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Category: Business

  • MIL-OSI: PhenixFIN Corporation Announces Fiscal First Quarter 2025 Financial Results

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NAV per share $80.59

    NEW YORK, Feb. 07, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — PhenixFIN Corporation (NASDAQ: PFX, PFXNZ) (the “Company”), a publicly traded business development company, today announced its financial results for the fiscal first quarter for its year ending September 30, 2025.

    Highlights

    • First quarter total investment income of $6.2 million; net investment income of $1.6 million
    • Net asset value (NAV) of $162.8 million, or $80.59 per share as of December 31, 2024
    • Weighted average yield was 13.3% on debt and other income producing investments
    • On October 1, 2024, the Company completed the merger and reorganization of The National Security Group, Inc. (“NSG”) an Alabama based insurance holding company
    • On February 6, 2025, the Board declared a special dividend of $1.43 per share to be paid on February 18, 2025, to stockholders of record as of February 17, 2025.

    David Lorber, Chief Executive Officer of the Company, stated:

    “We have had a great start to fiscal year 2025 as we continue to remain focused on executing our strategic priorities which include growing our platforms, pursuing compelling investment opportunities and increasing NAV per share.”

    Selected First Quarter 2025 Financial Results for the Quarter Ended December 31, 2024:

    Total investment income was $6.2 million of which $5.9 million was attributable to portfolio interest and dividend income, and $0.3 million was attributable to fee and other income.

    Total net expenses were $4.6 million and total net investment income was $1.6 million.

    The Company recorded a net realized gain of $1.2 million and a net unrealized loss of $0.3 million.  

    Portfolio and Investment Activities for the Quarter Ended December 31, 2024:

    The fair value of the Company’s investment portfolio totaled $300.1 million and consisted of 43 portfolio companies.

    The Company had certain investments in 3 portfolio companies on non-accrual status with a fair market value of $1.5 million.

    Liquidity and Capital Resources

    As of December 31, 2024, the Company had $7.2 million in cash and cash equivalents, $59.2 million in aggregate principal amount of its 5.25% unsecured notes due 2028 and $84.0 million outstanding under the Credit Facility.

    ABOUT PHENIXFIN CORPORATION

    PhenixFIN Corporation is a non-diversified, internally managed closed-end management investment company incorporated in Delaware that has elected to be regulated as a business development company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended. We completed our initial public offering and commenced operations on January 20, 2011. The Company has elected, and intends to qualify annually, to be treated, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. Effective January 1, 2021, the Company operates under an internalized management structure.

     SAFE HARBOR STATEMENT AND OTHER DISCLOSURES

    This press release contains “forward-looking” statements. Such forward-looking statements reflect current views with respect to future events and financial performance, and the Company may make related oral forward-looking statements on or following the date hereof. These forward-looking statements are subject to the inherent uncertainties in predicting future results and conditions. Certain factors could cause actual results and conditions to differ materially from those projected in these forward-looking statements, including among other things, PhenixFIN’s ability to execute on its strategic initiatives, deliver value to shareholders, increase investment activity, increase net investment income, implement its investment strategy and achieve its investment objective, source and capitalize on investment opportunities, grow its net asset value per share and perform well in the prevailing market environment, the ability of our portfolio companies, including National Security Group, Inc. to perform well and generate income and other factors that are enumerated in the Company’s periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. PhenixFIN Corporation disclaims and does not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement in this press release.

    Past performance is not a guarantee of future results. The press release contains unaudited financial results. For ease of review, we have excluded the word “approximately” when rounding the results. This press release is for informational purposes only and is not an offer to purchase or a solicitation of an offer to sell shares of PhenixFIN Corporation’s common stock. There can be no assurance that PhenixFIN Corporation will achieve its investment objective. 

    For PhenixFIN investor relations, please call 212-859-0390. For media inquiries, please contact info@phenixfc.com.

    PHENIXFIN CORPORATION
    Consolidated Statements of Assets and Liabilities
     
        December 31,
    2024
    (Unaudited)    		     September
    30,
    2024    		  
    Assets:            
    Investments at fair value                
    Non-controlled, non-affiliated investments (amortized cost of $160,480,488 and $143,179,354 respectively)   $ 160,343,098     $ 142,233,426  
    Affiliated investments (amortized cost of $20,564,242 and $20,564,242, respectively)     13,861,599       14,750,785  
    Controlled investments (amortized cost of $152,223,817 and $97,016,429, respectively)     125,889,697       70,931,647  
    Total Investments at fair value     300,094,394       227,915,858  
    Cash and cash equivalents     7,187,110       67,571,559  
    Receivables:                
    Interest receivable     1,313,520       1,313,598  
    Other receivable     16,640       65,838  
    Dividends receivable     105,804       23,468  
    Due from Affiliate     1,040,512       90,500  
    Deferred tax asset     887,099       887,099  
    Deferred financing costs     625,323       760,680  
    Other assets     514,630       1,066,323  
    Prepaid share repurchase     101,115       101,115  
    Receivable for investments sold     41,897       2,955,775  
    Total Assets   $ 311,928,044     $ 302,751,813  
                     
    Liabilities:                
    Credit facility and notes payable (net of debt issuance costs of $1,417,816 and $1,510,815, respectively)   $ 141,743,682     $ 135,723,636  
    Payable for investments purchased     3,688,247       –  
    Accounts payable and accrued expenses     2,391,430       5,570,150  
    Interest and fees payable     1,029,334       768,043  
    Other liabilities     256,426       294,063  
    Due to Affiliate     46,995       88,148  
    Total Liabilities     149,156,114       142,444,040  
                     
    Commitments and Contingencies (see Note 8)                
                     
    Net Assets:                
    Common Shares, $0.001 par value; 5,000,000 shares authorized; 2,723,709 shares issued; 2,019,778 and 2,019,778 common shares outstanding, respectively     2,020       2,020  
    Capital in excess of par value     704,909,588       704,909,588  
    Total distributable earnings (loss)     (542,139,678 )     (544,603,835 )
    Total Net Assets     162,771,930       160,307,773  
    Total Liabilities and Net Assets   $ 311,928,044     $ 302,751,813  
                     
    Net Asset Value Per Common Share   $ 80.59     $ 79.37  
    PHENIXFIN CORPORATION
    Consolidated Statements of Operations
    (Unaudited)
     
        For the Three Months Ended
    December 31,    		  
        2024     2023  
    Interest Income:            
    Interest from investments            
    Non-controlled, non-affiliated investments:                
    Cash   $ 2,824,594     $ 2,682,143  
    Payment in-kind     354,681       90,674  
    Affiliated investments:                
    Cash     –       455,692  
    Payment in-kind     –       –  
    Controlled investments:                
    Cash     588,195       286,238  
    Payment in-kind     –       149,967  
    Total interest income     3,767,470       3,664,714  
    Dividend income                
    Non-controlled, non-affiliated investments     596,298       665,526  
    Affiliated investments     142,495       –  
    Controlled investments     1,399,350       1,348,200  
    Total dividend income     2,138,143       2,013,726  
    Interest from cash and cash equivalents     227,032       41,108  
    Fee income (see Note 9)     11,064       2,108  
    Other income     72,774       22  
    Total Investment Income     6,216,483       5,721,678  
                     
    Expenses:                
    Interest and financing expenses     2,545,811       1,542,061  
    Salaries and benefits     1,028,617       1,424,992  
    Professional fees, net     418,013       357,554  
    Directors fees     204,000       187,500  
    Insurance expenses     88,421       97,756  
    Administrator expenses (see Note 6)     84,355       77,852  
    General and administrative expenses     221,793       325,061  
    Total expenses     4,591,010       4,012,776  
    Net Investment Income     1,625,473       1,708,902  
                     
    Realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments                
    Net realized gains (losses):                
    Non-controlled, non-affiliated investments     1,168,670       229,804  
    Affiliated investments     –       –  
    Controlled investments     –       –  
    Total net realized gains (losses)     1,168,670       229,804  
    Net change in unrealized gains (losses):                
    Non-controlled, non-affiliated investments     808,538       1,364,243  
    Affiliated investments     (889,186 )     2,431,263  
    Controlled investments     (249,338 )     (1,200,373 )
    Total net change in unrealized gains (losses)     (329,986 )     2,595,133  
    Deferred tax benefit (expense)     –       –  
    Total realized and unrealized gains (losses)     838,684       2,824,937  
                     
    Net Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets Resulting from Operations   $ 2,464,157     $ 4,533,839  
                     
    Weighted average basic and diluted earnings per common share   $ 1.22     $ 2.19  
    Weighted average common shares outstanding – basic and diluted (see Note 11)     2,019,778       2,072,694  

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Prairie Operating Co. Announces Acquisition of DJ Basin Assets from Bayswater Exploration and Production for Approximately $600 Million

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    • Adds ~24,000 net acres in Weld County and ~26 mboepd of oil-weighted (69% liquids) net production
    • Adds 77.9 MMboe and ~$1.1 Billion in Proved PV-10 value(1)(2)
    • Attractive valuation, highly accretive across key cash flow metrics
    • Significantly increases 2025 production, revenue and adjusted EBITDA guidance

    HOUSTON, Feb. 07, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Prairie Operating Co. (Nasdaq: PROP) (the “Company,” “Prairie,” “we,” “our” or “us”), today announced it has entered into a definitive purchase and sale agreement to acquire (the “Bayswater Acquisition”) certain assets (the “Bayswater Assets”) from Bayswater Exploration and Production and certain of its affiliated entities (collectively “Bayswater”), a premier operator in the Denver-Julesburg Basin (the “DJ Basin”).   The transaction will significantly increase the Company’s operational scale and footprint in the DJ Basin and add highly economic drilling locations.

    The purchase price of the acquisition is $602.75 million. The transaction consideration will consist of cash and up to ~5.2 million shares of Prairie common stock. Prairie anticipates funding the cash portion of the consideration, net of expected purchase price adjustments, through a combination of cash on hand and borrowings under the Company’s credit facility, pursuant to which the Company has received commitments to expand its borrowing base to $475 million as of the closing of the Bayswater Acquisition, and proceeds from one or more capital markets transactions, subject to market conditions and other factors. The Company expects to complete the Bayswater Acquisition in February 2025, subject to customary closing conditions, with an economic effective date of December 1, 2024.

    “This acquisition delivers compelling strategic and financial advantages and reflects our disciplined, but opportunistic approach to rapidly expand our footprint in the DJ Basin,” said Edward Kovalik, Chairman and CEO of Prairie Operating Co. “Not only will the addition of these high-quality assets be immediately accretive, but they will also accelerate our development plans, enhance operational efficiencies, and drive sustainable, long-term value creation for our shareholders.”

    Gary Hanna, President of the Company, added, “This acquisition represents a transformative milestone for Prairie Operating Co. by significantly expanding our footprint and production of oil rich assets in the DJ Basin. Upon closing, we will be well-positioned to deliver significant organic production growth in 2025 and beyond.”

    Key Prairie Highlights, Pro Forma for the Transaction:

    • Transformational Increase in Oil-Weighted Production: ~27,500 net BOEPD (69% liquids)
    • Expanded Footprint / Inventory Life: ~54,000 net acres, including ~600 highly economic drilling locations, providing ~10 years of drilling inventory
    • Significantly Increases Free Cash Flow: Expected to be immediately accretive to per-share cash flow metrics
    • Maintains Strong Balance Sheet: Expected leverage ratio of ~1.0x at closing with upsized committed credit facility and ample liquidity
    • Meaningful Infrastructure Synergies: Leverages existing infrastructure to drive operational efficiencies and reduce development costs
    • Attractive Valuation Metrics(1): PV-20 of Proved Developed Producing (“PDP”) reserves and $23,500 per net flowing BOE

    2025 Updated Guidance

    Upon the closing of this acquisition, the combined Company’s 2025 pro forma outlook includes:

    • Average Daily Production: 29,000 – 31,000 BOEPD
    • Capital Expenditures (Capex): $300 million – $320 million
    • Adjusted EBITDA(3): Expected to range between $350 million and $370 million

    *Based on an active hedging program and an average working interest (“WI”) of 75% or greater.

    Estimated Reserve Data

    A summary of the estimated reserves and values of our properties (as adjusted to give effect to the Bayswater Acquisition), as of November 30, 2024, and as determined by Cawley, Gillespie & Associates, the Company’s independent Petroleum Reserve Evaluation Firm, using SEC pricing as of November 30, 2024 is set forth below.

      Our Pro Forma Net Reserves  
    Reserve Category Oil
    (MBbl)    		 NGL
    (MBbl)    		 Gas
    (MMcf)    		 Total
    (MBoe)    		 Liquids
    (%)    		 PV-10
    ($MM)(4)
    Proved Developed Producing (PDP) 23,581 14,810 113,611 57,326 67 % $860
    Proved Developed Not Producing (PDNP) 173 26 216 235 85 % $5
    Proved Undeveloped (PUD) 25,547 8,970 72,088 46,531 74 % $495
    Total Proved 49,301 23,806 185,914 104,093 70 % $1,360

    (3) Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP financial measure. Please see “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” below.

    (4) PV-10 is a non-GAAP financial measure. Please see “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” below.

    Webcast Access

    Date: Friday, February 7, 2025
    Time: 10:00am Eastern Time (9:00am Central Time)
    Participant Listening: 877-407-9219 / +1 201-689-8852

    The webcast may be accessed from the “Press & Media” page of Prairie’s website at: https://www.prairieopco.com/media

    To participate via telephone, please register in advance here: https://event.choruscall.com/mediaframe/webcast.html?webcastid=DUzJKsjj

    Participants can use Guest dial-in numbers above and be answered by an operator OR click the Call meTM link for instant telephone access to the event: https://hd.choruscall.com/InComm/?callme=true&passcode=13751732&h=true&info=company&r=true&B=6

    The Call me™ link will be made active 15 minutes prior to scheduled start time. Upon registration, all telephone participants will be joined to the conference call in listen only. A replay of the webcast will be archived on the Company’s website for two (2) weeks following the call.

    Advisors

    Citi is serving as exclusive financial advisor and Norton Rose Fulbright US LLP is serving as legal advisor to Prairie. Citibank N.A. is also leading the committed financing under the Company’s anticipated expanded credit facility, with Latham & Watkins LLP as legal advisor to Citibank N.A.

    About Prairie Operating Co.

    Prairie Operating Co. is a Houston-based publicly traded independent energy company engaged in the development and acquisition of oil and natural gas resources in the United States. The Company’s assets and operations are concentrated in the oil and liquids-rich regions of the Denver-Julesburg (DJ) Basin, with a primary focus on the Niobrara and Codell formations. The Company is committed to the responsible development of its oil and natural gas resources and is focused on maximizing returns through consistent growth, capital discipline, and sustainable cash flow generation. More information about the Company can be found at www.prairieopco.com.

    Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Measures

    Adjusted EBITDA

    This press release also contains Adjusted EBITDA, which is a financial measure not presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Adjusted EBITDA is used by management to evaluate the performance of our business, make operational decisions, and assess our ability to generate cashflows.  Management believes Adjusted EBITDA provides investors with helpful information to better understand the underlying performance trends of our business, facilitate period-to-period comparisons, and assess the company’s operating results.

    Adjusted EBITDA is derived from Net income and is adjusted for income tax expense, depreciation, depletion, and amortization (DD&A), accretion of asset retirement obligations, non-cash stock-based compensation, and loss on unrealized commodity derivatives. We adjust net income for the items listed above to arrive at Adjusted EBITDA because these amounts can vary substantially between periods and companies within our industry depending upon accounting methods, book values of assets, capital structures, and the method by which assets were acquired. Additionally, the presentation of Adjusted EBITDA does not imply that our operating results will not be affected by unusual or non-recurring items. 

    Adjusted EBITDA has limitations as an analytical tool, including that it excludes certain items that affect our reported financial results. Adjusted EBITDA should not be considered as an alternative to, or more meaningful than, GAAP Net income or as an indicator of our operating performance or liquidity. Additionally, our calculation of Adjusted EBITDA may not be comparable to similarly titled measures used by other companies.

    The following table reconciles Adjusted EBITDA to Net Income, which is the most directly comparable financial measure prepared in accordance with GAAP.

    Reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to Net Income (in Millions)

    PV-10

    This press release contains PV-10, which is a financial measure not presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP. PV-10 is derived from the Standardized Measure of Discounted Future Net Cash Flows (“Standardized Measure”), which is the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure for proved reserves. PV-10 is a computation of the Standardized Measure on a pre-tax basis. PV-10 is equal to the Standardized Measure at the applicable date, before deducting future income taxes discounted at 10%. Neither PV-10 nor standardized measure represents an estimate of the fair market value of the applicable crude oil, natural gas and NGLs properties. We believe that the presentation of PV-10 is relevant and useful to our investors as supplemental disclosure to the Standardized Measure, or after-tax amount, because it presents the discounted future net cash flows attributable to our reserves before considering future corporate income taxes and our current tax structure. While the standardized measure is dependent on the unique tax situation of each company, PV-10 is based on prices and discount factors that are consistent for all companies.

    The following table reconciles PV-10 to the standard measure of discounted future net cash flows, which is the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure:

    Reconciliation of PV-10 to the Standard Measure of Discounted Future Net Cash Flows

    Forward-Looking Statements

    The information included herein and in any oral statements made in connection herewith include “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements, other than statements of present or historical fact included herein, are forward-looking statements, including statements about our ability to complete and successfully finance the Bayswater Acquisition, our financial performance following the Bayswater Acquisition, estimates of oil, natural gas and NGLs reserves, estimates of future oil, natural gas and NGLs production, and the Company’s updated guidance set forth in this press release. When used herein, including any oral statements made in connection herewith, the words “could,” “should,” “will,” “may,” “believe,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “estimate,” “expect,” “project,” the negative of such terms and other similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain such identifying words. These forward-looking statements are based on the Company’s current expectations and assumptions about future events and are based on currently available information as to the outcome and timing of future events. Except as otherwise required by applicable law, the Company disclaims any duty to update any forward-looking statements, all of which are expressly qualified by the statements in this section, to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof. The Company cautions you that these forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, most of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond the control of the Company, including our ability to satisfy the conditions to closing the Bayswater Acquisition in a timely manner or at all, our ability to successfully finance the Bayswater Acquisition, our ability to recognize the anticipated benefits of the Bayswater Acquisition, the possibility that we may be unable to achieve expected free cash flow accretion, production levels, drilling, operational efficiencies and other anticipated benefits of the Bayswater Assets within the expected time-frames or at all, and our ability to successfully integrate the Bayswater Assets . There may be additional risks not currently known by the Company or that the Company currently believes are immaterial that could cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements. Additional information concerning these and other factors that may impact the Company’s expectations can be found in the Company’s periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), including the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K/A filed with the SEC on March 20, 2024, and any subsequently filed Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and Current Report on Form 8-K. The Company’s SEC filings are available publicly on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

    Investor Relations Contact:
    Wobbe Ploegsma
    info@prairieopco.com
    832.274.3449

    Tables accompanying this announcement is available at:
    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/2887d588-6948-4d53-b85e-af27741c6839
    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/6a82a869-eea3-4d69-b087-417457b9dc27

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Coming up next week at the London Assembly W/C 10 February

    Source: Mayor of London

    PUBLIC MEETINGS

    Monday 10 February

    Major sporting events in London

    Economy, Culture and Skills Committee – Chamber, City Hall, Kamal Chunchie Way, 2pm

    Analysis from 2021 by London & Partners found that the total economic value generated by the 305 major sporting events held in London between 2017 and 2020 was £1.03 billion.

    The Economy, Culture and Skills Committee will meet to discuss the economic impact of major sporting events in London, looking at the role of the Mayor in bringing more sporting events to the city.

    The guests are:

    Panel 1: 2:00pm-3:30pm:

    • Nick Bitel, Chief Executive Officer, London Marathon Group
    • Mark Camley, Executive Director of Park and Venues, London Legacy Development Corporation
    • Esther Britten MBE, Head of Events and External Affairs, UK Sport
    • Councillor Muhammed Butt, Leader, London Borough of Brent

    Panel 2: 3:35pm-5:00pm:

    • Howard Dawber, Deputy Mayor for Business and Growth
    • Katie Morrison, Interim Assistant Director, External Relations, Greater London Authority (GLA)
    • James Fitzgerald, Host City Programmes Director, GLA
    • Rose Wangen-Jones, Managing Director, Marketing, Destination & Commercial, London & Partners

    MEDIA CONTACT: Anthony Smyth on 07763 251727 / [email protected]

    Tuesday 11 February

    Planning and tall buildings

    Planning and Regeneration Committee – Chamber, City Hall, Kamal Chunchie Way, 10am

    A lot of work looking at the experiences of residents in tall buildings originated in the 1960s and 1970s and focused on social housing. In recent decades, there has been a shift in the types of homes being delivered by tall buildings towards private accommodation.

    The Planning and Regeneration Committee will ask the Deputy Mayor for Planning, and guests from the Greater London Authority (GLA) and London Boroughs about how they set policies and take decisions around the delivery of tall buildings in London.

    The guests are:

    Panel 1: 10am – 11.15am:

    • Michael Ritchie, Place Shaping Manager, London Borough of Tower Hamlets
    • Michael Forrester, Head of Development Management, London Borough of Lewisham

    Panel 2: 11.30am – 12.30pm:

    • Jules Pipe CBE, Deputy Mayor for Planning, Regeneration and the Fire Service
    • Alan Smithies, Principal Strategic Planner, GLA

    MEDIA CONTACT: Josh Hunt on 07763 252310 / [email protected]

    Wednesday 12 February

    Q&A with the Met Commissioner

    Police and Crime Committee – Chamber, City Hall, Kamal Chunchie Way, 10am

    In the Met Police Commissioner’s December report for the London Policing Board, it was highlighted that a series of “tough choices” may have to be implemented to meet the expected budget gap of £450m in the Met’s 2025-26 budget.

    The Police and Crime Committee will question the Met Police Commissioner on these “tough choices”, whether they will save the amount of money required, and how the Met will secure further funding to minimise these cuts. The Committee will also explore grooming gangs and stop and search. 

    The guests are:

    • Sir Mark Rowley, Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police
    • Kaya Comer-Shwartz, Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime

    MEDIA CONTACT: Anthony Smyth on 07763 251727 / [email protected]

    Thursday 13 February

    London Fire Brigade Plenary

    All Assembly meeting – Chamber, City Hall, Kamal Chunchie Way, 10am

    What are the key priorities for the London Fire Brigade this year?

    Assembly Members will ask questions about building safety, Lithium-ion battery powered E-bikes and E-scooters, EV buses fire risk, home fire safety visits and more.

    The guests are:

    • Jules Pipe CBE, Deputy Mayor for Planning, Regeneration and the Fire Service
    • Andy Roe KFSM, London Fire Brigade Commissioner

    MEDIA CONTACT: Alison Bell on 07887 832 918 / [email protected] 

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: “The situation in Russian science looks stable and positive”

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: State University Higher School of Economics – State University Higher School of Economics –

    © Higher School of Economics

    On the eve of Russian Science Day, TASS held a press conference dedicated to the results of the third round of the comprehensive study “We do science in Russia” He was conducted Institute for Statistical Research and Economics of Knowledge (ISSEZ) HSE. The authors of the study and experts representing higher education, research institutes and industry spoke about the state of domestic science, the drivers of its development, the dynamics of change and the barriers that need to be overcome.

    The first “Making Science in Russia” study was conducted in 2017, the second round took place in 2022, and the third from October to November 2024.

    Present and future

    As explained by the first vice-rector, director of the HSE ISSEK Leonid Gokhberg, the basis of the study was the results of a survey of the heads of 719 universities and leading scientific organizations, which make up almost the entire core of Russian science. These are “the key players who make the weather in this area and determine its development with their daily practices.”

    The assessment was carried out on 87 factors grouped into 8 large blocks, which made it possible to determine the sentiment index in Russian science. In the second step, the researchers identified 47 measures of state scientific and technical policy, assessed their effectiveness on a number of parameters and rated them.

    “The situation in Russian science looks stable and positive, there is progress compared to previous rounds of the study,” Leonid Gokhberg noted. For example, assessments related to the institutional conditions of functioning of universities and scientific organizations have improved – first of all, we are talking about increasing awareness of policy measures and regulation of important aspects of their daily life (regulation of state assignments and state purchases, tender procedures, etc.).

    Representatives of the scientific sphere assess the prospects for the coming years even more optimistically. Expectations are connected with further increase in the efficiency of scientific research, cooperation with business and stimulation of investment inflow from commercial structures, development of the information base of science.

    At the same time, the situation looks different in different sectors. “Universities are feeling the best, and this correlates with the measures of their support that have been launched in recent years and have had a rather positive impact on the development of university science,” Leonid Gokhberg stated.

    Financing

    The director continued the topic Center for Statistics and Monitoring of Science and Innovation ISSEK Ekaterina Streltsova, touching upon “the most sensitive issue” – funding of science.

    This block received the most restrained assessment from the scientific community, but this does not mean that everything is bad. Science is financed from many sources, and the study showed that the situations with different sources differ for different organizations. Key sources of budgetary financing are assessed more restrainedly in general, since they may not be very relevant for non-profit organizations that participated in the survey (for example, grants from Russian scientific foundations).

    “We see a significant improvement in the situation for all types of organizations compared to 2022, as budget expenditures on science are steadily increasing. This year, almost 3% of federal budget funds are planned to be allocated to support science, this is the highest figure in the last ten years, and we hope that funding for science will continue to increase,” Ekaterina Streltsova emphasized.

    Organizations of all types were skeptical about the provision of funding from state companies and especially from business, and, in her opinion, this is a predictable result given the current structure of funding for Russian science. In recent years, the business sector has provided about 30% of the costs of science, and although this figure has increased compared to 2010, measures are needed to stimulate investment.

    Of all the sources of funds, foreign organizations received the lowest ratings. “It was these ratings that influenced the overall score for the entire area and pulled it down, and this is understandable,” says Ekaterina Streltsova. “Foreign resources have never been significant for the development of Russian science; in the last five to six years, the share of these sources in the total volume of expenses has not exceeded 2.5%.”

    Personnel and equipment

    Ekaterina Streltsova noted that the human resources potential received a positive assessment for most factors: the managers are satisfied with both the quantitative and qualitative characteristics of the scientific personnel they work with. Compared to 2022, some values have improved due to the implementation of a whole range of measures. Difficulties are associated with attracting foreign researchers and participation in international projects.

    The assessment of material and technical conditions is also quite stable: organizations are generally optimistic about the availability of scientific equipment and consumables, but many note the complication of supplies from abroad. The availability of access to specialized domestic software and Russian AI-based systems is assessed cautiously, but it is in this area that expectations are high and positive.

    The weak point remains the commercialization of results – their promotion and implementation in the economy. For example, universities and research organizations are actively involved in patent activities, but their contribution to the development of licensing activities in the domestic market is still limited. Obviously, this is due, among other things, to insufficient dialogue between science and business. “Although the situation has improved somewhat compared to 2022, we see that the intensity of interaction with business in the form of joint laboratories, basic departments, and so on is still assessed rather restrainedly, which, of course, requires further implementation, including of the measures already in force,” concluded Ekaterina Streltsova.

    “A most interesting analysis”

    The results of the study “Making Science in Russia” were commented on by representatives of science, higher education and industry.

    Director of the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research, Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences Grigory Trubnikov noted that HSE scientists conducted “a most interesting analysis.” In his opinion, over three rounds of research, “analytics has taken off,” it has a large audience, and the data can be trusted.

    Commenting on the conclusions about science funding, he put forward the hypothesis that the problem is not that it should be increased, say, twofold, but that “science should be done faster” — this is the main request of the scientific community. If we remove the obstacles associated with control, procurement procedures, academic mobility, and foreign restrictions, then the competitiveness of Russian science will increase.

    Grigory Trubnikov also noted that in terms of international cooperation, everything depends on the specific organization, and things are going well at his institute in Dubna – cooperation with China, Mexico, Brazil is developing, and this is a noticeable trend in general.

    Stanislav Terekhov, head of the laboratory of antibiotic resistance at the Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry of the Russian Academy of Sciences, highly praised the existing measures to support science, including the creation of youth laboratories (his laboratory is one of them). In his opinion, this allows the best personnel to be retained in the country and students and postgraduates to be integrated into laboratory practice, but state support should be supplemented by private initiatives.

    Science and Business

    Director of the Institute of Translational Medicine and Biotechnology at Sechenov University Vadim Tarasov emphasized the links between science and business in his speech. In his opinion, the Priority 2030 program “gave universities a huge opportunity to be flexible in their interactions with industry,” and now it is necessary to set goals for 10-15 years ahead, understanding what technologies the country needs to ensure sovereignty, and which ones are worth entering foreign markets with.

    First Vice President for MTS Technologies, Head of the MTS Basic Department at HSE Pavel Voronin also highly praised the study, calling it very complete and high-quality.

    In his opinion, science is the foundation for technology, and “the geopolitical situation requires us to invest more in this fundamental part,” but the economic situation forces many companies in the market to approach finances prudently. When it is necessary to monitor expenses more closely, the first thing that is cut is unpredictable, long-term investments. “From a business point of view, it is important not to get caught in these scissors, to correctly determine priorities and leave a certain share of investments for long-term research,” concluded Pavel Voronin.

    Head of the scientific and technical cooperation department of the State Corporation Rosatom Ekaterina Chaban stated that in her corporation “every scientific project is also a business project” and confirmed the researchers’ findings on the successful attraction of young people to science. In the scientific division of Rosatom, out of 2 thousand scientists, 38% are under 35 years old, 48% are under 39 years old, and among the directors of institutes there are scientists and designers under 40 years old. “The corporation does a lot to maintain the influx of young people and retain young personnel,” she explained.

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI: BFCM – 2024 Full year results

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Results for the year ended December 31, 2024 Press Release
      Strasbourg, February 6, 2025
    Results for the year ended December 31, 2024 2024 2023 Change 2024/2023
    RECORD NET REVENUE €12.370bn €11.808bn         +4.8%
    of which retail banking €8.413bn €8.410bn         0.0%
    of which specialized business lines €2.916bn €2.563bn         +13.8%
    GENERAL OPERATING EXPENSES UNDER CONTROL
    POSITIVE SCISSOR EFFECT    		 -€6.268bn -€6.057bn         +3.5%
    HIGHER COST OF RISK DUE TO THE ECONOMIC CLIMATE AND INCREASED PROVISIONS -€1.807bn -€1.279bn         +41.3%
    NET INCOME AT RECORD LEVEL €3.412bn €3.345bn         +2.0%
    GROWTH IN LENDING1
    Home loans Equipment loans and leasing Consumer credit
    €120.7bn €117.2bn €48.2bn
    0.0% +3.0% +5.7%
    SOLID FINANCIAL STRUCTURE
    CET1 Ratio2 Shareholders’ equity
    18.8% €45.20bn

    Download the press releas: Press Releases | Banque Fédérative du Crédit Mutuel

    Press contact :

    Aziz Ridouan: +33(0)6 01 10 31 69 – aziz.ridouan@creditmutuel.fr

    Press contact: +33 (0)3 88 14 84 00 – com-alliancefederale@creditmutuel.fr

    Investor contact :

    Banque Fédérative du Crédit Mutuel – bfcm-web@creditmutuel.fr

    1 Changes in outstandings calculated over 12 months. 2 Ratio estimated at December 31, 2024 for Crédit Mutuel Alliance Fédérale which includes BFCM in its scope of consolidation. The integration of earnings into shareholders’ equity is subject to approval by the ECB.

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Result of the 56-day Variable Rate Repo (VRR) auction held on February 07, 2025

    Source: Reserve Bank of India

    Tenor 56-day
    Notified Amount (in ₹ crore) 50,000
    Total amount of bids received (in ₹ crore) 1,08,702
    Amount allotted (in ₹ crore) 50,010
    Cut off Rate (%) 6.31
    Weighted Average Rate (%) 6.35
    Partial Allotment Percentage of bids received at cut off rate (%) 89.08

    Ajit Prasad          
    Deputy General Manager
    (Communications)    

    Press Release: 2024-2025/2102

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Video: Palestine: WHO Warns of Severe Health Crisis in Gaza – Press Conference | United Nations

    Source: United Nations (Video News)

    World Health Organization (WHO) senior official in Gaza Rik Peeperkorn said that the health needs in the Strip are “immense” as functional health facilities and services are scarce.

    Peeperkorn today (06 Feb) spoke to reporters from Gaza via video link.

    On mental health, the WHO senior official said that that everyone in Gaza is affected by the conflict, with stress, anxiety, depression and feel of loneliness. He said that only two psychiatrists are in the north and a few mental health professionals.

    Peeperkorn also said that WHO started a training program. “As of now, 44 mental health humanitarian workers were trained on psychological first aid to provide immediate emotional and psychological support early and also ensure early detection and enable safe referrals.”

    On a positive note, the WHO official said that Shifa Hospital “bounced back in the middle of the severe destruction, some departments are working, and it’s working again as a referral hospital.”

    He said that WHO is supporting an emergency medical team. “There’s general surgery going on, trauma surgery going on, and more in child health. A lot is going on. And also some substantial renovations to expand the impatience department and the ICU,” Peeperkorn added.
    On medical evacuation, the WHO official said, “There should be more patients going through Rafah into Egypt. But we also want other medical corridors, and the first medical corridors we really want to see restored is the traditional referral pathway to West Bank and East Jerusalem. The hospitals are ready in East Jerusalem and West Bank to receive the patients.”

    Asked about the recent announcement on US withdrawing from his Organization, Peeperkorn said, “We need a strong World Health Organization which plays a crucial role in protecting the health security of the world people, including Americans, and addressing the root causes of disease, but also building stronger health systems, detecting, preventing and responding to health emergencies, including disease outbreaks, often in dangerous places where we of us cannot go.”

    “And therefore, we really hope for this reconsideration and look forward to engaging in this constructive dialog, at all levels,” he concluded.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ypbD2e8ZuA

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI Video: Democratic Republic of the Congo, Palestine & other topics – Daily Press Briefing | United Nations

    Source: United Nations (Video News)

    Noon briefing by Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.

    Highlights:

    – Secretary-General
    – Occupied Palestinian Territory
    – Sudan
    – Central African Republic
    – Air Pollution
    – Female Genital Mutilation
    – Financial Contribution

    SECRETARY-GENERAL
    This morning, in a press encounter, the Secretary-General made a special appeal for peace in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, ahead of a summit tomorrow with the leaders from the East African Community and the Southern African Development Community in Tanzania. He added that next week in Addis Ababa, he will take part in a Summit-level meeting of the African Union Peace and Security Council where the crisis will be front and centre.
    The Secretary-General said his message is clear: Silence the guns. Stop the escalation. Respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Uphold international human rights law and international humanitarian law.

    OCCUPIED PALESTINIAN TERRITORY
    The Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Tom Fletcher, accompanied a UN aid convoy into the Gaza Strip today, where the UN and its partners continue responding to immense needs as part of a prepared scaling up of our operations.
    In northern Gaza, Mr. Fletcher toured two hospitals – Al Shifa in Gaza City and Al Awda in Jabalya – where he met with patients, staff and management. Leaving the Al Awda hospital, Mr. Fletcher spoke with survivors and returnees in Jabalya who are trying to rebuild their lives amid the rubble.
    The Under-Secretary-General also visited the only operational water well in North Gaza governorate. This well, which is run by theUnite d Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) serves as a crucial lifeline for clean water, given the extensive destruction of Gaza’s water infrastructure. From the north of the Strip, the Under-Secretary-General crossed the Netzarim area into Deir al Balah in central Gaza.
    Throughout his visit, Mr. Fletcher held discussions with humanitarian workers from local and international non-governmental organizations, as well as UN agencies, stressing the need to seize the opportunities presented by the ceasefire to sustain and expand relief efforts.
    Partners of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) supporting water, sanitation and hygiene services report that they are distributing 2,500 cubic metres of safe drinking water daily across Gaza and North Gaza governorates, serving 411,000 people. One of our partners is also providing cleaning services at 17 displacement sites in northern Gaza, benefiting nearly 12,000 people.
    Water, sanitation and hygiene partners are carrying out assessments in locations across the Strip to repair water wells, install dosing pumps, and set up water filling points.
    While some repairs are already underway, further progress hinges on teams being able to clear debris and carry out assessments of explosive hazards.
    Meanwhile in the West Bank, OCHA reports that Israeli forces’ operations are intensifying in Jenin, Tulkarm and Tubas, severely restricting Palestinians’ access to essential assistance, including water, food, medicine and supplies for infants.
    In Tubas governorate, Israeli forces have been operating in the El Far’a refugee camp for five consecutive days. They have imposed a curfew, reportedly prohibiting residents from leaving their homes. They also bulldozed roads and damaged water networks, forcing residents to rely on collecting rainwater.

    SUDAN
    The Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Sudan, Clementine Nkweta-Salami, today warned that South Kordofan and Blue Nile States are on the brink of catastrophe, as the violence there continues to escalate at an alarming rate.
    As of yesterday, the civilian death toll following recent shelling in South Kordofan’s capital Kadugli had increased to 80, with some three dozen others injured.
    In a statement, Ms. Nkweta-Salami condemned the reported use of women and children as human shields in Kadugli, as well as the obstruction of humanitarian aid and the detention of civilians, including children.
    The western Nuba Mountains, which extend into South Kordofan and West Kordofan States, are among the areas in which famine has been identified by the Famine Review Committee of the International Food Security Phase Classification system, or IPC.
    Ms. Nkweta-Salami stressed that humanitarian needs also remain critical in Blue Nile State, amid reports of mass mobilization for conflict. She also called on all sides to the conflict in Sudan to de-escalate tensions, protect civilians and civilian infrastructure, and allow humanitarian organizations safe and unrestricted access to those in desperate need.

    Full Highlights: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/ossg/noon-briefing-highlight?date%5Bvalue%5D%5Bdate%5D=06+February+2025

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6MYbKGAp7Y0

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Getting involved in National Apprenticeship Week

    Source: City of Coventry

    Coventry City Council is helping to mark National Apprenticeship Week from 10 February.

    Coventry City Council is helping to mark National Apprenticeship Week from 10 February by co-ordinating activities to raise awareness about apprenticeship opportunities in the Council and other organisations in Coventry. 

    There are currently over 400 apprentices working at the Council undertaking over 50 different types of apprenticeship across all of our service areas. 

    Cllr Richard Brown, Cabinet Member for Finance, said: “Apprenticeships are a crucial part of the Council’s recruitment process. They offer opportunities for young people who may be looking at post-16 options other than sixth forms, colleges and university courses. 

    “We also work with care leavers and young people who may not be in employment or education. 

    “I’d really encourage parents/carers and teachers and young people to find out more about what the Council can offer. 

    “Our apprentices make a fantastic contribution to the wide range of services we provide.” 

    A week of activities is planned, including online apprenticeship information sessions and a schools’ event at Coventry Rugby Club, involving a range of businesses and organisations offering apprenticeships in Coventry.   

    The Council has apprentices, school apprentices and newly recruited corporate apprentices working in Business Administration, Civil Engineering, Customer Services, Marketing and Events, Electrical Installation, Highways, Horticulture/Gardening, Facilities Services, Finance, IT, Legal, Plumbing/Heating, Vehicle Mechanics and in other services. 

    Apprenticeships are foundation to a great career and offer a range of opportunities and career pathways. As an apprentice at Coventry City Council, people will gain new knowledge, experiences and qualifications, all whilst earning a salary. 

    All apprentices at the Council have a dedicated Apprenticeship Officer that works alongside managers and apprentices to provide: pastoral care and mentoring; access to additional learning and development opportunities; and career advice and guidance. 

    Apprenticeships are a key part of the Council’s plans to train the workforce of the future, so we do all we can do to ensure our apprentices stay with us after completing their apprenticeship. 

    During the week, there will be activities taking place for both current Council apprentices, celebrating their achievements so far, and for future apprentices to get involved with too. 

    Get involved 

    Monday 10 February – Virtual online information sessions for the public, parents/carers and young people 

    Tuesday 11 February – Schools event at Coventry Rugby Club involving 25 + employers in the city 

    Thursday 13 February – Video highlights from staff who have benefited from apprenticeships 

     For details visit coventry.gov.uk/apprenticeships 

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Tackling the Gender Export Gap

    Source: Scottish Government

    Tailored support for women entrepreneurs to enter international trade.

    Women-led businesses will receive more help to sell overseas after a study found Scotland could benefit from billions of pounds in extra trade.

    The Gender Export Gap report estimates that Scotland’s trade could increase by between £3.4 billion to £10.3 billion over two years if women-led businesses exported at the same rate as those led by men. From 2016 – 2022, between 2% and 9% fewer women-owned small and medium-sized companies sold overseas compared to those run by men.

    Actions to be introduced include targeting more women to take part in trade missions and export training programmes.

    Business Minister Richard Lochhead launched the report and the Scottish Government’s response during a visit to Raven Botanicals near Haddington, East Lothian, run by Arabella and Charlotte Harvey. The sisters are speaking to a potential overseas client about their award-winning natural skincare and beauty products after participating in trade missions to the United States and Dubai.

    Mr Lochhead said:

    “The untapped export potential of women entrepreneurs identified by this report is astonishing. The measures I am announcing today are just the beginning. We will work with organisations such as Scottish Development International and the Scottish Chamber of Commerce to understand the specific export needs of women-led businesses and provide further assistance.

    “The gender export gap is a worldwide phenomenon and the position in Scotland is typical of comparable countries. However, we are determined to improve and reap the huge economic rewards.”

    Arabella Harvey said:

    “As a business in the early stages of growth, we welcome the commitment to meaningful, tailored support for female entrepreneurs.

    “We have faced challenges accessing export support, even though there’s clear interest from new markets. By empowering female entrepreneurs to step confidently into the global marketplace, we can secure significant economic growth and strengthen Scotland’s reputation on the world stage.”

    Background 

    The Gender Export Gap report

    The Scottish Government’s response to the report.

    The Scottish-Government commissioned research report was authored by Professor Norin Arshed,  Dr Stephen Knox and Dr Carolina Marin Cadavid. 

    Steps to encourage and support more participation of women in trade is a core part of delivering the Scottish Government’s international trade strategy, Scotland’s Vision for Trade.  

    The work also aligns with wider action on women’s entrepreneurship. The Scottish Government confirmed in June 2023 that it would take forward all the recommendations of Ana Stewart’s Pathways: A New Approach for Women in Entrepreneurship.

    Funding allocated to create more opportunities for women in entrepreneurship will increase to at least £4 million in the next financial year, as part of an enhanced enterprise package commitment of £15 million. 

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Diner fined for failing to display food hygiene rating

    Source: Northern Ireland City of Armagh

    A food business in Lurgan has been prosecuted in court for failing to display its food hygiene rating.

    Maloney’s Diner at Flush Place Business Park in Lurgan was handed a fine of £500 and ordered to pay additional costs of £163 for the failure to display a valid food hygiene rating sticker under the Food Hygiene Rating Act (Northern Ireland) 2016.

    The business had been allocated a food hygiene rating of 2 following an inspection, however the business continued to display a rating of 5. Environmental Health officers from ABC Council had issued warning letters to the business in September 2024 for failing to display the correct food hygiene rating.

    A spokesperson for ABC Council said the food hygiene rating scheme provides information on businesses’ hygiene standards to help consumers choose where to eat out or shop for food.

    “It is a legal requirement for all food businesses to display their food hygiene rating. This prosecution reinforces that council officers are checking on businesses to ensure they are displaying the correct rating,” said the spokesperson.

    “Environmental Health Officers allocate a rating based on the standards found at the time of inspection. The officer will check how hygienically the food is handled, how it is prepared, cooked, re-heated, cooled and stored.

    “They also check the condition of the buildings for cleanliness, layout, lighting, ventilation and other facilities and how the business manages and records what it does to make sure food is safe.”

    Our officers will continue to work with all food businesses in the Borough to ensure that high standards of food hygiene are achieved.

    For more information about the food hygiene rating scheme in the ABC Borough please visit – www.armaghbanbridgecraigavon.gov.uk/business/food-safety/

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI: GPTBots.ai Redefines On-Premise AI Excellence with DeepSeek Integration

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    HONG KONG, Feb. 07, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — GPTBots.ai, a leading enterprise AI agent platform, is proud to unveil its enhanced on-premise deployment solutions powered by the integration of the highly acclaimed DeepSeek LLM. This integration empowers enterprises to harness the advanced capabilities of DeepSeek while leveraging GPTBots’ robust, enterprise-grade platform, delivering a secure, flexible, and scalable AI solution tailored to diverse business needs.

    As businesses worldwide accelerate their adoption of AI, GPTBots.ai provides a comprehensive platform that combines cutting-edge technology with industry-specific solutions, enabling enterprises to achieve measurable results while maintaining full control over their data and infrastructure.

    Cost-Effective AI Deployment for Businesses of All Sizes

    DeepSeek’s lightweight architecture, including its MoE (Mixture of Experts) design, significantly reduces the hardware and operational costs associated with AI deployment:

    • Optimized Resource Utilization: DeepSeek can operate seamlessly on consumer-grade GPUs (e.g., RTX 4090), eliminating the need for expensive high-end clusters.
    • Energy Efficiency: Enhanced inference optimization reduces energy consumption, making it ideal for businesses prioritizing cost control and sustainability.

    When deployed through GPTBots, enterprises benefit from streamlined workflows, pre-configured tools, and optimized resource allocation, ensuring a lower total cost of ownership while maintaining high performance.

    Transforming On-Premise AI for Industry-Specific Applications

    The integration of DeepSeek into GPTBots’ platform delivers significant value across industries, enabling businesses to address unique challenges and unlock new opportunities:

    • Retail, E-Commerce, and Gaming: GPTBots revolutionizes customer support by automating inquiries, providing 24/7 multilingual assistance, and enhancing user experiences. A global gaming platform using GPTBots reduced response times by 95% and automated 98% of inquiries, freeing resources for creative tasks.
    • Finance: GPTBots streamlines customer service, compliance workflows, and risk analysis, reducing operational costs while improving customer satisfaction and regulatory adherence.
    • Energy: GPTBots supports real-time monitoring and data analysis, helping energy companies optimize resource allocation and equipment management. Businesses can leverage GPTBots for equipment failure prediction, energy consumption analysis, and renewable energy management, thereby improving operational efficiency and reducing costs.
    • Government and Enterprises: GPTBots provides intelligent administrative management and public service support for government and enterprise sectors, enhancing service efficiency and decision-making quality. For example, GPTBots can be used for automated government service consultations, policy interpretation, and the intelligent upgrade of public service platforms, driving digital transformation for government and enterprise organizations.

    Flexible Deployment for Data Control and Security

    GPTBots’ on-premise deployment ensures enterprises maintain full control over their data, aligning with the highest standards of security and operational independence:

    • Data Ownership: All data is stored within the enterprise’s infrastructure, ensuring complete autonomy and privacy.
    • Advanced Security Protocols: GPTBots provides enterprise-grade SLA guarantees, role-based access control, and encryption, safeguarding sensitive information and critical operations.

    This approach is particularly valuable for industries such as finance, healthcare, and legal services, where data privacy and compliance are paramount.

    Empowering Enterprises to Embrace AI with Confidence

    GPTBots’ integration of DeepSeek is more than just a technological advancement—it’s a commitment to empowering businesses to thrive in the AI-driven era. By combining DeepSeek’s advanced capabilities with GPTBots’ enterprise-grade platform, businesses gain access to:

    • Customizable Solutions: Tailor AI deployments to specific business needs with GPTBots’ no-code/low-code platform and robust APIs.
    • Comprehensive Tool Ecosystem: From LinkedIn and HubSpot integrations to advanced image generation tools, GPTBots provides everything enterprises need to automate workflows and enhance productivity.
    • End-to-End Support: From deployment to ongoing optimization, GPTBots offers professional services to ensure long-term success.

    “GPTBots is committed to empowering businesses with the tools they need to innovate and grow,” said Jerry Yin, VP of GPTBots.ai. “By integrating DeepSeek into our on-premise deployment solutions, we’re providing a powerful, secure, and flexible AI platform that drives measurable results across industries.”

    About GPTBots.ai

    GPTBots.ai is an enterprise AI agent platform that empowers businesses to streamline operations, enhance customer experiences, and drive growth. Offering end-to-end AI solutions across customer service, knowledge search, data analysis, and lead generation, GPTBots enables enterprises to harness the full potential of AI with ease. With seamless integration into various systems, and support for scalable, secure deployments, GPTBots is dedicated to reducing costs, accelerating growth, and helping businesses thrive in the AI era.

    For more information, visit www.gptbots.ai.

    Media Contact:
    Silvia
    Senior Marketing Manager
    marketing@gptbots.ai

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Aurora Mobile’s GPTBots.ai Integrates DeepSeek into On-Premise Al Solutions

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SHENZHEN, China, Feb. 07, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Aurora Mobile Limited (NASDAQ: JG) (“Aurora Mobile” or the “Company”), a leading provider of customer engagement and marketing technology services in China, today announced that its leading enterprise AI agent platform, GPTBots.ai, has unveiled its enhanced on-premise deployment solutions powered by the integration of the highly acclaimed DeepSeek LLM. This integration empowers enterprises to harness the advanced capabilities of DeepSeek while leveraging GPTBots’ robust, enterprise-grade platform, delivering a secure, flexible, and scalable AI solution tailored to diverse business needs.

    As businesses worldwide accelerate their adoption of AI, GPTBots.ai provides a comprehensive platform that combines cutting-edge technology with industry-specific solutions, enabling enterprises to achieve measurable results while maintaining full control over their data and infrastructure.

    Cost-Effective AI Deployment for Businesses of All Sizes

    DeepSeek’s lightweight architecture, including its MoE (Mixture of Experts) design, significantly reduces the hardware and operational costs associated with AI deployment:

    • Optimized Resource Utilization: DeepSeek can operate seamlessly on consumer-grade GPUs (e.g., RTX 4090), eliminating the need for expensive high-end clusters.
    • Energy Efficiency: Enhanced inference optimization reduces energy consumption, making it ideal for businesses prioritizing cost control and sustainability.

    When deployed through GPTBots, enterprises benefit from streamlined workflows, pre-configured tools, and optimized resource allocation, ensuring a lower total cost of ownership while maintaining high performance.

    Transforming On-Premise AI for Industry-Specific Applications

    The integration of DeepSeek into GPTBots’ platform delivers significant value across industries, enabling businesses to address unique challenges and unlock new opportunities:

    • Retail, E-Commerce, and Gaming: GPTBots revolutionizes customer support by automating inquiries, providing 24/7 multilingual assistance, and enhancing user experiences. A global gaming platform using GPTBots reduced response times by 95% and automated 98% of inquiries, freeing resources for creative tasks.
    • Finance: GPTBots streamlines customer service, compliance workflows, and risk analysis, reducing operational costs while improving customer satisfaction and regulatory adherence.
    • Energy: GPTBots supports real-time monitoring and data analysis, helping energy companies optimize resource allocation and equipment management. Businesses can leverage GPTBots for equipment failure prediction, energy consumption analysis, and renewable energy management, thereby improving operational efficiency and reducing costs.
    • Government and Enterprises: GPTBots provides intelligent administrative management and public service support for government and enterprise sectors, enhancing service efficiency and decision-making quality. For example, GPTBots can be used for automated government service consultations, policy interpretation, and the intelligent upgrade of public service platforms, driving digital transformation for government and enterprise organizations.

    Flexible Deployment for Data Control and Security

    GPTBots’ on-premise deployment ensures enterprises maintain full control over their data, aligning with the highest standards of security and operational independence:

    • Data Ownership: All data is stored within the enterprise’s infrastructure, ensuring complete autonomy and privacy.
    • Advanced Security Protocols: GPTBots provides enterprise-grade SLA guarantees, role-based access control, and encryption, safeguarding sensitive information and critical operations.

    This approach is particularly valuable for industries such as finance, healthcare, and legal services, where data privacy and compliance are paramount.

    Empowering Enterprises to Embrace AI with Confidence

    GPTBots’ integration of DeepSeek is more than just a technological advancement—it’s a commitment to empowering businesses to thrive in the AI-driven era. By combining DeepSeek’s advanced capabilities with GPTBots’ enterprise-grade platform, businesses gain access to:

    • Customizable Solutions: Tailor AI deployments to specific business needs with GPTBots’ no-code/low-code platform and robust APIs.
    • Comprehensive Tool Ecosystem: From LinkedIn and HubSpot integrations to advanced image generation tools, GPTBots provides everything enterprises need to automate workflows and enhance productivity.
    • End-to-End Support: From deployment to ongoing optimization, GPTBots offers professional services to ensure long-term success.

    “GPTBots is committed to empowering businesses with the tools they need to innovate and grow,” said Jerry Yin, VP of GPTBots.ai. “By integrating DeepSeek into our on-premise deployment solutions, we’re providing a powerful, secure, and flexible AI platform that drives measurable results across industries.”

    About GPTBots.ai

    GPTBots.ai is a complementary general-purpose LLM AI bot featuring private data input and continuous fine-tuning, which can replace ‘rule-based’ chatbots, improve user experience, and reduce costs. GPTBots.ai aims to provide users with an end-to-end business platform that can seamlessly integrate robots into existing applications and workflows via plug-ins. GPTBots.ai also allow users to have great access to, and more efficiently and effectively using, AIGC to improve overall corporate productivity and output quality.

    To know more, please visit https://www.gptbots.ai.

    About Aurora Mobile Limited

    Founded in 2011, Aurora Mobile (NASDAQ: JG) is a leading provider of customer engagement and marketing technology services in China. Since its inception, Aurora Mobile has focused on providing stable and efficient messaging services to enterprises and has grown to be a leading mobile messaging service provider with its first-mover advantage. With the increasing demand for customer reach and marketing growth, Aurora Mobile has developed forward-looking solutions such as Cloud Messaging and Cloud Marketing to help enterprises achieve omnichannel customer reach and interaction, as well as artificial intelligence and big data-driven marketing technology solutions to help enterprises’ digital transformation.

    For more information, please visit https://ir.jiguang.cn/.

    Safe Harbor Statement

    This announcement contains forward-looking statements. These statements are made under the “safe harbor” provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as “will,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “future,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “estimates,” “confident” and similar statements. Among other things, the Business Outlook and quotations from management in this announcement, as well as Aurora Mobile’s strategic and operational plans, contain forward-looking statements. Aurora Mobile may also make written or oral forward-looking statements in its reports to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, in its annual report to shareholders, in press releases and other written materials and in oral statements made by its officers, directors or employees to third parties. Statements that are not historical facts, including but not limited to statements about Aurora Mobile’s beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement, including but not limited to the following: Aurora Mobile’s strategies; Aurora Mobile’s future business development, financial condition and results of operations; Aurora Mobile’s ability to attract and retain customers; its ability to develop and effectively market data solutions, and penetrate the existing market for developer services; its ability to transition to the new advertising-driven SAAS business model; its ability to maintain or enhance its brand; the competition with current or future competitors; its ability to continue to gain access to mobile data in the future; the laws and regulations relating to data privacy and protection; general economic and business conditions globally and in China and assumptions underlying or related to any of the foregoing. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. All information provided in this press release and in the attachments is as of the date of the press release, and Aurora Mobile undertakes no duty to update such information, except as required under applicable law.

    For more information, please contact:

    Aurora Mobile Limited

    E-mail: ir@jiguang.cn

    Christensen

    In China

    Ms. Xiaoyan Su

    Phone: +86-10-5900-1548

    E-mail: Xiaoyan.Su@christensencomms.com

    In U.S.

    Ms. Linda Bergkamp

    Phone: +1-480-614-3004

    Email: linda.bergkamp@christensencomms.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Asian Development Blog: Preparing the Nation for Integration: Timor-Leste’s Path to ASEAN

    Source: Asia Development Bank

    Timor-Leste has taken major steps toward joining the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, but challenges remain. Strengthening governance, promoting investments, expanding trade, and enhancing human capital are still needed

    Timor-Leste is a young democracy facing significant development challenges. The poverty rate remains high at 41.8% and economic growth has been volatile, affected by both external and domestic shocks.

    The economy relies heavily on public spending and petroleum revenues. Long-standing structural challenges such as a weak private sector, inadequate infrastructure, a lack of skilled labor, and a challenging business environment, present daunting obstacles to economic diversification and long-term growth.

    Recognizing the role that regional cooperation and integration can play in addressing these challenges, Timor-Leste has long pursued membership in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). This has been a strategic priority and a cornerstone of its economic development and foreign policy.

    ASEAN membership is expected to drive domestic policy and institutional reforms while expanding markets and reduce costs. It should also diversify the economy, attract trade and investments, and improve access to technology and skills.  

    Since applying for ASEAN membership in 2011, Timor-Leste has undertaken significant reforms, investments, and policy alignments—establishing a Directorate-General for ASEAN Affairs, modernizing customs, and engaging the private sector—to meet the requirements for full membership.

    Supported by partners like the Asian Development Bank, the country has accelerated capacity-building initiatives and advanced infrastructure, trade, renewable energy, and agriculture to foster broader economic opportunities.

    But more needs to be done for Timor-Leste to reap the full benefits of ASEAN.

    Timor-Leste requires comprehensive capacity-building initiatives to enhance the technical knowledge and skills of government officials and stakeholders. Developing and implementing targeted training workshops and seminars in key areas, especially those focused on specialized areas and sectoral drivers of growth, such as tourism or agriculture, will be crucial. Establishing mentorship programs that pair ASEAN expertise with Timor-Leste sectoral counterparts will provide knowledge transfer.

    Timor-Leste has made significant progress toward ASEAN accession, but continued collaboration, investment in human capital, and infrastructure improvements remain crucial for fully integrating into the region and maximizing economic opportunities.

    To ensure harmonization with ASEAN standards, expert guidance will be needed to assist in the review and improvement of government legislation, rules, and procedures. Facilitating peer-to-peer learning opportunities and best practices exchanges with other ASEAN member states that have successfully implemented core provisions will be beneficial. Providing resources and tools to assist in drafting and updating legislation to ensure compliance with core provisions is essential.

    Upgrading transport infrastructure is also crucial, requiring a strategic approach involving the development of comprehensive transport plans, substantial financial investments, and the engagement of specialized transport engineering expertise.

    Key areas of support include sustainable financing for road maintenance, capacity building, and technical assistance to strengthen planning, monitoring, and project supervision. Enhancing border protection and monitoring, improving equipment and resource allocation, and incorporating environmentally sustainable practices are also key elements.

    By aligning with international standards and focusing on regional integration, Timor-Leste can foster connectivity, streamline trade processes, and contribute significantly to overall economic growth and regional integration. Furthermore, developing ICT infrastructure is vital. Assisting in the design and implementation of automation and digitization projects for public services and trade facilitation measures will enhance efficiency.

    Timor-Leste requires comprehensive support to address its human capital challenges and improve labor force participation and food security. Key initiatives from ASEAN member states and other partners include promoting higher education through international education fairs, prioritizing Timorese students for university admissions, and establishing student and labor exchange programs.

    For basic education, creating teacher training centers and improving English language proficiency is a key priority. Online learning platforms will ensure continuous skill development and retention. The government has renewed focus on early childhood development, supported by the 2024 general state budget.

    Additional initiatives like the Inter-Ministerial Taskforce and the National Health Sector Nutrition Strategic Plan (2022-2026) target stunting and malnutrition, with the goal to reduce stunting from 47% to 25% by 2030. Promoting sustainable agricultural practices and strengthening healthcare infrastructure are also crucial.

    Timor-Leste is committed to modernizing its financial systems, developing e-payment solutions, and enhancing financial literacy and inclusion. Strengthening the business sector will create more opportunities for trade and investment.

    Supporting local businesses through capacity-building training focused on ASEAN trade, marketing, financial access policies, connectivity, and digital skills will ease integration barriers. Improving infrastructure and internet access through financial assistance will help businesses overcome critical barriers. Connecting with the ASEAN Business Advisory Council and other ASEAN members will boost trade and investment linkages.

    Timor-Leste aims to establish strong connections with ASEAN officials, stakeholders, and bodies, such as central banks and national statistics institutes. Government agencies represent Timor-Leste’s interests at ASEAN meetings and working groups. On the private sector side, Timor Leste’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry has participated in meetings with the ASEAN Business Advisory Council as an observer.

    Timor-Leste has made significant progress toward ASEAN accession, implementing key reforms and strengthening its economic and institutional frameworks. However, continued collaboration with ASEAN member states and development partners is crucial to overcoming remaining challenges.

    By sustaining momentum in governance, trade, and infrastructure improvements, Timor-Leste can fully integrate into the region and unlock new opportunities for growth. Stakeholders must remain engaged in supporting this journey, ensuring that the country maximizes the benefits of ASEAN membership for its people and economy.

    Bold Sandagdorj, country economist at ADB’s Timor-Leste Resident Mission, contributed to this blog post.
     

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI China: Border defense troops patrol on horseback

    Source: People’s Republic of China – Ministry of National Defense

      Soldiers assigned to the Songbai border defense company under the Chinese PLA Xinjiang Military Command patrol the snow-covered border on horseback at the northern foot of Tianshan Mountains on January 23, 2025. (eng.chinamil.com.cn/Photo by Ma Wenqing)

    loading…

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI: BYDFi Lists Berachain Token (BERA), Supporting BERA/USDT Spot and Perpetual Contracts Trading

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SINGAPORE, Feb. 07, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — BYDFi officially listed the BERA/USDT spot trading pair and launched BERA/USDT perpetual contracts with up to 75x leverage. Users can now participate in the 8,100 USDT reward campaign – for more details, please visit the BYDFi website or refer to the official announcements.

    Berachain: The Innovative Blockchain Powering $BERA

    As the native token of the Berachain blockchain, $BERA derives its value not only from market demand but also from the strong foundational support of the Berachain ecosystem. Berachain is an EVM-compatible Layer 1 blockchain built on the Cosmos SDK. It utilizes an innovative Proof-of-Liquidity (PoL) consensus mechanism, which differs from traditional Proof-of-Stake (PoS) systems. By linking validator rewards to application demand and liquidity contributions, PoL creates a dynamic incentive structure that prevents token devaluation and liquidity depletion. This groundbreaking economic model fosters mutual value creation between the blockchain and applications built on it, ensuring sustainable growth.

    On April 20, 2023, Berachain successfully raised $42 million in a Series A funding round led by Polychain Capital. Furthermore, ahead of its mainnet launch, Berachain’s liquidity pre-deposit application, Boyco, attracted over $3 billion within one week, demonstrating strong market interest and adoption.

    $BERA: The Key Asset of Berachain

    $BERA, as the native token of Berachain, is primarily used to pay network transaction fees (gas) and can be staked to cover validator activation costs

    Market Performance:

    • Within just 24 hours of launch, $BERA’s market capitalization surged past $1.5 billion
    • As of the time of writing, $BERA is priced at $7.9191
    • 24-hour trading volume reached $2.187 billion, marking a 2,291.00% increase from the previous day

    With the continuous expansion of the Berachain ecosystem, the demand for $BERA is expected to grow, driving its market value even higher.

    How to Trade $BERA on BYDFi

    One-Click Buy & Sell
    Users can purchase BERA easily through BYDFi’s “Convert” feature, using credit/debit cards, Google Pay, Apple Pay, or wallet balances.

    Leverage Trading

    • Supports BERA/USDT cross-margin and isolated-margin trading
    • Leverage options: 1x to 75x
    • VIP trading fee discounts—for more details, visit the BYDFi official website

    About BYDFi

    Founded in 2020, BYDFi is recognized by Forbes as a top 10 global crypto exchange, serving over 1,000,000 users. The platform holds MSB licenses in multiple regions and is a member of South Korea’s CODE VASP Alliance. Laying great stress on compliance and development, BYDFi has always guarded the legal rights of all its global users. To protect user assets, BYDFi stores all funds in offline multi-signature wallets with at least a 1:1 reserve ratio and publishes regular proof-of-reserves (PoR) reports for transparency. BYDFi offers 24/7 live customer support, providing efficient and professional assistance in every step of a trader’s journey. BUIDL Your Dream Finance.

    • Website: https://www.bydfi.com
    • Support Email: CS@bydfi.com
    • Business Partnerships: BD@bydfi.com
    • Media Inquiries: media@bydfi.com

    Twitter( X )| LinkedIn| Facebook | Telegram| YouTube

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: 3/2025・Trifork Group AG – Share-based Incentive Program 2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Company announcement no. 3 / 2025
     Schindellegi, Switzerland – 7 February 2025


    Share-based Incentive Program 2025

    Trifork Group AG (“Trifork”) has granted restricted share units (“RSUs”) under the existing employee long-term share-based incentive program (“ELTIP”) approved by the Board of Directors in 2021.
    The first ELTIP 2025 (“ELTIP 2025a”) is covering the grant in January 2025 to certain employees of the Trifork Group.

    The ELTIP 2025a is based on RSUs and employees participating in the ELTIP 2025a may, subject to certain terms and conditions, be allocated RSUs by converting salary supplements or bonuses. RSUs granted will be subject to graded vesting over a three-year period.

    Further details about the ELTIP 2025a are stated below:

    Participants Certain employees of the Trifork Group in selected jurisdictions. Total 51 employees.
    Number of RSUs Based on the number of employees participating in the ELTIP 2025a, a total of 33,549 RSUs will be allocated. The number of RSUs is calculated by converting the amount of salary supplements or bonuses and applying the weighted average share price for shares of the last three trading days of 2024.
    Granting RSUs comprised by the ELTIP 2025a are granted in January 2025.
    Vesting RSUs will vest over a three-year period with 1/3 of the RSUs vesting each year. Vesting is not conditional upon the achievement of any financial or non-financial targets but is conditional upon the participating employee remaining employed with the Trifork Group throughout the vesting period or becoming a good leaver during the vesting period as well as the participating employee having complied in all respects with the terms and conditions of the ELTIP 2025a.
    Objective Attraction and retention of employees in selected jurisdictions.
    Conversion Once vested and not lapsed in accordance with the terms and conditions of the ELTIP 2025a, each RSU will entitle the holder to receive one Trifork share.
    Conditions RSUs are granted based on the conversion of individual supplement salaries or bonus amounts for each participating employee.

    The ELTIP 2025a is subject to customary conditions.
    Allocation & theoretical value The allocation is based on the weighted average share price of the last 3 trading days of 2024 (DKK 75.08). Dividing the converting salary by this amount results in the number of RSUs to be granted. The converting total amounts to DKK 2,518,858.92 (EUR 338,556) and 33,549 RSUs.

    The theoretical value for the RSUs is the market price of the Trifork share at grant date minus the expected dividends for the portions vesting after one, two, and three years.


    For further information, please contact

    Frederik Svanholm, Group Investment Director & Head of IR
    frsv@trifork.com, +41 79 357 73 17


    About Trifork 

    Trifork is a pioneering global technology partner, empowering enterprise and public sector customers with innovative solutions. With 1,278 professionals across 76 business units in 15 countries, Trifork delivers expertise in inspiring, building, and running advanced software solutions across diverse sectors, including public administration, healthcare, manufacturing, logistics, energy, financial services, retail, and real estate. Trifork Labs, the Group’s R&D hub, drives innovation by investing in and developing synergistic and high-potential technology companies. Trifork Group AG is a publicly listed company on Nasdaq Copenhagen. Learn more at trifork.com.

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Re-election in sight for Chair of ICC World Chambers Federation

    Source: International Chamber of Commerce

    Headline: Re-election in sight for Chair of ICC World Chambers Federation

    Mr Hisarcıklıoğlu’s three-year mandate will begin on 1 July 2025, following formal ratification by the ICC World Council in June. This will be Mr Hisarcıklıoğlu’s second and final mandate, following his initial election in 2023. As ICC WCF Chair, he will continue to strengthen the chamber community worldwide and increase the impact of the ICC World Chambers Federation, ICC’s unique forum connecting chambers across borders.

    Responding to the election results, Mr Hisarcıklıoğlu said:

    “I am honoured by the trust of my fellow chamber colleagues in re-electing me for a new term. We are committed to working even harder to strengthen and expand our unique global network of chambers, ensuring it becomes even more diverse and representative. We will also reaffirm the ICC World Chambers Federation as a trusted business partner to all chambers in our network, equipping them with ICC tools and resources to enhance their operations, drive growth, and create a better business environment.”

    ICC Secretary General John W. H. Denton AO said:

    “I congratulate Rifat on his re-election – a testament to the trust our chamber community places in him and a well-deserved recognition of his leadership.”

    About Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu

    Mr Hisarcıklıoğlu is the President of the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Türkiye (TOBB), the country’s largest business organisation, representing 366 chambers and commodity exchanges and over 2 million members. He also serves as Chair of ICC Türkiye. 

    With an extensive background in international business and chamber leadership, he currently holds key positions in several global organisations, including Vice-President of EUROCHAMBRES, Vice-President of the Confederation of Asia-Pacific Chambers of Commerce, Vice-President of the Islamic Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture, Chair of B20 Türkiye, and member of the ICC Executive Board.  

    In addition to his institutional leadership, he is a prominent business figure in Türkiye and the surrounding region, serving as Chairman of Eskihisar Group, which operates in construction, real estate, the food industry and the automotive sector. 

    About the election process

    In accordance with the ICC WCF Articles, Mr Hisarcıklıoğlu’s re-election is subject to formal ratification by the ICC World Council in June 2025 upon recommendation by the ICC Executive Board.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI: Dimensional Fund Advisors Ltd. : Form 8.3 – AVIVA PLC – Ordinary Shares

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    FORM 8.3

    PUBLIC OPENING POSITION DISCLOSURE/DEALING DISCLOSURE BY
    A PERSON WITH INTERESTS IN RELEVANT SECURITIES REPRESENTING 1% OR MORE
    Rule 8.3 of the Takeover Code (the “Code”)

    1. KEY INFORMATION  
       
    (a) Full name of discloser: Dimensional Fund Advisors Ltd. in its capacity as investment advisor and on behalf its affiliates who are also investment advisors (”Dimensional”). Dimensional expressly disclaims beneficial ownership of the shares described in this form 8.3.  
    (b) Owner or controller of interests and short positions disclosed, if different from 1(a):
    The naming of nominee or vehicle companies is insufficient. For a trust, the trustee(s), settlor and beneficiaries must be named.    		    
    (c) Name of offeror/offeree in relation to whose relevant securities this form relates:
    Use a separate form for each offeror/offeree    		 Aviva PLC  
    (d) If an exempt fund manager connected with an offeror/offeree, state this and specify identity of offeror/offeree:    
    (e) Date position held/dealing undertaken:
    For an opening position disclosure, state the latest practicable date prior to the disclosure    		 06 February 2025  
    (f) In addition to the company in 1(c) above, is the discloser making disclosures in respect of any other party to the offer?
    If it is a cash offer or possible cash offer, state “N/A”    		 YES
    Direct Line Insurance Group PLC    		  
       
    2. POSITIONS OF THE PERSON MAKING THE DISCLOSURE  
       
    If there are positions or rights to subscribe to disclose in more than one class of relevant securities of the offeror or offeree named in 1(c), copy table 2(a) or (b) (as appropriate) for each additional class of relevant security.  
    (a) Interests and short positions in the relevant securities of the offeror or offeree to which the disclosure relates following the dealing (if any)  
       
    Class of relevant security: 32 17/19p ordinary (GB00BPQY8M80)  
      Interests Short Positions  
      Number % Number %  
    (1) Relevant securities owned and/or controlled: 10,552,256 0.39 %      
    (2) Cash-settled derivatives:          
    (3) Stock-settled derivatives (including options) and agreements to purchase/sell:          
      Total 10,552,256 * 0.39 %      
    * Dimensional Fund Advisors LP and/or its affiliates do not have discretion regarding voting decisions in respect of 679,466 shares that are included in the total above.  
       
    All interests and all short positions should be disclosed.

    Details of any open stock-settled derivative positions (including traded options), or agreements to purchase or sell relevant securities, should be given on a Supplemental Form 8 (Open Positions).

    		  
       
       
    (b) Rights to subscribe for new securities (including directors’ and other employee options)  
       
    Class of relevant security in relation to which subscription right exists:    
    Details, including nature of the rights concerned and relevant percentages:    
       
    3. DEALINGS (IF ANY) BY THE PERSON MAKING THE DISCLOSURE  
       
    Where there have been dealings in more than one class of relevant securities of the offeror or offeree named in 1(c), copy table 3(a), (b), (c) or (d) (as appropriate) for each additional class of relevant security dealt in.

    The currency of all prices and other monetary amounts should be stated.

    		  
    (a) Purchases and sales  
       
    Class of relevant security Purchase/sale Number of securities Price per unit  
    32 17/19p ordinary (GB00BPQY8M80) Sale 2,003 5.1274 GBP  
    There was a Transfer In of 4,002 shares of 32 17/19p ordinary  
       
    (b) Cash-settled derivative transactions  
       
    Class of relevant security Product description e.g. CFD Nature of dealing e.g. opening/closing a long/short position, increasing/reducing a long/short position Number of reference securities Price per unit  
               
       
    (c) Stock-settled derivative transactions (including options)
     
    (i) Writing, selling, purchasing or varying
     
    Class of relevant security Product description e.g. call option Writing, purchasing, selling, varying etc. Number of securities to which option relates Exercise price per unit Type e.g. American, European etc. Expiry date Option money paid/ received per unit
                   
       
    (ii) Exercise  
       
    Class of relevant security Product description e.g. call option Exercising/ exercised against Number of securities Exercise price per unit  
               
       
    (d) Other dealings (including subscribing for new securities)  
                 
    Class of relevant security Nature of dealing e.g. subscription, conversion Details Price per unit (if applicable)  
             
       
    4. OTHER INFORMATION  
       
    (a) Indemnity and other dealing arrangements  
       
    Details of any indemnity or option arrangement, or any agreement or understanding, formal or informal, relating to relevant securities which may be an inducement to deal or refrain from dealing entered into by the person making the disclosure and any party to the offer or any person acting in concert with a party to the offer:
    Irrevocable commitments and letters of intent should not be included. If there are no such agreements, arrangements or understandings, state “none”    		  
    None  
       
    (b) Agreements, arrangements or understandings relating to options or derivatives  
       
    Details of any agreement, arrangement or understanding, formal or informal, between the person making the disclosure and any other person relating to:
    (i) the voting rights of any relevant securities under any option; or
    (ii) the voting rights or future acquisition or disposal of any relevant securities to which any derivative is referenced:
    If there are no such agreements, arrangements or understandings, state “none”    		  
    None  
       
    (c) Attachments  
       
    Is a Supplemental Form 8 (Open Positions) attached? NO  
       
    Date of disclosure 07 February 2025  
    Contact name Thomas Hone  
    Telephone number +44 20 3033 3419  
       

    Public disclosures under Rule 8 of the Code must be made to a Regulatory Information Service.

    The Panel’s Market Surveillance Unit is available for consultation in relation to the Code’s disclosure requirements on +44 (0)20 7638 0129.

    The Code can be viewed on the Panel’s website at www.thetakeoverpanel.org.uk.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Progress in customer activity as well as core banking activities continued, and credit quality remained strong Record-high net profit of DKK 23.6 billion, improving return on equity to 13.4%

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Press release Danske Bank
    Bernstorffsgade 40
    DK-1577 København V
    Tel. + 45 45 14 14 00

    7 February 2025

    Progress in customer activity as well as core banking activities continued,
    and credit quality remained strong
    Record-high net profit of DKK 23.6 billion, improving return on equity to 13.4%
    Dividend of DKK 9.35 per share for the second half of 2024 as well as an extraordinary dividend of DKK 5.35 per share, in total DKK 14.7 per share
    The Board of Directors has decided to initiate a new share buy-back programme of DKK 5 billion

    Danske Bank has announced its financial results for 2024.
    Carsten Egeriis, Chief Executive Officer, comments on the financial results:

    “For Danske Bank, 2024 was a year in which we consistently delivered positive results from quarter to quarter, driven by increased customer activity, continually strong credit quality and a sustained, dedicated effort from the entire organisation. Consequently, we maintained our positive commercial momentum, resulting in a solid financial performance.

    One year into the execution of our Forward ’28 strategy, we have made substantial progress within our technology transformation and customer engagement, and we can see that our investments in enhancing the customer experience have resulted in increasingly positive customer satisfaction scores.

    Our continued focus on cost discipline and on maintaining strong credit quality resulted in two upward adjustments of our financial guidance in 2024. On the basis of our strong financial results and solid capital position, the total distribution in 2024 amounts to 100% of net profit, thus honouring the commitment we have made to our shareholders.

    With our advanced customer offerings, deep expertise and solid financial position, Danske Bank is strongly positioned to create value for customers, shareholders and society. In a time of heightened geopolitical uncertainty, rapid technological shifts and increasing sustainability challenges, we will continue to focus on opportunities and solutions for households and businesses alike.”

    The annual report is available at www.danskebank.com. Highlights are shown below:

    2024 vs 2023
    Total income of DKK 56.4 billion (up 8%)
    Operating expenses of DKK 25.7 billion (up 1%)
    Loan impairments of DKK -543 million (2023: DKK 262 million)
    Net profit of DKK 23.6 billion (up 11%)
    Return on shareholders’ equity of 13.4% (2023: 12.7%)
    Strong capital position, with a CET1 capital ratio of 17.8% (2023: 18.8%). The ratio reflects strong capital generation and the full deduction of the announced 40% additional capital distribution.
    Solid progress towards Forward ’28 ambitions and 2026 targets
    2024 was the first full year of our Forward ’28 strategy, and we are well-positioned for future growth as we maintain our trajectory towards strengthening our position as a leading bank in the Nordic region and make significant investments in our customer offerings.

    For personal and private banking customers, with Forward ’28, a sharpened focus in each of our markets has allowed us to further strengthen our relations with existing customers and attract new ones. For business and institutional customers, we want to be a leading bank in the markets in which we operate. Our approach focuses on meeting evolving market demands while fostering high long-term customer and employee satisfaction.

    Significant progress with our technology transformation paved the way for a better customer experience and improved efficiency. In 2024, we made substantial progress in terms of using digitalisation, data, AI and technology to improve customer engagement while reducing costs and operational risks. We developed a new version of our District online banking platform that is tailored to small businesses and is expected to launch in Denmark in the first half of 2025. We also launched a new welcoming app that makes it both easier and faster to become a personal customer with us.

    Across the bank, we have made GenAI a strategic priority, and our GenAI-powered solutions offer key opportunities to unlock productivity gains. During 2024, we launched DanskeGPT, which has been adopted by almost 16,000 users across the organisation, corresponding to 74% of all employees. We have also deployed GenAI-powered tools for our software developers, and these tools are driving solid productivity improvements.

    In 2024, Danica developed its new commercial strategy, Forward ’28 – Danica, which aims to make Danica the preferred pension company in Denmark by 2028. The strategy, which took effect on 1 January 2025, focuses on the importance of making customer interactions with Danica easy and convenient through digital solutions and on offering comprehensive healthcare offerings, attractive returns and quality advice. These elements are expected to be key growth drivers over the next few years. The strategy aligns with the strategic direction set in Danske Bank’s Forward ’28 strategy, underscoring the significant potential in synchronising services between the bank and the pension business.

    As the success of our strategy relies on solid execution, we have a significant focus on our employees, supported by investments in development activities, leadership and the workplace. Employee satisfaction and engagement scores continued to improve from already high levels and are now above the industry benchmark.

    Sustainability is a key focus area in Forward ’28, and our ambition is to be a leading Nordic bank in terms of supporting the sustainability transition of customers, businesses and the Nordic societies that we are a part of. Our efforts are reinforced by new ESG advisory services, comprehensive staff training, recruitment of specialists and strategic partnerships, all aimed at supporting our customers’ sustainability transition. In line with European regulation, for the 2024 annual report, Danske Bank has prepared a sustainability statement in accordance with the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS).

    Better-than-expected macroeconomic conditions
    Macroeconomic conditions developed more favourably than expected in the markets in which we operate. Especially in Denmark, the inflation and growth outlook improved during the year, and this development is forecast to continue as central banks continue their easing trajectories, leading to lower rates for both households and businesses. Although the growth outlook has improved broadly speaking in the Nordic region, the uncertainty related to Europe’s long-term growth prospects and ability to innovate persists.

    In times of uncertainty for both Danske Bank and our customers, our well-capitalised balance sheet has enabled us to be a strong financial partner for our customers, and we have continued to support them with risk management expertise and expert advice.

    Strong financial performance
    An improved commercial momentum in our business, supported by better-than-expected macroeconomic conditions and strong credit quality have enabled us to strengthen profitability and generate record-high net profit. The return on equity thus increased from 12.7% to 13.4%, highlighting our positive trajectory and progress towards our 2026 targets.

    In 2024, total income grew 8%, driven by a sustained uplift in core banking income. Despite central bank rate cuts and lower deposit margins as well as overall muted credit demand, net interest income showed the expected strong development, with increasing net interest income throughout the year. Net fee income continued the positive traction throughout the year, reflecting our overall strong development and ability to do more business with existing customers and to attract new customers. We saw a higher level of fee income from cash management products, and customer activity generally remained high. Furthermore, we saw an increase in investment fees generated by strategic investments in our private banking offerings as well as a strong development in fees from asset management.

    Net trading income remained stable, and net income from insurance business benefited from stable financial markets, with the health and accident business continuing to be challenged, however.

    Operating expenses developed according to plan and were at the same level as in 2023. The minor year-on-year increase was caused mainly by higher investments in our technology transformation made under our Forward ’28 strategy and staff costs that were impacted by wage inflation. Costs related to financial crime prevention and legacy remediation decreased in line with our plan for a normalisation of costs, and together with prudent cost management, this led to an improvement in the cost/income ratio to 46% from 49%.

    Loan impairment charges amounted to a net reversal of DKK 543 million, reflecting strong credit quality and modest impairments against single-name exposures coupled with a review of post-model adjustments. We continue to apply significant post-model adjustments as well as a scenario-based macroeconomic model to cater for potential tail risks that are not evident in our portfolio. Overall, the macroeconomic environment improved during 2024 and was characterised by lower inflation, lower interest rates and an enhanced growth momentum.

    Overall, we ended the year with the same positive momentum that we saw in the first nine months of 2024. This resulted in record-high net profit of DKK 23.6 billion, up 11% from 2023.

    “The first year of execution of our Forward ’28 strategy, 2024 was an important year for Danske Bank’s financial performance: With income growth driven by our growing core income as well as our continued efforts to support customers and drive the commercial momentum, net profit represents a record-high result,” says Stephan Engels, Chief Financial Officer.
    We continue to create value to the benefit of our customers, our shareholders and society: Our tax expense amounted to DKK 7.6 billion, and given our strong capital position, and in line with the Forward ’28 strategy, the financial year 2024 enables us to make a significant payout to our shareholders.

    Delivering on capital distribution
    Given our strong balance sheet, and as planned in the Forward ’28 strategy, the financial year 2024 yields a significant payout to our shareholders. We paid a dividend of DKK 7.50 per share in connection with the interim report for the first half of 2024, and we propose a dividend of DKK 9.35 per share for the second half of 2024 as well as an extraordinary dividend of DKK 5.35 per share. Furthermore, on 6 December 2024, we announced a special dividend of DKK 6.50 per share following the successful transfer of the personal customer business in Norway. In total, our distribution for 2024 amounts to DKK 28.70 per share.

    It remains crucial for us to create value for all our stakeholders, including our shareholders, customers, employees and the societies we are part of, and as a bank we need to attract capital from shareholders to lend and do business. Besides large institutional investors, our capital distribution benefits most major pension funds in Denmark as well as private individuals in Denmark, who have invested part of their savings in Danske Bank shares. In total, we have more than a quarter of a million investors, of which more than half are private individuals in Denmark.

    Danske Bank’s dividend policy for 2025 remains unchanged, targeting a dividend payout of 40-60% of net profit in the form of annual dividend payments.

    Share buy-back
    The share buy-back programme launched in February 2024 of DKK 5.5 billion was completed in January 2025.

    On the basis of the financial results for 2024, the Board of Directors has decided to initiate a new share buy-back programme of DKK 5 billion, taking the total payout ratio to 100% of net profits when including the dividend for 2024 but excluding the special dividend related to the transfer of the personal customer business in Norway. The programme, which has been approved by the Danish Financial Supervisory Authority, will start on 10 February 2025.

    Outlook for 2025
    We expect net profit for 2025 to be in the range of DKK 21-23 billion.
    The outlook is subject to uncertainty and depends on economic conditions.

    Danske Bank

    Contact: Helga Heyn, Head of Media Relations, tel. +45 45 14 14 00

    More information about Danske Bank’s financial results is available at www.danskebank.com/reports.

    Attachments

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Three more shops shut down in crackdown on illegal cigarettes and vapes

    Source: City of Stoke-on-Trent

    Test Purchase Evidence

    Published: Friday, 7th February 2025

    The closures follow months of investigation, including test purchasing a co-ordinated operation to target illegal cigarettes and vapes being sold in the city.

    Three more shops in Stoke-on-Trent have been forced to close after a Trading Standards operation uncovered the sale of illegal cigarettes and vapes.

    The closures follow months of investigation, including test purchasing a co-ordinated operation to target illegal cigarettes and vapes being sold in the city.

    The city council has now used its powers to issue three premises with a 48-hour closure notice.

    Today (Thursday 6 February 2025), Newcastle Magistrates Court made a closure order for each of the premises extended these orders for three months.

    The council will now work with the landlords of the affected premises to ensure that only legitimate businesses operate from these locations.
     

    The shops subject to the closure orders are:

    • 365 Vape Shop, 127 Scotia Road, Stoke-on-Trent.
    • Empire Vapes, 242 Waterloo Road, Stoke-on-Trent
    • Meir Vapes, 45 Weston Road, Stoke-on-Trent

    Councillor Amjid Wazir OBE, cabinet member for city pride, enforcement and sustainability for Stoke-on-Trent City Council advised: “This is another great result by our Trading Standards team. These operations protect residents, support legitimate businesses, and uphold the law.

    “Businesses selling illegal goods will face serious consequences. I encourage any residents to report any suspicious activity related to illegal tobacco, vapes, or underage sales.

    “We want Stoke-on-Trent to be a safe, thriving place and we won’t hesitate to take action against those who undermine the hard work of residents and legitimate businesses.”

    The Trading Standards work forms part of the city council mission to be a cleaner, greener and safer city for all who live, work and visit Stoke-on-Trent. 
     

    Anyone who wants to report a similar issue to trading standards can call the Trading Standards Hotline 01782 238444 or visit stoke.gov.uk.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: £5,000 of illegal vapes and tobacco seized

    Source: City of York

    Published Thursday, 6 February 2025

    Council and police officers visited a business in Clifton last week, where nearly £5,000 of noncompliant vapes and illicit tobacco was found and seized.

    The illegal items found and taken have an estimated retail value of £4,941.25:

    • 177 noncompliant vapes with a retail value of £2,124
    • 2,250 counterfeit and illicit cigarettes valued at £731
    • 1,450g of counterfeit and illicit hand rolling tobacco valued at £2,086.

    These products will be investigated, and appropriate legal action taken. The officers had the help of a sniffer dog, a spaniel called Mostyn.

    Cllr Jenny Kent, Executive Member with portfolio for Trading Standards at City of York Council, said:

    Tobacco kills hundreds of people in York every year, and the illicit market in tobacco and vapes makes harmful products cheaper and more easily available, especially to those below the legal age limit.

    “Illicit vapes are becoming much more prevalent and are partly responsible for the rise in young people vaping – our public health advice is that while we support e-cigarettes as effective quit aids for adults to stop smoking, people who don’t smoke shouldn’t vape.

    “This is why it is so important that you report concerns. Information from members of the public, investigation, and action by Council and police officers is essential to protect public health and enforce proper regulations.”

    Sergeant Stuart Henderson of North Yorkshire Police, said:

    This is the result of joint working with our Trading Standards colleagues at City of York Council. It is the second successful operation that we have conducted with Trading Standards in Clifton as part of our Clear, Hold Build initiative.

    “The work shows we will work with all our law enforcement partners to disrupt and deter criminality and to make Clifton and the City of York no place for criminals.”

    How to spot an illegal vape

    Check the packaging for the following tell-tale signs that a disposable vape may be illegal:

    • the health warning should have these exact words: ‘This product contains nicotine which is a highly addictive substance’ and should cover 1/3rd of the front and rear of the packaging
    • a ‘puff count’ of over 600 – illegal vapes may have higher puff counts
    • a pod or refill should be no larger than 10ml
    • a tank should have no more than 2ml or multiple 2ml ‘pods’
    • a nicotine content above 2% (20mg or 20ml)
    • no UK address for an importer/manufacturer.

    Anyone concerned about unregulated vapes or tobacco being sold can:

    • contact City of York Council’s Trading Standards team on telephone: 08082 231133 or email: public.protection@york.gov.uk
    • call North Yorkshire Police on telephone: 101 and pass information to the Force Control Room
    • if you prefer to remain anonymous, pass information to Crimestoppers on telephone: 0800 555 111

    Find support to stop smoking online or email: cychealthtrainers@york.gov.uk for an appointment.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Report highlights work in Leeds to meet increasing demand for foster carers

    Source: City of Leeds

    A new report has highlighted the extensive work in Leeds to recruit and support foster carers as the city strives to meet an ever-increasing demand for placements to help change the lives of looked after children.

    The annual fostering report, to be discussed by senior councillors at next Wednesday’s executive board meeting (February 12), gives an update of the innovative work and progress of services that support the city’s foster and kinship carers.

    Leeds City Council’s fostering service, Foster 4 Leeds, plays a crucial role in supporting over 400 fostering placements and 350 children living with kinship or connected carers across Leeds.

    However, as is the case nationally, the need for more foster carers is continuing to rise and recruitment is a significant priority in Leeds.

    This year, breakthrough work and plans have included:

    • Successfully recruiting 113 new carers, including 88 new kinship carers, allowing children to remain within their family – a key aim in Leeds wherever possible.
    • A wide-reaching recruitment campaign has also seen expressions of interest significantly increase – with an average of 45 per month from September 2024 onwards. 
    • Recruitment of two new full-time roles to bolster engagement and partnership work to support recruitment and retention of carers.
    • Plans to engage wider communities and recruit carers from ethnically diverse backgrounds, working in conjunction with Child Friendly Leeds in holding ambassadors events to break down barriers and raise awareness of the opportunities.
    • The launch of a new dedicated Foster 4 Leeds website, showcasing benefits and detailed information on the different types of fostering available.
    • A new ‘reunification’ service – which aims to reunite children with their birth families, while supported by foster carers – is now up and running and is supporting children to be safely returned home.
    • A full programme of enrichment activities and family fun days for foster families running throughout the year, particularly enhanced during school holidays when two to three activities are held each week. More opportunities will also soon be on the way, after the service held a network event with over 70 local and national companies and organisations offering their support to further boost benefits for foster carers and their families in Leeds.

    Councillor Helen Hayden, Leeds City Council’s executive member for children and families, said: “Children do their best living in families and these proposals go a long way to enhance the health and wellbeing of our looked after children and ensure they grow and thrive in family environments.

    “We are utterly committed to supporting all carers in this vital role and enabling fostering to be a rewarding experience, giving a real purpose to truly help change lives.

    “I would encourage anyone interested to please take a look at our new website and consider joining our incredible legion of foster and kinship carers who provide that crucial consistency in care for our city’s vulnerable children.

    “Being able to place children within Leeds has many benefits – not least enabling young people to retain strong relationships with their birth family, continue at school and access all the benefits of living within our child friendly city.”

    To view the annual fostering report being considered by the executive board visit Council and democracy (agenda item 10).

    For more information on fostering in Leeds, please visit: Foster 4 Leeds | Foster 4 Leeds.

    ENDS

    For media enquiries please contact:

    Leeds City Council communications and marketing,

    Email: communicationsteam@leeds.gov.uk

    Tel: 0113 378 6007

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Rosneft Celebrates Russian Science Day with New Achievements

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Rosneft – Rosneft – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

    In 2024, Rosneft received more than 70 patents for innovative inventions. Thus, today the portfolio of the technological leader in the oil and gas industry includes more than 1,100 objects of intellectual activity that have undergone state registration.

    Rosneft is the first oil company in the country that successfully creates software that covers all key processes of oil and gas production. Last year, specialists from the Ufa Scientific Institute presented an updated simulator RN-SIMTEP, the economic effect of which will exceed 1 billion rubles by 2030. The software package is designed to simulate the processes of preparation, transportation and primary processing of hydrocarbon raw materials.

    The Company’s specialists have also developed the RN-AKZT expert system, which allows selecting steel for pipe products and methods of their anti-corrosion protection depending on operating conditions. The innovative product includes an artificial intelligence model that is trained on real data and is capable of predicting the intensity of metal corrosion. The software operates autonomously and does not depend on external sources of information. Its use in production processes will significantly increase the reliability of pipelines.

    Another new software is a mobile application for mine surveyors, developed by Tomsk scientists of Rosneft. The service allows for prompt access to field maps in the field, updating information on existing infrastructure, and adding new objects to the map.

    Rosneft is betting on digitalization in all areas of activity. The emphasis on the implementation of digital technologies increases transparency, controllability and speed of decision-making throughout the production chain.

    In 2024, at the Barsukovskoye field of RN-Purneftegaz (part of Rosneft), the Company’s scientists created a “digital twin” of a preliminary gas treatment unit. This is one of the largest interactive objects designed in Russia – its area is 270 thousand square meters, which is comparable to the size of a populated area.

    Rosneft is one of the leaders in the development of 3D design. Hundreds of objects have been designed in the Company using information modeling technologies. Last year, the Ufa scientific institute presented an updated unified catalog of 3D products, the digital database of which currently contains 277 thousand three-dimensional products: from complex equipment to the simplest parts. Rosneft design institutes use the catalog when developing structures, plant sites, pipelines and other industrial facilities. Ready-made solutions significantly reduce time and increase design efficiency. The institute’s specialists regularly update the catalog taking into account changes in industry documents.

    In 2024, the Company updated its fleet of diagnostic robotic complexes. Specialists from the Volgograd Scientific Institute created two new devices for diagnosing petrochemical facilities, such as high-temperature furnaces and propane dehydrogenation reactors. The robots transmit measurement results in real time and generate a report on the study conducted. Due to the reduction in the time of shutdown repairs, the economic effect at the plant with robotic diagnostics reaches 280 million rubles per year.

    Also, as part of the consistent robotization of production processes, Rosneft has equipped all echelon-type drilling rigs at the Verkhnechonskoye and Severo-Danilovskoye oil and gas condensate fields with robotic equipment for connecting drill pipes. The economic effect of using the new domestically produced development is 1.5 million rubles for each well.

    In 2024, the Tomsk Scientific Institute opened a new, second core storage facility, which will increase the total volume of core stored in the Company’s institutes by 25%, providing the corporate research and design unit with reserve space for at least 10 years.

    In addition, the institute’s specialists have put into operation an innovative mesotomograph – a device for studying a full-size core using X-ray tomography. Improved characteristics will help to select tools for searching and developing new deposits and increasing production at the Company’s existing assets more quickly and efficiently.

    Rosneft is actively developing technologies for developing complex reserves. At the Priobskoye field of the key production asset RN-Yuganskneftegaz, specialists from the scientific block have successfully implemented their own data processing technology, which determines oil-saturated zones for drilling with high accuracy. The innovation will allow for an additional extraction of more than 100 million tons of oil at the field.

    Rosneft is one of the largest petrochemical producers in Russia. In 2024, experts from a scientific institute in Novokuibyshevsk developed and patented a modified bitumen that can withstand increased transport loads. The new product is used in road surfaces and has an increased operating temperature range from plus 40°C to minus 50°C. The new bitumen can also withstand increased transport loads.

    The Company’s innovative development program is aimed at replacing imported technologies in the production of high-quality petroleum products. One of the main objectives of the program is the transition of Rosneft’s oil refineries to the use of highly efficient catalysts of their own production, which allows avoiding the risks of dependence on supplies of foreign products.

    Rosneft has been implementing a large-scale program for the comprehensive study and environmental monitoring of the Arctic since 2012. Together with the country’s leading specialized institutes, the Company’s scientific unit organizes hydrometeorological, geological, and biological research that is unprecedented in its geographical coverage.

    In 2024, the Company conducted its 50th anniversary research expedition to clarify the ice conditions of the Yenisei Gulf. During the work, a wide range of regular studies was carried out, covering all stages of ice cover development and destruction. The data obtained will form the basis for planning and organizing a system for safe and efficient transportation of hydrocarbons in the waters of Sever Bay and the northern part of the Yenisei Gulf.

    Also last year, Rosneft summed up the results of the first field season of the corporate biodiversity conservation program Tamura, the purpose of which is to obtain information on the state of key animal species in the Arctic region. The data obtained on the population of polar bears, wild reindeer and rare bird species will allow scientists to draw conclusions about the state of ecosystems and develop measures to preserve biodiversity.

    To update the geological model and resource potential of the Company in the East Siberian Sea, two shallow wells were drilled, from which 204 m of core were collected.

    Rosneft has unique capabilities both in developing its own technologies and in implementing them. By increasing the technological efficiency of production and actively improving its own intellectual competencies, the Company sees its goal as the development of Russian technological sovereignty across all production chains.

    Department of Information and Advertising of PJSC NK Rosneft February 7, 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.

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI: Ress Life Investments A/S publishes financial calendar

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Ress Life Investments A/S
    Nybrogade 12
    DK-1203 Copenhagen K
    Denmark
    CVR nr. 33593163
    www.resslifeinvestments.com
    To: Nasdaq Copenhagen
    Date: 7 February 2025

    Corporate Announcement 05/2025

    Ress Life Investments A/S publishes financial calendar

    The current financial year runs from 1 January to 31 December.

    Financial Calendar

    19th March 2025 Annual Report ending 31 December 2024

    16th April 2025 Annual General Meeting 

    9th September 2025 Interim financial statement for the period from 1 January 2025 through 30 June 2025

    Questions related to this announcement can be made to the company’s AIF-manager, Resscapital AB.

    Contact person:
    Gustaf Hagerud
    gustaf.hagerud@resscapital.com
    Tel + 46 8 545 282 27

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Valour Digital Securities Limited: BaFin threatens to impose coercive fines

    Source: Bundesanstalt für Finanzdienstleistungsaufsicht – In English

    On 22 January 2025, the Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) ordered Valour Digital Securities Limited to comply with the financial reporting requirements under the German Securities Trading Act (Wertpapierhandelsgesetz – WpHG). In case the company fails to comply with this order, BaFin also threatened to impose coercive fines in the amount of 57,500 euros.

    The notice is immediately enforceable but not yet final and binding.

    Background information: financial reporting requirements

    Companies such as Valour Digital Securities Limited that are domiciled in a third country and that issue securities that are traded on an organised market in Germany must prepare annual financial reports as at the end of each financial year. This information must be made publicly available no later than four months after the end of each financial year.

    Before publication, companies must publish an announcement informing the public and BaFin about the date from which and the website on which the information will be available.
    Valour Digital Securities Limited contravened these requirements since it failed to publish an annual financial report for the financial year 2023 as legally required minimum components are missing. The company also failed to publish an announcement in respect of this.

    The announcement by BaFin is also set out by law and is based on section 124 of the WpHG.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Video: Visit of the College of Commissioners to the Polish Presidency in Gdańsk, Poland

    Source: European Commission (video statements)

    Press conference by Donald TUSK, Polish Prime Minister andUrsula von der LEYEN, President of the European Commission

    Follow us on:
    -X: https://twitter.com/EU_Commission
    -Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/europeancommission/
    -Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EuropeanCommission
    -LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/european-commission/
    -Medium: https://medium.com/@EuropeanCommission

    Visit our website: http://ec.europa.eu/

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NCmHa-p1cfk

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: The work plan of SPbPU and KRSU for 2025 has been formed

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University – Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University –

    During the working visit of the acting rector of the Kyrgyz-Russian Slavic University Sergey Volkov to Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University, a meeting of key leaders was held to finalize the main positions of the plan of joint activities of KRSU and SPbPU for 2025.

    Opening the meeting, Vice-Rector for International Affairs Dmitry Arsenyev noted: 2025 began with a series of online meetings of specialized working groups of our two universities, where the main blocks of the plan for joint activities were worked out, parameters were defined in detail, and key indicators were calculated. Today’s meeting of supervising vice-rectors and directors of institutes is the final step towards approving this most important document.

    One of the main blocks of joint activities is “Development of educational potential”. The working group led by Vice-Rector for Educational Activities Lyudmila Pankova discussed in advance with colleagues from KRSU issues related to the opening of network master’s degree programs in the areas of construction, software engineering, logistics and technosphere safety. KRSU will act as the base organization and plans to begin recruitment for these programs in the fall of 2025. In the second year of study, KRSU students will come to the Polytechnic University and, if they successfully master all disciplines, will receive master’s degrees from both universities. Sergey Volkov confirmed that the most talented graduates of such joint programs will be invited to teach at KRSU.

    The most important component of educational activities is the organization of a distance learning system for KRSU students using the resources of the Polytechnic University. The joint work plan provides access to most SPbPU courses on the Moodle platform, as well as access for more than 50 students to the online laboratory campus. KRSU is working to open an Online Course Registration Center in Bishkek as early as 2025, and SPbPU is ready to provide expert support for the activities of such a center, train employees, conduct the necessary trainings and consultations.

    Based on the successful experience of cooperation with the Russian-Armenian University, SPbPU agreed with KRSU to introduce the course “Fundamentals of Project Activities” into the educational process. In 2025, mentors will be trained and methodological recommendations for the course will be developed.

    The successful practice of academic mobility of third-year undergraduate students of KRSU, who came to the Polytechnic for a semester last year, will continue. The directors of the Institute of Economics and Technology, Institute of Social Sciences, Institute of Economics, Institute of Science and Culture, and Institute of Physical and Mathematical Sciences (FSMEK) — the main institutes where students from Kyrgyzstan studied in 2024 — confirmed their interest in continuing such programs, but emphasized the importance of strict selection of students by field. Sergey Volkov confirmed that KRSU students are showing great interest in the Polytechnic and promised that 40 undergraduates and 10 graduates for study in the fall of 2025 will be carefully selected through a competition. In addition to semester mobility, the plan provides for short-term mobility and advanced training programs for KRSU students and teachers. Director of the Institute of Scientific Research Marina Petrochenko suggested that individual programs be timed to coincide with significant scientific and educational events of the Polytechnic institutes, for example, Science Week or student competitions, so that Kyrgyz students could participate in them.

    Advanced training for KRSU teachers will be held in a hybrid and in-person format. There is a request from Kyrgyz colleagues for programs in energy, electronics, supercomputer technologies, economic security, etc. In the near future, a specific list of programs will be formed and 15 teachers will be identified who will come to SPbPU for in-person training. A separate request from the KRSU leadership is to organize training for members of the admissions committee on technologies for conducting an admissions campaign, working with the “Apply Online” services and other recruitment practices adopted at the Polytechnic University.

    Vice-Rector for Research at SPbPU Yuri Fomin, presenting the final plan for the “Development of Scientific Potential” block, focused the attention of KRSU management on the need to build end-to-end business processes – from the selection and training of talented young scientists in graduate school to the formation of dissertation councils and successful defenses. Polytechnic is ready to share such experience. And in the near future, there are plans to organize dissertation defenses in SPbPU dissertation councils in key areas for KRSU applicants and postgraduate students.

    The specialized research groups of the institutes of KRSU and SPbPU have prepared a list of 12 initiative projects for joint research. Yuri Fomin suggested correlating these projects with the planned internships of postgraduate students, the organization of defenses, the preparation of publications, and the submission of applications for grants in order to ensure the most effective activities of joint research groups and support the long-term development of scientific potential.

    Two global joint projects of KRSU and SPbPU are planned as flagship projects in the work plan. The first is related to the work of the high-mountain observatory of atmospheric physics of KRSU. The observatory is equipped with high-tech instruments, in particular a lidar complex. The project will be of a more fundamental nature and will be related to studies of the state of the atmosphere, environmental monitoring, the formation of predictive models of seismic activity, etc. Over the years of the laboratory’s work, a significant array of data has been collected that can be used to verify and build models. On the part of SPbPU, the Institute of Electronics and Telecommunications and the Civil Engineering Institute will be involved in the project. Director of the Institute of Electronics and Telecommunications Alexander Korotkov noted the enormous potential of such an interdisciplinary project, which is capable of combining scientific competencies, the use of unique equipment, the developments of both the Polytechnic University and KRSU to develop a popular scientific direction and solve problems that are truly important for Kyrgyzstan.

    The second project is the preparation of a comprehensive plan for the development of mining in the interests of the industrial partner of KRSU, the company “Alliance Altyn”. In early March, a large off-site meeting will be held directly at the production site. Director of the Institute of Energy Viktor Barskov confirmed his interest in the project and his readiness to send specialists from the Institute to Bishkek.

    KRSU attracts not only industrial partners, but also government organizations to cooperation. In particular, the Ministry of Emergency Situations of the Kyrgyz Republic requested the organization of a Fire Safety Center on the basis of KRSU for the training and advanced training of relevant specialists. Director of the ISI Marina Petrochenko mentioned a similar experience of cooperation between Polytechnic University and the Gefest Group of Companies and the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Russia, which ultimately led to the creation of a basic department. The work plan for 2025 includes a clause on the organization of a Fire Safety Center at KRSU and joint work in this direction by the ISI SPbPU and the FADIS KRSU.

    Vice-Rector for Information Technologies of SPbPU Andrey Lyamin confirmed the possibility of using the resources of the SPbPU supercomputer for joint scientific work and the educational process. In the near future, a joint scientific group will be formed, and KRSU scientists will be able to gain access, including for the implementation of the above-mentioned flagship projects. Andrey Lyamin also raised the issue of organizing KRSU access to the most important university toolkit – the Antiplagiat program, which is needed for scientific and educational activities. In accordance with the work plan, SPbPU will provide the Kyrgyz university with access to the resource.

    In terms of joint work, significant attention is paid to the interaction of library systems, in particular the development of joint IT solutions, regulations and methods that will contribute to the maximum digitalization of librarianship, the formation of an operating repository and the promotion of the results of the intellectual work of KRSU students and scientists.

    The directors of SPbPU institutes supported the KRSU initiative to create a student design bureau, on the basis of which student teams, including joint ones, will design various solutions in the field of construction, energy, calculations and modeling. Such projects will be able to participate in university, regional and international competitions. The KRSU student design bureau will also serve as a basis for the implementation of applied projects of the course “Fundamentals of Project Activity”.

    And so that really interesting projects and developments do not go to waste, the director of the Center for Continuing Professional Education of the Digital Engineering School Sergey Salkutsan in January 2025 during a visit to KRSU agreed on all the details of the pilot project for the development of student entrepreneurship and the launch of the project “Graduate Qualification Work as a Startup”. But it is not only the students who are in the focus of attention – for the management teams of KRSU (and this is more than 400 people), trainings on lean manufacturing, developed at SPbPU, are planned.

    In 2025, the Polytechnic University will continue to support social projects, youth initiatives and communities. A joint student campaign will be held as part of the events for the 80th anniversary of the Victory in May 2025. Students and teachers will be able to take part in the events “Voice of Generations” and “Student Spring”. Vice-Rector for Youth Policy and Communication Technologies Maxim Pasholikov said that following mutual consultations between specialists from SPbPU and KRSU, a detailed plan for joint activities of student communities has been drawn up. The work will be carried out in constant communication, with monthly online meetings in each area.

    Also, key joint events will be the project-analytical session planned for May 2025 on the development of the KRSU development program for 2026-2030, and expert sessions on monitoring the implementation of the current development program and modernization and transformation processes. Acting Vice-Rector for Prospective Projects Maria Vrublevskaya, commenting on the preparation for this session, drew the attention of the KRSU management to the recommendations for assessing competencies and the staffing of the university, as well as conducting comprehensive work within the framework of the human capital management policy, which were formulated following the results strategic session in December 2024 years.

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Rosneft scientists introduce schoolchildren to the profession of geologist

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Rosneft – Rosneft – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

    On the eve of Russian Science Day, the Ufa scientific institute of Rosneft held a scientific and educational lecture for schoolchildren of the all-Russian “Movement of the First”. As part of the “Visiting a Scientist” project, students of grades 7-9 learned about the profession of a modern geologist.

    Schoolchildren learned about geological discoveries that influenced scientists’ ideas about the development of the Earth over billions of years. Today, this information helps answer the question of where it is best to look for oil. Rosneft searches for and explores hydrocarbon raw materials on land and water, and conducts scientific research in the Arctic and the World Ocean. Modern digital products developed by specialists at the research institute help with this. Millions of gigabytes of data are analyzed using artificial intelligence, and 3D models are built to make decisions, allowing for the prediction of events at a depth of several kilometers.

    Using high-precision microscopes, young researchers were able to study rock samples. Schoolchildren were also shown unique specimens of fossils, minerals, ancient microorganisms, shells and other geological finds dating back hundreds of millions of years.

    The company actively involves young people in science, helps them choose promising specialties for their future education and career. Schoolchildren were told about 13 corporate departments of Rosneft in leading universities of Bashkortostan – Ufa University of Science and Technology and Ufa State Petroleum Technological University. The best students, while still studying at the university, have the opportunity to find employment at Rosneft enterprises and participate in real production projects side by side with professionals.

    The event ended with a quiz, during which the most attentive listeners received gifts. On the same day, more than 100 Ufa residents had the opportunity to listen to a lecture on science and the Earth. The Institute organized a meeting with geologists for everyone at the site of the city coworking space “People”.

    Department of Information and Advertising of PJSC NK Rosneft February 6, 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.

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Polytechnic engineers create caterpillar track for all-terrain wheelchair

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University – Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University –

    At the Polytechnic University, a durable and quick-release track for an all-terrain wheelchair was created by order of the Observer Factory company. Before being handed over to the customer, the design was tested in real off-road conditions. The work was carried out with the support of the Priority-2030 strategic academic leadership program.

    Engineers from Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University have created a simple and reliable caterpillar track for the electric wheelchair “Maximus” so that it can be used in difficult-to-reach places. According to the engineers, this is especially important for improving the quality of life of people with special needs: the all-terrain wheelchair will allow them to move independently, for example, on a sandy beach, forest paths and snowy roads.

    The customer of the work was the Kaliningrad manufacturer of wheelchairs “Observer Factory”. The engineers of the Polytechnic University faced a difficult task: to develop a durable and quickly removable track for an all-terrain wheelchair that would withstand the full weight of the wheelchair with a passenger and ensure the safety of the trip.

    The Polytech Voltage Machine engineering team, with the support of experienced colleagues from the Automobiles and Tracked Vehicles department of the Higher School of Transport of the Institute of Mechanical Engineering, Materials and Transport of SPbPU, developed a rubber track with a metal embedded element inside. Together with partners, Polytech established a production chain: now such products can be mass-produced.

    The track is track-type, meaning that each track is manufactured separately and then assembled together using special “fingers” with locks. The track is only 100 mm wide, which makes it unique, since tracks of such a width are currently not mass-produced. And the high ridges allow it to be used with pneumatic tires without the risk of the wheel coming off the track. Tensile tests have shown that the track can withstand a force of three tons.

    Before handing over the product to the customer, the team conducted full-scale tests in real operating conditions. The operator sat in the stroller and, controlling the joystick, overcame the most difficult route. The stroller confidently passed through rough terrain, including swampy areas, muddy roads and different levels of roads.

    We confidently passed all the declared tests and handed over the caterpillar to the customer. Thanks to our development, the wheelchair will be able to overcome almost any difficult terrain without outside help. This is especially important for people who want to lead an active lifestyle. It should be noted that a wheelchair with a caterpillar track is also relevant for moving around the city, especially in the spring and autumn periods, – noted the project manager, engineer of the Higher School of Transport of the Institute of Mechanical Engineering, Materials and Transport of SPbPU Stepan Pichakhchi.

    “Observer Factory” has been a partner of the Polytechnic University for more than two years. In 2023, the university and the company developed a universal tracked platform “Zhuk” for wheelchair owners. The wheelchair drives onto the platform, after which the user controls its movement with a joystick. The project is designed to develop inclusive tourism in Russia.

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –