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Category: Finance

  • MIL-Evening Report: Big and small spending included in Labor costings, but off-budget items yet to be revealed

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Stephen Bartos, Professor of Economics, University of Canberra

    The federal budget will be stronger than suggested in last month’s budget, according to Treasurer Jim Chalmers who released Labor’s costings on Monday.

    Many of the policies included in the costings were already detailed in either the 2025 Budget or the Pre-Election Fiscal Outlook, so are shown as having a net zero cost.

    But that does not mean they are costless. It means simply that their costs were included in previously published budget updates.

    Monday’s media announcement is akin to the reconciliation table published in each update, prepared by the Treasury and Finance departments setting out how the numbers have changed.

    It seems likely this media release drew on the same methodology.

    It includes two savings measures. One is relatively small: $700 million from increasing the visa application charge for primary student visas. The big saving is $6.4 billion from further reducing spending on consultants, contractors, labour hire, and non-wage expenses such as travel, hospitality and property.

    Travel, hospitality and property expenses are small bikkies. Undoubtedly departments could make savings on these, but they won’t get anywhere near the total. The bulk of the savings will come from reducing spending on consultants and contractors.

    Labor has shown that such savings on consultants are possible; it did it in its first term. However, counterbalancing this, we saw increased spending on the public service.

    It is the same problem as with the Coalition’s promise to make savings by cutting public servants. Without cuts to programs and activities, work remains to be done. People have to be employed to do that work, leading either to more spending on the public service (Labor) or bringing back consultants (Coalition).

    There was no independent signoff suggesting Monday’s release included all of Labor’s policy announcements. We won’t get that until the Parliamentary Budget Office does its election commitments report.

    But this full list of costings is not released by the PBO until well after the election. This is either 30 days from the end of the caretaker period or seven days before the new parliament first sits, whichever comes later.

    However, Monday’s costings release does appear comprehensive, including not only the large headline announcements but several announcements of less than a million dollars a year.

    What are missing, though, are costings of items that are off-budget because they are balance sheet adjustments – for example, the reduction in student HECS debt.

    These do have a financial impact but due to their accounting treatment are not disclosed as hitting the budget balance. Ideally, these should be disclosed as well.

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

    – ref. Big and small spending included in Labor costings, but off-budget items yet to be revealed – https://theconversation.com/big-and-small-spending-included-in-labor-costings-but-off-budget-items-yet-to-be-revealed-255425

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI: eQ PE XVII US has raised USD 168 million

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Press Release
    28 April 2025, 10:00 am

    eQ Asset Management has raised USD 168 million for the eQ PE XVII US fund in the beginning of 2025. Fundraising for the eQ PE XVII US fund will continue throughout 2025.

    eQ PE XVII US invests in private equity funds whose strategy is to make equity investments in private small and medium-sized companies in the United States and Canada. The fund’s portfolio will consist of 12–15 funds, mainly sector-specialized, through which the fund will be diversified across more than 150 companies in various industries, states and by vintage. The fund will also make co-investments.

    eQ started its co-operation with RCP Advisors, located in Chicago, in 2015. The current fund is the sixth US fund raised in this partnership. RCP, founded in 2001, is a highly experienced and well-resourced private equity manager, specializing in lower middle market North American funds. Altogether, eQ has raised USD 1.2 billion for its US funds from over 200 clients.

    In addition, during late 2024 and early 2025, eQ has signed private equity programmes totalling over EUR 330 million. Including the capital of current private equity programmes, the total capital is approximately EUR 1 billion. Private equity programmes are typically 4–5 year solutions, offering clients not only a comprehensive PE portfolio managed by eQ, but also transparent reporting and reduced portfolio administration through a single-line balance sheet item.

    Staffan Jåfs, Head of Private Equity, comments:
    “Although the M&A market has been less active than usual for nearly two years, the small and mid-cap segment has still seen more new investments and exits compared to the larger end of the market. We believe the lower middle market segment offers attractive investment opportunities across cycles, as entry valuations and leverage are typically lower, value creation is operational, with cash-only exits to industrial buyers or larger PE funds. Our portfolios primarily consist of service companies focused on domestic markets. Our partnership with RCP is extensive, and this new fund offers our investors access to a highly attractive market via top-tier portfolio funds.”

    At the end of 2024, eQ Asset Management had EUR 13.4 billion in assets under management, of which EUR 3.3 billion was in eQ’s private equity funds. eQ alternates annually between launching European and North American funds. eQ’s private equity funds are intended for professional investors only.

    Helsinki, 28 April 2025

    eQ Asset Management Ltd

    Further Information:

    Staffan Jåfs, Head of Private Equity, eQ Asset Management Ltd
    +358 (9) 6817 8736, staffan.jafs@eQ.fi 

    eQ is a Finnish group of companies specialising in asset management and corporate finance business. eQ Asset Management offers a wide range of asset management services (including private equity funds and real estate asset management) for institutions and individuals. The assets managed by the group total approximately EUR 13.4 billion. Advium Corporate Finance, which is part of the group, offers services related to mergers and acquisitions, real estate transactions and equity capital markets. The share of the group’s parent company eQ Plc is listed on Nasdaq Helsinki. More information about the group is available on our website at www.eQ.fi.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: NBPE Announces Audited 2024 Results and 31 March 2025 Est. NAV

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN IS NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION IN OR INTO AUSTRALIA, CANADA, ITALY, DENMARK, JAPAN, THE UNITED STATES, OR TO ANY NATIONAL OF SUCH JURISDICTIONS

    St Peter Port, Guernsey   28 April 2025

    NB Private Equity Partners (NBPE), the $1.3bn FTSE 250 listed private equity investment company managed by Neuberger Berman, today releases its 2024 Annual Financial Report and 31 March 2025 Monthly NAV Update.

    Audited Annual Results Highlights (31 December 2024)

    • NAV per share of $27.53 (£21.98)
    • 1.5% NAV TR in the 12 months to 31 December 2024, driven by an increase in private valuations, offset by quoted holdings and FX
    • Private portfolio value increased 6.9% in 2024 on a constant currency basis
    • Strong portfolio company operating performance: LTM revenue and EBITDA growth of 8.0% and 13.1%, respectively, during 20241
    • $179 million of proceeds from realisations received during 2024
    • Well positioned to take advantage of investment opportunities – $283 million of cash and undrawn credit line available
    • $0.94 per share of dividends paid during 2024
    As of 31 December 2024 2024 3 years 5 years 10 years
    NAV TR (USD)*
    Annualised    		 1.5% (4.0%)
    (1.3%)    		 68.8%
    11.0%    		 166.2%
    10.3%
    MSCI World TR (USD)*
    Annualised    		 19.2% 22.0%
    6.9%    		 73.9%
    11.7%    		 171.9%
    10.5%
             
    Share price TR (GBP)*
    Annualised    		 (1.1%) (2.3%)
    (0.8%)    		 62.1%
    10.1%    		 231.2%
    12.7%
    FTSE All-Share TR (GBP)*
    Annualised    		 9.5% 18.5%
    5.8%    		 26.5%
    4.8%    		 81.9%
    6.2%

    *Reflects cumulative returns over the time periods shown and are not annualised.

    Peter Von Lehe, Managing Director and Head of Investment Solutions & Strategy at Neuberger Berman commented:

    “NBPE ended 2024 with net assets of $1.3 billion, reflecting a NAV per share of $27.53 and a total NAV return of 1.5% for the year. This performance was driven by the strong operating performance of our private investment portfolio, which grew in value by 6.9% on a constant currency basis. However, these gains were partially offset by the impact of foreign exchange fluctuations and public holdings. Despite a more challenging environment for private equity exits, NBPE delivered solid realisations in 2024, generating $179 million in proceeds – equivalent to 14% of the portfolio’s opening fair value.

    NBPE ended the year in a strong financial position with $283 million of available liquidity and an investment level of 102%, which is at the lower end of the long-term target investment level range of 100-110%.”

    Paul Daggett, Managing Director of Neuberger Berman, continued:

    “Overall, the underlying portfolio of private companies continued to perform well, reporting a weighted average LTM revenue and EBITDA growth1 of 8.0% and 13.1%, respectively. It is encouraging to see that the four new investments made in 2024 are off to a good start, being valued at a 1.1x gross multiple of capital and generating a 22% IRR on a combined basis as of 31 December 2024.

    Despite recent market volatility and uncertainty, we remain confident that NBPE is well-positioned to perform across a range of economic scenarios. The portfolio remains well-diversified across our two key themes, and we believe it is well-positioned to continue to deliver growth over the long term.”

    The Company’s 2024 Annual Report and a video from Neuberger Berman to accompany the results are available to view at: https://www.nbprivateequitypartners.com/

    Portfolio Update to 31 March 2025

    NAV TR increase of 0.4% YTD 2025

    • 31 March 2025 NAV per share of $27.17 (£21.05)
    • YTD NAV driven by positive FX adjustments, offset by declines in quoted holdings
    • 31 March 2025 monthly NAV estimate does not include any Q1 2025 private company valuations

    Realisations from the portfolio in 2025

    • $47 million of proceeds received in the first three months of 2025
      • Realisations to date driven by full exits of USI and Kyobo Life Insurance, partial realisations of Tendam, Qpark, Clearent, and Osaic, as well as full and partial realisations of certain quoted holdings and income investments
    • A further ~$20 million of proceeds is expected in the coming months from pending transactions

    Robust liquidity – well positioned to take advantage of opportunities

    • $283 million of available liquidity ($73 million cash/liquid investments and $210 million of credit line)

    2025 Share Buybacks

    • Through 25 April 2025, NBPE has repurchased approximately 624k shares for $12.3 million at a weighted average discount of 29%, resulting in a NAV accretion of approximately $0.10 per share

    Portfolio Valuation
    The fair value of NBPE’s portfolio as of 31 March 2025 was based on the following information:

    • 6% of the portfolio was valued as of 31 March 2025
      • 6% in public securities
    • 94% of the portfolio was valued as of 31 December 2024
      • 93% in private direct investments
      • 1% in private fund investments

    For further information, please contact:

    NBPE Investor Relations        +44 20 3214 9002
    Luke Mason        NBPrivateMarketsIR@nb.com  

    Kaso Legg Communications        +44 (0)20 3882 6644
    Charles Gorman        nbpe@kl-communications.com
    Luke Dampier
    Charlotte Francis

    Supplementary Information (as at 31 March 2025)

    Company Name Vintage Lead Sponsor Sector Fair Value ($m) % of FV
    Action 2020 3i Consumer 76.8 6.1%
    Osaic 2019 Reverence Capital Financial Services 63.5 5.0%
    Solenis 2021 Platinum Equity Industrials 60.5 4.8%
    BeyondTrust 2018 Francisco Partners Technology / IT 50.1 4.0%
    Monroe Engineering 2021 AEA Investors Industrials 42.6 3.4%
    Business Services Company* 2017 Not Disclosed Business Services 40.1 3.2%
    Branded Cities Network 2017 Shamrock Capital Communications / Media 38.9 3.1%
    GFL (NYSE: GFL) 2018 BC Partners Business Services 38.5 3.0%
    Mariner 2024 Leonard Green & Partners Financial Services 33.7 2.7%
    True Potential 2022 Cinven Financial Services 33.5 2.6%
    FDH Aero 2024 Audax Group Industrials 32.9 2.6%
    Marquee Brands 2014 Neuberger Berman Consumer 31.8 2.5%
    Staples 2017 Sycamore Partners Business Services 29.7 2.3%
    Auctane 2021 Thoma Bravo Technology / IT 28.7 2.3%
    Fortna 2017 THL Industrials 28.7 2.3%
    Viant 2018 JLL Partners Healthcare 27.1 2.1%
    Stubhub 2020 Neuberger Berman Consumer 26.4 2.1%
    Benecon 2024 TA Associates Healthcare 25.5 2.0%
    Agiliti 2019 THL Healthcare 25.3 2.0%
    Engineering 2020 NB Renaissance / Bain Capital Technology / IT 25.0 2.0%
    Solace Systems 2016 Bridge Growth Partners Technology / IT 24.5 1.9%
    Addison Group 2021 Trilantic Capital Partners Business Services 23.8 1.9%
    Kroll 2020 Further Global / Stone Point Financial Services 23.7 1.9%
    Exact 2019 KKR Technology / IT 22.2 1.8%
    CH Guenther 2021 Pritzker Private Capital Consumer 22.0 1.7%
    Excelitas 2022 AEA Investors Industrials 21.9 1.7%
    Bylight 2017 Sagewind Partners Technology / IT 19.9 1.6%
    Real Page 2021 Thoma Bravo Technology / IT 18.5 1.5%
    AutoStore (OB.AUTO) 2019 THL Industrials 18.2 1.4%
    Constellation Automotive 2019 TDR Capital Business Services 18.2 1.4%
    Total Top 30 Investments       $972.3 76.9%

    *Undisclosed company due to confidentiality provisions.

    Geography % of Portfolio
    North America 77%
    Europe 22%
    Asia / Rest of World 1%
    Total Portfolio 100%
       
    Industry % of Portfolio
    Tech, Media & Telecom 23%
    Consumer / E-commerce 21%
    Industrials / Industrial Technology 18%
    Financial Services 13%
    Business Services 12%
    Healthcare 8%
    Other 4%
    Energy 1%
    Total Portfolio 100%
       
    Vintage Year % of Portfolio
    2016 & Earlier 10%
    2017 16%
    2018 14%
    2019 14%
    2020 13%
    2021 18%
    2022 5%
    2023 2%
    2024 8%
    Total Portfolio 100%

    About NB Private Equity Partners Limited
    NBPE invests in direct private equity investments alongside market leading private equity firms globally. NB Alternatives Advisers LLC (the “Investment Manager”), an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Neuberger Berman Group LLC, is responsible for sourcing, execution and management of NBPE. The vast majority of direct investments are made with no management fee / no carried interest payable to third-party GPs, offering greater fee efficiency than other listed private equity companies. NBPE seeks capital appreciation through growth in net asset value over time while paying a bi-annual dividend.

    LEI number: 213800UJH93NH8IOFQ77

    About Neuberger Berman
    Neuberger Berman is an employee-owned, private, independent investment manager founded in 1939 with over 2,800 employees in 26 countries. The firm manages $515 billion of equities, fixed income, private equity, real estate and hedge fund portfolios for global institutions, advisors and individuals. Neuberger Berman’s investment philosophy is founded on active management, fundamental research and engaged ownership. Neuberger Berman has been named by Pensions & Investments as the #1 or #2 Best Place to Work in Money Management for each of the last eleven years (firms with more than 1,000 employees). Visit www.nb.com for more information. Data as of March 31, 2025.

    This press release appears as a matter of record only and does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to purchase any security.

    NBPE is established as a closed-end investment company domiciled in Guernsey. NBPE has received the necessary consent of the Guernsey Financial Services Commission. The value of investments may fluctuate. Results achieved in the past are no guarantee of future results. This document is not intended to constitute legal, tax or accounting advice or investment recommendations. Prospective investors are advised to seek expert legal, financial, tax and other professional advice before making any investment decision. Statements contained in this document that are not historical facts are based on current expectations, estimates, projections, opinions and beliefs of NBPE’s investment manager. Such statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, and undue reliance should not be placed thereon. Additionally, this document contains “forward-looking statements.” Actual events or results or the actual performance of NBPE may differ materially from those reflected or contemplated in such targets or forward-looking statements.

    Attachments

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-Evening Report: PodTalk.live ushers in new ‘indie’ information and debate era

    PodTalk.live

    After a successful beta-launch this month, PodTalk.live has now called for people to register as foundation members — it’s free to join the post and podcast social platform.

