains, including marketing, customer service, HR, IT, and data analysis. By simplifying the integration of AI into business operations, GPTBots.ai empowers companies of all sizes to enhance productivity, improve efficiency, and foster growth through accessible AI solutions.

    sKora Tech, a data-driven sports agency launched ahead of FIFA 2022, is on a mission to empower over 300 million football players worldwide. The company offers a digital platform that leverages decades of sports agency expertise to create personalized growth pathways for athletes. Through its innovative sKora AI-Agent, sKora Tech enables players to convert their athletic data into marketable CVs in just minutes, helping them unlock new career opportunities in the global sports market.

    Key highlights of the partnership include:
    1. Integration of GPTBots.ai’s AI technology with sKora Tech’s sports agency expertise
    2. Enhanced personalization of growth pathways for athletes using advanced AI algorithms
    3. Streamlined process for converting athletic data into comprehensive, marketable CVs
    4. Expansion of AI-driven solutions in the sports management sector

    “We are incredibly excited to be partnering with sKora Tech,” said Jerry Yin, VP of GPTBots.ai. “Our goal is to make AI accessible and user-friendly across all industries, and this collaboration allows us to take a significant step forward in the sports sector. By combining our AI expertise with sKora Tech’s unique platform, we are creating a powerful tool that will help athletes realize their full potential.”

    “Partnering with GPTBots.ai will enable us to leverage cutting-edge AI technology to provide even more personalized and effective services for our athletes,” said Adel Saad, CEO of sKora Tech. “This collaboration aligns perfectly with our mission to empower players and democratize access to professional growth opportunities in football.”

    GPTBots.ai’s Vision for the Middle East and Beyond

    As part of its strategic expansion, GPTBots.ai has identified the Middle East as a key growth market, particularly with the region’s increasing focus on innovation and technology. Qatar, with its rapidly growing tech ecosystem and world-class infrastructure, provides an ideal platform for GPTBots.ai to expand its AI services across various sectors, including sports, finance, and education.

    “The Middle East is a region full of potential for AI innovation, and we are committed to establishing a strong presence here,” said Jerry Yin, VP of GPTBots.ai. “This partnership with sKora Tech is just the beginning. We believe that our AI technology can play a transformative role in many industries, and we are excited to contribute to the region’s vision of becoming a hub for technological advancement.”

    GPTBots.ai’s long-term vision is to empower businesses in the Middle East to fully leverage the power of AI, making it accessible and intuitive for companies of all sizes. By partnering with local innovators and startups, GPTBots.ai plans to drive the adoption of AI technology across a wide range of industries, helping to accelerate digital transformation and foster economic growth.

    As part of this partnership, the two companies will work closely to integrate GPTBots.ai’s advanced AI solutions into sKora Tech’s platform, enhancing the user experience for athletes and providing new tools to help them succeed in their professional journeys. This collaboration is expected to unlock new opportunities for both companies and further establish Qatar as a hub for sports technology innovation.

    About GPTBots.ai

    GPTBots.ai is a no-code AI platform designed to integrate artificial intelligence into various enterprise functions, including marketing, customer service, human resources, IT, and data analysis. The company’s mission is to bridge the gap between AI technology and business operations, offering accessible and efficient solutions to improve productivity and foster growth. GPTBots.ai is committed to making AI technology simple and user-friendly for businesses of all sizes.

    For more information, please visit: http://www.gptbots.ai

    About sKora Tech

    sKora Tech is a data-driven sports agency founded in Qatar in the lead-up to FIFA 2022. The company’s platform leverages decades of in-house sports agency expertise to provide personalized growth pathways for footballers. sKora Tech’s AI-Agent allows athletes to turn their athletic data into professional, marketable CVs, empowering them on their journey to success. The company’s mission is to democratize access to professional growth opportunities for football players around the world.

    For more information, please visit: http://www.skoratech.com

    About Aurora Mobile Limited

    Founded in 2011, Aurora Mobile (NASDAQ: JG) is a leading provider of customer engagement and marketing technology services in China. Since its inception, Aurora Mobile has focused on providing stable and efficient messaging services to enterprises and has grown to be a leading mobile messaging service provider with its first-mover advantage. With the increasing demand for customer reach and marketing growth, Aurora Mobile has developed forward-looking solutions such as Cloud Messaging and Cloud Marketing to help enterprises achieve omnichannel customer reach and interaction, as well as artificial intelligence and big data-driven marketing technology solutions to help enterprises’ digital transformation.

    For more information, please visit https://ir.jiguang.cn/.

    Safe Harbor Statement

    This announcement contains forward-looking statements. These statements are made under the “safe harbor” provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as “will,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “future,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “estimates,” “confident” and similar statements. Among other things, the Business Outlook and quotations from management in this announcement, as well as Aurora Mobile’s strategic and operational plans, contain forward-looking statements. Aurora Mobile may also make written or oral forward-looking statements in its reports to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, in its annual report to shareholders, in press releases and other written materials and in oral statements made by its officers, directors or employees to third parties. Statements that are not historical facts, including but not limited to statements about Aurora Mobile’s beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement, including but not limited to the following: Aurora Mobile’s strategies; Aurora Mobile’s future business development, financial condition and results of operations; Aurora Mobile’s ability to attract and retain customers; its ability to develop and effectively market data solutions, and penetrate the existing market for developer services; its ability to transition to the new advertising-driven SAAS business model; its ability to maintain or enhance its brand; the competition with current or future competitors; its ability to continue to gain access to mobile data in the future; the laws and regulations relating to data privacy and protection; general economic and business conditions globally and in China and assumptions underlying or related to any of the foregoing. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. All information provided in this press release and in the attachments is as of the date of the press release, and Aurora Mobile undertakes no duty to update such information, except as required under applicable law.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: The city will allocate land for the construction of an educational complex in the Moskvorechye-Saburovo district

    MIL OSI Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    As part of the implementation of a large-scale investment project, the city will provide an investor with a land plot without bidding for the construction of an educational complex in the Moskvorechye-Saburovo district. A modern residential area with social infrastructure, commercial real estate and public spaces is being built here. This was reported by the Deputy Mayor of Moscow for Urban Development Policy and Construction Vladimir Efimov.

    “The city will allocate 2.9 hectares of land to the developer to implement a large-scale investment project – the construction of an educational facility in the south of the capital. The institution will be one of the largest in Moscow. It will be designed for 2.5 thousand schoolchildren and 500 kindergarten students. It is also planned to build a modern sports complex,” said Vladimir Efimov.

    A large-scale investment project is a special status that investors can receive for the construction of facilities aimed at developing urban infrastructure and creating jobs. The lease agreements for the sites are planned to be concluded for five years.

    “In Moskvorechye-Saburovo, near the residential quarter under construction in the area of 2nd Kotlyakovsky Lane, it is planned to allocate two plots: 1.74 hectares for the construction of an educational complex and 1.16 hectares for the construction of a sports core. The future sports center next to the educational complex will include a multifunctional stadium with football, volleyball and tennis courts. A running track will be laid around, as well as two workout zones and a long jump pit,” noted the Minister of the Moscow Government, Head of the Department of City Property

    Maxim Gaman.

    The residential complex in the south of the capital already includes 10 buildings with non-residential ground floors, a school for 900 students and a kindergarten designed for 160 children. In addition, a pedestrian boulevard and an outdoor sports area have been built here – with exercise machines, a pump track for adults and children, football, volleyball and basketball courts, as well as a grandstand for spectators. A track for rollerblading, scootering, cycling and skateboarding runs around the sports cluster.

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

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

    http://vvv.mos.ru/nevs/item/144477073/

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: From the first travelers of Rus’ to the space voyages of the future: what else can you learn about on World Tourism Day

    MIL OSI Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    World Tourism Day has been celebrated on September 27 for over 40 years. This international holiday was established to popularize travel, evaluate the industry’s contribution to economic development, and establish and strengthen ties between different cities and countries. This year, Moscow will host excursions, games, and competitions dedicated to World Tourism Day. You can join them in the VDNKh museums, as well as in the tourist information centers located in Zaryadye Park and on the territories of the Southern and Northern River Terminals. Some events require advance online registration.

    VDNKh invites everyone to thematic events in the Museum City and a football tournament. From 11:00 to 17:00, the IV Moscow Tourism Cup will be held on mini-fields. The winners will receive a large cup and gold medals, the teams that take second and third places will receive silver and bronze medals, as well as small commemorative cups. The team that takes the last place will receive a consolation prize – the Cup of Hope. In addition, individual prizes are provided for the best players of the tournament.

    The first Moscow Tourism Cup was held in September 2021, and has since become an annual event. The game brings together not only friends and fans of the teams, but also guests of the country’s main exhibition. Admission is free.

    Free excursions will be held at the Cosmonautics and Aviation Center at 18:00 and 19:30 “Cosmic Moscow”. Visitors will learn about the history of practical cosmonautics, the capital’s enterprises in this industry and preparation for flights. Particular attention will be paid to the legendary pavilion No. 34 “Space”.

    A free tour will be held at the Slovo Museum of Slavic Literature at 19:00 “Who travels well in Rus’?”. Participants will learn about the history of travel in different times, as well as about the transformation of the travel essay genre in Russian literature. Attention will be paid to such works as “Journey Beyond Three Seas” by Afanasy Nikitin and “Journey from St. Petersburg to Moscow” by Alexander Radishchev.

    In addition, on September 27, travel enthusiasts are welcome at the tourist information centers of the Southern and Northern River Terminals, as well as in Zaryadye Park. There, starting at 1:00 p.m., a holiday quiz will be held. Visitors will be asked to answer questions about tourism in Moscow and other Russian cities. The winners will take part in a drawing for souvenirs.

    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/144481073/

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: The improvement of the territory of the Russian Biotechnology University is nearing completion

    MIL OSI Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    Specialists from the city services complex are completing the improvement of the territory of the Russian Biotechnology University in the north of the capital. The work is 80 percent complete, said the Deputy Mayor of Moscow for Housing and Public Utilities and Improvement Petr Biryukov.

    “This year we are improving the territory of the Russian Biotechnology University, which is the flagship of scientific developments in the field of biotechnology and health preservation. Today, the project to create a “Biocity” is being implemented on the territory of the university, and in addition, at the request of students, we are updating the territory so that it becomes more functional,” said Petr Biryukov.

    “Biogorod” is an educational and leisure space where teachers will be able to implement modern teaching practices, and Muscovites will be able to attend various events and educational programs, play sports, and relax. In addition, conditions will be created for the application and demonstration of the results of innovative developments.

    Three functional zones are being created on the university’s territory. The first will appear in the courtyard of the main building for employees and students. There, pavilions for coworking and a lecture hall, a summer open stage with an amphitheater and a media screen, a recreation and self-study area, as well as one small space with a round dry fountain and an amphitheater are being set up. A small sports cluster will appear in the second zone between buildings A and B — table tennis tables and exercise machines have already been installed, a streetball court has been prepared, and an amphitheater is being assembled. A gastropark with recreation areas is being created.

    The third zone, located between the dormitory buildings, the educational building and the residential building, is almost ready. There is a universal area for ball games, next to which a small stand was placed. In addition, there are tables for playing table tennis, a workout area and an area with weight training equipment, a place for playing panna football, a summer terrace and recreation areas.

    In all three zones, flower beds were laid out in which trees, shrubs and cereal plants will be planted.

    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/144485073/

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Running, basketball and fitrock: Muscovites are invited to free cardio workouts

    MIL OSI Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    On September 28 and 29, within the framework of the projects “My Sports District” and “Sports Weekend”, cardio training sessions in running, basketball, table tennis, fitrock and fitness boxing will be held. Muscovites are invited to celebrate World Heart Day. It is designed to draw public attention to health issues and emphasize the importance of preventing cardiovascular diseases.

    City residents will be able to do fitrock, which combines elements of functional and dance training. The training is based on repeating various dance movements and combinations with drumsticks. Classes within the framework of the Sports Weekend project will be held on Saturday from 17:00 to 18:00 at VDNKh, and from 19:00 to 20:00 at the ZIL Cultural Center. On Sunday, they will be held from 17:00 to 18:00 at VDNKh and from 12:00 to 13:00 at the Yuzhny River Terminal. Registration is required on the website.

    In addition, on September 29 at 10:30, as part of the My Sports District project, the final fitness training sessions will take place on the roofs of the district centers Sofia, Angara, Elbrus, and Rassvet. You can sign up for the class through the Dance Fitness form on the website.

    Muscovites are offered to try such a direction as fitness boxing. The lesson consists of a combination of punches and kicks on a punching bag at a fast pace. This training increases endurance and develops coordination. On September 28 and 29, fitness boxing will be held in the Smstretching studio near the Tulskaya metro station from 11:30 to 12:30. You can see the schedule and sign up for the lesson on this page.

    On September 29 at 10:00 in the Olympic complex “Luzhniki”, parks “Sokolniki”, “Severnoye Tushino” and 850-letiya Moskvy, as well as at the addresses: Shirokaya street, building 30 and Zelenograd, building 904, running training will be held. They help improve heart function and increase lung capacity. You can choose a convenient site and sign up for training on the website.

    On September 28, residents of the capital can play basketball and table tennis under the guidance of professional coaches. Basketball training will take place in Severny Khapilovsky Square and at the following addresses: Festivalnaya Street, Building 4, Building 3 (Friendship Park), Bolshaya Gruzinskaya Street, Building 39, Bolshoy Ovchinnikovsky Lane, Building 11, Domodedovskaya Street, Building 22, Building 3, Marshal Golovanov Street, Building 4, Zarayskaya Street, Building 51, Building 2 (Plyushchevo Square). The training will start at 19:00. Muscovites will practice the correct throwing technique, learn to dribble and pass the ball. Basketball develops tactical thinking, agility and attention.

    Table tennis classes will be held in the parks “Sviblovo”, “Kuzminki-Lyublino”, “Dubovaya Roshcha “Mayak”, as well as at the stadium “Avangard” and at the address: Perekopskaya street, house 34, building 2. This sport develops attentiveness and reaction speed. During the training, they practice moving around the court, the accuracy of strikes and game combinations. You can register for basketball and table tennis classes on the website.

    “My Sports District” — one of the flagship projects Department of Sports of the City of Moscow, within the framework of which residents of the capital train under the guidance of professional trainers in courtyards and parks all year round, and in the summer also on the roofs of district centers. Depending on the season, children and adults have access to different sports – for example, in winter, participants go ice skating and learn cross-country skiing.

    The Sports Weekend project offers free yoga, stretching, barre, Pilates, functional and dance training under the guidance of experienced trainers. Classes are held at 13 indoor venues in the capital. Those who prefer to stay at home are invited to online training. You can find out more about the project and follow the news on the website.

    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/144486073/

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Sergei Sobyanin: 262 socially oriented NGOs received city support

    MIL OSI Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    More than 20 years ago, a grant competition for socially oriented non-profit organizations (NPOs) was established in Moscow. Every year, the best initiatives are selected in the capital and up to five million rubles are allocated for their implementation. Over the entire period, more than 3.4 thousand projects have received city support.

    “In 2024, the competition broke the record for the number of approved applications. This time, proposals were received from about 900 NGOs, 262 of which received support,” Sergei Sobyanin said in

    on your blog.

    The grant amounts range from 500 thousand to five million rubles. They are provided for projects in the following nominations: “Charity”, “Safe Moscow”, “Ecology of the Megapolis”, “Civic Initiatives”, “Creative Moscow”, “Volunteering and Volunteering”, “Media Moscow”, “Family Moscow” and “Urban Innovations”. The most popular nominations in terms of the number of laureate initiatives were “Youth of Moscow” (62 projects), “Our Heritage” (55 projects), “Healthy Lifestyle and Sports” (37 initiatives).

    The full list of award winners has been published on the website.

    An independent assessment was conducted by an expert council. It included representatives of the Moscow Public Chamber, scientific, research and educational communities, and NGOs. Each project was assessed by three experts, and they did not have the opportunity to see the marks of their colleagues.

    The projects were assessed based on their significance for the city and its residents, relevance and feasibility. The experts also took into account the effectiveness of the proposed solution, its efficiency and uniqueness.

    Career guidance for schoolchildren and assistance to SVO participants

    Among the winners is the Artificial Intelligence project of the scientific and educational center of the Moscow State Technical University named after N.E. Bauman. The center itself is engaged in career guidance for schoolchildren: young research staff help students develop engineering thinking and the skills they need when entering technical universities.

    This year, the center’s team intends to develop two additional education programs of 16 academic hours each, which any high school student will be able to study.

    The Association of Veterans of the Special Military Operation (SVO) helps combat veterans adapt to civilian life faster and involves them in educating the younger generation. The grant is intended to launch the project “Museums of the Special Military Operation in Moscow Schools”. Five schools will be involved in it – museum exhibits will open in the institutions, courage lessons will be held, and meetings with SVO heroes will be held. The project will be implemented in 2025.

    Another project in support of the special military operation is the center for legal assistance to SVO participants and their families of the regional public organization “Lotus”. The center’s specialists will deal with various issues – from registration of status, benefits and payments for housing and communal services to entering into inheritance rights.

    The project “Equal to equal. Adaptation club” is implemented by the Foundation for the Promotion of the Russian Language and Education in Russian. Its goal is to help young people with disabilities adapt to universities. In several capital institutions of higher professional education, students will be taught the basics of inclusive volunteering. Specialists will talk about the problems and difficulties of children with disabilities during their studies and ways to help them. A special online portal will post methodological materials, video courses and lectures that will help children with disabilities quickly get used to the new environment and not feel lonely in a group.

    The charitable foundation for helping children born at an early stage, “Give me some sunshine”, will launch a program for the social, physical and creative development of children with disabilities. The participants of the project “We, playing, study, speak and understand” will be children aged six to 12 years. They will work with an adaptive physical education trainer and a speech development specialist. Speech therapy equipment will be purchased for correctional classes. The training will take place in the family center opened by the foundation.

    Winners of last year’s grant competitions

    The international charitable public organization “Fair Aid of Doctor Lisa” helps citizens who find themselves in difficult life situations – lonely pensioners, people left homeless, seriously ill patients. With the funds of the grant of the Mayor of Moscow, the organization launched the project “Let’s Extend a Helping Hand”, within the framework of which medical and social assistance was received by participants of the FAO. They were provided with medicines, hygiene products and medical supplies.

    The Global Impact Alliance, a charitable foundation for scientific research and development, is implementing the project Inclusive Routes: Virtual Reality Solutions for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders. The scenario of the Public Transport project will soon be available for children with this diagnosis. The team has worked out all the elements of the bus in detail: validators, screens, and light indicators — everything to ensure that children’s adaptation to the virtual space is as close as possible to real conditions. As a result, the skill will be better consolidated, and during a trip on a real bus, the child will quickly get their bearings and remember what to do.

    The autonomous non-profit organization “Dynamic Guys” created a musical performance “You Can’t Fly, You Can’t Stay”. The plot is based on the story of people blocked in the capital’s airport due to weather conditions. The premiere took place at the beginning of the summer at the Moscow State Academic Theater “Russian Song”, more than 750 people saw it. And the video version of the performance has already collected over one million views.

    The Virta Charity Foundation held two exhibitions in support of homeless animals. The events were attended by over three thousand Muscovites. The foundation’s volunteers brought 270 dogs and cats from shelters to the exhibitions, 57 of which found a new home.

    The professional skills competition “Best in the Profession. Nanny of the Year” was held with the help of a grant. Participants were interviewed by psychologists, underwent reliability checks and completed competition tasks, as well as demonstrated medical knowledge and skills necessary for working with children. More than a thousand applications were received from nannies, educators, governesses and governesses of Moscow. Only 20 contenders for the title of the best reached the final. The competition was held by the ANO for assistance in employment and leisure of the adult population “Vozrasu. net” (the “Grandma for an hour” service).

    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.

    https://vvv.mos.ru/major/themes/11823050/

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Graham Earns “A+” Rating for Unwavering Support for the Second Amendment

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for South Carolina Lindsey Graham
    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today received an “A+” rating from the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF). Graham was one of only eight senators named to NSSF’s inaugural Congressional Dean’s List, which recognizes members of Congress who have gone above and beyond to protect and preserve the Second Amendment in the 118th Congress.
    “I am honored to be recognized by NSSF today. It is now more important than ever that we stand up for our right to bear arms, promote responsible gun ownership, and protect America’s licensed gun dealers. I will always fight to preserve the Second Amendment,” said Senator Graham.
    “The 2024 NSSF Congressional Report Card is a comprehensive analysis of our elected representatives’ positions on firearm and ammunition industry priorities in the 118th Congress. 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 Senator Graham 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 Graham 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 Graham for his exemplary level of support.”
    Senator Graham is the lead sponsor of the Respect for the Second Amendment Act, which seeks to make permanent Second Amendment rights afforded to law abiding Americans, and prevent a future Supreme Court from going back on this decision. Graham also led the introduction of legislation to combat “smash and grab” thefts of federally licensed gun dealers, known as the Federal Firearms Licensee (FFL) Protection Act of 2023.
    Additional information on NSSF’s rating is available HERE.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: City purchases Backhaus Oval to support junior sport in Golden Square

    Source: State of Victoria Local Government 2

    The City of Greater Bendigo has purchased a strategic piece of land in Golden Square to support the future provision of active open space.

    Backhaus Oval was identified in the 2020 Golden Square Recreation Reserve Master Plan and 2022 Golden Square Structure Plan as an ideal site to address Golden Square’s undersupply of public open space.

    The City negotiated the sale of the site from the Diocese of Sandhurst.

    Chief Executive Officer Andrew Cooney said the City would invest in the coming years to bring the oval and facilities up to a standard suitable for community sport.

    “This is an important parcel of land that is considered in adopted strategies as an ideal site to provide more open space in Golden Square, particularly to support junior sport,” Mr Cooney said.

    “This investment will help to address the current overuse of Golden Square Recreation Reserve (Wade Street) by spreading the load for junior and senior football training and games, support the growth in women’s participation and support forecast population growth in the local area.

    “Backhaus Oval is also ideally located, with links to the Bendigo Creek Trail walking and cycling corridor, which will soon include the Bendigo Low Line connection, and the site is already an existing recreation facility and appropriately zoned for community sport.

    “The City’s immediate priority will be make good works to ensure structures on the site are safe. An upgrade program will be prepared to guide staged future investment.”

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Eight ways to make the school holidays magical for the whole family!

    Source: Auckland Council

    School holidays are just around the corner, and with them come a vast array of options to keep the whānau entertained for the duration of the break. 

    From outdoor adventures to exploring your local maunga; indoor fun with roller skating to rock climbing, and even hydro sliding – there’s something for everyone. Have a look at the list below to get yourself inspired and ready for an active holiday with your tamariki – brought to you by Auckland Council. 

    1. Check out the Auckland Heritage Festival

    Explore Pacific ties at the Auckland Heritage Festival, which runs from 28 September to 13 October, with the theme of Moana Oceania – over130 free or low-cost events! Returning for its 20th year, the two-week festival includes talks, walks, exhibitions, performances, and workshops right across Tāmaki Makaurau – explore and commemorate the region’s Pacific history and heritage with friends and whānau.  

    Visit Auckland Heritage Festival for the full programme.  

    Event highlights include: 

    Exploring the King of Tonga’s Trees at Atalanga 

    Learn about the unique history and value of some of Auckland’s finest trees in their historic settings on The Tree Council’s guided walking tour of Atalanga, the King of Tonga’s Auckland Residence in Epsom.  

    Tongan Indigenous Knowledge Showcase 

    Our elderly Tongans possess a wealth of Tongan indigenous knowledge, and Fe’unukoula – Academy of Tongan Arts, Dance and Culture – would like to honour the uniqueness of these skills and knowledge in the Heritage Festival. Fe’unukoula Director Losalia Pusiaki Fifita leads a showcase explaining different types of attire worn by Tongan people. Visit our Tongan village and join in to learn about the skills of making table mats, wall hangings, laundry baskets, beautiful and colourful leis, the art of mat weaving and sinnet braiding, Tongan dancing and lots more. 

    Guided Pasifika Heritage Walk of Ponsonby 

    Take a stroll with charismatic Samoan street historian Reverend Mua Strickson-Pua along Ponsonby Road and discover the Pacific urban history and stories of Ponsonby. Hear about Pacific urban migration, dawn raids on overstayers, the Springbok Tour protest, the Polynesian Panthers, and much more. 

    Tuia Mātauranga: The Ocean That Binds Us Together 

    Uncover the rich voyaging traditions and cultures of Moana Oceania – the Pacific Ocean. Embark on a journey with storytellers Sonny Natanielu and Tony Marsters as they take you through the extraordinary achievements of the Pacific voyagers, highlighting their mātauranga, innovation and navigation prowess across the vast Pacific Ocean. Immerse yourself in the Tuia exhibition, delving into the tapestry of our migration history and settlement, prompting reflection on Aotearoa today and our collective aspirations for the future. 

    Fakafetuiaga 

    Reminisce and celebrate our beautiful Niue! Niue celebrates its 50th anniversary of self-governing, highlighting its relationship with Aotearoa. The island is commonly referred to as ‘The Rock’ of Polynesia, and it was European sailor Captain Cook who coined the famous phrase ‘Savage Islands’. Through historical imagery, we explore the timeless stories of Niue, the memories and identity that grounds our Niuean communities here in Aotearoa and abroad. 

    Sustainable Conservation of Pacific Art and Heritage 

    The team at Studio Izzo talk about their experiences working with Pacific artists on their artworks and more. As part of its everyday activities, Studio Izzo receives many items including those from public art galleries and communities. The talk explores some of these items, their meanings, and sustainable conservation methods for Pacific treasures. You are welcome to bring your own objects to discuss – the team is keen for questions about your treasures! 

    2. Tūpuna Maunga – explore your maunga

    Join a guided hīkoi on one of your local maunga. Choose from three specially selected sites to gather, honour, and learn about the rich cultural heritage of the Tūpuna Maunga (ancestral mountains) of Tāmaki Makaurau. This culturally enriching experience is open to everyone—register now through our Love Your Maunga Facebook page to secure your spot! 

    Te Pane o Mataoho / Te Ara Pueru / Māngere Mountain  

    • Friday, 4 October and Friday, 11 October, 9.30 am – 11.30 am  
    • Hosted by Māngere Mountain Education Centre 

    Maungauika / North Head  

    • Friday, 4 October, 9.30 am – 11.30 am 
    • Hosted by Explore Tāmaki  

    Maungarei / Mount Wellington  

    • Friday, 11 October, 9.30 am – 11.30 am 
    • Hosted by Explore Tāmaki 

    3. Head to your local library

    Our libraries are always buzzing with activity, but even more so during school holidays! For a list of what’s on at your local library, check out the Auckland Council Libraries school holiday event listings. You can also visit your local libraries Facebook page for more info. 

    A few examples of the types of activities you can expect include author readings, art events, even live performances: 

    Author Readings: 

    Whangaparāoa Library

    • Tuesday 1 October, 10.30am
    •  Nicky Gumbrell will be in to read her adorable book “Mr. Bingley is Different” and she will be bringing some very special guests… the REAL DOGS who inspired the book, Mr Bingley and Manny! 

    PLEASE BE ADVISED THAT THERE WILL BE DOGS IN ATTENDANCE. 

    Titirangi Library 

    • Friday 4 October, 10.30am – 11.30am 
    • ‘The Squeakling’ Storytime with local illustrator, Ronja Schipper and author, Kristin Kelly. Join us for the launch of ‘The Squeakling’! Illustrator, Ronja Schipper, and author, Kristin Kelly will have a special reading of their new book followed by an opportunity to ask questions and learn about their creative processes. Suitable for the whole whanau! 

    Art events: 

    Northcote Library 

    Pakuranga Library 

    Live Performances: 

    Warkworth Library 

    Blockhouse Bay Library 

    4. Learn to swim

    Dive right in for some swimming lessons at select swim schools – for adults and kids alike! Our Pool and Leisure teams are offering intensive swim lesson blocks that you can book for one or two weeks, with a lesson each day. By attending daily and building on the progress from the previous session, you’ll be able to boost your confidence and improve your swimming skills significantly.  

    Swim lessons available over school holidays at: 

    • Albany Stadium Pool 
    • WestWave Pools and Leisure 
    • Takapuna Pools and Leisure 
    • Tepid Baths 
    • Manurewa Pools and Leisure 
    • Glenfield Pools and Leisure 

    5. More indoor fun

    Become a gymnast with Tristar Gymnastics! Their holiday programme has something on offer every weekday, including tumbling, rhythmic, tramp or parkour to ensure an action-packed holiday break.

    Other fun activities to try during the break include: 

    6. Discover the great outdoors

    Tāmaki Makaurau has a great variety of parks and reserves right across the region – that’s 28 regional parks, to be exact! For those keen on an outdoor adventure walk over the school holidays, here’s a few to choose from: 

    Whakanewha Forest Path  (80 mins) 

    Enjoy unique forests, a stunning beach, native bird song and scenic views on your next Waiheke trip.  

    Mahurangi West– Cudlip Point Path (90 mins) 

    A great stop if you’re exploring North Auckland. You’ll find sheltered bays, native bush, open pasture and historic sites.  

    Auckland Botanic Gardens (90 mins)  

    A must do any day in South Auckland and it’s dog friendly! 

    Ōmana Perimeter Walk (60 mins) 

    An ideal family park in East Auckland, with a shelly beach, shady pōhutukawa and outstanding views.  

    Montana Trail – Cascade Kauri  (4.5 hours return loop) 

    Head west for this walk and back in time, through some of the Waitakere ranges’ oldest and most precious stands of kauri.

    7. Book an Auckland Council holiday park

    Consider an affordable holiday escape with the whānau, right here in Tāmaki Makaurau. Bookings are available at any one of Auckland Council’s three holiday parks: Ōrewa Beach Holiday Park, Martins Bay Holiday Park and Whangateau Holiday Park – and for a lot less than a trip to Fiji! 

    All Auckland Council holiday parks have a wide range of accommodation options and facilities to suit your needs. There’s also plenty of extra in and around each holiday park to keep everyone entertained for the duration of your stay. 

    8. Add some sparkle with Vector Lights

    Light up your weekends with Vector Lights Celebrating Auckland. Enjoy a stunning light and sound show celebrating Tāmaki Makaurau every Friday and Saturday night from 8pm until midnight, playing every 15 minutes.  

    Get your friends and whānau together, head to one of the prime viewing spots and listen live at vector.co.nz/lights. Some of the best places to see the shows are: 

    • Westhaven Marina 
    • Silo Park 
    • The end of Halsey Wharf (just out from the Viaduct Events Centre) 
    • The end of Princes Wharf (outside the Hilton Auckland hotel) 
    • The end of Queens Wharf (in front of The Cloud and The Lighthouse) 
    • Little Shoal Bay 
    • Hinemoa Park next to the Birkenhead Ferry Terminal 
    • Maungawhau Mt Eden 
    • Bayswater Marina 
    • Takurunga Mt Victoria 

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Is an ankle sprain also a brain injury? How neuroscience is helping athletes, astronauts and ‘average Joes’

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Gordon Waddington, AIS Professor of Sports Medicine Research, University of Canberra

    Have you ever thought of an ankle sprain as a brain injury? Most people probably wouldn’t.

    However, we are starting to understand how the brain is constantly adapting, known as plasticity.

    Even though the damage of an ankle sprain happens at the ankle, there may also be some changes going on in the brain to how it well it senses pain or movement.

    One of our doctoral students, Ashley Marchant, has shown something similar happens when we change how much weight (or load) we put on the muscles of the lower limb. The closer the load is to normal earth gravity, the more accurate our movement sense is; the lower the muscle load, the less accurate we get.

    This work means we need to rethink how the brain controls and responds to movement.

    Solving an important puzzle

    Historically, movement science has attempted to improve muscle function through resistance training, cardiovascular exercise and flexibility.

    One of the big issues in the treatment and prevention of sport injuries is that even when the sports medicine team feels an athlete is ready to return, the risk of a future injury remains twice to eight times higher than if they’d never had an injury.

    This means sports medicos have been missing something.

    Our work at the University of Canberra and the Australian Institute of Sport has targeted sensory input in an attempt to solve this puzzle. The goal has been to assess the ability of the sensory reception, or perception, aspect of movement control.

    Input (sensory) nerves outnumber output (motor) nerves by roughly ten to one.

    Over 20 years, scientists have developed tools to allow us to determine the quality of the sensory input to the brain, which forms the basis of how well we can perceive movement. Gauging this input could be useful for everyone from astronauts to athletes and older people at risk of falls.

    We can now measure how well a person gets information from three critical input systems:

    • the vestibular system (inner ear balance organs)
    • the visual system (pupil responses to changes in light intensity)
    • the position sense system in the lower limbs (predominantly from sensors in the muscles and skin of the ankle and foot).

    This information allows us to build a picture of how well a person’s brain is gathering movement information. It also indicates which of the three systems might benefit from additional rehabilitation or training.

    Lessons from space

    You may have seen videos of astronauts, such as on the International Space Station, moving around using only their arms, with their legs hanging behind them.

    The crew of the International Space Station have some fun with ‘synchronised space swimming’ in 2021.

    This shows how when people leave earth’s gravity, they get minimal information to the sensory system from the skin and muscles of their legs.

    The brain rapidly deactivates the connections it normally uses for controlling movement. This is OK while the astronaut is in space but as soon as they need to stand or walk on the earth or moon surface, they are at greater risk of falls and injury.

    Similar brain changes might be occurring for athletes due to changes in movement patterns after injury.

    For example, developing a limp after a leg injury means the brain is receiving very different movement information from that leg’s movement patterns. With plasticity, this may mean the movement control pattern doesn’t return to an optimum pre-injury status.

    As mentioned previously, a history of injury is the best predictor of future injury.

    This suggests something changes in the athlete’s movement control processes after injury – most likely in the brain – which extends beyond the time when the injured tissue has healed.

    Measures of how well an athlete perceives movement are associated with how well they go on to perform in a range of sports. So sensory awareness could also be a way to identify athletic talent early.

    In older people and in the context of preventing falls, poor scores on the same sensory input perception measures can predict later falls.

    This might be due to reduced physical activity in some older people. This “use it or lose it” idea might show how brain connections for movement perception and control can degrade over time.

    Precise health care

    New technologies to track sensory ability are part of a new direction in health care described as precision health.

    Precision health uses technologies and artificial intelligence to consider the range of factors (such as their genetic make-up) that affect a person’s health and provide treatments designed specifically for them.

    Applying a precision health approach in the area of movement control could allow much more targeted rehabilitation for athletes, training for astronauts and earlier falls prevention for older people.

    Gordon Waddington owns shares in Prism Neuro Pty Ltd a perceptual neuroscience ability measurement company. He receives funding from the Medical Research Futures Fund, Australian Research Council, NSW Institute of Sport, Queensland Academy of Sport and the Australian Institute of Sport.

    Jeremy Witchalls receives funding from the NSW Institute of Sport and the Australian Institute of Sport.

    – ref. Is an ankle sprain also a brain injury? How neuroscience is helping athletes, astronauts and ‘average Joes’ – https://theconversation.com/is-an-ankle-sprain-also-a-brain-injury-how-neuroscience-is-helping-athletes-astronauts-and-average-joes-230416

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cassidy, Risch, Colleague Introduces Bill to Ban Handgun Rosters

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Louisiana Bill Cassidy

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), Jim Risch (R-ID), and several colleagues today introduced the Modern Firearms Safety Act, which would prohibit states from enforcing handgun rosters. These lists of pre-approved handguns require manufacturers to include costly features like microstamping, loaded chamber indicators, and magazine disconnect mechanisms on firearms, preventing law-abiding citizens from purchasing the firearm of their choice.
    “Blue states look for every avenue to ban guns for law-abiding citizens,” said Dr. Cassidy. “Requiring unnecessary and imaginary modifications that don’t improve safety is just another tactic out of this playbook. The Second Amendment is a Constitutional right that shouldn’t be infringed upon just because of the state in which you reside.” 
    “Unconstitutional handgun rosters create unnecessary, burdensome requirements for firearm manufacturers while undermining the Second Amendment,” said Senator Risch. “The Modern Firearms Safety Act stops Democrats arbitrary handgun catalogs and protects law-abiding gun owners’ right to bear arms.”
    Several states, including California, New York, Maryland, Massachusetts, and D.C., have recently enacted unconstitutional handgun rosters. A 2024 federal district court ruling found California’s handgun roster requirements unconstitutional.
    Cassidy and Risch were joined by U.S. Senators Mike Crapo (R-ID), Mike Braun (R-IN), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), John Cornyn (R-TX), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Steve Daines (R-MT), John Hoeven (R-ND), Roger Marshall (R-KS), Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), and Thom Tillis (R-NC) in introducing the legislation.
    “Those on the Left continue to use every creative avenue possible to stifle Second Amendment rights and restrict gun ownership for law-abiding citizens,” said Senator Crapo. “These practices must stop.”
    “Trying to impose unnecessary and overly stringent requirements on what features handguns must have is a blatant attempt to strip away core constitutional rights,” said Senator Cornyn. “This legislation ensures law-abiding gun owners in Texas can continue to exercise their Second Amendment right in a safe and responsible way without being subject to impractical restrictions.”
    “Our Founding Fathers were clear—the right to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed,” said Senator Daines. “Forcing Americans to outfit their firearms with onerous and costly features is a clear attempt to undermine the Second Amendment and law-abiding citizens’ constitutional rights, and it must stop.”
    “I am proud to join Senator Risch in our fight against the Democrats’ never-ending attack on our Second Amendment rights and our constitutional freedoms,” said Senator Marshall. “The Modern Firearm Safety Act will end the unconstitutional gun grab currently underway in far-Left states like California, New York, Maryland, and Massachusetts. Our legislation rightfully blocks Democrats from enforcing illegal handgun roster requirements designed to target law-abiding Americans.”
    “This commonsense legislation safeguards the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens by eliminating unnecessary barriers to purchase firearms,” said Senator Tillis. “I am proud to support responsible gun owners by introducing this legislation, which aims to prevent government overreach and uphold our constitutional freedoms.”
    The Modern Firearms Safety Act has received support from the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation, National Shooting Sports Foundation, and National Rifle Association.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Graham Introduces Bill To Restrict Birthright Citizenship

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for South Carolina Lindsey Graham
    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today introduced a bill that would restrict one of the biggest magnets for illegal immigration into the United States. Graham’s Birthright Citizenship Act of 2024 stops the practice of granting citizenship to both the children of illegal immigrants and the children of non-immigrants in the U.S. on temporary visas.
    The exploitation of birthright citizenship is a major pull factor for illegal immigration and a weakness for our national security. The United States is one of only 33 countries in the world with no restrictions on birthright citizenship. In 2018, Senator Graham supported President Trump’s executive order eliminating birthright citizenship for children born to illegal immigrants on American soil.
    “It is long overdue for the United States to change its policy on birthright citizenship because it is being abused in so many ways,” said Senator Graham. “One example is birth tourism, where wealthy individuals from China and other nations come to the United States simply to have a child who will be an American citizen. When you look at the magnets that draw people to America, birthright citizenship is one of the largest. It is time for the United States to align itself with the rest of the world and restrict this practice once and for all.”
    The Biden-Harris Administration’s catch-and-release policies let migrants come into the U.S. illegally and stay for years, while enjoying many of the benefits of living in America.
    Illegal immigration has skyrocketed under the Biden-Harris Administration.
    In the last 3.5 years, there have been over 8.3 million encounters with illegal aliens at the southern border.
    Our adversaries are taking advantage of our laws.
    Recently, two individuals from California were found guilty in a “birth tourism” scheme. Predominantly Chinese clients paid the operators of a “maternity hotel” tens of thousands of dollars to come to the U.S. to give birth. Clients were coached on how to lie during the admissions process.
    A 2022 Senate Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs Committee report found a birthing company catering to the wives of Russian oligarchs, celebrities, athletes, and public figures.
    The Birthright Citizenship Act of 2024:
    Specifies who can receive citizenship by virtue of their birth in the United States, including children born to at least one parent who is either:
    A citizen or national of the U.S.,
    A lawful permanent resident of the U.S., or
    An alien performing active service in the armed forces.
    This bill only applies to children born after the date of enactment.
    To read the full bill text, click HERE.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Capito, Carper Applaud Senate Passage of the WILD Act

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for West Virginia Shelley Moore Capito

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) and Tom Carper (D-Del.), Ranking Member and Chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, celebrated unanimous Senate passage of the Wildlife Innovation and Longevity Driver (WILD) Reauthorization Act. The bipartisan legislation would reauthorize the Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program, which enables wildlife and habitat conservation in all 50 states and territories, and the Multinational Species Conservation Funds, which support the global conservation of imperiled species, including rhinos, elephants, tigers, great apes and turtles. The legislation now heads to the U.S. House of Representatives.

    “By passing the WILD Act, the Senate advanced the reauthorization of the Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program that supports our conservation and habitat restoration efforts throughout the country, including West Virginia in the Chesapeake Bay watershed region. I appreciate Chairman Carper for leading on this legislation with me as we help strengthen conservation and wildlife programs in America and around the world,” Ranking Member Capito said.

    “Across our nation and around the world, climate change and habitat loss are threatening wildlife,” Chairman Carper said. “The bipartisan WILD Act tackles these threats head-on by enabling the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to promote voluntary conservation efforts. Additionally, this legislation helps to ensure the United States remains a global leader in protecting and conserving wildlife, including some of the world’s most imperiled species. I thank Senator Capito for her partnership on this important legislation and our colleagues for passing it through the Senate.”

    The WILD Act is supported by the following organizations: The Wildlife Conservation Society, World Wildlife Fund, National Wildlife Federation, Ducks Unlimited, Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, National Audubon Society, Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation, and The Nature Conservancy.

    The full text of the legislation is available here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Press Release

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Chris Deluzio (PA-17)

    The bill is supported by an unprecedented coalition of gun violence prevention organizations, Veterans Service Organizations, and the National Shooting Sports Foundation

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congressman and Navy veteran Chris Deluzio (D-PA-17) Congressman, former FBI Special Agent and federal prosecutor Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA-01), and Congressman Greg Landsman (D-OH-01) introduced the new, bipartisan veteran suicide prevention bill the Saving Our Veterans Lives Act of 2024. This bill authorizes a program for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to provide free firearm lockboxes to veterans. Limiting the ease by which at-risk individuals can access firearms has been shown to prevent suicide deaths.  

    Firearms are the most common means used by veterans who die by suicide. Approximately 73% of male veteran suicide deaths and 52% of female veteran suicide deaths are with firearms, rates that greatly exceed those of nonveterans. Fifty-one percent of veterans report owning one or more personal firearms, and of those, over half report storing firearms loaded and/or unsecured. A third of veterans who store their firearms loaded and unlocked don’t own a lockbox or safe.  

    “It is unacceptable that we have such high rates of veteran suicide when we know there are things we can do to help save the lives of those who served,” said Congressman Chris Deluzio (PA-17). “I am proud to introduce the Save Our Veterans Lives Act of 2024 alongside my colleagues to provide free firearm lockboxes to my fellow veterans. It is a simple bipartisan idea, supported by organizations from across the political spectrum—let’s get this done and fight back against the crisis of veteran suicides.” 

    “The alarming and tragic reality is that our veterans face a suicide rate 57% higher than that of civilians. The Saving Veterans Lives Act will create a program within the VA to provide secure firearm lockboxes to veterans, ensuring they have the tools to safeguard themselves during moments of crisis. This commonsense, bipartisan initiative is more than a solution—it’s a lifeline. By providing access to lifesaving resources, we can prevent devastating outcomes and stand with our veterans as they navigate their darkest hours. It’s simple: we must come together and deliver the support our veterans deserve and have rightfully earned,” said Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-1). 

    “Our veterans sacrificed so much for our country, and it’s our responsibility to support them in all ways,” said Congressman Greg Landsman (OH-01). “Free gun storage boxes is a simple yet critical step in reducing the risks of firearm-related harm. We’re proud to support this initiative in helping to keep our veterans and their loved ones safe.” 

    The bill has been endorsed by the following organizations: National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), Disabled American Veterans (DAV), The American Legion, GIFFORDS, Everytown for Gun Safety, Brady, American Psychological Association (APA), American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, and Association of VA Psychologist Leaders (AVAPL). 

    “NSSF – The Firearm Industry Trade Association – supports the Saving Our Veterans Lives Act of 2024 introduced during National Suicide Prevention Month. NSSF has a longstanding partnership with the Department of Veterans Affairs with the goal of trying to reduce suicide by firearm among our nation’s veterans. Gun owners have a responsibility to securely store their firearms when not in use to make sure they are inaccessible to those who should not possess them including someone experiencing a mental health crisis,” said NSSF’s Senior Vice President Lawrence G. Keane. “Responsible firearm storage can create time and space between a person in crisis and a gun. Rep. Deluzio’s bill helps provide veterans with the means to secure their firearms.” 

    “The American Legion and its 1.6 million members are dedicated to our “Be the One” mission to reduce the number of veterans lost to suicide,” said American Legion National Commander, James LaCoursiere. “ Did you know that in some cases only 10 minutes elapse between an individual having suicidal ideation and acting? The Saving Our Veterans Lives Act is an important part of preventing suicide as it will provide veterans with the information and means to securely store their firearms to prevent suicide, while still protecting their Second Amendment rights. The Legion commends Representative Deluzio and his team for bringing this bill forward and for their continued dedication to the welfare of our nation’s veterans.” 

    “Firearms are by far the most prevalent method of veteran suicides, used 72% of the time–a rate that is much higher than nonveteran suicide. Safe gun storage creates time and space which interrupts the impulse of suicidal thoughts and ideation–and gives people an opportunity to hesitate, reconsider and seek help. The Saving Our Veterans Lives Act of 2024 aims to provide eligible veterans with items for the secure storage of firearms, a public education campaign on the availability of these items and on how to use them as a suicide prevention strategy. DAV is proud to support this impactful bill, and we thank Representative Deluzio for his continued leadership on this critical issue,” DAV National Legislative Director, Joy Ilem.

    “One in five adult firearm suicide victims is a veteran,” said Emma Brown, GIFFORDS Executive Director. We can and must do better for the Americans who put their lives on the line to serve our country. Rep. Deluzio’s bill takes a significant step in addressing the issue of veteran suicide, and provides real, tangible solutions that will help keep veterans safe, as well as promoting safe storage tools in the process. We look forward to seeing this legislation move forward in this Congress.” 

    “The devastating rise of firearm suicide among veterans is another reminder of the terrible consequences that can arise when someone in crisis has access to a firearm. Our leaders should be doing everything in their power to protect those who have protected our nation, and we applaud Congressman Deluzio for introducing this legislation to promote secure gun storage and save lives.” – John Feinblatt, President of Everytown for Gun Safety.

    “Our nation’s Veterans are battling a firearm suicide crisis, but it doesn’t have to be this way,” said Mark Collins, Director of Federal Policy, Brady. “Safe storage is proven to decrease the risk of suicide and save lives. Brady applauds Congressman Deluzio for introducing legislation that will help ensure Veterans can safely store their firearms and strengthen the Department of Veteran Affairs’ efforts to protect those who have served our country.” 

    “Suicide is a public health crisis impacting far too many veterans and their families,” said American Psychological Association (APA) CEO Arthur C. Evans, Jr. PhD. “We commend Rep. Deluzio’s tireless efforts to bring gun owners and the health care community together with Saving Our Veterans Lives Act of 2024. Research shows that impulsivity is a key factor in many suicide attempts and that secure firearm storage can prevent these tragedies.” 

    “Suicide is the 13th leading cause of death for Veterans in the United States, and research indicates that one in four Veterans store firearms in an unsafe manner, which increases the risk of suicide,” said Laurel Stine, J.D., M.A., Executive Vice President and Chief Policy Officer of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. “We thank Representative Deluzio for introducing the Saving Our Veterans Lives Act, which will make it easier for Veterans to access secure firearm storage devices, raise awareness about the importance of lethal means safety, and help to prevent firearm suicide among Veterans and their families.” 

    “The Saving Our Veterans Lives Act of 2024 provides the funding and incentive to accomplish exactly what it states – to save Veteran lives by offering Veterans free lockboxes to securely store their firearms,” said Jennifer Presnall-Shvorin, President, Association of VA Psychologist Leaders (AVAPL). “AVAPL proudly supports this bill as one of the best commitments our Nation can make to serving those who have served.”  

    Since 2012, VA’s Suicide Prevention Program has distributed free firearm cable locks to any veteran who requests one. However, many veterans overwhelmingly favor lockboxes and safes to secure their guns.   

    A pilot program is currently offering free lockboxes to Veterans Health Administration (VHA) enrolled veterans with elevated risk for suicide who requests that one be mailed to them. Here are four ways that the Save Our Veterans’ Lives Act of 2024, full text available here, would enhance the pilot: 

    Issue 

    Current Pilot  

    Saving Our Veterans Lives Act 

    Veteran eligibility for free lockbox 

    Only covers VHA-enrolled veterans assessed as moderate to high-risk for suicide   

    Applies to all veterans, with and without identified risk, with and without VHA enrollment 

    Allocations needed for program staffing 

    No dedicated funds 

    Would cover need for: a program manager, statistician, evaluator, and prosthetics staff 

    Allocations needed for lockboxes 

    No dedicated funds 

    Assures sufficient funding for many tens of thousands of lockboxes to be distributed to veterans 

    Educational campaign informing veterans of program 

    None  

    Promotes public education campaign, including through trusted allies 

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Capital City Bank Names Matthew Henderson Chief Information Security Officer

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    TALLAHASSEE, Fla., Sept. 25, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Capital City Bank today announced the promotion of Matthew Henderson to chief information security officer, effective October 1, 2024. He will succeed LeAnne Staalenburg McCorvey, who will retire on December 31, 2024. In this role, Henderson will lead the Corporate Security & Risk Department, overseeing both the information and physical security teams. His responsibilities include developing, overseeing, monitoring, managing and reporting on the security program in accordance with policy.

    Henderson began his career with Capital City Bank in September 2022 as an information security officer. In this role, he focused on information security, physical security, vendor management, business continuity and incident response initiatives.

    He holds a Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in Management Information Systems from Troy University and the University of Alabama at Birmingham, respectively. His credentials include certifications as a Certified Information Systems Security Professional, Certified Information Security Manager, Certified in Risk and Information Systems Control and Certified Information Systems Auditor.

    With over 15 years of experience in information technology, cybersecurity, information security and physical security across various industries, Henderson brings a wealth of knowledge to his new position. He also serves on several advisory boards and committees within the financial sector, including the American Bankers Association’s Cybersecurity and Operational Resilience Advisory Committee, the Risk and Compliance Conference Board and the Cyber Risk Institute’s Joint Standards Committee.

    “Matt’s extensive experience and proven expertise make him an ideal choice to lead our Corporate Security & Risk Department,” said Bill Smith, Capital City Bank Group chairman, president and CEO. “I am confident that under his leadership we will continue to uphold the highest standards of security and risk management.”

    Beyond his professional roles, Henderson is actively engaged in the community. He is a member of Celebration Baptist Church, Shriners International and the Tallahassee Tennis Association. Additionally, he volunteers with Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Big Bend.

    In his spare time, Henderson enjoys spending time with his wife, Brittony, and their two children.

    About Capital City Bank Group, Inc.
    Capital City Bank Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: CCBG) is one of the largest publicly traded financial holding companies headquartered in Florida and has approximately $4.2 billion in assets. We provide a full range of banking services, including traditional deposit and credit services, mortgage banking, asset management, trust, merchant services, bankcards, securities brokerage services and financial advisory services, including the sale of life insurance, risk management and asset protection services. Our bank subsidiary, Capital City Bank, was founded in 1895 and now has 63 banking offices and 105 ATMs/ITMs in Florida, Georgia, and Alabama. For more information about Capital City Bank Group, Inc., visit http://www.ccbg.com.

    For Information Contact:
    Brooke Hallock
    Hallock.Brooke@ccbg.com
    850.402.8525

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/cf7fbf1f-1dda-4f42-ba36-e248463f7a03

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Amata Welcomes $4.8 Million in LWCF Grants for Four Projects

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Aumua Amata (Western Samoa)

    Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata is welcoming congressional notice from the National Park Service of federal grant funding totaling $4.8 million ($4,782,160.96) from the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) for four projects in American Samoa.

    “Congratulations to American Samoa Government and our Department of Parks and Recreation for these substantial federal funds, and thank you to everyone in the Department involved in the local work to qualify for and fulfill these grants,” said Congresswoman Aumua Amata. “Thank you to the National Park Service for this focus on supporting American Samoa’s parks and recreational facilities.”

    Congresswoman Amata received notices of the following four grants, and their described projects:

    $3,285,886 for Onesosopo Park Football Field. The project entails a new football field to serve the east side of the territory, to include restrooms, locker rooms, bleachers, a snack bar, and an observation booth.

    $712,030 for Lions Park Multi Courts to include netball, pickleball, and beach volleyball to promote physical activity, fitness and health in one of the territory’s most-used park sites.

    $500,000 for Vaitogi Park Recreation and Picnic Area, to include eight traditional fale providing shade and shelter for picnics and gatherings.

    $284,244.96 LWCF Administrative Grants for implementation of the LWCF program, including grant applications and projects, site inspections, travel and trainings, vehicle, signs and supplies.

    On August 4, 2020, the landmark Great American Outdoors Act was signed into law, which Amata supported in the Natural Resources Committee, and now supplies $900 million annually for LWCF. Amata has also supported the program’s congressional reauthorization.

    The LWCF was established by Congress in 1964 to fulfill a bipartisan commitment to safeguard natural areas, water resources, and cultural heritage, and to provide recreational opportunities, while strengthening communities, preserving history, and protecting the national resource of lands and waters. This flagship conservation program is funded by royalty payments from offshore oil and gas drilling in federal waters, putting that financial support back into conservation.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Alberta tourism soars to new heights

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    Tourism is Alberta’s number one service export sector, bringing jobs, dollars and prosperity into the province’s economy. The 2023 tourism indicators make it clear: investments made by Alberta’s government in the province’s tourism sector are paying off. According to the latest data from Statistics Canada, in 2023 visitors spent $12.7 billion in Alberta, surpassing 2022’s record-setting $10.7 billion by nearly 20 per cent.

    In addition, international visitor spending surpassed pre-pandemic levels, injecting $2.9 billion into Alberta’s economy in 2023. This is an increase of more than 25 per cent from the previous high of $2.3 billion in 2019.

    “This past February, Alberta’s government launched a long-term tourism strategy, setting the bold and ambitious goal of growing Alberta’s visitor economy from $10 billion in annual visitor expenditure to $25 billion annually by 2035. The strength of Alberta’s tourism industry—as demonstrated by our record-breaking year—show that the strategy is working. We are well on our way to reaching our goal.”

    Joseph Schow, Minister of Tourism and Sport

    Alberta’s tourism strategy focuses on the five key pillars of leadership and alignment, competitive product, people and careers, expansion of access and Indigenous tourism to drive the province’s visitor economy to new heights. Travel Alberta, the province’s destination management organization, is key to the tourism strategy.

    Notably, Travel Alberta’s investments in growth projects drove $155 million in total economic impact, creating jobs across the province. The organization also secured more than 300,000 direct airline seats to Alberta from international and transborder target markets, yielding nearly $11 in visitor spending for every dollar invested.  

    “This continued growth demonstrates that our strategies to develop and promote Alberta’s tourism sector are yielding strong results. Together, in partnership with the thousands of hardworking Albertans that make up the tourism industry, we’re building world-class destinations that support long-term prosperity for communities across the province.”

    Jon Mamela, chief commercial officer, Travel Alberta

    Quick facts

    • Statistics Canada determines spending from people travelling from international countries through their Visitor Travel Survey.
    • International expenditures in Alberta grew by 91 per cent year-over-year—faster than in other major provinces such as British Columbia (81 per cent), Ontario (77 per cent) and Quebec (63 per cent).
    • Travel Alberta is the destination management organization of the Government of Alberta. It operates under the Travel Alberta Act within the Ministry of Tourism and Sport.

    Related information

    • Travel Alberta visitor spend data
    • Higher ground: a tourism sector strategy
    • Travel Alberta Annual Report 2023-24

    Multimedia

    • Video message from Minister of Tourism and Sport Joseph Schow

    Related news

    • En route to Alberta (Apr. 15, 2024)
    • Supporting new adventures in Alberta (Jan. 23, 2024)
    • Tourism spending recovers two years ahead of schedule (Nov. 17, 2023)

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Deputy Secretary-General’s remarks at the opening of the 2024 Global Africa Business Initiative (GABI) event – Unstoppable Africa [as prepared for delivery]

    Source: United Nations secretary general

    Ladies and gentlemen, Esteemed guests, and partners in progress,

    Welcome to the third annual flagship convening of the Global Africa Business Initiative.

    Three years ago, we gathered here to explore the possibilities of investing in Africa and building the future we all envision.

    Since then, our world has experienced seismic changes. The global landscape, already volatile, has grown more uncertain. Conflicts, geopolitical tensions, economic disruptions, and an escalating climate crisis have exposed the fragility of our systems.

    Yet, through this darkness, we see African leadership shining through.  Here, I commend H.E. Moussa Faki Mahamat, Chairperson of the AU Commission for his outstanding leadership over the last decade. Under his leadership, we have seen the signing of the landmark African Continental Free Trade

    Area, a stronger relationship between the AU and the UN through the signing of the AU-UN Framework on Implementation of Agenda 2063 and Agenda 2030, and his championing of GABI.

    Dear friends,

    We see Africa’s economic leadership in the African Union’s inclusion in the G20 – a groundbreaking step that amplifies Africa’s voice in global economic governance. It ensures that the continent’s development priorities are part of the decisions shaping a more equitable and sustainable future.

    The African Continental Free Trade Area is further evidence that Africa’s economic leadership is accelerating, poised to drive jobs, growth and economic integration into the future.

    Meanwhile, we see Africa’s peace leadership as the African Union continues its strong commitment to peacekeeping, focusing on conflict resolution and governance reform in Sudan, Ethiopia, and the Sahel, and silencing the guns by 2030.

    We see Africa’s political leadership in many leaders’ efforts to strengthen the institutions of democratic governance. The unconstitutional changes of power we see in some countries are deeply troubling – but in as much as they are the exception, not the rule, we must ensure our democracies deliver lest this becomes the norm.

    We certainly see African leadership in the global transition to renewable energy – from the continent’s rich natural resources, to the increasing number of African solar, wind and hydropower projects, to its place as a home for the critical minerals required to power the renewables revolution.

    We see Africa’s innovation leadership enabled by the African Union’s Startup Policy framework which provides a roadmap for member states to create policies that empower the next generation of innovators.

    Africa’s unquestioned demographic leadership, with a youthful and rapidly growing population – is an unparalleled asset, that can capitalize on the sweeping advancements in technology and leverage a thriving creative and cultural economy to drive sustainable growth and development across the continent.

    Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen,

    African leadership also demands looking at persistent challenges that are blocking our progress – including financial constraints, security concerns, and infrastructure gaps. Addressing these issues requires ongoing international efforts, peacekeeping initiatives conflict resolution and targeted investments in infrastructure development.

    Addressing these challenges is what the next two days are all about. Unlocking solutions through cocreating, collaborating and leveraging our networks.

    For these discussions will be pivotal – not just for Africa’s future but for shaping the global future we want.

    We meet at a crucial time, just days after the announcement of a new Pact for the Future. This Pact is a renewed commitment to global solidarity. It’s more than just a political document; it’s an opportunity for Africa to address its unique challenges and accelerate progress towards sustainable development
    through stronger international cooperation and equitable resource allocation.

    This includes more support for the SDG Stimulus and badly needed global financial architecture reform to help ease the debt crisis of so many developing countries, including in Africa.

    This year, consistent with our theme “Unstoppable Africa,” GABI will delve into five key areas that will guide our conversations and shape our collective future.

    First, unlocking inclusive growth through trade.

    The African Continental Free Trade Area offers a framework to create the largest single market in the world. We’ll explore how to break down trade barriers, foster economic integration, and build regional value chains – ensuring that no one is left behind, especially women, youth, and marginalized communities.

    Second, making Africa clean energy superpower.  

    With its abundant solar, wind, and hydropower resources, Africa has the potential to be a global hub for renewable energy. In this discussion, we’ll identify pathways to harness this potential and lead the world’s energy transition.

    Third, supercharging Africa’s digital revolution.

    The continent is leaping forward in fintech, e-commerce, and digital education, transforming economies and societies and creating new jobs and sources of prosperity for Africans. We’ll focus on how to accelerate this digital transformation to ensure that all Africans benefit.

    Fourth, sport.

    From football stadiums to the Olympic Games, Africa’s talent is shining on the global stage. But it’s not just about the talent on the field – it’s about leveraging sports as a driver for economic growth, social cohesion, and cultural diplomacy off the field, too.

    Fifth, African creativity for the world.

    We will explore how Africa’s rich cultural heritage and creative talent can drive global impact and economic growth, creating jobs for our youth while showcasing African excellence on the world stage.

    Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen,

    Today, Africa’s promise is clearer than ever.

    We have seen what is possible.

    Africa is not just participating in global conversations.

    Africa is leading them.

    As the world confronts challenges, Africa offers solutions – whether in energy transitions, digital transformation, or inclusive trade. GABI is our platform to own this potential and explore how Africa can continue to drive global progress.

    I look forward to the transformative discussions and groundbreaking ideas that will emerge over the next two days.

    Thank you!

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Shri Jyotiraditya M. Scindia to Attend the Northeast Trade and Investment Roadshow in Bengaluru

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Posted On: 25 SEP 2024 7:17PM by PIB Delhi

    The Ministry of Development of the Northeastern Region (MDoNER) is organising the Northeast Trade and Investment Roadshow in Bengaluru on September 26, 2024, starting at 5 PM at the Four Seasons Hotel. The event will be graced by SHRI JYOTIRADITYA M. SCINDIA, Hon’ble Union Minister of Communications and Development of the Northeastern Region, Government of India.

    Senior officials from MDoNER, including Shri Chanchal Kumar, Secretary, and Sushri Monalisa Dash, Joint Secretary, will also be present, along with representatives from various Northeastern states.

    The event is being organised in collaboration with State governments of Northeastern, FICCI (Industry Partner), and Invest India (Investment Facilitation Partner).

    This marks the fourth major Roadshow in Bengaluru, featuring presentations from representatives of the eight Northeastern states: Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Tripura, Mizoram, Manipur, Meghalaya, Sikkim, and Nagaland. They will highlight various investment opportunities in their respective states.

    Key investable sectors include IT & ITES, Healthcare, Education & Skill Development, Sports & Entertainment, Tourism & Hospitality, and Energy—all crucial for the region’s economic growth.

    The Northeast Investors Summit, organised by MDoNER, aims to attract investments and stimulate economic development. Previous roadshows in Mumbai, Hyderabad, and Kolkata received strong participation, while the State Seminar at Vibrant Gujarat drew significant interest from potential investors.

    To build on these efforts, MDoNER held a signing and exchange of MOUs event for the North East Investors Summit on March 6, 2024, at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, facilitating Business-to-Government (B2G) meetings with senior officials from state governments.

    The Roadshow in Bengaluru is expected to attract many potential investors eager to be part of the growth journey in North East India.

    ****

    MG/SB/DP

    (Release ID: 2058755) Visitor Counter : 38

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Risch Introduces Bill to Ban Handgun Rosters

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Idaho James E Risch

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho) today introduced the Modern Firearms Safety Act, which would prohibit states from enforcing handgun rosters. These lists of pre-approved handguns require manufacturers to include costly features like microstamping, loaded chamber indicators, and magazine disconnect mechanisms on firearms, preventing law-abiding citizens from purchasing the firearm of their choice.

    “Unconstitutional handgun rosters create unnecessary, burdensome requirements for firearm manufacturers while undermining the Second Amendment,” said Risch. “The Modern Firearms Safety Act stops Democrats arbitrary handgun catalogs and protects law-abiding gun owners’ right to bear arms.”

    Several states, including California, New York, Maryland, Massachusetts, and D.C., have recently enacted unconstitutional handgun rosters. A 2024 federal district court ruling found California’s handgun roster requirements unconstitutional.

    Risch is joined by U.S. Senators Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Mike Braun (R-Ind.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Bill Cassidy (R-La.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), Roger Marshall (R-Kansas), Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.), and Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) in introducing the legislation.

    “Those on the Left continue to use every creative avenue possible to stifle Second Amendment rights and restrict gun ownership for law-abiding citizens,” said Crapo. “These practices must stop.”

    “Blue states look for every avenue to ban guns for law-abiding citizens,” said Cassidy. “Requiring unnecessary and imaginary modifications that don’t improve safety is just another tactic out of this playbook. The Second Amendment is a Constitutional right that shouldn’t be infringed upon just because of the state in which you reside.” 

    “Trying to impose unnecessary and overly stringent requirements on what features handguns must have is a blatant attempt to strip away core constitutional rights,” said Cornyn. “This legislation ensures law-abiding gun owners in Texas can continue to exercise their Second Amendment right in a safe and responsible way without being subject to impractical restrictions.”

    “Our Founding Fathers were clear—the right to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed,” said Daines. “Forcing Americans to outfit their firearms with onerous and costly features is a clear attempt to undermine the Second Amendment and law-abiding citizens’ constitutional rights, and it must stop.”

    “I am proud to join Senator Risch in our fight against the Democrats’ never-ending attack on our Second Amendment rights and our constitutional freedoms,” Marshall said. “The Modern Firearm Safety Act will end the unconstitutional gun grab currently underway in far-Left states like California, New York, Maryland, and Massachusetts. Our legislation rightfully blocks Democrats from enforcing illegal handgun roster requirements designed to target law-abiding Americans.”

    “This commonsense legislation safeguards the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens by eliminating unnecessary barriers to purchase firearms,” said Tillis. “I am proud to support responsible gun owners by introducing this legislation, which aims to prevent government overreach and uphold our constitutional freedoms.”

    The Modern Firearms Safety Act has received support from the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation, National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), and National Rifle Association (NRA).

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: CS chairs inter-departmental working group meeting on festival arrangements (with photo)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

         As directed by the Chief Executive, the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, chaired the inter-departmental working group meeting on festival arrangements today (September 26) to holistically review and steer the overall co-ordination work of various government departments in welcoming visitors to Hong Kong during the National Day Golden Week. The Deputy Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Cheuk Wing-hing; the Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Mr Kevin Yeung; the Under Secretary for Security, Mr Michael Cheuk; and representatives of the Home and Youth Affairs Bureau, the Transport and Logistics Bureau, and other relevant Government departments attended the meeting.     At the meeting, Mr Chan instructed various departments to better prepare for receiving visitors during the Mainland’s National Day Golden Week, actively coordinate and consolidate supporting services of boundary control points (BCPs), traffic and public transport, promptly respond to various emergency situations, and strengthen information dissemination, with a view to providing quality experience to residents and visitors in celebration of the National Day.Estimated visitor flow and preparatory work     According to the Immigration Department (ImmD)’s estimate, around 7.01 million passengers (including Hong Kong residents and visitors) will pass through Hong Kong’s sea, land and air control points during the Mainland’s National Day Golden Week (October 1 to October 7) this year, among which 5.98 million passengers will pass through land control points. The number of outbound and inbound passengers using land boundary control points will peak on October 1 (Tuesday).     In terms of Mainland inbound visitors, it is estimated that about 1.23 million passengers will visit Hong Kong via various sea, land and air control points during the seven-day Mainland’s National Day Golden Week.     The Travel Industry Authority has reminded travel agents receiving Mainland inbound tour groups to stagger arrival time as far as possible, and will coordinate with agencies such as tourist spots to adopt appropriate diversion measures to enable proper management of the flow of visitors and tour buses, with a view to offering a pleasant travel experience to visitors.     There will be a rich array of celebratory activities before, during and after the Mainland’s National Day Golden Week. Major mega events include the “Celebration of National Day – The Next Generation Chorus Performance” at the West Kowloon Cultural District on September 30 night (Monday) and the 2024 National Day Fireworks Display at the Victoria Harbour on October 1 night (Tuesday). The Hong Kong Police Force (Police) will arrange sufficient police manpower to implement corresponding crowd management measures and special traffic arrangements as necessary to ensure that all celebrations will be conducted in a safe and orderly manner. Various district offices will also closely monitor the flow of visitors within their corresponding districts during the Mainland’s National Day Golden Week and strengthen management of the relevant spots having regard to the actual circumstances.Coordinate control points, traffic and public transport facilities     The Inter-departmental Joint Command Centre set up by Hong Kong Customs, the Police, the ImmD and other departments will be activated from September 28 (Saturday) to October 7 (Monday) to monitor the real-time situation at various control points, maintain close liaison with the Mainland port authorities through the established port hotlines and real-time notification mechanism, and take timely contingency actions to flexibly deploy manpower at the BCPs to ensure smooth operation of the land control points. The Security Bureau will also activate the Emergency Monitoring and Support Centre in a timely manner to closely monitor and co-ordinate the public order situation at various BCPs and facilitate interdepartmental follow-up actions where necessary to respond promptly to various kinds of emergencies.     For transport arrangements, the Transport Department (TD) has worked with relevant Mainland authorities and relevant operators to formulate plans to strengthen services at various ports, including increasing the frequency of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB) shuttle bus (Gold Bus) and the Lok Ma Chau-Huanggang cross-boundary shuttle bus (Yellow Bus), as well as arranging dedicated public transport lanes at the HZMB Port, Lok Ma Chau/Huanggang Port and Shenzhen Bay Port as necessary, with a view to ensuring smooth public transport services. Regarding local public transport services, the TD has approached various public transport operators proactively to enhance the capacity, and reserve vehicles and manpower to meet the travel needs of visitors. Amongst them, the MTR Corporation Limited will enhance train service of railway lines during September 28 to October 13, with a total of about 950 extra trips, so as to facilitate the travelling of local residents and visitors. The TD’s Emergency Transport Co-ordination Centre will operate 24 hours to closely monitor the traffic conditions and public transport services of different districts including various BCPs and major stations. The TD will adopt various measures including increasing the frequency of public transport services as appropriate so as to cope with the service demand and passenger flow, and will disseminate the latest traffic information through various channels.     As regards the two homeporting calls of a mega cruise ship at the Kai Tak Cruise Terminal during the Mainland’s National Day Golden Week, while the cruise terminal operator will continue to coordinate with the cruise company, transport service operators and travel agents etc. to make proper transport planning, the Tourism Commission (TC) has also liaised with the bus companies and the taxi trade through the TD to provide additional support. Shuttle bus services will also be strengthened subject to demand. As it is anticipated that many Mainland visitors will come to Hong Kong to join cruise itineraries via the land BCPs, the TC has also assisted the trade in coordinating with BCPs to ensure smooth immigration clearance. Direct coach services will be provided to take visitors from the BCPs to the cruise terminal.Weather forecast     The weather in Hong Kong is expected to be generally fine during the Mainland’s National Day Golden Week, with low chances of being affected by heavy rain and tropical cyclones. A fresh to strong northeasterly monsoon is expected to arrive in Guangdong on the National Day, followed by a couple of days of slightly cooler and drier weather, with a minimum temperature of around 22 degrees Celsius in the urban areas. The above forecast is a preliminary assessment, and the Observatory will update the forecast depending on the latest weather changes.Information dissemination     To facilitate visitors in planning their itineraries, the inter-departmental working group will strengthen information dissemination including the latest inbound visitor arrivals, the situation at various BCPs, information on celebratory events, transport arrangements and the latest weather information, etc, to facilitate residents and visitors to plan their itineraries according to the latest situation.     The Tourism Board (TB) has also launched a dedicated webpage to consolidate various useful information during the Mainland’s National Day Golden Week, including the operating arrangements of major tourist attractions in Hong Kong, details of various unique celebratory events, special discount and promotional activities around the National Day, so as to facilitate residents and visitors to plan their itineraries more conveniently. The TB has also stepped up promotion in the Mainland, including launching special offers with major online integrated tourism platforms in the Mainland, in order to promote large-scale events with characteristics, explore the unique cultural and tourism experiences in Hong Kong through the promotional channel of the platforms and boost spending of more Mainland visitors in Hong Kong as well as enhance visitors’ experience.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: That’s a wrap: deal done for biggest sport and health investment in region

    Source: City of Plymouth

    A mind-boggling 26 leases and other legal agreements, three key sports teams, numerous sports funding and community organisations – the starting pistol has well and truly been fired on the biggest sport and health investment Plymouth has seen since the opening of the Life Centre.

    Plymouth Argyle Football Club, Plymouth Argyle Community Trust, Plymouth Albion RFC, Plymouth City Council and Devonport Community Leisure Limited have now finished the negotiations and deals around parcels of land and buildings in and around the Brickfields site in Devonport.

    With the complex paperwork complete, start on site for this transformational project is about to get underway.

    Councillor Sue Dann, Cabinet Member for Customer Services, Sports and Leisure said: “It’s been a hugely complex scheme and is the most significant sports pitch hub development in Devon and Cornwall. All the players involved have been dedicated to the idea of this transformational sports regeneration scheme – not just for the elite super fit athletes but for creating revitalised facilities for the people of Plymouth – and Devonport in particular – to help them remain healthy and well.”

    To give an idea of the complexities behind the scheme, Devonport Community Leisure Ltd had to relinquish their lease on the Brickfields building to enable the work on the hub to start. The hub is going to be run by Plymouth Argyle Community Trust, who have considerable experience of managing a community hub at Manadon. The athletic club is getting a new club house, but that means the old one will need to be demolished.

    All the facilities had to comply with the exacting standards of the sports organisations in terms of ensuring the pitches are built to the right specifications. The timetabling of planned work is all designed to cause as little interruption as possible to programmed sporting events. Tied into all of these are funding agreements from organisations such as the Football Foundation and the Government’s Youth Investment Fund.

    Part of this massive puzzle has included creating a pétanque terrain nearby for Plymouth Petanque club who had a terrain on the Brickfields site. Ensuring there is capacity for parking for visitors was also another consideration – and an underused car park is to be utilised at weekends for visitors.

    Stoke Damerel Community College is to become the new home of hockey for the west of Plymouth, with a new, 2G sand pitch for both school and community use with modern flood lighting for all year round use. It will also be used for other sports and for the day-to-day PE needs of the college. A smaller rubber-crumb 3G surface is being built for football and contact rugby training and will replace the standing 20-year-old artificial surface. An improved grass playing pitch is also planned.

    Work on these facilities is underway but for now all eyes are on the start of work at Brickfields. At the core of the proposals is a new permanent home for Plymouth Argyle’s youth wing, the Argyle Academy, and Plymouth Argyle Women.

    Extensive community and sport facilities include new grass and all-weather 3G pitches, athletics facilities for the City of Plymouth Athletics Club and other users, play zones exclusively for public use, better public access, landscaped public areas, and parking.

    Work on the community hub on the site of the former Brickfields sports centre has been progressing. The new hub, which will deliver much needed accessible and affordable community space to connect people and offer a wide range of wellbeing services.

    Who is involved: the big players

    • Plymouth City Council
    • Plymouth Argyle FC
    • Plymouth Argyle Community Trust
    • Plymouth Albion RFC
    • Devonport Community Leisure Ltd

    On the team:

    • Livewell South West
    • City of Plymouth Athletic Club
    • Plymouth Petanque
    • Football Foundation
    • Sport England
    • Rugby Football Union
    • England Hockey
    • The Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS)
    • Ministry of Defence

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: A graduate of the State University of Management is among the best athletes of Russia in BMX sports

    MIL OSI Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

    Source: State University of Management – Official website of the State –

    A graduate of the Department of Management in the Sports and Fitness Industry of the IOM GUU, Alexander Katyshev, repeatedly takes the top step of the podium at BMX competitions.

    This summer, Alexander won four gold medals at the Russian BMX Championship and became the winner of several stages of the Russian Cup.

    “Every year the level of competitions grows, and I want to thank everyone involved in the creation and implementation of such a great event,” the athlete shared on his page.

    In September, the GUU graduate once again added to his stock of gold medals by taking first place at the IX stage of the Russian Cup.

    We congratulate Alexander on his well-deserved awards and wish him further victories and outstanding achievements!

    Subscribe to the TG channel “Our GUU” Date of publication: 09/26/2024

    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.

    A graduate of the State University of Management is among the best athletes of Russia in BMX sports

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Attorney General Merrick B. Garland Delivers Remarks at the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of South Carolina

    Source: United States Attorneys General 13

    Remarks as Prepared for Delivery

    Good morning. Thank you, Adair, for that warm welcome.

    Before we get started, I want to address a major development that took place late yesterday.

    The Justice Department secured a federal indictment of Ryan Routh, charging him with attempting to assassinate former President Donald Trump.

    These new charges returned by the grand jury build on the firearms felony charges we filed last week, which permitted the defendant’s arrest and detention as our investigation continued.

    Immediately after the assassination attempt on September 15th, I made clear that the Justice Department would bring every available resource to bear in this investigation.

    Over the last 11 days, the Department has done just that.

    As alleged in the indictment, and as reflected in court documents filed in this case, evidence uncovered in the investigation sheds new light on the defendant’s actions in the days leading up to this crime, and supports the charge of attempted assassination. This evidence includes:

    A handwritten list seized from the defendant’s car cataloging the dates and venues of the former President’s past and expected appearances.

    A box the defendant left with a witness several months ago, which contained a handwritten letter addressed to “the World,” stating: “This was an assassination attempt on Donald Trump but I failed you.”

    And cell site records indicating that on multiple days and times in the weeks leading up to the assassination attempt, the defendant was repeatedly in the immediate vicinity of the Trump International Golf Club and the former President’s residence at Mar-a-Lago.

    This investigation is still in its early stages and remains active and ongoing. And as in all cases, the allegations we make in our filings are just that until we prove them in court beyond a reasonable doubt.

    The Justice Department is committed to using the full force of our authorities to thoroughly investigate every lead and ensure accountability in this matter.

    Our nation has now experienced two assassination attempts against the former President in just the last three months. That is abhorrent.

    Violence and threats of violence targeting public officials are dangerous to their safety, the safety of their families, and the safety of the people who protect them. They are dangerous to everything this country stands for.

    The Justice Department will not tolerate violence that strikes at the heart of our democracy. And we will find and hold accountable those who perpetrate it.

    This must stop.

    Now, I want to turn to the topic of today’s meeting, the work of this office and its law enforcement partners.

    In just a few moments, U.S. Attorney Boroughs and I will meet with our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners about our work to keep communities across South Carolina safe.

    I am grateful to have the chance to thank our partners today, in person, for the difficult and often dangerous work they do to protect communities here in Columbia and across the state.

    I am also grateful to have the chance to recognize the public servants of this Office for their extraordinary work.

    This U.S. Attorney’s Office is the face of the Justice Department here in South Carolina. When people across the state look to see what the Department stands for, they look to this U.S. Attorney’s Office. I have been consistently impressed not only with the work you do, but with the way you do that work.

    That work, together with the work of our state and local law enforcement partners, is making a difference.

    Three-and-a-half years ago, the Justice Department launched an ambitious strategy to combat violent crime. That strategy is rooted in exactly the kinds of partnerships that are represented in this room. Today, we are seeing results.

    According to the South Carolina State Law Enforcement Division, South Carolina’s violent crime rate decreased by 5.8% from 2022 to 2023, making 2023 the third consecutive year of decline. That included a 5.9% decrease in the murder rate.

    We have also seen encouraging trends on the national level. Just earlier this week, the FBI released a report indicating we saw an 11.6% drop in homicides last year and one of the lowest violent crime rates in 50 years.

    And recent data indicates this trend is continuing.

    Earlier this month, the Justice Department’s Violent Crime Reduction Steering Committee announced new data from across 88 cities, which indicates that violent crime has continued to decline considerably in 2024. That included a further 16.9% drop in murders.

    But we know that progress in many communities is still uneven. And, of course, there is no acceptable level of violent crime.

    That is why the Justice Department is continuing to work with our partners here in South Carolina and across the country to combat violent crime, drug and gun trafficking, and gang violence.

    For example, on a single day earlier this month, this office announced three significant developments in our work to combat drug trafficking and the fentanyl crisis.

    First – in partnership with ATF, Homeland Security, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and local law enforcement in Cherokee, Spartanburg, and Greenville counties – the office secured guilty pleas from six members of a methamphetamine trafficking ring responsible for distributing at least 250 kilograms of meth in the Upstate.

    Second – together with ATF, DEA, and the Richland County Sheriff’s Department – the office secured 10-year and seven-year prison sentences, respectively, for two individuals on fentanyl and gun charges.

    Third, together with DEA and the Richland County Sheriff’s Department, this Office secured a 10-year prison sentence for a man who provided a syringe loaded with drugs, including fentanyl, to a victim who later died of fentanyl poisoning.

    And, just last month, the office worked with federal law enforcement partners – as well as law enforcement in Spartanburg, Greenville, and Anderson counties – to secure a 23-year prison sentence for a cocaine and meth dealer.

    The dealer also conscripted others to buy guns for him so that he could modify them into fully automatic weapons. He sold some of the machine guns, and he kept at least one of them with him during his drug deals.

    And this spring, this office – in partnership with federal law enforcement, the Duncan Police Department, and several Canadian law enforcement agencies – secured sentences for three international gun traffickers. As part of that scheme, two of the defendants recruited straw purchasers to buy  guns on their behalf and then smuggled them to Canada.

    Finally, earlier this year, this office announced the results of a months-long investigation conducted in partnership with 19 federal, state, and local public safety agencies. That investigation resulted in charges against 13 defendants and the seizure of multiple firearms, ammunition, and drugs, including fentanyl.

    That investigation came after the FBI identified communities in Myrtle Beach that were experiencing high levels of gang and narcotics-related violence; in response, federal, state, and local law enforcement concentrated resources and personnel in those areas.

    In addition to using our investigative and prosecutorial resources to protect communities here in South Carolina, we are also committed to using our grantmaking capabilities to invest in public safety.

    For example, today, the Department is awarding $3 million in funding through the National Criminal History Improvement Program, which provides funding to states and localities to improve the quality, timeliness, and immediate accessibility of criminal history records and related information.

    This grant is part of the more than $36 million that the Department is awarding to organizations and government agencies in South Carolina this month to support law enforcement activities and community initiatives.

    These funds will, among other things, help law enforcement agencies in South Carolina hire more officers, prevent and combat violent crime and drug trafficking, and improve services for survivors of domestic and dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, and other crimes.

    We remain committed to providing our law enforcement and community partners with the resources they need to protect people across this state.

    The examples I have shared today are just a snapshot of the work this office is doing every day to protect people in this state, and to fulfill the Justice Department’s mission to keep our country safe, to protect civil rights, and to uphold the rule of law.

    I am very proud of the public servants who make up this office.  And I am equally proud of the relationships they have nurtured with the people and agencies around this table. They are the Justice Department’s indispensable partners.

    I look forward to our meeting.

    Thank you. 

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI China: Potential US port strike could cripple global supply chain

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    Containers are seen in the process of logistics operations at Maher Terminal owned by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey in Bayonne, New Jersey, the United States, on Oct. 19, 2021. [Photo/Xinhua]

    The International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA), a North American labor union, recently threatened to go on strike if a new agreement cannot be reached before the existing contract expires on Sept. 30.

    Experts worry that a potential large-scale port strike could have a devastating impact on the U.S. economy and cripple the global supply chain.

    According to media reports, the ILA is advocating for significant wage increases in the new six-year agreement, arguing that inflation has completely eaten into any raises and wages over the past six years.

    The ILA also demands a total ban on the automation of cranes, gates, and container movements used to load freight at over 30 U.S. ports.

    As the deadline approaches, there is increasing concern that a large-scale port strike in the United States could become a reality. This could potentially be the first major strike to occur along the East Coast and Gulf of Mexico ports since 1977.

    About three-fifths of container shipments to the United States are transported through the East and Gulf Coasts, and according to logistics experts, it is not feasible for the West Coast ports to handle the entirety or a significant majority of these shipments if they were redirected.

    “Even a two-week strike could disrupt supply chains until 2025,” Grace Zwemmer, associate U.S. economist with Oxford, warned in a new report.

    According to transportation analysts at JPMorgan, a strike could cause a daily economic loss of 5 billion U.S. dollars, equivalent to approximately 6 percent of the country’s daily gross domestic product.

    Even if shippers turn to West Coast ports, congestion may occur, leading to cargo delays and significant increases in shipping costs.

    In response to the situation, some international shipping companies are preparing for a shutdown of all ports along the East Coast.

    Market expectations of a breakdown in labor negotiations causing another disruption in the supply chain have led to an increase in stock prices for shipping giant Maersk Group, which has risen nearly 20 percent in the past two weeks as of Tuesday.

    Mike DeAngelis, the senior director of international solutions for freight visibility platform FourKites, believes the potential port strike will only exacerbate the current difficulties.

    “We’re facing a perfect storm — with the Red Sea disruptions preventing normal access to the Suez Canal, and the Panama Canal’s still-reduced capacity, an ILA strike would effectively choke off major arteries of global trade,” DeAngelis said.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Win for SA sport with new SASI up and running

    Source: University of South Australia

    26 September 2024

    UniSA’s Prof Jon Buckley and Minister for Recreation, Sport and Racing Katrine Hildyard with SASI athletes.

    South Australian Sports Institute (SASI) athletes have had a first look at their new, state-of-the-art Mile End facility, ahead of operations commencing next week.
     
    The nearly $90 million SASI build has been designed to give South Australian and SA-based athletes a competitive edge, featuring nation-leading spaces including:

    • Strength and conditioning gym, fit with five lane synthetic turf testing space (three lanes are 60 metres and two lanes are 40 metres) and anti-gravity treadmill.
    • Environmental chamber for athlete testing under a range of temperature, hypoxic and humidity conditions.
    • Full sized indoor sprung timber court and half court movement studio, designed for instant performance analysis under individual and team modes.
    • Ergometer training space, home to the SASI rowing and canoe/kayak programs.
    • Physiology laboratory and athlete health rooms, fit out for our allied health partners.
    • Athlete recovery centre, complete with athlete nutrition zone.
    • Biomechanics and exercise physiology laboratories fit for our allied health partners and for students to learn about the role that forces play in movement and physiological responses to exercise and training.

    The Malinauskas Government has invested $68 million towards the development, which provides a world-class sport, research and education hub to high performance athletes, coaches and university students.

    UniSA Prof Jon Buckley and SASI athlete and weightlifter Callum Thomas

    Project partner UniSA has contributed a further $20 million for capital costs, which will see the UniSA Sports Science Hub open on the second floor in the coming months, with high performance sport science laboratories and teaching spaces for students undertaking a range of undergraduate and postgraduate degrees.
     
    The building will also be home to the Office for Recreation, Sport and Racing, which was instrumental in the design and building process, working alongside COX Architecture and Hansen Yuncken.
     
    The new facility launches as one of the best high-performance sports precincts in the country. Its Mile End location sits right on the doorstep of Adelaide’s CBD, and is co-located with the pioneering National Centre for Sports Aerodynamics, upgraded SA Athletics Stadium, and the SA Netball Centre.
     
    The Mile End sports precinct is set to be a drawcard for international sports teams with world-renowned organisations having already expressed their interest in basing themselves in Adelaide to use these amenities.
     
    A SASI open day event will be held early next year where members of the public will be invited to come along and take a tour of the new facility.
     
    Quotes attributable to Katrine Hildyard
     
    Through this remarkable new SASI, our Government is proudly ensuring South Australia is at the forefront of world-class sport performance and research, and empowering more athletes to chase their sporting dreams.
     
    The new SASI and its state-of-the-art features will be a key site in the lead up to the Brisbane 2032 Games and beyond, supporting the work of our South Australian athletes and coaches and also attracting national and international teams to Adelaide.
     
    This almost $90 million development is a key part of the brilliant sporting precinct we are developing at Mile End with our National Centre for Sports Aerodynamics, upgraded Athletics Stadium and soon to be redeveloped SA Netball Centre all neighbours.
     
    We know that the new SASI will enable every athlete who uses this facility to have the best possible support around them as they strive to realise their ambition to compete at the highest level.
     
    Quotes attributable to SASI Director Keren Faulkner
     
    SASI’s new home in Mile End is something I am extremely proud of where we will help athletes develop into the best version of themselves, both in their sporting pursuits and in their everyday lives.
     
    As an organisation that is at the heart of South Australia’s sporting success, I’m thrilled that this space has been designed to be inclusive and support every type of elite athlete.
     
    It will also enable our coaches and staff to power greatness in their work where we’ve always had a world class team and now, we have the facilities to match this – the sky’s the limit in terms of what we can achieve.
     
    Our partnership with UniSA will also give us great opportunities to promote the way research, science and academia can work together with sport.
     
    Quotes attributable to UniSA Professor Jon Buckley, Executive Dean: UniSA Allied Health and Human Performance Academic Unit
     
    UniSA is very pleased to partner with the State Government and South Australian Sports Institute in this world-class development.
     
    The collaboration draws upon the expertise of SASI and UniSA to dually advance the preparation of high-performance athletes and educate the elite sports workforce of the future.

    Other articles you may be interested in

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Crapo Joins Legislation to Ban Handgun Rosters

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Idaho Mike Crapo
    Washington, D.C..–U.S. Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) joined U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho) to introduce the Modern Firearms Safety Act, which would prohibit states from enforcing handgun rosters.  These lists of pre-approved handguns require manufacturers to include costly features like microstamping, loaded chamber indicators and magazine disconnect mechanisms on firearms, preventing law-abiding citizens from purchasing the firearm of their choice.
    “Those on the Left continue to use every creative avenue possible to stifle Second Amendment rights and restrict gun ownership for law-abiding citizens,” said Crapo. “These practices must stop.”
    “Unconstitutional handgun rosters create unnecessary, burdensome requirements for firearm manufacturers while undermining the Second Amendment,” said Risch.  “The Modern Firearms Safety Act stops Democrats arbitrary handgun catalogs and protects law-abiding gun owners’ right to bear arms.”
    Several states, including California, New York, Maryland, Massachusetts, and Washington, D.C., have recently enacted unconstitutional handgun rosters. A 2024 federal district court ruling found California’s handgun roster requirements unconstitutional.
    Crapo and Risch are joined by U.S. Senators Mike Braun (R-Indiana), Shelley Moore Capito (R-West Virginia), Bill Cassidy (R-Louisiana), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Kevin Cramer (R-North Dakota), Steve Daines (R-Montana), John Hoeven (R-North Dakota), Roger Marshall (R-Kansas), Markwayne Mullin (R-Oklahoma) and Thom Tillis (R-North Carolina) in introducing the legislation.
    “Blue states look for every avenue to ban guns for law-abiding citizens,” said Cassidy.  “Requiring unnecessary and imaginary modifications that don’t improve safety is just another tactic out of this playbook. The Second Amendment is a Constitutional right that shouldn’t be infringed upon just because of the state in which you reside.” 
    “Trying to impose unnecessary and overly stringent requirements on what features handguns must have is a blatant attempt to strip away core constitutional rights,” said Cornyn.  “This legislation ensures law-abiding gun owners in Texas can continue to exercise their Second Amendment right in a safe and responsible way without being subject to impractical restrictions.”
    “Our Founding Fathers were clear—the right to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed,” said Daines.  “Forcing Americans to outfit their firearms with onerous and costly features is a clear attempt to undermine the Second Amendment and law-abiding citizens’ constitutional rights, and it must stop.”
    “I am proud to join Senator Risch in our fight against the Democrats’ never-ending attack on our Second Amendment rights and our constitutional freedoms,” Marshall said.  “The Modern Firearm Safety Act will end the unconstitutional gun grab currently underway in far-Left states like California, New York, Maryland, and Massachusetts. Our legislation rightfully blocks Democrats from enforcing illegal handgun roster requirements designed to target law-abiding Americans.”
    “This commonsense legislation safeguards the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens by eliminating unnecessary barriers to purchase firearms,” said Tillis.  “I am proud to support responsible gun owners by introducing this legislation, which aims to prevent government overreach and uphold our constitutional freedoms.”
    The Modern Firearms Safety Act has received support from the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation, National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) and National Rifle Association (NRA).
    ?

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Hillsborough law planned for 2025 – what it will mean for future disasters and scandals

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Nathan Critch, Research Associate, Alliance Manchester Business School, University of Manchester

    In his first conference speech as prime minister, Keir Starmer vowed that a Hillsborough law will be introduced in April, before the next anniversary of the football stadium disaster. The law will force public bodies to cooperate with investigations into future disasters and scandals.

    This announcement follows a long campaign by the families of the 97 people killed (and hundreds more injured) when part of Hillsborough stadium collapsed in 1989.

    The disaster and the inquiry that followed highlighted how justice is so often impeded by the tendency of powerful people to cover up information or refuse to cooperate in investigations.

    Initial media coverage of the Hillsborough disaster wrongly blamed football fans for the deaths. A public inquiry cited faults in police control, although its main recommendations related to crowd safety in sports venues.

    Crucially, the inquiry did not have access to all relevant evidence, interviewing only a few of those involved as it rushed to produce a narrowly focused report. An inquest ruled the deaths to have been “accidental”.

    Bereaved families “were sure that the true context, circumstances and aftermath of Hillsborough had not been adequately explored, established and made public”. Further efforts and campaigns for truth and justice ensued. Families attempted to bring private prosecutions against two of the police officers who had been in charge of operations at the match. Neither were successfully charged.

    In 2009, the government made an exception to the normal 30-year restriction on the publication of official documents, to ensure all documents related to the disaster were available to investigators.

    Shortly afterwards, the government established the Hillsborough Independent Panel to reexamine the causes of the disaster in light of full access to relevant evidence and in close consultation with Hillsborough families.



    Read more:
    New ‘Hillsborough Law’ needed to tackle ‘burning injustice’ and empower victims and family

    The panel’s report emphasised policing failures and found that crowd safety had been “compromised at every level” due to “well known” issues. The report found that police “sought to deflect responsibility” on Liverpool fans.

    New inquests concluded that the deaths of 97 had been unlawful, highlighting police and emergency service failures and exonerating the supporters who were initially blamed.

    In 2012, South Yorkshire Police apologised, and confirmed the independent panel’s findings that “senior officers sought to change the record of events” in the aftermath.

    Decades of campaigning

    The long struggle for truth and justice has focused on a lack of honesty and openness by those in power, a willingness to close ranks and blame others, and a failure to disclose relevant information. A Hillsborough law will enforce “a positive duty to tell the truth” and require public officials to “proactively assist investigations”.

    Starmer confirmed in his speech that the law will include criminal sanctions for those who breach it. Proposals also include better legal support and representations for future victims of disasters and their families.

    Proposals for a Hillsborough law were first put forward in 2017 as a private members’ bill by Andy Burnham, then shadow home secretary. Its passage was interrupted by the 2017 general election, but some aspects were reintroduced in 2022 in another private member’s bill. This, too, was interrupted when Boris Johnson prorogued parliament.

    Since becoming Labour leader, Starmer has framed his project as being one committed to returning his party, and the government, back to the service of working people. Passing a law designed and advocated for by working-class people who experienced injustice when their family members died is a clear symbol of this agenda.

    The law is also indicative of Starmer’s efforts to frame his government as one that seeks to be transparent, open and consistent. This puts him in contrast to the preceding 14 years of Conservative rule, which were marred by allegations of corruption and misconduct.

    High-profile scandals related to the pandemic, including members of the government holding illegal parties in Downing Street and misallocated contracts for PPE (personal protective equipment) to companies owned by people closely connected to government are just two examples.

    The announcement comes as Starmer himself, and senior members of his government, have been accused of lack of transparency on donations and gifts.
    Announcing the Hillsborough law goes some way to repairing his commitment to transparency and service in government, which has lost some of its shine in recent weeks.

    Changing the culture

    The reaction to the announcement from families and campaigners has been positive.

    The director of the charity Inquest, which supports families of those who have died in state-related disasters, called the law “a step forward in providing a legacy for the 97 so that others do not have to go through the pain and trauma of decades of campaigning”.

    The potential effect of the law goes far beyond Hillsborough. Other recent events including the Post Office scandal, infected blood and the Grenfell Tower fire have all been affected by a lack of openness and candour by those in power.

    But will a law on its own be enough? From Hillsborough to Grenfell to Windrush, what these many injustices highlight is that the problem of secrecy and a lack of transparency and candour is systemic and cultural. The British state has long been marked by a tradition of elitism, a government-knows-best attitude and a scepticism towards citizen engagement, participation and openness.

    While the Hillsborough law is indeed a step forward, it is only one piece of the jigsaw of making British governance more open and democratic.

    Nathan Critch receives funding from the Economic and Social Research Council (grant number:
    ES/V002740/1). He is affiliated with The Productivity Institute.

    – ref. Hillsborough law planned for 2025 – what it will mean for future disasters and scandals – https://theconversation.com/hillsborough-law-planned-for-2025-what-it-will-mean-for-future-disasters-and-scandals-239855

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Torrential rain represents an opportunity to build a better society

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Maryam Imani, Associate Professor of Water Systems Engineering, Anglia Ruskin University

    A month’s worth of rain has poured down in just a few hours in parts of central and southern England. More than 300 flood-related emergency calls were made, major roads were submerged, trains were delayed, and an enormous sinkhole opened up on a football pitch in south London.

    This follows similar torrential rain across central and eastern Europe two weeks ago, which led to flash floods and widespread damage and deaths. As climate change alters rain patterns and makes extreme downpours more common, and more extreme, such flooding is increasingly the new normal.

    Intense rain doesn’t lead to serious floods every time, of course. Sometimes we get lucky: a well-timed low tide might help, or a rainstorm could be surprisingly localised in a place where water can easily flow into the sea, a river or a pond. And some of the actions taken by humans to minimise the risk of catastrophic floods can actually make life more pleasant anyway, even when it isn’t raining. For this reason, we should see rains like this not just as a challenge, but as an opportunity.

    Minimising the risk of disaster

    There are various things we can do to minimise flood risks before and after torrential rains and prevent smaller floods from escalating into disasters.

    We can build bigger and better drainage and stormwater infrastructure, for instance, and make sure drains are unblocked and flood walls are properly maintained. This is an example of so-called “hard” flood defences.

    Features like ponds and wetlands, larger parks, or trees on hillsides, help slow down or store rainwater and can ensure the flow is spread out over days or even weeks. Water flows much faster over bare ground, and especially over concrete roads and buildings, where urban drainage systems can soon be overwhelmed – causing floods. These features are known variously as “nature-based solutions” or “sustainable drainage systems” or “blue-green infrastructure”.

    We can also use smart technologies for flood warning systems and we can ensure people are aware and prepared. We can ensure people don’t live in flood-prone areas in the first place, through climate-resilient planning, and that those who do live there are insured and have flood-proofed their homes as best they can.

    More sustainable flood management

    In the UK, several exemplary projects address flood management. The most iconic is the Thames Barrier in London, which protects the city from storm surges and high tides coming from the North Sea. Another is the the Leeds Flood Alleviation Scheme, which protects over 3,000 properties and 500 businesses in the UK’s fourth-largest urban area. It involves a combination of hard defences – weirs, flood walls – and natural solutions like planting trees and constructing water storage areas.

    The National Storm Overflows Plan for England report is being reviewed by the UK government for approval by December 2024. One of its recommendations is to make sustainable drainage systems mandatory.

    A government scheme (Flood Re) also ensures homeowners in flood-risk areas can protect their homes and obtain affordable insurance. And various rivers have been allowed to “wiggle” once again, by flooding over nearby fields. This has proven effective at reducing peak flows during storms, which is especially beneficial downstream where people live and where rivers are often encased in human-made banks.

    The River Derwent flows through the Lake District of northern England.
    RnDmS / shutterstock

    These initiatives are part of a broader trend toward more sustainable flood management practices. Key projects such as the “slowing the flow” project in Pickering, Yorkshire or projects along the River Derwent in Cumbria focus on reconnecting rivers with their floodplains.

    Worldwide lessons

    The Netherlands is one of the world leaders in flood management. The Delta Works, a massive system of dams, sluices, locks, dikes and storm-surge barriers, protects the country, much of which is below sea level, from flooding due to rainfall and rising sea levels.

    The Room for the River programme, started in 2007, manages higher water levels in rivers by lowering flood plains, creating water buffers, relocating levees, increasing the depth of side channels, and constructing flood bypasses. Urban adaptations, such as those in Rotterdam, are also crucial for managing flash flooding.

    Japan, particularly in flood-prone areas like Tokyo, has built massive underground flood tunnels to divert rainwater during storms. This system helps protect the city from excessive rainfall and typhoons. In many European countries, sustainable drainage systems are now integrated into urban planning. This helps absorb excess rainwater during storms, while offering ecological and social benefits too (grass and ponds are ultimately a lot nicer than bare concrete).

    It’s crucial to be aware of the problem of intense rain and view it as a chance to improve society. Prolonged droughts highlight the need to focus on storing and using excess water during high-demand times, which can be done by creating wetlands, storing floodwaters or by enabling the soil to store and retain more moisture.

    Engineers can’t do all this by themselves. Neither can tree-planters or wetland creators. We need a hybrid approach combining engineering solutions with nature and community efforts.


    Don’t have time to read about climate change as much as you’d like?

    Get our award-winning weekly roundup in your inbox instead. Every Wednesday, The Conversation’s environment editor writes Imagine, a short email that goes a little deeper into just one climate issue. Join the 35,000+ readers who’ve subscribed so far.

    Maryam Imani is a member of the Institution of Civil Engineers and a STEM programme ambassador.

    – ref. Torrential rain represents an opportunity to build a better society – https://theconversation.com/torrential-rain-represents-an-opportunity-to-build-a-better-society-239755

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Gangs’stories: Danny’s tales of machismo in Glasgow

    Source: The Conversation – France – By Alistair Fraser, Professor of Criminology, University of Glasgow

    Glasgow – 1973, Queen Street Rail Station. Helmutt Zozmann, CC BY-NC-ND

    For the past five years, the GANGS project, a European Research Council-funded project led by Dennis Rodgers, has been studying global gang dynamics in a comparative perspective. When understood in a nuanced manner that goes beyond the usual stereotypes and Manichean representations, gangs and gangsters arguably constitute fundamental lenses through which to think about and understand the world we live in.

    _Alistair Fraser and Angela Bartie present the story of Danny, who was a Glaswegian gang member in his youth. Drawing on interviews carried out when he was 18, 59, and 70 years old, they trace his changing self-reflection about his past experiences which mirror the broader transformation of the city from a violence urban space in the 1960s to a thriving “people’s city” in 2024.

    _

    As Danny left the room, that autumn of 2022, our eyes locked together in shock. For the last three hours, this spry seventy-year-old had held us rapt. Tanned, lean, and composed in his smart coat and cap, he was someone you’d have happily bought a used car from. But in the room he had been regaling us with tales of his teenage years running with the ‘Drummy’, a street gang notorious in Glasgow’s history. How had he got from there to here?

    Danny grew up in Easterhouse, a 1950s housing scheme on the periphery of the city that quickly attracted negative publicity. Tens of thousands were rehoused from crumbling tenements in the city centre. They were sold a bright new vision of progress but found themselves deserted on the edge of town, with only fields for company. Without shops, jobs, or facilities, young people made their own entertainment, forming themselves into gangs and fighting for kicks. Membership was decided simply by which street you happened to live on, a kind of natural selection where geography would land you on one side or the other. Unlike gangs in other cities, in Glasgow it was not about control of drug markets but a more primal law of the jungle, fighting for kicks and respect.

    The violence of the Easterhouse gangs was legendary. As Danny recalled:

    “It was just out and out tribal, that’s all it was, you know. And it was a day-to-day routine… some of the things you did were ludicrous. I mean, we used to run, we had football pitches, and you would run into the football pitches, maybe 50, 60 of yous, in pitch black. You would charge each other. Now, the British Army wouldn’t do that, in pitch black, run into it, not knowing what’s there. And you ran at each other, not knowing if the guy’s got a sword, a knife, a hatchet, anything.”

    The issue didn’t stay local for long. Warfare involving Easterhouse gangs attracted national media attention, drew concerned responses from politicians, and even garnered a celebrity visit from popular entertainer Frankie Vaughan who asked the gangs to put down their knives.

    Years before series such as the Peaky Blinders, the movie Small Faces (1996) would highlight gang violence in industrial towns such as Glasgow.

    The violence also attracted the attention of radical criminologists. Gail Wilson and Mary Wilson were part of a loose association of “Anarchists, CND, young Communists and international Socialists” (Cohen 1974: 27) who were trying to rewire academic approaches to youth culture. Rather than looking at the rule-breakers, these upstarts were looking at the rule makers and asking why some groups were criminalised more than others. Gail and Mary spent years working alongside gang youth in Easterhouse, studying their daily lives and comparing this with media narratives. They applied a theory called “social constructionism”, which tries to untangle stereotypes and reality.

    Meeting Danny

    We first met Gail and Mary back in 2010, after our studies of 1960s gangs had led us to their doorsteps. During our first meeting, Gail climbed a ladder to a storage hatch and retrieved a dusty box. Our eyes widened as we saw what lay inside. Notes, news clippings, sketches, essays and – incredibly – eighteen hand-written transcripts of interviews with members of the “Drummy” gang from 1969.

    We set about trying to trace these boys, who would now be in their fifties. We wondered how their lives had gone, where they’d ended up, and what lessons they would want to tell the current generation. We weren’t always successful. Some had died, others relocated. One got in touch to say he didn’t want to talk about that period in his life. Danny was one that said yes.

    Glasgow Gangs, 1968.

    Danny’s story, in a way, was the story of Glasgow. After his teenage gang years, Danny surfed Glasgow’s wave of industrialisation into a career in sales. He worked hard and moved out of the estate, initially to an area a few miles west of Easterhouse. His manager saw his potential, and Danny reflected that his street skills had prepared him for organisational roles and promotion.

    When we first spoke in 2011, he had been bullish in his talk of days gone by. His eyes glinted at the retelling of tales of violence, like a cowboy in a Western saloon. He revelled in one about his strict father taking him to the pub for his 18th birthday, where they had been challenged to a fight by a man and his dog. “Needless to say”, he told us with a grin, “we leathered them.”

    It sealed a bond between father and son. As he told us, “I kind of walked up the road as proud as punch, me and my dad”. We interpreted this as a link between past and present – the gang was a hand-me-down masculinity, like the legend of the Glasgow hardman swaggering through the pages of history.

    Ten years later, however, he told the story differently. As we sat squeezed around a table too big for the room, the air was thick with regret not bravado. His father had recently passed away, and this former hardman was suddenly vulnerable. As he recalled in 2022 of the altercation:

    “That’s the first time I probably ever bonded, truly, with my dad, if you know what I mean, in all the years… on my 18th birthday, I’ll never forget it.”

    The macho image started to fracture

    The macho image that we had of Danny, and of the Glasgow hardman, started to fracture. Ever since, we have been re-evaluating what we thought we knew about Danny’s life – and gang lives in general – and our own part in retelling his story. The oral historian Lynn Abrams says:

    “The story that a person tells is just one of many that are possible. The script is not deterministic. Its shape, form and content is determined by the need for the narrator to construct a memory story with which he or she can feel comfortable at that moment. And a comfortable telling is often one in which the story told coheres with larger cultural understandings.”

    Danny’s perspectives on his youthful gang experiences have altered not just in response to his own changing life circumstances, but also to how the culture of Glasgow has transformed in the fifty years since he was involved in the Drummy.

    Today, Glasgow is hailed as a city that has beaten the gangs, with talk of a Glasgow miracle of violence reduction.

    As he swaggered out the door, every inch the successful businessman, a stillness descended on the room. Danny was as far from the stereotype of a gang member as you could possibly imagine. He is your grandfather, your neighbour, your friend.

    Meeting Danny reminded us that stories matter, but like a city they can change – and paying attention to when and why these stories change can often reveal more than the stories themselves.

    Les auteurs ne travaillent pas, ne conseillent pas, ne possèdent pas de parts, ne reçoivent pas de fonds d’une organisation qui pourrait tirer profit de cet article, et n’ont déclaré aucune autre affiliation que leur organisme de recherche.

    – ref. Gangs’stories: Danny’s tales of machismo in Glasgow – https://theconversation.com/gangsstories-dannys-tales-of-machismo-in-glasgow-224876

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –