Source: Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe – OSCE
Headline: Integrating perspectives of youth and children into environmental decision-making in focus at 2024 Aarhus Centres meeting
Integrating perspectives of youth and children into environmental decision-making in focus at 2024 Aarhus Centres meeting | OSCE
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UConn’s Panhellenic Council – the governing body for nine sororities at the University – was one of just 12 such groups out of nearly 600 to be recognized for national excellence this year.
The council received the College Panhellenic Excellence Award from the National Panhellenic Conference, which confers the honor on councils that “have demonstrated outstanding contributions to all award criteria which include academic innovation, community impact, leadership, recruitment, programming and marketing.” UConn’s council was one of 12 to receive this award, out of more than 580.
“It shows the strength that we have built in the council over the past few years and shows how we grow with the changing world, practice diversity, equity, and inclusion, and counteract the stigmas that are typically drawn about us,” says Panhellenic President Katherine Bates ’25 (CLAS).
The council serves as the governing board of the nine Panhellenic sororities on campus, and over the past three years, has worked to expand the culture of the community in efforts to meet national standards. This culture change emphasizes the positive impact they want to have on not only all of the women in sorority chapters, but also within the broader UConn community.
One of their main goals is to destigmatize sororities and challenge negative impressions that are sometimes associated with Greek life on campus. This year, Panhellenic recruitment was up by 47%, a strong indication that their efforts are bearing fruit.
“Joining Panhellenic allowed me to build a professional network,” Bates says. “Without the leadership experience I gained through my sorority and the Panhellenic council, I wouldn’t have become as well connected with the University and involved in other clubs. The social relationships lead to professional relationships. Panhellenic brings out the best in people by learning social and professional skills and applying them to their academics and jobs.”
The council’s Executive Vice President, Naomi Mathew ’26 (CLAS), says the Panhellenic community is a tight-knit group within UConn’s large student body.
“Every single connection in the Panhellenic community is true, which has shaped my experience. My life here would never be the same without my sorority chapter or this community, and I am so grateful to have found something that is greater than any degree,” she says.
The Panhellenic community at UConn contributes to a unique college experience, members say, fostering a sense of togetherness among all sororities, offering leadership opportunities, and connecting young women with philanthropic values. Council members say that being recognized on a national level not only acknowledges their outstanding achievements, but promotes the uplifting and inspiring community the Panhellenic council has built for undergraduate women on campus.
Sgt. 1st Class Fabricio Monterroso, electronic maintenance chief, U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa, poses for a photo at Caserma Del Din, Vicenza, Italy, Oct. 9, 2024. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army photo by Spc. Ivan Hernandez | U.S. Army photo illustration by Brenadine C. Humphrey) VIEW ORIGINAL
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U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa
VICENZA, Italy – “You need to leave your computer desk and get into the warrior mentality,” said U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Fabricio Monterroso, electronic maintenance chief with U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF). Such is the effort SETAF-AF soldiers need when preparing for the upcoming Expert Infantry, Soldier and Field Medical Badges (E3B) challenge.
E3B is a grueling test with multiple graded tasks over a one-week period. It is the combination of the Expert Infantry Badge, Expert Field Medical Badge and Expert Soldier Badge. E3B takes place at Caserma Del Din, Vicenza, Italy on Oct. 21st and will feature participants from SETAF-AF, the 173rd Airborne Brigade, as well as units from Germany and foreign national partners.
“Our role is to simply lend a hand,” said Monterroso. “We give our expertise, help in the training and give tips and tricks from when we went through it.”
In order to assist participants this year, SETAF-AF’s Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion established an internal training plan. Additionally, a group of those who have already earned their badges have agreed to provide their own support and expertise during the training.
Monterroso, serving as one of the trainers, has been stationed in Italy for two years, one with the 79th Theater Sustainment Command and one with SETAF-AF. Currently, he primarily serves with the communications directorate, ensuring successful network capabilities at exercises and security cooperation engagements in Africa.
“SETAF-AF Soldiers don’t typically get exposed to as many ‘soldier tasks’ compared to candidates from the 173rd or others who are more infantry orientated,” said Monterroso. “So we decided to set up this internal train-up for one-week to familiarize them.”
During the internal training week, soldiers get refreshed on a variety of essential tasks and skills such as medical knowledge, land navigation, weapon disassembly and other skills. Monterroso joined Sgt. 1st Class Rodd P. Simington and Capt. Joshua A. Salters in leading the land navigation portion.
“We know they won’t learn everything, but you have to break that seal,” said Monterroso. “It certainly helped me when I went through it.”
Monterroso is a member of the U.S. Army Reserve, one of many reservists and guardsmen who work at SETAF-AF on temporary active-duty orders. He said it was an incredible opportunity to compete for and obtain his Expert Soldier Badge.
“When I first heard about it, I was very excited. As a reservist we don’t get a lot of chances to do stuff like E3B.” said Monterroso. “So when I heard about it back in 2022, I threw my hand up. But I had no expectations of actually badging.”
For Monterroso, this was a challenge to see how he measured up both physically and mentally. As a former drill sergeant, this was a chance to prove to himself he could still do it, which was an opportunity he loved.
“My train of thought was to simply throw myself in there,” said Monterroso. “Thanks to the internal train-up we had back then, I was able to improve upon many things like rucking and not be as shocked when doing the actual lanes.”
Monterroso provides more to this year’s participants than simply training or expertise.
“I don’t only train them up, of course; I’m boosting their morale,” said Monterroso. “I like to make sure everyone laughs even during training. They should have a good time and not be overwhelmed by just training all of the time.”
As E3B approaches, Monterroso describes why every Soldier should participate in the grueling event.
“Whether you think you will earn the badge or not, you should do it just for the experience,” said Monterroso. “It’s always good to throw yourself to the fire and see how you come out. E3B is a great way to test yourself and see where you are.”
This year’s E3B is hosted by the 173rd Airborne Brigade and incudes Soldiers from across Europe, including partners and allies from Croatia, Italy, the Netherlands, Slovenia and Spain. E3B creates experts at all levels, across all organizations, increasing readiness and lethaity of Soldiers, teams, squaads ad platoons. These events are a key enabler to molding the force into professionals, while stressing commitment to every Soldier’s individual development.
Expert Badges Europe
Soldiers from units across Europe, including service members from other European countries, participate in annual events hosted throughout Belgium, Germany and Italy. For more imagery, video and news, see the Expert Badges Europe feature page.
About SETAF-AF
SETAF-AF provides U.S. Africa Command and U.S. Army Europe and Africa a dedicated headquarters to synchronize Army activities in Africa and scalable crisis-response options in Africa and Europe.
Follow SETAF on: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn & DVIDS
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
2024 Hong Kong-Macao Visual Art Biennale commences in Hangzhou with artworks blending old and new culture by Hong Kong artists (with photos) 2024 Hong Kong-Macao Visual Art Biennale commences in Hangzhou with artworks blending old and new culture by Hong Kong artists (with photos) ******************************************************************************************
The 2024 Hong Kong-Macao Visual Art Biennale has commenced its display at the Gongwang Art Museum in Fuyang, Hangzhou today (October 18). With the theme “HK Snapshots‧City Walks”, the Hong Kong Heritage Museum curated the Hong Kong section of the biennale. Four groups of young local artists have created visual artworks inspired by Guangcai porcelain, Hong Kong cheongsams, traditional offset printing artistry and local flexible street stalls, demonstrating the city’s culture which blends the East and West and the old and new. The exhibition in Hangzhou will run until November 15 with free admission. Addressing the opening ceremony of the biennale in Hangzhou today, the Deputy Director of Leisure and Cultural Services (Culture), Miss Eve Tam, said that the Hong Kong-Macao Visual Art Biennale is a major arts and cultural exchange event jointly organised by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the People’s Republic of China, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the Macao Special Administrative Region and a number of Mainland cities. The Leisure and Cultural Services Department has participated in this event since its inception in 2008, presenting to Mainland audiences works created by Hong Kong artists. The National 14th Five-Year Plan has expressed clear support for Hong Kong to develop into an East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange. The Hong Kong section of the biennale focuses on “Cultural Integration” in which budding artists from Hong Kong make use of their creativity to revitalise traditional crafts, reflecting the city’s cultural characteristics of blending the old and new and telling good stories of Hong Kong. Four groups of artworks are on display in the Hong Kong section. The fourth-generation Lingnan School artist Rebecca Lo has inherited and applied Guangcai ink painting to ceramics to create five porcelain plate sets depicting natural and urban Hong Kong landscapes. The Hong Kong Cheongsam Association, the protection organisation of the national intangible cultural heritage item, has formed a young designer team led by Association committee members Dr Haze Ng and Eunice Lee, the team has designed and sewed four innovative sets of men’s and women’s cheongsams. Each cheongsam portrays the city’s unique architecture and memories through traditional cheongsam-making techniques and textile design. Printing studio ditto ditto, founded by sisters Donna and Nicole Chan, has utilised traditional offset printing artistry to produce four sets of printed works and postcards featuring Hong Kong attractions, scenic spots and cuisine. Lastly, exhibition designers from Key-Point Productions have drawn inspiration from flexible street stalls to create foldable installations for displaying the three groups of artworks mentioned above, offering visitors a unique “pop-up” exhibition experience. This year’s biennale begins in Hangzhou and Nanjing, the two cultural hubs of the Yangtze River Delta region, and will later move to Guangzhou and Shenzhen in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, greatly enhancing cultural exchanges and integration between Hong Kong, Macao and the host cities.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
​The Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau, led a delegation to Shenzhen this afternoon (October 18) to meet with Deputy Director-General of the Health Commission of Guangdong Province Mr Deng Linfeng, Deputy Commissioner of the Guangdong Provincial Medical Products Administration Ms Wang Ling and Deputy Director of the Public Hygiene and Health Commission of Shenzhen Municipality Mr Li Chuang, and introduced to them various initiatives on developing Hong Kong into an international health and medical innovation hub, and aspects of deepening medical collaboration in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA), as set out in “The Chief Executive’s 2024 Policy Address” newly announced.
Professor Lo said, “In the Resolution of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee on Further Deepening Reform Comprehensively to Advance Chinese Modernization adopted by the Third Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee, it mentions the further reform of the medical and healthcare systems and support for the development of innovative drugs and medical devices. The Development Plan for Shenzhen Park of Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Co-operation Zone (Development Plan for Shenzhen Park) promulgated by the State Council in August last year put forward the synergistic development of Shenzhen and Hong Kong under the ‘one zone, two parks’ model, expressing clear support for the innovative application of advanced biomedicine technologies by capitalising on the role of the Greater Bay Area International Clinical Trial Centre to accelerate and promote the evaluation, inspection and clinical trials of drugs and medical devices in alignment with international standards.
“The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government is determined to leverage the advantages of ‘one country, two systems’ and Hong Kong’s healthcare professional system to develop Hong Kong into an international health and medical innovation hub to expedite patients’ access to advanced diagnostic and treatment services, and promote the development of the biomedicine research and development (R&D) industry, while actively integrating into the national development by showing support for fostering new quality productive forces in biomedical technology, as set out in the Resolution and the Development Plan for Shenzhen Park.”
The Chief Executive proposed in the Policy Address directions to complement technological innovation with institutional innovation. The two major policy directions include:
(1) To expedite the reform of the approval mechanism for drugs and medical devices, such as extending the “1+” mechanism to all new drugs and devising the timetable for the Hong Kong Centre for Medical Products Regulation and the roadmap towards adoption of “primary evaluation”; and
(2) To strengthen R&D and translation of biomedical technology. Following the expected commencement of operation of the Greater Bay Area International Clinical Trial Institute in the fourth quarter this year in the Hetao area, Hong Kong will press ahead with collaboration with Shenzhen in establishing the GBA Clinical Trial Collaboration Platform, leveraging the GBA population base of over 86 million under the “one zone, two parks” model in the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Co-operation Zone to extend the R&D network, enable cross-boundary use of data, bio-samples as well as drugs and medical devices to shorten the time for clinical trials. At the same time, through the establishment of the Real-World Study and Application Centre, Hong Kong will join efforts with Guangdong Province to promote real-world studies, by integrating with data generated from the use of innovative drugs and medical devices in the GBA under the measure of using Hong Kong-registered drugs and medical devices used in Hong Kong public hospitals in the GBA to expedite applications for registration which enable the drugs and medical devices to be placed in the market of Hong Kong, the Mainland and overseas.
The HKSAR Government will leverage the strengths of mutually beneficial collaborations with the GBA to effectively support innovation and application of advanced biomedical technology, with a view to attracting top-notch global biomedical enterprises and R&D organisations to set up operations in Hong Kong and in the GBA.
During the meeting, various medical collaboration initiatives in the GBA, such as expanding cross-boundary health record sharing, promoting specialist training in the GBA and extending the Elderly Health Care Voucher GBA Pilot Scheme, were also discussed.
Professor Lo emphasised, “The Health Bureau will implement various co-operation initiatives with the Mainland as put forward in the Policy Address and continue to deepen medical and healthcare collaboration with the Mainland, in particular the GBA Mainland cities, with a view to building a ‘Healthy Hong Kong’ for integration into a ‘Healthy Bay Area’ and making contributions to a ‘Healthy China’.”
Members of the delegation include Deputy Secretary for Health Mr Sam Hui; the Deputy Director of Health, Dr Teresa Li; and the Chief Executive of the Hospital Authority, Dr Tony Ko. They will return to Hong Kong tonight.
PUBLIC OPENING POSITION DISCLOSURE/DEALING DISCLOSURE BY A PERSON WITH INTERESTS IN RELEVANT SECURITIES REPRESENTING 1% OR MORE Rule 8.3 of the Takeover Code (the “Code”)
(b)Owner or controller of interests and short positions disclosed, if different from 1(a): The naming of nominee or vehicle companies is insufficient. For a trust, the trustee(s), settlor and beneficiaries must be named.
N/A
(c)Name of offeror/offeree in relation to whose relevant securities this form relates: Use a separate form for each offeror/offeree
LEARNING TECHNOLOGIES GROUP PLC
(d)If an exempt fund manager connected with an offeror/offeree, state this and specify identity of offeror/offeree:
N/A
(e)Date position held/dealing undertaken: For an opening position disclosure, state the latest practicable date prior to the disclosure
17 OCTOBER 2024
(f)In addition to the company in 1(c) above, is the discloser making disclosures in respect of any other party to the offer? If it is a cash offer or possible cash offer, state “N/A”
N/A
2.POSITIONS OF THE PERSON MAKING THE DISCLOSURE
If there are positions or rights to subscribe to disclose in more than one class of relevant securities of the offeror or offeree named in 1(c), copy table 2(a) or (b) (as appropriate) for each additional class of relevant security.
(a)Interests and short positions in the relevant securities of the offeror or offeree to which the disclosure relates following the dealing (if any)
Class of relevant security:
0.375p ORDINARY
Interests
Short positions
Number
%
Number
%
(1)Relevant securities owned and/or controlled:
10,070,948
1.2713
(2)Cash-settled derivatives:
(3)Stock-settled derivatives (including options) and agreements to purchase/sell:
TOTAL:
10,070,948
1.2713
All interests and all short positions should be disclosed.
Details of any open stock-settled derivative positions (including traded options), or agreements to purchase or sell relevant securities, should be given on a Supplemental Form 8 (Open Positions).
(b)Rights to subscribe for new securities (including directors’ and other employee options)
Class of relevant security in relation to which subscription right exists:
Details, including nature of the rights concerned and relevant percentages:
3.DEALINGS (IF ANY) BY THE PERSON MAKING THE DISCLOSURE
Where there have been dealings in more than one class of relevant securities of the offeror or offeree named in 1(c), copy table 3(a), (b), (c) or (d) (as appropriate) for each additional class of relevant security dealt in.
The currency of all prices and other monetary amounts should be stated.
(a)Purchases and sales
Class of relevant security
Purchase/sale
Number of securities
Price per unit
0.375p ORDINARY
PURCHASE
1,190
92.955p
(b)Cash-settled derivative transactions
Class of relevant security
Product description e.g. CFD
Nature of dealing e.g. opening/closing a long/short position, increasing/reducing a long/short position
(d)Other dealings (including subscribing for new securities)
Class of relevant security
Nature of dealing e.g. subscription, conversion
Details
Price per unit (if applicable)
NONE
4.OTHER INFORMATION
(a)Indemnity and other dealing arrangements
Details of any indemnity or option arrangement, or any agreement or understanding, formal or informal, relating to relevant securities which may be an inducement to deal or refrain from dealing entered into by the person making the disclosure and any party to the offer or any person acting in concert with a party to the offer: Irrevocable commitments and letters of intent should not be included. If there are no such agreements, arrangements or understandings, state “none”
NONE
(b)Agreements, arrangements or understandings relating to options or derivatives
Details of any agreement, arrangement or understanding, formal or informal, between the person making the disclosure and any other person relating to: (i)the voting rights of any relevant securities under any option; or (ii)the voting rights or future acquisition or disposal of any relevant securities to which any derivative is referenced: If there are no such agreements, arrangements or understandings, state “none”
NONE
(c)Attachments
Is a Supplemental Form 8 (Open Positions) attached?
NO
Date of disclosure:
18 OCTOBER 2024
Contact name:
MARK ELLIOTT
Telephone number:
01253 376539
Public disclosures under Rule 8 of the Code must be made to a Regulatory Information Service.
The Panel’s Market Surveillance Unit is available for consultation in relation to the Code’s disclosure requirements on +44 (0)20 7638 0129.
PUBLIC OPENING POSITION DISCLOSURE/DEALING DISCLOSURE BY A PERSON WITH INTERESTS IN RELEVANT SECURITIES REPRESENTING 1% OR MORE Rule 8.3 of the Takeover Code (the “Code”)
(b)Owner or controller of interests and short positions disclosed, if different from 1(a): The naming of nominee or vehicle companies is insufficient. For a trust, the trustee(s), settlor and beneficiaries must be named.
N/A
(c)Name of offeror/offeree in relation to whose relevant securities this form relates: Use a separate form for each offeror/offeree
KEYWORDS STUDIOS PLC
(d)If an exempt fund manager connected with an offeror/offeree, state this and specify identity of offeror/offeree:
N/A
(e)Date position held/dealing undertaken: For an opening position disclosure, state the latest practicable date prior to the disclosure
17 OCTOBER 2024
(f)In addition to the company in 1(c) above, is the discloser making disclosures in respect of any other party to the offer? If it is a cash offer or possible cash offer, state “N/A”
N/A
2.POSITIONS OF THE PERSON MAKING THE DISCLOSURE
If there are positions or rights to subscribe to disclose in more than one class of relevant securities of the offeror or offeree named in 1(c), copy table 2(a) or (b) (as appropriate) for each additional class of relevant security.
(a)Interests and short positions in the relevant securities of the offeror or offeree to which the disclosure relates following the dealing (if any)
Class of relevant security:
1p ORDINARY
Interests
Short positions
Number
%
Number
%
(1)Relevant securities owned and/or controlled:
1,346,339
1.6717
(2)Cash-settled derivatives:
(3)Stock-settled derivatives (including options) and agreements to purchase/sell:
TOTAL:
1,346,339
1.6717
All interests and all short positions should be disclosed.
Details of any open stock-settled derivative positions (including traded options), or agreements to purchase or sell relevant securities, should be given on a Supplemental Form 8 (Open Positions).
(b)Rights to subscribe for new securities (including directors’ and other employee options)
Class of relevant security in relation to which subscription right exists:
Details, including nature of the rights concerned and relevant percentages:
3.DEALINGS (IF ANY) BY THE PERSON MAKING THE DISCLOSURE
Where there have been dealings in more than one class of relevant securities of the offeror or offeree named in 1(c), copy table 3(a), (b), (c) or (d) (as appropriate) for each additional class of relevant security dealt in.
The currency of all prices and other monetary amounts should be stated.
(a)Purchases and sales
Class of relevant security
Purchase/sale
Number of securities
Price per unit
1p ORDINARY
SALE
345
2438.04p
1p ORDINARY
SALE
275
2438.242p
(b)Cash-settled derivative transactions
Class of relevant security
Product description e.g. CFD
Nature of dealing e.g. opening/closing a long/short position, increasing/reducing a long/short position
(d)Other dealings (including subscribing for new securities)
Class of relevant security
Nature of dealing e.g. subscription, conversion
Details
Price per unit (if applicable)
NONE
4.OTHER INFORMATION
(a)Indemnity and other dealing arrangements
Details of any indemnity or option arrangement, or any agreement or understanding, formal or informal, relating to relevant securities which may be an inducement to deal or refrain from dealing entered into by the person making the disclosure and any party to the offer or any person acting in concert with a party to the offer: Irrevocable commitments and letters of intent should not be included. If there are no such agreements, arrangements or understandings, state “none”
NONE
(b)Agreements, arrangements or understandings relating to options or derivatives
Details of any agreement, arrangement or understanding, formal or informal, between the person making the disclosure and any other person relating to: (i)the voting rights of any relevant securities under any option; or (ii)the voting rights or future acquisition or disposal of any relevant securities to which any derivative is referenced: If there are no such agreements, arrangements or understandings, state “none”
NONE
(c)Attachments
Is a Supplemental Form 8 (Open Positions) attached?
NO
Date of disclosure:
18 OCTOBER 2024
Contact name:
MARK ELLIOTT
Telephone number:
01253 376539
Public disclosures under Rule 8 of the Code must be made to a Regulatory Information Service.
The Panel’s Market Surveillance Unit is available for consultation in relation to the Code’s disclosure requirements on +44 (0)20 7638 0129.
LOS ANGELES, Oct. 18, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Crescent Capital BDC, Inc. (“Crescent BDC”) (NASDAQ: CCAP) today announced it will release its financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2024 on Monday, November 11, 2024 after market close. Crescent BDC invites all interested persons to attend its webcast/conference call on Tuesday, November 12, 2024 at 12:00 p.m. Eastern Time to discuss its third quarter ended September 30, 2024 financial results.
Conference Call Information:
The conference call will be broadcast live at 12:00 p.m. Eastern Time on the Investor Relations section of Crescent BDC’s website at http://www.crescentbdc.com. Please visit the website to test your connection before the webcast.
Participants are also invited to access the conference call by dialing the following number:
Toll Free: (800) 245-3047 Conference ID: CRESCENT
All callers will need to reference the Conference ID “CRESCENT” once connected with the operator.
Replay Information:
A replay of the earnings call will be available via a webcast link located on the Investor Relations section of Crescent BDC’s website.
About Crescent BDC
Crescent BDC is a business development company that seeks to maximize the total return of its stockholders in the form of current income and capital appreciation by providing capital solutions to middle market companies with sound business fundamentals and strong growth prospects. Crescent BDC utilizes the extensive experience, origination capabilities and disciplined investment process of Crescent Capital Group LP (“Crescent”). Crescent BDC is externally managed by Crescent Cap Advisors, LLC, a subsidiary of Crescent. Crescent BDC has elected to be regulated as a business development company under the Investment Company Act of 1940. For more information about Crescent BDC, visit http://www.crescentbdc.com. However, the contents of such website are not and should not be deemed to be incorporated by reference herein.
About Crescent Capital Group LP
Crescent is a global credit investment manager with $43 billion of assets under management. For over 30 years, the firm has focused on below investment grade credit through strategies that invest in marketable and privately originated debt securities including senior bank loans, high yield bonds, as well as private senior, unitranche and junior debt securities. Crescent is headquartered in Los Angeles with offices in New York, Boston, Chicago and London with more than 225 employees globally. Crescent is a part of SLC Management, the institutional alternatives and traditional asset management business of Sun Life. For more information about Crescent, visit http://www.crescentcap.com. However, the contents of such website are not and should not be deemed to be incorporated by reference herein.
Statements included herein may constitute “forward-looking statements,” which relate to future events or our future performance or financial condition. These statements are not guarantees of future performance, condition or results and involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Actual results and conditions may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements as a result of a number of factors, including those described from time to time in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Crescent BDC undertakes no duty to update any forward-looking statements made herein.
SAN DIEGO, Oct. 18, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Royale Energy Inc. (“Royale” or the “Company”), a Delaware-based corporation, is pleased to announce the successful completion of a series of strategic financial transactions aimed at simplifying its capital structure and more closely aligning the interests of its diverse stakeholders. This series of transactions better positions Royale to pursue future growth opportunities and continue on the path toward relisting on a major exchange.
As part of this comprehensive effort, Royale Energy Inc. has executed key agreements that include the issuance of common stock, stock options, and Series 2024 Senior Unsecured Promissory Notes in exchange for all of the outstanding Series B Preferred Stock. As a result, Royale now has one class of equity outstanding, its common stock. These transactions were conducted with former holders of the Company’s Series B Preferred Stock and other long-term liability holders, effectively resolving over $24 million of Series B Preferred liquidation preference value and approximately $3 million of pre-merger liabilities.
The recapitalization initiative involved the issuance of common stock and promissory notes to settle outstanding claims, alongside stock options granted as part of an exchange agreement. These measures not only strengthen Royale’s financial position but also ensure that the interests of all stakeholders are more closely aligned with the Company’s long-term objectives.
“By simplifying our capital structure, we are positioning Royale to pursue new opportunities that align with our growth strategy and deliver enhanced value to our shareholders” said Chris Parada, Chairman of Royale Energy Inc. “This important step will enable the company to gain greater access to even more strategic opportunities as well as access to more traditional sources of capital. I would like to express my gratitude to the former preferred stockholders, other stakeholders, and the Royale Board for their efforts to conclude this transformational recapitalization.”
Johnny Jordan, CEO of Royale Energy Inc., added, “Consolidating all shareholders into a single class of stock demonstrates our commitment to building shareholder value for everyone. This move underscores our dedication to creating a unified and equitable structure that benefits all of our investors.”
Royale Energy Inc. remains committed to executing its strategic vision and delivering value through disciplined financial management and targeted growth initiatives. The successful completion of these transactions marks a significant step forward in the Company’s ongoing efforts to streamline operations and enhance shareholder value.
About Royale Energy Inc.: Royale Energy Inc. is a Delaware corporation engaged in the exploration, development, and production of oil and natural gas. The Company is focused on creating long-term value through the efficient management of its assets and strategic partnerships.
Forward-Looking Statement In addition to historical information contained herein, this news release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, subject to various risks and uncertainties that could cause the company’s actual results to differ materially from those in the “forward-looking” statements. While the company believes its forward-looking statements are based upon reasonable assumptions, there are factors that are difficult to predict and that are influenced by economic and other conditions beyond the company’s control. Investors are directed to consider such risks and other uncertainties discussed in documents filed by the company with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
RCMP NL’s Major Crime Unit is continuing to investigate a recent homicide that occurred on September 30, 2024. Police are looking to locate a 2012 brownish-grey 4-door Honda Civic.
On the morning of the murder, the Honda Civic was present on the parking lot of Tim Horton’s and Needs Convenience on L.T. Stick Drive in Bay Roberts. At that time, the car had a noticeably loud exhaust system and damage to the front driver-side window, with a possible plastic window covering. The last registered licence plate for this vehicle was NL plate JAG565. Officers believe that, since the time of the crime, this vehicle may have been passed onto a number of individuals and that the person in its current possession may not be aware of its association to this investigation.
A video of the vehicle is attached.
Anyone with knowledge of the current location of this vehicle is asked to contact RCMP NL Major Crime Unit at 709-772-5433 or, to remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers: #SayItHere 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), visit http://www.nlcrimestoppers.com or use the P3Tips app.
Green MSP Ross Greer is calling for an Unexplained Wealth Order to investigate Donald Trump’s business activities in Scotland.
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The Scottish Government must apply for an Unexplained Wealth Order to investigate Donald Trump’s business activities in Scotland or risk damaging faith in our justice system, Ross Greer MSP has said.
Mr Greer wrote to First Minister John Swinney asking for an update on demands made by the Scottish Greens in June that Donald Trump’s business activities be fully investigated to ensure they’re in compliance with the law.
The letter highlights Mr Trump’s conviction earlier this year on 34 counts related to the falsification of business records. In that case, the judge ruled that he had submitted a “false valuation” of his Aberdeenshire golf course.
An Unexplained Wealth Order can be applied for by Scottish Ministers under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002, allowing investigations into “politically exposed persons” suspected of involvement in serious crime.
Ross Greer MSP said:
“Donald Trump has been convicted on dozens of counts of fraud in America. The judge in his New York trial specifically ruled that he had submitted a “false valuation” of his golf course here in Scotland.
“It’s a core principle of any legal system that everyone be treated equally, regardless of how rich or powerful they are. Anyone who may have broken the law must be held to account.
“So it is more than odd that, even after all his convictions in New York, including the clear links to Scotland, not a word has been said about investigations into Trump here. In the intervening period he’s even announced the opening of another Scottish golf course.
“The Scottish Greens have urged the Scottish Government for years to apply for an Unexplained Wealth Order, allowing them to fully investigate Trump’s business activities in Scotland. If they want to maintain public confidence in our justice system, we must see action on the seriously concerning evidence which has emerged.”
Mr Greer’s Letter to FM below:
John Swinney MSP
First Minister
By Email
11th October 2024
Donald Trump Unexplained Wealth Order
Dear John,
At First Minister’s Questions on June 27th I asked if you could provide an update on whether an Unexplained Wealth Order is being sought regarding Donald Trump’s Scottish business activities.
As you are aware, earlier this year, Mr Trump was found guilty on 34 counts related to the falsification of business records by the New York State Supreme Court. The judge presiding over this case ruled that he and his company are liable for the “false valuation” of his golf course in Aberdeenshire.
Under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002, Ministers may apply for an Unexplained Wealth Order to investigate Trump’s activities in Scotland, but for years the Scottish Government has said that it can neither confirm nor deny whether Trump is under investigation.
In your answer on the 27th June, you committed to exploring the issue in further detail and writing to me with an update. I appreciate the constraints on what can be shared, but I have not received any correspondence from your office.
Faith in our justice system is at risk by the appearance of inaction in the face of potentially serious criminal activity by a rich and powerful individual. For that reason, and given the recent announcement that Mr Trump is opening another golf course in Scotland, I would welcome an update from you on this issue as soon as possible.
Samsung’s Chennai Plant is bustling with optimism as workers return after a long absence. In an address to the workforce, SH Yoon, Managing Director, Samsung Chennai Plant, welcomed the employees with a heartfelt message, acknowledging the difficulties faced during this time and reinforcing the company’s vision for a positive and happy workplace.
“I welcome you after a 38-day absence. I was deeply hurt by the situation. Do you remember my vision when I first came to the Chennai Plant—to build a happy and positive workplace? The current circumstances have been painful, and my heart is heavy,” Yoon expressed, speaking directly to the workers.
Yoon also assured the workforce that their concerns and grievances have been heard and will be addressed step by step, staying true to Samsung’s commitment to a “People First” approach.
“During this time, we’ve had interactions with your colleagues. They’ve shared your major concerns, and I assure you, everything will be resolved step by step,” Yoon added.
The atmosphere at the Chennai Plant is now one of relief and optimism. Workers were seen reuniting with their colleagues, sharing smiles, and resuming their roles with a renewed sense of belonging. Many expressed joy at being back together.
“It feels like a family again,” said a senior technician at the plant. “I’m happy to see my colleagues back. Now it feels like we’re ready to move forward together.”
Another technician echoed this sentiment: “We’ve always been more than just co-workers. Seeing everyone back here feels like a reunion. I’m grateful that our concerns are being addressed, and I’m optimistic about the future.”
The Chennai Plant has always prided itself on its strong sense of community, and now, the spirit of togetherness is stronger than ever. With the promise of continuous dialogue and a commitment to building a healthier workplace, the team is ready to work together toward a brighter future.
Strategic Move in Nordic Market: Valour Inc., a subsidiary of DeFi Technologies, will transfer 19 of its ETPs from the Nordic Growth Market to the Spotlight Stock Market in Stockholm, aiming to enhance its position in the Nordic ETP market and support growth in crypto-related instruments.
Increased Liquidity and Market Expansion: With this move, Valour’s ETPs, which generated approximately SEK 14.3 billion (US$1.3 billion) in trading volume over the past year, will increase to 23 listings on Spotlight, positioning the company for greater liquidity and market expansion.
TORONTO, Oct. 18, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — DeFi Technologies Inc. (the “Company” or “DeFi Technologies”) (CBOE CA: DEFI) (GR: RB9) (OTC: DEFTF), a crypto-native technology company at the forefront of merging traditional capital markets with decentralized finance (“DeFi“), is pleased to announce that its subsidiary Valour Inc. (“Valour“), a leading issuer of exchange-traded products (“ETPs“) providing simplified access to digital assets, will delist 19 ETPs from the Nordic Growth Market (“NGM”) on exchange business close on 18 October 2024, and relist them to the Spotlight Stock Market (“Spotlight”) in Stockholm, Sweden on 21 October 2024. This decision represents a significant step in Valour’s growth strategy within the Nordic market and strengthens its position in the ETP segment, particularly for digital asset-related instruments.
Over the past twelve months, Valour’s ETPs have generated a trading volume of approximately SEK 14.3 billion (US$1.3 Billion), and the move to Spotlight is anticipated to support continued strong growth and increased liquidity. With this transition, Valour will have a total of 23 instruments listed on Spotlight, establishing Valour as a significant player on this marketplace.
“The collaboration with Spotlight Stock Market allows us to accelerate the pace of launching new instruments in the market. While we will initially have 23 instruments listed on Spotlight, our goal is to double that number. Together with Spotlight, we aim to become Europe’s leading platform for crypto ETPs,” says Johanna Belitz, Head of Nordics at Valour.
“We are very proud and pleased with our collaboration with Valour, which has given our ETP segment a strong start since its launch as recently as June of this year. By transferring all of its ETPs to the Spotlight Stock Market, Valour is advancing a relationship that holds high expectations, particularly for increasing the number of high-quality instruments traded in a secure environment. Additionally, Valour’s ETPs will now be traded on a platform with substantial potential for increased international trading,” comments Spotlight Stock Market CEO Anders Kumlin.
Among the ETPs being transferred are popular products based on Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana as underlying assets. Valour emphasizes that holders of these instruments will not need to take any action regarding the listing change, which is expected to proceed smoothly with the first trading day on Spotlight scheduled for October 21, 2024.
This transition marks a new phase in Valour’s partnership with Spotlight and is a key part of its long-term goal to expand and strengthen its presence in the international market for digital asset ETPs.
About DeFi Technologies DeFi Technologies Inc. (CBOE CA: DEFI) (GR: R9B) (OTC: DEFTF) is a financial technology company that pioneers the convergence of traditional capital markets with the world of decentralized finance (DeFi). With a dedicated focus on industry-leading Web3 technologies, DeFi Technologies aims to provide widespread investor access to the future of finance. Backed by an esteemed team of experts with extensive experience in financial markets and digital assets, we are committed to revolutionising the way individuals and institutions interact with the evolving financial ecosystem. Follow DeFi Technologies on Linkedin and Twitter, and for more details, visit https://defi.tech/
About Valour Valour Inc. and Valour Digital Securities Limited (together, “Valour”) issues exchange traded products (“ETPs”) that enable retail and institutional investors to access digital assets in a simple and secure way via their traditional bank account. Valour is part of the asset management business line of DeFi Technologies Inc. (CBOE CA: DEFI) (GR: R9B) (OTC: DEFTF).
In addition to their novel physical backed digital asset platform, which includes 1Valour Bitcoin Physical Carbon Neutral ETP, 1Valour Ethereum Physical Staking, and 1Valour Internet Computer Physical Staking, Valour offers fully hedged digital asset ETPs with low to zero management fees, with product listings across European exchanges, banks and broker platforms. Valour’s existing product range includes Valour Uniswap (UNI), Cardano (ADA), Polkadot (DOT), Solana (SOL), Avalanche (AVAX), Cosmos (ATOM), Binance (BNB), Ripple (XRP), Toncoin (TON), Internet Computer (ICP), Chainlink (LINK), Hedera (HBAR), Core (CORE), Enjin (ENJ), Valour Bitcoin Staking (BTC), Bitcoin Carbon Neutral (BTCN), Sui (SUI), Valour Digital Asset Basket 10 (VDAB10) and 1Valour STOXX Bitcoin Suisse Digital Asset Blue Chip ETPs with low management fees. Valour’s flagship products are Bitcoin Zero and Ethereum Zero, the first fully hedged, passive investment products with Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH) as underlyings which are completely fee free. For more information about Valour, to subscribe, or to receive updates, visit valour.com.
Cautionary note regarding forward-looking information: This press release contains “forward-looking information” within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking information includes, but is not limited to the the transfer of ETPs to Spotlight; Valour’s growth strategy in the Nordics; investor confidence in Valour’s ETPs; investor interest and confidence in digital assets; the regulatory environment with respect to the growth and adoption of decentralized finance; the pursuit by the Company and its subsidiaries of business opportunities; and the merits or potential returns of any such opportunities. Forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of the Company, as the case may be, to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Such risks, uncertainties and other factors include, but is not limited the acceptance of Valour exchange traded products by exchanges; growth and development of decentralised finance and cryptocurrency sector; rules and regulations with respect to decentralised finance and cryptocurrency; general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.
THE CBOE CANADA EXCHANGE DOES NOT ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE
For further information, please contact:
Olivier Roussy Newton Chief Executive Officer ir@defi.tech (323) 537-7681
Bonavista RCMP is investigating a break, enter and theft that occurred recently at Mackey’s Timber Mart in Catalina. The crime is believed to have occurred sometime over the past week.
Suspect(s) cut a hole in the chain link fence to the exterior lumber yard and stole 46 bundles of shingles, valued at more than $2,500.00. The shingles are described as 3-tab Dakota brand shingles and the color is Rustic Cedar. Images of the shingles and the packaging are attached.
The investigation is continuing.
Area residents are asked to check for possible surveillance footage and to report any suspicious activity. Anyone having information about this crime, the person responsible or the location of the stolen property is asked to call Bonavista RCMP at 709-468-7333. To remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers: #SayItHere 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), visithttp://www.nlcrimestoppers.comor use the P3Tips app.
The two main drugs that were trafficked need to be prescribed by medical professionals and are intended to manage panic and anxiety disorders. As these types of prescription drugs can cause disinhibition, euphoria, and relieve anxiety, they are often misused for recreational purposes. Leading up to the action day, the involved authorities had already arrested several suspects and seized more…
Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime Alerts (b)
Fargo – United States Attorney Mac Schneider announced that on October 16, 2024, Tierra Lynn Scott, age 30 from Tokio, ND, made her initial appearance and was arraigned in federal court. The United States District Court for the District of North Dakota unsealed an Indictment revealing that a federal grand jury indicted Scott for Involuntary Manslaughter and three counts of Child Neglect in Indian country. Scott was detained and trial has been scheduled for December 10, 2024.
The Indictment in this case is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent unless or until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
On August 17, 2024, law enforcement responded to a residence in Fort Totten, North Dakota, where an adult male was later pronounced dead. The investigation revealed the man had been struck and run over by a motor vehicle driven by Scott. The indictment alleges Scott was under the influence of intoxicating liquor and in possession of a controlled substance and drug paraphernalia and Scott was backing and otherwise driving recklessly, and without due care for the rights and safety of others. The investigation further revealed Scott had three minor children in the vehicle with her at the time.
This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with assistance from the Bureau of Indian Affairs and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lori H. Conroy.
Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime Alerts (b)
ST. PAUL, Minn. – A federal jury found Derrick John Thompson guilty of illegal possession of a firearm and fentanyl following a deadly vehicle crash that killed five victims, announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger.
Following a five-day trial in U.S. District Court before Judge Jeffrey M. Bryan, Thompson, 28, was found guilty of one count of possessing with intent to distribute fentanyl, one count of possessing a firearm as a felon, and one count of carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled at a later date.
According to evidence presented at trial, on June 16, 2023, a trooper with the Minnesota State Patrol observed a black Cadillac Escalade speeding north on I-35W, traveling at 95 miles per hour in a 55 miles per hour speed zone. The trooper observed the driver, later identified as Thompson, abruptly cut across four lanes of traffic to exit the freeway at the Lake Street exit. The trooper began following the SUV but did not activate the emergency lights or sirens because the trooper did not want to attempt a traffic stop on city streets given the Escalade’s dangerous driving. At the intersection of 2nd Avenue South and East Lake Street, Thompson sped through a red light at the intersection without stopping or slowing. The SUV struck at full speed the driver’s side of a Honda Civic that was traveling lawfully through the intersection. All five occupants of the Honda Civic, four adult females and one juvenile female, were killed. When law enforcement responded to the scene of the crash, witnesses told officers where Thompson fled. Officers found Thompson, wearing clothing that matched the description given by witnesses, sitting on the curb outside of a nearby restaurant. Officers detained Thompson, who was later transported to Hennepin County Medical Center for evaluation.
According to evidence presented at trial, an officer found at the scene a Hertz rental record for the Cadillac Escalade indicating that Thompson rented the vehicle from a Hertz located at the Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport approximately 30 minutes before the crash. After obtaining a warrant to search the vehicle, officers found a black leather bag on the front passenger side floor that contained a loaded Glock pistol with an extended magazine, as well as three baggies containing more than 2,000 blue “M-Box 30” fentanyl pills, a baggie containing an additional 14 grams of fentanyl powder, a baggie containing 35 grams of cocaine, and a digital scale. Subsequent testing determined that Thompson’s DNA was present on the firearm, the fentanyl powder, and the cocaine. A search of Thompson’s phone found dozens of texts indicating fentanyl deals.
Because Thompson has multiple prior felony convictions, he is prohibited under federal law from possessing firearms or ammunition at any time.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI, the Minneapolis Police Department, the Minnesota State Patrol, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, and the Minneapolis–St. Paul Airport Police Department, in coordination with the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Thomas Calhoun-Lopez and Ruth S. Shnider tried the case.
Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime Alerts (b)
MINNEAPOLIS – A Maryland man has been indicted for his role in a $35 million bank fraud conspiracy, announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger.
According to court documents, from September 2020 through October 2021, Karl Reid Selle, 38, of Bowie, Maryland, conspired with Matthew Thomas Onofrio to devise and execute a scheme to defraud federally-insured banks and credit unions in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and elsewhere. As part of the scheme, Onofrio, who operated a business entity called Northwoods Management LLC, marketed a program for investors to acquire commercial real estate located in various states. Onofrio, or his business entity, would cause false information to be submitted to lenders financing investors’ real estate purchases and in some cases altered purchase agreements to support higher appraisals of the properties. The indictment also alleges that part of the scheme was to withhold information from the lenders, including the fact that Onofrio made loans to investors to help them purchase the properties and that the loans constituted liabilities that should be disclosed in a loan application.
The indictment charges Selle with one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud. He made his initial appearance in U.S. District Court on October 8, 2024, before Magistrate Judge Douglas L. Micko.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert M. Lewis is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime Alerts (b)
MINNEAPOLIS – The first defendant in the $250 million Feeding Our Future fraud scheme to be sentenced received 144 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release, announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger. Ismail was also ordered to pay $47,920,514 in restitution.
On June 7, 2024, following a six-week trial in U.S. District Court before Judge Nancy E. Brasel, a Mohamed Jama Ismail, 51, of Savage, Minnesota, was convicted of one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering, and one count of money laundering. Ismail was an owner and operator of Empire Cuisine and Market LLC, a for-profit restaurant that participated in the scheme as a site, as a vendor for other sites, and as an entity to launder fraudulent proceeds. Based on their fraudulent claims, Ismail and his co-defendants received more than $40 million in fraudulent Federal Child Nutrition Program funds.
As proven at trial, Ismail and his co-defendants obtained, misappropriated, and laundered millions of dollars in program funds that were intended as reimbursements for the cost of serving meals to children. Ismail and his co-defendants exploited changes in the program intended to ensure underserved children received adequate nutrition during the COVID-19 pandemic. The convicted defendants created and submitted false documentation. They submitted fraudulent meal count sheets purporting to document the number of children and meals served at each site and false invoices purporting to document the purchase of food to be served to children at the sites. Ismail and his co-defendants also submitted fake attendance rosters purporting to list the names and ages of the children receiving meals at the sites each day. These rosters were fabricated and created using fake names.
Ismail was sentenced today in U.S. District Court by Judge Nancy E. Brasel. When handing down the sentence, Judge Brasel commented that “The taxpayers in Minnesota are rightfully outraged by the brazenness and the scope of [Ismail’s] crime. The evidence at trial was frankly breathtaking.” Judge Brasel also emphasized that during a disaster, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, “many of us were taught to look for the helpers . . . when the world was at its most vulnerable [Ismail] decided not to be a helper, but to be a thief.”
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI, IRS – Criminal Investigations, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joseph H. Thompson, Harry M. Jacobs, Matthew S. Ebert, and Daniel W. Bobier tried the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Craig Baune is handling the seizure and forfeiture of assets.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
Who to contact if you have questions about the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Bill, better known as ‘Martyn’s Law’.
The Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Bill will impose a legal duty on certain premises and events to take steps to reduce the likelihood of physical harm in the event of a terrorist attack.
The bill is intended to ensure public premises and events are better prepared for terrorist attacks, requiring them to take reasonably practicable steps, which vary according to their capacity, to mitigate the impact of a terrorist attack and reduce physical harm.
The bill is currently making its way through Parliament. While this process continues, the Home Office is the government lead for the development of this legislation. Any queries on the scope and nature of the duty and the role of the regulator for this legislation should be directed to the Home Office at: MartynsLaw@homeoffice.gov.uk.
Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime Alerts (b)
SIOUX FALLS – United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced four individuals convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance and Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering.
Nathan Johnson, age 39, from Denver, Colorado, pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance and Conspiracy to Launder Monetary Instruments on June 17, 2024. He was sentenced to 36 years and eight months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $200. Johnson was sentenced in September of 2024.
Michele Johnson, age 48, from Steen, Minnesota, pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance and Conspiracy to Launder Monetary Instruments on July 29, 2024. She was sentenced to 31 years and eight months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $200. She was sentenced in October of 2024.
Jesse Richmond, age 51, from Sioux Falls, South Dakota, pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance and Conspiracy to Launder Monetary Instruments on June 18, 2024. He was sentenced to 24 years and four months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $200. Richmond was sentenced in September of 2024.
Tony Hunter, age 53, from Sioux Falls, South Dakota, pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance on May 29, 2024. He was sentenced to 27 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100. Hunter was sentenced in September of 2024.
Nathan Johnson, Michele Johnson, Matthew Thomas, Jesse Richmond, and Tony Hunter were originally indicted by a federal grand jury in August of 2023. A third superseding indictment was filed in May of 2024 adding defendant, Alfred Siani.
From December of 2022 to July of 2023, the above-mentioned defendants alongside numerous other co-conspirators transported large loads of methamphetamine from California to Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Nathan Johnson, acting as the leader of the conspiracy, would travel from his home in Denver, Colorado to meet with his source of supply in Southern California. While there, Nathan Johnson would receive approximately 150-pounds worth of methamphetamine which would go on to be further distributed in Denver, Colorado, as well as South Dakota.
While in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Nathan Johnson would distribute bulk amounts of methamphetamine to his co-conspirators: Jesse Richmond, Tony Hunter, and Michele Johnson. Richmond, Hunter, and Michele Johnson would go on to further distribute the methamphetamine throughout the Sioux Falls community and into southwest Minnesota.
The amount of methamphetamine involved was in excess of 300 pounds and over $450,000 in drug proceeds were laundered during the existence of this conspiracy.
“The multi-decade sentences obtained thus far illustrate the seriousness of the crimes and the dogged commitment of every agency involved to focus our resources on those criminals who choose to distribute dangerous substances in our state,” said United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell. “We are grateful for the collaboration of more than a dozen federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies and joint task forces, as well as out-of-state agencies, which resulted in the takedown of a network of drug dealers responsible for bringing hundreds of pounds of illegal narcotics into South Dakota. We are fortunate to have such dedicated men and women doing the difficult investigative and prosecutorial work required to keep our communities safe.”
“These sentences should serve as a wake-up call to anyone transporting or distributing methamphetamine into South Dakota communities,” Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Omaha Division Special Agent in Charge Steve Bell said. “These four people are facing a combined 119 years in federal prison. Each sentence should provide the offender with ample time to reflect on the damage and destruction they’ve inflicted on so many lives.”
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration (including the Rocky Mountain Field Division, Omaha Field Division, Mexico City Country Office, Los Angeles Field Division, Special Operations Division), as well as South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, Sioux Falls Area Drug Task Force, FBI, South Dakota Highway Patrol, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, IRS Criminal Investigation team, El Paso Intelligence Center, and collaboration received from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado, Bureau of Indian Affairs, U.S. Marshals Service, Minnehaha County Sheriff’s Office, Sioux Falls Police Department, Mitchell Police Department, Denver Police Department, Las Vegas Metro Police Department, Worthington Police Department, Brookings Police Department, Rock County Sheriff’s Office, Lake Superior Violent Offender Task Force, Central Minnesota Violent Offender Task Force, Minnesota River Valley Drug Task Forde, and the Colorado Department of Corrections. Assistant U.S. Attorney Paige Petersen prosecuted the case.
All four defendants were immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime Alerts (b)
Defendant Pled Guilty to Assaulting Officers with Insecticide and Members of the News Media
WASHINGTON – A New York man pleaded guilty today to two assault charges – one felony and one misdemeanor – related to his conduct during the Jan. 6, 2021, breach of the U.S. Capitol. His actions and the actions of others disrupted a joint session of the U.S. Congress convened to ascertain and count the electoral votes related to the 2020 presidential election.
Peter G. Moloney, 60, of Bayport, New York, pleaded guilty to a felony charge of assaulting, resisting, and impeding certain officers and a misdemeanor charge of assault by striking before U.S. District Judge Carl J. Nichols. Judge Nichols will sentence Moloney on Feb. 11, 2025.
According to court documents, Moloney attended the “Stop the Steal” rally on Jan. 6, 2021, in Washington, D.C., on the Ellipse. Moloney traveled from his home in Bayport, New York, and brought with him certain items, including a bicycle helmet, protective eyewear, hard-knuckled gloves, a face mask, and a can of “Black Flag Wasp, Hornet, & Yellow Jacket Killer” aerosol spray.
After the rally, Moloney walked toward the U.S. Capitol building via the Maryland Walkway, put on his gear, and was part of the first group to enter the restricted permitter. Moloney was one of the first to line up against a line of U.S. Capitol Police (USCP) Officers on the West Plaza. Court documents say that as tensions rose, Moloney pulled the can of wasp spray from his backpack and kept it in close proximity.
According to the court records, on multiple occasions, Moloney held the can of wasp spray in his hands, aimed it at police, and sprayed the officers—causing the spray to make contact with the officer’s hands, arms, bodies, and heads.
In addition to the assault on police officers, on two separate occasions, Moloney admitted to assaulting two individuals that he believed were members of the news media. On one occasion, Moloney walked up behind the victim while the victim’s back was turned and holding a camera. Moloney then swung his arm down onto the victim’s hand, grabbed the camera, and yanked it back in an attempt to pull the camera out of the victim’s hands. This act caused the victim to stumble on a flight of stairs.
The FBI arrested Moloney on June 7, 2023, in New York.
As a result of the plea, Moloney has agreed to pay restitution both to the victim for the repairs to his camera and to the Architect of the Capitol for the damage to the U.S. Capitol that day.
This case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and the Department of Justice National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York.
The case is being investigated by the FBI’s New York Field Office (Long Island Resident Agency) and the FBI’s Washington Field Office, which identified Moloney as #199 on its seeking information photos. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Capitol Police, the Metropolitan Police Department, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Criminal Investigation Division.
In the 45 months since Jan. 6, 2021, more than 1,532 individuals have been charged in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including more than 571 individuals charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement, a felony. The investigation remains ongoing.
Anyone with tips can call 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324) or visit tips.fbi.gov.
Hurricane Milton made landfall on Florida’s western coast on October 9 as a Category 3 hurricane. The hurricane and accompanying rain, winds, and flooding disrupted key gasoline supply chains to the state, leaving hundreds of retail gasoline stations without fuel. However, the average retail price of regular gasoline in Florida has remained relatively stable in the storm’s aftermath, remaining flat at $3.04 per gallon (gal) this week, as supply chains began to recover.
The Florida average price reflects an estimate for retail prices across the entire state of Florida, and prices may vary significantly across regions, particularly because of major disruptions such as Hurricane Milton.
Hurricanes can limit fuel supplies in Florida because Florida doesn’t have refineries or gasoline pipelines connecting it to other states with excess supply. Instead, Florida relies on gasoline delivered by ship from domestic and international sources. Because of the storm, several ports were temporarily closed, but others remained open with restrictions. Authorities at Port Tampa Bay, where nearly half of Florida’s petroleum product supply is brought in, reported no significant damage to docks, but they noted infrastructure damage, power outages, and road closures that could disrupt supply.
Shipments from domestic refineries along the Gulf Coast, supplemented with imports from abroad, supply most of Florida. Florida’s gasoline arrives through several large ports located along its coastlines, each transporting fuel to nearby markets by truck or short-distance pipeline. The regions and their respective mode of transporting gasoline is as follows:
Western Florida: trucked from terminals in Port Tampa Bay
Southern Florida: trucked from terminals in Port Everglades, just north of Fort Lauderdale
Central Florida: transported by pipelines from Tampa, but some petroleum products trucked from Port Canaveral on the Atlantic Coast
Northeastern Florida: trucked from terminals in the Port of Jacksonville
Some gasoline shipments arrive in Florida by both pipeline and truck. At a terminal in Bainbridge, Georgia, gasoline is transferred from the Colonial Pipeline system to a long-distance tanker truck for delivery to the Florida panhandle. Trucks and barges from nearby refineries in Alabama and Mississippi supply the rest of western Florida.
The average retail gasoline price in Florida was unchanged as of October 14 compared with October 7. In the United States overall, the average retail gasoline price was $3.17/gal, a 1% increase compared with last week.
Price spikes in response to shortages at individual stations contribute to sharp increases at specific locations, which are reflected in statewide average prices. To help address these shortages, the Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM) procured and deployed emergency fuels. On October 15, the governor’s office reported that FDEM deployed 508,600 gallons of diesel and 686,200 gallons of gasoline and that public fuel distribution sites were open at several locations.
Principal contributors: Kevin Hack, Kimberly Peterson, Tara Bennett-Chirico
The Government announced today that from November 1, full-time non-local undergraduate students will be temporarily exempted from the restrictions on working part-time jobs.
Since last November, the restrictions on taking up part-time jobs for full-time non-local postgraduate students of locally accredited local programmes have been temporarily exempted.
With a No Objection Letter (NOL) issued by the Immigration Department (ImmD), full-time non-local postgraduate students are allowed to take up part-time employment with no restrictions on the number of hours or the location of the part-time work. The arrangement has received positive feedback since its launch.
The Chief Executive’s 2024 Policy Address announced the temporary exemption of the restrictions on taking up part-time jobs will be extended to full-time non-local undergraduate students.
The Government said such an arrangement, involving around 20,000 full-time non-local undergraduate students, aims at easing local manpower shortages by making better use of the potential talent residing in Hong Kong.
It said lifting the restrictions will help attract more foreign students to pursue studies in Hong Kong and prepare them for long-term development in the city after graduation, thereby expanding the local potential talent pool.
The ImmD will issue NOLs setting out the suspension arrangement to all eligible students through their institutions. They do not need to submit applications separately.
Students approved for visas or entry permits on or after November 1 will also be issued with NOLs.
The Government will review the whole exemption arrangement next year.
For enquiries, call 2824 6111, or send questions via the department’s fax at 2877 7711 or email enquiry@immd.gov.hk.
Source: World Trade Organization – WTO (video statements)
Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala met with the President of Estonia, Alar Karis, on 17 October at the WTO. The two discussed the importance of the multilateral trading system governed by the WTO and the impact of the current geopolitical situation on global trade.
About the U.S. Army:
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MILES AXLE Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University – Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University –
The BRICS University Rectors’ Forum has started at Moscow State University. It is attended by 250 heads and representatives of universities from 20 countries – all BRICS countries (Russia, Brazil, Egypt, India, Iran, China, the United Arab Emirates, Ethiopia and South Africa), as well as Belarus, Bahrain, Jordan, Iraq, Yemen, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Palestine and Sudan.
It is important for us to work together to prepare new generations of personnel who are capable of not only achieving outstanding scientific results, but also increasingly feeling their responsibility for the future of science and humanity. The modern university community, as we see it, is open to equal, mutually beneficial partnership and cooperation, to mutual enrichment with the experience of developing universities in different countries, – the President of the Russian Union of Rectors, Rector of Moscow State University Viktor Sadovnichy greeted the participants.
Deputy Minister of Science and Education of the Russian Federation Konstantin Mogilevsky emphasized: Education and science are becoming the most important tools for finding joint answers to global challenges such as climate change, economic inequality and global pandemics. It is thanks to the unification of the BRICS countries that we can implement practical initiatives of mutual interest.
In his welcoming speech, the Vice Minister of Education of Brazil, Alexandre Brasil Carvalho da Fonseca, noted: The internationalization of education is a global perspective, and we aim to involve all BRICS countries in this process. We understand that the experience of all participants is a valuable resource for creating structures aimed at the internationalization of our activities. Our goal is to ensure access to higher education for Brazilians of different social classes, regardless of their status. We are confident that this cooperation will contribute to the improvement of research activities in universities and the improvement of the quality of life of the population within the BRICS.
Welcoming speeches on the importance of inter-university cooperation were delivered by the Rector of Ain Shams University Saleh Hasem Mustafa Abdelrazek from Egypt, the Rector of the University of Sharjah Hamid Midwil Al-Naimi from the UAE and the President of the Association of Arab Universities Amr Ezzat Salama.
Special Representative of the President of Russia for International Cultural Cooperation Mikhail Shvydkoy noted that the mechanism of regular dialogue at the level of ministers of education and enlightenment, ministers of science, technology and innovation, heads of academies of sciences of the BRICS countries is currently functioning effectively. Interaction is ongoing through the alliance of cooperation in the field of technical and vocational education and training.
We are confident that this event, unprecedented in its scale and nature, will open a new chapter in the development of scientific and educational cooperation in BRICS, which will be supplemented by creative innovative solutions and joint achievements, he added.
Vice President of the Russian Academy of Sciences Vladislav Panchenko emphasized the importance of the BRICS association: Cooperation between the academies of sciences and universities of the BRICS countries opens up enormous prospects for us. The exchange of young scientists and students allows us not only to solve modern scientific and social problems, but also to achieve significant success within the framework of our association. We pay great attention to this process, discussing the importance of the inextricable link between science and education, which was emphasized at the recent meeting of the heads of the academies of sciences of the BRICS countries in Moscow, timed to coincide with the three hundredth anniversary of the Russian Academy of Sciences.
The Polytechnic delegation at the forum was headed by Vice-Rector for International Affairs Dmitry Arsenyev. The busy program between business sessions included negotiations with partner universities and national associations. Following the forum, agreements were signed with leading universities of the BRICS countries – Indore Institute of Technology (India), Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, State University of Campinas, State University of Sao Paulo “Julio de Mesquita Filho” (Brazil), Isfahan University of Technology (Iran), Gomel State Technical University named after P. O. Sukhoi (Belarus).
We see significant interest from Brazil, India, and the Arab world in establishing strong long-term relations with Russia. It is gratifying that the Polytechnic University is known in these countries. This means that we are pursuing the right policy of forming our international reputation and promoting the university on the world stage. The agreements reached today create space for opportunities and development potential for us in the BRICS countries, – commented Dmitry Arsenyev.
Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
Please note; This information is raw content directly from the information source. It is accurate to what the source is stating and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
Our recent Pensioner Advice Event saw a fantastic turnout from pensioners and their families. Held on Friday 4 October, the event was part of the council’s broader initiative to help pensioners manage the challenges of rising living costs this winter.
Pensioners that attended received expert advice and guidance on a wide range of topics, including Pension Credit applications, Winter Fuel Payment information, public transportation resources and much more.
Councillor Sarah Chambers, Cabinet Member for Cost of Living, Equalities, and Communities, said:
We know pensioners across Derby are feeling the strain from rising costs, and it was wonderful to meet so many residents of Derby, taking advantage of this event. This is just one of the many initiatives we’ve introduced to ensure that our older residents receive the support they need. Whether it’s help with pension credit or energy savings, we are committed to helping them navigate these challenging times.”
For those who were unable to attend, further information is available on our website or Community Action Derby’s cost of living webpage.
There will be further cost of living support events happening over the coming weeks across the city.
These include:
Mackworth – Thursday 24 October, 10am-12 noon, St Francis Church, Prince Charles Avenue, Mackworth, DE22 4FN
New Zealand – Friday 25 October, 10am-12 noon, Lonny Wilsoncroft Community Centre, Stepping Lane, Derby DE1 1GL
Chaddesden – Friday 1st November, 10am-12 noon, Age UK Building, Chaddesden Park, Chaddesden, DE21 6LN (There is free parking in the main car park off Maine Drive, Chaddesden)
Earlier this month, we also confirmed that the Council would be receiving a £2.225m grant from the Department of Works and Pensions (DWP) following the Governments recent announcement that the Household Support Funding would be extended for a further six months, running from 1st October 2024 to 31st March 2025.
A recent audit by the DWP identified how the Council has previously implemented the fund, stating:
Derby City Council exemplifies how a well-coordinated and empathetic approach can make a different in a community. Their strategic use of the Household Support Fund, focussing on both immediate and long-term solutions, services as a model for addressing poverty and deprivation. Through collaboration with community partners and unwavering commitment to improvement, the team are making a positive and lasting impact on the community.”
To learn more and stay up to date with the Household Support Fund, visit our website.
We have recently had a reports of a scam SMS text message received by residents in Derby. The message advised that the resident was eligible for £900 from HSF if they clicked on a link and paid £1 for their bank details for monies to be paid. This is a scam. If you have received this text or have a similar message you are worried is part of a scam, please visit our scam webpage to learn more about how to report it.
Key milestones in the transformation of Derby’s Cultural Heart have been reordered following questions raised through the scrutiny process.
Following feedback that was received through the Council’s scrutiny process, the Leader of the Council, Councillor Nadine Peatfield, with the support of her Cabinet, has taken the decision to reorder the redevelopment of the site.
Last week, the Council’s Regeneration Scrutiny Board was in favour of the demolition of the existing building and the proposals for the new scheme, however some questions were raised around the length of time the site would be vacant and when funding for the scheme would be confirmed.
As a result, instead of the Council undertaking demolition this autumn followed by the site standing vacant for a short time, milestones have now been reordered which will mean that demolition and construction of the new site will take place consecutively.
The Council will continue to work closely with its preferred strategic development partners, VINCI UK Developments and ION Developments, to progress the masterplan and business plan for the future of the site, ahead of a planning application.
These changes will not affect the overall strategic programme for redevelopment and enabling works to prepare the site for demolition and redevelopment will continue as planned.
Councillor Nadine Peatfield, Leader of Derby City Council and Cabinet Member for City Centre, Regeneration, Strategy and Policy said:
The purpose of a scrutiny board is to analyse and question the decision making of the administration. As the Leader of this minority administration, it’s essential that I listen and take time to consider the questions posed by our opposition. Resequencing our plans is the responsible thing to do and supports the pledge this Cabinet made to leading responsibly and maintaining stability. We’ll continue to work with our development partners to ensure that the new scheme will follow on seamlessly from the demolition of the existing building.
The city’s cultural offer has also changed significantly since we announced plans to begin demolition back in March. This means that it’s more important than ever to ensure that we work with our partners, VINCI UK Developments and Ion Property Developments, to refine and perfect our plans for the city’s new cultural heart.
I understand that this may be disconcerting for our residents and partners who are keen to see visible progress, but please be reassured that we’re confident in our proposals for the site and are committed to transforming our city centre into a vibrant and welcoming place with culture at its heart.