Source: Reserve Bank of India
|
The value of exports and imports of services during December 2024 is given in the following table.
Ajit Prasad Press Release: 2024-2025/2058 |
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Source: Reserve Bank of India
|
The Reserve Bank today released data on India’s invisibles as per the IMF’s Balance of Payments and International Investment Position Manual (BPM6) format for July-September of 2024-25. Ajit Prasad Press Release: 2024-2025/2059 |
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)
BROOKFIELD, News, Jan. 31, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Brookfield Business Partners (NYSE: BBU, BBUC; TSX: BBU.UN, BBUC) announced today financial results for the year ended December 31, 2024.
“Our business had another successful year in 2024. We generated over $2 billion from our capital recycling initiatives, acquired two market-leading operations and achieved solid financial results,” said Anuj Ranjan, CEO of Brookfield Business Partners. “The enhanced strength of our balance sheet and substantial liquidity provides us optionality to meaningfully advance our capital allocation priorities with a focus on increasing the intrinsic value of our business for our unitholders.”
| Three Months Ended December 31, |
Year Ended December 31, |
||||||||||||||
| US$ millions (except per unit amounts), unaudited | 2024 | 2023 | 2024 | 2023 | |||||||||||
| Net income (loss) attributable to Unitholders1 | $ | (438 | ) | $ | 1,423 | $ | (109 | ) | $ | 1,405 | |||||
| Net income (loss) per limited partnership unit2 | $ | (2.02 | ) | $ | 6.57 | $ | (0.50 | ) | $ | 6.49 | |||||
| Adjusted EBITDA3 | $ | 653 | $ | 608 | $ | 2,565 | $ | 2,491 | |||||||
Net loss attributable to Unitholders for the year ended December 31, 2024 was $109 million (loss of $0.50 per limited partnership unit) compared to net income of $1,405 million ($6.49 per limited partnership unit) in the prior year. Net loss attributable to Unitholders includes a one-time non-cash expense at our healthcare services operation, combined with provisions at our construction operation. Prior year included net gains primarily related to the sale of our nuclear technology services operation.
Adjusted EBITDA for the year ended December 31, 2024 was $2,565 million compared to $2,491 million for the year ended December 31, 2023, reflecting improved performance of operations and tax benefits recorded at our advanced energy storage operation. Prior year results included $308 million of contribution from operations which have been sold.
Operational Update
The following table presents Adjusted EBITDA by segment:
| Three Months Ended December 31, |
Year Ended December 31, |
||||||||||||||
| US$ millions, unaudited | 2024 | 2023 | 2024 | 2023 | |||||||||||
| Industrials | $ | 306 | $ | 222 | $ | 1,247 | $ | 855 | |||||||
| Business Services | 217 | 227 | 832 | 900 | |||||||||||
| Infrastructure Services | 160 | 184 | 606 | 853 | |||||||||||
| Corporate and Other | (30 | ) | (25 | ) | (120 | ) | (117 | ) | |||||||
| Adjusted EBITDA | $ | 653 | $ | 608 | $ | 2,565 | $ | 2,491 | |||||||
Our Industrials segment generated Adjusted EBITDA of $1,247 million in 2024, compared to $855 million in 2023. Current year results included $371 million of tax benefits at our advanced energy storage operation. Strong underlying performance at our advanced energy storage operation and growing contribution from water and wastewater services offset reduced performance at our engineered components manufacturing operation due to weak market conditions. Prior year results included contribution from disposed operations including our Canadian aggregates production operation which was sold in June 2024.
Our Business Services segment generated Adjusted EBITDA of $832 million in 2024, compared to $900 million in 2023. Strong performance at our residential mortgage insurer was primarily offset by the impact of a cyber incident at our dealer software and technology services operation and reduced performance at our construction and healthcare services operations during the year. Prior year results included contribution from our road fuels operation which was sold in July 2024.
Our Infrastructure Services segment generated Adjusted EBITDA of $606 million in 2024, compared to $853 million in 2023. Prior year results included $236 million of contribution from our nuclear technology services operation which was sold in November 2023. Current year results benefited from improved performance of offshore oil services, offset by reduced contribution at work access services.
The following table presents Adjusted EFO4 by segment:
| Three Months Ended December 31, |
Year Ended December 31, |
||||||||||||||
| US$ millions, unaudited | 2024 | 2023 | 2024 | 2023 | |||||||||||
| Adjusted EFO | |||||||||||||||
| Industrials | $ | 193 | $ | 115 | $ | 935 | $ | 492 | |||||||
| Business Services | 142 | 181 | 641 | 636 | |||||||||||
| Infrastructure Services | 78 | 1,790 | 287 | 2,070 | |||||||||||
| Corporate and Other | (83 | ) | (77 | ) | (331 | ) | (335 | ) | |||||||
Adjusted EFO for the year ended December 31, 2024 included $306 million in net gains primarily related to the dispositions of our road fuels operation and Canadian aggregates production operation, the sale of public securities and the deconsolidation of our payment processing services operation. Infrastructure Services Adjusted EFO reflected the impact of the prior year disposition of our nuclear technology services operation. Prior year results included $2,006 million in after-tax net gains primarily related to the sale of our nuclear technology services operation.
Strategic Initiatives
In January, we completed the acquisition of Chemelex, a leading manufacturer of electric heat tracing systems, through a carve-out from a larger industrial company for total enterprise value of $1.7 billion. Brookfield Business Partners invested $212 million for an approximate 25% economic interest in the business, with the balance funded by institutional partners.
Liquidity
We ended the year with approximately $1.3 billion of liquidity at the corporate level including $91 million of cash and liquid securities, $25 million of remaining preferred equity commitment from Brookfield Corporation and $1.2 billion of availability on our corporate credit facilities. Pro forma for announced and recently closed transactions, corporate liquidity is $2.7 billion.
Distribution
The Board of Directors has declared a quarterly distribution in the amount of $0.0625 per unit, payable on March 31, 2025 to unitholders of record as at the close of business on February 28, 2025.
Additional Information
The Board has reviewed and approved this news release, including the summarized unaudited consolidated financial statements contained herein.
Brookfield Business Partners’ Letter to Unitholders and the Supplemental Information are available on our website https://bbu.brookfield.com under Reports & Filings.
| Notes: | |
| 1 | Attributable to limited partnership unitholders, general partnership unitholders, redemption-exchange unitholders, special limited partnership unitholders and BBUC exchangeable shareholders. |
| 2 | Net income (loss) per limited partnership unit calculated as net income (loss) attributable to limited partners divided by the average number of limited partnership units outstanding for the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2024 which were 74.3 million and 74.3 million, respectively (December 31, 2023: 74.3 million and 74.5 million, respectively). |
| 3 | Adjusted EBITDA is a non-IFRS measure of operating performance presented as net income and equity accounted income at the partnership’s economic ownership interest in consolidated subsidiaries and equity accounted investments, respectively, excluding the impact of interest income (expense), net, income taxes, depreciation and amortization expense, gains (losses) on acquisitions/dispositions, net, transaction costs, restructuring charges, revaluation gains or losses, impairment expenses or reversals, other income or expenses, and preferred equity distributions. The partnership’s economic ownership interest in consolidated subsidiaries and equity accounted investments excludes amounts attributable to non-controlling interests consistent with how the partnership determines net income attributable to non-controlling interests in its IFRS consolidated statements of operating results. The partnership believes that Adjusted EBITDA provides a comprehensive understanding of the ability of its businesses to generate recurring earnings which allows users to better understand and evaluate the underlying financial performance of the partnership’s operations and excludes items that the partnership believes do not directly relate to revenue earning activities and are not normal, recurring items necessary for business operations. Please refer to the reconciliation of net income (loss) to Adjusted EBITDA included elsewhere in this news release. |
| 4 | Adjusted EFO is the partnership’s segment measure of profit or loss and is presented as net income and equity accounted income at the partnership’s economic ownership interest in consolidated subsidiaries and equity accounted investments, respectively, excluding the impact of depreciation and amortization expense, deferred income taxes, transaction costs, restructuring charges, unrealized revaluation gains or losses, impairment expenses or reversals and other income or expense items that are not directly related to revenue generating activities. The partnership’s economic ownership interest in consolidated subsidiaries excludes amounts attributable to non-controlling interests consistent with how the partnership determines net income attributable to non-controlling interests in its IFRS consolidated statements of operating results. In order to provide additional insight regarding the partnership’s operating performance over the lifecycle of an investment, Adjusted EFO includes the impact of preferred equity distributions and realized disposition gains or losses recorded in net income, other comprehensive income, or directly in equity, such as ownership changes. Adjusted EFO does not include legal and other provisions that may occur from time to time in the partnership’s operations and that are one-time or non-recurring and not directly tied to the partnership’s operations, such as those for litigation or contingencies. Adjusted EFO includes expected credit losses and bad debt allowances recorded in the normal course of the partnership’s operations. Adjusted EFO allows the partnership to evaluate its segments on the basis of return on invested capital generated by its operations and allows the partnership to evaluate the performance of its segments on a levered basis. |
Brookfield Business Partners is a global business services and industrials company focused on owning and operating high-quality businesses that provide essential products and services and benefit from a strong competitive position. Investors have flexibility to invest in our company either through Brookfield Business Partners L.P. (NYSE: BBU; TSX: BBU.UN), a limited partnership or Brookfield Business Corporation (NYSE, TSX: BBUC), a corporation. For more information, please visit https://bbu.brookfield.com.
Brookfield Business Partners is the flagship listed vehicle of Brookfield Asset Management’s Private Equity Group. Brookfield Asset Management is a leading global alternative asset manager with over $1 trillion of assets under management.
Please note that Brookfield Business Partners’ previous audited annual and unaudited quarterly reports have been filed on SEDAR+ and EDGAR and are available at https://bbu.brookfield.com under Reports & Filings. Hard copies of the annual and quarterly reports can be obtained free of charge upon request.
For more information, please contact:
Conference Call and 2024 Earnings Webcast Details
Investors, analysts and other interested parties can access Brookfield Business Partners’ 2024 results as well as the Letter to Unitholders and Supplemental Information on our website https://bbu.brookfield.com under Reports & Filings.
The results call can be accessed via webcast on January 31, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time at BBU2024Q4Webcast or participants can pre-register at BBU2024Q4ConferenceCall. Upon registering, participants will be emailed a dial-in number and unique PIN. A replay of the webcast will be available at https://bbu.brookfield.com.
| Brookfield Business Partners L.P. Consolidated Statements of Financial Position |
|||||||||||||||
| As at | |||||||||||||||
| US$ millions, unaudited | December 31, 2024 | December 31, 2023 | |||||||||||||
| Assets | |||||||||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 3,239 | $ | 3,252 | |||||||||||
| Financial assets | 12,371 | 13,176 | |||||||||||||
| Accounts and other receivable, net | 6,279 | 6,563 | |||||||||||||
| Inventory and other assets | 5,728 | 5,321 | |||||||||||||
| Property, plant and equipment | 13,232 | 15,724 | |||||||||||||
| Deferred income tax assets | 1,744 | 1,220 | |||||||||||||
| Intangible assets | 18,317 | 20,846 | |||||||||||||
| Equity accounted investments | 2,325 | 2,154 | |||||||||||||
| Goodwill | 12,239 | 14,129 | |||||||||||||
| Total Assets | $ | 75,474 | $ | 82,385 | |||||||||||
| Liabilities and Equity | |||||||||||||||
| Liabilities | |||||||||||||||
| Corporate borrowings | $ | 2,142 | $ | 1,440 | |||||||||||
| Accounts payable and other | 16,691 | 18,378 | |||||||||||||
| Non-recourse borrowings in subsidiaries of Brookfield Business Partners | 36,720 | 40,809 | |||||||||||||
| Deferred income tax liabilities | 2,613 | 3,226 | |||||||||||||
| Equity | |||||||||||||||
| Limited partners | $ | 1,752 | $ | 1,909 | |||||||||||
| Non-controlling interests attributable to: | |||||||||||||||
| Redemption-exchange units | 1,644 | 1,792 | |||||||||||||
| Special limited partner | — | — | |||||||||||||
| BBUC exchangeable shares | 1,721 | 1,875 | |||||||||||||
| Preferred securities | 740 | 740 | |||||||||||||
| Interest of others in operating subsidiaries | 11,451 | 12,216 | |||||||||||||
| 17,308 | 18,532 | ||||||||||||||
| Total Liabilities and Equity | $ | 75,474 | $ | 82,385 | |||||||||||
| Brookfield Business Partners L.P. Consolidated Statements of Operating Results |
|||||||||||||||
| US$ millions, unaudited | Three Months Ended December 31, |
Year Ended December 31, |
|||||||||||||
| 2024 | 2023 | 2024 | 2023 | ||||||||||||
| Revenues | $ | 7,427 | $ | 13,405 | $ | 40,620 | $ | 55,068 | |||||||
| Direct operating costs | (6,008 | ) | (12,209 | ) | (34,883 | ) | (50,021 | ) | |||||||
| General and administrative expenses | (324 | ) | (336 | ) | (1,267 | ) | (1,538 | ) | |||||||
| Interest income (expense), net | (752 | ) | (858 | ) | (3,104 | ) | (3,596 | ) | |||||||
| Equity accounted income (loss), net | 35 | 48 | 90 | 132 | |||||||||||
| Impairment reversal (expense), net | (991 | ) | (780 | ) | (981 | ) | (831 | ) | |||||||
| Gain (loss) on acquisitions/dispositions, net | — | 4,477 | 692 | 4,686 | |||||||||||
| Other income (expense), net | (360 | ) | (344 | ) | (573 | ) | (178 | ) | |||||||
| Income (loss) before income tax | (973 | ) | 3,403 | 594 | 3,722 | ||||||||||
| Income tax (expense) recovery | |||||||||||||||
| Current | (158 | ) | (171 | ) | (646 | ) | (775 | ) | |||||||
| Deferred | 23 | 252 | 947 | 830 | |||||||||||
| Net income (loss) | $ | (1,108 | ) | $ | 3,484 | $ | 895 | $ | 3,777 | ||||||
| Attributable to: | |||||||||||||||
| Limited partners | $ | (150 | ) | $ | 488 | $ | (37 | ) | $ | 482 | |||||
| Non-controlling interests attributable to: | |||||||||||||||
| Redemption-exchange units | (141 | ) | 457 | (35 | ) | 451 | |||||||||
| Special limited partner | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||
| BBUC exchangeable shares | (147 | ) | 478 | (37 | ) | 472 | |||||||||
| Preferred securities | 13 | 17 | 52 | 83 | |||||||||||
| Interest of others in operating subsidiaries | (683 | ) | 2,044 | 952 | 2,289 | ||||||||||
| Brookfield Business Partners L.P. Reconciliation of Non-IFRS Measures |
||||||||||||||||||||
| US$ millions, unaudited | Three Months Ended December 31, 2024 |
|||||||||||||||||||
| Business Services | Infrastructure Services | Industrials | Corporate and Other | Total | ||||||||||||||||
| Net income (loss) | $ | (955 | ) | $ | (72 | ) | $ | (31 | ) | $ | (50 | ) | $ | (1,108 | ) | |||||
| Add or subtract the following: | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization expense | 223 | 228 | 328 | — | 779 | |||||||||||||||
| Impairment reversal (expense), net | 690 | 1 | 300 | — | 991 | |||||||||||||||
| Gain (loss) on acquisitions/dispositions, net | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||
| Other income (expense), net1 | 312 | 4 | 47 | (3 | ) | 360 | ||||||||||||||
| Income tax (expense) recovery | 28 | 9 | 115 | (17 | ) | 135 | ||||||||||||||
| Equity accounted income (loss), net | (4 | ) | (12 | ) | (19 | ) | — | (35 | ) | |||||||||||
| Interest income (expense), net | 233 | 166 | 313 | 40 | 752 | |||||||||||||||
| Equity accounted Adjusted EBITDA2 | 25 | 47 | 17 | — | 89 | |||||||||||||||
| Amounts attributable to non-controlling interests3 | (335 | ) | (211 | ) | (764 | ) | — | (1,310 | ) | |||||||||||
| Adjusted EBITDA | $ | 217 | $ | 160 | $ | 306 | $ | (30 | ) | $ | 653 | |||||||||
| Notes: | ||
| 1 | Other income (expense), net corresponds to amounts that are not directly related to revenue earning activities and are not normal, recurring income or expenses necessary for business operations. The components of other income (expense), net include $407 million related to a provision for payment of a litigation settlement at our dealer software and technology services operation, $116 million of net gains on the sale of property, plant and equipment and other assets, $57 million related to provisions recorded at our construction operation, $52 million of business separation expenses, stand-up costs and restructuring charges, $27 million of net gains on debt modification and extinguishment, $16 million of net revaluation gains and $3 million in transaction costs. | |
| 2 | Equity accounted Adjusted EBITDA corresponds to the Adjusted EBITDA attributable to the partnership that is generated by its investments in associates and joint ventures accounted for using the equity method. | |
| 3 | Amounts attributable to non-controlling interests are calculated based on the economic ownership interests held by the non-controlling interests in consolidated subsidiaries. | |
| Brookfield Business Partners L.P. Reconciliation of Non-IFRS Measures |
||||||||||||||||||||
| US$ millions, unaudited | Year Ended December 31, 2024 |
|||||||||||||||||||
| Business Services | Infrastructure Services | Industrials | Corporate and Other | Total | ||||||||||||||||
| Net income (loss) | $ | (169 | ) | $ | (347 | ) | $ | 1,654 | $ | (243 | ) | $ | 895 | |||||||
| Add or subtract the following: | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization expense | 961 | 888 | 1,355 | — | 3,204 | |||||||||||||||
| Impairment reversal (expense), net | 686 | (11 | ) | 306 | — | 981 | ||||||||||||||
| Gain (loss) on acquisitions/dispositions, net | (608 | ) | — | (84 | ) | — | (692 | ) | ||||||||||||
| Other income (expense), net1 | 365 | 32 | 164 | 12 | 573 | |||||||||||||||
| Income tax (expense) recovery | 75 | 6 | (341 | ) | (41 | ) | (301 | ) | ||||||||||||
| Equity accounted income (loss), net | (4 | ) | (23 | ) | (63 | ) | — | (90 | ) | |||||||||||
| Interest income (expense), net | 972 | 701 | 1,279 | 152 | 3,104 | |||||||||||||||
| Equity accounted Adjusted EBITDA2 | 79 | 168 | 61 | — | 308 | |||||||||||||||
| Amounts attributable to non-controlling interests3 | (1,525 | ) | (808 | ) | (3,084 | ) | — | (5,417 | ) | |||||||||||
| Adjusted EBITDA | $ | 832 | $ | 606 | $ | 1,247 | $ | (120 | ) | $ | 2,565 | |||||||||
| Notes: | |
| 1 | Other income (expense), net corresponds to amounts that are not directly related to revenue earning activities and are not normal, recurring income or expenses necessary for business operations. The components of other income (expense), net include $407 million related to a provision for payment of a litigation settlement at our dealer software and technology services operation, $251 million related to provisions recorded at our construction operation, $168 million of net revaluation gains, $158 million of business separation expenses, stand-up costs and restructuring charges, $108 million of net gains on the sale of property, plant and equipment and other assets, $52 million of net gains on debt modification and extinguishment, $50 million of other income related to a distribution at our entertainment operation, $35 million in transaction costs and $100 million of other expenses. |
| 2 | Equity accounted Adjusted EBITDA corresponds to the Adjusted EBITDA attributable to the partnership that is generated by its investments in associates and joint ventures accounted for using the equity method. |
| 3 | Adjusted EBITDA that is attributable to non-controlling interests in consolidated subsidiaries. |
| Brookfield Business Partners L.P. Reconciliation of Non-IFRS Measures |
||||||||||||||||||||
| US$ millions, unaudited | Three Months Ended December 31, 2023 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Business Services | Infrastructure Services | Industrials | Corporate and Other | Total | ||||||||||||||||
| Net income (loss) | $ | 51 | $ | 3,744 | $ | (264 | ) | $ | (47 | ) | $ | 3,484 | ||||||||
| Add or subtract the following: | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization expense | 287 | 257 | 347 | — | 891 | |||||||||||||||
| Impairment reversal (expense), net | 650 | 33 | 97 | — | 780 | |||||||||||||||
| Gain (loss) on acquisitions/dispositions, net | (566 | ) | (3,902 | ) | (9 | ) | — | (4,477 | ) | |||||||||||
| Other income (expense), net1 | (24 | ) | 46 | 317 | 5 | 344 | ||||||||||||||
| Income tax (expense) recovery | 18 | (10 | ) | (68 | ) | (21 | ) | (81 | ) | |||||||||||
| Equity accounted income (loss), net | (6 | ) | (22 | ) | (20 | ) | — | (48 | ) | |||||||||||
| Interest income (expense), net | 259 | 225 | 336 | 38 | 858 | |||||||||||||||
| Equity accounted Adjusted EBITDA2 | 17 | 51 | 17 | — | 85 | |||||||||||||||
| Amounts attributable to non-controlling interests3 | (459 | ) | (238 | ) | (531 | ) | — | (1,228 | ) | |||||||||||
| Adjusted EBITDA | $ | 227 | $ | 184 | $ | 222 | $ | (25 | ) | $ | 608 | |||||||||
| Notes: | |
| 1 | Other income (expense), net corresponds to amounts that are not directly related to revenue earning activities and are not normal, recurring income or expenses necessary for business operations. The components of other income (expense), net include $247 million loss related to the reclassification of our graphite electrode operations as a financial asset, $96 million of net gains on debt extinguishment/modifications, $80 million of business separation expenses, stand-up costs and restructuring charges, $37 million in transaction costs and $76 million of other expenses. |
| 2 | Equity accounted Adjusted EBITDA corresponds to the Adjusted EBITDA attributable to the partnership that is generated by its investments in associates and joint ventures accounted for using the equity method. |
| 3 | Adjusted EBITDA that is attributable to non-controlling interests in consolidated subsidiaries. |
| Brookfield Business Partners L.P. Reconciliation of Non-IFRS Measures |
||||||||||||||||||||
| US$ millions, unaudited | Year Ended December 31, 2023 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Business Services | Infrastructure Services | Industrials | Corporate and Other | Total | ||||||||||||||||
| Net income (loss) | $ | 602 | $ | 3,616 | $ | (245 | ) | $ | (196 | ) | $ | 3,777 | ||||||||
| Add or subtract the following: | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization expense | 1,045 | 1,174 | 1,373 | — | 3,592 | |||||||||||||||
| Impairment reversal (expense), net | 656 | (13 | ) | 188 | — | 831 | ||||||||||||||
| Gain (loss) on acquisitions/dispositions, net | (720 | ) | (3,916 | ) | (50 | ) | — | (4,686 | ) | |||||||||||
| Other income (expense), net1 | (138 | ) | (90 | ) | 396 | 10 | 178 | |||||||||||||
| Income tax (expense) recovery | 245 | (6 | ) | (218 | ) | (76 | ) | (55 | ) | |||||||||||
| Equity accounted income (loss), net | (25 | ) | (51 | ) | (56 | ) | — | (132 | ) | |||||||||||
| Interest income (expense), net | 1,031 | 1,051 | 1,369 | 145 | 3,596 | |||||||||||||||
| Equity accounted Adjusted EBITDA2 | 61 | 183 | 63 | — | 307 | |||||||||||||||
| Amounts attributable to non-controlling interests3 | (1,857 | ) | (1,095 | ) | (1,965 | ) | — | (4,917 | ) | |||||||||||
| Adjusted EBITDA | $ | 900 | $ | 853 | $ | 855 | $ | (117 | ) | $ | 2,491 | |||||||||
| Notes: | |
| 1 | Other income (expense), net corresponds to amounts that are not directly related to revenue earning activities and are not normal, recurring income or expenses necessary for business operations. The components of other income (expense), net include $446 million of net gains on debt modification and extinguishment, $247 million loss related to the reclassification of our graphite electrode operations as a financial asset, $246 million of business separation expenses, stand-up costs and restructuring charges, $116 million in transaction costs, $93 million of net revaluation gains and $108 million of other expenses. |
| 2 | Equity accounted Adjusted EBITDA corresponds to the Adjusted EBITDA attributable to the partnership that is generated by its investments in associates and joint ventures accounted for using the equity method. |
| 3 | Adjusted EBITDA that is attributable to non-controlling interests in consolidated subsidiaries. |
Brookfield Business Corporation Reports 2024 Year End Results
Brookfield, News, January 31, 2025 – Brookfield Business Corporation (NYSE, TSX: BBUC) announced today its net income (loss) for the year ended December 31, 2024.
| Three Months Ended December 31, |
Year Ended December 31, |
||||||||||||||
| US$ millions, unaudited | 2024 | 2023 | 2024 | 2023 | |||||||||||
| Net income (loss) attributable to Brookfield Business Partners | $ | (396 | ) | $ | 454 | $ | (888 | ) | $ | 519 | |||||
Net loss attributable to Brookfield Business Partners for the year ended December 31, 2024 was $888 million compared to net income of $519 million in 2023 which included net gains primarily related to the sale of our nuclear technology services operation. Current year results included $208 million of remeasurement loss on our exchangeable and class B shares that are classified as liabilities under IFRS. As at December 31, 2024, the exchangeable and class B shares were remeasured to reflect the closing price of $23.42 per unit.
Dividend
The Board of Directors has declared a quarterly dividend in the amount of $0.0625 per share, payable on March 31, 2025 to shareholders of record as at the close of business on February 28, 2025.
Additional Information
Each exchangeable share of Brookfield Business Corporation has been structured with the intention of providing an economic return equivalent to one unit of Brookfield Business Partners L.P. Each exchangeable share will be exchangeable at the option of the holder for one unit. Brookfield Business Corporation will target that dividends on its exchangeable shares will be declared and paid at the same time as distributions are declared and paid on the Brookfield Business Partners’ units and that dividends on each exchangeable share will be declared and paid in the same amount as distributions are declared and paid on each unit to provide holders of exchangeable shares with an economic return equivalent to holders of units.
In addition to carefully considering the disclosures made in this news release in its entirety, shareholders are strongly encouraged to carefully review the Letter to Unitholders, Supplemental Information and other continuous disclosure filings which are available at https://bbu.brookfield.com.
Please note that Brookfield Business Corporation’s previous audited annual and unaudited quarterly reports have been filed on SEDAR+ and EDGAR and are available at https://bbu.brookfield.com/bbuc under Reports & Filings. Hard copies of the annual and quarterly reports can be obtained free of charge upon request.
| Brookfield Business Corporation Consolidated Statements of Financial Position |
|||||||||||||||
| As at | |||||||||||||||
| US$ millions, unaudited | December 31, 2024 | December 31, 2023 | |||||||||||||
| Assets | |||||||||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 1,008 | $ | 772 | |||||||||||
| Financial assets | 353 | 224 | |||||||||||||
| Accounts and other receivable, net | 3,229 | 3,569 | |||||||||||||
| Inventory, net | 52 | 61 | |||||||||||||
| Other assets | 627 | 737 | |||||||||||||
| Property, plant and equipment | 2,480 | 2,743 | |||||||||||||
| Deferred income tax assets | 197 | 221 | |||||||||||||
| Intangible assets | 5,966 | 6,931 | |||||||||||||
| Equity accounted investments | 198 | 222 | |||||||||||||
| Goodwill | 4,988 | 5,702 | |||||||||||||
| Total Assets | $ | 19,098 | $ | 21,182 | |||||||||||
| Liabilities and Equity | |||||||||||||||
| Liabilities | |||||||||||||||
| Accounts payable and other | $ | 5,276 | $ | 4,818 | |||||||||||
| Non-recourse borrowings in subsidiaries of Brookfield Business Corporation | 8,490 | 8,823 | |||||||||||||
| Exchangeable and class B shares | 1,709 | 1,501 | |||||||||||||
| Deferred income tax liabilities | 988 | 1,280 | |||||||||||||
| Equity | |||||||||||||||
| Brookfield Business Partners | $ | (59 | ) | $ | 880 | ||||||||||
| Non-controlling interests | 2,694 | 3,880 | |||||||||||||
| 2,635 | 4,760 | ||||||||||||||
| Total Liabilities and Equity | $ | 19,098 | $ | 21,182 | |||||||||||
| Brookfield Business Corporation Consolidated Statements of Operating Results |
|||||||||||||||
| US$ millions, unaudited | Three Months Ended December 31, |
Year Ended December 31, |
|||||||||||||
| 2024 | 2023 | 2024 | 2023 | ||||||||||||
| Continuing operations | |||||||||||||||
| Revenues | $ | 2,209 | $ | 1,946 | $ | 8,208 | $ | 7,683 | |||||||
| Direct operating costs | (2,041 | ) | (1,749 | ) | (7,568 | ) | (6,794 | ) | |||||||
| General and administrative expenses | (107 | ) | (78 | ) | (326 | ) | (268 | ) | |||||||
| Interest income (expense), net | (212 | ) | (206 | ) | (832 | ) | (878 | ) | |||||||
| Equity accounted income (loss), net | 2 | 2 | 8 | 3 | |||||||||||
| Impairment reversal (expense), net | (689 | ) | (599 | ) | (691 | ) | (606 | ) | |||||||
| Gain (loss) on acquisitions/dispositions, net | — | — | — | 87 | |||||||||||
| Remeasurement of exchangeable and class B shares | (9 | ) | (392 | ) | (208 | ) | (264 | ) | |||||||
| Other income (expense), net | (469 | ) | 44 | (666 | ) | 126 | |||||||||
| Income (loss) before income tax from continuing operations | (1,316 | ) | (1,032 | ) | (2,075 | ) | (911 | ) | |||||||
| Income tax (expense) recovery | |||||||||||||||
| Current | (8 | ) | (5 | ) | (50 | ) | (167 | ) | |||||||
| Deferred | 42 | 1 | 198 | 95 | |||||||||||
| Net income (loss) from continuing operations | $ | (1,282 | ) | $ | (1,036 | ) | $ | (1,927 | ) | $ | (983 | ) | |||
| Discontinued operations | |||||||||||||||
| Net income (loss) from discontinued operations | — | 3,885 | — | 3,812 | |||||||||||
| Net income (loss) | $ | (1,282 | ) | $ | 2,849 | $ | (1,927 | ) | $ | 2,829 | |||||
| Attributable to: | |||||||||||||||
| Brookfield Business Partners | $ | (396 | ) | $ | 454 | $ | (888 | ) | $ | 519 | |||||
| Non-controlling interests | (886 | ) | 2,395 | (1,039 | ) | 2,310 | |||||||||
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-looking Statements and Information
Note: This news release contains “forward-looking information” within the meaning of Canadian provincial securities laws and “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of applicable Canadian and U.S. securities laws. Forward-looking statements include statements that are predictive in nature, depend upon or refer to future events or conditions, include statements regarding the operations, business, financial condition, expected financial results, performance, prospects, opportunities, priorities, targets, goals, ongoing objectives, strategies and outlook of Brookfield Business Partners, as well as regarding recently completed and proposed acquisitions, dispositions, and other transactions, and the outlook for North American and international economies for the current fiscal year and subsequent periods, and include words such as “expects”, “anticipates”, “plans”, “believes”, “estimates”, “seeks”, “intends”, “targets”, “projects”, “forecasts”, “views”, “potential”, “likely” or negative versions thereof and other similar expressions, or future or conditional verbs such as “may”, “will”, “should”, “would” and “could”.
Although we believe that our anticipated future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements and information are based upon reasonable assumptions and expectations, investors and other readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and information because they involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are beyond our control, which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Brookfield Business Partners to differ materially from anticipated future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements and information. These beliefs, assumptions and expectations can change as a result of many possible events or factors, not all of which are known to us or are within our control. If a change occurs, our business, financial condition, liquidity and results of operations and our plans and strategies may vary materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements and forward-looking information herein.
Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated or implied by forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: the cyclical nature of our operating businesses and general economic conditions and risks relating to the economy, including unfavorable changes in interest rates, foreign exchange rates, inflation and volatility in the financial markets; global equity and capital markets and the availability of equity and debt financing and refinancing within these markets; strategic actions including our ability to complete dispositions and achieve the anticipated benefits therefrom; the ability to complete and effectively integrate acquisitions into existing operations and the ability to attain expected benefits; changes in accounting policies and methods used to report financial condition (including uncertainties associated with critical accounting assumptions and estimates); the ability to appropriately manage human capital; the effect of applying future accounting changes; business competition; operational and reputational risks; technological change; changes in government regulation and legislation within the countries in which we operate; changes to U.S. laws or policies, including changes in U.S. domestic economic policies and foreign trade policies and tariffs; governmental investigations; litigation; changes in tax laws; ability to collect amounts owed; catastrophic events, such as earthquakes, hurricanes and pandemics/epidemics; cybersecurity incidents; the possible impact of international conflicts, wars and related developments including terrorist acts and cyber terrorism; and other risks and factors detailed from time to time in our documents filed with the securities regulators in Canada and the United States including those set forth in the “Risk Factors” section in our annual report for the year ended December 31, 2024 to be filed on Form 20-F.
Statements relating to “reserves” are deemed to be forward-looking statements as they involve the implied assessment, based on certain estimates and assumptions, that the reserves described herein can be profitably produced in the future. We qualify any and all of our forward-looking statements by these cautionary factors.
We caution that the foregoing list of important factors that may affect future results is not exhaustive. When relying on our forward-looking statements and information, investors and others should carefully consider the foregoing factors and other uncertainties and potential events. Except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements or information, whether written or oral, that may be as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Cautionary Statement Regarding the Use of a Non-IFRS Measure
This news release contains references to a Non-IFRS measure. Adjusted EBITDA is not a generally accepted accounting measure under IFRS and therefore may differ from definitions used by other entities. We believe this is a useful supplemental measure that may assist investors in assessing the financial performance of Brookfield Business Partners and its subsidiaries. However, Adjusted EBITDA should not be considered in isolation from, or as a substitute for, analysis of our financial statements prepared in accordance with IFRS.
References to Brookfield Business Partners are to Brookfield Business Partners L.P. together with its subsidiaries, controlled affiliates and operating entities. Unitholders’ results include limited partnership units, redemption-exchange units, general partnership units, BBUC exchangeable shares and special limited partnership units. More detailed information on certain references made in this news release will be available in our Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations in our annual report for the year ended December 31, 2024 to be filed on Form 20-F.
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., Jan. 31, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Signing Day Sports, Inc. (“Signing Day Sports” or the “Company”) (NYSE American: SGN), the developer of the Signing Day Sports app and platform to aid high school athletes in the recruitment process, today announced the signing of a new Sponsorship Agreement with the U.S. Army Bowl, extending its rights as “National Recruiting Partner”. The Sponsorship Agreement solidifies Signing Day Sports’ role as manager of the U.S. Army Bowl’s National Combines and specified Regional Combines, enables the Company to promote its app and services, and provides revenue-sharing opportunities.
“Our collaboration with the U.S. Army Bowl and the U.S. Army Bowl’s owner, Goat Farm Sports, has already brought over 8,000 new football users into our SaaS model app,” said Jeff Hecklinski, President of Signing Day Sports. “We are ecstatic to be able to finalize a new Sponsorship Agreement, strengthening the business relationship between Goat Farm Sports and Signing Day Sports. We want to thank Goat Farm Sports for their continued trust and support of Signing Day Sports. Based on our prior collaboration as National Recruiting Partner to the U.S. Army Bowl in 2022, 2023 and 2024, we believe that we have created and grown one of the best-known high school football combine series in the country. With the technology of Signing Day Sports and the brand of the U.S. Army Bowl, we have been able to help provide complete and necessary services to student-athletes and their families around the country to help them successfully navigate the college recruiting landscape. Over the past year alone, we have worked with almost 4,000 student-athletes and their families. Through our comprehensive webinars, individual informational sessions, and other outreach, we have helped student-athletes reach their goals of playing college football. We are excited to continue our growth and success alongside Goat Farm Sports and the U.S. Army Bowl in the coming years.”
Nearly 3,000 student-athletes participated in the 2024 U.S. Army Bowl Regional Combines, and projections exceed 4,000 in 2025. Signing Day Sports will continue to operate the U.S. Army Bowl National Combine in December 2025, now the largest high school football combine in the country. The Company will receive a $60 stipend for each athlete who attends the National Combine and pays the full registration fee. Signing Day Sports will manage specified regional combines, retaining all earnings and absorbing all costs directly with minimal overhead. Regional combines may feature an official U.S. Army Bowl academy, at which the Company will feature a 1-day combine managed and operated by the Company. The Company will receive $135 of any academy fee and commissions for assisting with academy sales. Every participant will receive their video-verified data from their combine in their Signing Day Sports app and, after their free trial period ends, will be added to the app to continue with their recruiting profile. Through the app, athletes will be able to search and communicate directly with coaches from around the country through the newly updated coaches search tab found in the app.
A copy of the Sponsorship Agreement was filed as an exhibit to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by Signing Day Sports with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on January 30, 2025.
Student-athletes interested in participating in the U.S. Army Regional Combine series can register at sdscombines.com.
About Signing Day Sports
Signing Day Sports’ mission is to help student-athletes achieve their goal of playing college sports. Signing Day Sports’ app allows student-athletes to build their Signing Day Sports’ recruitment profile, which includes information college coaches need to evaluate and verify them through video technology. For more information on Signing Day Sports, go to https://bit.ly/SigningDaySports.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains “forward-looking statements” that are subject to substantial risks and uncertainties. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, contained in this press release are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release may be identified by the use of words such as “may,” “could,” “will,” “should,” “would,” “expect,” “plan,” “intend,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “predict,” “potential,” “project” or “continue” or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. These statements are only predictions. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements because they involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements because they involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, including without limitation, the Company’s ability to realize the expected benefits of its collaboration with the owner of the U.S. Army Bowl; the ability of the collaboration to yield significant revenues or other value for the Company; the Company’s ability to execute the collaboration strategy as expected; the number of student-athletes who will use and purchase subscriptions to the Company’s app through the Company’s U.S. Army Bowl collaboration; the Company’s ability to obtain additional funding to develop additional services and offerings; market acceptance of the Company’s offerings; competition from existing online offerings or new offerings that may emerge; impacts from strategic changes to the Company’s business on its net sales, revenues, income from continuing operations, or other results of operations; the Company’s ability to attract new users and customers, increase the rate of subscription renewals, and slow the rate of user attrition; the Company’s ability and third parties’ abilities to protect intellectual property rights; the Company’s ability to adequately support future growth; the Company’s ability to comply with user data privacy laws and other current or anticipated legal requirements; and the Company’s ability to attract and retain key personnel to manage its business effectively. Further information regarding factors which could affect the forward-looking statements can be found under “Risk Factors” and sections containing cautionary statements relating to forward-looking statements in the Company’s periodic reports which are filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These risks, uncertainties and other factors are, in some cases, beyond our control and could materially affect results. If one or more of these risks, uncertainties or other factors become applicable, or if our underlying assumptions prove to be incorrect, actual events or results may vary significantly from those implied or projected by the forward-looking statements. No forward-looking statement is a guarantee of future performance. Forward-looking statements contained in this announcement are made as of this date, and the Company undertakes no duty to update such information except as required under applicable law.
Investor Contacts:
Crescendo Communications, LLC
212-671-1020
SGN@crescendo-ir.com
Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements
Steve Reed sets out how the most sophisticated land use data ever published will support decision-making by local government, landowners, businesses and farmers
Thanks to Tim for the introduction, and to the Royal Geographical Society for hosting us here today.
I want to start by celebrating the work of the late Sir Dudley Stamp, President of the Royal Geographical Society from 1963 – 1966.
In the 1930s, Sir Dudley carried out the Land Utilisation Survey of Great Britain, the first-of-its-kind nation-wide survey of how land was then being used in our country.
He recruited the help of thousands of schoolchildren and their teachers, who embarked on a trip right around Britain to map mountains, rivers, fields, back gardens, forests, covering every piece of land across the country.
You can see examples of these maps can be found in this room today.
Across the survey, some maps were clearly done quickly as a pupil ran out of time, or perhaps even lost interest, others are coloured meticulously with additional notes and labels for good measure.
Yet, whether they were rushed or done in painstaking detail, Sir Dudley’s maps are invaluable, providing a comprehensive record of how land was being used across England, Wales and Scotland.
These maps were quickly put to use with the dawn of the Second World War, used by the local War Agricultural Committees to identify land that could maximise food production.
Sir Dudley’s maps are a snapshot in history – a fascinating insight into how the countryside has changed over time.
But the story of our land goes much deeper even than that.
Our landscape embodies our lives, our culture, our celebrations, and our tragedies.
How it looks has changed as our population has grown and shrunk, through wars, in times of disease and hardship, through changing industries and shifting habits. The stories of our ancestors are embedded in the rich heritage of our land.
In the woodlands of the New Forest where, in 1697, trees were protected by law to supply timber for the Royal Navy’s growing fleet.
In the ridges and furrows in our fields, and the stone walls of enclosures, that give a glimpse into the lives of millions of farmers who’ve worked our land for tens of thousands of years.
In the parkland designed by ‘Capability’ Brown across England’s glorious Georgian Estates, visited by millions of us to this day.
Our landscape reflects generations of innovators.
In the emergence of new terraced houses in the industrial towns of Lancashire and West Yorkshire, remnants of the late 18th century textile revolution.
In the creation of our transport system, from canals to the railways through the 19th century, to the opening of England’s first motorway in 1958.
From the world’s first public electricity supply in Surrey in 1851, to the UK producing its trillionth kilowatt hour of electricity from renewable sources in May 2023.
It’s the fabric of Stevenage and Harlow, created under the New Towns Act of 1946 to meet the urgent need for housing in the post war years, and in the opening of our National Parks during that same period, representing the desire of a nation to get out and enjoy the great outdoors.
It tells the story of farmers who have changed how they farm time and again to grow the food we need and steward our countryside, embracing mechanisation in the 20th century, automation in more recent decades, and the nature-friendly practices we’re seeing emerge today.
Wherever you are in England, the history of our landscape is ever present. The distinctive features that make up the nation we know and love are never far away.
Two hours from the room we’re all in right now, I could be at Stonehenge. Go the other way, I’m in the Norfolk Broads or on the beach at Margate. I can easily get to the canals of Birmingham, the uplands of the Yorkshire Dales or the sparkling white cliffs of Dover.
This is one of England’s greatest joys. But also one of its challenges. Because England’s land area is small. To put it in perspective, France is four times bigger than England but our population is around the same.
And there are more demands and more opportunities on our land than ever before.
To grow the economy and deliver the change that this Government was elected to do, we must make the best use of the land around us. But we need better data and tools to inform decision making.
So we can grow the food to feed the nation. Build 1.5 million new homes to address the housing crisis. Construct the energy infrastructure to secure home-grown clean power. And, underpinning all these ambitions, protect and restore nature here in one of the most nature-depleted countries on Earth.
In the years since Sir Dudley’s work, we’ve seen subsequent land use surveys, and advances in spatial data science and earth observation means we have detailed land analysis at our fingertips, including that used by Tim in Land App, to help people plan how we use our land better.
But, until now, there has been no clear direction set by Government on how our land could best be used across England. How to support those who make decisions about the land. How to minimise trade-offs and maximise its potential.
Today, following Sir Dudley’s groundbreaking survey almost 100 years ago, I’m asking for your help to shape the first-ever comprehensive Land Use Framework for England.
This will be the most sophisticated land use data and toolkit ever published in our country’s history.
This Government has a cast-iron commitment to maintain long-term food security.
The primary purpose of farming will always be to produce the food that feeds the nation.
This framework will give decision makers the toolkit they need to protect our highest quality agricultural land, and make decisions about the long term future of farm businesses.
Farming faces a rapidly changing climate. More severe flooding and droughts are damaging food production, hitting yields and hitting profits. At the same time our natural environment is in decline. Much-loved British birds and wildlife are at risk of national extinction.
Our rivers, lakes and seas are choked by unacceptable levels of pollution.
Some of our most treasured landscapes are in a very poor condition.
This is the scale of the challenge we face. And we must do more to restore our natural world while maintaining and strengthening food production.
That is why the Government must go further and faster to support farmers through the transition to a more sustainable way of farming.
But there’s good news too. That transition is already underway. Embracing innovation that will boost long-term food production. Restoring habitats and supporting once-endangered species. Doing things like planting orchards alongside cropland, or restoring and maintaining peatland.
I know from conversations with farmers and landowners that they not only understand the need for change, they are already making change happen.
They know their land best, and it is only right that they lead this transition.
We can make the most of food production, nature’s restoration and economic growth if we support farmers and landowners with better information to help them navigate their way into the future.
That may mean doing things differently, and I know that can be worrying, but the decision on how to manage land will and must always rest with the individual farmer or landowner.
We will work with farmers to shape the framework and support them in making their businesses more sustainable, productive and profitable by opening up Government data so innovators like Tim can put new insights into the hands of farmers, planners and developers when taking their own decisions about the best use for their land.
It will look at how we create the certainty that private investors need to invest in farming businesses, and consider how best to use public funding to secure the most benefits for food production and for nature.
We are working on common sense changes that create a win-win for nature and the economy, and the Land Use Framework is a significant part of that.
Nature is the common thread that runs through the Government’s missions. It is healthy soils and abundant pollinators that enable us to grow the food we need despite the changing climate. It’s a resilient water supply that is essential to building the homes, schools, hospitals, and datacentres that we need. And trees and vegetation that help the land hold more water and give us better protection from flooding.
It’s the biodiversity and wildlife that safeguards our ecosystems to fight off animal and plant diseases, while access to our wild landscapes and green spaces helps improve mental and physical health and reduce the burden on our NHS.
Beyond nature and the farming sector, this Framework will unlock growth through better spatial planning.
It will work hand in hand with our housing and our energy plans, so we can meet our ambitious housing targets and achieve Clean Power by 2030, without jeopardising food production or nature.
This land use data will shape decision-making about where and how we build things in this country so we can grow the economy and meet the challenges of future decades.
Major infrastructure will be built with sensitivity to our landscapes, by ensuring our strategic spatial energy plan and 10 year infrastructure strategy draw from the land use framework.
And by linking the Framework with our spatial approach to housing, we can develop new settlements that make space for nature and allow access to our beautiful green countryside.
This is about creating a coherent set of policies that work together, rather than against each other.
We have taken on recommendations from Henry Dimbleby’s Food Strategy, the Food Farming and Countryside Commission, a House of Lords Committee, and a range of other voices – many who I see in front of me in this room, to consult on a Land Use Framework for England.
Starting a national conversation on the vast opportunities for how we use land in this country.
It won’t tell anyone what to do with their land, it will help them take better decisions shaped by the life experiences of farmers, landowners and planners.
Using the most sophisticated land use data ever published, we will boost food production, protect the best agricultural land, restore our natural world and drive economic growth.
This is not a set of rules. This is providing better data and information to make sure the farming transition that is already happening is fair and just.
Ensuring the evidence gathered here will also feed into the wider reform that we are delivering through our Farming Roadmap and Food Strategy.
So just as Sir Dudley asked schoolteachers and their pupils for help all those years ago, I am asking for your help.
I won’t be giving out mapping sheets and testing your colouring skills you’ll be pleased to hear.
But I do want to hear your views and draw from your expertise on what a Land Use Framework for England should look like and – importantly – how we get there.
Today we are launching a 12-week consultation, that will be supported by workshops and roundtables around the country.
Bringing together farmers, landowners, businesses, planners – everyone involved in how we use our land.
We’ll be asking for your views on a future vision for the land, what our policies on land use need to include, and what you need to realise that vision.
Tell us how can we change the way our spatial data is presented and shared so it’s more valuable in decision making and can be used to drive economic growth.
Tell us where the skills gaps are, and what skills we need to transition our land.
Tell us how we can best help landowners, land managers and communities understand and prepare for the challenges of climate change,
Or support farmers to make land-use changes while boosting food production.
If we get that right, the prize is huge.
We can have a multifunctional landscape that delivers economic growth and puts money back in the pockets of hardworking people.
Where farmers continue to produce the food we need, working with nature and maximising the potential of their land to strengthen food security in the face of climate change and geopolitical shocks.
We can have healthy ecosystems, abundant habitats and species, clean waterways and beautiful countryside for everyone to enjoy.
We can have families living in well-designed homes, with green spaces, amenities and protection from flooding.
We can lower energy bills and increase national energy security by generating more homegrown, clean energy.
This is about shaping the future England we want to see.
The consultation may be just 12 weeks – but the conversation will be ongoing.
Just as it has throughout history, our landscape will continue to change – and we will work with you so that the Land Use Framework evolves to reflect this.
Our landscape is shaped by those who’ve lived and worked it for generations.
This is England’s next chapter. We are the authors. Let’s write it together.
Published 31 January 2025
Source: United Nations
Between 11 and 15 December 2024, UNESCO conducted a consultation mission with local communities living in and around Gabon’s two World Heritage properties: the Ecosystem and Relict Cultural Landscape of Lopé-Okanda and Ivindo National Park. This initiative is part of UNESCO’s project titled “Creating a Sustainable Heritage Ecosystem for Socio-Economic Development in Africa,” funded by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The project aims to integrate heritage preservation into sustainable development strategies, focusing on entrepreneurship, ecotourism, and digital technology.
As part of its commitment to sustainable socio-economic development, UNESCO has launched several pilot projects to promote entrepreneurship centred on ecotourism and the interpretation of World Heritage. These initiatives primarily target young people and women, addressing themes such as new information and communication technologies (ICT), the heritage economy, income-generating activities (IGAs), and innovation. The two World Heritage sites, known for their Outstanding Universal Value, are central to consultations aimed at developing tailored solutions to meet the needs of local communities.
Multi-sectoral consultation in Libreville with key stakeholders in the development of the project © UNESCO /Jean Eude Ngouadono
Ahead of the community consultations at the two World Heritage sites, a consultative meeting was organised by the Ministry of Culture in Libreville on 10 December 2024 with UNESCO. This event also brought together public and private institutions, including the National Museum, École 241 (a digital and leadership training centre), the National Agency for National Parks (ANPN), Espace PME (a Ministry of Commerce body supporting small and medium enterprises), the Gabon Digital Incubation Society (SING), and representatives from the culture, tourism, crafts, and social economy sectors.
These discussions explored concrete opportunities around new technologies and the heritage economy, laying the groundwork for effective collaboration.
Moment de consultation auprès des habitants du Parc national de la Lopé. © UNESCO Libreville / Jean Eude NGOUADONO
During this consultation mission, the UNESCO delegation, accompanied by the ANPN team, visited several villages surrounding, notably consultations took place in the villages of Ebyeng, Ntiété, and within Lopé-Okanda National Park. The visit highlighted challenges faced by local communities, including abandoned villages and damaged infrastructure. These once-thriving areas reflect the significant difficulties encountered by local populations in the face of recurring issues. The visit underscored the urgency of finding sustainable solutions to address these challenges. These observations will guide the development of projects that consider the complex realities on the ground. Discussions focused on community projects related to sustainable tourism, agriculture, fishing, and craft as means of favoring sustainable livelihoods and socio-economic development.
UNESCO places local communities, especially young people and women, at the centre of sustainable solutions. These actors play a key role in heritage preservation and the development of innovative economic initiatives essential for their empowerment and the prosperity of their regions.
This mission represents a critical stage in designing a project that combines heritage preservation, sustainable development, and social inclusion. It illustrates UNESCO and its partners’ firm commitment to valuing Gabon’s rich natural and cultural heritage while addressing the aspirations and needs of local communities
The projects will include income-generating activities and aim to strengthen local capacities. The goal is to make heritage a driver of inclusive and sustainable development, where local communities are not just beneficiaries but also initiators and agents of change.
In this perspective, UNESCO will develop an implementation schedule and roll out a series of activities throughout 2025.
Source: United Nations
Celebrated annually on 2 February, World Wetlands Day aims to raise global awareness of the vital role of wetlands for people, nature and culture. This year’s theme, ‘Protecting Wetlands for Our Common Future’, reminds us of the benefits wetlands provide for biodiversity and human wellbeing.
Wetlands are among the world’s most productive ecosystems and critical for wildlife preservation. Wetlands help us cope with the impacts of climate change and secure critical freshwater recources. Wetlands have also shaped human cultures over centuries, and inspired our creativity. We need healthy wetlands for our future, and for our well-being.
Wetlands are protected under many conservation instruments, yet they are among the planet’s most theratened ecosystems. UNESCO supports the work of the Ramsar Convention on conservation and wise use of wetlands. Many wetlands have been recognised not only as Ramsar sites but also as UNESCO World Heritage properties and Biosphere Reserves. International designations can support the protection of wetlands and improve access to resources which are often much needed for securing their values.
Mont-Saint-Michel and its Bay (France) is one of the dual designations under the Ramsar and World Heritage Conventions. It is a vital coastal wetland that provides essential habitat for migratory birds and supports local fisheries with a unique Gothic-style Benedictine abbey which is a great combination of culture and nature. Conservation efforts have helped maintain the delicate balance between the region’s natural environment and human activities, offering sustainable livelihoods to local communities while preserving cultural heritage.
Wood Buffalo National Park (Canada) protects one of the world’s largest inland deltas. This wetland plays a critical role in the health of the surrounding ecosystems and provides a source of fresh water for local communities. By conserving the park’s wetlands, indigenous people and local residents benefit from enhanced food security, including access to fish and wildlife.
Banc d’Arguin National Park (Mauritania) is an important coastal wetland that provides a haven for migratory birds, fish, and other wildlife. Local people benefit from the health of this wetland, which sustains fish stocks and supports their traditional livelihoods.
Itsukushima Shinto Shrine (Japan) and its surrounding wetlands are crucial for maintaining the natural beauty of the region and has been a holy place of Shintoism. By protecting the wetlands, local communities benefit from the economic boost of tourism, while also preserving the cultural and spiritual significance of the landscape that has shaped their traditions for centuries.
This year, World Wetlands Day shares the same theme with the 15th Meeting of the Conference of the Contracting Parties to the Convention on Wetlands (COP15), which is scheduled for July 2025 in Mosi-oa-Tunya/Victoria Falls, in Zimbabwe. It is also a UNESCO World Heritage site, shared by Zimbabwe and Zambia, and has one of the most spectacular waterfalls in the world.
Visit the official World Wetlands Day 2025 website to explore global events, access communication materials and pledge your message for protecting wetlands for our common future.
Learn more about our efforts to protect wetlands of global importance : here
Source: Mayor of London
The Mayor’s Cultural Leadership Board is a high-level statutory body appointed by the Mayor of London in accordance with the Greater London Authority (GLA) Act 1999.1
Board members, known as ‘Ambassadors’, advise the Mayor of London on emerging and ongoing issues facing the creative industries and culture sector. The Board also helps to champion the Mayor’s work.
The role of the Co-Chairs is to:
The London Assembly will hold an extraordinary confirmation hearing on Monday, to assess the Mayor of London, Sir Sadiq Khan’s proposed appointees to the role of Co-Chairs of the Mayor’s Cultural Leadership Board.
The Assembly Confirmation Hearings Committee will question:
Questions may cover four key areas:
Following the hearing, the Committee will make a recommendation to the Mayor as to whether they agree or reject the proposed appointment.3
The hearing will take place on Monday 3 February at 3pm in the Chamber at City Hall, Kamal Chunchie Way, E16 1ZE.
Media and members of the public are invited to attend.
The meeting can also be viewed LIVE or later via webcast or YouTube.
Follow us @LondonAssembly.
Source: Mayor of London
PUBLIC MEETINGS
Monday 3 February
Co-chairs of the Mayor’s Cultural Leadership Board
Confirmation Hearings Committee – Chamber, City Hall, Kamal Chunchie Way, 10am
The Mayor’s Cultural Leadership Board members, known as ‘Ambassadors’, advise the Mayor of London on emerging and ongoing issues facing the creative industries and culture sector. The Board also helps to champion the Mayor’s work.
The London Assembly will hold an extraordinary confirmation hearing to assess the Mayor of London, Sir Sadiq Khan’s proposed appointees to the role of Co-Chairs of the Mayor’s Cultural Leadership Board.
The Assembly Confirmation Hearings Committee will question:
MEDIA CONTACT: Anthony Smith on 07763 251727 / [email protected]
Wednesday 5 February
Swimmable Rivers
Environment Committee – Committee Rooms 2 & 3, City Hall, Kamal Chunchie Way, 10am
The London Assembly Environment Committee will hold the final meeting of its investigation into the Mayor’s ‘swimmable rivers’ manifesto commitment, asking guests what the Mayor’s plan should include, how to ensure London’s rivers are safe and accessible, and what it will take to achieve the Mayor’s aims.
The guests are:
Panel 1
Panel 2
MEDIA CONTACT: Anthony Smith on 07763 251727 / [email protected]
Source: Scottish Greens
Inflation-busting increases are inaccessible and unaffordable for everyone.
Rail travel must be accessible and affordable for all, says Scottish Green MSP Mark Ruskell, following the announcement that ScotRail fares will increase by an inflation-busting 3.8% from April 1st.
When in government the Scottish Greens secured a landmark scheme to remove peak rail fares for 12 months, with the SNP reintroducing them last year.
The Greens have joined trade unions in calling for cheaper public transport through ending peak rail fares and introducing a £2 bus fare cap, to ensure that cleaner, greener travel is more available, affordable and accessible for all.
In this year’s budget the Scottish Greens secured the regional trial of a £2 bus fare cap beginning in January 2026, a move that they want to see extended across the country.
The Scottish Greens’ spokesperson for transport, Mark Ruskell MSP, said:
“These hikes will cause misery for commuters. If we want rail to be the first and best option for regular journeys then it has to be affordable and accessible for all.
“When the Scottish Greens were in government we secured the removal of peak rail fares, only for the SNP to bring them back as soon as we were out of the room.
“With household budgets being stretched to their limits, workers and regular commuters across our country are looking to find the cheapest ways to travel. These hikes will only deter people from using trains.
“If we want safer and cleaner communities and less cars on our roads then we need to cut the cost of public transport. That is how we will encourage more commuters to leave their cars at home and hop on the train or bus, while benefiting people and planet.”
Mr Ruskell added:
“It was right to take ScotRail into public ownership, but we have a long way to go in building a modern and affordable rail network.
“It shouldn’t have to cost a fortune to get to work, to hospital appointments or even to explore Scotland. We must end peak rail fares and stop financially penalising those who have no say on when they have to travel.”
Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –
Source: Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University – Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University –
On January 30, the Polytechnic University held a training session aimed at practicing anti-terrorist protection of university facilities and territories.
The Polytechnic University regularly holds events related to civil defense, prevention and elimination of emergency situations, as well as anti-terrorist protection and fire safety.
This time, the training was attended by employees of the Civil Security Department of SPbPU and employees of the security organization “U-Piter”. The head of the Civil Security Department, Oleg Savoshinsky, was the head of the event.
Participants worked out algorithms for actions when committing or threatening to commit terrorist crimes in two scenarios: “placing an explosive device” and “attack by an unmanned aerial vehicle.”
The goals and objectives were fully achieved. Following the exercise, the SPbPU management highly appreciated the actions of the university staff and employees.
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.
Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –
Source: Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University – Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University –
Five generations of the Ivanov family are closely connected with the Polytechnic University. Evgeny Aleksandrovich Ivanov was among the first students, and his son Konstantin also became a Polytechnician. Both grandsons of the first representative of the dynasty, Vadim and Aleksandr, have been working at the university for several decades now. Doctor of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Professor of the Physics Department of the Institute of Physics and Mathematics V. K. Ivanov told about the history of his family and about how the family tradition is continued by his children and grandchildren.
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.
Source: NASA
Earth planning date: Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025
We’re planning sols 4439 and 4440 on the first day of the Lunar New Year here on Earth, and I’m the Geology/Mineralogy Science Theme Lead for today. The new year is a time for all kinds of abundance and good luck, and we are certainly lucky to be celebrating another new year on Mars with the Curiosity rover!
The rover’s current position is on the north side of the “Texoli” butte west of the “Rustic Canyon” crater, and we are on our way southwest through the layered sulfate unit toward a possible boxwork structure that we hope to study later this year. Today’s workspace included a couple of representative bedrock blocks with contrasting textures, so we planned an APXS elemental chemistry measurement on one (“Deer Springs”) and a LIBS elemental measurement on another (“Taco Peak”).
For imaging, there were quite a few targets in view making it possible to advance a variety of science goals. The ChemCam remote imager was used for a mosaic on “Wilkerson Butte” to observe the pattern of resistant and recessive layering. Mastcam mosaics explored some distant landforms (“Sandstone Peak,” “Wella’s Peak”) as well as fractures, block shapes and textures, and aeolian ripples closer to the rover (“Tahquitz Peak,” “Mount Islip,” “Vasquez Rocks,” “Dawson Saddle”). Our regular environmental science measurements were made as well, to track atmospheric opacity and dust activity. So our planning sols include an abundance of targets indeed.
Fun fact: Today’s name “Vasquez Rocks” comes from a site on Earth in Southern California that has been a popular spot for science fiction filming, appearing in several episodes of “Star Trek” going back to the original series!
Written by Lucy Lim, Participating Scientist at Goddard Space Flight Center
Source: US Food and Drug Administration
Recall Reason Description
Undeclared milk
Brand Name(s)
Fresh Direct
Product Description
Dark Chocolate Covered Pretzels
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – January 29, 2025 – United Natural Trading LLC, Edison, NJ, is voluntarily recalling Fresh Direct Dark Chocolate Covered Pretzels due to the presence of an undeclared milk allergen. People who have an allergy or severe sensitivity to milk run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume this product.
The date containing products were shipped via online sales via a third-party vendor site, in limited quantities to the Connecticut, New Jersey, and New York areas.
|
Description |
Lot Number |
Best By Date |
UPC# |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Fresh Direct Dark Chocolate Covered Pretzels |
24353 |
06/30/2025 |
811102026276 |
The lot numbers are printed on the back of each retail packaging.
No illnesses or complaints have been reported to date.
The issue was discovered during an internal review of label management system as an action item from an internal nonconformance.
Consumers who have any remaining product with this lot number should not consume it, but rather should discard it. Consumers should retain their online receipts, packaging reflecting lot numbers or any other proof of purchase they may have for a refund. Consumers with questions may contact the company at 732-650-9905, which is open 9:00 am to 5:00 pm (EST) Monday – Friday.
Source: NASA
When hurricane-force winds whipped through Los Angeles County in early January 2025, the hills had ample fuels available to feed a wildland fire. Back-to-back wet years in California led to grasses and chaparral accumulating in the mountains and foothills. Then, warm, dry weather in Los Angeles during the last eight months of 2024 left the vegetation primed to burn.
On January 7, blazes spread quickly in the hills of Pacific Palisades and Eaton Canyon. Santa Ana winds pushed the fires down hills and into neighborhoods, and the two fires eventually covered 37,000 acres (150 square kilometers). Most of the fire spread in the first day after ignition, a characteristic of “fast fires.” These destructive events are usually propelled by strong winds and burn in the autumn or winter when fuels are exceptionally dry.
Researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) noted that several factors contributed to the severity of the fires, including a buildup of vegetation between 2022 and into 2024, followed by very warm and dry conditions in summer 2024. The rapid swing from wet to dry—dubbed “hydroclimate whiplash”—can amplify the risk of wildland fires and has become more common in the 21st century.
From 2022 to early 2024, Southern California received above-average precipitation, said Gavin Madakumbura, a postdoctoral researcher at UCLA. The 2022-2023 water year, which runs from October through September, saw unrelenting atmospheric rivers that delivered torrential rain to California. Much of the 2023-2024 water year was also wet, and rainfall totals for both periods, measured in downtown LA, were nearly twice the long-term average (1877-2024).
The ample rain allowed vegetation to build up, which is apparent in the map above. It shows a satellite-based index of plant health, or “greenness,” over the meteorological summer before the fires. This metric, known as the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), is based on data collected by the Landsat satellites.
The map indicates that many parts of Los Angeles County were 30 percent greener than average in summer 2024 (compared to a record from 1991 to 2020). That July, the National Interagency Fire Center warned that “herbaceous fuel loadings” were above normal throughout California, and in some hilly areas, were twice the normal amount.
Conditions shifted in the last half of 2024. According to Madakumbura and colleagues, the Los Angeles region received no significant rain between May 2024 and early January 2025, which dried out the accumulated vegetation. On January 4, 2025, the Los Angeles Times reported that the downtown area had only one instance in the previous eight months when rainfall exceeded a tenth of an inch—the threshold considered helpful for reducing wildfire risk by keeping plants from drying out. That made it the second-driest May to January on a record that goes back to 1877.
The landscape’s dryness was made worse by heatwaves that struck the U.S. Southwest in June and July 2024, either breaking or tying temperature records in several cities in California.
The map above shows moisture relative to normal in the top 40 inches (100 centimeters) of soil, in the “root zone,” on January 7, 2025, the day the Palisades and Eaton fires ignited. The data are from NASA’s SPoRT (Short-term Prediction Research and Transition) Center at Marshall Space Flight Center. The soil moisture in much of Southern California was in the bottom 2 percent of historical records (1981-2013) for that day.
“This is historically low soil moisture,” said Jonathan Case, a meteorologist with NASA SPoRT who has studied how moisture conditions can contribute to fire risk.
SPoRT’s Land Information System (SPoRT-LIS) provides 3-kilometer resolution gridded soil moisture products in near real-time to support regional and local modeling and is used by the U.S. Drought Monitor to track drought conditions across the country.
NASA Earth Observatory images by Michala Garrison, using Landsat data from the U.S. Geological Survey and soil moisture data from NASA’s Short-term Prediction Research and Transition (SPoRT) Center. Story by Emily Cassidy.
Source: US Food and Drug Administration
Date Issued: January 30, 2025
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is raising awareness among health care providers, health care facilities, patients, and caregivers that cybersecurity vulnerabilities in Contec CMS8000 patient monitors and Epsimed MN-120 patient monitors (which are Contec CMS8000 patient monitors relabeled as MN-120) may put patients at risk after being connected to the internet.
Three cybersecurity vulnerabilities have been identified:
These cybersecurity vulnerabilities can allow unauthorized actors to bypass cybersecurity controls, gaining access to and potentially manipulating the device.
The FDA is not aware of any cybersecurity incidents, injuries, or deaths related to these cybersecurity vulnerabilities at this time.
Patient monitors are used in health care and home settings for displaying information, such as the vital signs of a patient, including temperature, heartbeat, and blood pressure.
Three cybersecurity vulnerabilities have been identified, whose potential impacts fall into two main categories. A vulnerable device could be exploited to:
The vulnerabilities could allow all vulnerable Contec and Epsimed patient monitors on a given network to be exploited at the same time.
Additionally, the software on the patient monitors includes a backdoor. “Backdoor” is the term used to describe hidden functionality that device users are not told about and can allow unauthorized actors to bypass cybersecurity controls. The unauthorized actors could access and potentially manipulate the device. Given the backdoor, the device and/or the network to which the device has been connected may have been or could be compromised.
Also, the FDA has authorized these patient monitors only for wired functionality (that is, ethernet connectivity). However, the FDA is aware that some patient monitors may be available with wireless (that is, WiFi or cellular) capabilities without FDA authorization.
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has identified that once the patient monitor is connected to the internet, it begins gathering and exfiltrating (withdrawing) patient data outside of the health care delivery environment, including when the device is used in a home setting. The FDA and CISA continue to work with Contec to correct these vulnerabilities as soon as possible.
The unique device identifier helps identify individual medical devices, including patient monitors, sold in the United States from manufacturing through distribution to patient use. The UDI allows for more accurate reporting, reviewing, and analyzing of adverse event reports so that devices can be identified, and problems potentially corrected more quickly.
You can identify the devices affected by checking the unique device identifier (UDI), which is a unique numeric or alphanumeric code that generally includes a device identifier (DI) that identifies the labeler and the specific version or model of a device.
| Brand Name | Version or Model | UDI-DI |
|---|---|---|
| Contec | CMS8000 | 06945040100034 |
| Epsimed | MN-120 | N/A |
The FDA takes seriously any reports of cybersecurity vulnerabilities in medical devices and will continue to work with Contec and CISA to correct these vulnerabilities as soon as possible.
The FDA will continue to assess new information concerning the vulnerabilities and will keep the public informed if significant new information becomes available.
Read more about medical device cybersecurity.
If you think you had a problem with a Contec CMS8000 or Epsimed MN-120 patient monitors, the FDA encourages you to report the problem through the MedWatch Voluntary Reporting Form.
Health care personnel employed by facilities that are subject to the FDA’s user facility reporting requirements should follow the reporting procedures established by their facilities.
If you have questions,
Source: NASA
NASA’s SPHEREx (Spectro-Photometer for the History of the Universe, Epoch of Reionization and Ices Explorer) observatory rests horizontally in this April 2024 image taken at BAE Systems in Boulder, Colorado. This orientation shows the observatory’s three layers of photon shields – the metallic concentric cones.
Over a two-year planned mission, the SPHEREx Observatory will collect data on more than 450 million galaxies along with more than 100 million stars in the Milky Way in order to explore the origins of the universe.
Tune in at 12 p.m. EST Jan. 31, 2025, to hear agency experts preview the mission. SPHEREx is targeted to launch no earlier than Feb. 27, 2025.
Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/BAE Systems
Source: US State of California 2
SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom today announced the following appointments:
Jacqueline Yannacci, of Folsom, has been appointed Executive Director of California Volunteers in the Governor’s Office of Service and Community Engagement, where she has been Chief Program Officer since 2020. Yannacci was a Consultant at Jacy Consulting from 2018 to 2020. She held several positions at American Red Cross from 2006 to 2018, including Director of Community Mobilization and Partnerships, Program Manager for Community Resilience, Program Manager for Behavioral Health, and Officer of Mental Health. Yannacci was Program Manager for Knowledge Management at NRI, Inc., from 2005 to 2006, where she was previously Research Associate from 2003 to 2005. She was a Research Associate at Drug Strategies from 1993 to 2003. Yannacci earned a Master of Public Policy degree from American University, and Bachelor of Science degree in Behavioral Science and Psychology from Pennsylvania State University. This position does not require Senate confirmation, and the compensation is $186,792. Yannacci is a Democrat.
Leticia Palamidessi, of West Sacramento, has been appointed Deputy Director of Communications at the Governor’s Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation, where she has been a Supervising Communications Officer since and Lead Communications Officer to the Executive Director at the California Strategic Growth Council since 2024. From 2020 to 2024, Palamidessi was an Executive Marketing Specialist at the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, and prior to that she was an Information Officer for the California Department of Water Resources where she led outreach for the Climate Change Program, Division of Environmental Services, and Division of Engineering. Prior to state service, Palamidessi spent more than a decade elevating community voices and highlighting issues impacting Californians as a member of the media at various new organizations throughout Northern California – including being a General Assignment Reporter and Traffic Anchor for KCRA Channel 3 from 2017 to 2020. She is a California native and product of the state’s junior college and CSU systems, obtaining a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism from California State University, Sacramento. This position does not require Senate confirmation, and the compensation is $141,420. Palamidessi is registered without party preference.
Carol Dahmen-Eckery, of Carmichael, has been appointed Chief of Strategic Communications at the California High-Speed Rail Authority. Dahmen-Eckery has been Chief Executive Officer of CDE Strategies since 2023. She was Senior Political Manager at Effectv from 2005 to 2022. Dahmen-Eckery was Communications Director at the California Secretary of State’s Office from 2004 to 2005. She was Deputy Communications Director in the Office of Governor Davis from 1999 to 2003. Dahmen-Eckery was Deputy Director of Advance for Gray Davis for Governor from 1998 to 2002. She is a member of the American Association of Political Consultants Board of Directors. Dahmen-Eckery earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism and Government from California State University, Sacramento. This position does not require Senate confirmation, and the compensation is $170,004. Dahmen-Eckery is a Democrat.
Dr. Sergio Aguilar-Gaxiola, of Sacramento, has been appointed to the Protect Access to Health Care Act Stakeholder Advisory Committee. Dr. Aguilar-Gaxiola has been a Professor of Clinical Internal Medicine and Founder and Director at the Center of Reducing Health Disparities at University of California, Davis School of Medicine since 2005, and Director of the Community Engagement Program at the Clinical and Translational Science Center since 2006. He was Co-Director at the Latino Aging Research and Resource Center from 2012 to 2016. Dr. Aguilar-Gaxiola was a Professor of Psychology at California State University, Fresno from 1990 to 2005. He is a member of the Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness and Mental Well-Being. Dr. Aguilar-Gaxiola earned a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Clinical-Community Psychology from Vanderbilt University, a Master of Science degree in Psychology from Vanderbilt University, and a Doctor of Medicine degree from Autonomous University of Guadalajara. This position does not require Senate confirmation, and there is no compensation. Dr. Aguilar-Gaxiola is a Democrat.
Tam Ma, of Sacramento, has been appointed to the Protect Access to Health Care Act Stakeholder Advisory Committee. Ma has been Associate Vice President for Health Policy and Regulatory Affairs at the University of California Office of the President since 2022. She was a Deputy Legislative Secretary at the Office of Governor Gavin Newsom from 2019 to 2022. Ma was a Lecturer at the University of California, Davis School of Law in 2022. She was an Assistant Secretary at the California Health and Human Services Agency from 2018 to 2019. Ma was Legal and Policy Director at Health Access California from 2015 to 2018. She was a Principal Consultant for the Office of Senator Mark Leno at the California State Senate from 2013 to 2015. Ma was a Lecturer at University of California, Berkeley School of Law in 2014. She was an Attorney at Legal Services of Northern California from 2011 to 2013. Ma was a California Senate Fellow and Policy Consultant for the Office of Senator Sheila Kuehl at the California State Senate from 2002 to 2008. She is a Member of the Board of Directors of the Berkeley Law Alumni Association. She earned a Juris Doctor degree and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from University of California, Berkeley. This position does not require Senate confirmation, and there is no compensation. Ma is a Democrat.
Amy Moy, of Portola Valley, has been appointed to the Protect Access to Health Care Act Stakeholder Advisory Committee. Moy has been Co-Chief Executive Officer at Essential Access Health since 2022, where she was previously Chief External Affairs Officer from 2019 to 2022 and Vice President of Public Affairs from 2011 to 2019. She was a Public Affairs and Community Engagement Strategist for the Women’s Funding Network from 2009 to 2011. Moy was Associate Vice President of Public Affairs at the Planned Parenthood Golden Gate from 2003 to 2009 and Director of the Planned Parenthood Golden Gate Action Fund from 2004 to 2009. She held several roles at Planned Parenthood of New York City from 1999 to 2003, including Director of Community Affairs, Grassroots Manager, and Media Relations Associate. Moy is a member of the Executive Committee of the Family Planning Councils of America. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications from Ithaca College. This position does not require Senate confirmation, and there is no compensation. Moy is a Democrat.
Kristen Cerf, of Nevada County, has been appointed to the Protect Access to Health Care Act Stakeholder Advisory Committee. Cerf has been President and Chief Executive Officer at Blue Shield of California Promise Health Plan since 2020, where she has held several positions there and at Blue Shield of California since 2016, including Vice President of Medi-Cal Growth Strategy, Chief Legal Officer, and Associate General Counsel. She held several roles at Molina Healthcare from 2010 to 2015, including Associate Vice President and Assistant General Counsel, Senior Associate General Counsel and Associate General Counsel. Cerf was an Associate Attorney at Locke Lord LLP from 2007 to 2010. She held several roles at the California Department of Managed Care from 2004 to 2006, including Licensing Counsel, Graduate Legal Assistant and Senior Law Clerk. Cerf is a Board Member of Project Angel Food. She earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law and a Bachelor of Science degree in Microbiology from University of California, Davis. This position does not require Senate confirmation, and there is no compensation. Cerf is a Democrat.
Dr. Irving Ayala-Rodriguez, of Bakersfield, has been appointed to the Protect Access to Health Care Act Stakeholder Advisory Committee. Dr. Ayala-Rodriguez has been Chief Medical Officer with Clinica Sierra Vista since 2022, where he previously served as a Walk-In Clinic Director and Associate Medical Director from 2020 to 2022. He was a Family Medicine Resident at the University of California, Los Angeles from 2016 to 2019. Dr. Ayala-Rodriguez has served on the California Medical Board since 2024. He earned a Doctor of Medicine degree from the Autonomous University of Guadalajara. This position does not require Senate confirmation, and there is no compensation. Dr. Ayala-Rodriguez is a Democrat.
Source: US State of California 2
What you need to know: Governor Newsom is deploying resources and thousands of personnel to communities throughout Northern California in anticipation of a potentially major storm system.
SACRAMENTO – With an atmospheric river expected to arrive in Northern California this weekend, California is pre-deploying resources – including thousands of personnel – to help protect communities from storm impacts.
Governor Gavin Newsom has directed the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) to coordinate state and local partners to deploy emergency resources to support impacted communities. State officials are urging people to take precautions now before the storm arrives.
National Weather Service Sacramento is forecasting a moderate to strong atmospheric river to begin Friday and continue into next week. Prolonged periods of rain and mountain snow are expected, with the potential for flash flooding and rising creeks, rivers, and streams.
We know from experience that these storms can pack a punch. California is pre-deploying resources and thousands of boots on the ground throughout Northern California so we can be ready at a moment’s notice to protect people. The best thing people can do now is to prepare and stay alert.
Governor Gavin Newsom
Cal OES is monitoring weather impacts and working closely with local areas that are forecasted to be affected. In particular, the state is closely monitoring recent burn scar areas that pose the threat of mudslides and debris flows. Together, the state is preparing:
An atmospheric river could bring an increased risk of power outages, flooding in small streams and low-lying areas, and debris, rocks and mudslides on roadways.
Cal OES is encouraging residents to reduce injury risks from falling limbs and trees by staying inside, not driving through flooded roadways and preparing in advance for power outages.
Residents in the affected counties are urged to stay informed and listen to local authorities about actions they should take including evacuation orders or safety recommendations. In burn scar areas, officials recommend preparing for possible sudden debris flows by having a go-bag packed and knowing evacuation routes.
Go to ready.ca.gov for tips to prepare for the incoming storm.
Source: US State of Hawaii
Posted on Jan 30, 2025 in Latest Department News, Newsroom
STATE OF HAWAIʻI
KA MOKU ʻĀINA O HAWAIʻI
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
ʻOIHANA MAHIʻAI
JOSH GREEN, M.D.
GOVERNOR
KE KIAʻĀINA
SHARON HURD
CHAIRPERSON
HAWAIʻI BOARD OF AGRICULTURE
DEAN M. MATSUKAWA
DEPUTY TO THE CHAIRPERSON
HAWAIʻI BOARD OF AGRICULTURE
HONOLULU RETAIL EGG PRICE DATA RELEASED
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NR25-03
January 30, 2025
HONOLULU – The Hawai‘i Department of Agriculture (HDOA), Market Analysis and News Branch (MANB) has released data on retail egg prices in Honolulu, comparing prices between December 2021 and 2024.
The data indicates that between 2021 and 2024, the price for a dozen locally produced eggs rose by 28.4% from $6.91 to $8.87 while the price of imported mainland eggs increased by 51.8% from $5.50 to $8.35. The increase in the price of mainland eggs can be mainly attributed to the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) which has impacted egg production across the continental U.S.
The data collected between 2023 and 2024 show that local egg prices rose by 2.7% while mainland eggs prices rose by 6.2%.
“The increase in local production of eggs has been closing the price gap with imported mainland eggs,” said Sharon Hurd, chairperson of the Hawai‘i Board of Agriculture. “The avian influenza outbreak on the mainland is another example of why food security in Hawai‘i is so important. Supporting local farmers and ranchers helps to ensure our food supply.”
While HPAI was detected in two locations on O‘ahu in early November 2024, no further detections of the virus have been confirmed and no Hawai‘i egg production facilities have been involved. Hawai‘i was the last state in the nation to detect HPAI and the likely route of transmission is migratory birds via the Pacific flyway. HDOA continues to work with the local poultry industry to keep HPAI from infecting flocks.
# # #
Attachment: Honolulu Egg Prices 2021 to 2024
Media Contact:
Janelle Saneishi
Public Information Officer
Hawaiʻi Department of Agriculture
Phone: 808-973-9560
Cell: 808-341-5528
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://hdoa.hawaii.gov
Aloha,
Janelle Saneishi
Public Information Officer
Hawai‘i Department of Agriculture
ph: (808) 973-9560
email: [email protected]
Website: https://hdoa.hawaii.gov/
Confidentiality Notice: This e-mail message, including any attachments, is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential and/or privileged information. Any review, use, disclosure, or distribution by unintended recipients is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient(s), please contact the sender by reply e-mail and destroy all copies of the original message.
Source: US State of Hawaii
Posted on Jan 30, 2025 in Latest Department News, Newsroom, Office of the Governor Press Releases
STATE OF HAWAIʻI
KA MOKU ʻĀINA O HAWAIʻI
JOSH GREEN, M.D.
GOVERNOR
KE KIAʻĀINA
ACTING GOVERNOR LUKE SIGNS EMERGENCY PROCLAMATION FOR JANUARY 2025 LOW-PRESSURE WEATHER SYSTEM
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 30, 2025
HONOLULU – Lieutenant Governor Sylvia Luke, serving as Acting Governor, has signed an Emergency Proclamation in response to a low-pressure weather system affecting the Hawaiian Islands.
The Emergency Proclamation will remain in effect through Monday, February 3, unless terminated or superseded. The declaration enables rapid deployment of resources to address potential impacts, including high winds, heavy rainfall and other hazardous conditions associated with the system.
“This proclamation allows us to respond quickly to changing conditions and provide the necessary resources to protect our communities,” said Acting Governor Luke. “We urge residents to stay informed, exercise caution and prepare for potential impacts from this weather system.”
The public is advised to take necessary precautions, including securing outdoor objects, avoiding unnecessary travel in affected areas and staying clear of flood-prone locations. Residents should monitor updates from the National Weather Service and county emergency management agencies for the latest official forecasts and safety information.
The proclamation also suspends certain laws that might delay emergency response efforts, ensuring that state and county agencies can act swiftly to protect public safety.
An executed copy of the Emergency Proclamation can be found here.
# # #
Media Contacts:
Shari Nishijima
Communications Director
Office of the Lieutenant Governor
Phone: (808) 978-0867
Email: [email protected]
Erika Engle
Press Secretary
Office of the Governor, State of Hawai‘i
Phone: 808-586-0120
Email: [email protected]
Makana McClellan
Director of Communications
Office of the Governor, State of Hawaiʻi
Cell: 808-265-0083
Email: [email protected]
Source: US State of California 2
Sacramento, California – Governor Gavin Newsom today issued a proclamation declaring January 30, 2025, as Fred Korematsu Day.
The text of the proclamation and a copy can be found below:
PROCLAMATION
Fred Korematsu did not set out to become a civil rights hero, but at the age of 23, he made the bold choice to challenge the policy of Japanese internment – and forever altered the course of history. This year, as we commemorate the 106th anniversary of his birth, we reflect on his courageous crusade for civil rights.
When the United States entered World War II, Korematsu tried to enlist and fight for his country but was turned away. Not long after, under Executive Order 9066, he was one of the more than 120,000 Japanese Americans ordered to report to internment camps. Korematsu defied the order, a brave act of protest that led to his arrest and conviction, which he fought all the way to the Supreme Court.
Though the Court ultimately ruled against him, Korematsu found vindication forty years later, when a federal court overturned his criminal conviction. In that courtroom, Korematsu said, regarding his case, that “being an American citizen was not enough…you have to look like one, otherwise they say you can’t tell a difference between a loyal and a disloyal American,” asking the government to ensure that such wrongs never happen again. In 1998, President Bill Clinton awarded Korematsu the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Throughout his life, Korematsu worked tirelessly to ensure Americans understood the lessons learned from a dark chapter of our history. Today, as we confront attacks on our fundamental rights and freedoms and hate-fueled violence across the country, it is clear that Korematsu’s extraordinary fight for civil rights is far from over. His legacy is an inspiration and reminder to all of us that we must continue to stand against injustice in our daily lives.
NOW THEREFORE I, GAVIN NEWSOM, Governor of the State of California, do hereby proclaim January 30, 2025, as “Fred Korematsu Day.”
IN WITNESS WHEREOF I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Great Seal of the State of California to be affixed this 30th day of January 2025.
GAVIN NEWSOM
Governor of California
ATTEST:
SHIRLEY N. WEBER, Ph.D.
Secretary of State
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
His Majesty The King has approved the award of 9 new Honorary King’s Counsel (KC Honoris Causa) in England and Wales.
His Majesty The King has approved the award of nine new Honorary King’s Counsel (KC Honoris Causa). Their biographies are listed below. Honorary KC is awarded to those who have made a major contribution to the law of England and Wales, outside practice in the courts.
The Lord Chancellor will preside over the award ceremony at Westminster Hall in March 2025, where she will formally award the Honorary KC to the successful nominees.
Professor Dixon is a legal scholar specialising in real property law. He is the Professor of the Law of Real Property at the University of Cambridge, where he is also Director of the Cambridge Centre for Property Law (CCPL) and a Fellow of Queens’ College.
He was nominated for his work on property law through his scholarship, co-authorship of leading practitioner texts, and participation in Law Commission projects. Additionally, for his co-founding of the Modern Studies in Property Law Conference and for his Editorship of The Conveyancer.
Rebecca Hilsenrath is a lawyer and public servant with a career spanning corporate law, human rights, and strategic leadership. Currently the interim Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO), she has served as Chief Executive of the PHSO, Legal Adviser to the Attorney General, and Chief Executive of LawWorks. Previously, she was the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Legal Officer of the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC), where she championed equality and tackled human rights issues.
She was nominated for her efforts in promoting diversity in panel counsel appointments for the government and at the EHRC, increasing pro bono contributions in the legal sector, and leading international legal engagement in equality and human rights.
Rachel Horman-Brown is a solicitor focused on cases involving domestic abuse, stalking, coercive control, and forced marriage. As Director, she leads the Family Department at Watson Ramsbottom Solicitors. She is also the Chair of Paladin, the National Stalking Advocacy Service.
She was nominated for her campaigning for policy and legislative changes around stalking, domestic abuse, and violence against women and girls. In addition, for her work with Paladin, where she shaped legislation, including for the creation of coercive control as a specific criminal offence. She has also provided evidence to parliamentary committees and advisory groups, thereby influencing police practices and approaches to trauma.
Dr Laura Janes is a solicitor specialising in complex cases involving people detained in the criminal justice and mental health systems. As Legal Director at the Howard League for Penal Reform from 2016 to 2022, she led a legal service for young people in custody and spearheaded challenges against practices such as solitary confinement. She is a consultant solicitor at GT Stewart Solicitors and Scott-Moncrieff and Associates. Laura Janes is an advocate for access to justice, having founded Young Legal Aid Lawyers and held leadership roles in several legal organisations. She holds a professional doctorate in youth justice and teaches law at London South Bank University.
She was nominated for her contributions to the legal profession promoting access to justice, her work to drive policy changes, representing vulnerable individuals in prison, advocating for the rights of children and young people in custody and reforms to the IPP sentence.
Susanna McGibbon is an employed barrister and the current Treasury Solicitor, HM Procurator General and Permanent Secretary of the Government Legal Department (GLD). As the most senior Civil Service lawyer she is head of the Government Legal Profession. Her previous roles include serving as Director of GLD Litigation Group, Legal Director at the Department for Communities and Local Government and Legal Director at the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills. She is a Bencher of Lincoln’s Inn and this year holds the office of Keeper of the Walks.
Ms McGibbon was nominated for her legal advice on complex and sensitive issues within government especially in public and administrative law and national security. Also, for her leadership in a range of high-profile cases and inquiries and for her advocacy for diversity and inclusion across the legal profession.
Professor Nazzini is a legal scholar focusing on competition law, commercial arbitration, and construction law. He is the Director of the Centre of Construction Law and Dispute Resolution at King’s College London and a partner at LMS Legal LLP.
He was nominated for his contributions to competition law by developing policies on collective actions and abuse of dominance, influencing the Consumer Rights Act 2015 and the 2008 European Commission Guidance on Article 102. He has also contributed to construction law, including by leading the Centre of Construction Law and Dispute Resolution at King’s College London, producing reports on construction adjudication and promoting diversity within the field.
Susan Willman (known as Sue Willman) is a solicitor specialising in public interest litigation, focusing on human rights, environmental justice, and migrants’ rights. She is a senior consultant at legal aid firm, Deighton Pierce Glynn, and has led cases addressing systemic social and environmental injustices. She is also employed by the Dickson Poon School of Law, King’s College, London as a Senior Lecturer, and Assistant Director of the King’s Legal Clinic. She has held key leadership roles, including Chair of the Law Society Human Rights Committee.
She was nominated for founding the Asylum Support Appeals Project (ASAP), providing free representation to destitute asylum-seekers. As well as for publishing articles, authoring a series of textbooks on asylum support, and advising a parliamentary committee on an inquiry to drive legislative reforms.
Douglas Wilson is a government lawyer currently serving as Director General and Head of the Attorney General’s Office. He has previously held positions such as Director of Legal Affairs and International Relations at GCHQ, Legal Director at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, and has served in legal and diplomatic roles at UK posts overseas.
He was nominated for advising on issues such as Brexit, military operations, and intelligence cooperation, which shaped the law on the use of military force, cyberspace, and investigatory powers. Furthermore, he has promoted effective and inclusive legal practice within government.
Professor Zuckerman is a scholar in civil procedure and evidence law. He is Emeritus Professor of Civil Procedure at the University of Oxford and Emeritus Fellow of University College, Oxford. He is Editor-in-Chief of the Civil Justice Quarterly and a Consultant Editor of Halsbury’s Laws of England.
Professor Zuckerman is a prominent commentator on the administration of civil justice. He has influenced legislative policy and judicial practice, notably through contributions to the Woolf Report on Access to Justice, and the Jackson Review of Civil Litigation Costs. He has campaigned for improving access to court and for making justice available to all at proportionate cost. His work on criminal evidence refocused evidence scholarship around fundamental normative principles.
He was nominated for his contributions to the Civil Procedure Rules in England and Wales. His academic work, particularly “Zuckerman on Civil Procedure,” is cited in courts across the common law world.
Honorary KC is awarded by HM The King, on the advice of the Lord Chancellor. The Lord Chancellor is advised by a selection panel of senior representatives from across the legal sector, civil service, judiciary, and academia. More information about the purpose of the award can be found on GOV.UK.
For further information, please contact the Ministry of Justice press office. Follow us @MoJGovUK.
Published 31 January 2025
Source: City of York
Council tenants are being reminded to report repairs to their landlord as ‘no win, no fee’ legal firms target York tenants and a judge orders an unsuccessful disrepair claimant to pay £7,964.75 costs.
The Council’s reminder follows a campaign advising its tenants to tell City of York Council about any concerns with repairs so they can be put right. It also comes during another rise in housing disrepair claims brought by firms of solicitors on behalf of housing tenants. Some of these disrepair claims have failed in court, with tenants being ordered to pay £1,000s in costs.
These ‘no win no fee’ legal firms press tenants to make claims against the council for failing to repair their home or not doing it well enough. Unsolicited and unaccredited ‘surveyors’ have been reported going door to door, cajoling tenants to make compensation claims against their landlord. They then sell this information on to legal firms for their own gain, with some suggesting that they work for the Council, when they do not.
A ‘no win, no fee’ case by a tenant against the Council was heard in York County Court this month (January 2025). It was dismissed by the District Judge who ordered the unsuccessful tenant to pay costs of £7,964.75.
This follows another unsuccessful ‘no win, no fee’ case against the Council in 2023 which left that tenant being ordered by a judge to pay costs of £10,409.72.
Any tenant approached by people touting for this work is urged to:
Councillor Michael Pavlovic, Executive Member for Housing, Planning and Safer Communities said: “We strive to get repairs done quickly and efficiently and 86% of them are completed on a first visit. Our tenants are always invited to talk to officers about any repairs needed, or any delay or dissatisfaction with them.
“We are committed to making good any repairs for which we are responsible, and our ongoing and significant housing repair programme is upgrading and modernising homes.
“These claims against the Council mean that everyone loses – except for these legal firms – and have left tenants owing £1,000s in court costs. The time and money spent by the Council to defend these claims could be better invested in tenants’ homes.”
Any council tenant who feels their home needs a repair or if there’s a problem with a repair, please call the Council first on 01904 551550 (option 4, option 1). Our team will ensure you get the right support.
Anyone unhappy about how we have responded to a request for a repair, or how we have carried out one, should please tell us first.
All concerns will be assessed and handled impartially. Find out more here or email your concerns.
Source: Scotland – City of Aberdeen
Aberdeen is in the 2025 finals of the prestigious Britain in Bloom competition hoping to add yet another flower crown to the city’s successes over the decades.
Last year, Aberdeen won the overall best in Scotland award – the Rosebowl – along with the City Trophy, the Royal Caledonian Horticultural Society Award, the VisitScotland Award for Tourism and a Gold Medal Certificate, at the Beautiful Scotland Awards. In 2023, the city won gold in Britain in Bloom. In 2022, and 2021, Aberdeen won gold in the ‘City’ category in Beautiful Scotland and was also crowned Overall Joint overall winner in 2022. In 2020, Aberdeen was a finalist for Champion of Champions award in Britain in Bloom but the competition was cancelled due to the pandemic.
Aberdeen has won a medal in either Britain in Bloom or Beautiful Scotland every year since 2008 and has been award-winning in the competitions since 1964. Aberdeen City Council this year is also celebrating 61 years competing in Britain in Bloom and Beautiful Scotland.
Aberdeen City Council In Bloom Champion Councillor Neil MacGregor said: “It truly is an accolade for the city to be in the finals of Britain in Bloom.
“This is thanks to the great work carried out by our enthusiastic gardeners and greenkeepers as well as all the amazing community organisations, groups and individuals who help to continue make Aberdeen’s green spaces beautiful along with support from Keep Scotland Beautiful.
“It is fantastic that we will be welcoming Britain in Bloom judges back into the city in the summer and we look forward to showing them around including meeting many of the people involved in ensuring our green areas look great.”
Britain in Bloom is organised by the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) and is the top gardening competition for councils and other community organisations across the UK. Major winners from regional competitions including Beautiful Scotland are put forward for the UK-wide finals.
The city will be judged on its horticulture which is amazing parks and green spaces, community involvement which is all the fantastic green partners and volunteers including Friends groups, schools, businesses, community groups and the thousands of volunteers who help out, and environmental responsibility which is the work carried out for the Council’s climate plan, carbon reduction, and other similar projects.
The winners for the various categories will be announced at an awards event in the autumn.
Source: City of Sunderland
Highway works to help improve road, pedestrian and cycling safety, and support ongoing developments at Riverside Sunderland, are getting underway.
Works are on St Mary’s Boulevard alongside St Mary’s multi-storey car park and the Holiday Inn hotel.
The first section of works will see one of the three eastbound lanes next to the multi-storey reallocated to increase the width of the shared footway for pedestrians and cyclists. This is to help make it safer and reduce conflict between pedestrians and cyclists at the multi-storey’s pedestrian entrance.
The box junction and traffic lights next to the multi-storey will remain. Work, beginning after peak journey hours on Monday 3 February, is expected to take around eight weeks to complete.
A second set of works is then scheduled on the westbound carriageway of the boulevard alongside the Holiday Inn. This is to introduce a taxi lay-by and improve pedestrian and cycle connectivity at the crossing point between Keel Square, City Hall and to the new Wear footbridge which is due to open this summer.
This second set of works is expected to also take around eight weeks and all works to be completed by June. Traffic management will be in place throughout the works to minimise any possible disruption.
Sunderland City Council’s Cabinet Member for Environment, Transport and Net Zero, Councillor Lindsey Leonard said: “As we continue to deliver one of the UK’s most ambitious regeneration projects at Riverside Sunderland, we’re seeing more people living, visiting and working in our city centre.
“Footfall will increase significantly when Maker and Faber, the new footbridge, and Culture House open later this year and as development of the new Sunderland Eye Hospital, Vaux housing and Riverside Park continue at pace.
“We can also anticipate more pedestrians as we look forward to being a host city for the women’s rugby World Cup.
“We’re implementing these changes now to help encourage sustainable travel and improve safety for pedestrians, cyclists and other highways users.
“In addition, these changes support the delivery of our low carbon framework and City Plan that is creating a more dynamic, healthy, vibrant and smart Sunderland for all residents, businesses and visitors.”
Source: City of Norwich
Published on Friday, 31st January 2025
Fees for parking in the city’s surface and multi-storey parking facilities will change at the end of March.
The increase will generate an additional £300,000, enabling the council to continue investing in vital frontline services that our residents rely on us to provide. The money raised from these car parks has helped the council to avoid making cuts to services in the next financial year.
Based on a typical parking stay of between one and two hours, the increase will be 10-20 pence.
Season ticket prices will also increase, but on-street residential parking permits will remail unchanged. Blue Badge holders will continue to receive a 50% discount.
As non-residents travelling from outside the city are subject to the same charges, it means they also contribute to the running costs of the city council’s services.
Next year the council will spend around £100 million on vital services across the city. While funding from central government has gone down, the cost of things like energy and materials has gone up due to inflation.
Councillor Emma Hampton, cabinet member for a climate responsive Norwich, said: “Increasing fees for our services is always a last resort. With funding from central government dwindling, and the cost of things like energy and materials going up due to inflation, we are under financial pressure to do more with less – like all local council up and down the country.
“The cost-of-living crisis has also meant more people need our help, creating extra demand for council services.
“Despite these really difficult budget challenges, the city council has a strong record of sound financial management and that means we’ve been able to find a way to ensure that there will be no cuts to frontline services in the next financial year.”
Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements
The path around the South West’s glorious coastline is further enhanced thanks to improvements to the Marsland Mouth to Newquay section in Cornwall.
Walking the coast path from Pentire Point towards Polzeath
These works form part of a national programme to create a coastal path around the whole of England. Once completed this will be the longest managed coastal walking route in the world and the UK’s longest National Trail.
Stretching from Marsland Mouth on the North Cornwall coast down to Newquay, some 75 miles in total, the path follows the route of the existing South West Coast Path (SWCP) National Trail, beginning at the border with Devon and stretching to the railway station in Newquay.
For anyone walking the path, there is plenty to see, with towns and villages such as Bude, Boscastle, Tintagel, Port Isaac, Polzeath, Padstow and Mawgan Porth. Plus, the path passes by the historic highlights of Crackington Haven, Tintagel Castle, the Rumps at Pentire with its Bronze age burial mounds, the Camel Estuary (including the ferry), Trevose Head and its lighthouse and Bedruthan Steps. In addition, there are glorious sandy beaches to stop off throughout the route.
In establishing the new trail, Natural England has sought to improve the alignment of the SWCP where possible or move it closer to the sea. For example, at Penhalt Cliff it has been taken off road on to farmland, improving safety for walkers and drivers. For the first time wider coastal access rights on foot have been established between the trail and the sea, including cliff tops and beaches.
It also brings legal provision for the trail to ‘roll back’ in response to coastal erosion, thereby securing people’s rights into the future and protecting the investment being made now. You will still encounter steep climbs and descents as well as gently undulating walking along the cliff tops.
Boscastle harbour viewed from the coast path
Andrea Ayres, Deputy Area Director for Natural England said:
This improved stretch of path takes in some of the best views in the South West and much-loved places that have been attracting visitors for many years.
With the improvements to the path and the additional access rights, we hope it will continue to give people the chance to get out and enjoy nature, as well as continue to bring visitors to the county, since tourism is so vital to the local economy.
While much of Cornwall’s 300-mile section of the South West Coast Path is owned by private landowners and organisations, the path is managed by Cornwall Council. The council and Cormac have worked to deliver the improvements on this stretch.
Martyn Alvey, Cornwall Council cabinet portfolio holder for environment, said:
The South West Coast Path is a wonderful asset popular with local residents and visitors alike, but by its very nature, is susceptible to the elements and coastal erosion.
This funding has meant we have been able to make significant improvements to the path in Cornwall, bringing forward many projects which may otherwise have been many years away from happening.
We’ve been able to move inland sections closer to the coast, improve surfacing and drainage, repair paths and realign hazardous sections. It is fantastic to see completion of the Marsland Mouth to Newquay section and I’m sure it will be enjoyed by all for many years to come.
Julian Gray, Director, South West Coast Path Association (SWCPA) said:
The King Charles III England Coast Path creates new open access rights around the coast to help connect people to nature. It also gives us new powers to manage the National Trail in the face of coastal erosion, helping us continue to improve the South West Coast Path as one of the world’s great trails.
The King Charles III England Coast Path (KCIIIECP) is a National Trail around the entire coast of England. Existing coastal national trails and other regional walks make up parts of the KCIIIECP and this newly improved stretch of the South West Coast Path forms part of the KCIIIECP.
You can plan your walk on the KCIIIECP, which follows the enhanced route of the SWCP between Marsland Mouth to Newquay, by visiting the KCIIIECP or the South West Coast Path pages of the National Trails website.
The Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 places a duty on the Secretary of State and Natural England to secure a long-distance walking trail around the open coast of England, together with public access rights to a wider area of land along the way for people to enjoy.
Natural England is working at pace to ensure completion of the KCIIIECP. By the end of 2024 it had opened 1,400 miles. Subject to resources we expect to complete the KCIIIECP by spring 2026.
To plan their visit walkers can access route maps of all opened sections of the King Charles III England Coast Path and any local diversions on the National Trails website. And can check for any restrictions to access on Natural England’s Open Access maps.
You can promote your business, service, event or place of interest for free on the National Trails website, inspire people to spend more time in your area and benefit from the economic impact of visitors.
National Trails, marked by the acorn symbol, pass through spectacular scenery, support local tourism and offer a range of routes from short circular walks to long distance challenges.
We have a map showing progress to complete the King Charles III England Coast Path.
The King Charles III England Coast Path will be our longest, National Trail, passing through some of our finest countryside, maritime and industrial heritage, coastal settlements and rural locations.
It will also be the world’s longest managed coastal trail (i.e. the trail is maintained to National Trail standards). It will secure legal rights of public access for the first time to typical coastal land including foreshore, beaches, dunes and cliffs that lies between the trail and the sea.
a clear and continuous way-marked walking route along this part of the coast, bringing some sections of the existing coastal footpath closer to the sea and linking some places together for the first time
targeted adjustments to make the trail more accessible for people with reduced mobility, where reasonable
uniquely amongst our National Trails the KCIIIECP may be moved in response to natural coastal changes, through ‘roll back’ if the coastline erodes or slips, solving the long-standing difficulties of maintaining a continuous route along the coast – and making a true coastal path practicable
the legal provision for roll back is proposed to sections of the trail where a need has been foreseen but can be retrospectively applied to other parts of the route if deemed necessary
the route of the trail can also be altered through planning proposals and where coastal and flood defence works or habitat creation would impact on the proposed or open route of the KCIIIECP
we have a webpage showing progress near you to create the King Charles III England Coast path
we work closely with a broad range of national and regional stakeholders around the country including wildlife trusts, National Trust, RSPB, NFU, CLA, RA, OSS, Environment Agency and local authorities
The Countryside Code is the official guide on how to enjoy nature and treat both it, and the people who live and work there, with respect.
Landowners who have KCIIIECP coastal access rights on their land enjoy the lowest liabilities in England. Here is our guidance on managing your land in the coastal margin.
Established in 2006, Natural England is the government’s independent adviser on the natural environment. Our work is focused on enhancing England’s wildlife and landscapes and maximising the benefits they bring to the public.
We establish and care for England’s main wildlife and geological sites, ensuring that over 4,000 National Nature Reserves (NNRs) and Sites of Special Scientific Interest are looked after and improved,
We work to ensure that England’s landscapes are effectively protected, designating England’s National Parks and National Landscapes , and advising widely on their conservation.
We run Environmental Stewardship and other green farming schemes that deliver over £400 million a year to farmers and landowners, enabling them to enhance the natural environment across two thirds of England’s farmland.
We fund, manage, and provide scientific expertise for hundreds of conservation projects each year, improving the prospects for thousands of England’s species and habitats.
We promote access to the wider countryside, helping establish National Trails and coastal trails and ensuring that the public can enjoy and benefit from them.
For more information, visit our page on how the King Charles III England Coast Path is improving public access to England’s coast.
The South West Coast Path Association is a charity (Registered Charity Number 1163422) that works to ensure the South West Coast Path is one of the best walks in the world and protects it for all to enjoy. Supporting the charity helps the South West Coast Path Association to improve the South West Coast Path and keeps the way open to beautiful coastal places.
For more information visit the South West Coast Path Association website.
Published 31 January 2025
Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police
A man has been convicted of fatally stabbing Hackney resident Robert Weston, following an investigation by the Metropolitan Police Service.
Jaden Sheriff, 20 (22.01.05), of Forston Street, Hackney, was found guilty of murder at the Old Bailey on Thursday, 30 January.
A jury convicted him of killing 37-year-old Robert Weston, who was stabbed in Hamilton Crescent, Harrow, on Monday, 26 February, 2024.
DI Devan Taylor, who led the investigation into the murder, said: “This is a tragic case. Robert Weston lost his life, and Jaden Sheriff has to live the rest of his life knowing that he killed a man.
“He stabbed his victim over what was effectively a neighbourhood dispute. Despite the efforts of paramedics to save his life, Mr Weston was pronounced dead shortly after.
“This senseless murder has had a devastating impact on the victim’s loved ones. They conducted themselves with great dignity throughout the trial, and my thoughts are with them at this time.”
Police attended an address Hamilton Crescent around 14:10hrs on 26 February last year. Mr Weston had suffered two stab wounds – one of them to the heart – and, despite the efforts of emergency services, was pronounced dead at the scene.
In his initial interviews with officers, Sheriff claimed he accidentally stabbed Mr Weston in self-defence, after the victim pulled a knife on him.
However, police spoke to witnesses, who revealed that the killer set upon Mr Weston following a dispute.
Forensic evidence revealed that the wounds on Mr Weston could only have been caused by deliberate stabbing to the chest.
Investigators obtained phone records, which showed that Mr Weston had called 999 on February 23 to complain about Sheriff.
After an argument with the defendant, Mr Weston told police: ‘I’ve just been threatened in my own house.’
This was used at trial to illustrate the spiralling relationship between the two men, which culminated in murder days later.
Sheriff will be sentenced on Friday, 14 February.
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)
Nørresundby, Denmark, 31 January 2025
Announcement no. 03/2025
Q1 DELIVERS IMPROVED REVENUE AND GROSS MARGIN COMPARED TO Q1 LAST YEAR.
“We observed a significant increase in both revenue and gross margin in Q1 2024/25 compared to Q1 2023/24. Historically, Q1 is the lowest-performing quarter for RTX, as many customers reduce inventories to manage year-end working capital.
In Q1 2024/25, revenue reached DKK 101 million, with a gross margin of 51%, aligning with both our expectations and the previous quarter’s performance. While maintaining strong gross margins across segments, we remain focused on driving revenue growth.
Order intake increased in this quarter, which is an encouraging development. With short lead times on orders, our visibility for the full year remains limited. However, the first half of the financial year is expected to show an increase in both revenue and EBITDA compared to last year.”
Mille Tram Lux
HIGHLIGHTS
OUTLOOK
RTX confirms the previously announced financial outlook for 2024/25:
RTX A/S
PETER THOSTRUP MILLE TRAM LUX
Chair CFO
Investor and analyst conference call
On Tuesday, 4 February 2025 at 10:00 CET, RTX will hold a conference call for investors and analysts hosted by Danske Bank.
To register for the conference call, please e-mail vonh@danskebank.dk.
Enquiries and further information:
Peter Thostrup, Chair, tel +45 96 32 23 00
Mille Tram Lux, CFO, tel +45 96 32 23 00
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