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Category: KB

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: IPO campaign highlights dangers of counterfeit vehicle parts  

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    The campaign focuses on the serious risks these goods pose, warning that ‘Fake Always Breaks’ .

    • the Intellectual Property Office has launched a new national awareness campaign warning of the dangers of buying counterfeit vehicle parts
    • the ‘Fake Always Breaks’ campaign highlights to consumers and the motor trade that counterfeits are more likely to fail and endanger road users, putting lives at risk
    • safety-critical items such as tyres, wheels, airbags and brakes are among the most commonly-purchased fake items
    • the campaign has been developed in partnership with the motoring industry

    The Intellectual Property Office (IPO) has launched its latest national awareness campaign, warning consumers of the dangers of purchasing counterfeit vehicle parts.

    Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) research estimated that counterfeit vehicle parts imported to the UK were worth almost £1billion in 2016.  

    Driving home a clear message that ‘Fake Always Breaks’, the IPO’s new campaign alerts drivers to the life-threatening dangers such counterfeits pose. These include  items such as brakes, headlights and air bags.

    A survey conducted for the IPO has revealed that one in six motorists who responded said they had bought a counterfeit part in the past 12 months alone.

    The campaign highlights how counterfeit vehicle parts are not subject to the same rigorous testing as legitimate products.  It signposts new guidance advice for consumers and the motoring industry published by the IPO on how to spot and report a fake, developed in partnership with the motoring industry.

    The campaign shows that many of the most commonly-purchased counterfeit car parts in the UK pose significant safety concerns if faulty. These include car batteries (bought by 25% of motorists who admit to buying counterfeit parts), tyres/wheels (23%) and windscreen wipers (19%). 14% of motorists who have purchased fake car parts bought counterfeit airbags, while over a tenth (12%) bought fake brake pads or discs.

    Although many purchases are made unknowingly, almost three fifths (58%) of motorists responding to a survey said they did so knowing  the part was counterfeit.

    The survey also found that getting parts for a lower price was a significant factor among those intentionally buying a fake part, with three in ten (31%) citing cost savings as a reason.

    A third (34%) of motorists who admitted to buying fake parts said they did so because they felt there was no discernible difference in appearance (34%).

    Responses also suggest that such purchases made unknowingly are often uncovered at a later stage. More than two in five motorists (45%) who bought a fake that they thought was genuine, found out through their garage after the part faulted, with 30% becoming aware during routine service checks.

    The campaign is being supported by a range of organisations in the automotive industry and vehicle repair and servicing sectors. These include the Independent Automotive Aftermarket Federation and the Independent Garage Association.

    Vehicle manufacturers including Mercedes Benz, and law enforcement bodies such as the City of London Police’s Intellectual Property Crime Unit (PIPCU), are also involved in the campaign.  It brings targeted social media and industry voices together  to deliver an awareness message that will resonate, and help consumers make informed choices.  

    Miles Rees, IPO Deputy Director of Enforcement  said: 

    This is a serious campaign with a very serious message.  We want to raise awareness that the trade in counterfeit vehicle parts not only harms legitimate traders while enriching criminals, but can also lead to life-changing or life-ending consequences for road users.

    Working with our partners, we’re highlighting that such illicit goods are not subject to safety tests, and are likely to be made using vastly inferior materials.  This puts them at increased risk of failure, with potentially devastating results. 

    Our ‘Fake Always Breaks’ campaign seeks to arm motorists and the vehicle repair and servicing industries with the awareness they need to help spot a fake, avoid the risks and report sellers . It reinforces a clear message that – as with all counterfeiting and piracy – this is anything but a victimless crime.

    Stuart James, Chief Executive Officer at the Independent Garage Association (IGA) said:

    We are pleased to support the IPO’s campaign that aims to raise awareness of the severe safety risks that counterfeit vehicle parts pose to all road users.

    Garages should ensure that they avoid using customer supplied parts and fit parts from trusted suppliers and reputable vehicle parts distributors. This practice not only enhances the safety of vehicles but also reassures customers that all components meet the required specifications.

    We actively encourage any garage that identifies counterfeit parts to report them through the various channels highlighted in the IPO advice. Together, we can combat this issue and contribute to safer roads for all.

    Detective Chief Inspector Emma Warbey, from the Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit (PIPCU), at City of London Police, said:

    Counterfeiting safety-critical car components like tyres, wheels, airbags and brakes demonstrates the lengths that criminals will go to make money and their disregard for the safety of the people who will end up using these products.

    Our officers recently seized 500 counterfeit car airbags, which could have put motorists at risk, during an operation in east London. Fake airbags aren’t manufactured to industry standards, so there’s a real possibility that they won’t inflate during a road traffic collision, or will deploy in error.

    We know that the offer of a good deal can be enticing, but it’s vital to know how to spot the signs of a counterfeit car part and to buy from a reputable seller.

    The campaign builds on previous consumer campaign activities undertaken by the IPO since the publication of its ambitious 5-year counter-infringement strategy, as the office continues to deliver on its commitments to raise public understanding, and ultimately respect, for IP rights.  

    Notes to editor: 

    1. A core strand of IPO’s Counter Infringement Strategy is to raise awareness and understanding of IP crime and infringement and the risks surrounding it.

    2. The IPO regularly commissions research into topics relating to the infringement of intellectual property rights, including Social Media Influencers research published last year, regular reports include the Online Copyright Infringement and Physical Goods Tracker reports. The rese  arch underpinning this campaign is found in the most recent Physical Goods Tracker report.

    3. OECD source: Trade in Counterfeit Products and the UK Economy, 2019 Update

    New guidance has been published by the IPO to consumers and industry.  

    4. Counterfeit vehicle parts are unauthorised copies of a genuine branded part being it an (OEM) part supplied by car manufacturers or aftermarket parts. An aftermarket part is anything not supplied by a vehicle manufacturer under their own brand name. Criminals target both categories. Counterfeit parts are usually made from inferior materials and are not safety-tested, increasing the risk of failure.

    Updates to this page

    Published 21 October 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI: BOEM Completes Environmental Review of Wind Lease Areas Offshore New York and New Jersey

    Source: US State of New Jersey

    TRENTON – In support of the Biden-Harris administration’s goal of deploying 30 gigawatts (GW) of offshore wind energy capacity by 2030, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) has completed an environmental review to assess potential wind development activities within six wind lease areas covering over 488,000 acres offshore New York and New Jersey in an area known as the New York Bight. BOEM estimates that full development of the lease areas could generate up to 7 GW of offshore wind energy, enough to power up to two million homes.

    “BOEM has collected input from Tribes, Federal and state government agencies, local communities, ocean users, and key stakeholders as part of our comprehensive environmental review,” said BOEM Director Elizabeth Klein. “We appreciate the feedback we have received, and we believe our regional approach will provide a solid baseline for future environmental reviews for any proposed offshore wind projects in the New York Bight.”

    In February 2022, BOEM held an auction that brought in over $4.3 billion for the rights to six lease areas in the New York Bight – a record amount for any U.S. offshore renewable or conventional energy lease sale.

    BOEM prepared a Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS) to analyze potential environmental impacts of offshore wind activities in the six New York Bight lease areas. The Proposed Action for the PEIS identifies avoidance, minimization, mitigation, and monitoring (AMMM) measures that BOEM may require as conditions for approval for activities proposed by lessees in the individual construction and operations plans submitted for these six lease areas. Additional environmental analyses specific to each proposed project would build on the PEIS. This is the first time BOEM has conducted a regional analysis of offshore renewable energy development activities across multiple lease areas.

    In early 2024, BOEM held five public meetings and eight regional environmental justice forums between 2022 and 2024 to receive input on the Draft PEIS from Tribal Nations, local community members, government partners, and ocean users. This public engagement was supported by funds from the Inflation Reduction Act. BOEM sought information on important resources and issues, potential impacts to the environment, and AMMM measures found in the Draft PEIS. BOEM received 1,568 unique comments from 560 submissions, which informed the Final PEIS, including the categorization and analysis of the AMMM measures. The Final PEIS analyzes 58 AMMM measures that have been applied previously to offshore wind activities, and eight that have not been applied previously but may help reduce potential impacts.

    Under the Biden-Harris administration, the Department of the Interior has approved more than 15 gigawatts of clean energy from ten offshore wind projects, enough to power nearly 5.25 million homes. It has also held five offshore wind lease auctions, including a record-breaking sale offshore New York and New Jersey and the first-ever sales offshore the Pacific and Gulf of Mexico coasts. Earlier this year, Secretary Haaland announced a schedule of potential additional lease sales through 2028.  

    The “Notice of Availability of a Final Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement for Expected Wind Energy Development in the New York Bight” will publish in the Federal Register on October 25, 2024.

    For more information, see BOEM’s website.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Atlanta Attorney Pleads Guilty in Syndicated Conservation Easement Tax Scheme

    Source: US State of Vermont

    Attorney is 12th Individual Convicted in Scheme Involving Sale of Over $1.3B in Fraudulent Tax Deductions

    A Georgia man pleaded guilty last week to obstructing the IRS related to his participation in the promotion of abusive syndicated conservation easement tax shelters.

    According to court documents and statements made in court, Vi Bui was an attorney and partner at Sinnott & Co., an Atlanta-based company. Beginning in at least in 2012 and continuing through at least May 2020, Bui participated in a scheme to defraud the IRS by organizing, marketing, implementing and selling illegal syndicated conservation easement tax shelters created and organized by Jack Fisher, Sinnott and others. For their involvement in the scheme, Fisher and Sinnott were convicted at trial and in January sentenced to 25 and 23 years in prison, respectively.

    The scheme entailed the creation of partnerships that would purchase land and land-owning companies and then donate conservation easements over that land or the land itself. Appraisers would allegedly generate fraudulent and inflated appraisals of the conservation easements. The partnerships then claimed a charitable contribution tax deduction based on the inflated value of the conservation easement, resulting in a fraudulent tax deduction flowing to the wealthy clients who purchased units in the partnership. Many of these clients joined the tax shelters after the donation of the interest in land and after the close of the relevant tax year. Bui knew that, to make it appear that the participants had timely purchased their units in the tax shelters, Fisher, Sinnott and others backdated and instructed others to falsify documents, including subscription agreements, checks and other documents. And in at least one instance, Bui falsified documents himself.

    Bui anticipated that the syndicated conservation easement transactions would be audited. To deceive the IRS, Bui and others took steps to make the partnerships appear as legitimate real estate development companies. They would create and disseminate lengthy documents disguising the true nature of the transaction, institute sham “votes” for what to do with the land that the partnership owned despite knowing that outcome was predetermined and falsify paperwork, such as appraisals and subscription agreements.

    In one instance, when investigators conducted an undercover operation in 2018, Bui, believing that the IRS was auditing an individual’s 2014 tax return, prepared false documents that made it appear that the materials were executed before the purported donation of the conservation easement in 2014 and before the 2014 tax returns had been filed.

    Bui earned substantial income for his role in the illegal scheme. He also used the fraudulent tax shelters to evade his own taxes, filing false personal tax returns from 2013 through 2018 that claimed false tax deductions from the illegal syndicated conservation easement tax shelters.

    Bui is scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 13, 2025, and faces a maximum penalty of three years in prison. Bui also faces a period of supervised release, restitution and monetary penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

    To date, in addition to the convictions of Fisher and Sinnott noted above, nine additional defendants have pleaded guilty to criminal conduct related to the syndicated conservation easement tax shelter scheme, including appraiser Walter Douglas “Terry” Roberts, accountants Stein Agee; Corey Agee, CPA; Ralph Anderson, CPA; James Benkoil, CPA; Victor Smith, CPA; William Tomasello, CPA; Herbert Lewis,  CPA; and Attorney Randall Lenz.

    Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division, U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan for the Northern District of Georgia and Chief Guy Ficco of the IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) made the announcement. They also thanked U.S. Attorney Dena J. King for the Western District of North Carolina for her office’s assistance.

    IRS-CI and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service investigated the case.

    Trial Attorneys Richard M. Rolwing, Parker Tobin, Jessica Kraft and Nicholas J. Schilling Jr., of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Huber and deputy chief of the complex frauds section for the Northern District of Georgia  are prosecuting the case.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Inquest Into the Death of Kristin Grant

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    Released on October 21, 2024

    A public inquest into the death of Kristan Grant will be held November 18 to 22, 2024, at the Kenosee Inn, 100 Kenosee Drive, in Kenosee.

    The first day of the inquest is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. Subsequent start times will be determined by the presiding coroner.

    Grant, 36, called police regarding a complaint with people in her house on November 8, 2021 at approximately 20:57 hours. RCMP members responded, found her agitated and noted some injuries present on her body. While the RCMP members attempted to calm her down, she became more agitated. The RCMP members deemed she was becoming a danger to herself, put her in handcuffs and placed her in the back seat of the police car to await for EMS to arrive. Upon arrival of a first responder, Kristin Grant became unresponsive and life saving measures were initiated. EMS arrived and continued resuscitation on route to the Kipling Hospital. She was pronounced deceased by an attending physician at the hospital at 02:29 hours on November 9, 2021.

    Section 20 of The Coroners Act, 1999 states that the Chief Coroner shall hold an inquest into the death of a person who dies while an inmate at a jail or a correctional facility, unless the coroner is satisfied that the person’s death was due entirely to natural causes and was not preventable.

    The Saskatchewan Coroners Service is responsible for the investigation of all sudden, unexpected deaths. The purpose of an inquest is to establish who died, when and where that person died and the medical cause and manner of death. The coroner’s jury may make recommendations to prevent similar deaths.

    Coroner William Davern will preside at the inquest.

    -30-

    For more information, contact:

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Jim Costa Announces $98 Million for Tulare’s State Route 99

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jim Costa Representing 16th District of California

    FRESNO, Calif. – Congressman Jim Costa (CA-21) announced $98 million to widen State Route 99 in Tulare County at the Paige Avenue multimodal interchange, relieving traffic congestion for San Joaquin Valley drivers. This funding comes from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Nationally Significant Multimodal Freight & Highway Projects (INFRA) grant program and is significantly strengthened by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

    “Thanks to the support of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, we are taking significant steps toward creating a more efficient and reliable transportation network for our community,” said Rep. Jim Costa. “This vital funding will directly benefit the people of Tulare County by reducing traffic congestion and improving access to local businesses and essential services.”

     “This $98.4 million in federal funding will support dramatic improvement to Highway 99 in the City of Tulare, finally widening this section to six lanes to improve safety and reduce congestion. Highway 99 has been the most dangerous road in America for years, but we are changing that by working with our partners throughout the Valley,” said TCAG Chairman and City of Woodlake Mayor Rudy Mendoza. “We competed for this funding against projects from across the nation and could not have been successful without the support of the Valley’s home team in Congress, Congressmen David Valadao, Jim Costa, and Vince Fong. Our Congressional delegation has gone to bat for the Valley time and time again, and this funding is another demonstration of their effectiveness.”

    BACKGROUND
    The California Department of Transportation (CalTrans) will utilize this funding to expand about 5.4 miles of freeway from four to six lanes, adding one lane in each direction.

    The project will also reconstruct four ramps to form a cohesive multimodal interchange that includes roundabouts at the ends of the ramps and nearby intersections. Furthermore, the funding will help build 10-foot-wide shared-use paths on both sides of Paige Avenue, creating an east-west corridor for different modes of transportation.

    Learn more about the project HERE.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Robert Vroom named Producer with NFB’s Eastern Documentary Unit in Montreal. Working to strengthen English-language filmmaking across Quebec

    Source: Government of Canada News

    Veteran film producer Robert Vroom is joining the National Film Board of Canada (NFB) as the new Producer with the Eastern Documentary Unit, Executive Producer Nathalie Cloutier announced today.

    October 21, 2024 – Montreal – National Film Board of Canada (NFB)

    Veteran film producer Robert Vroom is joining the National Film Board of Canada (NFB) as the new Producer with the Eastern Documentary Unit, Executive Producer Nathalie Cloutier announced today.

    Based in Montreal, Rob will work closely with anglophone directors and co-producers in the Montreal region and across Quebec to strengthen English-language non-fiction storytelling.

    He brings a deep knowledge of the Quebec film sector to his new post, along with a commitment to collaborating with underrepresented communities and helping to guide inspiring stories to the screen.

    Rob has been working in the film and TV industry for over 25 years. After receiving his MFA from the American Film Institute, he emersed himself in television series, both scripted and documentary.

    After seven years of living in LA and travelling the world, Rob moved to Vancouver to work on the CSA-nominated documentary series The Beat, where he helped showcase the struggles of the Downtown Eastside. He then went on to be a part of the Webby Award-winning Best Documentary series Heritage and the James Beard Award-nominated feature-length documentary Funke.

    In 2012, Rob returned to his hometown of Montreal to start his own production company with the intent to collaborate with auteur filmmakers. His feature film credits include Pat Kiely’s Three Night Stand and Another Kind of Wedding, Jeff Barnaby’s Blood Quantum, and Sarah Watts and Mark Slutsky’s You Can Live Forever.

    – 30 –

    Stay Connected

     

    Online Screening Room: nfb.ca
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    Curator’s perspective | Director’s notes

    About the NFB

    Lily Robert
    Director, Communications and Public Affairs, NFB
    C.: 514-296-8261
    l.robert@nfb.ca

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Chair of the Police and NCA Pay Review Bodies reappointed

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    The Prime Minister has reappointed Zoë Billingham as the Chair of the Police and NCA Pay Review Bodies.

    Photo: Getty Images

    The Prime Minister has reappointed Zoë Billingham as Chair of the Police Remuneration Review Body (PRRB) and the National Crime Agency Remuneration Review Body (NCARRB). This will be Zoë’s second term in the role. She will be in the role for 3 years starting 13 January 2025. This reappointment was made in line with the Governance Code on Public Appointments.

    Zoë has spent much of her career inspecting public services to promote improvement. Serving as Her Majesty’s Inspector of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue for 12 years, she shone a light on all aspects of policing and created the new fire inspectorate. She led the inspectorate’s national work on value for money, mental health and protecting the most vulnerable.

    Zoë is Chair of Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust. She is also a trustee of SafeLives, a national domestic abuse charity, and a member of the Transport for London Board.

    The PRRB makes independent recommendations concerning the pay, allowances and conditions of police officers to the Home Secretary and the Northern Ireland Minister of Justice.

    The NCARRB makes independent recommendations to the government on the pay and allowances of NCA officers designated with operational powers.

    Updates to this page

    Published 21 October 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Statement from Families Minister Nahanni Fontaine, Minister Responsible for Gender Equity, on International Day of the Girl

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    October 11, 2024

    Statement from Families Minister Nahanni Fontaine, Minister Responsible for Gender Equity, on International Day of the Girl

    Today is International Day of the Girl – a day we acknowledge the rights of girls and the unique challenges they face including barriers to education, food insecurity, forced child marriage, female genital mutilation, sexual violence and access to legal and medical rights.

    Girls and gender-diverse youth are disproportionately impacted by the rising tide of political instability, violence, climate change, economic inequality, child sex human trafficking and all the devastating armed conflicts we see across the world.

    The world’s conflicts and wars – whether in the Congo, Haiti, Chad, Ukraine, Gaza, Sudan or elsewhere – are fought at the expense of girls: their rights, their bodies, their education, their futures and their very lives.

    The ongoing climate crisis also exacerbates these issues, with girls often being the first to lose access to vital resources like food and water, making them more vulnerable to exploitation and abuse.

    Despite these immense challenges, girls and gender-diverse youth continue to lead the way in creating positive change. Whether in their families, their communities, their nations or beyond, they are standing up as advocates, innovators and leaders, often at great personal risk.

    I know so many incredible girls and gender-diverse youth, and they continue to inspire me with their courage, resilience and determination. These are smart, fierce and brave young citizens who not only stand strong in the face of adversity but envision a world where equality, justice and opportunity are within reach for all.

    What we want for girls in Manitoba, we want for girls around the world: a safe and nurturing environment, connection to communities caring for them, access to quality health care and education, and the freedom to pursue their dreams.

    We must continuously speak and stand up for girls here at home and across the world. We must be unapologetically relentless in building an equitable world.

    To all girls in Manitoba, and beyond, your dreams and ideas are powerful. You are strong and beyond capable. You are transformative agents of change. You deserve every opportunity.

    Don’t be afraid to lead, to speak up, take up space and to make your indelible mark on the world.

    You are the future!

    – 30 –

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: New Orleans Man Sentenced for Cocaine Distribution and Possession Conspiracy

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

    NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – DAVID HESTER (“HESTER”), age 35, a resident of New Orleans, was sentenced on October 16, 2024 after previously pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute and, possess with intent to distribute, five hundred grams or more of cocaine hydrochloride, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(B), and 846.  HESTER was sentenced to eighty-eight (88) months imprisonment, four (4) years of supervised release, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee.

    According to court documents, HESTER, and other co-conspirators, are responsible for the distribution of multi-kilogram quantities of cocaine, fentanyl, and heroin within the Eastern District of Louisiana.

    During the investigation, law enforcement, led by the Drug Enforcement Administration, seized seventy- one (71) kilograms of cocaine hydrochloride, twelve (12) kilograms of fentanyl, four and a half (4.5) kilograms of heroin, and nearly $1,200,000.00 in U.S. Currency and other seized property.

    This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation.  OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.

    This investigation was led by the Drug Enforcement Administration – New Orleans Field Division Office and was assisted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the United States Border Patrol, the Gretna Major Crimes Task Force, the Kenner Police Department, the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office, the St. John’s Parish Sheriff’s Office, the Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office, and the New Orleans Police Department.  The prosecution was handled by Assistant United States Attorney Lynn E. Schiffman of the Narcotics Unit.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: No such thing as a ‘normal family’

    Source: City of York

    This year’s National Adoption Week highlights all kinds of adoption journeys.

    City of York Council and One Adoption North and Humber, the regional adoption agency for the York, North Yorkshire and the Humber, are supporting this year’s National Adoption Week (21-27 October). 

    This year’s campaign hopes to increase understanding of modern adoption, the diversity of adoption journeys today and show that ‘the journey to a family is not always a traditional one’.

    The campaign will show prospective adopters that they are not alone, by highlighting the ‘village’ that makes every journey unique – from social workers and foster carers to birth families and grandparents – who help support and navigate the journey along the way.  

    A new survey by You Can Adopt exploring changing attitudes to family life, reveals that in Yorkshire and the Humber, 66 per cent of participants said there’s no such thing as a ‘normal’ family, with nearly half (48%) of people questioned describing themselves as having a ‘chosen family’ and 51 per cent saying they come from a ‘non-traditional’ family structure themselves (such as blended, extended, adoptive, or single parent). 

    This comes as new adoption data shows that in England, there has been a 22 per cent increase in the number of children with a plan for adoption not yet matched with an adoptive family, alongside a fall in the number of adopters coming forward.

    In the North and Humber region there are currently 46 children waiting for their forever home and more than half are part of a group of brothers and sisters. With fewer potential adopters coming forward – believed to largely be a result of the cost-of-living crisis – this means that nearly half (47 per cent) of all children face delays of over 18 months to be placed with an adoptive family.

    Tom Maxwell, Head of Agency at One Adoption North and Humber said: 

    National Adoption Week is always a fantastic opportunity to celebrate and raise the profile of adoption across the country.

    “Adoption is a life-changing journey that enriches not only the lives of children but also the families who welcome them. 

    “Here at One Adoption North and Humber we have 46 children currently in our care who are waiting for their forever home. We urgently need adopters who are ready to embrace the unique bond of adopting siblings, older children and children with diverse needs. Every adoption story is different, shaped by the people who make it possible. 

    “Modern adoption is about creating new beginnings, celebrating diversity, and building families in ways that are as unique as the children themselves. By stepping forward, you’re opening your heart to the incredible joy and love adoption brings. We look forward to hearing from anyone who is interested in adopting with us.” 

    Cllr Bob Webb, City of York Council’s Executive Member for Children and Young People, said:

    National Adoption Week is a great opportunity for us to shine a light on the pivotal role that adoption has in creating, and growing families across the region.

    “We’re always looking for families from all backgrounds who can offer a permanent, caring, forever home to children. I’d urge anyone who’s considering adoption to get in touch or attend one of the regular information events.”

    Rachel, who features in the film alongside her two-year-old adopted daughter Winnie, father Daniel and social worker Becky, said:

    You have an idea in your head of what family looks like, and for us it’s been different, but even more wonderful in different ways.

    “For me, it’s really important that Winnie has a sense of herself and her identity – that she understands that not only do all families look different, but she has more than one family, and that’s OK.” 

    In support of the campaign, train companies across the country including Hull Trains and Avanti are encouraging more people to start their own adoption journey. From offering free tickets for adoptive families, to changing digital signage at train stations, rail companies are rallying behind the cause in support of everybody who is part of an adoptive family or considering embarking on their own adoption journey

    To find out more about adoption or starting your adoption journey with One Adoption North and Humber, visit their website. 

    One Adoption North and Humber will be holding an online adoption information event during National Adoption Week on Wednesday 23 October between 6pm and 7pm, where the adoption team and an adoptive parent will be on hand to answer your questions. For more information and to book your place, please visit the One Adoption event page.

    To find out more about adopting with One Adoption North and Humber visit the One Adoption website or call 0345 305 2576.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI: Rubis: Transactions carried out within the framework of the share buyback programme (excluding transactions within the liquidity agreement) – 14 to 18 October 2024

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Paris, 21 October 2024, 06:00pm

    Issuer Name: Rubis (LEI: 969500MGFIKUGLTC9742)
    Category of securities: Ordinary shares (ISIN: FR0013269123)
    Period: From 14 to 18 October 2024

    In accordance with the authorisation granted by the Ordinary Shareholders’ Meeting held on 11 June 2024 to implement a share buyback programme, the Company operated, between 14 and 18 October 2024, the purchases of its own shares in view of their cancelation presented below.

    Aggregate presentation per day and per market

    Name of issuer Identification code of issuer (Legal Entity Identifier) Day of transaction Identification code of financial instrument Aggregated daily volume
    (in number of shares)    		 Daily weighted average price of the purchased shares* Market (MIC Code)
    RUBIS 969500MGFIKUGLTC9742 14/10/2024 FR0013269123 2,931 25.1214 AQEU
    RUBIS 969500MGFIKUGLTC9742 14/10/2024 FR0013269123 19,209 25.2339 CEUX
    RUBIS 969500MGFIKUGLTC9742 14/10/2024 FR0013269123 3,736 25.0963 TQEX
    RUBIS 969500MGFIKUGLTC9742 14/10/2024 FR0013269123 33,694 25.0730 XPAR
    RUBIS 969500MGFIKUGLTC9742 15/10/2024 FR0013269123 3,426 24.9295 AQEU
    RUBIS 969500MGFIKUGLTC9742 15/10/2024 FR0013269123 18,686 24.9241 CEUX
    RUBIS 969500MGFIKUGLTC9742 15/10/2024 FR0013269123 3,322 24.8144 TQEX
    RUBIS 969500MGFIKUGLTC9742 15/10/2024 FR0013269123 34,624 24.8668 XPAR
    RUBIS 969500MGFIKUGLTC9742 16/10/2024 FR0013269123 1,623 24.9580 AQEU
    RUBIS 969500MGFIKUGLTC9742 16/10/2024 FR0013269123 18,815 24.8383 CEUX
    RUBIS 969500MGFIKUGLTC9742 16/10/2024 FR0013269123 1,768 24.8737 TQEX
    RUBIS 969500MGFIKUGLTC9742 16/10/2024 FR0013269123 36,185 24.9009 XPAR
    RUBIS 969500MGFIKUGLTC9742 17/10/2024 FR0013269123 12,705 25.0118 CEUX
    RUBIS 969500MGFIKUGLTC9742 17/10/2024 FR0013269123 36,792 25.0143 XPAR
    RUBIS 969500MGFIKUGLTC9742 18/10/2024 FR0013269123 1,028 25.2043 AQEU
    RUBIS 969500MGFIKUGLTC9742 18/10/2024 FR0013269123 13,424 25.1421 CEUX
    RUBIS 969500MGFIKUGLTC9742 18/10/2024 FR0013269123 205 25.2200 TQEX
    RUBIS 969500MGFIKUGLTC9742 18/10/2024 FR0013269123 34,473 25.1522 XPAR
    * Four-digit rounding after the decimal TOTAL 276,646 25.0070  

    Detailed presentation per transaction

    Detailed information on the transactions carried out from 14 to 18 October 2024 is available on the Company’s website (http://www.rubis.fr) in the section “Investors – Regulated information – Share buyback programme”.

      Contact
      RUBIS – Legal Department
      Tel. : + 33 (0)1 44 17 95 95

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Find voting information on Google Search and Maps

    Source: Google

    With the U.S. general election around the corner and voting already underway in many parts of the country, here are some useful features on Google Search and Maps to help you find information on voting:

    Know where to vote with Search and Maps

    As we’ve done in previous elections, this week we’ll begin showing official information about in-person voting and ballot dropbox locations. On Search, just look for things like “where to vote” or “ballot dropboxes,” follow the prompt to enter your registered address, and you’ll see available locations nearby based on the type of voting information you’re looking for. And on Maps, you can look up a specific voting location to find more information about hours and the types of voting offered there.

    Just like in past years, the official information in this feature will come from the Voting Information Project, a partnership between Democracy Works, a nonpartisan civic organization, and state and local election officials.

    Information in Search and Maps will update as state and local election officials update voting locations through the Voting Information Project. You’ll also always see a link directing you to your official state or local election office website to learn more.

    Get more information on how to vote in your state

    Want to know if you can vote early in your state? It’s easy to find out more about important voting information on Google Search. When you type queries like “how to vote” on Google Search, you’ll get authoritative information from state election offices, provided by Democracy Works. In addition to information such as whether you can vote early, or what you might need to bring, the feature shows you important voting deadlines in your state and how to check the status of your ballot.

    Find real-time Election Day results on Search

    As with previous U.S. elections, we’re working with The Associated Press (AP) to present election results on Google Search. Starting on Election Day, November 5, you can go to Google Search to get real-time updates on the election from the AP. The feature will update regularly as the AP receives updated vote count information on contests and ballot measures from election officials.

    So whether you’re looking for information about voting or for live results once the polls close on Election Day, Google Search and Maps have authoritative information to help you learn more.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI: World’s largest investment managers see assets hit $128 trillion in return to growth

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NEW YORK, Oct. 21, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Total assets under management (AUM) at the world’s 500 largest asset managers reached USD 128.0 trillion at the end of 2023, according to new research from leading global advisory, broking and solutions company WTW’s (NASDAQ: WTW) Thinking Ahead Institute.

    Despite not yet reaching 2021 levels, this amounts to 12.5% annual growth and marks a significant recovery from the major correction the year before (AUM dropped by $18 trillion in 2022).

    The research also reveals the continued evolution of active vs. passive assets under management among the largest investment managers. For the first time, passive investment strategies now account for more than one third of AUM among the 500 largest firms (33.7%), though this still leaves almost two thirds of assets managed by the world’s largest managers in active strategies.

    Asset class allocations have also evolved, with renewed growth of private markets. Core equity and fixed income remain the dominant asset classes, comprising 77.3% of total AUM (48.3% equity and 29.0% fixed income). However, this marks a slight decrease of 0.2% compared to the previous year, as investors turned to alternatives such as private equity and other illiquids in search of returns.

    Partly down to the recent dominance of US equities as performance drivers, North America experienced the largest growth in AUM with a 15.0% increase, followed closely by Europe (including the U.K.) with a 12.4% rise. Japan saw a slight decline, with AUM decreasing by 0.7%. As a result, North America now accounts for 60.8% of the total AUM in the top 500 managers, with USD 77.8 trillion at the end of 2023.

    At the very top of the rankings, U.S. managers make up 14 of the top 20, and account for 80.3% of the assets of the top 20.

    Turning to individual asset managers, the research shows that BlackRock remains the world’s largest asset manager, with its assets now above $10 trillion once more. Vanguard Group holds a strong second place at almost $8.6 trillion AUM and both remain significantly ahead of Fidelity Investments and State Street Global – ranked third and fourth respectively.

    Notable risers in the full rankings in the last 5 years include Charles Schwab Investment, up 34 places to reach 25th place from 59th place. Geode Capital Management, also U.S. based, is up 31 places to reach 23rd place from 54, while Canada’s Brookfield Asset Management is up 29 places from 60th to 31st.

    “Asset managers have experienced a year of consolidation and change. While there has been a return to strong market performance, the last year has also seen forces of change,” said Jessica Gao, director at the Thinking Ahead Institute. “Macro factors have played a key part in the story, with notable highs in interest rates during 2023 exerting varied pressure on different asset classes, geographies and investment styles. As this now gradually switches to a rate cutting environment, equity markets are beginning to return positive performance also driven by improving expectations of earnings growth. Uncertainties looking ahead are now focused on geopolitical events and several major elections.

    “We have continued to see net flows into passive strategies as they continue to offer a compelling value proposition, particularly in terms of lower fees and simplicity. Yet growing market volatility and issues with concentration, which typically highlights the need for expertise to outperform benchmarks, may be a source of caution from some allocators to passive market trackers.

    “Meanwhile, asset managers continue to face major pressure to evolve their own business models. Investment in technology remains essential not just to maintain a market edge, but also to meet evolving client requirements and expectation in reporting and customer service. Increased competition, fee compression, and the growing demand for more personalised, technology-driven investment solutions are challenging traditional structures. We have witnessed notable successes of independent asset managers versus many of the more affiliated insurer-linked vs bank-linked asset managers,” concluded Gao.

    The world’s largest money managers as of December 31, 2023
    Ranked by total AUM, in U.S. millions.

    Rank Fund Market Total Assets (US$)
    1. BlackRock U.S. $10,008,995
    2. Vanguard Group U.S. $8,593,307
    3. Fidelity Investments U.S. $4,581,980
    4. State Street Global U.S. $4,127,817
    5. J.P. Morgan Chase U.S. $3,422,000
    6. Goldman Sachs Group U.S. $2,812,000
    7. UBS Switzerland $2,620,000
    8. Capital Group U.S. $2,532,813
    9. Allianz Group Germany $2,454,495
    10. Amundi France $2,250,226
    11. BNY Investments U.S. $1,974,322
    12. Invesco U.S. $1,585,344
    13. Legal & General Group U.K. $1,475,442
    14. Franklin Templeton U.S. $1,455,506
    15. Prudential Financial U.S. $1,449,673
    16. T. Rowe Price Group U.S. $1,444,500
    17. Northern Trust U.S. $1,434,500
    18. Morgan Stanley Inv. Mgmt U.S. $1,373,456
    19. BNP Paribas France $1,364,099
    20. Natixis Investment Managers France $1,288,581

    Notes to editors:

    Figures were the latest available as of Dec. 31, 2023

    About the Thinking Ahead Institute

    The Thinking Ahead Institute was established in January 2015 and is a global not-for-profit investment research and innovation member group made up of engaged institutional asset owners and service providers committed to changing and improving the investment industry for the benefit of the end saver. It has over 55 members around the world and is an outgrowth of WTW Investments’ Thinking Ahead Group, which was set up in 2002.

    About WTW Investments

    WTW’s Investments is an investment advisory and asset management firm focused on creating financial value for institutional investors through its expertise in risk assessment, strategic asset allocation, fiduciary management and investment manager selection. It has over 900 colleagues worldwide, more than 1,000 investment clients globally, assets under advisory of over US$4.7 trillion and US$187 billion of assets under management.

    About WTW

    At WTW (NASDAQ: WTW), we provide data-driven, insight-led solutions in the areas of people, risk and capital. Leveraging the global view and local expertise of our colleagues serving 140 countries and markets, we help organizations sharpen their strategy, enhance organizational resilience, motivate their workforce and maximize performance.

    Working shoulder to shoulder with our clients, we uncover opportunities for sustainable success—and provide perspective that moves you.

    Learn more at wtwco.com

    Media contacts

    Ed Emerman: +1 609 240 6766
    eemerman@eaglepr.com

    Ileana Feoli: +1 212 309 5504
    Ileana.feoli@wtwco.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Samsung Health App Update Makes Accessing Health Records, Managing Medications and Food Tracking Easier

    Source: Samsung

    Samsung is committed to empowering users’ health routines with a seamlessly connected ecosystem of personalized wellness experiences. Samsung Health makes this possible by bringing together fragmented health data into a consolidated platform, enabling users to easily monitor their wellbeing.
    To further this mission, Samsung Health now offers expanded health management capabilities1, enabling users to easily access their health records, effectively manage medications, and track their daily food intake with convenience – all through the latest Samsung Health app update available starting today. To bring these advancements to life, Samsung has partnered with industry leading companies specializing in health data integration, medications tracking, and food barcode scanning, optimizing the experience in select markets.
    Manage Health Record from a Single, Secure Place

    With a new Health Records feature2, users can easily access medical records from clinics, hospitals, and major health networks — all in the Samsung Health app. Samsung has partnered with b.well Connected Health, a platform that consolidates the largest electronic medical record (EMR) systems in the United States. including athenahealth, Cerner Health, Epic Systems and Veradigm®. The Health Records feature guides users toward preventative care by offering meaningful insights and alerts that suggest next steps, such as recommending medical tests or actions. By offering a holistic view of their health history ─ including vaccination and prescription records, past hospital visits, and even specific test results ─ users can more effectively communicate with their healthcare providers by having their important medical details at their fingertips.
    Advanced Medications Tracking Expands to More Users

    Launched in the U.S. last year, the Medications tracking feature3 has allowed users to easily keep a record of medications, and access relevant tips and information including general descriptions, potential side effects, and warnings about drug interactions or food-related reactions. The feature is one of the most frequently used among Samsung Health app users in the U.S., with around two-thirds returning to manage their medications at least three times per week. Through the latest update, the Medications tracking feature allows more users to easily manage their medications with expanded functionalities and availability. With the visual search, users can easily add medications to their personal medication list by simply scanning the pill bottle with their phone camera. They can also check adherence levels and easily monitor medication progress, including details on dosage schedules or a missed dose, through an intuitive dashboard.

    Medications tracking feature is also expanding to South Korea and India, forging strategic initiatives with leading regional partners to offer insightful information to even more users. In the U.S., through its partnership with Elsevier, a globally recognized healthcare data hub, the Samsung Health app also provides warnings for over 960 types of allergies and potential reactions to medications. In Korea, with Korea Pharmaceutical Information Center (KPIC), an authoritative institute under the Korean Pharmaceutical Association, users can receive warnings about medications to avoid during pregnancy. Plus, in India, through a collaboration with Tata 1mg, India’s leading digital consumer healthcare platform, users can not only receive reminders to refill medications, but conveniently do so online when needed.
    Effortlessly Monitor Food Intake with Barcode Scanning

    It is essential to monitor one’s daily dietary intake and establish healthy eating habits. Barcode scanning has now been added to the Food tracker in Samsung Health, making it even easier to log food details such as names, calories and nutrition facts. In partnership with fatsecret, one of the largest global providers of verified food and nutrition data, users can simply scan food barcodes to receive necessary nutritional information automatically in the app. The feature will first be available in the U.S. and select European countries, including France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Poland, and expand to additional markets in the future.
    Samsung is dedicated to shaping the future of comprehensive health management and continuously optimize wearable technology to bring smarter, more personalized solutions for everyday wellness. These advancements strengthen the foundation of Samsung’s digital health platform, and with other innovations, deliver more meaningful and impactful experiences globally.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Manchin Announces $50 Million for West Virginia Power Grid Updates

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for West Virginia Joe Manchin
    October 18, 2024
    Charleston, WV- Today, Senator Joe Manchin (I-WV), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, announced that First Energy will receive a $50 million award from the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Grid Resilience and Innovation Partnerships (GRIP) Program to increase the reliability of electric power in West Virginia and surrounding states. The funding was provided by Chairman Manchin’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and is the third award from this program directly benefiting West Virginia.
    “Modernizing our state’s power grid is critical to ensuring the Mountain State has energy it needs,” said Chairman Manchin. “Thanks to my Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, we are building a more reliable power grid to lower electric bills and improve the lives of West Virginians while also creating good paying jobs.”
    Other GRIP Program Awards secured by Chairman Manchin for West Virginia:
    To learn more about the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, click here.
    To learn more about the GRIP Program, click here.
    To learn more about the selected project, click here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Mike Levin, San Diego Congressional Delegation Call for Federal Support for South Bay Air Quality Monitoring

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Mike Levin (CA-49)

    October 18, 2024

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Representatives Mike Levin (CA-49), Juan Vargas (CA-52), Sara Jacobs (CA-51), and Scott Peters (CA-50) called on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to provide support to the San Diego County Air Pollution Control District (APCD) as they work to monitor the air quality in communities impacted by Tijuana River Valley pollution.

    This summer, South Bay communities were overwhelmed by strong sewage odors from the Tijuana River Valley, and hydrogen sulfide was detected in higher-than-normal amounts for short periods of time. Because exposure to hydrogen sulfide can cause adverse health effects like headaches and difficulty breathing, it is important that our communities have access to continuous and robust air quality monitoring that will give public health officials the information they need to help keep people safe.

    “In the past year, researchers discovered that toxins and bacteria from the Tijuana River can be aerosolized and become airborne– unveiling an apparent threat not only to our water ecosystems, but the air in our communities. A recent heat wave in the region intensified the odors, and led constituents to report that the fumes have caused them to wake up in the middle of the night,” wrote the lawmakers. 

    “The [APCD] needs additional resources to ensure that they can properly measure and respond to the reported increase of noxious fumes,” the lawmakers continued. “That is why we are requesting that the EPA deploy whatever available federal resources to assist the San Diego County APCD with establishing a network of reference-grade monitoring equipment that can provide precise and real-time data.”

    Read the full letter HERE.

    The San Diego Congressional delegation has been focused on combating pollution in the Tijuana River Valley for years. 

    Together, the San Diego Congressional delegation has secured $400 million in federal funding which will be used to help improve and expand the South Bay International Wastewater Treatment Plant. Construction on the plant will begin soon. 

    In May, the Congressional delegation called on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to look into the contaminants in the water, soil, and air in our communities and the potential connection to reported increases in illnesses and other symptoms. Thanks to their request, the CDC has begun an investigation into the public health impacts of the Tijuana River Valley sewage pollution.

    Earlier this year, the San Diego Congressional delegation reiterated their call to the President to declare a federal state of emergency to help address the pollution. 

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: UK infrastructure companies visit Costa Rica to explore opportunities

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    British Embassy officials facilitated meetings with key stakeholders in the infrastructure sector.

    Representatives of five British companies travelled to Costa Rica this week to participate in an infrastructure mission focused on identifying business opportunities and generating strategic alliances with potential partners in Costa Rica.

    Representatives from Arup, Bechtel, QGMI, Steer Group and WSP, world-renowned for their expertise in engineering, construction, mobility solutions, and design and implementation of infrastructure projects, among other services, held meetings with Congresswoman Carolina Delgado, Secretary of the Infrastructure Commission of the Legislative Assembly, and with officials from the National Concessions Council (CNC), the Ministry of Public Works and Transport (MOPT) and the firm Arias Law.

    They also spoke with officials from institutions like the Ministry of National Planning and Economic Policy (MIDEPLAN), the Costa Rican Electricity Institute (ICE) and the Ministry of Foreign Trade (COMEX) at a reception at the Residence of the British Ambassador, Ben Lyster-Binns.

    At these meetings, the British companies explored opportunities to strengthen their presence in the country, learning more about Costa Rica’s aspirations to update and expand infrastructure projects at the highest international standards.

    Ambassador Ben Lyster-Binns noted:

    The companies that visited us this week are among the leaders in their respective fields and represent the best of what the UK has to offer in the infrastructure sector, from urban planning to sustainable transport projects to designing future-proof cities.

    They are also committed to implementing innovative solutions that support the UK Government’s clean growth agenda.

    The topic of public-private partnerships (PPPs) was of particular interest, since, according to the Embassy’s Director for Business and Trade, Camila Toscana:

    this model provides an opportunity to develop infrastructure projects that are of key importance for Costa Rica’s sustainable growth and to improve the quality of life of the citizens.

    Many of the companies that took part in the mission have offices in the Latin American region, so their interest in the Costa Rican market represents a natural step in expanding their regional presence, offering quality solutions that comply with international best practices.

    The delegation finalized the mission meeting with representatives of CoST, the Infrastructure Transparency Initiative, financed by the UK Government, which promotes transparency and accountability in public infrastructure projects.

    Updates to this page

    Published 21 October 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Anderson Man Arrested on Child Sexual Abuse Material* ChargeRead More

    Source: US State of South Carolina

    (COLUMBIA, S.C.) – South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson announced the arrest of George Charles Lapierre, Jr.,  40, of Anderson, S.C., on one charge connected to the sexual exploitation of a minor. Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force investigators with the Anderson Police Department made the arrest. Investigators with the Attorney General’s Office, and Anderson County Sheriff’s Office, both also members of the state’s ICAC Task Force, assisted with the investigation.

     

    Investigators received a CyberTipline report from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) which led them to Lapierre.  Investigators state Lapierre distributed files of child sexual abuse material.  

     

    Lapierre was arrested on October 15, 2024. He is charged with one count of sexual exploitation of a minor, second degree (§16-15-405), a felony offense punishable by up to 10 years imprisonment.

     

     

    This case will be prosecuted by the Attorney General’s Office.

     

    Attorney General Wilson stressed all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until they are proven guilty in a court of law.

     

     

     

    * Child sexual abuse material, or CSAM, is a more accurate reflection of the material involved in these heinous and abusive crimes. “Pornography” can imply the child was a consenting participant.  Globally, the term child pornography is being replaced by CSAM for this reason.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: First Lady Cathy Justice, WV Dept. of Arts, Culture and History invite artists to create wreath-themed ornaments for the 2024 Artistree

    Source: US State of West Virginia

    CHARLESTON, WV — First Lady Cathy Justice and the West Virginia Department of Arts, Culture and History invite West Virginians of all ages, including artists of all disciplines, to create and submit hand-crafted wreath-themed ornaments to be displayed on a Christmas tree at the West Virginia Culture Center this December. This holiday season will be the 13th season of the First Lady Artistree initiative.

    “We are thrilled to invite West Virginians of all ages and artistic abilities to share their creativity by designing a special Christmas wreath ornament,” First Lady Justice said. “This is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the unique talent found in every corner of our state while spreading the joy and spirit of the holiday season. I can’t wait to see the beautiful and imaginative wreaths that our artists will create.”

    Ornaments must be hand-crafted and suitable for hanging on a tree. Size and weight should be taken into consideration. Ornaments should be no larger than 6 inches wide by 6 inches long.
     

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Press release – European Parliament and European Commission agree on strengthening cooperation

    Source: European Parliament 3

    Joint Statement by European Parliament President Metsola and European Commission President von der Leyen on the revision of the Interinstitutional Framework Agreement

    Today we have agreed on a set of new principles that will strengthen the cooperation between the European Parliament and the European Commission. The revision of the Interinstitutional Framework Agreement will reinforce relations between our Institutions, ensure greater transparency and better dialogue. It will help our institutions to work seamlessly and deliver for our citizens. Following our political agreement, work at technical level will start immediately.

    ANNEX

    Political principles agreed between the President of the European Parliament and the President of the European Commission that would form the basis of a revision of the 2010 Framework Agreement on relations between the European Parliament and the European Commission.

    1. The principle of equal treatment of the Parliament and the Council and the role of the Commission as an honest broker, especially through ensuring the flow of comprehensive, timely and detailed information to Parliament.
    2. The strengthening of the political responsibility of the Commission by ensuring the presence of Commissioners in Parliament (plenary, committees).
    3. The commitment to provide comprehensive justification and information on the exceptional cases where the proposals by the Commission are based on Article 122 TFEU.
    4. Commitment to define a clear mechanism for the use of the urgent/fast- track decision-making.
    5. Commission commits to further strengthening interinstitutional cooperation on budgetary matters; and is ready to put forward, as part of the next MFF, a proposal for a new Interinstitutional Agreement. The exact content of this agreement will need to be agreed by the three institutions.
    6. Commitment to explore how to improve the information flow regarding international agreements and, within its competences, CFSP/CSDP.
    7. Predictable process to consult Commission on amendments to Parliament Rules of Procedure affecting the Commission’s rights and prerogatives.
    8. The strengthening of Parliament’s right of initiative under Article 225 TFEU by enhancing the follow-up by the Commission to corresponding resolutions.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Mfume, Team Maryland Announce More Than $38 Million for Critical Transportation & Port Infrastructure Projects in Baltimore

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Kweisi Mfume (MD-07)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Congressman Congressman Kweisi Mfume, Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen, Governor Wes Moore (all D-Md.), and Maryland Transportation Secretary Paul J. Wiedefeldtoday announced $38,406,076 in U.S. Department of Transportation awards to rehabilitate the Dundalk Marine Terminal and the Curtis Creek Drawbridge. This investment will improve vital infrastructure at and around the Port of Baltimore, which is critical to Maryland’s economy.

    “This monumental federal investment is a transformative display of the continued unity among us in Team Maryland to deliver for all of those who have been personally affected by the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge and continue to navigate the recovery alongside us. After speaking with so many of those impacted, I was and remain inspired by their grit, fierceness, and commitment to getting through this disaster together,” said Congressman Kweisi Mfume.

    “With these grants, the federal government is recognizing that Baltimore is home to nationally significant supply chain infrastructure that is overdue for investment and improvement. We are seeing once again how the Biden-Harris Administration’s historic Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act is delivering for Maryland, and we will continue to push for federal commitments to our infrastructure, including the rebuilding of the Francis Scott Key Bridge,” said Senator Cardin. 

    “Through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, we continue to deliver historic resources to upgrade everything from our transportation network to the Port of Baltimore. With these major federal investments, we are priming the Port for future growth – while sustaining the thousands of jobs it already supports – and modernizing an essential bridge for commuting and commerce. These efforts will help drive Baltimore’s economic success and create more good paying jobs for Marylanders,” said Senator Van Hollen.

    “These two projects reinforce the Moore-Miller Administration’s commitment to making Maryland more competitive by investing in our critical infrastructure, including our world-class Port of Baltimore,” said Governor Moore. “We are grateful for the partnership from the Biden-Harris Administration, the U.S. Department of Transportation and our Congressional delegation in supporting projects that will serve all Marylanders and help expand our growing economy.”

    “Together, these federal grants will support increased economic growth at the Port of Baltimore and the greater Baltimore region,” said Secretary Wiedefeld. “The funding will support critical rehabilitation efforts at the Dundalk Martine Terminal, the largest publicly owned terminal in the Port, and the Curtis Creek Drawbridge on I-695.  Thank you to our federal delegation and partners for their continued commitment in rebuilding Baltimore’s infrastructure better than before.”

    “Thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the Biden-Harris administration is carrying out ambitious, complex transportation projects that will shape our country’s infrastructure for generations to come,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. “With this latest round of awards, dozens of major and much-needed projects – projects that are often difficult to fund through other means – are getting the long-awaited investment they need to move forward.”

    The funding was awarded by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Infrastructure for Rebuilding America Grant Program (INFRA), which has administered historic levels of federal investments through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.

    1. $30,906,076, Dundalk Marine Terminal: Awarded to the Maryland Port Administration to reconstruct Berth 11, consisting of the rehabilitation and replacement of 597 linear feet of wharf deck including pilings, substructure, storm water drainage, utilities, and installation of new mooring bollards, cleats, pneumatic fenders, flood barriers, and tidal gates.

    1. $7,500,000, Curtis Creek Drawbridge Rehabilitation: Awarded to the Maryland Transportation Authority to rehabilitate parallel drawbridges over Curtis Creek on I-695. The project will replace portions of the reinforced concrete deck, perform repairs to the exposed steel superstructure and existing catwalks, remove and replace bridge parapets, traffic lights, and low-level lights, and install new electrical service systems, drainage systems, and pavement markings.

    The Infrastructure for Rebuilding America Grant Program provides funding for multimodal freight and highway projects of national or regional significance to improve the safety, efficiency, and reliability of the movement of freight and people in and across rural and urban areas. 

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: FBI Seeks Information on Fatal Shooting of Carlos Honable in Stockton, California

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

    SACRAMENTO—The FBI is seeking information leading to the identification, arrest, and conviction of those responsible for the homicide of Carlos Honable, who was fatally shot on July 5, 2024.

    A ‘Seeking Information’ poster, which contains images of the suspect vehicle and a sketch of one of the vehicle’s occupants, is below. These visuals, products of the collaborative investigation with the Stockton Police Department, are intended to aid in solving this homicide and seeking justice for the victim.

    On July 5, 2024, at approximately 5:30 p.m., officers with the Stockton Police Department responded to a report of a person shot on the 3800 block of Fairburn Way. The investigation revealed that a 31-year-old male victim was sitting inside his parked vehicle when the suspect vehicle, a gray Toyota Camry (2018 model or newer), pulled up next to him. Occupants of the vehicle fired at the victim, striking him numerous times, before fleeing the scene. The victim, Carlos Honable, was transported to a local hospital but succumbed to his injuries.

    Investigators produced a sketch of one of the vehicle’s occupants based on the information gathered during the investigation. The individual is described as a young Black male, approximately 5’6″, with a thin build, weighing between 120 and 140 pounds. He was reportedly wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt and dark-colored jeans at the time of the incident. He is considered armed and dangerous.

    If you have any information about this homicide and/or the occupants of the Toyota Camry, please contact the FBI Sacramento Field Office by calling 916-746-7000. You may also submit information online at tips.fbi.gov. You may remain anonymous.

    Link to FBI’s Most Wanted Release: FBI Seeks Information on Fatal Shooting of Carlos Honable in Stockton, California

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: UN Secretary-General’s remarks at the inauguration of the renovated Africa Hall

    Source: United Nations – English

    ear Prime Minister Abiy, dear Chairperson Moussa Faki, dear friends and colleagues,

    It is an enormous pleasure to join all of you for this moment of history – in this house of history. 

    I thank all our partners – particularly the Government of Ethiopia, along with our own United Nations Economic Commission for Africa for the tremendous work.

    This hall is where Africa came together to give life to the Organization of African Unity, now the African Union. 

    Times were very different. 

    In 1961, when this Hall was inaugurated by Emperor Haile Selassie, only 26 African nations had achieved independence – many of them just months before.

    Today, Africa is a transformed continent.

    And to my mind, this renewed building symbolizes renewed hope and unity for Africa.

    This Hall is a bridge between Africa’s past and future – honouring shared struggles and achievements, while embracing common aspirations.  It is ubuntu.

    A state of the art 21st century facility that preserves the grandeur and history of this great continent.

    I also see it as an invitation for everyone to cooperate in pursuit of a better future, for Africa and for the world.

    Dear friends,

    As we celebrate this new beginning, we must also acknowledge the challenges ahead of us.

    Africa is a continent of hope. 

    But it faces challenges that are deeply rooted in history and are exacerbated by climate change, conflict and persistent poverty.

    And African women often bear the brunt of these hardships.

    Addressing these issues requires resolute action and renewed solidarity.

    Our global institutions were built at a time when most of Africa was under colonial rule.  

    But unlike this Hall with its 21st century innovations, many of these global institutions are stuck in those times, unable to respond to the aspirations and rights of the African people.

    Africa still has no permanent seat at the Security Council. And let’s hope it will be corrected soon.

    And international financial institutions often cannot provide African countries with the response they need – whether it is protection from strangling debt or from climate catastrophe they did not cause.

    We can only move forward if we also renew and update global institutions – by making them more effective, fair and inclusive.

    Last month, world leaders adopted the Pact for the Future, the Global Digital Compact and the Declaration on Future Generations.

    The Pact recognizes the need to reform the Security Council to make it representative, transparent, efficient, democratic and accountable.

    It also calls for groundbreaking reforms of the international financial architecture – including to massively scale-up affordable development and climate finance.

    And the Global Digital Compact includes the first truly universal agreement on the governance of Artificial Intelligence – giving every country a seat at the table, while supporting partnerships to bridge the digital divide and build AI capacity in developing countries and namely in Africa.

    We must now move forward together in implementing these historic agreements without delay.

    And we must include young people at every step of the way.

    Dear friends,

    For more than sixty years, the Africa Hall has been a symbol of the continent’s collective aspirations, a testament to its resilience, and a beacon of hope for entire generations.

    Today, as we step into this renewed space, let us also renew our pledge to work for the people of Africa and the world we need.

    May the debates and discussions here continue to lead towards greater peace, unity and prosperity for all on the African continent.

    And I thank you.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Avon, New York, Police Trainee Charged with Attempted Kidnapping, Cyberstalking, and Multiple Child Pornography Charges

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

    ROCHESTER, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Casey Medina, 33, of Rochester, NY, was charged by criminal complaint with attempted kidnapping, distribution, receipt, and possession of child pornography, cyberstalking, and aiding and abetting. The charges carry a minimum penalty of five years in prison and a maximum of 20 years.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Katelyn M. Hartford, who is handling the case, stated that in May 2024, the Onondaga County, NY, Sheriff’s Office was contacted by a 31-year-old female (victim), who reported that she had been receiving text messages from unknown numbers that included photographs depicting her face superimposed on various pornographic images made to appear as if she had been engaging in sexual acts. In addition, the victim reported being threatened by the unknown numbers, including being kidnapped, raped, sexually abused and/or killed. In August 2024, the victim indicated to investigators that the text messages in May occurred over the course of approximately 26 days, and, after short break, continued sporadically through June and July 2024. The victim stated that the messages were becoming very concerning, and she had no idea who they were coming from.

    Also in August 2024, law enforcement received a tip from an individual that he had communicated with another individual with username “crcdal” via social media. The other individual, later identified as Medina, was looking for someone to help to harass the victim. Medina provided the individual with the victim’s personal information, including her place of employment, home address, personal cell phone number, and a variety of photos. The individual provided law enforcement with several screenshots of communications with Medina, which included discussions of abducting, drugging, and raping the victim. An undercover law enforcement officer then began communicating with Media online, during which they also discussed abducting, drugging, and raping the victim.

    On August 22, 2024, Medina was an Avon Police Department trainee, and was arrested by the Onondaga County Sheriff’s Office at the Rural Police Training Academy in Livingston County on multiple state charges. Investigators executed a search warrant on Medina’s cell phone and recovered the communications discussing the abduction, drugging, and raping of the victim as well as images and videos of child pornography that Medina shared online.

    The complaint is the culmination of an investigation by the Onondaga County, NY, Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Tobias Shelley, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Miraglia.          

    The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

    # # # #

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Lancaster Man Sentenced for COVID Relief Fraud

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

    BUFFALO, NY – U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Larry Jordan, 45, of Lancaster, NY, who was convicted of conspiracy to commit bank fraud and wire fraud for his participation in a scheme to file fraudulent loan applications seeking forgivable Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans, was sentenced to serve 18 months in prison by U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra, Jr. Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, joined the announcement.

    According to court documents, between April and September 2020, Jordan and his brother Sutukh El a/k/a Curtis Jordan a/k/a Hugo Hurt a/k/a Hugo Hermes Hurtington, conspired to submit eight fraudulent PPP loan applications on behalf of companies they owned or controlled. Three of the applications were submitted to Evolve Bank & Trust and the other five were submitted to Lendio, a financial technology company based in Utah. The applications contained false statements about the 2019 payroll expenses of each company, which were used to calculate the amount of PPP funds to which the applicant-companies would be entitled. To corroborate the applications, Jordan and El submitted IRS forms, which had never been filed with the IRS, as well as fraudulent payroll registers that purported to identify the names, personal information, and salary of the employees identified on the PPP applications.

    For example, a PPP loan application was submitted on behalf of 5 Stems Inc to Evolve. The application represented that in 2019, 5 Stems Inc had 194 employees and an average monthly payroll of $242,133.33. In truth, 5 Stems Inc had nine employees in 2019 and paid those employees a total of approximately $57,380 for all of 2019. Evolve approved the application and funded a $605,200 loan. The money was deposited into an account controlled by defendant El. Some of the money was used for the defendants’ own investments, as well as personal expenses and home improvements.

    Sutukh El was previously convicted and is awaiting sentencing.

    This case was investigated by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation’s Office of Inspector General, the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection’s Office of the Inspector General, the Federal Housing Finance Agency’s Office of the Inspector General, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Small Business Administration’s Office of Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Charles Kruly and Grace Carducci for the Western District of New York and Trial Attorneys Ariel Glasner and Della Sentilles of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section are prosecuting the case.

    Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.

    # # # #

     

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI China: Chinese peacekeepers to Lebanon to further strengthen security defense capability: Defense Spokesperson 2024-10-15 China is seriously concerned and strongly condemns the Israeli military’s attack on the United Nations Interim Force In Lebanon (UNIFIL), said Chinese Defense Spokesperson Senior Colonel Wu Qian at a press briefing on Tuesday.

    Source: People’s Republic of China – Ministry of National Defense 2

      Senior Colonel Wu Qian, spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense (MND) of the People’s Republic of China (PRC), answers recent media queries concerning the military on the afternoon of October 15, 2024. (mod.gov.cn/Photo by He Youwen)

      BEIJING, Oct. 15 — China is seriously concerned and strongly condemns the Israeli military’s attack on the United Nations Interim Force In Lebanon (UNIFIL), said Chinese Defense Spokesperson Senior Colonel Wu Qian at a press briefing on Tuesday.

      “The UNIFIL carries out its peacekeeping mission in accordance with the mandate of the UN Security Council resolution. China firmly opposes any attack on UN peacekeepers,” said the spokesperson when asked to comment on the recent attack launched by the Israel Defense Force on the UNIFIL.

      “We require a thorough investigation on the incident, and demand that those involved be held accountable. We urge relevant parties to take real actions to prevent such incident from happening again,” said the spokesperson, adding that the parties involved in the conflict must ensure the safety of the personnel and assets of the UNIFIL.

      “The Chinese peacekeeping troops to Lebanon are safe now. China is closely monitoring the security situation in Lebanon, and will take measures to further strengthen the Chinese peacekeeping troops’ security defense capability,” said the spokesperson.

    loading…

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI: Volta Finance Limited – Net Asset Value(s) as at 30 September 2024

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Volta Finance Limited (VTA / VTAS)
    September 2024 monthly report

    NOT FOR RELEASE, DISTRIBUTION, OR PUBLICATION, IN WHOLE OR PART, IN OR INTO THE UNITED STATES

    Guernsey, October 21st, 2024

    AXA IM has published the Volta Finance Limited (the “Company” or “Volta Finance” or “Volta”) monthly report for September 2024. The full report is attached to this release and will be available on Volta’s website shortly (http://www.voltafinance.com).

    Performance and Portfolio Activity

    Dear investors,

    Volta Finance recorded a net performance of +2.3% in September bringing the year-to-date return to +13.5%. This positive performance is built on the strong performance of its CLO equity investments through the month, Volta being almost fully invested in CLO Equity and debt tranches.

    Markets found some momentum in September on the back of a rather constructive macro backdrop. In Europe, inflation headline numbers dropped to 1.8% YoY and were below the 2% target for the first time in almost three years. Core inflation also came in lower and beat estimates with 2.7% YoY, opening the door for further cut rates possibly as early as October. In the US, the Fed implemented a 50bp rate cut by mid-month while the US flash PMIs showed economic resilience at 54.4 (vs. 54.3 expected).

    Credit markets were relatively stable despite some volatility intra-month, High Yield indices in Europe (Xover) were marginally wider following the index’s roll in the +315bps context while the US CDX High-Yield one settled at c. +330bps (+8bps MoM). On the Loan side, Euro Loans closed 25 cents down at c. 97.60px (Morningstar European Leveraged Loan Index), their US counterparts were trading flat at 96.70px.

    Primary CLO markets remained extremely busy once again, we recorded circa USD 42bn of issuance in the US and EUR 7bn in Europe. Spreads moved sideways across the capital structure with AAAs pricing +130bps context and non-Investment Grade BB-rated tranches at +600bps in Europe (inside +550 for top tier US bonds).

    Looking at fundamentals, both US and European default rates were roughly unchanged at 0.80% while the proportion of CCC-rated Loans within CLO collateral portfolios was slightly lower at 5.4% in US CLOs and slightly higher at 3.7% in Europe, while Loan repayment rates were stable at 26% in the US (-2% YoY growth rate of the Loan market) and 14% in Europe (+6% YoY growth). .

    Volta Finance’s activity over the month was focused on CLO Equity. $7mm of USCLO Equity were purchased as well as tickets of c. €1.4m in a Reset and €2.0mm in Secondary. Also, 2 transactions in which Volta is invested were reset through the month generating mark-to-market gains for Volta in addition to the strong distribution generated by the closing of one European CLO warehouse.

    CLO debt investments performed in excess of their carry, driven by some spread compression. Overall, the cashflow generation over the last 6 months remained strong at c.€30m equivalent of interests and coupons, representing c.23% of the month’s NAV on an annualized basis.

    Volta’s underlying sub asset classes monthly performances** were as follow: +1.1% for Bank Balance Sheet transactions, +4.1% for CLO Equity tranches, +1.4% for CLO Debt tranches and 0.0% for Cash Corporate Credit & ABS***, cash representing c.4% of NAV. The fund being c.26% exposed to USD, the depreciation of USD vs EUR had a negative impact of -0.2% on the overall performance.

    As of end of September 2024, Volta’s NAV was €261.9m, i.e. €7.16 per share.

    *It should be noted that approximately 0.44% of Volta’s GAV comprises investments for which the relevant NAVs as at the month-end date are normally available only after Volta’s NAV has already been published. Volta’s policy is to publish its NAV on as timely a basis as possible to provide shareholders with Volta’s appropriately up-to-date NAV information. Consequently, such investments are valued using the most recently available NAV for each fund or quoted price for such subordinated notes. The most recently available fund NAV or quoted price was 0.24% as at 31 August 2024, 0.20% as at 31 July 2024.

    ** “performances” of asset classes are calculated as the Dietz-performance of the assets in each bucket, taking into account the Mark-to-Market of the assets at period ends, payments received from the assets over the period, and ignoring changes in cross-currency rates. Nevertheless, some residual currency effects could impact the aggregate value of the portfolio when aggregating each bucket.
    *** The cash Corporate Credit and ABS bucket is currently made of 3 legacy assets representing 0.6% of GAV.

    CONTACTS

    For the Investment Manager
    AXA Investment Managers Paris
    François Touati
    francois.touati@axa-im.com
    +33 (0) 1 44 45 80 22

    Olivier Pons
    Olivier.pons@axa-im.com
    +33 (0) 1 44 45 87 30

    Company Secretary and Administrator
    BNP Paribas S.A, Guernsey Branch
    guernsey.bp2s.volta.cosec@bnpparibas.com 
    +44 (0) 1481 750 853

    Corporate Broker
    Cavendish Securities plc
    Andrew Worne
    Daniel Balabanoff
    +44 (0) 20 7397 8900

    *****
    ABOUT VOLTA FINANCE LIMITED

    Volta Finance Limited is incorporated in Guernsey under The Companies (Guernsey) Law, 2008 (as amended) and listed on Euronext Amsterdam and the London Stock Exchange’s Main Market for listed securities. Volta’s home member state for the purposes of the EU Transparency Directive is the Netherlands. As such, Volta is subject to regulation and supervision by the AFM, being the regulator for financial markets in the Netherlands.

    Volta’s Investment objectives are to preserve its capital across the credit cycle and to provide a stable stream of income to its Shareholders through dividends that it expects to distribute on a quarterly basis. The Company currently seeks to achieve its investment objectives by pursuing exposure predominantly to CLO’s and similar asset classes. A more diversified investment strategy across structured finance assets may be pursued opportunistically. The Company has appointed AXA Investment Managers Paris an investment management company with a division specialised in structured credit, for the investment management of all its assets.

    *****

    ABOUT AXA INVESTMENT MANAGERS
    AXA Investment Managers (AXA IM) is a multi-expert asset management company within the AXA Group, a global leader in financial protection and wealth management. AXA IM is one of the largest European-based asset managers with 2,700 professionals and €844 billion in assets under management as of the end of December 2023.  

    *****

    This press release is published by AXA Investment Managers Paris (“AXA IM”), in its capacity as alternative investment fund manager (within the meaning of Directive 2011/61/EU, the “AIFM Directive”) of Volta Finance Limited (the “Volta Finance”) whose portfolio is managed by AXA IM.

    This press release is for information only and does not constitute an invitation or inducement to acquire shares in Volta Finance. Its circulation may be prohibited in certain jurisdictions and no recipient may circulate copies of this document in breach of such limitations or restrictions. This document is not an offer for sale of the securities referred to herein in the United States or to persons who are “U.S. persons” for purposes of Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), or otherwise in circumstances where such offer would be restricted by applicable law. Such securities may not be sold in the United States absent registration or an exemption from registration from the Securities Act. Volta Finance does not intend to register any portion of the offer of such securities in the United States or to conduct a public offering of such securities in the United States.

    *****

    This communication is only being distributed to and is only directed at (i) persons who are outside the United Kingdom or (ii) investment professionals falling within Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 (the “Order”) or (iii) high net worth companies, and other persons to whom it may lawfully be communicated, falling within Article 49(2)(a) to (d) of the Order (all such persons together being referred to as “relevant persons”). The securities referred to herein are only available to, and any invitation, offer or agreement to subscribe, purchase or otherwise acquire such securities will be engaged in only with, relevant persons. Any person who is not a relevant person should not act or rely on this document or any of its contents. Past performance cannot be relied on as a guide to future performance.

    *****
    This press release contains statements that are, or may deemed to be, “forward-looking statements”. These forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology, including the terms “believes”, “anticipated”, “expects”, “intends”, “is/are expected”, “may”, “will” or “should”. They include the statements regarding the level of the dividend, the current market context and its impact on the long-term return of Volta Finance’s investments. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties and readers are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. Volta Finance’s actual results, portfolio composition and performance may differ materially from the impression created by the forward-looking statements. AXA IM does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise forward-looking statements.

    Any target information is based on certain assumptions as to future events which may not prove to be realised. Due to the uncertainty surrounding these future events, the targets are not intended to be and should not be regarded as profits or earnings or any other type of forecasts. There can be no assurance that any of these targets will be achieved. In addition, no assurance can be given that the investment objective will be achieved.

    The figures provided that relate to past months or years and past performance cannot be relied on as a guide to future performance or construed as a reliable indicator as to future performance. Throughout this review, the citation of specific trades or strategies is intended to illustrate some of the investment methodologies and philosophies of Volta Finance, as implemented by AXA IM. The historical success or AXA IM’s belief in the future success, of any of these trades or strategies is not indicative of, and has no bearing on, future results.

    The valuation of financial assets can vary significantly from the prices that the AXA IM could obtain if it sought to liquidate the positions on behalf of the Volta Finance due to market conditions and general economic environment. Such valuations do not constitute a fairness or similar opinion and should not be regarded as such.

    Editor: AXA INVESTMENT MANAGERS PARIS, a company incorporated under the laws of France, having its registered office located at Tour Majunga, 6, Place de la Pyramide – 92800 Puteaux. AXA IMP is authorized by the Autorité des Marchés Financiers under registration number GP92008 as an alternative investment fund manager within the meaning of the AIFM Directive.

    *****

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: The Riverside Company Signs Definitive Agreement to Sell Its PFB Insulation Products Business to Carlisle Companies

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    CLEVELAND, Oct. 21, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The Riverside Company, a global investment firm focused on the smaller end of the middle market, together with its portfolio company PFB Corporation (PFB), is pleased to announce the firm has signed a definitive agreement to sell PFB’s Plasti-Fab and Insulspan business units to Carlisle Companies Incorporated (NYSE: CSL). The sale price for the business is approximately USD $260 million, and the transaction is expected to close in Q4 2024.

    Headquartered in Calgary, Alberta, PFB is a leading vertically integrated provider of Expanded Polystyrene (EPS)-based insulation products throughout North America. PFB’s Plasti-Fab division operates eight manufacturing facilities in Canada and three locations in the Midwestern U.S. and provides a full suite of EPS building materials and insulation products, including roofing and wall panels, insulated concrete forms and geofoam blocks for infrastructure applications. The Insulspan business unit designs and manufactures Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs) that lower construction costs and improve energy efficiency for residential and commercial buildings. The company sells its products into the reseller, distributor, contractor, builder and infrastructure channels. Following the sale, PFB will retain and continue to operate its PFB Custom Homes Group subsidiary.

    Since taking PFB private in December 2021, Riverside worked closely with the PFB leadership team to expand distribution and invest in automation and increased manufacturing capacity. With these initiatives, PFB’s earnings more than doubled during Riverside’s investment period, and the enterprise value of the business tripled.

    Robert Graham, PFB CEO, said, “We greatly appreciate Riverside’s support and partnership as we’ve executed our strategic growth plan over the past three years. We’re also incredibly proud of the hard work and commitment to excellence demonstrated by the entire PFB team in reaching this milestone. Our insulation products business fits very well strategically with Carlisle, and we are thrilled to join the Carlisle Companies to contribute to their continued growth.”

    Sean Ozbolt, Riverside Managing Partner, added, “It has been extremely rewarding to partner with Rob and the PFB team. On behalf of our investors, we’re grateful for the vision and strong execution by PFB’s leadership.” PFB was the first Riverside company to partner with Ownership Works, a non-profit organization committed to facilitating broad-based employee ownership across private equity portfolio companies.

    Houlihan Lokey acted as financial advisor to PFB and Paul Hastings and Blakes acted as legal counsel in connection with the transaction.

    The Riverside Company
    The Riverside Company is a global private equity firm focused on investing in growing businesses valued at up to $400 million. Since its founding in 1988, Riverside has made more than 1,000 investments. The firm’s international private equity and structured capital portfolios include more than 140 companies. For more information, visit http://www.riversidecompany.com

    Contact:
    Holly Mueller                                                               
    Marketing Consultant                                                       
    The Riverside Company                                               
    216 535 2236                                                
    hmueller@riversidecompany.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Bitget Announces the Listing of Scroll (SCR) in the Innovation, Zk and Layer2 Zone

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    VICTORIA, Seychelles, Oct. 21, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Bitget, the leading cryptocurrency exchange and Web3 company, announced the listing of Scroll (SCR) in its Innovation, Zk and Layer2 Zone. This listing will now make SCR tokens available on spot. Deposits are currently open, and trading will be available starting on October 22, 2024, at 08:00 (UTC), following the conclusion of pre-market trading that began in September. The available trading pairs include SCR/USDT and SCR/EUR.

    Scroll is a security-focused scaling solution for Ethereum, using innovations in scaling design and zero knowledge proofs to build a new layer on Ethereum. Scroll presents a solution for developers seeking to leverage the security and decentralization of Ethereum without the limitations of its base layer. With its focus on scalability, affordability, and developer experience, Scroll contributes to the growth and evolution of blockchain technology.

    The SCR token plays a crucial role in Scroll’s ecosystem, marking a key milestone toward the platform’s decentralization. With a total supply of 1 billion tokens, SCR supports governance, proof generation, and sequencing within the Scroll ecosystem.

    Bitget previously listed the SCR token in its Pre-market on September 20, enabling users to make early investments before the coin is listed on major exchanges. Currently, SCR is trading at 1.42 USDT in the Bitget Pre-market, with total trading volume approaching 2 million USDT. The SCR Pre-market will close prior to the launch of spot trading on Bitget, with deliveries occurring a few hours afterwards.

    To celebrate the Scroll’s listing, Bitget is launching a special 7-day promotion. During this limited-time offer, users can purchase SCR using credit or debit cards with 0% fees. This promotion covers over 140 currencies, including EUR, GBP, AUD, TWD, UZS, UAH, TRY, THB, BRL, PLN, IDR, PHP, CAD, and more.

    This listing is part of Bitget’s broader strategy to expand beyond derivatives and include a diverse range of coins, granting exceptional access to different digital assets within the industry. The platform’s Innovation Zones have been pivotal in offering users early access to emerging tokens, enhancing their exposure in the cryptospace. The inclusion of SCR in Bitget’s innovation zone makes it easier for users to dive into the initial launch phases of the token including more upcoming crypto projects.

    In 2024, Bitget has consistently expanded its market share in both spot and derivatives trading among centralized exchanges. With a focus on providing users with opportunities to invest in a variety of projects, the platform is now one of the top 10 crypto spot trading platforms with over 800 coins and over 900 pairs, including tokens from ecosystems such as TON, Ethereum, Solana, Base and more.

    For more information on SCR tokens, please visit here.

    About Bitget

    Established in 2018, Bitget is the world’s leading cryptocurrency exchange and Web3 company. Serving over 45 million users in 150+ countries and regions, the Bitget exchange is committed to helping users trade smarter with its pioneering copy trading, AI bot and other trading solutions. Bitget Wallet is a world-class multi-chain crypto wallet that offers an array of comprehensive Web3 solutions and features including wallet functionality, swap, NFT Marketplace, DApp browser, and more. Bitget inspires individuals to embrace crypto through collaborations with credible partners, including being the Official Crypto Partner of the World’s Top Professional Football League, LALIGA, in EASTERN, SEA and LATAM, as well as a global partner of Olympic Athletes Buse Tosun Çavuşoğlu (Wrestling world champion), Samet Gümüş (Boxing gold medalist) and İlkin Aydın (Volleyball national team).

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

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

    Contact

    PR team

    media@bitget.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Schakowsky, Warren, Welch Push to Increase Funding for Medical Research, Require Law-Breaking Drug Companies to Reinvest in NIH and FDA

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky (9th District of Illinois)

    Bill applies to pharmaceutical companies who are found guilty or are accused of breaking the law and settle with the federal government.

    Full Text of Bill (PDF) | One Pager (PDF)

    EVANSTON – U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), along with U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Peter Welch (D-VT) introduced the Medical Innovation Act of 2024 to increase funding for medical innovation by requiring large pharmaceutical companies that are accused of breaking the law and settle with the federal government to reinvest a percentage of their profits into the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

    In 2023, the NIH only had funds for 23% of the applications it received, contributing to a huge medical innovation gap. At the same time, pharmaceutical companies have been accused of defrauding Medicare and Medicaid, marketing drugs for unapproved uses, illegally incentivizing doctors to prescribe drugs, lying about the safety of their drugs, and violating other criminal and civil laws. The companies have settled many of these claims with the federal government, treating the fines as a cost of doing business. Most recently, Teva Pharmaceuticals agreed to pay the Justice Department $450 million to settle a set of lawsuits alleging that the company defrauded Medicare and conspired with other drug-makers to illegally inflate the prices of two generic drugs.

    Between 2019 and October 2024, the Department of Justice pursued new actions against or settled cases with at least 40 pharmaceutical companies. 

    The Medical Innovation Act would: 

    • Require pharmaceutical companies accused of breaking the law to reinvest a small percentage of their profits in NIH and FDA. These payments would increase with the severity of the settlement penalty, and would only be required of companies that rely on federally-funded research to develop billion-dollar, “blockbuster” drugs.  
    • Invest in life-saving medical innovation through the NIH and FDA. Payments collected through this bill would be used to develop treatments and diagnostics to address unmet medical needs; support research grants for early career scientists; research diseases that disproportionately contribute to federal health care spending; and advance basic biomedical research, among other uses.
    • Promote sustained investments in biomedical research. To ensure that the Act results in a net increase in funding for medical research, money from the supplemental settlement fees would only be available in years that annual appropriations for NIH and FDA are equal to or greater than appropriations for the agencies in the prior fiscal year.   

    “For too long, drug companies that rely on federally-funded research to develop their blockbuster drugs have gotten away with defrauding consumers and taxpayers,” said Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky. “The Medical Innovation Act would make it more difficult for these drug companies to game the system by requiring them to provide a share of their profits to increase investments in biomedical research at the National Institutes of Health and the Food and Drug Administration. We can continue to be a leading force in medical innovation and this legislation will help ensure that we have the means to cure diseases and save lives.” 

    “Big Pharma shouldn’t be able to defraud the federal government and get away with just a slap on the wrist,” said Senator Elizabeth Warren. “This bill will help us save lives by ensuring giant drug companies that enter into settlement agreements with the federal government chip in to fund the next generation of medical research.”

    “The Medical Innovation Act is a commonsense way to advance more medical research by holding shady pharmaceutical companies accountable when they break the law,” said Senator Peter Welch. “I led this bill as a member of the House and am fighting today with my colleagues Senator Warren and Representative Schakowsky to maintain America’s leadership in biomedical science.”

    This bill is endorsed by the following organizations: National Women’s Health Network, AIDS United, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Society of Behavioral Medicine, Families USA, Public Citizen, and Massachusetts Medical Society. 

    “The Medical Innovation Act reinvests in vital research. This legislation is a crucial step toward holding the pharmaceutical industry accountable while ensuring that taxpayer-funded research leads to tangible advancements in health. With women historically underrepresented in clinical trials, it’s imperative that we close the innovation gap. The Network thanks Senator Elizabeth Warren for her leadership on this issue and we are hopeful that together, we can create a healthier future for all women,” said Denise Hyater-Lindenmuth, Executive Director, National Women’s Health Network.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –