Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
Full text of Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang’s address at opening ceremony of 21st China-ASEAN Expo, China-ASEAN Business and Investment Summit
NANNING, Sept. 24 — Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang delivered an address at the opening ceremony of the 21st China-ASEAN Expo and China-ASEAN Business and Investment Summit on Tuesday in Nanning, capital city of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region in south China.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
China to deepen financial reform, openness, high-quality development: Chinese vice premier
BEIJING, Sept. 24 — China will further deepen financial reform and opening-up, and promote high-quality development in the financial sector, Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng said in Beijing on Tuesday.
He, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, made the remarks when meeting separately with members of the international advisory committee of China Investment Corporation (CIC), and Evan Greenberg, executive vice chair of the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations and the chairman of insurance company Chubb Limited.
During the meeting with members of the committee, He said that China will deepen financial system reform, accelerate the establishment of a modern financial system with Chinese characteristics, and promote high-quality development of the financial sector.
He expressed hope that the members would continue to provide suggestions and make contributions to China’s reform and opening-up, as well as the development of CIC.
When meeting with Greenberg, He said China will steadfastly promote high-level opening-up of the financial sector and welcomed Chubb Group to continue actively participating in the development of China’s financial market.
He added that the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations is expected to play a more effective role as a bridge and link between the two countries, facilitating exchanges and cooperation among the business communities, and achieving greater mutual benefit and win-win outcomes.
Members of the international advisory committee of CIC and Greenberg expressed their belief that further comprehensive and deepened reforms in China will bring new potential and vitality to the country’s economy and financial sector. They remain confident in the prospects of China’s economy and financial markets.
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator for Oklahoma James Lankford
CLICK HERE to watch Lankford’s remarks on YouTube.
CLICK HERE to watch Lankford’s remarks on Rumble.
WASHINGTON, DC – Senator James Lankford (R-OK), chair of the Senate Values Action Team, went to the Senate floor to object to Senate Democrats’ attempts to force a vote on their extreme abortion agenda.
He objected to a resolution falsely stating the Senate believes women lack access to life saving care, and that doctors face criminal prosecution for caring for their patients. During a Senate FinanceCommittee hearing today, he called out Democrats’ fearmongering on abortion and warned that it may discourage women from receiving health care.
Excerpts
Lankford Challenges Fearmongering Rhetoric: This resolution itself, and the wording that it has in this resolution, says it’s sense of the Senate that every person has the basic right to emergency health care, including abortion care. I’m going to be very, very specific on this. We had a hearing today in the Finance Committee where this same subject was addressed. We had OBGYNs from both perspectives on this, those that perform abortions and those that have a moral objection to it. We had a very good argument to be able to lay some facts out, to be able to walk through this with two sets of attorneys that were there to be able to walk through the law. Here’s what became very clear during that conversation in this morning in that open hearing.
There is no state in America in which a woman faces persecution or prosecution for having an abortion. No state criminalizes miscarriage. No state criminalizes removing an ectopic pregnancy. No state prohibits life saving care for the mother. No state requires a woman to be actively dying in order for her doctor to care for her. We heard story after story about doctors being concerned that they may face this because they’re hearing political rhetoric—political rhetoric like Vice President Harris in a speech that she said recently where she said, ‘Women were being arrested and facing prosecution for experiencing miscarriages.’ That is not true.
So all of this rhetoric that is being put out there is making doctors afraid, but it was very clear from the conversation in law that none of those things are actually true. Every physician, prior to the Dobbs decision, when there were limitations on abortion across the country, and post Dobbs decision when every single state is making those decisions, allowed physicians in an E.R. to be able to make lifesaving decisions for the mother and the child. Every doctor has already the ability to be able to make that decision, to be able to protect the life of the mother. They have the protections to be able to do that. So this is a false claim that somehow that what happened in the Dobbs decision and what’s happening in states is limiting, that it’s actually the political rhetoric that’s making people afraid.
Democrats’ Abortion-On-Demand Obsession Endangers Women: What also came out during the hearing this morning was the very real risk of chemical abortions. That we’ve recently had tragic situations where women use the chemical abortion pills that they’re being told are ‘as safe as Tylenol,’ and then it has life threatening and in some cases, recently, life taking consequences. Chemical abortion pills are not Tylenol, yet they’re being sold as that. And what we’re seeing is more and more cases of the diminishing of ‘This is no big deal to be able to end this pregnancy’ when they haven’t seen a doctor, because the Biden Administration is now saying ‘You don’t have to see a physician’ so the woman doesn’t know if she has an ectopic pregnancy or not. If she takes the chemical abortion pill while she has an ectopic pregnancy, she is at risk.
But the Biden Administration is saying ‘You don’t have to go see a doctor. They can just mail it to you. It’s just as safe as a Tylenol.’ When it’s not. They’re also not being tested for their blood type to be able to make sure this doesn’t affect future pregnancies during this chemical abortion. And they’re not also determining by a sonogram how far along the mom is in this process, because there are limitations to this where it becomes more and more dangerous.
All those things are restrictions that used to be there, that the Biden Administration has taken away to say, ‘No, we want more people to have access to chemical abortions,’ but it’s making it more dangerous for women. And we have seen that recently. So we want to engage in a conversation about how can we actually put some of those basic, humane, doctor-requested restrictionsin there to make sure that we’re protecting the lives of all those women. That’s a better conversation for us to be able to have.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Dwight Evans (2nd District of Pennsylvania)
Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Bob Casey (D-PA) and John Fetterman (D-PA) and U.S. Representative Dwight Evans (D-PA-3) announced $21,395,555 from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) for the Philadelphia Housing Authority (PHA). The grant will support the creation of a new of street grid and pedestrian infrastructure to facilitate the redevelopment of the Westpark Apartments in West Philly. The funding comes from a Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability & Equity (RAISE) Grant, funded by the Infrastructure Investment Jobs Act (IIJA).
“From visiting housing developments across Philadelphia, I’ve seen firsthand the transformational work PHA does to not only provide safe, affordable housing, but build vibrant communities,” said Senator Casey. “I fought for this funding to better connect Westpark residents with resources and opportunities in their community and beyond. I’ll keep working to deliver funding to make Philadelphia more livable for all who call the city home.”
“Any day that we can announce more federal dollars heading to Pennsylvania is a good day,” said Senator Fetterman. “This RAISE grant will support the infrastructure needed to create the new Westpark housing development and connect the campus to transit and green space. This is a smart, thoughtful project that will greatly improve the lives of the people who will live at the redeveloped Westpark Apartments. It exemplifies that values of PHA and is a stellar example of the critical work they do. I’m proud to have fought alongside Senator Casey and Congressman Evans for this funding.”
“This is great news for West Philadelphia and another way that the Biden Infrastructure and Jobs Act I voted for continues to deliver for Philadelphia and the region. I thank Senators Casey and Fetterman for their continued partnership as we work together to deliver for our shared constituents,” said Congressman Evans.
“We at PHA are extremely grateful to Senator Casey, Senator Fetterman, Congressman Evans, and all our federal partners for this exciting news,” said PHA President and CEO Kelvin A. Jeremiah. “The grant marks a tremendous milestone in the redevelopment of Westpark. It will ensure that once the project is complete, residents will have ready access to SEPTA and to public parkland. Senator Casey, who advocated for this grant, proves once again that he is a true champion for expanding housing opportunities in Philadelphia and across the state. And I’m confident that Westpark will serve as a national model for a 21st century public housing and affordable housing development.”
This project will construct an extension of the existing street grid in West Philadelphia in order to create new space for housing and connect the Westpark Apartments campus to SEPTA’s 46th Street station. It will support a new network of shared streets, sidewalks, and bike infrastructure that will create the roads necessary to integrate new, forthcoming housing more seamlessly into the neighborhood.
2024 marks the fourth consecutive year the Members of Congress have secured highly competitive RAISE grants for infrastructure projects in Philadelphia. Last year, SEPTA received $25 million to modernize trolleys and the City received the same amount for the North Philadelphia School Zone Traffic Safety Project. In 2022, the “Great Streets PHL” project was awarded $25 million to make safety improvements to high-crash corridors in historically disadvantaged communities and areas of persistent poverty. In 2021, shortly following passage of IIJA, SEPTA won $15 million to renovate the 19th and 37th Street Trolley Subway Stations and make them accessible for people with disabilities. To see more federal investments Senator Casey has delivered to Philadelphia and the Commonwealth, click here.
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Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Dwight Evans (2nd District of Pennsylvania)
Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Bob Casey (D-PA) and John Fetterman (D-PA), U.S. Representatives Dwight Evans (D-PA 3), and Mary Gay Scanlon (D-PA-5) and Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle L. Parker announced a total of $8,984,800 in funding to bring electric vehicle (EV) chargers to underserved neighborhoods in Philadelphia and to the Philadelphia International Airport (PHL). The funding is from the Charging and Fueling Infrastructure Grant Program, made possible by the infrastructure law. Thanks to this funding, Philadelphia can expand access to EV charging to low-and middle-income communities and the Philadelphia International Airport can build an EV charging hub to serve passengers and employees.
“As electric vehicles become more popular and lower fuel costs for families, it is critical that all Philadelphians can access reliable charging,” said Senator Casey. “Pennsylvania was among the first states in the Nation to begin building out a statewide network of charging stations with infrastructure law funds and now this grant will help more Philadelphians charge up. I will keep working to ensure the Commonwealth has the tools it needs to strengthen our burgeoning electric vehicle industry, providing more jobs and reducing our carbon footprint.”
“Philadelphia is taking a bold step forward with this funding, bringing much-needed infrastructure to neighborhoods that have been left out of the clean energy transition. This project makes it possible for every Philadelphian, regardless of where they live, to benefit from the shift to green energy,” said Senator Fetterman. “We’re laying the groundwork for a future where clean, affordable energy is accessible to everyone, and I’m proud to back this crucial investment in our communities.”
“I’m proud to have voted for federal funding that’s resulted in this nearly $9 million for Philadelphia, including the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act! Having this cleaner-energy option available in more Philadelphia neighborhoods and at our area’s largest airport will help to reduce air pollution and help with addressing climate change. I’ll keep working with Senator Casey and all of our delegation to deliver more federal funding for Philadelphia and the commonwealth,” said Congressman Evans.
“One of the challenges in transitioning to electric vehicles is ensuring that a robust, accessible network of public charging stations is available to everyone,” said Representative Scanlon. “This new investment in that charging network will make it easier for EV drivers across our region to charge their cars, reduce our carbon footprint, and support the American workers building these charging stations. I’m proud to have voted for the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law which is funding this work, and look forward to seeing all of the infrastructure improvements that it will bring to Pennsylvania consumers”
“We are pleased to announce that, once again, the City of Philadelphia finds itself the recipient of significant investment from the Biden-Harris administration. We are grateful for this opportunity to expand public infrastructure for electric vehicle (EV) charging in our city,” said Mayor Cherelle L. Parker. “This funding will be used to build out our EV charging network by installing EV fast chargers, and ultimately moving us closer to a cleaner and greener Philadelphia.”
The Charging and Fueling Infrastructure Grant Program, awarded by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), was made possible by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). This grant program supports the installation of public EV charging infrastructure and other alternative fueling infrastructure. Additionally, IIJA passed with provisions to make EV charging more accessible nationwide through the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) formula program. The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) has announced 91 total EV charging projects, across 43 counties in the Commonwealth. Thanks to today’s funding, the City of Philadelphia can plan for and install EV chargers at the Philadelphia International Airport and at places across the city, particularly in neighborhoods with multifamily housing and in low-and-middle-income communities. These planned EV chargers are set to be accessible to the community, with some located at recreation centers near public transportation.
To see more information about the Commonwealth’s EV charger implementation projects, click here.
To see more federal investments Senator Casey has delivered to the Commonwealth, click here.
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Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Dwight Evans (2nd District of Pennsylvania)
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Bob Casey (D-PA) and John Fetterman (D-PA) and U.S. Congressman Dwight Evans (D-PA-3) announced a total of $8,711,688 in federal funding from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) to increase traffic safety on Philadelphia and Southeastern Pennsylvania streets. The two awards will support projects to develop pedestrian safety plans, calm traffic in school crosswalks, create safety studies to reduce traffic injuries, and help underserved communities develop programs to make streets safer.
“From improving pedestrian and sidewalk safety to reducing traffic in school zones, these awards will help protect pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers in Philadelphia and Southeastern Pennsylvania,” said Senator Casey. “I advocated for this funding from the infrastructure law to reduce fatal crashes, and I will always fight to keep Pennsylvania communities safe.”
“Too often, our most vulnerable communities are left behind when it comes to street safety. With this award, we’re ensuring that every corner of Philadelphia and the Delaware Valley, no matter the zip code, gets the attention it deserves. By focusing on high injury corridors and giving forgotten communities the tools to plan and protect their own streets, we’re not just talking about change—we’re making it happen. This is how we build a safer Pennsylvania.” said Senator Fetterman.
“I’m pleased that more than $7 million in federal funding I voted for will help to improve pedestrian safety around 40 schools in Philadelphia! Improving pedestrian and bicyclist safety will take involvement from the federal, state and local levels,” said Congressman Evans.
The funding comes from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) grant program, made possible by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). The City of Philadelphia will receive $7,191,688 to develop a Pedestrian Safety and Sidewalk Improvement Plan, as well as conduct a demonstration project at 40 schools to test traffic calming interventions at crosswalks. The Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission will receive $1,520,000 to conduct regional high injury network corridor safety studies, develop a municipal safety analysis and create a model and process for partners to implement the regional plan at the subregional level.
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Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime News
MIDLAND, Texas – A California man pleaded guilty in federal court in Midland to two counts of wire fraud.
According to court documents, Mitchell Vaughn Lee, of Los Angeles, acquired and utilized personal identifying information of a mineral rights owner to access the victim’s royalty account with Diamondback Energy, a Fortune 500 oil and natural gas company headquartered in Midland. Lee’s scheme resulted in diverted royalty payments from bank accounts owned by the victim to the bank account controlled by Lee. On at least two occasions in February 2022, Lee worked to divert approximately $1.5 million dollars from the victim’s oil royalty account to a bank account in Lee’s control.
In February 2022, law enforcement agents executed a search warrant at Lee’s Los Angeles residence. Among other items, agents recovered a firearm and a direct deposit change form for Diamondback Energy with the victim’s name and unique non-public owner identification number for the victim’s Diamondback Energy oil royalty account.
Lee was initially prosecuted in the Central District of California for Felon in Possession of a Firearm. While awaiting trial, Lee absconded. He was located in late 2023 in Miami, Florida by federal agents, and was sentenced to 60 years imprisonment in the Central District of California for Felon in Possession of a Firearm.
In the Western District of Texas wire fraud case, Lee faces up to 20 years in prison for each count. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Lee remains in custody awaiting further proceedings.
U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza for the Western District of Texas made the announcement.
The FBI is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Joe Mahoney is prosecuting the case.
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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Ann Wagner (R-MO-02)
Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Ann Wagner (R-MO), Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Chairman Mike Bost (R-IL), Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Sam Graves (R-MO), Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith (R-MO), and Congressman Blaine Luetkemeyer (R-MO) sent a letter to Secretary of Veterans Affairs Denis McDonough calling on him to advance the Department of Veterans Affairs St. Louis bed tower replacement and clinical expansion project.
Congresswoman Ann Wagner: “Missouri veterans have served our nation with honor, and they deserve world-class treatment from the Department of Veterans Affairs. The VA has held up the John Cochran construction project for too long, a shameful failure that has blocked our veterans from vital modernized medical facilities. I am calling on the VA to take immediate action, request funds for this project, and treat our veterans with the respect they have earned.”
Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Chairman Mike Bost:“For far too long, St. Louis and Metro East Illinois veterans served by the John A. Cochran VA Hospital have been waiting for improved medical facilities. The VA has recognized for well over a decade that the hospital’s bed tower needs to be replaced and its clinical services need to be modernized. This project must be funded as a top priority – and it needs to happen now. As chairman of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee, I will continue working with Rep. Wagner and my colleagues in Missouri to see that the Biden administration gets this project over the finish line. Our veterans deserve it.”
Letter excerpt: “St. Louis-area veterans, including those in Missouri as well as Southern Illinois, have been waiting too long for modernized medical facilities and it is past time to jumpstart this project. As you know, VA originally requested this construction project in 2010 and Congress authorized its design and planning. VA subsequently restructured the project, has acquired the necessary land and completed some site preparation. However, construction has not begun because the Department’s budget request has not adequately prioritized this modernization project for two years in a row….Your Strategic Capital Investment Planning process continues to rank the (St. Louis John J. Cochran Veterans Hospital) construction project as the highest priority, but the linkage to VA’s budget requests has broken down. This is unfortunate and has delayed the completion of new facilities that St. Louis-area veterans deserve. We respectfully request that you work with the relevant committees to rectify this situation and pull the project over the finish line.”
Read the full letter here.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Alma Adams (12th District of North Carolina)
WASHINGTON, DC. – Yesterday, U.S. Representatives Alma S. Adams, Ph.D. (D-NC-12) and Ashley Hinson (R-IA-01) teamed up with U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Cory Booker (D-NJ), and Chuck Grassley (R-IA) to introduce a bipartisan, bicameral resolution recognizing September 19th as National Stillbirth Prevention Day.
Earlier this year, the bipartisan Maternal and Child Health Stillbirth Prevention Act (H.Res.1474) —led by Hinson and Adams in the House and Merkley in the Senate — was signed into law by President Biden to help save the lives of mothers and babies across America. With at least 25 percent of stillbirths being potentially preventable, this resolution stresses the need for continued stillbirth prevention activities in the United States.
