Police are conducting an operation to investigate serious criminal offending associated with illicit tobacco in South Australia.
Operation Eclipse has been focussed for some time and is investigating offences including arson, assaults and money laundering linked to the illegal activity that was first identified by police in May.
Detective Superintendent Shane Addison, Officer in Charge, Serious and Organised Crime Branch said police have been working proactively to identify the criminal networks involved in the trade of the illicit tobacco and working with other agencies to disrupt their criminal activities.
“Operation Eclipse has established strong working relationships with Victoria Police and other law enforcement agencies and we are sharing intelligence,’’ he said.
“We will not tolerate criminal behaviour that poses a risk to the community and have already made several arrests as part of the operation.’’ Police have so far linked seven arson attacks in the metropolitan area to the illicit tobacco industry. They have involved vehicles, restaurants and tobacco retailers. Numerous other incidents including assaults and standovers, have also been identified.
Serious and Organised Crime Branch detectives conducting Operation Eclipse have also identified another 15 persons of interest in the activity.
Besides the two arrests made so far for money laundering and serious criminal trespass, detectives have seized thousands of dollars in cash.
Operation Eclipse is working in partnership with CBS Tobacco Investigations, who are responsible for the regulation of tobacco in SA.
The seven arson incidents include:
19 July – car fire at Glenelg North
30 August – restaurant fire at Henley Beach Road, Torrensville
7 September – restaurant fire Main North Road, Enfield
9 September – vehicle fire Walkley Heights
11 September – vehicle fire Mawson Lakes
14 September – business broken into and arson attack Port Road, Hindmarsh
30 September – business at Henley Beach Road, Brooklyn Park
National road freight association Ia Ara Aotearoa Transporting New Zealand has opposed NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi’s plan to toll the 11.5km Manawatū Tararua Highway, saying the proposal doesn’t stack up and comes far too late in the project.
Te Ahu a Turanga – Manawatū Tararua Highway is a new road being built over the Ruahine Range, providing a safe and resilient route between Woodville and Ashhurst after a major slip in April 2017 made SH3 through the Manawatū Gorge impassable. It is due to open in 2025.
NZTA is consulting on a proposal to toll the route, with light vehicles paying $4.30 and heavy vehicles $8.60.
Transporting New Zealand Interim Chief Executive Dom Kalasih says that the road freight body is supportive of tolling appropriate routes to relieve pressure on the National Land Transport Fund, but the Manawatū Tararua Highway isn’t a suitable project.
“Tolling the road is going to divert over 3,000 vehicles per day, including a significant number of trucks, over the existing Saddle Road route. Saddle Road is unsafe and not fit for purpose. The relatively low numbers of expected users (10,902) are also only narrowly within NZTA’s 10,000 vehicle per day tolling test, and we’ve seen local push-back over that modelling.
“This is in the context of the proposed toll covering about 28 percent of construction costs over 35 years. Road freight companies using the route will have no choice but to pass that cost onto their freight customers, with the toll ultimately being paid by consumers.”
“The road is also due to open next year, so getting buy-in from the affected communities at such a late stage is proving incredibly difficult. Particularly after all they’ve gone through following the major slip in 2017.”
“We accept that NZTA are in a tough spot here – they’re responding to a clear expectation from the Government to consider tolling on all new roads. However, we don’t want to see the benefits of a safer, more efficient, resilient piece of modern roading undermined. This road isn’t a nice-to-have, it’s an essential regional link.”
Kalasih says that Transporting New Zealand is still supportive of tolling on appropriate projects, and was awaiting further information and meetings with NZTA on the Ōtaki to north of Levin Highway and Takitimu North Link before finalising their position on those proposals.
About Ia Ara Aotearoa Transporting New Zealand
Ia Ara Aotearoa Transporting New Zealandis a national membership association representing the road freight transport industry. Their members operate urban, rural and inter- regional commercial freight transport services throughout the country.
Road is the dominant freight mode in New Zealand, transporting 92.8% of the freight task on a tonnage basis, and 75.1% on a tonne-km basis. The road freight transport industry employs over 34,000 people across more than 4,700 businesses, with an annual turnover of $6 billion.
Police detect driver 56kmh over the speed limit in road work zone
Monday, 30 September 2024 – 3:40 pm.
A 42-year-old man from Newstead will face a 4-month disqualification from driving, has been issued with a $1,161.50 infringement notice and has had his vehicle seized after a silver Nissan X-trail was detected by police travelling at 96km/h in a sign posted 40km/h active road work zone on the East Tamar Highway at Long Reach this afternoon. Inspector Aleena Crack said that speeds such as this in active road work zones pose a significant risk of serious injury and death to road workers and other road users. “By targeting motorists travelling through roadworks we’re making sure the employees at those worksites get to go about their jobs in a safe environment,” she said. “In many cases, speeding in these sorts of areas is due to driver inattention. “We’ll continue to target this sort of behaviour to make sure people are getting the message about being safe on our roads. “Just a few seconds of distraction while you’re driving can have devastating results. “Pay attention, don’t speed and help us keep all road users safe.”
The latest issues, decisions and proposed changes impacting business and workplace risk5 min read
Fair Work Act changes have now commenced
By: Tarsha Gavin, Lawrence Mai, Ruby Evans
Time to review contractual arrangements and processes
As foreshadowed in our August Insight, the second tranche of changes introduced by the Closing Loopholes amendments commenced on 26 August 2024. Some of the key changes that are now in force include:
The right to disconnect
The new right permits an employee to refuse to respond to contact (or attempted contact) from their employer or third parties when that contact is made outside of their working hours, unless the employee’s refusal is unreasonable.
Changes to the definition of employment
The new definition of an employment relationship requires an assessment of the ‘real substance, practical reality and true nature of the working relationship’ (now known as the ‘whole of relationship’ test).
Rights for independent contractors
Contractors who earn above the contractor high income threshold of $175,000 are now eligible to voluntarily opt out of the new definition of an employment relationship (if it would otherwise apply to them). Those who opt out of the ‘whole of relationship’ test will instead be governed by the ‘start of relationship test’, which assesses what the parties agreed about the nature of their relationship.
Casual employment changes
A new definition of a ‘casual employee’ has been introduced, and a new ’employee choice’ process for conversion to permanent employment has also come into effect.
Key takeaway
As the latest tranche of legislative changes impact permanent employees, casual employees and contractors, it is important that employers review contractual arrangements and processes across their workforce to ensure they are compliant with the recent changes.
Implementing a key Closing Loopholes amendment, all modern awards now include a workplace delegates’ rights clause.1 Newly made enterprise agreements must now also include an equivalent or more favourable clause.
Key takeaways
From 1 July 2024, all modern awards contain a term that sets out the rights of workplace delegates (being workers elected or appointed by their union to represent the interests of union members and employees eligible to be union members) in a workplace.
Any enterprise agreements put to a vote post-1 July 2024 must contain a delegates’ rights term. If an enterprise agreement does not contain a delegates’ rights term or the proposed term is less favourable than the modern award term, the more favourable modern award term is taken to form part of the agreement.
What does the new delegates’ rights clause say?
In summary, the new delegates’ rights clause provides workplace delegates with the following rights:
Category of right
What does the clause say?
Representation
Workplace delegates may represent the interests of eligible employees who wish to be represented in matters including:
consultation about major workplace changes and changes to rosters or hours of work;
resolution of disputes and disciplinary processes;
enterprise bargaining; and
any process or procedure that eligible employees are entitled to be represented for under an award, enterprise agreement or workplace policy.
Reasonable communication
Workplace delegates may communicate with eligible employees for the purpose of representing their industrial interests, including by discussing union membership and representation. Workplace delegates may communicate with eligible employees during working hours or work breaks, or before or after work.
Reasonable access to the workplace and workplace facilities
Workplace delegates must be provided with access to, or use of, an appropriate room or area to hold discussions with eligible employees, a physical or electronic noticeboard, an electronic means of communication to communicate with eligible employees (including access to WiFi), a secure document storage area and various office facilities and equipment.
Reasonable access to training
Subject to various conditions set out in the clause, employers must provide workplace delegates with access to up to five days of paid time during normal working hours to attend initial training related to the representation of industrial interests of eligible employees. Each subsequent year, the employer must provide at least one day of paid training time.
How does this affect you?
We expect that the new delegates’ rights term will result in increased union activity and involvement in a wide variety of workplace matters.
To ensure your organisation is prepared for the changes, we recommend:
if your organisation is bargaining for a new enterprise agreement, reviewing the model delegates’ rights clause and considering whether it is appropriate to adopt the modern award term or bargain for a different term (noting that any term must be at least as favourable as the modern award term);
notifying employees and managers of the rights available to workplace delegates; and
reviewing current practices and considering whether to introduce a protocol to support consistent, reasonable and appropriate management of workplace delegates.
Fair Work Commission alters flexible working arrangement
By: Tegan Ayling, Anastasia Hatzisarantinos
Decision highlights the importance of articulating reasonable business grounds
In a recent decision, the Fair Work Commission (FWC) ordered an employee to work in the office one day per week, at the same time highlighting the importance of adequately explaining reasonable business grounds if an employer refuses a request.
Key takeaway
Employers should clearly outline their reasonable business grounds for refusing flexible working requests. This involves not only explaining the benefits to the employer’s proposed working arrangement, but also explaining how the approval of the working arrangement requested by the employee would be detrimental to the employer’s business.
Background
FedEx gradually introduced hybrid arrangements that involved employees working back in the office post COVID-19. From July 2023, employees were required to work in the office three days per week.
FedEx refused an employee’s request to work from home three days per week to care for his two teenage children who have an intellectual disability and autism, and his wife who suffers a debilitating illness. However, it agreed that the employee could continue his existing arrangement to work in the office two days per week and two days from home. While that arrangement was in place, the employee was in practice working in the office one day per week, taking leave one day per week and working two days from home.
In January 2024, the employee made another request to work entirely from home. FedEx sought further information from the employee and suggested alternative arrangements, but no agreement was reached. FedEx subsequently rejected the employee’s request, and he lodged a dispute with the FWC.
Following conciliation, FedEx agreed to trial three days at home and one day in the office, but the employee never returned to the office.
Decision
Since the matter could not be resolved between the parties, the FWC ultimately ordered the employee to work in the office one day per week and allowed FedEx to also direct him to work in the office in specific circumstances. This included if the employee did not attend the office for two consecutive weeks, there were performance concerns or there were genuine operational requirements that required his attendance.
In its decision, the FWC emphasised the importance of following proper process when responding to a request for flexible working arrangements. In particular, the FWC criticised FedEx for failing to sufficiently articulate its reasonable business grounds in rejecting the employee’s request. The grounds FedEx relied on during the proceeding had not been clearly articulated to the employee in FedEx’s refusal of his request.
The FWC also took into account that the employee had not followed FedEx’s lawful and reasonable direction to return to the office, noting that employees are not entitled to a flexible working arrangement without an approved request. The employee’s actions to ‘avoid working in the office at all costs‘ before the flexibility request was decided was a factor in the FWC decision to permit FedEx to direct the employee to work in the office, including in the specific circumstances outlined above.
Employer not required to produce investigation report under terms of enterprise agreement
By: Tarsha Gavin, Sayomi Ariyawansa and Steve Hatzipavlis
Confidentiality does not automatically prohibit provision of documents
The Full Bench of the FWC ruled that Aurizon Operations Limited (Aurizon) was not required under the terms of its enterprise agreement to produce an investigation report to an employee following an investigation into their alleged misconduct.2
Key takeaways
The FWC will consider the process set out in the relevant enterprise agreement when determining the requirements of natural justice and due process in relation to an investigation, and any subsequent process relating to the determination of a disciplinary outcome.
Even if an investigation is confidential, the requirements of procedural fairness include informing an employee of the substance of the adverse material against them so the employee can provide a response before findings are made.
A clause stating that an investigation is confidential does not necessarily prohibit an employer from providing a copy of an investigation report to the employee.
Decision
Following an investigation by Aurizon into allegations of misconduct by an employee, an investigation report was prepared outlining the substantiated conduct, and the employee was provided with an opportunity to put forward their submissions on the appropriate disciplinary outcome. The Rail Tram and Bus Union (RTBU) on behalf of the employee requested a copy of the investigation report for the purposes of making these submissions. This request was refused.
The RTBU brought an application in the FWC claiming that Aurizon’s failure to provide the report breached the applicable enterprise agreement which relevantly provided the following terms:
Process: any investigation that may lead to the disciplinary action against an employee must apply the principles of natural justice and due process, including the employee being made fully aware of allegations subject to an investigation and being provided with sufficient information to provide an informed response.
Confidentiality: disciplinary inquiries and investigations shall be confidential.
Disciplinary outcomes: following the investigation procedure, the employee may be subject to various disciplinary outcomes, following a process that includes providing the employee with a reasonable opportunity to provide reasons regarding what the appropriate disciplinary outcome should be.
The RTBU alleged that the principles of procedural fairness, as set out in (a), required Aurizon to provide the investigation report to the employee to assist with the employee’s response in (c) concerning the disciplinary outcome. The RBTU also alleged there was no utility in keeping the investigation confidential as the employee was already aware of the complainant’s identity and allegations. Aurizon claimed that because of the confidentiality requirements, the Full Bench of the FWC could not order Aurizon to produce the report.
The Full Bench of the FWC found that:
the confidentiality clause did not prevent Aurizon from providing a copy of the investigation report to a worker. If this were the case, Aurizon would be unable to provide information to the employee subject to the investigation as required by (a) and it would make the disciplinary regime unworkable. Rather, the confidentiality clause prohibited workers from disclosing information obtained during the investigation and prohibited Aurizon from disclosing investigation information to any person not involved during the inquiry.
at the point the RTBU sought the investigation report, the investigation process was complete, and Aurizon was at the stage of assessing the appropriate disciplinary outcome. At this point of the disciplinary process, there was no requirement in the enterprise agreement for Aurizon to apply the general principles of natural justice and due process outlined in (a), as these did not apply in the assessment of disciplinary outcomes outlined in (c). As such, Aurizon was not required to produce the investigation report.
natural justice and due process had not been afforded to the employee under (a), as the substance of the adverse material in the report was not put to the employee for their response during the investigation process. The Full Bench recommended that it would be prudent for Aurizon to re-open the investigation to put the substance of the report findings to the employee, but did not make an order to this effect as the grounds of appeal in the matter were limited to dealing with the production of the completed report.
Employees retain redundancy pay because of move to ‘dusty, noisy and malodorous’ office
By: Sarah Lunny and Bella Busby
Connection between redundancy pay and alternative employment
After accepting that an employer had obtained ‘acceptable alternative employment’ for two former employees, the FWC allowed the two employees to keep 30% of their redundancy pay because of the inferior quality of their new office space.3
Key takeaways
Employers can apply to the FWC to vary the amount of redundancy pay that would otherwise be payable to an employee under the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) (FW Act) if the employer obtains other acceptable employment for the employee. The FWC has a broad discretion to vary redundancy pay to an amount it considers appropriate, including reducing the amount payable to zero.
Even if an employer has arranged a new role for a former employee, the FWC may determine that the employee is entitled to receive part of their redundancy pay entitlement if there is a difference in working conditions between the employee’s previous role and the new one.
Background
An employer in the recycling industry made an application to the FWC to reduce the redundancy pay entitlements of two administrative employees after the employer arranged comparable roles with another recycling business. Both office-based employees had been made redundant after the original employer’s business suffered a significant downturn, resulting in 100 employees being laid off.
Both employees argued that their redundancy pay entitlements should not be reduced because the new roles the employer had arranged for them did not constitute acceptable alternative employment, including because:
the new employer had a less professional, more ‘blue collar’ work culture than the previous workplace; and
the new office was noisier and dirtier than their previous workplace, as it was physically attached to the recycling facility, where trucks would enter and unload rubbish several times a day.
After comparing each employee’s role with the new employer to their role with the old employer, the FWC decided that both employees had been provided with ‘other acceptable employment’ because the work and conditions were sufficiently similar to those of their previous employment, even if there were some factors that made the new jobs less attractive to the employees.
In considering whether to reduce the employees’ redundancy pay, the FWC weighed the ‘significant effort’ the employer had made to obtain other acceptable employment for the employees against ‘the disadvantage of the quite different work environment’ at the new employer. The FWC ultimately decided to reduce each employee’s redundancy pay by 70%, allowing each employee to keep 30% of their redundancy pay in consideration of the ‘marked difference’ between performing their administrative work in an office attached to a recycling warehouse compared to previously working in an office removed from the actual process of recycling.
Resurrecting the dead: breathing life into a zombie agreement
By: Andrew Wydmanski and Samuel Jackson
Extensions remain viable during ongoing bargaining of enterprise agreements
The Full Bench of the FWC has extended the default period of a ‘zombie agreement’, for a second time, rejecting the employer’s request to transition employees onto the Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services Industry Award 2010 (SCHADS Award) while bargaining for a new agreement was ongoing.4
Key takeaways
The FWC is open to extending the life of zombie agreements during enterprise bargaining if it considers that extending the agreement would ‘minimise disruptions or changes to terms and conditions’ and where it might be expected that ‘a replacement agreement will be reached in the near future’.
Employers covered by a zombie agreement that has been extended by the FWC should prepare for the possibility that the FWC may grant further extensions if bargaining for a new enterprise agreement is ongoing.
Background
A ‘zombie agreement’ is an old industrial workplace agreement made before the commencement of the FW Act. Under the Fair Work Legislation Amendment (Secure Jobs, Better Pay) Act 2022 (Cth), all zombie agreements were set to automatically end on the ‘default period’ of 7 December 2023, unless an application was made to the Commission to extend it.
In September 2023, the Health Service Union (HSU) made an extension application in respect of the Kirinari Community Services Ltd Hume Riverina Branch Certified Agreement 2006-2008 (Agreement). The Full Bench of the FWC decided it was reasonable to extend the operation of the Agreement to 6 April 2024.
The HSU again applied under the Fair Work (Transitional Provisions and Consequential Amendments) Act 2009 (Cth) (Transitional Act) to extend the default period of the Agreement, this time until 6 December 2024.
The employer, Kirinari Community Services Ltd (Kirinari), opposed the HSU’s application on the basis that:
from an administrative and payroll perspective, it would be more efficient and fairer for all of its employees to be covered by the SCHADS Award;
the terms of the SCHADS Award would provide employees with greater flexibility should they wish to work in Kirinari’s operations outside of the Hume Riverina region; and
given that bargaining for the new enterprise agreement was based on the SCHADS Award, transitioning remaining employees to the SCHADS Award would mean all employees would be familiar with rostering arrangements and other terms and conditions of the SCHADS Award.
The Commission rejected Kirinari’s arguments, finding that moving employees from the Agreement to the SCHADS Award at a time when a replacement agreement was expected to be reached in the near future could disturb current bargaining.
The Commission considered that more progress should have been made since its decision in September last year. It also noted that the parties had not sought the Commission’s assistance to finalise the replacement enterprise agreement. As a result, the Commission was satisfied that it was appropriate to extend the default period for a further four months.
Former manager awarded $1.5 million following unlawful summary dismissal
By: Anthony Hallal and Matt Stark
Penalties can be severe for breaches of the general protections regime
The Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (FCFCA) recently ordered an employer to pay a former manager over $1.5 million after summarily dismissing him in breach of the general protections regime in the FW Act and their employment contract.
Key takeaway
This case is a recent example of the substantial damages that can be awarded under the general protections regime where employees have been found to be unlawfully terminated.
Background
An employee of Laing O’Rourke Australia Management Services Pty Ltd (LOA), Mr Haley worked for LOA and other companies in LOA’s group for over 15 years. From 2018 he was the Commercial Team Leader in charge of cleaning up bushfire-damaged properties from the previous Christmas period (Bushfire Project).
In early July 2020, Mr Haley and other LOA employees invited their colleagues to a property LOA was leasing while working on the Bushfire Project for a social event. Following noise complaints from neighbours, the owners of the property attended twice, which culminated in a verbal altercation between the LOA employees and the owners (the Incident).
LOA subsequently conducted an investigation into the Incident, following which Mr Haley had a show cause meeting with LOA. Later in July 2020, Mr Haley was summarily dismissed by LOA on the basis that he had engaged in serious misconduct. Specifically, LOA alleged that Mr Haley had lied in the course of the investigation, and that Mr Haley’s conduct during the Incident breached LOA’s policies in a manner that ’caused imminent and serious risk to the reputation of [LOA]’.5
The FCFCA decided that LOA had not established it was entitled to summarily dismiss Mr Haley from his employment. Further, LOA had taken adverse action by summarily dismissing Mr Haley in circumstances where it could not establish Mr Hayley’s complaints and inquiries in relation to his employment were not a reason for his dismissal.6
Decision on damages
Following this finding that Mr Haley had been unlawfully terminated, the most recent decision7 of the FCFCA concerned the assessment of damages to which Mr Haley was entitled.
LOA was ordered to pay Mr Haley a sum of more than $1.5 million in respect of the summary dismissal, accounting for Mr Haley’s:
loss of income up to the date of judgment;
present value of Mr Haley’s loss of future income until March 2025 (accounting for likely promotions/pay increases throughout this period);
relocation costs back to the UK after the termination of his employment;
break fees for car rental and lease agreements; and
an amount of $50,000 for Mr Haley’s hurt, distress and humiliation.
MILES AXLE Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: State University of Management – Official website of the State –
From September 23 to 27, employees of the State University of Management – technician of the Reverse Engineering Laboratory Dmitry Taldykin and specialist of the Business Incubator Artem Podgorny – completed an internship in the Krasnodar cluster of the largest agricultural holding in Russia “STEPPE” as part of the flagship educational project of the Charitable Foundation “Sistema” “Lift to the Future”.
The internship allowed young specialists to immerse themselves in the production processes of the agricultural holding, become familiar with advanced technologies in the field of agricultural mechanization and collect the necessary theoretical and methodological base for conducting scientific research.
The GUU employees studied the design of modern harvesting combines and took part in the harvesting of agricultural crops, gaining practical experience working with high-tech equipment. In addition, young scientists tested and adjusted a self-propelled sprayer, studying the operating principles of modern precision tillage systems.
Special attention was paid to the processes of mechanized harvesting, sorting, packaging and storage conditions of products, including temperature and humidity control to ensure long-term preservation of freshness of vegetables and fruits. In addition, the university representatives visited the machine and tractor station for technical maintenance and repair of equipment and the central warehouse of spare parts, which allowed them to assess the scale of the agroholding’s activities and see with their own eyes the process of technical maintenance of the machine and tractor fleet.
On the final day of the internship, the young scientists visited the head office of the STEPPE agroholding in Rostov-on-Don, where they were told about the work of unmanned aerial vehicles used for spot irrigation of gardens. The GUU employees studied the methods of setting up UAV geolocation and got acquainted with the software used to automate the irrigation process in order to save water resources in the conditions of intensive gardening.
The head and curator of the practice was the head of the service station of the agroholding “STEPPE” Ivan Bulgakov. With his active participation, demonstration tests were organized, during which young scientists of the State University of Management not only got acquainted with the advanced equipment of the agroholding, but also had the opportunity to see the work of the latest agricultural machinery in real conditions.
The State University of Management expresses gratitude to the Sistema Charitable Foundation and personally to the President of the Foundation Larisa Pastukhova for organizing the internship at the STEPPE agroholding. The theoretical and practical knowledge gained in the field of agricultural mechanization will help young specialists of the State University of Management in their future professional and scientific activities.
Subscribe to the TG channel “Our GUU” Date of publication: 09/30/2024
Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
Please note; This information is raw content directly from the information source. It is accurate to what the source is stating and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
Mobilisation of climate finance set to be boosted across East Africa through new UK-backed company as investors put pen to paper to begin operations.
Investors back Dhamana Guarantee Company’s work to transform East Africa’s financial landscape.
Tackling climate change given another boost in Kenya as, for second time in a week, a UK-Government backed investor in green finance solutions puts pen to paper.
Monday 30 September 2024 – Dhamana Guarantee Company Ltd (Dhamana) has reached a major milestone, marked at an event in Nairobi today.
Investors in the new company put pen to paper at a signing ceremony, which will allow the company to kick-start operations.
Dhamana aims to mobilise private sector finance to support the development of sustainable businesses. It will do so by issuing guarantees to commercially viable projects, businesses, and institutions that tackle the climate crisis and make progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The design and creation of the company was supported by the UK-Government backed investor the Private Infrastructure Development Group (PIDG) through InfraCo Africa. With its anchor investment, PIDG kick-started Dhamana, attracting further equity investment from the African Development Bank (AfDB) and CPF Group, with support provided by Cardano Development and FSD Africa.
Dhamana is a new limited liability company based in Kenya with a mandate to deliver for the East African region – including – Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and Rwanda. It will provide credit guarantees on debt capital market instruments, to boost the credit rating of such instruments and crowd in investment from pension funds, insurance companies and sovereign wealth funds to support sustainable infrastructure and business development in East Africa.
Dhamana will target businesses that add value to people’s lives, improving the day-to-day life of Kenyans and of people across the region. The increase in affordable finance for Kenyan businesses will mean projects will require less capital to get off the ground, make money, and generate growth. Dhamana will also enable investors to diversify their portfolios, acting as a catalyst to transform East Africa’s financing landscape.
This is the second time in a week that an investor in climate solutions backed by the UK Government has achieved a milestone. Last week, MOBILIST signed a partnership with the Nairobi Securities Exchange which aims to drive the listing of new investment products in the Kenyan market and increase the amount of private sector capital available for development and climate projects in Kenya and drive growth.
Dhamana CEO, Christopher Olobo, said:
With the support of our investors and supporters, we have worked to develop Dhamana as an important catalyst for long-term sustainable finance in the region. Dhamana’s local currency guarantees will connect pools of untapped capital with East Africa’s real economy, making a tangible difference to people’s lives and offering local investors the opportunity to invest in Paris-aligned initiatives.
Deputy High Commissioner and Development Director, British High Commission Nairobi, Leigh Stubblefield, said:
For the second time in a week I am proud to say that the UK has supported a climate finance solution in Kenya – an example of our long-term commitment to long-term investment and growth. This is a great pan-Africa partnership that will improve the lives of East Africans for the better, and as the saying goes, we go far when we go together.
Representing PIDG, InfraCo Africa CEO, Gilles Vaes, added:
Building on the success of other PIDG-supported credit enhancement facilities in Nigeria and Pakistan, Dhamana will demonstrate the value of such a facility in the East African market, opening up opportunities for investors and clients alike. Crucially, Dhamana will engage new partners and investors in our efforts to urgently address the climate crisis and accelerate delivery of the UN sustainable development goals.
In his remarks at the launch event, Solomon Quaynor, African Development Bank Vice President for Private Sector, Infrastructure & Industrialisation, said:
The African Development Bank’s equity investment in Dhamana reinforces the catalytic role and potential of credit enhancement companies in leveraging opportunities for infrastructure financing in local currency and supporting debt capital markets deepening in our regional member countries. We intend to replicate this business model in appropriate markets across Africa with partners such as the Private Infrastructure Development Group (PIDG) and others. The first example of this type of credit enhancement company was InfraCredit in Nigeria which has had demonstrated success, and now Dhamana in East Africa. The investment in Dhamana aligns with the Bank’s priority to mobilise financing through innovative vehicles from African institutional funds including pension funds, sovereign wealth funds and insurance companies for infrastructure development in Africa.
On his part, Dr. Hosea Kili, OGW – CPF Group Managing Director/CEO – said:
We are proud to be part of this transformative initiative through Dhamana Guarantee Company. We believe in the power of innovative financial solutions to drive sustainable growth. By leveraging local currency guarantees, Dhamana will unlock critical capital for critical infrastructure projects, advancing economic development. This partnership aligns with our commitment to investing in initiatives that improve the lives of people’s lives and our economy while contributing to a more sustainable future.
Joost Zuidberg, CEO of Cardano Development concluded:
Dhamana’s true strength lies in its capacity to attract significant investments from East Africa’s institutional capital, laying a strong foundation for future scaling up according to its sizeable potential and thus meaningfully contribute to sustained economic growth in the region. Part of our core work is to incubate guarantee solutions for emerging and frontier markets, and we are thrilled to formalise this partnership today, as we collectively provide Dhamana with the crucial support and capital needed to fulfil this vital objective.
Dhamana Guarantee Company (Dhamana): Dhamana is working to catalyse the development of domestic capital markets in East Africa. It does this by connecting significant under-utilised sources of domestic institutional capital with the real economy, such as new green infrastructure, and providers of credit to businesses. This increases access and the affordability of local capital, providing new low-risk opportunities for local investors. Dhamana will also serve to provide a portfolio of businesses with access to the local currency capital needed to deliver bankable projects, meeting the high demand for new affordable housing, transportation, water, and energy infrastructure, and promoting long term economic development. http://www.dhamana.com
About PIDG
The Private Infrastructure Development Group (PIDG) is an innovative infrastructure project developer and investor which mobilises private investment in sustainable and inclusive infrastructure in sub-Saharan Africa and south and south-east Asia. PIDG investments promote socio-economic development within a just transition to net zero emissions, combat poverty and contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). PIDG delivers its ambition in line with its values of pioneering, partnership, safety, inclusivity, and urgency. PIDG offers Technical Assistance for upstream, early-stage activities and concessional capital; its project development arm – which includes InfraCo Africa and InfraCo Asia – invests in early-stage project development and project and corporate equity. PIDG credit solutions include EAIF (the Emerging Africa Infrastructure Fund), one of the first and more successful blended debt funds in low-income markets; GuarantCo, its guarantee arm that provides credit enhancement and local currency solutions to de-risk projects; and a growing portfolio of local credit enhancement facilities, which unlocks domestic institutional capital for infrastructure financing. Since 2002, PIDG has supported 233 infrastructure projects to financial close, which provided an estimated 228 million people with access to new or improved infrastructure. PIDG is funded by the governments of the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Australia, Sweden, Global Affairs Canada, Germany, and the IFC. http://www.pidg.org
About the African Development Bank (AfDB)
The African Development Bank (AfDB) is Africa’s premier development finance institution. It comprises three distinct entities: the African Development Bank (AfDB), the African Development Fund (ADF) and Nigeria Trust Fund (NTF). On the ground in 34 African countries with an external office in Japan, the AfDB contributes to the economic development and the social progress of its 54 regional member states. http://www.afdb.org
About the CPF Group
The CPF Group offers a comprehensive range of services through its various subsidiaries including CPF Financial Services which administers both private and public pension funds; notably – the Public Service Superannuation Scheme (PSSS); The Local Authorities Pensions Trust (LAPTRUST); the Taifa Pension Fund; the County Pension Fund and CPF Individual Pension Plan. The funds under our administration have a total membership of just over 500,000 members.
Other subsidiaries include Laser Infrastructure & Technology Solutions (LITES); Laser Property Services; Rukisha Advances payment platform; CPF Asset Managers; CPF Capital & Advisory; and Laser Insurance Brokers (LIB). The Group offers a wide range of services in ICT & renewable energy solutions, Property Services, Insurance Brokerage, Smart Money platform, fund management, Transaction Advisory, Trust fund services, training & consultancy, and Corporate Trustee Services. Derived from uncompromised commitment to fulfilling lives, the CPF Group prioritises new models and approaches in engineering turnkey solutions for clients across the region. http://www.cpfgroup.or.ke
About Cardano Development
Cardano Development (CD), established in 2007, incubates new companies, and creates and manages fund managers. Through careful risk-management analysis in data poor settings, CD identifies scalable solutions that can help to make frontier financial markets more inclusive, investible, and sustainable to unlock lasting economic value. CD creates scalable solutions for currency, credit, and liquidity risks in these markets. With over USD 6 billion assets and USD 3.1 billion capital under management, CD supports scale-up ventures (TCX, GuarantCo, Frontclear, BIX Capital, ILX Fund, AGRI3 Fund), and a number of new start-ups, with ongoing management support services and corporate governance oversight. http://www.cardanodevelopment.com.
The return of peak rail fares in Scotland will be a costly blow for commuters and our climate, says the Scottish Greens transport spokesperson, Mark Ruskell MSP.
Mr Ruskell’s comments came on the morning that peak rail fares returned to Scotland, following a 12 month pilot to remove them that was secured by the Scottish Greens.
The fare hike means that someone travelling between Glasgow and Edinburgh at peak times will see a return fare increase from £16.20 to £31.40.
Mr Ruskell said: “A lot of commuters will have an unpleasant surprise when they pay for their tickets this morning and see that prices are higher than ever.
“Peak rail fares are fundamentally unfair. They disproportionately impact people who have no say over when they need to travel for work or study. Bringing them back will do nothing to help workers or students or to encourage people out of their cars.
“Many regular commuters have saved hundreds of pounds on their fares over the last year, and some of the rises they will now face are staggering.
“If we want to build a transport system that works for people and planet then we need to ensure that rail is always an affordable and reliable option. People in Scotland already pay some of the highest fares in Europe and this will only make it worse.
Mr Ruskell added: “The removal of peak rail fares was one of the most important changes that the Scottish Greens secured in government. I am proud of the work we did with trade unions and campaigners to deliver it.
“I hope that the SNP will reconsider this decision, and that we will see peak fares removed permanently.”
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
Motorists applying for a duplicate V5C (log book) can now tax their vehicle without needing to wait for their log book to arrive.
DVLA has announced a new service update that allows motorists to tax their vehicle even if they have lost their V5C (log book) and their vehicle tax reminder letter (V11).
Previously, customers who had lost these documents would have had to wait up to 5 days for a replacement V5C to arrive, or phone DVLA’s Contact Centre to tax their vehicle. This latest update will allow customers to apply online for a new V5C and tax their vehicle at the same time.
This is the first time that DVLA has linked their online registration service with their online licensing service, allowing the customer to self-serve through the 2 digital channels in one seamless customer journey.
Julie Lennard, DVLA Chief Executive, said:
We are always looking for ways to improve our digital services to provide more convenience for motorists. This latest enhancement will enable customers who have misplaced or lost their V5C to get a replacement and tax their vehicle quickly and easily.
Deputy Minister of Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment Narend Singh has welcomed the 20-year imprisonment sentence handed down by the Skukuza Regional Court to two former Kruger National Park (KNP) rangers for their involvement in rhino poaching.
“We commend the collaborative efforts of our law enforcement agencies and the National Prosecuting Authority for the arrest, investigations, and successful conviction of the two former rangers to an effective 20-year jail term each.
“Poachers and those funding wildlife crimes will face the full might of the law,” the Deputy Minister said in a statement.
The two former Kruger National Park field rangers, Lucky Mkanzi and Joe Sihlangu, were attached to the Crocodile Bridge Section of the KNP and were arrested in January 2019 in an intelligence-driven operation.
Information was received that both the accused were involved in the transportation of poaching suspects in the Godleni area of the section where two carcasses of white rhino were discovered.
Analysis of their vehicle tracking device placed them at the vicinity of the crime scene. The two were taken into custody and confessed to taking part in the crime. An amount of R41 000 was recovered from Joe Shilhangu’s room and it was determined that the money was payment for his participations in the commission of the crime.
The trial of the two commenced in the Skukuza Regional court on 04 September 2024 where the state presented compelling evidence, which led to the court finding them guilty on three counts: • Conspiracy to commit a crime resulting in a 4-year sentence. • Hunting of a rhinoceros in a national park resulting in 10 years imprisonment. • Hunting and killing of rhinoceros in a national park resulting in 10 years imprisonment.
The court ordered that the sentences in count 1 and 2 will run concurrently with that of count 3 resulting in an effective jail term of 20 years for each accused.
They were sentenced on Friday.
Members of the public can report any suspicious activities around wildlife to its environmental crime hotline which is 0800 205 005 or the SAPS number 10111. – SAnews.gov.za
SALT LAKE CITY, Sept. 30, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Medallion Bank (Nasdaq: MBNKP), an FDIC-insured bank specializing in consumer loans for the purchase of recreational vehicles, boats, and home improvements, as well as loan products and services offered through fintech strategic partners, today announced a strategic partnership with Kashable, a leading fintech company dedicated to providing socially responsible credit and financial wellness solutions. This collaboration builds on Medallion Bank’s existing nationwide financing footprint while expanding Kashable’s services to a broader audience, offering working Americans access to affordable personal loans.
“Adding Kashable to our growing strategic partnership program expands Medallion Bank’s consumer finance reach while supporting Kashable’s mission to improve the financial well-being of its customers” stated Donald Poulton, President and Chief Executive Officer of Medallion Bank. “Medallion Bank is proud to leverage our expertise in lending and partnerships to help extend Kashable’s services to a broader audience of working Americans.”
Medallion Bank will originate personal loans on the Kashable platform, enhancing Kashable’s ability to introduce its services to employers, benefit administration platforms, marketplaces, and industry brokers, further solidifying its leadership in the financial wellness industry.
“Our relationship with Medallion Bank provides Kashable with a strong financial partner that will support us on our journey to expand financial wellness into new communities, employers, and their employees. This partnership enables us to leverage our patented proprietary system and demonstrate an unparalleled ability to look beyond credit scores alone to reward long-term, stable employees,” added Einat Steklov, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Kashable. “The opportunities this partnership unlocks advance our mission of providing access to affordable credit with the convenience of automated repayments through deep integrations with HRIS and payroll systems.”
About Medallion Bank
Medallion Bank specializes in providing consumer loans for the purchase of recreational vehicles, boats, and home improvements, along with loan origination services to fintech strategic partners. The Bank works directly with thousands of dealers, contractors and financial service providers serving their customers throughout the United States. Medallion Bank is a Utah-chartered, FDIC-insured industrial bank headquartered in Salt Lake City and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Medallion Financial Corp. (Nasdaq: MFIN).
Kashable is a financial technology company that provides access to Socially Responsible Credit™ and financial wellness solutions for employees, offered as an employer-sponsored voluntary benefit. By partnering with hundreds of employers, Kashable helps to provide access to financial health and wellness tools to millions of employees.
Founded in 2013, Kashable deploys innovative technology to improve the financial well-being of working Americans with a commitment to both reliability and affordability. Offering a smart, economical, and fast alternative for employees who may otherwise be driven to borrow from retirement plans, high-rate credit cards, or other high-cost loans to bridge short-term gaps in their finances, Kashable focuses on providing a path to financial security.
Please note that this press release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties relating to business performance, cash flow, costs, sales, net investment income, earnings, returns and growth. These statements are often, but not always, made through the use of words or phrases such as “remain,” “anticipate” or the negative version of this word or other comparable words or phrases of a future or forward-looking nature, such as “look forward.” These statements may relate to our future earnings, returns, capital levels, sources of funding, growth prospects, asset quality and pursuit and execution of our strategy. Medallion Bank’s actual results may differ significantly from the results discussed in such forward-looking statements. For a description of certain risks to which Medallion Bank is or may be subject, please refer to the factors discussed under the captions “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” and “Risk Factors” included in Medallion Bank’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, and in its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, filed with the FDIC. Medallion Bank’s Form 10-K, Form 10-Qs and other FDIC filings are available in the Investor Relations section of Medallion Bank’s website. Medallion Bank’s financial results for any period are not necessarily indicative of Medallion Financial Corp.’s results for the same period.
Singapore, 30September 2024 — Singapore and Ghana have set out the processes for authorising carbon credit projects under their Implementation Agreement on carbon credits cooperation, in accordance with Article 6 of the Paris Agreement. Applications may be submitted through Singapore’s Carbon Markets Cooperation website, at http://www.carbonmarkets-cooperation.gov.sg.
2 The carbon credit projects authorised under the Implementation Agreement will channel financing towards emissions reduction or removal projects in Ghana. These projects can promote sustainable development and generate benefits for local communities, including job creation, clean water access, improvements to energy security, and reducing environmental pollution (See Annex A for potential project types).
3 Authorised projects can generate carbon credits aligned with Article 6 of the Paris Agreement. Under Singapore’s International Carbon Credit (ICC) Framework, these credits may be eligible for use by Singapore-based carbon tax-liable companies to offset up to 5% of their taxable emissions.
4 From 30 September 2024, interested parties may submit applications for their carbon credit projects in Ghana to be authorised. Applications submitted will be reviewed by Singapore and Ghana governments on a rolling basis as they are received.
Application and Authorisation Process
5 The application and authorisation process comprises four stages, each corresponding to a different stage of implementation for the carbon credit project (See Annex B). The first three stages require applicants to submit details on the design and implementation plan for the carbon credit project in the lead-up to project authorisation. The final stage is for corresponding adjustments to be applied to the carbon credits generated from the authorised project, in accordance with Article 6 of the Paris Agreement.
6 Singapore and Ghana will assess applications against each country’s respective requirements. For Singapore, these projects must meet Singapore’s Eligibility Criteria for International Carbon Credits. The Eligibility Criteria, and the list of eligible carbon crediting programmes and methodologies under the Singapore-Ghana Implementation Agreement, are at Annex C, and on the Carbon Markets Cooperation website. The list will be reviewed regularly to maintain relevance and uphold environmental integrity.
Annex A
Potential Carbon Credit Project Types for Applications
Project Type
Description
Clean Water Supply
Rural communities are provided with water purification technologies (e.g. UV-based disinfection systems). This empowers communities with an alternate source of clean and safe drinking water without relying on the conventional method of using firewood to boil water. This reduces carbon emissions from burning firewood and associated deforestation activities, and carbon credits are issued based on the emissions reduced.
Local communities can also benefit from improved water safety and security.
Efficient and Clean Cookstoves
In rural areas where households use firewood for their cooking and heating needs, the switch to efficient and clean cookstoves (e.g. cookstoves that use renewable fuel like biogas or solar energy) enables households to meet their cooking and heating needs more efficiently and cleanly. This reduces the burning of firewood and resulting carbon emissions from deforestation. Carbon credits are issued based on the emissions reduced.
Co-benefits are also delivered to local communities, including cleaner air quality through the reduction of firewood burning.
Green Mobility
As Electric Vehicles (EVs) replace fossil fuel-powered vehicles for transportation needs, there are emissions reductions as EVs are more efficient and potentially powered by green energy. Carbon credits are issued based on the emissions reduced.
There are also sustainable development benefits for local communities. Skilled jobs are created for the maintenance of EV infrastructure, and improves air quality from reduced reliance on fossil fuel-powered vehicles.
Annex B
Flowchart of Application and Authorisation Process
Joint Committee
The Joint Committee is a coordination body that oversees the administration of the Implementation Agreement. The Joint Committee under the Singapore-Ghana Implementation Agreement is co-chaired by the Director-General of Climate Change at the National Climate Change Secretariat of Singapore, and the Director of Environment, Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation of Ghana.
Stage A: Project Application
Applicants are to submit a concept note on the intended project, indicating the programme and methodology that the project will be developed under, and broadly how the project will be implemented to uphold environmental integrity (e.g. explanations on how the project will demonstrate additionality).
Stage B: Project Design
As the project concept is further developed, applicants are to submit a project design document (PDD) on the intended project. The PDD should contain the detailed implementation plan (e.g. how the baseline emissions will be determined, how the project will address permanence and leakage concerns).
Stage C: Project Authorisation
Under this stage, applicants are to submit a validation report from a third-party auditor determining that the project design meets all the rules and requirements of the intended methodology and carbon crediting programme. After receiving Letters of Authorisation from both Singapore and Ghana, the project should proceed to be registered under the intended carbon crediting programme, and proceed to implementation.
Stage D: Corresponding Adjustment Application
As the authorised project is implemented and the emission reductions and removals have been verified by a third-party auditor, the carbon crediting programme will issue carbon credits to the project. Applicants are to submit a Proof of Issuance from the carbon crediting programme accompanied with the verification report from the third-party auditor, to be considered for corresponding adjustments to be applied to the issued carbon credits, in accordance with Article 6 of the Paris Agreement.
Annex C
Singapore’s Eligibility Criteria and the Eligibility List under theSingapore-Ghana Implementation Agreement
Eligibility Criteria
1 The Eligibility Criteria requires ICCs to represent emissions reductions or removals that occur within the timeframe specified under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, and meet seven principles to demonstrate environmental integrity (see Table C-1 below).
Table C-1: Eligibility Criteria for ICCs
Principle
Definition
To comply with Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, the certified emissions reductions or removals must have occurred between 1 January 2021 and 31 December 2030.
Not double-counted
The certified emissions reductions or removals must not be counted more than once in contravention of the Paris Agreement.
Additional
The certified emissions reductions or removals must exceed any emissions reduction or removals required by any law or regulatory requirement of the host country, and that would otherwise have occurred in a conservative, business-as-usual scenario.
Real
The certified emissions reductions or removals must have been quantified based on a realistic, defensible, and conservative estimate of the amount of emissions that would have occurred in a business-as-usual scenario, assuming the project or programme that generated the certified emission reductions or removals had not been carried out.
Quantified and verified
The certified emissions reductions or removals must have been calculated in a manner that is conservative and transparent, and must have been measured and verified by an accredited and independent third-party verification entity before the ICC was issued.
Permanent
The certified emissions reductions or removals must not be reversible, or if there is a risk that the certified emissions reductions or removals may be reversible, there must be measures in place to monitor, mitigate and compensate any material reversal of the certified emissions reductions or removals.
No net harm
The project or programme that generated the certified emissions reductions or removals must not violate any applicable laws, regulatory requirements, or international obligations of the host country.
No leakage
The project or programme that generated the certified emissions reductions or removals must not result in a material increase in emissions elsewhere, or if there is a risk of a material increase in emissions elsewhere, there must be measures in place to monitor, mitigate and compensate any such material increase in emissions.
Eligibility List under the Singapore-Ghana Implementation Agreement
2 The Eligibility List of carbon crediting programmes and methodologies in Table C-2 adhere to the Eligibility Criteria and meet the requirements of both Singapore and Ghana. The carbon crediting programmes and methodologies that are eligible may be different for each host country, as host countries also have their own criteria.
Table C-2: Eligibility List under the Singapore-Ghana Implementation Agreement
Carbon Crediting Programmes
Methodologies
Gold Standard for the Global Goals (GS4GG)
All active methodologies published before 31 March 2023, except those under the “Land Use and Forestry & Agriculture” category of GS4GG
Verified Carbon Standard (VCS)
All active methodologies published before 31 March 2023, except those that are under the “Sectoral Scope 14” category of VCS, with these allowable exceptions: · Scenario 2a and 3 of VCS Jurisdictional and Nested REDD+ (JNR) framework · VM0012 · VM0017 · VM0021 · VM0022 · VM0024 · VM0026 (and VMD0040) · VM0032 · VM0033 · VM0036 · VM0041 · VM0042
Where any VCS methodology is used, the project participant will be required to demonstrate the Sustainable Development contributions or co-benefits of the relevant mitigation activity by submitting to the Joint Committee its verification report under the Climate, Community and Biodiversity Standards (CCB Standards), the Sustainable Development Verified Impact Standard (SD VISta) or another standard recognised by VCS for such purpose.
Annex D
Information on the Singapore-Ghana Implementation Agreement
1 Singapore and Ghana signed an Implementation Agreement on carbon credits cooperation under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement on 27 May 2024. Since the signing, Singapore has been working with Ghana to operationalise the Implementation Agreement.
2 As an additional contribution to mitigation of global emissions, Singapore has committed to having 2% of the correspondingly adjusted carbon credits authorised under this Implementation Agreement cancelled at first issuance. These carbon credits cannot be sold, traded, or counted towards any country’s emission targets, and will instead contribute towards a net reduction in global emissions.
3 Singapore has committed to channelling the value from 5% of the correspondingly adjusted carbon credits authorised under this Implementation Agreement towards adaptation measures such as heat resilience measures and coastal protection in Ghana.
4 This is the second Implementation Agreement for Singapore, after the first with Papua New Guinea which was signed in December 2023. Singapore signed MOUs / Letters of Intent on carbon credits collaboration with countries such as Bhutan, Cambodia, Chile, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Fiji, Indonesia, Kenya, Laos, Mongolia, Morocco, Peru, the Philippines, Vietnam, Rwanda, Senegal, and Sri Lanka, with the aim of inking similar Implementation Agreements.
5 Effective international cooperation, such as through carbon markets, is an important part of Singapore’s efforts to achieve net zero emissions by 2050, given Singapore’s national circumstances as an alternative-energy disadvantaged country with limited domestic mitigation potential.
PUBLIC OPENING POSITION DISCLOSURE/DEALING DISCLOSURE BY A PERSON WITH INTERESTS IN RELEVANT SECURITIES REPRESENTING 1% OR MORE Rule 8.3 of the Takeover Code (the “Code”)
(b)Owner or controller of interests and short positions disclosed, if different from 1(a): The naming of nominee or vehicle companies is insufficient. For a trust, the trustee(s), settlor and beneficiaries must be named.
N/A
(c)Name of offeror/offeree in relation to whose relevant securities this form relates: Use a separate form for each offeror/offeree
LEARNING TECHNOLOGIES GROUP PLC
(d)If an exempt fund manager connected with an offeror/offeree, state this and specify identity of offeror/offeree:
N/A
(e)Date position held/dealing undertaken: For an opening position disclosure, state the latest practicable date prior to the disclosure
27 SEPTEMBER 2024
(f)In addition to the company in 1(c) above, is the discloser making disclosures in respect of any other party to the offer? If it is a cash offer or possible cash offer, state “N/A”
N/A
2.POSITIONS OF THE PERSON MAKING THE DISCLOSURE
If there are positions or rights to subscribe to disclose in more than one class of relevant securities of the offeror or offeree named in 1(c), copy table 2(a) or (b) (as appropriate) for each additional class of relevant security.
(a)Interests and short positions in the relevant securities of the offeror or offeree to which the disclosure relates following the dealing (if any)
Class of relevant security:
1p ORDINARY
Interests
Short positions
Number
%
Number
%
(1)Relevant securities owned and/or controlled:
10,320,990
1.3029
(2)Cash-settled derivatives:
(3)Stock-settled derivatives (including options) and agreements to purchase/sell:
TOTAL:
10,320,990
1.3029
All interests and all short positions should be disclosed.
Details of any open stock-settled derivative positions (including traded options), or agreements to purchase or sell relevant securities, should be given on a Supplemental Form 8 (Open Positions).
(b)Rights to subscribe for new securities (including directors’ and other employee options)
Class of relevant security in relation to which subscription right exists:
Details, including nature of the rights concerned and relevant percentages:
3.DEALINGS (IF ANY) BY THE PERSON MAKING THE DISCLOSURE
Where there have been dealings in more than one class of relevant securities of the offeror or offeree named in 1(c), copy table 3(a), (b), (c) or (d) (as appropriate) for each additional class of relevant security dealt in.
The currency of all prices and other monetary amounts should be stated.
(a)Purchases and sales
Class of relevant security
Purchase/sale
Number of securities
Price per unit
0.375p ORDINARY
SELL
5,700
75.444p
0.375p ORDINARY
SELL
6,291
76.4337p
0.375p ORDINARY
BUY
60
76.9p
(b)Cash-settled derivative transactions
Class of relevant security
Product description e.g. CFD
Nature of dealing e.g. opening/closing a long/short position, increasing/reducing a long/short position
(d)Other dealings (including subscribing for new securities)
Class of relevant security
Nature of dealing e.g. subscription, conversion
Details
Price per unit (if applicable)
NONE
4.OTHER INFORMATION
(a)Indemnity and other dealing arrangements
Details of any indemnity or option arrangement, or any agreement or understanding, formal or informal, relating to relevant securities which may be an inducement to deal or refrain from dealing entered into by the person making the disclosure and any party to the offer or any person acting in concert with a party to the offer: Irrevocable commitments and letters of intent should not be included. If there are no such agreements, arrangements or understandings, state “none”
NONE
(b)Agreements, arrangements or understandings relating to options or derivatives
Details of any agreement, arrangement or understanding, formal or informal, between the person making the disclosure and any other person relating to: (i)the voting rights of any relevant securities under any option; or (ii)the voting rights or future acquisition or disposal of any relevant securities to which any derivative is referenced: If there are no such agreements, arrangements or understandings, state “none”
NONE
(c)Attachments
Is a Supplemental Form 8 (Open Positions) attached?
NO
Date of disclosure:
30 SEPTEMBER 2024
Contact name:
DAN SALISBURY
Telephone number:
01253 376532
Public disclosures under Rule 8 of the Code must be made to a Regulatory Information Service.
The Panel’s Market Surveillance Unit is available for consultation in relation to the Code’s disclosure requirements on +44 (0)20 7638 0129.
PUBLIC OPENING POSITION DISCLOSURE/DEALING DISCLOSURE BY A PERSON WITH INTERESTS IN RELEVANT SECURITIES REPRESENTING 1% OR MORE Rule 8.3 of the Takeover Code (the “Code”)
(b)Owner or controller of interests and short positions disclosed, if different from 1(a): The naming of nominee or vehicle companies is insufficient. For a trust, the trustee(s), settlor and beneficiaries must be named.
N/A
(c)Name of offeror/offeree in relation to whose relevant securities this form relates: Use a separate form for each offeror/offeree
KEYWORDS STUDIOS PLC
(d)If an exempt fund manager connected with an offeror/offeree, state this and specify identity of offeror/offeree:
N/A
(e)Date position held/dealing undertaken: For an opening position disclosure, state the latest practicable date prior to the disclosure
27 SEPTEMBER 2024
(f)In addition to the company in 1(c) above, is the discloser making disclosures in respect of any other party to the offer? If it is a cash offer or possible cash offer, state “N/A”
N/A
2.POSITIONS OF THE PERSON MAKING THE DISCLOSURE
If there are positions or rights to subscribe to disclose in more than one class of relevant securities of the offeror or offeree named in 1(c), copy table 2(a) or (b) (as appropriate) for each additional class of relevant security.
(a)Interests and short positions in the relevant securities of the offeror or offeree to which the disclosure relates following the dealing (if any)
Class of relevant security:
1p ORDINARY
Interests
Short positions
Number
%
Number
%
(1)Relevant securities owned and/or controlled:
1,382,971
1.7177
(2)Cash-settled derivatives:
(3)Stock-settled derivatives (including options) and agreements to purchase/sell:
TOTAL:
1,382,971
1.7177
All interests and all short positions should be disclosed.
Details of any open stock-settled derivative positions (including traded options), or agreements to purchase or sell relevant securities, should be given on a Supplemental Form 8 (Open Positions).
(b)Rights to subscribe for new securities (including directors’ and other employee options)
Class of relevant security in relation to which subscription right exists:
Details, including nature of the rights concerned and relevant percentages:
3.DEALINGS (IF ANY) BY THE PERSON MAKING THE DISCLOSURE
Where there have been dealings in more than one class of relevant securities of the offeror or offeree named in 1(c), copy table 3(a), (b), (c) or (d) (as appropriate) for each additional class of relevant security dealt in.
The currency of all prices and other monetary amounts should be stated.
(a)Purchases and sales
Class of relevant security
Purchase/sale
Number of securities
Price per unit
1p ORDINARY
SELL
700
2432p
(b)Cash-settled derivative transactions
Class of relevant security
Product description e.g. CFD
Nature of dealing e.g. opening/closing a long/short position, increasing/reducing a long/short position
(d)Other dealings (including subscribing for new securities)
Class of relevant security
Nature of dealing e.g. subscription, conversion
Details
Price per unit (if applicable)
NONE
4.OTHER INFORMATION
(a)Indemnity and other dealing arrangements
Details of any indemnity or option arrangement, or any agreement or understanding, formal or informal, relating to relevant securities which may be an inducement to deal or refrain from dealing entered into by the person making the disclosure and any party to the offer or any person acting in concert with a party to the offer: Irrevocable commitments and letters of intent should not be included. If there are no such agreements, arrangements or understandings, state “none”
NONE
(b)Agreements, arrangements or understandings relating to options or derivatives
Details of any agreement, arrangement or understanding, formal or informal, between the person making the disclosure and any other person relating to: (i)the voting rights of any relevant securities under any option; or (ii)the voting rights or future acquisition or disposal of any relevant securities to which any derivative is referenced: If there are no such agreements, arrangements or understandings, state “none”
NONE
(c)Attachments
Is a Supplemental Form 8 (Open Positions) attached?
NO
Date of disclosure:
30 SEPTEMBER 2024
Contact name:
DAN SALISBURY
Telephone number:
01253 376532
Public disclosures under Rule 8 of the Code must be made to a Regulatory Information Service.
The Panel’s Market Surveillance Unit is available for consultation in relation to the Code’s disclosure requirements on +44 (0)20 7638 0129.
SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom today announced that he has signed the following bills:
AB 98 by Assemblymember Juan Carrillo (D-Palmdale) – Planning and zoning: logistics use: truck routes.
AB 347 by Assemblymember Philip Ting (D-San Francisco) – Household product safety: toxic substances: testing and enforcement.
AB 772 by Assemblymember Dr. Corey Jackson (D-Moreno Valley) – Child day care facilities.
AB 796 by Assemblymember Dr. Akilah Weber (D-San Diego) – Athletic trainers.
AB 801 by Assemblymember Joe Patterson (R-Rocklin) – Student privacy: online personal information.
AB 866 by Assemblymember Blanca Rubio (D-Baldwin Park) – Juveniles: care and treatment.
AB 977 by Assemblymember Freddie Rodriguez (D-Pomona) – Emergency departments: assault and battery.
AB 1755 by Assemblymember Ash Kalra (D-San Jose) – Civil actions: restitution for or replacement of a new motor vehicle. A signing message can be found here.
AB 1810 by Assemblymember Isaac Bryan (D-Los Angeles) – Incarcerated persons: menstrual products.
AB 1824 by Assemblymember Avelino Valencia (D-Anaheim) – California Consumer Privacy Act of 2018: opt out right: mergers.
AB 1825 by Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi (D-Torrance) – California Freedom to Read Act.
AB 1841 by Assemblymember Dr. Akilah Weber (D-San Diego) – Student safety: opioid overdose reversal medication: student housing facilities.
AB 1843 by Assemblymember Freddie Rodriguez (D-Pomona) – Emergency ambulance employees.
AB 1907 by Assemblymember Gail Pellerin (D-Santa Cruz) – California Child and Family Service Review System: Child and Adolescent Needs and Strengths (CANS) assessment.
AB 1934 by Assemblymember Tim Grayson (D-Concord) – Digital financial asset businesses.
AB 2074 by Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi (D-Torrance) – Pupil instruction: English Learner Roadmap Policy: statewide implementation plan. A signing message can be found here.
AB 2096 by Assemblymember Cottie Petrie-Norris (D-Irvine) – Restraining orders: educational institutions.
AB 2119 by Assemblymember Dr. Akilah Weber (D-San Diego) – Mental health.
AB 2123 by Assemblymember Diane Papan (D-San Mateo) – Disability compensation: paid family leave.
AB 2129 by Assemblymember Cottie Petrie-Norris (D-Irvine) – Immediate postpartum contraception.
AB 2132 by Assemblymember Evan Low (D-Campbell) – Health care services: tuberculosis.
AB 2164 by Assemblymember Marc Berman (D-Menlo Park) – Physicians and surgeons: licensure requirements: disclosure.
AB 2192 by Assemblymember Juan Carrillo (D-Palmdale) – Public agencies: cost accounting standards.
AB 2215 by Assemblymember Isaac Bryan (D-Los Angeles) – Criminal procedure: arrests.
AB 2224 by Assemblymember Miguel Santiago (D-Los Angeles) – Special immigrant juvenile status: court orders and guardianship.
AB 2245 by Assemblymember Juan Carrillo (D-Palmdale) – Certificated school employees: permanent status: regional occupational centers or programs operated by single school districts.
AB 2318 by Assemblymember Diane Papan (D-San Mateo) – State Water Pollution Cleanup and Abatement Account: receipts and expenditures: report.
AB 2343 by Assemblymember Pilar Schiavo (D-Chatsworth) – CalWORKs: childcare programs.
AB 2357 by Assemblymember Dr. Jasmeet Bains (D-Bakersfield) – University of California: school of medicine: University of California Kern County Medical Education Endowment Fund. A signing message can be found here.
AB 2377 by Assemblymember Luz Rivas (D-Sylmar) – Pupil instruction: physical education: accommodation: religious fasting.
AB 2443 by Assemblymember Juan Carrillo (D-Palmdale) – Transactions and use taxes: Cities of Lancaster, Palmdale, and Victorville.
AB 2458 by Assemblymember Marc Berman (D-Menlo Park) – Public postsecondary education: student parents.
AB 2475 by Assemblymember Matt Haney (D-San Francisco) – Parole.
AB 2483 by Assemblymember Philip Ting (D-San Francisco) – Postconviction proceedings.
AB 2484 by Assemblymember Isaac Bryan (D-Los Angeles) – Courts: juveniles: remote proceedings.
AB 2493 by Assemblymember Gail Pellerin (D-Santa Cruz) – Tenancy: application screening fee.
AB 2499 by Assemblymember Pilar Schiavo (D-Chatsworth) – Employment: unlawful discrimination and paid sick days: victims of violence.
AB 2531 by Assemblymember Isaac Bryan (D-Los Angeles) – Deaths while in law enforcement custody: reporting.
AB 2738 by Assemblymember Luz Rivas (D-Sylmar) – Labor Code: alternative enforcement: occupational safety. A signing message can be found here.
AB 2741 by Assemblymember Matt Haney (D-San Francisco) – Rental car companies: electronic surveillance technology.
AB 2843 by Assemblymember Cottie Petrie-Norris (D-Irvine) – Health care coverage: rape and sexual assault.
AB 2883 by Assemblymember Evan Low (D-Campbell) – California State University: University of California: Lunar New Year holiday.
AB 2988 by Assemblymember Kevin McCarty (D-Sacramento) – Courts.
AB 2998 by Assemblymember Tina McKinnor (D-Inglewood) – Opioid overdose reversal medications: pupil administration.
AB 3059 by Assemblymember Dr. Akilah Weber (D-San Diego) – Human milk.
AB 3145 by Assemblymember Isaac Bryan (D-Los Angeles) – Family preservation services: standards.
AB 3206 by Assemblymember Tina McKinnor (D-Inglewood) – Alcoholic beverages: hours of sale: arenas in the City of Inglewood. A signing message can be found here.
AB 3258 by Assemblymember Isaac Bryan (D-Los Angeles) – Refinery and chemical plants.
SB 285 by Senator Ben Allen (D-Santa Monica) – Criminal procedure: sentencing.
SB 379 by Senator Thomas Umberg (D-Santa Ana) – Victim services: restorative justice.
SB 442 by Senator Monique Limόn (D-Santa Barbara) – Sexual battery.
SB 504 by Senator Bill Dodd (D-Napa) – Wildfires: defensible space: grant programs: local governments.
SB 551 by Senator Anthony Portantino (D-Burbank) – Beverage containers: recycling.
SB 575 by Senator Aisha Wahab (D-Silicon Valley) – Marriage: underage marriage.
SB 918 by Senator Thomas Umberg (D-Santa Ana) – Law enforcement contact process: search warrants.
SB 940 by Senator Thomas Umberg (D-Santa Ana) – Civil disputes.
SB 946 by Senator Mike McGuire (D-North Coast) – Personal Income Tax Law: Corporation Tax Law: exclusions: wildfire mitigation payments.
SB 958 by Senator Bill Dodd (D-Napa) – Surplus state property: County of Napa.
SB 1143 by Senator Ben Allen (D-Santa Monica) – Paint products: stewardship program.
SB 1174 by Senator Dave Min (D-Irvine) – Elections: voter identification.
SB 1303 by Senator Anna Caballero (D-Merced) – Public works.
SB 1379 by Senator Bill Dodd (D-Napa) – Public Employees’ Retirement Law: reinstatement: County of Solano.
SB 1386 by Senator Anna Caballero (D-Merced) – Evidence: sexual assault.
The Governor also announced that he has vetoed the following bills:
AB 637 by Assemblymember Dr. Corey Jackson (D-Moreno Valley) – Zero-emission vehicles: fleet owners: rental vehicles. A veto message can be found here.
AB 1111 by Assemblymember Gail Pellerin (D-Santa Cruz) – Cannabis: small producer event sales license. A veto message can be found here.
AB 1122 by Assemblymember Dr. Jasmeet Bains (D-Bakersfield) – Commercial harbor craft: equipment. A veto message can be found here.
AB 1296 by Assemblymember Tim Grayson (D-Concord) – Bar pilots: regulation of vessels. A veto message can be found here.
AB 1890 by Assemblymember Joe Patterson (R-Rocklin) – Public works: prevailing wage. A veto message can be found here.
AB 1895 by Assemblymember Dr. Akilah Weber (D-San Diego) – Public health: maternity ward closures. A veto message can be found here.
AB 1973 by Assemblymember Tom Lackey (R-Palmdale) – Personal Income Tax Law: Corporation Tax Law: Bobcat Fire: exclusions. A veto message can be found here.
AB 2058 by Assemblymember Dr. Akilah Weber (D-San Diego) – Devices: disclosures. A veto message can be found here.
AB 2178 by Assemblymember Philip Ting (D-San Francisco) – Prisons: bed thresholds. A veto message can be found here.
AB 2447 by Assemblymember Avelino Valencia (D-Anaheim) – California State University: fiscal transparency: internet website. A veto message can be found here.
AB 2693 by Assemblymember Buffy Wicks (D-Oakland) – Childhood sexual assault: statute of limitations. A veto message can be found here.
AB 2773 by Assemblymember Ash Kalra (D-San Jose) – Elders and dependent adults: abuse or neglect. A veto message can be found here.
AB 2892 by Assemblymember Evan Low (D-Campbell) – Vehicles: financial responsibility: self-insurance. A veto message can be found here.
AB 3179 by Assemblymember Juan Carrillo (D-Palmdale) – Emergency telecommunications medium- and heavy-duty zero-emission vehicles. A veto message can be found here.
AB 3245 by Assemblymember Joe Patterson (R-Rocklin) – Coverage for colorectal cancer screening. A veto message can be found here.
AB 3282 by the Committee on Judiciary – Courts. A veto message can be found here.
SB 299 by Senator Monique Limόn (D-Santa Barbara) – Voter registration: California New Motor Voter Program. A veto message can be found here.
SB 336 by Senator Thomas Umberg (D-Santa Ana) – State grant programs: negotiated indirect cost rates. A veto message can be found here.
SB 542 by Senator Brian Dahle (R-Bieber) – Personal Income Tax Law: Corporation Tax Law: wildfires: exclusions. A veto message can be found here.
SB 615 by Senator Ben Allen (D-Santa Monica) – Vehicle traction batteries. A veto message can be found here.
SB 782 by Senator Monique Limόn (D-Santa Barbara) – Gubernatorial appointments: report. A veto message can be found here.
SB 984 by Senator Aisha Wahab (D-Silicon Valley) – Public agencies: project labor agreements. A veto message can be found here.
SB 1022 by Senator Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley) – Enforcement of civil rights. A veto message can be found here.
SB 1066 by Senator Catherine Blakespear (D-Encinitas) – Hazardous waste: marine flares: manufacturer responsibility. A veto message can be found here.
SB 1155 by Senator Melissa Hurtado (D-Sanger) – Political Reform Act of 1974: postgovernment employment restrictions. A veto message can be found here.
SB 1281 by Senator Caroline Menjivar (D-San Fernando Valley/Burbank) – Advancing Equity and Access in the Self-Determination Program Act. A veto message can be found here.
For full text of the bills, visit: http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov.
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Chairpersons and Directors of the Boards of Small Finance Banks; Chief Executive Officers of SFBs; Executive Directors, Chief General Managers and colleagues from the Reserve Bank of India; ladies and gentlemen. A very good morning to all of you.
It is an honour to address this distinguished gathering in the inaugural conference of Board of Directors of Small Finance Banks organised by the RBI. As has been mentioned, this conference is in continuation of the Reserve Bank’s efforts to reach out to its supervised entities through a direct dialogue with their Boards and Top Management. Our objective is to reaffirm the importance of good governance for maintaining financial stability and fostering sustainable growth.
In his address1 to the Directors of Public and Private Sector Banks last year, the Governor outlined a comprehensive 10-point charter that addressed key aspects such as the role of the Board, its independence, the importance of setting the tone from the top, etc. His speech serves as an excellent blueprint for regulatory expectations from the Boards of Directors, and I encourage you to review it if you haven’t already.
Today, I would like to discuss three key issues with you: (i) the vital role of Small Finance Banks in promoting financial inclusion, (ii) the necessity of strengthening governance and assurance functions for sustainable growth, and (iii) important considerations regarding business models and risks that Boards should be mindful of.
Important Financial Inclusion objective of SFBs
As you are aware, the licensing of Small Finance Banks was introduced a decade ago, in 2014, with the primary objective of advancing financial inclusion. Beyond serving as a vehicle to mobilise savings, SFBs were also envisioned to extend affordable credit to underserved and unorganised sectors, such as small and marginal farmers as well as small business units, by leveraging technology to reduce costs and improve accessibility.
India, today, stands at a pivotal moment in her development trajectory. In the last 75 years, we have transformed ourselves from an agrarian economy into one driven by industry and services. However, translating our GDP into higher per capita Gross National Income comparable to developed economies will require a comprehensive approach towards inclusive and sustainable economic growth. This will inter-alia entail education, skill development, employment generation, and more pertinently further deepening of financial inclusion. Thus, the goal for small finance banks is not ‘small’. On the contrary, it is very significant, as SFBs play a crucial role in extending financial services to the underserved, fostering entrepreneurship, and driving inclusive growth that will be essential for India’s progress towards becoming a high-income economy.
In a developing country like India, it is imperative for the financial sector, including small finance banks to strike a balance between profitability and social objectives. This can be achieved through a strategic focus on sectors that deliver high social impact, ensuring that financial growth is aligned with the broader goal of inclusive development. It is therefore essential for SFBs to actively participate in extending credit under various Government Sponsored Schemes to promote greater accessibility of affordable credit, especially among the vulnerable sections of the society.
As the target group of such lending is mostly the marginalised and underserved sections of the society, it is essential for the SFBs to adopt responsible lending practices. It is disheartening to come across egregious practices by some SFBs, such as charging excessive interest rates, collecting instalments in advance as well as not adjusting such advance collections against loan outstanding, levying of usurious fees, etc. It is also observed that grievance redressal mechanism is far from adequate in most SFBs.
I therefore feel that periodically reviewing how your bank is fulfilling its financial inclusion objectives is an area that Boards should give much deeper consideration to. It is not just about meeting regulatory requirements such as priority sector lending but also about assessing the true impact of your efforts on underserved communities. Boards can reflect on whether the bank is genuinely reaching marginalised groups, such as low-income households, small businesses, and rural populations, and how effectively it is using technology and innovative products to bridge financial gaps, as these were the objectives of having a differentiated licensing for SFBs.
Strengthening Governance
An effective governance framework is the foundation of resilient and well managed institutions, especially in the context of banks. There needs to be a clear division of responsibilities between the Board and the management to ensure smooth functioning of the bank. While the Board is responsible for setting the overall strategic direction, establishing policies, and ensuring that the bank adheres to regulatory frameworks and ethical standards, the management is responsible for the execution of the Board’s strategy and operations. It is the Board’s role to provide oversight, asking the right questions and holding the management accountable for executing the bank’s strategy within the agreed risk appetite.
In this context, it is imperative that the views of the Board are clearly articulated and documented in the minutes of the meetings of the Board and its various sub-committees. It is said that the ‘palest ink is better than the best memory’. Proper documentation serves as a vital record of the Board’s deliberations, decisions, and rationale behind those decisions, ensuring transparency and accountability in governance. Clear minutes not only provide a historical account of the Board’s discussions but also serve as a reference for future decision-making, helping to maintain continuity and clarity in governance practices.
Boards should prioritise proper succession planning for top management. Having just one Whole Time Director (WTD) can create potential vulnerabilities, especially in times of transition or unforeseen circumstances. Without a well-thought-out succession plan, the bank may face leadership gaps that could disrupt operations and affect strategic decision-making. A broader pool of experienced leaders also contributes to better governance and more resilient management structures. We observe that while the SFBs are strengthening their Boards by bringing in new directors, some SFBs are yet to ensure the presence of at least two Whole Time Directors. I would request these banks to expeditiously consider appointing more WTDs.
Empowering Assurance Functions
Boards should accord due importance to assurance functions, namely, risk management, compliance and internal audit. These functions play a critical role in identifying and mitigating risks, ensuring compliance with laws and regulations as well as safeguarding the organisation’s integrity.
Boards should ensure that heads of assurance functions are positioned appropriately within the organisational hierarchy and granted direct access to the Board. Dual-hatting, or combining assurance responsibilities with operational or management duties, undermines the independence and objectivity of assurance functions by creating conflicts of interest. Therefore, any dual hatting of assurance functions, should be avoided.
Key risks to reflect upon
Small Finance Banks have demonstrated strong growth since their inception, now accounting for 1.18 percent of total banking assets (as of March 2024). This is a substantial rise from 0.44 percent in March 2018. The deposit base has grown at a 32 per cent compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) over the last five years whereas net advances recorded a CAGR of 26 per cent. While the business growth in Small Finance Banks is indeed impressive, it is imperative that Boards remain vigilant for hidden and emerging risks that could jeopardise their long-term success.
In this context, I would like to highlight a few areas that Boards could keep in mind.
Business model
Firstly, I would urge Boards to consider the sustainability of their growth strategies and business models by conducting a thorough review of both the liability and asset sides of the balance sheet. Specifically, they should assess whether there is an overdependence on high-cost term deposits or bulk deposits from a limited number of institutions. Additionally, they should evaluate any substantial asset exposures that could adversely impact the bank if they were to sour. These are essential aspects that the Board and its Risk Management Committee must scrutinise to ensure long-term stability and resilience.
Credit risks
Secondly, I would like to emphasise proper credit risk underwriting. While many banks have expanded into unsecured retail lending, hoping to leverage the diversification benefits it offers, there is an underlying correlation risk that becomes more pronounced during economic downturns. In such scenarios, the credit profile of a large segment of borrowers can be significantly impacted, leading to higher default rates. This highlights the importance of rigorous underwriting processes that carefully assess the creditworthiness of borrowers, rather than relying solely on automated systems or algorithms. Effective underwriting should consider a comprehensive range of factors, including income stability, credit history, and the overall economic environment, to ensure that loans are made judiciously.
Further, while digital lending solutions have streamlined the process and made access to credit easier, on-the-ground presence for collections remains crucial. Resorting to coercive recovery practices as a means of mitigating risk is not a sustainable solution. Such practices not only harm the bank’s reputation but can also lead to legal and regulatory repercussions. A better approach is to implement collection strategies that prioritise communication and collaboration with borrowers. This includes strictly adhering to fair practices code and adopting an empathetic approach while dealing with stressed loan book.
Cyber-security risk and third-party dependencies
Thirdly, I would like to address the issue of cyber security and IT vulnerabilities. Being relatively new entities, SFBs have used technology to enhance their product offerings and customer service. However, with their increasing digital footprint, these banks face significant operational risks from growing cyber threats, digital frauds, and possible data breaches.
The cyber security landscape is evolving rapidly, and SFBs must stay ahead of emerging threats to protect their customers’ data and maintain operational resilience. The SFBs should adopt robust business continuity plans and effective IT outsourcing strategies. There is also a need to ensure rigorous change management processes, comprehensive data protection measures, vigilant transaction monitoring, stringent access controls and network security protocols. These measures will help SFBs to significantly enhance their IT resilience against possible disruptions.
Operational Risk
Fourthly, while I have covered cybersecurity threats, I would also like boards of SFBs to be mindful of the larger issue of operational risks. During periods of rapid growth, the focus on increasing market share, launching new products, and acquiring customers can lead to a neglect of essential risk management practices. For example, hastily onboarding new customers without thorough KYC due diligence or rushing the deployment of technology solutions without adequate testing can increase the likelihood of frauds, errors and service disruptions. Growth is important for the success of Small Finance Banks. However, it must not come by overlooking operational controls.
Another significant area of concern for operational risk is the high attrition rate among staff in Small Finance Banks. While the branch network and employee headcounts are expanding, the sector faces a very high attrition rate of nearly 40 per cent, particularly among frontline staff and junior management. Such elevated turnover, though mostly at the entry and junior management levels, poses substantial operational risks, as it can lead to a loss of institutional knowledge, disruption in service delivery, and increased training costs for new hires. To mitigate these risks, Board-level efforts are essential to focus on employee retention strategies at all levels. Further, the absence of succession planning for critical managerial positions is a common issue across SFBs, which requires immediate attention from Boards to ensure a smooth transition of leadership and maintain operational effectiveness.
Conclusion
In conclusion, SFBs with their outreach to rural and semi-urban areas, are intended to be one of the key enablers in credit offerings to individuals, weaker sections, entrepreneurs, SHGs/JLGs and MSMEs. They have a large role to play in achieving our aspirational goal of becoming a developed nation by 2047.
As RBI celebrates 90 years of its foundation this year, we have set deepening financial inclusion as one of our cherished objectives for RBI@100. RBI, with its continued commitment towards a financially inclusive India, has taken several measures to support these segments ranging from Priority Sector Lending targets to the introduction of TReDS for MSMEs. A new chapter in this book is the Unified Lending Interface (ULI) platform which aims at “enabling frictionless credit” with the ‘new trinity’ of JAM-UPI-ULI, further propelling India’s growth story.
SFBs should strive to harness this opportunity and other such opportunities offered by latest technological innovations for efficient and cost-effective service delivery. Further, with robust governance and effective board oversight, SFBs can capitalise on their strengths while meeting growth and stability objectives.
With this, I wish you all the best for the coming sessions and hope that you find these sessions professionally enriching and stimulating. Thank you!
BRUSSELS and OTTAWA, Oct. 01, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — In a joint announcement today, the Eclipse Foundation, one of the world’s leading open source software foundations, and OpenHW Group, a global leader in developing open source RISC-V processor cores and IP, revealed that OpenHW will become part of the Eclipse Foundation. This strategic collaboration, set to be finalised by December 2024, will accelerate the development of open source hardware technologies, offering a robust, open alternative to proprietary architectures. This move will benefit a wide array of industries, including artificial intelligence (AI), cloud computing, IoT, automotive, and high-performance computing (HPC).
Founded in 2019, OpenHW Group immediately established a strategic partnership with the Eclipse Foundation, drawing on Eclipse’s expertise to deliver key services, including development processes, IP management, IT infrastructure, and back-office operations. This long-standing collaboration has laid the foundation for a seamless integration, strengthening OpenHW’s mission to provide verified, industrial grade, open source cores that are ready for commercial-grade SoC production.
As part of this transition, OpenHW Group will be renamed the OpenHW Foundation, bringing its extensive network of more than 100 members and partners into the Eclipse Foundation’s open source ecosystem, including prominent organisations such as Barcelona Supercomputing Center, CEA, Red Hat, Silicon Labs, and Thales. By joining forces with the Eclipse Foundation, OpenHW reinforces its commitment to delivering industry-leading open hardware solutions.
“Joining the Eclipse Foundation is a transformative moment for OpenHW, solidifying our commitment to delivering trusted open hardware solutions to the global market,” said Florian Wohlrab, CEO of OpenHW Group. “This partnership provides the long-term stability, infrastructure, and open source expertise we need to continue driving innovation in RISC-V hardware, benefiting both our members and the broader industry.”
Mike Milinkovich, executive director of the Eclipse Foundation, added, “Throughout its five-year history, OpenHW has played a pivotal role in pushing the boundaries of open source hardware. Together, we’re now much better positioned to advance cutting-edge technologies in areas like AI, software-defined vehicles, and the Industrial IoT, further strengthening the role of open source in these critical industries.”
Bolstering Open Source Hardware Innovation
By joining the Eclipse Foundation, OpenHW can fully focus on further developing RISC-V hardware, an open, flexible, and cost-effective architecture that enables faster innovation while removing traditional licensing barriers. The open source nature of RISC-V makes it an ideal choice for enterprises looking to disrupt markets, especially in sectors such as AI and automotive, where flexibility and scalability are critical.
Under the governance of the Eclipse Foundation, the OpenHW Foundation will continue to lead and expand on critical projects and initiatives, including:
CVA6: 64/32-bit cores designed for high-performance applications like Linux-based systems. These configurable cores offer an industrial-grade platform for a wide range of applications, including those with advanced safety requirements.
CVE4: 32-bit embedded-class cores, optimised for IoT, edge computing, and consumer electronics, powering devices like washing machines, robots, drones, and game controllers. Typically, these cores run real-time operating systems such as Eclipse ThreadX or operate in bare-metal environments.
CVE2: Small, power-efficient processors, perfect for deeply embedded control applications, replacing state-machine logic in embedded devices.
CVA6 Platform: A vendor-neutral software validation platform supporting a variety of FPGA configurations, including cloud-based solutions like AWS ES2 FPGA instances.
Software Initiatives: Ongoing efforts to add extensions, improve compilers, and enhance emulators to ensure robust support for our cores across the latest technologies.
Join OpenHW and Shape the Future of Open Processor Technologies
As part of the Eclipse Foundation, the OpenHW Foundation is uniquely positioned to advance its mission of supporting industries ranging from embedded systems to supercomputing. By delivering high-quality, verified RISC-V cores, OpenHW meets the rigorous demands of modern applications, ensuring reliability and innovation across diverse sectors. This transition brings exciting opportunities for both existing and new stakeholders to get involved and help shape the future of open source hardware. We invite members, partners, and other stakeholders to actively engage in advancing RISC-V core development, emulation kits, and software initiatives.
Whether you’re a developer, researcher, or an organisation, joining the OpenHW Foundation gives you direct access to a vibrant, collaborative community that drives RISC-V-based innovation. Explore opportunities to contribute, influence key initiatives, and make your mark in the open hardware community. New members are welcome to join through the Eclipse Foundation. Visit the Eclipse Membership page to learn how to become part of this exciting new chapter.
Member Quotes
Barcelona Supercomputing Center (BSC) “At BSC, our mission is to push the boundaries of computer architecture and supercomputing. By working closely with OpenHW, we are contributing to the development of high-performance, open source RISC-V cores that are critical to the future of high-performance computing. We are confident OpenHW joining the Eclipse Foundation will only further enhance this collaboration, offering greater opportunities for impact across the global open hardware ecosystem.” – Miquel Moretó, High Performance Domain-Specific Architectures Group Leader at BSC.
Bluespec “The RISC-V community has made a tremendous impact, with millions of cores already being shipped. We’re excited to see OpenHW Group join the Eclipse Foundation and view it as a significant milestone that will drive innovation across the broader ecosystem. At Bluespec, we recognize the importance of fostering a healthy, open source environment and this collaboration ensures continued development of high-quality, industrial-grade open source RISC-V cores.” – Charlie Hauck, CEO of Bluespec.
CEA “CEA has long been at the forefront of research and development in sectors such as low-carbon energy and microelectronics with its Leti institute. Our collaboration with OpenHW enables us to apply our advanced research to open source processor technology, creating new possibilities for commercial and industrial applications. As a long-time existing Strategic Member of the Eclipse Foundation, we are confident that this transition marks an exciting new chapter in our work with OpenHW, ensuring that we continue to drive meaningful innovation in both open hardware and critical global industries.” – Fabien Clermidy, Head of System Division, CEA-Leti.
Silicon Labs “Silicon Labs is proud to support the OpenHW Foundation’s mission of driving innovation in open source hardware. As a leader in radio modules and wireless technologies, we recognize the importance of robust, verified processor cores that meet the demands of modern IoT applications. The Eclipse Foundation’s strong governance and OpenHW’s RISC-V expertise create a powerful platform for collaboration and growth.” – Daniel Ciooley, CTO and SVP at Silicon Labs
Thales “At Thales, we are deeply committed to advancing cutting-edge technologies, and our collaboration with OpenHW aligns perfectly with this mission. Through initiatives like the Europe Tristan project, we are leveraging open source RISC-V processor cores to deliver innovative, secure solutions for the aerospace and defence sectors. The transition to the Eclipse Foundation strengthens this commitment and positions the OpenHW community to drive further breakthroughs in open hardware.” – Daniel Glazman, CTO Software (KTD), Thales Group.
About the Eclipse Foundation The Eclipse Foundation provides our global community of individuals and organisations with a business-friendly environment for open source software collaboration and innovation. We host the Eclipse IDE, Adoptium, Software Defined Vehicle, Jakarta EE, and over 420 open source projects, including runtimes, tools, specifications, and frameworks for cloud and edge applications, IoT, AI, automotive, systems engineering, open processor designs, and many others. Headquartered in Brussels, Belgium, the Eclipse Foundation is an international non-profit association supported by over 360 members. Visit us at this year’s Open Community Experience (OCX) conference on 22-24 October 2024 in Mainz, Germany. To learn more, follow us on social media @EclipseFdn, LinkedIn, or visit eclipse.org.
About OpenHW Group OpenHW Group is a global non-profit organisation dedicated to developing, verifying, and delivering high quality, open source RISC-V processor cores and related IP for commercial and industrial applications. With its extensive network of more than 100 members and partners, OpenHW is driving the advancement of open source processor technology across cloud, mobile, IoT, AI, automotive, HPC, and other domains. Through its CORE-V Task Group, the organisation ensures industry-aligned, high-quality development, supporting cutting-edge SoC production worldwide. OpenHW is supported by leading innovators such as Barcelona Supercomputer Center (BSC), CEA, Red Hat, Silicon Labs, and Thales. To learn more, visit openhwgroup.org.
Third-party trademarks mentioned are the property of their respective owners.
Media contacts: Schwartz Public Relations (Germany) Gloria Huppert/Marita Bäumer Sendlinger Straße 42A 80331 Munich EclipseFoundation@schwartzpr.de +49 (89) 211 871 -70/ -62
Before starting her animal feeds company, Nancy Githuku ran a small poultry and dairy farm in eastern Nairobi. “Business was alright,” she says, “but I had a big challenge accessing quality feeds. So I decided to venture into the business of sourcing and selling animal feeds.”
Githuku saw a lot of potential to build her animal feeds business, but she had trouble finding affordable loans. “Most banks wanted me to produce collateral, like a title deed or logbook, as security for a loan, which I didn’t have,” she says.
The lack of collateral for loans is common in emerging markets like Kenya, especially for women. Most property ownership documents for land, homes or cars are in the names of men. This makes it hard for women to get business loans or other forms of financial help. During the COVID-19 pandemic, businesses run by women were particularly hard hit, as credit from other sources like families and friends dried up.
EIB Global, the European Investment Bank’s international development arm, has invested nearly €700 million in Kenya since 1976 to help small and medium companies work with local financial institutions. Through deals known as intermediated lending, the European Union’s financial arm offers financing to local banks so they can give more loans to small businesses.
Githuku received a loan from the Co-operative Bank, which had in turn been backed by the European Investment Bank in one of these intermediated deals. “The funding I received didn’t require collateral or a guarantor,” she says. “This took a heavy load off my shoulder. And the interest rate was subsidised, meaning the loan was way more affordable than what was available in the market.”
PUBLIC OPENING POSITION DISCLOSURE/DEALING DISCLOSURE BY A PERSON WITH INTERESTS IN RELEVANT SECURITIES REPRESENTING 1% OR MORE Rule 8.3 of the Takeover Code (the “Code”)
(b)Owner or controller of interests and short positions disclosed, if different from 1(a): The naming of nominee or vehicle companies is insufficient. For a trust, the trustee(s), settlor and beneficiaries must be named.
N/A
(c)Name of offeror/offeree in relation to whose relevant securities this form relates: Use a separate form for each offeror/offeree
LEARNING TECHNOLOGIES GROUP PLC
(d)If an exempt fund manager connected with an offeror/offeree, state this and specify identity of offeror/offeree:
N/A
(e)Date position held/dealing undertaken: For an opening position disclosure, state the latest practicable date prior to the disclosure
30 SEPTEMBER 2024
(f)In addition to the company in 1(c) above, is the discloser making disclosures in respect of any other party to the offer? If it is a cash offer or possible cash offer, state “N/A”
N/A
2.POSITIONS OF THE PERSON MAKING THE DISCLOSURE
If there are positions or rights to subscribe to disclose in more than one class of relevant securities of the offeror or offeree named in 1(c), copy table 2(a) or (b) (as appropriate) for each additional class of relevant security.
(a)Interests and short positions in the relevant securities of the offeror or offeree to which the disclosure relates following the dealing (if any)
Class of relevant security:
1p ORDINARY
Interests
Short positions
Number
%
Number
%
(1)Relevant securities owned and/or controlled:
10,263,593
1.2956
(2)Cash-settled derivatives:
(3)Stock-settled derivatives (including options) and agreements to purchase/sell:
TOTAL:
10,263,593
1.2956
All interests and all short positions should be disclosed.
Details of any open stock-settled derivative positions (including traded options), or agreements to purchase or sell relevant securities, should be given on a Supplemental Form 8 (Open Positions).
(b)Rights to subscribe for new securities (including directors’ and other employee options)
Class of relevant security in relation to which subscription right exists:
Details, including nature of the rights concerned and relevant percentages:
3.DEALINGS (IF ANY) BY THE PERSON MAKING THE DISCLOSURE
Where there have been dealings in more than one class of relevant securities of the offeror or offeree named in 1(c), copy table 3(a), (b), (c) or (d) (as appropriate) for each additional class of relevant security dealt in.
The currency of all prices and other monetary amounts should be stated.
(a)Purchases and sales
Class of relevant security
Purchase/sale
Number of securities
Price per unit
0.375p ORDINARY
SELL
23,492
95.15p
0.375p ORDINARY
SELL
18,905
95.2502p
0.375p ORDINARY
SELL
15,000
95.6p
(b)Cash-settled derivative transactions
Class of relevant security
Product description e.g. CFD
Nature of dealing e.g. opening/closing a long/short position, increasing/reducing a long/short position
(d)Other dealings (including subscribing for new securities)
Class of relevant security
Nature of dealing e.g. subscription, conversion
Details
Price per unit (if applicable)
NONE
4.OTHER INFORMATION
(a)Indemnity and other dealing arrangements
Details of any indemnity or option arrangement, or any agreement or understanding, formal or informal, relating to relevant securities which may be an inducement to deal or refrain from dealing entered into by the person making the disclosure and any party to the offer or any person acting in concert with a party to the offer: Irrevocable commitments and letters of intent should not be included. If there are no such agreements, arrangements or understandings, state “none”
NONE
(b)Agreements, arrangements or understandings relating to options or derivatives
Details of any agreement, arrangement or understanding, formal or informal, between the person making the disclosure and any other person relating to: (i)the voting rights of any relevant securities under any option; or (ii)the voting rights or future acquisition or disposal of any relevant securities to which any derivative is referenced: If there are no such agreements, arrangements or understandings, state “none”
NONE
(c)Attachments
Is a Supplemental Form 8 (Open Positions) attached?
NO
Date of disclosure:
01 OCTOBER 2024
Contact name:
DAN SALISBURY
Telephone number:
01253 376532
Public disclosures under Rule 8 of the Code must be made to a Regulatory Information Service.
The Panel’s Market Surveillance Unit is available for consultation in relation to the Code’s disclosure requirements on +44 (0)20 7638 0129.
Headline: Biden-Harris Administration Prepared for Multi-State Event as Hurricane Helene Approaches, FEMA Encourages People in Storm’s Path to Listen to Local Officials
Biden-Harris Administration Prepared for Multi-State Event as Hurricane Helene Approaches, FEMA Encourages People in Storm’s Path to Listen to Local Officials
At the Direction of President Biden, FEMA Administrator to Travel to Florida to Survey Impacts
WASHINGTON — Hurricane Helene is a massive, dangerous storm and FEMA is prepared for anticipated multi-state impacts. In advance of Hurricane Helene’s landfall in Florida, the Biden-Harris Administration approved pre-landfall emergency declarations for Florida, Georgia and North Carolina. These declarations enable FEMA to provide federal resources to the states for emergency protective measures like reimbursement for evacuations and sheltering and aid initial response and recovery efforts.
FEMA urges people in the path of Hurricane Helene to take immediate action to protect themselves as the storm approaches. Hurricane Helene is expected to continue strengthening and bring life-threating storm surge and hurricane conditions to Florida starting today. There is also the risk for dangerous flash and flooding in Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina.
“The Biden-Harris Administration is ready for this event. We are prepared and postured for response,” said FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell. “People in Hurricane Helene’s path need to take this seriously. Listen to your state and local elected officials. If they tell you to evacuate, evacuate. If they tell you to shelter in place, stay where you are. These decisions can save lives.”
FEMA, the entire federal family and partner organizations are actively coordinating response efforts across Florida, Georgia and North Carolina. There are over 1,100 personnel actively supporting from across the federal government, which include Urban Search and Rescue Teams, Coast Guard, the Department of Defense and power restoration teams from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. An additional 700 FEMA team members already deployed across the region from previous events. To help people who may need to evacuate, the American Red Cross is actively standing up shelters in the areas likely to feel the impacts from Helene.
Safety Tips During the Storm
Residents in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina can find a list of state, tribal and local resources such as evacuation, shelter and important storm updates on FEMA.gov.
Pay attention to local officials. Weather conditions can change quickly. Make sure to heed their warnings and evacuate immediately if told to do so.
NOW is the time to finish preparations. Today is the day to prepare for this storm. Take action immediately to protect yourself, your family, your pets and your home. Finish gathering any supplies like food, water, medication, flashlights and food for your pets now. If possible, include cash in your emergency kit, as ATMs may not work after the storm.
If you did not evacuate, stay safe at home. Gather your supplies including flashlights, battery operated radio and food and water and keep them on a high shelf or upper level. Find a safe location to ride out the storm, such as a designated storm shelter or interior room for high winds.
Be in the know about your evacuation route. Several counties in Florida issued mandatory and voluntary evacuation orders. Visit Evacuation Orders | Florida Disaster to see the full list. Florida residents can call 800-729-3413 for shelter locations. People in Florida, Alabama and Georgia should be prepared to evacuate quickly if they are in the path of this storm and are told to do so.
Have several ways to receive alerts. People in areas along Florida’s Panhandle, west coast and into Alabama and Georgia should follow the forecast carefully and instructions of state and local officials by monitoring local radio or television stations for updated emergency information. Sign up for community alerts in your area and be aware of the Emergency Alert System (EAS) and Wireless Emergency Alert (WEA), which require no sign up. You can also download the free FEMA App available in English and Spanish languages to receive real-time weather alerts and find local emergency shelters in your area.
Your neighbors are your lifeline. Check on your neighbors, especially older adults or those who may need additional assistance, to make sure they have what they need to ride out the storm. Have a plan to remain in contact during and after the storm.
Power outage and generator safety. If you lose power, use only flashlights or battery-powered lanterns for emergency lighting. If using a generator, remember to always use them outdoors and keep it at least 20 feet from doors and windows. Additionally, make sure to keep the generator dry and protected from rain or flooding. De-clutter drains and gutters, bring in outside furniture and put up hurricane shutters if you have them.
Stay out of floodwater. Walking, swimming or driving through flood waters is extremely dangerous. Standing water may be electrically charged from underground or downed power lines or contain hazards such as wild or stray animals, human and livestock waste and chemicals that can lead to illness.
Turn Around. Don’t Drown™. Driving through a flooded area can be extremely hazardous. Almost half of all flash flood deaths happen in vehicles. When in your car, look out for flooding in low lying areas at bridges and at highway dips. As little as 6 inches of water may cause you to lose control of your vehicle or fall if you are walking through it. Two feet of rushing water can carry away most vehicles including sport utility vehicles (SUVs) and pick-ups.
Keep important documents safe. Save copies of birth certificates, passports, medical records and insurance papers in a safe, dry place. Keep important documents in a waterproof container and create password-protected digital copies. Take photos or videos of your belongings and property on your phone or upload them to the internet. Move valuables like photo albums, heirlooms and other treasured items to higher levels.
Bay Roberts RCMP is investigating the theft of a truck that occurred last night in Clarke’s Beach. The stolen vehicle was recovered from a nearby body of water.
Shortly before 8:00 p.m., Bay Roberts RCMP received a report of theft of a truck in Clarke’s Beach. The vehicle, a black 2008 Chevrolet Silverado, was stolen from the parking lot of the post office while the operator was inside the business.
Approximately ten minutes later, Bay Roberts RCMP received a report that a truck had departed the road and entered a body of water in Clarke’s Beach. An occupant of the truck swam to shore and was picked up by an unknown male operating an all-terrain vehicle. Both individuals departed prior to police arrival.
An extensive search of the area and the water was conducted with no other occupants located. The truck was recovered from the pond and was confirmed as being the stolen truck.
The investigation is continuing.
Bay Roberts RCMP is looking to identify the individual involved in the theft of the truck, as well as the ATV operator, and asks the public to check for any available surveillance footage that may assist with this investigation.
Anyone having information about either of these incidents is asked to contact Bay Roberts RCMP at 709-786-2118. To remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers: #SayItHere 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), visithttp://www.nlcrimestoppers.comor use the P3Tips app.
Bay Roberts RCMP thanks those involved in the search of the water last evening, including Avalon North Wolverines Search and Rescue and Bay De Grave Fire Department.
Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime Alerts (b)
ST. LOUIS – The owner of a nonprofit was indicted Wednesday and accused of fraudulently obtaining more than $2 million in funds intended to feed low-income Missouri children, both before and during the coronavirus pandemic.
Cymone McClellan, 31, of St. Louis, was indicted in U.S. District Court in St. Louis on four felony counts of wire fraud.
The indictment says McClellan owned and ran a non-profit organization called Sister of Lavender Rose (S.O.L.R.). From about January 2019 to June 2022, McClellan and her nonprofit submitted false and fraudulent meal reimbursement claims to Missouri’s Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS). S.O.L.R. submitted reimbursement claims to the Food and Nutrition Programs for Children claiming that she served 860,876 meals to children but only bought enough food and milk to serve fewer than one-quarter of those meals, the indictment says. According to the indictment, McClellan defrauded the State of Missouri out of more than $2 million through her fraudulent reimbursement claims.
The indictment says McClellan attempted to cover up her crime by providing bogus sign-in sheets to DHSS falsely claiming to have taken the attendance of meal recipients at certain food distribution locations. S.O.L.R. submitted management plans to DHSS falsely asserting that state meal reimbursement dollars were spent only in connection with the provision of meals to low-income children, and that the nonprofit did not use meal money to make purchases over $5,000. The indictment says McClellan spent $60,000 on a down payment on a house in Collinsville, Illinois and also bought five vehicles and a house in Florissant, Missouri.
One of the addresses where McClellan informed the State of Missouri that she was purportedly preparing food for low-income children belonged to an adults-only nightclub called Elmo’s Love Lounge, the indictment says.
The indictment seeks the forfeiture of the real estate, as well as a 2021 Chevrolet Traverse, a 2012 Chevrolet Express G3500 van, a 2020 Mercedez-Benz Metris van, a 2012 Ford E350 box truck and a 2018 Lexus RX SUV.
Charges set forth in an indictment are merely accusations and do not constitute proof of guilt. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty. The wire fraud charges carry a penalty of up to 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine or both prison and a fine.
This case was investigated by the FBI and the U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorney Derek Wiseman is prosecuting the case.
Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime Alerts (b)
COLUMBUS, Ga. – A resident of Meriwether County with several previous felony convictions was found guilty of illegal gun possession and drug trafficking charges following a bench trial this week.
Howatdrick Jamal Jones, 30, of Woodbury, Georgia, was found guilty of one count of possession of cocaine base with intent to distribute, one count of possession of a firearm during a drug trafficking crime and one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon following a bench trial before U.S. District Judge Clay Land that began and ended on Monday, Sept. 23. Jones faces a maximum sentence of life in prison. Sentencing is scheduled for Dec. 12. There is no parole in the federal system.
“Repeat armed felons tied to violent criminal gangs will find themselves being held accountable at the federal level,” said U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. “Law enforcement across the Middle District of Georgia is working closely with our office to bring the most dangerous offenders in our communities to justice and make our communities safer for all.”
“Guns, drugs and violence are unfortunately all too common tools of the drug trafficking organizations operating in our communities,” said Robert J. Murphy, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Division. “Cases like this clearly demonstrate the resolve of the DEA to hold violent drug traffickers accountable.”
“I would like to thank all of the law enforcement entities involved for their hard work on this case,” said Waverly Hall Police Chief Jason Durham. “This is another proven example that illegal drugs and guns will not be tolerated.”
According to the evidence at trial, Jones was stopped by a Waverly Hall Police Department officer on Oct. 16, 2019, after the officer’s automatic license plate reader triggered an alert that the owner of the car had active arrest warrants. The officer smelled marijuana and searched the vehicle, finding cocaine, a digital scale and a razor blade next to the drugs. Jones was concealing a .45 caliber pistol. At the time, Jones had several prior felony drug convictions; it is illegal for a convicted felon to possess a firearm. Jones was convicted of bank robbery on Sept. 20, 2023, in the Superior Court of Pike County, Georgia and is serving a life sentence for his crime.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Waverly Hall Police Department with valuable assistance from the FBI and the Harris County Sheriff’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher Williams and Crawford Seals are prosecuting the case for the Government.
Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime Alerts (b)
Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Al’Donta Easterling (26, Jacksonville) has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute 100 kilograms or more of marijuana, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Easterling faces a minimum mandatory penalty of 10 years, up to life, in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
According to the plea agreement, beginning no later than October 2022 and continuing through July 2024, Easterling was an armed distributor for a drug trafficking organization (DTO) that transported large quantities of marijuana from California to Jacksonville. Easterling and his co-conspirators routinely traveled to California, where they acquired marijuana and smuggled it back to Jacksonville in suitcases on commercial flights or through mail parcels. In Jacksonville, Easterling and his co-conspirators sold marijuana from short-term rental properties. At these residences, Easterling and his co-conspirators routinely carried and possessed firearms to protect themselves, the drugs they distributed, and proceeds from the drug sales. Federal agents seized more than 100 kilograms of marijuana from the DTO during the investigation. On May 22, 2024, detectives from the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office (JSO) arrested Easterling after finding a pound of marijuana and a loaded Glock pistol in his vehicle. According to JSO, Easterling is a documented member of the Six Block street gang.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office, the Clay County Sheriff’s Office, and the Florida Highway Patrol. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Aakash Singh and Kirwinn Mike.
This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Chris Pappas (D-NH)
Yesterday the House passed Congressman Chris Pappas’s (NH-01)Veteran Improvement Commercial Driver License Act of 2023 with bipartisan, unanimous support. This bipartisan legislation will eliminate red tape that excludes veterans from accessing commercial driver-education programs using their GI Bill benefits. It has passed the Senate and is headed to the President’s desk for his signature.
The legislation would exempt new branches of established commercial driver-training facilities from the statutory two-year waiting period to accept GI Bill benefits if the primary training facility has already been approved by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and state approving agencies to receive those benefits.
“Removing an arbitrary two year wait for veterans to use their GI benefits to obtain a commercial driving license is common sense and will help address the current truck driver shortage,” said Congressman Pappas, member of House Veterans’ Affairs Committee. “This bipartisan legislation will cut red tape for veterans to acquire a commercial driving license, increasing opportunities for veterans and supporting our supply chains and economy. I urge the President to sign it into law quickly.”
Background:
The statutory “two-year rule” requires new branches of an already-approved training facility to wait two years before accepting GI Bill benefits.
Veterans who want to obtain their commercial driver licenses (CDLs) can face barriers to attending a commercial driver-education program, particularly if they live in a rural area, as they may have to travel long distances or wait two years to attend the closest training facility so that they are able to use their GI Bill benefits.
The Veteran Improvement Commercial Driver License Act of 2023 requires the new branch of a training facility to teach the same curriculum as the already-approved facility and to meet annual reporting requirements during the two-year exemption period. The VA secretary is also authorized to revoke the exemption from the facility at any time.
This bipartisan legislation is endorsed by the following Veteran Service Organizations (VSO): the American Legion, Moving Veterans Forward, Student Veterans of America, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Great Plains Chapter of Paralyzed Veterans of America, and Nebraska Military Officers Association of America. It is also endorsed by the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Werner Trucking, the American Trucking Association, the Commercial Vehicle Training Association, the Nebraska Trucking Association, and the Truckload Carriers Association.
Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime Alerts (c)
ALBUQUERQUE – A Zuni Pueblo man was charged by criminal complaint with federal firearms violations following a drive-by shooting that occurred on the Pueblo of Zuni Indian Reservation.
Devin Wyaco, 33, an enrolled member of the Pueblo of Zuni, appeared before a federal judge today and will remain in custody pending trial, which has not been scheduled.
According to the criminal complaint, on September 19, 2024, John Doe and his girlfriend were riding their bikes in Zuni, New Mexico when they noticed a white sedan with tinted windows drive past them, going in the same direction as them. The sedan then did a U-turn and stopped before driving back towards them. As the vehicle passed them, one shot was fired from the passenger side, striking John Doe in his abdomen.
John Doe was transported via ambulance first to Zuni Hospital, then to University of New Mexico Hospital. When he was later interviewed by investigators, John Doe identified the vehicle as belonging to Wyaco’s girlfriend.
Investigators executed a federal search warrant on Wyaco’s girlfriend’s residence. There, they spoke to Wyaco’s girlfriend, who stated she had been in the vehicle with Wyaco at the time of the shooting. Wyaco’s girlfriend told investigators that he had fled and was still in possession of the firearm.
If convicted, Wyaco faces a minimum of 10 years in prison.
U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.
The Gallup Resident Agency of the FBI’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Zuni Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Zachary C. Jones is prosecuting the case.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
ADDRESS TO THE 79TH SESSION OF THE UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY
by
THE PRESIDENT of the REPUBLIC of TÜRKİYE,
H.E. RECEP TAYYİP ERDOĞAN
(24 SEPTEMBER 2024, NEW YORK)
Mr. President,
Distinguished Heads of State and Government,
Mr. Secretary General,
Esteemed Delegates,
I greet you with my most heartfelt feelings and respect on behalf of myself, my country and my nation.
I am very pleased to have the opportunity to address the United Nations General Assembly once again today.
I wish the 79th General Assembly to be beneficial to our countries and to all humanity.
I would like to congratulate Mr. Dennis FRANCIS, who has completed his Presidency of the General Assembly, and I wish success to Mr. Philemon YANG, who assumed this duty.
I would like to express our pleasure in seeing the Representative of the friendly and brotherly Palestine in the place he deserves among the member states, after lengthy struggles.
I wish this historic step to be the last stage on the way to Palestine’s membership in the United Nations.
I also invite other states, that have not yet done so, to recognize the State of Palestine as soon as possible and take their place on the right side of history at this very critical period.
Distinguished Delegates…
We are living through and trying to manage the crises minute by minute that most of my friends here watch on TV screens.
Therefore, I am addressing you today as the leader of a country that is not far from the tensions, but right in their epicentre.
Even if some feel uncomfortable, even if some will once again criticize us, I wish to speak out certain truths openly today, in the name of humanity, from the common rostrum of humanity.
Let’s consider… the United Nations, under whose roof we are now, was established to maintain international peace and security after the Second World War, during which millions of people lost their lives.
With the establishment of the United Nations, expectations for global stability, peace and justice blossomed again, and hopes for peace revived.
However, we observe with regret that in recent years, the United Nations is struggling to fulfill its founding mission and is gradually turning into a dysfunctional, unwieldy and inert structure.
We need the values represented by the maxim “THE WORLD IS BIGGER THAN FIVE”, more and more nowadays.
We witness that international peace and security are too important to be left to the arbitrariness of the “privileged five”.
The most dramatic example of this is the massacre that has been going on in Gaza for 353 days.
More than 41 thousand Palestinians have lost their lives in the ongoing Israeli attacks since October 7.
41 thousand people, 41 thousand lives brutally taken away, most of whom are children and women.
Similarly, the whereabouts of more than 10 thousand Gazans, most of whom are children, is unknown.
In the same way, about 100 thousand people have been injured and become disabled.
172 journalists have been killed while trying to do their job under difficult conditions.
More than 500 paramedics working to save lives have been killed.
Humanitarian aid workers and more than 210 United Nations personnel, who rushed to the rescue of the people of Gaza struggling with hunger and thirst, have been killed.
They hit 820 mosques and 3 churches that should be protected even at war.
They hit tens of hospitals, hundreds of schools, and more than 130 ambulances carrying patients.
By tearing down the Charter of the United Nations at the United Nations rostrum, they shamelessly challenged the whole world, all the conscientious people right from here, from this rostrum.
Friends…
The leaked images from the prisons that Israel has turned into “concentration camps” indicate very clearly what kind of persecution we are facing.
As a result of the Israeli attacks, Gaza has become the largest cemetery for children and women in the world.
More than 17 thousand children have been the targets of Israeli bullets and bombs.
HİND RAJAB was only 6 years old.
Their vehicle was hit by Israeli forces while she was searching for a safe place with her relatives.
Her uncle, aunt-in-law, and cousins all died, only she survived.
For 12 days she waited desperately to be rescued.
She waited for a helping hand to reach out to her for 12 days, saying, “WILL YOU COME TO PICK ME UP? I AM SCARED!”
Despite the level of development which our world has reached, despite the technology at our disposal; despite our organisations with huge budgets employing thousands of personnel under their roofs, unfortunately, as humanity of 8 billion, we have not been able to save a 6-year-old girl, an injured sparrow fluttering in front of our eyes.
Hundreds of Gazan children have died so far because they were not able to find a bite of dry bread, a sip of water or a bowl of soup, and they are still dying.
Not only children are dying in Gaza; the United Nations system is also dying, the truth is dying, the values that the west claims to defend are dying, the hopes of humanity to live in a fairer world are dying one by one.
I am asking you frankly from here…
HUMAN RIGHTS ORGANISATIONS!
Are the ones in Gaza, the ones in the West Bank not human beings?
The children in Palestine, do they not have the right to study, live, and play in the streets?
INTERNATIONAL PRESS ORGANISATIONS!
The journalists that Israel massacred on live TV, whose offices were raided, are they not your colleagues?
THE UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL!
What are you waiting for to prevent the genocide in Gaza and to say “stop” to this cruelty, this barbarism?
What more are you waiting for to stop the massacre network that endangers also the lives of its own citizens along with the Palestinian people and drags the entire region into war for the sake of its political prospects?
AND THOSE WHO UNCONDITIONALLY SUPPORT ISRAEL!
For how long will you continue to bear the shame of looking on this massacre, of being accomplices in this atrocity?
Distinguished Friends…
While children are dying in Gaza, Ramallah, Lebanon, and babies are dying in incubators, unfortunately, the international community has also given a very bad account of itself.
What is happening in Palestine is an indicator of a huge moral breakdown.
I believe that all the peoples of the world, leaders, international organisations should reflect on this painful picture.
I also want to hereby express a truth loud and clear.
Ignoring basic human rights, the Israeli government, is practicing ethnic cleansing, an overt genocide against a nation, a people, and occupying their territory step by step.
Palestinians, whose freedom, independence and the most basic rights have been usurped, are very rightly exercising their “LEGITIMATE RIGHT OF RESISTANCE” against this occupation and these ethnic cleansing activities.
The rightful resistance of the Palestinian people against those who occupy their land is too noble, honourable, heroic to be portrayed as illegitimate.
From here, I wholeheartedly salute once again my Palestinian brothers who defend their country at the cost of their lives.
The only reason for Israel’s aggression against the Palestinian people is the unconditional support of a handful of countries to Israel.
The countries that have an influence over Israel are openly becoming accomplices of this massacre with the policy of “run with the hare, hunt with the hounds”.
Those who are supposedly working for a ceasefire in the limelight continue to send weapons and ammunition to Israel behind the stage, so that it can continue its massacres.
This is inconsistency and insincerity.
Please consider … there’s a document that has been going back and forth since May.
HAMAS has repeatedly declared its acceptance of the ceasefire proposal.
However, the Israeli government has very clearly indicated that it is the party that does not want peace by continuously hampering the process, constantly finding excuses, perfidiously killing the interlocutor it negotiated with at a time when the ceasefire was closest.
There should be no more credit given to Israel’s distraction and deception moves.
In an environment where United Nations Security Council Resolution 2735 is not being implemented, coercive measures against Israel should be put on the agenda.
Israel’s attitude has once again shown that it is essential for the international community to develop a protection mechanism for Palestinian civilians.
Just as HITLER was stopped by the alliance of humanity 70 years ago, Netanyahu and his murder network must be stopped by the “alliance of humanity”.
We believe that the power of the General Assembly to make recommendations on the use of force, as it exists in the “Uniting for Peace Resolution dated 1950”, should definitely be considered in this process.
An immediate and permanent ceasefire should be achieved, a hostage-prisoner exchange should be carried out, and humanitarian aid should be delivered to Gaza in an unhindered and uninterrupted way.
We have to extend a helping hand to the people of Gaza trying to survive, especially before winter when conditions will deteriorate.
Please consider, 70 percent of the water resources and 75 percent of the ovens in Gaza have been destroyed until now.
95 percent of health centres have been partially or completely damaged.
150 thousand houses were completely destroyed, 200 thousand houses were partially destroyed, 80 thousand houses became uninhabitable.
Infectious diseases, especially polio and hepatitis, are gradually increasing.
The people of Gaza can only reach a quarter of the amount of aid they need.
As Türkiye, we have maintained and are continuing to maintain our humanitarian aid activities for our Palestinian brothers since the first day.
With the amount of aid exceeding 60 thousand tons, Türkiye is the country that sends the highest amount of aid to Gaza.
In the same way, by stopping commercial transactions with Israel, we have demonstrated our sensitivity on this issue.
We also stand with the people and government of Lebanon, where Israel has stepped up its attacks in recent days.
Now we can all see this truth:
Our conscience cannot be at peace until those who massacred 41 thousand people are held accountable for the crimes they committed, from the person who gives the order to the ones who pull the trigger, and drop the bomb.
The bill for the billions of dollars of damage at the destroyed, wiped out, demolished cities must and will definitely be compensated by the perpetrators.
We support the lawsuit filed by the Republic of South Africa at the International Court of Justice to ensure that the crimes committed by Israel do not go unpunished.
We will take all necessary steps to ensure that justice is served in this case in which we have applied for intervention.
We will make every legal struggle to find justice for our daughter Ayşenur Ezgi Eygi, who was shot in the head by Israeli soldiers during a peaceful protest in Nablus.
Although there is an urgent need for a ceasefire in Gaza, the main issue is the occupation of Palestinian territories by Israel.
Creation of an independent, sovereign and geographically contiguous Palestinian State on the basis of the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital can no longer be delayed.
I would like it to be known that we are also closely following the increasing attacks against our first Qibla, Al-Masjid al-Aqsa and Al-Haram Al-Sharif.
While saying all this as Tayyip Erdoğan, I never speak with empty words from this rostrum.
Here, I am speaking with the courage that I get from my history and the conscientious and fair stance of my ancestors.
Because we are a nation that has always been on the side of the oppressed and stood against oppressor and tyranny throughout history.
We had welcomed the Jews who escaped from the inquisition 500 years ago and the Jews who escaped from Hitler’s concentration camps.
I tell it frankly; as a country and as a nation, we have no hostility towards the people of Israel.
We are against ANTI-SEMITISM in the same way that we are against the targeting of Muslims just because of their beliefs.
Our problem is with the policies of massacre of the Israeli government.
Our problem is again with the oppressor and tyranny, just as it was 5 centuries ago.
Everyone should know that we do not refrain from crying out the truth.
Even if some feel uncomfortable, we are not afraid to tell the truth.
Insha’Allah, we will continue to stand by the righteous until the end and speak of what we know as truth, even if it is harsh.
Hereby, I would also like to thank all the brave people who show solidarity with the Palestinian people without distinction of faith, country, language or religion, and raise their voice against the massacre in Gaza by filling the streets almost every week.
Distinguished Delegates…
Unfortunately, in the 14th year of the conflict, Syria is also still far from stability.
The economic and humanitarian situation in the country, which is in the grip of terrorist and separatist organizations remains dire.
We hope that the political process will be advanced and national reconciliation will be achieved on the basis of United Nations Security Council Resolution 2254.
We are determined to maintain our position in favour of a realistic dialogue with sincerity.
While our neighbour Iraq continues its struggle against terrorism, it is taking decisive steps towards development, reconstruction and reintegration with the region.
The international community should support these efforts of Iraq.
It is important in this context to implement initiatives that will benefit the entire region, such as the Development Road Project.
The success of all these efforts depends on the elimination of the terrorist threat in Iraq, especially from the PKK.
We believe that taking steps towards reviving the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action with our other neighbour Iran will contribute to the establishment of the environment of trust and stability in the region.
As the third year of the war in Ukraine comes to an end, we are still far from reaching a just and lasting peace.
As the armament race accelerates, the field of diplomacy is gradually narrowing.
We will further increase our support to the efforts to end the war through diplomacy and dialogue, on the basis of Ukraine’s territorial integrity and sovereignty.
In this process, we will continue to meticulously implement the Montreux Convention.
We support the peace process between Azerbaijan and Armenia, and we hope that the work will be completed with good news as soon as possible.
We are also taking mutually positive steps on the Türkiye-Armenia track.
The developments that can be achieved in the Azerbaijan-Armenia peace process will also have a positive impact on the Türkiye-Armenia normalization process.
Esteemed Friends…
We play a constructive role for the prosperity and peace of the Balkans, of which we are an integral part, and act in close cooperation with all actors in the region.
As a member of the Steering Board of the Peace Implementation Council, we emphasize the importance of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s sovereignty, political unity and territorial integrity on every platform, and we continue to contribute to the EUFOR-ALTHEA Operation.
We successfully continue the KFOR command that we assumed last year and support the Belgrade-Prishtina Dialogue process.
We want to see the Aegean Sea and the Eastern Mediterranean as a region of stability and prosperity where the legitimate interests of all parties concerned are respected.
The limitation of maritime jurisdiction areas in accordance with international law, freedom and safety of navigation, and the development of cooperation, especially on maritime trade issues, are to the common interest of the entire region.
Türkiye is ready for constructive cooperation on all issues, especially energy and environment.
We expect the same approach from our neighbours.
As the country with the longest coastline in the Eastern Mediterranean, Türkiye’s key role is undeniable.
Türkiye has rights to the north and west of the Island of Cyprus in the declared continental shelf and Turkish Cypriots have rights all around the Island.
It has been 50 years since the Cyprus Peace Operation and 61 years since the Cyprus issue emerged as a result of the usurpation of the partnership state by Greek Cypriots.
From that day to this, peace and tranquillity have prevailed on the Island.
It has always been the Turkish Cypriots and Türkiye that have shown a sincere will to bring about a just, permanent and sustainable solution to the Cyprus issue.
The federation model has now completely lost its validity.
There are two separate states and two separate peoples on the island.
The sovereign equality and equal international status of the Turkish Cypriots, which are their inherent rights, should be reaffirmed, and the isolation should now come to an end.
Today, I once again call on the international community to recognize the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus and establish with it diplomatic, political and economic relations.
We provide active support to the establishment of stability in Libya and the preservation of the unity and integrity of the country.
We call on all states to take a sincere stand by Libya during this sensitive period and to contribute to the establishment of trust between the parties.
We need to exert more efforts to end the conflicts in Sudan.
We all have a responsibility to deliver humanitarian aid to millions of Sudanese displaced due to conflicts.
Africa has a very huge potential with its young and dynamic population, rich natural resources and fertile extensive lands.
On the basis of the principles of equal partnership and mutual respect, we support the Continent’s peace, stability and development efforts with the African peoples.
We will continue to be in full solidarity with our African brothers and sisters.
We are deepening our engagement with regional organizations, such as the Indian Ocean Rim Association, the Pacific Islands Forum and particularly ASEAN.
We maintain our will to develop our relations with BRICS, which brings together emerging economies.
We share a deep-rooted history with the Central Asian countries; we further strengthen our cooperation on bilateral and multilateral grounds.
Our Organisation of Turkic States is increasingly turning into a centre of attraction.
The Organisation is becoming an exemplary model of cooperation, also with the contributions of observer members Hungary and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.
As the Turkic world, we will further strengthen our unity and solidarity.
Within the framework of respect for China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, we are in close dialogue with China to protect the fundamental rights and freedoms of the Uighur Turks, with whom we have strong historical, cultural and human ties.
We are trying to advance the friendly ties we have established with all the countries in Latin America and the Caribbean to a further stage.
Distinguished Delegates…
We are obliged to work together to eliminate global injustice.
The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals’ notion of “leave no one behind” is a guide for these efforts.
As one of the countries that provide the highest aid in proportion to its national income, Türkiye’s activities contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.
We support the activities that will ensure fair, inclusive growth and development on all international platforms, especially within the G20.
We believe that all nations should benefit equally from the transformative power of emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence.
The United Nations Technology Bank for the Least Developed Countries that we host is a concrete manifestation of our efforts in this direction.
The “cyber terrorist attacks” perpetrated against Lebanon last week demonstrated how these technologies can at the same time turn into a fatal weapon.
We address climate change with a similar approach.
No country can cope with the emission reduction and adaptation process to climate change alone.
The most important issues for developing countries are financing, technology transfer and capacity building.
I believe that the COP29 Climate Summit to be held in Baku will contribute to the solution of these issues.
With the vision of a more sustainable and cleaner world, we have carried the Zero Waste Movement, which we launched under the auspices of my Spouse, Mrs. Emine Erdoğan, to a global level with the resolution co-sponsored by 105 countries and adopted unanimously at the United Nations General Assembly.
Hereby, I invite all countries, international organisations and non-governmental organisations to become partners in our movement.
We see that Islamophobia, xenophobia and racism are enveloping the world like a poison ivy.
Hardly a day goes by that we do not witness attacks on mosques and our holy book, the Holy Quran.
In the middle of Europe, people’s houses are being set on fire; their lives are being targeted; their most fundamental rights are being usurped because of their ethnic and religious identities.
No one can ignore this growing danger any longer.
As stipulated in the resolution adopted on 15 March 2024, we expect the appointment of a “Special Envoy for Combating Islamophobia” at the United Nations as soon as possible.
Distinguished Friends…
Today I would like to draw your attention once again to a danger that I raised at this rostrum last year.
The attacks against the family institution, which is the basic pillar of society, are intensifying.
The disgrace staged at the opening of the 2024 Olympic Games has revealed the dimensions of the threat we face as humanity.
A sports event followed by innocent children and hundreds of millions of people of all ages and faiths has been used, in a very ugly manner, for degenderization propaganda.
Those wicked scenes have deeply wounded not only the Catholic world, the Christian world, but also Muslims and everyone who respects the sacred.
The issue of desexualisation is now turning into a global imposition rather than a “preference”, literally a war against the sacred and the creation.
Anyone who raises a voice against this destruction project and shows the slightest reaction is silenced and becomes the target of lynching campaigns.
Türkiye is determined to break this siege and resist this climate of fear at all cost.
For this purpose, we became a member of the United Nations Group of Friends of the Family.
Insha’Allah, we will not hold back from defending the family, the human being and the creation in solidarity with other member states.
I invite the countries that share the same concerns with us to support this struggle.
With these thoughts, I wish that the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly will be beneficial for all humanity.
I salute you all once again with affection and respect.
May you all remain in good health…
Burin Peninsula RCMP is investigating a recent break, enter and theft at a residential property in Grand Bank. An all-terrain vehicle (ATV) was stolen.
The crime occurred sometime between 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 21, and 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, September 25, 2024, while the home owner was away. Suspect(s) gained entry into a detached garage on the Marine Drive property and stole a 2019 Honda Rubicon TRX 500 quad. Images of the ATV are attached.
The investigation is continuing.
Anyone having information about this crime, the person(s) responsible, or the current location of the ATV is asked to contact Burin Peninsula RCMP at 709-279-3001. To remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers: #SayItHere 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), visithttp://www.nlcrimestoppers.comor use the P3Tips app.
Source: United States Senator for Virginia Tim Kaine
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA), a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, released the following statement after the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) announced expanded coverage of in-vitro fertilization (IVF) and other fertility services through the Federal Employee Health Benefits (FEHB) program—a move that Kaine pushed for:
“If the federal government wants to continue to retain and attract the best civil servants, it must provide employees with comprehensive coverage of IVF and other assisted reproductive technology services. At a time when reproductive freedom is under threat, I’m glad that OMB heeded our calls and announced all federal employees, regardless of where they live, can access coverage for these services. I will continue working to pass my bipartisan Reproductive Freedom for All Act to restore the protections under Roe and safeguard Americans’ freedom to make their own health care decisions without government interference.”
Kaine is a cosponsor of the Family Building FEHB Fairness Act to require insurance providers in the FEHB program to provide coverage of IVF and assisted reproductive technology (ART) services. The FEHB program is the largest employer-run health insurance program in the U.S. covering more than 8 million federal employees, retirees, and their dependents.
Kaine has long championed efforts to protect reproductive freedom and IVF. In June and earlier this month, Kaine voted to pass his legislation to protect and expand access to IVF, including for federal employees, but it was blocked by Senate Republicans. In March, Kaine invited Norfolk-born Elizabeth Carr, the first person born in the United States via IVF, to join him as his guest at the State of the Union. Kaine held two roundtables in Norfolk and Arlington to discuss the need to protect IVF. After the Supreme Court struck down Roe v. Wade, Kaine worked across the aisle to introduce the Reproductive Freedom For All Act, a bipartisan bill to protect access to abortion and contraception.
A 28-year-old man from Sainte-Marie-de-Kent, N.B., has died following a single-vehicle crash in Havelock, N.B.
On September 25, 2024, at approximately 7:51 p.m., members of the Caledonia RCMP responded to a report of a single-vehicle crash involving a tractor-trailer on Highway 2 in Havelock.
The crash is believed to have occurred when the tractor-trailer, travelling Eastbound, left the roadway, crashed into trees, and caught fire. The 28-year-old man and sole occupant of the tractor-trailer died at the scene as a result of his injuries.
Members of Ambulance New Brunswick and the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure also attended the scene. RCMP Collision Reconstructionist and a member of the New Brunswick Coroner’s Office are assisting with the ongoing investigation. An autopsy will be conducted to determine the man’s exact cause of death.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla.—Today, Governor Ron DeSantis was joined by Major General John D. Haas, Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM) Executive Director, and Florida Department of Transportation Secretary Jared Purdue at the State Emergency Operations Center to provide updates ahead of landfall of Hurricane Helene. As of 8:00 am ET, Hurricane Helene’s maximum sustained winds have increased to 100 mph with higher gusts, making it a Category 2 hurricane. Additional strengthening is forecast, and Helene is expected to be a major hurricane when it reaches the Florida Big Bend coast tonight. Sixty-eight shelters are open throughout the state in preparation for severe impacts from Hurricane Helene, including 2 state-operated shelters in Tallahassee and DeFuniak Springs. These shelters have are housing over 2,500 residents from areas that may be severely affected by Hurricane Helene.
Governor DeSantis issued Executive Order 24-209 on September 24, updating EO 24-208 and declaring a state of emergency for 61 counties. This allows state officials to make critical resources available to communities ahead of any potential storm impacts.
Following Governor DeSantis’ request, FEMA approved the state’s pre-landfall disaster declaration request. This provides important federal resources and assistance, including personnel, equipment, and supplies, and makes available funding sources for emergency protective measures. The pre-landfall declaration request is for the 41 Florida counties included in Executive Order 24-208.
Voluntary and mandatory evacuation orders are in effect in multiple counties statewide. Residents need to evacuate if they are under a mandatory evacuation order. Counties under evacuation orders can be found at FloridaDisaster.org/EvacuationOrders.
Residents in the big bed area needing assistance finding or going to a shelter in the Big Bend region for Hurricane Helene can call (800) 729-3413. FDEM team members are conducting callbacks from messages received last night and accepting new calls today to facilitate shelter coordination. For additional resources and assistance, residents can call the State Assistance Information Line (SAIL) at (800) 342-3557. Assistance is available in English, Spanish, and Haitian-Creole.
Watches and warnings in effect include: Hurricane Warning: Western Alachua, coastal Citrus, Columbia, Dixie, Franklin, Gadsden, Gilchrist, Gulf, Hamilton, coastal Hernando, Jefferson, Lafayette, Leon, Levy, Liberty, Madison, western Marion, coastal Pasco, Suwannee, Taylor and Wakulla counties Hurricane Watch: Inland Citrus, inland Hernando, coastal Hillsborough, coastal Manatee, inland Pasco, Pinellas, coastal Sarasota Tropical Storm Warning: Central and eastern Alachua, Baker, Bay, Bradford, Brevard, Broward, Calhoun, Charlotte, inland Citrus, Clay, Collier, DeSoto, Duval, Flagler, Glades, Hardee, Hendry, Highlands, inland Hernando, Hillsborough, Holmes, Indian River, Jackson, Lake, Lee, Miami-Dade, Monroe (including Florida Keys and Dry Tortugas), Manatee, central and eastern Marion, Martin, Nassau, Okeechobee, Orange, Osceola, Palm Beach, inland Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Putnam, Sarasota, Seminole, St. Johns, St. Lucie, Sumter, Union, Volusia, Walton, Washington Storm Surge Warning: Charlotte, Citrus, Collier, Dixie, Franklin, Gulf, Hernando, Hillsborough, Jefferson, Lee, Levy, Manatee, Monroe, Pasco, Pinellas, Sarasota, Taylor and Wakulla counties
To learn more, residents can visit FloridaDisaster.org/Guide. For updates on county resources available visit FloridaDisaster.org/Counties for a list of all 67 county emergency management contacts.
State Preparedness Efforts
The Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM) activated the State Emergency Operations Center to Level 1 on Tuesday, September 24, and is leading coordination efforts for the State Emergency Response Team.
The State Emergency Response Team is engaged in over 1,150 missions to assist counties in their preparation efforts. These missions accomplish vital tasks like staging response resources, protecting critical infrastructure facilities like hospitals and utility stations, and coordinating personnel statewide.
There are 35,000 shelf-stable meals staged near the anticipated area of storm impact, ready to deploy for response.
Seven Urban search and rescue task forces are ready to deploy.
The Florida National Guard (FLNG) has mobilized nearly 3,500 Soldiers and Airmen in preparation for Hurricane Helene and can surge to 5,500 if needed.
The FLNG is postured to provide logistics support, law enforcement support, route clearance, search and rescue, commodity distribution, flood mitigation, aviation and other support as needed by the state.
The Florida State Guard (FSG) has prepared the following:
250+ Soldiers ready to deploy.
10 shallow water vessel boat teams
7 flat-bottom-flood rescue skiffs
2 amphibious rescue vehicles
12 UTV’s
15 Cut and toss crews
7 search and rescue teams
2 UH-60 Blackhawk for daytime aerial assessment and logistics missions
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) has positioned all assets, including aircraft, and is ready to respond for reconnaissance and damage assessments, including all backup satellite and communications systems. Portable towers have been staged for emergency communications.
FDLE is prestaging Telecommunication Emergency Response Taskforces for response to ensure continuity of service of the 911 system.
FDLE’s Criminal Justice Information Services received permission from the FBI to allow law enforcement agencies to perform criminal history queries on behalf of emergency shelters to determine the suitability of shelter staff who may care for vulnerable populations (children, the elderly, the disabled).
Nearly 2,000 Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) team members work directly on storm response.
FDOT encourages drivers to download the FL511 app or visit FL511.com for road and bridge closures and potential detours that may be activated. Remember to always follow the direction of local law enforcement and emergency personnel.
FDOT issued an Emergency Order on September 23, lifting weight restrictions and allowing emergency response vehicles, including utility vehicles staging for rapid response, to bypass weigh stations.
FDOT Statewide Preparedness Efforts Include:
Road Ranger Service has expanded service to 24 hours in the storm impact areas.
890 team members conducting pre-storm preparations.
613 team members working in the field conducting pre-storm preparations.
245 pieces of heavy equipment are being used for pre-storm preparations.
307 team members staged for cut and toss operations
120 bridge inspectors staged for deployment
43 team members staged for UAV (drone) deployment
40 large pumps staged
688 generators staged to assist with traffic signal power
4 ITS trailers are staged.
Seaports:
Port Key West, Panama City, Port St. Joe, Tampa Bay, SeaPort Manatee, Port St. Pete, Port of Fernandina, JAXPORT, and Port Canaveral are closed waterside.
Airports: Some flight cancellations or delays are being reported. Check with airlines directly on specific flight updates. The following airports have suspended service:
Tallahassee International Airport (TLH)
Tampa International Airport (TPA)
St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport (PIE)
Railroads:
Amtrak: Silver Star and Silver Meteor routes (New York to Miami) will terminate in Jacksonville
Amtrak: Silver Star and Silver Meteor routes (Miami to New York) will originate in Jacksonville
SunRail service has been suspended.
Freight Rail: CSX will limit operations in the Tampa area.
Florida Gulf & Atlantic will shut down operations except the Pensacola area.
Apalachicola Northern and BayLine have suspended operations
First Coast Railroad will shut down operations on 9/27 .
The following transit providers have made the following schedule modifications.
Service Suspended: Lakeland Area Mass Transit (Citrus Connection), Manatee County Area Transit, Sarasota County Area (Breeze) Transit, Lee County (LeeTran), Charlotte County, Jacksonville Transit Authority (JTA) Skyway and St. Johns River Ferry, St. Johns County (Sunshine Line), Bay County (Bayway), StarMetro, Big Bend Transit, Wakulla County Transit, Jackson County (JTrans), Calhoun County Transit, Liberty County Transit, Gulf County ARC suspending, LYNX, Marion County Transit, Key West Lower Key Shuttle, Hillsborough County (HART), Pasco County, Hernando County (The Bus)
The Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs (FDVA) The VISN 8 Clinical Contact Center is operational 24/7/365 for virtual care and tele-emergency care and support to Veterans enrolled for VA Health Care in Florida. 1-877-741-3400. Visit https://department.va.gov/integrated-service-networks/visn-08 for more information.
Department of Management Services (DMS) is working to identify potential evacuation shelter sites for special needs and pet-friendly evacuees as far east as Lake City and west as Panama City.
Health and Human Services
The Agency for Persons with Disabilities (APD) is tracking APD-licensed group homes in impacted areas to ensure client safety from Hurricane Helene. APD will provide necessary guidance for re-entry when it is appropriate to do so.
The Florida Department of Health’s (DOH) is deploying over 135 emergency response vehicles. Staging is currently in Leon, Liberty, Osceola, and Pinellas counties.
DOH has prepared for Special Needs Shelter operations to begin in areas of Helene’s path. A press release has been sent statewide for additional information on special needs shelters. To find a shelter near you, please visit the county emergency management page here.
DOH and the Agency for Health Care Administration have initiated Patient Movement Mission to support medical transport and evacuations of health care facilities.
The State Surgeon General signed Emergency Order 24-002, which:
Waives competitive procurement requirements in order to procure commodities, goods, and services expeditiously in response to the emergency.
Permits emergency medical transportation services to operate across county lines.
Permits Paramedics, Emergency Medical Technicians, and Medical Directors, as defined by Chapter 401, Florida Statutes, licensed in other U.S. states, territories, or districts to practice in Florida in response to the emergency without penalty.
Authorizes a reporting extension for the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program.
Authorizes an extension of the upcoming licensure renewal deadlines for Nursing Home Administrators, Radiological Personnel, and Athletic Trainers until October 31, 2024.
DOH and the Office of Insurance Regulation (OIR) sent information regarding early prescription refills permitted under Executive Order 24-209. This information was sent to the public, health insurers, managed care organizations, pharmacy benefit managers, pharmacy chains, and health care providers.
The Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) has activated reporting in the Health Facility Reporting System (HFRS) and has requested that all health care providers report their census, available beds, evacuation status, and generator status information. This information allows AHCA to assist health care providers in transferring patients if needed and ensure that health care providers in impacted areas have the necessary resources and adequate power.
AHCA made 537 provider calls for Hurricane Helene preparation ahead of landfall.
As of this morning, 80 health care facilities are reporting that they are evacuating.
38 assisted living facilities
26 nursing homes
8 hospitals
4 residential treatment facilities
2 residential treatment centers for children and adolescents
1 adult family care home, and 1 intermediate care facility for developmentally disabled
100% of operating long-term care facilities have a generator on-site. The Generator Status Map for long-term care facilities is available here.
The Agency has waived all prior authorization requirements for critical Medicaid services until further notice.
Infrastructure, Roads and State Closures
The Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) is assisting the Florida Department of Corrections with the evacuation of correctional facilities as needed.
FHP is assisting with evacuations in Taylor County and in Cedar Key in Levy County.
FHP is removing any abandoned or disabled vehicles left along roadways ahead of storm arrival.
FHP cut teams, along with FDOT road clearing teams, are staged and ready for post-storm deployment to provide aid to areas impacted by the storm.
Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) issued Emergency Order 24-05, in support of Executive Order 24-209 which: waives specific requirements for commercial motor vehicles providing emergency relief; and waives the replacement fees for driver’s license and identification credentials, vehicle registrations and titles, vessel registrations and titles and temporary parking permits for impacted individuals.
The Department of Children and Families (DCF) is working with the Community-Based Care Lead Agencies to contact foster families and group home providers to ensure preparedness. Two group homes are evacuating to safer locations.
DCF has contacted all licensed providers in potentially impacted areas to ensure disaster preparation plans are in place and unmet needs have been addressed.
The Department of Elder Affairs (DOEA) contacted all Area Agencies on Aging partners to receive updates on their ongoing preparation efforts and gather the status of any unmet needs.
The Florida Department of Education (FDOE) has been in contact with all school districts and state colleges and is ready to provide assistance immediately following Hurricane Helene. Currently, 68 school districts have announced closures in addition to 25 State Colleges and 11 Universities. For more information on school closures, visit fldoe.org/storminfo.
In preparation for Hurricane Helene. Currently, 65 school districts have announced closures in addition to 22 State Colleges and 9 Universities. For more information on school closures, visit fldoe.org/storminfo.
Following the issuance of the Governor’s Executive Order 24-209, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) issued an Emergency Final Order allowing for the activation of disaster debris management sites to store and process storm-generated solid waste and debris.
DEP published a storm updates webpage to keep state park visitors updated of closures: FloridaStateParks.org/StormUpdates. Visitors with existing camping and cabin reservations at closed parks have been notified of their reservation status.
Resources for Employees, Businesses and Consumers
The Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) has partnered with the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association to encourage more than 71,000 Florida-licensed lodging establishments to relax pet policies and waive pet fees for evacuees.
Through this effort, anti-price gouging information and emergency accommodations resources have also been provided.
DBPR has proactively communicated with more than 137,000 restaurant and lodging licensees to provide storm preparation and food safety resources.
The Florida Disaster Contractors Network has been activated to connect homeowners with licensed contractors and suppliers to perform emergency repairs.
DBPR encourages Florida’s licensed contractors who provide post-storm construction-related services to register with its Florida Disaster Contractors Network at DCNOnline.org.
FloridaCommerce has activated the private sector hotline at (850) 815-4925, open daily 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Inquiries may also be emailed to ESF18@em.myflorida.com.
Updates on business closures and business resources are consistently being updated at FloridaDisaster.biz/CurrentDisasterUpdates.
VISIT FLORIDA has activated Emergency Accommodation Modules on Expedia and Priceline to provide real-time hotel availability and lodging resources for impacted Floridians and visitors.
Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort has crafted special offers for Evacuees and First Responders in need of accommodations during an evacuation. Please see the linked pages below for more information.
Rosen Hotels & Resorts activated its Florida Resident Distress Rates* for residents in the 61 counties where Governor Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency. This initiative provides evacuees with a safe and affordable place to stay as they ride out the storm. For more information see https://www.rosenhotels.com/rosen-hotels-resorts-reduces-pricing-ahead-of-helene/
Visit website for CareerSource openings: careersourceflorida.com
Comcast has opened more than 52,000 public Xfinity WiFi hotspots in Florida. The free and public hotspots are open for all, including non-Xfinity customers. For more information click here.
Walmart is working with state partners to provide needed supplies after the storm has passed.
Publix has provided 10 pallets of water for shelters in Leon County.
CVS Health is working with state partners to prepare pop-up pharmacies in impacted areas.
UBER is providing Floridians free rides up to $35 each way to and from a state-approved shelter in counties under a state of emergency for Hurricane Helene. To get a ride users should use promo code HELENERELIEF.
The Florida Department of State, Division of Elections, has contacted the United States Postal Service (USPS) about election information and vote-by-mail ballots. The Division of Elections recommended that Supervisors of Elections t contact their local district USPS to discuss a mitigation plan for ballot mailing, delivery, and return.
The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) worked with Florida’s ports and fuel industry partners to ensure adequate fuel supplies are available, and with Florida’s agricultural partners so producers have adequate resources.
The Florida Forest Service staged equipment, like high-water vehicles.
The Commissioner of Agriculture, Wilton Simpson, has approved an Emergency Order temporarily suspending the intrastate movement requirements for animal transportation. In addition, the following states have waived their interstate import requirements for Florida pets, horses, and livestock leaving the state: Alabama, Georgia (does not include livestock), Mississippi, North Carolina, and South Carolina.
The Department of Revenue (FDOR) has issued Emergency Order 24-001: Taxing Authority Millage and Budget Hearings to assist local taxing authorities with altering their plans for annual budget hearings because of Helene. Department of Revenue bulletin PTO 20-07 provides further instructions for local taxing authorities during declared emergencies.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has high-water vehicles staged to deploy.
72 FWC officers and staff are ready to deploy with specialized equipment, such as:
The Florida Department of Corrections (FDC) has evacuated 22 satellite facilities and two major facilities and relocated 4,630 inmates into hardened housing units. Inmate visitation has been suspended statewide until Monday, September 30. The FDC will be posting updates publicly and in real-time at FDC.myflorida.com/weather-updates
The Florida Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) have finalized storm preparations to ensure the safety and security of staff and youth in our care. This includes fueling all vehicles, moving vehicles in low-lying and flood-prone areas to higher ground, testing and ensuring adequate fuel supplies for generators in the event of loss of power, and ensuring food, medicine, and emergency supplies are stocked and ready.
For previous updates see below: 9/24/2024 9/25/2024
Follow FDEM on X, Instagram, and Facebook for updates and visit FloridaDisaster.org/Updates for information relating to Hurricane Helene.