Headline inflation expectations revised up for 2025 but otherwise unchanged; longer-term expectations (for 2029) remain at 2.0%
Expectations for HICP inflation excluding energy and food unchanged for 2025 and 2026; longer-term expectations revised down slightly to 1.9%
Real GDP growth expectations revised down by 0.2 and 0.1 percentage points for 2025 and 2026 respectively, but longer-term expectations unrevised
Unemployment rate expectations unchanged for 2025 and 2026, but longer-term expectations revised down slightly
Respondents’ expectations for headline inflation, as measured by the Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices (HICP), were 2.1% for 2025, 1.9% for 2026 and 2.0% for 2027. Expectations were revised up from the previous survey (conducted in the fourth quarter of 2024) by 0.2 percentage points for 2025 but unchanged for 2026. Expectations for core HICP inflation, which excludes energy and food, were unchanged for 2025 and 2026. Longer-term expectations for headline inflation were unchanged at 2.0%, while those for core HICP inflation were revised down slightly to 1.9%.
Respondents expected real GDP growth of 1.0% in 2025 and 1.3% in both 2026 and 2027. Compared with the previous survey, expectations were revised down by 0.2 percentage points for 2025 and 0.1 percentage points for 2026. Economic policy and political uncertainty contributed to these revisions. Longer-term growth expectations remained unchanged at 1.3%.
The expected profile of the unemployment rate was largely unchanged. Respondents continued to expect the unemployment rate to average 6.5% in 2025 but to decline to 6.4% in 2026, and then to fall further to 6.3% in 2027 and to remain there in the longer term.
median consumer perceptions of inflation over the previous 12 months increased for the second consecutive month, as did median inflation expectations for the next 12 months, while median inflation expectations for three years ahead remained unchanged;
expectations for nominal income growth over the next 12 months remained unchanged, as did expectations for spending growth over the next 12 months;
expectations for economic growth over the next 12 months were unchanged, while the expected unemployment rate in 12 months’ time decreased;
expectations for growth in the price of homes over the next 12 months remained unchanged, as did expectations for mortgage interest rates 12 months ahead.
Inflation
The median rate of perceived inflation over the previous 12 months increased in December, for the second month in a row, to 3.5%, from 3.4% in November. Median expectations for inflation over the next 12 months increased, for the third month in a row, to 2.8% from 2.6%. Median expectations for inflation three years ahead were unchanged at 2.4% in December. Inflation expectations at the one-year and three-year horizons thus remained below the perceived past inflation rate. Uncertainty about inflation expectations over the next 12 months remained unchanged, for the fifth month in a row, at its lowest level since February 2022. While the broad evolution of inflation perceptions and expectations remained relatively closely aligned across income groups, expectations for lower income quintiles were slightly above those for higher income quintiles. Younger respondents (aged 18-34) continued to report lower inflation perceptions and expectations than older respondents (those aged 35-54 and 55-70), albeit to a lesser degree than in previous years. (Inflation results)
Income and consumption
Consumers’ nominal income growth expectations over the next 12 months remained unchanged at 1.1% in December. The income growth expectations of the lower income quintile increased more than the expectations of all other income quintiles, widening the positive gap with the other quintiles that had emerged over the previous months. Perceived nominal spending growth over the previous 12 months remained unchanged at 5.2% in December, as did expected nominal spending growth over the next 12 months at 3.5%. (Income and consumption results)
Economic growth and labour market
Economic growth expectations for the next 12 months were stable in December, standing at -1.3%. Expectations for the unemployment rate 12 months ahead decreased to 10.5%, from 10.6% in November. Consumers continued to expect the future unemployment rate to be only slightly higher than the perceived current unemployment rate (9.9%), implying a broadly stable labour market. The lowest income quintile continued to report the highest expected and perceived unemployment rates, as well as the lowest economic growth expectations. (Economic growth and labour market results)
Housing and credit access
Consumers expected the price of their home to increase by 2.9% over the next 12 months, which was unchanged from November. Households in the lowest income quintile continued to expect higher growth in house prices than those in the highest income quintile (3.5% and 2.7% respectively). Expectations for mortgage interest rates 12 months ahead also remained unchanged, at 4.6% – their level since October 2024. As in previous months, the lowest income households expected the highest mortgage interest rates 12 months ahead (5.2%), while the highest income households expected the lowest rates (4.0%). While the net percentage of households reporting a tightening (relative to those reporting an easing) in access to credit over the previous 12 months increased slightly, the net percentage of those expecting a tightening over the next 12 months declined. (Housing and credit access results)
The release of the Consumer Expectations Survey (CES) results for January is scheduled for 28 February 2025.
For media queries, please contact: Nicos Keranis, Tel: +49 172 758 7237
The CES is a monthly online survey of, currently, around 19,000 adult consumers (i.e. aged 18 or over) from 11 euro area countries: Belgium, Germany, Ireland, Greece, Spain, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Austria, Portugal and Finland. The main aggregate results of the CES are published on the ECB’s website every month. The results are used for policy analysis and complement other data sources used by the ECB.
Singapore, 31 January 2025 – The prevailing Northeast Monsoon conditions are forecast to continue, with winds blowing mainly from the northwest or northeast.
2 In the first fortnight of February 2025, fair and occasionally windy conditions may occur on some days. Fewer rain days are expected, although there may be localised short-duration thundery showers over parts of the island on several afternoons. The total rainfall for the first fortnight of February 2025 is forecast to be below average over most parts of the island.
3 The daily maximum temperatures are likely to range between 33 degrees Celsius and 34 degrees Celsius on most days and slightly exceed 34 degrees Celsius on a few days.
4 For updates of the daily weather forecast, please visit the MSS website (www.weather.gov.sg), NEA website (www.nea.gov.sg), or download the myENV app.
REVIEW OF THE PAST TWO WEEKS (16 – 30 JANUARY 2025)
5 Northeast Monsoon conditions prevailed over Singapore and the surrounding region in the second fortnight of January 2025. During the period, the low-level winds blew mainly from the north or northeast.
6 Showers fell over parts of the island on most afternoons in the second fortnight of January 2025. On 17 – 19 January 2025, a surge of north-easterly winds (or monsoon surge [1]) over the South China Sea brought occasional spells of showers over Singapore and the surrounding region. On 26 January 2025, heavy thundery showers fell over the southern and western parts of Singapore in the afternoon. The daily total rainfall of 75.2 mm recorded at Sunset Way that day was the highest rainfall recorded for the second fortnight of January 2025.
7 The daily maximum temperatures in the second fortnight of January 2025 were below 31 degrees Celsius on most days. The highest daily maximum temperature of 32.4 degree Celsius was recorded at Newton on 25 January 2025.
8 Singapore recorded well below average rainfall in the second fortnight of January 2025. The area around Sembawang registered rainfall of about 84 per cent below average.
CLIMATE STATION STATISTICS
Long-term Statistics for February (Climatological reference period: 1991-2020)
Average daily maximum temperature:
31.5
°C
Average daily minimum temperature:
24.6
°C
Average monthly temperature:
27.3
°C
Average rainfall:
105.1
mm
Average number of rain days:
9
Historical Extremes for February (Rainfall since 1869 and temperature since 1929)
Highest monthly mean daily maximum temperature:
33.5
°C (2010)
Lowest monthly mean daily minimum temperature:
21.6
°C (1930, 1934)
Highest monthly rainfall ever recorded:
566.7
mm (1910)
Lowest monthly rainfall ever recorded:
0.2
mm (2014)
[1] A monsoon surge refers to a strengthening of winds over the South China Sea, causing extensive rainclouds to form over our surrounding region.
METEOROLOGICAL SERVICE SINGAPORE
31 Jan 2025
~~ End ~~
For more information, please submit your enquiries electronically via the Online Feedback Form or myENV mobile application.
Detectives investigating the murder of Talip Guzel in Tottenham have charged two people as part of their investigation.
Jan Mercan – 23 (07.08.01) of Rushey Hill, EN2 was charged on Thursday, 30 January with murder and possession of a prohibited weapon.
Stanislava Kukusheva – 35 (04.02.89) of Compton Crescent, N17 was charged on Thursday, 30 January with perverting the course of justice; assisting an offender and possession of a prohibited weapon.
Both will appear in custody at Highbury Corner Magistrates’ Court on Friday, 31 January.
The pair were arrested by detectives as part of an ongoing investigation into the murder of Talip Guzel, 33, who died after being shot at an address in White Hart Lane, N17 on 30 July 2023.
SBM Offshore confirms it has completed the transactions related to the Share Purchase Agreements announced on September 6, 2024 with its partner MISC Berhad for:
i) the acquisition of MISC Berhad’s entire effective equity interest in the lease and operating entities related to the FPSO Espirito Santo in Brazil; and
ii) the full divestment to MISC Berhad of SBM Offshore’s effective equity interest in the lease and operating entities of the FPSO Kikeh in Malaysia.
This transaction furthers SBM Offshore’s efforts to rationalize our portfolio to ‘maintain focus and excellence’ of our operations.
Corporate Profile
SBM Offshore is the world’s deepwater ocean-infrastructure expert. Through the design, construction, installation, and operation of offshore floating facilities, we play a pivotal role in a just transition. By advancing our core, we deliver cleaner, more efficient energy production. By pioneering more, we unlock new markets within the blue economy. More than 7,400 SBMers collaborate worldwide to deliver innovative solutions as a responsible partner towards a sustainable future, balancing ocean protection with progress. For further information, please visit our website at www.sbmoffshore.com.
Financial Calendar
Date
Year
Full Year 2024 Earnings
February 20
2025
Annual General Meeting
April 9
2025
First Quarter 2025 Trading Update
May 15
2025
Half Year 2025 Earnings
August 7
2025
Third Quarter 2025 Trading Update
November 13
2025
For further information, please contact: Investor Relations
Market Abuse Regulation This press release may contain inside information within the meaning of Article 7(1) of the EU Market Abuse Regulation.
Disclaimer Some of the statements contained in this release that are not historical facts are statements of future expectations and other forward-looking statements based on management’s current views and assumptions and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results, performance, or events to differ materially from those in such statements. These statements may be identified by words such as ‘expect’, ‘should’, ‘could’, ‘shall’ and similar expressions. Such forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties. The principal risks which could affect the future operations of SBM Offshore N.V. are described in the ‘Impact, Risk and Opportunity Management’ section of the 2023 Annual Report.
Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results and performance of the Company’s business may vary materially and adversely from the forward-looking statements described in this release. SBM Offshore does not intend and does not assume any obligation to update any industry information or forward-looking statements set forth in this release to reflect new information, subsequent events or otherwise.
This release contains certain alternative performance measures (APMs) as defined by the ESMA guidelines which are not defined under IFRS. Further information on these APMs is included in the Half-Year Management Report accompanying the Half Year Earnings 2024 report, available on our website https://www.sbmoffshore.com/investors/financial-disclosures.
Nothing in this release shall be deemed an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, any securities. The companies in which SBM Offshore N.V. directly and indirectly owns investments are separate legal entities. In this release “SBM Offshore” and “SBM” are sometimes used for convenience where references are made to SBM Offshore N.V. and its subsidiaries in general. These expressions are also used where no useful purpose is served by identifying the particular company or companies.
“SBM Offshore®“, the SBM logomark, “Fast4Ward®”, “emissionZERO®” and “F4W®” are proprietary marks owned by SBM Offshore.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
The UK and other members of the Informal Group of Friends of Democratic Belarus deliver a joint statement on elections in Belarus and the deteriorating human rights situation.
I am delivering this statement on behalf of the following participating States, who are members of the Informal Group of Friends of Democratic Belarus: Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Czechia, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Montenegro, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Ukraine, the United Kingdom and my own country, Germany.
The following participating States are also joining this statement: Albania, Andorra, Austria, Bosnia, Liechtenstein, Malta, San Marino, Switzerland and North Macedonia.
At Copenhagen in 1990, all OSCE participating States declared that “the will of the people, freely and fairly expressed through periodic and genuine elections, is the basis of the authority and legitimacy of all government”.
The presidential elections in Belarus on 26 January fell far short of this shared standard. Instead of reflecting multi-party democracy, accountability of government to the electorate or the free and fair expression of citizens’ will, this election outcome was pre-determined by the Belarusian government. The poll was carried out in a climate of fear and repression where opposition was silenced. Moreover, Belarusians were denied access to information from independent, pluralistic media.
Repression intensified in the pre-election period. While some political prisoners have been released, Belarus continues to detain many more. Over 1,250 people remain incarcerated. Many political prisoners face isolation, mistreatment and lack of medical treatment. The UN Committee against Torture reported that torture in these prisons is systemic, habitual, widespread and deliberate with a pattern of impunity for perpetrators. Last year, four political prisoners died behind bars.
The arrest and persecution of journalists and media professionals has also reached an all-time high; the Belarusian Association of Journalists notes that 42 media workers were imprisoned in the run up to election day.
We deplore Belarus’ involvement and complicity in Russia’s unprovoked, unjustifiable and illegal war of aggression against Ukraine and condemn the serious, ongoing human rights violations committed by the Belarusian authorities. We reiterate our call for the Belarusian authorities to release all political prisoners, immediately and unconditionally, and to ensure their rehabilitation.
No election can be considered as free and fair or meeting international standards when it is held in a climate of ongoing repression, marked by continuous pressure on civil society, arbitrary detentions and widespread human rights violations, as well as restrictions of any genuine political participation and a lack of credible opposition candidates.
We recall that ODIHR made efforts in recent months to engage with the Belarusian authorities on election observation, in line with Belarus’ commitment at Copenhagen in 1990.
The Belarusian authorities’ late invitation – delivered only ten days before the presidential elections – prevented ODIHR’s access to key stages of the election process, making meaningful observation impossible. It stands as further proof that this electoral process lacked transparency and credibility.
Sadly, this approach to OSCE commitments is wholly consistent with earlier decisions by Belarus. As well as preventing meaningful observation of these elections, Belarus failed to invite OSCE observation of the February 2024 parliamentary elections. Nor has Belarus made progress on the recommendations of either the 2020 or 2023 Moscow Mechanism reports, or responded meaningfully to the questions raised in the 2024 Vienna Mechanism.
Indeed, since the fraudulent presidential election of 2020, Belarusian authorities have engaged in a brutal crackdown on opposition figures, human rights defenders, civil society representatives, journalists, and other citizens who dare voice any opposition or dissent. Human rights defenders report over 70,000 cases of repression since 2020. These range from interrogations, detentions or searches to legislative amendments, labelling and prosecuting some human rights defenders as so-called “extremists” and closing NGOs as well as forced exile and confiscation of property.
In the face of this utter disregard of OSCE principles and commitments by the Belarusian authorities, we underscore the right of Belarusians to determine their own future in a genuinely free and fair manner, and to be able to do so without fear, oppression and external interference. In this Council and beyond, we will continue to support the Belarusian people’s hope for a free, democratic and independent Belarus.
Source: Rosneft – Rosneft – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
During 2024, archaeological teams from the Company’s scientific institute in Samara discovered 13 new archaeological sites in the Samara and Orenburg regions and carried out measures to ensure their preservation.
Rosneft cares about the preservation of historical and cultural heritage and, in accordance with Russian legislation, conducts archaeological surveys at the pre-project stage during any construction work.
In total, in 2024, the institute’s specialists surveyed 294 land plots allocated for economic development by the companies Samaraneftegaz and Orenburgneft (production assets of Rosneft).
In the areas where the work was carried out, 36 cultural heritage sites were discovered, including 13 archaeological sites that had not previously been recorded in historical sources and documents. Among them were four single burial mounds and eight burial mounds, as well as one settlement belonging to the Srubna culture*. In the course of determining the boundaries of cultural heritage sites, archaeologists extracted more than 200 finds – fragments of ornamented ceramic dishes and bones of domestic animals.
In addition, the institute’s archaeologists clarified the boundaries of previously identified cultural heritage sites – burial mound VIII near the village of Pogromnoye in the Orenburg Region, as well as the burial mound Nesmeyanovka I in the Samara Region. During the survey of the latter, eight previously unaccounted burial mounds were found; the complex currently includes 27 burial mounds.
* The Srubnaya cultural and historical community is an archaeological culture of the Late Bronze Age (18th-13th centuries BC). Geographically, it was widespread in the steppe and forest-steppe belts of Eastern Europe between the Dnieper and the Urals. In the Volga region and the Urals, the culture is widely represented by archaeological sites: settlements and burial mounds. Ethnicity: Indo-Iranians. The main activities of the representatives of the Srubnaya culture are cattle breeding and agriculture.
Reference:
Archaeological teams have been working at the Rosneft Samara Research Institute since 2019. Over five years, specialists have surveyed over 1,600 land plots for planned facilities, determined the boundaries and registered 193 archaeological sites (settlements, single burial mounds, burial mounds) with the state, and another 173 cultural heritage sites have undergone preservation monitoring and inspection.
Department of Information and Advertising of PJSC NK Rosneft January 31, 2025
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: Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University – Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University –
The Polytechnic University athletes started 2025 actively. They won several victories: in rally, hockey, basketball and mini-football.
The Polytechnic team won the team classification at the Karelia rally. The race took place in the Sortavala area and included technical three-dimensional special stages. Dmitry and Elena Nikonchuk took second place in the overall classification in a BMW 330. The first two places in the 2000N classification were shared between the pair Andrey Zhukovsky – Konstantin Mukhamendrikov in a Fiesta and the pair Alexander Solovyov – Andrey Strizhich in a VAZ-2108.
The men’s futsal team also pleased with its success. The Polytechnics beat the team of the Mining Institute with a score of 3:2 and the LETI athletes with a score of 6:0.
The SPbPU hockey team started the year confidently, winning three victories. In the game with the Northern Sapsan team, the Polytechnicians missed two goals in the first five minutes, but were able to pull themselves together and won with a minimal advantage – 3:2. The match with the Sea Wolves was also exciting. The Polytechnicians outplayed their opponents in the first two periods, but lost the initiative in the third period, almost missing out on victory. The game ended with a score of 4:3. In the end, our athletes confidently beat the hockey players from SPbSU with a score of 9:4.
The girls from the SPbPU basketball team also started the year with a victory. They defeated the RANEPA team with a score of 79:32.
The Polytechnic University team took part in the Spartakiad “Health – 2025”. In the mini-football competition among teachers and employees of universities, the Polytechnic University showed the second result.
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: Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University – Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University –
Another presidential election was held in Belarus. The current head of the country, Alexander Lukashenko, won. The turnout was 85.7% of the total number of those included in the voting list. Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University is associated with the republic not only by decades of joint scientific and educational projects, but also by the historical unity of fraternal peoples, notes the rector of SPbPU Andrei Rudskoy. Andrei Ivanovich heads the expert council on science and education at the IPA CIS. The council’s activities have been noted at the highest level, and its experts are invited to interstate commissions.
On behalf of the Rector of SPbPU, the Director of the Higher School of Jurisprudence and Forensic Science Dmitry Mokhorov (deputy of the Academic SPb Municipal Assembly, deputy chairman of the expert council on science and education at the IPA CIS) acted as a scientific expert in the mission of the monitoring group of the CIS IPA at the elections of the President of the Republic of Belarus.
Interacting with those responsible for organizing the elections and residents of Belarus, Dmitry Mokhorov noted: “It is gratifying to see the hospitality with which Belarusians greet guests, and when they hear “Leningrad Polytechnic” (Peter’s Polytechnic), everyone congratulates them on the 81st anniversary of the liberation of Leningrad from the fascist blockade and the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Great Patriotic War. The warmth of the fraternal people, who have first-hand experience of the atrocities of fascism, fills communication with joy, and it becomes clear that Belarusians will not allow interference in the democratic development of their country. The holiday that election day has become for the Belarusian people has shown the true free will of an independent state — the Republic of Belarus.”
Secretary General of the IPA CIS Council Dmitry Kobitsky noted that the mission included experienced observers – representatives of the parliaments of the CIS states and experts of the International Institute for Monitoring Democracy Development of the IPA CIS. Scientists and specialists, together with parliamentarians, carried out long-term and short-term monitoring of the elections.
This made it possible to conduct a comparative analysis of the best practices and formulate decisions based on professional scientific findings, noted the coordinator of the CIS IPA monitoring group mission, Deputy Chairman of the Federation Council of the Russian Federation Konstantin Kosachev. He emphasized that over two decades, the CIS parliamentary institution has established itself not only as a normative and practical force, but also as a scientifically substantiated force. Thanks to this, it was possible to destroy the monopoly on election assessment that Western institutions had appropriated, imposing their point of view on everyone, politicizing observation and drawing conclusions based on the loyalty of the country and its leader.
In our work, we are guided by the principles of respect for state sovereignty, impartiality, effective assistance, and non-interference in the internal affairs of states, which are enshrined in two basic documents for all of us: the Convention on the Standards of Democratic Elections in the CIS and the Declaration of the CIS Interparliamentary Assembly on the Principles of International Observation, the parliamentarian noted.
International observers from the CIS Interparliamentary Assembly met with the Chairperson of the Council of the Republic of the National Assembly of Belarus Natalia Kochanova, the Chairperson of the House of Representatives of the National Assembly Igor Sergeyenko, the Chairman of the Central Electoral Commission Igor Karpenko, presidential candidates: the Chairman of the Republican Party of Labor and Justice Alexander Khizhnyak, the leader of the Communist Party of Belarus Sergei Syrankov, the Chairman of the Liberal Democratic Party of Belarus Oleg Gaidukevich, Anna Kanopatskaya and the authorized representative of candidate Alexander Lukashenko, the Chairman of the Federation of Trade Unions of Belarus Yuri Senko. All of them noted that Belarusian society has changed. Despite attempts at outside interference, everyone was focused on ensuring that the campaign was held without upheavals, threats and destabilization, in accordance with national and international law.
On election day, observers visited 321 polling stations.
We work in all regions of Belarus. Our work is a kind of “audit”, the result of which is the development and democratization of electoral processes, – said Dmitry Kobitsky.
The Secretary General noted that the Secretariat is expanding cooperation with scientists from the CIS countries. This allows for increased expert support for the Assembly’s legislative work and serves to develop relations in the scientific circles of the Commonwealth countries. A memorandum of cooperation with the Belarusian Institute for Strategic Studies was also signed as part of the dialogue.
Rector of SPbPU Andrei Rudskoy congratulated Belarusian partners on the successful completion of the presidential elections and expressed confidence that the elected president will work for the development of Belarus, strengthening friendship and cooperation in the region.
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.
The report highlights several pressing challenges faced by law enforcement, including the overwhelming volume of digital data, the risk of data loss, and the persistent barriers to accessing critical information due to legal and technical constraints. The increasing use of anonymisation services has further complicated efforts to track criminal activities online.To help mitigate these challenges, the report explores the impact…
Not for distribution, directly or indirectly, in or into the United States or any jurisdiction in which such distribution would be unlawful.
[OVH Groupe SA]
Post-stabilisation Period Announcement
NO STABILISATION CARRIED OUT
[Further to the pre-stabilisation period announcement dated 29/1/2025] BNP Paribas (contact: Stanford Hartman telephone: 0207 595 8222) hereby gives notice that no stabilisation (within the meaning of Article 3.2(d) of the Market Abuse Regulation (EU/596/2014)) was undertaken by the Stabilisation Manager(s) named below in relation to the offer of the following securities.
This announcement is for information purposes only and does not constitute an invitation or offer to underwrite, subscribe for or otherwise acquire or dispose of any securities of the Issuer in any jurisdiction.
This announcement is not an offer of securities for sale into the United States. The securities referred to above have not been, and will not be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933 and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an exemption from registration. There has not been and will not be a public offer of the securities in the United States.
Aktia Bank Plc Stock Exchange Release 31 January 2025 at 11.00 a.m.
Shareholders’ Nomination Board’s proposal for the composition of Aktia Bank’s Board of Directors and their remuneration
The Shareholders’ Nomination Board of Aktia Bank Plc has decided to present the following proposal to the Annual General Meeting 2025 of Aktia Bank:
The number of the members of the Board of Directors is proposed to be decreased from nine and set to seven.
The Shareholders’ Nomination Board proposes that of the present members of the Board of Directors, Joakim Frimodig, Carl Haglund, Maria Jerhamre Engström, Harri Lauslahti and Matts Rosenberg, based on their consent, be re-elected for a term continuing up until the end of the next Annual General Meeting. For more information on the Board members proposed to be re-elected, please see the company’s website at www.aktia.com. Ann Grevelius, Sari Pohjonen, Johannes Schulman and Lasse Svens have informed that they will not be available for re-election.
The Shareholders’ Nomination Board also proposes that Hanne Katrama and Sari Somerkallio are elected as new Board members for the same term, based on their consent. Further information on the new Board members proposed to be elected has been attached to this release and can be found closer to the Annual General Meeting on the company’s website www.aktia.com.
Should any of the candidates presented above not be available to be elected to the Board, the proposed number of Board members shall be decreased accordingly and the available candidates are proposed to be elected accordingly.
All the proposed persons are independent in relation to the company according to the definition of the Corporate Governance Code. Only Matts Rosenberg is not independent of a significant shareholder since he is the chair of the board of RG Partners Oy, the largest shareholder (10.13%) of Aktia Bank. In addition, Rosenberg is the CEO of of Rettig Oy Ab, which is the largest owner of RG Partners Oy.
All the proposed persons have informed that they intend, if they are elected, to elect Matts Rosenberg amongst them as Chair of the Board of Directors and to re-elect Joakim Frimodig as Deputy Chair.
Regarding the selection procedure for the members of the Board of Directors, the Shareholders’ Nomination Board recommends that shareholders take a position on the proposal as a whole at the General Meeting. This recommendation is based on the fact that at Aktia the Shareholders’ Nomination Board is separate from the Board of Directors and, in addition to ensuring that individual nominees for membership of the Board of Directors possess the required competences, it is also responsible for making sure that the proposed Board of Directors as a whole also has the best possible expertise and experience for the company and that the composition of the Board of Directors also meets other requirements set for credit institutions as well as the requirements of the Finnish Corporate Governance Code for listed companies.
The Nomination Board proposes that the remuneration for the Board of Directors for the term be unchanged from the current term and determined as follows:
Chair, EUR 75,000 (2024: EUR 75,000)
Deputy Chair, EUR 50,000 (2024: EUR 50,000)
member, EUR 40,000 (2024: EUR 40,000)
Annual remunerations for the Chairs of each Committee as well as meeting remunerations are proposed to be unchanged, meaning that it is proposed that the Chair of each Committee will further receive an annual remuneration of EUR 8,000. The proposed meeting remuneration for Board and Committee meetings is EUR 700 per attended meeting for each person (EUR 700 per attended meeting for each person in 2024). If participation in a board meeting requires travelling outside the board member’s country of residence, the remuneration for board meeting is EUR 1,400 per attended meeting for each person (EUR 1,400 per attended meeting for each person in 2024). The remuneration of the members of the Board is not treated as income forming basis for earnings-related pension. Compensation for travel and accommodation expenses as well as a daily allowance is paid in line with the Finnish Tax Administration’s guidelines and the travel instructions of the company.
The Nomination Board proposes that approximately 40% of the annual remuneration (gross amount) shall be paid to the members in the form of Aktia shares. The company will on account of the Board members acquire Aktia shares on the market to the price that is formed through public trading or it will transfer the company’s own shares to the Board members and the rest of the annual remuneration payable is paid in cash. The shares are acquired or transferred during a two-week time period from the day following the company’s interim report for 1 January 2025–31 March 2025 is published or as soon as possible in accordance with applicable legislation. If the remuneration can’t be paid in shares, it can be paid in cash entirely. The company will be responsible for all expenses and the possible transfer tax for acquiring or transferring the shares.
The proposals of the Nomination Board will be included in the summons of the Annual General Meeting.
Chair of the Shareholders’ Nomination Board of Aktia Bank is Gisela Knuts (appointed by the Pension Insurance Company Veritas and the companies controlled by Erkki Etola), members are Georg Ehrnrooth (appointed by RG Partners Oy), Stefan Wallin (appointed by the Åbo Akademi University Foundation) and Johan Hammarén (appointed by Oy Hammarén & Co Ab), and Lasse Svens, Chair of the Board of Directors of Aktia Bank acts as an expert.
Aktia Bank Plc
Further information: Gisela Knuts, Chair of the Nomination Board, tel. +358 40 769 8265
Distribution: Nasdaq Helsinki Ltd Mass media www.aktia.com
Aktia is a Finnish asset manager, bank and life insurer that has been creating wealth and wellbeing from one generation to the next for 200 years. We serve our customers in digital channels everywhere and face-to-face in our offices in the Helsinki, Turku, Tampere, Vaasa and Oulu regions. Our award-winning asset management business sells investment funds internationally. We employ approximately 850 people around Finland. Aktia’s assets under management (AuM) on 30 September 2024 amounted to EUR 14.3 billion, and the balance sheet total was EUR 12.0 billion. Aktia’s shares are listed on Nasdaq Helsinki Ltd (AKTIA). aktia.com.
VICTORIA, Seychelles, Jan. 31, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — MEXC, a leading global cryptocurrency exchange, is excited to launch a limited-time Zero-Fee Event for European traders. During this limited-time promotion, all EUR Spot trading pairs, as well as a total of 108 Spot trading pairs, will be offered with zero fees, providing exceptional trading opportunities and cost savings for the European cryptocurrency community.
Event Details
The Zero-Fee Event will run from January 23, 2025, to March 31, 2025. During this period, all EUR Spot trading pairs will have 0% maker and taker fees. This promotion is available to all MEXC users.
In addition to EUR Spot pairs, MEXC is also offering zero fees for other trading pairs in Europe. MEXC offers a total of 108 Spot trading pairs, including:
81 pairs with USDC
5 pairs with USDT
22 pairs with EUR
MEXC will also offer 29 Futures trading pairs as part of the zero-fee event.
User-Centered Benefits for European Traders
According to the latest TokenInsight research report, MEXC demonstrated considerable growth and market presence in 2024, securing a spot among the top 6 in Spot trading and the top 5 in derivatives trading.
The report reveals that MEXC’s market share in the Spot market increased by approximately 9%, reaching 11.6% compared to 2023. In the derivatives market, MEXC also achieved a 10.4% year-over-year growth in market share, the largest increase among major exchanges. This growth is fueled by MEXC’s low fees, exclusive trading events, and flexible token listing strategy.
As Europe is a key market for MEXC, the platform is offering the Zero-Fee Event as a way to give back to European traders, helping them reduce trading costs and maximize their profit potential.
Beyond this event, MEXC delivers four key advantages that have earned the trust of over 30 million users across 170+ countries:
M: Most Trending Tokens MEXC has over 3,000 token listings and almost lists new tokens daily, offering users a wide range of options and the ability to stay on top of the latest market trends.
E: Everyday Airdrops MEXC brings users frequent rewards and opportunities. In 2024 alone, the platform completed 2,293 airdrops, distributing over $136 million in rewards.
X: Xtremely Low Fees MEXC offers highly competitive trading fees, allowing users to significantly reduce their costs compared to industry standards.
C: Comprehensive Liquidity With deep market depth and high liquidity, MEXC ensures efficient and seamless execution of every transaction, even in volatile markets.
MEXC states that it will continue to prioritize innovation and user experience, launching new tools and services that meet the needs of global traders, with the aim of making cryptocurrency trading simpler and more profitable for every trader.
For more details on the event and its rules, please refer to the Event Announcement.
About MEXC
Founded in 2018, MEXC is committed to being “Your Easiest Way to Crypto”. Serving over 30 million users across 170+ countries, MEXC is known for its broad selection of trending tokens, frequent airdrop opportunities, and low trading fees. Our user-friendly platform is designed to support both new traders and experienced investors, offering secure and efficient access to digital assets. MEXC prioritizes simplicity and innovation, making crypto trading more accessible and rewarding. MEXC Official Website｜ X ｜ Telegram ｜How to Sign Up on MEXC
Risk Disclaimer: The information provided in this article about cryptocurrencies does not represent MEXC’s official stance or investment advice. Given the highly volatile nature of the cryptocurrency market, investors are encouraged to carefully evaluate market fluctuations, project fundamentals, and potential financial risks before making any trading decisions.
Disclaimer: This content is provided by MEXC. The statements, views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the content provider. The information provided in this press release is not a solicitation for investment, nor is it intended as investment advice, financial advice, or trading advice. It is strongly recommended you practice due diligence, including consultation with a professional financial advisor, before investing in or trading cryptocurrency and securities. Please conduct your own research and invest at your own risk.
Not for distribution, directly or indirectly, in or into the United States or any jurisdiction in which such distribution would be unlawful.
[ENGINEERING INGEGNERIA INFORMATICA S.P.A]
Post-stabilisation Period Announcement
NO STABILISATION CARRIED OUT
[Further to the pre-stabilisation period announcement dated [29/1/2025] BNP Paribas (contact: Stanford Hartman telephone: 0207 595 8222) hereby gives notice that no stabilisation (within the meaning of Article 3.2(d) of the Market Abuse Regulation (EU/596/2014)) was undertaken by the Stabilisation Manager(s) named below in relation to the offer of the following securities.
This announcement is for information purposes only and does not constitute an invitation or offer to underwrite, subscribe for or otherwise acquire or dispose of any securities of the Issuer in any jurisdiction.
This announcement is not an offer of securities for sale into the United States. The securities referred to above have not been, and will not be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933 and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an exemption from registration. There has not been and will not be a public offer of the securities in the United States.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments 3
Funding to kickstart the delivery of 13,000 more neighbourhood police officers has been doubled to £200 million to make the country’s streets safer.
Getty Images
Forces across England and Wales will now be given hugely increased resources to begin their recruitment to boost neighbourhood policing teams, helping to ensure that the government’s target for additional personnel is met by 2029.
After years of declining officer presence on Britain’s streets, this investment represents a crucial first step in rebuilding neighbourhood policing. This doubled funding – increased from December’s provisional £100 million commitment – reflects the scale of the challenges that many forces face, as well as the government’s determination to address them.
As part of a wider billion-pound boost to policing, this dedicated funding will strengthen local crime prevention and community safety. One of the government’s key pledges within its Plan for Change is that every neighbourhood will have a named, contactable officer, helping to restore the local knowledge and presence that effective neighbourhood policing demands.
These extra officers will see a return to the principles of British policing – where officers are part of the communities they serve and are focused on tackling crimes like antisocial behaviour, theft and knife crime that are blighting our communities.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said:
This major investment marks a turning point for policing in this country. By doubling extra neighbourhood funding to £200 million, we are giving forces across the country what they need to put more officers and PCSOs [police community support officers] where they’re needed most – on our streets and in our town centres.
Every neighbourhood deserves dedicated officers who know their patch, understand residents’ concerns and can tackle problems before they escalate. This investment, alongside new powers we are bringing into law, will help prevent crime and protect our communities, which is at the heart of our Plan for Change.
Restoring local policing will not happen overnight, but this funding boost will get more officers into our town centres and rural areas.
Forces across England and Wales will be able to boost their local policing teams with this investment, scheduled for next financial year. Each force will set out their plans to government by early spring, showing how they’ll use their allocation to increase visible patrols.
The rebuilding of local, visible policing in all our communities will be supported by the government’s new Police Standards and Performance Improvement Unit and new standards for neighbourhood policing. In addition to thousands more personnel in neighbourhood policing roles, the government will continue to help forces to protect officer numbers.
Alongside more officers on the ground, the upcoming Crime and Policing Bill will give these officers the tools they need to keep our streets safe, including enhanced powers such as respect orders to tackle antisocial behaviour and shoplifting effectively. This investment, combined with new powers and local control over resources, marks the start of a long-term commitment to restore visible policing across the country.
Chief Constable Gavin Stephens, National Police Chiefs’ Council Chair, said:
We welcome the investment in neighbourhood policing, which is a vital part of how we engage with our communities, building trust and confidence locally.
Working with our communities and partners to problem solve, tackle antisocial behaviour, supporting victims of domestic abuse, and diverting young people from offending are just some examples of the challenging and rewarding work officers do.
Visibility and engagement with local communities has always been central to the British policing model and police leaders are in agreement that it must always remain at the heart of what we do.
Neighbourhood Watch CEO John Hayward-Cripps said:
Neighbourhood Watch is delighted that the government is further increasing the investment in neighbourhood policing.
With the increased demands on the police, and public confidence at a low point, a focus on neighbourhood policing is key to the police being visible, approachable, and engaging proactively with the public.
This injection of investment will increase public confidence in the police and enhance feelings of safety within local communities.
Paul Gerrard, Co-op Director of Campaigns and Public Affairs, said:
We welcome the government’s commitment to boost neighbourhood police officer numbers to help protect local communities from crime. As a community-based retailer, we all too often see the significant and damaging impact of retail crime and antisocial behaviour in society.
We know – and have seen the results – that effective partnerships with local policing make a real difference, and I am cautiously optimistic that this latest development along with continued investment in preventative measures and the rising levels of police attendance can start to reverse retail crime levels, and help communities become stronger, more resilient and safer.
This funding boost comes as the government publishes its final police funding settlement today. Total funding to police forces across the country will be up to £17.5 billion next year, an increase of up to £1.1 billion compared to the 2024 to 2025 police funding settlement. This includes additional funding to support the costs of the pay awards, the increase in the employer national contributions and funding for officer maintenance.
I would like to start by thanking the organisers for the invitation to speak at this important symposium.
A resilient banking system and financial stability more broadly are largely driven by:
Bank risk management and governance practices;
The quantity and quality of capital and liquidity buffers;
The effectiveness of bank supervision; and
The effectiveness of market discipline.
Given time constraints, my brief statement will focus on the role of global capital and liquidity standards. That is not to underplay the critical importance of the other factors. In this regard, the Basel Committee has an ongoing work programme focused on strengthening supervisory effectiveness.1 It also remains the case that the most important source of banks’ financial and operational strength comes from their own risk management and governance arrangement.2 And the Committee will continue to strengthen Pillar 3 disclosures and promote market discipline to help stakeholders adequately assess banks’ risk profiles.
Minimum international standards
According to the BIS International Banking Statistics, banks’ foreign claims and other exposures totalled USD 45 trillion at the end of the second quarter of 2024.3 Given the significant global nature of banking, there is a need to have a global minimum level-playing field.
To promote such a global level playing field, the Basel Committee sets minimum standards for internationally active banks. Consistent with this approach, many jurisdictions choose to apply more stringent requirements than the minimum Basel standards. In addition, most jurisdictions apply some level of proportionality – that is simpler rules are applied to non-internationally active banks.4
Globally consistent minimum regulatory standards seek to limit regulatory fragmentation, regulatory arbitrage and a “race to the bottom” which dilutes the resilience of banks. While weaker standards can promote growth in the short-run, they typically lead to excessive risk taking, and the build-up of excessive leverage, which ultimately reverses and results in a sharp contraction in credit, bank failures, broader financial instability and large losses in economic output. In short – a race to the bottom is in no one’s long-term interest – in particular banks.5
Minimum standards for capital and liquidity regulation play a critical role in ensuring the soundness of individual banks and overall financial stability. Rigorous regulatory standards also help to promote economic growth by ensuring lending is sustainable and can be maintained when shocks hit the system, or when individual banks incur losses.6
Given the importance of globally consistent minimum standards, implementation of the Basel III regulatory framework remains the key priority for the Basel Committee. While there have been some delays in implementation, most of the outstanding Basel III standards are now in force in around 70% of BCBS member jurisdictions.7
Calibration of international standards
It is important to note that international capital and liquidity standards are not calibrated to produce zero bank failures. Despite the significant strengthening of bank capital and liquidity ratios since the Great Financial Crisis, banks remain highly leveraged firms. Capital and liquidity buffers can absorb most, but certainly not all shocks that a bank may face. And history has shown that the frequency and severity of such shocks have been far greater than what would be expected based on banks’ internal models.8 All this points to the importance of bank risk management and governance, effective supervisory oversight, and implementation of Basel III which significantly reduces model risk.
On the issue on calibration of regulatory standards it is important to also keep in mind that claims of negative effects of higher capital and liquidity regulation on bank lending and economic growth have not materialised. Rather, since the GFC we have seen that more highly capitalised banks are not only more resilient, they are also more profitable and lend more through the cycle.9
The “Swiss Finish”
I would like to conclude by making a general point about the so-called “Swiss Finish”. Having lived in Switzerland for nearly twenty years, I have come to understand this as, among other things, an approach that favours quality over quantity.
I think the same principle should apply to how we think about regulatory rules. If given a choice I would favour quality over quantity. In my view it is better to favour high quality capital over lower quality capital (even if that means lower reported capital ratios). Additionally, I have a general preference for simplicity over complexity, and being transparent.
These three principles shape my personal views on the policy issues we will discuss during the panel. So whether we are thinking about the treatment of capital within a banking group, the role of Additional Tier 1 regulatory instruments or other policy issues, I am generally going to favour:
quality over quantity;
simplicity over complexity; and where possible
being transparent.
Thank you. I will stop there and look forward to the discussion.
References
Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (2021): “Proportionality in bank regulation and supervision”, July.
— (2022a): “Evaluation of the impact and efficacy of the Basel III reforms”, December.
— (2022b): “Evaluation of the impact and efficacy of the Basel III reforms – Annex”, December.
— (2023): “Report on the 2023 banking turmoil”, October.
— (2024): “Basel Committee reports member jurisdictions making progress in implementing Basel III”, press release, 2 October.
Bank for International Statistics (2025): “Locational banking statistics”, see Table B4: here Consolidated banking statistics publication table: BIS,CBS_B4,1.0.
Behn, M, R Hasselmann and V Vig (2022): “The limits of model-based regulation”, Journal of Finance, vol 77(3), June.
Caparusso, J, U Lewrick and N Tarashev (2023): “Profitability, valuation and resilience of global banks – a tight link” Bank for International Settlements Working Paper No 1144.
Thedéen, E (2024): “Charting the course: prudential regulation and supervision for smooth sailing”.
To Nasdaq Copenhagen A/S 31th of January 2025 Announcement no. 9/2025
Jyske Realkredit explores the possibilities of issuing a new euro denominated benchmark covered bond
Jyske Realkredit has mandated Jyske Bank, Danske Bank, Commerzbank, TD Securities and DekaBank to explore the possibilities of issuing a new euro denominated covered bond out of capital centre E. A benchmark transaction is expected to be launched.
Questions may be addressed to Anders Lund Hansen, Executive Vice President, tel. (+45) 89 89 92 20 or Christian Bech-Ravn, Head of Investor Relations, tel. (+45) 89 89 92 25.
The information will also be available on Jyske Realkredit’s web site at jyskerealkredit.com.
Yours sincerely
Jyske Realkredit A/S
Please observe that the Danish version of this announcement prevails.
Source: Republic of South Africa (video statements-2)
The National Head for the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, Lieutenant General (Dr/Adv.) Godfrey Lebeya and his management holds a media briefing to outline progress and take stock of milestones achieved during the third quarter of financial year 2024/2025
Source: Bundesanstalt für Finanzdienstleistungsaufsicht – In English
The Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) warns against offers on the website swissprimefx.com. According to the findings of the supervisory authority, Swiss Partners AG, Vaduz, Liechtenstein, offers financial and investment services there without permission.
BaFin would like to point out that the two companies, swisspartners AG and swisspartners Versicherung AG, which are registered with both the Liechtenstein Financial Market Authority and BaFin, have no connection with Swiss Partners AG or the swissprimefx.com website. This constitutes identity theft.
Anyone offering financial and investment services in Germany requires the permission of BaFin. However, some companies offer such services without the necessary permission. You can find information on whether a particular company is authorized by BaFin in the company database.
The information provided by BaFin is based on Section 37 (4) of the German Banking Act (KWG), Section 10 (7) of the German Crypto Markets Supervision Act (KMAG).
Please be aware:
BaFin, the German Federal Criminal Police Office (Bundeskriminalamt – BKA) and the German state criminal police offices (Landeskriminalämter) recommend that consumers seeking to invest money online should exercise the utmost caution and do the necessary research beforehand in order to identify fraud attempts at an early stage.
Today I am pleased to announce the appointment of Rachelle Jackson to lead an Australian diplomatic post in Canada.
Ms Jackson has been appointed to the role of Consul-General and Trade and Investment Commissioner in Toronto, Canada.
Ms Jackson has a wealth of experience in trade and investment policy having held multiple leadership roles at Austrade in Melbourne and Sydney, and as a Trade Commissioner in New York and San Francisco.
Her appointment underscores the importance of Australia’s relationship with Canada, and will advance our trade and diplomatic interests, and drive opportunities for a continued and strong bilateral trading relationship.
I congratulate Ms Jackson on her well-deserved appointment.
I thank the outgoing Consul-General and Trade Commissioner Josh Riley for his time and successful efforts in the role.
31 January 2025. WOOD & Co, a leading regional investment bank in Emerging Europe, has reinitiated independent equity research coverage of Šiaulių Bankas (SAB1L). The initiation report includes an analysis suggesting a target price of EUR 0.96.
WOOD & Company Financial Services teams, located in Warsaw, Prague, Bucharest, Bratislava, Milan and London are highly experienced, have deep roots in Emerging Europe, providing wide range of products and services for investors, including Equity Sales, Electronic Trading, DMA and FIX, Equity Structured Products, Equity Research and Equity Capital Markets.
Šiaulių Bankas stock is also covered by Swedbank, Estonian investment research firm Enlight Research, Norwegian investment bank Norne Securities and Erste Group Research. The analysts’ evaluations are available to investors on Šiaulių Bankas IR website.
If you would like to receive Šiaulių Bankas news for investors directly to your inbox, subscribe to our newsletter.
Additional information: Tomas Varenbergas Head of Investment Management Division tomas.varenbergas@sb.lt
Danish insurance and pension companies achieved a return of kr. 344 billion in 2024. Overall, the nominal return has been kr. 675 billion over the past two years, which means that the loss in 2022 has almost been recovered. A loss that was mainly due to capital losses in the financial markets due to, among other things, inflation, and interest rate increases. The high return in 2024 is primarily driven by the gains on the US stock market, and more than half of the pension return in 2024 came from listed US stocks; in particular, shares in technology companies such as NVIDIA, Apple and Amazon contributed with significant gains. Investments in the US account for a quarter of total pension investments and thus have a significant impact on Danish pension returns. The positive returns benefit not only pension customers, but also government finances through increased tax revenues from the so-called pension return tax, PAL tax.
The pension sector achieved a return of kr. 344 billion in 2024
Note:
Danish insurance and pension companies’ returns on investments 2018-2024. Life insurance companies and pension funds as well as ATP are included in the statistics. Find chart data in the Statbank.
Quadient (Euronext Paris: QDT), a global automation platform powering secure and sustainable business connections, announces strong year-end momentum in the adoption and usage of its Parcel Pending by Quadient locker network across multifamily and higher education campuses in North America.
In the last three months of 2024, Quadient saw a 16% year-over-year increase in total package volume across higher education and multifamily clients, outpacing the installed base growth, with universities showing particularly strong momentum at 23% year-over-year growth. Beyond parcel delivery, universities are increasingly leveraging Quadient smart lockers for academic materials, equipment, mail, and food pantry orders—providing students and staff with a secure delivery management solution.
“Our sustained usage growth in the North American parcel locker network reflects the increasing need for reliable, automated solutions to manage growing parcel volumes efficiently,” said Austin Maddox, executive vice president, Lockers Automation North America at Quadient. “Universities and residential communities are looking for ways to enhance convenience, security, and operations while meeting the evolving expectations of students and residents. We are committed to supporting them with innovative, scalable locker solutions that simplify logistics, reduce workload, and provide seamless, 24/7 access to essential deliveries.”
Quadient provides smart locker solutions for multifamily residential properties, universities, distributors, retailers, carriers and commercial clients. As a leader in global open locker networks, Quadient’s vertical-, location-, and carrier-agnostic technology enables seamless delivery and pickup experiences. With over 25,000 locker units deployed worldwide and continued investments in innovation and service excellence, Quadient is well-positioned to significantly exceed €100 million in Lockers revenue by 2025, improve profitability, and move closer to its 2030 goal of a 40,000-unit installed base.
About Quadient® Quadient is a global automation platform powering secure and sustainable business connections through digital and physical channels. Quadient supports businesses of all sizes in their digital transformation and growth journey, unlocking operational efficiency and creating meaningful customer experiences. Listed in compartment B of Euronext Paris (QDT) and part of the CAC® Mid & Small and EnterNext® Tech 40 indices, Quadient shares are eligible for PEA-PME investing. For more information about Quadient, visit www.quadient.com.
Please be informed, that on 30 January 2025 INVL Technology has transferred part of its shares – 18,568 units – to the employees of INVL Technology’s subsidiaries, who acquired the right to realization of the option right under the basis and terms of signed option agreements. Considering this, INVL Technology hereby announces the data on its issued shares as of 30 January 2025:
Type of shares
Number of shares and total voting rights granted by the issued shares, units
Number of votes for the quorum of the General Shareholders Meeting, units
Nominal value, EUR
Total nominal Value and authorized capital, EUR
Portion of the authorized capital, %
Ordinary registered shares
12,175,321
12,008,423
0.29
3,530,843.09
100
The person authorized to provide additional information: INVL Technology Managing Partner Kazimieras Tonkūnas E-mail k.tonkunas@invltechnology.lt
A West Papuan advocacy group is calling for an urgent international inquiry into allegations that Indonesian security forces have used the chemical weapon white phosphorus against West Papuans for a second time.
The allegations were made in the new documentary, Frontier War,by Paradise Broadcasting.
In the film, West Papuan civilians give testimony about a number of children dying from sickness in the months folllowing the 2021 Kiwirok attack.
They say that “poisoning . . . occurred due to the bombings”, that “they throw the bomb and . . . chemicals come through the mouth”, said United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) interim president Benny Wenda.
They add that this was “the first time they’re throwing people up are not dying, but between one month later or two months later”, he said in a statement.
Bombings produced big “clouds of dust” and infants suffering the effects could not stop coughing up blood.
“White phosphorus is an evil weapon, even when used against combatants. It burns through skin and flesh and causes heart and liver failure,” said Wenda.
‘Crimes against defenceless civilians’ “But Indonesia is committing these crimes against humanity against defenceless civilians, elders, women and children.
“Thousands of Papuans in the border region were forced from their villages by these attacks, adding to the over 85,000 who are still internally displaced by militarisation.”
Journalists uncovered that victims were suffering deep burns down to the bone, typical with that weapon, as well as photographing yellow tipped bombs which military sources confirmed “appear to be incendiary or white phosphorus”.
The same yellow-tipped explosives were discovered in Kiwirok, and the fins from the recovered munitions are consistent with white phosphorus.
“As usual, Indonesia lied about using white phosphorus in Nduga,” said Wenda.
“They have also lied about even the existence of the Kiwirok attack — an operation that led to the deaths of over 300 men, women, and children.
“They lie, lie, lie.”
Frontier War/ Inside the West Papua Liberation Army Video: Paradise Broadcasting
Proof needed after ‘opening up’ Wenda said the movement would not be able to obtain proof of these attacks — “of the atrocities being perpetrated daily against my people” — until Indonesia opened West Papua to the “eyes of the world”.
“West Papua is a prison island: no journalists, NGOs, or aid organisations are allowed to operate there. Even the UN is totally banned,” Wenda said.
Indonesia’s entire strategy in West Papua is secrecy. Their crimes have been hidden from the world for decades, through a combination of internet blackouts, repression of domestic journalists, and refusal of access to international media.”
Wenda said Indonesia must urgently facilitate the long-delayed UN Human Rights visit to West Papua, and allow journalists and NGOs to operate there without fear of imprisonment or repression.
“The MSG [Melanesian Spearhead Group], PIF [Pacific Islands Forum] and the OACPS [Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States] must again increase the pressure on Indonesia to allow a UN visit,” he said. “The fake amnesty proposed by [President] Prabowo Subianto is contradictory as it does not also include a UN visit. Even if 10, 20 activists are released, our right to political expression is totally banned.”
Wenda said that Indonesia must ultimately “open their eyes” to the only long-term solution in West Papua — self-determination through an independence referendum.
Scenes from the Paradise Broadcasting documentary Frontier War. Images: Screenshots APR
Orrön Energy AB (“Orrön Energy”) will publish its financial report for the fourth quarter and full year 2024 on Wednesday 12 February 2025 at 07:30 CET, followed by a Capital Markets Day presentation at 14:00 CET.
Listen to Daniel Fitzgerald, CEO and Espen Hennie, CFO commenting on the report and presenting the latest developments in Orrön Energy and its future growth strategy, together with members of Orrön Energy’s management team, at a webcast held on 12 February 2025 at 14:00 CET. The presentation will be followed by a question-and-answer session.
Orrön Energy is an independent, publicly listed (Nasdaq Stockholm: “ORRON”) renewable energy company within the Lundin Group of Companies. Orrön Energy’s core portfolio consists of high quality, cash flow generating assets in the Nordics, coupled with greenfield growth opportunities in the Nordics, the UK, Germany and France. With significant financial capacity to fund further growth and acquisitions, and backed by a major shareholder, management and Board with a proven track record of investing into, leading and growing highly successful businesses, Orrön Energy is in a unique position to create shareholder value through the energy transition.
Forward-looking statements Statements in this press release relating to any future status or circumstances, including statements regarding future performance, growth and other trend projections, are forward-looking statements. These statements may generally, but not always, be identified by the use of words such as “anticipate”, “believe”, “expect”, “intend”, “plan”, “seek”, “will”, “would” or similar expressions. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve risk and uncertainty because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that could occur in the future. There can be no assurance that actual results will not differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements due to several factors, many of which are outside the company’s control. Any forward-looking statements in this press release speak only as of the date on which the statements are made and the company has no obligation (and undertakes no obligation) to update or revise any of them, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
On 27 December last year, astronomers using the ATLAS survey telescope in Chile discovered a small asteroid moving away from Earth. Follow up observations have revealed that the asteroid, 2024 YR4, is on a path that might lead to a collision with our planet on 22 December 2032.
In other words, the newly-discovered space rock poses a significant impact threat to our planet.
It sounds like something from a bad Hollywood movie. But in reality, there’s no need to panic – this is just another day living on a target in a celestial shooting gallery.
So what’s the story? What do we know about 2024 YR4? And what would happen if it did collide with Earth?
A target in the celestial shooting gallery
As Earth moves around the Sun, it is continually encountering dust and debris that dates back to the birth of the Solar system. The system is littered with such debris, and the meteors and fireballs seen every night are evidence of just how polluted our local neighbourhood is.
But most of the debris is far too small to cause problems to life on Earth. There is far more tiny debris out there than larger chunks – so impacts from objects that could imperil life on Earth’s surface are much less frequent.
The most famous impact came some 66 million years ago. A giant rock from space, at least 10 kilometres in diameter, crashed into Earth – causing a mass extinction that wiped out something like 75% of all species on Earth.
Impacts that large are, fortunately, very rare events. Current estimates suggest that objects like the one which killed the dinosaurs only hit Earth every 50 million years or so. Smaller impacts, though, are more common.
On 30 June 1908, there was a vast explosion in a sparsely populated part of Siberia. When explorers later reached the location of the explosion, they found an astonishing site: a forest levelled, with all the trees fallen in the same direction. As they moved around, the direction of the fallen trees changed – all pointing inwards towards the epicentre of the explosion.
The Tunguska event flattened trees over an area of around 2,200 square kilometres. Leonid Kulik / Wikimedia
In total, the Tunguska event levelled an area of almost 2,200 square kilometres – roughly equivalent to the area of greater Sydney. Fortunately, that forest was extremely remote. While plants and animals were killed in the blast zone, it is thought that, at most, only three people perished.
Estimates vary of how frequent such large collisions should be. Some argue that Earth should experience a similar impact, on average, once per century. Others suggest such collisions might only happen every 10,000 years or so. The truth is we don’t know – but that’s part of the fun of science.
The explosion, about 30 kilometres above the Earth’s surface, generated a powerful shock-wave and extremely bright flash of light. Buildings were damaged, windows smashed, and almost 1,500 people were injured – although there were no fatalities.
It served as a reminder, however, that Earth will be hit again. It’s only a question of when.
Which brings us to our latest contender – asteroid 2024 YR4.
The 1-in-77 chance of collision to watch
2024 YR4 has been under close observation by astronomers for a little over a month. It was discovered just a few days after making a relatively close approach to our planet, and it is now receding into the dark depths of the Solar system. By April, it will be lost to even the world’s largest telescopes.
The observations carried out over the past month have allowed astronomers to extrapolate the asteroid’s motion forward over time, working out its orbit around the Sun. As a result, it has become clear that, on 22 December 2032, it will pass very close to our planet – and may even collide with us.
At present, our best models of the asteroid’s motion have an uncertainty of around 100,000 kilometres in its position at the time it would be closest to the Earth. At around 12,000 kilometres in diameter, our planet falls inside that region of uncertainty.
Calculations suggest there is currently around a 1-in-77 chance that the asteroid will crash into our planet at that time. Of course, that means there is still a 76-in-77 chance it will miss us.
When will we know for sure?
With every new observation of 2024 YR4, astronomers’ knowledge of its orbit improves slightly – which is why the collision likelihoods you might see quoted online keep changing. We’ll be able to follow the asteroid as it recedes from Earth for another couple of months, by which time we’ll have a better idea of exactly where it will be on that fateful day in December 2032.
But it is unlikely we’ll be able to say for sure whether we’re in the clear at that point.
Recent observations of 2024 YR4 – the faint unmoving dot in the centre of the image. ESO, CC BY
Fortunately, the asteroid will make another close approach to the Earth in December 2028 – passing around 8 million kilometres from our planet. Astronomers will be ready to perform a wide raft of observations that will help us to understand the size and shape of the asteroid, as well as giving an incredibly accurate overview of where it will be in 2032.
At the end of that encounter, we will know for sure whether there will be a collision in 2032. And if there is to be a collision that year, we’ll be able to predict where on Earth that collision will be – likely to a precision of a few tens of kilometres.
How big would the impact be?
At the moment, we don’t know the exact size of 2024 YR4. Even through Earth’s largest telescopes, it is just a single tiny speck in the sky. So we have to estimate its size based on its brightness. Depending on how reflective the asteroid is, current estimates place it as being somewhere between 40 and 100 metres across.
What does that mean for a potential impact? Well, it would depend on exactly what the asteroid is made of.
The most likely scenario is that the asteroid is a rocky pile of rubble. If that turns out to be the case, then the impact would be very similar to the Tunguska event in 1908.
The asteroid would detonate in the atmosphere, with a shockwave blasting Earth’s surface as a result. The Tunguska impact was a “city killer” type event, levelling forest across a city-sized patch of land.
Meteor Crater in Arizona is believed to have been created by a 50m metallic meteorite impact around 50,000 years ago. NASA Earth Observatory / Wikimedia
A less likely possibility is that the asteroid is made of metal. Based on its orbit around the Sun, this seems unlikely – but we can’t rule it out.
In that case, the asteroid would make it through the atmosphere intact, and crash into Earth’s surface. If it hit on the land, it would carve out a new impact crater, probably more than a kilometre across and a couple of hundred metres deep – something similar to Meteor Crater in Arizona.
Again, this would be quite spectacular for the region around the impact – but that would be about it.
Living in a remarkable time
This all sounds like doom and gloom. After all, we know that the Earth will be hit again – either by 2024 YR4 or something else. But there’s a real positive to take out of all this.
There has been life on Earth for more than 3 billion years. In all that time, impacts have come along and caused destruction and devastation many times.
But there has never been a species, to our knowledge, that understood the risk, could detect potential threats in advance, and even do something about the threat. Until now.
In just the past few years, we have discovered 11 asteroids before they hit our planet. In each case, we have predicted where they would hit, and watched the results.
We have also, in recent years, demonstrated a growing capacity to deflect potentially threatening asteroids. NASA’s DART mission (the Double Asteroid Redirection Test) was an astounding success.
For the first time in more than 3 billion years of life on Earth, we can do something about the risk posed by rocks from space. So don’t panic! But instead, sit back and watch the show.
Jonti Horner does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Source: Government of the Russian Federation – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
The Prime Minister spoke at the plenary session of the Digital Almaty 2025 forum “Industrial AI: technologies for a new era” and took part in the Digital Almaty Awards ceremony
Before the plenary session, Mikhail Mishustin, together with the heads of delegations participating in the forum, inspected the exhibition of digital projects.
Mikhail Mishustin and Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Olzhas Bektenov
January 31, 2025
Mikhail Mishustin, together with the heads of delegations participating in the forum, inspected the exhibition of digital projects
January 31, 2025
Mikhail Mishustin, together with the heads of delegations participating in the forum, inspected the exhibition of digital projects
January 31, 2025
Mikhail Mishustin, together with the heads of delegations participating in the forum, inspected the exhibition of digital projects
January 31, 2025
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Mikhail Mishustin and Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Olzhas Bektenov
The annual international digital forum “Digital Almaty” has been held since 2018 and is a major event in the CIS in the field of innovative technologies with the participation of representatives of business, the IT community, government agencies, international experts and the media.
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Its goal is to conduct a dialogue at the global and regional levels, as well as to exchange experiences in the field of digital transformation (with an emphasis on areas such as the development of human capital and creative industries, the use of robotic technologies, the digitalization of industry, healthcare and education).
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• Record Q4 EBITDA of USD 141.6 million, net profit of USD 56.8 million • Full-year revenue of USD 0.8 billion (+57%), EBITDA of USD 457.4 million (+90%) and net profit of USD 165.9 million (+105%) • Operational cash-flow of USD 117.7 million in the quarter • Q4 gross production of 4.0 mmbbls with 3.1 mmbbls net to BW Energy • Highest quarterly production since inception from the Dussafu licence • ESP replacement program completed as planned with 8 producing Hibiscus / Ruche wells from early 2025 • Current gross production at Dussafu above 40,000 bbls/day • Maintained a strong balance sheet with cash position of USD 221.8 million
BW Energy, operator of the Dussafu Marin licence in Gabon and the Golfinho cluster offshore Brazil, reported a record quarterly EBITDA of USD 141.6 million for the fourth quarter of 2024. This was up from USD 130 million in the previous quarter on increased oil sales following all-time-high production in Gabon. The net production was 33,600 bbls/day, including the Tortue, Hibiscus, and Hibiscus South fields in the Dussafu licence (73.5% working interest or “WI”) and the Golfinho field (100% WI).
Full-year 2024 net production was approximately 10.1 million barrels of oil, up 69% from 2023. EBITDA was USD 457.4 million (USD 241.0 million). The full-year figures are preliminary and unaudited. BW Energy will publish audited 2024 figures on 26 February 2025.
“BW Energy delivers strong production growth, increased reserves and record financial performance in the fourth quarter and full year 2024 supported by new ESPs, successful appraisal wells and the completion of the Hibiscus / Ruche development,” said Carl K. Arnet, the CEO of BW Energy. “We have a pivotal 2025 ahead, executing on our strategy for growth and long-term value creation. Appraisal of the Bourdon structure in Gabon is ongoing, and we plan to sanction the Maromba development in Brazil in coming weeks. Then, in the second half we will drill the first Kudu appraisal in Namibia, a high impact well which may help unlock secure access to energy in a part of Southern Africa with unstable supply.”
DUSSAFU BW Energy completed three liftings in the fourth quarter at an average realised price of USD 72.5/bbl. Net production was approximately 2.5 mmbbls of oil and the net sold volume, the basis for revenue recognition, was approximately 2.7 mmbbls including 97,500 bbls of DMO deliveries and 311,429 bbls of state profit oil with an under-lift position of 248,700 bbls at period-end.
Net production from the Dussafu licence averaged ~27,300 bbls/day, an increase of 36% from the previous quarter. Operating cost (excluding royalties) decreased to USD 18.5/bbl from USD 20.5/bbl in the third quarter due to operational efficiencies and increased production. Further cost savings are expected as BW Energy is preparing to take over the operations of the BW Adolo FPSO during the first half of 2025.
All ESP change outs were completed as planned and on 2 January 2025, Phase 1 of the Hibiscus / Ruche development was completed with eight producing wells, two more than planned at project sanction.
GOLFINHO Net production from the Golfinho field averaged ~6,400 bbls/day equivalent to a total production of 585,000 bbls in the quarter, up 17% from the previous quarter. A planned shutdown of a Petrobras gas plant restricted gaslift capacity for approximately 40 days, with only ESP wells producing. One lifting was carried out of ~500,000 bbls at a realised price of USD 73.5/bbl. Remaining inventory was approximately 440,500 bbls at the end of the period. Operating cost (excluding royalties) averaged USD 56.4/bbl barrel, down from 63.3/bbl in the third quarter, primarily due to higher production.
OTHER ITEMS At 31 December 2024, BW Energy had a cash balance of USD 221.8 million, compared to USD 209.8 million at end-September. The increase reflects cash flow from operations, debt repayment and investments. The Company had a total drawn debt balance of USD 563 million including the MaBoMo lease, the Dussafu RBL, the Golfinho prepayment facility and bond debt.
Production guidance for 2025 is between 11 and 12 mmbbls net to BW Energy. Full-year operating cost is expected to be USD 18 to 22/bbl (the basis for calculating unit operating cost has been revised from 2025 onwards to exclude royalties, tariffs, workovers, domestic market obligation purchases, production sharing costs, and incorporates the impact of IFRS 16 adjustments, primarily impacting Gabon operations). Net capital expenditures are expected at USD 260 to 285 million, including the appraisal well in Namibia. The capex guidance is excluding the Maromba development and the Golfinho Boosting project, both awaiting FID.
DEVELOPMENT PLANS In Gabon, the Bourdon appraisal prospect, targeting potential gross recoverable reserves of ~30 million barrels in Gamba and Dentale formations, was spud earlier this month and results are expected during the first quarter. At end-October, BW Energy (37.5% WI and operator) signed production sharing contracts (PSCs) for the Niosi Marin and Guduma Marin exploration blocks, which are adjacent to the Dussafu licence and significantly expands the resource base for infrastructure-led exploration. Planning for a 3D seismic campaign is ongoing.
Work on optimising Golfinho production continued to focus on stabilising FPSO performance and selected future well workovers. BW Energy is preparing to commence the Golfinho Boosting project to replace current gaslift with ESPs in two wells to increase production and production regularity from mid-2026.
The Maromba development, targeting low-risk barrels in an oil-rich area with multiple producing assets, is progressing towards planned final investment decision (FID) next month based on the sustainable re-use of an FPSO and a jack-up with drilling capacity and dry trees. This enables a cost-efficient development with an investment budget of USD 1.2 billion and short pay-back time. Project financing is close to completion
In Namibia, BW Energy has sanctioned the drilling of an appraisal well targeting the Kharas Prospect northwest in the Kudu licence with planned start-up drilling operations in the third quarter. Long-lead items have been secured and the Company is reviewing offers for rig capacity. There is a close dialogue with other operators in the Orange Basin on exploring common use available resources. Development planning and concept selection for the Kudu gas-to-power project also continued with relevant stakeholders.
REPORTS AND PRESENTATION Please find the fourth-quarter earnings presentation attached. The reports are also available at:
Please note, that if you follow the webcast via the above URL, you will experience a 30 second delay compared to the main conference call. The web page works best in an updated browser – Chrome is recommended.
BW Energy will publish the audited 2024 annual report, the reserves report and the report on payments to governments on 26 February 2025.
For further information, please contact: Brice Morlot, CFO BW Energy, +33.7.81.11.41.16 ir@bwenergy.no
About BW Energy: BW Energy is a growth E&P company with a differentiated strategy targeting proven offshore oil and gas reservoirs through low risk phased developments. The Company has access to existing production facilities to reduce time to first oil and cashflow with lower investments than traditional offshore developments. The Company’s assets are 73.5% of the producing Dussafu Marine licence offshore Gabon, 100% interest in the Golfinho and Camarupim fields, a 76.5% interest in the BM-ES-23 block, a 95% interest in the Maromba field in Brazil, a 95% interest in the Kudu field in Namibia, all operated by BW Energy. In addition, BW Energy holds approximately 6.6% of the common shares in Reconnaissance Energy Africa Ltd. and a 20% non-operating interest in the onshore Petroleum Exploration License 73 (“PEL 73”) in Namibia. Total net 2P+2C reserves and resources were 580 million barrels of oil equivalent at the start of 2024.
This information is subject to the disclosure requirements pursuant to section 5-12 of the Norwegian Securities Trading Act.