“I was proud to co-lead the Maternal and Child Health Stillbirth Prevention Act and see it pass into law this year, which will increase awareness for families on how to prevent this painful, yet common experience,” said Rep. Adams. “Today we recommit to ending stillbirth and to giving more families a chance to be whole. This is just the beginning, and I am committed to doing my part on behalf of all of America’s families.”
“A single family affected by stillbirth is one too many. Yet this tragedy impacts thousands across America, upending the lives of individuals and families from all walks of life,” said Senator Merkley. “Getting my Maternal and Child Health Stillbirth Prevention Act signed into law was an important first step, but we must do more to reduce the alarming rate of stillbirth, which disproportionately impacts Black, Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander, and American Indian or Alaska Native women. This National Stillbirth Prevention Day we recommit to doing everything we can to end this public health crisis, so no one again ever has to experience the trauma of stillbirth.”
“Thousands of families grapple with the unimaginable pain of stillbirths, and, devastatingly, Black women and underserved communities are disproportionately impacted by these tragedies,” said Senator Booker. “By designating September 19 as National Stillbirth Prevention Day, we will help raise awareness, promote research and develop solutions so all mothers and babies, regardless of their background or circumstances, have access to the care and support they deserve.”
“Iowa has made strides towards reducing stillbirths in our state. This bipartisan resolution recognizes researchers like we have in Iowa, as well as care providers and advocates. It also reaffirms our goal to improve maternal care resources, particularly in rural areas,” said Senator Grassley. “No mom should know the heartbreak of a stillbirth. I’m glad to be partnering on a number of federal legislative efforts to help target contributing factors and save babies’ lives.”
“Over 21,000 babies are stillborn in the U.S. each year. This rate is unacceptably high, and we must do more to ensure more women experience healthy pregnancies and have healthy babies. I am proud to lead this bipartisan, bicameral effort to recognize September 19th as National Stillbirth Prevention Day to raise awareness about stillbirth prevention so we can help save more moms and babies,” said Rep. Hinson.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one out of every 175 U.S. births tragically result in stillbirth—accounting for nearly 21,000 stillbirths a year—more stillbirths annually than the number of babies who pass away during their first year of life. In the last two decades, the stillbirth rate in the United States declined by a negligible 0.4 percent. In a report published by the World Health Organization comparing progress in improving stillbirth rates, the United States ranked 183 out of 195 countries.
“For the third year in a row, and under Senator Merkley’s leadership, we pause to recognize the crisis of stillbirth in this country and celebrate progress on stillbirth prevention efforts. When Congress recognizes this important day, when buildings and bridges are lit up across the country, and moms and dads make their voices heard through OpEds and sharing their personal stories of loss — progress happens and lives are saved. We mourn the tens of thousands of babies who should be with their families right now and accelerate progress so no other family has to endure the tragedy of stillbirth,” said Emily Price, Healthy Birth Day Inc. CEO.
In the Senate, the resolution is cosponsored by Senators Angus King (I-ME) and Martin Heinrich (D-NM). In the House, the resolution is cosponsored by Congressman Wiley Nickel (D-NC-13). Healthy Birth Day Inc., Charles Martin Corvi Fund, Birth and Breastfeeding in Color Inc, American College of Nurse-Midwives, Aaliyah in Action, Yale University Reproductive and Placental Research Unit, Yale University, The Sudden Unexplained Death in Childhood Foundation, Nitamising Gimashkikinaan Our First Medicine Indigenous Perinatal and Lactation Support Circle, Division of Indian Work, Maternal Mental Health Leadership Alliance, 1st Breath, 2 Degrees, Dieudonne Foundation, Jace’s Journey, Start Healing Together, In the Arms Of Jesus Grief Support, Healing Our Hearts Foundation, Matties Memory, Society for Reproductive Investigation, March of Dimes, Measure the Placenta, Nurturing Babyhood N’ Beyond LLC, PUSH for Empowered Pregnancy, March for Moms, Policy Center for Maternal Mental Health, Gifts from Liam, Mera’s Mission, and Kansas Birth Justice Society also endorsed the resolution.
The full text of the resolution can be found by clicking here.
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Congresswoman Alma S. Adams, Ph.D. represents North Carolina’s 12th Congressional District (Charlotte, Mecklenburg County, Cabarrus County) and serves on the House Committee on Agriculture and the House Committee on Education & the Workforce, where she serves as ranking member of the Workforce Protections Subcommittee.
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator for New Hampshire Jeanne Shaheen
(Lebanon, NH) – Today, U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Chair of the U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship and a senior member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations, announced with U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and Representatives Annie Kuster (NH-02) and Chris Pappas (NH-01) that Mascoma Community Development, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Mascoma Bank of Lebanon, was awarded $60 million in New Markets Tax Credits (NMTC) to incentivize development in underserved communities.
“Underserved communities and small businesses often struggle to get the capital they need to grow, which is why this investment is key to the overall economic success of our state. I’m glad to see this award going to Mascoma Community Development to help ensure small businesses and entrepreneurs working to develop these communities have the resources they need to succeed,” said Senator Shaheen. “I look forward to continuing to support programs that provide development opportunities, create jobs and grow our economy in communities across New Hampshire.”
“Investing in Granite State businesses and ensuring that they have access to the capital that they need is a key way to help our local economy thrive,” said Senator Hassan. “This federal funding will promote development and growth in the Upper Valley and throughout New Hampshire, and I will keep supporting programs that help create jobs and invest in our state.”
“Small businesses and local entrepreneurs are the backbone of New Hampshire’s economy and way of life,” said Congresswoman Kuster. “These resources heading to Mascoma Community Development will go a long way toward uplifting our Main Street businesses and the communities they serve, and I look forward to seeing the benefit the New Market Tax Credit program continues to have on New Hampshire’s economic growth.”
“Investments into our communities and small businesses are helping develop local economies, create more good-paying jobs, and strengthen our quality of life,” said Congressman Pappas. “These funds will incentivize economic development in New Hampshire’s underserved communities to ensure no city or town is left behind. I’ll continue to advocate for programs that help our state, small businesses, and communities grow and thrive.”
This award is provided by the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Community Development Financial Institutions Fund (CDFI Fund), which promotes development in low-income urban and rural communities by investing in mission-driven financial institutions. Senators Shaheen and Hassan have been strong supporters of the CDFI Fund and NMTC and have long advocated for sufficient funding and a permanent NMTC program to support economic growth.
Tax credit allocations awarded to Community Development Entities (CDE), such as Mascoma Community Development, enable CDEs to raise additional capital to invest in low income and distressed communities in return for tax credits. The total tax credit provided to investors equals 39 percent of the original investment and is spread over a seven-year period.
Historically, NMTC Program awards have generated $8 of private investment for every $1 invested by the federal government. Through the end of fiscal year 2023, NMTC Program award recipients deployed more than $66 billion in investments in low-income communities and businesses, supporting more than 894,000 jobs and the construction or rehabilitation of nearly 259.5 million square feet of commercial real estate.
Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency
Headline: FEMA Releases New Resources to Help Communities Prioritize Inflation Reduction Act Projects, Implement Low-Carbon and Net-Zero Energy Solutions to Promote National Resilience
FEMA Releases New Resources to Help Communities Prioritize Inflation Reduction Act Projects, Implement Low-Carbon and Net-Zero Energy Solutions to Promote National Resilience
WASHINGTON — During Climate Week NYC, FEMA held the Climate Resilient Infrastructure: Building a More Sustainable Future Summit with public, private and academic partners to discuss and examine resilient infrastructure challenges and innovative solutions to address the impacts of climate change.
During the event, the agency released new resource documents to provide comprehensive guidance on how communities can incorporate low-carbon and net-zero energy practices into FEMA-funded projects. These efforts support the agency’s strategic goal of leading the whole community in climate resilience.
“Investing in local infrastructure means putting aside money today to secure a brighter, more resilient tomorrow. Yet, many state, local, territorial governments and Tribal Nations lack the resources, time or expertise to identify financing mechanisms to invest in climate resilience,” said FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell. “This new report serves as a critical resource to help communities invest in climate resilience, by identifying examples of how partnerships with the private sector can help break the cycle of response, recovery—rinse and repeat.”
The Biden-Harris Administration’s Inflation Reduction Act allows FEMA to provide financial assistance for costs associated with low-carbon construction materials and incentives that encourage low-carbon and net-zero energy projects. Signed by President Joseph R. Biden in 2022, the act marked a historic commitment to build a new clean energy economy and tackle the climate crisis.
It is crucial for communities to build infrastructure that is not only resilient but also sustainable. FEMA released three new resources. These include: 1) the Low-Carbon and Net-Zero Energy Overview for Public Assistance and Hazard Mitigation Assistance; 2) the FEMA Fact Sheet on Low-Carbon Materials Projects, and 3) FEMA Fact Sheet on Net-Zero Energy Projects.
FEMA may fund costs associated with low-carbon materials, even when the costs are higher than those for conventional materials, to help cut carbon pollution and build back cleaner and more resilient. These clean, climate-resilient considerations apply to five FEMA grant programs. These programs include the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, HMGP Post Fire, Pre-Disaster Mitigation, Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities and Public Assistance.
For more information, please visit FEMA.gov.
erika.suzuki
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)
SEATTLE, Sept. 24, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Banzai International, Inc. (NASDAQ: BNZI) (“Banzai” or the “Company”), a leading marketing technology company that provides essential marketing and sales solutions, today announced that it has entered into definitive agreements for the issuance and sale of an aggregate of 1,176,471 shares of Class A common stock (or pre-funded warrant in lieu thereof), accompanying Series A warrants to purchase up to 1,176,471 shares of Class A common stock and accompanying short-term Series B warrants to purchase up to 1,176,471 shares of Class A common stock at a purchase price of $4.25 per share (or per pre-funded warrant in lieu thereof) and accompanying warrants in a private placement priced at-the-market under the rules of the Nasdaq Stock Market. The Series A and the short-term Series B warrants will have an exercise price of $4.00 per share and will be exercisable immediately upon issuance. The Series A warrants will expire five years from the issuance date and the short-term Series B warrants will expire 18 months from the issuance date. The closing of the offering is expected to occur on or about September 26, 2024, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions.
H.C. Wainwright & Co. is acting as the exclusive placement agent for the offering.
The gross proceeds from the offering are expected to be approximately $5 million, prior to deducting placement agent’s fees and other offering expenses payable by the Company. Banzai intends to use the net proceeds from the offering to pay off in full its outstanding credit facility with Yorkville Advisors and for working capital and other general corporate purposes.
The securities described above are being offered in a private placement under Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and/or Regulation D promulgated thereunder and, along with the shares of Class A common stock underlying the warrants, have not been registered under the Securities Act, or applicable state securities laws. Accordingly, the warrants and underlying shares of Class A common stock may not be offered or sold in the United States except pursuant to an effective registration statement or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act and such applicable state securities laws. Pursuant to a registration rights agreement with investors, the Company has agreed to file a resale registration statement covering the securities described above.
This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy these securities, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or other jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to the registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or other jurisdiction.
About Banzai
Banzai is a marketing technology company that provides essential marketing and sales solutions for businesses of all sizes. On a mission to help their customers achieve their mission, Banzai enables companies of all sizes to target, engage, and measure both new and existing customers more effectively. Banzai customers include Square, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Thinkific, Doodle and ActiveCampaign, among thousands of others. Learn more at www.banzai.io. For investors, please visit https://ir.banzai.io.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements often use words such as “believe,” “may,” “will,” “estimate,” “target,” “continue,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “expect,” “should,” “would,” “propose,” “plan,” “project,” “forecast,” “predict,” “potential,” “seek,” “future,” “outlook,” and similar variations and expressions. Forward-looking statements are those that do not relate strictly to historical or current facts. Examples of forward-looking statements may include, among others, statements regarding Banzai International, Inc.’s (the “Company’s”): ability to consummation of the private placement, the satisfaction of the closing conditions of the private placement and the use of proceeds therefrom as well as future financial, business and operating performance and goals; annualized recurring revenue and customer retention; ongoing, future or ability to maintain or improve its financial position, cash flows, and liquidity and its expected financial needs; potential financing and ability to obtain financing; acquisition strategy and proposed acquisitions and, if completed, their potential success and financial contributions; strategy and strategic goals, including being able to capitalize on opportunities; expectations relating to the Company’s industry, outlook and market trends; total addressable market and serviceable addressable market and related projections; plans, strategies and expectations for retaining existing or acquiring new customers, increasing revenue and executing growth initiatives; and product areas of focus and additional products that may be sold in the future. Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, they are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict and many of which are outside of our control. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, and our actual results of operations, financial condition and liquidity and development of the industry in which the Company operates may differ materially from those made in or suggested by the forward-looking statements. Therefore, investors should not rely on any of these forward-looking statements. Factors that may cause actual results to differ materially include changes in the markets in which the Company operates, customer demand, the financial markets, economic, business and regulatory and other factors, such as the Company’s ability to execute on its strategy. More detailed information about risk factors can be found in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K and the Company’s Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q under the heading “Risk Factors,” and in other reports filed by the Company, including reports on Form 8-K. The Company does not undertake any duty to update forward-looking statements after the date of this press release, except as required by law.
Investor Contacts:
Chris Tyson
Executive Vice President
MZ Group – MZ North America
949-491-8235
BNZI@mzgroup.us
www.mzgroup.us
Media
Rachel Meyrowitz
Director, Demand Generation, Banzai
rachel.meyrowitz@banzai.io
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Al Green (TX-9)
(Washington, D.C.) — On Tuesday, September 24, 2024, Congressman Al Green, Ranking Member of the Financial Services Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, questioned SEC Chairman Gensler in a Financial Services Committee Hearing entitled, “Oversight of the Securities and Exchange Commission.”
You can access and listen to Congressman Al Green’s questions here. The hearing remarks highlighted are also accessible on various social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, and X (formerly known as Twitter).
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
The technological transformation driven by China’s large-scale equipment renewals will enable businesses to make significant strides in areas such as smart manufacturing, new energy and green technologies, further bolstering the country’s economic momentum, said government officials on Tuesday.
China aims to increase its investment in equipment for manufacturing, agriculture, construction, transportation, education, culture, tourism and medical care by at least 25 percent by 2027, compared with 2023, according to an action plan released by the State Council, China’s Cabinet, in March.
Complementing these efforts, the government allocated approximately 150 billion yuan ($21.31 billion) in ultra-long special treasury bonds in July to support large-scale equipment renewals, including updating old elevators.
Speaking at a news conference in Beijing, Liu Dechun, director of the department of resource conservation and environmental protection at the National Development and Reform Commission, China’s top economic regulator, said as new industrialization and urbanization continue to advance, the demand for upgrading various types of equipment is surging.
Liu said that accelerating the implementation of equipment renewal initiatives will effectively promote China’s industrial upgrading and foster the growth of new quality productive forces.
To drive the upgrading and renewal of energy-consuming equipment, the government will prioritize key sectors such as manufacturing, construction, transportation and energy. It will provide strong support for the modernization of high energy-consuming equipment, including boilers, motors, turbines, transformers, heat exchangers, pumps, compressors and lighting systems.
Projects that result in annual electricity savings of over 500,000 kilowatt-hours or energy savings of more than 150 metric tons of coal will qualify for support, extending benefits to more small and medium-sized enterprises, he added.
Large-scale equipment upgrade policies have notably supported investment growth. Investment in the purchase of industrial equipment and tools soared by 16.8 percent year-on-year in the first eight months of 2024, data from the NDRC showed.
This is 13.4 percentage points higher than the growth of total investment in China, accounting for 64.2 percent of the contribution to the nation’s overall investment growth, according to the commission.
Zhang Jianhua, deputy director of the department of planning at the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, said that equipment renewal and technological transformation in the industrial sector are beneficial for expanding effective investment and increasing the proportion of advanced production capacity, offering both short- and long-term advantages.
The MIIT will encourage industrial companies to seize the opportunity provided by national policies supporting large-scale equipment renewals to carry out initiatives including upgrading advanced equipment, promoting digital transformation and advancing green equipment.
This will accelerate the renewal and transformation of production equipment and speed up industrial upgrading, said Zhang.
China’s centrally administered State-owned enterprises will also invest over 3 trillion yuan for large-scale equipment upgrades over the next five years, aiming to stay at the forefront of the latest technological and industrial advancements, the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council announced in late July.
Chen Jianwei, a researcher at the Beijing-based University of International Business and Economics’ Academy of China Open Economy Studies, said these moves will help attract both multinational corporations and domestic companies from the private sector to increase their investments in these fields in China.
“They are likely to increase spending on promoting technological innovation, green and sustainable development, digital transformation and the circular economy within the country,” said Chen.
“We are confident of our development in China, which is the world’s largest elevator equipment market. We remain committed to supporting urbanization, smart cities, large-scale equipment renewals and sustainable development in the country,” said Sally Loh, president for China at Otis Worldwide Corp, a United States-based elevator manufacturer.
Source: Reserve Bank of India
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Source: South Australia Police
A man has been arrested after the death of an infant in July.
It will be alleged that about 4pm on Wednesday 24 July, a 7-week-old male infant was conveyed by ambulance to the Women’s and Children’s Hospital as a result of injuries sustained that day at a northern suburbs address.
The infant sadly died from these injuries six days later, on Tuesday 30 July.
On 31 July 2024, the death of the infant was declared a major crime.
Today (Wednesday 25 September), Major Crime Investigation Branch detectives arrested a 50-year-old Parafield Gardens man for the manslaughter of the infant.
It will be alleged the arrested man inflicted the injuries to the infant while in his care on the afternoon of Wednesday 24 July.
The man was charged with manslaughter and has been refused bail to appear in the Adelaide Magistrates Court today.
CO2400038901
Source: China State Council Information Office
Photo taken on June 22, 2022 shows the view at the Victoria Harbor in Hong Kong, south China. [Photo/Xinhua]
Hong Kong moved up one place to rank third globally and first in the Asia-Pacific region in a global financial centers index, showing the city’s status and strengths as a leading global financial center.
The Global Financial Centers Index (GFCI) 36 Report was published Tuesday by British think tank Z/Yen Group and the China Development Institute in Shenzhen.
A spokesperson from the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government said that Hong Kong’s scores were rated among the top in various areas of competitiveness, including business environment, human capital, infrastructure, as well as reputational and general.
Hong Kong’s rankings in various financial industry sectors also rose significantly, including investment management, insurance, banking and professional services. Among them, the ranking in investment management advanced to first globally.
In addition, the report assessed the financial centers’ fintech offerings, and Hong Kong’s ranking rose five places to ninth, making it among the top 10 fintech hubs.
The spokesperson said that Hong Kong’s asset and wealth management business is booming, with assets under management growing by about 2 percent from the previous year to more than 31 trillion Hong Kong dollars by the end of 2023.
Net fund inflows reached 390 billion Hong Kong dollars, representing a year-on-year increase of over 3.4 times. The development of the family office business in Hong Kong continues to gain momentum. The New Capital Investment Entrant Scheme has continued to receive overwhelming responses since its launch in March, with more than 550 applications received so far. It is expected to bring in more than 16.5 billion Hong Kong dollars in investments to Hong Kong.
The spokesperson said that the HKSAR government will continue to actively understand, respond to and embrace changes to promote high-quality development of the financial sector. In the stock market, it is proactively enhancing its breadth and depth as well as boosting market efficiency and competitiveness, while endeavoring to deepen financial mutual access between the mainland and Hong Kong so as to further strengthen Hong Kong’s role in connecting the mainland and international capital markets.
The GFCI Report is released in March and September every year since 2007. In GFCI 36, 121 financial centers were assessed, and Hong Kong ranked third globally with an overall rating of 749. (1 Hong Kong dollar equals 0.1284 U.S. dollars)
Source: China State Council Information Office
Chinese home appliance giant Haier held a groundbreaking ceremony on Monday for the second phase of its industrial park in Egypt in 10th of Ramadan, a city northeast of Cairo.
The Haier Egypt Ecological Park is invested by Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of the Haier Group. Once fully built, the park will cover an area of 200,000 square meters and have an annual production capacity of more than 1.5 million units of home appliances.
The second phase of the project, with an investment of about 40 million U.S. dollars, will mainly produce refrigerators and freezers.
During the ceremony, Zhou Yunjie, chairman and CEO of Haier Group, said the first batch of products manufactured in the first phase of the park have been exported to Kenya in July. After the second phase of the project becomes operational, it will further help Egypt’s manufacturing industry to go global.
Egyptian Minister of Investment and Foreign Trade Hassan El Khatib said Haier is the first Chinese enterprise to obtain a Golden License (Comprehensive Approval) from the Egyptian government, which makes it a role model for foreign enterprises investing in the Egyptian market.
Zhang Tao, minister and deputy chief of mission of the Chinese Embassy in Egypt, said that the success of the first phase of the Haier Egypt Ecological Park has attracted more Chinese enterprises to invest and set up factories in Egypt, which promoted the upgrading of Egypt’s home appliance manufacturing industry, created jobs, trained outstanding talents, and increased Egypt’s foreign exchange incomes.
The first phase of the industrial park was inaugurated in May, with trial production of air-conditioners, televisions, and washing machines.
Source: United Nations Population Fund
During the UN General Assembly, countries and donors rally critical investments to save women and girls’ lives and drive sustainable development.
As part of the global effort to secure sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) for all, governments and philanthropies have committed approximately US$350 million in new investments to expand access to family planning and sexual and reproductive health services.
Healthy women are the foundation of healthy families, vibrant communities, and prosperous economies and demand for SRH services is growing globally. Between 2023 and 2035, the number of people in low- and middle-income countries using modern contraceptives is predicted to increase by 95.4 million and annual births will increase by 3.29 million. Yet, a significant financing gap for contraceptives and lifesaving maternal health medicines – reaching at least US$1.5 billion in the world’s poorest countries alone by 2030 – threatens to derail hard-earned progress. Today, only 57 per cent of women are able to make their own decisions about their SRHR—a lack of autonomy that can put women’s lives at risk, rob them of opportunities, and foster an intergenerational cycle of poverty.
Together, the landmark commitments announced today on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly — ranging from countries committing domestic resources for reproductive health supplies to donor governments pledging funds to the UNFPA Supplies Partnership and new commitments from private sector and foundation partners — will help transform the lives of women and girls in 54 countries.
“Investing in reproductive health supplies is a ‘best buy’ for development, empowering women, improving maternal and newborn health outcomes, and uplifting economies,” said Dr. Natalia Kanem, Executive Director of UNFPA, the UN sexual and reproductive health agency. “The significant new resources that governments and philanthropies are committing to are a lifeline for millions of women, who can now enjoy reproductive freedom and the power of choice. Together, we must close the funding gap for reproductive health commodities so that every woman, everywhere, can exercise her fundamental rights.”
The contributions to UNFPA alone have the potential to reach more than 28 million people with reproductive health care, prevent more than 8 million unintended pregnancies, avert more than 2 million unsafe abortions, and save the lives of up to 9,000 women and girls.
Domestic financing commitments include:
Financing commitments from international donors include:
Other commitments include:
A Smart Investment for Health, Prosperity, and Sustainable Development
“When we invest in healthy women, we invest in a healthy world,” said Dr. Anita Zaidi, President of the Gender Equality Division at the Gates Foundation. “Family planning is a proven, high-impact intervention that not only saves lives but also fuels economic growth, makes societies more resilient, and advances gender equality. Investing in family planning can help unlock a brighter, more sustainable future for us all.”
Increasing sexual and reproductive health financing pays off. Globally, every US$1 invested in family planning yields more than US$8 in benefits for families and societies. Addressing the women’s health gap – in which they currently spend 25 per cent more of their lives in poor health compared to men – will boost the global economy by US$1 trillion by 2040. That amounts to an increase in per capita GDP of nearly 2 per cent every year.
A World Made Possible by Family Planning
Furthering the impact of today’s domestic financing announcements, the governments of the Kyrgyz Republic, Madagascar, and Nepal have ongoing commitments under FP2030 to expand access to family planning. FP2030 – a global partnership dedicated to putting family planning at the centre of global health, development, and gender equality – premiered a new video at the UN General Assembly featuring Nigerian football star Asisat Oshoala and former US Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) star and American business owner Renee Montgomery speaking to all that has been made possible by continued investments in family planning and SRH.
“So much of our world has been made possible by family planning. By enabling more women to shape their lives and futures, family planning has helped women to finish their education, join the workforce, ascend to leadership positions, and achieve their dreams,” said Dr. Samukeliso Dube, Executive Director of FP2030. “The commitments made to family planning and sexual and reproductive health today will create limitless possibilities for women, for families, and for our collective future.”
Investing in Family Planning and Sexual and Reproductive Health is Investing in the Future
Today’s commitments represent a critical step towards ensuring universal access to SRH services. While the work is far from over, these commitments get us closer to closing the current and expanding financing gap.
“There is no escaping the reality: even with the important pledges today, we still need to do more to ensure all women and girls have access to life-saving family planning when they want it,” said Sir Chris Hohn, Founder and Chair of the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation. “The shameful gap in funding for commodities and services must be met by strong domestic leadership – and sustained donor funding in service to country priorities. CIFF’s US$100 million investment in the WISH platform, on top of our US$100 million investment last year to end the commodity financing gap, is a demonstration of our commitment to prioritizing country-led solutions to ensure more women and girls can choose their futures.”
By unlocking sustainable financing and recharging political will for SRH, we can secure a healthier, more equitable world for future generations.
Media contact:
MIL OSI Translation. Timor-Leste Portuguese to English –
Press release
Meeting of the Council of Ministers on 25 September 2024
The Council of Ministers met at the Government Palace in Dili and approved the draft Government Resolution, presented by the Minister of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers in office, Adérito Hugo da Costa, and by the President of the Civil Service Commission, Agostinho Letêncio de Deus, which sets the vacancies for the promotion of personnel integrated in the General Regime of Public Administration Careers for the year 2024.
Of the total of 817 vacancies for promotion established by this Government Resolution, 47 are for the category of Senior Technician – Grade A, 122 for Senior Technician – Grade B, 188 for Professional Technician – Grade C, 234 for Professional Technician – Grade D, 149 for Administrative Technician – Grade E and 77 for Assistant – Grade F.
Vacancies for promotion are set annually by the Government, based on a proposal from the Civil Service Commission, up to a limit of ten percent of the total staff in each category or professional group.
*****
An initial assessment was made of the initiative to create a seniority-based promotion system for civil servants, also presented by the Presidency of the Council of Ministers and the Civil Service Commission, concerning. This initiative aims to ensure career progression for those who, for various reasons, have not been able to obtain merit-based promotions in recent years, based on criteria such as seniority, performance, age, professional training, work in remote areas, good behaviour and attendance.
*****
The Secretary of State for Equality, Elvina de Sousa Carvalho, made a presentation to the Council of Ministers on the implementation of the gender equality policy and the recommendations of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW). The Third Phase of the Maubisse Declaration (2023-2028) was also presented, which follows on from the previous phases, focusing on the economic empowerment of rural women and people with disabilities. This phase is aligned with the priorities of the IX Constitutional Government and the recommendations of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW).
The main commitments of this phase are organised into three areas: Social Capital, which covers social protection, inclusive education and health care, with a focus on preventing gender-based violence and improving maternal health care; Infrastructure, which promotes access to safe and accessible markets, the development of roads, sanitation and adapted public buildings, with a focus on inclusive public transport; and Economy, which prioritises agricultural development, female entrepreneurship and access to credit for rural women, strengthening their participation in sectors such as tourism and agriculture. Monitoring mechanisms are also being strengthened to ensure the implementation of these commitments. Implementation is led by several key government institutions, including relevant ministries and the National Bank of Commerce of Timor-Leste (BNCTL), which ensure the effective implementation of the planned measures.
*****
In order to resolve the payment of existing debts to hospitals abroad and ensure the continuity of health services, the Council of Ministers decided to instruct the Minister of Health to carry out a detailed survey of debts and payment deadlines, as well as the funds available to meet these commitments. The Minister of Health must establish prioritization criteria for payments, based on the urgency of the services, risks to public health and impact on hospital operations.
Among other measures, the Council of Ministers also instructed the Minister of Health to start negotiations with hospitals for debt restructuring and to propose to the Ministry of Finance a budgetary reinforcement for the health sector. The implementation of these measures will be monitored by a working group created specifically for this purpose, which will be required to report regularly to the Council of Ministers on the progress made in regularizing hospital debts. ENDS
EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is a translation. Apologies should the grammar and/or sentence structure not be perfect.
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)
BOUSSARD & GAVAUDAN HOLDING LIMITED
Ordinary Shares
The Directors of Boussard & Gavaudan Holding Limited would like to announce the following information for the Company.
Close of business 24 Sep 2024.
Estimated NAV
| Euro Shares | Sterling Shares | |
| Estimated NAV | € 28.5679 | £ 25.6374 |
| Estimated MTD return | -0.53 % | -0.36 % |
| Estimated YTD return | 3.70 % | 4.34 % |
| Estimated ITD return | 185.68 % | 156.37 % |
NAV and returns are calculated net of management and performance fees
Market information
| Euro Shares | Amsterdam (AEX) | London (LSE) |
| Market Close | € 27.40 | N/A |
| Premium/discount to estimated NAV | -4.09 % | N/A |
| Sterling Shares | Amsterdam (AEX) | London (LSE) |
| Market Close | N/A | GBX 2,360.00 |
| Premium/discount to estimated NAV | N/A | -7.95 % |
Transactions in own securities purchased into treasury
| Ordinary Shares | Euro Shares | Sterling Shares |
| Number of shares | N/A | N/A |
| Average Price | N/A | N/A |
| Range of Price | N/A | N/A |
| Liquidity Enhancement Agreement | Euro Shares | Sterling Shares |
| Number of shares | N/A | N/A |
| Average Price | N/A | N/A |
BGHL Capital
| BGHL Ordinary Shares | Euro Shares | Sterling Shares |
| Shares Outstanding | 12,299,516 | 123,090 |
| Held in treasury | N/A | N/A |
| Shares Issued | 12,299,516 | 123,090 |
Estimated BG Fund NAV
| Class B Euro Shares (estimated) | € 258.1153 |
| Class GBP A Shares (estimated) | £ 137.3552 |
The Class B Euro Shares of BG Fund are not subject to investment manager fees, as the Investment Manager receives management fees and performance fees in respect of its role as Investment Manager of BGHL.
For further information please contact:
Boussard & Gavaudan Investment Management, LLP.
Emmanuel Gavaudan +44 (0) 20 3751 5389 Email : info@bgam-uk.com
The Company is established as a closed-ended investment company domiciled in Guernsey. The Company has received the necessary approval of the Guernsey Financial Services Commission and the States of Guernsey Policy Council. The Company is registered with the Dutch Authority for the Financial Markets as a collective investment scheme pursuant to article 2:73 in conjunction with 2:66 of the Dutch Financial Supervision Act (Wet op het financieel toezicht). The shares of the Company (the “Shares”) are listed on Euronext Amsterdam. The Shares are also listed on the Official List of the UK Listing Authority and admitted to trading on the London Stock Exchange plc’s main market for listed securities.
This is not an offer to sell or a solicitation of any offer to buy any securities in the United States or in any other jurisdiction. This announcement is not intended to and does not constitute, or form part of, any offer or invitation to purchase any securities or the solicitation of any vote or approval in any jurisdiction, nor shall there be any sale, issuance or transfer of the securities referred to in this announcement in any jurisdiction in contravention of applicable law.
Neither the Company nor BG Fund ICAV has been, and neither will be, registered under the US Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Investment Company Act”). In addition the securities referenced in this announcement have not been and will not be registered under the US Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). Consequently any such securities may not be offered, sold or otherwise transferred within the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, US persons except in accordance with the Securities Act or an exemption therefrom and under circumstances which will not require the issuer of such securities to register under the Investment Company Act. No public offering of any securities will be made in the United States.
You should always bear in mind that:
This communication is for information purposes only and the information contained in this communication should not be relied upon as a substitute for financial or other professional advice.
Attachment
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)
Sampo plc, stock exchange release, 25 September 2024 at 8:30 am EEST
Sampo plc’s share buybacks 24 September 2024
On 24 September 2024, Sampo plc (business code 0142213-3, LEI 743700UF3RL386WIDA22) has acquired its own A shares (ISIN code FI4000552500) as follows:
| Sampo plc’s share buybacks | Aggregated daily volume (in number of shares) | Daily weighted average price of the purchased shares* | Market (MIC Code) |
| 3,541 | 41.49 | AQEU | |
| 43,470 | 41.45 | CEUX | |
| 1,127 | 41.51 | TQEX | |
| 43,087 | 41.46 | XHEL | |
| TOTAL | 91,225 | 41.46 |
*rounded to two decimals
On 17 June 2024, Sampo announced a share buyback programme of up to a maximum of EUR 400 million in compliance with the Market Abuse Regulation (EU) 596/2014 (MAR) and the Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/1052. On 16 September 2024, the Board of Directors of Sampo plc resolved to increase the share buyback programme to EUR 475 million. The programme, which started on 18 June 2024, is based on the authorisation granted by Sampo’s Annual General Meeting on 25 April 2024.
After the disclosed transactions, the company owns in total 7,312,345 Sampo A shares representing 1.33 per cent of the total number of shares in Sampo plc, taking the issuance of shares on 16 September 2024 into account.
Details of each transaction are included as an appendix of this announcement.
On behalf of Sampo plc,
Morgan Stanley
For further information, please contact:
Sami Taipalus
Head of Investor Relations
tel. +358 10 516 0030
Distribution:
Nasdaq Helsinki
Nasdaq Stockholm
Nasdaq Copenhagen
London Stock Exchange
The principal media
FIN-FSA
DEN-FSA
www.sampo.com
Attachment
Source: Switzerland – Department of Finance
Bern, 25.09.2024 – Optional auction date will be maintained.
The Federal Finance Administration will maintain the optional issue date on 9th October 2024. On 8th October it will announce as usual which Confederation bond will be issued.
Address for enquiries
Michael Girod, Communications, Federal Finance Administration, tél. +41 58 465 41 41, kommunikation@efv.admin.ch
Publisher
Federal Finance Administration
http://www.efv.admin.ch
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)
BOUSSARD & GAVAUDAN HOLDING LIMITED
Ordinary Shares
The Directors of Boussard & Gavaudan Holding Limited would like to announce the following information for the Company.
Close of business 24 Sep 2024.
Estimated NAV
| Euro Shares | Sterling Shares | |
| Estimated NAV | € 28.5679 | £ 25.6374 |
| Estimated MTD return | -0.53 % | -0.36 % |
| Estimated YTD return | 3.70 % | 4.34 % |
| Estimated ITD return | 185.68 % | 156.37 % |
NAV and returns are calculated net of management and performance fees
Market information
| Euro Shares | Amsterdam (AEX) | London (LSE) |
| Market Close | € 27.40 | N/A |
| Premium/discount to estimated NAV | -4.09 % | N/A |
| Sterling Shares | Amsterdam (AEX) | London (LSE) |
| Market Close | N/A | GBX 2,360.00 |
| Premium/discount to estimated NAV | N/A | -7.95 % |
Transactions in own securities purchased into treasury
| Ordinary Shares | Euro Shares | Sterling Shares |
| Number of shares | N/A | N/A |
| Average Price | N/A | N/A |
| Range of Price | N/A | N/A |
| Liquidity Enhancement Agreement | Euro Shares | Sterling Shares |
| Number of shares | N/A | N/A |
| Average Price | N/A | N/A |
BGHL Capital
| BGHL Ordinary Shares | Euro Shares | Sterling Shares |
| Shares Outstanding | 12,299,516 | 123,090 |
| Held in treasury | N/A | N/A |
| Shares Issued | 12,299,516 | 123,090 |
Estimated BG Fund NAV
| Class B Euro Shares (estimated) | € 258.1153 |
| Class GBP A Shares (estimated) | £ 137.3552 |
The Class B Euro Shares of BG Fund are not subject to investment manager fees, as the Investment Manager receives management fees and performance fees in respect of its role as Investment Manager of BGHL.
For further information please contact:
Boussard & Gavaudan Investment Management, LLP.
Emmanuel Gavaudan +44 (0) 20 3751 5389 Email : info@bgam-uk.com
The Company is established as a closed-ended investment company domiciled in Guernsey. The Company has received the necessary approval of the Guernsey Financial Services Commission and the States of Guernsey Policy Council. The Company is registered with the Dutch Authority for the Financial Markets as a collective investment scheme pursuant to article 2:73 in conjunction with 2:66 of the Dutch Financial Supervision Act (Wet op het financieel toezicht). The shares of the Company (the “Shares”) are listed on Euronext Amsterdam. The Shares are also listed on the Official List of the UK Listing Authority and admitted to trading on the London Stock Exchange plc’s main market for listed securities.
This is not an offer to sell or a solicitation of any offer to buy any securities in the United States or in any other jurisdiction. This announcement is not intended to and does not constitute, or form part of, any offer or invitation to purchase any securities or the solicitation of any vote or approval in any jurisdiction, nor shall there be any sale, issuance or transfer of the securities referred to in this announcement in any jurisdiction in contravention of applicable law.
Neither the Company nor BG Fund ICAV has been, and neither will be, registered under the US Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Investment Company Act”). In addition the securities referenced in this announcement have not been and will not be registered under the US Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). Consequently any such securities may not be offered, sold or otherwise transferred within the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, US persons except in accordance with the Securities Act or an exemption therefrom and under circumstances which will not require the issuer of such securities to register under the Investment Company Act. No public offering of any securities will be made in the United States.
You should always bear in mind that:
This communication is for information purposes only and the information contained in this communication should not be relied upon as a substitute for financial or other professional advice.
Attachment
Source: Government of Victoria 2
Our Supreme Court case seeking to recover in-going contributions paid by former retirement village residents is off to the High Court, after support from the Victorian Attorney-General.
The former Berkeley Living Retirement Village in Patterson Lakes closed in 2017, leaving many former residents and their families, who had paid considerable refundable fees, out of pocket.
Following our successful prosecution of former manager Stephen George Snowden and reforms to Victoria’s retirement villages laws, we filed a legal application in the Supreme Court of Victoria last year, seeking to sell all the retirement village land and use the sale funds to ensure residents are repaid what they are owed.
Last month at our request, the Victorian Attorney-General applied to take the matter to the High Court of Australia. The Attorney-General is seeking a ruling that would give the Supreme Court of Victoria full powers to make all the orders we are seeking in the case, including the sale of all the individual lots of land that make up the former village.
The reason this is important is that some of the lots of land are now owned by the Commonwealth or the Australian Securities and Investments Commission, because the previous owners were companies that are now deregistered under federal law. This means that the Supreme Court must consider making orders that would cover the Commonwealth government – this raises constitutional issues, that the Attorney-General’s application to the High Court can help resolve.
Director Nicole Rich said Consumer Affairs Victoria would continue to support the High Court application and do anything in its powers to progress the case.
“Our priority is ensuring that the former Berkeley Living residents and their families receive their entitlements under the law,” Rich said.
“As soon as the High Court application is resolved, we will take any next steps available to us to finalise our Supreme Court case in the public interest.”
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
NBPE Announces August Monthly NAV Estimate
25 September 2024
NB Private Equity Partners (NBPE), the $1.3bn1, FTSE 250, listed private equity investment company managed by Neuberger Berman, today announces its 31 August 2024 monthly NAV estimate.
NAV Highlights (31 August 2024)
| As of 31 August 2024 | YTD | 1 Year | 3 years | 5 years | 10 years |
| NAV TR (USD)* Annualised |
1.2% | 1.7% | 6.8% 2.2% |
72.8% 11.6% |
177.1% 10.7% |
| MSCI World TR (USD)* Annualised |
17.1% | 25.0% | 23.8% 7.4% |
89.7% 13.7% |
162.9% 10.1% |
| Share price TR (GBP)* Annualised |
(0.3%) | 8.1% | 12.0% 3.8% |
77.1% 12.1% |
263.0% 13.8% |
| FTSE All-Share TR (GBP)* Annualised |
11.3% | 17.0% | 24.4% 7.5% |
37.9% 6.6% |
80.9% 6.1% |
*Reflects cumulative returns over the time periods shown and are not annualised.
Portfolio Update to 31 August 2024
Following the 1H private portfolio valuation increases, movements in public holdings and FX in July and August, NBPE’s NAV TR year to date was 1.2%.
NAV performance during the month driven by:
Realisations from the portfolio continue in 2024
$390 million of total liquidity at 31 August 2024
$73 million invested in 2024 in new and follow-on investments
$0.47 semi annual dividend paid on 30 August 2024
Portfolio Valuation
The fair value of NBPE’s portfolio as of 31 August 2024 was based on the following information:
For further information, please contact:
NBPE Investor Relations +44 (0) 20 3214 9002
Luke Mason NBPrivateMarketsIR@nb.com
Kaso Legg Communications +44 (0)20 3882 6644
Charles Gorman nbpe@kl-communications.com
Luke Dampier
Charlotte Francis
Supplementary Information (as at 31 August 2024)
| Company Name | Vintage | Lead Sponsor | Sector | Fair Value ($m) | % of FV |
| Action | 2020 | 3i | Consumer | 68.3 | 5.4% |
| Osaic | 2019 | Reverence Capital | Financial Services | 62.7 | 4.9% |
| Solenis | 2021 | Platinum Equity | Industrials | 58.2 | 4.6% |
| BeyondTrust | 2018 | Francisco Partners | Technology / IT | 42.0 | 3.3% |
| Branded Cities Network | 2017 | Shamrock Capital | Communications / Media | 40.1 | 3.2% |
| Monroe Engineering | 2021 | AEA Investors | Industrials | 38.3 | 3.0% |
| Business Services Company* | 2017 | Not Disclosed | Business Services | 37.2 | 2.9% |
| True Potential | 2022 | Cinven | Financial Services | 35.5 | 2.8% |
| GFL (NYSE: GFL) | 2018 | BC Partners | Business Services | 33.8 | 2.7% |
| Kroll | 2020 | Further Global / Stone Point | Financial Services | 31.4 | 2.5% |
| Marquee Brands | 2014 | Neuberger Berman | Consumer | 30.8 | 2.4% |
| Staples | 2017 | Sycamore Partners | Business Services | 30.7 | 2.4% |
| Constellation Automotive | 2019 | TDR Capital | Business Services | 30.6 | 2.4% |
| Fortna | 2017 | THL | Industrials | 28.7 | 2.3% |
| Viant | 2018 | JLL Partners | Healthcare | 27.2 | 2.1% |
| Stubhub | 2020 | Neuberger Berman | Consumer | 26.6 | 2.1% |
| Engineering | 2020 | NB Renaissance / Bain Capital | Technology / IT | 25.6 | 2.0% |
| FDH Aero | 2024 | Audax Group | Industrials | 25.3 | 2.0% |
| Agiliti | 2019 | THL | Healthcare | 25.3 | 2.0% |
| Benecon | 2024 | TA Associates | Healthcare | 25.2 | 2.0% |
| Solace Systems | 2016 | Bridge Growth Partners | Technology / IT | 24.4 | 1.9% |
| Addison Group | 2021 | Trilantic Capital Partners | Business Services | 23.8 | 1.9% |
| USI | 2017 | KKR | Financial Services | 23.2 | 1.8% |
| Auctane | 2021 | Thoma Bravo | Technology / IT | 22.5 | 1.8% |
| AutoStore (OB.AUTO) | 2019 | THL | Industrials | 22.2 | 1.7% |
|
Excelitas |
2022 |
AEA Investors |
Industrials |
21.9 |
1.7% |
| Qpark | 2017 | KKR | Transportation | 21.3 | 1.7% |
| Exact | 2019 | KKR | Technology / IT | 20.0 | 1.6% |
| Renaissance Learning | 2018 | Francisco Partners | Technology / IT | 19.4 | 1.5% |
| Bylight | 2017 | Sagewind Partners | Technology / IT | 18.6 | 1.5% |
| Total Top 30 Investments | $940.8 | 74.0% |
*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 | 20% |
| Industrials / Industrial Technology | 17% |
| Financial Services | 14% |
| Business Services | 13% |
| Healthcare | 8% |
| Other | 4% |
| Energy | 1% |
| Total Portfolio | 100% |
| Vintage Year | % of Portfolio |
| 2016 & Earlier | 11% |
| 2017 | 19% |
| 2018 | 15% |
| 2019 | 14% |
| 2020 | 12% |
| 2021 | 17% |
| 2022 | 5% |
| 2023 | 2% |
| 2024 | 5% |
| 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 $481 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. The PRI identified the firm as part of the Leader’s Group, a designation awarded to fewer than 1% of investment firms for excellence in environmental, social and governance practices. 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 ten years (firms with more than 1,000 employees). Visit www.nb.com for more information. Data as of June 30, 2024.
1Based on net asset value.
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
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)
OKLAHOMA CITY, Sept. 24, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Devon Energy Corp. (NYSE: DVN) today announced it will report third-quarter 2024 results on Tuesday, Nov. 5, after the close of U.S. financial markets. The earnings release and presentation for the third-quarter 2024 results will be available on the company’s website at www.devonenergy.com.
On Wednesday, Nov. 6, the company will hold a conference call at 10 a.m. CST (11 a.m. EST), which will consist primarily of answers to questions from analysts and investors. A webcast link to the conference call will be provided on Devon’s website at www.devonenergy.com. A replay will be available on the website following the call.
ABOUT DEVON ENERGY
Devon Energy is a leading oil and gas producer in the U.S. with a premier multi-basin portfolio headlined by a world-class acreage position in the Delaware Basin. Devon’s disciplined cash-return business model is designed to achieve strong returns, generate free cash flow and return capital to shareholders, while focusing on safe and sustainable operations. For more information, please visit www.devonenergy.com.
| Investor Contacts Rosy Zuklic, 405-552-7802 Chris Carr, 405-228-2496 |
Media Contact Michelle Hindmarch, 405-552-7460 |
This press release was published by a CLEAR® Verified individual.
Source: United States Attorneys General 13
Two Ukrainian nationals made their initial appearance yesterday on a superseding indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Miami charging them with crimes related to labor-staffing companies they operated in Florida. The two men were extradited from the Kingdom of Thailand to the United States last week.
According to the superseding indictment, between August 2007 and July 2021, Oleg Oliynyk, Oleksandr Yurchyk and others owned and operated a series of labor-staffing companies in South Florida, including Paradise Choice LLC, Paradise Choice Cleaning LLC, Tropical City Services LLC and Tropical City Group LLC. The indictment alleges that the defendants, through these staffing companies, facilitated the employment in the hospitality industry of non-resident aliens who were not authorized to work in the United States. In addition, Oliynyk and Yurchyk allegedly conspired to defraud the IRS by, among other things, not withholding Social Security, Medicare and income taxes from these workers paychecks, and causing false corporate tax returns for the labor-staffing companies to be filed with the IRS.
Both defendants were charged with conspiracy to defraud the United States, conspiracy to harbor non-resident aliens and induce them to remain in the country and conspiracy to commit money laundering. If convicted, the defendants each face a maximum penalty of five years in prison on the conspiracy to defraud the United States charge, a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison on the conspiracy to harbor aliens and induce them to remain in the United States charge and a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison on the money laundering conspiracy charge. Each count also carries the possibility of a fine and supervised release upon completion of any sentence of incarceration. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida made the announcement.
The Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations and IRS Criminal Investigation are investigating the case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided significant assistance in securing the arrest and extradition of Oliynyk and Yurchyk. The United States also thanks the Embassy of the United States in Thailand – Regional Security Office and Thai law enforcement partners including the Royal Thai Police and Office of the Attorney General for their valuable assistance.
Senior Litigation Counsel Sean Beaty and Trial Attorneys Matthew C. Hicks and Wilson R. Stamm of the Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Clark for the Southern District of Florida are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation FBI Crime News (b)
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero announced that Alan Kane, 59, of Jamison, Pennsylvania, and Derrell Johnson, 42, of Bensalem, Pa., were convicted Friday at trial for their actions linked to multiple fraud schemes.
A federal jury convicted Kane, an attorney, on two counts of bankruptcy fraud, one count of filing a false claim in a bankruptcy proceeding, and one count of making a false statement to the FBI.
Johnson was convicted on two counts of making a false statement to the FBI.
In January of this year, they and codefendant Jonathan Barger, 55, of Huntingdon Valley, Pa., the owner of a local plating company, were charged in a 12-count indictment that laid out three different fraud schemes: (1) a scheme to steal a house from a dead man’s family; (2) a scheme to defraud the City of Philadelphia out of property taxes that were due on the stolen house; and (3) a scheme to defraud Barger’s creditors through bankruptcy. Barger was implicated in all three schemes and pleaded guilty in June to all counts with which he was charged.
In a suit filed by the family to get their house back, Kane represented the party who had stolen the house, Joseph Ruggiero[1], and made repeated false statements supporting Ruggiero’s claim to good title, despite knowing that the deeds transferring the property away from the family were fraudulent. Kane also filed a false counterclaim against the family, claiming Barger’s company was entitled to more than $133,000 for work purportedly done to improve the house after it had been stolen.
After claiming in the state court suit that Ruggiero had good title to the house, Kane represented Ruggiero before the Social Security Administration and represented that Ruggiero did not own the house because the deeds were fraudulent. This was done to ensure Ruggiero would still receive SSI benefits.
Kane next filed a bankruptcy for Ruggiero, in which they claimed that Ruggiero had valid title to the house. The bankruptcy served to stay the family’s state court suit and prevent them from winning back the house. Kane then filed a false claim against Ruggiero in the bankruptcy, on behalf of Barger’s company, in an effort to steal some of the equity in the house for Barger in the event that Ruggiero lost the house to the family.
Johnson had helped with the preparation and filing of two fraudulent deeds used to steal the house, and also helped with the filing of a false claim with the City of Philadelphia to avoid a large tax bill that was due on the house. Johnson was paid with two checks for his services in helping steal the house and the tax avoidance scam. When Johnson was interviewed by the FBI, he lied, claiming that he didn’t recognize the fraudulent deeds and had nothing to do with the theft of the house. He also claimed the two checks he received were really meant to provide payment to another person.
Kane and Johnson are scheduled to be sentenced on January 28, 2025. Kane faces a maximum possible sentence of 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, a $1 million fine, and a $400 special assessment, and Johnson faces a maximum possible sentence of 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release, a $500,000 fine, and $200 special assessment.
“The fraud schemes in which the defendants were involved differed in their details,” said U.S. Attorney Romero. “But they shared a common goal: scheming, cheating, and lying for illicit financial gain — be it at the expense of a family, a city, or a creditor. We will continue to hold accountable those involved in misappropriating money like this or caught lying to the FBI.”
“White collar crimes, such as bankruptcy fraud, erode confidence in our financial systems,” said Wayne A. Jacobs, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Philadelphia. “The FBI and our partners remain committed to protecting the integrity of our financial institutions and bringing to justice those who seek to deceive and defraud the public through devious financial schemes.”
The case was investigated by the FBI and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mark Dubnoff and Special Assistant United States Attorney Hannah McCollum.
[1] Mr. Ruggiero died in June 2020.
Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation FBI Crime News (b)
HOUSTON – A former federal agent has admitted to theft of personal property and providing false statements, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
From March 2022 to July 2023, Nicholas Anthony Williams, 37, Houston, stole money and property from multiple residences while executing search warrants in his official capacity.
Williams proceeded to retain the money or property for his personal use.
In addition, Williams admitted to providing false statements with regard to several fraudulent charges on his government-issued credit card.
“Founded on a legacy of steadfast duty since 1908, FBI agents uphold society’s trust by relentlessly pursuing justice and protecting citizens with unwavering integrity,” said Hamdani. “Nicholas Williams betrayed that legacy and the community’s trust when he decided to pad his own pockets at the expense of a citizen’s rights. Because no one is above the law, the system of justice that he once swore to protect will now seek to hold him to account for breaking that oath.”
Since 2019, Williams worked as an FBI special agent in the Houston field office. He served on both the criminal violent gang and counterterrorism squads.
U.S. District Judge Andrew Hanen will impose sentencing Jan. 13, 2025. At that time, Williams faces up to 10 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.
Williams was permitted to remain on bond pending sentencing.
The Department of Justice – Office of Inspector General conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Laura Garcia and Sarina DiPiazza are prosecuting the case.