NewzIntel.com

Category: Transport

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Minister Shorten doorstop interview at Flinders University Adelaide, South Australia

    Source: Ministers for Social Services

    Location:

    Adelaide

    BILL SHORTEN, MINISTER FOR THE NDIS AND GOVERNMENT SERVICES: Good afternoon, everybody. It’s great to be here with Louise Glanville, who is the National Quality and Safeguards Commissioner for the NDIS, and also with Associate Commissioner Natalie Wade. Two bits of good news for Australians with disability and indeed for Australians generally. The first is that the National Disability Insurance Agency has released its Annual Financial Statement, the AFSR, and it demonstrates that because of the reforms that we’ve undertaken in the last nearly three years, that the Scheme is going to spend $1 billion less in the last 12 months than was expected.

    So, Treasurer Chalmers said the forecast was that the Scheme for financial year 2023/24 would be $1 billion higher than it actually was. Now the Scheme is looking after more people than ever in the last 12 months, there’s 660,000 Australians receiving valuable and life changing support on the National Disability Insurance Scheme. What we were able to do is invest in outcomes and actually spend a little less than we forecast we would. So great news for the future sustainability of the Scheme. And it reflects well on the changes which Labor’s been making.

    The other bit of really good news is that the National Quality and Safeguards Commission has released its annual statement, its annual report, and it demonstrates that for the first time really since the creation of the NDIS, we’re coming to grips with handling complaints. Complaints are up 78%, not because there’s been a 78% jump in problems, but rather that for the first time, a properly resourced Quality and Safeguards Commission is able to investigate 111,000 different matters.

    The Scheme is changing lives, but there have been problems with it. There have been problems because the Scheme’s been treated as the only lifeboat in the ocean for Australians with disability, because there hasn’t been proper scrutiny of the payment system, because whilst most providers are doing a great job, some are not. But what we’re able to say today is that the reforms which Labor has put in place with people with disability, with states and territories, is improving the bottom line of the Scheme. We’re getting better outcomes without having to spend quite as much money as we expected to, which is good news for taxpayers and for people on the Scheme, because quality is being emphasised. But also, the National Safeguards Commission, who is the watchdog, to make sure that participants on the Scheme are both safe and receiving quality services Labor has invested significantly, we’ve doubled their staff, we’ve majorly increased their funding. What it means is we’re now able to ensure that we are now seeing greater attention paid to the quality and the safeguarding of NDIS participants.

    Why don’t we leave it at that from me for now. We’re happy to take questions, but I might invite Louise Glanville, the new Quality and Safeguards Commissioner, to explain what’s been happening with how we’re keeping people safe. And then I might invite Natalie Wade, the Associate Commissioner, to add some further remarks.

    LOUISE GLANVILLE, NDIS QUALITY AND SAFEGUARDS COMMISSIONER: Thank you for that, Minister. It’s great to be here with you and with Natalie today. And what’s really important about the work of the Commission, that it is building progressively to being a strong regulator. Indeed, we want to be a formidable regulator. We want to ensure that people with disability are receiving the sorts of supports they need and the quality of services that they need. We know there are many providers out there that do fantastic work in relation to the disability space, and we are keen to ensure that that continues into the future.

    It’s important that we think about the human rights of people with disability in this respect, and that we deliver on the promise of the NDIS for people to live ordinary lives, like we all do, in every single way. So, it’s wonderful to be here and to watch the way in which the regulatory tools that we can be using to assist with that process are really on the increase and on the improve that the government, the federal government has made substantial commitment to our resourcing to enable us to do that work well. There has been a strong staff grown, and certainly I give credit to my predecessor, Mike Phelan, who has been acting in this space and has done some great work in leading the team at the commission in order to do this very important piece of work that will assist in ensuring the sustainability of the NDIS over time.

    NATALIE WADE, NDIS QUALITY AND SAFEGUARDS ASSOCIATE COMMISSIONER: Thank you, Minister and Commissioner Glanville. Today’s annual report from the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission, really highlights that with the increase in complaints there is a demonstrated trust between the Commission, but also the disability community, where people with disabilities are bringing forward to us at the regulator, the issues that they’re facing in receiving quality and safe services.

    It is fundamental to our work as a regulator to hear directly from people with disability and for them to trust that when they tell us that there is a problem, that they will be able to receive a response and resolve, and those matters will be [inaudible].

    It’s really important to reflect on the increase of regulatory action that has been taken by the Commission in the last 12 months. It is absolutely imperative that providers be supported to understand their role in providing quality and safe services to people with disability. But it’s also fundamental to ensure that when things go wrong or providers do not do what they are expected to do, that regulatory action follows. And today’s annual report really highlights that that is exactly what has been happening in the last 12 months.

    Commissioner Glanville and I are very much looking forward to continuing the work from the last 12 months and ensuring that the human rights of people with disability is centred in our work, that providers are most supportive, and that we all move forward to advance the rights of people with disability as we regulate this space.

    JOURNALIST: Part of these reports, will anything in the near future be addressing the wait times to get onto the NDIS?

    SHORTEN: Yeah, the NDIS has grown remarkably. The year before I became the Minister, it was growing at 23%. That’s too fast. That’s I think reflecting also a lack of other services for Australians with disability. One thing that has happened though in the last 12 months as we’ve been reforming the Scheme, is that there’s been almost the analogy that, there’s almost been a rush for last drinks at the pub, so to speak, by a proportion of providers who have been desperate to try and get some extra money out of the Scheme before they can’t any longer. So that has led to, I think, a surge in people seeking change of circumstances. Listen, long story short, we’ve got to treat every application and every change of circumstance as serious and legitimate until proven otherwise.

    But what that has meant is a doubling in the workload of the agency. We’ve surged workforce to help get rid of the backlog of claims. We’re sorry that people have been inconvenienced, but we are now seeing a decrease in the claims coming in and the variations coming in as people calm down and realize that the Scheme isn’t actually just trying to exit a whole lot of people with permanent disability.

    And also, some of the shonks are now being chased out. I mean, I think it shows the determination of the Albanese government that we have banned for life, in many cases 200 people, from providing services to the Scheme. 200 plus people have been banned in the last two years, 124 in the last 12 months. This is a clear message that if you just want to use people with disability as human ATMs, if you think that somehow a government Scheme of taxpayer money is easy pickings, you’re wrong. That’s changing.

    JOURNALIST: And so, how is that working? How do you monitor those shonks for lack of a better word?

    SHORTEN: When I became Minister three years ago, frankly, I was shocked and appalled at what I discovered. The Scheme had been rolled out and there were over half a million people on the Scheme, and that was good by the previous government. But the complete naivety, negligence of a lack of scrutiny of payments meant that people were able to draw down, in some cases, tens of thousands of dollars with no accountability, that there was no pre-checking of the integrity of invoices before they were paid, that we see price gouging, where some service providers will provide an identical service to someone on the Scheme to who’s not on the Scheme, identical, and it could be a shower chair or it could be a some other service, but they charge the NDIS participant more just because they’re on the NDIS.

    So, we’ve now got rules against that. We’ve set up what’s called a Fraud Fusion Taskforce. They have got hundreds of investigations underway. It shouldn’t have been the case, but it’s taken until now and this government, to get 21 Commonwealth agencies working with each other. And, you know, we’re now sending people to jail for ripping off the Scheme. I think there was a view in the unethical parts of the community that NDIS is a government Scheme, it’s easy money to cheat. Those wells are drying up, because we are now investing in a state-of-the-art investigation processes. I must always stress though, it is changing hundreds of thousands of lives for the better, and most service providers are doing a good job. But there has been an element of fraud, unethical behaviour, price gouging and opportunism. And we say to those people, get off our Scheme, you’re not welcome, you will get caught.

    JOURNALIST: And then just a question, locally in Port Augusta earlier this week, there was the death of a 26-year-old woman with severe intellectual and physical disabilities. Are you aware of that?

    SHORTEN: It’s shocking and tragic about Tegan’s passing in Port Augusta. She wasn’t on the NDIS. South Australian Police are investigating it. It’s not compulsory to be on the NDIS, but I think it is a wakeup call for community to look out for each other. This is a more general comment, not reflecting on the NDIS, but just all of us. Someone who’s vulnerable is not someone else’s business. We should all keep an eye out for our neighbours. You can do that without being a nosey parker, but we’ve got to look after each other. SA police will do, I’m sure, an excellent job in getting to what has happened. We certainly will take a keen interest to see what lessons there are.

    One thing that the NDIS is doing is that when people are presenting for their plans, we are now – and this is following Annie Smith’s death, that tragedy which was completely avoidable and culpable – what we are now doing is making sure that if you’re on the NDIS, you’ve got more than one relationship. You can’t just be with a carer or just with a family member. We want to make sure that that’s a red flag to us because we it takes it takes a village to support anyone. And that’s what we’ve got to behave. We’ve got to get back to that true Australian value.

    JOURNALIST: Are you aware of she was receiving any government payments, Centrelink or?

    SHORTEN: I don’t know.

    JOURNALIST: And now completely unrelated from Canberra. Um, do you believe the Prime Minister and his claims about contact with Qantas?

    SHORTEN: Yes, I do. Um, the Prime Minister has been diligent in reporting, um, any upgrades and disclosures. He’s acted consistently with the standards which are set out for our parliamentarians. The opposition has tried to smear the Prime Minister, but a lot of it seems to have blown back in their own face. Again, you know, Mr. Dutton, he says it’s wrong of Mr. Albanese to accept an upgrade, which he declared. But then again, when you take a favour from Gina Rinehart, you know, is there an expectation? So, their transport spokeswoman, Bridget, just said it came out all guns blazing but managed to shoot her foot off.

    So, what Australians want us to do is adhere to proper standards of ethical conduct. What Australians want us to do is be transparent in our dealings with all people, and what they want us to do is get on with the cost-of-living issues. I mean, the opposition, the Liberal Party, has stolen a week of the nation’s life talking about this. All it’s done is probably depress Australians opinions of politicians generally. But in the meantime, people are battling their mortgages. People are trying to make ends meet. That’s where Labor’s head is at. And I think that’s what they expect of all parliamentarians.

    JOURNALIST: Someone leaking out of the ministry called the Prime Minister a sook. So, you think that the PM is being a sook in this situation?

    SHORTEN: Oh, I’m not even going to respond. I mean, frankly, that is not an accurate characterisation.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Minister Shorten interview on 5AA Adelaide with David Penberthy

    Source: Ministers for Social Services

    Program:

    5AA Adelaide

    SUBJECTS: NDIS reforms

    DAVID PENBERTHY, HOST: Well, it’s a very opportune breaking at eight this morning, because on the same day that major reforms and savings are being announced to the NDIS, we have the Minister for the NDIS, not just here in Adelaide, but here in our studio in Adelaide. Bill Shorten is with us here at FiveAA HQ this morning. Minister, good morning and thanks so much for coming in.

    BILL SHORTEN, MINISTER FOR THE NDIS AND GOVERNMENT SERVICES: Good morning gentlemen. Thanks for having me here.

    PENBERTHY: Now look, we’ve had, we’ve done a lot of work lately. Mr. Shorten, on the NDIS. And we’ve had a few local cases that have been in the headlines. There was another one too, that I spoke to your office about myself earlier this week, which very, very kindly has been resolved. But in a in a broader sense, we’ll start with the big sort of headline figures. This thing has grown like mad and was on target to become, I think, the biggest budgetary item, bigger than the age pension. What are the reforms that you’ve put in place? How much are you going to save, and is it possible to do that without reducing the level of service that people have come to rely on?

    SHORTEN: Yes, it is possible to improve the scheme without undermining its fundamental values. When I became Minister nearly three years ago, the reality is there was over half a million people on the scheme, changing a lot of lives for the better, hundreds of thousands of lives for the better, a lot of very good service providers. But there has been insufficient attention to the administration of the scheme and that has changed. So, one issue was that the scheme was almost becoming the only lifeboat in the ocean. So as soon as you have a disability, everyone says, oh, that’s an NDIS matter. Well, the fact of the matter is, the NDIS is only designed for personal budgets for the most profoundly disabled, not for everyone.

    But the states have been good. Peter Malinauskas, Mally, he’s a rock star. He’s been helping lead the States and working with Nat Cook here to make sure we start developing with Amanda Rishworth, working services up outside the scheme. So that’s one reform, not everyone needs to flock to the NDIS. And within the scheme itself, there was no back-office payments checking. Like, I don’t want to make people, you know, just sort of drive off the road as they’re listening here. But it was possible for people to draw down 20 and $30,000 out of their packages with no invoices.

    We see some service providers, you know, you have a shower chair and then you have an NDIS shower chair. And guess what? They’re identical. But when it’s called an NDIS shower chair, it’s four times as much. We’ve now made that illegal. 92% of service providers are currently unregistered. Like, imagine having a system where you can drive on Adelaide roads. You can have the driver’s license system or the not the driver’s license system. So, we’re overhauling how we register. We’re overhauling how we assess people, making it consistent. We also, we’ve put a sort of in and out list what you can spend your resources on. And whilst that’s led to tears at bedtime by some of the dodgy providers with crystal therapy and other therapies which are just not evidence based, the truth of the matter is it’s now providing clarity.

    All of this means that we can get the growth of the scheme to about 8% when, the year before I became the Minister, it was 23%, but next year we’re on track to have growth at only 12%, so we’re still investing.

    PENBERTHY: So, about a billion bucks, you’re looking at saving?

    SHORTEN: Well, we’ve saved a billion. We’ve spent $1 billion less than we thought we would in May. So, for the financial year 2023/24, we thought it would be 42.5 billion. And it’s actually come in under $42 billion, which means that we’re just running the scheme better. That doesn’t mean that we’re not providing services. There’ll be more people on the scheme next year than this year. There’ll be more money invested in people next year than this year. But what we are saying is, if you’re getting a service, is it a quality service? Is it, are you not being price gouged? You know, yesterday in the Downing Street court in Sydney, we, through long investigations, three dodgy gentlemen or two dodgy gentlemen and a lady, are going to jail for ripping off $5.8 million. We’ve set up a criminal task force. We’ve got 21 Commonwealth agencies. You know, to channel my inner Clint Eastwood, I say to dodgy providers, do you feel lucky? Because we will catch you.

    PENBERTHY: Have there been any successful prosecutions under those laws?

    SHORTEN: Yes. We’ve got 56 people are in court or on the desk of the relevant public prosecutor, Director of Public Prosecutions, 500 investigations. We’ve released some information this morning. Under my predecessors, yes, the Liberals, they had a safeguards commission which is meant to handle complaints. But that’s where complaints used to go to die. It was not transparent. This year we’ve just after – we’ve tripled the number of people working in the complaints Commission from 367 to 1052. We’ve given them money. When I put in an acting administrator into the Complaints Commission to liven it up. He was a former policeman. I said, tell me what you found, Mike. And Mike said, oh, you’ve got state of the art investigation systems for 1988. So, we’ve upgraded the ICT. Now the complaints have gone up 78%, my usual, you know, Ratbag critics say, oh, that proves that everyone’s unhappy because you’re the Minister. No, it just means for the first time, we’re following up the complaints. They’ve always been there.

    PENBERTHY: Minister we’ve got some callers with questions for you. Geraldine’s on the line Geraldine good morning to you.

    CALLER: Hi Bill. I’m getting a ramp put in and there’s a quote on it, it’s $17,000.

    SHORTEN: Oh, that’s rubbish.

    CALLER: Yeah. Now I believe that they’re ripping the system off. And this this man, he’s. That’s all he does. Him and his two sons. And they employed, more or less employed by my provider. And I just hope the government can do something to get a cheaper ramp for me, because I haven’t been outside my home for 11 months. If there was a fire here, I’d burn to death because I can’t go up and down the steps and I’ve got to wait another till June or July next year to save up enough money to pay for the ramp.

    SHORTEN: Well, I don’t know if you’re on the NDIS or another government payment scheme?

    CALLER: My Aged Care.

    SHORTEN: Okay, well, what we’ll do is if we can get your details offline, I don’t know if a ramp should cost $17,000, but my gut says that must be a beautiful ramp.

    PENBERTHY: Yeah. The on ramp to the New South Road extension cost that much.

    SHORTEN: Yeah, it sounds like a piece of art. Um, so what we have seen, and Geraldine, thanks for calling, is just because it’s the government money and a government package doesn’t give some contractors the God given right to rip taxpayers and people off. So, we’ve now in the NDIS, I’ve now got through the Competition Commission laws which say you cannot be charged more for an identical service or product than if you weren’t on the scheme. So, what we can do is you can, what it means is if they were selling you an NDIS ramp, we’re now allowed to look at the books of the company and see what they charge other people for ramps, and if it’s if it’s less that they charge another punter than someone on the NDIS, that’s against the law now.

    PENBERTHY: So, it should be. Minister, there’s another local story we’ve been following closely. Listener by the name of Alex Castoroides, who has called in. I just note who explained to us his situation. A severely disabled daughter who requires two on one care all day, had been in school and receiving terrific care, and they’d had a good experience on the NDIS. That ended, and he’s had some trouble continuing it, so much so they’ve had to sell their business. He’s told us his family home has been at risk. He’s on the line now. Alex, good morning to you. You’re speaking with the NDIS Minister, Bill Shorten.

    CALLER: Good morning. Good morning.

    SHORTEN: Good morning, Alex.

    CALLER: Minister. Yeah. Just quickly touch on my daughter’s case. Um, she finished school last year, and we spent the whole year preparing her to come out into the public and be part of the, you know, the wide world out there. And we put in a change of circumstance with NDIS and – because obviously we had to fill that gap between 9 and 3 where she needed care, where she used to be at school. Instead of giving us the extra care, we actually got our, our funds slashed. And the person that made the decision said that Georgia only needed one on one care. She has got a two on one restraining order set up through [inaudible]. She has all the reports from her psychologist and OT that she does need two on one care at all times. And when this decision was made, it just destroyed our lives. Where, like Will said, I had to sell my business to look after my, I had to close my business, actually, to look after my daughter to help her. And, you know, we did the review. The gentleman used old information, that worked for NDIS, and quoted things when George was at school not being in public. And we did a review of the review. The lady totally bunged that up. She asked for the new information. We provided it to her again. She didn’t use the new information. She thought we didn’t give it to her. We gave her the reference number of the call we did with NDIS to say this is where we’ve uploaded all the information and here’s the email. And, you know, her response was, oh, I saw the email from my colleague, but I thought it was an American date, so I didn’t open it.

    So that was her reasoning. And she used the old information for my daughter’s schooling days, to say her, she sticks with her judgment. It’s only one on one care and we were not going to give you any extra funding. So, we followed the process, and we applied for the tribunal. With the help of Senator Nat Cook, the federal health Minister, they’ve all helped me and sent emails to your office. We haven’t had much response, and much help. And I’ve been in the Advertiser. I’ve been on 5AA trying to get this hurried up because my daughter’s health was spiralling out of control and mental health, that is. To the point where four weeks ago, um, she was out of control. We had to call the ambulance. The poor girl that was looking after her on her own just couldn’t control her anymore. The ambulance took her to the QEH, and she was put in an induced coma due to her state, for three weeks. And she’s just come out of the induced coma. They did all the testing on her. Her health is perfectly fine, and they’ve put it down to her situation of losing her carers and all of that situation that the NDIS put us through with the bunged-up decisions that they made.

    You know, we’re on the we’ve got no savings no more. No one’s, no one’s helping us in a hurry. And now that the, the next excuse is, oh, you’ve signed up with the tribunal so we can’t help you. And that’s from your office. So, you know, what do you want us to do? That’s what I want to know. Like the NDIS is there for specifically for my daughter. And I praise you for what you’re doing now. It’s amazing. And I can’t believe it wasn’t done earlier, what you’re what you’re doing now. But my daughter is sitting here on the couch having to learn how to walk again, how to talk again. And we’re in a mess.

    And this system, from April to now, we’re still fighting and sitting by my daughter’s bedside watching her, the tube down her throat, not knowing if she’s going to live anymore. You know, I still have to take calls, and I still have to try and fight the NDIS and the tribunal system to try and get, you know, put back what my daughter needs. And I’m one of many. And, you know, you just said before, the system is there for people like my daughter. But I’m sorry, but it’s failed dismally. The workers that, the worker that did that last review of the review, you know, I know nothing’s going to happen to her. But if she could come now to my house and see my daughter the way she is because of her silly decision, of not bothering to read any of the new reports we gave, not bothering to read any of the incident reports that we gave…

    PENBERTHY: Minister, can anything be done in Alex’s case to at least get this process moving along a little bit more quickly so he can get some clarity?

    SHORTEN: Yeah. First of all, Alex, it can’t be easy having to share that story. And you’re a good dad, and I know you’re doing your absolute level best. And I’m sorry that you’ve had a bad experience with the Agency, so no ifs or buts. I’m sorry. What I understand about your case is that the package was north of $300K, for a year? I understand that on October the 30th, the matter, that plan has been kept at the same level for the next six months while you go through the appeals process?

    CALLER: Yeah.

    SHORTEN: The fact of the matter is, there is a legal system. And if something’s before the courts, I can’t just simply step in and act as judge. You know, there’s a separation of powers between the politician and the legal process. But I do understand that the plan you had last year has now been approved on the 30th of October for the next six months. At the same level I get. There’s also issues about – the school system at least had your daughter, but now post school and you leave school, it’s a bit of a black hole. And then, there’s no I don’t think there’s been enough work – this is not you, but this is the system – that when people finish school and they’ve got a profound disability, they’re sort of left to their own devices. So, we’ve set up some projects to try and work out how we can do better stuff for school leavers so that it’s not the, ‘left to your own devices’ that you’ve been in.

    Just on the, the general point. So, on your matter, your plan has been rolled over for the next six months. Status quo payment. That was decided, I think, on the 30th of October. But just to other people who are listening, this is a problem. But God only knows what would happen if we didn’t have an NDIS at all. And no other country in the world has it, so that doesn’t help you. But going to the general issue, I don’t know what this country would do without the NDIS. And the problem we got is that in your matter, you feel that the evidence hasn’t been looked at properly, the people making the decisions haven’t taken into account matters. When I became the Minister, there were 4000 staff at the agency. Now, my predecessors capped the number of people at the agency at 4000. In 2017, there were 4000 people working on matters like yours, your daughter’s, everyone else, and there were 170,000 people on the scheme.

    When I became the Minister, there’s over half a million people on the scheme and still 4000 people. So, we’ve now started to invest in planner capability because I want you to have a more consistent experience. But anyway, I know your matters in the courts, but I do know that rather than get nothing until the court matters resolved, your plan has been rolled over for the next six months so that there are funds there.

    PENBERTHY: All right. Thank you. Thanks for sharing that story, Alex. It’s full on and thanks to you as the Minister too, Mr. Shorten to, you know, take what Alex is saying as seriously as you have because –

    SHORTEN: Oh, yeah.

    PENBERTHY: – it’s been a big story locally.

    SHORTEN: Yeah, no, I get it. That’s tough.

    PENBERTHY: Why can’t that cap change?

    SHORTEN: Oh, we have changed it.

    PENBERTHY: How on earth can 4000 people look after? Because – and the case I mentioned the other day that I won’t go into now, but it feels like half the battle is actually just getting responses from within the organisation, in the same way it is with My Aged Care?

    SHORTEN: Yeah, to be fair to the Agency, they were underfunded, as was the complaints commission, but now we’ve put on an extra 2000 people, so it takes a while to get people up to speed. Of the leadership of the Agency, we have changed that. The new Chair of the Agency is Kurt Fearnley, who’s just an amazing Australian, charismatic, smart, capable, passionate, doesn’t take a backward step. The leadership of the Agency, of the top 11 people who were running it, there’s one left. We’ve sort of changed the guard there, and now we’re bringing in people and training them up.

    We had a call centre which was contracted out, which meant that if you rang the call centre and they were getting nearly 2 million calls a year –

    PENBERTHY: 2 million?

    SHORTEN: Because of their contract, yeah, they couldn’t get, they couldn’t access the information. So, we’re now bringing some of that in-house, but we’re investing in the capability of the agency, more people and training them more so we hope we can get more consistent decision making.

    PENBERTHY: It was a long chat in the end, but a good chat. We thank you. Thank you for coming in. Mr. Shorten, we’ll catch up with you again soon.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Appeal to identify man in connection with murder of Jason Diallo

    Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

    Four years on from a fatal shooting in Ilford, detectives are releasing footage of a man they would like to identify.

    An investigation was launched on 1 November 2020 when officers were called to Balfour Road, Ilford at 22:14hrs following reports of a disturbance.

    Officers arrived at the scene and located Jason Diallo, 30 with multiple injuries. He sadly died at the scene.

    A witness told officers that they had seen Jason cycling along the road, when he was knocked off his bike by a car. Two occupants of the car got out and shot Jason in the head before driving away.

    Fifteen minutes after Jason Diallo was shot, at 22:29hrs, police were called to a shooting around five miles away in Garvary Road, E16. A 27-year-old man was found with a gunshot injury to his shoulder.

    He was taken to hospital with gunshot wounds which were determined not to be life-threatening. When providing a statement to officers, he told them he had been followed by three men driving a car who began shooting at him.

    A complex investigation was launched within Specialist Crime North and two men were convicted and sentenced for their involvement.

    On Tuesday, 14 June 2022, Mushin Mohamed, 28 (06.04.1996) of Leytonstone Road, E15 was found guilty of murder and attempted murder at the Old Bailey and sentenced to life in prison to serve a minimum of 35 years.

    Tyrelle Joseph, 24 (16.09.2000) of Banks Way, E12 was found guilty of assisting an offender and jailed for seven years after being identified as someone who had helped Mohamed and the unidentified suspects leave the scene.

    Enquiries have remained ongoing to identify two more suspects believed to be involved in the shootings that night.

    Investigating officers are now in a position to release this footage of a man they would like to speak with in connection with this investigation and a financial reward for information is available.

    The Metropolitan Police Service is offering a substantial reward of up to £20,000 for information leading to the identification, arrest and prosecution of the person responsible for the murder of Jason Diallo and the non-fatal shooting of a 27-year-old man on 1 November 2020.

    Detective Chief Inspector Kelly Allen, the senior investigating officer, said:

    “We have continued our momentum behind this investigation to ensure that those responsible for killing Jason Diallo and seriously injuring another man are held accountable.

    “Our enquiries have found no evidence to suggest that Jason Diallo or the attempted murder victim were known to one another or those convicted, suggesting that this was a completely unprovoked and violent incident.

    “Jason Diallo was described by his family as a devoted father of two who had the softest heart. Our thoughts have remained with his family and friends throughout a difficult four years and we are determined that they see justice.

    “We are now in a position to release an image of this man, who we would like to speak with in connection with this ongoing investigation.

    “If you know who he is or have any information which could help us, please get in contact.”

    Anyone with information that could help the investigation is asked to call 101 quoting Operation Shenley. You can also report information anonymously to Crimestoppers by calling 0800 555 111.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI China: Beijing groups host special event for breast cancer patients

    Source: China State Council Information Office 2

    On Oct. 26, Beijing Love Book Cancer Foundation (LBCF), in collaboration with Beijing Cancer Rehabilitation Society (BCRS), organized an educational event for breast cancer patients in Beijing. The initiative sought to empower patients by deepening their understanding of comprehensive cancer treatments and recovery strategies, thereby encouraging a more positive approach to standardized care.
    The event showcased the screening of “Healthy Her,” a documentary that delves into the lives of breast cancer patients, offering the public a closer look at daily challenges that patients face. In addition, the gathering featured a walking activity that is a form of therapeutic exercise included as part of a multifaceted approach to recovery.

    People participate in a charity walk at Longtan Lake Park in Beijing, China, Oct. 26, 2024. [Photo by Liao Jiaxin/China.org.cn]
    Jiang Zefei, vice director of the Department of Oncology at the Fifth Medical Center of the PLA General Hospital, said: “This event is designed to inspire patients to maintain a positive and optimistic outlook in their fight against cancer and to bolster their confidence in returning to societal life.”
    “We anticipate a future where collaborative efforts from all societal sectors will provide comprehensive support for breast cancer patients, both physically and psychologically,” he added.
    Breast cancer is a common life-threatening disease that affects women’s health in China. As per the data released by China’s National Cancer Center, the country reported approximately 357,200 new breast cancer cases in 2022, placing it fifth in mortality rates. 
    With advancements in standardized treatments and the introduction of innovative drugs and therapies, the five-year survival rate for breast cancer patients diagnosed at early stages in China has surpassed 80%, according to Professor Mo Xueli from Peking University Shougang Hospital.
    Professor Shi Anli, honorary director of Cancer Rehabilitation Society of China Anti-Cancer Association (CRS) and a three-time cancer survivor, mentioned the important role of novel medical treatments. Reflecting on her own experiences, she said: “Genetic testing during my third cancer battle enabled highly precise treatment approaches.” She further commented on the progress in pharmaceutical development, including immunotherapy and targeted therapy, which have broadened treatment options, improved clinical outcomes and significantly enhanced the psychological well-being of patients.
    Professor Mo also emphasized that the government has significantly ramped up its efforts in screening for cervical and breast cancer.
    In Jan. 2022, the National Health Commission’s Department of Women’s and Children’s Health released a strategic plan for cervical and breast cancer screenings. For breast cancer, the strategy pushes for the early diagnosis rate to reach over 70% by the end of 2025, aiming to elevate health standards for women. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: ​Symposium promotes global outreach of Chinese Nuo Opera

    Source: China State Council Information Office 3

    The Symposium on the Translation and International Communication of Chinese Nuo Opera and the 2024 Annual Conference of the China Nuo Opera Research Institute were held in Beijing from Oct. 26-27. The two-part event was hosted by the China Nuo Opera Research Institute and Beijing Foreign Studies University (BFSU) and was organized by the School of International Journalism and Communication and the School of Art and Research, BFSU. The gathering aimed to be a platform for in-depth conversation on the protection, inheritance and worldwide promotion of the opera form.

    Participants of the Symposium on the Translation and International Communication of Chinese Nuo Opera pose for a group photo at Beijing Foreign Studies University in Beijing, Oct. 26, 2024. [Photo courtesy of BFSU]

    The symposium featured two keynote speeches and six panels. Experts and scholars from around China and Osaka, Japan engaged in discussions on topics such as the innovative development and cross-cultural research of Chinese Nuo Opera, historical and theoretical research on Chinese Nuo culture and new media dissemination of Chinese Nuo Opera. Three youth forums were also held, giving a platform for young scholars to share their ideas and youthful insights related to the inheritance, development and dissemination of Chinese Nuo Opera.

    Nuo Opera is a traditional form of folk drama where practitioners wear masks and perform dances intended to drive away ghosts and disease.

    The symposium received 73 paper submissions, including 38 for the youth forums, with 83 scholars presenting academic reports and engaging in discussions. The symposium also assembled an expert committee to select the top ten papers for the inaugural Chinese Nuo Opera Research Youth Forum.

    Officials and guests launch a Nuo Opera mask exhibition at Beijing Foreign Studies University in Beijing, Oct. 26, 2024. [Photo courtesy of BFSU]

    Ning Qiang, dean of BFSU’s School of Art and Research, said in his speech that promoting the translation and international communication of Nuo Opera not only helps increase the international community’s awareness and appreciation of Chinese traditional culture but also enhances China’s international competitiveness.

    “Our school will take this conference as an opportunity to further promote the translation and international communication of Nuo Opera, allowing more people to understand and appreciate this intangible cultural heritage and contribute anew to the promotion of excellent traditional Chinese culture and the diversity of world cultures,” he said.

    Ning’s sentiments were echoed by other speakers at the two-day event, with professor Yuan Jun, director of the Academic Committee at BFSU, stating his advocacy for the academic community to invest more in the development and preservation of Nuo Opera, such as more “academic support for international communication” and engaging in more Nuo Opera research. 

    Li Zhiyuan, president of the China Nuo Opera Research Institute, mentioned that more than 30 types of Nuo Opera have been listed in the national intangible cultural heritage inventory, underscoring the unquestionable status of Nuo Opera as an essential component of traditional Chinese culture. Li believes that Nuo Opera, characterized by its national distinctiveness, can become more globally recognized through both the research institute’s and BFSU’s efforts.

    A corner of the Nuo Opera mask exhibition at Beijing Foreign Studies University in Beijing, Oct. 26, 2024. [Photo courtesy of BFSU]

    After the opening ceremony, all participants attended an unveiling for a Nuo Opera mask exhibition and mask-making workshop. The masks displayed as part of the exhibition were primarily provided by Qin Fazhong, director of the Guizhou Anshun Nuo Carving Culture Museum and council member of the China Nuo Opera Research Institute. Qin explained the selection rationale for the masks on display and guided visitors through the exhibition, sharing stories and information behind the masks. The exhibition will continue until early November.

    A scene from the Nuo Opera performance that took place during the two-day event at Beijing Foreign Studies University in Beijing, Oct. 27, 2024. [Photo courtesy of BFSU]

    On Oct. 27, the Chizhou Nuo Opera Art Troupe from Anhui province joined the Art Troupe of BFSU for a cultural performance along with interactive sessions such as a Nuo mask carving workshop.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI: NBPE Announces Appointment of Oak Group as Guernsey Adminstrator

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

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

    NBPE Announces Appointment of Oak Group as Guernsey Adminstrator

    1 November 2024

    NB Private Equity Partners (NBPE), the $1.3bn1, FTSE 250, listed private equity investment company managed by Neuberger Berman, today announces the appointment of Oak Fund Services (Guernsey) Limited as NBPE’s Guernsey Administrator and Company Secretary. The appointment is with effect from 1 November 2024.

    Effective as of 1 November 2024, NBPE’s registered address will be changed to:

    NB Private Equity Partners Limited
    Oak House,
    Hirzel Street,
    St Peter Port,
    Guernsey
    GY1 2NP

    For further information, please contact:

    NBPE Investor Relations         +44 (0) 20 3214 9002
    Luke Mason                              NBPrivateMarketsIR@nb.com 

    Kaso Legg Communications   +44 (0)20 3882 6644

    Charles Gorman                        nbpe@kl-communications.com
    Luke Dampier
    Charlotte Francis

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

    LEI number: 213800UJH93NH8IOFQ77

    About Neuberger Berman

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

    Neuberger Berman is an employee-owned, private, independent investment manager founded in 1939 with over 2,800 employees in 26 countries. The firm manages $509 billion of equities, fixed income, private equity, real estate and hedge fund portfolios for global institutions, advisors and individuals. Neuberger Berman’s investment philosophy is founded on active management, fundamental research and engaged ownership. The PRI identified the firm as part of the Leader’s Group, a designation awarded to fewer than 1% of investment firms for excellence in environmental, social and governance practices. Neuberger Berman has been named by Pensions & Investments as the #1 or #2 Best Place to Work in Money Management for each of the last ten years (firms with more than 1,000 employees). Visit www.nb.com for more information. Data as of September 30, 2024.

    1Based on net asset value.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Aktsiaselts Infortar subsidiary AS Eesti Gaas acquires a 100% shareholding in EWE Polska

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Aktsiaselts Infortar subsidiary AS Eesti Gaas acquires a 100% shareholding in EWE Polska

    AS Eesti Gaas, a wholly owned subsidiary of Aktsiaselts Infortar (Infortar) and the German energy group EWE AG have entered into an agreement on the 31st of October 2024, under which EWE AG will sell 100% of the shares of its wholly owned subsidiary EWE Polska sp. z o.o. (EWE Polska) which operates in Poland. EWE Polska has two wholly owned subsidiaries, EWE Energia sp. z o.o. and EWE Przesył sp. z o.o. (altogether EWE Polska group).
    Chairman of the Management Board of Infortar Ain Hanschmidt:
    “Our ambition is to expand beyond the Baltic-Finnish region into Central and Western Europe, implementing our proven model and experience as a gas supplier and network operator Poland, thereby delivering the best service to consumers. The acquisition of an energy company in Poland provides us with the necessary momentum in this large and important growing gas market, while also ensuring an additional steady cash flow for the company’s shareholders.”

    The fields of activity of EWE Polska group include a natural gas distribution network in Western Poland and all business lines of energy sales (including gas and electricity sales).

    The completion of the transaction requires approval from the Polish Competition Authority (Polish: Urząd Ochrony Konkurencji i Konsumentów), as well as corporate approval by the EWE AG Supervisory Board (German: Aufsichtsrat).

    The acquisition of shares in EWE Polska constitutes a significant transaction under Nasdaq Tallinn Stock Exchange Rules and Regulations. Therefore, the Stock Exchange Release includes comprehensive information on the transaction’s circumstances and EWE Polska’s financial results.

    EWE Polska is the second-largest privately-owned network operator in Poland. The company operates a natural gas distribution network of 2,316 km in western Poland, mainly around Poznan, serving over 25,000 clients. In addition to infrastructure management, the company sells natural gas and electricity, with energy sales totaling 1.2 TWh last year.

    The aim of the transaction is to significantly expand Infortar’s energy business in the Polish market, with the impact on the Infortar’s consolidation group being adding estimated revenues of more than 100 million euros.
    The acquisition of EWE Polska group increases our market presence in this large and important growing gas market, while also ensuring steady cash flow from regulated assets to our shareholders.

          1.   Terms of payment of purchase price for the shares of EWE Polska
    The purchase price for shares of EWE Polska is 120 000 000 euros payable as monetary payment.
    The purchase price will be paid at the completion of the transaction after being adjusted based on accrued interest and occurred leakage (if any).

          2.   EWE Polska’s financial results
    EWE Polska group total revenues in year 2023 amounted to 141.1 mEUR (2022: 133.2 mEUR and 2021: 76.4 mEUR) which is 6% higher than the year before and 85% higher than in year 2021. In 2023, earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) was -2.2 mEUR, compared to 15.6 mEUR in 2022 and 15.0 mEUR in 2021. In 2023, the consolidated net profit was -3.7 mEUR, compared to net profit of 10.5 m EUR and 10.0 mEUR in years 2022 and 2021 respectively.

    EWE Polska group total assets in 2023 were 170.0 mEUR (2022: 182.4 mEUR and 2021: 156.5mEUR) including total fixed assets 115.8 mEUR that is 68% from total assets (2022: 63% and 2021: 69%). Total current assets in 2023 were 54.2 mEUR, including cash and equivalents 22.9 m EUR. In 2022 respective numbers were 66.7 mEUR and 20.7 mEUR. In 2021 the numbers were 48.1 mEUR and 16.2 mEUR.

    Total Equity in 2023 was 115.5 mEUR (in 2022 total equity was 121.5 mEUR and in 2021 114.6 mEUR).
    For more detailed information, please see appendix.

    Based on the additional information provided to Infortar, there have been no adverse changes in the business operations of the EWE Polska group since the close of the 2023 financial year. Unaudited consolidated figures for the first eight months of 2024 have been presented to Infortar, showing consolidated sales of 74.6 mEUR (2023 8 months: 94.2 mEUR), an EBITDA of 15.2 mEUR (2023 8 months: 5.9 mEUR), and a net profit of 12.3 mEUR (2023 8 months: -2.6 mEUR).

          3.   Overview of the loans undertaken by EWE Polska
    EWE Polska group has no outstanding loans in its consolidated balance sheet.

          4.   The structure of shareholders of EWE Polska
    EWE Polska is 100% owned by EWE AG. Upon completion of the transaction 100% of EWE Polska shares will be acquired by Infortar’s wholly owned subsidiary AS Eesti Gaas.

          5.   Information on significant court or arbitration proceedings involving EWE Polska
    According to information provided to Infortar, the companies within the EWE Polska group are not engaged in any significant court or arbitration proceedings. While certain legal proceedings related to their regular business activities are ongoing, Infortar has grounds to believe that the outcomes of these proceedings are unlikely to have a material impact on the business activities of EWE Polska group companies.

          6.   Information on valid contracts between Infortar and EWE Polska
    Currently there are no valid contracts between Infortar and EWE Polska group.

          7.   The composition of managing bodies of EWE Polska
    The Management Board of EWE Polska currently consists of Mr. Krzysztof Noga and Ms. Agnieszka Bielewicz. The Supervisory Board has not been formed.

    The contemplated transaction is not a transaction between related parties and the members of the Supervisory Board and the Management Board of Aktsiaselts Infortar have no personal interest in the transaction in any other way.

    Aktsiaselts Infortar operates in seven countries, the company’s main fields of activity are energy, maritime transport, and real estate. Aktsiaselts Infortar owns a 68.47% stake in Aktsiaselts Tallink Grupp, a 100% stake in AS Eesti Gaas and a versatile and modern real estate portfolio of approx. 113,000 m2. In addition to the three main areas of activity, Aktsiaselts Infortar also operates in construction and mineral resources, agriculture, printing, taxi business and other areas. A total of 104 companies belong to the Aktsiaselts Infortar group: 95 subsidiaries, 4 affiliated companies and 5 subsidiaries of affiliated companies. Excluding affiliates, Aktsiaselts Infortar employs 6,625 people.

    Additional information:
    Kadri Laanvee
    Investor Relations Manager
    Phone: +372 5156662
    e-mail: kadri.laanvee@infortar.ee
    www.infortar.ee/en/investor

    Appendix Balance Sheet and Profit and Loss Statements of EWE Polska group

    BALANCE SHEET      
    Amounts in millions of euros
    FX rate of 4.35 has been used for conversion    		 31.12.2021 31.12.2022 31.12.2023
    Cash and equivalents 16,2 20,7 22,9
    Derivatives 14,3 16,3 6,0
    Receivables 14,7 24,7 15,1
    Inventories 2,5 4,8 4,3
    Other current assets 0,4 0,3 6,0
    Total current assets 48,1 66,7 54,2
    Total fixed assets 108,5 115,7 115,8
    TOTAL ASSETS 156,5 182,4 170,0
           
    Trade payables 14,4 23,0 16,0
    Derivatives 8,8 9,9 7,3
    Tax Liabilities 1,3 2,1 3,4
    Advances Received 1,8 7,1 6,2
    Connection fees 0,1 0,1 0,1
    Other current liabilities 2,6 3,4 6,4
    Total current liabilities 29,0 45,6 39,5
    Derivatives 0,0 0,2 0,2
    Other non-current liabilities 1,5 3,3 2,8
    Connection fees 11,4 11,8 12,1
    Total long-term liabilities 12,9 15,3 15,1
    Total Equity 114,6 121,5 115,5
    of which share capital 105,1 104,9 105,8
    TOTAL EQUITY AND LIABILITIES 156,5 182,4 170,0
    PROFIT AND LOSS STATEMENT    
    Amounts in millions of euros 2021 2022 2023
    Sales revenues 76,0 132,9 139,3
    Other revenues 0,4 0,3 1,7
    TOTAL REVENUES 76,4 133,2 141,1
    Cost of goods sold -55,1 -104,3 -117,4
    Staff costs -4,6 -5,7 -6,4
    Other operating costs -6,5 -7,6 -8,1
    Other costs -1,9 -1,1 -1,4
    Derivatives 6,6 1,2 -9,9
    EBITDA 15,0 15,6 -2,2
    Depreciation and Amortisation -2,5 -2,6 -3,1
    EBIT 12,5 13,0 -5,2
    Financial costs and revenues 0,1 0,5 0,7
    Income tax -2,6 -3,0 0,8
    NET PROFIT 10,0 10,5 -3,7

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Prospera Energy Commences Restructure Initiatives at the Board Level to Attain PEI Potential

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    CALGARY, Alberta, Nov. 01, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Prospera Energy Inc. (PEI: TSX-V; OF6B: FRA) (“Prospera” or the “Corporation“)

    Prospera announces the opportunistic appointment of Mr. Shubham Garg as Chairman of the Board of Directors. Previous Chairman, Mr. Mel Clifford has stepped down from the Board of Directors for personal reasons, effective October 31, 2024. The Board and Prospera express their sincere gratitude to Mr. Clifford for his dedication and contributions to PEI’s restructuring efforts out of bankruptcy.

    The board and the principal investors of Prospera have unanimously approved Mr. Garg as the Chairman of the Board, recognizing his extensive knowledge of the public oil & gas market, his influential connections within financial industry, and his sound understanding of oil and gas operations, especially in Saskatchewan’s heavy oil fields.

    The recent medium-light oil drills have been completed, and production flow is beginning to reach the anticipated levels. Ongoing efforts, including SK heavy oil well automation, battery maintenance and upgrades, pipeline modifications, water injection realignment, and ensuring sufficient fuel gas supply, are enhancing well runtime and optimizing production to support the horizontal transformation volumes as outlined in the structured development phases. Prospera will continue developing its assets and diversifying the heavy-to-light oil ratio to enhance its margins.

    About Prospera
    Prospera is a publicly traded energy company based in Western Canada, specializing in the exploration, development, and production of crude oil and natural gas. Prospera is primarily focused on optimizing hydrocarbon recovery from legacy fields through environmentally safe and efficient reservoir development methods and production practices. Prospera was restructured in the first quarter of 2021 to become profitable and in compliance with regulatory, environmental, municipal, landowner, and service stakeholders.

    The company is in the midst of a three-stage restructuring process aimed at prioritizing cost effective operations while appreciating production capacity and reducing liabilities. Prospera has completed the first phase by optimizing low hanging opportunities, attaining free cash flow, while bringing operation to safe operating condition, all while remaining compliant. Currently, Prospera is executing phase II of the restructuring process, the horizontal transformation intended to accelerate growth and capture the significant oil in place (400 million bbls). These horizontal wells allow PEI to reduce its environmental and surface footprint by eliminating the numerous vertical well leases along the lateral path. Phase III of Prospera’s corporate redevelopment strategy is to optimize recovery through EOR applications. Furthermore, Prospera will pursue its acquisition strategy to diversify its product mix and expand its core area. Its goal is to attain 50% light oil, 40% heavy oil and 10% gas.

    The Corporation continues to apply efforts to minimize its environmental footprint. Also, efforts to reduce and eventually eliminate emissions, alongside pursuing innovative ESG methods to enhance API quality, thereby achieving higher margins and eliminating the need for diluents.

    For Further Information:
    Shawn Mehler, PR
    Email: investors@prosperaenergy.com
    Website: www.prosperaenergy.com

    FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

    This news release contains forward-looking statements relating to the future operations of the Corporation and other statements that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements are often identified by terms such as “will,” “may,” “should,” “anticipate,” “expects” and similar expressions. All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this release, including, without limitation, statements regarding future plans and objectives of the Corporation, are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements.

    Although Prospera believes that the expectations and assumptions on which the forward-looking statements are based are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking statements because Prospera can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. Since forward-looking statements address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of factors and risks. These include, but are not limited to, risks associated with the oil and gas industry in general (e.g., operational risks in development, exploration and production; delays or changes in plans with respect to exploration or development projects or capital expenditures; the uncertainty of reserve estimates; the uncertainty of estimates and projections relating to production, costs and expenses, and health, safety and environmental risks), commodity price and exchange rate fluctuations and uncertainties resulting from potential delays or changes in plans with respect to exploration or development projects or capital expenditures.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Philippine Supreme Court orders ‘temporary protection’ for abducted environmental activist

    By Jairo Bolledo in Manila

    The Philippine Supreme Court has granted temporary protection to an environmental activist abducted in Pangasinan earlier this year.

    In its resolution dated September 9 — but only made public this week — the court granted Francisco “Eco” Dangla III’s petition for temporary protection, and prohibited the respondents, including high-ranking soldiers and police officers, to be near the activist’s location.

    “Furthermore, you, respondents, and all persons and entities acting and operating under your directions, instructions, and orders are PROHIBITED from entering within a radius of one kilometer of the person, places of residence, work, and present locations of petitioner and his immediate family,” the resolution read.

    The respondents are:

    • Philippine Army chief Lieutenant General Roy Galido
    • Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Police General Rommel Francisco Marbil
    • Brigadier General Gulliver Señires (in his capacity as 702nd Brigade commanding general Brigadier)
    • Ilocos Region police chief Police Brigadier General Lou Evangelista
    • Police Colonel Jeff Fanged (in his capacity as Pangasinan police chief)

    Aside from giving Dangla temporary protection, the court also granted his petition for writs of amparo and habeas data. A writ of amparo is a legal remedy, which is usually a protection order in the form of a restraining order.

    The writ of habeas data compels the government to destroy information that could cause harm.

    These extraordinary writs are usually invoked by activists and progressives in the Philippines as they face intimidation from the government and its forces.

    Dangla’s abduction
     Dangla and another activist, Joxelle Tiong, were abducted in Pangasinan last March 24.

    According to witnesses, they saw two men who were forced to board a vehicle in Barangay Polo, San Carlos City.

    The two activists, who who had been red-tagged for their advocacies, were serving as convenors of the Pangasinan People’s Strike for the Environment.

    They “vocally defended the people and ecosystems of Pangasinan against the harms of coal-fired power plants, nuclear power plants, incinerator plants, and offshore mining in Lingayen Gulf,” at the time of their abduction.

    Three days later, several groups announced that Dangla and Tiong were found safe, but that the two had gone through a “harrowing ordeal.”

    “Bruised but alive” . . . the environmental activists abducted in Pangasinan but found safe, Francisco ‘Eco’ Dangla III (left) and Joxelle ‘Jak’ Tiong. Image: Rappler

    The reality
     The protection given to Dangla is only temporary as the Court of Appeals still needs to conduct hearings on the petition. In other words, the Supreme Court only granted the writ, but the power to whether grant or deny Dangla the privilege of the writs of amparo and habeas data lies with the Court of Appeals.

    There have been instances where the appellate court granted activists the privilege of writ of amparo, like in the case of labour activists Loi Magbanua and Ador Juat, where the court issued permanent protection orders for them and their immediate families.

    Unfortunately, this was not the case for other activists, such as young environmentalists Jhed Tamano and Jonila Castro.

    The two were first reported missing by activist groups. Security forces later said they were “safe and sound” and that they had allegedly “voluntarily surrendered” to the military.

    However, Tamano and Castro went off-script during a press conference organised by the anti-insurgency task force and revealed that they were actually abducted.

    In February, the High Court granted the two temporary protection and their writs of amparo and habeas data petitions. However, the appellate court in August denied the protection order for Tamano and Castro.

    Associate Justice Emily San Gaspar-Gito fully dissented in the decision and said: “It would be uncharacteristic for the courts, especially this court, to simply fold their arms and ignore the palpable threats to petitioners’ life, liberty and security and just wait for the irreversible to happen to them.”

    Republished with permission from Rappler.

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Arrest – Domestic violence – Darwin

    Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

    Northern Territory Police have arrested a man in relation to domestic violence related offences that occurred this month.

    Around 8:30am, officers from the Territory Safety Division arrested a 24-year-old man at an address on Smith Street, Darwin, after multiple alleged assaults against his partner.

    The man remains in police custody and is expected to be charged with Aggravated assault, Armed with an offensive weapon and Possess/carry/used a controlled weapon.

    Acting Senior Sergeant Alex Noonan said, “Domestic violence will not be tolerated, and we are committed to bringing these offenders before the courts.

    “If you or anyone you know is experiencing domestic or family violence, please reach out on 131 444 or in an emergency call 000. You can also anonymously report through Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.”

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Celebrating our university students this Care Leavers Week

    Source: City of Plymouth

    We currently have 17 Care Leavers aged 18 to 23 who are at university. 10 of our young people are studying here in Plymouth at one of our local institutions but the rest are attending universities across the country including Bristol, Liverpool, Bath, Greenwich, Manchester and West London.

    What is it like being a care experienced university student?

    James is a 19 year old university student who is studying Economics at the University of the West of England (UWE).

    Reflecting on when he moved to university, he said: “I was very well supported by the Care Leavers team. The team paid and organised the moving van for me, which honestly helped me a lot!

    James also completed work experience at Plymouth City Council, he said: “The week helped me develop my understanding of local economic development and also presented, to me, the sheer number of functions that the council has to keep the city working.

    “Especially coming from a care leaver background, it really helps me build up my employment skills and allowed me to explore future career options, such as local government.”

    Steeve, 23, has graduated his Foundation Degree in Science in Culinary Arts Management this summer from the University of West London. Steeve has always had high educational aspirations and has worked hard to achieve this goal, in fact after graduating he has gone on to further study in this subject.

    Steeve provided some lovely feedback about his Personal Advisor: “I just wanted to say thank you to you personally and to Plymouth City Council for supporting me for years”.

    Councillor Jemima Laing, Deputy Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Children’s Social Care, said: “It is excellent to see how many of our care experienced young people have moved on to university and higher education, I am so proud of them all and the amazing things that they are all doing.

    “We know that the journey to higher education is exciting, but it can be challenging.

    “Our staff have done an amazing job in supporting each care experienced young person.

    “I hope the achievements we are celebrating here serve as real inspiration for the younger children in our care to think as ambitiously as possible about their own futures.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: City of Wolverhampton prepares to remember war dead

    Source: City of Wolverhampton

    The parade steps off from Wulfruna Street at 10.30am and the public are encouraged to line the route.

    Led by the Pipe Band of West Midlands Fire Service, the parade will make its way into Princes Square, right in Lichfield Street, right into Exchange Street and into St Peter’s Square.

    Once assembled in the square, the parade will be joined by civic dignitaries for an outdoor Service of Remembrance which is open to the public to watch.

    A 2 minute silence will take place at 11am before the laying of wreaths at the city’s cenotaph.

    This will be followed by a service of remembrance inside St Peter’s Church.

    Mayor of Wolverhampton, Councillor Linda Leach, said that she hoped as many people as possible will turn out to watch and participate in this year’s event and remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice.

    She added: “At a time when our world often feels unstable and frightening, people value our armed forces more than ever.

    “Remembrance Sunday is a way for us all to show our appreciation for those who have laid down their lives fighting for our freedom and to remember their valour and service.

    “Wolverhampton has a proud tradition of coming together on this sacred day to honour the fallen and I know that once again people will come out in their thousands to line the parade route and observe the service.

    “I will be wearing my poppy with pride and I would urge everyone to do the same and show their support for the work of the Royal British Legion.”

    The public are advised city centre road closures will be in place on the morning of November 10 to enable the parade to take place.

    Wulfruna Street will be closed from 8.30am until 11am. The rest of the parade route will be closed to all traffic from 10.30am to allow the parade to march through safely and will reopen at approximately 10.50am.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: UK Industrial Fusion Solutions stands-up to deliver STEP

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    The UK’s prototype fusion energy powerplant programme will be led by UK Industrial Fusion Solutions Ltd.

    Professor Sir Ian Chapman and Paul Methven – Image credit: UK Industrial Fusion Solutions Ltd.

    In a milestone moment on the journey to deliver the UK’s first prototype fusion energy plant, leadership of the STEP (Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production) programme today transitions to UK Industrial Fusion Solutions Ltd (UKIFS).

    UKIFS is a wholly owned subsidiary of UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) Group and has been established to lead a public-private partnership that will design, build and operate the STEP prototype plant at the West Burton site in Nottinghamshire.

    UKAEA will continue to be STEP’s fusion partner, working alongside two industry partners – one in engineering and one in construction – to spearhead the development of a UK-led fusion industry.

    A major procurement exercise is currently underway to select STEP’s strategic, long-term industry partners, with the shortlist expected to be announced by the end of the year.

    Paul Methven, CEO of UK Industrial Fusion Solutions and Senior Responsible Owner for STEP, said: “The launch of UK Industrial Fusion Solutions demonstrates significant progress and commitment to developing fusion as a viable clean energy source, and also to creating a UK-led fusion industry.

    “STEP is a national endeavour with global impact, and we will continue to work closely with public and private sector partners to ensure the UK remains at the forefront of a revolutionary sustainable new energy source that will drive economic growth.”

    STEP aims to pave the way for the commercial viability of fusion by demonstrating net energy, fuel self-sufficiency and a viable route to plant maintenance. The programme’s holistic approach was recently published in a special edition of Royal Society Journal, Philosophical Transactions A.

    Professor Sir Ian Chapman, CEO of UKAEA Group, said: “UKIFS brings together an experienced team dedicated to translating decades of fusion research into a functioning prototype plant that will be capable of supplying low-carbon, safe, and sustainable energy to the grid.  

    “UKIFS will integrate partners in a national endeavour to build STEP as well as focussing on delivering enormous social and economic benefits to the UK, especially for the East Midlands region where the plant will be built.”

    The West Burton site in Nottinghamshire was chosen as the home for STEP due to its infrastructure, proximity to skilled workforces, and community support for innovative energy solutions.

    For the latest updates about UK Industrial Fusion Solutions and the STEP programme, visit the newly launched website step.ukaea.uk or follow social channels @STEPtoFusion.

    Updates to this page

    Published 1 November 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Ofsted praise for children’s services following focused visit

    Source: City of Wolverhampton

    Those are the findings of the recent week long focused inspection of Children’s Social Care Services by Ofsted. Inspectors Gareth Dakin and Sophie Wales looked at the city’s arrangements for children in need or subject to a child protection plan, with a primary focus on services provided to children in need.

    And they concluded that the needs of children and families ‘are understood’ and that areas of improvement identified at the previous inspection in 2022 have been advanced, with practice ‘strengthened as a result’.

    Councillor Jacqui Coogan, the City of Wolverhampton Council’s Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Education, said: “I am very proud of the fantastic work that our practitioners do, day in, day out, for vulnerable children, young people and families, and this brilliant report recognises this.

    “It is great that we had the opportunity to showcase our good practice through the focused inspection, and that Ofsted has confirmed that we are continuing to make excellent progress as we transform children’s social care services here in Wolverhampton.”

    Alison Hinds, Director of Children’s Services, added: “This is such a positive, reassuring report regarding our strong child focussed practice in the midst of what is a massive change programme in children’s social care, and I would like to thank everyone who was involved in the inspection in any way.”

    In their report published today (Friday 1 November, 2024), the inspectors found children receive an ‘effective and timely response’ when they are referred to the Children’s Assessment Team, with ‘comprehensive family help discussions and plans’ providing a clear and focused analysis of their needs.

    Thresholds are ‘well understood and consistently applied’, with most children receiving ‘a consistent and effective service’ from ‘skilled and committed practitioners who show patience, kindness and understanding’.

    Rigorous and detailed management oversight is described as a strength by inspectors, who say it ‘provides clear rationale, direction and decision making’ which ‘ensures that children do not need to wait for interventions to commence’.

    A new Family Help Service has been introduced and is ensuring that most children and their families are ‘provided with the right level and type of support at the right time’. There is ‘a strong recognition and consideration’ around the needs of children and families and, where risks and other needs are identified, these are responded to in a timely way.

    Children who present as homeless receive a ‘timely and proportionate response’, safe and appropriate accommodation, and care and support in line with their needs. When children go missing, skilled practitioners respond in a ‘proportionate and considered way’ to safeguard children and mitigate risk.

    Managers are supported by clear systems and processes, and collaborate with practitioners to ensure that ‘informed and timely decisions’ are made for children and families, with interventions appropriately escalated and de-escalated in a timely way.

    Inspectors also reported ‘strong relationships across the council and with safeguarding partners’ and a collaborative and coordinated approach to working with children and families’ which ensure that most children access ‘the right services at the right time’.

    Meanwhile, practitioners told inspectors that they ‘feel positive and proud to work for Wolverhampton’ and are having an impact on the lives of children and families. Senior leaders, managers and practitioners are ‘strengthening the practice culture in Wolverhampton so that it is shared and understood by all’ which is ‘reflected in the strength of work with children and families in Wolverhampton.’

    Ofsted will consider the findings from the focused inspection when it is planning future inspections or visits.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Provisional statistics of retail sales for September 2024

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

         The Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) released the latest figures on retail sales today (November 1).     The value of total retail sales in September 2024, provisionally estimated at $29.6 billion, decreased by 6.9% compared with the same month in 2023. The revised estimate of the value of total retail sales in August 2024 decreased by 10.0% compared with a year earlier. For the first 9 months of 2024 taken together, it was provisionally estimated that the value of total retail sales decreased by 7.6% compared with the same period in 2023.     Of the total retail sales value in September 2024, online sales accounted for 10.4%. The value of online retail sales in that month, provisionally estimated at $3.1 billion, decreased by 11.8% compared with the same month in 2023. The revised estimate of online retail sales in August 2024 decreased by 0.7% compared with a year earlier. For the first 9 months of 2024 taken together, it was provisionally estimated that the value of online retail sales decreased by 2.0% compared with the same period in 2023.     After netting out the effect of price changes over the same period, the provisional estimate of the volume of total retail sales in September 2024 decreased by 8.7% compared with a year earlier. The revised estimate of the volume of total retail sales in August 2024 decreased by 11.7% compared with a year earlier. For the first 9 months of 2024 taken together, the provisional estimate of the total retail sales decreased by 9.2% in volume compared with the same period in 2023.     Analysed by broad type of retail outlet in descending order of the provisional estimate of the value of sales and comparing September 2024 with September 2023, the value of sales of commodities in supermarkets decreased by 1.1%. This was followed by sales of electrical goods and other consumer durable goods not elsewhere classified (-7.6% in value); jewellery, watches and clocks, and valuable gifts (-17.9%); food, alcoholic drinks and tobacco (-3.2%); wearing apparel (-8.7%); medicines and cosmetics (-2.5%); commodities in department stores (-11.4%); motor vehicles and parts (-26.7%); fuels (-8.6%); furniture and fixtures (-14.4%); footwear, allied products and other clothing accessories (-3.8%); Chinese drugs and herbs (-17.7%); and optical shops (-10.6%).     On the other hand, the value of sales of other consumer goods not elsewhere classified increased by 2.9% in September 2024 over a year earlier. This was followed by sales of books, newspapers, stationery and gifts (+20.3% in value).     Based on the seasonally adjusted series, the provisional estimate of the value of total retail sales decreased by 1.0% in the third quarter of 2024 compared with the preceding quarter, while the provisional estimate of the volume of total retail sales decreased by 2.0%.Commentary     A government spokesman said that the value of total retail sales continued to decline in September from a year earlier, but the rate of decline narrowed. On a seasonally adjusted month-to-month comparison, the value of total retail sales recorded an increase.     Looking ahead, the spokesman said that the near-term performance of the retail sector would continue to be affected by the change in consumption patterns of residents and visitors. Nevertheless, an improved outlook for the Mainland economy following the recent introduction of a wide range of stimulus measures, and a possible easing of the Hong Kong dollar alongside the US dollar with the commencement of the US interest rate cut, would be conducive to boosting sentiment and supporting spending. In addition, the Central Government’s various measures benefitting Hong Kong, the SAR Government’s various initiatives to boost market sentiment and increasing employment earnings would also benefit the retail sector.     The spokesman added that the Policy Address this year includes various measures that would benefit the retail sector, such as developing new tourist hotspots, relaxing visa application criteria for some ASEAN countries, and boosting “silver consumption”. The Policy Address has also launched a series of measures to assist small and medium enterprises (SMEs), including those in the retail sector, in addressing the challenges encountered in the process of economic restructuring. These include relaunching the principal moratorium under the SME Financing Guarantee Scheme to ease the repayment pressure of enterprises, expanding the geographical coverage of E-commerce Easy to the 10 ASEAN countries, and relaunching the Hong Kong Shopping Festival in the next two years to help SMEs develop e-commerce business to expand their markets. These measures would help the retail sector in transitioning through the economic restructuring period and improve its prospects.Further information     Table 1 presents the revised figures on value index and value of retail sales for all retail outlets and by broad type of retail outlet for August 2024 as well as the provisional figures for September 2024. The provisional figures on the value of retail sales for all retail outlets and by broad type of retail outlet as well as the corresponding year-on-year changes for the first 9 months of 2024 taken together are also shown.     Table 2 presents the revised figures on value of online retail sales for August 2024 as well as the provisional figures for September 2024. The provisional figures on year-on-year changes for the first 9 months of 2024 taken together are also shown.     Table 3 presents the revised figures on volume index of retail sales for all retail outlets and by broad type of retail outlet for August 2024 as well as the provisional figures for September 2024. The provisional figures on year-on-year changes for the first 9 months of 2024 taken together are also shown.     Table 4 shows the movements of the value and volume of total retail sales in terms of the year-on-year rate of change for a month compared with the same month in the preceding year based on the original series, and in terms of the rate of change for a three-month period compared with the preceding three-month period based on the seasonally adjusted series.     The classification of retail establishments follows the Hong Kong Standard Industrial Classification (HSIC) Version 2.0, which is used in various economic surveys for classifying economic units into different industry classes.     These retail sales statistics measure the sales receipts in respect of goods sold by local retail establishments and are primarily intended for gauging the short-term business performance of the local retail sector. Data on retail sales are collected from local retail establishments through the Monthly Survey of Retail Sales (MRS). Local retail establishments with and without physical shops are covered in MRS and their sales, both through conventional shops and online channels, are included in the retail sales statistics.     The retail sales statistics cover consumer spending on goods but not on services (such as those on housing, catering, medical care and health services, transport and communication, financial services, education and entertainment) which account for over 50% of the overall consumer spending. Moreover, they include spending on goods in Hong Kong by visitors but exclude spending outside Hong Kong by Hong Kong residents. Hence they should not be regarded as indicators for measuring overall consumer spending.     Users interested in the trend of overall consumer spending should refer to the data series of private consumption expenditure (PCE), which is a major component of the Gross Domestic Product published at quarterly intervals. Compiled from a wide range of data sources, PCE covers consumer spending on both goods (including goods purchased from all channels) and services by Hong Kong residents whether locally or abroad. Please refer to the C&SD publication “Gross Domestic Product by Expenditure Component” for more details.     More detailed statistics are given in the “Report on Monthly Survey of Retail Sales”. Users can browse and download this publication at the website of the C&SD (www.censtatd.gov.hk/en/EIndexbySubject.html?pcode=B1080003&scode=530).     Users who have enquiries about the survey results may contact the Distribution Services Statistics Section of C&SD (Tel. : 3903 7400; E-mail : mrs@censtatd.gov.hk).

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Licence applicants to provide verified e-contact means to TD starting from November 18 (with photos)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Licence applicants to provide verified e-contact means to TD starting from November 18 (with photos)
    Licence applicants to provide verified e-contact means to TD starting from November 18 (with photos)
    ******************************************************************************************

         The Transport Department (TD) today (November 1) reminded members of the public that, from November 18, 2024, applicants for the new issue or renewal of 21 driving and vehicle licences must provide and verify a Hong Kong mobile phone number or email address as an e-contact means (ECM) for receiving electronic messages issued by the Hong Kong Police Force and the TD in future, in preparation for the Traffic e-Enforcement System to be implemented gradually in the first half of 2025.     Starting from November 18: 

    “Online applications, instant verification”: The TD encourages the public to submit licence applications online, so that they can provide and instantly verify the ECM using a one-time password (OTP) during the application process, thereby saving time and enjoying convenience;
    “Applications in paper form, verification via designated platform”: If a paper application is necessary, the applicant must provide and verify the ECM via OTP on the TD’s designated online platform within three months prior to application submission, and provide the same verified ECM in the application form before submission. The designated online platform will be launched at 10am on November 4;
    The verified ECM will only be updated in the applicant’s records of driving licence and/or all vehicle(s) registered under his/her name after the application concerned has been approved to ensure that it is accurately updated;
    If an ECM cannot be provided or verified, or if the ECM provided is inconsistent with the verification record, the application cannot be processed;
    For any change of ECM, the applicant must notify the TD within 72 hours of the change through the online services in GovHK or by submitting form TD559;
    Holders of licences that have not yet expired do not need to rush to provide and verify the ECM early; and
    Driving licence holders who have not provided an ECM to the TD before are also welcome to provide and verify their ECM through the online services in GovHK or by submitting form TD559.

         A spokesman for the TD said, “Providing a frequently used and verified ECM is of utmost importance. If the Hong Kong mobile phone number or email address is incorrect or not frequently used, the licence holder will not be able to receive notifications issued by the Police and the TD, which may result in e-Tickets and tunnel tolls not being paid timely, and may need to bear the legal responsibilities such as penalties or surcharges. Applicants must ensure that their Hong Kong mobile phone number or email address is correct. If different ECMs are provided or verified at different times, the latest record will replace the old one, rendering the original ECM invalid.”     Applicants providing a Hong Kong mobile phone number as their ECM should note that the TD has participated in the SMS Sender Registration Scheme under the Office of the Communications Authority. SMS messages issued by the TD will bear the ID “#TDeContact” with the prefix “#” for easy authentication. The TD will not send SMS messages or emails with hyperlinks.     From September 2024, the TD has held over 10 briefings for the transport sector, including the goods vehicle, taxi, public light bus and non-franchised bus trades, as well as stakeholders covering driving schools, vehicle dealers and financial institutions, which handle first registration of new vehicles and application for vehicle licences for their clients, to brief them on the new legal requirements regarding provision and verification of ECM. The TD will issue letters in batches to holders whose licences will soon expire, informing them of the detailed steps for providing and verifying an ECM. The TD will also deploy service ambassadors at its four Licensing Offices and the Cross Boundary Unit from November 4 to assist the public in submitting applications and verifying their ECM.     The passage of the Electronic Traffic Enforcement (Miscellaneous Amendments) Bill 2023 by the Legislative Council on June 19, 2024, provides a legal basis for the Police to serve fixed penalty notices against traffic offences or contraventions by electronic means; it also requires registered owners of vehicles, holders of various types of licences and permits, and holders of driving licences to provide the TD with their ECM in their applications. The Government then published in the Gazette that relevant provisions on collecting ECM would be implemented on November 18.     The public may refer to the TD’s thematic webpage, HKeMobility mobile application and Agent T Facebook page (www.facebook.com/AgentT.hk), or call the hotline at 2804 2600 for details.

     
    Ends/Friday, November 1, 2024Issued at HKT 16:30

    NNNN

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI: Bybit TR Launches Localized App to Elevate Crypto Asset Investment Experience

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, Nov. 01, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Bybit TR, the partner site of Bybit.com, proudly announces the launch of its new localized app, specifically designed for Türkiye market. With this move, Bybit TR strengthens its commitment to the local crypto community.

    In partnership with Narkasa, the Bybit TR app is set to redefine the crypto investment landscape in Türkiye. Bybit TR has been included in the ‘Crypto Asset Service Providers – List of Operating Companies by CMB, ensuring full compliance with local regulations.

    The Bybit TR app stands out for its user-friendly interface and innovative features, catering to both new and seasoned cryptocurrency investors. Its intuitive design allows users to trade quickly and stay up to date with the latest market movements, offering a streamlined experience tailored to the unique needs of Turkish investors.

    With the Bybit TR app, users can access popular cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, Ethereum, and a wide variety of altcoins, including Türkiye’s own Galatasaray and Fenerbahçe Fan Tokens. Faster access to TRY trading pairs and a diverse range of crypto projects makes this app the ultimate tool for crypto traders in Türkiye.

    Kutluhan Akçın, Bybit TR Country Manager, expressed his enthusiasm about the launch: “We are thrilled to introduce the Bybit TR app, offering a secure, localized crypto trading experience. Our goal is to lead and innovate in the Turkish crypto market by integrating Turkish Lira and delivering unmatched customer support. With this launch, we’re ensuring that our users can trade confidently and efficiently within a fully compliant framework.”

    Security remains a top priority at Bybit TR. The Bybit TR app employs the latest security protocols, including two-factor authentication (2FA) and cold wallet solutions, to safeguard user assets.

    In addition to providing a secure trading environment, Bybit TR offers a comprehensive educational library to help users expand their knowledge of cryptocurrency trading. Plus, with 24/7 customer support, users can quickly receive assistance whenever they need it.

    The Bybit TR app not only enhances accessibility to cryptocurrency trading but also instills confidence in users as they navigate the dynamic world of crypto investment. With its localized features and commitment to user security, Bybit TR is the go-to platform for anyone looking to enter or deepen their involvement in the world of cryptocurrencies.

    Users can download the Bybit TR app on the App Store and Google Play.

    #Bybit / #TheCryptoArk

    About Bybit TR

    In June 2024, Bybit reinforced its commitment to the Turkish crypto market by rebranding Narkasa as Bybit TR. This strategic move underscores our dedication to offering Turkish users a localized and secure crypto trading experience. Operated by Narkasa Yazılım Ticaret Anonim Şirketi, Bybit Türkiye stands as an independent brand, tailored to meet the specific needs of the Turkish market while ensuring the highest standards of service and security.

    Twitter: https://x.com/BybitTurkiye

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bybitturkiye/?hl=en

    Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bybit-turkiye/?trk=ppro_cprof&originalSubdomain=tr

    Contact

    Head of PR
    Tony Au
    Bybit
    tony.au@bybit.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Hong Kong Customs detects smuggling case involving ocean-going vessel and goods worth about $140 million (with photo)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

         Hong Kong Customs detected a suspected smuggling case involving an ocean-going vessel destined for the Philippines on September 26. A large batch of suspected smuggled goods with a total estimated market value of about $140 million was seized.

         Through intelligence analysis and risk assessment, Customs discovered that criminals intended to use ocean-going vessels to smuggle goods and thus formulated strategies to combat related activities.

         On September 26, Customs officers identified an ocean-going vessel preparing to depart from Hong Kong for the Philippines for inspection and seized a large batch of suspected smuggled items, including new tyre rims, red wine, game consoles, CPUs and electronic products inside two containers which were declared as carrying plastic protective travelling cases and plastic tableware respectively aboard the vessel.

         An investigation is ongoing. The likelihood of arrests is not ruled out.

         Being a government department primarily responsible for tackling smuggling activities, Customs has long been combating various smuggling activities at the forefront. Customs will keep up its enforcement action and continue to fiercely combat sea smuggling activities through proactive risk management and intelligence-based enforcement strategies, with targeted anti-smuggling operations carried out at suitable times to disrupt these activities.

         Smuggling is a serious offence. Under the Import and Export Ordinance, any person found guilty of importing or exporting unmanifested cargo is liable to a maximum fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years upon conviction.

         Members of the public may report any suspected smuggling activities to Customs’ 24-hour hotline 182 8080 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).   

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Washington man sentenced to nearly four years in federal prison for trafficking eagles, hawks killed on the Flathead Indian Reservation and sold on black market

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    MISSOULA — A Washington man who conspired to hunt and kill bald and golden eagles and hawks on the Flathead Indian Reservation to sell on the black market was sentenced today to three years and 10 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $777,250 restitution, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.

    The defendant, Travis John Branson, 49, of Cusick, Washington, and formerly of the Flathead Reservation, pleaded guilty in March to conspiracy, two counts of unlawful trafficking of bald and golden eagles and violation of the Lacey Act, which prohibits interstate trade in wildlife that has been taken, possessed, transported or sold in violation of federal or state law. The Lacey Act also prohibits any person from making or submitting any false record, account, label for or identification of wildlife that has been or was intended to be transported in interstate or foreign commerce.

    U.S. District Judge Dana L. Christensen presided. The court ordered Branson to self-report to the Bureau of Prisons.

    “The bald eagle, adopted as America’s national symbol in 1782, represents our country’s core ideals of freedom, strength, and justice. Once on the brink of extinction, eagles recovered only because of conservation efforts by the American people and federal laws protecting them. None of that mattered to Travis Branson. Instead, Branson went on self-described ‘killing sprees’ for thousands of eagles and hawks, butchered them, and sold the parts and feathers for profit on the black market. He knew he was committing felonies and even joked his cost to kill them was the price of a bullet. But his conduct was no laughing matter. With today’s sentence, the cost to Branson was more than a bunch of bullets – he forfeited the very freedom the bald eagle symbolizes,” U.S. Attorney Laslovich said.  

    “The unlawful killing of these majestic birds violates federal law and is a profound offense against our nation’s cherished natural heritage,” said Edward Grace, Assistant Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Office of Law Enforcement. “Travis Branson’s blatant disregard for the law and the sanctity of these protected species highlights the urgent need for stringent enforcement and greater public awareness regarding wildlife trafficking. His actions are particularly egregious, considering the significant number of bald and golden eagles he killed for personal profit, and such behavior will not be tolerated. We will continue to work closely with our law enforcement partners to protect America’s wildlife and hold accountable all who are engaged in these illicit activities.”

    “We are going to feel the impacts of the Flathead Reservation’s raptor loss for years to come,” said Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes Chairman Mike Dolson. “We hope this helps put a stop to illegal poaching on our homelands and gives these birds a chance to recover. Eagles are not only a treasured and important part of the Reservation’s ecosystem, but they also have a profound place in CSKT cultural and spiritual practices.”

    In court documents, the government alleged that from about January 2015 until about March 2021, Branson and others hunted and killed eagles on the Flathead Reservation. Branson then sold the eagles on the black market across the United States and elsewhere. Brandon traveled from Washington to the Flathead Reservation, where he met co-defendant, Simon Paul. Branson and Paul would then shoot, transport and ship bald and golden eagles for future black-market sales. Co-defendant Paul remains a fugitive.

    The government sought restitution values of $5,000 per eagle and $1,750 per hawk.

    The government estimated that from 2009 until 2021, Branson made between $180,000 and $360,000 by selling eagles feathers and parts for profit on the black market.

    The government’s investigation showed that Branson and others killed approximately 3,600 birds during the conspiracy. At least 118 eagles and 107 hawks killed were directly traceable to Branson and documented through his own text messages. Branson had taken up to nine eagles at a time. The photograph below shows nine sets of feathers, with one set stacked on top of the other in the upper left corner.

    Law enforcement also recovered text messages from Branson stating he was specifically looking to shoot a baby eagle.

    Not only did Branson kill eagles, but he also butchered them into pieces to sell. On March 13, 2021, Branson shot and killed a golden eagle near Polson. Law enforcement stopped Branson and recovered from Branson’s vehicle the feet and feathers of the golden eagle and later recovered the remainder of the carcass in a field. The claws are identified here:

    Branson knew killing and selling eagles was illegal and that he did not have a permit for any of the activities. When negotiating a purchase price for eagle feathers with a potential buyer, Branson said:

    “I don’t get em for free though ..out hear committing felonies”

    Branson told another potential buyer he would obtain other eagle tails by “[g]oing on a killing spree.”

    Further, Branson acknowledged that international shipping was illegal:

    “International is still illegal ..I just get em for 99 cents ..price of a bullet..lol”

    The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes’ Fish and Game Department conducted the investigation.

    XXX

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: DVLA and VCA business plans for 2024 to 2025

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Publication of 2024 to 2025 business plans for the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency and Vehicle Certification Agency.

    Location:
    House of Commons
    Delivered on:

    I am pleased to announce the publication of the 2024 to 2025 business plans for 2 of the Department for Transport’s motoring agencies:

    Each agency’s business plans sets out:

    1. The key business priorities that each agency will deliver and any significant changes they plan to make to their services.
    2. The key performance indicators, by which their performance will be assessed.

    These plans allow service users and members of the public to understand the agencies’ plans for delivering their key services and managing their finances.

    The business plans will be available electronically on GOV.UK and copies will be placed in the libraries of both Houses.

    The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) 2024 to 2025 business plan will be published separately as we continue to work with them on measures to drive down practical driving test waiting times.

    Updates to this page

    Published 1 November 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI USA News: Statement by President Joe  Biden on the Beginning of the 2025 ACA Open Enrollment  Period

    Source: The White House

    Today is the first day of Open Enrollment for health insurance in the Affordable Care Act Marketplace, which has given millions of Americans the peace of mind that comes with quality health care. I am proud of the work we have done to make the Affordable Care Act more accessible and more affordable than ever – lowering costs by $800 per person per year and getting rid of red tape. As a result of my and Vice President Harris’s efforts, 9 million more Americans have been able to receive coverage, and starting today and running through January 15th, 2025, Americans across the country can join them.

    Just this week, prominent Republicans in Congress threatened to undo this progress and undermine the Affordable Care Act, just like my predecessor tried and failed to do repeatedly. Their plan would rip coverage away from over 45 million Americans, eliminate critical protections for over 100 million people with pre-existing conditions, increase premiums for women and older adults, and erode Medicaid coverage for millions of children, pregnant women, and people with disabilities. We won’t let it happen on our watch.

    Vice President Harris and I will always stand up to these attempts to roll back access to health care and drive up costs. We will continue to fight to make health care and prescription drugs more affordable for all Americans. I encourage Americans to visit HealthCare.gov before January 15th to sign up for or renew your health coverage for 2025.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Funding for UK’s growth-driving creative industries confirmed in the Budget

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy has welcomed confirmation in the Budget of the government’s commitment to support the creative industries – as part of the Industrial Strategy – recognising the key role it can play in economic growth.

    • Budget funding to help thousands of creative businesses grow across the UK
    • £3m scheme to improve awareness of creative career paths for school children 
    • £25m devolved local growth funding, which the North East plans to use for new Crown Works film studio to be built in Sunderland
    • Grants to continue for start-up video game studios, grassroots music venues and for regional clusters of creative firms outside of London
    • New VFX tax credit confirmed, UK’s world-leading film,TV, theatre, orchestra and museums tax reliefs continue

    The creative industries are worth £125 billion to the UK economy and were named as one of the government’s eight growth-driving sectors in its Industrial Strategy.

    At the Budget yesterday the Chancellor confirmed that the Department for Culture, Media and Sport’s spending programmes to grow the creative industries will continue, with additional funding to improve access to creative careers for young people across the country.

    Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said:

    This was a Budget to fix the foundations, stabilise our economy and put us on the path to prosperity for years to come.

    The Creative Industries will play a critical role in helping us turn the corner and deliver on the national missions of this Government – driving economic growth into our towns and cities; drawing on the wealth of talent that exists everywhere; and flying the flag for British culture and values on the world stage.

    The Chancellor’s Budget underscored just how important these sectors are going to be with funding extended for vital programmes and tax reliefs, an expansion of the Creative Careers Programme and a £25 million investment in the CrownWorks Studio in Sunderland that will make the city one of the centres of our TV and film industry for years to come.

    This Government recognises that for millions of people, geography has become destiny. That while talent is everywhere, opportunity is not. This Budget has put the Creative Industries front and centre of how we write those people back into our national story and drive opportunity, jobs and prosperity into every community, in every region.

    The government will continue to broaden and diversify the talent pipeline in the creative industries by expanding the Creative Careers Programme, providing 11-18 year olds with the opportunity to learn more about the full range of jobs in the creative industries and directly engage with the workplace.

    The programme has helped 25,000 students meet industry professionals in 2023, trained over 200 careers professionals on roles in the sector and registered over 500 employers to take part in the annual Discover! Creative Careers Week.

    Funding for the Creative Careers Programme will be increased to £3 million, meaning it can boost its awareness-raising efforts and provide even more schoolchildren with information, advice and guidance on creative career routes.

    The £25 million funding for the North East Mayoral Combined Authority (NEMCA) has been confirmed. NEMCA plans to use the funding to remediate the Crown Works Studio site. 

    The North East is already a backdrop for major blockbusters – with Indiana Jones, Harry Potter and Transformers all filmed in the region. Crown Works is set to be one of the largest film studios in Europe and is expected to lead to around 8,000 new jobs in the region.

    The DCMS will also continue to fund the following creative industries programmes:

    • The Create Growth Programme, which supports thousands of businesses, enabling them to convert their creative potential into creative growth, boosting their access to private finance and helping turn today’s creative entrepreneurs into tomorrow’s CEOs.
    • The BFI’s Global Screen Fund helps innovative independent filmmakers showcase the best of Britain’s screen sectors on the global stage by boosting international development and distribution opportunities. 
    • The Dundee-based UK Games Fund, which develops talent and awards grants to high-potential, early-stage video game studios, helping them turn their drawing board ideas into working prototype games and unlock private investment. 
    • The Supporting Grassroots Music Fund, which enables grassroots music venues, recording studios, promoters and festivals to apply for grants of up to £40,000 to develop new revenue streams, make repairs and improvements, and enhance the live music experience for millions of gig-goers across the UK. 

    More details will be set out in due course by DCMS on the specific funding for its programmes going forward. 

    Elsewhere the Creative Industries Clusters programme, supported with at least £50 million and delivered by the Arts and Humanities Research Council on behalf of UKRI, will continue to fund creative clusters in new sub-sectors and regions over the next six years. The first round of the scheme supports nine regional hubs of business specialising in creative subsectors, such as film and high end TV in Cardiff’s Clwstwr and fashion in the Future Fashion Factory in Leeds, helping entrepreneurs and businesses in these areas innovate with new technologies, secure investment, and access global markets, with further clusters to be announced. 

    DCMS will also continue to contribute funding towards the hosting of the London Film Festival and London Fashion Week, as well as providing continued funding for the British Film Commission, National Film and Television School and the BFI’s Certification Unit.

    The Budget has confirmed that the government remains committed to the UK’s regime of highly-competitive tax reliefs for film, high-end TV and video games, including the recently-announced Independent Film Tax Credit, as well as reliefs for animation and children’s TV production.

    Yesterday the government also confirmed that a new VFX relief will go ahead in April 2025, with costs incurred by VFX firms from 1 January 2025 eligible. It will incentivise more film projects to draw on the UK’s post-production expertise – potentially generating hundreds of millions of pounds in additional revenues and creating thousands of jobs.

    The UK’s visual effects industry has grown substantially in recent years and it is now home to six of the world’s biggest visual effects studios. British firms have created CGI and visual effects for global box office hits such as Barbie and Wonka.

    In addition, the Chancellor has increased support for the national museums and galleries by raising their Grant-in-Aid to help support their long-term sustainability. A package of cultural infrastructure funding will also support cultural organisations across the country. 

    The Chancellor also announced yesterday that the government will continue to provide generous tax reliefs to museums, galleries, theatres and orchestras, which will support cultural sectors and help to ensure they can share their world-class productions and collections with more audiences up and down the country. 

    From 1 April 2025, theatres, orchestras and museums and galleries will benefit from higher tax relief rates of 40 percent for non-touring productions, and 45 percent for orchestral and touring productions.

    ENDS

    Notes to Editors

    Creative Careers Programme

    • The Creative Careers Programme (CCP), launched in 2018, tackles information and coordination barriers to providing specialist information, advice and guidance about creative careers to young people, targeting 11-18 year olds, as well as their parents, carers, teachers and careers advisors. 
    • The programme delivers Discover! Creative Careers Week annually in November, alongside a website with lesson plans and resources, monthly online insight Q&A panels, and training for careers advisors.
    • The programme operates UK-wide, with current priority focus given to areas in England where young people face particular challenges in accessing information about the Creative Industries
    • It is delivered by ScreenSkills, with co-delivery partners Creative UK and Speakers for Schools. Further partners include: National Careers Service, Careers and Enterprise Company, Design Council, Into Film, the Royal Institute of British Architects, the Advertising Association, the Publishers Association, UK Fashion and Textiles Association, YouTube, UK Music and UK Theatre/Society of London Theatre.

    Updates to this page

    Published 1 November 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Ofsted opens registrations for new childcare provider type

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Ofsted has today begun accepting applications for a new category of childcare provider, as part of a series of changes the Department for Education has introduced to give the early years sector more flexibility.

    Childcare providers now have the option to register as childminders without domestic premises, meaning they can work solely from somewhere other than a home, such as a village hall.  

    Previously, childminders had to register on domestic premises and spend at least 50% of their time working from a home address. The government has now removed this limit, but those registered to provide care at someone’s home will still have to spend some of their time on domestic premises. It will be up to individual providers to decide how best to split this between settings.  

    The total number of people who can work together under a childminder’s registration has also increased from 3 to 4, allowing providers more flexibility to work with others, such as co-childminders and childminding assistants.   

    New guidance, published today, explains how these changes will impact on childcare providers and how to register under the new provider type.  

    Read the guidance on how to ‘Register as a childminder without domestic premises’.

    Providers already registered as childcare on domestic premises can continue to operate with a minimum of 4 people working together, but from 1 November 2024 new applications for this type of provision will need a minimum of 5 people.  

    If you are already a registered childcare provider and don’t want to change the way you operate, you don’t need to do anything.

    Watch our video about the new changes

    New changes for childminders and childcare on domestic premises providers

    Press office

    8.30am to 6pm Monday to Friday 0300 013 0415

    Updates to this page

    Published 1 November 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: ASIA/LAOS – President of the Bishops of Laos and Cambodia: The life of the Church in Laos ‘is a small miracle’

    Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

    Rome (Agenzia Fides) – “In Laos there are great difficulties in communicating with the outside world. Even for me, as President of the Episcopal Conference of Laos and Cambodia (CELAC), it is very complicated to get in touch with the local bishops, who are rather elderly and sick, or with other representatives of the Catholic communities. There are language difficulties and then there are the difficulties related to the control of the government apparatus. Contacts are sporadic. However, the Catholic community in Laos gives glory to God, has a strong faith, and continues its journey with joy,” said to Fides Jesuit Enrique Figaredo Alvargonzález SJ, Apostolic Prefect of Battambang, Cambodia, and President-in-Office of CELAC, the Episcopal Conference that unites the Bishops of the two Southeast Asian countries.The assembly of bishops is held twice a year, once in Laos, once in Cambodia, and during the course of the year an attempt is made to maintain a link between the bishops, depending on the needs and opportunities in the ecclesial community.”In Laos,” recalls the Apostolic Prefect, “there are only local priests and religious because it is not permitted to have foreign missionaries on a permanent basis. Contacts between local communities with the outside world are difficult, and even the Churches in neighbouring countries can offer limited and sporadic support. But the Laotian community is not discouraged at all, and truly lives each day to the glory of God’.The Laotian Bishop, Andrew Souksavath Nouane, Apostolic Vicar of Paksé since 2022,” reports Figaredo, “is the youngest and speaks English, so he is the reference for our communications with the Laotian Church, which,” he informs us, “is necessarily autonomous and self-sufficient, at all levels, since it has no material or spiritual aid from abroad. Within this framework, “the Church goes forward only by the grace of God. The life of the community proceeds well, even the baptized are increasing. How is this possible? I would say it is a small miracle. There are many nuns and catechists, all Laotian, who help in pastoral life, especially going around the villages where there are baptized people,” he observes.Apostolic Prefect Figaredo recalls some celebrations he attended in Laos: “There, we could see the vitality of the Laotian Catholic community. At the episcopal ordination liturgy of Apostolic Vicar Souksavath an incredible number of people packed the church, about 4,000 of them came from all over the country. The celebration of the recognition of the Laotian martyrs in 2016 was also a great event of faith, very well organized and full of emotion”.”Therefore,” he continues, “the life of the Church throbs, there is participation and loyalty, it is a community that is culturally very local, but lives full loyalty to the Pope, who is regarded with great affection,” he continues.‘”What do they need? Facilities, spiritual and biblical formation for nuns, catechists, seminarians, the faithful. Priests and teachers could come from the Churches of neighbouring countries, but this is not always allowed,” he says.A positive sign, Figaredo notes, is “the establishment of Caritas Laos, which is already working, and is included in the Caritas Internationalis network, so that Laotian volunteers participate in meetings abroad, for example in Bangkok”.The President of CELAC concludes: “From my own experience, I can say that there is great hope for the Church in Laos. There is life. There are many young people, and there is a blossoming of vocations to the priesthood and consecrated life, which are more numerous than in Cambodia. In Laos, with 51,000 faithful, there are more Catholics than in Cambodia. For foreign contacts and that of the universal Church, there are some priests who studied in the Philippines and thus learned English. These people are a link and can help their community and their country a lot”. (PA) (Agenzia Fides, 1/11/2024)
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    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Fly tipper who dumped waste behind city cafe ordered to pay more than £3,700

    Source: City of Wolverhampton

    Cristian Costache left household rubbish, domestic building waste, car parts and white goods in the car park at the rear of Ghales Café, Finchfield Road West.  

    He was seen fly tipping from a white van at around 6.30pm by a witness who reported it to police. Officers then contacted the council’s environmental crime team.

    Costache was interviewed by the team and during the course of the investigations, it became clear that he had also been involved in a similar incident in South Staffordshire.

    The council’s environmental crime team used its powers to seize the vehicle Costache used to fly tip and take it off the road. It was held for more than 7 months while investigations were completed, and a subsequent prosecution carried out.

    Costache, of Carter Road, Wolverhampton, pleaded guilty to fly tipping at Dudley Magistrates Court on 2 October, 2024. He was fined £933, ordered to a pay a victim surcharge of £373 and costs of £2,412.44.

    The offence in Wolverhampton took place on 27 February, 2024, the day after Costache had been seen dumping rubble at Wergs Fishery in Codsall.

    South Staffordshire District Council officers investigated that incident and during a separate hearing, the court imposed a fine, costs and victim surcharge totalling £2,482.

    The costs awarded to City of Wolverhampton Council will be reinvested back into its environmental crime service, helping to bring people to justice who fail to dispose of their waste correctly.

    The recent prosecution supports ongoing work under the council’s Shop a Tipper campaign where anyone suspected of dumping rubbish will have their images shared to appeal for information to help identify them.

    If the information provided leads to successful identification and Fixed Penalty Notices are issued and paid or a prosecution takes place, residents receive a £100 Enjoy Wolverhampton Gift Card.

    Residents can contact 01902 552700 with information or report online at Fly-Tipping – Shop a Tipper.

    Councillor Bhupinder Gakhal, cabinet member for resident services at City of Wolverhampton Council, said: “We will not stand by and see thoughtless criminals turn our city into a rubbish tip.

    “Fly tipping is a deeply unpleasant crime and we will not hesitate to investigate and prosecute anyone who dumps their waste in our streets.

    “It’s action like this, alongside our dedicated Shop a Tipper work, that shows we are sending a strong message to fly tippers. We would encourage residents to contact us with any information so we can continue to clamp down on offenders.”

    Residents are reminded that waste can be disposed of free of charge at our Household Waste and Recycling Centres (tips) which are open seven days a week from 8am to 4pm. Centres are at Anchor Lane, Lanesfield, Bilston and Shaw Road, Wolverhampton.

    A bulky item collection service to dispose of big unwanted items is also available, find out more at Bulky item collection.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Noise nuisance neighbours brought to book by tireless work of council officers

    Source: City of Norwich

    Unwavering action by the city council has led to the successful prosecution of two Norwich residents for making the lives of nearby neighbours a misery because of persistent noise.

    The successful court action for breaches of a Noise Abatement Notice (NAN) came after the council received numerous complaints from residents* about excessive noise, which severely impacted their ability to work, sleep and live peacefully.

    The ongoing loud music caused significant disruption to neighbours who had to endure sleepless nights. Some residents were even forced to find alternative accommodation, such as sleeping in a vehicle, to escape the disturbance.

    Despite multiple warnings, the offenders continued their behaviour, prompting the council to take further action. Council officers personally witnessed the excessive noise on several occasions, leading to the installation of specialist Norsonic equipment to record noise levels. This led to residents recording 747 separate noise incidents over 18 months using the council’s noise app.

    Earlier this year, the individuals appeared before Norwich Magistrates Court and pleaded guilty to multiple breaches of the NAN, which had been issued earlier this year. Both were fined £400, with additional costs including a £160 victim surcharge, £100 in legal fees, and £50 in enforcement and investigation costs, bringing the total to £710, payable in monthly instalments of £100.

    This dogged determination by the city council to pursue offenders through the court helps deliver one of its priorities ‘A fairer Norwich’, as set out in the organisation’s community-led plan ‘We Are Norwich’ which advocates for all residents to have a good quality of life.

    As part of the court proceedings, the council applied for a Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO), which will be reviewed at a hearing Spring 2025. If granted, the CBO will prohibit the individuals from playing loud music and will remain in place for a minimum of two years, any breach of its conditions could lead to severe penalties, including imprisonment.

    The court issued a strong warning to the defendants, emphasising the serious consequences of their actions and the potential for further legal action if the disturbances continue.

    Councillor Beth Jones, the council’s cabinet member for housing, said:
    “This case highlights the importance of being considerate towards neighbours. Excessive noise can have a devastating impact on people’s lives, particularly when it prevents them from getting the rest they need or from working. We take noise complaints very seriously and will continue to take legal action against those who disrupt the peace of their communities.”

    We encourage residents affected by noise pollution to report issues through the council’s noise complaint service. Residents can also use the noise app, which allows them to record and submit evidence of noise disturbances directly to the council.

    *We have removed names and addresses in this article so that neighbours cannot be recognised.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: NSU Startup Studio Begins Piloting Innovations at the University

    Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

    Source: Novosibirsk State University – Novosibirsk State University –

    On November 1, as part of the program of the scientific and production forum “Golden Valley”, an interactive event was held by Center for Entrepreneurial Initiatives (Startup Studio) NSU, dedicated to different ways of interaction between high-tech companies and universities.

    — One of the most promising formats, in my opinion, is piloting innovations on the basis of the university. We are talking about the application and, at the same time, testing the most modern solutions that are just entering the market in various research projects carried out at the university, as well as possible cooperation with student teams, — explained Maria Galyamova, Director of the NSU Startup Studio.

    An example of such cooperation was the joint project of the Safe Tech company and a graduate student Faculty of Medicine and Psychology V. Zelman NSU Anna Kamneva. Anna chose a study at the intersection of psychology and physiology as the topic of her diploma thesis — “The relationship between attributive style and the ability to self-regulate using biological feedback.”

    — Biofeedback is a relatively new and very interesting method of therapy, which works on the same principle as artificial intelligence training: training becomes possible with feedback. During biofeedback therapy, we get the opportunity to observe those parameters of the body that we could not previously (for example, brain wave activity — EEG, heart rate, and much more), — said Anna Kamneva.

    To carry out her research, she used the Swaid bracelet developed by Safe Tech, which is capable of tracking signs of stress in a person. For this, the stress index according to Baevsky is used. This is a Soviet scientist, one of the founders of space cardiology, who at one time developed a system for assessing the level of stress based on the variability of the heart rate. In addition to the pulse, the device evaluates electrodermal activity (the electrical conductivity of the skin changes depending on the intensity of sweat secretion).

    As the company notes, participation in this study is a case that demonstrates the real application of their technologies: the device will be an auxiliary device that will show how the stress level changes during biofeedback training.

    The university’s startup studio also sees this collaboration as a successful example, but this time of how the university can serve as a platform for piloting new technologies.

    — In fact, there are many options for implementing innovations in the university ecosystem, and the piloting program is one of them. The case mentioned is not the only one, there are other developers who would like to follow the same path. There are proposals from the Medical and Biological Union, interesting joint projects with the Institute of Intelligent Robotics of NSU. And the Startup Studio, taking a step in this direction, claims to become a kind of bridge between the university and Novosibirsk innovators, of whom we have quite a lot. For this purpose, we are holding our own introduction session within the framework of the Golden Valley forum, telling companies how to properly enter the university, — summed up Maria Galyamova.

    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.

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Lord Richard Allan appointed as Non-Executive Director of the Ofcom Board

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    The Secretary of State has appointed Lord Richard Allan for a four-year term from 1 November 2024.

    Lord Richard Allan

    Richard has nearly 30 years of experience in communications and technology policy. He has been a Member of the House of Lords since 2010, initially affiliated with the Liberal Democrats. He has been non-affiliated since 2 October 2024.

    He began his career with the NHS as a Systems Developer. He served as the MP for Sheffield Hallam from 1997 to 2005 and chaired the Information Select Committee. He then joined Cisco Systems as Director of Public Policy and later worked at Facebook (now Meta) for 10 years as VP of Public Policy, where he led over 70 policy experts across Europe, Africa and the Middle East. Richard currently holds Non-Executive Board roles with New Automotive and the Centre for Public Data.

    His previous roles include positions with the European Digital Media Observatory, the Power of Media Taskforce, and the Sheffield City Trust.

    Remuneration and Governance Code

    Non-Executive Directors of the Ofcom Board receive £42,519 per annum. This appointment has been made in accordance with the Cabinet Office’s Governance Code on Public Appointments. The appointments process is regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments.

    Updates to this page

    Published 1 November 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Child First: path to safer communities

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    YJB Board member Louise Shorter discusses Child First with Professor Neal Hazel.

    Youth Justice Board (YJB) member Louise Shorter met with Professor Neal Hazel to discuss Child First and how it supports safer communities.

    Louise is a YJB Board member, charity founder and journalist specialising in criminal justice.

    Neal was a YJB Board member from January 2018 to August 2024 and is the Chair of Criminology and Criminal Justice at the University of Salford.

    Louise Shorter:

    How would you describe Child First?

    Neal Hazel:

    Child First is a framework for what works best with children in trouble. It’s based on the latest research and evidence and is designed to keep communities safe by helping children achieve their best outcomes and prevent offending.

    Until recently, a lot of the guidance that existed in youth justice was based on quite old evidence, but we now understand a lot more. We’ve summed up all our current understanding of what works for children into a four-part framework that we call Child First.

    The YJB has produced a guide to Child First. It provides detailed explanations of the 4 parts to Child First – which we call the 4 tenets. For short, the 4 parts of Child First can be remembered as ABCD:

    1. recognise children ‘As’ children
    2. help them to ‘Build’ a positive identity
    3. ‘Collaborate’ with them
    4. ‘Divert’ them from the stigma associated with crime wherever possible

    Louise Shorter:

    So, Child First is a way of bringing together all the information and evidence we have about what works best for children in trouble. It’s a decision-making tool that can make our policies and practices evidence-informed.

    Neal Hazel:

    Yes, that’s right. Child First is a summary of the consensus on research on youth justice. It’s not just one approach or one theory. It’s the result of 30 years of evidence and gives us a framework that can be used to guide all aspects of work with children in trouble.

    Louise Shorter:

    Some people might worry that Child First means that we’re forgetting about victims. What do you say to that?

    Neal Hazel:

    Child First is about achieving positive outcomes for all parties, so that includes children, victims and communities.

    The evidence shows that if we focus on helping all children to develop constructively, we’ll also reduce offending and make communities safer, and that will mean fewer victims.

    Louise Shorter:

    Does Child First work for all children, even those who commit serious crimes?

    Neal Hazel:

    Yes, Child First is applicable to all children, whether they have or haven’t offended, and regardless of the severity of their offending. In fact, much of the evidence base for Child First is focused on more serious offences.

    We know that children who commit serious crimes often have complex needs, and they need more than just a punishment to turn their lives around.

    We absolutely need that contemporary research and understanding around brain development, trauma and identity if we are to help them.

    Louise Shorter:

    Is Child First a “get out of jail free card”?

    Neal Hazel:

    As a researcher on preventing offending, I’ve never been interested in whether we’re softer or harder. I’m simply interested in what makes us all safer. It all comes down to “is it effective?”

    The fact is that children within the criminal justice system are not simply naughty boys or girls that need a short, sharp shock. We’ve tried that time and time again over the years and it always has disastrous results.

    The key is to fix the issue – to look deeper and try to understand what is stopping that child from achieving the same positive outcomes as any other child. That’s a really important point to make, that these children should have the same aspirations, chances and opportunities as other children.

    These children are in trouble because there are barriers or problems that are stopping them from moving forward and achieving positive, crime-free lives.

    “The fact is that children within the criminal justice system are not simply naughty boys or girls that need a short, sharp shock. We’ve tried that time and time again over the years and it always has disastrous results.”

    Louise Shorter:

    What do you mean by “positive outcomes”?

    Neal Hazel:

    Positive outcomes are what we would want for any child. For them to be healthy, safe, have an education, gain skills and importantly, to see themselves as a constructive, positive member of society.

    Louise Shorter:

    What can we do to provide more positive opportunities for children?

    Neal Hazel:

    We need to invest in youth services and provide children with safe and supportive environments where they can learn and grow. We also need to challenge stigma and discrimination, which we know encourages crime, and we need to work with children to develop their strengths and potential.

    Louise Shorter:

    When I was growing up as a child, I had lots of very supportive adults around me who showed me how to be a positive person. Is it true that many children who come into contact with the system, have been failed by adults in one way or another?

    Neal Hazel:

    When you look at cases of serious violence, as I have done all through my career, one thing strikes you. That is that the vast majority of children have abuse and serious loss (trauma) in their backgrounds. Ultimately, they are in trouble because society and largely adults have failed to recognise and address this.

    Adults are generally responsible for the trauma a child experiences and professional adults are also responsible for the failure to correct that. And so, in some cases it feels like the offending is almost a sad inevitability due to the failure of adults. And then children get punished for that.

    That’s not to say that the behaviour is not dreadful or that those children haven’t committed it. But we consistently find that it’s due to the failure of adults.

    Louise Shorter:

    Does Child First relate to children who are older or in their late teens. Some of those might be physically imposing. How do we think of them as children?

    Neal Hazel:

    It absolutely applies. Most of the evidence base is centred around older children because most offending happens in middle to late teens. Also, we must not forget that all under-18s are legally children.

    We also now understand that the brain hasn’t fully developed until after the age of 25. Some of the last elements to develop in the brain relate to decision making and behaviour.

    Louise Shorter:

    I’ve heard that we don’t talk about children’s ‘risk’ any more. Why is that?

    Neal Hazel:

    It’s about time we started asking people “risk of what?” We will rarely help children move forward in their in their lives and make society safer if we’re just trying to manage the negatives.

    We used to talk about ‘risk of offending’, but we now know that labelling children as potential reoffenders stops them from moving on. So, in the national standards and the case management guidance, this phrase is not used because we now understand the limits and damage it can cause.

    However, that is not to say that we shouldn’t be concerned with the risk of harm that a child can cause to themselves or to others, or indeed suffer from others.

    This does not equate to moving away from public protection. Public protection is always central. However, what we now understand is that it’s much better to avoid any stigma and negative outcomes. This is tenet 4 of Child First.

    So, it’s much better to talk in more positive terms. An example I use is a safety talk on an aeroplane. Rather than talking about the risk of dying, you’re much more likely to get passengers engaged if you talk about keeping them safe. And it’s exactly the same with children. You’re much more likely to engage them if you talk about their safety and well-being than if you talk about them as being risky.

    “It’s much better to talk in more positive terms. An example I use is a safety talk on an aeroplane. Rather than talking about risk of dying, you’re much more likely to get passengers engaged if you talk about keeping them safe.”

    Louise Shorter:

    And engaging them leads to much better outcomes for both children and their communities?

    Neal Hazel:

    Exactly. Tenet 3 is all about engagement. We’ve learned that you can’t “do” youth justice to a child, they need to be engaged. For children to move forward, they must feel involved in the process. Plans and services need to be relevant to their lives and future. Engagement is about more than just attendance – it’s feeling connected to their goals.

    Louise Shorter:

    Is Child First being applied consistently across services and the wider youth justice system?

    Neal Hazel:

    Some services are further along in implementing Child First aligned practice, and this is reflected in inspections. A cultural shift is happening, but it takes time. We’re seeing more understanding in youth justice plans and there’s progress in using the evidence base to inform practice across the wider youth justice system. The Youth Justice Resource Hub provides great examples of these advancements.

    Louise Shorter:

    Hats off to all those services and professionals across the sector for embracing Child First. There’s a wealth of resources available for those needing support.

    Neal Hazel:

    Absolutely. While there’s more work to be done, especially with regards to assessments, the dedication and innovation of professionals working in the youth justice system is driving real progress and we’re seeing tangible results.

    Updates to this page

    Published 1 November 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: PULP AND PAPER INDUSTRY – how to make the circular economy work?

    Source: United Nations Economic Commission for Europe

    Launching a new publication on Circularity concepts in the pulp and paper industry.

    An online event organized jointly by the ECE/FAO Forestry and Timber Section, the FAO Liaison Office in Geneva, the FAO Liaison Office in Brussels.

    Background

    Paper and paperboard products are part of everyday lives and lifestyles. While most of the work has become more digital, paper is still widely used for taking notes and for printing documents. Groceries and shopping are more and more often packed in paper bags and cardboard boxes frequently protect online-shopping deliveries. Most industrial products’ supply chains depend on paper and paperboard as they protect goods during transport and handling until they arrive to the retailer where they are unpacked for display. Although they are often invisible to the end consumer, paper and paperboard are also increasingly present in diverse industrial applications. They are mixed with other materials, for example, in the production of banknotes or some furniture components. Innovative cellulose-based products contribute to increased material efficiency and to the creation of value-added products from side streams. Examples include additives and solvents in the cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries, textile fibers, bioplastics, polymers, and resins etc.

    ***

    The global pulp and paper industry has been undergoing a major transformation. The pulp production is increasingly moving from using virgin fibers to achieving high paper-recycling rates. The reprocessing of paper and paperboard stands out as the key circular economy feature for the industry and a true accomplishment when compared to other industries.

    • How the success story of paper recycling was possible to achieve?
    • What are the differences between graphic paper and packaging recycling processes?
    • Why they should be collected separately?
    • What are the biggest challenges for the sector today?
    • What are the most exciting innovations?

    These key questions and others will be addressed during an online event organized jointly by the ECE/FAO Forestry and Timber Section, the FAO Liaison Office in Geneva, the FAO Liaison Office in Brussels to launch a new publication “Circularity concepts in the pulp and paper industry”.

    The event will provide examples of innovative pulp and paper products, will explain how to use paper more sustainably and will describe the role of design for the end-of-life valorization and improving of the overall circularity of pulp and paper value chains.

    Short presentations will be followed by a Q&A session.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –