Category: Sport

MIL-OSI United Kingdom: St Albans Feastival: thousands turn up for City Centre street party despite downpours

Source: St Albans City and District

Publication date: 23 Sep 2024

Thousands of people braved challenging weather to enjoy a six-hour-long street party that celebrated the District’s food and drink businesses.

They refused to let occasional showers spoil the fun at the St Albans Feastival, a family-friendly event organised by St Albans City and District Council with the support of partners.

St Peter’s Street was closed to traffic for the event on Sunday 22 September which was kicked off by the Mayor, Councillor Jamie Day, with the help of Deputy Mayor, Cllr Jenni Murray, and the Rev Mark Dearnley of St Peter’s Church

Among the many attractions were around 100 market stalls offering an astonishing variety of food and drink products from local businesses.

There was also a live cookery theatre, sponsored by SA Law, featuring displays of culinary skills by local chefs.

Live music was provided on a stage, sponsored by St Albans City Centre BID. There were many free interactive activities including edible flower growing, traditional wooden games, crazy golf and a football shoot-out.

To make the event accessible, British Sign Language interpreters were at the cookery stage and other locations to help communicate activities. There were accessible viewing zones, reserved seating for those less able to stand and accessible toilets.

Chris Traill, the Council’s Strategic Director for Community and Place Delivery, said:

Congratulations to all those who were not put off by the weather and turned up in their thousands. I’m sure they will agree that it was worth it.

The rain, which unfortunately was torrential at one point, didn’t dampen their spirits and the crowds created the Feastival’s usual thrilling atmosphere.

Our events team anticipated the conditions and had arranged for many of the activities to be sheltered by gazebos.

As a Council, we are committed to making events accessible to all and measures were taken to ensure that was very much the case.

The District’s hospitality businesses are vital to the local economy and it was heartening to see so many people out there sampling many of their products.

Vivien Cannon, BID Manager, said:

Rain didn’t stop play. Well done to all the stall holders and event delivery team ensuring visitors were welcomed to yet another successful Feastival event.

Marilyn Bell, Partner and Head of Family at SA Law, said:

The St Albans Food and Drink Festival is a highlight for the SA Law team every year.

Despite the unfortunate downpour yesterday, the event was well organised, well-attended, and a delight to be a part of. It was great to see a wide range of food being offered, activities for all ages, as well as a great turnout at the Cookery Theatre where local chefs gave live demonstrations of their excellent recipes.

We are proud to support the Council and the wonderful community events they put on.

The event is part funded by the Government’s UK Prosperity Fund which awarded the District’s community events team £210,000 over three years.

Photos: scenes from the 2024 St Albans Feastival by Stephanie Belton including, first below, Cllr Jamie Day, Mayor of St Albans City and District, centre, with Cllr Jenni Murray, Deputy Mayor, and the Rev Mark Dearnley.

Media contact: John McJannet, Principal Communications Officer: 01727 819533, john.mcjannet@stalbans.gov.uk.

Note to Editors:

The UK Shared Prosperity Fund provides £2.6 billion of funding for local investment by March 2025. The Fund aims to improve pride in place and increase life chances across the UK, investing in communities and place, supporting local business, and people and skills. For more information, visit https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-shared-prosperity-fund-prospectus

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MIL OSI United Kingdom –

September 29, 2024
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Here we go, from Coleraine to Sandy Row – TUV hail fundraising efforts for the Cancer Fund for Children by Coleraine and Belfast Rangers Supporters Clubs

Source: Traditional Unionist Voice – Northern Ireland

TUV Vice Chairman and East Londonderry representative, Councillor Allister Kyle said:

“I am very proud to be associated with the phenomenal efforts of both Glasgow Rangers Supporters clubs who managed to raise £50,000 for the Cancer Fund for Children through the Emmie Smillie Foundation

“The comradeship of the two clubs shows how great goals can be achieved when likeminded people come together. The money was primarily raised by a sponsored cycle from Coleraine to Belfast which was watched by Rangers fans on the popular channel GersTV

“The money will go to good use at Daisy Lodge, Newcastle, County Down, where there purpose-built therapeutic centre is located. Under the careful stewardship of Cancer Fund for Children families can avail of support from right across the island of Ireland who are affected by cancer.

“The completely self-funded unit is dependent on donations. It is set up to allow families to spend quality time together in a safe and supportive environment, far removed from the pressures of cancer treatment and hospital wards. It also offers both privacy and the opportunity to meet and gain support from other families.

“I welcome talk of future fundraising for this and other very worthwhile causes and certainly look forward to getting more involved. Too many times our heritage, culture and social life is demonised by many, and the good news stories are pushed to the side, but here we have people rising to the fore just as the founding fathers of our football club did for in a selfless way for the betterment of others.”

KOB RSC, South Belfast chairman Sam Chestnutt said:

“Raising this money for such a worthy cause has been a real privilege for us and our visit to Daisy Lodge was such a humbling experience that many of us will not easily forget. Our 67 mile cycle was tough, but it was nothing in comparison to what those affected by cancer experience and we are just glad that we could contribute to the efforts of Cancer Fund for Children in this way.

“Both clubs worked hard and put a lot of time and energy into raising £50,000 but we couldn’t have done it without the support and encouragement of our local communities, friends both here in NI and further afield and everyone else who contributed in any way.

“We look forward to future fundraising opportunities and are committed to doing our bit to assist those in need.”

Coleraine True Blues Chairman John Gamble said:

“We’re absolutely delighted to hit the milestone of £50,000. At the start of the project we didn’t think we would be as successful. I am really proud of the effort put in by my club and our friends in the city, and it means so much more to us now when we’ve seen the amazing work that goes on in Daisy Lodge and how our fundraising will be put to good use.”

MIL OSI United Kingdom –

September 29, 2024
MIL-OSI Europe: Piero Cipollone: From dependency to autonomy: the role of a digital euro in the European payment landscape

Source: European Central Bank

Introductory statement by Piero Cipollone, Member of the Executive Board of the ECB, at the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs of the European Parliament

Brussels, 23 September 2024

It is a pleasure to be here today to meet the new members of this Committee and to update you on the status of the digital euro project. Let me also congratulate Madame Lalucq on her election as ECON Chair.

The ECB appreciates the open and valuable exchanges we have had with the ECON Committee on the digital euro since the beginning of the project. I am fully committed to continuing these exchanges and look forward to our future discussions.

Today I will focus on three key areas. First, Europe’s dependency on foreign players for retail payments. Second, the benefits of a digital euro for everyone, including consumers, merchants and banks. And third, the progress we have made on the digital euro project so far.

Foreign dominance in the European payment landscape

Fast-forward to the year 2030. Imagine you are at the football World Cup in Spain. You want to buy a drink, but you can only pay with Alipay. This scenario is not as far-fetched as it may seem: this summer, buying tickets for the European Football Championships in Germany was only possible with Chinese or American means of payment.

Could you imagine this happening in the United States? Going to the finals of the American football league, for example, and having no American means of payment available? I certainly cannot.

The Eurosystem will of course continue to ensure that people in Europe can pay with cash.^[1] However, cash is becoming less and less popular as digital payments and online shopping grow.^[2]

For example, more and more people are buying their groceries online. But you can’t use cash to pay for these. More often than not, the only option is PayPal or an international card scheme like Visa or Mastercard.

And more and more people are using digital wallets like PayPal or Apple Pay on their mobile phones. By 2027 these platforms are expected to handle 40% of e-commerce and 27% of in-store payments in Europe.^[3]

At the same time, the share of companies in the euro area not accepting cash has been increasing significantly.^[4]

These developments are contributing to the marginalisation of elderly and less tech-savvy people. They also make us dependent on non-European companies, which is risky.

Imagine what would happen if you could not pay digitally. For example, two weeks ago significant parts of the European card payments market were shut down for almost an entire day.^[5] Just like with electricity, gas or water, we don’t think about payments until they stop working. For energy, we had to learn this the hard way following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. For payments, we owe it to Europeans to do better.

We need our own strong digital payments system.^[6] We can achieve this by bringing central bank money into the digital era with the introduction of a digital euro: a digital form of cash, issued by the central bank and available to everyone in the euro area.^[7]

A digital euro would strengthen Europe’s financial sovereignty and resilience because it would be built with European technology and infrastructure. It would empower Europe to independently develop and manage digital payment solutions, supporting the further deepening of the Single Market.^[8]

But most importantly, the digital euro would offer tangible benefits to all stakeholders – consumers, merchants and banks.

Benefits for European citizens

We strongly support the Single Currency Package^[9], which will ensure that cash remains widely accessible and accepted. At the same time, it will pave the way for a digital euro, which would take the advantages of cash into the digital world.

Consumers could use a digital euro for all payments, everywhere in the euro area, also when shopping online. With a digital euro, making or receiving payments would be free of charge and as easy as using cash today. Consumers would need to use only one device and remember just one password. In addition, having a single means of payment for all circumstances would make it easier for users to have an overview of their expenditure.

Importantly, a digital euro would seek to promote digital financial inclusion by ensuring that no one is left behind.^[10] It would be accessible to everyone across the euro area, via a mobile app or a physical card, so everyone can choose the technology that they are most comfortable with, no matter how old or tech-savvy they are.

Finally, a digital euro would offer the best possible privacy and data protection afforded by the current technology used in large payment systems.^[11] From the outset, ensuring user privacy has been a central focus of the digital euro project.

A digital euro would be available both online and offline.^[12] With the offline functionality, users would enjoy cash-like privacy. The details of your offline payments would only be known to you and the recipient. For online payments, too, we would ensure that your personal data remain your own. The Eurosystem will not be able to identify you, nor directly link you to your payments.^[13]

New opportunities for merchants

A digital euro would also bring new opportunities for European merchants.

Right now, merchants in Europe are largely dependent on a handful of dominant online or card payment methods, often relying on non-European providers. International card schemes currently account for 64% of card transactions in the euro area.^[14]

This costs European merchants a lot of money. They collectively pay a significant amount each year to international card schemes like Visa or Mastercard. And the cost is mostly borne by smaller merchants, who incur charges three to four times higher than those of their larger competitors.^[15]

A digital euro would include safeguards for merchants by capping the fees they pay to banks for processing payments.^[16] A digital euro would thus narrow the gap between what smaller and larger merchants are charged for digital payments.

By providing a true alternative to existing payment solutions, a digital euro would also put all merchants, large and small, in a stronger position to negotiate better conditions with other providers. Finally, it could provide a safety net for merchants in case of network or power outages, thanks to its offline functionality.^[17]

Benefits for banks

Banks would benefit too, particularly in our rapidly evolving payment landscape, in which new players – especially big tech companies from outside Europe – are increasingly entering the market. The banks would be remunerated for the services they offer, while the Eurosystem would cover the costs of the digital euro scheme and infrastructure.

When you compare a digital euro with services like PayPal or Apple Pay, the benefits for banks become even clearer. For instance, banks do not earn anything if people top up their PayPal wallet via direct debit. And with Apple Pay, banks actually have to pay a fee just to let their cards be used in Apple Wallet.

A digital euro would also open up a new source of revenue by allowing banks to provide value-added services to their customers.^[18]

We are working closely with the market to ensure that a digital euro leverages the existing standards as much as possible, which would keep costs down and support Europe’s competitive payment landscape.^[19]

Moreover, cards and applications currently available in only one or a handful of Member States could use these standards to reach customers across the euro area without the need to invest in new acceptance infrastructure. Therefore, a digital euro would mean that European payment service providers could offer their customers the convenience of using their product everywhere in the euro area – just like international card companies. It would also strengthen banks’ negotiating positions vis-à-vis these companies.

Finally, banks and other payment service providers would be responsible for distributing a digital euro, thus serving as the sole point of contact for digital euro users. So a digital euro could help banks retain their customers in the face of growing payments competition.

Project preparation phase at full speed

Let me now give you a brief update on where we stand with the project.^[20]

We started the investigation phase back in 2021 and are now at the midpoint of the preparation phase, with roughly one more year to go.

One of our key focus areas during this phase is to develop a methodology for determining the maximum amount of digital euro a person could hold at any time.^[21] The holding limits are important to ensure financial stability and prevent large-scale transfers from bank deposits to digital euro, especially during crises.

These limits would be high enough to avoid negatively affecting the digital euro user experience.^[22]

Experts from the ECB, the national central banks in the Eurosystem and national competent authorities, building on their unique know-how, have started to identify the factors that could influence the holding limit calibration, on the basis of three key areas defined in the draft Regulation: usability, monetary policy and financial stability.^[23]

While the exact holding limits would be defined closer to the potential launch and on the basis of a well-defined governance process enshrined in the draft Regulation,^[24] we are committed to ensuring that our methodology would be predictable. This is why ECB experts regularly talk to consumers, merchants and financial institutions, to keep everyone updated on the technical work and to gather feedback.

We are also working on finalising the digital euro rulebook, which will provide a clear set of rules and standards to ensure a consistent user experience across the euro area.^[25] This will also help private companies roll out their own solutions.^[26] We are working closely with all the representatives in the Rulebook Development Group, including consumers, retailers, banks and non-bank associations.

In addition, we are currently in the process of selecting potential providers^[27] who could develop a digital euro platform and infrastructure.^[28]

Finally, we are also looking closely at other key technical aspects, such as privacy and offline functionality. We will keep you updated on all these developments.

By the end of 2025 the ECB’s Governing Council will decide whether to move to the next phase of the project. But the Governing Council will not take any decision about the issuance of a digital euro before the legislative act has been adopted.

Conclusion

To conclude, introducing a digital euro across the euro area would take time, but it is key for Europe’s future. Countries across the world are exploring retail central bank digital currencies. If we want to be standard-setters and keep our position among the frontrunners, we need to move swiftly.

A digital euro is a common European project, which is why we are talking to all the relevant stakeholders and carefully listening to their views and concerns. I also remain committed to engaging regularly with the European Parliament.

Introducing a digital euro that all banks and other providers make available to their customers and that all merchants accept, everywhere in the euro area, would take several years. Market participants need certainty to invest in the digital euro and this requires coordination between co-legislators and the central bank.

I appreciate all the work that the ECON Committee has done on the digital euro so far. The legislative discussions are now in your hands. The ECB is of course ready to engage with the negotiating team and to provide continued technical support when needed.

It is important that the legislative and technical work advance in parallel, swiftly and in close cooperation. Together, we can ensure that the digital euro strengthens Europe’s financial sovereignty and serves all its citizens.

MIL OSI Europe News –

September 29, 2024
MIL-OSI Global: Inside the collapse of Disney’s America, the US history-themed park that almost was

Source: The Conversation – USA – By Jared Bahir Browsh, Assistant Teaching Professor of Critical Sports Studies, University of Colorado Boulder

Disney has long promoted a sanitized and nostalgic view of American history. Bettmann/Getty Images

As a top producer of children’s entertainment, Disney is no stranger to America’s culture wars.

Liberals have long criticized the company for its products’ promotion of gender stereotypes and racist tropes. Meanwhile, conservatives have excoriated the company for being “too woke,” whether it was casting actresses of color in live action remakes of the “The Little Mermaid” and “Snow White” or coming out against a Florida statute that curtails discussion of gender and sexuality in public schools.

As Disney CEO Bob Iger grapples with the unenviable task of navigating criticism from all sides, I can’t help but recall how executives decided to table an effort to “Disneyfy” American history 30 years ago.

My research and teaching investigates how media companies such as Disney construct historical narratives for popular consumption. I can only imagine how today’s culture wars would have expressed themselves at Disney’s proposed theme park, which would have featured everything from Civil War forts to Native American villages.

Disney eyes the outskirts of DC

From his early days as an animator, Walt Disney presented a sanitized and nostalgic view of America.

Mickey Mouse represented the “everyman,” while the company’s animators drew a largely optimistic portrait of America, first in the studio’s animated films and later in their theme parks. Anyone who has walked down Disneyland’s Main Street, U.S.A., witnessed Magic Kingdom’s Hall of Presidents or visited Epcot’s American Adventure can see how Disney strives to present an uncomplicated, uncritical view of the nation and its leaders.

In 1984, Michael Eisner became the company’s CEO. He was credited with revitalizing Disney’s brand through producing hit animated features such as “Beauty and the Beast” and “The Little Mermaid,” and spearheading theme parks such as Disney–MGM Studios – now known as Hollywood Studios – and Disneyland Paris.

Former Disney CEO Michael Eisner, seated on the left, appears with former President Ronald Reagan at a Disney World parade in 1990.
Mike Guastella/WireImage via Getty Images

A visit to Colonial Williamsburg inspired Eisner’s next venture: a theme park based on U.S. history that would be built outside of Washington, D.C.

Beginning in 1993, the company quietly started purchasing real estate in northern Virginia using shell companies. The land acquisitions became public knowledge only a few days before the announcement of the theme park, aptly named Disney’s America.

The news was largely welcomed by politicians. Eisner had already gained the support of the state’s outgoing and incoming governors, along with the Virginia Commission on Population Growth and Development. The plan was to build the park in Haymarket, Virginia, a small, wealthy area southwest of Washington, D.C., a few miles from Manassas, the site of two major Civil War battles.

History isn’t so simple

Although Disney had diligently worked to consolidate support ahead of the announcement, signs of conflict emerged during the first press conference, which featured Bob Weis, a Disney vice president who had helped oversee the planning of several theme parks.

“This is not a Pollyanna view of America,” he told the group of assembled reporters. “We want to make you a Civil War soldier. We want to make you feel what it was like to be a slave or what it was like to escape through the underground railroad.”

Questions over how Disney would tell the complex – often discriminatory – history of the nation spurred a group of historians, led by David McCullough, to lodge their concerns: How would Disney construct its narrative of the United States? And how would the park affect Manassas, one of the most important Civil War battle sites?

The proposed theme park was to be located just a few miles from Manassas National Battlefield Park.
Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images

According to the original plans and brochures, Disney’s America would contain nine sections: a Colonial-era Presidents Square, an Indigenous village, Ellis Island, a factory town from the Industrial Revolution, a Civil War fort, a county fair, an early 19th-century port, a World War II-era battlefield and a Depression-era family farm.

On the surface, these themed areas seemed fitting. You could easily see them as exhibits at the Smithsonian. But issues emerged when people took into account that this was still a Disney theme park, with entertaining guests and making money likely taking precedence over historical accuracy and contemporary sensitivities and sensibilities.

The story of immigration, for example, would have been told through the musical-comedy stylings of Kermit the Frog and the other Muppets.

There were also concerns over how Disney would handle the exploitative and violent history of the treatment of a number of groups.

This included the enslavement of Africans and the genocide of Indigenous populations, the latter of which was also connected to the forthcoming 1995 release of “Pocahontas.” Historians later highlighted the film’s distorted history, and it isn’t far-fetched to imagine rides or attractions based on those misrepresentations at Disney’s America.

Mickey Mouse goes to Washington

Even as plans came together for Disney, criticism began to mount.

Disney issued an ultimatum to the Virginia legislature to improve infrastructure surrounding the site, threatening to abandon the project if the US$150 million for infrastructure improvements were not passed on the last day of the Virginia General Assembly’s legislative session in March 1994.

In June, the U.S. House of Representatives introduced a resolution opposing the park, and the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources held a hearing regarding the proposed project’s environmental impact.

The proposed logo for Disney’s America.
Wikimedia Commons

The now-infamous hearing featured discussions regarding sewage, traffic and lodging, and even saw U.S. Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell of Colorado, who at the time was a registered Democrat, place a Mickey Mouse hat on the lectern in a show of support.

As criticism mounted, Disney decided to shift its approach. In the summer of 1994, it renamed the project Disney’s American Celebration.

Rather than highlight periods or events in American history, the new concept would focus more on themes: Democracy, Work, Family, Generations, Streets of America and the Land.

Many of the attractions featured in these lands would have resembled attractions already in Disney parks. For example, Generations would have been similar to the Magic Kingdom’s Carousel of Progress, while the Land was already a pavilion at Epcot.

This would have also opened more opportunities for sponsorship. The Work section of the park would have included virtual factory tours of popular brands such as Apple or Crayola, while Streets of America would have featured cuisine from around the country, similar to Downtown Disney, which opened in 1997 in Disney World and in 2001 at Disneyland.

It all falls apart

Disney abruptly announced on Sept. 28, 1994, that it would abandon these plans.

Although the criticism from historians was a factor, there were also concerns about the park’s profitability in colder months. The company faced mounting debt from its Paris theme park and uncertain leadership after the death of senior executive Frank Wells in a helicopter crash in April 1994. Eisner, meanwhile, had undergone bypass surgery in July 1994.

Many of the attractions that were planned for the Virginia site found their way into Disney parks, particularly in Disney’s California Adventure in Anaheim.

Disney, both under Walt’s leadership and after his death, has long leveraged patriotism for the sake of its media content and park experiences. From Mickey Mouse to the Hall of Presidents, Disney’s nostalgic, linear and uncomplicated view of American progress has been foundational to the Disney experience.

However, an entire park dedicated to this approach – just down the road from a real battlefield integral to the bloodiest war in U.S. history – was too much for historians and other critics to ignore.

Disney’s failure to profit from an uncritical celebration of America may have been a blessing in disguise, as it avoided constructing yet another battlefield in the culture wars.

Jared Bahir Browsh does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

– ref. Inside the collapse of Disney’s America, the US history-themed park that almost was – https://theconversation.com/inside-the-collapse-of-disneys-america-the-us-history-themed-park-that-almost-was-236931

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

September 29, 2024
MIL-OSI Africa: Call to celebrate Heritage Day responsibly

Source: South Africa News Agency

Monday, September 23, 2024

With the country commemorating Heritage Day tomorrow, Gauteng Traffic Police (GTP) has called on citizens to practice responsible behaviour as they celebrate the public holiday.

“As we come together to celebrate our cultures, traditions, and diversity on Heritage Day, it is important to do so responsibly,” GTP spokesperson, Sello Maremane, said on Monday.

During Heritage Month in September, South Africa celebrates the nation’s diverse culture and rich heritage.
This year’s national Heritage Day on 24 September will be commemorated at Meqheleng Stadium in Ficksburg, in the Free State, under the theme: “Celebrating the lives of our heroes and heroines who laid down their lives for our freedom”.

According to a Department of Sport, Arts and Culture statement earlier this month, this year’s theme puts a spotlight on South Africa’s liberation movements who received various forms of solidarity and support from neighbouring countries during the liberation struggle.

The GTP urged citizens to celebrate with caution.

“We encourage all citizens to do so responsibly and avoid taking part in unlawful activities such as public drinking, reckless and negligent driving, amongst other things,” said Maremane, adding that the Gauteng Traffic Police, together with the Gauteng Traffic Wardens and other law enforcement agencies will be on high alert to ensure safety on the road and in communities.

“We will continue to conduct law enforcement operations to address crime and lawlessness. Residents are encouraged to report any suspicious incidents to their nearest police station or contact the Gauteng hotline on 0800 22 88 27/ hotline@gauteng.gov.za,” he said. –SAnews.gov.za

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MIL OSI Africa –

September 29, 2024
MIL-OSI Security: Marine Corps crushes fiscal year 2024 end strength with historic retention, recruiting success

Source: United States Marine Corps

QUANTICO, Va. —

The Marine Corps achieved historic first-term reenlistment numbers and exceeded its retention goal for Fiscal Year 2024 in a competitive and challenging environment. Engaged leaders across the Marine Corps retained the most qualified Marines at levels not seen in over a decade. Additionally, these efforts contributed to the Marine Corps exceeding its authorized end strength requirement, which is a summation of recruiting and retention efforts.

“This is a historic year for retention,” said Lieutenant General Michael J. Borgschulte, Deputy Commandant for Manpower & Reserve Affairs, Headquarters Marine Corps. “We continue to maintain our high standards and exceeded our end strength requirement through successful retention and recruiting efforts. Our retention success increased the health of our delayed entry program for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic.”

This year was historic for the Marine Corps because the Fiscal Year 2024 first-term reenlistment goal was the largest the service has seen in more than a decade. The Marine Corps not only attained 114% of its mission for first-term enlisted Marines but reenlisted over 5,700 subsequent-term Marines.

This reflects the Marine Corps’ shift from its legacy, high turnover “recruit and replace” personnel model towards one characterized by a greater emphasis on “invest and retain” the most capable Marines. Recruiters continue to be responsible for recruiting the Nation’s best and brightest, while leaders across the Fleet Marine Force are charged with retaining the talented Marines already serving across the total force.

“Retention directly enhances our service’s lethality,” said Borgschulte. “This year’s historic success in retaining the most highly qualified Marines is a ‘spike the football’ moment and is a testament to our engaged, people-focused leaders across the Marine Corps. Our continued success is evidence that our Marine Corps brand continues to resonate with the American public, that holding high standards matters, and that Marines want to stay on the winning team – The Marine Corps team!”

Additional initiatives created more opportunities for Marines to ‘Stay Marine’ this year – from the Commandant’s Retention Program to lateral move opportunities in addition to selective retention bonuses for certain military occupational specialties. The Marine Corps doubled the number of Marines transitioning into the reserve component via the Direct Affiliation Program and tripled the number of prior-service Marines reentering the service. The various ways to ‘Stay Marine’ enhance the service’s readiness and warfighting capabilities.

“Although this is a huge accomplishment, we have more work to do and cannot rest on our past successes. We must maintain the momentum into Fiscal Year 2025 and continue to prioritize our Marine Corps’ most valuable and lethal asset—its people,” said Borgschulte.

For Fiscal Year 2025, the Marine Corps is already on track to exceed its Fiscal Year 2024 mission. This is largely due to the implementation of multi-year retention cohorts. Multi-year retention cohorts afford Marines the opportunity to reenlist prior to their end of contract fiscal year. These cohorts not only increase overall retention but give Marines and their families more predictability – which fuels the retention of talent.

MIL Security OSI –

September 29, 2024
MIL-OSI: Bitget Introduces Multi-Asset Margin Mode for USDT-M Futures, Enhancing Capital Efficiency

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

VICTORIA, Seychelles, Sept. 23, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Bitget, the leading cryptocurrency exchange and Web3 company, is excited to announce the launch of the USDT-M Futures in Multi-Asset Mode, available to all users starting on September 23, 2024, at 16:00 (UTC+8). This new feature allows users to trade USDT-margined futures by using non-USDT assets as margin, offering greater flexibility and capital efficiency.

In single-asset margin mode, only USDT is used as collateral, whereas multi-asset margin mode allows users to leverage a variety of cryptocurrencies for USDT-M Futures trading. Bitget’s Multi-Asset Margin Mode now supports BTC, ETH, SOL, XRP, PEPE, USDC, BGB, and USDT as collateral. This means users can utilize their existing assets directly for margin trading without needing to convert them into USDT. Bitget will continue to update the list of supported assets as market conditions change, providing users with more trading options.

“At Bitget, we are dedicated to offering top-tier trading solutions that meet the diverse needs of our users. The introduction of the Multi-Asset Margin Mode is a significant step toward enhancing our users’ trading experience, empowering them to maximize the utility of their assets while providing more flexibility in managing their portfolios. This is just one of many innovations we are implementing to improve the trading experience and deliver secure, efficient solutions for our expanding global community,” commented Gracy Chen, CEO of Bitget.

To utilize the Multi-Asset Margin Mode on the Bitget platform, users simply need to follow a few steps. First, switch the margin mode to multi-asset in the margin section of the trading page. Next, by transferring coins from their spot account to the USDT-M Futures account as margin, users can adjust their leverage according to their risk tolerance and trading strategy.

As one of the largest derivatives trading platforms in crypto, Bitget is renowned for its high liquidity, low fees, and stability, supporting over 300 cryptocurrencies. The futures trading volumes of major assets like BTC consistently rank Bitget among the top two in the industry. Additionally, to help users trade smarter, Bitget supports tools such as copy trading and AI bots in the derivatives market, enabling the optimization of trading strategies and the automation of trading operations.

This new mode enhances the capital efficiency of users by allowing them to trade without needing to liquidate or convert their preferred cryptocurrencies. Bitget remains dedicated to continuous innovation and to meeting the demand for more flexible derivatives products, empowering its 45 million users to manage and diversify portfolios in a rapidly evolving market.

For more information on Bitget Multi-Asset Margin Mode, please visit here.

About Bitget
Established in 2018, Bitget is the world’s leading cryptocurrency exchange and Web3 company. Serving over 45 million users in 100+ countries and regions, the Bitget exchange is committed to helping users trade smarter with its pioneering copy trading feature and other trading solutions. Formerly known as BitKeep, Bitget Wallet is a world-class multi-chain crypto wallet that offers an array of comprehensive Web3 solutions and features including wallet functionality, swap, NFT Marketplace, DApp browser, and more. Bitget inspires individuals to embrace crypto through collaborations with credible partners, including legendary Argentinian footballer Lionel Messi and Turkish National athletes Buse Tosun Çavuşoğlu (Wrestling world champion), Samet Gümüş (Boxing gold medalist) and İlkin Aydın (Volleyball national team).

For more information, visit: Website | Twitter | Telegram | LinkedIn | Discord | Bitget Wallet
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The MIL Network –

September 29, 2024
MIL-OSI Africa: Homecoming ceremony for former liberation fighters

Source: South Africa News Agency

Government will receive the remains of 49 former liberation fighters who passed away in exile in Zimbabwe and Zambia this week.

The remains are set to arrive at Waterkloof Air Force Base in Pretoria on 25 September 2024.

“Following their arrival, the government will host an official homecoming ceremony on the 27th of September 2024 at Freedom Park, also in Pretoria, to mark the return of these liberation fighters to the country of their birth.

“Thereafter, reburial ceremonies will be held in the provinces of their origin, ensuring they are laid to rest with the dignity and respect they deserve,” said the Government Communication and Information System (GCIS) in a statement on Monday.

The Exile Repatriation Program is guided by the National Policy of Repatriation and Restitution of Human Remains and Heritage Objects of 2021. This policy was adopted as part of South Africa’s broader commitment to ensuring that former liberation fighters who died in exile are returned home and buried with dignity.

The repatriation process is being conducted in close collaboration with regional governments, historical experts, and local communities to guarantee a respectful and well-coordinated return.

The South African Heritage Resources Agency (SAHRA), through its legislative framework, the National Heritage Resources Act No 25 of 1999, (NHRA) protects and manage all sites associated South Africa’s rich liberation struggle and anti-colonial resistance history.

According to GCIS, SAHRA’s Heritage Protection Unit receives submissions from all provinces, for serial nomination of sites for declaration as National Heritage Sites.

“The selected sites are then graded and accorded a local, provincial and national status due a unique cultural and historical significance that bear footprints and pay homage to individuals, communities, events and places that collectively shaped the country ‘s struggle for freedom.

“This heritage fosters unity across society and must be preserved and celebrated for future generations.

“This initiative underscores South Africa’s continued dedication to recognizing the sacrifices made during the liberation struggle,” the statement said.

In the past, repatriations were conducted on an ad-hoc basis and on individual basis, usually at the request of families to local authorities and provincial governments.

However, said the GCIS, since the government has adopted an inclusive country-to-country repatriation model, which will be formally launched during the homecoming ceremony. This model aims to accelerate the repatriation process, beginning with countries that have high numbers of liberation fighter remains – Zimbabwe and Zambia.

As South Africa commemorates 30 years of freedom and democracy, the government, led by the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture Gayton Mackenzie will receive the remains at Waterkloof Airforce Base between 16:00 and 18:00.

The homecoming ceremony will start at 10h00 on 27 September 2024.

“South Africa remains forever indebted to the heroes of its liberation struggle, and this initiative represents a significant milestone in honoring their legacy and contribution to the 30 years of freedom and democracy milestone,” said GCIS. – SAnews.gov.za

MIL OSI Africa –

September 29, 2024
MIL-OSI Canada: Statement by Minister Qualtrough to mark Concussion Awareness Week

Source: Government of Canada News

The Government of Canada is committed to improving safety and ensuring that sport, recreation and physical activity are safer for everyone

GATINEAU, September 23, 2024

Did you know that thousands of Canadians are diagnosed with a concussion every year, making it the most common form of traumatic brain injury?

Many concussions also go undetected or undiagnosed, leaving Canadians vulnerable to longer-term effects. These injuries can result from impacts to the head, neck, face or body, leading to both short- and long-term effects on brain health. We all have a responsibility to do everything we can to protect Canadians from these injuries and make sure that sport, recreation and physical activity are as safe and welcoming as possible.

The Government of Canada has made safety in sport a top priority. We’ve partnered with Parachute Canada to update the Canadian Guideline on Concussion in Sport and create tools for awareness, prevention and detection. These resources will help reduce the time lost in school, work and play for those affected.

Additionally, all federally funded national sport organizations are required to have a concussion policy as a condition of their funding. The Government of Canada will continue to work with partners, including the provinces and territories, to push our efforts on concussion prevention and management even further.

The Government of Canada also invests in cutting-edge concussion research through the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR). In just the past two years alone, CIHR has funded 30 studies on concussions and post-concussion syndrome. This research is improving how we diagnose and treat concussions, especially in young athletes. It’s helping shape national and international protocols.

During this Concussion Awareness Week, let’s learn the facts, explore the resources available, and work toward safer sport experiences for all Canadians.

Resources

Erik Nosaluk
Director of Communications
Office of the Honourable Carla Qualtrough
Minister of Sport and Physical Activity
613-790-0373

MIL OSI Canada News –

September 29, 2024
MIL-OSI Translation: Statement from Minister Qualtrough to mark Concussion Awareness Week

MIL OSI Translation. Canadian French to English –

Source: Government of Canada – in French 1

The Government of Canada is committed to making sport, recreation and physical activities safer for everyone.

GATINEAU, September 23, 2024

Did you know that every year, thousands of Canadians are diagnosed with a concussion, making it the most common form of brain trauma?

Furthermore, many concussions will never be detected or diagnosed, leaving Canadians exposed to their long-term effects. These injuries include impacts to the head, neck, face or body, and have both short- and long-term effects on brain health. We must do everything we can to prevent these injuries and ensure that sports, recreational and physical activities are as safe and welcoming as possible.

The Government of Canada has made safety in sport a top priority. We have partnered with Parachute Canada to update the Canadian Guidelines on Concussions in Sport and to create awareness, prevention and detection tools. These resources will help reduce absences from school, play and work for those who have suffered a concussion.

In addition, all national sport organizations receiving federal funding are required to have a concussion policy in place to receive their funding. The Government of Canada will continue to work with its partners, including provinces and territories, to further advance our efforts in concussion prevention and management.

The Government of Canada also funds leading-edge concussion research through the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR). In the last 2 years alone, CIHR has funded 30 studies on concussions and post-concussion syndrome. This research helps us improve how we diagnose and treat concussions, particularly in young athletes, and informs national and international concussion protocols.

During Concussion Awareness Week, let’s learn the facts, discover available resources, and work to make sport experiences safer for everyone in Canada.

Resources

Erik NosalukDirector of CommunicationsOffice of the Honourable Carla QualtroughMinister of Sport and Physical Activity613-790-0373

Media RelationsCanadian Heritage819-994-91011-866-569-6155media@pch.gc.ca

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

MIL Translation OSI

September 29, 2024
MIL-OSI Europe: European Week of Sport kicks off
Source: European Union 2

The 2024 European Week of Sport, an EU initiative to raise awareness about the benefits of staying active, kicks off this week. Every year, from 23 to 30 September, the European Commission invites citizens of all ages and backgrounds to participate in events and activities that celebrate an active lifestyle.

The initiative was first launched in 2015 to address the declining levels of physical activity across Europe. It encourages everyone to participate in sport and physical activity by highlighting the benefits of both for our physical and mental health.

As the Olympic and Paralympic Games took place in Europe this summer, the focus this year is on common EU and Olympic values. These are:
- Inclusion – Sport is for everybody, not just athletes
- Well-being – Sport boosts self-esteem and promotes better health
- Belonging – Sport offers opportunities to meet others and brings generations together
Across Europe, a variety of events will take place to ensure that there’s something for everyone, regardless of your fitness level or background. During the week, you will have the chance to attend activities such as workshops, tournaments, games, walks and runs, open days in sports clubs, and much more.

This is your chance to discover new sports, connect with others, and kickstart a journey towards a healthier lifestyle. Let’s #BeActive!

For more information

European Week of Sport 2024

European Week of Sport 2024 – Find an event near you

European Week of Sport 2024 – Opening ceremony

Sport in the EU
MIL OSI Europe News –
September 29, 2024
MIL-OSI United Nations: UN Special Envoy for Road Safety to launch the UN global road safety campaign in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Source: United Nations Economic Commission for Europe

The UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Road Safety, Jean Todt, is visiting Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, from 16 to 17 July 2024. During the visit, he will meet with key government officials, representatives of the international community, private, and public sectors in Bosnia and Herzegovina to promote road safety initiatives and advocate for enhanced measures. This aligns with the Global Plan for the Decade of Action for Road Safety 2021-2030, aiming to halve road fatalities by 2030. This silent pandemic represents a significant social and economic burden, particularly in low and middle-income countries like Bosnia and Herzegovina.

“In addition to the human tragedy, road crashes trap countries into a vicious circle of poverty. According to the World Bank (WB 2016), the cost of road crashes represents 10% of the GDP on Bosnia and Herzegovina. Another reason to rethink mobility and to invest in road safety. Given their social and economic cost, road crashes are jeopardizing the entire sustainable development agenda,” stressed the Special Envoy Todt.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO)’s Global Status Report on Road Safety 2023, Bosnia and Herzegovina has seen a concerning rise in road fatalities, with a mortality rate of 14 per 100,000 people, which is double the EU average.

“Improving enforcement of traffic laws, enhancement of road infrastructure, and fostering behavioral change are crucial for reducing these alarming statistics and ensuring safer roads for everyone in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Special Envoy Todt’s visit will be instrumental in raising awareness and mobilizing support for enhanced road safety measure, which will benefit the society as a whole, particularly the overburden healthcare system, families, and victims affected by these tragedies,” stated Ingrid Macdonald, United Nations Resident Coordinator in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

During the visit, the Special Envoy will launch the UN Global Road Safety Campaign, which aims to raise awareness of life-saving road safety measures. Launched globally in cooperation with JCDecaux Global under the motto #MakeASafetyStatement, it will run through 2025 in over 80 countries in the world, featuring safety statements from 14 global celebrities.

Support for the campaign has been given by 14 world-renowned personalities, including footballer Didier Drogba, Formula 1 driver Charles Leclerc, Oscar-winning actress and UNDP Goodwill Ambassador Michelle Yeoh, tennis player Novak Djokovic, musician Kylie Minogue, motorcycle racer Marc Marquez, supermodel Naomi Campbell, actor Patrick Dempsey, musician and inspirational leader Youssou N’Dour, actress Julie Gayet, actor Michael Fassbender, football icon Ousmane Dembélé, two-time Olympic champion Faith Kipyegon, and Formula 1 driver Mick Schumacher.

Media representatives are cordially invited to cover the launch of the campaign at the press conference by Special Envoy Todt, Mayor of Sarajevo Benjamina Karić, and United Nations Resident Coordinator Ingrid Macdonald, on Wednesday, 17 July 2024 at 10:30 a.m. at the City Hall in Sarajevo. On the same day, starting at 8:30 p.m., a digital projection of the campaign will be displayed on the Eternal Flame building, in the presence of Special Envoy Todt, Mayor Karić, and United Nations Resident Coordinator Macdonald. With this event, Sarajevo will join Brussels, New York, and other capitals in the world in promoting this important campaign.

Note to Editors

The UN has invested heavily in road safety globally. Following the “Decade of Action for Road Safety 2011-2020”, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution in August 2020 for “Improving Road Safety”, which reaffirmed its commitment to halve global road deaths and injuries and provide access to safe, affordable, accessible and sustainable transport systems for all by 2030. In July 2022, the road safety community met in New York for the first-ever high-level meeting on improving global road safety at the United Nations General Assembly, unanimously adopting a text entitled: “Political declaration of the high-level meeting level on improving global road safety”.

About the Special Envoy

The former United Nations Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, appointed in 2015 Jean Todt as his Special Envoy for Road Safety. He was reconfirmed in this role by United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, in 2017 and in 2021. In 2018, together with 14 UN organizations, the Special Envoy launched the UN Road Safety Fund (UNRSF). The Special Envoy contributes, among other things, to mobilize sustained political commitment to make road safety a priority; to advocate and raise awareness of UN legal instruments on road safety; to share established good practices in this area; to striving to generate adequate funding through strategic partnerships between the public, private and non-governmental sectors. Special Envoy brochure and Twitter account.

MIL OSI United Nations News –

September 29, 2024
MIL-OSI Australia: Interview on Sky News Sunday Agenda

Source: Australian Ministers 1

ANDREW CLENNELL, HOST: Joining me live in the studio is Communications Minister Michelle Rowland. Thanks so much for your time. Let me start on gambling advertising. As the report at the top of the program, my understanding is your proposal would begin about 2025, involves a ban on gambling advertising one hour either side of live sporting events and outside of this period a cap of two ads an hour, at least that’s what you’ve put out for consultation. Is that what you’re looking at?

MICHELLE ROWLAND, MINISTER FOR COMMUNICATIONS: Well, we’re consulting on a range of matters at the moment and I’ve seen speculation from different sources on that, but I should be clear, Andrew, that the key issue here is three-fold. We want to ensure that we protect children, we want to break the nexus between wagering and sport, and we want to deal with the saturation of ads, particularly as that impacts on young men aged around 18 to 35. We’re looking at a range of issues with no decisions having been made yet.

I should be very clear and I know that many of your viewers will be thinking the same as they get excited about the finals season. We want people to be excited the game, not about the odds, and for some people this is a matter that should have been dealt with a decade ago and in that time we’ve seen an over-reliance on online wagering advertising develop. Whilst around three quarters of overall gambling losses in Australia actually come from land-based gaming – so that’s poker machines, lotteries and casinos, we know that that online sports wagering section is growing and we need to deal with it.

CLENNELL: Well, it’s interesting you mention that because Peter V’landys’ the NRL and horse racing- Racing NSW Chief, was out in the papers on that yesterday, pointing out 70 per cent of people ringing a gambling helpline play the pokies, 15 per cent lotteries and not a lot involving sports betting basically. So why just target this?

ROWLAND: We have seen that cohort increasing and the losses in that area by a proportion as well. So it is something that needs to be dealt with. We want to be comprehensive as a Government in our response and we want to be forward-facing as well because, Andrew, the last time that these rules were tinkered with it actually resulted in an increase in advertising and particularly in some regional areas it was a significant increase. We want to ensure that we don’t have those unintended consequences and that it is comprehensive.

I should also point out for your viewers – the report put out by our late colleague Peta Murphy went to a variety issues, advertising was one of them. There are a wide variety of issues that involve the States and Territories which is necessary to have negotiations with them as you can appreciate. They have for example a number of assets that have advertising and obviously relationships with some of the stadiums as well. So in some of these areas, not to mention some of the programs that deal with harm reduction, they are areas that require consultation. That’s what we’re doing right now, but we understand that this is an area of concern for many people. If I can lastly put out a public service announcement – as we get towards the final season, betstop.gov.au has been in operation now for a year, that’s the self-exclusion register. There’s been nearly 30 thousand people who have chosen to self-exclude themselves. If anyone who is watching or knows someone that may be vulnerable, please visit that and consider registering.

CLENNEL: Sports operators want the cap to be lifted to three ads an hour, they think it’s sufficient to have a ban from half an hour before a game until the end of a game rather than an hour after a game. Are you looking at that?

ROWLAND: We’re consulting widely and I appreciate the fact that we’ve had stakeholders from a wide variety of sectors but also harm reduction advocates and experts in these areas. So this has been a process that we’ve been conducting in an orderly way. We’ll continue to do that and our response here will be one that is comprehensive and is forward-looking as well.

CLENNEL: When?

ROWLAND: We’re doing this as expeditiously as possible. As I said, I understand many would’ve wanted this done a decade ago, but the fact that we are consulting on a model here I think indicates –

CLENNELL: By the end of the year?

ROWLAND: I think the fact that we’re consulting on a model here indicates that we’re at a point where we are speaking to stakeholders about the model, the fact that we understand that this is an area of concern, and it’s one in which sports wagering continues to increase as a proportion of losses.

CLENNELL: And as I understand it, racing is carved out of this – the sport of racing, from the cap on ads. That’s so racing telecasts can survive, essentially?

ROWLAND: Well I’ve said publicly that the Government views racing as a separate category. Horses and dogs in that context exist for betting. So we understand that and we should also recognise that particularly in some regional areas this is an industry that supports thousands and thousands of jobs. It exists for a specific purpose so we are being very mindful to be proportionate in this response.

CLENNELL: Can you confirm the Prime Minister’s involved in negotiations on this?

ROWLAND: I can confirm that the Prime Minister is very alive to these issues, that this is something that he understands is an area of great concern and I do consult him regularly on this as well because this is an area where the Government knows that the community wants action.

CLENNELL: Would the Government be doing this if Peter Dutton hadn’t pushed this?

ROWLAND: The Government’s been very clear in setting up this inquiry under Peta Murphy, for a start. We actually instigated this. Peter Dutton had 10 years in government to do something about this. I haven’t seen anything on the record indicating from him his concern about these matters and I haven’t seen anything from him proposing anything to do in this area outside of a very limited gambit here, certainly not comprehensive and certainly not one in which he himself is committing.

CLENNELL: Alright. Do you have concerns about the future of free-to-air television in Australia and particularly, I’m talking about the future of channels like Channel 7 and Channel 10?

ROWLAND: Well as Communications Minister, part of my remit is to ensure the sustainability of broadcasting. That includes free-to-air but also subscription broadcasting where we are appearing at the moment, and I think it is incumbent on Governments to understand the impact of government decisions until someone invents a stable, free, ubiquitous platform that can either compete with or replace free-to-air broadcasting and I think we need to appreciate that this has a special place. It has a special place particularly in regional areas and especially for people who may be on lower socioeconomic circumstances. So broadcasting remains important.

I can tell you, Andrew, I have had people say to me why is the Government concerned about a sector that in their words is dying? I refuse to accept that. Broadcasting is important. The ecosystem in which this subscription broadcaster operates is important and as a Government we need to be methodical and we need to be evidence-based when it comes to responding to this challenge that we have but we also have to effective and that is exactly the balance we are aiming to achieve.

CLENNELL: Let’s talk about the social media age ban. You’ve committed to it. Can you confirm what sites you’re looking at the ban applying to? Facebook, Insta, Twitter, TikTok, anything else I’m missing? Is it Discord and other messaging apps?

ROWLAND: There is a whole range that we’re looking at, at the moment and there’s different categories depending on the definitions that are used. So the Online Safety Act, for example, and how the Safety Commissioner defines certain categories can actually be very broad or it can be slightly narrow. So we’re looking at that as part of our formulation of the legislation which we said we will introduce this year but again I would make the point similar to the ones I just made, that we do want to be comprehensive here, we understand that young people partake in a range of social media activities and we want to make sure that this is relevant and appropriate to how they’re accessing it.

CLENNELL: Which do you prefer as an age for the ban, 14 or 16?

ROWLAND: We’re looking at a range at the moment. This is a lot of conversations that’s happening. The South Australia Premier is favouring 14, Premier Minns 16. There is a wide range of views and there certainly is, I think given Justice French’s very good work, one that needs to be tested and one has a national approach. One thing we have found so far in the age assurance trial is that there is a marked difference between age assurance as it applies to younger ages as opposed to higher ages and it can also vary depending on ethnicity and also gender. So we’re very mindful of ensuring that as part of the age assurance –

CLENNELL: You mean whether the technology works in terms of accessing social media sites, is that what you mean?

ROWLAND: That’s right. In terms of if you’ve got an age assurance technology, whether it’s recognition, facial recognition or some other forms of assurance, it can actually vary. Andrew, there’s no off the shelf solution for this which is why we’ve been very deliberate in making sure that we are looking at a range of ages and one- reaching one that is appropriate for the circumstances.

CLENNELL: Briefly, why is the ban necessary?

ROWLAND: Well, I think two-fold. Firstly, parents around Australia are looking for a normative value here and I know as a mother of a 12-year-old girl, there is something very potent about being told everyone else is doing it, there’s no clear guidance, why am I being singled out? So parents have told me directly that there is a real normative value in having that there. And the second point really goes to the overall reason for this and that is we understand that there are harms. Whilst social media has many benefits, and enables a lot of young people to connect where they otherwise might have been isolated, it comes with those harms and the evidence is in on the range of those harms. The evidence is in about the need to ensure that young people have a balance and so the Government intends to pursue this, and this is despite the fact that Meta has made this announcement. That doesn’t obviate the need for us to take action in this space.

CLENNELL: Let me play you what your Shadow, David Coleman, said about your misinformation legislation last week.

[Excerpt begins]

DAVID COLEMAN: This Bill, Andrew, if you’re an academic, something you can’t- you say, basically can’t be misinformation, but if you’re an ordinary Australian who disagrees with and academic it can be misinformation. One of the things in the Bill are the kinds of harm that is not allowed is something that might cause imminent harm to the economy or the stock market.

CLENNELL: Yeah, I saw that.

COLEMAN: And I mean, that’s basically every economic policy that the Greens have ever announced. So are we- are we basically saying- are we basically saying under the Misinformation Bill that the Greens- effectively all Greens economic statements are misinformation?

[End of excerpt]

CLENNELL: Alright, his criticism is your definition is just far too broad.

ROWLAND: Well, let’s be very clear, the Coalition can’t have it both ways. They’ve got on their public website at the moment a commitment to introduce legislation to tackle harmful mis- and disinformation, and at the same time they’re going out there, saying basically that they don’t support this. I suggest that the Member of Parliament there reads the actual Bill. I suggest that he understands precisely what the scope here is when it comes to mis- and disinformation. It needs to be something that is verifiably false and cause- and capable of causing harm.

CLENNELL: Yes.

ROWLAND: And this is a high threshold for the amount- a high threshold.

CLENELL: That seems broad.

ROWLAND: But secondly, the harms are actually- the actual categories here are defined. So these are for example harms to personal health or safety, they are harms to critical infrastructure for example. In terms of his comments about academics, again, I suggest that he read the Bill.

CLENNELL: Alright.

ROWLAND: Because as this has been developed, this has been done in a way that corresponds with our international obligations, recognises the fact that harmful mis- and disinformation is actually having an impact on not only Australian democracy but on the safety of Australians. It’s a position that is supported by our top spy and our defence heads

CLENNELL: [Talks over] What- just very briefly- I’m out of- I’m out of time. The penalties we’ve been told could be up to five per cent of the global revenue of a big tech company. What might be the penalty for an individual?

ROWLAND: Individuals aren’t being fined.

CLENNELL: Okay. There you go.

ROWLAND: This is- this is a matter that goes to the conduct of the platforms and their systems and processes.

CLENNELL: Yeah. Just finally, the ABC and this botching of the Heston Russell story, how can this just be pinned on an editing error? Is it time the ABC did more to own its mistakes? Are you concerned they didn’t see this for two years? Do you have any confidence in the ABC’s so-called independent review?

ROWLAND: Well, it is concerning and whilst I know you’ll appreciate that the ABC has opera
tional and editorial independence, it is not beyond scrutiny and it does need to be transparent. It is concerning that this has taken some time to emerge. As you’re aware, I have asked for a briefing when this investigation is done. My understanding is the investigation is not yet complete, and while this is being done independently, which is a positive thing, the ABC still needs to answer to the Australian public. It is not beyond scrutiny and it is an area where I have expressed on the record a concern for what has happened here. The ABC, whilst it is independent and it is our public broadcaster, it does not always get it right and it needs to own it.

CLENNELL: Communications Minister Michelle Rowland. Thanks so much for your time.

ROWLAND: Pleasure.

MIL OSI News –

September 29, 2024
MIL-OSI Africa: Africa is the world’s largest market for Guinness beer – how its ad campaigns exploit men

Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Jordanna Matlon, Associate Professor of Sociology, School of International Service, American University

Africa is the world’s largest market for Guinness beer (and Nigeria is second only to Britain for the most consumers in one country). The Irish brand’s success on the continent is regarded as a trailblazing business model. And that has a lot to do with their advertising campaigns over the years.

Award-winning sociologist Jordanna Matlon recently published a research paper that analyses three prominent Guinness Africa ad campaigns. She explores what market forces are behind them – and how they target male consumers and shape masculinity in a way that echoes colonial extraction. We asked her to explain.

How did Guinness capture the African market – what’s the appeal?

We can think about Guinness in Africa in two phases. The first was less marketing savvy than old-fashioned imperial domination, in which territories under British dominion were captive markets for British imports. Despite its proud Irish origins, Guinness has had solid connections to the UK since the 1800s. Following British imperial shipping routes, the brewery began exporting to Africa in 1827. In 1959 Guinness established an import/export arrangement with Britain’s United Africa Company.

Read more: Coca-Cola in Africa: a long history full of unexpected twists and turns

By the era of African independence from the mid-1950s to the 1970s – the second phase – Guinness was already a well-known brand. Its advertising strategies found a ready African audience. Like colonialism generally, Guinness linked the consumption of foreign goods to the “civilising mission”. To be a civilised, modern man, the argument went, was to drink what the colonisers drank. But this was part of a larger work-consume nexus in which modern men were salaried men who could afford such trappings. Women, I should add, were always excluded: colonial ideals expressed clear gender divisions, with men in the public sphere and women at home, cooking for their (supposed) husbands and raising their (supposed) children.

Tailored to African consumers, mid-1900s Guinness ads featured sophisticated African men in suits and ties enjoying their beers – clearly after a long day at the office. But like so many foreign imports, part of the appeal involved adapting to local tastes. It played off ideas of African strength and especially virility as a masculinised strength.

Could you talk us through your analysis of the Michael Power campaign?

This follows directly from my last point. Guinness became well known as a drink that made you strong. From the 1960s on, among its African consumers the brewery made “Guinness gives you power” its rallying cry. This morphed into the fictional character of Michael Power who, at the turn of the century, appeared in film shorts and a feature-length award-winning film, Critical Assignment – all part of Guinness’s advertising campaign.

Power, a globetrotting journalist, was handsome, fearless, impeccably dressed, and generically African. In Michael Power, Guinness was responding directly to the question of how Africa positions itself in a world still strongly shaped by colonial hierarchies. Here was a figure who had turned the page, embodying elegance, wit, cosmopolitanism – and, of course, power.

And the other two campaigns – Guinness Greatness and Made of More?

Despite Michael Power’s success in helping make Guinness Africa’s leading imported beer, the campaigns that followed pivoted sharply. Michael Power was a fictional character who reflected the aspirations more than the reality of most African men.

To come of age in Africa in the 2000s was to have grown up reeling from the effects of structural adjustment. Jobs that offered the best prospects for a middle-class life had overwhelmingly been in the public sector. The conditions attached to debt relief scaled these jobs back significantly. Now the informal economy was on the rise. To increase its target market, Guinness needed to speak to the experiences of real consumers: men who had long abandoned the prospect of a job that would have required a tie and a briefcase.

In the commercial I look at from the Greatness campaign, a football scout comes to Africa (it’s unclear where on the continent exactly) and discovers talent everywhere – even in his driver. Not coincidentally, this was aired around the time of the 2010 men’s football World Cup in South Africa when the dream of football stardom felt especially palpable.

In a Made of More commercial, an actual collective of Congolese dandies known as sapeurs return home from thankless day labour and transform into new men with their stylish – we might say ostentatious! – clothing. The narrator says, “In life, you cannot always choose what you do. But you can choose who you are.” Though not salarymen, they prove their worth.

These campaigns take a major turn from the colonial iteration of the ideal man. Rather, we find the improbable but spectacular success of the international athlete, or the shift away from work altogether and toward conspicuous consumption. Both reflect a new Africa – indeed, a new global order – that has abandoned salaried work for economies of entrepreneurs and consumers.

What do you conclude (and what is ‘bottom billion masculinity’)?

I borrow this idea of the “bottom billion” from the business world, where emerging markets are a final frontier for corporate profits. It is supposed to celebrate the wealth potential of the poorest people on Earth: as the argument goes, the minuscule “wealth” of a billion people is really a fortune.

Of course if we pick this apart just a bit it is clear that the wealth belongs not to the poor but to the corporations that sell them things. There is no real “Africa Rising” in this vision, no plan for enlarging an African middle class. Reflecting a longer colonial legacy, wealth here is something to be extracted.

Read more: The genius at Guinness and his statistical legacy

Bottom billion masculinity genders this dynamic. It asks us to think about how conspicuous consumption becomes a way for men to showcase their worth, a substitute for the provider role that is out of reach for so many men working precariously in Africa’s informal economies.

Guinness’s recent campaigns celebrate the African everyman, the men at the bottom billion. And in doing so, it sells them a beer. It is a powerful example of how men’s search for validation can actually enrich corporations.

– Africa is the world’s largest market for Guinness beer – how its ad campaigns exploit men
– https://theconversation.com/africa-is-the-worlds-largest-market-for-guinness-beer-how-its-ad-campaigns-exploit-men-239120

MIL OSI Africa –

September 29, 2024
MIL-OSI Global: Africa is the world’s largest market for Guinness beer – how its ad campaigns exploit men

Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Jordanna Matlon, Associate Professor of Sociology, School of International Service, American University

Africa is the world’s largest market for Guinness beer (and Nigeria is second only to Britain for the most consumers in one country). The Irish brand’s success on the continent is regarded as a trailblazing business model. And that has a lot to do with their advertising campaigns over the years.

Award-winning sociologist Jordanna Matlon recently published a research paper that analyses three prominent Guinness Africa ad campaigns. She explores what market forces are behind them – and how they target male consumers and shape masculinity in a way that echoes colonial extraction. We asked her to explain.

How did Guinness capture the African market – what’s the appeal?

We can think about Guinness in Africa in two phases. The first was less marketing savvy than old-fashioned imperial domination, in which territories under British dominion were captive markets for British imports. Despite its proud Irish origins, Guinness has had solid connections to the UK since the 1800s. Following British imperial shipping routes, the brewery began exporting to Africa in 1827. In 1959 Guinness established an import/export arrangement with Britain’s United Africa Company.

Read more:
Coca-Cola in Africa: a long history full of unexpected twists and turns

By the era of African independence from the mid-1950s to the 1970s – the second phase – Guinness was already a well-known brand. Its advertising strategies found a ready African audience. Like colonialism generally, Guinness linked the consumption of foreign goods to the “civilising mission”. To be a civilised, modern man, the argument went, was to drink what the colonisers drank. But this was part of a larger work-consume nexus in which modern men were salaried men who could afford such trappings. Women, I should add, were always excluded: colonial ideals expressed clear gender divisions, with men in the public sphere and women at home, cooking for their (supposed) husbands and raising their (supposed) children.

Tailored to African consumers, mid-1900s Guinness ads featured sophisticated African men in suits and ties enjoying their beers – clearly after a long day at the office. But like so many foreign imports, part of the appeal involved adapting to local tastes. It played off ideas of African strength and especially virility as a masculinised strength.

Could you talk us through your analysis of the Michael Power campaign?

This follows directly from my last point. Guinness became well known as a drink that made you strong. From the 1960s on, among its African consumers the brewery made “Guinness gives you power” its rallying cry. This morphed into the fictional character of Michael Power who, at the turn of the century, appeared in film shorts and a feature-length award-winning film, Critical Assignment – all part of Guinness’s advertising campaign.

Power, a globetrotting journalist, was handsome, fearless, impeccably dressed, and generically African. In Michael Power, Guinness was responding directly to the question of how Africa positions itself in a world still strongly shaped by colonial hierarchies. Here was a figure who had turned the page, embodying elegance, wit, cosmopolitanism – and, of course, power.

And the other two campaigns – Guinness Greatness and Made of More?

Despite Michael Power’s success in helping make Guinness Africa’s leading imported beer, the campaigns that followed pivoted sharply. Michael Power was a fictional character who reflected the aspirations more than the reality of most African men.

To come of age in Africa in the 2000s was to have grown up reeling from the effects of structural adjustment. Jobs that offered the best prospects for a middle-class life had overwhelmingly been in the public sector. The conditions attached to debt relief scaled these jobs back significantly. Now the informal economy was on the rise. To increase its target market, Guinness needed to speak to the experiences of real consumers: men who had long abandoned the prospect of a job that would have required a tie and a briefcase.

In the commercial I look at from the Greatness campaign, a football scout comes to Africa (it’s unclear where on the continent exactly) and discovers talent everywhere – even in his driver. Not coincidentally, this was aired around the time of the 2010 men’s football World Cup in South Africa when the dream of football stardom felt especially palpable.

In a Made of More commercial, an actual collective of Congolese dandies known as sapeurs return home from thankless day labour and transform into new men with their stylish – we might say ostentatious! – clothing. The narrator says, “In life, you cannot always choose what you do. But you can choose who you are.” Though not salarymen, they prove their worth.

These campaigns take a major turn from the colonial iteration of the ideal man. Rather, we find the improbable but spectacular success of the international athlete, or the shift away from work altogether and toward conspicuous consumption. Both reflect a new Africa – indeed, a new global order – that has abandoned salaried work for economies of entrepreneurs and consumers.

What do you conclude (and what is ‘bottom billion masculinity’)?

I borrow this idea of the “bottom billion” from the business world, where emerging markets are a final frontier for corporate profits. It is supposed to celebrate the wealth potential of the poorest people on Earth: as the argument goes, the minuscule “wealth” of a billion people is really a fortune.

Of course if we pick this apart just a bit it is clear that the wealth belongs not to the poor but to the corporations that sell them things. There is no real “Africa Rising” in this vision, no plan for enlarging an African middle class. Reflecting a longer colonial legacy, wealth here is something to be extracted.

Read more:
The genius at Guinness and his statistical legacy

Bottom billion masculinity genders this dynamic. It asks us to think about how conspicuous consumption becomes a way for men to showcase their worth, a substitute for the provider role that is out of reach for so many men working precariously in Africa’s informal economies.

Guinness’s recent campaigns celebrate the African everyman, the men at the bottom billion. And in doing so, it sells them a beer. It is a powerful example of how men’s search for validation can actually enrich corporations.

Jordanna Matlon does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

– ref. Africa is the world’s largest market for Guinness beer – how its ad campaigns exploit men – https://theconversation.com/africa-is-the-worlds-largest-market-for-guinness-beer-how-its-ad-campaigns-exploit-men-239120

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

September 29, 2024
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Eastern District Office’s event postponed

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Eastern District Office’s event postponed
Eastern District Office’s event postponed
*****************************************

Attention TV/radio announcers: Please broadcast the following as soon as possible and repeat it at suitable intervals: Due to heavy rain, the “Eastern District Drone Show cum Variety Show to Celebrate the 75th Anniversary of the Founding of the People’s Republic of China” organised by the Eastern District Office together with the Hong Kong Island Federation and the Hong Kong Eastern District Community Association originally scheduled to be held at Siu Sai Wan Sports Ground at 7pm today (September 22) will be postponed to October 2 (Wednesday). Participants who have obtained tickets can join the event on that day with the same ticket. Location and time for the event remains unchanged. The programme of the event will be adjusted.

Ends/Sunday, September 22, 2024Issued at HKT 17:46

NNNN

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

September 29, 2024
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Raksha Rajya Mantri to Chair NCC Joint State Representatives and Additional/Deputy Directors General Conference

Source: Government of India (2)

Posted On: 22 SEP 2024 3:57PM by PIB Delhi

Raksha Rajya Mantri Shri Sanjay Seth will chair the Joint State Representatives and Additional/Deputy Directors General (JS R&A/D) Conference of the National Cadet Corps (NCC) on September 23, 2024 in New Delhi. The biennial event will see the participation of Deputy CM and Minister of Higher Education from Rajsthan, Education Ministers from Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Karnataka, Kerala and Uttarakhand, Minister of Youth & Sports from Goa, Minister of Primary, Secondary and Adult Higher Education from Gujarat as well as representatives from all other States. Senior Officers from the Ministry of Defence, along with DGNCC, the NCC Heads from all States and Officers from HQ DGNCC, will also be in attendance.

During the conference, delegates will engage in discussions to refine policies, address financial requirements and enhance coordination among stakeholders to establish new training and camping infrastructure. These are crucial issues for enhancing cadet motivation and ensuring the effective execution of training programs. A major focus of discussion will also be the implementation of the recently approved expansion plan which aims to increase NCC cadet strength by three lakhs, raising the total strength from 17 lakhs to 20 lakhs in the coming years.

The conduct of NCC activities is a shared responsibility between the Central and State Governments with regard to policies, finances and administration. Accordingly, this conference serves as important platform for planning, implementing, and coordinating NCC activities nationwide. This conference aims to be a crucial step in enhancing collaboration between state and central governments, ensuring a bright future for cadets across the country.

******

VK/SR/MR/GC

(Release ID: 2057557) Visitor Counter : 55

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

September 29, 2024
MIL-OSI Europe: Address by President Viola Amherd at the UN Summit of the Future

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

Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sports

Bern, 22.09.2024 – Address by President Viola Amherd, head of the Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sport (DDPS), at the UN Summit of the Future, New, York, Sunday, 22 September 2024.

Check against delivery

Mister President,
Mister Secretary-General,
Heads of State and Government,
Excellencies,
Ladies and gentlemen

The Charter of the United Nations entered into force almost 80 years ago. It established a general prohibition on the use of force, respect for human rights, and laid the foundations for international cooperation.

This was accompanied by a solemn undertaking that states would work together for a more stable, just and peaceful world.

At that point, the international community confronted the most pressing issues of its time. The charter was visionary and remains so to this day.
Today more than ever, we must follow the example of our predecessors. The constant here is multilateralism with the UN at its core.

In order to drive forward the necessary reforms, we not only need a strong political will, but we also need to rebuild trust.

I believe that this is urgently needed. Unfortunately, all our efforts were almost undone when the adoption of the Pact for the Future was jeopardised today. We regret this.

However, almost all member states were in favour of a strong negotiated text for which everyone had had to make compromises, some of them painful.

And perhaps because of these difficulties, the Pact is proving to be an important and clear signal of commitment to the multilateral system.

It is our duty as members of the international community to work together across our differences and to ensure that our common future is not determined exclusively by national self-interest.

We must not be discouraged by these challenges – quite the opposite.

It is a wake-up call for all of us to intensify our efforts, and that – together – we can still succeed.

So now is the time to act with even more determination.

Multilateralism needs this and we need multilateralism. We must not be deterred or give up, but must continue to move forward together.

Ladies and gentlemen

Switzerland is ready to fulfil its responsibilities. We remain firmly committed to the values of multilateralism and are determined to continue on the path towards a more sustainable, just and peaceful world.

Let us work towards a strong and focused multilateralism; multilateral agencies and organisations that focus on priorities and work together effectively; and a system that addresses current challenges efficiently and effectively.

Switzerland invites all states to join in these efforts.

Thank you.

Address for enquiries

DDPS Communication
Federal Palace East
3003 Bern

Publisher

Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sports
http://www.vbs.admin.ch

MIL OSI Europe News –

September 29, 2024
MIL-OSI Translation: Announcement of the appointment of the Government.

MIL OSI Translation. Government of the Republic of France statements from French to English –

The composition of the Government resulting from the decree signed today on the proposal of the Prime Minister, responsible for Ecological and Energy Planning, is as follows:

Ministers:

Mr. Didier MIGAUD, Keeper of the Seals, Minister of Justice;

Ms. Catherine VAUTRIN, Minister for Partnership with the Territories and Decentralization;

Mr. Bruno RETAILLEAU, Minister of the Interior;

Ms. Anne GENETET, Minister of National Education;

Mr. Jean-Noël BARROT, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs;

Ms. Rachida DATI, Minister of Culture;

Mr. Sébastien LECORNU, Minister of the Armed Forces and Veterans;

Ms. Agnès PANNIER-RUNACHER, Minister of Ecological Transition, Energy, Climate and Risk Prevention;

Mr. Antoine ARMAND, Minister of Economy, Finance and Industry;

Ms. Geneviève DARRIEUSSECQ, Minister of Health and Access to Healthcare;

Mr. Paul CHRISTOPHE, Minister of Solidarity, Autonomy and Equality between Women and Men;

Ms. Valérie LÉTARD, Minister of Housing and Urban Renewal;

Ms. Annie GENEVARD, Minister of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Forestry;

Ms. Astrid PANOSYAN-BOUVET, Minister of Labor and Employment;

Mr. Gil AVÉROUS, Minister of Sports, Youth and Community Life;

Mr. Patrick HETZEL, Minister of Higher Education and Research;

Mr. Guillaume KASBARIAN, Minister of Civil Service, Simplification and Transformation of Public Action;

Mr. François-Noël BUFFET, Minister to the Prime Minister, responsible for Overseas Territories;

Mr. Laurent SAINT-MARTIN, Minister to the Prime Minister, responsible for the Budget and Public Accounts.

Ministers Delegate:

To the Prime Minister and the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs:

Mr. Benjamin HADDAD, responsible for Europe;

To the Prime Minister:

Ms Nathalie DELATTRE, responsible for Relations with Parliament;

Ms Maud BREGEON, Government spokesperson;

Ms. Marie-Claire CARRÈRE-GÉE, responsible for Government Coordination;

To the Minister for Partnership with the Territories and Decentralization:

Mrs. Françoise GATEL, responsible for Rural Affairs, Trade and Crafts;

Mr. François DUROVRAY, responsible for Transport;

Mr. Fabrice LOHER, responsible for the Sea and Fisheries;

To the Minister of the Interior:

Mr. Nicolas DARAGON, responsible for daily security;

To the Minister of National Education:

Mr. Alexandre PORTIER, responsible for Academic Success and Professional Education;

To the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs:

Ms Sophie PRIMAS, responsible for Foreign Trade and French Nationals Abroad;

To the Minister of Ecological Transition, Energy, Climate and Risk Prevention:

Ms. Olga GIVERNET, responsible for Energy;

To the Minister of Economy, Finance and Industry:

Mr. Marc FERRACCI, responsible for Industry;

Ms Marie-Agnès POUSSIER-WINSBACK, responsible for the Social and Solidarity Economy, Profit-Sharing and Participation;

Ms. Marina FERRARI, responsible for the Tourism Economy;

To the Minister of Solidarity, Autonomy and Equality between Women and Men:

Ms. Agnès CANAYER, responsible for Family and Early Childhood.

Secretaries of State:

To the Minister of the Interior:

Mr. Othman NASROU, responsible for Citizenship and the Fight against Discrimination;

To the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs:

Mr. Thani MOHAMED SOILIHI, responsible for Francophonie and International Partnerships;

To the Minister of Economy, Finance and Industry:

Ms. Laurence GARNIER, responsible for Consumption;

To the Minister of Solidarity, Autonomy and Equality between Women and Men:

Ms. Salima SAA, responsible for Equality between women and men;

To the Minister of Higher Education and Research:

Ms. Clara CHAPPAZ, responsible for Artificial Intelligence and Digital Technology.

The President of the Republic will bring together all members of the Government for a Council of Ministers which will be held on Monday, September 23 at 3:00 p.m.

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

MIL Translation OSI

September 29, 2024
MIL-OSI: Bitget Launchpool Lists WATCoin (WAT) with 1.57 Billion WAT tokens for to Lock Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH) and Mocacoin (MOCA)

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

VICTORIA, Seychelles, Sept. 22, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Bitget, the world’s leading cryptocurrency exchange and Web3 company, is set to list WATCoin (WAT), providing eligible users the opportunity to lock BTC, ETH, and MOCA in exchange for a share of 1,571,000,000 WAT. This promotional event will commence on September 20, 2024, at 10:00 (UTC) and run for ten days, allowing participants to maximize their holdings during this period.

WATCoin (WAT) is part of a rapidly growing gaming ecosystem on the TON blockchain, boasting over 80 million lifetime users. It has one of the highest user retention rates among leading Telegram games, exceeding 25%. WATCoin is incubated by GAMEE, a mobile studio with a decade of experience and backing from notable names such as Animoca Brands and Binance Labs. Additional investment has been secured from Pantera, Kingsway, and TON Ventures, alongside a grant from the TON Foundation. WATCoin aims to be the primary platform for all TON projects within the Animoca portfolio and its partners. It has previously collaborated with projects like Notcoin and Blum, indicating its potential to accumulate value through its expanding network of partnerships.

The locking period for this promotion spans from September 20, 2024, at 10:00 (UTC) to September 30, 10:00 (UTC). Participants can select from three distinct locking pools based on their preferred assets: BTC, ETH, or MOCA. Each pool has specific maximum and minimum locking limits, with the WAT allocation distributed based on the participant’s locked volume in proportion to the total locked volume within that pool.

The BTC locking pool offers a total airdrop of 744,000,000 WAT, with a maximum limit of 2 BTC and a minimum limit of 0.0001 BTC. Users’ airdrop shares will be calculated based on their contribution to the overall BTC pool volume. Similarly, the ETH pool provides another 744,000,000 WAT for distribution, with a maximum of 15 ETH and a minimum of 0.002 ETH required for participation. The third option, the MOCA locking pool, features a total airdrop of 83,000,000 WAT, accommodating a maximum of 2,000,000 MOCA and a minimum of 50 MOCA. The airdrop distribution method ensures that participants receive a fair share according to their asset allocation in each pool.

Hourly snapshots of participants’ locked volumes will be taken, with the airdrops distributed accordingly. For instance, if a user locks their assets at 10:46 AM, the volume is confirmed at 11:00 AM, and the airdrop is then distributed at 12:00 PM. This continuous distribution process allows for efficient and timely reward allocation. Participants have the flexibility to unlock their assets at any point during the promotion, with locked assets being automatically returned upon unlocking.

WATCoin’s launch on Bitget Launchpool signals a step forward for TON’s gaming ecosystem, showcasing its potential for growth and value generation within the blockchain gaming space.

For more information on WAT tokens, please visit here.

About Bitget

Established in 2018, Bitget is the world’s leading cryptocurrency exchange and Web3 company. Serving over 45 million users in 100+ countries and regions, the Bitget exchange is committed to helping users trade smarter with its pioneering copy trading feature and other trading solutions. Formerly known as BitKeep, Bitget Wallet is a world-class multi-chain crypto wallet that offers an array of comprehensive Web3 solutions and features including wallet functionality, swap, NFT Marketplace, DApp browser, and more. Bitget inspires individuals to embrace crypto through collaborations with credible partners, including legendary Argentinian footballer Lionel Messi and Turkish National athletes Buse Tosun Çavuşoğlu (Wrestling world champion), Samet Gümüş (Boxing gold medalist) and İlkin Aydın (Volleyball national team).

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

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

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

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/a5cfb082-cae5-484e-b9cc-6273256f4ba3

The MIL Network –

September 29, 2024
MIL-Evening Report: Do footy’s best and fairest awards achieve what they claim?

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Hunter Fujak, Senior Lecturer in Sport Management, Deakin University

Football’s awards season kicks off this week, with the AFL’s Brownlow Medal awarded on Monday evening and the NRL’s Dally M awarded on October 2.

Both medals aim to crown their league’s best regular season player.

Historical voting patterns, however, question whether they achieve this objective, or rather award the most influential key position player from the season’s most successful teams.

How to assess a fairest and best player?

A curiosity of the Australian sport landscape is that all four major football codes use a different panel of judges in award voting.

The AFL’s Brownlow Medal is voted on by umpires, while the NRL’s Dally M is determined by a pool of media pundits and ex-players.

Rugby Australia’s John Eales Medal is voted on by players, and the A-League’s Johnny Warren Medal is judged by a four-body panel that consists of a technical football expert, football media representative, former player and match officials.

Each one of these structures produces unique biases and criticisms.

The Brownlow: the midfielder’s medal

The Brownlow was devised as an award for the fairest and best player of the AFL competition, reflecting the often understated importance of fair play that umpires are uniquely positioned to judge.

The Brownlow’s voting system has long been a topic of interest for fans, pundits and academics alike.

While Lachie Neale’s surprise victory in 2023 generated renewed controversy, the Brownlow has long been criticised as a midfielders award.

Melbourne’s Herald, in 1938, stated:

Under the present method, men playing on the full-forward or full-back lines have little chance of winning the award usually being won by men most constantly in the play who are able to stand out in comparatively weak sides.

This observation around weak sides reflected that from 1931 to 1938, the Brownlow went on an eight-season run of being won by a player not from a finals team.

Indeed, among the first 49 Brownlow winners from 1924 to 1969, only 31% came from finalists.

Since 1970, 72% of winners have come from a finals team (noting the finals system has changed over time).

One consistent long-term trend has been the dominance of midfielders.

Among the 27 Brownlows awarded this millennium, only Adam Goodes (a two-time winner) would not be considered primarily a midfielder.

This positional dominance is not unique to AFL.

Soccer’s most pre-eminent global award, the Ballon d’Or, has been awarded 66 times, of which a defender has been the recipient only four times and a goalkeeper once.

The Dally M suffers from a similar concentration.

The Dally M: the media medal

The Dally M has been awarded since 1979, becoming rugby league’s premier individual honour in 1998 with the formation of the NRL.

In 45 years of voting, the winner has come from a non-finalist team on only six occasions (13%).

The award is also won near exclusively by the “spine” positions of fullback, five-eighth, halfback and hooker, which account for 91% of medallists.

The Dally M uses a pool of media pundits and ex-players for voting on each match, creating the potential for obvious conflicts of interests.

During seasons 2019 and 2020 for instance, 12 of the Brisbane Broncos’ 44 matches were judged by ex-Broncos players. On four of these instances, former player Darren Lockyer was the judge, despite being an active non-executive director of the Brisbane Broncos organisation.

Voting in nearly 22% of matches in these two seasons was performed by judges who played or coached for one of the participating teams.

NRL Chairman Peter V’Landys initiated a review of the Dally M following a surprise winner in 2020 (Jack Wighton), claiming the voting system disadvantaged players from winning teams.

Whilst this supposition disregarded that 88% of all 2020 Dally M points were awarded to players from the winning team, voting was modified for the 2023 season.

This revised system introduced an additional judge to produce two independent voters per match, and in a widely criticised move, veiled these judges with anonymity.

This new system has revealed just how little experts agree when trying to assess subjective performance.

In the opening five rounds of 2023, the two judges picked the same player of the match in less than half (48%) of fixtures.

In a third of matches (31%), one judge’s best on ground did not poll any points with the other judge.

In one instance, the two judges chose six completely different players in their respective 3-2-1 votes (round five, 2023, Bulldogs v Cowboys).

Player and coach awards: The true best and fairest?

Although the Brownlow and Dally M dominate the public limelight, team accolades are typically held in high standing within sport clubs, as internal recognition is often more highly valued than external status within high performance cultures.

Such player and coach awards, typically forming part of season-end club events, can be argued as more accurate assessments of player performance.

This is because the voters – teammates and/or coaches – best understand the roles and expectations of each player within the team’s overarching game plan.

For this reason, in the AFL, there is often wide discrepancies between a team’s distribution of Brownlow votes and a club’s internal award votes.

In 2023, for instance, six of 18 AFL clubs crowned a best and fairest who was different from their highest Brownlow vote-getter.

The most notable of this was Brisbane, where key defender Harris Andrews won the club’s best and fairest, despite finishing 44th in Brownlow voting.

Defender Harry Sheezel similarly won North Melbourne’s best and fairest despite finishing fifth from his team in the Brownlow count.

Is there a perfect solution?

Recent shock winners in both codes saw media organisations perform “forensic analysis” of voting patterns.

In the AFL, former Collingwood president and media personality Eddie McGuire proposed a “panel of elders” while the NRL’s V’Landys proposed rating every player for every match, to determine their respective awards.

Such scrutiny has undoubtedly been fuelled by the datafication of sport and its athletes, which has seen player performance statistics enter the sporting mainstream.

Is it notable then that the AFL reaffirmed their existing policy in early 2024 to preclude umpires from accessing player statistics in casting their votes.

Indeed statistics may not offer the perfect solution some believe.

Any statistical assessment of player performance remains underpinned by human judgement as to the importance of each metric, whilst missing the qualitative nuance that surrounds key match plays and moments.

Ultimately then, there may not be a perfect method to determine a league’s best and fairest player and, arguably, it is this human judgement dimension which makes these awards so engaging as a public spectacle.

The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

– ref. Do footy’s best and fairest awards achieve what they claim? – https://theconversation.com/do-footys-best-and-fairest-awards-achieve-what-they-claim-237978

MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

September 29, 2024
MIL-Evening Report: Basic service provider or mini democracy? Why NZ needs to decide what it wants from local government

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jeffrey McNeill, Honorary Research Associate, School of People, Environment and Planning, Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa – Massey University

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon’s recent challenge to local government “to rein in the fantasies and to get back to delivering the basics brilliantly” was unsurprising, given his government’s focus on fiscal restraint.

It was in keeping with his announcement that councils’ legislative purpose of delivering their communities’ economic, social, environmental and cultural wellbeing are to be removed from the Local Government Act.

Local government responded with the usual indignation and suggested solutions. There were complaints about inadequate funding mechanisms, questions about whether libraries are basic services. The whole spat likely flew under the radar of the wider public.

Yet the problems facing local government are very real and will not just go away by kicking costly decisions down the road. Rather, they are symptomatic of fundamental choices facing the sector.

Foundational issues

The problems go back to the late 1980s when our current local government system was designed.

Led by then local government minister Michael Bassett, the reforms were the first in over 100 years. More than 850 city, borough and county councils, catchment boards, united councils and local boards were amalgamated to form 86 in 1989 and now 78 regional, city and district councils we have today.

But Bassett still considered local government reform incomplete because of the failure to address water provision.

But I would argue the real unfinished business was the failure to resolve the purpose of local government in the first place. Only when that is agreed can we address local government’s functions, form and funding.

Until then, the shape and function of local government will remain a political football.

According to section 10(1)(a) of the Local Government Act 2002, the purpose of local government is “to enable democratic local decision-making and action by, and on behalf of, communities”.

But the second subsection describing its purpose, (s.10(1)(b)) has changed with the various governments. In 2002, under Helen Clark’s Labour-led government, the purpose of local government was:

to promote the social, economic, environmental, and cultural well-being of communities in the present and for the future.

John Key’s National-led government in 2012 replaced that purpose with a remit

to meet the current and future needs of communities for good-quality local infrastructure, local public services, and performance of regulatory functions in a way that is most cost-effective for households and businesses.

The previous Labour government reintroduced the wellbeing purpose. Luxon is set to remove it.

Function, form and funding

Should local government be a true local government with comprehensive and wide powers, or simply a property-services organisation, providing little more than street-lighting, roading, water and sewerage?

The two very different conceptions of local government determine its functions, form and funding.

These differing views reflect the disparate Anglophone and European concepts of local government. National aligns with the Anglophone model, with its limited local government functions under a strong central government. Labour leans towards the European model, with devolved wide-ranging functions.

The distinction between the two models was made very clear to me while working as part of an international team researching local government responses to the COVID-19 pandemic.

My Italian colleague, for example, reported how his country’s local governments were vitally involved in their cities’ day to day management during the crisis.

Mayors and councils were making daily decisions and announcements about their hospitals’ resourcing, whether to close the schools and training institutes, increase social welfare provision and housing, and so on.

On the flipside, New Zealand local government was largely sidelined to address humanitarian services such as ensuring people had access to food and accommodation.

Instead, councils searched for local “shovel-ready” infrastructure projects to access central government funds in order to reduce unemployment and stimulate local economies. The public focused on national daily press announcements from the prime minister and director-general of health.

No appetite strong local government

For all that, the distinction between Labour and National conceptions of local government may not be as great as recent history suggests.

Both want a strong centre and weak local government. Our councils have largely reinforced this reality. Some have sought to extend their scope of activities, others have clearly defined themselves as property services agencies.

Most have largely refrained from the excesses the prime minister appears to be concerned about, partly to avoid being caught out by changes in central government, but also because most council expenditure is already committed to infrastructure.

But does it have to be this way?

The Labour-led government’s 2021 Future for Local Government review envisaged local government using partnerships with hapū and iwi to promote the four key wellbeings as key to any reform. This is at odds with the present government’s priorities and views on governing with Māori – a big reason why the reports now collect dust.

The review was also very constrained in considering local government functions. Rather, it seemingly took existing functions as its starting point to focus instead on local governance.

Writing about our local government nearly 70 years ago, public servant and academic R.J. Polaschek imagined what would have been if New Zealand had been colonised by Denmark instead of Great Britain. In this hypothetical scenario he saw strong independent local government based on communities with wide-ranging functions.

It still could be, but tinkering at the edges is not going to solve its problems. Our local government project remains unfinished business. It will take political courage and vision to complete the task. One that remains a fantasy, and we are all the losers.

Jeffrey McNeill does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

– ref. Basic service provider or mini democracy? Why NZ needs to decide what it wants from local government – https://theconversation.com/basic-service-provider-or-mini-democracy-why-nz-needs-to-decide-what-it-wants-from-local-government-238862

MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

September 29, 2024
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Be Bright, Be Seen, Be Safe

Source: City of York

Be Bright, Be Seen, Be Safe

Published Thursday, 19 September 2024

Be Bright, Be Seen, Be Safe is the key message from City of York Council and North Yorkshire Council during Cycle to School Week [23-27 September].

Getting to school safely, especially as the nights are now getting darker is one of the most important things taught in schools, through the Bikeability and pedestrian training sessions, which take place throughout the year.

Those who run the training sessions are joining forces with the York and North Yorkshire safeguarding children’s teams, to raise awareness of the importance of children wearing cycle helmets, bright clothing and putting on their bike lights.

Cllr Kate Ravilious, Executive Member for Transport at City of York Council, said: “Cycling can be so much fun. It brings independence and it’s a fantastic way of building exercise into everyone’s day and improving health.

“As the nights draw in it’s important to be visible on your cycle. Wearing bright clothes, using cycle lights after dusk and wearing a helmet will help to keep everyone safe. And drivers also need to play a role: driving responsibly, using mirrors to check for cyclists before turning, and giving cyclists at least 1.5m space when passing.”.

Jason McAleese from Modeshift, who deliver the Active Travel Ambassador programme in secondary schools across York and North Yorkshire, said: “Cycling safety is crucial. If we want young people to embrace more active and sustainable ways of traveling to and from school, they must feel both safe and confident. With our support these Active Travel Ambassador schools lead the way by researching and developing behaviour change campaigns that prioritise active travel and road safety.

Interested in having the Active Travel Ambassador programme at your secondary school, email jason@modeshift.org.uk

Visit iTravelYork for cycling tips or to find out more about the cycle training.

MIL OSI United Kingdom –

September 29, 2024
MIL-Evening Report: Move over Olympians, Australia’s wildlife are incredible athletes

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Euan Ritchie, Professor in Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, School of Life & Environmental Sciences, Deakin University

Now that the Paris Olympics and Paralympics have disappeared from our screens, let’s get back to watching animal videos.

But seriously, have you ever paused to think about the athletic abilities of Australian wildlife?

In my research as an ecologist, I’m constantly amazed by the strength, speed and resilience of our native animals. Their prowess is testament to the wonders of evolution, and the necessity of species having to adapt to challenging and changing environments in order to survive.

Let’s take a closer look at some of our best competitors and how might they fare, against humans and overseas entrants. On your marks, get set… swim, hop, dig, dance, glide!

Swimming

Australians are renowned for being strong swimmers. But what is the fastest swimmer in the animal kingdom?

On this there is much debate. Some suggest it’s the Indo Pacific sailfish, clocking in at about 30km/hr. That’s impressive, but much slower than oft-cited (but inaccurate) claims it can travel at more than 100km/hr.

For perspective, the fastest human to swim the 50 metres freestyle is American Caeleb Dressel, completing this in a time of 20.16 seconds. That’s roughly 9km/h – faster than many people jog, but still no match for a sailfish.

As in humans, swimming speed in fishes tends to increase with body length. Larger species that challenge sailfish for the fastest swimmer title include blue or black marlin. Shorter, torpedo-like bluefin tuna are also in contention. All are found in Australian waters, though not exclusively.

While American swimmer Michael Phelps put in an impressive showing against a simulated great white shark, no human would beat much faster sailfish, marlin and tuna.

Sprinting, long and high jump

Aussie icons, red kangaroos can reach speeds of around 60-70km/hr. But they are no match for cheetahs, which can move at more than 120km/hr.

Long jump is surely the kangaroo’s main event. Red kangaroos can jump a staggering 13 metres or more. Amazingly, this might not be enough to clinch gold. Snow leopards can jump more than 15 metres.

Kangaroos can clear heights of up to 3m, so would perform well in the high jump. But they’d finish behind bottlenose dolphins, which can jump over 7m in the air, just for kicks.

Scaled for body size, though, both species would be embarrassed by a tiny insect known as a froghopper. It jumps to heights of more than 140 times its body length.

Kangaroos sure can jump, but they’re not the greatest of all in the animal kingdom.

Battles of strength

African elephants can lift more than 1,000kg and weaver ants more than 100 times their own body weight.

But relative to size, a truly impressive champion is Australia’s horned dung beetle. At just a centimetre long, these diminutive powerhouses can pull more than 1,100 times their own body weight, roughly equating to an average man lifting two fully-loaded 18-wheeler trucks.

And yet, horned dung beetles might still only claim silver. Another invertebrate Aussie, the tiny tropical moss mite, is perhaps the world’s strongest animal. It can pull more than 1,180 times its weight.

Bigger does not always equal stronger.

Packing the fastest, deadliest punch

In terms of combat sports, bigger is not always better.

Peacock mantis shrimps – invertebrates found in Australian marine waters and elsewhere – have the swiftest and most powerful punch in the lightweight crustacean division.

They kill prey by punching them with strong, club-like appendages. They deliver blows at up to 23m per sec, akin to the speed and force of a .22 calibre bullet being fired.

So powerful is the punch, it vaporises water and creates a super-hot shockwave that breaks up and incapacitates its prey.

Nature’s deadliest punch?

Tantalising contests

What about a digging contest? Eastern barred bandicoots can shift 4.8 tonnes of soil a year. How would that stack up against marsupial moles, which can disappear almost instantly into desert sands? Or the expert excavations of wombats and aardvarks that can dig more than half a metre in 15 seconds?

In terms of free-diving and flying, there’s really no contest. Cuvier’s beaked whale can dive nearly 3000m and peregrine falcons can reach over 320 km/hr. These animals are found across the globe, however – not just in Australia.

Australia’s largest gliding marsupial, the greater glider, can sail up to 100m between trees. But gliding gold would surely go to the giant flying squirrel, which can glide up to 450m.

I’d love to see a shooting contest between Australia’s archer fish and Madagascar’s panther chameleon. But finding the right arena for both aquatic and land-based sharpshooters would be tricky.

Raygun’s kangaroo hop is now legendary, but a breaking (break dancing) contest between a peacock spider, spanish dancer (a type of nudibranch) and a magnificent riflebird might genuinely break the internet.

Step aside, Raygun, peacock spiders are taking the floor.

Appreciating wildlife athletes

So who would win a global contest for the best wildlife athlete overall?

If the competition was on land and focused on running, jumping, strength and climbing, it’s hard to go past the overall abilities of a Bengal tiger.

Many amazing wildlife athletes are threatened with extinction. Others are gone forever.

They include the incredible oolacunta – also known as the desert rat kangaroo. It’s powers of endurance in the desert are the stuff of folklore. As legendary Australian mammalogist Hedley Herbert Finlayson wrote in 1931:

Its speed for such an atom, was wonderful, and its endurance amazing … when we finally got it, it had taken the starch out of three mounts and run us 12 miles; all under such adverse conditions of heat and rough going, as to make it almost incredible that so small a frame should be capable of such an immense output of energy.

Let’s celebrate wildlife and their athletic abilities and ensure they have a secure future.

Euan Ritchie receives funding from the Australian Research Council and the Department of Energy, Environment, and Climate Action. Euan is a Councillor within the Biodiversity Council, a member of the Ecological Society of Australia and the Australian Mammal Society, and President of the Australian Mammal Society.

– ref. Move over Olympians, Australia’s wildlife are incredible athletes – https://theconversation.com/move-over-olympians-australias-wildlife-are-incredible-athletes-238303

MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

September 29, 2024
MIL-OSI Australia: Road upgrades pave the way for safer journeys for Glen Innes motorists

Source: New South Wales Premiere

Published: 23 September 2024

Released by: Minister for Regional Transport and Roads

Safer and more reliable journeys are on the way for motorists and freight operators in the Glen Innes region, with road upgrade works starting soon thanks to $13.5 million from the Albanese and Minns Governments.

Glen Innes Severn Council has been approved to receive 2 packages of disaster funding under the jointly funded Commonwealth-state Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements and the Regional Roads and Transport Recovery Package.

The DRFA will allow Glen Innes Severn Council to complete improvement works on 9 local roads across the region including sections of Strathbogie Road, Rangers Valley Road, Furracabad Road, Glen Leigh Road, Pinkett Road, Shannon Vale Road, Haymarket Road, Maybole Road and Golf Links Road. The Shannon Vale Road upgrade was completed in February 2024.

The Regional Roads and Transport Recovery Package will help Glen Innes Severn Council carry out improvement work on regional roads including sections of Emmaville Road and Wellington Vale Road.

The work includes strengthening through cement stabilisation of the base pavement and resealing to make the roads better able to withstand prolonged periods of wet weather and flooding.

Geotechnical and design investigations are underway for both packages, with work expected to start later this year.

Quotes attributed to Senator Jenny McAllister, Minister for Emergency Management:

“The Albanese Government is working with the NSW Government and local councils to ensure communities have resilient infrastructure they can rely on every day. We are working to ensure all road users are connected and make it home safely to their loved ones every day.

“The Albanese Government is delivering reliable infrastructure and assets that keep regional communities in NSW connected and safe, especially during times of severe weather.”

Quotes attributed to Jenny Aitchison, Minister for Regional Transport and Roads:

“This is great news for Glen Innes, in particular, for the villages of Emmaville and Deepwater.

“Emmaville Road and Wellington Vale Road provide a critical link for residents and businesses to the major centre of Glen Innes.

“These improvements being funded by the Australian and NSW Governments, will improve safety significantly while also ensuring reliable roads for residents in all types of weather.”

Quotes attributed to NSW Labor’s spokesperson for Northern Tablelands, Peter Primrose MLC:

“It’s great to see all levels of government working collaboratively to improve regional roads across NSW.

“This important work is ensuring our rural and regional communities remain connected throughout natural disasters and can bounce back quicker.”

Quotes attributed to Bernard Smith, Glen Innes Severn General Manager:

“We’re assessing all our local roads and preparing to start major repairs on Pinkett Road, Rangers Valley Road, Glen Legh Road, and Emmaville Road segments by September. Construction will begin in summer 2024/2025, with additional roadworks on Maybole Road, Golf Links Road, and others continuing through early 2026. These improvements are essential for better travel and safety in our region.

“The design phase for our regional roads is progressing well, with Emmaville Road set for delivery in December 2024. These upgrades, including the remaining segments of Emmaville Road and Wellington Vale Road planned for the 2025/26 financial year, are crucial for enhancing transport links and supporting regional development across our towns.

“This grant allows our council to fortify essential infrastructure, making it more disaster resilient. By upgrading our roads and transport networks, we’re ensuring they serve our community effectively, now and in the future.

“The support and resources provided by Transport for NSW are invaluable. Their expertise and commitment to enhancing regional transport infrastructure align perfectly with our goals for Glen Innes Severn.”

MIL OSI News –

September 29, 2024
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Honiara: London Fashion Week Show Blo Iumi returns bigger, better in 2024
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

The event celebrated 40 years of the London Fashion Show, one of the “Big Four” fashion weeks, alongside Paris, Milan, and New York.
Winner of the Great London Fashion Show Mrs Hahe Alatala of Ahe Designs. Photo credit: Courtesy of Jay Gagame Photography.

The British High Commission in Honiara hosted its second edition of the popular London Fashion Week Show Blo Iumi on Tuesday 17 September 2024, with fantastic local designers and incredible models showcasing the best in Solomon Design.

The event celebrated 40 years of the London Fashion Show, one of the “Big Four” fashion weeks, alongside Paris, Milan, and New York. It showcases the work of leading British designers and attracts international buyers, media, and fashion enthusiasts. Burberry, present their collections here.

The 40th celebration focuses on uniting creative communities, honouring the diversity of cultures and creativity of the city and positioning London at the forefront of the cultural zeitgeist. It is an occasion to celebrate not just the event itself but everyone that makes it possible.

The Great funded Fashion Show Blo Iumi attracted 7 designers, 55 models including 5 Miss Solomon Islands Pageants 2024 contestants, and over one hundred excited guests.

Speaking at the Fashion Show’s opening ceremony, Deputy High Commissioner to Solomon Islands, Emma Jane David said:

Like in Solomon Islands, London’s fashion is deeply intertwined with its diversity. The city’s fashion reflects its multicultural population, drawing on a wide range of influences to create unique and eclectic styles. British fashion is at the forefront of sustainable and ethical fashion movements.

This year’s Fashion Show Blo Iumi included 4 categories featuring a Lavalava wear, Evening wear, Lotu wear and a Contemporary traditional wear. Four judges made the tough decision selecting the best designs and models.

Mrs Hahe Alatala of Hahe Designs emerged the winner, picking up a trophy and a mentoring session with a UK designer. Rosemary Boe of Rosie’s Couture and Wendy Gwaena of WG Designs took second and third places.

Sonia’s Rochenberg of Sons and Daughters Designs, Prudence Beck of Threads Investment, Lava Grossmith of Lava’s Original and Luke Gegeu of EL Designs all received commendations.

The show also featured body art by artists Hamid Ramokasa, Fred Oge, Wilson Kabe, Cassey Hairiu and Emmanuel Manu on five body building athletes, and a performance from Blad P2A and Khazin.

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Published 23 September 2024
MIL OSI United Kingdom –
September 29, 2024
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Department of Sports launches the Swachhata Hi Seva with the theme of ‘Swabhav Swachhata- Sanskaar Swachhata
Source: Government of India (2)

Posted On: 23 SEP 2024 11:01AM by PIB Delhi

Department of Sports launched Swachhta Hi Seva (SHS) Campaign, 2024 on 17^th September, 2024, which will culminate on 2^nd October, 2024. The Campaign is in line with the Government of India’s vision of a Swachh Bharat. The theme for SHS 2024, “Swabhav Swachhata, Sanskar Swachhata” (स्वभाव स्वछता, संस्कार स्वछता ) entails collective responsibility and active participation from all the citizens of the country. Three key pillars of this campaign are-
- Sampoorna Swachhata through Shramdaan –This aims to transformation of specific target units and overall cleanliness through shramdaan activities.
- Swachhata Ki Bhagidari – This encourages public participation through awareness and advocacy in cleanliness efforts through various participatory activities.
- Safai Mitra Suraksha Shivirs: This provides for activities to felicitate and benefit safai mitras.
In SHS-2024 campaign, the Department of Sports and organizations under it, namely, Sports Authority of India (SAI), National Sports University (NSU), National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA), National Dope Testing Laboratory (NDTL) and Lakshmibai National Institute of Physical Education (LNIPE) are working hand in hand to ensure widespread engagement and participation from every citizen, community, and organization during the fortnight to achieve the objective of SHS-2024.

The Department and its organizations are organizing various awareness and swacchata activities from 14^th September 2024 onwards which include mass shramdaan all across the country, plantation drives under ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’, holding various competitions etc throughout the duration of Campaign.

*****

Himanshu Pathak

(Release ID: 2057724) Visitor Counter : 77

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –
September 29, 2024
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: English rendering of PM’s address to the Indian Diaspora, New York, USA

Source: Government of India

Posted On: 23 SEP 2024 3:58AM by PIB Delhi

Bharat Mata ki – Jai!

Bharat Mata ki – Jai!

Bharat Mata ki – Jai!

Namaste U.S.! Now even our “Namaste” has gone multinational, transitioning from local to global, and it’s all because of you. Every Indian who holds Bharat close to their heart has made this possible.

Friends,

You’ve come here from far and wide. Some faces are familiar, while others are new. Your love is a great honour for me. I recall the days when I wasn’t a PM, wasn’t a CM, wasn’t a leader at all. Back then, I used to come here as an inquisitive traveller, eager to see and understand this land, carrying many questions in my mind. Even when I held no official position, I had already toured almost 29 states in America. Later, when I became a CM, I continued connecting with you through technology. As a PM, too, I’ve received immense affection and warmth from you. In 2014, it was Madison Square; Sam Jose in 2015; Houston in 2019; Washington in 2023; and now New York in 2024, and each time, you surpass the last record.

Friends,

I’ve always recognized the strength of the Indian diaspora. Even when I held no official post, I understood it, and I understand it today. You have always been Bharat’s strongest brand ambassadors for me. That’s why I call you the ‘Rashtradoot’ (nation’s emissaries). You’ve connected America to Bharat and Bharat to America. Your skills, talent, and commitment are unparalleled. Though you’ve crossed seven seas, no ocean is deep enough to separate you from the Bharat that resides in your hearts. What Maa Bharti has taught us, we can never forget. Wherever we go, we treat everyone like family. Embracing diversity, living it, and integrating it into our lives—these are our values, embedded in our very being. We are from a country with hundreds of languages and dialects, home to every religion and sect. Yet, we move forward as one and united. In this very hall, some speak Tamil, others Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, Punjabi, Marathi, or Gujarati. Our languages may differ, but our spirit is one: “Bharat Mata ki Jai” (Victory to Mother Bharat), the spirit of Indianness. This is our greatest strength in connecting with the world. These values naturally make us ‘Vishwa Bandhu’ (global friend). As our scriptures say, तेन त्यक्तेन भुंजीथा: meaning those who sacrifice are the ones who truly enjoy. We find happiness by doing good to others and by sacrificing. Wherever we live, this spirit remains unchanged. We contribute maximum to the societies we live in. In America, be it as doctors, researchers, tech professionals, scientists, or in other professions, you’ve soared high, and the world has witnessed it. Just a short while ago the T-20 Cricket World Cup was held here and the USA team played amazingly, and the world has also seen the contribution of the Indians living here in that team.

Friends,

For the world, AI means artificial intelligence, but I believe AI stands for America-India. This America-India spirit is the AI power of the new world, elevating Bharat-America relations. I salute all of you, the Indian diaspora.

Friends,

Wherever I go in the world, I hear nothing but praise for the Indian diaspora from every leader. Just yesterday, President Biden invited me to his home in Delaware. His warmth and hospitality were truly touching. This honour is for 140 crore Indians, for your hard work, for the millions of Indians living here. I extend my gratitude to President Biden and to all of you.

Friends,

The year 2024 is crucial for the world. On one side, we see conflicts and tensions among nations, while on the other, some countries are celebrating democracy. Bharat and America are together in this celebration of democracy. Elections are upcoming here in the U.S., while Bharat has already held its elections. These elections in Bharat were the largest in human history. You can imagine: almost double the number of voters as the total population of the U.S., and more voters than the entire population of Europe! So many people cast their votes in Bharat. When we see the scale of Bharat’s democracy, it fills us with pride. A three-month-long polling process, 15 million polling staff, over a million polling stations, more than 2,500 political parties, more than 8,000 candidates, thousands of newspapers in different languages, hundreds of radio stations, TV news channels, millions of social media accounts, lakhs of social media channels—all of this makes Bharat’s democracy vibrant. It’s an era of expanding freedom of expression, and our electoral process undergoes scrutiny at this level.

And friends,

This long election process has led to something unprecedented in Bharat this time. What happened? What happened? What happened? ‘Abki Baar – ’ (This time again—), ‘Abki Baar – ’ (This time again—), ‘Abki Baar – ’ (This time again—)!

Friends,

Our government has been re-elected for the third time. This hadn’t happened in Bharat in the last 60 years. The mandate the people of Bharat has given us is huge and significant. In this third term, we have even greater goals to achieve. We must move forward with three times the strength and three times the speed. You’ll remember one word: PUSHP (flower). Yes, consider it a lotus, I have no objections. PUSHP, and I define this PUSHP. P for Progressive Bharat, U for Unstoppable Bharat, S for Spiritual Bharat, H for Humanity First Bharat, and P for Prosperous Bharat. Together, these five petals of PUSHP will shape a ‘Viksit Bharat’ (Developed India).

Friends,

I am the first Prime Minister of Bharat born after independence. During the freedom struggle, millions of Indians dedicated their lives to Swaraj (self-rule). They didn’t think of their personal interests or comfort zones; they forgot everything and fought against the British. Some were hanged, some were shot, some endured torturous imprisonment, and many spent their youth in jail.

Friends,

We couldn’t die for our country, but we can surely live for it. Dying wasn’t in our destiny, but living is our destiny. Right from day one, my mind and mission has been clear. I couldn’t give my life for ‘Swaraj’ (independence), but I decided to dedicate my life to ‘Suraj’ (good governance) and a ‘Samridh’ (prosperous) Bharat. A large part of my life was spent wandering across the country for years. Wherever I found food, I ate; wherever I found a place to sleep, I slept. From the shores of the ocean to the mountains, from deserts to snow-covered peaks, I met people from every region, got to know and understand them. I gained first-hand experience of my country’s life, its culture, and its challenges. Though my path was different, destiny brought me into politics. I never imagined becoming a Chief Minister, but I became Gujarat’s longest-serving CM for 13 years. I remained Gujarat’s Chief Minister for 13 years and then people promoted me to Prime Minister. But the lessons I learned traveling through the country have shaped my governance model, both at the state and central levels. Over the past 10 years, the success of this governance model is evident to you and the world. And now, with great trust, the people of Bharat have given me a third term. I approach this third term with three times the sense of responsibility.

Friends,

Today, Bharat is one of the world’s youngest nations. Bharat is filled with energy and dreams. Every day, new records are being set. Every day, new news. Just today, we received great news: Bharat won gold in both men’s and women’s categories at the Chess Olympiad. But let me tell you one more thing, which will require even more applause. For the first time in nearly 100 years, this has happened! The whole country and every Indian is proud of our chess players. There’s another AI driving Bharat. And what is that? It is A for Aspirational and I for Bharat: Aspirational Bharat. This is our new energy. The aspirations of millions of Indians are driving Bharat’s growth. Every aspiration is giving rise to new achievements, and every achievement is fuelling new aspirations. In just one decade, Bharat has risen from the 10th to the 5th largest economy. Now every Indian wants Bharat to quickly become the third-largest economy. Today, a large section of Bharat’s population has seen their basic needs met. Over the past 10 years, crores of people have gained access to clean cooking gas, piped water, electricity, and toilets. These crores of people now aspire to a better quality of life.

Friends,

Now, the people of Bharat don’t just want roads; they want magnificent expressways. Now, the people of Bharat don’t just want rail connectivity; they want high-speed trains. Every city in Bharat aspires to have metro services, and every city wants its own airport. Every citizen, whether from a village or a city, wants world-class facilities, and we are seeing the results of these aspirations. In 2014, only 5 cities in Bharat had metro services; today, 23 cities have metros. Bharat now has the second-largest metro network in the world, and it is expanding every day.

Friends,

In 2014, only 70 cities in Bharat had airports; today, more than 140 cities have airports. In 2014, fewer than 100 gram panchayats had broadband connectivity; today, more than 200,000 panchayats have it. In 2014, Bharat had around 140 million LPG consumers; today, the number has risen to over 310 million. What used to take years to accomplish is now being completed in months. There is a new confidence in Bharat’s people, a determination to reach their goals. Development in Bharat is becoming a people’s movement, and every Indian is becoming an equal partner in this movement of development. They believe in Bharat’s success and in its achievements.

Friends,

Today, Bharat is a land of opportunities. Bharat no longer waits for opportunities; Bharat creates opportunities. Over the past 10 years, Bharat has prepared a new launching pad for opportunities in every sector. Look at this – just in the last decade, and this will make you proud, 25 crore people have been lifted out of poverty. How did this happen? It happened because we changed the old mindset and approach. We focused on empowering the poor. We connected more than 500 million people to the banking system, provided more than 550 million people with free medical treatment up to 500,000 rupees, gave over 40 million families proper housing, and through collateral-free loans, we provided millions of people with ease of credit. Many such initiatives helped people lift themselves out of poverty, and those who have emerged from poverty today form the neo-middle class, which is driving Bharat’s development at a faster pace.

Friends,

We have prioritized women-led development alongside women’s welfare. The crores of houses built by the government have been registered in the name of women. Out of the crores of bank accounts opened, more than half were in women’s names. Over the past decade, 10 crore Indian women have joined the Micro Entrepreneurship Scheme. Let me give you another example. We are making significant efforts to integrate agriculture with technology in Bharat, and today, drones are being used extensively in farming. While drones may not be new to you, what might surprise you is this: do you know who is taking responsibility for them? It’s rural women. We are training thousands of women to become drone pilots, and this remarkable technological revolution in agriculture is being driven by rural women.

Friends,

The areas once neglected have now become national priorities. Bharat is more connected today than ever before. You may be astonished to learn the current size of Bharat’s 5G market. Would you mind if I told you? Today, Bharat’s 5G market is larger than that of the United States, and this achievement has been made within just two years. Now, Bharat is working on Made-in-India 6G. How did this happen? It happened because we devised policies to advance this sector. We invested in Made-in-India technology, affordable data, and mobile phone manufacturing. Today, nearly every major mobile brand in the world is Made in India. Bharat is now the second-largest mobile manufacturer globally. There was a time, before my tenure, when we were importing mobile phones; today, we are exporting them.

Friends, Bharat no longer lags behind. Now, Bharat creates new systems and leads the way. Bharat has introduced the world to a new concept of Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI). DPI has promoted equality and become a powerful tool in reducing corruption. Bharat’s UPI is now capturing the world’s attention. While you may have a wallet in your pocket, in Bharat, people have both physical wallets and e-wallets on their phones. Many Indians no longer carry physical documents, as they now use DigiLocker. When travelling to airports, they seamlessly use DigiYatra. This has become the launching pad for digital public infrastructure, innovation, job creation, and every related technology.

Friends,

Bharat will not stop now, nor will it slow down. Bharat envisions a future where as many global devices as possible operate on Made-in-India chips. We have made the semiconductor sector the foundation of Bharat’s accelerated growth. In June last year, Bharat announced incentives for the semiconductor industry, and just a few months later, the foundation stone for Micron’s first semiconductor unit was laid. To date, five such units have been approved in Bharat. The day is not far when you will see Made-in-India chips here in America as well. This small chip will elevate Bharat’s journey towards development to unprecedented heights, and that’s Modi’s promise.

Friends,

The resolve and commitment towards reforms in Bharat today are unprecedented. Our Green Energy Transition Programme is a prime example of this. Despite accounting for 17 percent of the world’s population, Bharat’s contribution to global carbon emissions is only 4 percent. We played no part in harming the planet. In fact, compared to the rest of the world, our impact is nearly negligible. We, too, could have fuelled our growth by relying on carbon emissions, but we chose the path of green transition, guided by our deep-rooted respect for nature. As a result, we are investing heavily in solar, wind, hydro, green hydrogen, and nuclear energy. Bharat was the first country in the G20 to achieve the Paris climate goals. Since 2014, our solar energy capacity has increased by over 30 times. We are working to make every home in the country a solar-powered home. To achieve this, we have launched an extensive rooftop solar mission. Today, our railway stations and airports are transitioning to solar energy. From homes to streets, Bharat has embarked on a journey towards energy-efficient lighting. These efforts are generating a large number of green jobs in Bharat.

Friends,

21st-century Bharat is advancing through education, skills, research, and innovation. You are all familiar with the name Nalanda University. Not long ago, Bharat’s ancient Nalanda University was revived in a modern form. Today, it’s not only the university but also the spirit of Nalanda that is being reborn. We are creating a modern educational ecosystem that attracts students from across the globe to come to Bharat and study. Over the past 10 years, something remarkable has happened in Bharat. In this period, one new university has been built in Bharat every week, two new colleges have been established every day, and one new ITI has opened each day. In a decade, the number of IIITs has risen from 9 to 25, IIMs from 13 to 21, and AIIMS has tripled to 22. The number of medical colleges has nearly doubled in the same period. Today, even the world’s top universities are coming to Bharat. Bharat is now renowned. The world has long witnessed the power of Indian designers; now it will witness the brilliance of ‘Design in India’.

Friends,

Today, Bharat’s partnerships are expanding globally. Previously, Bharat followed a policy of Equal Distance, but now it embraces a policy of Equal Proximity. We are also becoming a strong voice for the Global South. You may have noticed that, due to Bharat’s initiative, the African Union was granted permanent membership at the G20 Summit. Today, when Bharat speaks on the global stage, the world listens. Not long ago, when I said, “This is not the era of war,” the gravity of the statement was understood worldwide.

Friends,

Whenever there is a crisis anywhere in the world, Bharat is one of the first to respond. During the COVID-19 pandemic, we sent vaccines and medicines to over 150 countries. Whether it was an earthquake, a cyclone, or a civil war, we were among the first to offer assistance. This is a reflection of the values and teachings passed down by our ancestors.
Friends,

Bharat is emerging as a new catalyst on the global stage, and its influence will be felt across all sectors. Bharat’s role will be crucial in accelerating global growth, promoting global peace, advancing climate action, closing the global skills gap, driving innovation, and stabilising the global supply chain.

Friends,

For Bharat, power and capability are symbolised by “ज्ञानायदानायचरक्षणाय”, meaning knowledge is for sharing, wealth is for caring, and power is for protecting. Therefore, Bharat’s priority is not to impose its dominance but to enhance its influence. We are not like fire that burns; we are like the sun’s rays that provide light. We do not seek to dominate the world but to contribute to its prosperity. Whether it’s promoting yoga, advocating for superfood millets, or championing the Mission LiFE vision (Lifestyle for the Environment), Bharat is prioritizing human-centric growth alongside GDP-centric growth. I urge you all to promote Mission LiFE as much as possible here. Small changes in our lifestyle can have a significant positive impact on the environment.

You may have heard, and perhaps some of you have already participated, in a movement that’s gaining momentum in Bharat. Across the country, people are planting a tree in honour of their mothers (Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam). If your mother is alive, plant a tree along with her. If she is no longer with us, plant a tree in her memory – carry a picture of her with you and plant a tree. This movement is taking place in every corner of Bharat, and I encourage all of you to initiate a similar campaign here. This will not only honour the mothers who gave us life but also our Mother Earth.

Friends,

Bharat today dreams big and pursues those dreams with determination. The Paris Olympics concluded just a few days ago, and the next host will be the USA. Soon, you will also witness the Olympics being held in Bharat. We are making every possible effort to host the 2036 Olympics. Whether in sports, business, or entertainment, Bharat has become a centre of global attraction. Today, Indian leagues like the IPL rank among the world’s top leagues, and Indian films are making waves internationally. Bharat is also soaring in global tourism. There is a growing interest in celebrating Indian festivals across different countries. I notice that people in cities everywhere are now learning Garba for Navratri—this reflects their love for Bharat.

Friends,

Today, every country seeks to learn more about Bharat. I have something else that will bring you joy. Just yesterday, America returned 300 ancient inscriptions and statues to Bharat, some as old as 1,500 to 2,000 years, which had been stolen from Bharat So far, the United States has returned around 500 such artefacts to Bharat. This is not just about the return of a few items; it is a tribute to our rich heritage spanning thousands of years. It is a matter of pride for Bharat and for all of you. I am deeply grateful to the US government for this gesture.

Friends,

The partnership between Bharat and the United States is growing stronger by the day. Our collaboration is for the benefit of the world. We are enhancing cooperation across all sectors, and your convenience has been taken into account as well. Last year, I announced that our government would open a new Consulate in Seattle, which has now become operational. I had also sought your suggestions for the opening of two more consulates, and I am pleased to inform you that, based on your feedback, Bharat has decided to open two new consulates in Boston and Los Angeles.

I am also delighted to announce the establishment of the Thiruvalluvar Chair for Tamil Studies at the University of Houston. This will further help in propagating the philosophy of the great Tamil saint Thiruvalluvar to the world.

Friends,

This event of yours has truly been remarkable. The cultural programme that took place here was fantastic. I have been informed that thousands of people wished to attend this event, but the venue proved to be too small. I apologise to those whom I couldn’t meet today. I look forward to meeting all of you next time, at another venue on another day. However, I know the enthusiasm will remain the same, and the passion will remain undiminished. May you all stay healthy and prosperous, and continue to strengthen the India-US friendship. With these wishes, I extend my heartfelt thanks to you all!

Join me in saying:

Bharat Mata ki Jai!

Bharat Mata ki Jai!

Bharat Mata ki Jai!

Many thanks.

DISCLAIMER: This is the approximate translation of PM’s speech. Original speech was delivered

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

September 29, 2024
MIL-OSI Video: This Week at Justice – September 20, 2024

Source: United States Department of Justice (video statements)

#ThisWeekAtJustice

• Justice Department Awards Over $600M to Hire Law Enforcement Officers, Keep Schools Safe, and Improve Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Services
• Justice Department Announces Five Cases Tied to Disruptive Technology Strike Force
• Justice Department and Department of Housing and Urban Development Secure Over $15M from OceanFirst Bank to Resolve Redlining Claims in New Jersey
• Justice Department Files Lawsuit Against Owner and Operator of the Vessel that Destroyed the Francis Scott Key Bridge
• Suspect at Trump International Golf Course Charged with Firearms Offenses

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SGRCk_SUVW8

MIL OSI Video –

September 29, 2024
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: MY Bharat Volunteers Lead National Cleanliness Drive as Part of Swachhata Hi Seva Campaign

Source: Government of India

MY Bharat Volunteers Lead National Cleanliness Drive as Part of Swachhata Hi Seva Campaign

Over 8 Lakh Youth Volunteers Remove More Than 12 Lakh kg of Waste Nationwide in First 3 Days

15-Day Swachhata Hi Seva Campaign to Eliminate Single-Use Plastic Waste, Culminating in Massive Coastal and Beach Clean-Up on October 2

Posted On: 20 SEP 2024 5:10PM by PIB Delhi

Department of Youth Affairs has taken the lead in actively participating in this year’s Swachhta Hi Seva campaign, taking place from September 17 to October 2, 2024, with the theme “Swabhav Swachhata – Sanskaar Swachhata.” Youth volunteers across India, under the MY Bharat initiative, are leading this nationwide effort to promote cleanliness and environmental responsibility. The campaign will culminate in Swachh Bharat Diwas on October 2, 2024, reinforcing the commitment to a cleaner and greener India.

(Odisha)

The campaign was formally inaugurated on September 17, 2024, by Hon’ble Vice President of India, Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar in Jhunjhunu, Rajasthan, marking the beginning of a nationwide effort towards creating a cleaner and greener India. On the first day alone, a remarkable 240,808 young volunteers collected 1,75,627 kg of single-use plastic across 1,562 adopted villages, underscoring the significant impact of the youth’s commitment to environmental stewardship.

(Madhya Pradesh)

Union Minister of Youth Affairs & Sports and Labour & Employment, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, expressed the government’s vision for this initiative, stating, “We must instill a sense of responsibility and pride in cleanliness among our youth. The Swachhata Hi Seva campaign is not just an initiative; it’s a movement that empowers young Indians to take ownership of their environment. MY Bharat will play a leading role in this nationwide effort, with its youth volunteers at the forefront of driving change and fostering a culture of cleanliness.”

(Maharashtra)

As of September 19, 2024, over 8 lakh MY Bharat youth volunteers have actively participated in the campaign, successfully removing more than 12 lakh kilograms of waste from various locations across the country. Under the campaign, over 7,000 villages, 2,000 community centres, 450 Amrit Sarovars, and other historical and public spaces have been cleaned, showcasing the power of collective action.

(Cleaning of Railway Tracks)

Throughout the campaign, youth volunteers are engaging in extensive cleanliness activities, with a focus on the removal and proper disposal of single-use plastics. These activities are being carried out across institutional premises, adopted villages, and public spaces such as bus stands, railway stations, markets, and heritage sites across India.

(Uttar Pradesh)

The 15-day nationwide drive ‘Swachhata Hi Seva Campaign’ will culminate on October 2, 2024, with extensive beach and coastal area cleaning activities, focusing on the collection and disposal of single-use plastics. Youth volunteers will actively participate, with events organized through the MY Bharat portal, fostering greater community involvement.

(Kerala)

The MY Bharat platform is hosting a dedicated window (https://mybharat.gov.in/mega_events/swachhata-hi-seva) where youth from across India are uploading pictures and videos of their participation in the cleanliness drive, reflecting the spirit of ‘Jan Bhagidari se Jan Andolan’. MY Bharat platform is enabling young Indians to share their efforts and inspire others to join the nationwide movement towards a cleaner and greener India.

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Himanshu Pathak

(Release ID: 2057048) Visitor Counter : 152

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

September 29, 2024