Blog

  • MIL-OSI Security: Director Wray Visits FBI Offices in Burlington, Bedford, and Providence

    Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime Alerts (b)

    Wray discussed the region’s biggest challenges and emphasized that a continued focus on partnerships was critical to staying ahead of the threat

    FBI Director Christopher Wray speaks with law enforcement partners during a meeting at the FBI Boston Division’s Bedford Resident Agency in New Hampshire during an October 2024 visit to New England.

    This week, FBI Director Christopher Wray visited the Burlington, Vermont; Bedford, New Hampshire; and Providence, Rhode Island, resident agencies. He met with employees, U.S. attorneys, and a number of key law enforcement, private sector, and community partners from across the region.

    During these partner meetings, Director Wray talked about the Bureau’s work in the region and reaffirmed our commitment to supporting our state and local partners on issues such as violent crime, election security, threats to critical infrastructure, national security at the northern border, and emerging challenges, such as the impact of artificial intelligence on elder fraud and scams.

    “As a country and as a profession, we’re dealing with all sorts of challenges,” Director Wray said. “But our partnerships—with law enforcement, the private sector, and the communities we serve—give me confidence that we can stay ahead of the threats out there.”

    MIL Security OSI

  • MIL-OSI Security: Perry County Man Sentenced to 23 Years in Prison for Soliciting Pornography From Hundreds of Minors While Pretending to be Teen Girl on Snapchat

    Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime News

    COLUMBUS, Ohio – A Junction City, Ohio, man was sentenced in federal court in Columbus today to 276 months in prison for sexually exploiting minors and possessing child pornography.

    Since 2018, Clay Thomas Wolfe, 28, solicited child pornography from more than 300 victims via the mobile application Snapchat. Approximately 100 exploitation victims who provided sexual content to Wolfe have been identified by law enforcement as minors thus far from across multiple states including Ohio, Pennsylvania and Kentucky.

    Wolfe pretended on Snapchat to be a 15-year-old female named “Ally” who lived in Ohio and used this persona to solicit child pornography from primarily middle school and high school aged boys. Wolfe’s Snapchat account also contained sexually explicit photographs and videos of minor males as young as 10 and 11 years old.

    The investigation was initiated in April 2022, when law enforcement officials in Pennsylvania learned that a sixth-grade student was sharing a nude photograph of a classmate that he had received from Wolfe while Wolfe was pretending to be “Ally.”

    As part of his online persona, Wolfe sent the male victims photos and videos of pubescent female’s naked breasts and genitalia that he found on adult pornography sites or public social media accounts.   He would use that content to entice the minors he chatted with to send content of their own including image and video files of primarily minor males, some as young as twelve-years-old, engaged in sexually explicit conduct such as bestiality, masturbation, and sexual acts including oral and anal penetration.  Wolfe would also extort the victims by threatening to send the nude images of his victims to their friends and family unless they sent him additional images.

    In total, Wolfe received approximately 850 images and 570 videos depicting child pornography.

    Wolfe was arrested and charged federally in June 2023 and pleaded guilty in April 2024.

    Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; and Elena Iatarola, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division; announced the sentence imposed today by U.S. District Judge Michael H. Watson. U.S. Attorney Parker and Special Agent in Charge Iatarola commended the cooperation of the Perry County Sheriff’s Office and Perry County Prosecutor. Assistant United States Attorneys Emily Czerniejewski and Jennifer M. Rausch and are representing the United States in this case.

    # # #

    MIL Security OSI

  • MIL-OSI: Guggenheim Investments Announces November 2024 Closed-End Fund Distributions

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NEW YORK, Nov. 01, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Guggenheim Investments today announced that certain closed-end funds have declared their distributions. The table below summarizes the distribution schedule for each closed-end fund (collectively, the “Funds” and each, a “Fund”).

    The following dates apply to the distributions:

    Record Date  November 15, 2024
    Ex-Dividend Date November 15, 2024
    Payable Date  November 29, 2024
    Distribution Schedule
    NYSE
    Ticker
    Closed-End Fund Name Distribution
    Per Share
    Change from Previous
    Distribution
    Frequency
    AVK Advent Convertible and Income Fund $0.1172   Monthly
    GBAB Guggenheim Taxable Municipal Bond & Investment Grade Debt Trust $0.12573   Monthly
    GOF Guggenheim Strategic Opportunities Fund $0.1821   Monthly
    GUG Guggenheim Active Allocation Fund $0.11875   Monthly

    A portion of this distribution is estimated to be a return of capital rather than income. Final determination of the character of distributions will be made at year-end. The Section 19(a) notice referenced below provides more information and can be found at www.guggenheiminvestments.com.

    You should not draw any conclusions about the Fund’s investment performance from the amount of this distribution or from the terms of the Fund’s Distribution Policy.

    Past performance is not indicative of future performance. As of this announcement, the sources of each fund distribution are estimates. Distributions may be paid from sources of income other than ordinary income, such as short-term capital gains, long-term capital gains or return of capital. Unless otherwise noted, the distributions above are not anticipated to include a return of capital. If a distribution consists of something other than ordinary income, a Section 19(a) notice detailing the anticipated source(s) of the distribution will be made available. The Section 19(a) notice will be posted to a Fund’s website and to the Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation so that brokers can distribute such notices to Shareholders of the Fund. Section 19(a) notices are provided for informational purposes only and not for tax reporting purposes. The final determination of the source and tax characteristics of all distributions will be made after the end of the year. This information is not legal or tax advice. Consult a professional regarding your specific legal or tax matters.

    About Guggenheim Investments

    Guggenheim Investments is the global asset management and investment advisory division of Guggenheim Partners, LLC (“Guggenheim”), with more than $249 billion* in assets under management across fixed income, equity, and alternative strategies. We focus on the return and risk needs of insurance companies, corporate and public pension funds, sovereign wealth funds, endowments and foundations, consultants, wealth managers, and high-net-worth investors. Our 235+ investment professionals perform rigorous research to understand market trends and identify undervalued opportunities in areas that are often complex and underfollowed. This approach to investment management has enabled us to deliver innovative strategies providing diversification opportunities and attractive long-term results.

    Guggenheim Investments includes Guggenheim Funds Investment Advisors, LLC (“GFIA”), Guggenheim Partners Investment Management, LLC (“GPIM”) and Guggenheim Funds Distributors, LLC (“GFD”). GFIA serves as Investment Adviser for GBAB, GOF and GUG. GPIM serves as Investment Sub-Adviser for GBAB, GOF and GUG. GFD serves as servicing agent for AVK. The Investment Adviser for AVK is Advent Capital Management, LLC and is not affiliated with Guggenheim.

    *Assets under management are as of 09.30.2024 and include leverage of $14.8bn. Guggenheim Investments represents the following affiliated investment management businesses of Guggenheim Partners, LLC: Guggenheim Partners Investment Management, LLC, Security Investors, LLC, Guggenheim Funds Distributors, LLC, Guggenheim Funds Investment Advisors, LLC, Guggenheim Corporate Funding, LLC, Guggenheim Partners Europe Limited, Guggenheim Partners Japan Limited, and GS GAMMA Advisors, LLC.

    This information does not represent an offer to sell securities of the Funds and it is not soliciting an offer to buy securities of the Funds. There can be no assurance that the Funds will achieve their investment objectives. Investments in the Funds involve operating expenses and fees. The net asset value of the Funds will fluctuate with the value of the underlying securities. It is important to note that closed-end funds trade on their market value, not net asset value, and closed-end funds often trade at a discount to their net asset value. Past performance is not indicative of future performance. An investment in closed-end funds is subject to investment risk, including the possible loss of the entire amount that you invest. Some general risks and considerations associated with investing in a closed-end fund may include: Investment and Market Risk; Lower Grade Securities Risk; Equity Securities Risk; Foreign Securities Risk; Interest Rate Risk; Illiquidity Risk; Derivative Risk; Management Risk; Anti-Takeover Provisions; Market Disruption Risk and Leverage Risk. See www.guggenheiminvestments.com/cef for a detailed discussion of Fund-specific risks.

    Investors should consider the investment objectives and policies, risk considerations, charges and expenses of any investment before they invest. For this and more information, visit www.guggenheiminvestments.com or contact a securities representative or Guggenheim Funds Distributors, LLC 227 West Monroe Street, Chicago, IL 60606, 800-345-7999.

    Analyst Inquiries
    William T. Korver
    cefs@guggenheiminvestments.com

    Not FDIC-Insured | Not Bank-Guaranteed | May Lose Value
    Member FINRA/SIPC (11/24) 63024

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: Cornerstone Funds Announce Continuing Monthly Distributions and Reset Distribution Amounts for 2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NEW YORK, Nov. 01, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Cornerstone Strategic Value Fund, Inc. (NYSE American: CLM) (CUSIP: 21924B302) and Cornerstone Total Return Fund, Inc. (NYSE American: CRF) (CUSIP: 21924U300), (individually the “Fund” or, collectively, the “Funds”), each a closed-end management investment company, announced that in keeping with each Fund’s previously adopted monthly distribution policy, each Fund is declaring the following distributions, which have been reset for the calendar year 2025.

      Record Date Payable Date Per Share
    CLM January 15, 2025 January 31, 2025 $0.1224
    CLM February 14, 2025 February 28, 2025 $0.1224
    CLM March 14, 2025 March 31, 2025 $0.1224
    CRF January 15, 2025 January 31, 2025 $0.1168
    CRF February 14, 2025 February 28, 2025 $0.1168
    CRF March 14, 2025 March 31, 2025 $0.1168
       

    Each Fund’s distribution policy provides for the resetting of the monthly distribution amount per share (“Distribution Amount”) annually, based on each Fund’s net asset value on the last business day of October and the annualized distribution percentage approved by the respective Board of Directors (individually the “Board”, or collectively, the “Boards”). Each Board previously announced the distribution percentage for the calendar year 2025 would remain unchanged from the current year at 21% of the net asset value of each Fund.

    Each Board believes each Fund’s distribution policy maintains a stable, high rate of distribution. These distributions are not tied to each Fund’s investment income or capital gains and do not represent yield or investment return on each Fund’s portfolio. The Distribution Amount from one calendar year to the next will increase or decrease based on the change in each Fund’s net asset value. The terms of each distribution policy are reviewed and approved at least annually by each Fund’s Board and may be modified at their discretion for the benefit of each Fund and its stockholders.

    Each Fund’s Board remains convinced its stockholders are well served by a policy of regular distributions which increase liquidity and provide flexibility to individual stockholders in managing their investment in each Fund. Stockholders have the option of reinvesting these distributions in additional shares of their Fund or receiving them in cash. Stockholders may consider reinvesting their regular distributions through their Fund’s dividend reinvestment plan, which may at times provide additional benefit to stockholders who participate in their Fund’s plan. Stockholders should carefully read the description of the dividend reinvestment plan contained in each Fund’s report to stockholders.

    Under each Fund’s distribution policy, each Fund may distribute to stockholders each month a minimum fixed percentage per year of the net asset value or market price per share of its common stock or at least a minimum fixed dollar amount per year. In determining to adopt this policy, the Board of each Fund sought to make regular monthly distributions throughout the year. Under each policy, each Fund’s distributions will consist either of (1) earnings, (2) capital gains, or (3) return-of-capital, or some combination of one or more of these categories. A return-of-capital is the return of a portion of the stockholder’s original investment.

    Given the current economic environment and the composition of each Fund’s portfolio, a portion of each Fund’s distributions made during the current calendar year is expected to consist of a return of the stockholder’s capital. Accordingly, these distributions should not be confused with yield or investment return on each Fund’s portfolio. The final composition of the distributions for 2024 cannot be determined until after the end of the year and is subject to change depending on market conditions during the year and the magnitude of income and realized gains for the year.

    In any given year, there can be no guarantee each Fund’s investment returns will exceed the amount of the net distributions. To the extent the amount of distributions paid to stockholders in cash exceeds the total net investment returns of the Fund, the assets of a Fund will decline. If the total net investment returns exceed the amount of cash distributions, the assets of a Fund will increase. Distributions designated as return-of-capital are not taxed as ordinary income dividends and are referred to as tax-free dividends or nontaxable distributions. A return-of-capital distribution reduces the cost basis of a stockholder’s shares in the Fund. Stockholders can expect to receive tax-reporting information for 2024 distributions by the middle of February 2025 indicating the exact composition per share of the distributions received during the calendar year. Stockholders should consult their tax advisor for proper tax treatment of each Fund’s distributions.

    Volatility in the world economy helps to create what Cornerstone Advisors, LLC (the “Adviser”) views as significant opportunities through investments in closed-end funds. In addition to holding closed-end funds which invest substantially all of their assets in equity securities, the Adviser may also choose to take advantage of situations in funds which invest in fixed income or other investment categories. Closed-end funds, with their broadly diversified holdings, enhance diversification within each Fund’s portfolio.

    Investing in other investment companies involves substantially the same risks as investing directly in the underlying instruments, but the total return on such investments at the investment company level is reduced by the operating expenses and fees of such other investment companies, including advisory fees. To the extent each Fund invests its assets in investment company securities, those assets will be subject to the risks of the purchased investment company’s portfolio securities, and a stockholder in the Fund will bear not only their proportionate share of the expenses of a Fund, but also, indirectly the expenses of the purchased investment company. There can be no assurance the investment objective of any investment company in which a Fund invests will be achieved.

    Under the managed distribution policy, each Fund makes monthly distributions to stockholders at a rate which may include periodic distributions of its net income and net capital gains (“Net Earnings”), or from return-of-capital. If, for any fiscal year where total cash distributions exceeded Net Earnings (the “Excess”), the Excess would decrease each Fund’s total assets and, as a result, would have the likely effect of increasing each Fund’s expense ratio. There is a risk the total Net Earnings from each Fund’s portfolio would not be great enough to offset the amount of cash distributions paid to Fund stockholders. If this were to occur, a Fund’s assets would be depleted, and there is no guarantee a Fund would be able to replace the assets. In addition, in order to make such distributions, a Fund may have to sell a portion of its investment portfolio at a time when independent investment judgment might not dictate such action. Furthermore, such assets used to make distributions will not be available for investment pursuant to the Fund’s investment objective.

