NewzIntel.com

    • Checkout Page
    • Contact Us
    • Default Redirect Page
    • Frontpage
    • Home-2
    • Home-3
    • Lost Password
    • Member Login
    • Member LogOut
    • Member TOS Page
    • My Account
    • NewzIntel Alert Control-Panel
    • NewzIntel Latest Reports
    • Post Views Counter
    • Privacy Policy
    • Public Individual Page
    • Register
    • Subscription Plan
    • Thank You Page

Category: Security

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Appointment of a new Senior Judicial Commissioner of the Judicial Appointments Commission: February 2025

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    His Majesty The King, on the advice of the Lord Chancellor, has approved the appointment of a new Commissioner to the Judicial Appointments Commission.

    His Majesty The King has approved the appointment of Upper Tribunal Judge Clive Lane as a Senior Judicial Commissioner of the Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC) for three years commencing 1 May 2025.

    The JAC is an independent body that selects candidates for judicial office in courts and tribunals in England and Wales, and for some tribunals with a UK-wide jurisdiction.

    JAC Commissioners are appointed, under Schedule 12(1) of the Constitutional Reform Act 2005, by His Majesty The King on the recommendation of the Lord Chancellor.

    The appointment of Upper Tribunal Judge Clive Lane was made in accordance with Regulation 11 of the Judicial Appointment Commission Regulations 2013.

    Biography

    Upper Tribunal Judge Clive Lane was admitted as a solicitor in 1985 and was in private practice until 2001. He was a Legal Chair of the Appeals Service (now Social Entitlement Chamber) from 1999 until 2007. He was appointed a Deputy District Judge (Civil) in 2001. He served as an Immigration Judge from 2001 until 2009 when he was appointed a Judge of the Upper Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum Chamber).

    Since 2021, he has been authorised to sit as a Judge of the High Court (Family Division). In 2024, he was appointed a Justice of the Court of Appeal of the British Indian Ocean Territory.

    Share this page

    The following links open in a new tab

    • Share on Facebook (opens in new tab)
    • Share on Twitter (opens in new tab)

    Updates to this page

    Published 18 February 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

    February 18, 2025

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Severn Trent bring exciting job opportunities to Coventry

    Source: City of Coventry

    It’s estimated that there’s some 1.5m people above the age of 16 currently unemployed across the UK, with many of those across the Midlands.

    Severn Trent’s commitment to change that statistic is seeing it create opportunities to connect people to jobs in Coventry.

    Working with Coventry City Council, the company is bringing back it’s Big Boost for Coventry – where it promises jobs, skills, training and work opportunities for those in the city and beyond.

    The company is to be joined by employers such as British Army, EON, National Gas, Warwickshire Police, NHS and more – following the success of its first event that saw over 500 people through the doors at the Transport Museum.

    The event, that’s free to enter and will take place on Thursday 6th March 2025 – between 10am and 2pm at Coventry Transport Museum.

    As well as employers with live jobs, there’s free cv workshops, virtual reality interview practice, and other employability training and other support available, such as help with water bills and cost of living support.

    Councillor Dr Kindy Sandhu, Cabinet Member for Education and Skills said: “It’s fantastic that Severn Trent want to bring another jobs fair back to the city. The last event was a huge success, so we hope to build on that for 2025. We want to make sure our residents are equipped with the right skills to go onto pursue future careers in and around the city. The jobs fair is definitely something that will help support this. 

    “I encourage anyone looking for support with interview skills, CV writing, confidence building or seeking work opportunities to go along.”

    To support the event the museum is also offering a massively discounted day rate to the museum of only £5 for anyone who attends. Where it’s usually £15 for the year.

    Adam Stevens, Societal Programme Officer, at Severn Trent said: “Our first event in Coventry was hugely successful, so we had to plan and bring back another session quickly to bring more opportunities to the city. We’re a big employer in Coventry and know our responsibility in creating opportunities and connecting people to them. We want people to come out and look at what jobs are available, as well as other opportunities like apprenticeships and free employability training.

    “We’re looking forward to seeing many local people there taking advantage of some of the biggest employers together in one room to help boost employment in Coventry and make use of our free training sessions can get people job ready.”

    The event builds on the company’s work in region, where it first launched a 10-year plan to support 100,000 people who are at risk of water poverty by tackling one of the underlying causes of poverty.  

    The company has been partnering with local schools, hosting jobs fairs, as well as delivering mentoring to prison leavers – in its commitment to help support those from marginalised groups with employment opportunities.

    To register your interest to this free event, visit Severn Trent’s Big Boost for Cov Jobs Fair Tickets, Thu 6 Mar 2025 at 10:00 | Eventbrite

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

    February 18, 2025

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Mayor urges more businesses to donate old IT equipment and help digitally excluded Londoners get online

    Source: Mayor of London

    • Get Online London has reached more than 100,000 digitally excluded Londoners, thanks to 1,106 Digital Inclusion Hubs across the capital
    • Donating mobile phones, laptops and other IT equipment helps provide digital access for more Londoners
    • Mayor has donated over 700 City Hall devices and is calling on other organisations to follow suit

    The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has today called on businesses and public bodies to help more digitally excluded Londoners get online by donating unwanted mobile phones, laptops and other IT equipment.

    More than 100,000 Londoners have already been supported by Get Online London, the capital’s first ever digital inclusion service set up by City Hall and the London Office of Technology and Innovation (LOTI), to ensure every Londoner has access to essential digital connectivity, skills, devices and support.

    Digital exclusion is a major issue for many Londoners, impacting people’s health, education and work outcomes. It can prevent people from fully participating in society as many essential services linked to vital areas including education, employment and social interaction are increasingly reliant on online platforms.

    Around two million residents across the capital still have very limited digital engagement, such as lacking their own device or facing difficulties with online services. Over 250,000 are completely offline, with no internet access at all. [1]

    Get Online London helps those across the capital who are digitally excluded by giving people the tools and knowledge to get online and participate in the digital world.

    Working in partnership with the UK’s leading digital inclusion charity Good Things Foundation and the LOTI, Get Online London has established 1,106 Digital Inclusion Hubs across every borough in London, providing free internet for Londoners who couldn’t otherwise afford to get online, which have so far distributed 88,500 data packages

    Working in partnership with the UK’s leading digital inclusion charity Good Things Foundation and the LOTI, Get Online London has established a National Databank [2] across every borough, providing free internet for Londoners who couldn’t otherwise afford to get online, which have so far distributed 88,500 data packages.

    The innovative service ensures donated digital equipment is securely and sustainably refurbished, so it can then be given to those in need. As well as providing 7,119 devices to get Londoners online, it is helping organisations that donate to reduce e-waste and boost London’s progress towards achieving net zero.

    The Mayor has recently signed an agreement to donate more than 700 City Hall devices and he is calling on businesses and public bodies to join City Hall, the Metropolitan Police Service, Thames Water, London Councils and many London borough councils already contributing to Get Online London.

    The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “Get Online London has been a huge success and I’m really proud that we’ve now reached more than 100,000 Londoners, working alongside the London Office of Technology and Innovation and the Good Things Foundation to tackle digital exclusion.

    “Demand for devices still far outstrips supply, so we must do more. That’s why I’m calling on businesses and public bodies to donate mobile phones, laptops and other IT kit to help us fix the digital divide and ensure access for all. Devices an organisation no longer needs can be essential lifelines for others, and together we can build a better and fairer London for everyone.”

    Genta Hajri, Digital Innovation Delivery Lead, London Office of Technology and Innovation, said: “The ability to get online is such a basic and increasingly vital part of being fully included in society: to access education, work, look after our health and wellbeing and to connect with friends and family.

    “We’re delighted by the progress that’s already been achieved with Get Online London and encourage organisations from the public and private sectors to support this work to ensure no Londoner is left behind.”

    Helen Milner OBE, Group Chief Executive Officer, Good Things Foundation, said: “Thousands of Londoners are still offline. They are unable to participate in everyday life – from accessing essential services, to finding work and connecting with their loved ones – leaving them feeling disconnected from the digital world we live in.

    “Businesses who donate their disused devices and equipment to Get Online London, London’s Digital Inclusion Service, are helping to tackle digital exclusion with zero tech waste and giving people the opportunity to get online. Help solve one of today’s biggest problems, and together we can fix the digital divide for good.”  

    To find out more about how to donate devices and support Get Online London, please visit: https://loti.london/get-online-london/

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

    February 18, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Arbitration training ceremony held

    Source: Hong Kong Information Services

    Secretary for Justice Paul Lam today attended the opening ceremony of the National Training Course for Talents Handling Foreign-related Arbitration (Hong Kong), which is organised by the Hong Kong International Legal Talents Training Academy and the Ministry of Justice.

    As he addressed those gathered at the event, Mr Lam highlighted that the Government spares no effort in implementing several measures, including improving the legal framework related to arbitration, attracting globally renowned arbitral institutions to establish a presence in Hong Kong, and hosting international conferences on legal and dispute resolution services to promote the city’s international legal and arbitration services.

    He expressed the hope that the training course will facilitate exchanges to bridge the arbitration systems of Hong Kong and the Mainland, and deepen participants’ understanding of arbitration and dispute resolution in Hong Kong so that they can put what they have learnt into practice in future.

    The two-week training course, which commenced yesterday, provides a comprehensive introduction of the system and practice of arbitration in Hong Kong to more than 80 participants comprising Mainland in-house counsel, experienced arbitrators, lawyers and arbitration practitioners through lectures, exchanges and visits.

    Speakers include experienced Hong Kong legal professionals and members of the Hong Kong International Legal Talents Training Expert Committee.

    Before the opening ceremony, Mr Lam signed a new legal exchange and co-operation arrangement with the China University of Political Science & Law to replace the arrangement signed by the two sides in 2016.

    Noting that legal exchanges and co-operation between the two sides have been achieving progress, he said that the new co-operation arrangement will enhance mutual collaboration on nurturing foreign-related legal talents and promote the rule of law, as well as exchanges on legal issues such as international arbitration, mediation and the national development strategy of the Belt & Road Initiative.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

    February 18, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Sports dispute resolution discussed

    Source: Hong Kong Information Services

    The Advisory Committee on Sports Dispute Resolution of the Department of Justice (DoJ), chaired by Deputy Secretary for Justice Cheung Kwok-kwan, met the Sports Federation & Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China (SF&OC) today to discuss the direction of development of promoting sports dispute resolution in Hong Kong.

     

    At the meeting, both sides had in-depth exchanges on the latest developments in sports dispute resolution. They also discussed ways to encourage the sports industry to widely adopt alternative dispute resolution mechanisms for handling sports disputes in the spirit of embracing change and boldly pursuing reforms.

     

    Mr Cheung said that, with a view to enhancing the local sports dispute resolution landscape, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government has been actively engaging with key stakeholders and understands that the industry is keen to have a neutral, fair and efficient mechanism to handle and resolve sports disputes.

     

    Mr Cheung was pleased to learn that the SF&OC fully supports Hong Kong to leverage its institutional advantages in dispute resolution to develop sports dispute resolution, thereby further consolidating the city’s status as a centre for international legal and dispute resolution services in the Asia-Pacific region.

     

    He pointed out that the Hong Kong SAR Government and the advisory committee are carrying out the preparatory work for a pilot scheme on sports dispute resolution at full steam.

     

    Additionally, he thanked the SF&OC for its valuable advice on the implementation of the pilot scheme, especially regarding the specific requirements for selecting dispute resolution institutions, the fields of disputes suitable for resolution through mediation or arbitration, and the fee structure.

     

    The two sides also exchanged views on the potential for future collaboration, including promoting awareness and providing education to national sports associations and local athletes on the use of alternative dispute resolution in handling sports disputes, as well as encouraging retired athletes to participate in sports dispute mediator and arbitrator training.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

    February 18, 2025

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Mayor proposes record-breaking £1.16bn investment in the Metropolitan Police

    Source: Mayor of London

    • In a draft budget published last night the Mayor proposed an additional £83m investment – £10m from City Hall and £73m from central Government – to go into policing
    • The £83m additional builds on the extra £237m already announced for next year to give a record £320m increase
    • In total, this means there will be £1.159 billion Mayoral funding policing in 2025-26. It is the largest figure ever spent on policing in the capital, the biggest year-on-year settlement ever proposed for the Met and more than double the previous Mayor’s final budget for policing
    • It comes as the number of homicides, young people being injured with knives and burglary are all down since Sadiq was first elected in 2016

    The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has today proposed an extra £83m million – £10m from City Hall and £73million from central government – for policing in his final draft budget bringing total Mayoral investment in the Met to an historic £1.159 billion for the next year.

    It means there is an additional £320m funding for the Metropolitan Police compared to the current year’s budget, an unprecedented increase. This additional investment will keep hundreds of Metropolitan Police officer posts and reduce expected cuts to key specialist police units.

    Last November’s budget submission from the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC) assumed that by 31 March 2026, the Met would need to reduce the number of officers by 1,899 to 30,553 due to chronic underfunding by the previous government, which reduced annual core funding for policing in the capital by £1.1 billion in real terms.

    The Mayor has confirmed that some of the cuts the Metropolitan Police had originally proposed in November will be substantially scaled back due to this proposed investment, which will be used to fund additional police officers, key police staff and the equipment they need to carry out their roles.  Final decisions on how to use the extra investment will be considered by MOPAC and the Met, with plans announced next month. It is expected that hundreds of officer posts will be kept in place due to this investment, on top of the 420 officers funded in last month’s Provisional Policing Settlement.

    There is still much more to do to tackle crime in London and this proposed investment by the Mayor and the Government will help the Met to continue to invest in tacking crime locally and build on the progress being made. The number of homicides, young people being injured with knives, and burglary are all down since Sadiq was first elected in 2016. Homicides are also falling – there were fewer homicides of people under-25 in London last year than any year since 2003. The number of teenage homicides in London last year was at its lowest total since 2012.

    In total, Sadiq has earmarked a record £1.159 billion to fund policing in 2025-26 – an increase of nearly 105 per cent in annual funding compared to the previous Mayor’s final budget.  But despite this investment, and the extra support from the new government, the Met is still facing significant financial pressures due to over a decade of real terms cuts by the previous government.  

    The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “No-one should under-estimate the significance of this. It is a record amount of investment.

    “Bearing down on crime and keeping Londoners safe is my top priority as Mayor and I’ll always use all the levers at my disposal to fund the police, investing record sums from City Hall.

    “I am pleased to propose an additional £320 million since last year for the Metropolitan Police, with £83m more since January, thanks to Government support.

    “Despite this record-breaking additional funding, the Met still faces a difficult financial situation due to over a decade of cuts by the previous government. As Mayor, I will continue to work with the new government and the Commissioner ahead of the forthcoming spending review on the funding the Met needs to ensure we can continue building a safer London for everyone.”

    The Mayor’s final draft Budget also confirms £147.5 million of funding to deliver free school meals for all London’s state primary schoolchildren in 2025-26 – the third year of the historic scheme. Delivering free school meals has been one of Sadiq’s proudest moments as Mayor and he has vowed to continue the scheme for as long as he is in office.

    More than 43 million free school meals were funded in the first year of the scheme, with up to 287,000 children benefitting and families saving more than £1,000 per child over the first two years of the scheme.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

    February 18, 2025

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Bills aim to boost justice and reduce regulation

    Source: New Zealand Government

    Improving people’s experience with the Justice system is at the heart of a package of Bills which passed its first reading today Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee says. 

    “The 63 changes in these Bills will deliver real impacts for everyday New Zealanders. The changes will improve court timeliness and efficiency, boost access to justice, and reduce regulatory burdens,” Mrs McKee says.

    The Regulatory Systems (Courts) Amendment Bill will enable coroners to better direct their resources to where they are most needed, and in doing so reduce wait-times and uncertainty for grieving families.

    “We are enabling coroners’ cases to be dealt with more efficiently, which will mean families and whānau will receive coroners’ findings sooner. 

    “This Bill also strengthens the protections for witnesses and informants. It clarifies that information which may lead to the identification of the address of the place where a witness or informant works cannot be disclosed to the defendant, except in specific circumstances. This will increase safety and privacy for witnesses and informants,” Mrs McKee says. 

    The Regulatory Systems (Tribunals) Amendment Bill will increase access to justice by allowing the Disputes Tribunal to order the respondent to pay the filing fee to successful claimants. 

    This will make the system fairer for successful applicants to the Disputes Tribunal by enabling them to be reimbursed for the costs of enforcing their legal rights. 

    This Bill will also allow the Private Security Personnel Licensing Authority to accept complaints about people who are allegedly working without a licence or certificate of approval. This amendment will help to ensure that people working in the security industry are appropriately licensed and qualified. This should have a positive impact on public safety. 

    The final Bill in the package, the Regulatory Systems (Occupational Regulation) Amendment Bill, will increase operational efficiencies for regulators, reduce the burden of compliance and ensure services are performed with reasonable care and skill.

    “This Bill will reduce the burden of regulatory compliance by removing the current five-year disqualification period for failure to complete a real estate agent’s continuing professional development requirement. No other profession has this disqualification period. It is a disproportionate response that stops people from working in their chosen profession for five years,” Mrs McKee says.

    “It is clear that the justice system touches the lives of many people. We understand that engaging with the justice system can be frustrating, stressful, and confusing. These Bills are delivering on this Government’s commitment to improve access to justice, court timeliness, and the quality of existing regulation.”

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

    February 18, 2025

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Fatality – Mountfort Park, Weymouth

    Source: New Zealand Police (National News)

    A person has died following an incident involving a motorcycle in Mountfort Park in Weymouth this evening.

    The incident was reported to Police at 7.40pm.

    Cordons are in place within the park and members of the public are asked to avoid the area.

    ENDS

    Issued by Police Media Centre. 
     

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

    February 18, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Limits instead of blocking – banks will receive new tools for working with clients from the fraudsters’ database

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Sours: Mainfin Bank –

    Why is the Central Bank of the Russian Federation easing restrictions on suspicious individuals?

    Federal Law No. 161 regulates the procedure for blocking accounts of clients whose data is contained in a unified database of information on cases of transactions carried out without consent. Also bank has the right to suspend service if information about fraud came from law enforcement agencies. However, tough measures affected not only real criminals – the accounts of legitimate citizens whose data were stolen and used to issue, for example, virtual kart.

    The easing of restrictions is aimed specifically at protecting honest clients who themselves suffered at the hands of fraudsters. Such persons will be able to use bank cards during the inspections, including transfers, but with a maximum amount limit. The sanctions will be completely lifted only after the information is removed from the Central Bank database.

    How will banks respond to suspicious transactions?

    The amendments currently being considered by the State Duma introduce a gradation of measures against suspicious citizens. It is assumed that after the bill is adopted:

    a complete blocking of banking services will be carried out only for clients included in the Central Bank of the Russian Federation database in the presence of an open criminal case; partial restrictions (transfer limit of 100 thousand rubles per month) will be allowed to be set by banks for persons included in the fraudsters database, but who were not subsequently involved in dubious schemes; clients from the “green zone” who were not included in the database or subject to measures of influence by the law enforcement system will be able to be served without restrictions.

    “Partial restrictions will be used when the amount of information received is insufficient, for example, when there are doubts that the client was involved in fraudulent schemes,” the lawyer notes.

    Experts are confident that the relaxations will not affect obvious drops – intermediaries in the activities of fraudsters will continue to be effectively blocked. The choice of restrictive measures will fall on the bank – credit institutions will be able to independently introduce bans and blocking depending on the nature of suspicions.

    09:55 02/18/2025

    Source:

    Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    Please Note; This Information is Raw Content Directly from the Information Source. It is access to What the Source Is Stating and Does Not Reflect

    HTTPS: //Mainfin.ru/novosti/ Limits-Vesta-Blokovka-Banki-Recychata-New-Instruments-Forms-S-Clients-BAZ-OILENS

    MIL OSI Russia News –

    February 18, 2025

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: State Highway 8 between Millers Flat and Raes Junction impacted by flooding

    Source: New Zealand Police (District News)

    State Highway 8 between Millers Flat and Raes Junction is being impacted by flooding.

    Motorists are asked take alternative routes if possible, or delay travel.

    Anyone travelling on the road is asked to drive with caution and adjust your driving to the conditions. 

    ENDS

    Issued by Police Media Centre.  

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

    February 18, 2025

  • MIL-OSI: Nykredit extends the offer period concerning the recommended, voluntary public tender offer for Spar Nord Bank A/S until 20 March 2025 – Nykredit Realkredit A/S

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS PUBLISHED PURSUANT TO SECTION 9(4) AND (5) AND SECTION 21(3) OF EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 636 OF 15 MAY 2020

    NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN OR TO ANY JURISDICTION WHERE DOING SO WOULD CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF THE RELEVANT LAWS OR REGULATIONS OF SUCH JURISDICTION

    Publication of supplement concerning extension of offer period for Nykredit’s recommended, voluntary public tender offer for Spar Nord Bank A/S until 20 March 2025

    18 February 2025

    Nykredit extends the offer period concerning the recommended, voluntary public tender offer for Spar Nord Bank A/S until 20 March 2025

    In accordance with section 4(1) of the Danish Takeover Order1, Nykredit Realkredit A/S (“Nykredit”) announced on 10 December 2024 that Nykredit intended to submit a voluntary public tender offer (the “Offer”) to acquire all shares in Spar Nord Bank A/S (“Spar Nord Bank”), with the exception of Spar Nord Bank’s treasury shares, for a cash price of DKK 210 per share, valuing the aggregated issued share capital of Spar Nord Bank at DKK 24.7 billion.

    On 8 January 2025, Nykredit published the offer document regarding the Offer (the “Offer Document”), as approved by the Danish FSA in accordance with section 11 of the Danish Takeover Order.

    Today, Nykredit published a supplement (the “Supplement”) to the Offer Document, which extends the Offer Period for the Offer. The Supplement has been approved by the Danish FSA on 18 February 2025 in accordance with section 9(4) and section 9(5) of the Danish Takeover Order.

    Under the Offer document, the offer period is set to expire on 19 February 2025 at 23:59 (CET) (the “Initial Offer Period”).

    With the Supplement, Nykredit extends the Initial Offer Period, such that the Offer will expire on 20 March 2025 at 23:59 (CET). Subsequently, any reference to the “Offer Period” in the Offer Document or other documents relating to the Offer will refer to the period commencing on the day of publication of the Offer Document on 8 January 2025 and ending on 20 March 2025 at 23:59 (the “Extended Offer Period”).

    The purpose of the extension is to provide Nykredit with more time to obtain the approval from the Danish Competition and Consumer Authority required to complete the Offer. The process to obtain such approval from the Danish Competition and Consumer Authority is proceeding as planned.

    If the approval from the Danish Competition and Consumer Authority has not been granted by the expiry of the Extended Offer Period, Nykredit expects to extend the Extended Offer Period further.

    The extension of the Initial Offer Period entails that the expected completion of the Offer and settlement of the Offer Price to the Spar Nord Bank shareholders who have accepted the Offer will be extended correspondingly. Completion is subsequently expected to take place on 28 March 2025.

    At the time of this announcement, Nykredit holds 32.44 per cent of the shares in Spar Nord Bank, and on 4 February 2025 Nykredit released an announcement to the effect that a preliminary compilation of the acceptances that Nykredit is aware of indicates that the 67 per cent acceptance limit of the Offer has been achieved. The final result of the Offer will be determined on expiry of the Offer Period and published in accordance with section 21(3) of the Danish Takeover Order.

    The full terms and conditions of the Offer are contained in the Offer Document as amended by the Supplement. The Offer Document and the Supplement are published in the Danish FSA’s OAM database: https://oam.finanstilsynet.dk/ and can also, with certain restrictions, be accessed at https://www.nykredit.com/kobstilbud-spar-nord/ and https://www.sparnord.dk/investor-relations/overtagelsestilbud.

    About Spar Nord Bank

    Spar Nord Bank was founded in 1824 and is now a nationwide bank with 58 branches. Spar Nord Bank offers all types of financial services, consultancy and products, focusing its business on retail customers and primarily small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the local areas in which the bank is represented. The bank is also focused on leasing operations and large corporate customers, which are both business areas handled by the head offices.

    Spar Nord Bank has historically been rooted in northern Jutland and continues to be a market leader in this region. However, in the period from 2002 to 2024, Spar Nord Bank has established and acquired branches outside northern Jutland. Over the course of the years, the bank has adjusted its branch network in an ongoing process and now has a nationwide distribution network comprising 58 branches. These 58 branches are distributed on 32 banking areas, each of which is headed by a manager reporting directly to the bank’s executive board.

    The Spar Nord Bank Group consists of two earnings entities: Spar Nord Bank’s branches and the Trading Division. As an entity, the Trading Division serves customers from Spar Nord Bank’s branches as well as large retail customers and institutional clients in the field of equities, bonds, fixed income and forex products, asset management and international transactions. Finally, under the concept Sparxpres, the bank offers consumer loans to personal customers through Sparxpres’ platform as well as debt consolidation loans and consumer financing via retail stores and gift voucher solutions via shopping centres and city associations.

    About Nykredit

    Nykredit Realkredit A/S (“Nykredit”) is a public limited company incorporated under the laws of Denmark, company reg. (CVR) no. 12 71 92 80, having its registered office at Sundkrogsgade 25, 2150 Nordhavn, Denmark. Nykredit is a mortgage credit institution and, together with its wholly-owned subsidiary Totalkredit A/S, is a market leader of the Danish mortgage credit market with a market share of some 45.2 per cent. Nykredit offers mortgage financing for private individuals and businesses.

    Nykredit is part of the Nykredit Group, which historically dates back to 1851. In addition to carrying on mortgage credit business, the Group carries on banking business through Nykredit Bank – including banking and wealth management operations – and has a total of around 4,000 employees in Denmark.

    Nykredit is owned by an association of the Nykredit Group’s customers, Forenet Kredit. Forenet Kredit owns close to 80 per cent of Nykredit’s shares. Other major shareholders are five Danish pension funds: Akademikernes Pension AP Pension, PensionDanmark, PFA and PKA.

    Nykredit is known for the advantages offered through the association. Forenet Kredit makes capital contributions to the Nykredit Group when times are good, and Nykredit has decided to pass these on to its customers.

    Since, 2017, Forenet Kredit has paid over DKK 8 billion in capital contributions to the Nykredit Group, and in the period to 2027, Forenet Kredit has provided a further DKK 7 billion.

    Questions and further information

    Any questions concerning the Offer may be directed to:

    Nykredit Bank A/S

    Company reg. (CVR) no.: 10 51 96 08

    Sundkrogsgade 25

    2150 Nordhavn
    Denmark

    Telephone: +45 7010 9000

    and

    Carnegie Investment Bank

    Filial af Carnegie Investment Bank AB (publ), Sverige

    Company reg. (CVR) no. 35 52 12 67

    Overgaden Neden Vandet 9 B

    1414 Copenhagen K
    Denmark

    E-mail: annette.hansen@carnegie.dk

    For further information about the Offer, please see: https://www.nykredit.com/kobstilbud-spar-nord/.

    This announcement and the Offer Document (with Supplement) are not directed at shareholders of Spar Nord Bank A/S whose participation in the Offer would require the issuance of an offer document, registration or activities other than what is required under Danish law (and, in the case of shareholders in the United States of America, Section 14(e) of, and applicable provisions of Regulation 14E promulgated under, the US Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended). The Offer is not made and will not be made, directly or indirectly, to shareholders resident in any jurisdiction in which the submission of the Offer or acceptance thereof would be in contravention of the laws of such jurisdiction. Any person coming into possession of this announcement, the Offer Document or any other document containing a reference to the Offer is expected and assumed to independently obtain all necessary information about any applicable restrictions and to observe these.

    This announcement does not constitute an offer or an invitation to purchase securities or a solicitation of an offer to purchase securities in accordance with the Offer or otherwise. The Offer will be submitted only in the form of the Offer Document (with Supplement) approved by the FSA, which sets out the full terms and conditions of the Offer, including information on how to accept the Offer. The shareholders of Spar Nord Bank are advised to read the Offer Document and any related documents as they contain important information.

    Restricted jurisdictions

    The Offer is not made, and acceptance of the Offer to tender Spar Nord Bank Shares is not accepted, neither directly nor indirectly, in or from any jurisdiction in which the making or acceptance of the Offer would not be in compliance with the laws of such jurisdiction or would require any registration, approval or any other measures with any regulatory authority not expressly contemplated by the Offer Document (the “Restricted Jurisdictions”). Neither the United States nor the United Kingdom is a Restricted Jurisdiction.

    Restricted Jurisdictions include, but are not limited to: Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand and South Africa.

    Persons obtaining documents or information relating to the Offer (including custodians, account holding institutions, nominees, trustees, representatives, fiduciaries or other intermediaries) should not distribute, communicate, transfer or send these in or into a Restricted Jurisdiction or use mail or any other means of communication in or into a Restricted Jurisdiction in connection with the Offer. Persons (including, but not limited to, custodians, custodian banks, nominees, trustees, representatives, fiduciaries or other intermediaries) intending to communicate this announcement, the Supplement, the Offer Document or any related document to any jurisdiction outside Denmark or the United States should inform themselves about these restrictions before taking any action. Any failure to comply with these restrictions may constitute a violation of the Laws of such jurisdiction, including securities Laws. It is the responsibility of all Persons obtaining announcement, the Supplement, the Offer Document, an acceptance form and/or other documents relating to the Offer, or into whose possession such documents otherwise come, to inform themselves about and observe all such restrictions.

    Nykredit is not responsible for ensuring that the distribution, dissemination or communication of this announcement, the Supplement or the Offer Document to Shareholders outside Denmark, the United States and the United Kingdom is consistent with applicable Law in any jurisdiction other than Denmark, the United States and the United Kingdom.

    Important Information for Shareholders in the United States

    The Offer concerns the shares in Spar Nord Bank, a public limited liability company incorporated and admitted to trading on a regulated market in Denmark, and is subject to the disclosure and procedural requirements of Danish law, including the Danish capital markets act and the Danish takeover order.

    The Offer is being made to shareholders in Spar Nord Bank in the United States in compliance with the applicable US tender offer rules under the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, (the “U.S. Exchange Act”), including Regulation 14E promulgated thereunder, subject to the relief available for a “Tier II” tender offer, and otherwise in accordance with the requirements of Danish law and practice

    Accordingly, US Spar Nord Bank shareholders should be aware that this announcement and any other documents regarding the Offer have been prepared in accordance with, and will be subject to, the disclosure and other procedural requirements, including with respect to withdrawal rights, the Offer timetable, settlement procedures and timing of payments of Danish law and practice, which may differ materially from those applicable under US domestic tender offer law and practice. In addition, the financial information contained in this announcement or the Offer Document has not been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States, or derived therefrom, and may therefore differ from, or not be comparable with, financial information of US companies.

    In accordance with the laws of, and practice in, Denmark and to the extent permitted by applicable law, including Rule 14e-5 under the U.S. Exchange Act, Nykredit, Nykredit’s affiliates or any nominees or brokers of the foregoing (acting as agents, or in a similar capacity, for Nykredit or any of its affiliates, as applicable) may from time to time, and other than pursuant to the Offer, directly or indirectly, purchase, or arrange to purchase, outside of the United States, shares in Spar Nord Bank or any securities that are convertible into, exchangeable for or exercisable for such shares in Spar Nord Bank before or during the period in which the Offer remains open for acceptance. These purchases may occur either in the open market at prevailing prices or in private transactions at negotiated prices. Any information about such purchases will be announced via Nasdaq Copenhagen and relevant electronic media if, and to the extent, such announcement is required under applicable law. To the extent information about such purchases or arrangements to purchase is made public in Denmark, such information will be disclosed by means of a press release or other means reasonably calculated to inform US shareholders of Spar Nord Bank of such information.

    In addition, subject to the applicable laws of Denmark and US securities laws, including Rule 14e-5 under the U.S. Exchange Act, the financial advisers to Nykredit or their respective affiliates may also engage in ordinary course trading activities in securities of Spar Nord Bank, which may include purchases or arrangements to purchase such securities.

    It may not be possible for US shareholders to effect service of process within the United States upon Spar Nord Bank, Nykredit or any of their respective affiliates, or their respective officers or directors, some or all of which may reside outside the United States, or to enforce against any of them judgments of the United States courts predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the federal securities laws of the United States or other US law. It may not be possible to bring an action against Nykredit, Spar Nord Bank and/or their respective officers or directors (as applicable) in a non-US court for violations of US laws. Further, it may not be possible to compel Nykredit and Spar Nord Bank or their respective affiliates, as applicable, to subject themselves to the judgment of a US court. In addition, it may be difficult to enforce in Denmark original actions, or actions for the enforcement of judgments of US courts, based on the civil liability provisions of the US federal securities laws.

    The Offer, if completed, may have consequences under US federal income tax and under applicable US state and local, as well as non-US, tax laws. Each shareholder of Spar Nord Bank is urged to consult its independent professional adviser immediately regarding the tax consequences of the Offer.

    NEITHER THE U.S. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION NOR ANY SECURITIES COMMISSION OR OTHER REGULATORY AUTHORITY IN ANY STATE OF THE U.S. HAS APPROVED OR DECLINED TO APPROVE THE OFFER OR THIS ANNOUNCEMENT, PASSED UPON THE FAIRNESS OR MERITS OF THE OFFER OR PROVIDED AN OPINION AS TO THE ACCURACY OR COMPLETENESS OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT OR ANY OFFER DOCUMENT. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENCE IN THE UNITED STATES.

    1 Executive Order no. 636 of 15 May 2020

    Attachment

    • Announcement of extension of Offer Period

    The MIL Network –

    February 18, 2025

  • MIL-OSI: Correction: Nykredit extends the offer period concerning the recommended, voluntary public tender offer for Spar Nord Bank A/S until 20 March 2025 – Nykredit Realkredit A/S

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS PUBLISHED PURSUANT TO SECTION 9(4) AND (5) AND SECTION 21(3) OF EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 636 OF 15 MAY 2020

    NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN OR TO ANY JURISDICTION WHERE DOING SO WOULD CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF THE RELEVANT LAWS OR REGULATIONS OF SUCH JURISDICTION

    Publication of supplement concerning extension of offer period for Nykredit’s recommended, voluntary public tender offer for Spar Nord Bank A/S until 20 March 2025

    18 February 2025

    Nykredit extends the offer period concerning the recommended, voluntary public tender offer for Spar Nord Bank A/S until 20 March 2025

    In accordance with section 4(1) of the Danish Takeover Order1, Nykredit Realkredit A/S (“Nykredit”) announced on 10 December 2024 that Nykredit intended to submit a voluntary public tender offer (the “Offer”) to acquire all shares in Spar Nord Bank A/S (“Spar Nord Bank”), with the exception of Spar Nord Bank’s treasury shares, for a cash price of DKK 210 per share, valuing the aggregated issued share capital of Spar Nord Bank at DKK 24.7 billion.

    On 8 January 2025, Nykredit published the offer document regarding the Offer (the “Offer Document”), as approved by the Danish FSA in accordance with section 11 of the Danish Takeover Order.

    Today, Nykredit published a supplement (the “Supplement”) to the Offer Document, which extends the Offer Period for the Offer. The Supplement has been approved by the Danish FSA on 18 February 2025 in accordance with section 9(4) and section 9(5) of the Danish Takeover Order.

    Under the Offer document, the offer period is set to expire on 19 February 2025 at 23:59 (CET) (the “Initial Offer Period”).

    With the Supplement, Nykredit extends the Initial Offer Period, such that the Offer will expire on 20 March 2025 at 23:59 (CET). Subsequently, any reference to the “Offer Period” in the Offer Document or other documents relating to the Offer will refer to the period commencing on the day of publication of the Offer Document on 8 January 2025 and ending on 20 March 2025 at 23:59 (the “Extended Offer Period”).

    The purpose of the extension is to provide Nykredit with more time to obtain the approval from the Danish Competition and Consumer Authority required to complete the Offer. The process to obtain such approval from the Danish Competition and Consumer Authority is proceeding as planned.

    If the approval from the Danish Competition and Consumer Authority has not been granted by the expiry of the Extended Offer Period, Nykredit expects to extend the Extended Offer Period further.

    The extension of the Initial Offer Period entails that the expected completion of the Offer and settlement of the Offer Price to the Spar Nord Bank shareholders who have accepted the Offer will be extended correspondingly. Completion is subsequently expected to take place on 28 March 2025.

    At the time of this announcement, Nykredit holds 32.44 per cent of the shares in Spar Nord Bank, and on 4 February 2025 Nykredit released an announcement to the effect that a preliminary compilation of the acceptances that Nykredit is aware of indicates that the 67 per cent acceptance limit of the Offer has been achieved. The final result of the Offer will be determined on expiry of the Offer Period and published in accordance with section 21(3) of the Danish Takeover Order.

    The full terms and conditions of the Offer are contained in the Offer Document as amended by the Supplement. The Offer Document and the Supplement are published in the Danish FSA’s OAM database: https://oam.finanstilsynet.dk/ and can also, with certain restrictions, be accessed at https://www.nykredit.com/kobstilbud-spar-nord/ and https://www.sparnord.dk/investor-relations/overtagelsestilbud.

    About Spar Nord Bank

    Spar Nord Bank was founded in 1824 and is now a nationwide bank with 58 branches. Spar Nord Bank offers all types of financial services, consultancy and products, focusing its business on retail customers and primarily small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the local areas in which the bank is represented. The bank is also focused on leasing operations and large corporate customers, which are both business areas handled by the head offices.

    Spar Nord Bank has historically been rooted in northern Jutland and continues to be a market leader in this region. However, in the period from 2002 to 2024, Spar Nord Bank has established and acquired branches outside northern Jutland. Over the course of the years, the bank has adjusted its branch network in an ongoing process and now has a nationwide distribution network comprising 58 branches. These 58 branches are distributed on 32 banking areas, each of which is headed by a manager reporting directly to the bank’s executive board.

    The Spar Nord Bank Group consists of two earnings entities: Spar Nord Bank’s branches and the Trading Division. As an entity, the Trading Division serves customers from Spar Nord Bank’s branches as well as large retail customers and institutional clients in the field of equities, bonds, fixed income and forex products, asset management and international transactions. Finally, under the concept Sparxpres, the bank offers consumer loans to personal customers through Sparxpres’ platform as well as debt consolidation loans and consumer financing via retail stores and gift voucher solutions via shopping centres and city associations.

    About Nykredit

    Nykredit Realkredit A/S (“Nykredit”) is a public limited company incorporated under the laws of Denmark, company reg. (CVR) no. 12 71 92 80, having its registered office at Sundkrogsgade 25, 2150 Nordhavn, Denmark. Nykredit is a mortgage credit institution and, together with its wholly-owned subsidiary Totalkredit A/S, is a market leader of the Danish mortgage credit market with a market share of some 45.2 per cent. Nykredit offers mortgage financing for private individuals and businesses.

    Nykredit is part of the Nykredit Group, which historically dates back to 1851. In addition to carrying on mortgage credit business, the Group carries on banking business through Nykredit Bank – including banking and wealth management operations – and has a total of around 4,000 employees in Denmark.

    Nykredit is owned by an association of the Nykredit Group’s customers, Forenet Kredit. Forenet Kredit owns close to 80 per cent of Nykredit’s shares. Other major shareholders are five Danish pension funds: Akademikernes Pension AP Pension, PensionDanmark, PFA and PKA.

    Nykredit is known for the advantages offered through the association. Forenet Kredit makes capital contributions to the Nykredit Group when times are good, and Nykredit has decided to pass these on to its customers.

    Since, 2017, Forenet Kredit has paid over DKK 8 billion in capital contributions to the Nykredit Group, and in the period to 2027, Forenet Kredit has provided a further DKK 7 billion.

    Questions and further information

    Any questions concerning the Offer may be directed to:

    Nykredit Bank A/S

    Company reg. (CVR) no.: 10 51 96 08

    Sundkrogsgade 25

    2150 Nordhavn
    Denmark

    Telephone: +45 7010 9000

    and

    Carnegie Investment Bank

    Filial af Carnegie Investment Bank AB (publ), Sverige

    Company reg. (CVR) no. 35 52 12 67

    Overgaden Neden Vandet 9 B

    1414 Copenhagen K
    Denmark

    E-mail: annette.hansen@carnegie.dk

    For further information about the Offer, please see: https://www.nykredit.com/kobstilbud-spar-nord/.

    This announcement and the Offer Document (with Supplement) are not directed at shareholders of Spar Nord Bank A/S whose participation in the Offer would require the issuance of an offer document, registration or activities other than what is required under Danish law (and, in the case of shareholders in the United States of America, Section 14(e) of, and applicable provisions of Regulation 14E promulgated under, the US Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended). The Offer is not made and will not be made, directly or indirectly, to shareholders resident in any jurisdiction in which the submission of the Offer or acceptance thereof would be in contravention of the laws of such jurisdiction. Any person coming into possession of this announcement, the Offer Document or any other document containing a reference to the Offer is expected and assumed to independently obtain all necessary information about any applicable restrictions and to observe these.

    This announcement does not constitute an offer or an invitation to purchase securities or a solicitation of an offer to purchase securities in accordance with the Offer or otherwise. The Offer will be submitted only in the form of the Offer Document (with Supplement) approved by the FSA, which sets out the full terms and conditions of the Offer, including information on how to accept the Offer. The shareholders of Spar Nord Bank are advised to read the Offer Document and any related documents as they contain important information.

    Restricted jurisdictions

    The Offer is not made, and acceptance of the Offer to tender Spar Nord Bank Shares is not accepted, neither directly nor indirectly, in or from any jurisdiction in which the making or acceptance of the Offer would not be in compliance with the laws of such jurisdiction or would require any registration, approval or any other measures with any regulatory authority not expressly contemplated by the Offer Document (the “Restricted Jurisdictions”). Neither the United States nor the United Kingdom is a Restricted Jurisdiction.

    Restricted Jurisdictions include, but are not limited to: Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand and South Africa.

    Persons obtaining documents or information relating to the Offer (including custodians, account holding institutions, nominees, trustees, representatives, fiduciaries or other intermediaries) should not distribute, communicate, transfer or send these in or into a Restricted Jurisdiction or use mail or any other means of communication in or into a Restricted Jurisdiction in connection with the Offer. Persons (including, but not limited to, custodians, custodian banks, nominees, trustees, representatives, fiduciaries or other intermediaries) intending to communicate this announcement, the Supplement, the Offer Document or any related document to any jurisdiction outside Denmark or the United States should inform themselves about these restrictions before taking any action. Any failure to comply with these restrictions may constitute a violation of the Laws of such jurisdiction, including securities Laws. It is the responsibility of all Persons obtaining announcement, the Supplement, the Offer Document, an acceptance form and/or other documents relating to the Offer, or into whose possession such documents otherwise come, to inform themselves about and observe all such restrictions.

    Nykredit is not responsible for ensuring that the distribution, dissemination or communication of this announcement, the Supplement or the Offer Document to Shareholders outside Denmark, the United States and the United Kingdom is consistent with applicable Law in any jurisdiction other than Denmark, the United States and the United Kingdom.

    Important Information for Shareholders in the United States

    The Offer concerns the shares in Spar Nord Bank, a public limited liability company incorporated and admitted to trading on a regulated market in Denmark, and is subject to the disclosure and procedural requirements of Danish law, including the Danish capital markets act and the Danish takeover order.

    The Offer is being made to shareholders in Spar Nord Bank in the United States in compliance with the applicable US tender offer rules under the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, (the “U.S. Exchange Act”), including Regulation 14E promulgated thereunder, subject to the relief available for a “Tier II” tender offer, and otherwise in accordance with the requirements of Danish law and practice

    Accordingly, US Spar Nord Bank shareholders should be aware that this announcement and any other documents regarding the Offer have been prepared in accordance with, and will be subject to, the disclosure and other procedural requirements, including with respect to withdrawal rights, the Offer timetable, settlement procedures and timing of payments of Danish law and practice, which may differ materially from those applicable under US domestic tender offer law and practice. In addition, the financial information contained in this announcement or the Offer Document has not been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States, or derived therefrom, and may therefore differ from, or not be comparable with, financial information of US companies.

    In accordance with the laws of, and practice in, Denmark and to the extent permitted by applicable law, including Rule 14e-5 under the U.S. Exchange Act, Nykredit, Nykredit’s affiliates or any nominees or brokers of the foregoing (acting as agents, or in a similar capacity, for Nykredit or any of its affiliates, as applicable) may from time to time, and other than pursuant to the Offer, directly or indirectly, purchase, or arrange to purchase, outside of the United States, shares in Spar Nord Bank or any securities that are convertible into, exchangeable for or exercisable for such shares in Spar Nord Bank before or during the period in which the Offer remains open for acceptance. These purchases may occur either in the open market at prevailing prices or in private transactions at negotiated prices. Any information about such purchases will be announced via Nasdaq Copenhagen and relevant electronic media if, and to the extent, such announcement is required under applicable law. To the extent information about such purchases or arrangements to purchase is made public in Denmark, such information will be disclosed by means of a press release or other means reasonably calculated to inform US shareholders of Spar Nord Bank of such information.

    In addition, subject to the applicable laws of Denmark and US securities laws, including Rule 14e-5 under the U.S. Exchange Act, the financial advisers to Nykredit or their respective affiliates may also engage in ordinary course trading activities in securities of Spar Nord Bank, which may include purchases or arrangements to purchase such securities.

    It may not be possible for US shareholders to effect service of process within the United States upon Spar Nord Bank, Nykredit or any of their respective affiliates, or their respective officers or directors, some or all of which may reside outside the United States, or to enforce against any of them judgments of the United States courts predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the federal securities laws of the United States or other US law. It may not be possible to bring an action against Nykredit, Spar Nord Bank and/or their respective officers or directors (as applicable) in a non-US court for violations of US laws. Further, it may not be possible to compel Nykredit and Spar Nord Bank or their respective affiliates, as applicable, to subject themselves to the judgment of a US court. In addition, it may be difficult to enforce in Denmark original actions, or actions for the enforcement of judgments of US courts, based on the civil liability provisions of the US federal securities laws.

    The Offer, if completed, may have consequences under US federal income tax and under applicable US state and local, as well as non-US, tax laws. Each shareholder of Spar Nord Bank is urged to consult its independent professional adviser immediately regarding the tax consequences of the Offer.

    NEITHER THE U.S. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION NOR ANY SECURITIES COMMISSION OR OTHER REGULATORY AUTHORITY IN ANY STATE OF THE U.S. HAS APPROVED OR DECLINED TO APPROVE THE OFFER OR THIS ANNOUNCEMENT, PASSED UPON THE FAIRNESS OR MERITS OF THE OFFER OR PROVIDED AN OPINION AS TO THE ACCURACY OR COMPLETENESS OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT OR ANY OFFER DOCUMENT. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENCE IN THE UNITED STATES.

    1 Executive Order no. 636 of 15 May 2020

    Attachments

    • Announcement of extension of Offer Period
    • Supplement to the Offer Document

    The MIL Network –

    February 18, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Arrest – Firearm offences – Pinelands

    Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

    The Northern Territory Police Force has arrested a 34-year-old male and is searching for another person of interest in relation to a stolen motor vehicle, drug offences and firearm offences in Pinelands yesterday afternoon.

    About 1:25pm, Fugitive Taskforce members observed a reported stolen motor vehicle parked at a service station on Stuart Highway. Members approached the driver who failed to comply with directions and attempted to flee from police in the vehicle. Members successfully deployed a taser and apprehended the male.

    A subsequent search of the vehicle identified a quantity of methamphetamine, cocaine, cannabis, ammunition and an imitation firearm.

    He was conveyed to Royal Darwin Hospital for medical assessment and was later charged with:

    • Resist Police in execution of duty
    • Driving a motor vehicle without consent
    • 2 x Possess Schedule 1 dangerous drug – less than traffickable quantity
    • Possess Schedule 2 dangerous drug – less than traffickable
    • Possess ammunition without a licence
    • Possess a prohibited weapon
    • Drive a motor vehicle whilst unlicenced
    • Breach of bail

    He was remanded to appear in Darwin Local Court today.

    Police believe another person of interest was in the service station when the arrest was unfolding and fled the scene.

    The Fugitive Taskforce has carriage of the investigation.

    MIL OSI News –

    February 18, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Serious crash at Eastwood

    Source: South Australia Police

    Police are at the scene of a serious crash at Eastwood.

    About 4.10pm today (Tuesday 18 February), emergency services were called to Greenhill Road after reports that a car had collided with a pedestrian.

    Westbound traffic is down to one lane approaching Glen Osmond Road.

    Please avoid the area if possible.

    MIL OSI News –

    February 18, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Confiscation order lawfully issued

    Source: Hong Kong Information Services

    The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government today strongly condemned the unfounded smear and malicious attacks online, after the Court of First Instance, in accordance with the law, issued an order to confiscate the proceeds Hui Chi-fung obtained from committing offences endangering national security.

    The court, upon application by the Department of Justice (DoJ), issued the confiscation order under section 9 of Schedule 3 of the Implementation Rules of Article 43 of the National Security Law, concerning the confiscation of proceeds Hui Chi-fung obtained from the aforesaid offences.

    The Hong Kong SAR Government issued a statement to provide the facts and set the record straight, stressing that the application for and issuance of the confiscation order must comply with the strict conditions specified in Schedule 3 of the implementation rules, including that the court must be satisfied the absconded defendant could have been convicted of the relevant offence and must determine whether the defendant has benefitted from that offence.

    It stated that the court must also ascertain the value of the proceeds of the offence endangering national security and the amount that might be realised at the time the confiscation order is made. There is absolutely no situation in which private property could be “confiscated at any time” or “arbitrarily”.

    In addition to noting that Hui Chi-fung has committed numerous heinous crimes with a number of criminal charges laid against him, the Hong Kong SAR Government pointed out that he is currently a wanted person with a reward notice by Police and specified as a relevant absconder by the Secretary for Security under sections 89(1) of the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance.

    The Hong Kong SAR Government indicated that before and after Hui Chi-fung absconded from Hong Kong, he transferred nearly $2.5 million in personal assets as gifts to his mother and wife. The court is also satisfied with the relevant transaction evidence submitted by the DoJ.

    According to the law, if a defendant benefits from committing an offence endangering national security and makes a gift at any time from six years before the date of prosecution onwards, the property held by the recipient of the gift may be regarded as the defendant’s realisable property and confiscated.

    The value of the criminal proceeds ordered for confiscation by the court is determined strictly based on evidence and in accordance with the law. The value of the criminal proceeds attributed to Hui Chi-fung was calculated based on the relevant evidence to establish a reasonable value, the Hong Kong SAR Government explained.

    Additionally, it emphasised that Hong Kong is a society underpinned by the rule of law and has always adhered to the principle that laws must be obeyed and lawbreakers held accountable.

    Apart from specifying that it is a common and effective practice to make an application to the court for a confiscation order to prevent offenders from benefitting from their criminal acts, the Hong Kong SAR Government said that laws and mechanisms for confiscation of crime proceeds are common around the world.

    They cover the crime proceeds from commission of any serious offence, including offences endangering national security, it added.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

    February 18, 2025

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: State Highway 2, Matatā blocked by crash

    Source: New Zealand Police (District News)

    State Highway 2 near Matatā is blocked following a crash this evening.

    Police were advised at 6.20pm that a ute had rolled on State Highway 2, between the two turnoffs into McPherson Street.

    The driver is reported to have serious injuries and the road is expected to remain closed for some time.

    Motorists are asked to take alternative routes where possible.

    ENDS

    Issued by Police Media Centre. 
     

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

    February 18, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Australia: New Warroo Bridge construction work set to start

    Source: New South Wales Government 2

    Headline: New Warroo Bridge construction work set to start

    Published: 18 February 2025

    Released by: Minister for Regional NSW, Minister for Regional Transport and Roads

    The Minns Labor Government is investing more than $15 million to deliver a safer, stronger new Warroo Bridge in the NSW Central West with construction work set to start in March.

    A new concrete bridge will be built just a few metres upstream from the existing 116-year-old bridge timber truss bridge which is located over the Lachlan River 46 kilometres west of Forbes and 55 kilometres south-east of Condobolin.

    Warroo Bridge is a critical connector in the region as it is the only major crossing of the Lachlan River linking the Lachlan Valley Way to the Henry Parkes Way between these two towns.

    The existing narrow bridge was built in 1909 and is not suitable for use by modern agricultural equipment or heavy vehicles with higher mass limit loads.

    If the existing bridge is closed for maintenance, motorists face a 93-kilometre detour to travel from one side of the bridge to the other.

    The Minns Labor Government is investing in construction of a new bridge that will be safer, more reliable and allow for more efficient transport, particularly for freight operators in regional NSW.

    Abergeldie Contractors Pty Ltd will deliver the work on behalf of Transport for NSW, with work due to start on March 3. The new bridge is expected to be open to traffic in late 2026, weather permitting.

    The existing Warroo Bridge will remain open to traffic throughout the construction of the replacement bridge and will be removed completely once the new bridge is operational.

    Transport for NSW will continue to update the community as construction progresses. For more information on the project visit the website of Transport for NSW. 

    Minister for Regional NSW Tara Moriarty said:

    “This new Warroo Bridge over the Lachlan River is an important piece of infrastructure that will make life easier for farmers, businesses and families in the Central West.

    “The new bridge will be safer and more reliable than the existing bridge that is now well over 100 years old.

    “This sort of investment is part of the NSW Government’s commitment to regional NSW and to driving jobs and investment across the state.”

    Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Jenny Aitchison said:

    “The Minns Labor Government is investing in the future of regional NSW by building better bridges that keep communities connected, improve safety and increase efficiency for freight operators.

    “I’m excited to see construction start on the new Warroo Bridge which will have wider travel lanes and better road approaches, increased load capacity for heavy vehicles, and improved access for wide vehicles.”

    Independent Member for Orange Phil Donato said:

    “It’s great to see the contract for this project has been awarded and construction is on track to commence.

    “Communities in our region rely on Warroo Bridge and when the new bridge is built it will make life so much easier for local residents and freight operators.”

    NSW Labor’s Orange spokesperson Stephen Lawrence MLC said:

    “The awarding of the contract to Abergeldie Contractors Pty Ltd to build the replacement Warroo Bridge is an important milestone in this project to improve transport efficiency and reliability in the Central West.

    “When construction is complete the community will have a fantastic new asset the Minns Labor Government is proud to be delivering.”

    MIL OSI News –

    February 18, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Security: Chief of Staff, NAVELSG Visits COMLOG WESTPAC, January 23, 2025 [Image 2 of 3]

    Source: United States Navy (Logistics Group Western Pacific)

    Issued by: on

    SINGAPORE (Jan. 23, 2025) Capt. James Bach, right, Chief of Staff, Navy Expeditionary Logistics Support Group, delivers a command capabilities brief to staff and personnel assigned to Commander, Logistics Group Western Pacific/ Task Force 73 (COMLOGWESTPAC/CTF 73), during a scheduled visit to Sembawang Naval Installation, Jan. 23, 2025. COMLOG WESTPAC supports deployed surface units and aircraft carriers, along with regional Allies and partners, to facilitate patrols in the South China Sea, participation in naval exercises and responses to natural disasters. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Moises Sandoval/Released)

    Date Taken: 01.23.2025
    Date Posted: 01.23.2025 22:49
    Photo ID: 8840611
    VIRIN: 250123-N-ED646-1059
    Resolution: 7706×5504
    Size: 4.07 MB
    Location: SG
    Web Views: 10
    Downloads: 1

    PUBLIC DOMAIN  

    This work, Chief of Staff, NAVELSG Visits COMLOG WESTPAC, January 23, 2025 [Image 3 of 3], by PO2 Moises Sandoval, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.

    GALLERY

    MORE LIKE THIS

    CONTROLLED VOCABULARY KEYWORDS

    TAGS

    Flag Asset

    Chief of Staff, NAVELSG Visits COMLOG WESTPAC, January 23, 2025

    MIL Security OSI –

    February 18, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Security: USMC Capt. Antonio Milord’s Promotion Ceremony, February 3, 2025 [Image 1 of 8]

    Source: United States Navy (Logistics Group Western Pacific)

    Issued by: on

    SINGAPORE (Feb. 3, 2025) – Capt. Antonio J. Milord, left, ground ammunition officer assigned to Commander, Logistics Group Western Pacific/Task Force 73 (COMLOG WESTPAC/ CTF 73), provides closing remarks during his promotion ceremony at the U.S. Embassy in Singapore, February 3, 2025. COMLOG WESTPAC supports deployed surface units and aircraft carriers, along with regional Allies and partners, to facilitate patrols in the South China Sea, participation in naval exercises and responses to natural disasters. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Jomark A. Almazan/Released)

    Date Taken: 02.02.2025
    Date Posted: 02.18.2025 00:36
    Photo ID: 8874304
    VIRIN: 250203-N-DB724-1082
    Resolution: 6030×4307
    Size: 2.23 MB
    Location: SG
    Web Views: 0
    Downloads: 0

    PUBLIC DOMAIN  

    This work, USMC Capt. Antonio Milord’s Promotion Ceremony, February 3, 2025 [Image 8 of 8], by PO1 Jomark Almazan, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.

    GALLERY

    MORE LIKE THIS

    CONTROLLED VOCABULARY KEYWORDS

    TAGS

    Flag Asset

    USMC Capt. Antonio Milord’s Promotion Ceremony, February 3, 2025

    MIL Security OSI –

    February 18, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Security: USMC Capt. Antonio Milord’s Promotion Ceremony, February 3, 2025 [Image 4 of 8]

    Source: United States Navy (Logistics Group Western Pacific)

    Issued by: on

    SINGAPORE (Feb. 3, 2025) – Capt. Antonio J. Milord, right, ground ammunition officer assigned to Commander, Logistics Group Western Pacific/Task Force 73 (COMLOG WESTPAC/ CTF 73), shakes hands with Lt. Col. Jennifer F. Giles, Marine Attache, U.S. Embassy Singapore, during his promotion ceremony in Singapore, February 3, 2025. COMLOG WESTPAC supports deployed surface units and aircraft carriers, along with regional Allies and partners, to facilitate patrols in the South China Sea, participation in naval exercises and responses to natural disasters. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Jomark A. Almazan/Released)

    Date Taken: 02.02.2025
    Date Posted: 02.18.2025 00:36
    Photo ID: 8874307
    VIRIN: 250203-N-DB724-1065
    Resolution: 5824×4160
    Size: 2.48 MB
    Location: SG
    Web Views: 0
    Downloads: 0

    PUBLIC DOMAIN  

    This work, USMC Capt. Antonio Milord’s Promotion Ceremony, February 3, 2025 [Image 8 of 8], by PO1 Jomark Almazan, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.

    GALLERY

    MORE LIKE THIS

    CONTROLLED VOCABULARY KEYWORDS

    TAGS

    Flag Asset

    USMC Capt. Antonio Milord’s Promotion Ceremony, February 3, 2025

    MIL Security OSI –

    February 18, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Security: USMC Capt. Antonio Milord’s Promotion Ceremony, February 3, 2025 [Image 3 of 8]

    Source: United States Navy (Logistics Group Western Pacific)

    Issued by: on

    SINGAPORE (Feb. 3, 2025) – Master Sgt. Philip Harp, center left, aviation ordnance chief assigned to Commander, Logistics Group Western Pacific/Task Force 73 (COMLOG WESTPAC/ CTF 73), reads Chief Warrant Officer Antonio J. Milord’s, right, ground ammunition officer assigned to COMLOG WESTPAC/CTF 73, promotion warrant during his promotion ceremony at the U.S. Embassy in Singapore, February 3, 2025. COMLOG WESTPAC supports deployed surface units and aircraft carriers, along with regional Allies and partners, to facilitate patrols in the South China Sea, participation in naval exercises and responses to natural disasters. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Jomark A. Almazan/Released)

    Date Taken: 02.02.2025
    Date Posted: 02.18.2025 00:36
    Photo ID: 8874306
    VIRIN: 250203-N-DB724-1021
    Resolution: 8256×5504
    Size: 4.34 MB
    Location: SG
    Web Views: 0
    Downloads: 0

    PUBLIC DOMAIN  

    This work, USMC Capt. Antonio Milord’s Promotion Ceremony, February 3, 2025 [Image 8 of 8], by PO1 Jomark Almazan, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.

    GALLERY

    MORE LIKE THIS

    CONTROLLED VOCABULARY KEYWORDS

    TAGS

    Flag Asset

    USMC Capt. Antonio Milord’s Promotion Ceremony, February 3, 2025

    MIL Security OSI –

    February 18, 2025

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Activist News – No to anti-protest law – Peace Action Wellington

    Source: Peace Action Wellington

    In a report released today, the Independent Police Conduct Authority has called for new standalone legislation directed at preemptively policing protest.

    “I completely reject the IPCA recommendation for a specific protest law. It will limit our fundamental rights and freedoms,” said Valerie Morse.

    “We already have a great protest law: it’s called the NZ bill of rights.”

    “Police regularly try to limit or shut down protests that are simply embarrassing or unhelpful for the government. They cannot be trusted to prioritise people’s rights at protests.”

    “I have been arrested a number of times at protests. When these charges have gone to court the judge has thrown them out. If the police had had their way these protests never would have occurred.”

    “Just because similar jurisdictions have laws about policing protests doesn’t mean that they are a good idea. The US, UK and Australia are all suffering from extreme democratic deficits – in part due to authoritarian responses like these anti-protest laws.”

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

    February 18, 2025

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Release: ACT taps out of Treaty Principles Bill submission process

    Source: New Zealand Labour Party

    “The ACT Party can’t be bothered putting an MP on one of the Justice subcommittees hearing submissions on their own Treaty Principles Bill,” Labour Justice Spokesperson Duncan Webb said.

    “It is bad enough that ACT has put New Zealand through the expense and anguish of this doomed Bill, but to then refuse to hear oral submissions is utterly disrespectful, lazy, and it shows that this is all just a stunt by David Seymour.

    “It is outrageous that $6 million of the taxpayer’s money is being misused to promote ACT Party ideology, while Christopher Luxon stands idly by. For the ACT Party to refuse to send an MP to hear 30 of the 80 hours of submissions just adds insult to injury.

    “Thousands of New Zealanders have spent hours carefully preparing their submissions and some have been invited to submit to the select committee. Those submitters deserve to have the ACT Party listen to what they have to say. The ACT Party’s suggestion that they have more important things to do is insulting and disingenuous,” Duncan Webb said.

    Stay in the loop by signing up to our mailing list and following us on Facebook, Instagram, and X.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

    February 18, 2025

  • MIL-Evening Report: What is divestiture and how would it stop insurance companies ‘ripping off’ customers?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Allan Fels, Professor Allan Fels, Professor of Law, Economics and Business at the University of Melbourne and Monash University., The University of Melbourne

    Australia is creeping towards adding a divestiture power to its Competition and Consumer Act.

    Under such a law, the courts, on the recommendation of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, could break a firm into parts.

    Divestiture is currently used in Australia when the competition and consumer commission considers proposed mergers. Often it will only approve a merger when certain parts of the business are broken up to prevent monopolies.

    It has also been used to deal with abuse of market power by electricity providers.

    Under the proposed change, a company with substantial market power which breaches the Consumer and Competition Act may be forced to divest assets to restore balance and ensure the market is competitive. This would reduce the possibility of consumers being over-charged.

    The Coalition has already proposed breaking up the major supermarkets, Coles and Woolworths which have been long-accused of price gouging customers.

    On Sunday, Coalition leader Peter Dutton signalled he was likely to introduce divestiture if elected to stop insurers from “ripping off” customers by charging exorbitant premiums or refusing to pay claims.

    Premiums have soared by 16.4% in the last year as Australia has been hit by major floods and bushfires. Climate Valuation analysts last month warned one in ten properties could be uninsurable by 2035.

    Repeating his position on Monday, Dutton said:

    If we have a situation where people are being priced out of insurance or they’re deemed an uninsurable risk when they shouldn’t be, that is a failure of the market and we’ll respond accordingly to that.

    He said insurance companies had to be responsible corporate citizens and work with their customers.

    We’re not going to have a situation where people can’t afford insurance or they’re being priced out of products.

    Previously the Morrison government enacted laws which enabled a breakup of energy companies in certain circumstances.

    Labor has not supported a divestiture power. One reason is the Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees Association has opposed such measures.

    The case for divestiture

    In principle there is a strong case for a divestiture law.

    Monopolies and market power stem from an industry being highly concentrated. Often the only way to prevent them from misusing their monopoly is to break them up. The solution could be left to the market or to price regulation or other remedies but these do not address the source of the problem.

    A divestiture power has long existed in the United States. It was used to break up oil, cigarettes, and chemicals in the early days of antitrust law. In the mid-80s it was successfully used to break up the AT&T telephone monopoly. AT&T controlled both long distance and local calls before it was broken up.

    But divestiture is only occasionally used and only when stringent criteria are satisfied.

    Some 20 years ago the US Department of Justice proposed a breakup of Microsoft – the case was never finalised because of procedural problems. However, the Federal Court laid out many prerequisites before this drastic remedy could occur.

    The power has been used in a number of other OECD countries including the United Kingdom.

    When divesting is necessary

    There has been heavy use in Australia of divestiture powers to break up gas and electricity monopolies in the last 30 years

    And there is a strong case for making it a general remedy available for all industries, even though its use would be infrequent.

    Importantly, the availability of this sanction would provide an incentive for firms to comply with abuse of market power provisions of the competition law. These provisions are intended to stop powerful businesses from deterring competition by making it difficult for new entrants to join the market.

    The sanctions for this part of the law currently are very weak. Fines are rarely imposed and if they are, they are small and seen as a cost of doing business to be weighed up against the benefits of anti-competitive behaviour.

    Another reason is that cases take many years. For example, the ACCC case v Safeway 19 years ago took seven years before a court resolution.

    A divestiture power would make firms far more careful before breaching the law.

    Too ‘Russian’?

    Occasionally people question the desirability of this power on the grounds it is the sort of thing you would only see in a country like Russia.

    In an ABC interview last February, Prime Minister Albanese said:

    We have a private sector economy in Australia and not a command and control economy […]We’re not the old Soviet Union. What we have the power to do is to encourage competition and encouraging new entrants.

    However, most observers agree one of the big failures of the Soviet economy has been failure to divest monopolies in energy, transport and other parts of the economy.

    The Coalition’s adoption of a divestiture remedy in three industries is welcome. We need at some point to move to a divestiture power that is available for the whole economy.

    Allan Fels is a former chair of the ACCC.

    – ref. What is divestiture and how would it stop insurance companies ‘ripping off’ customers? – https://theconversation.com/what-is-divestiture-and-how-would-it-stop-insurance-companies-ripping-off-customers-250036

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

    February 18, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Padilla, Schiff, EPW Democrats Demand Answers After Trump Illegally Pulls Zero-Emission Vehicle Infrastructure Funding

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.)

    Padilla, Schiff, EPW Democrats Demand Answers After Trump Illegally Pulls Zero-Emission Vehicle Infrastructure Funding

    California was set to receive $384 million from National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure program over 5 years
    WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff (both D-Calif.), members of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works (EPW), joined all Democratic members of the Committee in demanding answers from Department of Transportation (DOT) Secretary Sean Duffy about the abrupt cutoff of funds for the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program. The Joint Office of Energy and Transportation approved California’s five-year NEVI Deployment Plan on September 29, 2023, granting the state $384 million for critical zero-emission vehicle infrastructure along its highways, but the Trump Administration has illegally frozen the NEVI program.
    The NEVI program — included in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law — provides funding directly to states for installing public zero-emission vehicle charging stations, which would lower fuel costs for families, reduce U.S. dependence on fossil fuels, and create construction jobs nationwide. In a memo to state departments of transportation, the Federal Highway Administration announced states will no longer have access to $3 billion in previously approved federal funds for future construction projects.
    “All 50 states plus the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico invested time and resources to prepare their plans, and all plans were approved by the U.S. Department of Transportation. Your abrupt cutoff of NEVI funding disregards these efforts and subjects states and their partners to delay, uncertainty, and bureaucratic red tape. It also threatens the jobs, innovation, and environmental benefits that this program was ready and authorized to deliver through implementation,” wrote the Senators. 
    “Unfortunately, your refusal to release NEVI funds to states is part of a larger, ongoing pattern by the Trump Administration of subverting the Constitution’s dedication to Congress of authority over federal spending,” continued the Senators. “As sweeping and vague as recent Executive Orders may be in expressing the administration’s policy preferences, they do not provide license under the Constitution to cut off funding for programs authorized and funded by Congress and enacted into law, and upon which our sovereign states have justifiably relied.”
    The NEVI program invests in states to accelerate the nationwide buildout of public zero-emission vehicle charging infrastructure. States have already awarded more than $510 million in NEVI funding to construct charging ports, with more contracts ready to move forward. By pulling this funding, the Trump Administration is jeopardizing planned construction that could establish charging stations every 50 miles along 70 percent of major travel corridors by the end of 2055. Canceling this funding would leave many families, particularly in rural communities, without access to affordable zero-emission vehicle chargers.
    Expanding access to reliable chargers will give Americans more choices in vehicles by making clean energy options more practical and by reducing dependence on expensive fossil-fueled cars. If implemented, NEVI investments will help curb the carbon pollution driving climate change, which poses an increasing threat to the U.S. economy and to American families through higher prices for groceries, insurance, and more.
    In addition to Senators Padilla and Schiff, Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), and Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) also signed the letter.
    The Senators requested documents and information by February 18, 2025, and an immediate reinstatement of NEVI funding.
    Senator Padilla has consistently fought to reduce emissions across the transportation and freight sectors. Last year, Padilla successfully pushed the Biden Administration to launch a National Zero-Emission Freight Corridor Strategy to guide the national deployment of zero-emission medium- and heavy-duty freight transportation vehicle (ZE-MHDV) charging and fueling infrastructure, which followed his efforts to call on the Joint Office to prioritize the deployment of ZE-MHDV as part of its core mission.
    Since 2024, Senator Padilla has announced over $440 million for zero-emission vehicle charging and fueling infrastructure from the Charging and Fueling Infrastructure Grant Program. In 2023, Padilla, Senator Cory Booker (D-N.J.), and Representative Nanette Díaz Barragán (D-Calif.-44) introduced the bicameral EVs for All Act, legislation that would increase access to zero-emission vehicles for residents of public housing across the nation.
    Full text of the letter is available here and below:
    Dear Secretary Duffy,
    We write in strong opposition to your cutoff of funding for the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program.  This action shows blatant disrespect for the law and for constitutional order.  
    Established in the bipartisan infrastructure law, the NEVI program provides funding for every state in the nation.  As a condition for using this funding, the Biden Administration required each state department of transportation to submit for approval an EV Infrastructure Deployment Plan—a responsible step to encourage states to think carefully about how they spend their funds under this program.  All 50 states plus the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico invested time and resources to prepare their plans, and all plans were approved by the U.S. Department of Transportation.  Your abrupt cutoff of NEVI funding disregards these efforts and subjects states and their partners to delay, uncertainty, and bureaucratic red tape.  It also threatens the jobs, innovation, and environmental benefits that this program was ready and authorized to deliver through implementation.
    Unfortunately, your refusal to release NEVI funds to states is part of a larger, ongoing pattern by the Trump Administration of subverting the Constitution’s delegation to Congress of authority over federal spending.  As sweeping and vague as recent Executive Orders may be in expressing the administration’s policy preferences, they do not provide license under the Constitution to cut off funding for programs authorized and funded by Congress and enacted into law, and upon which our sovereign states have justifiably relied.  
    For these reasons, we urge you to retract your February 6 letter and to implement the law according to your responsibilities.  In addition, in order to assist us in understanding how and why you reached this decision hastily and in blatant disregard of the law, please respond to the following questions and requests for production of documents by no later than February 18, 2025:
    1. On what legal grounds does the Department of Transportation (DOT) believe it has the authority to cancel all funding nationwide for the NEVI program?  Please cite to specific statutory or regulatory authority that permits DOT to cancel such a Congressionally-authorized appropriation.  We note that executive orders do not qualify as such statutory or regulatory authority, as they are neither statutes nor regulations.
    2. Did any individual or office within the White House, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), or the so-called “Department of Government Efficiency” specifically instruct you to cancel funding for the NEVI program?  If so, who did?
    3. Please provide all emails dated November 5, 2024, through February 6, 2025, among and between you, DOT officials, the Trump-Vance Transition Team, the White House, Elon Musk, anyone working for or affiliated with the so-called “Department of Government Efficiency,” Russell Vought, and Office of Management and Budget officials—including but not limited to all “special government employees”—concerning the NEVI program.
    Thank you for your attention to this matter.
    Sincerely,

    MIL OSI USA News –

    February 18, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Economics: African Union Summit: African Development Bank President Highlights a Decade of Economic Transformational Impact

    Source: African Development Bank Group

    African Development Bank Group President Dr. Akinwumi A. Adesina, delivered a compelling farewell address to Heads of State and Government at the 38th African Union Summit, highlighting a decade of remarkable achievements by the Bank in driving Africa’s economic transformation. Adesina’s participation at the august continental gathering in Addis Ababa ended on a high note as African leaders considered and endorsed four Bank-led initiatives including the drive to connect 300 million Africans to electricity by 2030, measuring Africa’s green wealth as part of its GDP, a $20 billion facility to provide Africa with a financial buffer and a roadmap for the continent to achieve inclusive growth and rapid sustainable development.

    Adesina, who is also the Chairman of the Group’s Boards of Directors, underscored the impact of the Bank’s High 5s Agenda—Light up and Power Africa, Feed Africa, Industrialize Africa, Integrate Africa, and Improve the Quality of Life for the People of Africa—which has impacted more than half a billion lives across the continent.

    “It has been an unprecedented partnership to advance the goal of the African Union towards achieving Agenda 2063: the Africa we want,” said Adesina who in February 2022, became the first president of the Bank Group to address the AU Summit.

    During the final day of the assembly, several African governments and AU officials paid tribute to Dr. Adesina for his exceptional leadership of the Bank and strong global advocacy for Africa, He ends his tenure as the Bank Group’s president on 1st September 2025.

    The February 15–16 Summit saw the election of Djibouti’s Foreign Minister Mahmoud Ali Youssouf as Chairperson of the African Union Commission, taking over from Moussa Faki Mahamat. Algeria’s Ambassador, Salma Malika Haddadi, was elected the Commission’s Deputy Chairperson.

    African Development Bank Group President Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, who is also the Chairman of the Group’s Boards of Directors, underscored the impact of the Bank’s operations, which have impacted more than half a billion lives over the past decade.

    Reflecting on his tenure at the helm of the African Development Bank, Dr. Adesina said the Bank has transformed 515 million lives, including 231 million women, over the past decade:

    • 127 million people gained access to better services in terms of health.
    • 61 million people gained access to clean water.
    • 33 million people benefited from improved sanitation.
    • 46 million people gained access to ICT services, and
    • 25 million people gained access to electricity.

    He cited the landmark Africa Energy Summit held in Tanzania in January, where 48 nations signed the Dar Es Salaam Declaration to adopt bold policies in support of an initiative by the World Bank and the African Development Bank to extend electricity access to 300 million Africans by 2030. That meeting, attended by 21 heads of state, secured $48 billion in commitments from the two institutions and an additional $7 billion from other development partners.

    The Addis Ababa Summit endorsed the Dar Es Salaam Energy Declaration, the Baku Declaration by African Heads of State on Measuring the Green Wealth of Africa. The Assembly also adopted the African Financing Stability Mechanism, a groundbreaking initiative by the African Development Bank to provide $20 billion in debt refinancing for African nations alongside  the Strategic Framework on Key Actions to Achieve Inclusive Growth and Sustainable Development in Africa report which  outlines key actions required to enable Africa to achieve, and sustain an annual growth rate of at least 7% of GDP over the next five decades.

    African Heads of State and Government display copies of the Dar es Salaam Energy Declaration at the closing session of the Africa Energy Summit, 28 January 2025.

    On food security, Adesina cited the Bank’s Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation (TAAT), the Dakar 2 Food Summit that mobilized $72 billion in 2023, and the $1.5 billion Africa Emergency Food Production Facility that was launched in May 2022 to avert a major food and fertilizer crisis triggered by global conflicts.

    “The African Development Bank accelerated food production in Africa. Over 101 million people became food secure. We mobilized $72 billion to implement the food and agriculture delivery compacts across the continent,” he stressed. With the support of the Bank, Ethiopia has achieved self-sufficiency in wheat production within four years and is now a wheat-exporting nation.

    A Decade of Transformative Impact

    With a strong focus on job creation, the Bank has trained 1.7 million youth in digital skills and is rolling out Youth Entrepreneurship Investment Banks to drive youth-led economic growth. “Our goal is simple: create youth-based wealth across Africa,” Adesina reiterated.

    Additionally, the Affirmative Finance Action for Women in Africa (AFAWA) initiative has provided $2.5 billion in financing to over 24,000 women-owned businesses, said Adesina.

    “The African Development Bank accelerated food production in Africa. Over 101 million people became food secure. We mobilized $72 billion to implement the food and agriculture delivery compacts across the continent,” said Dr. Adesina.

    Over the past decade, the African Development Bank has invested over $55 billion in infrastructure, making it the largest multilateral financier of African infrastructure.

    The Bank has also prioritized healthcare, committing $3 billion in quality healthcare infrastructure and another $3 billion for pharmaceutical development, including establishing the Africa Pharmaceutical Technology Foundation.

    Historic Financial Mobilization for Africa

    Under Adesina’s presidency, the Bank achieved its largest-ever capital increase, growing from $93 billion in 2015 to $318 billion currently. The most recent replenishment of the African Development Fund, the Bank Group’s concessional window, raised a record $8.9 billion for Africa’s 37 low-income countries, setting the stage for a target of $25 billion for its upcoming 17th replenishment.

    The Africa Investment Forum, a joint effort with eight other partner institutions, has also mobilized over $200 billion in investment commitments, reinforcing Africa as a leading investment destination.

    The Africa Investment Forum, a joint effort with eight other partner institutions, has mobilized over $200 billion in infrastructure investment commitments. (Picture: Africa Investment Forum Founding Partners and other officials during the Opening Session of the Africa Investment Forum 2024 Market Days, Rabat, 4 December 2024.)

    As he bade farewell, the outgoing Bank chief expressed gratitude to the African Heads of State, the African Union Commission, regional economic communities, and the people of Africa for their unwavering support.

    “As today will be my final attendance of the AU Summit as President of the African Development Bank, I would like to use this opportunity to immensely thank your Excellencies Heads of State and Government for your extraordinary support over the past ten years. I am very grateful for your always being there for the African Development Bank—your Bank. I am very grateful for your kindness, friendship, and partnership as we forged global alliances to advance the continent’s interest around the world,” he said. 

    The 2025 Summit under the theme, “Justice for Africans and People of African Descent Through Reparations,” drew global political leaders and other dignitaries, including UN Secretary-General António Guterres, and the Prime Minister of Barbados, Mia Mottley.

    UN Secretary-General António Guterres reiterated calls for reform of the international financial architecture.

    Guterres reiterated calls for reform of the international financial architecture, which is hampering the development of many African economies, beset by expensive debt repayments and high borrowing costs, which limits their capacity to invest in education, health and other essential needs.

    Prime Minister Mottley emphasized Africa’s strategic role in shaping global economic trends, particularly highlighting the continent’s control of 40% of the world’s minerals. She stressed the importance of addressing emerging challenges like artificial intelligence, urging African nations to take a proactive role in technological advancement rather than becoming “victims of technology.”

    She also underscored the urgency of removing artificial barriers between Africa and the Caribbean, calling for the elimination of transit visa requirements to boost trade and integration. Mottley echoed demands for reparatory justice, noting that both the Caribbean and Africa began their independence journey with “chronic deficits” in resources, fairness, and opportunity.

    Opening the Summit on Saturday, Ethiopian Prime Minister Dr. Abiy Ahmed urged continued unity among member countries in addressing the challenges.

    Ethiopian Prime Minister Dr. Abiy Ahmed urged continued unity in addressing Africa’s challenges

    “In a world marked by rapid change and multiple challenges, we find ourselves at the crossroads of uncertainty and opportunity. This movement calls upon us to strengthen our collective resolve, embrace resilience and foster unity across Africa”, he said.

    MIL OSI Economics –

    February 18, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Woman reported after school incident

    Source: South Australia Police

    A woman has been reported after an incident at a northeastern suburbs school earlier this month.

    It will be alleged about 3pm on Monday 3 February, the woman entered a classroom and verbally threatened a teenage girl.

    Thankfully, the student involved was not physically injured.

    Following investigations and after speaking with all parties, police have reported a 31-year-old Para Vista woman for assault.

    She will be summonsed to appear in the Adelaide Magistrates Court at a later date.

    MIL OSI News –

    February 18, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Four people charged with aggravated assault following disturbance in Glenorchy

    Source: Tasmania Police

    Four people charged with aggravated assault following disturbance in Glenorchy

    Tuesday, 18 February 2025 – 2:12 pm.

    Police have charged four people in relation to a disturbance in Glenorchy about 7.20pm on Sunday.
    Police will allege the four people attended an address on Chapel Street and threated the occupants.
    No serious injuries were sustained, and the people were known to each other.
    A 19-year-old man and an 18-year-old man, both from Lutana, have been charged with aggravated assault. They were bailed to appear in court at a later date.
    Additionally, two youths have also been charged with aggravated assault. They were bailed to appear in the Youth Justice Court at a later date.
    Police would like to speak to anyone with witness information or CCTV or dash camera footage of the area around the time.
    Information can be provided to police on 131 444 or through Crime Stoppers Tasmania at crimestopperstas.com.au or on 1800 333 000 (info can be provided anonymously). Quote reference OR767019.

    MIL OSI News –

    February 18, 2025

  • MIL-Evening Report: Australia is deporting 3 non-citizens from the ‘NZYQ’ group to Nauru. What could it do instead?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Mary Anne Kenny, Associate Professor, School of Law, Murdoch University

    Australia’s minister for home affairs announced on Sunday that the federal government has struck a deal with Nauru to “resettle” three non-citizens from what’s come to be known as the “NZYQ cohort”.

    The NZYQ cohort is a group of people released from long-term immigration detention after the High Court’s NZYQ 2023 decision.

    The court found their ongoing detention was unconstitutional where there was no reasonable prospect of removing them to another country. This led to the release of over 200 people from detention, the majority of whom had previously had visas cancelled on character grounds or had committed crimes.

    This new deal with Nauru has significant implications.

    What happened on the weekend?

    According to the home affairs minister, three people from the NZYQ group have now been granted 30-year visas by Nauru, and will soon be removed to that country.

    The minister said all three have criminal histories. One has been convicted of murder.

    Nauru may accept more people from the NZYQ cohort, referring to these people as “the first three”. The minister says he expects a legal challenge to their removal.



    Read more:
    High Court reasons on immigration ruling pave way for further legislation

    Why it is this development significant?

    Once a non-citizen has had their visa cancelled on criminal grounds, they are often deported to their country of origin after serving their prison sentence.

    However, the individuals in the NZYQ group cannot be returned to their country of origin. That could be because international law prevents Australia returning them to places where they may face harm (a principle known as “non-refoulement”).

    Or, they may have no recognised nationality and no country to accept them.

    This raises the question of what should be done with them after they complete their prison sentence.

    Up until the decision in NZYQ, people in this situation were simply kept in immigration detention. It was often almost impossible to get another country to accept them.

    The Australian government tried to get many other countries to accept the man at the centre of the NZYQ case. This person, a stateless Rohingnya man given the pseudonym NZYQ, had been convicted of a serious crime.

    The High Court noted no country had a standard practice of resettling people in situations such as this. It noted the immigration department had never successfully transferred such a person to a third country (in other words, to a place that was not Australia, and not their country of origin).

    The Nauru deal announced on the weekend is an important development, in part because it is the first significant use of new migration laws rushed through late last year.

    What do the new migration laws allow?

    These laws aimed to respond to concerns around the NZYQ cohort being released into the community.

    The new laws allow the government to transfer non-citizens to third countries, in this case Nauru, under “third country reception arrangements.”

    The details of these agreements are left entirely to the discretion of government. The laws grant broad powers to remove people and provide payments to those third countries.

    People who may be removed to a third country include those in the NZYQ group who, since the High Court decision, have been living in the community on bridging visas.

    The new laws allow the government to transfer non-citizens to third countries, in this case Nauru.
    Robert Szymanski/Shutterstock

    Why are some concerned?

    A major issue is the uncertainty surrounding the rights and support of individuals sent to Nauru.

    It’s unclear how or whether these people will be able to get housing and access to work, or how they might be treated in a country with high unemployment. Some may have family members in Australia and may be separated indefinitely from them.

    The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees has raised significant concerns around what it calls “externalisation” of international protection obligations without adequate protection safeguards or standards of treatment.

    Externalisation, it says, can lead to

    indefinite “warehousing” of asylum-seekers in isolated places, exposing them to indirect refoulement and other dangers.

    The UN Human Rights Committee has also said that outsourcing operations to another country did not absolve Australia of accountability and its human rights obligations.

    A possible precedent

    A final concern is the precedent this agreement with Nauru sets for how other countries may treat refugees with criminal convictions.

    Australia’s model of offshore processing has already been used as a reference by other countries, including the UK.

    With the growing international debate about managing refugees with criminal convictions, this arrangement may end up being replicated elsewhere.

    The lack of safeguards for people in third countries, such as Nauru, could mean refugees and asylum seekers are transferred without proper protection, exposing them to further harm.

    How do other countries handle cases like this?

    It is not uncommon for countries to send criminal deportees to their home countries. But in situations where people are stateless or cannot be sent home due to a fear of serious harm, countries either have to allow the person to remain or seek an alternative country to send them to.

    However, it remains very hard for countries to convince other countries to accept people who have criminal convictions.

    Earlier this year, US President Donald Trump signed an executive order to prepare a detention facility at Guantanamo Bay in order to hold up to 30,000 “high-priority criminal aliens unlawfully present in the United States”.

    Exact details of the arrangement remain unclear and the plan has been criticised by a range of human rights groups and legal organisations.

    What are the alternatives to Australia’s Nauru plan?

    Other countries have established systems for managing non-citizens who are not entitled to protection or whose visas have been revoked due to criminal offences, ensuring they are not detained indefinitely.

    After completing their prison sentences, these individuals are typically released into the community, where domestic law enforcement handles any further offending.

    Neglecting to address offending behaviour or rehabilitation within the Australian system – whether during imprisonment, detention, or in the community – and then deporting individuals to developing countries doesn’t really solve the problem.

    It simply means we are externalising the problem to a poorer country.

    Mary Anne Kenny has received funding from the ARC. She is a member of the Migration Institute of Australia and the Law Council of Australia and an affiliate of the UNSW Kaldor Centre for International Refugee Law. She previously was an independent advisor to the governments of Australia and Nauru as part of the Joint Advisory Committee on Nauru between 2012 – 2016.

    Lisa van Toor receives funding from Research Training Plan (RTP) scholarship for her PhD. She is currently a PhD student with the UNSW Kaldor Centre for International Refugee Law. She previously was a Judge’s Associate in the Supreme Court of Nauru between 2018-2019. Lisa is a member of the Greens WA.

    – ref. Australia is deporting 3 non-citizens from the ‘NZYQ’ group to Nauru. What could it do instead? – https://theconversation.com/australia-is-deporting-3-non-citizens-from-the-nzyq-group-to-nauru-what-could-it-do-instead-250053

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

    February 18, 2025

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Man charged after pedestrians injured in car park

    Source: New Zealand Police (District News)

    A man has been charged after several people were injured when a vehicle fled the scene of a shoplifting in Henderson.

    Waitematā West CIB have been investigating the offending which unfolded in the car park at Woolworths on Lincoln Road after 11am on 27 January.

    Detective Senior Sergeant Megan Goldie says a shoplifting allegedly occurred at the supermarket, with the female offender running to a waiting vehicle.

    “The driver tried to leave the car park quickly but, in the process, crashed into another vehicle carrying two occupants,” she says.

    “Shockingly, the getaway driver allegedly stole a handbag from the victims he had just crashed into after the occupants got out to exchange details.”

    A third member of the public tried to intervene with what was unfolding.

    “All three members of the public suffered injuries after the getaway vehicle was driven off at speed,” Detective Senior Sergeant Goldie says.

    “They all suffered physical injuries including grazing and bruising.

    “Understandably this ordeal has left them very shaken up and we are continuing to support them through this process.”

    This week, detectives located a 19-year-old Ranui man and charged him with three counts of aggravated assault and one count of theft.

    He will appear in the Waitākere District Court on 24 February.

    Detective Senior Sergeant Goldie says the initial offender, a 21-year-old woman, has been summonsed to court over the supermarket shoplifting.

    “I would like to acknowledge the support from the public we received in this investigation,” she says.

    ENDS.

    Jarred Williamson/NZ Police

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

    February 18, 2025
←Previous Page
1 … 836 837 838 839 840 … 1,166
Next Page→
NewzIntel.com

NewzIntel.com

MIL Open Source Intelligence

  • Blog
  • About
  • FAQs
  • Authors
  • Events
  • Shop
  • Patterns
  • Themes

Twenty Twenty-Five

Designed with WordPress