NewzIntel.com

Category: Europe

  • MIL-OSI Russia: The grand opening of a renovated student coworking space took place at HSE

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

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

    The development and implementation of the project took almost a year. Several layout options were proposed, but the optimal one was found quite quickly. The main tasks that needed to be solved in this space were various usage scenarios, acoustic comfort, and modern multimedia equipment.

    The coworking space provides 32 workstations at common tables, 6 acoustic booths for individual work and 20 free seating places in the recreation area. The negotiation area, designed for 10 people, is separated from the main volume by a glass partition. There are also 15 poufs to increase the number of seats in case of large events. The project turned out to be bright and dynamic. The final touch was a neon sign, the design of which was chosen based on the results of a student vote. All this became possible thanks to the joint efforts of HSE employees and students and colleagues from VTB Bank, who co-authored the project.

    “Perhaps we should have a karaoke night here,” jokes Vice-Rector Irina Martusevich, drawing attention to the good acoustics. The coworking space is designed for a large number of students to work simultaneously, which means that zoning and movement of sound in the space are extremely important. “At HSE, we strive to ensure that students communicate with each other as actively as possible, since the ability to communicate is one of the soft skills in demand among Russian employers. Our graduates have this skill, which distinguishes them from those who are used to working alone,” Irina Martusevich emphasized.

    Vice-Rector Salambek Dombaev is confident that the coworking space “will become a place of inspiration for students, teachers and scientists.” “I hope that this is not the last facility on our large university campus that we will make so beautiful and multifunctional together with our partners from VTB,” he added.

    “It is important to create classrooms that will not only be comfortable, but also useful for students, so that they receive a high-quality education, enter life and build a successful career,” emphasized Irina Kuzmina, VTB’s Corporate Social Responsibility Project Manager. She also recalled that the bank has long been cooperating with the Higher School of Economics and such partnerships make it possible, among other things, to find new young personnel among students.

    The project and author’s supervision of implementation was carried out HSE Design Laboratory. The coworking space’s special feature is a mobile partition wall that can divide the space into two independent spaces. The coworking space’s use scenarios are limited by the imagination of students and employees: it’s equally comfortable to hold a hackathon, lecture, round table, film screening or a small board game championship.

    Another feature is the presence of a screen with a schedule. Everyone can see when the coworking space is occupied and when it is free. As Deputy Vice-Rector Dmitry Shminke noted, this is a guarantee that students studying in the coworking space will always be able to plan their work in it and no one will ask them to vacate the space prematurely, as happened before the renovation.

    The first symbolic event in the updated coworking space was a round table with representatives of student organizations. Students discussed the possibilities of using the spaces for student events and tested the already popular acoustics.

    You can book a coworking space for your event right now. The booking form is available on the website Center for Support of Student InitiativesAt the same time, the space remains a place where you can come and work out in your free time.

    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: With the support of Rosneft, an online course on the Evenki language and culture has been developed

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

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

    As part of the grant program of the East Siberian Oil and Gas Company, a subsidiary of Rosneft Oil Company, scientists from the Siberian Federal University (SFU) have launched an online course, “Evenki Language and Culture.” The course is designed for schoolchildren from remote settlements and boarding schools in the Evenki Municipal District and will help students learn the Evenki language and introduce them to the culture and way of life of the indigenous people.

    The course is aimed at developing knowledge about the basics of the Evenki language and the unique worldview preserved in the Evenki culture. The course includes 18 modules, navigation through the material depends on the student’s results.

    The course developers tested the teaching materials at the Baikitskaya Secondary School. The scientists conducted discussion lessons, lectures, and career guidance games for students in grades 4–11. The students learned about the main modules and technical capabilities of the course.

    At the beginning of the school year, all those who wish will be able to start learning. The program allows for a personalized approach for more effective mastery of the material by each student, and also includes weekly monitoring, which allows for identifying and eliminating gaps in knowledge.

    Thanks to the VSNK grant program, cultural and linguistic projects have previously been successfully implemented. In 2022, scientists developed and published a manual for schoolchildren on studying the culture and language of the unique Keto people. This manual is widely used in educational institutions, promoting a deeper understanding of the linguistic heritage and the formation of respect for cultural diversity. In addition, the manual includes interactive tasks and materials that make the learning process more fun and effective. Earlier, an electronic version of the Evenki-Russian dictionary “Evedy-Luchady Tureruk”, a collection of works by Evenki masters and a unique alphabet “Evenkia: from A to Z”, created by children from the village of Baikit, Evenki District, Krasnoyarsk Territory, were released.

    Preservation of the national culture of the indigenous peoples of the North and their traditional way of life is one of the key areas of the Company’s social policy. Rosneft enterprises implement many social, charitable and grant programs in support of scientific and applied projects.

    Reference:

    The East Siberian Oil and Gas Company, a subsidiary of Rosneft, is developing the Yurubcheno-Tokhomskoye oil and gas condensate field in the Evenki municipal district of Krasnoyarsk Krai. Over the years of its work in the region, VSNK has implemented many social, charitable and grant programs that have practical significance for Evenkia.

    The VSNK grant program has been in effect since 2014. During this time, oil workers have supported 29 scientific works, including projects to preserve the Evenki language, reconstruct the Ethnopedagogical Center in the village of Tura, develop the first Red Book of Evenkia, revive the endangered breed of the Evenki aboriginal Laika, and others. The implementation of grant programs helps preserve the unique national culture, traditional way of life, and identity of the indigenous population of Evenkia.

    Department of Information and Advertising of PJSC NK Rosneft March 28, 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 United Nations: Tens of millions at risk of extreme hunger and starvation as unprecedented funding crisis spirals

    Source: World Food Programme

    Photo: WFP/WFP/Jerry Ally Kahashi. WFP food distribution in Goma, DRC.

    ROME – The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) warned today that 58 million people risk losing life-saving assistance in the agency’s 28 most critical crisis response operations unless new funding is received urgently.

    Despite the generosity of many governments and individual donors, WFP is experiencing a steep decline in funding across its major donors. The severity of these cuts, combined with record levels of people in need, have led to an unprecedented crisis for tens of millions across the globe reliant on food aid.

    Right now, the organization is facing an alarming 40 percent drop in funding for 2025, as compared to last year. This is having severe repercussions for its food aid efforts globally, particularly emergency feeding programs that support the most vulnerable.

    “WFP is prioritizing countries with the greatest needs and stretching food rations at the frontlines. While we are doing everything possible to reduce operational costs, make no mistake, we are facing a funding cliff with life-threatening consequences,” said Rania Dagash-Kamara, WFP Assistant Executive Director for Partnerships and Innovation. “Emergency feeding programmes not only save lives and alleviate human suffering, they bring greatly needed stability to fragile communities, which can spiral downwards when faced with extreme hunger.”

    WFP on the Frontlines 

    Today, global hunger is skyrocketing as 343 million people face severe food insecurity, driven by an unrelenting wave of global crises including conflict, economic instability, and climate-related emergencies. In 2025, WFP’s operations are focused on supporting just over one-third of those in need – roughly 123 million of the world’s hungriest people – nearly half of whom (58 million) are at imminent risk of losing access to food assistance.

    Last year, WFP teams helped feed more than 120 million people in 80 countries, delivering urgent food aid to hunger hot spots and frontline crises around the world. 

    Imminent Pipeline Breaks

    As WFP works to quickly adapt its operations to current low funding levels, it is alerting donors that its 28 most critical crisis response operations are facing severe funding constraints and dangerously low food supplies through August. 

    The 28 programs span: Lebanon, Sudan, Syria, South Sudan, Chad, Afghanistan, Myanmar, Uganda, Niger, Burkina Faso, DRC, Yemen, Mali, Bangladesh, Venezuela, Haiti, Mozambique, Nigeria, Somalia, Kenya, Ukraine, Malawi, Burundi, Ethiopia, Palestine, Central African Republic, Jordan, and Egypt. 

    Below are a few examples of these programmes.
     

    • Sudan: WFP requires nearly US$570 million to support over 7 million people per month in Sudan where a looming pipeline break will hit as early as April. Famine was first confirmed in Zamzam camp near the embattled city of El Fasher and has since spread to 10 areas across North Darfur and the Western Nuba mountains. In Sudan 24.6 million people do not have enough to eat. Delays in funding to deliver emergency food assistance, emergency nutrition and emergency logistics will cut a vital lifeline for millions with immediate and devastating consequences for vulnerable populations, who in many cases are just one step away from starvation.
    • Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC): WFP requires US$399 million to feed 6.4 million as escalating violence by militia groups in the east has already displaced more than a million people. Food and nutrition assistance across the DRC is vital to stabilize the region and reach the most vulnerable who have already been displaced by conflict multiple times.
    •  Palestine: WFP emergency response requires approximately US$265 million over the next six months to provide support to nearly 1.4 million people in Gaza and the West Bank. An additional US$34 million is urgently needed for 3-month shock-responsive cash transfer assistance to support 40,000 families in the West Bank. The humanitarian situation in Gaza remains critical with over 2 million people fully dependent on food assistance – most of them displaced, without shelter and income.
       
    • Syria: WFP requires US$140 million to provide food and nutrition assistance to 1.2 million people every month. Without new funding, WFP faces a pipeline break in August which would cut off food assistance to one million of the most severely food-insecure individuals. Any disruption in life-saving assistance threatens to erode stability and social cohesion during a critical moment when millions of Syrians try to return home.
       
    • Lebanon: WFP requires US$162 million to feed 1.4 million people as severe funding shortfalls are already disrupting food assistance to vulnerable Lebanese and Syrian refugees – fostering instability and heightened social tensions. With an ongoing economic crisis and government transition in Lebanon, food insecurity continues to rise with one in three already facing acute hunger. 
       
    • South Sudan: WFP requires US$281 million to provide food and nutrition assistance to 2.3 million people escaping war, climate extremes, and an economic disaster – plunging them into a severe hunger crisis. South Sudan has also seen more than one million people arrive, fleeing from the war in Sudan. Nearly two-thirds of the people in South Sudan are acutely food insecure. New funding for WFP’s crisis response activities in South Sudan is needed now to preposition life-saving food ahead of the rainy season.
    • Myanmar: WFP requires US$60 million to provide life-saving food assistance to 1.2 million people. Without immediate new funding a pipeline break in April will cut off one million from all support. Increased conflict, displacement and access restrictions are already sharply driving up food aid needs as the lean season is expected to begin in July when food shortages hit hardest.
    • Haiti: WFP requires US$10 million to feed 1.3 million as brutal violence by armed groups has caused record levels of hunger and displacement. Half the population is facing extreme hunger and a quarter of the children under the age of five are stunted. More than a million people have been forced from their homes, including a record 60,000 in just one month this year. WFP has been providing hot meals and cash assistance to displaced people, but without new funding, that lifesaving assistance could be suspended in the coming weeks.
    • Saheland Lake Chad Basin: WFP requires US$570 million to reach 5 million people with life-saving food and nutrition assistance. Without new funding a pipeline break is expected in April. Millions of the most vulnerable people in Burkina Faso, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, the Central African Republic, Cameroon, and Nigeria in need of emergency support also face dire consequences as the June to August lean season approaches. At current funding levels, five million people risk losing critical support from WFP in the months ahead.

    #                 #                   #

    The United Nations World Food Programme is the world’s largest humanitarian organization saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change.

    Follow us on X, formerly Twitter, via @wfp_media 

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Beijing Intl Film Festival announces star-studded jury, lineup and events

    Source: China State Council Information Office 3

    Organizers have announced the Tiantan Award jury panel and additional details for the 15th Beijing International Film Festival (BJIFF), set for April 18-26 in Beijing.

    Organizers reveal the jury panel for the Tiantan Award main competition of the 15th Beijing International Film Festival during a press conference in Beijing, March 27, 2025. [Photo courtesy of the BJIFF Organizing Committee] 

    Prominent Chinese filmmaker Jiang Wen will chair the seven-member jury, organizers revealed at a press conference in Beijing on March 27.

    Jiang, known for his award-winning works “In the Heat of the Sun” (1994) and “Let the Bullets Fly” (2010), also gained international recognition for his role as Baze Malbus in “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story” (2016).

    His experience includes serving as a competition juror at the Cannes International Film Festival in 2003 and the Venice International Film Festival in 2013. In 2017, Jiang became a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. The following year, he presided as jury president at the Shanghai International Film Festival.

    The BJIFF’s Tiantan Award main competition jury will include Chinese American director and actor Joan Chen, British director David Yates, Chinese mainland actor Ni Ni, Finnish director Teemu Nikki, Swiss director and actor Vincent Perez, and Chinese art director Tim Yip from China’s Hong Kong. The panel will select winners across 10 categories, including best feature film, best director and best screenplay. All awards will be presented at the festival’s closing ceremony and gala.

    The competition received a record 1,794 feature film submissions from 103 countries and regions, marking a 19% increase over last year’s 1,509 entries. International submissions accounted for 1,608 films, comprising nearly 90% of all entries and reflecting exceptional diversity in genre and thematic scope.

    Fifteen films have been shortlisted for the final competition, including three Chinese entries: Hao Ming and Li Peiran’s “Better Me, Better You,” Li Yongyi’s “Deep in the Mountains,” and Zhang Qi’s “Trapped.”

    International selections for the competition include Emine Yildirim’s “Apollon by Day Athena by Night” (Turkey), Sora Hokimoto’s “BAUS: The Ship’s Voyage Continues” (Japan), Maria Brendle’s “Frieda’s Case” (Switzerland), Tim Ellrich’s “In My Parents’ House” (Germany), Lilja Ingolfsdottir’s “Loveable” (Norway), Tobias Schmutzler, Kevin Schmutzler, Apuu Mourine, and Vallentine Chelluget’s “Nawi: Dear Future Me” (Kenya/Germany), Sophie Deraspe’s “Shepherds” (Canada/France), Andrea Segre’s “The Great Ambition” (Italy/Belgium/Bulgaria), Ivan Fund’s “The Message” (Argentina/Spain/Uruguay), Charlie McDowell’s “The Summer Book” (Finland/United Kingdom/United States), Noëlle Bastin and Baptiste Bogaert’s “Vitrival – The Most Beautiful Village in the World” (Belgium), and Hadi Mohaghegh’s “Vortex” (Iran/Czech Republic).

    The festival is supported by the China Film Administration and hosted by the Beijing municipal government and China Media Group. It will include star-studded opening and closing ceremonies featuring red-carpet shows.

    The festival’s core forums will delve into key topics, including intellectual property development, industry innovation, audience-driven storytelling and emerging film technologies. Additionally, the event will offer masterclasses conducted by acclaimed directors Jiang Wen and Jia Zhangke, along with French cinema icon Isabelle Huppert.

    The official poster for the 15th Beijing International Film Festival, designed by the renowned art director Huo Tingxiao. [Photo courtesy of the BJIFF Organizing Committee] 

    The festival also includes the Beijing Film Panorama, a highly anticipated program showcasing nostalgic classics, new blockbusters and previously unreleased films in China. This year, it will celebrate the 120th anniversary of Chinese cinema and the 130th anniversary of world cinema.

    It will feature 18 thematic sections with nearly 300 exceptional international films across about 900 screenings at 33 premium venues in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region. These venues span commercial theaters, arthouse cinemas and cultural spaces. Initial confirmed films include a Robert Altman centenary retrospective, as well as works by Jiri Menzel, Andrei Tarkovsky and the late David Lynch.

    The BJIFF will feature a diverse lineup with hundreds of events, including a film carnival, pitch sessions for emerging filmmakers and cross-industry collaborations that merge cinema with music, fashion and gastronomy.

    Additional highlights include cutting-edge tech showcases, programs focused on short films, sports films, works by female directors, and young filmmakers, plus creative markets, an AI-generated film competition unit, and a university student film festival.

    This year, Switzerland serves as the Country of Honor to commemorate 75 years of China-Switzerland diplomatic relations, with a special Swiss Film Week. The festival will also introduce its inaugural China Film Global Distribution and Promotion Awards, recognizing 10 domestic and international distributors for their outstanding work in promoting Chinese cinema globally and enhancing both its commercial reach and cultural impact.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Anniversary Statement: Rans S6-ESD XL, G-MZBU

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    News story

    Anniversary Statement: Rans S6-ESD XL, G-MZBU

    Departed runway during landing and overturned, Yatesbury Airfield, Wiltshire, 30 March 2024

    This statement provides an update on the ongoing AAIB investigation into an accident involving a Rans S6-ESB which departed the runway during landing, overturned and suffered substantial damage at Yatesbruy airfield, Wiltshire.

    The draft report has been produced and consultation comments received.  The final report will be published in the near future.

    Updates to this page

    Published 28 March 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: World first as MHRA approves trofolastat for diagnostic imaging of prostate cancer in men 

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    World first as MHRA approves trofolastat for diagnostic imaging of prostate cancer in men 

    As with all products, the MHRA will keep its safety under close review.

    The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has approved trofolastat (RoTecPSMA), the first prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA)-targeting product authorised for use with technetium-99m to detect cancerous lesions in men with prostate cancer.

    Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers in men in the UK, with 1 in 8 men diagnosed in their lifetime. Diagnostic imaging plays an important role in identifying cancerous areas, which may help guide treatment decisions. 

    Trofolastat is combined with the radioactive tracer technetium-99m to form Technetium (99mTc) trofolastat, which is administered as a single injection. It binds to a protein called PSMA found on prostate cancer cells, helping doctors identify cancerous areas during a medical imaging technique known as single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT).  

    Julian Beach, MHRA Interim Executive Director, Healthcare Quality and Access, said:  

    Keeping patients safe and ensuring access to high quality, safe and effective medical products are key priorities for the MHRA.  

    As the first PSMA-targeting diagnostic product approved with Technetium-99m, which is widely available in UK nuclear medicine facilities, this approval has the potential to expand access to prostate cancer imaging and support diagnostic pathways within the NHS. 

    The approval of this diagnostic product follows a rigorous assessment to ensure that it meets the required regulatory standards. As with all products, we will continue to monitor its safety and effectiveness.

    Trofolastat has been approved for use in three clinical settings: identifying how far high-risk prostate cancer has spread before treatment, detecting recurrence in patients with rising prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels, and determining whether targeted therapies might be effective for metastatic prostate cancer patients. 

    This national approval is supported by evidence from a multi-centre, prospective study involving 105 prostate cancer patients. Technetium (99mTc) trofolastat demonstrated 94.2% sensitivity in identifying prostate cancer lesions and an 83.3% specificity in confirming cancer-free areas.  

    The most common side effect associated with Technetium (99mTc) trofolastat was headache. A full list of side effects can be found in the Patient Information Leaflet (PIL) or the Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC), available on the MHRA website within 7 days of approval. 

    As with any medicine, the MHRA will keep the safety and effectiveness of RoTecPSMA under close review.  Anyone who suspects they are having a side effect from this medicine are encouraged to talk to their doctor, pharmacist or nurse and report it directly to the Yellow Card scheme, either through the website (https://yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk/) or by searching the Google Play or Apple App stores for MHRA Yellow Card.  

    ENDS  

    Notes to editors   

    1. The new marketing authorisation was granted on 27th March 2025.  

    2. More information can be found in the Summary of Product Characteristics and Patient Information leaflets which will be published on the MHRA Products website within 7 days of approval.   

    3. For more information about prostate cancer, visit: www.nhs.uk/conditions/prostate-cancer/  

    4. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is responsible for regulating all medicines and medical devices in the UK by ensuring they work and are acceptably safe.  All our work is underpinned by robust and fact-based judgements to ensure that the benefits justify any risks.   

    5. The MHRA is an executive agency of the Department of Health and Social Care.   

    6. For media enquiries, please contact the newscentre@mhra.gov.uk, or call on 020 3080 7651.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: expert reaction to Myanmar earthquake

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Scientists comment on a 7.7 magnitude earthquake that has hit central Myanmar.

    Prof Bill McGuire, Professor Emeritus of Geophysical & Climate Hazards, University College London (UCL), said:

    “Myanmar is one of the most seismically active countries in the world, so this quake is not a surprise. It looks to have occurred on the major Sagaing Fault, which marks the boundary between two tectonic plates, and which runs north – south close to a number of large population centres.

    “This is probably the biggest earthquake on the Myanmar mainland in three quarters of a century, and a combination of size and very shallow depth will maximise the chances of damage. It is highly likely that build quality will generally not be high enough to survive this level of shaking, and casualty numbers will almost certainly climb significantly as more becomes known of the scale of the disaster.

    “There has already been one sizeable aftershock and more can be expected. This will threaten the collapse of weakened buildings and make the jobs of rescue workers that much more challenging”

     

    Prof Joanna Faure Walker, Professor of Earthquake Geology and Disaster Risk Reduction, University College London (UCL), said:

    “Myanmar is no stranger to earthquakes. The plate boundary between the India Plate and Eurasia Plate runs approximately north-south, cutting through the middle of the country. These two plates move past each other as they are moving at different rates along a transform plate boundary (a bit like the San Andreas Fault in the south west of the United States). Although such strike slip earthquakes are of smaller magnitude than the largest earthquakes seen in subduction zones, like to the south in Sumatra, they can still reach magnitudes 7 to 8 and cause severe destruction, as we are seeing in the March 2025 earthquake.”

     

    Dr Roger Musson, Honorary Research Fellow, British Geological Survey (BGS), said:

    “Large earthquakes in this region are rare but not unknown, the last similar event being in 1956, more or less beyond living memory. This means that buildings are unlikely to be designed against seismic forces, and therefore are more vulnerable when an earthquake like this occurs, resulting in more damage and higher casualties. The ultimate cause of the earthquake is the northward movement of the Indian Plate, which produces a tearing effect along N-S trending vertical faults.”

     

    Prof Ilan Kelman, Professor of Disasters and Health, Institute for Risk and Disaster Reduction (IRDR), University College London (UCL), said:

    “Getting humanitarian relief into the worst-affected areas of Burma / Myanmar might not be politically easy. In 2008, Cyclone Nargis killed over 130,000 people in the country. The government took days to accept significant aid and then inhibited its delivery.

    “For ‘disaster diplomacy’ to work – supporting disaster-affected people in areas with violent or political conflict – the world and the disaster-struck authorities must cooperate. Many governments running Burma / Myanmar have been highly controlling, including since the February 2021 military coup. Helping people in need without helping an oppressive government is a tricky situation for aid donors to navigate, not helped by the reported damage to transportation and communication systems.

    “The usual mantra is that ‘Earthquakes don’t kill people; collapsing infrastructure does’. Governments are responsible for planning regulations and building codes. This disaster exposes what governments of Burma / Myanmar failed to do long before the earthquake which would have saved lives during the shaking.”

    Declared interests

    Prof Bill McGuire “No interests to declare”

    Prof Joanna Faure Walker “None to declare”

    Prof Ilan Kelman “Ilan has been researching disaster diplomacy since 1999.”

    For all other experts, no reply to our request for DOIs was received.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Coming up next week at the London Assembly W/C 31 March

    Source: Mayor of London

    PUBLICATIONS

    Thursday 3 April

    Cooperative Housing & Community Land Trusts

    Housing Committee

    The Housing Committee will publish a report on community-led housing schemes, including the challenges they face and the support needed to deliver the benefits that they provide to Londoners.

    MEDIA CONTACT: Josh Hunt on 07763 252 310 / [email protected]

    PUBLIC MEETINGS                                                                  

    Wednesday 2 April

    Oxford Street Consultation

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

    The London Assembly Planning and Regeneration Committee will meet to scrutinise the Mayor of London’s plans to pedestrianise Oxford Street.

    The guests are:

    Panel 1 – 10.00 – 11.15

    • Cllr Adam Hug, Leader of Westminster City Council
    • Cllr Richard Olszewski, Leader of Camden Council
    • Dee Corsi, Chief Executive of New West End Company
    • Tim Lord, Chair of the Executive Committee, The Soho Society

    Panel 2 – 11.20 – 12.30

    • Dr Will Norman, Walking and Cycling Commissioner, Greater London Authority
    • David Rowe, Director of Investment Delivery Planning, Transport for London

    MEDIA CONTACT: Josh Hunt on 07763 252 310 / [email protected]

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: The Kalantarov-Yatsenko Dynasty

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

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

    Pavel Lazarevich Kalantarov, a 1920 graduate of the Polytechnic Institute, played a significant role in the development of theoretical electrical engineering and became one of the founders of higher electrical engineering education in the country. He received a doctorate in technical sciences and was awarded the title of Honored Scientist of the RSFSR, as well as the Order of Lenin. Pavel Lazarevich linked his professional activities with his alma mater, where he held the positions of professor, head of departments, dean and rector. His great-great-grandson Pyotr Yatsenko is currently a first-year student at the Civil Engineering Institute. He shared unique facts from the life of his outstanding ancestor and spoke about other representatives of the Polytechnic dynasty. Read about this in our traditional “Dynasty” column.

    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: Katapult Delivers Double-Digit Gross Originations Growth in the Fourth Quarter, Above Outlook

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Strong Holiday Season Performance; Momentum Continuing into 2025
    Establishes 2025 Outlook; Expects Growth to Continue in Q1 2025

    PLANO, Texas, March 28, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Katapult Holdings, Inc. (“Katapult” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ: KPLT), an e-commerce-focused financial technology company, today reported its financial results for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2024.

    “We had a great fourth quarter, which included stronger-than-expected gross originations growth and 50% growth in application volume,” said Orlando Zayas, CEO of Katapult. “The fourth quarter holiday season is an incredibly important time for many of our merchant-partners and the Katapult marketplace delivered, including more than 100% year-over-year gross originations growth during the Cyber 5 period in 2024. This growth was driven by a number of initiatives including targeted and co-branded marketing campaigns and the launch of new app features that enhance the customer experience. Given our high repeat customer rate and the incremental sales we’re generating for our merchant-partners, we are confident that retailers, partners and consumers alike understand the value Katapult brings to the table.”

    “Prior to the launch of our app, we relied on direct and waterfall merchants to send us consumers and we developed a consistent track record for converting this traffic to the benefit of our merchant-partners. When we launched the Katapult app two years ago, we believed we could transform our operating model from a single-input driven business to a two-sided marketplace with a multidimensional growth engine. Our fourth quarter results demonstrated the progress we are making toward this goal. Customers are engaging more and more frequently with our marketplace, and during the fourth quarter, this led to approximately 61% of our gross originations starting in the Katapult app marketplace. The two-sided Katapult app marketplace, powered by KPay (Katapult Pay (R)), has become a reliable shopping destination for consumers across the US and a growth partner for durable goods merchants. We are excited about our potential and are looking forward to a great 2025.”

    Operating Progress: Recent Highlights

    • Successfully transitioning business model to two-sided marketplace and increasing platform velocity
      • ~61% of fourth quarter gross originations started in the Katapult app marketplace, making it the single largest customer referral source
      • Customer satisfaction remained high and Katapult had a Net Promoter Score of 58 as of December 31, 2024
      • 61.5% of gross originations for the fourth quarter of 2024 came from repeat customers1
    • Grew consumer engagement by adding app functionality and features and executing targeted marketing campaigns
      • Lease applications grew 50% year-over-year in the fourth quarter driven by new and existing customers
      • KPay gross originations grew approximately 52% year-over-year in the fourth quarter; 41% of total gross originations were transacted using KPay
      • Launched Metro by T-Mobile(R) (December 2024), Zales(R) (January 2025) and Rooms to Go(R) (February 2025) in the Katapult app marketplace, bringing the total number of merchants in our ecosystem to 33.
    • Strong progress against merchant engagement initiatives
      • Direct and waterfall gross originations, which represented 68% of total fourth quarter originations, grew approximately 44%, excluding the home furnishings and mattress category
      • Continued to expand our waterfall partnerships by onboarding 11 new merchants, including eight that are new to the Katapult app marketplace and three that already had a direct integration with Katapult
      • Together with several merchant-partners, we launched co-branded, co-promoted marketing campaigns that helped drive gross originations during the Cyber 5 period higher by more than 100% compared with the same period of last year
    • Entered new partnerships focused on expanding our applicant pool and providing consumers with more reasons to engage with the Katapult app marketplace

    Fourth Quarter 2024 Financial Highlights

    (All comparisons are year-over-year unless stated otherwise.)

    • Gross originations were $75.2 million, an increase of 11.3%. Excluding the home furnishings and mattress category within our direct/waterfall channel, gross originations grew 50% year-over-year.
    • Total revenue was $63.0 million, an increase of 9.4%
    • Total operating expenses in the fourth quarter decreased 37.4%. Our fixed cash operating expenses2, which exclude litigation settlement expenses, decreased approximately 7.1%.
    • Net loss was $9.6 million for the fourth quarter of 2024, an improvement compared with net loss of $14.6 million reported for the fourth quarter of 2023.
    • Adjusted net loss2 was $8.0 million for the fourth quarter of 2024 compared to an adjusted net loss of $6.3 million reported for the fourth quarter of 2023
    • Adjusted EBITDA2 loss was $1.1 million for the fourth quarter of 2024 compared to Adjusted EBITDA2 loss of $0.3 million in the fourth quarter of 2023. The year-over-year performance was driven largely by higher cost of sales related to rapid, faster-than-expected gross originations growth in the fourth quarter of 2024.
    • Katapult ended the quarter with total cash and cash equivalents of $16.6 million, which includes $13.1 million of restricted cash. The Company ended the quarter with $82.8 million of outstanding debt on its credit facility.
    • Write-offs as a percentage of revenue were 9.6% in the fourth quarter of 2024 and are within the Company’s 8% to 10% long-term target range. This compares with 8.7% in the fourth quarter of 2023.

    2024 Financial Highlights

    (All comparisons are year-over-year unless stated otherwise.)

    • Gross originations were $237 million, an increase of 4.7%
    • Total revenue was $247 million, an increase of 11.6%
    • Total operating expenses decreased 11.0%. Excluding litigation settlement expenses, total operating expenses decreased 17.0%. Our fixed cash operating expenses2, which exclude litigation settlement expenses, decreased approximately 7.1%.
    • Net loss was $26 million, an improvement compared with net loss of $37 million for 2023
    • Adjusted net loss2 was $17 million, an improvement compared to an adjusted net loss of $23 million for 2023
    • Adjusted EBITDA2 was $5 million compared to Adjusted EBITDA2 loss of $2 million in 2023
    • Write-offs as a percentage of revenue were 9.2% in 2024 and are within the Company’s 8% to 10% long-term target range. This compares with 9.2% in 2023.

    [1] Repeat customer rate is defined as the percentage of in-quarter originations from existing customers.
    [2] Please refer to the “Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Measure and Certain Other Data” section and the GAAP to non-GAAP reconciliation tables below for more information.  

    First Quarter and Full Year 2025 Business Outlook

    The Company is continuing to navigate a challenging macro environment particularly within the home furnishings category. Given the current breadth of our merchant selection as well as our plans to introduce new merchants to the Katapult App Marketplace during 2025, our strategic marketing and our strong consumer offering, we believe we are well positioned to deliver continued growth in 2025. We continue to believe that we have a large addressable market of underserved, non-prime consumers, and it’s important to note that lease-to-own solutions have historically benefited when prime credit options become less available.

    Given our quarter-to-date progress, Katapult expects the following results for the first quarter of 2025:

    • Approximately 11% year-over-year increase in gross originations
    • Approximately 10% year-over-year increase in revenue
    • Approximately $3 million of positive Adjusted EBITDA

    Based on the macroeconomic assumptions above and the operating plan in place for the full year 2025, Katapult expects to deliver the following results for full year 2025:

    • We expect gross originations to grow at least 20%

      This outlook does not include any material impact from prime creditors tightening or loosening above us and assumes that there are no significant changes to the macro environment.

      Both our first quarter and full year outlooks assume that the gross originations for the home furnishings and mattress category does not improve materially from our 2024 performance.

    • We also expect to maintain strong credit quality in our portfolio. This will be driven by ongoing enhancements to our risk modeling, onboarding high quality new merchants through integrations, and repeat customers engaging with Katapult Pay
    • Revenue growth is expected to be at least 20%
    • Finally with the continued execution of our disciplined expense management strategy combined with our growing top-line, we expect to deliver at least $10 million in positive Adjusted EBITDA

    “During 2024, we delivered strong top-line growth while continuing to lean into fiscal discipline and as a result, we were able to generate our first full year of Adjusted EBITDA profitability since 2021,” said Nancy Walsh, CFO of Katapult. “Since we have a two-sided marketplace business model, we can continue to scale our revenue without adding commensurate expenses. This means that in times of rapid revenue growth, as we are expecting in 2025, we can meaningfully accelerate our Adjusted EBITDA flow-through. We are executing well across the breadth of our two-sided marketplace and we expect to build on this momentum throughout 2025.”

    Conference Call and Webcast

    The Company will host a conference call and webcast at 8:00 AM ET on Friday, March 28, 2025, to discuss the Company’s financial results. Related presentation materials will be available before the call on the Company’s Investor Relations page at https://ir.katapultholdings.com. The conference call will be broadcast live in listen-only mode and an archive of the webcast will be available for one year.

    About Katapult

    Katapult is a technology driven lease-to-own platform that integrates with omnichannel retailers and e-commerce platforms to power the purchasing of everyday durable goods for underserved U.S. non-prime consumers. Through our point-of-sale (POS) integrations and innovative mobile app featuring Katapult Pay(R), consumers who may be unable to access traditional financing can shop a growing network of merchant partners. Our process is simple, fast, and transparent. We believe that seeing the good in people is good for business, humanizing the way underserved consumers get the things they need with payment solutions based on fairness and dignity.

    Contact

    Jennifer Kull
    VP of Investor Relations
    ir@katapult.com 

    Forward-Looking Statements

    Certain statements included in this Press Release and on our quarterly earnings call that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements for purposes of the safe harbor provisions under the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. In some cases, forward-looking statements may be identified by words such as “anticipate,” “assume,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “design,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “potentially,” “predict,” “should,” “will,” “would,” or the negative of these terms or other similar expressions. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: in this Press Release and on our associated earnings call, statements regarding our first quarter of 2025 and full year 2025 business outlook and underlying assumptions, the expectation that the home furnishings category will not materially improve in the first quarter or throughout 2025, statements regarding our expectations for 2025, the impact of KPay on customer acquisition and our relationship with existing customers, the durability and timing of macroeconomic headwinds, the impact of our integrations within third-party waterfalls and our relationships with new merchant-partners on gross originations and financial expectations beyond 2025. These statements are based on various assumptions, whether or not identified in this Press Release, and on the current expectations of our management and are not predictions of actual performance.

    These forward-looking statements are provided for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to serve as, a guarantee, an assurance, a prediction or a definitive statement of fact or probability. Actual events and circumstances are difficult or impossible to predict and will differ from assumptions. Many actual events and circumstances are beyond our control. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including, among others, our ability to refinance our indebtedness and continue as a going concern, the execution of our business strategy and expanding information and technology capabilities; our market opportunity and our ability to acquire new customers and retain existing customers; adoption and success of our mobile application featuring Katapult Pay; the timing and impact of our growth initiatives on our future financial performance; anticipated occurrence and timing of prime lending tightening and impact on our results of operations; general economic conditions in the markets where we operate, the cyclical nature of customer spending, and seasonal sales and spending patterns of customers; risks relating to factors affecting consumer spending that are not under our control, including, among others, levels of employment, disposable consumer income, inflation, prevailing interest rates, consumer debt and availability of credit, consumer confidence in future economic conditions, political conditions, and consumer perceptions of personal well-being and security and willingness and ability of customers to pay for the goods they lease through us when due; risks relating to uncertainty of our estimates of market opportunity and forecasts of market growth; risks related to the concentration of a significant portion of our transaction volume with a single merchant partner, or type of merchant or industry; the effects of competition on our future business; meet future liquidity requirements and complying with restrictive covenants related to our long-term indebtedness; the impact of unstable market and economic conditions such as rising inflation and interest rates; reliability of our platform and effectiveness of our risk model; data security breaches or other information technology incidents or disruptions, including cyber-attacks, and the protection of confidential, proprietary, personal and other information, including personal data of customers; ability to attract and retain employees, executive officers or directors; effectively respond to general economic and business conditions; obtain additional capital, including equity or debt financing and servicing our indebtedness; enhance future operating and financial results; anticipate rapid technological changes, including generative artificial intelligence and other new technologies; comply with laws and regulations applicable to our business, including laws and regulations related to rental purchase transactions; stay abreast of modified or new laws and regulations applying to our business, including with respect to rental purchase transactions and privacy regulations; maintain and grow relationships with merchants and partners; respond to uncertainties associated with product and service developments and market acceptance; the impacts of new U.S. federal income tax laws; material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting which, if not identified and remediated, could affect the reliability of our financial statements; successfully defend litigation; litigation, regulatory matters, complaints, adverse publicity and/or misconduct by employees, vendors and/or service providers; and other events or factors, including those resulting from civil unrest, war, foreign invasions (including the conflict involving Russia and Ukraine and the Israel-Hamas conflict), terrorism, public health crises and pandemics (such as COVID-19), trade wars, or responses to such events; our ability to meet the minimum requirements for continued listing on the Nasdaq Global Market; and those factors discussed in greater detail in the section entitled “Risk Factors” in our periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), including the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024 that we filed with the SEC.

    If any of these risks materialize or our assumptions prove incorrect, actual results could differ materially from the results implied by these forward-looking statements. There may be additional risks that we do not presently know or that we currently believe are immaterial that could also cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements. Undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking statements in this Press Release or on our quarterly earnings call. All forward-looking statements contained herein or expressed on our quarterly earnings call are based on information available to us as of the date hereof, and we do not assume any obligation to update these statements as a result of new information or future events, except as required by law. If we do update one or more forward-looking statements, no inference should be made that we will make additional updates with respect to those or other forward-looking statements.

    Key Performance Metrics

    Katapult regularly reviews several metrics, including the following key metrics, to evaluate its business, measure its performance, identify trends affecting our business, formulate financial projections and make strategic decisions, which may also be useful to an investor: gross originations, total revenue, gross profit, adjusted gross profit and adjusted EBITDA.

    Gross originations are defined as the retail price of the merchandise associated with lease-purchase agreements entered into during the period through the Katapult platform. Gross originations do not represent revenue earned. However, we believe this is a useful operating metric for both Katapult’s management and investors to use in assessing the volume of transactions that take place on Katapult’s platform.

    Total revenue represents the summation of rental revenue and other revenue. Katapult measures this metric to assess the total view of pay through performance of its customers. Management believes looking at these components is useful to an investor as it helps to understand the total payment performance of customers.

    Gross profit represents total revenue less cost of revenue, and is a measure presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“GAAP”). See the “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” section below for a description and presentation of adjusted gross profit and adjusted EBITDA, which are non-GAAP measures utilized by management.

    Non-GAAP Financial Measures

    To supplement the financial measures presented in this press release and related conference call or webcast in accordance with GAAP, the Company also presents the following non-GAAP and other measures of financial performance: adjusted gross profit, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted net income/(loss) and fixed cash operating expenses. The Company believes that for management and investors to more effectively compare core performance from period to period, the non-GAAP measures should exclude items that are not indicative of our results from ongoing business operations. The Company urges investors to consider non-GAAP measures only in conjunction with its GAAP financials and to review the reconciliation of the Company’s non-GAAP financial measures to its comparable GAAP financial measures, which are included in this press release.

    Adjusted gross profit represents gross profit less variable operating expenses, which are servicing costs, and underwriting fees. Management believes that adjusted gross profit provides a meaningful understanding of one aspect of its performance specifically attributable to total revenue and the variable costs associated with total revenue.

    Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP measure that is defined as net loss before interest expense and other fees, interest income, change in fair value of warrants and loss on issuance of shares, provision for income taxes, depreciation and amortization on property and equipment and capitalized software, provision of impairment of leased assets, loss on partial extinguishment of debt, stock-based compensation expense, and litigation settlement and other related expenses.

    Adjusted net loss is a non-GAAP measure that is defined as net loss before change in fair value of warrants and loss on issuance of shares, stock-based compensation expense, and litigation settlement and other related expenses.

    Fixed cash operating expenses is a non-GAAP measure that is defined as operating expenses less depreciation and amortization on property and equipment and capitalized software, stock-based compensation expense, litigation settlement and other related expenses, net and variable lease costs such as servicing costs and underwriting fees. Management believes that fixed cash operating expenses provides a meaningful understanding of non-variable ongoing expenses.

    Adjusted gross profit, adjusted EBITDA and adjusted net loss are useful to an investor in evaluating the Company’s performance because these measures:

    • Are widely used to measure a company’s operating performance;
    • Are financial measurements that are used by rating agencies, lenders and other parties to evaluate the Company’s credit worthiness; and
    • Are used by the Company’s management for various purposes, including as measures of performance and as a basis for strategic planning and forecasting.

    Management believes that the use of non-GAAP financial measures, as a supplement to GAAP measures, is useful to investors in that they eliminate items that are not part of our core operations, highly variable or do not require a cash outlay, such as stock-based compensation expense. Management uses these non-GAAP financial measures when evaluating operating performance and for internal planning and forecasting purposes. Management believes that these non-GAAP financial measures help indicate underlying trends in the business, are important in comparing current results with prior period results and are useful to investors and financial analysts in assessing operating performance. However, these non-GAAP measures exclude items that are significant in understanding and assessing Katapult’s financial results. Therefore, these measures should not be considered in isolation or as alternatives to revenue, net loss, gross profit, cash flows from operations or other measures of profitability, liquidity or performance under GAAP. You should be aware that Katapult’s presentation of these measures may not be comparable to similarly titled measures used by other companies.

    KATAPULT HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
    CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE LOSS
    (amounts in thousands, except per share data)
           
      Three Months Ended December 31,   Year Ended December 31,
        2024       2023       2024       2023  
                   
    Revenue              
    Rental revenue $ 62,031     $ 56,735     $ 243,978     $ 218,347  
    Other revenue   932       823       3,216       3,241  
    Total revenue   62,963       57,558       247,194       221,588  
    Cost of revenue   55,557       48,657       201,423       179,881  
    Gross profit   7,406       8,901       45,771       41,707  
    Operating expenses:              
    Servicing costs   1,156       1,118       4,589       4,311  
    Underwriting fees   814       549       2,304       1,919  
    Professional and consulting fees   631       1,247       5,201       6,694  
    Technology and data analytics   1,740       1,642       7,170       6,905  
    Compensation costs   4,376       5,396       20,076       22,732  
    General and administrative   3,208       2,594       10,866       10,938  
    Litigation settlement, net   314       7,000       3,666       7,000  
    Total operating expenses   12,239       19,546       53,872       60,499  
    Loss from operations   (4,833 )     (10,645 )     (8,101 )     (18,792 )
    Loss on partial extinguishment of debt   —       —       —       (2,391 )
    Interest expense and other fees   (4,849 )     (4,271 )     (18,851 )     (17,822 )
    Interest income   148       363       1,163       1,697  
    Change in fair value of warrant liability   (5 )     36       17       807  
    Loss before income taxes   (9,539 )     (14,517 )     (25,772 )     (36,501 )
    Provision for income taxes   (30 )     (112 )     (143 )     (165 )
    Net loss $ (9,569 )   $ (14,629 )   $ (25,915 )   $ (36,666 )
                   
    Weighted average common shares outstanding – basic and diluted   4,518       4,130       4,347       4,088  
                   
    Net loss per common share – basic and diluted $ (2.12 )   $ (3.54 )   $ (5.96 )   $ (8.97 )
                                   
    KATAPULT HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
    CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
    (dollars in thousands, except per share data)
       
      December 31,
        2024       2023  
    ASSETS      
    Current assets:      
    Cash and cash equivalents $ 3,465     $ 21,408  
    Restricted cash   13,087       7,403  
    Property held for lease, net of accumulated depreciation and impairment   67,085       59,335  
    Prepaid expenses and other current assets   6,731       4,491  
    Litigation insurance reimbursement receivable   —       5,000  
    Total current assets   90,368       97,637  
    Property and equipment, net   253       327  
    Security deposits   91       91  
    Capitalized software and intangible assets, net   2,076       1,919  
    Right-of-use assets, non-current   383       888  
    Total assets $ 93,171     $ 100,862  
    LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ DEFICIT      
    Current liabilities:      
    Accounts payable $ 1,491     $ 903  
    Accrued liabilities   17,372       24,146  
    Accrued litigation settlement   2,199       12,000  
    Unearned revenue   4,823       4,949  
    Revolving line of credit, net   82,582       —  
    Term loan, net, current   30,047       —  
    Lease liabilities   179       297  
    Total current liabilities   138,693       42,295  
    Revolving line of credit, net   —       60,347  
    Term loan, net, non-current   —       25,503  
    Other liabilities   828       95  
    Lease liabilities, non-current   444       614  
    Total liabilities   139,965       128,854  
    STOCKHOLDERS’ DEFICIT      
    Common stock, 0.0001 par value– 250,000,000 shares authorized; 4,446,540 and 4,072,713 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively   —       —  
    Additional paid-in capital   101,657       94,544  
    Accumulated deficit   (148,451 )     (122,536 )
    Total stockholders’ deficit   (46,794 )     (27,992 )
    Total liabilities and stockholders’ deficit $ 93,171     $ 100,862  
                   
    KATAPULT HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
    CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
    (dollars in thousands)
       
      Year Ended December 31,
        2024       2023  
    Cash flows from operating activities:      
    Net loss $ (25,915 )   $ (36,666 )
    Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:      
    Depreciation and amortization   140,636       126,533  
    Depreciation for early lease purchase options (buyouts)   29,061       25,784  
    Depreciation for impaired leases   24,962       22,019  
    Change in fair value of warrants and other non-cash items   (256 )     (807 )
    Stock-based compensation   5,759       7,034  
    Loss on partial extinguishment of debt   —       2,391  
    Amortization of debt discount   3,104       2,760  
    Amortization of debt issuance costs, net   220       277  
    Accrued PIK interest expense   1,440       1,555  
    Amortization of right-of-use assets   318       355  
    Changes in operating assets and liabilities:      
    Property held for lease   (201,189 )     (183,695 )
    Prepaid expenses and other current assets   (2,053 )     3,610  
    Litigation insurance reimbursement receivable   5,000       (5,000 )
    Accounts payable   588       (361 )
    Accrued liabilities   (6,775 )     4,419  
    Accrued litigation settlement   (7,055 )     12,000  
    Lease liabilities   (288 )     (387 )
    Unearned revenues   (126 )     765  
      Net cash used in operating activities   (32,569 )     (17,414 )
    Cash flows from investing activities:      
    Purchases of property and equipment   (54 )     (20 )
    Additions to capitalized software   (1,249 )     (954 )
      Net cash used in investing activities   (1,303 )     (974 )
    Cash flows from financing activities:      
    Proceeds from revolving line of credit   34,421       14,297  
    Principal repayments on revolving line of credit   (12,406 )     (11,551 )
    Principal repayment on term loan   —       (25,000 )
    Payments of deferred financing costs   —       (34 )
    Repurchases of restricted stock   (613 )     (355 )
    Proceeds from exercise of stock options   211       1  
      Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities   21,613       (22,642 )
    Net (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash   (12,259 )     (41,030 )
    Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of period   28,811       69,841  
    Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period $ 16,552     $ 28,811  
    Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:      
    Cash paid for interest $ 13,709     $ 13,014  
    Cash paid for income taxes $ 270     $ 206  
    Deferred financing costs included in accrued liabilities $ —     $ 481  
    Issuance of warrants to purchase common stock in connection with debt refinancing $ —     $ 4,060  
    Issuance of common stock in connection with litigation settlements $ 1,756     $ —  
    Right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for operating lease liabilities $ —     $ 471  
    Cash paid for operating leases $ 359     $ 513  
                   

    KATAPULT HOLDINGS, INC.
    RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP MEASURES AND CERTAIN OTHER DATA (UNAUDITED)
    (amounts in thousands)

      Three Months Ended December 31,   Year Ended December 31,
        2024       2023       2024       2023  
                   
    Net loss $ (9,569 )   $ (14,629 )   $ (25,915 )   $ (36,666 )
    Add back:              
    Interest expense and other fees   4,849       4,271       18,851       17,822  
    Interest income   (148 )     (363 )     (1,163 )     (1,697 )
    Change in fair value of warrants   5       (36 )     (17 )     (807 )
    Provision for income taxes   30       112       143       165  
    Depreciation and amortization on property and equipment and capitalized software   287       454       1,219       1,133  
    Provision for impairment of leased assets   1,921       1,508       2,227       1,727  
    Loss on partial extinguishment of debt   —       —       —       2,391  
    Stock-based compensation expense   1,331       1,356       5,759       7,034  
    Litigation settlement and other related expenses, net   226     $ 7,000       3,666       7,000  
    Adjusted EBITDA $ (1,068 )   $ (327 )   $ 4,770     $ (1,898 )
                                   
      Three Months Ended December 31,   Year Ended December 31,
        2024       2023       2024       2023  
                   
    Net loss $ (9,569 )   $ (14,629 )   $ (25,915 )   $ (36,666 )
    Add back:              
    Change in fair value of warrants   5       (36 )     (17 )     (807 )
    Stock-based compensation expense   1,331       1,356       5,759       7,034  
    Litigation settlement and other related expenses, net   226       7,000       3,666       7,000  
    Adjusted net loss $ (8,007 )   $ (6,309 )   $ (16,507 )   $ (23,439 )
                                   
      Three Months Ended December 31,   Year Ended December 31,
        2024     2023     2024     2023
                   
    Total operating expenses $ 12,239   $ 19,546   $ 53,872   $ 60,499
    Less:              
    Depreciation and amortization on property and equipment and capitalized software   287     454     1,219     1,133
    Stock-based compensation expense   1,331     1,356     5,759     7,034
    Servicing costs   1,156     1,118     4,589     4,311
    Underwriting fees   814     549     2,304     1,919
    Litigation settlement and other related expenses, net   226     7,000     3,666     7,000
    Fixed cash operating expenses $ 8,425   $ 9,069   $ 36,335   $ 39,102
                           
      Three Months Ended December 31,   Year Ended December 31,
        2024     2023     2024     2023
                   
    Total revenue $ 62,963   $ 57,558   $ 247,194   $ 221,588
    Cost of revenue   55,557     48,657     201,423     179,881
    Gross profit   7,406     8,901     45,771     41,707
    Less:              
    Servicing costs   1,156     1,118     4,589     4,311
    Underwriting fees   814     549     2,304     1,919
    Adjusted gross profit $ 5,436   $ 7,234   $ 38,878   $ 35,477
                           

    CERTAIN KEY PERFORMANCE METRICS

    (in thousands) Three Months Ended December 31,   Year Ended December 31,
        2024     2023     2024     2023
    Total revenue $ 62,963   $ 57,558   $ 247,194   $ 221,588
                           

    KATAPULT HOLDINGS, INC.
    GROSS ORIGINATIONS BY QUARTER

        Gross Originations by Quarter
    ($ millions)   Q1   Q2   Q3   Q4
    FY 2024   $ 55.6   $ 55.3   $ 51.2   $ 75.2
    FY 2023   $ 54.7   $ 54.7   $ 49.6   $ 67.5
    FY 2022   $ 46.7   $ 46.4   $ 44.1   $ 59.8
    FY 2021   $ 63.8   $ 64.4   $ 61.0   $ 58.9

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Visit to Veliky Novgorod: Foreign students celebrate the anniversary of the preparatory faculty

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

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

    This year, the Polytechnic Preparatory Department celebrates its anniversary. 60 years ago, the first foreign students arrived on the banks of the Neva and began their studies at the Leningrad Polytechnic Institute named after M. I. Kalinin. In honor of this event, a trip to Veliky Novgorod, a city with an ancient history, was organized for current students.

    Children from Algeria, Pakistan, China, Turkey, Chad and other countries saw how Russian culture was born. They walked around the Novgorod Kremlin (Detinets) — the oldest fortress in Russia, where they learned about the defense of cities in ancient times. At the monument “Millennium of Russia” the students examined the figures of great rulers: Yaroslav the Wise, Alexander Nevsky, Ivan III and learned their history.

    Everyone was especially impressed by the Saint Sophia Cathedral. It is huge and very beautiful! Such buildings show how much history means to your country, – shared Ok Berk from Turkey.

    The students also visited the Vitoslavlitsy Museum, where they saw old wooden houses, churches and a windmill.

    I liked how the museum preserved the peasants’ way of life. It seemed as if I had gone back in time! – said Ahmad Md Nawab from India.

    After the excursion, the group went to an old village, where they tried traditional dishes and heard folk legends.

    Novgorod is a city that everyone should see! There is so much history, nature and kind people here, the guys shared their impressions.

    The trip was not only a vacation, but also a lesson in Russian culture. The students returned with bright photos, new knowledge and a desire to learn even more about Russia.

    The preparatory faculty continues its festive events – meetings with graduates, conferences and a gala concert are ahead.

    The preparatory faculty of SPbPU has more than half a century of successful training of foreign citizens. Our students were very lucky to come to the preparatory faculty of the Polytechnic in this anniversary year. I am sure many guys will take part in the ceremonial events and will continue their education at the Polytechnic, – noted assistant to the vice-rector Pavel Nedelko.

    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 volunteers conduct a lesson in courage for schoolchildren from Novy Urengoy

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

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

    On the eve of the 80th anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War, employees of ROSPAN INTERNATIONAL (part of the Rosneft gas block) held a lesson in courage for students of Rosneft Classes and the Movement of the First in Novy Urengoy.

    The schoolchildren watched the documentary film “War of Motors”, which was created with the support of Rosneft. The film tells about the role of oil in the Great Patriotic War, as well as about the heroic work of oil workers in the rear, thanks to which the Red Army was supplied with fuel without interruption. During the discussion, the volunteers also spoke about the contribution of oil workers to the restoration of the country’s oil and gas industry in the post-war years.

    To immerse themselves in history, volunteers organized an intellectual game for the children in the form of a quiz “War and Peace”, the concept of which was developed specifically for the anniversary of the Great Victory. The children guessed songs of the war years performed by modern artists and quickly assembled a puzzle with an image of military equipment.

    The lesson ended with a performance by participants of the corporate festival “Energy of Talents”, who sang songs of the war years. The company’s volunteers conduct educational events and lessons that are aimed at preserving historical memory and help children not only learn about the heroism of their ancestors, but also teach them to value peace and care for the future.

    As part of the volunteer program “Platform of Good Deeds”, which is actively developing in Rosneft, and in honor of the anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War, meetings with veterans, patriotic events and creative competitions are planned throughout the year.

    Reference:

    ROSPAN INTERNATIONAL produces gas and gas condensate at the Vostochno-Urengoysky and Novo-Urengoysky license areas located in the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug.

    Department of Information and Advertising of PJSC NK Rosneft March 28, 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: Rosneft Opens First Filling Station in the Republic of Tyva

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

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

    Rosneft has opened the first multifunctional filling station of the Zerno format in the city of Kyzyl, the capital of the Republic of Tuva. The complex is equipped with modern equipment that allows comfortably filling about a thousand cars per day with popular types of fuel – AI-92, AI-95 and Euro-5 diesel fuel.

    The new filling station is located in a dynamically developing area of the city. The convenient location of the facility, high-quality fuel, customer-oriented service and 24-hour operation will allow residents and visitors of the city to refuel their cars, have a snack and buy related products for the road at any time. The complex is equipped with a store and a cafe under the Zerno brand, where the emphasis is on technology and comfort. The premises are divided into functional zones, which increases the speed and convenience of customer service, and digital services, including the Rosneft Gas Station mobile application, allow you to remotely refuel your car and make payments in various ways.

    From the first days of the filling station’s operation, customers will have access to the Rosneft network of filling stations’ loyalty program, “Family Team”, which makes refueling a car more profitable. For example, program participants will have access to an attractive offer on fuel until the end of April. In addition, motorists can accumulate bonus points when paying at filling stations and with program partners. Accumulated points can be used to pay for fuel, goods in stores and cafes in the Rosneft retail network.

    The development of multifunctional filling stations is one of Rosneft’s key priorities in the retail business. The company is introducing modern digital technologies and expanding various types of service for fast and comfortable customer service.

    Reference:

    The retail network of NK Rosneft is the largest in the Russian Federation in terms of geographic coverage and number of stations. It covers 62 regions of Russia. The Company’s network of petrol stations includes about 3,000 stations.

    JSC Khakasnefteprodukt VNK manages Rosneft filling stations and gas stations in the Republics of Khakassia and Tyva.

    Department of Information and Advertising of PJSC NK Rosneft March 28, 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 Europe: OSCE launches guide on virtual assets for law enforcement at INTERPOL Summit

    Source: Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe – OSCE

    Headline: OSCE launches guide on virtual assets for law enforcement at INTERPOL Summit

    Vera Strobachova-Budway, Head of OCEEA’s Economic Governance Unit, presenting an OSCE guide on n virtual assets for law enforcement at the INTERPOL Virtual Assets Summit in Lyon, France, 28 March 2025. (OSCE) Photo details

    The OSCE has presented a new resource on virtual assets, Decoding Crypto Crime: A Guide for Law Enforcement , at the Interpol Virtual Assets Summit in Lyon, France, on 27 March. The guide will support law enforcement officers, prosecutors, tax and forensic specialists and other key stakeholders in navigating the complex world of virtual assets.
    Developed in collaboration with a team of experts, the guide was reviewed by the INTERPOL Financial Crime and Anti-Corruption Centre (IFCACC) and European Cybercrime Centre (EC3). It provides clear and actionable insights on a wide range of topics, including an introduction to virtual assets, common types of crypto crime and scams, investigation techniques leveraging blockchain analytic tools, good practices in assisting victims and raising public awareness, and the role international co-operation plays in combating crypto crime.
    “The guide is written in simple, easy-to-understand language and aims to bridge the knowledge gap between law enforcement and the rapidly evolving world of virtual assets,” said Vera Strobachova-Budway, Senior Economic Officer and Head of the Economic Governance Unit at the OSCE. “It is a valuable resource for anyone involved in the investigation, prosecution, or prevention of crypto crime and those who want to better understand it.”
    The development of the guide on decoding crypto crime is part of the extrabudgetary project “Innovative policy solutions to mitigate money-laundering risks of virtual assets”. The initiative is implemented by the Office of the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities and is financially supported by Germany, Italy, Poland, Romania, the United Kingdom and the United States of America.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Chinese FM to pay official visit to Russia

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    At the invitation of Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, will pay an official visit to Russia from March 31 to April 2, a foreign ministry spokesperson announced on Friday.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: A cocktail to keep the elderly well: scientists hunt for ideal microbial mix to maintain gut health Can “good bacteria” be used to maintain good health as we grow older? Scottish biotech company NCIMB has teamed-up with the pioneering Rowett Institute at the University of Aberdeen, to address this question in a new research project, funded by Innovate UK.

    Source: University of Aberdeen

    Patricia Rimbi, Professor Karen Scott and Dr Silvia GratzCan “good bacteria” be used to maintain good health as we grow older? Scottish biotech company NCIMB has teamed-up with the pioneering Rowett Institute at the University of Aberdeen, to address this question in a new research project, funded by Innovate UK.
    Scientists have been exploring the role of gut bacteria in human health for many years and it has now been established that microbes within our gut not only aid the digestion of food, but also play an important role in protecting us from disease and promoting health. Good gut health requires a diverse community of microbes, but as we age, the diversity within our gut microbiota changes, and this change has been associated with increased susceptibility to disease in the elderly, and other health conditions such as low-grade chronic inflammation.
    Increased awareness of the links between the gut microbiome and human health has led to increased demand for supplements and foods containing species of bacteria known to be present in a healthy gut, and a better understanding of the mechanisms involved is allowing scientists to focus on the creation of more tailored products with specific health-related properties.
    Julie MacKinnon, microbiome services manager at NCIMB explains more: “The bacteria in our gut play an important role in our ability to fight disease, and the mix of bacteria present is a key factor in maintaining a strong immune system. Different species of bacteria perform different functions within the gut – for example an important group of bacteria are those that produce a metabolite called butyrate. This is a short chain fatty acid, produced from digestion of dietary fibre, that is both anti-inflammatory and anti-infective. These butyrate-producing bacteria thrive best in a mixed community with other bacterial species in close proximity.
    “This project will focus on elevating the production of butyrate in the gut using a bacterial consortia approach. We plan to screen panels of different bacterial species, already proven to be beneficial, and blend into a cocktail for superior performance. The goal is to be able to colonise the gut and restore gut health in the elderly with an associated improvement in longevity and quality of life”.

    Development of a safe and low-cost supplement that can restore or retain a healthy gut microbiome in elderly people would provide healthier ageing for individuals and have huge societal benefits.” Professor Karen Scott

    The research project will draw on the extensive resources and expertise of the two organisations to evaluate and characterise strains for their therapeutic potential. NCIMB has been supporting the probiotic and microbial therapeutic research community for many years through supply, storage and characterisation of bacteria. The Rowett Institute, which played a major role in establishing the link between diet and health, and is renowned for its pioneering work on the gut microbiome, has built a large collection of beneficial gut bacteria that will be screened during the project.
    Commenting on the project, Professor Karen Scott from the Rowett Institute said: “The changes in our microbiome that occur with ageing can have a significant impact on quality of life, and associated health complications are putting healthcare and social care services under increasing pressure.  Development of a safe and low-cost supplement that can restore or retain a healthy gut microbiome in elderly people would provide healthier ageing for individuals and have huge societal benefits.” 

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Peter Kyle’s speech at the Space-Comm Expo 2025

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments 2

    Speech

    Peter Kyle’s speech at the Space-Comm Expo 2025

    A speech delivered by Secretary of State for Science, Innovation, and Technology, Peter Kyle, at the Space-Comm Expo 2025 on Tuesday 11 March.

    The British Space programme began in the same year that our late queen, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, ascended to the throne.

    Sixty-three years ago, the launch of Ariel One, the first British-American satellite, made Britain only the 3rd country to launch into orbit.

    In little more than a decade, we went from a nation with space ambition to one of the few countries with a satellite operation. 

    Then, as I was enjoying my first birthday, Prospero became the first British satellite to be launched by a British rocket.

    All those years ago, deciding to have a space programme, designing, building and launching a spacecraft, took decades of planning.

    Fast-forward to today:

    • When, somewhere around the world, there is a rocket launching every 34 hours.
    • When the UK’s space economy is outpacing the growth of our economy as a whole.
    • And when, just this month, the second-ever private spacecraft touched down successfully on the surface of the moon. Powered by British engines, engineered in Buckinghamshire.

    An international effort, with British expertise, contributing to a successful lunar mission.

    There is no mistaking the increasing pace of change.

    Or just how much the people in this room – and the businesses you lead – now contribute towards the growing the British economy.

    So, to begin with, it’s my job to say thank you to all of you.

    Britain’s space sector is not just safe in your hands. It is thriving under your stewardship.

    And with the British economy, it’s felt increasingly, and it’s felt day by day.

    This is a government that has economic growth as our number one mission.

    And for us, growth isn’t just a soundbite.

    It is our very purpose.

    Growth rates are more than an indicator of the state of the economy…

    …They are an indication of this government’s state of mind.

    We are:

    • ambitious for Britain

    • determined to build the wealthier, fairer nation for everyone.

    • And we are impatient for the increased wealth and opportunities that economic growth brings to communities, businesses and to people alike.

    With 16% of UK GDP depending on satellite services, there’s no doubt that the space sector is important to that.

    Because Britain has never had a space flight with our own crew on board, it is too easy for some ‘armchair astronauts’ to dismiss the UK space programme.

    I believe we are approaching a space tipping point. At which it becomes simply impossible for even the most determined science-cynic to ignore. 

    From how we message family and friends or check the weather, to how our country protects itself from climate change and national security threats that we increasingly face – space technologies simply underpin our lives.

    From the everyday, right through to the extraordinary.

    As heavy launches into low orbit become less costly – 95% cheaper than 40 years ago – and the barriers to entry are more easily overcome, the space tipping point now brings with it new risks that we have to face up to:

    • Hundreds of millions of pieces of space junk that threaten the satellites that support almost every part of our interconnected world.
    • As that figure rises, so does the chance of an accidental collision of catastrophic consequences.
    • And at the same time, space is becoming more and more accessible to hostile actors as well, eventually, possibly seeking to do Britain harm.

    The severity of these risks cannot be overstated.

    But neither should we be blind to the extraordinary opportunities that space technologies offer to our country and to us.

    To embed innovation in every part of our economy…

    …and open the doors to a new era of high productivity and growth.

    To secure our nation for the century ahead…

    …and make discoveries that will transform citizens’ lives.

    We reach this tipping point, and we have a narrow window to secure our stake in space.

    We sometimes talk about scientific progress as if it were inevitable.

    But there is nothing inevitable about progress as every one of you knows well.

    If we and our allies stand still, whilst our competitors stride ahead – or hostile actors get a foot in the door – we will find ourselves locked out of the opportunities space can bring.

    And left exposed further to the risks.

    That’s why space is a strategic priority for this Labour government as we deliver our Plan for Change.

    That requires strategic partnerships with our allies in Europe and around the globe, and between the public and the private sectors.

    And it also means being clear about the roles and responsibilities of each.

    There are some activities – like national security – which only governments can and should do.

    Others, where the creativity, the ingenuity and the enterprise of the private sector will suffice.

    And then there is a third way, where the power of partnership of governments and enterprise is the route to discovery, prosperity and to greater growth as well.

    Since we took office in July, I’ve met many of the players behind Britain’s burgeoning space economy.

    Businesses like Astroscale and ClearSpace, designing new missions to remove dangerous space clutter from orbit.

    And Space Forge, who are finding ways to manufacture semiconductors in microgravity.

    The success of businesses like these depends on world-leading research and an ambitious, entrepreneurial mindset.

    The UK is well placed to lead in both.

    These businesses also need a government that understands and appreciates their potential, has their back, and gives them the foundations to keep pushing the frontiers forward.

    Since 2015, the UK has attracted more private investment in space than any other country outside of the United States.

    We cherish Britain as a beacon for innovation, investment, stability and the rule of law.

    And we are determined to keep that beacon burning brightly in the increasingly competitive and uncertain international environment.

    Space is one of the first 4 areas singled out for attention by the new Regulatory Innovation Office (RIO).

    That Office will cut the burden of bureaucracy, freeing up your time and your resources to invest and innovate further and faster.

    Government must, always must, continue to fulfil our side of the bargain, backing British space with the support the sector needs.

    That means grant funding for innovation; direct investment into strategically significant projects; and procuring from the UK firms from government contracts.

    Take our £20 million investment into Orbex, to fund the first British-made, British-launched rocket, set for orbit later this year.

    Prime is designed to take small satellites into the polar orbits, to improve our understanding of a region right at the frontline of climate change.

    The launch will transform the UK space industry.

    It will bring highly-paid jobs to the Shetland Islands, whilst boosting Europe’s ability to access space from our own continent.

    The UK space sector is further bolstered by Britain’s membership of the European Space Agency.

    Indeed, Britain does better because of that key partnership.

    From inspiring the nation with Tim Peake’s flight to the International Space Station, to our instrumental role in the James Webb Space Telescope, our partnership with the ESA means British firms winning in this unique global marketplace.

    In the last quarter of 2024, UK businesses’ net revenues from the ESA were £80 million higher than our contribution.

    That’s a record for any member state.

    And this success is a direct result of public and private sectors working closer together to make sure the UK sees the great return on our collective investment.

    The knock-on effects of these contract wins will add up to a £1 billion of boost across our economy.

    They’ll create 3,800 highly skilled jobs, from Stevenage right up to the Shetland Isles.

    And they will ensure that British businesses have the power and investment to continue making discoveries that will transform people’s lives:

    • Like Airbus, selected to build a spacecraft to help us weather violent solar storms.
    • Thales Alenia Space, which will propel crucial cargo and scientific instruments right up to the moon’s surface.
    • And Open Cosmos, granted contracts to study the magnetic field, and using what they learn to bolster our satellites and better fight climate change.

    The immense contribution British businesses make to our island’s space story shows ambition, integrity, and leadership.

    It is testament to these traits, alongside the determination and dedication of our people.

    As we stand in this space tipping point, the government’s commitment to economic growth demands that we support science and we invest in innovation.

    We also champion the critical technologies to maximise the power and potential of the British economy.

    Your contribution and the commitment to our economic growth mission is profoundly important.

    So, I want to finish exactly where I started:

    By acknowledging your efforts and extending our appreciation for them, as you help to make Britain more productive, more prosperous, and more pioneering.

    On this planet and beyond.

    Thank you very much.

    Updates to this page

    Published 11 March 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI: Turtle Creek Asset Management UCITS fund surpasses US$100m in AUM

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    LONDON, March 28, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Turtle Creek Asset Management Inc. (‘Turtle Creek’), a Canadian independent investment management firm with a 26-year history, is pleased to announce that assets for its UCITS fund, Turtle Creek North American Equity Fund, an Irish ICAV fund, surpassed US$100m in January 2025.

    The fund also has a new administrator, US Bank Global Fund Services (Ireland) and from March 10th there has been daily dealing.

    Turtle Creek’s North American mid-cap value strategy has a track record of over 25 years, and is both rigorous and repeatable. The UCITS fund portfolio targets to own shares in 30 companies between US$2 billion – US$20 billion at the time of purchase, and is constructed from the 100+ companies that the firm actively follows. It is managed according to the same cash flow based value investing strategy and continuous optimization process that has been successful for over 25 years.

    Andrew Brenton, Turtle Creek’s CEO, said: “This is a very significant landmark in AUM to have reached for the UCITS fund, and is indicative of the importance to Turtle Creek of it. North American mid-caps represent excellent opportunities for European investors seeking quality companies that are underappreciated by the market and offer diversification beyond a highly concentrated U.S. large-cap market. The current environment means the portfolio is trading at a favorable discount to its intrinsic value, offering an attractive entry point.”

    Michael Bowen, Senior Vice President, Global Head of Relationship Management, said: “We think long-term value investing in North American equities with a well-considered, consistent and nuanced investment approach represents a primary portfolio building block. Given the current volatility and uncertainty in markets we believe allocators understand the importance of a very active approach to stock selection and portfolio optimization, and also appreciate why our mid-cap focus is particularly attractive in these circumstances.”

    Turtle Creek was established in 1998 by Andrew Brenton, Jeffrey Cole and Jeffrey Hebel who have worked together continuously for over 30 years. Prior to Turtle Creek, they founded and ran the private equity investment subsidiary of The Bank of Nova Scotia. While successful at generating strong returns for the bank, they pivoted to public equity investing on account of routinely observing better run, profitable companies trading at irrational prices, and concluded that improved risk-adjusted-returns could be achieved. Today, Turtle Creek manages mid-cap public equity portfolios totalling more than US$4 billion. There is a 12 person investment team based in Toronto.

    Turtle Creek’s strategy has an open-ended, publicly available track record via a Canadian vehicle. The UCITS is very similar in overall exposure to the existing strategy. The UCITS Fund has been available for qualified investors in the UK, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Spain, the Netherlands, Germany, Austria and Poland, and Turtle Creek is actively considering registration in other jurisdictions.

    About Turtle Creek Asset Management Inc.

    Turtle Creek Asset Management Inc. was founded in 1998 by Andrew Brenton, Jeffrey Cole and Jeffrey Hebel. Based in Toronto, Turtle Creek is comprised of twelve investment team members and sixteen additional employees, offering a different kind of value investing focused on long-term capital growth for a clientele of high-net-worth families, institutions and wealth advisors.

    For further information, please visit:
    https://www.turtlecreek.ca/
    https://funds.carnegroup.com/turtlecreekucitsicav

    Contacts:

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Journey to Work: A game-changer for young people and employers

    Source: City of Derby

    The Journey to Work Programme is an exciting opportunity for young people to gain real-world work experience, develop crucial employability skills, and take their first steps towards a successful career. Following a highly successful pilot, Derby City Council is proud to roll out this impactful programme for 2025-2026, providing even more young people with the chance to unlock their potential and build a brighter future.

    The Journey to Work Programme is designed for young individuals who want to get a fantastic boost to the start of their careers. Over the course of five weeks, participants engage in meaningful work placements, receive tailored 1-2-1 support, and build the confidence needed to thrive in the workplace.

    The results of the programme speak for themselves; two out of ten participants from the pilot have already secured apprenticeships with their placement providers at Derby City Council. This not only showcases the programme’s success in equipping young people with the right skills but also highlights the benefits for employers. By taking part, businesses can trial and nurture young talent before making hiring decisions, ensuring they find the right fit for their teams.

    Paul McGinty, a Livewell Coordinator involved in the programme, said:

    The Journey to Work programme is a fantastic way to give young people experience of being in a workplace and helping them develop key skills such as supporting customers and working as part of a team, while building their confidence. The process was straightforward, and the support from the team was great. We are very keen to provide more opportunities in the future!”

    Councillor Ged Potter, Mayor of Derby, said:

    The Journey to Work Programme has been a resounding success, providing young people with the skills, confidence, and experience they need to take those vital first steps in their careers. Seeing these young individuals grow and secure opportunities like apprenticeships is truly inspiring.

    This initiative not only empowers our young people but also strengthens our local workforce, creating lasting benefits for our community. I am incredibly proud of everyone involved and excited to see the programme expand in the future.”

    Now, we are inviting more businesses, organisations, and young people to get involved. Whether you are a young person looking for an opportunity to gain experience and kickstart your career, or an employer eager to support and develop emerging talent, this programme is your chance to make a difference.

    To find out more or get involved, visit our Employment and Skills webpage or contact the Employment and Skills team by emailing employmentandskills@derby.gov.uk today!

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: The UK commends the historic border agreement between Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan: UK statement to the OSCE

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments 3

    Speech

    The UK commends the historic border agreement between Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan: UK statement to the OSCE

    Connor Creeley (UK Delegation to the OSCE) praises the landmark border agreement between Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, which resolves decades of conflict and instability along their shared border.

    Thank you Chair.   

    The UK commends this historic border agreement between Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. Since the 1990s, there have been repeated outbreaks of violence over the long, shared border. After the most recent clash in September 2022, both governments agreed that enough was enough and began negotiations to resolve the conflict. Through hard work and patient cooperation, a decades-long issue – and source of instability for Central Asia – has now been resolved, with the border delineated.  

    We note positively that both states achieved this agreement without the need of any third-party mediators. Such actions by our fellow participating States help to reaffirm the OSCE commitments and uphold the Helsinki Final Act’s core principles of non-use of force, peaceful settlement of disputes and cooperation among States. We hope this peaceful resolution will help to promote stability throughout the region and serve as an example to the wider world.  

    I encourage both countries to support their local communities on the border. This agreement offers huge potential for regional integration and supports economic cooperation and development. We look forward to the resumption of cross-border trade and travel that will help to build people-to-people ties. The UK will continue to reiterate – in this Council and beyond – the importance of diplomacy to help resolve disputes. We look forward to a new era of cooperation between Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan and the OSCE stands ready to support.  

    Updates to this page

    Published 28 March 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Polytechnicians performed triumphantly on the stage of the Mariinsky Theatre

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

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

    The youth choir “Polyhymnia” of SPbPU received the Grand Prix of the All-Russian open choral festival-competition “Raduga” named after I.V. Roganova.

    Every choir strives to get into this prestigious choral competition every year, since the performances take place at the best acoustic concert venues in St. Petersburg, and the jury consists of leading specialists in choral art.

    The youth choir “Polyhymnia” of SPbPU successfully passed the auditions in its category and was nominated by the jury for the Grand Prix of the entire competition. In the Concert Hall of the Mariinsky Theatre, the Polytechnicians performed the Latvian folk song “Father Thunder” so well that they were unconditionally awarded the highest prize of the competition, in which more than 50 children’s, youth and adult choirs competed, including groups from music schools in Russia and neighboring countries.

    And the second main award went to the Polytechnicians – the artistic director of “Polyhymnia” Anna Podgornova received the title of “Best Conductor”. Anna herself began singing in “Polyhymnia”, graduated from the IPMET SPbPU, then the N. A. Rimsky-Korsakov Music College in the specialty “Choral Conducting”, and is now studying at the St. Petersburg State University of Culture.

    “I am delighted that our students and graduates who chose a profession not related to music are able to devote themselves to it so much and show high results,” shared Anna Podgornova. “The guys put so much work, time, and emotion into this victory that for me they would have been winners even without the Grand Prix. I am incredibly happy that our future will be built by these goal-oriented, strong, talented, and caring people!”

    These victories are very significant for the university. It is no coincidence that SPbPU is gathering its student community for the ninth time for the choir competition “Blagovest”. Choirs and ensembles from 15 Russian universities will gather at the Polytechnic University on April 4-6 to demonstrate the unifying power of music.

    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 Europe: Undergraduate Admission Interview: Useful Tips

    Source: Universities – Science Po in English

    Students in front of the entrance at 1 St-Thomas (credits: Pierre Morel)

    Virtual Undergraduate Open House day 2025

    Come meet our teams and students at our campuses.

    Sign-up

    Virtual Graduate Open House day 2025

    Meet faculty members, students and representatives and learn more about our 30 Master’s programmes.

    Sign-up

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Lord Chancellor letter to the Sentencing Council: 20 March 2025

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Correspondence

    Lord Chancellor letter to the Sentencing Council: 20 March 2025

    The Lord Chancellor wrote to the Sentencing Council to reiterate the government’s opposition to the ‘differential treatment’ introduced by new sentencing guidelines.

    Applies to England and Wales

    Documents

    Lord Chancellor letter to the Sentencing Council: 20 March 2025

    PDF, 154 KB, 3 pages

    Details

    In this letter, to Sentencing Council Chair Rt Hon Lord Justice William Davis, the Lord Chancellor acknowledges the Council’s plans to publish new Imposition of Community and Custodial Sentence Guidelines.

    The letter reiterates the government’s objections to the guidelines, specifically that it introduces ‘differential treatment’ in court on the basis of race or ethnicity – and notes the risk this would have on public confidence in the justice system.

    The Lord Chancellor also raises concerns about the fact the current government was not consulted on the introduction of the guidelines, and sets out her position that matters of policy should be decided by Parliament and Ministers.

    Updates to this page

    Published 28 March 2025

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    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Natural England board member reappointed

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    News story

    Natural England board member reappointed

    Clare Fitzsimmons has rejoined the board for a second term

    Clare Fitzsimmons has today (Friday 28 March) been reappointed to the board of Natural England.

    Her second term will run for three years from 12 March 2025 until 11 March 2028.

    This appointment has been made in accordance with the Governance Code on Public Appointments published by the Cabinet Office.

    Natural England is the government’s statutory adviser for the natural environment in England. Its purpose is to help conserve, enhance and manage the natural environment for the benefit of present and future generations, thereby contributing to sustainable development.

    Biography:

    • Clare Fitzsimmons is Professor of Marine Ecosystems and Governance at Newcastle University. She is Director of Business, Innovation and Skills in the School of Natural and Environmental Sciences and chairs the External Advisory Board, gaining commercial experience in defence and consultancy sectors.

    • Clare is also a Marine Management Organisation-appointed member of the North Eastern Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority. She is co-chair of Natural England’s Science Advisory Committee, multi-disciplinary experts to ensure the best available scientific advice is used to underpin decision-making for nature recovery.

    Updates to this page

    Published 28 March 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: 27 Polytechnic students became recipients of Potanin Foundation scholarships

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

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

    The Potanin Foundation has summed up the results of the 2024/2025 scholarship competition. This prestigious scholarship is a recognition of the outstanding achievements of master’s students in their studies, leadership and public activities. This year, 750 people became winners of the competition. Among the lucky ones are 27 talented students of SPbPU, who will now receive a scholarship of 25,000 rubles until the end of their studies.

    The result of the Advanced Engineering School “Digital Engineering” was especially successful – five students of the SPbPU PISh were among the winners. They demonstrated not only deep academic knowledge, but also the ability to turn theory into practice, which is especially valuable for modern engineering education.

    We are proud of our students, who have once again proven that SPbPU PISh is a forge of talents and innovations. Their victory is not only a personal achievement, but also recognition of the high level of training, – noted the Vice-Rector for Digital Transformation of SPbPU, the head of SPbPU PISh Alexey Borovkov.

    Master’s students of the program “Organization and management of high-tech technologies in the oil and gas industry” shared their impressions of the competition:

    Ksenia Grigorieva: Participation in the competition was not only an opportunity for me to demonstrate my knowledge and skills, but also an important stage in my personal and professional growth. This is not just a competition, but a unique platform for exchanging ideas, finding inspiration and meeting talented people from all over the country. I would like to express special gratitude to the teachers of the Advanced Engineering School, my mentors.

    During her years of bachelor’s degree at the Polytechnic University in the specialty “General Biotechnology”, Ksenia actively demonstrated herself in scientific, educational and creative activities. She considers her participation in the project on the synthesis of human parathyroid hormone and work in the biochemistry department of the “Institute of Experimental Medicine”, the main goal of which was to identify antibodies to modified low-density lipoproteins and study the effect of these antibodies on the development of atherosclerotic lesions, to be some of her main achievements. In addition to scientific activities, last year Ksenia successfully graduated with honors not only from her bachelor’s degree, but also from the additional education program “Digital Departments”. Ksenia’s interests are not limited to study and science – for the fifth year now, the girl has been singing in the youth choir “Polyhymnia”.

    Artem Shcherbak: The purpose of my participation in the Vladimir Potanin scholarship competition was to establish contacts in the professional sphere and meet proactive young people for the potential construction of new projects and work on joint events. I have friends who have previously become laureates of this award, their experience inspired me.

    Artem was an organizer of major events at the Saint Petersburg Mining University of Empress Catherine II, a delegate to the Student Council of Saint Petersburg under the Committee on Youth Policy, a volunteer and organizer of events “Volunteer Company of Combat Brotherhood”, a member of the youth council of the Central District of Saint Petersburg, a laureate of the city award “Best Youth Project 2022”, the owner of a letter of gratitude “For personal contribution to the implementation of socially significant projects and the development of volunteer activities in 2023” from the Committee on Youth Policy under the Government of Saint Petersburg.

    Stepan Akimov: I am very glad that I was able to take part in the scholarship competition. The main thing here is initiative. I realized that if I approach the matter not half-heartedly, show a little interest and turn on creativity, then my approach will pay off. And so it happened! At the end of the final competition day, I felt great pleasure from everything that had been done, I was happy with the stunning victory of my team in the main test and that I was able to play an important role in this.

    Alexey Plyushch has been actively working in the Trade Union of Students of the Polytechnic University for five years now, was the first deputy chairman, head of the sports department, and acts as the main organizer in most projects. Alexey is a trainer and mentor of the inter-institutional training of “Adapters of SPbPU”, the best graduate of the “management” department of IPMET.

    Sergey Gaurgov graduated from the Institute of Mechanical Engineering, Materials and Transport of SPbPU with a bachelor’s degree in “Automation of Technological Processes and Production” in 2024. He is a versatile engineer who can work with both pneumatic and hydropneumatic devices, and is well versed in electrical engineering, circuit design and the development of electronic devices.

    For his master’s degree, Sergey chose the Advanced Engineering School: It seemed to me that studying at PISH would be a logical continuation of the direction of production automation, which I studied in my bachelor’s degree. Here I can specialize in robotics under the guidance of my teacher, an expert in autonomous unmanned systems Georgy Vasilyanov.

    Sergey is currently undergoing an internship at the Saint Petersburg Automobile Plant (formerly Nissan), where he is engaged in optimizing the logistics of unmanned robots in the automation department.

    Also among the winners of the scholarship program are master’s students: Irina Smirnova, Angelina Rubleva, Aelita Maslova and Viktor Sorokin (headquartered in Statistics), Egor Vinokurov and Vitalina Furman (headquartered in Biotechnical Systems and Technologies), Olga Obraztsova and Veronika Chernova (headquartered in Biotechnology), Denis Mametyev and Sergey Sudnishchikov (Construction), Sofia Ivanova (Business Informatics), Alexandra Voziyan (Software Engineering), Gennady Zyabkin (Automation of Technological Processes and Production), Nikita Izbyakov (Power Engineering), Konstantin Mashyanov (Mechatronics and Robotics), Anastasia Mikulenko (Materials Science and Materials Technology), Anastasia Murashova (Sociology), Nikita Oparin (Metallurgy), Zinaida Pavlenkova (Design), Daria Ryzhova (Foreign Regional Studies), Alexey Filatchev (Economics), Anastasia Yarkova (Information Systems and Technologies).

    The winners of the Potanin scholarship receive not only monthly financial support, but also the opportunity to participate in the foundation’s educational and social projects aimed at developing leadership and professional skills.

    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: All-Russian school TIM-Championship of SPbGASU: results summed up

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Saint Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering – Saint Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering –

    The All-Russian School TIM Championship of SPbGASU has ended: on March 26 for its participants, on the 27th – for the jury. The works have been checked, the results have been summed up.

    As Denis Nizhegorodtsev, Deputy Director of the Educational Center for Digital Competencies at SPbGASU, explained, the students solved two problems: creating a digital information model and drawing up drawings based on it.

    “Of course, the level of their work with drawings is lower than with the modeling functionality. Nevertheless, if we consider that the tasks were completed by students in grades eight through eleven, the quality of the work performed can be considered very good. Participants from all regions demonstrated a decent level of proficiency in building information modeling tools. Having received the appropriate professional knowledge in the construction industry, they would be able to successfully complete tasks in real design,” Denis Nizhegorodtsev noted.

    Evgeny Alimpiev was declared the winner of the TIM Championship. Sergey Alshevsky took second place, and Roman Andrievsky took third place.

    Sergey Alshevsky, a student at School No. 347 in the Nevsky District of St. Petersburg, believes that participation in the TIM-Classes project is good preparation for this Olympiad; in addition, experience helped – Sergey participated for the second time.

    “Last year, the tasks seemed easy because all the formulas and calculations were given. This time, I had to calculate the area of the premises myself, including the walls and doors, and it was difficult. But I like participating in these kinds of competitions: it develops skills and prepares for further activities. True, I have not yet decided on a profession, but I think that I will go to college or university with the aim of obtaining a working specialty – where you need to work with your hands, on the road, so as not to sit at the computer,” explained Sergey.

    Participants of the TIM Championship talk about it

    In preparation for the TIM Championship, tenth-grader of the Surgut Scientific Lyceum Maria Nikitenko took a preparatory week-long course in Khanty-Mansiysk, where she learned to work in two programs: Renga and QGIS. After that, she continued to prepare independently, including using educational videos.

    “There were tasks at the qualifying stage of the TIM Championship that I easily completed. But when I saw the three-dimensional drawings at the final stage, I was even scared at first. In about fifteen minutes I figured out the process and realized: you don’t need to panic, but just look closely at every detail of the projects and build systematically. I like doing this so much that I plan to enroll in the architecture department of St. Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering. For this purpose, I will continue to participate in such competitions in order to seriously immerse myself in the topic,” said Maria.

    Valery Selivanov, a tenth-grader at School No. 20 in the Nevsky District of St. Petersburg, is a participant in the TIM-Classes project, so he contacted his supervisor, a student at St. Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering, to clarify some questions about participating in the TIM Championship. He also completed the university’s educational video courses.

    “In the TIM class, we also make a project of an individual residential house, but it is much easier there, because you choose the house yourself, build it according to the prescribed requirements and declared parameters. Here I saw a huge drawing, which was quite difficult to navigate. For example, to clarify each criterion, it was necessary to turn over many pages, the task was voluminous. But I am happy, although at first it seemed that I did not have time. It was nice to meet the guys: I came alone and was worried about how I would be in an unfamiliar place with strangers, but I immediately joined the general company of interesting participants from different cities. Most likely, after finishing school, I will choose a technical specialty, but I will think about the profile for now: perhaps it will be innovative technologies,” concluded Valery.

    Karim Khalitov, an eighth-grade student at the Specialized Educational and Scientific Center “IT Lyceum of Kazan Federal University”, admits that two months ago he had not even heard of information modeling technologies. A friend introduced him to this field.

    “A friend is keen on architecture, plans to enter SPbGASU, but unfortunately couldn’t come. He suggested that I study TIM and take a three-week preparatory course at the Kazan University of Architecture and Civil Engineering. After that, I took part in my first TIM competition among professionals and took third place at the regional stage. The result inspired me to participate in the TIM Championship of SPbGASU. The most difficult moment was reading the drawings. I read such drawings on paper, and their electronic format was unusual for me. I managed to do something, but I tried to do everything. At the same time, reading these drawings and interpreting them into a 3D model is very interesting. The process itself is fascinating!” – shared Karim.

    He does not yet plan to connect his future profession with architecture, but he considers participation in the TIM Championship important for self-development and finding his own direction of activity.

    Championship results

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Tall Ships anthem gets big ‘Aye Aye’ at maiden recital

    Source: Scotland – City of Aberdeen

    The official Aberdeen anthem for this summer’s much-anticipated Tall Ships spectacular was given its premiere yesterday (Thursday 27 March) to great acclaim. 

    In another first for The Tall Ships Races, the event’s official mascot – Dorry the Dolphin – made a debut appearance at the special lunchtime concert in Aberdeen Art Gallery’s Cowdray Hall.

    Primary 4 pupils from Abbotswell School sang ‘The Sea Journey’ l to an audience of 150, including composer Clara-Jane Maunder who wrote the piece for the Aberdeen City Council Music Service pupils to celebrate the Tall Ships return to the city.

    Clara-Jane, a former Music Service pupil who went on to study at Aberdeen University and is now an emerging professional composer was delighted with her composition’s public debut which named familiar Aberdeen landmarks.

    She said: “It has been a real delight to work on this commission for Aberdeen City Music service over the past couple of months, and it has been even more wonderful to hear it performed in such a beautiful and enthusiastic way by pupils from Abbotswell Primary School.”

    I benefitted hugely from the Music Service’s instrumental tuition, ensembles, and orchestras as a young person, so this has been an absolute full-circle moment. It has been truly wonderful to have the opportunity to write for the next generation of young creatives, inspired by the city I grew up in. 

    “‘A Sea Journey’ follows the journey of a sailor (maybe from this century, or maybe from long ago) as they return to Aberdeen after a long time at sea, continuing with them past familiar parts of Aberdeen’s coastline until they arrive home to the Granite City.).

    Clara-Jane’s delight was shared by Councillor Martin Greig, Chair of the Tall Ships Organising Committee, who said: “It was a pleasure to be here today on such a joyful occasion.

    “The pupils gave a wonderful performance of Clara-Jane’s stirring composition which will be a real symbol of the Tall Ships and our great maritime city. The song will be a splendid long lasting legacy of this year’s Tall Ships experience. Joining in with the words and music is a great way to share in the celebrations and the fun.”

    The piece has been written as a flexi score which means that it can be performed by different combinations of musicians such as a full orchestra and choir, or sung by a soloist and string quartet. This allows the piece to be used as much as possible in different settings including not only the Tall Ships festival but also  the forthcoming Big Sing 2025.

    Also among the captivated audience were Bob Sanguinetti, CEO, Port of Aberdeen and Adrian Watson, Chief Executive of Aberdeen Inspired. Mr Sanguinetti said: “I’m thrilled to have been part of this memorable occasion today. The students showcased an outstanding performance of Clara-Jane’s captivating composition, which perfectly embodies the essence of the Tall Ships and reflects the rich maritime spirit of our city. This remarkable piece will leave a lasting impression, serving as a wonderful reminder of this year’s Tall Ships event.”

    Mr Watson said was also charmed by the pupil’s performance, saying: “It was a magical moment to hear the talented pupils of Abbotswell School give this moving piece of music its premiere.

    “This might be the first time we have heard Clara-Jane’s soaring work, The Sea Journey, but it won’t be the last. I am sure this enchanting composition will become a much-loved and oft-performed anthem for The Tall Ships Races Aberdeen.

    “Today was very much about firsts for The Tall Ships Races, with Dorry the Dolphin’s debut appearance making a splash at the concert. Such a fun and loveable mascot for the Tall Ships, Dorry will become a familiar sight on city streets in the weeks to come.”

    Aberdeen Sinfonietta is premiering Clara-Jane’s second Tall Ships piece “The Coast” on 18 May at The Music Hall concert on maritime-related orchestral music.

    https://www.aberdeenperformingarts.com/whats-on/aberdeen-sinfonietta-far-and-away/

    Meanwhile, Dorry will be popping up around the city over the coming weeks at the Bucksburn Community Council Event, Peterculter Gala, Big Belmont Bash and Aberdeen Highland Games.

    Photograph shows Abbotswell P4 pupils and Tall Ships mascot Dorry the Dolphin flanked by Cllr Martin Greig (left) and composer Clara-Jane Maunder (right) 

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Spring Day! Polytechnic celebrated Navruz

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

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

    The Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University celebrated the holiday of Navruz, a festive welcome to spring filled with cultural exchange, friendship and hospitality.

    Navruz is one of the oldest holidays, symbolizing the arrival of spring and the renewal of nature. On this day, Polytechnic students from Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan and Kyrgyzstan presented the traditions of their peoples.

    Navruz at the Polytechnic University was a special event for me – this is my first experience as an organizer, and I am glad that I was able to make my contribution. It was incredibly pleasant to see how students from different countries unite, share their traditions and create an atmosphere of real spring renewal. This experience gave me not only new knowledge, but also confidence that together we can create even more bright and significant events! – said Begench Mukhammedov, a second-year student in the Jurisprudence program.

    Guests of the festival saw national performances, heard poetry and musical numbers, enjoyed live performances of folk songs. Enchanting traditional dances conveyed the atmosphere of spring, and the exhibition of national culture allowed to get to know the traditions of different countries better. The evening ended with a heartfelt tea party, where participants were able to communicate and exchange impressions.

    The organizers express their sincere gratitude to the Director of the Humanitarian Institute Natalia Chicherina and the Assistant Vice-Rector for International Affairs Pavel Nedelko for their support and contribution to the celebration.

    Navruz at the Polytechnic is not just an event, but a good tradition that unites students of different nationalities and creates an atmosphere of friendship, respect and cultural exchange.

    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 Europe: EUAA provides targeted operational support to ten Member States where protection systems are under pressure

    Source: European Asylum Support Office

    The EUAA is providing operational support to 10 Member States: Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Germany, Greece, Italy, Malta, the Netherlands, Romania and Spain. The EUAA’s support covers different facets of asylum, reception, relocation and temporary protection, and comes as the EU and its Member States prepare to implement the Pact on Migration and Asylum.

    The European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA), which has operations in 10 Member States, has recently signed amended or new Operational Plans with eight of these countries. The new plans build on a years-long work to streamline and standardise the support the Agency provides to Member States, while also ensuring national authorities benefit from effective EU support. With the signatures of these plans, the EUAA continues to provide targeted support to Member States where protection systems are under pressure, either as the result of being at the forefront of migration flows, or because they need to cope with applications stemming from secondary movements.

    Together with Spain and Germany, where the operational support was agreed on in 2023 and 2024, respectively; the EUAA is now present on the ground in 10 Member States and will deploy around 1 500 personnel throughout 2025. Separately, the Agency has closed its operations in Austria, Lithuania and Slovenia last year.

    • Support to Asylum

    The EUAA is expanding its operational support in Belgium, with new support provided to the national asylum system. The Agency plan includes support with access to the asylum procedure and the processing of Dublin cases, and with processing applications. The Agency will deploy up to 66 personnel in support of asylum processes and procedures in Belgium.

    In Bulgaria, the Agency will help the national authorities develop and implement more standardised approaches to asylum processes. Building on previous work, the EUAA will also expand its support to the digitisation of case management files, thereby leading to more efficient processes. The Agency will deploy up to 12 personnel to assist with asylum processes in Bulgaria. In Romania, and building on its existing support, the EUAA will begin working to strengthen Romania’s capacity to handle the specific protection needs of unaccompanied minors.

    In Cyprus, the EUAA will continue to support both the asylum and reception systems of the country, including workflows relating to access to the procedure and the processing of asylum applications, as well as the strengthening of reception capacity. The EUAA recently handed over 62 Reception Units to the national authorities, increasing capacity by 240 places. The Agency will deploy up to 90 experts to support asylum processes in Cyprus, together with up to 100 interpreters.

    The EUAA will also provide targeted support to Italy, with the processing of accelerated border procedures at first and second instance. The Agency will deploy up to 130 personnel to support asylum processes. In Greece, the Agency will readjust its current and targeted intervention for one more year, with the deployment of up to 489 experts who will support asylum and reception related processes.

    • Support to Reception

    Building on existing efforts in the field of asylum, the Agency will also continue to support Italy in strengthening the overall quality of the reception system, including by assisting the national authorities in the regional allocation of applicants, primarily focusing on unaccompanied minors. The Agency will deploy up to 74 experts to assist the Italian authorities in reception-related processes. In Bulgaria, the Agency will expand its reception support with additional capacity, including by providing 10 housing and non-housing units to the national authorities.

    In the Netherlands, the EUAA will continue assisting in managing arrivals into the reception system, with a focus on identifying vulnerable individuals and implementing child protection activities. In Spain, the EUAA is continuing its work with the national authorities. Since October 2024, the Agency has deployed 12 reception experts to the Canary Islands, where it is helping to strengthen reception systems, particularly with regard to training and unaccompanied minors, and where it will soon begin vulnerability support.

    • Support to Relocation

    In 2025, the EUAA will continue to support the five EU countries bordering the Mediterranean with the implementation of the Voluntary Solidarity Mechanism (VSM). With the European Commission coordinating national pledges, the Agency has supported EU+ countries in relocating over 6 000 asylum applicants since October 2022. In Malta, the EUAA’s operational support to asylum and reception has been successfully phased out, and will now focus exclusively on relocation.

    • Support to Temporary Protection

    The Agency will continue to support Cyprus, Greece, Italy, Romania and Spain with the implementation of the Temporary Protection Directive. With the number of temporary protection beneficiaries in the EU countries remaining stable at 4.4 million, and with new registrations having decreased significantly, the EUAA will support registration where needed but aims at transitioning these processes to the full responsibility of these Member States’ national authorities.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Global South’s modernization in focus at Boao Forum

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    The Boao Forum for Asia International Conference Center in Boao, Hainan province, March 26, 2025. [Photo by Xu Xiaoxuan/China.org.cn]

    Over the past two decades, Global South countries have contributed nearly 80% of world economic growth, solidifying their role as a key driver of global development. Their growing influence has made them a focal point at the 2025 Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference, held from March 25 to 28 in Boao, south China’s Hainan province.

    At a panel discussion during the forum on March 26, experts explored the diverse paths to modernization for the Global South, emphasizing collaboration, self-reliance and inclusive development.

    Xiaojun Grace Wang, trust fund director at the U.N. Office for South-South Cooperation (UNOSSC), highlighted the varied modernization trajectories of these nations. “Each country has distinct concerns and priorities. Least developed nations and small island states, for instance, have unique considerations,” Wang noted. “We must listen to their collective voices, recognize their varying stages of development, and acknowledge that real strength comes from unity amid diversity.”

    She emphasized that cooperation should extend beyond the traditional North-South divide. “We must leverage the expertise and technology of developed nations,” she said, stressing that collaboration in diversity is key.

    Kirill Babaev, director of the Institute of China and Contemporary Asia of the Russian Academy of Sciences, underscored the shared aspirations of Global South nations despite their regional differences. “From the Eurasian Economic Union and Shanghai Cooperation Organization to ASEAN and the Gulf Cooperation Council, these nations share common values in globalization, forming the foundation for a broader global economic mainstream,” he said.

    Zheng Yongnian, dean of the School of Public Policy at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, identified two major challenges facing the Global South. The first is internal: “These countries often express concerns but struggle to translate them into concrete actions,” he observed. The second challenge is external, particularly disruptions to the global trade system initiated by U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration. “If globalization is hindered, poverty will deepen, leading to instability,” he warned.

    Zheng also criticized Western-style modernization for its exclusiveness and lack of inclusiveness. He argued that while Western nations have achieved prosperity, they have not actively helped poorer countries develop. “Economic disparity is detrimental to human rights,” he stated.

    Citing a Chinese proverb — “in adversity, perfect oneself; in success, perfect all under heaven” — Zheng said that this philosophy is reflected in China’s modernization approach. China worked hard to develop when it was poor and now seeks to assist other nations through initiatives like the Belt and Road Initiative and the New Development Bank, he explained.

    Danny Quah, dean of the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at the National University of Singapore, stressed the importance of self-reliance. “Global South countries must demonstrate leadership in their own development,” he said.

    Quah underlined that economic growth and capacity building are essential for ensuring these nations control their own destinies. True development, he added, involves creating value — building infrastructure, improving public health, and unlocking the creativity and potential of people.

    MIL OSI China News –