    Each Fund’s Board has previously approved a share repurchase program. The share repurchase program authorizes management to make open market purchases, from time to time. Such purchases may be made opportunistically at certain discounts to net asset value per share when management reasonably believes such repurchases may enhance stockholder value. There is no assurance each Fund will purchase any shares or the share repurchase program will have an impact on the liquidity or value of the respective Fund or the Fund’s shares. To the extent each Fund engages in share repurchase activity, such activity will be disclosed in each Fund’s stockholder reports for the relevant fiscal period.

    Cornerstone Strategic Value Fund, Inc. and Cornerstone Total Return Fund, Inc. are traded on the NYSE American LLC under the trading symbols “CLM” and “CRF”, respectively. For more information regarding each Fund please visit www.cornerstonestrategicvaluefund.com and www.cornerstonetotalreturnfund.com.

    Past performance is no guarantee of future performance. An investment in a Fund is subject to certain risks, including market risk. In general, shares of closed-end funds often trade at a discount from their net asset value and at the time of sale may be trading on the exchange at a price which is more or less than the original purchase price or the net asset value. A stockholder should carefully consider a Fund’s investment objective, risks, charges and expenses. Please read a Fund’s disclosure documents before investing.

    In addition to historical information, this release contains forward-looking statements, which may concern, among other things, domestic and foreign markets, industry and economic trends and developments and government regulation and their potential impact on a Fund’s investment portfolio. These statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, including the factors set forth in each Fund’s disclosure documents, filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, and actual trends, developments and regulations in the future, and their impact on the Fund could be materially different from those projected, anticipated or implied. Each Fund has no obligation to update or revise forward-looking statements.

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: Nokia Corporation: Repurchase of own shares on 01.11.2024

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Nokia Corporation
    Stock Exchange Release
    1 November 2024 at 22:30 EET

    Nokia Corporation: Repurchase of own shares on 01.11.2024

    Espoo, Finland – On 1 November 2024 Nokia Corporation (LEI: 549300A0JPRWG1KI7U06) has acquired its own shares (ISIN FI0009000681) as follows:

    Trading venue (MIC Code) Number of shares Weighted average price / share, EUR*
    XHEL 1,068,314 4.35
    CEUX 231,330 4.35
    BATE
    AQEU
    TQEX
    Total 1,299,644 4.35

    * Rounded to two decimals

    On 25 January 2024, Nokia announced that its Board of Directors is initiating a share buyback program to return up to EUR 600 million of cash to shareholders in tranches over a period of two years. The first phase of the share buyback program started on 20 March 2024. On 19 July 2024, Nokia decided to accelerate the share buybacks by increasing the number of shares to be repurchased during the year 2024. The post-increase repurchases in compliance with the Market Abuse Regulation (EU) 596/2014 (MAR), the Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/1052 and under the authorization granted by Nokia’s Annual General Meeting on 3 April 2024 started on 22 July 2024 and end by 31 December 2024 with a maximum aggregate purchase price of EUR 600 million for all purchases during 2024.

    Total cost of transactions executed on 1 November 2024 was EUR 5,655,401. After the disclosed transactions, Nokia Corporation holds 180,839,724 treasury shares.

    Details of transactions are included as an appendix to this announcement.

    On behalf of Nokia Corporation

    BofA Securities Europe SA

    About Nokia
    At Nokia, we create technology that helps the world act together.

    As a B2B technology innovation leader, we are pioneering networks that sense, think and act by leveraging our work across mobile, fixed and cloud networks. In addition, we create value with intellectual property and long-term research, led by the award-winning Nokia Bell Labs.

    Service providers, enterprises and partners worldwide trust Nokia to deliver secure, reliable and sustainable networks today – and work with us to create the digital services and applications of the future.

    Inquiries:

    Nokia Communications
    Phone: +358 10 448 4900
    Email: press.services@nokia.com
    Maria Vaismaa, Global Head of External Communications

    Nokia Investor Relations
    Phone: +358 40 803 4080
    Email: investor.relations@nokia.com

    Attachment

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: PIMCO Closed-End Funds Declare Monthly Common Share Distributions

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NEW YORK, Nov. 01, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The Boards of Trustees/Directors of the PIMCO closed-end funds below (each, a “Fund” and, collectively, the “Funds”) have declared a monthly distribution for each Fund’s common shares as summarized below. The distributions are payable on December 2, 2024 to shareholders of record on November 12, 2024, with an ex-dividend date of November 12, 2024.

        Monthly Distribution 
    Per Share
    Fund NYSE Symbol Amount Change From
    Previous
    Month
    Percentage
    Change From
    Previous
    Month
    PIMCO Corporate & Income Strategy Fund (NYSE: PCN) $0.112500
    PIMCO Corporate & Income Opportunity Fund (NYSE: PTY) $0.118800
    PIMCO Global StocksPLUS® & Income Fund (NYSE: PGP) $0.069000
    PIMCO High Income Fund (NYSE: PHK) $0.048000
    PIMCO Strategic Income Fund, Inc. (NYSE: RCS) $0.051000
    PCM Fund, Inc. (NYSE: PCM) $0.080000
    PIMCO Income Strategy Fund (NYSE: PFL) $0.081400
    PIMCO Income Strategy Fund II (NYSE: PFN) $0.071800
    PIMCO Dynamic Income Fund (NYSE: PDI) $0.220500
    PIMCO Dynamic Income Opportunities Fund (NYSE: PDO) $0.127900
    PIMCO Municipal Income Fund (NYSE: PMF) $0.042000
    PIMCO California Municipal Income Fund (NYSE: PCQ) $0.036000
    PIMCO New York Municipal Income Fund (NYSE: PNF) $0.033500
    PIMCO Municipal Income Fund II (NYSE: PML) $0.039500
    PIMCO California Municipal Income Fund II (NYSE: PCK) $0.021500
    PIMCO New York Municipal Income Fund II (NYSE: PNI) $0.029500
    PIMCO Municipal Income Fund III (NYSE: PMX) $0.033000
    PIMCO California Municipal Income Fund III (NYSE: PZC) $0.029500
    PIMCO New York Municipal Income Fund III (NYSE: PYN) $0.024800
    PIMCO Access Income Fund (NYSE: PAXS) $0.149400
    PIMCO Dynamic Income Strategy Fund (NYSE: PDX) $0.113300
             

    Fund Distribution Information as of September 30, 2024:

    Fund NYSE Symbol Current
    Amount
    Annualized
    current
    distribution
    rate expressed
    as a
    percentage of
    NAV as of
    09/30/2024
    Annualized
    current
    distribution rate
    expressed as a
    percentage of
    Market Price as
    of 09/30/2024
    PIMCO Corporate & Income Strategy Fund (NYSE: PCN) $0.112500 11.28% 9.51%
    PIMCO Corporate & Income Opportunity Fund (NYSE: PTY) $0.118800 12.15% 9.91%
    PIMCO Global StocksPLUS® & Income Fund (NYSE: PGP) $0.069000 10.26% 9.87%
    PIMCO High Income Fund (NYSE: PHK) $0.048000 12.13% 11.52%
    PIMCO Strategic Income Fund, Inc. (NYSE: RCS) $0.051000 13.48% 7.96%
    PCM Fund, Inc. (NYSE: PCM) $0.080000 14.95% 12.02%
    PIMCO Income Strategy Fund (NYSE: PFL) $0.081400 11.88% 11.40%
    PIMCO Income Strategy Fund II (NYSE: PFN) $0.071800 11.90% 11.31%
    PIMCO Dynamic Income Fund (NYSE: PDI) $0.220500 15.20% 13.05%
    PIMCO Dynamic Income Opportunities Fund (NYSE: PDO) $0.127900 11.52% 10.87%
    PIMCO Municipal Income Fund (NYSE: PMF) $0.042000 5.19% 4.88%
    PIMCO California Municipal Income Fund (NYSE: PCQ) $0.036000 4.02% 4.34%
    PIMCO New York Municipal Income Fund (NYSE: PNF) $0.033500 4.50% 4.84%
    PIMCO Municipal Income Fund II (NYSE: PML) $0.039500 5.26% 5.05%
    PIMCO California Municipal Income Fund II (NYSE: PCK) $0.021500 3.74% 4.11%
    PIMCO New York Municipal Income Fund II (NYSE: PNI) $0.029500 4.10% 4.49%
    PIMCO Municipal Income Fund III (NYSE: PMX) $0.033000 4.76% 4.79%
    PIMCO California Municipal Income Fund III (NYSE: PZC) $0.029500 4.45% 4.72%
    PIMCO New York Municipal Income Fund III (NYSE: PYN) $0.024800 4.33% 4.72%
    PIMCO Access Income Fund (NYSE: PAXS) $0.149400 11.48% 10.78%
    PIMCO Dynamic Income Strategy Fund (NYSE: PDX) $0.113300 5.31% 5.76%
             

    Distribution rates are not performance and are calculated by annualizing the current distribution per share announced in this press release and dividing by the NAV or Market Price, as applicable, as of the reported date. A Fund’s distribution rate may be affected by numerous factors, including changes in realized and projected market returns, Fund performance, and other factors. There can be no assurance that a change in market conditions or other factors will not result in a change in a Fund’s distribution rate at a future time. Distributions may be comprised of ordinary income, net capital gains, and/or a return of capital (“ROC”) of your investment in a Fund. Because the distribution rate may include a ROC, it should not be confused with yield or performance.

    Average Annual Total Returns Based on NAV and Market Price (“MKT”) of Common Shares as of
    September 30, 2024:

    Fund NYSE
    Symbol
    Inception
    Date
      1 Year 5 Year 10 Year Since
    Inception
    PIMCO Corporate & Income Strategy Fund (NYSE: PCN) 12/21/2001 NAV 23.51% 7.45% 8.44% 10.85%
    MKT 29.84% 4.85% 9.27% 10.72%
    PIMCO Corporate & Income Opportunity Fund (NYSE: PTY) 12/27/2002 NAV 26.15% 8.88% 9.91% 12.73%
    MKT 22.38% 5.99% 9.70% 12.33%
    PIMCO Global StocksPLUS® & Income Fund (NYSE: PGP) 5/31/2005 NAV 35.45% 7.99% 8.40% 10.74%
    MKT 41.62% 4.07% 1.98% 7.19%
    PIMCO High Income Fund (NYSE: PHK) 4/30/2003 NAV 23.03% 6.67% 8.67% 10.56%
    MKT 28.03% 2.60% 3.68% 7.94%
    PIMCO Strategic Income Fund, Inc. (NYSE: RCS) 2/24/1994 NAV 25.91% 3.96% 5.11% 7.70%
    MKT 60.73% 6.94% 8.09% 8.86%
    PCM Fund, Inc. (NYSE: PCM) 9/2/1993 NAV 17.12% 3.21% 6.11% 8.30%
    MKT 1.89% 3.96% 7.48% 8.30%
    PIMCO Income Strategy Fund (NYSE: PFL) 8/29/2003 NAV 22.55% 6.24% 6.95% 6.86%
    MKT 26.23% 5.41% 7.52% 6.71%
    PIMCO Income Strategy Fund II (NYSE: PFN) 10/29/2004 NAV 22.66% 5.75% 6.94% 6.14%
    MKT 30.66% 5.10% 7.79% 6.12%
    PIMCO Dynamic Income Fund (NYSE: PDI) 5/30/2012 NAV 22.25% 4.97% 7.38% 11.00%
    MKT 35.83% 3.89% 9.31% 11.54%
    PIMCO Dynamic Income Opportunities Fund (NYSE: PDO) 1/29/2021 NAV 25.12% 1.34%
    MKT 34.18% 2.67%
    PIMCO Municipal Income Fund (NYSE: PMF) 6/29/2001 NAV 19.11% -1.09% 3.02% 5.32%
    MKT 29.67% -2.20% 2.93% 4.95%
    PIMCO California Municipal Income Fund (NYSE: PCQ) 6/29/2001 NAV 19.49% -0.36% 3.28% 5.38%
    MKT 25.03% -8.48% 1.74% 4.43%
    PIMCO New York Municipal Income Fund (NYSE: PNF) 6/29/2001 NAV 17.33% -1.72% 2.44% 3.86%
    MKT 21.18% -6.10% 1.74% 3.31%
    PIMCO Municipal Income Fund II (NYSE: PML) 6/28/2002 NAV 18.92% -0.82% 3.28% 4.56%
    MKT 29.12% -4.55% 3.84% 4.40%
    PIMCO California Municipal Income Fund II (NYSE: PCK) 6/28/2002 NAV 20.62% -1.04% 3.17% 3.57%
    MKT 30.76% -3.83% 1.55% 2.60%
    PIMCO New York Municipal Income Fund II (NYSE: PNI) 6/28/2002 NAV 17.66% -1.62% 2.65% 3.94%
    MKT 28.89% -3.53% 1.69% 3.25%
    PIMCO Municipal Income Fund III (NYSE: PMX) 10/31/2002 NAV 19.57% -1.18% 3.35% 4.33%
    MKT 34.49% -3.45% 3.28% 3.91%
    PIMCO California Municipal Income Fund III (NYSE: PZC) 10/31/2002 NAV 19.28% -0.32% 3.30% 3.76%
    MKT 14.90% -3.22% 2.14% 3.12%
    PIMCO New York Municipal Income Fund III (NYSE: PYN) 10/31/2002 NAV 18.13% -1.41% 2.27% 2.65%
    MKT 24.76% -3.61% 1.28% 2.02%
    PIMCO Access Income Fund (NYSE: PAXS) 1/31/2022 NAV 21.95% 2.53%
    MKT 34.98% 5.21%
    PIMCO Dynamic Income Strategy Fund (NYSE: PDX) 02/01/2019 NAV 21.12% 14.33% 11.89%
    MKT 25.42% 15.21% 11.52%

    Performance for periods of more than one year is annualized.

    Past performance is not a guarantee or a reliable indicator of future results. There can be no assurance that a Fund or any investment strategy will achieve its investment objectives or structure its investment portfolio as anticipated. An investment in a Fund involves risk, including loss of principal. Investment return and the value of shares will fluctuate. Shares may be worth more or less than original purchase price. Due to market volatility, current performance may be lower or higher than average annual returns shown. Returns are calculated by determining the percentage change in net asset value (“NAV”) or market price (as applicable) of the Fund’s common shares in the specific period. The calculation assumes that all dividends and distributions, if any, have been reinvested. NAV and market price returns do not reflect broker sales charges or commissions in connection with the purchase or sales of Fund shares and includes the effect of any expense reductions. Returns for a period of less than one year are not annualized. Returns for a period of more than one year represent the average annual return. Performance at market price will differ from results at NAV. Although market price returns typically reflect investment results over time, during shorter periods returns at market price can also be influenced by factors such as changing views about a Fund, market conditions, supply and demand for a Fund’s shares or changes in Fund dividends and distributions.

    Additional Information

    Distributions from PMF, PML, PMX, PCQ, PCK, PZC, PNF, PNI and PYN are generally exempt from regular federal income taxes (i.e., excluded from gross income for federal income tax purposes but not necessarily exempt from the federal alternative minimum tax). In addition, distributions from PCQ, PCK and PZC are also generally exempt from California state income taxes, and distributions from PNF, PNI and PYN are generally exempt from New York State and city income taxes. There can be no assurance that all distributions paid by these Funds will be exempt from federal income taxes or applicable state or local income taxes.

    Distributions may include ordinary income, net capital gains and/or a return of capital. Generally, a return of capital occurs when the amount distributed by a Fund includes a portion of (or is comprised entirely of) your investment in the Fund in addition to (or rather than) your pro-rata portion of the Fund’s net income or capital gains. A Fund’s distributions in any period may be more or less than the net return earned by the Fund on its investments, and therefore should not be used as a measure of performance or confused with “yield” or “income.” A return of capital is not taxable; rather it reduces a shareholder’s tax basis in his or her shares of a Fund.

    If a Fund estimates that a portion of a distribution may be comprised of amounts from sources other than net investment income, as determined in accordance with its internal accounting records and related accounting practices, the Fund will notify shareholders of the estimated composition of such distribution through a Section 19 Notice. For these purposes, a Fund estimates the source or sources from which a distribution is paid, to the close of the period as of which it is paid, in reference to its internal accounting records and related accounting practices. If, based on such accounting records and practices, it is estimated that a particular distribution does not include capital gains or paid-in surplus or other capital sources, a Section 19 Notice generally would not be issued. It is important to note that differences exist between a Fund’s daily internal accounting records and practices, the Fund’s financial statements presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP, and recordkeeping practices under income tax regulations. For instance, a Fund’s internal accounting records and practices may take into account, among other factors, tax-related characteristics of certain sources of distributions that differ from treatment under U.S. GAAP. Examples of such differences may include, among others, the treatment of paydowns on mortgage-backed securities purchased at a discount and periodic payments under interest rate swap contracts. Accordingly, among other consequences, it is possible that a Fund may not issue a Section 19 Notice in situations where the Fund’s financial statements prepared later and in accordance with U.S. GAAP and/or the final tax character of those distributions might later report that the sources of those distributions included capital gains and/or a return of capital. Please visit www.pimco.com for the most recent Section 19 Notice, if applicable, and most recent shareholder reports for additional information regarding the estimated composition of distributions. Final determination of a distribution’s tax character will be provided to shareholders when such information is available.

    The tax treatment and characterization of a Fund’s distributions may vary significantly from time to time because of the varied nature of the Fund’s investments. For example, a Fund may enter into opposite sides of multiple interest rate swaps or other derivatives with respect to the same underlying reference instrument (e.g., a 10-year U.S. treasury) that have different effective dates with respect to interest accrual time periods for the principal purpose of generating distributable gains (characterized as ordinary income for tax purposes) that are not part of the Fund’s duration or yield curve management strategies. In such a “paired swap transaction”, the Fund would generally enter into one or more interest rate swap agreements whereby the Fund agrees to make regular payments starting at the time the Fund enters into the agreements equal to a floating interest rate in return for payments equal to a fixed interest rate (the “initial leg”). The Fund would also enter into one or more interest rate swap agreements on the same underlying instrument, but take the opposite position (i.e., in this example, the Fund would make regular payments equal to a fixed interest rate in return for receiving payments equal to a floating interest rate) with respect to a contract whereby the payment obligations do not commence until a date following the commencement of the initial leg (the “forward leg”).

    A Fund may engage in investment strategies, including those that employ the use of derivatives, to, among other things, seek to generate current, distributable income, even if such strategies could potentially result in declines in the Fund’s NAV. A Fund’s income and gain-generating strategies, including certain derivatives strategies, may generate current income and gains taxable as ordinary income sufficient to support monthly distributions even in situations when the Fund has experienced a decline in net assets due to, for example, adverse changes in the broad U.S. or non-U.S. equity markets or the Fund’s debt investments, or arising from its use of derivatives. Because some or all of these transactions may generate capital losses without corresponding offsetting capital gains, portions of a Fund’s distributions recognized as ordinary income for tax purposes (such as from paired swap transactions) may be economically similar to a taxable return of capital when considered together with such capital losses. The tax treatment of certain derivatives in which a Fund invests may be unclear and thus subject to recharacterization. Any recharacterization of payments made or received by a Fund pursuant to derivatives potentially could affect the amount, timing or character of Fund distributions. In addition, the tax treatment of such investment strategies may be changed by regulation or otherwise.

    The common shares of the Funds trade on the New York Stock Exchange. As with any stock, the price of a Fund’s common shares will fluctuate with market conditions and other factors. If you sell your common shares of a Fund, the price received may be more or less than your original investment. Shares of closed-end investment management companies, such as the Funds, frequently trade at a discount from their net asset value and may trade at a price that is less than the initial offering price and/or the net asset value of such shares. Further, if a Fund’s shares trade at a price that is more than the initial offering price and/or the net asset value of such shares, including at a substantial premium and/or for an extended period of time, there is no assurance that any such premium will be sustained for any period of time and will not decrease, or that the shares will not trade at a discount to net asset value thereafter.

    The Funds’ daily New York Stock Exchange closing market prices, net asset values per share, as well as other information, including updated portfolio statistics and performance are available at pimco.com/closedendfunds or by calling the Funds’ shareholder servicing agent at (844) 33-PIMCO. Updated portfolio holdings information about a Fund will be available approximately 15 calendar days after such Fund’s most recent fiscal quarter end, and will remain accessible until such Fund files a shareholder report or a publicly available Form N-PORT for the period that includes the date of the information.

    A Fund’s shares do not represent a deposit or obligation of, and are not guaranteed or endorsed by, any bank or other insured depository institution, and are not insured by the FDIC, the Federal Reserve Board or any other government agency. You may lose money by investing in a Fund. Certain risks associated with investing in a Fund are summarized below.

    An investor should consider, among other things, a Fund’s investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses carefully before investing. A Fund’s annual report contains (or will contain) this and other information about the Fund.

    A word about risk:
    Investing in the bond market is subject to risks, including market, interest rate, issuer, credit, inflation risk, and liquidity risk. The value of most bonds and bond strategies are impacted by changes in interest rates. Bonds and bond strategies with longer durations tend to be more sensitive and volatile than those with shorter durations; bond prices generally fall as interest rates rise, and low interest rate environments increase this risk. Reductions in bond counterparty capacity may contribute to decreased market liquidity and increased price volatility. Bond investments may be worth more or less than the original cost when redeemed. Mortgage and asset-backed securities may be sensitive to changes in interest rates, subject to early repayment risk, and their value may fluctuate in response to the market’s perception of issuer creditworthiness; while generally supported by some form of government or private guarantee there is no assurance that private guarantors will meet their obligations. Investing in foreign-denominated and/or -domiciled securities may involve heightened risk due to currency fluctuations, and economic and political risks, which may be enhanced in emerging markets. Corporate debt securities are subject to the risk of the issuer’s inability to meet principal and interest payments on the obligation and may also be subject to price volatility due to factors such as interest rate sensitivity, market perception of the creditworthiness of the issuer and general market liquidity. Bank loans are often less liquid than other types of debt instruments and general market and financial conditions may affect the prepayment of bank loans, and as such the prepayments cannot be predicted with accuracy. There is no assurance that the liquidation of any collateral from a secured bank loan would satisfy the borrower’s obligation, or that such collateral could be liquidated. Contingent Convertible (“Coco”) Bonds are bonds that are converted into equity of the issuing company if a pre-specified trigger occurs. Co-cos are subject to a different type of risk from traditional bonds and may result in a partial or total loss of value or may be converted into shares of the issuing company which may also have suffered a loss in value. Collateralized Loan Obligations (CLOs) may involve a high degree of risk and are intended for sale to qualified investors only. Investors may lose some or all of the investment and there may be periods where no cash flow distributions are received. CLOs are exposed to risks such as credit, default, liquidity, management, volatility, interest rate, and credit risk. Convertible securities may be called before intended, which may have an adverse effect on investment objectives. Floating rate loans are not traded on an exchange and are subject to significant credit, valuation and liquidity risk. A Fund may invest without limit in below investment grade debt securities (commonly referred to as “high yield” securities or “junk bonds”), including securities of stressed and distressed issuers. High-yield, lower-rated, securities involve greater risk than higher-rated securities; portfolios that invest in them may be subject to greater levels of credit and liquidity risk than portfolios that do not. Real estate investment trusts (or REITs) are subject to risk, such as poor performance by the manager, adverse changes to tax laws or failure to qualify for tax-free pass-through of income. Investments in residential/commercial mortgage loans and commercial real estate debt are subject to risks that include prepayment, delinquency, foreclosure, risks of loss, servicing risks and adverse regulatory developments, which risks may be heightened in the case of non-performing loans. Investing in distressed loans and bankrupt companies is speculative and the repayment of default obligations contains significant uncertainties. Distressed and Defaulted Securities involve substantial risks, including the risk of default. Such investments may be in default at the time of investment. In addition, these securities may fluctuate more in price, and are typically less liquid. Commodities contain heightened risk, including market, political, regulatory and natural conditions, and may not be appropriate for all investors. Many energy sector master limited partnerships (or MLPs) and other companies in which PDX may invest operate natural gas, natural gas liquids, crude oil, refined products, coal, or other facilities within the energy sector and will be susceptible to adverse economic, environmental, or regulatory occurrences affecting the sector including sharp decreases in crude oil or natural gas prices. Energy Sector Risk. PDX will be concentrated in the energy sector, and will therefore be susceptible to adverse economic, environmental, or regulatory occurrences affecting that sector. Private credit involves an investment in non-publicly traded securities which may be subject to illiquidity risk. Portfolios that invest in private credit may be leveraged and may engage in speculative investment practices that increase the risk of investment loss. A Fund will also have exposure to such risks through its investments in mortgage and asset-backed securities, which are highly complex instruments that may be sensitive to changes in interest rates and subject to early repayment risk. Income from municipal bonds is exempt from federal income tax and may be subject to state and local taxes and at times the alternative minimum tax; a strategy concentrating in a single or limited number of states is subject to greater risk of adverse economic conditions and regulatory changes. Structured products such as collateralized debt obligations are also highly complex instruments, typically involving a high degree of risk; use of these instruments may involve derivative instruments that could lose more than the principal amount invested. Sovereign securities are generally backed by the issuing government, obligations of U.S. Government agencies and authorities are supported by varying degrees but are generally not backed by the full faith of the U.S. Government; portfolios that invest in such securities are not guaranteed and will fluctuate in value. Concentration of assets in one or a few sectors may entail greater risk than a fully diversified portfolio and should be considered as only part of a diversified portfolio. Investing in foreign-denominated and/or -domiciled securities may involve heightened risk due to currency fluctuations, and economic and political risks, which may be enhanced in emerging markets. Leveraging transactions, including borrowing, typically will cause a portfolio to be more volatile than if the portfolio had not been leveraged.  Leveraging transactions typically involve expenses, which could exceed the rate of return on investments purchased by a fund with such leverage and reduce fund returns.  The use of leverage may cause a portfolio to liquidate positions when it may not be advantageous to do so.  Leveraging transactions may increase a fund’s duration and sensitivity to interest rate movements. Derivatives may involve certain costs and risks, such as liquidity, interest rate, market, credit, management and the risk that a position could not be closed when most advantageous. Investing in derivatives could lose more than the amount invested. Each of PDO, PNF and PYN is non-diversified, which means that it may invest its assets in a smaller number of issuers than a diversified Fund.

    Limited Term Risk. With respect to PDX, PDO and PAXS (each, for purposes of this paragraph only, a “Limited Term Fund”), unless the limited term provision of a Limited Term Fund’s Amended and Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust (the “Declaration of Trust”) is amended by shareholders in accordance with the Declaration of Trust, or unless a Limited Term Fund completes a tender offer, as of a date within twelve months preceding the Dissolution Date (as defined below), to all common shareholders to purchase 100% of the then outstanding common shares of such Limited Term Fund at a price equal to the NAV per common share on the expiration date of the tender offer (an “Eligible Tender Offer”), and converts to perpetual existence, such Limited Term Fund will terminate. PDX will terminate on or about January 29, 2031; PDO will terminate on or about January 27, 2033; and PAXS will terminate on or about January 27, 2034 (each such termination date, a “Dissolution Date”). No Limited Term Fund is a “target term” fund whose investment objective is to return its original net asset value on the Dissolution Date or in an Eligible Tender Offer. Because the assets of each Limited Term Fund will be liquidated in connection with the dissolution, such Limited Term Fund will incur transaction costs in connection with dispositions of portfolio securities. The Limited Term Funds do not limit their investments to securities having a maturity date prior to the applicable Dissolution Date and may be required to sell portfolio securities when they otherwise would not, including at times when market conditions are not favorable, which may cause such Limited Term Fund to lose money. In particular, a Limited Term Fund’s portfolio may still have large exposures to illiquid securities as its Dissolution Date approaches, and losses due to portfolio liquidation may be significant. Beginning one year before the applicable Dissolution Date (the “Wind-Down Period”), a Limited Term Fund may begin liquidating all or a portion of its portfolio, and may deviate from its investment strategy and may not achieve its investment objectives. As a result, during the Wind-Down Period, a Limited Term Fund’s distributions may decrease, and such distributions may include a return of capital. A Limited Term Fund’s investment objectives and policies are not designed to seek to return investors’ original investment upon termination of such Limited Term Fund, and investors may receive more or less than their original investment upon termination of such Limited Term Fund. As the assets of a Limited Term Fund will be liquidated in connection with its termination, such Limited Term Fund may be required to sell portfolio securities when it otherwise would not, including at times when market conditions are not favorable, which may cause such Limited Term Fund to lose money.

    Closed-end funds, unlike open-end funds, are not continuously offered. After the initial public offering, shares are sold on the open market through a stock exchange. Closed-end funds may be leveraged and carry various risks depending upon the underlying assets owned by a fund. Investment policies, management fees and other matters of interest to prospective investors may be found in each closed-end fund annual and semi-annual report. For additional information, please contact your investment professional or call 1-844-337-4626.

    About PIMCO

    PIMCO was founded in 1971 in Newport Beach, California and is one of the world’s premier fixed income investment managers. Today we have offices across the globe and 3,000+ professionals united by a single purpose: creating opportunities for investors in every environment. PIMCO is owned by Allianz S.E., a leading global diversified financial services provider.

    Except for the historical information and discussions contained herein, statements contained in this news release constitute forward-looking statements. These statements may involve a number of risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, including the performance of financial markets, the investment performance of PIMCO’s sponsored investment products and separately managed accounts, general economic conditions, future acquisitions, competitive conditions and government regulations, including changes in tax laws. Readers should carefully consider such factors. Further, such forward-looking statements speak only on the date at which such statements are made. PIMCO undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of such statement.

    This material has been distributed for informational purposes only and should not be considered as investment advice or a recommendation of any particular security, strategy or investment product. No part of this material may be reproduced in any form, or referred to in any other publication, without express written permission. PIMCO is a trademark of Allianz Asset Management of America LLC in the United States and throughout the world. PIMCO Investments LLC, 1633 Broadway, New York, NY 10019, is a company of PIMCO. ©2024, PIMCO.

    For information on PIMCO Closed-End Funds:
    Financial Advisors: (800) 628-1237
    Shareholders: (844) 337-4626 or (844) 33-PIMCO
    PIMCO Media Relations: (212) 597-1054

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: Orca Energy Group Inc. Announces an Operational Update

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    TORTOLA, British Virgin Islands, Nov. 01, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — November 1, 2024: Orca Energy Group Inc. (“Orca” or the “Company“) and includes its subsidiaries and affiliates, including PanAfrican Energy Tanzania Limited (“PAET“) and Pan African Energy Corporation (Mauritius) (“PAEM“) (TSX-V: ORC.A, ORC.B) announces an operational update.

    Unless otherwise stated, all amounts referred to herein are expressed in United States dollars (“$”).

    Songas Update

    On October 30, 2024, PAET was advised by Songas Limited (“Songas”) that the Interim Power Purchase Agreement (“PPA”) will expire on October 31, 2024. At midnight on October 31, 2024, Songas shutdown the Songas Power Plan and it is unknown how long this will be in force. In the event that a new PPA is not entered into, there is a risk the Songas Power plant will shutdown indefinitely. This would adversely impact demand for production volumes from the Songo Songo gas field. At this time, it is unknown if a new PPA will be entered into.

    Production guidance for the annual average Additional Gas (as defined below) sales is now forecast to be 65 – 68 MMcfd (100% conventional natural gas). This range incorporates the exclusion of all volumes previously forecast to be supplied to Songas for November and December, and certain volumes lifted but disputed by a major industrial customer as a consequence of the position taken by the Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation (“TPDC“) and Government of Tanzania in relation to the cessation of Protected Gas (as detailed and defined below). The Songo Songo gas field continues to operate as normal.

    Following cessation of Protected Gas on July 31, 2024, despite the absence of a contract to do so, Songas continued to lift volumes of gas in August and September, at an average rate of 17.8 MMcfd. On September 23, 2024, the Company was notified by Songas that it acknowledges it had lifted this volume, but due to TPDC’s refusal to approve a Gas Sales Agreement for this Additional Gas, they would elect to pay only 19.5% of such volumes. This accords with the payment arrangements for Complex Additional Gas under the contracted payment terms for Protected Gas which ended on July 31, 2024. Payment was made on this basis by Songas on October 10, 2024, in the amount equivalent to USD $410,000, representing 19.5% of the total invoiced amount of USD $2.1 million.

    Only Additional Gas attracted a Processing and Transportation (“P&T“) tariff up to July 31, 2024, (when Protected Gas was active), while Protected Gas did not. In contradiction of their position regarding payment above, Songas has invoiced PAET for the P&T tariff consistent with all gas volumes shipped to Songas during August as being AG. This amount has been fully accounted for and paid by PAET in accordance with the terms of the current agreements.

    Operations

    During Q3-2024, the Company successfully completed a production and saturation logging program in three wells. Initial results indicate that the wells and field are performing in line with expectations, with final interpretation of results continuing in order to update longer term reservoir management plans.

    The workover program on SS-7 has completed a complex mobilization to Songo Songo Island, and the operational well intervention phase has commenced. Operations, including further logging, are expected to last for approximately three weeks. The objective of the work is to restore the mechanical integrity of the well to shutoff water production in order to restart production from the southern compartment of the gas field. On conclusion of the intervention, SS-7 is forecast to return to production in November 2024. The total expected project cost has increased to $22.0 million from $16.6 million primarily as a result of vendor logistical delays and more recently weather delays during both the mobilization from the Mombasa to Songo Songo Island and positioning the barges and jackup platform on the offshore SS-7 well.

    Commercial

    In August 2024, the Company issued a notice of dispute (“Notice of Dispute”), in respect of an investment treaty claim against the Government of Tanzania for breach of the Agreement on Promotion and Reciprocal Protection of Investment between the Government of the Republic of Mauritius and the Government of Tanzania, and a contractual dispute against the Government of Tanzania and TPDC, for breaches of the: (i) PSA, and (ii) GA (as defined herein). Initial meetings with both the Advisory and Coordinating Committees were held during the week of October 14, 2024, without any resolution on the key issues in dispute. The matters have now been referred to relevant entity’s chief executive officers in accordance with the dispute resolution process. These meetings have been proposed for November or December. Further updates on this matter will be made as appropriate.  

    PAET has continued to supply gas to Tanzania Portland Cement PLC (“TPCPLC”) during August 2024 and September 2024. As a consequence of the position taken by TPDC, PAET was unable to invoice TPCPLC for volumes anticipated to have been supplied under the Supplementary Gas Agreement (“SGA“). The SGA had been agreed to by TPCPLC and was due to commence on August 1, 2024, but TPDC refused to approve the agreement. Therefore, PAET has invoiced all volumes lifted as Additional Gas under the Gas Sales Agreement which was established in 2008. It is not known if TPCPLC will pay all or any element of these invoices. As of the date of hereof, the August invoice for $2.64 million was outstanding, with the September invoice of $2.75 million being due on November 5, 2024. The Company will provide further updates in due course on this matter.

    Financial

    • The Company exited September 30, 2024, with cash and cash equivalents of $101.7 million (June 30, 2024: $97.2 million) and no change to long-term debt of $25.1 million (June 30, 2024: $25.1 million). Cash held in hard currencies (USD, Euro, GBP, CDN) was $93.2 million at September 30, 2024 (June 30, 2024: $86.1 million).
    • Following the extension to the Portfolio Gas Supply Agreement (“PGSA”) with the Tanzania Electricity Supply Company Limited (“TANESCO”) between PAET, TPDC and TANESCO, TANESCO has taken delivery of approximately   26.7 MMcfd in September 2024. As of September 30, 2024, the receivable from TANESCO was $8.1 million, and the TANESCO long-term receivable was $22.0 million.

    Orca Energy Group Inc.

    Orca Energy Group Inc. is an international public company engaged in natural gas development and supply in Tanzania through its subsidiary, PAET. Orca trades on the TSX Venture Exchange under the trading symbols ORC.B and ORC.A.

    The principal asset of Orca is its indirect interest in the PSA with TPDC and the Government of Tanzania in the United Republic of Tanzania. This PSA covers the production and marketing of certain conventional natural gas from the Songo Songo license offshore Tanzania. The PSA defines the gas produced from the Field as “Protected Gas” and “Additional Gas”. The Protected Gas is owned by TPDC and prior to July 31, 2024 was sold under the Gas Agreement (“GA”) between the Government of Tanzania, TPDC, Songas and PEAT, to Songas and TPCPLC. Protected Gas production ceased on July 31, 2024, and accordingly all gas is to be sold as Additional Gas. PAET continues to act in the best interests of its Tanzanian stakeholders and make natural gas available to Songas for power, so that the country can continue to benefit from a reliable power supply. The Company has consistently demonstrated its commitment to supporting the Tanzanian economy, following 20 years of continued investment in the country. However, as detailed in recent announcements, and as set out in the GA, the supply of Protected Gas ceased on July 31, 2024, with all gas now being produced from the Songo Songo gas field, being designated as Additional Gas. PAET’s position is that it is entitled to compensation at commercial rates for any such gas supplied as Additional Gas and for which it has not received payment as a result of the position taken by TPDC. This is subject to ongoing dispute with TPDC, with TPDC asserting that Protected Gas continued after July 31, 2024.

    Songas is the owner of the infrastructure that enables the gas to be processed and delivered to Dar es Salaam, which includes a gas processing plant on Songo Songo Island.

    For further information please contact:

    Jay Lyons
    ir@orcaenergygroup.com

    Lisa Mitchell
    ir@orcaenergygroup.com

    For media enquiries:

    Celicourt (PR)
    Jimmy Lea
    Mark Antelme
    Orca@celicourt.uk
    +44 (0)20 7770 6424

    Forward-Looking Information

    This press release contains forward-looking statements or information (collectively, “forward-looking statements”) within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact included in this press release, which address activities, events or developments that Orca expects or anticipates to occur in the future, are forward-looking statements.

    Forward-looking statements often contain terms such as may, will, should, anticipate, expect, continue, estimate, believe, project, forecast, plan, intend, target, outlook, focus, could and similar words suggesting future outcomes or statements regarding an outlook.

    More particularly, this press release contains, without limitation, forward-looking statements pertaining to the following: the Company’s expectation that PAET will receive payment in respect of Protected Gas supplied after July 31, 2024; expectations that SS-7 will return to production in November 2024; expectations around entering into a new PPA; expectations in respect of the Songas Power plant; expectations that an indefinite shutdown of the Songas Power plant will adversely impact demand for production volumes from the Songo Songo gas filed; expectation that forecasted Additional Gas will decrease; expectations in respect to the results of the production and saturation logging program; expectations that the PPA will be replaced; the concern that if the Protected Gas is not resolved, the Company will be required to reduce costs and ensure capital expenditure projects on the Songo Songo gas field are in line with contracts and economic returns; expectations that the SGA will be entered into and the terms abided by; the expectations regarding future revenues of the Company; expectations as to the resolution of the Notice of Dispute; the Company’s plans to provide updates on the Notice of Dispute and TPCPLC invoice; and expectations that Songas will pay the balance of the invoice in respect to Additional Gas. Although management believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cannot guarantee future results, future actions, future payments, levels of activity, access to resources, results of negotiation, results from arbitration, amount of damages or costs incurred by the Company relating to negotiations and/or arbitration, since such expectations are inherently subject to significant business, economic, operational, competitive, political and social uncertainties and contingencies.

    These forward-looking statements involve substantial known and unknown risks and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond the Company’s control, and many factors could cause the Company’s actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in any forward-looking statements made by the Company, including, but not limited to: uncertainties involving the Notice of Dispute; uncertainties involving the SGA; uncertainties involving the completion of the SS-7 workplan; various uncertainties involved in the extension of the Songo Songo license; risk that timing is not as anticipated with respect to SS-7, including timing of return to production; risk that meetings related to the Notice of Dispute are not held on the anticipated timing; risk the PPA will not be replaced; risk of decreased demand for production volumes from the Songo Songo gas field; risk that Orca does not receive payment of TPCPLC invoices; risk Orca has to make the P&T tariff payments to Songas; risk the Songas Power plant will shutdown indefinitely; risk that Songas receivables increases; negative effect on the Company’s rights under the PSA and other agreements relating to its business in Tanzania; changes in laws and regulations; impact of local content regulations and variances in the interpretation and enforcement of such regulations; uncertainty regarding results through negotiations and/or exercise of legally available remedies; failure to successfully negotiate agreements; risks of non-payment by recipients of natural gas supplied by the Company; changes in national and local government legislation, taxation, controls, or regulations and/or changes in the administration of laws, policies, and practices, expropriation or nationalization of property and political or economic developments in Tanzania; lack of certainty with respect to foreign legal systems, corruption, and other factors that are inconsistent with the rule of law; risk of loss due to acts of war, terrorism, sabotage and civil disturbances; timing of receipt of, or failure to comply with, necessary permits and approvals; and potential damage to the Company’s reputation due to the actual or perceived occurrence of any number of events, including negative publicity with respect to the Company’s dealings with the Government of Tanzania, TPDC and TANESCO, whether true or not. Therefore, the Company’s actual results, performance or achievement could differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, these forward-looking statements and, accordingly, no assurances can be given that any of the events anticipated by these forward-looking statements will transpire or occur, or if any of them do so, what benefits the Company will derive therefrom. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive.

    Such forward-looking statements are based on certain assumptions made by the Company in light of its experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors the Company believes are appropriate in the circumstances, including, but not limited to: the Company’s relationship with TPDC and the Government of Tanzania; the current status of negotiations in respect of the SGA, GA and PSA; the current status of actions involved in the Notice of Dispute; accurate assessment by the Company of the merits of its rights and obligations in relation to TPDC and the Government of Tanzania and other stakeholders in the Songo Songo gas field; receipt of required regulatory approvals; the Company’s ability to maintain strong commercial relationships with the Government of Tanzania and other state and parastatal organizations and other stakeholders in the Songo Songo gas field; the current and future administration in Tanzania continues to honor the terms of the PSA and the Company’s other principal agreements; the Company’s relationship with TPCPLC; anticipated operations and timing with respect to SS-7; Orca’s operations continue as anticipated, including in respect of production results; and other matters.

    The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date of this news release and the Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements or information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless so required by applicable securities laws.

    Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI USA: Shaheen Visits Public Housing Development to Discuss Weatherization, Highlights Weatherization Installer Apprenticeship

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Hampshire Jeanne Shaheen
    (Berlin, NH) – Today, U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), a lead negotiator of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, visited a multi-unit public housing development undergoing weatherization installations to improve energy efficiency and lower monthly costs. During a tour of the complex, Shaheen discussed the benefits of weatherization with residents, as well as participants in the Tri-County Community Action Program’s Registered Apprenticeship for weatherization installers, which is the first of its kind in New Hampshire. As a lead negotiator of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Shaheen helped secure $3.5 billion for weatherization assistance nationwide, including more than $18 million for New Hampshire. You can find photos from the event here.
    “Weatherizing homes is one of the best things we can do to reduce monthly energy costs, all while making progress toward our climate goals and keeping Granite Staters safe from extreme temperatures,” said Senator Shaheen. “I’m proud to have secured funding for New Hampshire’s weatherization efforts through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law that is supporting this new apprenticeship program to expand the weatherization workforce. I’ll keep working in Congress to find ways to upgrade our infrastructure while saving money for Granite State households.”
    Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) funding helps homes become more energy efficient through measures like installing insulation, updating heating and cooling systems and updating electrical appliances. For every dollar invested by WAP, $4.50 is generated in combined energy savings and non-energy benefits such as improved health and job creation, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. In addition to saving families money, energy efficient homes also help cut down on our carbon footprint, reducing the greenhouse gas emissions that cause climate change. If you think you may be eligible for WAP funding, apply through your local Community Action Agency at CAPNH.org and check out Senator Shaheen’s recently updated Federal Energy Guide for more ways Granite Staters can save money on their utility bills.
    As a lead negotiator of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Shaheen helped secure $3.5 billion in additional funding for the Weatherization Assistance Program, including $18 million for New Hampshire. Shaheen has long-championed the  Weatherization Assistance Program to lower energy costs for low-income families in New Hampshire, as well as the State Energy Program, which assists states with the development of energy efficiency renewable projects. Last year, Shaheen helped introduce the Weatherization Assistance Program Improvements Act, a bipartisan bill that would strengthen the Weatherization Assistance Program and increase the number of homes the program is able to serve. Shaheen also introduced the bipartisan Investing in State Energy Act, legislation to ensure that annual funding for weatherization and the State Energy Program is released to states as quickly as possible.
    In response to a shortage of weatherization installers in New Hampshire, Tri-County Community Action Program (TCCAP) launched an apprenticeship program to train new workers in the field. TCCAP’s program is supported by Training and Technical Assistance funds from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and is the first program of its kind in New Hampshire.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: Shaheen, Bipartisan Colleagues Call on Mark Zuckerberg to Remove and Prevent Ads for Illicit Drugs on Meta Platforms

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Hampshire Jeanne Shaheen
    **Shaheen is building on her Cooper Davis Act and leading the push to crack down on drug trafficking through social media**
    (Washington, DC) – U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Chair of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies, is leading a bipartisan letter with U.S. Senators Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-KS), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) calling on Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg to take action to remove and prevent advertisements for illicit drugs on all Meta platforms. The letter builds on Shaheen and Marshall’s bipartisan Cooper Davis Act to hold social media companies accountable for reporting to law enforcement illicit drug and opioid activities occurring on their platforms. 
    In part, the Senators wrote: “The United States is in the midst of a drug epidemic, with more than 100,000 Americans dying from overdoses last year, and an alarming amount of these drugs are sold online. It is crucial that everyone work to ensure these illegal drugs are found and taken off the streets. Therefore, we call on Meta to improve its human automated advertising review and content moderation to address these failures that are placing lives at risk.”
    According to a Wall Street Journal report from earlier this year, the Tech Transparency Project (TTP) found that Meta has run hundreds of advertisements on Facebook and Instagram that steer users to online marketplaces for illegal drugs. The Shaheen-led letter urges Zuckerberg to support the Cooper Davis Act and work as quickly as possible to prevent further harm.
    The Senators continued: “When presented with these disturbing findings, Meta took down some advertisements off its platforms. However, Meta’s refusal to prevent illicit drug advertisements, while accepting advertisement payments that are harming families and in clear violation of Meta’s policies, is particularly alarming. Surely, this is not what Meta means when it states its ‘mission is to give people the power to build community and bring the world closer together.’”
    Text of the letter can be found here.
    Shaheen has spearheaded crucial legislation, led efforts and secured funding to stem the opioid epidemic. Earlier this week, the Senator held a roundtable with the Youth CAN coalition leadership team and community partners to discuss the organization’s work to prevent youth substance misuse in New Hampshire. Last month, Shaheen introduced the bipartisan Keeping Drugs Out of Schools Act to strengthen efforts to address the substance misuse disorder crisis that is impacting communities across the nation by establishing a new grant program.
    The Cooper Davis Act would require social media companies and other communication service providers to turn over information relating to illicit online fentanyl activity to federal agencies to combat the illegal sale and distribution of counterfeit and controlled substances occurring on their platforms.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: Dr. Rand Paul Joins Call for POTUS to Engage on Stalled U.S.-China Adoptions

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Kentucky Rand Paul

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

    November 1, 2024

     Contact: Press_Paul@paul.senate.gov, 202-224-4343

    Dr. Rand Paul Joins Call for POTUS to Engage on Stalled U.S.-China Adoptions

    103 members of Congress amplify adoptive families’ plea to Biden: ‘Your leadership could be life altering for these families’

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) joined Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA), and Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Ben Cardin (D-MD) to urge President Biden to stand up for families navigating the People’s Republic of China’s (PRC) decision to end intercountry adoptions for those without Chinese familial ties. Representatives Erin Houchin (R-IN-9) and Val Hoyle (D-OR-4) are co-leading the bipartisan effort, which garnered a total of 103 bicameral signatories, in the House of Representatives.

    “We request that you act in the best interest of these children and families by urging the PRC to fulfill and uphold the commitment the country has made,” the lawmakers wrote, noting approximately 300 children in the PRC – some with various health conditions – are already paired with families in the United States. 

    “The American families that have been matched with their adoptive children are prepared to meet their long-term medical and emotional needs, and to give them the love and nurturing they need,” they continued. “Many of these children know that they have a home, which in many cases have been prepared for their arrival since the families were notified that they were matched and moving forward with the adoption process.”

    Dr. Paul and his colleagues also acknowledged the PRC may complete adoptions for families in some countries, per a State Department notice last week. They called on President Biden to ensure such an action would pertain to the United States, too.

    Read the full letter HERE. Cosigners include Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and chairs of the Congressional Coalition on Adoption.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: Dr. Rand Paul Files Bipartisan, Bicameral Amicus Brief Urging Supreme Court to Restore Federal Accountability in Wrong-House Raid Case

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Kentucky Rand Paul

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

    November 1, 2024

     Contact: Press_Paul@paul.senate.gov, 202-224-4343

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Rand Paul (R-KY), Ron Wyden (D-OR), and Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), alongside Representatives Harriet Hageman (R-WY), Nikema Williams (D-GA-5), Thomas Massie (R-KY-4), and Dan Bishop (R-NC-8) filed a bipartisan, bicameral amicus brief, urging the U.S. Supreme Court to hear Martin v. United States and address the alarming gap in federal accountability created by the Eleventh Circuit’s ruling in this case.

    This case centers around a mistaken, forceful raid by federal agents who entered the wrong home in the early hours of the morning. The family inside was jolted awake by a flashbang grenade exploding within their walls. This raid left the family not only traumatized but physically harmed. Despite the evident toll on these innocent individuals and the assault that they suffered, the Eleventh Circuit’s ruling currently bars them from any avenue for recourse under the FTCA, even though Congress designed this law in the wake of several wrong house raids to ensure accountability for federal overreach. This brief asserts that the Eleventh Circuit’s interpretation of the FTCA contradicts the FTCA’s legislative intent and threatens Americans’ protections against federal overreach.

    “Congress specifically designed the Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA) to ensure that individuals harmed by government overreach—such as the wrongful raiding of an innocent person’s home—have a means of recourse. By blocking Trina Martin’s right to seek redress, the Eleventh Circuit’s decision not only undermines Congress’ intent and the FTCA’s fundamental purpose but also establishes troubling precedent that places government actions beyond accountability, compromising Americans’ rights. We must ensure that when the government makes a mistake, citizens can hold it accountable and seek justice. This case is a critical step in preserving that protection,” said Dr. Rand Paul.

    “Through the Federal Tort Claims Act, Congress provided a remedy for federal wrong-house raids, but the Eleventh Circuit has taken it away,” explained Patrick Jaicomo, a Senior Attorney at the Institute for Justice, which represents the innocent family. “The brief filed by members of Congress today confirms the availability of that federal remedy, and that the constitutional role of the courts is to enforce—not revoke—the remedy Congress has provided.”

    In Martin v. United States, the Eleventh Circuit ruled that victims of the wrong-house raid could not recover damages due to the Supremacy Clause, despite the FTCA’s purpose to hold federal law enforcement accountable for wrongful actions. Congress introduced the FTCA’s law enforcement provision specifically to protect citizens harmed in cases like these, yet the Eleventh Circuit’s stance nullifies that protection, leaving innocent citizens vulnerable.

    The Supremacy Clause was intended to assert the primacy of federal statutes—not to obstruct claims explicitly permitted by Congress. The bipartisan, bicameral brief makes it clear that if the Eleventh Circuit’s interpretation is upheld, it will fundamentally undermine the FTCA’s role in federal accountability, allowing agents to act with impunity and without fear of recourse from innocent citizens.

    By granting review and overturning the Eleventh Circuit’s decision, the Supreme Court would reinforce the FTCA as Congress intended—empowering Americans to hold federal agents accountable for intentional harms, particularly in cases like these that carry such personal and constitutional significance.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Department of Pension & Pensioners’ Welfare is conducting Nationwide Digital Life Certificate Campaign 3.0 from 1st to 30th November, 2024

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Department of Pension & Pensioners’ Welfare is conducting Nationwide Digital Life Certificate Campaign 3.0 from 1st to 30th November, 2024

    Camps to be held at 800 Districts/Cities across the country, Largest ever DLC Campaign

    To promote Digital Empowerment of Pensioners using Face Authentication technology

    Saturation model adopted to achieve 2 crore DLCs with 1 crore Face Authenticated DLCs

    19 Banks, 785 District Post offices, 57 Welfare Associations, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology & UIDAI teams, CGDA to collaborate in the month-long campaign

    Posted On: 01 NOV 2024 9:02PM by PIB Delhi

    Department of Pension & Pensioners’ Welfare has launched the 3rd Nation-wide Digital Life Certificate campaign which is being held in 800 cities/ Districts across India from November 1-30, 2024. The department has notified the guidelines through O.M. dated 9th August, 2024. This is the biggest-ever DLC Campaign undertaken.

    The Campaign is being held in collaboration with Pension Disbursing Banks, India Post Payments Bank, Pensioners’ Welfare Associations, CGDA, DoT, Railways, UIDAI & Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology with the aim of reaching all the pensioners in the remotest corners of the country.

    The focus is majorly on promoting Face Authentication Technology. Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology and UIDAI will provide technical support during this Campaign. Face Authentication has been made more seamless and convenient for the elderly Pensioners and can be used on Android as well as iOS.

    DD, AIR and PIB teams are actively geared up to provide full support to this campaign for Audio, Visual and Print publicity. Outreach efforts will be further complemented by SMSs, tweets (#DLCCampaign3), Jingles and Short films to spread awareness about the campaign.

    The total DLCs generated on 1st November, 2024, by evening, were 1.81 lakhs.

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    NKR/AG/KS

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: NMDC Celebrates Vigilance Awareness Week- 2024

    Source: Government of India

    Posted On: 01 NOV 2024 8:21PM by PIB Delhi

    NMDC, India’s largest iron ore producer, concluded Vigilance Awareness Week 2024 with a valedictory function that underscored the importance of integrity and ethical practices. A three-month-long awareness campaign, which started on August 16 2024 and runs until November 15, by conducting various events at project sites and headquarters. The Vigilance Awareness Week commenced on 28th October 2024, concluded at headquarters with a keynote session by Shri Mahesh M. Bhagwat, IPS, Addl. DGP (L&O) Hyderabad, on ‘Culture of Integrity for Nation’s prosperity’ followed by unveiling of the in-house vigilance magazine “Subodh” and prize distribution for the children, employees & stakeholders who have taken part in various activities.

    The valedictory event was attended by senior leadership of NMDC, including Amitava Mukherjee, CMD (Addl. Charge), Shri Vinay Kumar, Director (Technical) and (Personnel, Addl. Charge), NMDC, and Shri B. Vishwanath, Chief Vigilance Officer, along with NMDC employees.

    Chief guest Shri Mahesh M. Bhagwat, IPS, Addl. DGP (L&O) Hyderabad, spoke on the significance of integrity, transparency, commitment, and dedication. He shared insights on how integrity is bedrock to operations, citing theory of Sigmund Freud on the developmental stages that shape adult behavior. He encouraged employees to develop the habit of being vigilant apart from their duty; to share responsibility of creating a fair and trustworthy workplace.

    Addressing the gathering, Amitava Mukherjee, CMD (Addl. Charge) commended the vigilance team for their efforts throughout the year. “The vigilance organization is more than a fault-finding body. NMDC has made remarkable strides in capacity building as we aim for our 100 MnT goal. This is a quantum leap forward, requiring us to make systematic, informed decisions. Correct digital interventions enhance transparency and efficiency. Preventive Vigilance leads to refinement and codification of processes which limits reliance on individual discretion in decision making” he remarked. He urged participants to actively engage in preventive vigilance activities, strengthen systems for transparency, and adhere to standardized procurement practices in line with government guidelines.

    Shri B. Vishwanath, Chief Vigilance Officer, emphasized the role of the CVC’s guidelines in achieving fair, ethical, and sustainable processes within the organization. He highlighted the success of capacity-building initiatives, stating, “Vigilance awareness programs were conducted in more than 28 schools and colleges across Hyderabad, Bailadila, Jagdalpur, Nagarnar, Panna, and Donimalai, reaching over 1,800 students. In Hyderabad, we included 1,000 students in various skits and activities.”

    The fourth edition of the in-house vigilance magazine, “Subodh,” was launched during the event, serving as a valuable resource for employees and stakeholders.

    Throughout Vigilance Awareness Week, various events were organized at different projects, including quiz competitions, slogan writing, elocution, essay writing, and best housekeeping initiatives. Winners of these competitions were recognized during the valedictory session, celebrating their contributions to promoting ethical practices within the organization.

    One day prior to the above program, NMDC had organised a ‘Run for Unity’ on October 31, 2024, in honor of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s birth anniversary during this week. The event was flagged off by Chief Vigilance Officer Shri B. Vishwanath and CGM Smt. Priyadarshini. NMDC employees, along with students from various schools, participated enthusiastically, paying tribute to the Iron Man of India and reinforcing the spirit of unity and integrity that the week embodies.

    *****

     

    MG/SK

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Union Minister Shri Sarbananda Sonowal Visits Kali Puja Mandaps in Tinsukia, Prays for Peace & Goodwill of Humanity

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Posted On: 01 NOV 2024 8:56PM by PIB Delhi

    The Union Minister & MP from the Dibrugarh Lok Sabha constituency, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal, visited multiple Kali Puja mandaps as he worshipped Goddess Maa Kali located near Daily Bazaar and New Market for the overall well-being of the community.

    On the occasion, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal said, “In Sanatana culture, the greatness and spiritual essence of Goddess Maa Kali have inspired the faithful for generations. May Maa’s blessings dispel all negativity and darkness from our society, bringing light into the lives of everyone. On this auspicious occasion of Kali Puja, I pray for this and seek to follow in the footsteps of Maa Kali.”

    Shri Sarbananda Sonowal was joined by the Assam Government Minister Shri Sanjay Kishan, the MP of Rajya Sabha, Shri Rameshwar Teli, the Chairman of the Assam Tourism Development Corporation Shri Rituparna Barua, the Chairman of the Assam State Housing Board, Shri Pulak Gohain, the Chairman of Assam Petro-Chemicals Limited, Shri Bikul Deka, and the Chairman of the Tinsukia Development Authority Shri Kajal Gohain, also among the dignitaries was Tinsukia district BJP president Shri Kushkant Bora.

    ****

    NKK/AK

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Significant Achievements made under Special Campaign 4.0 in Department of Health and Family Welfare

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Significant Achievements made under Special Campaign 4.0 in Department of Health and Family Welfare

    52,665 physical files reviewed, 31,659 physical files weeded out, 5,160 Public Grievances and 595 Appeals have been disposed of, Revenue of Rs.18,63,356 generated by selling of scrap materials and 1,433 Cleanliness Campaigns conducted

    Posted On: 01 NOV 2024 8:04PM by PIB Delhi

    The Department of Health and Family Welfare (DoHFW) launched Special Campaign 4.0 from October 2 to October 31, 2024, aimed at institutionalizing cleanliness (Swachhata) and reducing pending tasks across its headquarters, central government hospitals, attached offices, subordinate offices, autonomous bodies, and CPSUs nationwide.

    Under the leadership of Union Health Secretary Ms. Punya Salila Srivastava, the campaign’s implementation was regularly reviewed to ensure efficiency and meet established targets.

    Key achievements during the campaign include the disposition of 25 references from Members of Parliament, 3 Parliamentary assurances, 5,160 public grievances, and 595 associated appeals, as well as the simplification of 45 rules and processes. Additionally, 52,665 physical files were reviewed, resulting in the weeding out of 31,659 files, and 12,428 e-files were reviewed, with 10,174 closed. The campaign also saw the conduct of 1,433 cleanliness campaigns across various offices, freeing up 40,742 sq. ft. of office space, and generating revenue amounting to ₹18,63,356 from the sale of scrap materials and e-waste. These activities reflect DoHFW’s commitment to enhancing operational efficiency and promoting a culture of cleanliness within its institutions.

    The progress of implementation phase of the campaign was uploaded daily on SCDPM portal (https://scdpm.nic.in) of the Department of Administrative Reforms & Public Grievances (DARPG). Social media updates, PIB Statements and Best Practices were also uploaded on the portal by showcasing the progress in the campaign.

    Few highlights are as follows:

    On 16th October, 2024, Shri V. Srinivas, Secretary, Department of Administrative Reforms & Public Grievances (DARPG) along with Ms. Punya Salila Srivastava, Union Health Secretary reviewed the activities undertaken by DoHFW in ‘Special Campaign 4.0

     

    Training of Safai Mitras on ‘Swachhata Hi Sewa’ module on iGOT Platform was conducted on 23rd October, 2024 (chaired by Ms. Punya Salila Srivastava, Union Health Secretary) as a part of the Karmayogi Saptah (National Learning Week) and Special Campaign 4.0

     

      

    During Special Campaign 4.0, ‘Swachhata Hi Seva’ module was completed by more than 11,500 employees including officers on iGOT platform and more than 7,500 Safai Mitras in physical mode

     

    AIIMS, Jodhpur transforming plastic containers into planters which aims to minimize environmental impact of plastic while encouraging a culture of creativity and responsibility among staff

     

            

    Before                                  After

    Conversion of discarded chairs into functiona/ attractive benches and signage stands at Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS), Imphal to encourage upcycling

    DoHFW remain committed to the goals of Special Campaign 4.0 and will continue to contribute actively in the activities of the campaign even after the campaign ended on 31st October, 2024. It has been emphasised that with the combined efforts of all, lasting improvements in cleanliness and governance can be achieved.

    ***

    MV

    HFW/ Special Campaign 4.0 /01st November 2024/1

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News

  • MIL-OSI USA: USGS Releases New Topographic Maps for Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands – Updated Maps for Essential Needs

    Source: US Geological Survey

    The USGS is pleased to announce the release of new US Topo maps for Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. These updated topographic maps offer valuable, current geographic information for residents, visitors, and professionals, providing essential resources for communities in these areas.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: AIR MARSHAL AJAY KUMAR ARORA TAKES OVER AS AIR OFFICER-IN-CHARGE MAINTENANCE OF IAF

    Source: Government of India

    Posted On: 01 NOV 2024 7:47PM by PIB Delhi

    Air Marshal Ajay Kumar Arora assumed the appointment of Air Officer-in-Charge Maintenance, Indian Air Force, at Air Headquarters (Vayu Bhawan), today. The Air Marshal, after taking over, laid a wreath at the National War Memorial in honour of the armed forces personnel who have made the supreme sacrifice for the nation.

    Air Marshal Arora was commissioned in the Aeronautical Engineering stream of IAF in Aug 1986. He is a graduate of Air Force Technical College, Air Command and Staff College, USA and College of Defence Management, Secunderabad. An electronics and communication engineer by qualification, he is also an alumnus of lIT Kharagpur and a Doctrate degree holder in Management from University of Pune.

    He has held key command and staff appointments in his illustrious career of 38 years. He was the Director General (Aircraft) before assuming the appointment of Air Officer-in-charge Maintenance.

    The officer has been awarded with Vishisht Seva Medal in year 2018 and Ati Vishisht Seva Medal in 2024 for his distinguished service. He is married to Mrs Sangeeta and the couple is blessed with a son, Pulkit.

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: CBIC and formations under it actively engage in Special Campaign 4.0

    Source: Government of India (2)

    CBIC and formations under it actively engage in Special Campaign 4.0

    433 public grievances, 80 public grievance appeals, and five MP references

    27,656 physical files eliminated out of 49,667 reviewed files

    819 cleanliness events organised across CBIC office premises in States and public areas

    Rs. 3.80 lakh (approx) generated from the disposal of 17,121 kg scrap, freeing 16,706 square feet of additional office space

    73 kg drugs, 49 lakhs foreign cigarettes, and other contraband worth Rs. 460 crore destroyed by Delhi Customs (Preventive) Commissionerate and Customs (Airport and General) Commissionerate jointly

    82.72 lakh sticks smuggled cigarettes worh Rs. 5.5 crore destroyed by Customs Commissionerate (Prev.), Vijayawada

    Posted On: 01 NOV 2024 7:11PM by PIB Delhi

    The Central Board of Indirect Taxes & Customs (CBIC), Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance, actively engaged in the Special Campaign 4.0 from 2nd-31st October, 2024, with special focus on Swachhata.

    The initiatives during this period focused on instilling the principles of cleanliness while also addressing important backlogs in key work areas. The campaign prioritised addressing public complaints to enhance service delivery and responsiveness. Efforts were made to declutter and optimise office environments by removing outdated and unnecessary items including the clearance of seized contraband, such as narcotic substances and foreign-origin cigarettes, ensuring that these items were disposed of in compliance with legal regulations.

    This year, CBIC also marked the 10th anniversary of the Swachh Bharat Mission through the spirited celebration of ‘Swachhata Hi Seva 2024, under the theme ‘Swabhav Swachhata Sanskaar Swachhata (4S) campaign’. This initiative emphasised large-scale awareness and public participation in maintaining cleanliness, specifically targeting Cleanliness Target Units (CTUs) across the country. With active involvement from CBIC officers, staff and field offices, the campaign fostered a collaborative environment that significantly enhanced its impact.

    The concerted efforts of CBIC formations resulted in the achievement of several key milestones as follows:

    • Resolution of 433 public grievances, 80 public grievance appeals, and five MP references.
    • Elimination of 27,656 physical files out of 49,667 files reviewed.
    • Review and closure of 1,501 e-files out of 36,237 assessed
    • 819 cleanliness events organised across office premises and public areas.
    • Generation of approximately Rs. 3.80 lakh from the disposal of 17,121 kg scrap, freeing 16,706 square feet of additional office space.
    • Destruction of 73 kg of drugs, 49 lakhs foreign cigarettes, and other contraband worth Rs. 460 crore by Delhi Customs (Preventive) Commissionerate and Customs (Airport and General) Commissionerate jointly, besides Customs Commissionerate (Prev.), Vijayawada disposed of 82.72 lakh sticks of smuggled cigarettes valued at Rs. 5.5 crore as part of the ongoing battle against illicit imports.

    Several best practices were implemented across various Customs and GST offices to promote sustainability and employee welfare. A Bio-Gas Plant was set up in the Customs Colony in Vapi, turning waste into wealth.

    The CGST Faridabad Commissionerate transformed two abandoned rooms filled with old records and furniture into a cafeteria and a crèche within its premises. The CGST Jaipur Zone planted 11,000 saplings of over 100 native species using an innovative afforestation method that utilized organic waste and only 30% of the usual water requirement. The CGST Gurugram Audit Commissionerate reclaimed office space to develop a crèche for employee welfare. Additionally, efforts to ensure cleanliness extended to Valappu Beach in Cochin, where more than 400 officers, including 100 students, volunteered. The campaign also led to the cleaning of office premises and the repair and painting of old furniture, which were subsequently donated to Jila Parishad Hindi Ucha Primary School and Primary School, Umrer, Nagpur, with these initiatives being effectively showcased on social media platforms.

    Around 200 posts were shared on ‘X’ and other social media platforms through CBIC’s official handle and field offices, significantly amplifying the Swachhata message. Efforts will persist in building on these practices and ensuring their sustainability throughout the year.

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Shri Amit Shah interacts with the librarians of trust-run libraries and government libraries in Gandhinagar Lok Sabha constituency of Gujarat

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Shri Amit Shah interacts with the librarians of trust-run libraries and government libraries in Gandhinagar Lok Sabha constituency of Gujarat

    The role of libraries is very important in building the future of a country

    Shri Amit Shah donates books worth Rs 2 lakh to each library under his Lok Sabha constituency

    Suggests ways to increase readership by at least 30 percent in coming days

    Emphasizes making heritage books available online

    Union Home Minister advises using software to understand individuals’ reading preferences

    It will help librarians procure more books of readers’ choice

    Shri Amit Shah also inaugurated 15 MW waste-to-energy plant set up by Jindal Urban Waste Management near Piplaj village in Ahmedabad

    Built at a cost of Rs 375 crore, waste-to-energy plant has the capacity to convert 1,000 metric tonnes of waste into electricity per day

    Waste-to-energy plant will strengthen the waste management of the entire Ahmedabad city, it will meet the energy requirements as well

    Posted On: 01 NOV 2024 6:48PM by PIB Delhi

    Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Shri Amit Shah today interacted with the Librarians of trust-run libraries and government libraries in Gandhinagar Lok Sabha constituency of Gujarat and said that the role of libraries is very important in building the future of a country.

    In a post on X platform, Shri Amit Shah said, “Libraries play an important role in building the future of any country. Today I interacted with the librarians of the trust-run libraries and government libraries of Gandhinagar Lok Sabha constituency. I am happy that these librarians are promoting the interest of library enthusiasts in books by making an emotional connect with them. Due to their efforts, the number of readers in these libraries is going to increase by at least 30% in the coming days.”

    On this occasion, Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Shri Amit Shah donated books worth Rs. two lakh to each library under his Lok Sabha constituency. Apart from this, he suggested ways to increase readership by at least 30 percent in the coming time and emphasized on making heritage books available online. Shri Shah advised using software which can help understand individuals’ reading preferences and help librarians procure more books of their choice.

    Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Shri Amit Shah also inaugurated a 15 MW waste-to-energy plant set up by Jindal Urban Waste Management near Piplaj village in Ahmedabad today.

    In another post on X, Shri Amit Shah informed, “Today inaugurated a 15 MW waste-to-energy plant set up by Jindal Urban Waste Management near Piplaj village in Ahmedabad. Built at a cost of ₹ 375 crore, this plant has the capacity to convert 1,000 metric tonnes of waste into electricity per day. It will strengthen the waste management of the entire Ahmedabad city and will meet the energy requirements as well.”

     

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    Read this release in: Hindi

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  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Last date for submitting applications (fresh & renewal) on National Scholarship Portal for 2024-25 under NMMSS extended till 15 November, 2024

    Source: Government of India

    Posted On: 01 NOV 2024 6:24PM by PIB Delhi

    The last date for submission of applications by the selected meritorious students on the National Scholarship Portal (NSP) for the National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship Scheme (NMMSS) for the year 2024-25 has been extended up to 15.11.2024. The NSP portal is open for submission of applications by students with effect from 30th June 2024. In this project year 2024-25, the selected students are first to do a One-Time Registration (OTR) on the NSP, after which they have to apply for the scholarship scheme that they have selected. The FAQ details for registration on NSP can be accessed at https://scholarships.gov.in/studentFAQs.

    Through the ‘National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship Scheme’ implemented by the Department of School Education & Literacy, scholarships are awarded to meritorious students from economically weaker sections to arrest their drop-out after elementary level, i.e., Class VIII and encourage them to complete their school education up to higher secondary level, i.e., Class XII.

    The scheme provides one lakh fresh scholarships every year for Class IX students who clear the qualifying exam for the scholarship conducted by the State/UT governments. The scholarship is continued through renewal mode from Classes X to XII based on the student’s academic performance. The scheme is applicable only to students studying in State Government, Government-aided, and local body schools and the scholarship amount is Rs. 12000 per annum per student.

    The National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship Scheme (NMMSS) is implemented through the National Scholarship Portal (NSP) – the one-stop platform for scholarship schemes disbursed to students by the Government of India. As of 01.11.2024, 86323 fresh and 162175 renewal applications have been finally submitted by applicants. NMMSS scholarships are disbursed directly into the bank accounts of selected students by electronic transfer through the Public Financial Management System (PFMS) following DBT mode. The eligibility parameters for availing the scholarship include parental income not more than Rs. 3.50 lakh per annum and a minimum of 55% marks or equivalent grade in the Class VII examination for appearing in the selection test for award of scholarship (relaxable by 5% for SC/ST students).

    On the NSP portal, there are two levels of verification of the scholarship application of selected students: Level-1 (L1) verification is at the Institute Nodal Officer (INO) and Level-2 (L2) is with the District Nodal Officer (DNO). The last date for INO level (L1) verification is 30.11.2024 and for DNO level (L2) verification is 15.12.2024.

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    SS/AK

    (Release ID: 2070204) Visitor Counter : 60

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Occasion of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Jayanti and Ekta Divas a pledge taking ceremony and “Run for Unity”

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Posted On: 01 NOV 2024 6:12PM by PIB Delhi

    The occasion of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Jayanti and Ekta Divas a pledge taking ceremony and “Run for Unity” has been organized at Vijay Chwok led by Dr. Rajiv Mani, Secretary Legislative Department along with other senior officers namely, Shri Udaya Kumara, Additional Secretary, Dr. Manoj Kumar, Additional Secretary, Shri Diwakar Singh, Additional Secretary, Shri R.K. Pattanayak, JS&LC, Shri Brijesh Singh, JS&LC, Dr. K.V. Kumar, JS&LC, Smt. Akali V Konghey, JS&LC and other officers and staff including outsourced employees of this Department and attached offices.

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    SB/DP/ARJ

    (Release ID: 2070195) Visitor Counter : 35

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Activities of Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare during the last Week of Special Campaign 4.0

    Source: Government of India

    Posted On: 01 NOV 2024 5:46PM by PIB Delhi

    Special Campaign 4.0 was launched by DARPG for minimizing pendency in Government offices. Special Campaign 4.0 is being implemented in full swing. During the last week of Special Campaign 4.0, a number  of teams were constituted under Department of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare to visit the offices located in Delhi & NCR viz. Mahalanobis National Crop Forecasting Centre, Pusa, National Seeds Corporation, Pusa, National Centre for Organic and Natural Farming, Ghaziabad, Directorate of Extension, Pusa, Directorate of Wheat Development, Gurugram, Soil and Land Use Survey of India Noida, Small Farmers Agri-Business Consortium Houz Khas and Central Fertilizer Quality Control & Training Institute, Faridabad to review the progress and the performance of the subordinate / attached office and PSU under the administrative control of this department.

    The team inspected these office premises to review the progress made by these organization during the Special Campaign 4.0.

     

    By the end of last week of Special Campaign 4.0, five PIB Notes have been released and activities have been undertaken on various social media platforms, i.e. more than 234 tweets, 100 Facebook posts, 62 Instagram posts, 26 YouTube posts and 11 posts on Linked in have been made collectively by this department and its attached/subordinate offices and their field offices, etc.

    Progress/achievement of the Department during the last week of Special Campaign 4.0 ending on 31st October 2024 are as under:-

    S.No.

    Activities

    Targets

    Achievement

    1

    No.of cleanliness campaign site

    1791

    1360

    2

    No. of pending references from MPs

    50

    19

    3

    Pending Public Grievances

    22295

    20549

    4

    Pending PG Appeals

    698

    506

    5

    Record Management (Physical files reviewed)

    53660

    47950

    6

    Record Management (Physical files weeded out)

    18959

    18959

    7

    Space freed (area in Sq. ft.)

    53761

    8

    Revenue generated (Amount in Rupees)

    3846455.00

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    (Release ID: 2070183) Visitor Counter : 20

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Ministry of Road Transport and Highways successfully concludes Special Campaign 4.0 for disposal of Pending Matters and Cleanliness drive

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Ministry of Road Transport and Highways successfully concludes Special Campaign 4.0 for disposal of Pending Matters and Cleanliness drive

    Ministry achieves 100% targets in disposal of Public Grievances (986), Public Grievance Appeals (211), IMC references (Cabinet Proposal) and Record Management (review of old physical/e-files (25635)

    Posted On: 01 NOV 2024 5:16PM by PIB Delhi

    Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) and its agencies have successfully concluded the Special Campaign for Disposal of Pending Matters 4.0 from 2nd to 31st October, 2024.

    Ministry has achieved 100% targets in disposal of Public Grievances (986), Public Grievance Appeals (211), IMC references (Cabinet Proposal) and Record Management (review of old physical/e-files (25635). Further, Ministry has disposed 95% pending MP references. 555 such references out of 583 have been disposed of during the Campaign. During the period 28 out of 53 Parliamentary Assurances have also been disposed of. During the Campaign, Ministry  has earned revenue of Rs. 3,03,200/- from disposal of scraps. During Swachhata Hi Seva and Special Campaign for Disposal of Pending Matters (SCDPM) 4.0, MoRTH and its agencies carried out cleanliness activities at more than 19,000 sites, which included offices, construction camps/sites, NH stretches, Toll Plazas, wayside amenities, Road-side Dhabas, Bus Stops, flyovers etc.

    In order to achieve the identified targets under various parameters of the Campaign, Nodal Officer, MoRTH reviewed the progress of the Campaign on daily basis and followed up with all the agencies.  The officers of MoRTH, NHAI & NHIDCL actively participated in the SCDPM 4.0.

    Various Social Media Platforms such as X (Twitter), Instagram & Facebook were used for giving wide publicity of the campaign.

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    NKK/AK

    (Release ID: 2070172) Visitor Counter : 22

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Department of Agricultural Research and Education – Indian Council of Agricultural Research issues end of campaign progress for Special Campaign 4.0

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Posted On: 01 NOV 2024 4:59PM by PIB Delhi

    Department Of Agricultural Research And Education – Indian Council of Agricultural Research has taken up initiatives for Swachhata Special Campaign 4.0 with great enthusiasm. Targets for the campaign regarding disposal of pending VIP references, public grievances, reviewing and weeding out of physical as well as electronic files, conducting outdoor campaigns for creating swachhata awareness were set by 1st October, 2024. The Department has progressed a lot and has achieved its targets till date. Reviewing and weeding of physical and electronic files were conducted at rapid pace and the targets have been accomplished. The Department has minimal pendency regarding VIP references and Public Grievances. Best Practices have been regularly adopted and monitored by all institutes of the Department. Ample spaces have been freed through swachhata programmes and in turn large amount of revenue has being generated. The photographs of sites identified for cleanliness show large improvement after cleaning. Great efforts have been exerted by the DARE/ICAR institutes to maintain cleanliness inside as well as outside the campus and at the outskirts and adjoining areas. DARE/ICAR raised awareness all over the country for maintaining cleanliness through cultural programmes, Swacchata Samvad and Nukkad Nataks, inspiring school children to join the campaign, organizing welfare schemes for Safaimitras through health checkups and felicitation. All data have been uploaded regularly in the Swachhata Portal along with several PIB releases and social media releases.

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    SS

    (Release ID: 2070165) Visitor Counter : 52

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Sh. Ashok K. K. Meena Assumes Charge as Secretary, Department of Drinking Water & Sanitation, Ministry of Jal Shakti

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Posted On: 01 NOV 2024 4:55PM by PIB Delhi

     

    Sh. Ashok Kumar Kaluram Meena, IAS (Odisha: 1993), assumed the charge as Secretary in the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation, Ministry of Jal Shakti, on 31.10.2024 at CGO Complex, New Delhi. Sh. Meena holds a B. Tech in Computer Science from Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur and M.A. in Economics from Annamalai University. He has done Master of International Development Policy (M.I.D.P) in Public Finance from Duke University’s Sanford School of Public Policy.

    Having more than 2 months transition period as Officer on Special Duty (OSD) at DDWS, Sh. Meena embarks on his new stint as the Secretary of DDWS, Ministry of Jal Shakti. Prior to this, he served as Chairman &  MD of Food Corporation of India from 29th August 2022 to 16th August 2024.

    Sh. Meena was in central deputation from 20th April 2011 to 2nd August 2014, where he served in capacity of Joint Secretary, in the Ministry of Defence and Director (Vigilance), in the department of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions.

    During his earlier central deputation tenure, from 3rd May 2001 to 31st July 2005, he served as Deputy Secretary in the Department of Commerce and Industry and other positions at Centre.

    Sh. Meena has served in various capacities in the State of Odisha including Principal Secretary, Finance, Panchayati Raj and Rural development etc.

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    DSK

    (Release ID: 2070164) Visitor Counter : 42

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Department of Financial Services (DFS), Ministry of Finance, successfully concludes Special Campaign 4.0

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Department of Financial Services (DFS), Ministry of Finance, successfully concludes Special Campaign 4.0

    Special Campaign 4.0 demonstrated commitment to cleanliness and efficiency for DFS and its affiliated organisations across the country

    100% disposal of Public Grievances and Appeals achieved

    More than 38,500 sites cleaned; Cleanliness drive frees up 11 lakh square feet space; PSBs and other financial institutions under DFS monetise Rs. 4.50 crore through scrap disposal

    Under the citizen centric initiatives, financial literacy camps organised in more than 510 locations

    Posted On: 01 NOV 2024 4:47PM by PIB Delhi

    The Department of Financial Services (DFS), Ministry of Finance, and its affiliated organisations successfully completed the one month-long Special Campaign 4.0 with special focus on minimising pendency, and institutionalising Swachhata from 2nd-31st October 2024.

    The DFS launched the Special Campaign 4.0 with special impetus on better space management, customer centric initiatives, making the environment clean and green, record management and disposal of scrap.

    All the organisations of DFS, Public Sector Banks (PSBs), Public Sector Insurance Companies and other Public Sector Financial Institutions like NABARD, SIDBI, EXIM Bank, NHB, IIFCL etc. actively participated in the Special Campaign 4.0.

    The DFS achieved 100% disposal of all identified Public Grievances, Public Appeals, PMO references and MP References. 11.79 lakh square feet of space has freed and revenue of Rs. 4.50 crore has been earned through scrap disposal. The campaign was conducted in more than 38,500 sites across the country.

    Twelve Public Sector Banks and 43 Regional Rural Banks organised Pension Grievances Weeks. In the camps, apart from the grievances registered & redressed, pensioners were also educated regarding submission of online life certificate and door step banking facilities.  In more than 52,208 branches across the country approx. 1.45 lakhs pensioners were contacted.   

    Various videos and static contents were posted on Social media platforms by PSBs and RRBs to spread awareness towards Cyber Security. Safety tips and practices were shared through these educational posts to combat against cyber related frauds.

    Highlights & achievements of the Department and its organisations:

    1. Cleanliness Campaigns/Sites/Offices Cleaned: 38,577
    2. Space Freed: 11,79,219.00 sq. ft.
    3. Revenue Earned from Scrap Disposal: Rs. 4,54,53,508.00
    4. Disposal of Public Grievances: 9,725
    5. Disposal of Public Grievances Appeals: 2,378

    The DFS sensitised its all organisations to use the opportunity of Special Campaign 4.0 to enhance customer interface and to undertake citizen centric initiatives. The organisations of DFS, being in the financial services sector, were conveyed to undertake the activities like Financial Literacy campaigns, Registration/Updation of Nomination in bank accounts, Activating Dormant Accounts, Renewal of Locker Agreements, Disposal of Pending Claims etc. The achievements during the Campaign on these parameters are as follows:

    1. Financial Literacy Camps organised: More than 510 locations across the country.
    2. Number of Dormant Accounts Activated- 79.97 lakh.
    3. Number of Accounts in which Nomination Updated: 29.02 lakh.
    4. Number of Locker Agreements Renewed- 1.10 lakh.
    5. LIC of India settled 12.77 lakh unclaimed policies and settled claims of more than 10,742 cr.

    All the activities undertaken by organisations were regularly posted on various social media platforms. More than 1,000 posts were made during the campaign. As part of the initiative, customers of various organisations, staff members, senior management & head of organisations also gave feedback about the initiatives during the campaign on various social media platforms.

    Link of social media posts on Cyber Security & Fraud:

     

    Link of Testimonial Videos are as follows:

     

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    NB/KMN

    (Release ID: 2070163) Visitor Counter : 57

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News

  • MIL-OSI Security: New Jersey Resident Pleads Guilty to Helping Russia’s Defense Sector Evade U.S. Export Controls

    Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation FBI Crime News (b)

    Defendant Facilitated Russia’s Acquisition of Millions of Dollars of U.S.-Made Dual-Use Electronics Used in Radar, Surveillance, and Military Research and Development

    Vadim Yermolenko, 43, a dual U.S.-Russian national and resident of New Jersey, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to violate the Export Control Reform Act, conspiracy to commit bank fraud, and conspiracy to defraud the United States for his role in a transnational procurement and money laundering network that sought to acquire sensitive dual-use electronics for Russian military and intelligence services.

    “This defendant joins the nearly two dozen other criminals that our Task Force KleptoCapture has brought to justice in American courtrooms over the past two and a half years for enabling Russia’s military aggression,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “This defendant admitted to playing a central role in a now-disrupted scheme with Russian intelligence services to smuggle sniper rifle ammunition and U.S. military grade equipment into Russia. The Justice Department will never stop working to aggressively disrupt and prosecute both the criminal networks and the individuals responsible for bolstering the Russian war machine.”

    “The illegal export of sensitive, dual-use technologies in support of Russia’s war effort poses a significant threat to the United States and its allies and must not be tolerated,” said FBI Director Christopher Wray. “The defendant in this case played a key role in exporting U.S. technology that in the hands of our adversaries could pose great danger to our national security. The FBI and its partners will continue to focus on protecting strategic innovation at home and hold accountable anyone who facilitates illegal transfers to hostile nations like Russia.”

    “To facilitate the Russian war machine, the defendant played a critical role in exporting sensitive, dual-use technologies to Russia, facilitating shipping and the movement of millions of dollars through U.S. financial institutions,” said U.S. Attorney Breon Peace for the Eastern District of New York. “This plea highlights my Office and our law enforcement partners continued commitment to use all tools available to prosecute those who unlawfully procure U.S. technology to send to Russia.”

    According to court documents, the defendant was affiliated with Serniya Engineering and Sertal LLC, Moscow-based companies that operate under the direction of Russian intelligence services to procure advanced electronics and sophisticated testing equipment for Russia’s military industrial complex and research and development sector. Serniya and Sertal operated a vast network of shell companies and bank accounts throughout the world, including the United States, that were used in furtherance of the scheme to conceal the involvement of the Russian government and the true Russian end users of U.S.-origin equipment.

    The defendant and his co-conspirators unlawfully purchased and exported highly sensitive, export controlled electronic components, some of which can be used in the development of nuclear and hypersonic weapons, quantum computing and other military applications. Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) and the U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) levied sanctions and imposed additional export restrictions on Serniya, Sertal, and several individuals and companies used in the scheme, calling them “instrumental to the Russian Federation’s war machine.”

    Sertal was licensed to conduct highly sensitive and classified procurement activities by Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB), Russia’s principal security agency and the main successor agency to the Soviet Union’s KGB. The Serniya network’s Russian clients included State Corporation Rostec, the state-owned defense conglomerate; State Atomic Energy Corporation Rosatom (Rosatom); the Ministry of Defense; the Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR); and various components of the FSB, including the Department of Military Counterintelligence and the Directorate for Scientific and Technological Intelligence, commonly known as “Directorate T.”

    To carry out the scheme, the defendant helped set up numerous shell companies and dozens of bank accounts in the U.S. to illicitly move money and export-controlled goods. During the period charged in the indictment, more than $12 million passed through accounts owned or controlled by the defendant. These funds were used in part to purchase sensitive equipment used in radar, surveillance and military research and development. In one instance, money from one of the defendant’s accounts was used to purchase export-controlled sniper bullets, which were intercepted in Estonia before they could be smuggled into Russia.

    Co-defendant Alexey Brayman previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud the United States and is awaiting sentence. The case against co-defendant Vadim Konoshchenok, a suspected FSB operative, was dismissed after Konoshchenok was removed from the United States as part of a prisoner exchange negotiated between the United States and Russia. Defendant Nikolaos Bogonikolos’ case remains pending. Defendants Boris Livshits, Alexey Ippolitov, Svetlana Skvortsova, and Yevgeniy Grinin remain at large.        

    The FBI, BIS, and IRS are investigating the case.

    The U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs, and Estonian authorities provided valuable assistance.

    Assistant U.S. Attorneys Artie McConnell, Andrew D. Reich, and Matthew Skurnik for the Eastern District of New York are prosecuting the case, with assistance from Trial Attorney Scott A. Claffee of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section.

    Today’s actions were coordinated through the Justice Department’s Task Force KleptoCapture and the Justice and Commerce Departments’ Disruptive Technology Strike Force. Task Force KleptoCapture is an interagency law enforcement task force dedicated to enforcing the sweeping sanctions, export restrictions and economic countermeasures that the United States has imposed, along with its allies and partners, in response to Russia’s unprovoked military invasion of Ukraine. The Disruptive Technology Strike Force is an interagency law enforcement strike force co-led by the Departments of Justice and Commerce designed to target illicit actors, protect supply chains and prevent critical technology from being acquired by authoritarian regimes and hostile nation states.

    MIL Security OSI

  • MIL-OSI Security: Unified Command concludes Marina del Rey Vessel Fire 2024

    Source: United States Coast Guard

     

    11/01/2024 04:36 PM EDT

    The Unified Command concluded its diesel fuel recovery efforts Thursday after a yacht, The Admiral, caught fire in Marina del Rey Sept. 18, 2024. Coast Guard Incident Management Division responders boarded the vessel on Thursday and confirmed there was no remaining pollution threat from the vessel. Crews worked to recover the diesel, raise the sunken vessel, and remove any pollution threat from the vessel over the last several weeks.

    MIL Security OSI

  • MIL-OSI: HOME FEDERAL BANCORP, INC. OF LOUISIANA ANNOUNCES APPROVAL OF STOCK REPURCHASE PROGRAM

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SHREVEPORT, LA, Nov. 01, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) —

    For Immediate Release

    Home Federal Bancorp, Inc. of Louisiana (the “Company”) (NASDAQ: HFBL), the holding company for Home Federal Bank, announced today that its Board of Directors on October 31, 2024, approved the Company’s thirteenth stock repurchase program. The new repurchase program provides for the repurchase of up to 100,000 shares, or approximately 3.0% of the Company’s outstanding common stock from time to time, in open market or privately negotiated transactions. The stock repurchase program does not have an expiration date.

    Home Federal Bancorp, Inc. of Louisiana is the holding company for Home Federal Bank which conducts business from its ten full-service banking offices and home office in northwest Louisiana.

    Statements contained in this news release which are not historical facts may be forward-looking statements as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements can be identified by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts. They often include words likebelieve,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “estimateandintendor future or conditional verbs such aswill,” “would,” “should,” “couldormay.We undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statements.

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI Global: Massachusetts could be the next state to get rid of the ‘subminimum wage’ for tipped workers

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Jeannette Wicks-Lim, Research Professor, Political Economy Research Institute, UMass Amherst

    A Massachusetts ballot initiative would get rid of the state’s tipped minimum wage. AP Photo/Marta Lavandier

    The federal minimum wage for tipped workers has stood at US$2.13 an hour since 1991. Back then, it amounted to half the $4.25 regular minimum wage. But Congress has failed to increase the tipped minimum while periodically raising the regular wage floor. Today, the tipped rate is less than one-third of the $7.25 federal full minimum wage.

    As of October 2024, 30 states and Washington, D.C., had instituted their own, higher, regular minimum wages. The number of states taking this step keeps rising in part because Congress hasn’t raised the federal minimum wage since 2009. Over the years, many states have also adopted higher wages for tipped workers. Seven states have no tipped minimum wage at all, which means that employers must pay at least the state-mandated minimum wage to all workers, including those who earn tips.

    If Massachusetts voters approve a ballot initiative on Nov. 5, 2024, their state will gradually raise the state’s tipped minimum wage until it matches the state minimum wage. That is, it will rise from $6.75 to $15 per hour by 2029.

    Massachusetts would be joining eight states that require – or are on their way to requiring – the full minimum wage for tipped workers: Alaska, California, Minnesota, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Washington and Michigan. Two major cities, Chicago and Washington, D.C., have similar measures on their books, too.

    To inform the debate about tipped wages, we – a labor economist and a sociologist – analyzed the potential impacts of implementing a full minimum wage for workers, businesses and consumers in Massachusetts. We found more evidence of potential upsides than downsides.

    Tipped minimum earners’ demographics

    For our study, we analyzed labor market data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. We found that tipped workers are largely waiters, bartenders, hosts and bussers employed in bars and restaurants. They tend to earn low wages. Most are women, and they are disproportionately people of color.

    In Massachusetts, tipped workers typically earn low pay: On average, they take home $20.30 per hour, including what they get in gratuities. That’s about two-thirds of the state average hourly pay of $31.50.

    About 66% of tipped workers are women, compared with 49% in the state’s workforce as a whole. Some 43% are people of color, compared with 29% of all people employed in Massachusetts.

    Teens also make up a disproportionate share of Massachusetts’ tipped workers: 15%, versus 4% for the broader workforce. But the vast majority of tipped workers are at least 20 years old.

    Arguments for and against

    Proponents argue that eliminating the tipped minimum wage would boost pay for tipped workers and better ensure that workers are not subjected to wage theft. U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts wants the federal government to take this step.

    Opponents argue that scrapping the lower minimum wage could backfire for tipped workers if their customers give smaller tips once they know employers have to pay tipped workers more – or some jobs are eliminated. They also worry that business costs would spike, raising prices. Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey, a Democrat, opposes the measure.

    In Arizona, voters will cast their ballots on another ballot initiative that calls for a different type of tipped minimum wage reform. It calls for pegging the state’s tipped minimum wage to 25% below the full minimum wage. If approved, Arizona would effectively lower its tipped minimum wage, which currently stands at $11.35 an hour, to $10.76. Today, Arizona’s tipped minimum wage is $3.00 below the state’s full minimum wage of $14.35.

    Prone to wage theft

    When tipped workers’ base wages plus their tips do not add up to at least the state’s minimum wage, employers are supposed to make up the shortfall. This makes these workers particularly vulnerable to being underpaid, a form of wage theft.

    The consequences of this vulnerability are plain to see in restaurants and hotels. The hospitality industry, which employs the highest share of tipped workers, accounts for less than 6% of employed workers in Massachusetts.

    However, it accounts for nearly 14% of all complaints workers lodged with the Massachusetts attorney general’s office in 2023, including disproportionately high levels of complaints about minimum wage violations, the nonpayment of wages and tip violations.

    The hospitality industry also accounts for over 36% of all enforcement actions – investigations that produced evidence of labor violations – found by the Massachusetts attorney general’s office.

    The Massachusetts ballot initiative has stirred controversy in the state.

    Effects on earnings

    Two peer-reviewed economic studies that examined three decades of data found that tipped workers earn measurably more money as subminimum wage rates increase.

    Current wage rates that we observe in Bureau of Labor Statistics data reinforce those findings.

    Consider, for example, the $18.79 average hourly wage of tipped workers in states that treat tipped employees like other workers. This is 21.2% higher than the average $15.50 among tipped workers in states where the federal $2.13 subminimum wage remains in effect.

    Only part of this difference can be explained by the 15.7% difference in average wages for all workers in those different clusters of states.

    What could happen with business costs

    To be sure, more than doubling the $6.75 tipped rate in Massachusetts to $15.00 may sound like it could cause business costs to soar. A couple of factors, however, would soften the blow.

    First, we have calculated that the average tipped worker in Massachusetts restaurants earns about $11.75 an hour, before tips. Raising this rate to $15.00 is equal to a 28% increase – a much smaller lift than increasing the wage from $6.75 to $15.00. In addition, raising a worker’s wage from $11.75 to $15.00 by 2029 is equivalent to raising it to $13.00 in today’s dollars, or a 10% boost, after adjusting for projected inflation.

    Second, as we explained in our study, since tipped workers make up about 30% of Massachusetts restaurant workers, and the payrolls of these businesses typically amount to about 30% of their revenue, these numbers imply that eliminating the tipped minimum wage by 2029 would increase the average Massachusetts restaurant’s costs by 1%.

    Employers may also provide some other workers with raises, although they are not required to do so. That suggests the cost increase is more likely to be about double that, or 2% of sales.

    Expected impact on prices and jobs

    If the average Massachusetts restaurant were to pass its entire labor cost increase onto the consumer through higher prices, this would mean that restaurant prices would rise about 2%.

    This is equal to a $50 restaurant meal instead costing $51 – arguably a small price increase.

    The two studies mentioned above, which reviewed decades of data to see whether tipped workers earned more, also looked at whether businesses in states that increased their tipped minimum wage cut more jobs compared with businesses in states that didn’t.

    Although both research teams looked at basically the same data, one study found evidence of more job losses and the other did not, due to the different statistical choices they made. These studies, that is, produced inconclusive results about what raising the tipped minimum wage does to employment.

    There’s far more research on whether increasing the regular minimum wage has caused significant job losses. Studies have found that when it has gone up, employers have faced cost increases that are similar to what we’ve estimated for Massachusetts employers, if the state were to eliminate its tipped minimum wage. And that evidence points to no significant job losses.

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

    ref. Massachusetts could be the next state to get rid of the ‘subminimum wage’ for tipped workers – https://theconversation.com/massachusetts-could-be-the-next-state-to-get-rid-of-the-subminimum-wage-for-tipped-workers-242097

    MIL OSI – Global Reports