    The foundation membership soft-launch is a great opportunity for founders to help shape a brand new, vibrant, algorithm-free, info discussion and debate social platform.

    “PodTalk.live has been put to test by selected individuals and we’re pleased to report that it has performed fabulously,” said the the platform developer Selwyn Manning.

    Manning is founder and managing director of the company that custom-developed PodTalk.live — Multimedia Investments Ltd.

    PodTalk.live . . . a new era. Image: PodTalk screenshot APR

    MIL is based in Aotearoa New Zealand, where PodTalk.live was developed and is served from.

    And now, PodTalk.live has emerged from its beta stage and is ready for foundation members to shape the next phase of its development.

    An alternative platform
    PodTalk.live was designed to be an alternative platform to other social media platforms.

    PodTalk has all the functions that most social media platforms have but has placed the user-experience at the centre of its backend design and engineering.

    PodTalk.live has been custom-designed, created and is served from New Zealand.

    “We ourselves became annoyed at how social media giants use algorithms to drive what content their users see and experience,” Manning said.

    “And, we also were appalled at how some social media companies trade user data, and were unresponsive to user-concerns.

    “So we decided to create a platform that focuses on ‘discussion and debate’ communities, and we have engineered PodTalk to ensure the content that users see is what they choose — rather than some obscure algorithm making that decision for them.

    “PodTalk.live is independent from other social media platforms, and at best will become an alternative choice for people who seek a community where they are the centre of a platform’s core purpose.

    Sign-up invitation
    ““And today, we invite people to sign up now and become foundation members of this new and ethically-based social community platform,” Manning said.

    What PodTalk.live provides includes:

    • user profiles with full interactivities with other users and friends;
    • user created groups, posts, video, images, polls, and file sharing;
    • private and secure one-on-one (and group) messages;
    • availability of all the above for entry users with a free membership;
    • premium membership for podcasters and event publishers requiring easy to use podcast publication and syndication services; and next-level community engagement tools that users have all on the one platform.

    Manning said PodTalk.live was founded on the belief that for social, political and economical progress to occur people needed to discuss issues in a safe environment and embark on robust debate.

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Plans to stockpile critical minerals will help Australia weather global uncertainty – and encourage smaller miners

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Mohan Yellishetty, Professor, Co-Founder, Critical Minerals Consortium, and Australia-India Critical Minerals Research Hub, Monash University

    RHJPhtotos/Shutterstock

    The world needs huge quantities of critical minerals to make batteries, electric vehicles, wind turbines, mobile phones, computers and advanced weaponry.

    Many of these minerals lie under Australian soil. Australia is able to produce 9 out of 10 mineral elements required to produce lithium-ion batteries, such as lithium, nickel and cobalt. It also has the highest total reserves of battery minerals.

    But at a time of major geopolitical upheaval, critical minerals are also contested. China controls many critical mineral supply chains, allowing it to dominate clean energy technologies. The ongoing United States–China trade war has intensified competition for access to critical minerals.

    It’s against this backdrop that Labor has proposed a A$1.2 billion strategic reserve of critical minerals. It’s a timely and welcome step in the right direction.

    Why is this reserve needed?

    Critical minerals are vital to the industries of the future. But supply can be hard to secure and disruptions can be devastating.

    After US President Donald Trump jacked up tariffs on China, Beijing responded by clamping down on critical mineral exports. Almost 80% of US weaponry depends on Chinese critical minerals.

    China now dominates mining and refining of many critical minerals. Beijing controls 90% of the world’s rare earth refining, 80% of lithium refining and 68% of nickel refining. The US and other nations are belatedly trying to catch up.

    Mining has long been a major Australian industry, particularly iron ore and coal. But Australia has huge reserves of many critical minerals, producing the largest volume of lithium ore in the world as well as stocks of cobalt, manganese, rutile and others. Australian miners Lynas and Australian Strategic Materials are two of the few rare-earth mining companies not owned by China.

    That’s where this strategic reserve comes in. If it comes to fruition, the federal government would buy agreed volumes of critical minerals from commercial projects, or establish an option to purchase them at a given price. It would then keep stockpiles of these key minerals to prevent market manipulation by China and stabilise prices by releasing or holding stocks strategically.

    The reserve would give Canberra more leverage in negotiating with trading partners and enable a rapid response to supply disruptions. Government backing for the industry would boost onshore processing, scale up domestic production and encourage more high-wage, high-skill jobs in regional areas.

    Which minerals will be stockpiled? That’s yet to be determined. The list of ‘critical minerals’ can vary between countries, and a mineral critical to one nation may not be to another.

    Australia lists 31 critical minerals while Japan lists 35, the US lists 50 and the European Union 34. Australia’s list is unique in that it reflects global demand, not domestic dependency.

    The minerals most commonly included in these lists include cobalt, gallium, indium, niobium, tantalum, platinum group minerals and rare earth elements.

    Why is the government intervening?

    In 2023, major miners produced close to a billion tonnes of iron ore in Western Australia.

    By contrast, critical mineral volumes are small. For instance, only 610 tonnes of gallium were mined in 2023. Major miners such as Rio Tinto, BHP and Vale don’t tend to bother.

    Critical mineral markets are often opaque and highly concentrated. The barrier to entry is high. Globally, the market for the 31 critical minerals on Australia’s list is valued at around A$344 billion – about the size of the global aluminium market.

    That leaves it to mid-tier and small miners to bridge the gap between rapidly growing demand and supply. The problem is, raising capital is often very difficult. The price of critical minerals can fluctuate wildly. The price of lithium and nickel have fallen sharply over the last two years due to market oversupply.

    The strategic reserve would make it easier for these miners by providing access to capital through loans from Export Finance Australia and private investors, reducing financial uncertainty and cost overruns and acting as a buffer against market volatility.

    For instance, mid-tier miner Illuka Resources is building Australia’s first rare earths refinery in Western Australia. The project already has significant government support, but it is likely to need more.

    Despite Australia’s significant mineral resources, it faces an uphill battle to gain market share. China’s dominance has been driven by low production costs; low environmental, social and goverance standards; and a competitive labour market. But intensifying geopolitical competition between China and the US means Australian minerals would likely be sought by the US.

    How can Australia best play its hand?

    In volatile market conditions, cheaper operations have a significant advantage, while new mines face an uphill battle.

    Australia’s critical minerals hub framework could help offset capital costs. Smaller miners could form cooperatives to share infrastructure and manage logistics, processing and access to international markets. Sharing infrastructure such as roads, rail, energy and ports would reduce the investment risk.

    There are other challenges to overcome, such as the long lead times of 10 years or more to go from discovery to production, limited access to low-cost renewable energy and a shortage of technical and scientific capabilities.

    Labor’s strategic reserve would help. But it won’t be enough to make Australia into a critical mineral giant. The government should consider:

    • building more regional processing hubs with shared infrastructure and microgrids
    • offering royalty exemptions, tax incentives and energy subsidies early on
    • giving incentives to retrofit facilities to produce critical minerals found alongside main ores, such as cobalt found alongside copper and antimony with gold
    • encouraging models where rare earths are concentrated in Australia and processed overseas in partner countries
    • establishing Centres of Excellence on critical minerals and creating shared libraries of intellectual property to support research, avoid duplication and optimise resource allocation.

    Overall, the proposed reserve is an excellent idea. Government intervention will be necessary to absorb and mitigate risks from price fluctuations and geopolitical shocks.

    Mohan Yellishetty receives funding from the Australian Research Council, Geoscience Australia, Defense Science Institute, Boral Limited, AGL Loy Yang, Indian Ministry of Education. He is affiliated with AusIMM as its fellow, Honorary Academic Fellow, Australia India Institute, Foreign Fellow, Indian Geophysical Union, and affiliated with Indian Institute of Technology (Dharwad, Mumbai, Hyderabad). David Whittle contributed to the research base and data for this article.

    – ref. Plans to stockpile critical minerals will help Australia weather global uncertainty – and encourage smaller miners – https://theconversation.com/plans-to-stockpile-critical-minerals-will-help-australia-weather-global-uncertainty-and-encourage-smaller-miners-255320

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI: 24/2025・Trifork Group: Weekly report on share buyback

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Company announcement no. 24 / 2025
    Schindellegi, Switzerland – 28 April 2025

    Trifork Group: Weekly report on share buyback

    On 28 February 2025, Trifork initiated a share buyback program in accordance with Regulation No. 596/2014 of the European Parliament and Council of 16 April 2014 (MAR) and Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/1052, (Safe Harbour regulation). The share buyback program runs from 4 March 2025 up to and including no later than 30 June 2025. The buyback program will not be active from 9 to 15 April 2025. For details, please see company announcement no. 7 of 28 February 2025.

    Under the share buyback program, Trifork will purchase shares for up to a total of DKK 14.92 million (approximately EUR 2 million). Prior to the launch of the share buyback, Trifork held 256,329 treasury shares, corresponding to 1.3% of the share capital. Under the program, the following transactions have been made:

    Date       Number of shares        Average purchase price (DKK)        Transaction value (DKK)
    Total beginning 59,909 85.13 5,099,831
    21 April 2025     Market closed
    22 April 2025 1,933 84.69 163,706
    23 April 2025 2,000 85.16 170,320
    24 April 2025 1,900 86.77 164,863
    25 April 2025 1,155 88.64 102,379
    Accumulated 66,897 85.22 5,701,099

    A detailed overview of the daily transactions can be found here: https://investor.trifork.com/trifork-shares/

    Since the share buyback program was started on 4 March 2025, the total number of repurchased shares is 66,897 at a total amount of DKK 5,701,099. On 25 March and on 25 April 2025, 2,929 shares acquired through the share buyback program were utilized for the Executive Management’s monthly fixed salary, representing a change from cash payment to payment partly in shares (refer to company announcement no. 1 of 21 January 2025). On 1 April 2025, 19,943 shares acquired through the share buyback program were utilized to serve the RSU plan of Executive Management and certain employees.

    With the transactions stated above, Trifork holds a total of 300,354 treasury shares, corresponding to 1.5%. The total number of registered shares in Trifork is 19,744,899. Adjusted for treasury shares, the number of outstanding shares is 19,444,545.

     

    Investor and media contact
    Frederik Svanholm, Group Investment Director, frsv@trifork.com, +41 79 357 73 17

    About Trifork
    Trifork is a pioneering global technology partner, empowering enterprise and public sector customers with innovative solutions. With 1,229 professionals across 73 business units in 16 countries, Trifork delivers expertise in inspiring, building, and running advanced software solutions across diverse sectors, including public administration, healthcare, manufacturing, logistics, energy, financial services, retail, and real estate. Trifork Labs, the Group’s R&D hub, drives innovation by investing in and developing synergistic and high-potential technology companies. Trifork Group AG is a publicly listed company on Nasdaq Copenhagen. Learn more at trifork.com.

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    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Exosens delivers strong revenue growth in Q1 2025 in a dynamic defense market environment; Fully on track to 2025 guidance

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    EXOSENS DELIVERS STRONG REVENUE GROWTH IN Q1 2025 IN A DYNAMIC DEFENSE MARKET ENVIRONMENT

    FULLY ON TRACK TO 2025 GUIDANCE

    HIGHLIGHTS

    • Sustained revenue growth of +21.1% to €104.9m in Q1 2025, reflecting strong like-for-like performance (+18.0%)
      • Continued strong growth in Amplification revenue (+29.1% vs. Q1 2024), driven by a growing demand of image intensifier tubes for Defense night vision applications from NATO and Tier-1 allies forces
      • Detection & Imaging revenue slightly down (-1.0% vs. Q1 2024), affected by temporary headwinds mostly related to Telops, the Group’s imaging systems business in Canada (+16% growth vs. Q1 2024 excluding Telops). Growth is expected to resume and accelerate throughout the remainder of the year supported by solid underlying end-market trends
    • Adjusted gross margin up +28.1% to €52.6m in Q1 2025 (margin rate of 50.1%, +270bps vs. Q1 2024), mainly driven by strong Amplification growth (+39.5%)
    • Closing of Noxant acquisition, reinforcing Exosens’ position in high-performance cooled infrared imaging, particularly in fast growing Defense and Surveillance markets

    OUTLOOK

    • Fully on track to deliver on 2025 guidance: continued strong performance expected, with revenue growth in the high-teens and adjusted EBITDA growth in the low twenties

    Mérignac (France), 28 April 2025 – Exosens (EXENS; FR001400Q9V2), a high-tech company focused on providing mission and performance-critical amplification, detection and imaging technologies, today publishes its revenue and adjusted gross margin for the first quarter of 2025.

    “After a very successful 2024, which marked a turning point in our trajectory and saw us exceed our IPO guidance, we are proud to start 2025 with a strong Q1 performance, confirming the positive momentum across our core markets. Regarding our Defense-related activities, demand remains high amid increasing geopolitical tensions and sustained investment from NATO countries and Tier-1 allies. This solid start of the year demonstrates the strength of our positioning and our ability to execute. Amplification continues to be a key growth engine, supported by accelerating demand and increased capacity, while our Detection & Imaging segment is on track to deliver solid like-for-like growth, progressively improving over the course of the year.

    Supported by strong fundamentals , and solid operational performance, we are fully confident in our ability to deliver our 2025 objectives and continue creating long-term value for all stakeholders.” commented Jérôme Cerisier, CEO of Exosens.

    Strong revenue performance in Q1 2025 in a dynamic defense market environment

      Q1 2024 Q1 2025 Change Like-for-like
      In €m In €m In €m In % In %
    Amplification 63.3 81.7 +18.4 +29.1% +29.3%
    Detection & Imaging 24.2 24.0 (0.2) (1.0)% (13.0)%
    Eliminations & Other (0.8) (0.7) +0.1 n/a n/a
    Total revenue 86.7 104.9 +18.3 +21.1% +18.0%

    Exosens delivered strong revenue performance in Q1 2025, demonstrating its ability to continue its sustained growth trajectory. Consolidated revenue amounted to €104.9 million, which represented a growth of +21.1% (+€18.3 million) compared to Q1 2024. On a like-for-like basis, revenue grew by +18.0% year-over-year, driven by continued strong momentum in Defense end-markets.

    Amplification revenue amounted to €81.7 million in Q1 2025, marking a significant growth of +29.1% (+€18.4 million) compared to Q1 2024, reflecting higher sales volumes due to increased production capacity and growing demand of image intensifier tubes for Defense night vision applications.

    Reflecting this dynamic market environment, Exosens has continued benefiting from its position as the strategic supplier of NATO and Tier-1 allies, which have continued to ramp up their procurement of night vision systems on the back of the need for armies to enhance their night fighting capabilities. This positive trend was particularly noticeable in Europe with a number of major business wins, notably in Eastern and Northern Europe.

    Detection and Imaging revenue amounted to €24.0 million in Q1 2025, representing a small decline of -1.0% compared to Q1 2024. The first semester revenue contribution for Detection & Imaging is typically lower due to seasonality. On a like-for-like basis, D&I revenue was down -13.0% (-€3.1 million), mainly due to Telops, the Group’s Canadian-based imaging system business. Telops was temporarily impacted by US tariff uncertainties and reductions in federal science funding, which resulted in softer demand from US customers, as well as by delays in securing certain export licenses. Excluding Telops, D&I revenue grew by around +16% year-over-year and was broadly stable on a like-for-like basis.

    Exosens continued to see robust demand across its key high-growth markets, particularly in Nuclear and Defense & Surveillance.

    The Group expects D&I like-for-like growth to resume and accelerate throughout the remainder of the 2025 fiscal year, supported by solid underlying end-market trends.

    On the M&A front, Exosens closed on 13thMarch 2025 the acquisition of Noxant, a specialist in high-performance cooled infrared cameras. Noxant’s range of high-performance MWIR cooled camera cores provides complementary capabilities that meet the increasing demand for advanced infrared solutions, particularly for drone-based Defense and Surveillance applications where camera integration is required. Meaningful synergies are expected with Exosens’ imaging business leveraging its technologies portfolio and worldwide commercial reach.

    The Group has started Noxant’s integration process, which is expected to be finalized by end-June. Q1 2025 revenue and adjusted gross margin do not include any contribution from this acquisition.

    Otherwise, the closing of the acquisition of NVLS, a specialist in man-portable night vision and thermal devices, is expected to occur during Q2 2025, pending customary clearances and approvals.

    Adjusted gross margin up +28.1% in Q1 2025

      Q1 2024 Q1 2025 Change
      In €m % of sales In €m % of sales In €m In %
    Amplification 29.2 46.2% 40.8 49.9% +11.6 +39.5%
    Detection & Imaging 11.8 48.9% 11.8 49.3% (0.0) (0.1)%
    Eliminations & Other 0.0 n/a 0.0 n/a n/a n/a
    Adjusted gross margin 41.1 47.4% 52.6 50.1% +11.5 +28.1%

    Exosens recorded a strong increase in adjusted gross margin at Group level, mainly driven by higher sales volumes, improved yields and favorable product mix. The Group’s adjusted gross margin stood at €52.6 million in Q1 2025, reflecting a growth of +28.1% (+€11.5 million) compared to Q1 2024. As a percentage of consolidated revenue, adjusted gross margin was 50.1% in Q1 2025, representing an improvement of 270 basis points year-on-year.

    Adjusted gross margin for the Amplification segment reached €40.8 million in Q1 2025, recording a growth of +39.5% (+€11.6 million) compared to Q1 2024. Margin rate increased by 370 basis points to 49.9% in Q1 2025, driven by the strong growth in sales volume with increased production capacity, improved yields and favorable product mix.

    Adjusted gross margin for the Detection and Imaging segment amounted to €11.8 million in Q1 2025, stable compared to Q1 2024. Margin rate improved by 50 basis points to 49.3% in Q1 2025, despite lower revenue, driven by better yields, effective cost control, and supply chain synergies.

    Evolution of corporate governance

    The Board of Directors of Exosens, at its meeting on 25 April 25, proposed to the upcoming annual combined General Meeting on 23 May to appoint Bpifrance Investissement as a director.

    This nomination of Bpifrance Investissement, represented by Ms. Dorianne Bonfils as permanent representative, for a seat on the Board of Directors is aligned with Bpifrance Participations’ increased investment in Exosens’ share capital.

    Following the exercise of the call option on Exosens shares granted by HLD as part of Exosens’ IPO, Bpifrance Participations acquired an additional 2.7% stake in the share capital and voting rights on 25 April 2025 and now ranks as Exosens’ second-largest shareholder, holding 7.2% of the share capital and voting rights, behind the HLD Group.

    At its meeting on 25 April 2025, the Board of Directors, following the recommendation of Exosens’ Nominations and Compensation Committee, and after evaluating its independence according to the AFEP-MEDEF code criteria, confirmed Bpifrance Investissement’s status as an independent director, should it be appointed by the Company’s General Meeting.

    Outlook for 2025 and the 2024-2026 period confirmed

    Exosens expects a continued strong performance in 2025, with revenue growth in the high-teens and adjusted EBITDA growth in the low twenties compared to 2024.

    The Group expects a high-teens 2024-2026 adjusted EBITDA CAGR and a cash conversion1ratio in the range of 70%-75% over the period, taking into account capacity investment in Europe and in the US.

    Furthermore, the Group intends to pursue its growth strategy, at a pace consistent with historical trend, while maintaining a leverage ratio2of around 2x.

    Financial calendar

    • 29/04/2025: Publication of 2024 universal registration document;
    • 23/05/2025: Annual general meeting;
    • 31/07/2025: H1 2025 results (publication before market opening);
    • 27/10/2025: Q3 2025 revenue & adj. gross margin (publication before market opening).

    About Exosens

    Exosens is a high‐tech company, with more than 85 years of experience in the innovation, development, manufacturing and sale of high‐end electro‐optical technologies in the field of amplification, detection and imaging. Today, it offers its customers detection components and solutions such as travelling wave tubes, advanced cameras, neutron & gamma detectors, instrument detectors and light intensifier tubes. This allows Exosens to respond to complex issues in extremely demanding environments by offering tailor‐made solutions to its customers. Thanks to its sustained investments, Exosens is internationally recognized as a major innovator in optoelectronics, with production and R&D carried out on 11 sites, in Europe and North America, and with over 1,800 employees. Exosens is listed on compartment A of the regulated market of Euronext Paris ﴾Ticker: EXENS – ISIN: FR001400Q9V2﴿. Exosens is a member of Euronext Tech Leaders segment and is also included in several indices, including the SBF 120, CAC All-Tradable, CAC Mid 60, FTSE Total Cap and MSCI France Small Cap. For more information: www.exosens.com.

    Investor relations

    Laurent Sfaxi, l.sfaxi@exosens.com

    Media relations

    Brunswick Group, exosens@brunswickgroup.com

    APPENDIX

    Definitions

    Like-for-like growth is the revenue growth achieved by the Group excluding currency impact and scope effect, which corresponds to the revenue recorded during period “n” by all the companies included in the Group’s scope of consolidation at the end of period “n-1” (excluding any contribution from the companies acquired after the end of period “n-1”), compared with revenue achieved during period “n-1” by the same companies. Like-for-like growth for the first quarter of 2025 therefore excludes the contribution of Centronic and LR Tech, acquired by the Group in July 2024 and September 2024, respectively.

    Adjusted gross margin is equal to the difference between the selling price and the cost price of products and services (including notably employee benefits).

    Adjusted EBITDA is defined as operating profit, less (i) additions net of reversals to depreciation, amortization and impairment of non-current assets; (ii) non-recurring income and expenses as presented in the Group’s consolidated income statement within “Other income” and “Other expenses”, and (iii) the impact of items that do not reflect ordinary operating performance (in particular business reorganization and adaption costs, costs relating to acquisition and external growth transactions, as well as the IFRS 2 share-based payment expense).

    Cash conversion is calculated as follows: (adjusted EBITDA – capitalized research and development costs – capital expenditure) / adjusted EBITDA – capitalized research and development costs).

    Leverage ratio is calculated as net debt / adjusted EBITDA as defined in the Group’s Senior Credit Facilities Agreement entered into as part of the refinancing executed in the frame of the IPO.

    Forward-looking statements

    Certain information included in this press release are not historical facts but are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on current beliefs, expectations and assumptions, including, without limitation, assumptions regarding present and future business strategies and the environment in which Exosens operates, and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from the forward-looking statements included in this press release. These risks and uncertainties include those set out and detailed in Chapter 3 “Risk Factors” of the registration document approved on 22 May 2024 by the French financial markets’ authority (“Autorité des marchés financiers”) under number I. 24-010. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release and the Group expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release any update or revisions to any forward-looking statements included in this press release to reflect any change in expectations or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which these forward-looking statements are based. Forward-looking information and statements are not guarantees of future performances and are subject to various risks and uncertainties, many of which are difficult to predict and generally beyond the control of the Group. Actual results could differ materially from those expressed in, or implied or projected by, forward-looking information and statements. This press release is provided for information purposes only. It does not constitute and should not be deemed to constitute an offer to the public of securities.

    1 Cash conversion is defined as (adjusted EBITDA – capitalized R&D – capex) / (adjusted EBITDA – capitalized R&D).
    2 Leverage ratio is defined as net financial debt / adjusted EBITDA.

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-Evening Report: What political ads are Australians seeing online? Astroturfing, fake grassroots groups, and outright falsehoods

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Daniel Angus, Professor of Digital Communication, Director of QUT Digital Media Research Centre, Queensland University of Technology

    In the lead-up to the 2025 Australian federal election, political advertising is seemingly everywhere.

    We’ve been mapping the often invisible world of digital political advertising across Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.

    We’ve done this thanks to a panel of ordinary Australians who agreed to download an ad tracking app developed through the Australian Internet Observatory.

    We’re also tracking larger trends in political ad spending, message type and tone, and reach via the PoliDashboard tool. This open source tool aggregates transparency data from Meta (including Facebook and Instagram) which we use to identify patterns and items of concern.

    While the major parties are spending heavily and are highly visible in the feeds of our participants, it is the prevalence of third-party political advertising that is most striking. We’ve observed a notable trend: for every ad from a registered political party, there is roughly one ad from a third-party entity.

    Astroturfing and the illusion of grassroots support

    One of the most concerning trends we’re seeing is a rise in astroturfing. This refers to masking the sponsors of a message to make it appear as though it originates from ordinary citizens or grassroots organisations.

    Astroturfing ads do often adhere to the formal disclosure requirements set out by the Australian Electoral Commission. However, these disclosures don’t meaningfully inform the public on who is behind these misleading ads.

    Authorisation typically only includes the name and address of an intermediary. This may be a deliberately opaque shell entity set up just in time for an election.

    A key example seen by participants in our study involves the pro-gas advocacy group Australians for Natural Gas.

    It presents itself as a grassroots movement, but an ABC investigation revealed this group is working with Freshwater Strategy – the Coalition’s internal pollster. Emails obtained by the ABC show Freshwater Strategy is “helping orchestrate a campaign to boost public support for the gas industry ahead of the federal election”.

    Other examples we’ve encountered in our monitoring include groups with benign-sounding names like Mums for Nuclear and Australians for Prosperity. These labels and the ads they are running suggest grassroots concern, but they obscure the deeper agendas behind them.

    In the case of Australians for Prosperity, an ABC analysis revealed backing from wealthy donors, former conservative MPs and coal interests.

    The battle over energy

    Nowhere is this more evident than in messaging around energy policy, especially nuclear power and gas.

    In recent months, both major parties and a swathe of third-party advertisers have run targeted online campaigns focused on the costs and benefits of different energy futures. These ads play to deeply felt concerns about cost of living, action on climate change, and national sovereignty.

    Yet many of these messages, particularly those that promote gas and nuclear, come from organisations with opaque funding and undeclared political affiliations or connections. Voters may see a slick Facebook ad or a sponsored TikTok explainer without any idea who paid for it, or why.

    And with no obligation to be truthful, much of this content may be deeply misleading. It muddies public understanding at a critical moment for climate action.

    Truth not required

    Truth in political advertising isn’t legally required in all of Australia. While businesses can’t mislead consumers under consumer law, political parties and third-party campaigners are exempt from those same standards.

    This means misleading or outright false claims – about opponents, policies or the state of the economy – can be repeated and amplified without consequence, provided they’re framed as political opinion.

    Despite calls for reform from politicians, experts and civil society groups, federal legislation continues to lag behind community expectations.

    South Australia and the Australian Capital Territory do have truth in political advertising laws, but there is still no national standard.

    In the digital advertising environment, where ads are fast, fleeting, and often tailored to individuals, the absence of such independent scrutiny allows misinformation to flourish unchecked.

    Most people are seeing very little – or so it seems

    Paradoxically, our data shows the majority of participants are seeing very few political ads. Of the total ads seen, less than 2% pertained to political topics or the election specifically.

    This is partly a result of how the advertising products offered by platforms like Meta and TikTok allow ads to be targeted to specific demographics, locations or interests. This means even two people in the same household may have entirely different ad experiences.

    But it’s also a reminder social media ads are just the tip of the iceberg. Much political persuasion online happens outside paid ad campaigns – via influencer content, YouTube recommendations, algorithmic amplification, mainstream media coverage and more.

    Because platforms and publishers aren’t required to share this broader content with researchers or the public, we can’t easily track it – although we are trying.

    We need meaningful observability

    If democracy is to thrive in a digital age, we need to be able to independently observe online political communication, including advertising.

    Existing measures like campaign finance disclosures and transparency tools provided by platforms will never be enough. They don’t include user experiences or track patterns across populations and over time. This inevitably means some advertising activity flies under the radar.

    We lack robust tools to understand and analyse our current fragmented information landscape.

    Where platforms don’t provide meaningful data access to researchers and the public, tools like the Ad Observatory and PoliDashboard offer valuable glimpses into a fragmented information landscape, while remaining incomplete.

    However, tools on their own are not enough. We also need to be willing to call out and act when politicians mislead the public.

    Acknowlegement: The Australian Ad Observatory is a team effort. The authors wish to acknowledge the contribution of Jean Burgess, Nicholas Carah, Alfie Chadwick, Kyle Herbertson, Tina Kang, Khanh Luong, Abdul Karim Obeid, Lina Przhedetsky, and Dan Tran.

    Daniel Angus receives funding from Australian Research Council through Linkage Project ‘Young Australians and the Promotion of Alcohol on Social Media’. He is a Chief Investigator with the ARC Centre of Excellence for Automated Decision Making & Society.

    Christine Parker receives funding from the Australian Research Council through the ARC Centre of Excellence for Automated Decision-Making and Society.

    Giselle Newton received funding from the Foundation for Alcohol Research and Education for the project ‘How alcohol and gambling companies target people most at risk with marketing for addictive products on Facebook’.

    Mark Andrejevic receives funding from the Australian Research Council through the Centre of Excellence for Automated Decision Making and Society and through the Discovery Program.

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

    – ref. What political ads are Australians seeing online? Astroturfing, fake grassroots groups, and outright falsehoods – https://theconversation.com/what-political-ads-are-australians-seeing-online-astroturfing-fake-grassroots-groups-and-outright-falsehoods-255225

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Pokies line the coffers of governments and venues – but there are ways to tame this gambling gorilla

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Charles Livingstone, Associate Professor, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University

    Recently, much public attention has been given to the way online wagering and its incessant promotion has infiltrated sport and our TV screens.

    Despite a 2023 parliamentary inquiry that recommended new restrictions on online (especially sport) gambling advertising, the federal government neglected to implement any of the 31 recommendations.



    Read more:
    Will the government’s online gambling advertising legislation ever eventuate? Don’t bet on it

    This seems to have resulted from a furious and well resourced campaign by gambling’s ecosystem: wagering companies, broadcasters, sporting leagues, and others who currently drink from the fountain of gambling revenue.

    Naturally, this issue garnered a great deal of attention, as it should.

    But there’s another even bigger gambling gorilla that has steadily rebuilt its profits post-pandemic. You’ll probably find some at a hotel or social club near you.

    This is, of course, pokies: Australia’s version of slot machines.

    Australia’s major source of gambling problems

    Australians lost A$15.8 billion on pokies in 2022–23, over half of that ($8.1 billion) in New South Wales. That’s an increase of 7.6% from 2018–19 (before pandemic restrictions closed many venues or restricted operations).

    Wagering (sports and race betting) losses grew a hefty 45% over the same period, to around $8.4 billion. Even so, it remains way behind the pokies as Australia’s biggest source of gambling losses and problems.

    Casino losses dropped by 35.5%. Casinos are also poke venues, but also offer other forms of gambling. Pokies in casinos are counted as “casino” gambling in national gambling statistics, while pokies in clubs and pubs continue to be counted separately.

    A recent study found pokies responsible for between 52% and 57% of gambling problems in Australia. Wagering was estimated at 20%.

    Recent growth may have altered these a little but pokies are still responsible for half of Australia’s gambling losses.

    The gambling industry is fond of pointing out only a modest proportion of the population have serious gambling problems. That’s true, according to most prevalence studies.

    But what also has to be remembered is, most people never use pokies. In 2024, the latest population study for NSW found only 14.3% of adults used pokies at all.

    But around 18.5% of pokie users are either high or moderate risk gamblers: 35% of gamblers who use pokies at least once a month are classified as either high or moderate risk gamblers.

    And in 2010 the Productivity Commission estimated 41% of the money lost on pokies came from the most seriously addicted, with another 20% coming from those with more moderate issues. Overall, well over half of the losses.

    It’s little wonder pokie operators resist reforms.

    Why are pokies so profitable?

    The first and obvious answer to this is that there are a lot of them: they are widely accessible across Australia (apart from Western Australia, where they’re only in a single casino).

    NSW alone has about 87,500. Queensland has about half that number, and Victoria about 26,000.

    All of these are located in pubs or clubs, and in NSW they collect (on average) $93,000 per machine per year.

    Second, they’re overwhelmingly concentrated in areas where people are doing it tough. Stress and strain are common where there are pokies.

    Some people start to use them thinking they might alleviate financial woes. They don’t, of course. But they do provide an escape from the vicissitudes of daily life.

    Once sampled, that can become addictive.

    People who use pokies a lot call this escape from reality “the zone” – once you’re there, nothing matters, except staying there.

    The zone is also known as “immersion”, or “loss of executive control”: people using pokies find it very difficult, if not impossible, to stop. Once the money’s gone, reality crashes in.

    Pokies are also extremely addictive. Along with online casino games (which includes virtual pokies or slot machines), they are generally regarded as the most addictive and harmful gambling products.

    They have a host of features engineered into them, including “losses disguised as wins”, “near misses” and many others.

    They are engineered with 10 million or more possible outcomes and it is not possible for anyone to predict what outcome will come next.

    Crucially, the house always wins. In a machine where the “return to player ratio” is set at 87% (a common, completely lawful setting), the machine would retain 13% of all wagers.

    Unfortunately, few pokie users understand these characteristics.

    Can’t we rein in the pokies?

    So why do politicians resist reform?

    One reason for this is the pokie revenue that flows into government coffers.

    In 2022–23, state governments received a total of more than $9 billion in gambling taxes – 7.8% of all state tax revenue. Of this, $5.3 billion came from pokies. NSW alone got $2.23 billion from pokies, Victoria $1.3 billion, and Queensland $1.1 billion.

    The venues, of course, receive a great deal more. One of the consequences of all that money flowing into the coffers of pubs and clubs is political access and influence.

    We can, however, tame the pokies if we want to.

    Various solutions are available, including pre-commitment, generally believed to be the most likely candidate.

    This involves pokie users being required to set a limit prior to using the machines, which is now common in many countries in Europe, and has been proposed (but delayed or scuttled) in Australia for Tasmania, Victoria, and New South Wales.

    More broadly however, this has been strongly resisted by the gambling ecosystem, including parties such as ClubsNSW and the Tasmanian Hospitality Association. Their influence appears profound.

    Change is needed, urgently

    Australia’s reputation as the world’s biggest gambling losers is unenviable: we lose $32 billion on gambling products every year.

    Clearly, prohibition of gambling ads, and the termination of sports sponsorships that tie football, cricket and other major sports to gambling is needed urgently.

    But if we really want to reduce gambling problems and their extraordinary catalogue of harm, reining in the pokies is a must.

    That may take some serious effort.

    Charles Livingstone has received funding from the Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation, the (former) Victorian Gambling Research Panel, and the South Australian Independent Gambling Authority (the funds for which were derived from hypothecation of gambling tax revenue to research purposes), from the Australian and New Zealand School of Government and the Foundation for Alcohol Research and Education, and from non-government organisations for research into multiple aspects of poker machine gambling, including regulatory reform, existing harm minimisation practices, and technical characteristics of gambling forms. He has received travel and co-operation grants from the Alberta Problem Gambling Research Institute, the Finnish Institute for Public Health, the Finnish Alcohol Research Foundation, the Ontario Problem Gambling Research Committee, the Turkish Red Crescent Society, and the Problem Gambling Foundation of New Zealand. He was a Chief Investigator on an Australian Research Council funded project researching mechanisms of influence on government by the tobacco, alcohol and gambling industries. He has undertaken consultancy research for local governments and non-government organisations in Australia and the UK seeking to restrict or reduce the concentration of poker machines and gambling impacts, and was a member of the Australian government’s Ministerial Expert Advisory Group on Gambling in 2010-11. He is a member of the Lancet Public Health Commission into gambling, and of the World Health Organisation expert group on gambling and gambling harm. He made a submission to and appeared before the HoR Standing Committee on Social Policy and Legal Affairs inquiry into online gambling and its impacts on those experiencing gambling harm.

    – ref. Pokies line the coffers of governments and venues – but there are ways to tame this gambling gorilla – https://theconversation.com/pokies-line-the-coffers-of-governments-and-venues-but-there-are-ways-to-tame-this-gambling-gorilla-252038

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Missing mother Leonie Emery subject of a Cold Case episode

    Source: New Zealand Police (National News)

    Please attribute to Detective Senior Sergeant Rob Hunkin:

    Police investigating the disappearance of missing mother Leonie Emery in 2018 are encouraging people to watch Monday night’s Cold Case episode on TV One.

    Leonie who was just 25 years old when she disappeared without a trace seven years ago, leaving behind her four children and devastated whānau.

    Leonie was a free spirit who moved around regularly so her family were used to regular periods of no contact. She was reported missing to Police in 2019 but it’s believed she had not been seen or heard from for around a year prior to that.

    Investigators have undertaken extensive enquiries to understand Leonie’s last movements and what might have happened to her. Police have examined several possible scenarios but believe it is most likely that Leonie has been the victim of foul play.

    Leonie had been spending time in the Waikato but was last seen at a family member’s address in Papakura sometime in late January, early February 2018. Where did she go when she left and who was she with? These are some of the questions we need the public’s help with.

    The Cold Case episode will outline key elements of this investigation and we hope it will prompt someone to come forward with information which will help us get the answers Leonie’s whānau desperately want.

    We know there are people out there with key information Police need. Please tune in on Monday at 8:30pm to watch the episode.

    We urge anyone with information, no matter how small you might think it is to contact Police.

    If you can help, call 0800 COLD CASE (0800 2653 2273).

    ENDS

    Issued by Police Media Centre

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: New Independent Information and Debate Platform PodTalk.Live calls for Foundation Members

    Source: NewzEngine.com

    After a successful beta-launch in April PodTalk.live is now ready to invite people to register as foundation members. Foundation members are free to join the post and podcast social platform.

    The Foundation Membership soft-launch is a great opportunity for founders to help shape a brand new, vibrant, algorithm-free, info discussion and debate social platform.

    Developer of the platform, Selwyn Manning said: “PodTalk.live has been put to test by selected individuals and we are pleased to report that it has performed fabulously.”

    Manning is founder and managing director of the company that custom-developed PodTalk.live – Multimedia Investments Ltd (MIL: milnz.co.nz).

    MIL is based in New Zealand, where PodTalk.live was developed and is served from.

    And now, PodTalk.live has emerged from its Beta stage and is ready for foundation members to shape the next phase of its development.

    About PodTalk.Live:

    PodTalk.live was designed to be an alternative platform to other social media platforms. PodTalk has all the functions that most social media platforms have but has placed the user-experience at the centre of its backend design and engineering.

    PodTalk.live has been custom-designed, created and is served from New Zealand.

    “We ourselves became annoyed at how social media giants use algorithms to drive what content their users see and experience. And, we also were appalled at how some social media companies trade user data, and were unresponsive to user-concerns” Selwyn Manning said.

    “So we decided to create a platform that focuses on ‘discussion and debate’ communities, and we have engineered PodTalk to ensure the content that users see is what they choose – rather than some obscure algorithm making that decision for them.

    “PodTalk.live is independent from other social media platforms, and at best will become an alternative choice for people who seek a community where they are the centre of a platform’s core purpose.

    “And today, we invite people to sign up now and become foundation members of this new and ethically-based social community platform,” Selwyn Manning said.

    PodTalk.live provides:

    • user profiles with full interactivities with other users and friends
    • user created groups, posts, video, images, polls, and file sharing
    • private and secure one-on-one (and group) messages
    • availability of all the above for entry users with a free membership
    • premium membership for podcasters and event publishers requiring easy to use podcast publication and syndication services
    • next-level community engagement tools that users all on the one platform.

    In addition, PodTalk.live will host:

    • Live audio and video webcasts with special guests and member talkback events
    • premium video and audio podcasts (on-demand and live)
    • premium posts on big issues from prominent writers
    • featured documentaries on interesting and important topics.

    Security Safety Moderation:

    Security and safety has been baked into PodTalk’s function and culture. And at PodTalk, free-speech is welcomed but hate speech is rejected.

    “With PodTalk, we recognise that many people, wherever they live, require security and at times anonymity so to avoid reprisals from authorities and other actors,” Selwyn manning said.

    “Along with a strong focus on security, and guidance on how to remain anonymous when necessary, we have built robust member-moderation into the core of PodTalk to ensure users are in control of their experience.”

    “PodTalk has robust moderation tools so that members can easily block and report those who they feel disrupt their experience,” Selwyn Manning said.

    And now, we invite all who seek an information, discussion and debating community to register as foundation members.

    To do so, simply go to: https://PodTalk.Live and register. Once on the platform, members can familiarise themselves with what PodTalk.Live has to offer, and begin to create their own online community experience.

    “We are working on audio-to-text multi-language translation+transcription tools, and will soon push the boundaries of cutting edge on-platform communication tools,” Selwyn Manning said.

    The platform already has cutting edge tech, also smart community and premium publishing tools – including an invitation tool so you can invite your friends and grow your community.

    PodTalk.live is founded on the belief that for social, political and economical progress to occur people need to discuss issues in a safe environment and embark on robust debate.

    Register free as a founder. Check out the platform. See you there…

    – Published by MIL OSI in partnership with NewzEngine.com

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Trade Minister hosts NZ Saudi Arabia Joint Ministerial Commission

    Source: New Zealand Government

    Minister for Trade and Investment Hon Todd McClay will today welcome Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture, His Excellency Eng Abdulrahman A. AlFadley, to New Zealand.
    Minister AlFadley is leading a delegation of more than 35 senior Saudi officials and business people to Auckland for the 9th New Zealand–Saudi Arabia Joint Ministerial Commission—a key platform for advancing trade and economic ties between the two countries.
    “The hosting of this Joint Commission in New Zealand reflects the strong momentum in our relationship with Saudi Arabia and the broader Gulf region, particularly following the successful conclusion of negotiations for the New Zealand-Gulf Cooperation Council Free Trade Agreement late last year,” Mr McClay says.
    “In a time of global uncertainty, the Government is focused on opening doors for Kiwi exporters and providing greater certainty for New Zealand businesses.
    lf’s largest economy and one of our top export markets, with exports reaching $1.14 billion last year, Saudi Arabia presents significant opportunities for Kiwi businesses through the NZ-GCC FTA.” 
    Alongside the Commission, the Ministers will participate in business outreach focused on agriculture, technology, and digital innovation.
    “This visit provides a valuable opportunity to profile world-class Kiwi exporters and highlight investment opportunities in New Zealand’s fast-growing tech sectors,” Mr McClay says.
    The Joint Ministerial Commission and business programme will run from 28–30 April in Auckland.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: AI game-changer for timber manufacturing

    Source: Worksafe New Zealand

    AI-driven hazard detection is coming to timber manufacturing, thanks to a new agreement worth nearly half a million dollars between WorkSafe New Zealand and a major player in the wood processing industry.

    Claymark, New Zealand’s largest manufacturer and exporter of premium pine products, is putting $481,000 into a range of initiatives. It comes after a worker had two fingers amputated in a machine at Claymark’s Rotorua factory in February 2023.

    WorkSafe’s investigation found the machine was unguarded and there was an ineffective system for maintenance. Training and supervision of workers also fell short.

    WorkSafe has now accepted an enforceable undertaking (EU) from Claymark. An EU is a binding commitment to fund and resource comprehensive health and safety improvements. Claymark’s EU includes:

    • CCTV systems incorporating AI technology to indicate risks to workers’ health and safety in real time.
    • Offering up to 15 trials of the technology to other businesses in the wood manufacturing sector.
    • Microlearning and interactive displays in break rooms to upskill workers on health and safety.
    • Reparation to the victim.

    We are sharing details of the investment to coincide with World Day for Health and Safety at Work, which this year focuses on the impacts of digitalisation and artificial intelligence on workers’ health and safety.

    Workers in action at Claymark’s Vaughan Road factory in Rotorua.

    “We are looking forward to seeing Claymark pioneer its AI innovation to benefit the timber processing sector more broadly. Agreements like this are all about enacting positive improvements from an adverse event,” says WorkSafe’s Head of Regulatory Services, Tracey Conlon.

    “The initiatives align with WorkSafe’s priority plan for manufacturing, which is one of the most high-risk sectors for workers in Aotearoa. Unsafe machinery is a persistent problem in the sector, which businesses cannot overlook.”

    EUs are a way for WorkSafe to hold businesses accountable for health and safety breaches. WorkSafe monitors progress on the agreed commitments and can seek a court order enforcing them if they are not upheld. WorkSafe’s role is to influence businesses to meet their responsibilities and keep people healthy and safe.

    Read the Claymark decision document

    Find out about enforceable undertakings

    Statement from Claymark’s executive director Paul Pedersen

    At Claymark, the health, safety, and wellbeing of our people is our highest priority. An incident involving one of our team members has had a significant impact – both physically and emotionally. We acknowledge the effect this has had on the individual, their whānau, and our wider community, and we are committed to learning from this experience to ensure safer outcomes for everyone.

    Through our enforceable undertaking, we see a valuable opportunity to drive meaningful, people-focused change – both within Claymark and across the wood manufacturing sector.

    Our key initiatives include:

    • Engaging with local communities and schools in the towns where we operate to promote safe wood manufacturing practices and support safe, informed pathways into the industry.
    • Working alongside the Central North Island Wood Council (CNIWC) and other industry bodies to share our learnings and help build a stronger health and safety culture sector-wide.
    • Investing in our people through modern, online and interactive training modules, with flexible learning tailored to roles and responsibilities. We are also exploring the potential of AI to support smarter, more responsive safety systems and personalised learning experiences.

    This is about more than compliance – it’s about creating a workplace where our people feel informed, supported, and safe. Claymark is committed to continuous improvement and collaboration as we work towards a safer, stronger future for our people, our industry, and our communities.

    Statement from the injured worker

    On 27 February 2023, my life changed forever. While performing my job, I suffered an injury that resulted in the amputation of two fingers on my right hand. Since that day, I’ve undergone three surgeries to address the damage, and while recovery has been challenging, I remain hopeful about the possibility of prosthetic fingers in the future.

    Everyday tasks I once took for granted like writing, showering, even holding objects, now require patience and adaptation. Music, which has always been a passion of mine, has become a bittersweet pursuit; playing the guitar and trumpet now demands creativity and resilience as I relearn techniques with my altered hand.

    Throughout this journey, my wife, children, and wider whānau have been my rock. Their unwavering emotional support and practical help have carried me through the darkest moments of my recovery. I cannot overstate how grateful I am for their love and strength.

    I’m deeply appreciative of Claymark’s commitment to workplace safety improvements outlined in this agreement, many of which I’ve witnessed firsthand. At 51, retirement isn’t an option I’m ready to consider which is why I feel fortunate to continue contributing to Claymark’s team. While my path forward looks different than I once imagined, I’m determined to adapt and keep moving ahead, one day at a time.

    Media contacts

    For WorkSafe: media@worksafe.govt.nz

    For Claymark: walter@claymark.co.nz

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI: BDTCOIN (BDTC) Is Listed On AscendEX! Trade Now!

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    FERNANDINA BEACH, Fla., April 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — BDTCOIN, the world’s first gold-backed cryptocurrency, is now expanding its reach through listing on AscendEX. AscendEX is one of the fastest-growing centralised crypto trading exchanges over 90 M+ Active users and 200 M+ Daily trading volume. 300+ cryptocurrencies are available to trade. Starting from 28th April, 10 AM UTC, AscendEX users will be able to trade $BDTC Coin.

    $BDTC is the native coin of BDTCOIN, which is built on the principles of decentralization and financial accessibility, aiming to empower individuals, especially those in underserved regions, with easy access to secure and cost-effective financial services. By leveraging blockchain technology, BDTCOIN facilitates seamless cross-border transactions, enabling users to navigate the complexities of international payments with ease.

    $BDTC Coin’s previous two listings, one on MEXC and Lbank, were greatly successful. The listing on AscendEX builds on this progress by offering greater liquidity and accessibility to a broader user base. AscendEX’s established reputation and global presence make it a fitting choice for this expansion.

    The strong buy support on LBank and MEXC highlighted investor trust, indicating BDTCoin’s potential for sustained growth and a lasting impact on the market. This impressive performance on LBank and MEXC has positioned BDTCoin as a noteworthy contender in the dynamic cryptocurrency space, reinforcing its credibility as a dependable and valuable digital asset.

    “This listing on AscendEX is an exciting step in our mission to bring financial tools to everyone, regardless of where they are. We’re committed to building a system where users have real control over their assets while connecting to next-gen financial solutions,” said the Creator of BDTCOIN. “AscendEX’s platform offers the reach and reliability we need to make $BDTC more accessible and practical for a global audience.”

    Deposit: April 28, 4:00 AM UTC | https://bdtcoin.co/
    Explorer: https://bdtcoin.info
    Development: https://bdtcoin.org
    Contact: Admin Email: Admin@bdtcoin.co

    Disclaimer: This is a paid post and is provided by BDTCOIN. The statements, views, and opinions expressed in this content are solely those of the content provider and do not necessarily reflect the views of this media platform or its publisher. We do not endorse, verify, or guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any information presented. We do not guarantee any claims, statements, or promises made in this article. This content is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial, investment, or trading advice.Investing in crypto and mining-related opportunities involves significant risks, including the potential loss of capital. It is possible to lose all your capital. These products may not be suitable for everyone, and you should ensure that you understand the risks involved. Seek independent advice if necessary. Speculate only with funds that you can afford to lose. Readers are strongly encouraged to conduct their own research and consult with a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions. However, due to the inherently speculative nature of the blockchain sector—including cryptocurrency, NFTs, and mining—complete accuracy cannot always be guaranteed.
    Neither the media platform nor the publisher shall be held responsible for any fraudulent activities, misrepresentations, or financial losses arising from the content of this press release. In the event of any legal claims or charges against this article, we accept no liability or responsibility. Globenewswire does not endorse any content on this page.

    Legal Disclaimer: This media platform provides the content of this article on an “as-is” basis, without any warranties or representations of any kind, express or implied. We assume no responsibility for any inaccuracies, errors, or omissions. We do not assume any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information presented herein. Any concerns, complaints, or copyright issues related to this article should be directed to the content provider mentioned above.

    Photos accompanying this announcement are available at:
    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/523542cf-b509-4df8-9b71-2d95a1c74585
    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/9fcfc047-4014-4dc4-a11d-f01dfe5c190c

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: XRP News: XenDex Fills Up More Than 30% of Its Presale as Community Activity Grows Rapidly

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SYDNEY, April 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The pace is unstoppable and XenDex is leading the charge. Just about three days into its presale, more than 30% of the $XDX token allocation has already been claimed, cementing XenDex’s position as one of the fastest-moving DeFi projects on the XRP Ledger.

    Crypto investors, whales, and XRP holders are flooding into the XenDex presale to secure their allocations early, as word spreads across the XRP community about the powerful suite of DeFi features XenDex brings to the ecosystem. Community engagement has surged, with thousands actively participating, sharing, and rallying behind what is now seen as the DeFi revolution on XRPL.

    Buy XDX Now!

    The $XDX token presale continues to draw rapid participation from investors eager to grab tokens at launch pricing, before market listings push prices higher.

    Presale Infromation:

    • Token: $XDX
    • Exchange Rate: 1 XRP = 10 XDX
    • Minimum Buy: 150 XRP (1,500 XDX)
    • Soft Cap: 30,000 XRP

    Join Now Before It’s Late: https://xendex.net/presale

    XenDex is more than a DEX, it’s the first full-service DeFi platform built for XRP holders, solving key gaps the Ripple ecosystem has long faced:

    Buy XRP’s XDX At Lowest Rate

    With features never before seen together on XRPL, XenDex is not just catching attention, it’s creating a movement.

    Thousands of XRP holders are now active across XenDex’s Telegram and X (Twitter) communities, making it one of the fastest-growing and most engaged ecosystems on the XRP Ledger.

    With more than 30% of the presale filled and thousands joining daily, early access to $XDX is disappearing fast. Early buyers will benefit not only from lower pricing but also from exclusive staking rewards, voting rights, and future platform bonuses.

    The window is closing, join now or watch the next wave of DeFi innovation pass you by.

    Join XDX Presale

    XenDex Is A Revolutionizing DeFi on XRP. Join Before It’s Too Late.

    XenDex Official Links:

    Website: https://xendex.net
    Presale: https://xendex.net/presale
    Telegram: https://t.me/xendexcommunity
    Twitter/X: https://x.com/xendex_xrp
    Docs: https://xdxdocs.gitbook.io

    Contact:
    Frank Richards
    Frank@xendex.net

    Disclaimer: This is a paid post provided by XenDex. The statements, views, and opinions expressed in this content are solely those of the content provider and do not necessarily reflect the views of this media platform or its publisher. We do not endorse, verify, or guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any information presented. We do not guarantee any claims, statements, or promises made in this article. This content is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial, investment, or trading advice. Investing in crypto and mining-related opportunities involves significant risks, including the potential loss of capital. It is possible to lose all your capital. These products may not be suitable for everyone, and you should ensure that you understand the risks involved. Seek independent advice if necessary. Speculate only with funds that you can afford to lose. Readers are strongly encouraged to conduct their own research and consult with a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions. However, due to the inherently speculative nature of the blockchain sector—including cryptocurrency, NFTs, and mining—complete accuracy cannot always be guaranteed. Neither the media platform nor the publisher shall be held responsible for any fraudulent activities, misrepresentations, or financial losses arising from the content of this press release. In the event of any legal claims or charges against this article, we accept no liability or responsibility. Globenewswire does not endorse any content on this page.

    Legal Disclaimer: This media platform provides the content of this article on an “as-is” basis, without any warranties or representations of any kind, express or implied. We assume no responsibility for any inaccuracies, errors, or omissions. We do not assume any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information presented herein. Any concerns, complaints, or copyright issues related to this article should be directed to the content provider mentioned above.

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/526c6f31-2947-4bd4-8c8d-00f18223ebec

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Deputy Secretary Edgar Joins HSI Drug Trafficking Warrant Operation in Los Angeles

    Source: US Department of Homeland Security

    Los Angeles, CA – On Friday, Homeland Security Deputy Secretary Troy Edgar joined Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Los Angeles in a warrant operation that resulted in the arrest of a suspected drug trafficker.

    “Day in and day out, our HSI agents are empowered under the leadership of President Trump and Secretary Noem to remove gang members, criminals, and drugs from our communities,” said Deputy Secretary Edgar. “I’m thankful for the frontline heroes who keep Americans safe from the worst of the worst law breakers.”

    The HSI Los Angeles Special Response Team executed three state search warrants that resulted in the arrest of wanted fugitive. Search warrants were executed in La Puente, Pomona, and Compton, California regarding an ongoing drug trafficking investigation for cocaine, fentanyl, and methamphetamine. 

    Pedro Sainz Minjarez was arrested for an outstanding warrant regarding possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance and conspiracy. This is a joint investigation involving the Riverside Sheriff’s Office, United States Customs and Border Protection, and the United States Marshals Service.

    Deputy Secretary Edgar, coleader of the HSTF, also led a meeting Friday with partners in Los Angeles to discuss delivering President Trump’s priorities. Under the HSTF, the Department of Homeland Security and Department of Justice have joined in a historic partnership to tackle crime and keep Americans safe. 

    Participants of the meeting included representatives from the Los Angeles HSI, ATF, ERO, FBI, and U.S. Attorney offices.

    ###
     

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Rhode Island Man Admits Role to Defraud New Hampshire Automobile Dealership

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    PROVIDENCE – A Providence man admitted to a federal judge in Rhode Island that he participated in a scheme to defraud automobile dealerships in Rhode Island and New Hampshire, announced Acting United States Attorney Sara Miron Bloom.

    Adalberto Mauricio Romero, 28, admitted that he intended to defraud a New Hampshire dealership in May 2022, when he sought to take possession of a Land Rover valued at $95,713. Delivery of the vehicle to Romero was halted when he presented a fraudulent driver’s license containing information that was used as part of an online application to secure financing through a dealership financing program.

    Romero pleaded guilty on April 24. 2025, to a charge of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. He is scheduled to be sentenced on July 24, 2025. The sentence imposed will be determined by a federal district judge after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

    The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Paul F. Daly, Jr.

    The matter was investigated by the Warwick, RI, Police Department, the Bedford, NH, Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations, and the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General. 

    ###

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Building access to justice for Albertans | Améliorer l’accès à la justice pour les Albertaines et Albertains

    Government of Alberta and Judiciary representatives with special guests at the Red Deer Justice Centre plaque unveiling event April 22, 2025.

    Albertans deserve to have access to a fair, accessible and transparent justice system. Modernizing Alberta’s courthouse infrastructure will help make sure Alberta’s justice system runs efficiently and meets the needs of the province’s growing population.

    Alberta’s government has invested $191 million to build the new Red Deer Justice Centre, increasing the number of courtrooms from eight to 12, allowing more cases to be heard at one time.

    “Modern, accessible courthouses and streamlined services not only strengthen our justice system – they build safer, stronger communities across the province. Investing in the new Red Deer Justice Centre is vital to helping our justice system operate more efficiently, and will give people in Red Deer and across central Alberta better access to justice.”

    Mickey Amery, Minister of Justice and Attorney General

    On March 3, all court services in Red Deer began operating out of the new justice centre. The new justice centre has 12 courtrooms fully built and equipped with video-conference equipment to allow witnesses to attend remotely if they cannot travel, and vulnerable witnesses to testify from outside the courtroom.

    The new justice centre also has spaces for people taking alternative approaches to the traditional courtroom trial process, with the three new suites for judicial dispute resolution services, a specific suite for other dispute resolution services, such as family mediation and civil mediation, and a new Indigenous courtroom with dedicated venting for smudging purposes.

    “We are very excited about this new courthouse for central Alberta. Investing in the places where people seek justice shows respect for the rights of all Albertans. The Red Deer Justice Centre fills a significant infrastructure need for this rapidly growing part of the province. It is also an important symbol of the rule of law, meaning that none of us are above the law, and there is an independent judiciary to decide disputes. This is essential for a healthy functioning democracy.”

    Ritu Khullar, chief justice of Alberta

    “Public safety and access to justice go hand in hand. With this investment in the new Red Deer Justice Centre, Alberta’s government is ensuring that communities are safer, legal matters are resolved more efficiently and all Albertans get the support they need.”

    Mike Ellis, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Services

    “This state-of-the-art facility will serve the people of Red Deer and surrounding communities for generations. Our team at Infrastructure is incredibly proud of the work done to plan, design and build this project. I want to thank everyone, at all levels, who helped make this project a reality.”

    Martin Long, Minister of Infrastructure

    Budget 2025 is meeting the challenge faced by Alberta with continued investments in education and health, lower taxes for families and a focus on the economy.

    Quick facts

    • The new Red Deer Justice Centre is 312,000 sq ft (29,000 m2). (The old courthouse is 98,780 sq ft (9,177 m2)).
    • The approved project funding for the Red Deer Justice Centre is about $191 million.

    Related news

    • Red Deer’s first new courthouse in 40 years (Nov. 8, 2024)
    • Empowering Albertans dealing with family law matters (April 15, 2024)
    • Increasing access to family justice services (Dec. 1, 2023)

    Le nouveau Centre judiciaire de Red Deer aidera les Albertaines et Albertains à régler leurs affaires juridiques plus rapidement.

    Des représentants du système judiciaire et du gouvernement de l’Alberta accompagnés d’invités spéciaux lors du dévoilement d’une plaque au Centre judiciaire de Red Deer le 22 avril 2025.

    Les Albertaines et Albertains méritent d’avoir accès à un système de justice équitable, accessible et transparent. La modernisation de l’infrastructure du palais de justice de l’Alberta aidera à faire en sorte que le système de justice de la province fonctionne efficacement et réponde aux besoins de la population croissante de la province.

    Le gouvernement de l’Alberta a investi 191 millions de dollars dans la construction du nouveau Centre judiciaire de Red Deer, faisant passer le nombre de salles d’audience de 8 à 12, ce qui permet d’entendre plus de causes en même temps.

    « Des palais de justice modernes et accessibles et des services simplifiés renforcent non seulement notre système de
    justice – ils construisent des communautés plus sûres et plus fortes dans toute la province. Il est essentiel d’investir dans le nouveau Centre judiciaire de Red Deer pour aider notre système judiciaire à fonctionner plus efficacement et donnera aux habitants de Red Deer et du centre de l’Alberta un meilleur accès à la justice. »

    Mickey Amery, ministre de la Justice et procureur général

    Le 3 mars, tous les services judiciaires de Red Deer ont commencé à fonctionner à partir du nouveau centre judiciaire. Le nouveau centre judiciaire comprend 12 salles d’audience entièrement construites et équipées d’équipement de vidéoconférence pour permettre aux témoins d’assister à distance s’ils ne peuvent pas se déplacer, et aux témoins vulnérables de témoigner depuis l’extérieur de la salle d’audience.

    Le nouveau centre judiciaire offre également des espaces pour les personnes qui adoptent d’autres approches au processus traditionnel de procès en salle d’audience, avec les trois nouvelles pièces pour les services judiciaires de règlement des différends, une pièce spécifique pour d’autres services de règlement des différends, comme la médiation familiale et la médiation civile, et une nouvelle salle d’audience pour les Autochtones, où l’on se consacre exclusivement à la purification par la fumée.

    « Nous nous réjouissons de ce nouveau palais de justice pour le centre de l’Alberta. Investir dans les endroits où les gens cherchent à obtenir justice, c’est respecter les droits de tous les Albertaines et Albertains. Le Centre judiciaire de Red Deer répond à un besoin important en infrastructure pour cette partie de la province qui connaît une croissance rapide. C’est aussi un symbole important de la primauté du droit, ce qui signifie qu’aucun d’entre nous n’est au-dessus de la loi et qu’il y a une magistrature indépendante pour trancher les différends. C’est essentiel pour une démocratie saine et fonctionnelle. »

    Ritu Khullar, juge en chef de l’Alberta

    « La sécurité publique et l’accès à la justice vont de pair. Grâce à cet investissement dans le nouveau Centre judiciaire de Red Deer, le gouvernement de l’Alberta veille à ce que les collectivités soient plus sûres, à ce que les questions juridiques soient réglées plus efficacement et à ce que tous les Albertaines et Albertains obtiennent le soutien dont ils ont besoin. »

    Mike Ellis, ministre de la Sécurité publique et des Services d’urgence

    « Cette installation à la fine pointe de la technologie servira les habitants de Red Deer et des collectivités environnantes pendant des générations. Notre équipe du ministère des Infrastructures est extrêmement fière du travail accompli pour planifier, concevoir et réaliser ce projet. Je tiens à remercier tous ceux qui, à tous les niveaux, ont contribué à la réalisation de ce projet. »

    Martin Long, ministre des Infrastructures

    Le budget de 2025 répond au défi que doit relever l’Alberta en continuant d’investir dans l’éducation et la santé, en réduisant les impôts pour les familles et en mettant l’accent sur l’économie.

    Faits en bref

    • Le nouveau Centre judiciaire de Red Deer mesure 312 000 pieds carrés (29 000 m2). (L’ancien palais de justice mesure 98 780 pieds carrés [9 177 m2]).
    • Le financement de projet approuvé pour le Centre judiciaire de Red Deer est d’environ 191 millions de dollars.

    Nouvelles connexes

    • Red Deer’s first new courthouse in 40 years(en anglais seulement) (8 novembre 2024)
    • Empowering Albertans dealing with family law matters (en anglais seulement) (15 avril 2024)
    • Increasing access to family justice services (en anglais seulement) (1er décembre 2023)

    Translations

    • Arabic
    • Simplified Chinese
    • Traditional Chinese
    • Punjabi
    • Spanish
    • Ukrainian

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Investigators are increasingly using technology in conflict-related sexual assault cases

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Valerie Oosterveld, Professor, Faculty of Law, and Western Research Chair in International Criminal Justice, Western University

    In the last two weeks of February, humanitarian agencies reported 895 cases of conflict-related rape as M23 rebels advanced through the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). According to a United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees official, this was an average of more than 60 rapes a day.



    Read more:
    M23’s capture of Goma is the latest chapter in eastern Congo’s long-running war

    UNICEF officials reported similarly grim figures. Between Jan. 27 and Feb. 2, 2025, the number of rape cases treated across 42 health facilities in DRC jumped five-fold, with 30 per cent of these cases being children.

    While immediate responses are needed to stop the violence, provide health care to the survivors and assist the displaced, the pursuit of justice also plays a critical role.

    Investigative bodies, including the International Criminal Court (ICC), are increasingly using technology to investigate conflict-related sexual violence. In a recent research project, my team interviewed experts who specialize in conflict-related sexual violence investigations around the world. The research was supported by XCEPT, a conflict research program funded by the United Kingdom’s Department for International Development.

    Investigating sexual violence

    The ICC’s chief prosecutor, Karim Khan, visited DRC at the end of February and met with sexual violence survivors. The ICC has the mandate to investigate rape, sexual slavery and other gender-based violence amounting to genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes. The office had reactivated investigations in October 2024.

    Investigators start by speaking to survivors, following guidelines such as the 2023 Policy on Gender-Based Crimes or the Global Code of Conduct for Gathering and Using Information About Systematic and Conflict-Related Sexual Violence. The Global Code of Conduct is known as the Murad Code after Nobel Peace Prize recipient and advocate Nadia Murad.

    In our research, we found that survivors of conflict-related sexual violence are connecting with investigators through various technologies, such as directly using encrypted apps like Signal. Survivors also go through civil society organizations equipped to take video or electronic statements — Yazda, for example, which works with Yazidi survivors of ISIS crimes in northern Iraq — or via portals like the ICC’s OTPLink. The UN’s Commissions of Inquiry also encourage and receive email submissions.

    International courts and investigative bodies are also analyzing open-source information on conflict-related sexual violence, such as videos, photos and statements posted on online platforms. Guided by the Berkeley Protocol on Digital Open Source Investigations, this information can be useful to support witness statements, place alleged perpetrators at the scene of the violations and link incidents into a pattern of similar violence.

    For example, the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Syria described how ISIS used the encrypted app Telegram and other online platforms to buy and sell captured Yazidi women and girls across the Iraq-Syria border to sustain its sabaya (sexual slavery) system.

    In Ukraine, our study found that the main technology-related concern in open-source data gathering is identifying AI-created and other artificially generated images, specifically designed and planted in the public domain as a form of disinformation or to compromise investigations.

    Face and voice recognition

    Conflict-related sexual violence is often perpetrated indoors which makes certain technologies like satellite or drone imagery less useful. However, other forms of technology have proven to be beneficial in Ukraine’s investigations. In particular, face and voice recognition software have supported efforts to identify alleged perpetrators.

    While Ukraine’s experience points to some successes, investigations into sexual violence committed by ISIS in northern Iraq have been hampered. This is partly due to the lack of automated translation software in the Yazidi language to facilitate the transcription and translation of testimonies.

    This speaks to the importance of developing software to translate minority languages spoken in armed conflict zones.

    Survivor concerns

    Survivors have expressed concerns about the turn to the digital. They fear that their identities and experiences may be revealed through hacking or poor data handling, which could put them at risk of reprisals from perpetrators or their accomplices. It could also lead to stigmatization and ostracization in some communities, undoing survivors’ efforts to rebuild their lives.

    To address these concerns, international courts and investigative bodies have adopted data protection protocols. However, the lack of a standardized framework for the use of technology in the investigation of conflict-related sexual violence remains a significant concern for the investigators we interviewed.

    Such a framework would incorporate best practices in supporting survivors providing evidence, tracking and preserving open source information and developing new technological applications.

    If there is to be justice for survivors of conflict-related rape in DRC and elsewhere, technology — provided it is used with great sensitivity — will likely be an important and timely aid.

    Valerie Oosterveld received funding for this research from the UK’s Cross-Border Conflict Evidence, Policy, and Trends (XCEPT) research programme.

    – ref. Investigators are increasingly using technology in conflict-related sexual assault cases – https://theconversation.com/investigators-are-increasingly-using-technology-in-conflict-related-sexual-assault-cases-249227

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LCQ19: Policy on development of international schools

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    LCQ19: Policy on development of international schools 
    Question:
     
    There are views that Hong Kong is facing a demographic problem brought by a low birth rate and the persistent under-enrolment in schools on the one hand, while the number of applications for late admission of dependent children of arrivals under various talent admission schemes has increased sharply on the other, posing new challenges to the supply and demand of school places. Meanwhile, the policy of allocating vacant school premises/school sites for the development of international schools has further affected the allocation of local education resources. Regarding the policy on the development of international schools, will the Government inform this Council:
     
    (1) of the respective numbers of applications received and approved by the authorities from school sponsoring bodies of international schools applying for operation in Hong Kong in each of the past five years; the factors on which the authorities based in approving the applications from international schools for operation;
     
    (2) under the policy of allocating vacant school premises/school sites for the development of international schools, of the criteria by which the Government allocates sites for the development of international schools; how it ensures that the provision of sites for the development of international schools does not undermine local education resources at the same time; and
     
    (3) whether it knows the respective requirements for local and non-local students under the enrolment policies of international schools and private schools newly applying for operation; how the Government ensures that, after the conversion of aided schools to private schools, sufficient aided school places can still be maintained in Hong Kong to uphold educational equity?

    Reply:
     
    President,
     
         The education system in Hong Kong provides parents with diversified and high-quality choices. The Government’s policy objective is to provide 12 years’ free primary and secondary education to all children through public sector schools. Apart from publicly-funded schools, private schools in Hong Kong have been playing a unique role in offering local and non-local curricula according to their mission. International schools belong to the private school sector and operate on a self-financing and market-driven basis. In general, they are not subsidised by public funds for capital costs and daily operation.
     
         The Government is committed to supporting the development of a vibrant international school sector, mainly to meet the demand for school places from non-local families living in Hong Kong and families coming to Hong Kong for work or investment. This policy objective is crucial in attracting and retaining talent in support of Hong Kong’s development as an international centre on finance, business, innovation and technology, education and culture, and reinforcing Hong Kong’s role as an international cosmopolitan with global connectivity.
     
         Regarding the question asked by Hon Tang Fei, the reply is as follows:
     
    (1) and (2) There are 54 international schools (including one special school) in Hong Kong. There is no newly established international school in the past five years. In the 2023/24 school year, international schools admitted about 42 100 students, accounting for 6.4 per cent of primary and secondary students in Hong Kong. There are two ways to set up an international school in Hong Kong:
     
    (i) Application for registration as a private school first and seek recognition as an international school: School sponsoring body may identify private land and/or school premises in Hong Kong for operation of school and apply to the Education Bureau (EDB) for registration as private school. After the private school has been in operation for a certain period of time, the school operator may then seek the EDB’s recognition of the school as an international school subject to its fulfillment of relevant requirements. The start-up requirements include at least 70 per cent of the school places allocated to non-local students (Note), a proven track record of school operation and full accreditation from an established accreditation body, a sustainable financial plan.
     
    (ii) Participation in the School Allocation Exercise (SAE): The supply of international school places is planned on a territory-wide basis. The EDB commissions a consultancy study from time to time on the provision of international school places at primary and secondary levels in Hong Kong. When there is a projected shortfall of international school places, the Government will allocate greenfield sites or vacant school premises (VSPs) for international school use through an open and competitive bidding mechanism as appropriate, to increase the number of international school places. It has been 10 years since the last allocation of greenfield sites and VSPs to international schools (in 2014). In the light of the overwhelming response to various talent admission schemes in the past two years, the EDB is conducting an SAE to allocate two VSPs offering some school places in meeting any short-term surge in education needs of dependant children of incoming talent from both the Mainland and overseas.
     
    All along, the vast majority of education expenditure and land resources have been allocated to publicly-funded schools. For example, since the implementation of the existing SAE mechanism in 1999, the Government has allocated 156 school sites or VSPs for public sector primary and secondary schools. During the same period, the Government allocated only 16 school sites or VSPs for international school development. Since 2017, the EDB has sought funding approval from the Finance Committee of the Legislative Council and completed a total of 37 school building projects during the period, all of which are public sector school projects except one was an international school redevelopment project.
     
    (3) Private schools, which operate on a self-financing and market-driven basis, may set their own school-based admission requirements and procedures for admitting students (including non-local students who have been approved to study or reside in Hong Kong). The requirement on the percentage of non-local students to be admitted applies to the international schools operated by the English Schools Foundation and the new campuses of international schools which entered into a service agreement with the EDB upon allocation of school premises or sites since 2007. These schools/campuses were required to enrol no less than 50 per cent of non-local students, and the percentage has been raised to 70 per cent by the EDB since 2009, in accordance with the terms of the service agreements. As Hong Kong has returned to normalcy and has been actively attracting more foreign investment and talent to the territory, the EDB expects that the number of non-local students, including those from the Mainland and overseas, to be admitted by international schools will increase gradually.
     
    The EDB will continue to closely monitor the number of newly-arrived children and the demand for school places of the dependants of various talent schemes, and to conduct dynamic assessment of the demand for and supply of school places, as well as reserve sufficient school places in public sector schools for eligible school-age children. Should an existing publicly-funded school wish to cease operation and convert into a private school, it has to apply to the EDB for change of its mode of operation and for registration. The EDB will consider a basket of factors, including the lease conditions and restrictions on the use of the land of the school, curriculum planning, class structure, staff establishment, etc, to ensure that the school is capable of providing quality education.
     
    Note: Local students refer to those who are Hong Kong permanent residents (with the right of abode in Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR)) and do not have any valid passport other than HKSAR Passport. Students not covered by this definition are all regarded as non-local students.
    Issued at HKT 12:37

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LCQ5: Nurturing foreign language talents

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    LCQ5: Nurturing foreign language talents 
    Question:
     
         In 2018, the State President stated at the National Conference on Education that vigorous efforts should be made to nurture international talents proficient in foreign languages and adept at Chinese-foreign negotiations and communications. There are views that as the country’s super connector and super value-adder, as well as the premier international financial centre connecting the country and the Middle East market, Hong Kong needs to nurture a large pool of foreign language talents. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
     
    (1) when Government officials make overseas visits and when the Government releases videos and hands out publications overseas to promote Hong Kong, whether local mother tongues of the relevant places have been used as the medium of communication; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;
     
    (2) as it is learnt that there are a number of language universities in the country, such as Beijing Foreign Studies University, which is approved to teach more than a hundred foreign languages, whether the Government will study allocating more resources to tertiary institutions to strengthen training in foreign languages other than English, or establishing foreign language universities drawing on the models of the Mainland, with a view to nurturing multilingual talents in public and private organisations, so that they can tell the good stories of Hong Kong in different languages; and
     
    (3) whether it will study enhancing the existing “biliterate and trilingual” policy by turning it into a “triliterate and quadrilingual” policy?
     
    Reply:
     
    President,
     
         Hong Kong is a cosmopolitan city. In recent years, various national strategies have even brought about tremendous development opportunities for Hong Kong, which require us to strengthen exchanges and co-operation with the Mainland and overseas regions and countries by capitalising on our advantage of “linkage with our Motherland and close connection to the world”. To enhance our international competitiveness and strengthen our position as an international post-secondary education hub, we have been striving to nurture talents who are biliterate and trilingual, and proficient in other languages.
     
         Having consulted the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau and the Information Services Department (ISD), I would like to reply to the Hon Benson Luk’s questions as follows:
     
    (1) Currently, in taking forward overseas promotion work, the overseas Economic and Trade Offices (ETOs) of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government and Invest Hong Kong (InvestHK) will make appropriate arrangements taking into account the common languages of the relevant places. For instance, apart from the English version of the relevant ETOs’ websites, languages commonly used in the countries/regions under their respective purview are also available, e.g. Japanese, Thai, German, Arabic to facilitate local people in understanding the information disseminated by ETOs. Also, for meetings between officials of the HKSAR Government and local officials/representatives of the political and business sectors and preparation of relevant promotional materials, the ETOs concerned will arrange interpretation and prepare and issue the relevant promotion materials in local languages as appropriate.
     
         In addition, to facilitate investors from around the world to understand the latest information about Hong Kong’s business environment, InvestHK’s website is available in a number of major languages, including simplified Chinese, traditional Chinese, English, Japanese, Spanish, French, Italian, as well as Arabic, which has been newly added. Separately, InvestHK’s promotional videos are mainly in English and Putonghua. Depending on the origin of individual successful case studies, subtitles may be available in the local language. As for InvestHK’s client meetings and promotional materials, Putonghua and simplified Chinese are used on the Mainland, while English and the local language where necessary are used in overseas markets. Interpretation will also be arranged at investment promotion seminars.
     
         On external promotion, the ISD produces a series of creative contents in multiple languages for placement in overseas and Mainland cities through digital and social media platforms, as well as outdoor advertising, in the form of short videos and banner advertisements to tell the good stories of Hong Kong. These creative contents are available in Arabic, Bahasa Indonesia, Dutch, English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Malay, Thai, Vietnamese, etc. The ISD also translated and printed the promotional booklet entitled “HK Connect” into foreign languages such as Arabic, Bahasa Indonesia, Malay and Thai for distribution to target recipients at promotional activities during senior officials’ overseas visits.
     
         Moreover, the ISD has held the “Immersive Hong Kong” promotional roving exhibitions in Jakarta, Indonesia; Bangkok, Thailand; Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; and Guangzhou, China since July 2023. It will also be staged in Dubai, the Middle East next month. In addition to English, the exhibition information is also available in the local languages of each stop to enhance the publicity effect.
     
    (2) The eight University Grants Committee (UGC)-funded universities have all along been making flexible use of their resources to offer a wide range of publicly-funded programmes with regard to their respective roles and positioning, as well as providing diversified learning opportunities for students in response to market demands. Learning foreign languages can help students to understand multiculturalism and strengthen their connections with different parts of the world, thereby enhancing their competitiveness in entering the workforce, pursuing further studies or starting their own businesses in the future. University education also aims to encourage students to acquire knowledge and skills in different fields, and nurture the high-calibre talents required by different industries, so as to inject impetus into the development of Hong Kong.
     
         In recent years, the eight UGC-funded universities have offered as many as 12 contemporary foreign languages for learning, including Arabic, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Kiswahili, Korean, Portuguese, Russian, Swedish, Spanish and Thai. They also offer a range of specialised programmes majoring in individual foreign languages or cultures for students who aspire to become professionals in relevant fields in the future. As for students pursuing undergraduate programmes in other areas such as engineering technology, business or social sciences, a number of universities also offer minor options or foreign language courses as free electives for interested students to pursue having regard to their personal aspirations and abilities. In addition, a number of self-financing institutions at present offer post-secondary programmes related to different foreign languages and relevant elective subjects according to market demand.
     
         The above arrangements for major, minor and free electives enable students to study foreign languages having regard to their learning objectives in an appropriate manner. The existing arrangements meet practical needs with flexibility; hence the Government has no plans to set up a foreign language university. Nevertheless, we will continue to encourage the UGC-funded universities to provide students with opportunities to learn foreign languages, and through various avenues, such as student exchange programmes and experiential learning activities, enable students to gain exposure to the cultures of more places, broaden their horizons, seize Hong Kong’s unique advantages, and be better prepared for their future development.
     
    (3) Over the years, the Government has been collaborating with the Standing Committee on Language Education and Research, other advisory bodies and stakeholders to enable the Hong Kong people, particularly students and working adults, to become biliterate and trilingual, through sponsoring and implementing various measures using the Language Fund. Moreover, the Education Bureau (EDB) endeavours to develop students’ multilingual competence, enabling them to make life planning based on their own interests, abilities and aspirations, and to connect to the world. Over the years, the EDB has offered “other languages” courses (Note 1) (Category C of the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education Examination) for senior secondary students to study as an elective subject. As announced in the 2024 Policy Address, the EDB will implement a pilot scheme to invite schools to apply for additional resources to provide opportunities for junior secondary students to learn “other languages” (Note 2), in order to facilitate a stronger articulation in their learning of “other languages” as an elective subject at the senior secondary level.
     
         Thank you, President.
     
    Note 1: The EDB subsidises schools to offer courses of the six “other languages”, i.e. French, German, Japanese, Korean, Spanish and Urdu, for secondary four to six students.
     
    Note 2: Schools can use the funding to offer junior secondary courses of the six designated “other languages” (i.e. French, German, Japanese, Korean, Spanish and Urdu), which are the senior secondary elective subjects. Arabic and Russian could also be considered.
    Issued at HKT 15:40

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  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Information Expo on Multiple Pathways 2024; “Smart Parent Net” Recommendation: (Video)家長教室: 管教劇場 – 讚賞(Chinese version only)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    The Study Subsidy Scheme for Designated Professions/Sectors (SSSDP) will subsidise a total of 2 330 places under 32 sub-degree programmes offered by eight post-secondary institutions, including Caritas Bianchi College of Careers, HKCT Institute of Higher Education, HKU SPACE Po Leung Kuk Stanley Ho Community College, Hong Kong College of Technology, Hong Kong Metropolitan University (including Li Ka Shing School of Professional and Continuing Education), Saint Francis University, Tung Wah College and YMCA College of Careers, for the cohort to be admitted in the 2024/25 academic year. The programmes and number of subsidised places, which fall under six disciplines with keen manpower demand, namely Architecture and Engineering, Computer Science, Creative Industries, Health Care, Sports and Recreation, and Tourism and Hospitality, are determined by the Education Bureau in consultation with relevant policy bureaux and departments.

    In the 2024/25 academic year, the annual subsidy amounts for non-laboratory-based programmes and laboratory-based programmes are up to about $22,000 and $39,000 respectively. The subsidy amounts are applicable to both new and continuing eligible students. The subsidy is tenable for the normal duration of the programmes concerned. Subsidised students will pay a tuition fee with the subsidy applied. Students in need may still apply for student financial assistance from the Student Finance Office of the Working Family and Student Financial Assistance Agency in respect of the actual amount of tuition fee payable.

    The subsidised places are allocated according to existing admission arrangement of the self-financing sub-degree programmes, i.e., through direct admission by institutions. Students can apply for admission to the designated sub-degree programmes directly through the institutions concerned. Local students who have attained (a) Level 2 or above in five subjects, including English Language and Chinese Language, in the HKDSE Examination; (b) Diploma of Applied Education / Diploma Yi Jin; or (c) Diploma of Foundation Studies awarded by the Vocational Training Council are eligible for the subsidy for sub-degree programmes under SSSDP. The participating institutions are allowed to admit local students with other relevant qualifications, subject to a ceiling of 50% of the subsidised places of the designated programmes.

    For details of the SSSDP, please visit www.cspe.edu.hk/sssdp.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Study Subsidy Scheme for Designated Professions/Sectors – Sub-degree programmes; Public Voting for the Most Popular Award of the “Biliteracy and Trilingualism Campaign: One-minute Video Production Competition”

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    The Study Subsidy Scheme for Designated Professions/Sectors (SSSDP) will subsidise a total of 2 330 places under 32 sub-degree programmes offered by eight post-secondary institutions, including Caritas Bianchi College of Careers, HKCT Institute of Higher Education, HKU SPACE Po Leung Kuk Stanley Ho Community College, Hong Kong College of Technology, Hong Kong Metropolitan University (including Li Ka Shing School of Professional and Continuing Education), Saint Francis University, Tung Wah College and YMCA College of Careers, for the cohort to be admitted in the 2024/25 academic year. The programmes and number of subsidised places, which fall under six disciplines with keen manpower demand, namely Architecture and Engineering, Computer Science, Creative Industries, Health Care, Sports and Recreation, and Tourism and Hospitality, are determined by the Education Bureau in consultation with relevant policy bureaux and departments.

    In the 2024/25 academic year, the annual subsidy amounts for non-laboratory-based programmes and laboratory-based programmes are up to about $22,000 and $39,000 respectively. The subsidy amounts are applicable to both new and continuing eligible students. The subsidy is tenable for the normal duration of the programmes concerned. Subsidised students will pay a tuition fee with the subsidy applied. Students in need may still apply for student financial assistance from the Student Finance Office of the Working Family and Student Financial Assistance Agency in respect of the actual amount of tuition fee payable.

    The subsidised places are allocated according to existing admission arrangement of the self-financing sub-degree programmes, i.e., through direct admission by institutions. Students can apply for admission to the designated sub-degree programmes directly through the institutions concerned. Local students who have attained (a) Level 2 or above in five subjects, including English Language and Chinese Language, in the HKDSE Examination; (b) Diploma of Applied Education / Diploma Yi Jin; or (c) Diploma of Foundation Studies awarded by the Vocational Training Council are eligible for the subsidy for sub-degree programmes under SSSDP. The participating institutions are allowed to admit local students with other relevant qualifications, subject to a ceiling of 50% of the subsidised places of the designated programmes.

    For details of the SSSDP, please visit www.cspe.edu.hk/sssdp.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Fatal traffic accident in Sheung Shui

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Police are investigating a fatal traffic accident happened in Sheung Shui tonight (April 26) in which a man died.

    At 7.25pm, a light goods vehicle driven by a 51-year-old man was travelling along Lung Ma Road towards Queens Hill Estate. When approaching the junction of Lung Ma Road and Lung Chun Road, the light goods vehicle reportedly went out of control and knocked down a 77-year-old man after running onto the pavement.

    Sustaining serious head injuries, the man was rushed to North District Hospital in unconscious state and was certified dead at 8.31pm.

    The driver was arrested for dangerous driving causing death and is being detained for enquiries.

    Investigation by the Special Investigation Team of Traffic, New Territories North is underway.

    Anyone who witnessed the accident or has any information to offer is urged to contact the investigating officers on 3661 3800.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LCQ11: Student financial assistance schemes for tertiary students

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region 3

    LCQ11: Student financial assistance schemes for tertiary students 
    Question:
     
    Regarding the various student financial assistance schemes (SFASs) administered by the Student Finance Office (SFO) of the Working Family and Student Financial Assistance Agency, including (i) the Tertiary Student Finance Scheme—Publicly-funded Programmes, (ii) the Financial Assistance Scheme for Post-secondary Students, (iii) the Non-means-tested Loan Scheme for Full-time Tertiary Students, (iv) the Non-means-tested Loan Scheme for Post-secondary Students and (v) the Extended Non-means-tested Loan Scheme, will the Government inform this Council:
     
    (1) among the students enrolled in recognised University Grants Committee-funded or publicly-funded programmes in each of the past five academic years, of the respective numbers of students who had successfully applied for the aforesaid SFASs and the percentages of those who had been granted full level of assistance, as well as the respective total amounts involved;
     
    (2) of the respective numbers of default cases of the aforesaid SFASs (i.e. cases with two or more consecutive overdue quarterly instalments/six or more consecutive overdue monthly instalments) and the average amounts in default in such cases in each of the past five academic years, as well as the respective total amounts in default and their percentages in the total amount of loans granted under the schemes concerned;
     
    (3) in respect of the default cases of the aforesaid SFASs in each of the past five academic years, of the respective numbers of (i) letters issued to loan borrowers by the Department of Justice before legal proceedings were initiated or judgments were obtained, and cases where Charging Orders, Writs of Fieri Facia and Garnishee Orders were enforced, and (ii) cases in which the SFO wrote off the outstanding loans, as well as the respective total amounts of such write-offs and their percentages in the total amount of the loans;
     
    (4) whether it will consider further lowering the annual interest rates of the loans under the aforesaid SFASs and extending the standard loan repayment period, so as to alleviate the burden of loan borrowers; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;
     
    (5) whether it has provided further support measures for students who are unable to repay loans under the aforesaid SFASs due to financial pressure, including allowing them to suitably defer the repayment and opt for Individual Voluntary Arrangement under reasonable circumstances, so as to help them tide over difficulties; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; and
     
    (6) as there are views that the continuous rising trend of students defaulting on loan repayments under the aforesaid SFASs may be related to their poor financial management, whether the Government will allocate additional resources to enhance financial management education in schools, so as to help students in making proper financial planning; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?
     
    Reply:
     
    President,
     
         The Government’s policy on student finance is to ensure that no student is denied access to education due to a lack of means. The Student Finance Office (SFO) of the Working Family and Student Financial Assistance Agency currently administers five student financial assistance schemes for post-secondary and tertiary students, including two means-tested financial assistance schemes (namely the Tertiary Student Finance Scheme – Publicly-funded Programmes and the Financial Assistance Scheme for Post-secondary Students which provide grants and/or living expenses loans) and three non-means-tested loan schemes (namely the Non-means-tested Loan Scheme for Full-time Tertiary Students, the Non-means-tested Loan Scheme for Post-secondary Students and the Extended Non-means-tested Loan Scheme which provide loans to applicants for paying tuition fees).
     
         Our reply to the questions raised by Reverend Canon the Hon Peter Douglas Koon is as follows:
     
    (1) Registered full-time students taking up an exclusively University Grants Committee-funded or publicly-funded student place of recognised post-secondary programmes may apply for financial assistance under the Tertiary Student Finance Scheme – Publicly-funded Programmes or the Non-means-tested Loan Scheme for Full-time Tertiary Students. The relevant figures of these two schemes in the 2020/21 to 2024/25 academic years are set out at Annex I.
     
    (2) Cases with two or more consecutive overdue quarterly instalments/six or more consecutive overdue monthly instalments are regarded as default cases. Figures relating to student loan default under the five student financial assistance schemes in the 2020/21 to 2024/25 academic years are set out at Annex II.
     
    (3) If loan repayers do not respond or settle the arrears after the SFO’s repeated reminders and urge, the SFO will proceed to take legal recovery actions on the defaulted loan accounts. In addition, the SFO will only consider writing off outstanding loans when the defaulted amounts are confirmed to be irrecoverable (for example when the loan borrower concerned has deceased while his/her indemnifier is unable to repay the loan, or both the loan borrower and his/her indemnifier are bankrupt). Figures relating to legal recovery actions and write-offs under the five student financial assistance schemes in the 2020/21 to 2024/25 academic years are set out at Annex III.
     
    (4) and (5) The means-tested financial assistance schemes provide non-repayable grants to students for meeting their tuition fees and academic expenses, as well as low-interest loans for meeting their living expenses. The interest rate of the loans concerned is currently set at 1 per cent per annum.
     
         The non-means-tested loan schemes provide loans for students who do not intend to undergo or fail to pass the means tests for paying their tuition fees. The schemes concerned are operated according to the principles of “no-gain-no-loss (NGNL)” and “full-cost recovery”. The interest rate is also derived on a NGNL basis and comprises a risk-adjusted-factor rate (reduced to zero since July 2012), and will be adjusted regularly or in response to changes in the market interest rates in accordance with the established mechanism. The current interest rate of non-means-tested loans is 1.795 per cent per annum, which is far below the interest rate for unsecured loans in the market in general. A further reduction of the annual interest rate may result in abuse of the schemes, encourage unnecessary borrowing and increase the future repayment burden of students. Furthermore, subsidising further reductions with taxpayers’ money will deviate from the intent of the schemes and principle of prudent finance.
     
    In respect of repayment arrangements, the standard repayment period has already been extended to 15 years having regard to the repayment burden of loan borrowers. Moreover, new graduates can choose to commence loan repayment one year after graduation. Loan borrowers with proven repayment difficulties (e.g. financial hardship, further full-time study or serious illness) may apply to defer repayment of their loans without interest for up to a maximum of two years, meaning that the repayment period of the borrowers concerned can be up to 17 years.
     
    Furthermore, to ease the financial burden of student loan repayers amid the COVID-19 epidemic, the Government has been providing an interest-free deferral arrangement for loan repayment for five years from April 1, 2020 to March 31, 2025, (suspension period). In other words, the entire repayment period can be up to 22 years. Eligible student loan repayers are not required to repay the principal and instalment interest payable during the suspension period. The annual administrative fee chargeable on all loan repayment accounts under the non-means-tested loan schemes is also waived at the same time. New loan repayers who have graduated or completed their studies during the suspension period may choose to further defer the commencement of loan repayment for a maximum of one year after March 31, 2025.
     
    For loan borrowers with genuine difficulties in repaying their loans, the SFO will provide assistance on a case-by-case basis, such as working out adjustments to the repayment plan, or allowing them to opt for Individual Voluntary Arrangement under the Bankruptcy Ordinance.
     
    (6) The SFO has all along been promoting education on financial management, and reminding applicants to carefully consider their needs and repayment abilities before applying for and deciding to take out the loans. The SFO also updates information on its website from time to time to promote the message of financial prudence, credit management and responsible borrowing, as well as the possible consequences of default in loan repayment, so as to strengthen the deterrent effects.
     
    The SFO also collaborates with various post-secondary institutions. Apart from communicating with their student affairs offices from time to time to provide them with the latest information on loan application and messages about financial management for students, the SFO also distributes relevant promotional materials to institutions for use in their annual student activities. This helps instil a prudent attitude towards financial management in students while reminding them of the points to note in making applications under the financial assistance schemes for post-secondary and tertiary students.
     
    In addition, in collaboration with the Investor and Financial Education Council (IFEC), the SFO promotes, through its website, the IFEC’s financial education platform “The Chin Family” and its annual financial education campaign “Hong Kong Money Month”, to provide financial management information to student loan applicants and their parents, and educate them about the importance of early financial planning.
    Issued at HKT 15:37

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Study Subsidy Scheme for Designated Professions/Sectors – Undergraduate (including Top-up Degree) Programmes

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region 3

    The Study Subsidy Scheme for Designated Professions/Sectors (SSSDP) will subsidise a total of 4 916 places in 55 undergraduate programmes, covering 3 365 places in 55 first-year-first-degree (FYFD) programmes and 1 551 places in 44 top-up degree (TUD) programmes of eight post-secondary institutions (including Hong Kong Chu Hai College, Hong Kong Metropolitan University, Hong Kong Shue Yan University, Saint Francis University, The Hang Seng University of Hong Kong, Tung Wah College, UOW College Hong Kong and Vocational Training Council – Technological and Higher Education Institute of Hong Kong) for the cohort to be admitted in the 2025/26 academic year.

    The programmes and number of subsidised places, which fall under ten disciplines with keen manpower demand, namely architecture and engineering, computer science, creative industries, financial technology, health care, insurance, logistics, sports and recreation, testing and certification, and tourism and hospitality, are determined by the Education Bureau in consultation with relevant policy bureaux and departments. The programmes include the eight applied degrees introduced under the Pilot Project on the Development of Applied Degree Programmes, which will receive additional subsidies, with a view to further strengthening the vocational and professional education and training progression pathway at the post-secondary level.

    In the 2025/26 academic year, the annual subsidy amounts for non-laboratory-based programmes and laboratory-based programmes are up to $46,780 and $81,450 respectively. For applied degree programmes, with the additional annual subsidies, the total annual subsidy amounts will be up to $89,620 for laboratory-based applied degree programmes and $51,880 for non-laboratory-based applied degree programmes. The subsidy amounts are applicable to both new and continuing eligible students. The subsidy is tenable for the normal duration of the programmes concerned. Subsidised students will pay a tuition fee with the subsidy applied. Students in need may still apply for student financial assistance from the Student Finance Office of the Working Family and Student Financial Assistance Agency in respect of the actual amount of tuition fee payable.

    Allocation of the subsidised first-year intake of the FYFD programmes will mainly go through the Joint University Programmes Admissions System (JUPAS); participating institutions are allowed to admit non-JUPAS local students via direct admission of no more than 20% of the subsidised places of each designated programme, and the non-JUPAS admission may take place in parallel with JUPAS admission. Non-JUPAS local applicants should refer to the relevant institutions’ websites for their admission arrangements including the commencement date and deadline of the application.

    The subsidised places of the TUD programmes are allocated according to existing admission arrangements of the self-financing TUD programmes, i.e. through direct admission by institutions.

    For details of the SSSDP, please visit www.cspe.edu.hk/sssdp .

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LCQ20: Planning for vacant kindergarten premises

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region 3

    LCQ20: Planning for vacant kindergarten premises 
    Question:
     
         It has been reported that nearly 80 kindergartens in Hong Kong have ceased operation in the past four years, and some of the premises of these kindergartens are located in public housing estates or government properties. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
     
    (1) of the statistics on kindergartens ceasing operation in the past five years, including geographical distribution, floor areas of the involved premises, and whether the premises concerned are government properties (including those of the Hong Kong Housing Authority); if the premises concerned are government properties, of their current or planned uses;
     
    (2) given the persistent low birth rate and population ageing in Hong Kong, whether the Government will consider converting some of the vacant kindergarten premises in its possession to elderly homes or other elderly facilities; if not, of the reasons for that; and
     
    (3) given that the Government had announced in the 2019-20 Budget that it would allocate $20 billion to purchase properties for accommodating welfare facilities, but as of March 31, 2023, the Social Welfare Department had only used about $150 million of that funding for such purposes, and there are views that the measure is obviously ineffective, whether the Government will first make good use of the aforesaid vacant kindergarten premises for welfare purposes and consider reallocating all or part of the aforesaid funding for other purposes?
     
    Reply:
     
    President,
     
         Kindergartens (KGs) in Hong Kong are all along privately run with diverse modes of operation. Individual school sponsoring bodies (SSBs) or operators may, having regard to their different development targets and circumstances, consider setting up KGs at a variety of premises, such as self-owned premises, privately-leased premises or premises in public housing estates. Every year, there may be new registrations of KGs in different districts, or some KGs may decide to cease operation owing to a variety of factors (such as profitability and tenancy matters).
     
         Having consulted the Housing Bureau and the Labour and Welfare Bureau, the consolidated reply to the three parts of the question is as follows:
     
    (1) The number of KGs which ceased operation in the past five school years is tabulated at Annex 1. The number of vacant KG premises located in non-domestic premises under the Hong Kong Housing Authority (HA) upon termination of the tenancy and surrender of the premises is tabulated at Annex 2.
     
         If the tenant of a KG premises located in a public housing estate ceases to operate the KG during the tenancy period or decides not to renew the tenancy upon expiry, the HA will notify and invite the Education Bureau (EDB) to consider whether there is a need to nominate new non-profit-making KG SSBs or operators to rent the relevant units. Factors to be considered include the supply of and demand for KG places in the areas concerned, whether the floor area, location and building condition of the vacant KG premises are suitable for reallocation for KG development. Upon confirmation that the vacant KG premises are not required for EDB Kindergarten Premises Allocation Exercise through which SSBs or operators are nominated to rent the vacant units at a concessionary rate (approximately half of the market rent), the HA will offer such vacant units for lease at market rent through open tender for other organisations to operate KGs. If the units cannot be leased out through open tender for KG operation, the HA will consider converting the units for other uses (including welfare purposes) so as to make good use of resources. Any proposed change of use of the units will be subject to the outcome of feasibility studies, including whether it is in compliance with the Buildings Ordinance (Cap. 123) and relevant regulations, land use restrictions, planning restrictions, environmental factors and views of residents or stakeholders.
     
    (2) To address the increasing demand for elderly services arising from an ageing population, the Social Welfare Department (SWD) increases the supply of subsidised residential care places through a multi-pronged approach, such as liaising with relevant departments to identify suitable sites for the construction of new contract residential care homes for the elderly (RCHEs), or converting vacant government premises/school sites into RCHEs. Nonetheless, KG premises are not suitable for the provision of RCHEs as their settings and facilities are generally speaking not designed for providing residential care services for frail elderly persons.
     
    (3) The Government has all along been adopting a multi-pronged approach to identify suitable sites or premises for the provision of welfare services to meet their acute demand.
     
         The SWD has been maintaining close contact with relevant departments to identify suitable sites in the development or redevelopment of public housing estates and urban renewal projects for providing welfare facilities. The Government also endeavours to increase the provision of welfare facilities as appropriate through the Land Sale Programmes and the Special Scheme on Privately Owned Sites for Welfare Uses. In addition, the Government will make the best use of available government accommodation including vacant school premises and explore whether they are suitable for conversion into welfare facilities.
     
         In parallel, the SWD identifies suitable premises for purchase in the private market for welfare purpose. As at end-November 2024, the SWD has spent about $240 million for the purchase of five premises for operating a Parents/Relatives Resource Centre, a Support Centre for Persons with Autism and a neighbourhood elderly centre, and for providing on-site pre-school rehabilitation services. The progress of purchasing premises depends on the availability of suitable properties in the market and various external factors, including whether the properties for sale have fire safety and barrier-free access facilities, whether the size and location meet operational requirements, whether the surrounding land uses are compatible with welfare uses, and whether the selling prices fall within the acceptable price range determined by the Government Property Agency (GPA) with reference to market value. The SWD and the GPA will continue to identify and purchase premises for the provision of welfare facilities in accordance with the ambit of the funds approved by the Finance Committee of the Legislative Council.
    Issued at HKT 14:25

    NNNN

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China refines departure tax refund policy to encourage inbound consumption

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    BEIJING, April 27 — China unveiled a set of measures on Sunday to further optimize its departure tax refund policy to meet overseas tourists’ needs better and expand inbound consumption.

    The minimum purchase threshold for departure tax refunds has been lowered, allowing overseas travelers to apply for a refund if they spend at least 200 yuan (about 27.75 U.S. dollars) at the same store on the same day and meet other relevant requirements, according to a circular jointly issued by the Ministry of Commerce and five other government departments.

    While ensuring proper risk management, refunds will be made available through multiple channels, including mobile payments, bank cards and cash, to better accommodate the diverse payment preferences of overseas travelers. The upper limit for cash refund has been raised to 20,000 yuan.

    The circular also outlines steps to expand the number of departure tax refund stores, enrich the supply of related goods and improve related services.

    More departure tax refund stores will be set up in major shopping areas, pedestrian streets, tourist sites, resorts, cultural venues, airports, passenger ports and hotels, according to the circular.

    Departure tax refund stores are encouraged to broaden product offerings to include time-honored brands, renowned Chinese consumer goods, smart devices, intangible cultural heritage items, crafts and specialty products, among others.

    A series of activities to promote shopping in China will be launched to support local efforts to cultivate and promote high-quality signature products, such as “city gifts” and “must-buy” items, in departure tax refund stores.

    Meanwhile, the regulations regarding departure tax refund have been revised to optimize related services and streamline the refund process to help overseas travelers more easily benefit from departure tax refund policies, according to the country’s taxation authorities.

    Earlier this month, China announced a nationwide shift from a refund-upon-departure model to a refund-upon-purchase model for departure tax refund, enabling foreign visitors to instantly claim value-added tax rebates at tax-free stores across the country.

    “Providing overseas travelers with a greater variety of shopping options and improved, more convenient tax refund services will help stimulate inbound consumption and support high-standard opening up and economic growth,” said Chen Binkai, vice president of the Central University of Finance and Economics.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: New York Fugitive Arrest in Waterbury

    Source: US Marshals Service

    New Haven, CT – The U.S. Marshals, working with the Waterbury Police Department, today arrested in Waterbury a man wanted in New York as a fugitive from justice.      

    Dimitrius Davis, 34, had been released on bond in September 2023 following an arrest in Buffalo, New York, for criminal possession of a firearm and possession of a controlled substance. After he failed to appear Aug. 5, 2024, before an Erie County, New York, judge, the judge issued a bench warrant for his arrest.  

    After law enforcement attempts to locate Davis were unsuccessful, the U.S. Marshals in New York adopted the case and began working the with the USMS in Connecticut and the Waterbury police after developing information that Davis was at a residence in Waterbury.

    Early today the Waterbury police and USMS Violent Fugitive Task Force arrested Davis in the 30 block of Wall Street in Waterbury. Recovered from the residence was a Savage Arms 12-gauge shotgun, Cobra Enterprise handgun, 100 rounds of 12-gauge shotgun ammunition and 1,000 rounds of .22 ammunition.

    Davis was transported to the Waterbury Police Department and charged as a fugitive from justice and with two counts of felon in possession of a firearm and two counts of  felon in possession of ammunition.

    Since the inception of the U.S. Marshals – Connecticut Violent Fugitive Task Force in 1999, these partnerships have resulted in over 11,046 arrests. The task force’s objective is to seek out and arrest violent fugitives and sexual predators. Membership agencies include Hartford, Bridgeport, Norwalk, Naugatuck and Waterbury Police Departments and Homeland Security Investigations. These arrests have ranged in seriousness from murder, assault, unregistered sex offenders, probation and parole violations and numerous other serious offenses. Nationally the U.S. Marshals Service fugitive programs are carried out with local law enforcement in 94 district offices, 85 local fugitive task forces, eight regional task forces, as well as a growing network of offices in foreign countries.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Accelerating the roll-out of public EV chargers

    Source: New Zealand Government

    The Government is updating the way it co-invests in public electric vehicle (EV) chargers with the private sector to accelerate the delivery of EV chargers across New Zealand, Transport Minister Chris Bishop and Energy Minister Simon Watts say.
     
    “New Zealand needs more EV chargers. We have fewer public chargers per EV than many other countries in the OECD, and we know that this is a barrier to Kiwis purchasing EVs,” Mr Bishop says.
     
    “People buying an EV need confidence that they can charge where and when they need to on a comprehensive public network.
     
    “The number of EV charge points (as of 31 December 2024) is 1,378 – around one for every 84 EVs (battery electric and plug in hybrid). The Government is targeting 10,000 by 2030, so that there will be one public charge point to around 40 EVs. This will remove people’s ‘range anxiety’ and make owning an EV as easy as possible.
     
    “The Government will therefore utilise the highly successful Ultra-Fast Broadband model to accelerate the roll-out of EV chargers. Under the status quo, the private sector are reluctant to invest in charging infrastructure until there’s sufficient demand, but demand for charging won’t grow until the purchase of EVs stops being hampered by a lack of public charging. This chicken-and-egg situation is hampering the roll-out and justifies government action.
     
    “Since 2016, government investment in EV chargers has consisted of direct grants. This made sense when the market for public EV charging was being established. This model is now outdated, with EVs now making up over 2 per cent of the light vehicle fleet, and expected to make up around 11 per cent by 2030. A range of charge point operators have now also entered the market.
     
    “The Government is moving to a more sophisticated, commercial procurement model. We have set aside up to $68.5 million in currently held grant funding, to provide concessionary loans to private operators to co-invest in public EV charging infrastructure. Loans will be quicker to implement and will help achieve the Government’s objectives with less complexity, cost and risk. 
     
    “Concessionary loans will bring forward private investment in public EV charging infrastructure by lowering the cost of capital. They will also provide better value for money by maximising private sector investment while keeping the taxpayers’ contribution to a minimum.
     
    “Loans will be awarded through contestable co-investment rounds, and applications will be open to proposals to establish portfolios of public EV charging sites (i.e. multiple charging locations). This is the best way to support scaled-up development and to maximise competitive tension between providers. 
     
    “Giving effect to commitments made on the National-Act Coalition agreement, this competitive tension will help ensure public investment flows to proposals delivering the best value-for-money. A cost benefit analysis will also be applied at the point loan applications are assessed, with a successful applicant having demonstrated that the benefits to New Zealand of its project outweigh the costs.”
     
    Mr Watts says that EVs make a huge amount of sense for New Zealand.
     
    “With our bountiful renewable energy resources EVs are a winner for New Zealand. Kiwis charging their EVs are essentially filling their cars with predominantly water, wind, and geothermal energy – rather than fossil fuels – due to our high level of renewable energy.
     
    “There are real benefits to owning an EV. Not only does it support our economic and climate goals, but it also delivers long-term benefits to users by helping keep running costs low. This Government is focused on growing the economy so Kiwis can get ahead. 
     
    “By giving people more options to reduce everyday expenses like transport, we’re helping households stay ahead and build a more sustainable future. By co-investing to accelerate public EV infrastructure ahead of demand, we will give more Kiwis the confidence to go electric.”
     
    The new EV charging initiative will be administered by National Infrastructure Funding and Financing (NIFFCo), the successor organisation to Crown Infrastructure Partners (which delivered Ultra-Fast Broadband). EECA will provide assistance as required. 
    Editor’s notes

    Increasing the number of chargers to support rapid EV uptake will help to reduce New Zealand’s light road transport emissions. An EV used in New Zealand emits at least 60 percent fewer emissions over its full life cycle than do petrol vehicles.
    The concessionary loans will offer up to 50 percent of project costs, have a zero percent interest rate, and a maximum tenure of 13 years. The loans will be awarded through a contestable co-investment bid process.
    Applications will be assessed against value-for-money criteria to ensure loans are awarded to projects of greatest benefit and that New Zealand’s EV charging network grows at pace. A Request for Proposals (RFP) for interested parties is expected to be released shortly.
    Consumer monitoring by EECA consistently shows that some of the main perceived disadvantages of EVs include that the driving range is not suitable for long distance travel, and that there are not enough public chargers available. Increasing the availability of public charging infrastructure gives drivers the confidence to switch to an electric vehicle. See EECA’s Transport Monitor: https://www.eeca.govt.nz/assets/EECA-Transport-Monitor-Mar-Jun-2024.pdf 

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –