Whether any subject matter enjoys protection as a work of authorship and merits copyright protection under EU copyright law would depend on whether it qualifies as an original work and can be expressed in a manner which makes it identifiable with sufficient precision and objectivity.
If subtitles meet the criteria for copyright protection, their use by third parties must be authorised by the relevant rightsholders, unless specific exceptions or limitations apply in EU copyright law.
Article 4 of Directive (EU) 2019/790[1] introduces an exception for text and data mining carried out on lawfully accessible copyright-protected content, which provide a relevant framework for the use of protected content for the training of artificial intelligence (AI) models.
Under Article 4(3) of Directive (EU) 2019/790, rightsholders can expressly reserve the right ‘in an appropriate manner such as machine-readable means’, thus preventing their works from being used under the exception for text and data mining purposes, including in the context of AI.
The respect of such rights reservation is supported by the AI Act[2]. Under the AI Act , general-purpose AI model providers must put in place a policy to respect EU copyright law and make publicly available a sufficiently detailed summary of the content used for regardless of where the training occurs.
The Commission will continue to promote the development of AI in the EU, in the respect of copyright rules, by facilitating licensing between creative industries and AI companies.
[1] Directive (EU) 2019/790 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 April 2019 on copyright and related rights in the Digital Single Market and amending Directives 96/9/EC and 2001/29/EC https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dir/2019/790/oj
[2] Regulation (EU) 2024/1689 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 June 2024 laying down harmonised rules on artificial intelligence and amending Regulations (EC) No 300/2008, (EU) No 167/2013, (EU) No 168/2013, (EU) 2018/858, (EU) 2018/1139 and (EU) 2019/2144 and Directives 2014/90/EU, (EU) 2016/797 and (EU) 2020/1828 (Artificial Intelligence Act). https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2024/1689/oj/eng
The Commission ensures, within the remit of its competence, the respect of fundamental rights enshrined in the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights (the Charter), including the right to property[1].
According to its Article 51(1) the provisions of the Charter are addressed to Member States only when they are implementing EU law.
In this case, it is for Member States, including their judicial authorities, to ensure that fundamental rights are effectively respected and protected in accordance with their national law and international human rights obligations.
The Commission is not responsible for monitoring the application of national laws for matters, such as property rights, which do not fall within EU competence.
Therefore, the Commission has not issued and does not plan to issue any guidelines to resolve environmental protection conflicts with property rights .
It is up to the Member States to identify and use EU co-financing, provided that the eligibility and selection criteria of any relevant EU programmes or funding tools are fulfilled. Cohesion Policy[2], through projects co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund[3], provides tools that can contribute to addressing challenges related to forest maps and property management in Greece[4].
In line with this, Greece’s Recovery and Resilience Plan[5] includes a reform to finalise the national cadastre, establishing an efficient land registry system and providing legal certainty for property rights (measure 16986). By mid-2025, the cadastral mapping is expected to be completed, with all property rights available for public display.
[1] Article17 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union.
[4] For instance, the project Development of an Integrated Information System for the Central Geospatial Infrastructure (ERDF co-financing: EUR 0.6 million) focuses on creating a comprehensive geospatial information system to manage grazing lands, immovable property, and agricultural registers, supporting improved land and forest management. Similarly, the project Digitization of the Historic Archive of Aerial Photographs (ERDF co-financing: EUR 3.3 million) involves preserving and digitizing aerial photographs to create a Geographic Information System (GIS), which will contribute to documenting forest and land boundaries, improving transparency, and supporting sustainable land management efforts.
In its communication of 2023 on EU Missions[1], the Commission stated that the ‘implementation of the current five Missions should be continued, and support should be increased, both politically and financially’.
It also stressed that ‘a broader portfolio of instruments needs to be mobilised, with the Horizon Europe calls serving only as seed funding and orchestrators rather than the main instruments of deployment’.
For the Climate Neutral and Smart Cities Mission[2], this broadening of portfolio of instruments is important as the majority of the resources needed for the deployment of their Climate City contracts will have to come from the private sector.
Beyond Research and Innovation funding, cities within the Climate Neutral and Smart Cities mission have received more than EUR 100 million of financial support from other EU programmes, other than Horizon Europe such as Connecting Europe Facility[3], LIFE[4], the European Urban Initiative[5]_[6] and the Digital Europe Programme[7].
The Climate City Capital Hub[8], launched in June 2024, helps cities that have received the EU Mission Label[9] (18 have been targeted so far) to get projects ready for investment. It offers them advice on the best financing solutions, in close cooperation with existing advisory services, such as those offered by the European Investment Bank, and puts cities in touch with investors.
In addition, EUR 21 million were secured in 2024 to deploy advisory services of the European Investment Bank (including European Local ENergy Assistance (ELENA)[10] and the InvestEU Advisory Hub[11]) to the cities that have received the EU Mission Label.
Finally, the European Investment Bank also ringfenced a lending envelope of EUR 2 billion for labelled Mission Cities.
[5] As regards the European Urban Initiative of Cohesion Policy, calls for innovative action proposals have included references to embed proposals in relevant urban strategies and plans such as those of the Climate Neutral and Smart Cities Mission
Since the unexpected overthrow of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in early December 2024, Syria has embarked on an uncertain trajectory. Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the armed jihadi group leading the offensive against the Assad forces, has now taken charge of the country and set up a caretaker government. Scepticism abounds in international circles about HTS owing to the group’s terrorist credentials and Salafist ideology. However, the new Syrian authorities have declared plans to establish a political transition inclusive of all minorities and segments of Syrian society, as well as increased engagement with neighbouring countries and other foreign players, offering the international community some reassurance. One of the main demands in the current context from all sides, within Syria as well as from other states and organisations, has been to lift the complex web of international economic, financial and trade sanctions against the country. Most of these sanctions were imposed after Assad’s brutal crackdown on protesters in 2011. Moreover, calls have been made to remove the designations of HTS and its leader Ahmed al-Sharaa from the international terrorist lists. Such steps are believed to be essential in addressing the significant economic and humanitarian challenges facing the country after nearly 14 years of civil war. The United States (US) imposes the most comprehensive sanctions on Syria, including secondary sanctions on foreign governments, non-US individuals and entities doing business with the Syrian government and sanctioned entities in Syria. The European Union (EU) has also imposed restrictive measures on certain Syrian economic sectors, along with asset freezes and travel bans on individuals or entities supporting the Assad regime. In January 2025, the US granted short-term waivers relating to the provision of basic services in response to requests for sanctions relief for Syria. Similarly, the EU Member States reached a political agreement to suspend certain restrictions gradually and conditionally. The UN Security Council has the authority to remove the terrorist designations of HTS and its leader from the ISIL (Da’esh)/Al-Qaida list.
The mid-term revision of the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF)[1] increased the allocation for the Solidarity and Emergency Aid Reserve by EUR 1.5 billion for the years 2024-2027. The EU Solidarity Fund (EUSF)[2] now has an annual budget of EUR 1 016 million[3] (in 2018 prices). A review of the scope of the Fund is not planned under the 2021-2027 MFF.
In addition, thanks to the Regional Emergency Support to Reconstruction (RESTORE) Regulation, entered into force on 24 December 2024[4], Member States will be able to reprogramme (within the limits of its current scope of intervention) part of their European Regional Development Fund, Cohesion Fund, and European Social Fund+ allocations for reconstruction and repair actions. Member States have six months from the entry into force to submit the corresponding programme amendments to the Commission.
Under the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF), Member States committed close to EUR 9 billion in their recovery and resilience plans to finance measures related to natural disaster preparedness. The RRF Regulation allows Member States to request a targeted amendment of their plan if objective circumstances make it impossible for them to deliver on the previously agreed commitments. Natural disasters can constitute objective circumstances to justify the revision of recovery and resilience plans[5]. The Commission has recently also taken steps to simplify the process to amend the plans (when objective circumstances are invoked).
[1] Council Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2024/765 of 29 February 2024 amending Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2020/2093 laying down the MFF for 2021-27.
[2] Council Regulation (EC) No 2012/2002 of 11 November 2002 establishing the European Union Solidarity Fund (OJ L 311, 14.11.2002, p. 3) as amended by Regulation (EU) No 661/2014 of the European Parliament and the Council of 15 May 2014 (OJ L 189, 27.6.2014, p. 143) and by Regulation (EU) 2020/461 of the European Parliament and the Council of 30 March 2020 (OJ L 99, 31.3.2020, p. 9): https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=celex:32002R2012
[4] Regulation (EU) 2024/3236 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 December 2024 amending Regulations (EU) 2021/1057 and (EU) 2021/1058 as regards Regional Emergency Support to Reconstruction (RESTORE), available at the following link: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2024/3236/oj
[5] This includes the possibility to shift RRF funds towards reforms and investments necessary to respond to natural disasters, or more generally to adjust previously agreed commitments to take account of the impact of such natural disasters on the plans’ implementation. The relevant guidance can be found at: https://commission.europa.eu/document/download/3a3d5707-5adc-4f6a-a5b5-1d23f1a24235_en?filename=20240531_Draft_Guidance_on_recovery_and_resilience_plans.pdf
The fall of Assad’s criminal regime marks a historic moment for the Syrian people.
The High Representative/Vice-President (HR/VP) confirms the EU commitment to a Syrian-led, Syrian-owned peaceful and inclusive political transition, where all groups participate at the negotiating table.
The European Council conclusions of 19 December 2024[1] underlined ‘the need to ensure respect for human rights, including women’s rights, non-sectarian governance and the protection of members of religious and ethnic minorities, and to safeguard Syria’s cultural heritage’.
It called on ‘all parties to preserve national unity and ensure the protection of all civilians, the provision of public services as well as the creation of conditions for an inclusive and peaceful political transition’.
The EU stands ready to support the new phase in Syria in coordination with regional partners (Türkiye, Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq, others). The HR/VP expressed the EU’s position in international meetings, including in Aqaba[2], Riyadh as well as during her recent visit to Ankara.
Türkiye has a legitimate right and responsibility to fight against terrorism, ensuring that this is done in accordance with the rule of law, respecting human rights and fundamental freedoms, in full respect of the territorial integrity and sovereignty of neighbouring states.
In October 2019, Member States committed to strong national positions regarding their arms export policy to Türkiye on the basis of the provisions of Common Position 2008/944/CFSP on arms export controls.
There is no arms embargo to Türkiye in place. This would require unanimity. The responsible Council Working Group remains seized on this important matter.
The Water Framework Directive (WFD)[1] already sets the obligation for Member States to characterise water bodies and monitor and assess their status on a regular basis. This information is essential to adopt appropriate measures to prevent deterioration and achieve good water status of all water bodies, at the latest by end of 2027.
This characterisation should be carried out following the guidance documents[2], established in the context of the ‘Common Implementation Strategy’ under the WFD. The latter establishes the need to set, on a site-specific basis, the water table level necessary to secure the good status of groundwater bodies taking into account inter alia climate change and extractions.
The WFD does not specify how water resources should be allocated between different users within a Member State. However, it requests that the current and future requirements of the users be incorporated into a system of controls that guarantees the achievement of the objectives of the law. This requires water allocations to be regularly reviewed to ensure withdrawals are consistent with the goal of achieving good quantitative water status.
[1] Directive 2000/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2000 establishing a framework for Community action in the field of water policy, OJ L 327, 22.12.2000, p. 1-73.
[2] Guidance document No 15. Guidance on Groundwater Monitoring: https://circabc.europa.eu/ui/group/9ab5926d-bed4-4322-9aa7-9964bbe8312d/library/d98ae176-3e4f-4aa8-a9a0-877814cec19b/details
The Commission is not aware of the referred prospection projects for the extraction of rare earths.
The EU legal framework applicable to the extraction and processing of raw materials[1] aims to ensure that the activities within its scope, including mining, comply with high environmental standards.
The Critical Raw Materials Act[2] (CRMA) provides a framework to ensure a secure and sustainable supply of critical raw materials streamlining permitting procedures in mining and in the critical raw materials supply chain while keeping environmental checks.
I n the case of Strategic Projects for which the obligation to carry out assessments of the effects on the environment arises simultaneously from the Environmental Impact Assessment[3], Habitats[4], Birds[5], Water[6] and Waste Framework[7], Industrial Emissions[8], or the Seveso III[9] Directives, Member States shall apply a coordinated procedure fulfilling all the requirements of these acts[10].
The regulation applies without prejudice to the obligations under the Aarhus and Espoo Conventions[11] and the requirements on public participation included in the above-mentioned legislation.
Under the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive[12] and the Batteries Regulation[13], companies are required to take steps with regard to social and environmental risks when sourcing raw materials but those rules have not yet entered into application.
The 2022 Communication on the EU’s outermost regions[14] stresses the importance of protecting and restoring the high biodiversity value of these regions. Several EU instruments can support biodiversity protection and restoration in the outermost region of the Canary Islands[15].
[1] Directive 2006/21/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 March 2006 on the management of waste from extractive industries and amending Directive 2004/35/EC, OJ L 102, 11.4.2006, p. 15-34.
[2] Regulation (EU) 2024/1252 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 April 2024 establishing a framework for ensuring a secure and sustainable supply of critical raw materials and amending Regulations (EU) No 168/2013, (EU) 2018/858, (EU) 2018/1724 and (EU) 2019/1020, OJ L, 2024/1252, 3.5.2024.
[3] Directive 2011/92/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 December 2011 on the assessment of the effects of certain public and private projects on the environment, OJ L 26, 28.1.2012, p. 1-21, as amended by Directive 2014/52/EU of 16 April 2014, OJ L 124, 25.4.2014, p. 1-18.
[4] Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora, OJ L 206, 22.7.1992, p. 7-50.
[5] Directive 2009/147/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 November 2009 on the conservation of wild birds (Codified version), OJ L 20, 26.1.2010, p. 7-25.
[6] Directive 2000/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2000 establishing a framework for Community action in the field of water policy, OJ L 327, 22.12.2000, p. 1-73.
[7] Directive 2008/98/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 November 2008 on waste and repealing certain Directives, OJ L 312, 22.11.2008, p. 3-30.
[8] Directive (EU) 2024/1785 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 April 2024 amending Directive 2010/75/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council on industrial emissions (integrated pollution prevention and control) and Council Directive 1999/31/EC on the landfill of waste. OJ L, 2024/1785, 15.7.2024. Transposition date of this directive is 1 July 2026.
[9] Directive 2012/18/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 4 July 2012 on the control of major-accident hazards involving dangerous substances, amending and subsequently repealing Council Directive 96/82/EC, OJ L 197, 24.7.2012, p. 1-37.
[11] United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters, signed at Aarhus on 25 June 1998, and UNECE Convention on environmental impact assessment in a transboundary context, signed at Espoo on 25 February 1991 and its Protocol on Strategic Environmental Assessment, signed in Kyiv on 21 May 2003.
[12] Directive (EU) 2024/1760 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 June 2024 on corporate sustainability due diligence and amending Directive (EU) 2019/1937 and Regulation (EU) 2023/2859, OJ L, 2024/1760, 5.7.2024.
[13] Regulation (EU) 2023/1542 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12 July 2023 concerning batteries and waste batteries, amending Directive 2008/98/EC and Regulation (EU) 2019/1020 and repealing Directive 2006/66/EC, OJ L 191, 28.7.2023, p. 1-117.
[14] Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic And Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions, Putting people first, securing sustainable and inclusive growth, unlocking the potential of the EU’s outermost regions, COM (2022) 198 final.
[15] Eg. European Regional Development Fund: https://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/funding/erdf_en or the regulation (EU) 2021/783 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2021 establishing a Programme for the Environment and Climate Action (LIFE), and repealing Regulation (EU) No 1293/2013, OJ L 172, 17.05.2021, p.53.
The Commission is aware of the challenges facing the outermost regions in terms of water shortages and is fully committed to supporting these regions in improving water management and related infrastructure.
The Commission reiterated this commitment in its communication on the outermost regions[1] of May 2022, which aims to contribute to improving the quality of life of citizens in these regions, in particular as regards basic needs such as water and sanitation.
An independent study[2] on living conditions and access to basic needs in the outermost regions published by the Commission in 2024 further sheds light into the remaining challenges related to access to drinking water and sanitation in some of these regions.
The European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) provides substantial financial support to the French outermost regions on structural investments in drinking water and sanitation, for example to ensure the resilience of water catchments, develop drinking water treatment facilities and equipment, and improve the efficiency of distribution networks.
Support to drinking water is also a priority for cohesion policy in these regions in 2021-2027. For instance, in Réunion, Guadeloupe, Saint Martin, and Mayotte, the ERDF will invest respectively EUR 106 million, EUR 148 million, EUR 10 million and EUR 47.5 million to improve the quality of drinking water and sanitation infrastructure.
In addition, the directive on the quality of water intended for human consumption[3] includes provisions to protect human health by ensuring that drinking water is clean and to improve access to drinking water, in particular for vulnerable and marginalised groups.
Member States had to transpose this directive into national law by 12 January 2023, which France did.
[3] Directive (EU) 2020/2184 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 December 2020 on the quality of water intended for human consumption, OJ L 435, 23.12.2020, p. 1-62.
The Commission is of the opinion that the benefits of lump sums have materialised. Lump sums will be used when deemed the most appropriate approach.
Most participants find that lump sums reduce their administrative burden[1]. Beneficiaries can choose the extent to which they seize the full simplification benefits; while some continue internal financial management tasks, most have stopped some or all of these[2], which are no longer an obligation in the lump sum grant agreement.
1. Lump sums can be used irrespective of the Research and Innovation content. Horizon Europe governance and the Programme Committee establish where to use lump sums[3],[4]. The focus is on call topics for grants below EUR 10 million with 10 or fewer participants. Small and medium enterprises and/or newcomers are particularly positive about lump sums, so topics addressing these groups are good candidates. The recent lump sum assessment confirmed these criteria[5].
2. Article 29 of the Horizon Europe Regulation[6] states that grant proposals, which include the estimated budget, are evaluated by a committee of external experts. This applies both to actual cost and lump sum grants. In line with the Financial Regulation, the evaluation of lump sum budgets is one of the safeguards for sound financial management in the decision authorising the use of lump sum under Horizon Europe[7].
The legal basis for experts to evaluate the budget in lump sum proposals stems from the same Decision[8]. Section 3 thereof stipulates that for each work package, experts should review the budget estimate using relevant cost and resource benchmarks[9] to ensure that the proposed resources and lump sum distribution can achieve the expected outcomes.
3. The Commission will continue to monitor lump sums, including as part of the Horizon Europe interim evaluation, and to improve the process, where needed[10],[11]. While the legal principles remain stable, the processes, tools, guidance and training are continuously improved in line with stakeholder feedback.
[1] https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/horizon/other/comm/ls-assessment-report-2024_en.pdf , section ‘Overall satisfaction’, p. 24-25.
[9] S uch as market prices, statistical data, or historical data.
[10] Assessment of the Lump Sum Pilot (2018-2020)(https://research-and-innovation.ec.europa.eu/document/download/acd39d69-99db-4ddd-b788-7c36397b22dd_en?filename=assessment_of_the_lump_sum_pilot_2018-2020_report) of October 2021, the overall positive results available at https://www.europarl.europa.eu/stoa/en/document/EPRS_STU(2022)697218.
[11] https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/horizon/other/comm/ls-assessment-report-2024_en.pdf, in particular sections ‘Written comments and suggestions’, p. 41-42, and ‘Conclusions and next steps’, p. 43-45.
1. The proposed Artificial Intelligence (AI) Liability Directive[1] was designed with a forward-looking approach to modernise certain fault-based liability rules, considering AI’s unique characteristics (opacity, complexity and autonomy), which differentiate it from traditional software.
Legal certainty regarding liability is important for reducing risks and encouraging businesses, especially small and medium-sized enterprises and startups, to invest in AI. Harmonised rules for fault-based liability minimise fragmentation, creating a predictable environment for innovation while ensuring accountability.
2. The proposed Directive does not create any administrative burden for businesses (no reporting, no registration, no documentation obligation) and enhances legal certainty.
The proposed AI Liability Directive is targeted and proportionate, as it only deals with aspects of liability that are challenged by the specificities of the AI, while all other aspects of liability are left to national law.
3. The Commission’s aim is to create a framework that does not stifle growth. The proposed Directive does not create any additional hurdles for companies, as it relies on obligations that companies must already comply with under European or national law.
The AI Act[2] reduces risks for safety and fundamental rights, the Product Liability Directive[3] sets no-fault liability of producers for defective products, benefiting consumers, and the proposed AI Liability Directive covers liability for damages caused by AI, linked to the fault of any persons.
Adaptation of fault-based liability to the specificities of AI allows any type of victims of accidents caused by AI systems to prove a successful liability claim and obtain compensation.
Cohesion Policy supports the creation of new small and medium-sized enterprises’ (SMEs) in Greece, through the ‘Competitiveness’ programme, co-funded by the European Regional Development Fund and the European Social Fund+ (ESF+)[1], and horizontal employment actions also covering Western Macedonia, through the ‘Human Resources and Social Cohesion’ programme, co-funded by ESF+.
The programme ‘Western Macedonia’ allocates some EUR 20 million[2] for the creation of new and existing SMEs along with EUR 13.2 million[3] for employment initiatives.
The Greek Recovery and Resilience Plan[4] with EUR 2.9 billion supports job creation, youth employment, education, and entrepreneurship in Greece, while an additional EUR 619 million aims to foster economic development in Western Macedonia[5].
The ESF+ finances employment actions, active labour market policies, training initiatives, and social economy projects aimed at job creation. Eligible individuals and entities can apply for financing through relevant calls.
The Just Transition Fund allocates resources to employment initiatives and fosters entrepreneurship for youth, promoting green skills development[6] while the Just Transition Platform manages initiatives on youth mobilisation and young people’s skill development.
The ‘Human Resources and Social Cohesion’ programme supports entrepreneurship initiatives for the socioeconomic integration of young people in Greece[7][8].
The Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs programme[9] allows new entrepreneurs to learn from experienced business owners in other countries.
Also, they can enhance their skills via the European learning platform Entrepreneurship4All[10] and participate in the European Enterprise Promotion Awards[11].
[1] Indicatively, some EUR 2.7 billion from the ERDF is available to support small and medium-sized enterprises in Greece.
[5] The plan also includes two investments contributing to the economic development in Western Macedonia. Measure 16871 (Revitalization actions of the most affected territories (Just transition territories)) supports land rehabilitation in the areas of former lignite mines to alleviate its transition towards a climate-neutral economy. Measure 16628 (Central Greece Highway E-65: Trikala-Egnatia Section) finances the construction of a motorway, connecting Southern Greece, Thessaly and Western Macedonia with the Western Balkans and the rest of Europe to improve connectivity for residents and businesses in the region.
[6] For example, the Just Transition Platform (JTP) runs a JTP Working Group on Equal Opportunities to provide a forum for vulnerable groups to share good practices, exchange knowledge and discuss concerns and achievements. In addition, the Just Transition Platform manages since 2023 initiatives on youth mobilisation, re-skilling and up-skilling measures for young people. Support through the Just Transition Platform also promotes the development of green skills for youth to enhance entrepreneurship and development of the SMEs and start-up.
[8] In 2014-2020, the Youth Employment Initiative mobilised over EUR 500 million to finance training, work experience and entrepreneurship support programmes for unemployed young people in Greece. Similar measures are being funded by the ESF+ allocation for the period 2021-2027 with a budget of EUR 860 million.
Source: Australian Government – Minister of Foreign Affairs
The Albanese Government has imposed additional cyber sanctions in response to the 2022 cyberattack against Medibank Private.
The attack affected millions of Medibank’s customers whose personal and sensitive medical information was stolen. Some records were published on the dark web.
This is the first time that Australia has imposed cyber sanctions on an entity and the first time Australia has imposed sanctions on those providing the network infrastructure and services that make cyberattacks like this possible.
The Government is imposing these cyber sanctions on the Russian entity, ZServers, and five Russian cybercriminals who provided the network infrastructure and services used to host and release the data stolen from Medibank. The individuals are ZServers’ owner, Aleksandr Bolshakov, and employees Aleksandr Mishin, Ilya Sidorov, Dmitriy Bolshakov and Igor Odintsov.
ZServers and the five sanctioned individuals also provided enabling services that supported a range of other cybercrimes, including ransomware activities conducted by affiliates of LockBit and BianLian and other ransomware groups.
The sanctions announced today make it a criminal offence to provide assets to ZServers or the five sanctioned individuals, or to use or deal with their assets, with penalties of up to 10 years’ imprisonment and/or heavy fines. The sanctions also ban the individuals from entering Australia.
Today’s sanctions follow the Government’s decisive action to sanction Aleksandr Ermakov, announced in January 2024, for his role in the Medibank Private data breach.
They are a result of the close collaboration between the Australian Signals Directorate (ASD), other Commonwealth agencies and key international partners, including the United Kingdom (UK) and the United States (US), who have all worked tirelessly to unmask these cybercriminals.
The UK and the US have also imposed sanctions on these malicious cyber actors, demonstrating our collective resolve to combat cybercrime.
These sanctions reflect the Albanese Government’s commitment in the 2023-2030 Australian Cyber Security Strategy to deter and respond to malicious cyber activity, including by using sanctions to hold cybercriminals to account.
Malicious cyber actors continue to target Australian governments, critical infrastructure, businesses and individuals. Australia’s autonomous cyber sanctions framework is a key tool in imposing costs on cyber actors and protecting Australians from this threat.
Australians should report cybercrimes, incidents or vulnerabilities to the Australian Signals Directorate at 1300 CYBER1 (1300 292 371) or https://www.cyber.gov.au/report.
Australian businesses can help protect themselves from ransomware by updating devices, regularly backing up files and ensuring staff know to never visit suspicious websites, open emails from unknown sources or click on suspicious links. More information can be found at cyber.gov.au/ransomware
Quotes attributable to Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles:
“These sanctions send a clear message to malicious cyber actors that there are consequences of trying to do Australians harm.
“The Albanese Government continues to take decisive action to hold to account those responsible for one of Australia’s largest cyber incidents.
“Importantly, this is the first cyber sanction against an enabler of cybercrime. Disrupting the criminal ecosystem in this way impacts hundreds of cybercriminals at once.”
Quotes attributable to Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong:
“The Albanese Government is using all elements of our national power to make Australia more secure and to keep Australians safe.
“We are preventing, deterring and disrupting malicious cyber activity through attributions and targeted sanctions in the national interest.
“We will continue to work with our international partners to impose costs on cyber criminals and protect Australians from cyber threats.”
Quote attributable to Cyber Security Minister Tony Burke:
“This Government established the cybersecurity portfolio because national security requires cybersecurity. This strong action is about keeping Australians safe.”
Mahe, Seychelles, Feb. 11, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — BitMart, a leading global cryptocurrency exchange, has announced the launch of its monthly “Trading King” Campaign, a recurring trading competition designed to recognize and reward top traders worldwide. Open to participants across 46+ countries, the Campaign offers exclusive BitMart merchandise, USDT prizes, and premium rewards to outstanding traders each month.
The Campaign provides traders with an opportunity to compete regionally and globally, showcasing their trading expertise and securing valuable prizes. Participants will be ranked based on their spot trading volume, with both regional champions and top global performers receiving special rewards.
Campaign Structure
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Campaign Duration
Start Date: February 1, 2025, 00:00 UTC End Date: February 28, 2025, 23:59 UTC
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Source: United Nations General Assembly and Security Council
Solidarity and social inclusion are more important than ever as the world grapples with multiple emergencies such as the climate crisis, democratic backsliding and repeated human rights abuses, high-level ministers said today at a panel discussion at the 2025 session of the Commission for Social Development.
Ministers ranging from Sweden to Uganda in a panel discussion titled “Strengthening solidarity and social cohesion” spotlighted various ways their Governments were working to promote progress in health, education, gender equality, human rights, microfinance and macroeconomic measures, while also calling on the wider international community to recommit to sustainable development. They expressed concern that trust and faith in Government and institutions had eroded in recent years just as progress faced new roadblocks.
“Progress towards eradication of poverty has lately stalled,” said the Commission’s Chair, Krzysztof Maria Szczerski (Poland), who also moderated the discussion. Income and wealth inequality remain, while decent work is in short supply. These developments, together with global trends and intersecting crises, hamper social inclusion. “Governments need to tackle these challenges, but trust in them is in decline in many countries, weakening social cohesion and limiting the effectiveness of the social policies,” he stressed. Key to addressing these challenges is strengthening solidarity. Stressing the need to combat mis- and disinformation, he said that citizen participation in Government and policy can indeed boost trust in the public sector.
Kaisa Juuso, Minister for Social Affairs and Health of Finland, said that a society’s resilience to challenges and crises heavily relies on social cohesion and trust. Universal social protection — such as health services, long-term care and education — enhances stability and security. She went on to introduce the so-called “economy of well-being” approach, emphasizing that the policies and structures supporting human well-being are vital for inclusive economic growth. They are linked directly to economic activity, labour market participation and productivity, she said, adding that it highlights the mutually reinforcing nature of economy and well-being and encourages collaboration across sectors. Investing in universal health coverage, social protection, education and gender equality is key to social cohesion and inclusive economic growth. These together with decent work and inclusive labour markets are “the best ways to tackle poverty and discrimination”, she said. Stressing the importance of leaving no population groups behind, she affirmed that “in Finland, we share a deep understanding in society that a nation can only prosper by providing an enabling environment for everyone to grow to their fullest potential”.
“As one of the largest donors to the global development system, Sweden remains fully committed to reaching the SDG targets, but we are not happy with the progress,” said Camilla Waltersson-Grönvall, Minister for Social Services of Sweden. According to the World Bank, almost 700 million people live in extreme poverty globally, she added, urging lawmakers and leaders to “work hard to ensure sound and inclusive social protection systems”. This is fundamental to guarantee that those in vulnerable situations receive the support they need. Sweden believes that gender equality is both a human right and a key driver of inclusive growth and social development. Turning to child rights, she highlighted several national efforts and underscored evidence that suggests there is a correlation between children growing up in circumstances of parity and deprivation and increased risks in terms of worse physical and mental health, worse educational achievement and lower participation in society. “Families and parents might be the most important tool to prevent children from ending up in negative patterns,” she added.
Betty Amongi Ongom, Minister for Gender, Labour and Social Development of Uganda, highlighted her country’s initiatives to promote social integration by prioritizing health, education, microfinance and macroeconomic measures to drive growth. These efforts have facilitated the absorption of unemployed youth into the private sector. Uganda has also attracted investors through prudent economic and investment policies that have bolstered foreign direct investment (FDI). The country has reformed its labour laws and encouraged private-sector investment in health insurance policies. To further support vulnerable groups, Uganda has made affordable financial services accessible to women, youth, persons with disabilities, older persons, refugees and the rural poor. “We are offering online services with affordable Internet and technology, enabling the rural poor to access many services online,” she noted. Vulnerable communities have also benefited from grants and cash transfers. Additionally, Uganda launched free skilling programmes targeting the underprivileged and supported the establishment of shared facilities, which are freely available to help women and youth incubate their businesses.
Maria Luisa Ramirez, Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs of Guatemala, said the Government has worked hard to improve trust in institutions, through fighting corruption, providing access to public information and encouraging citizen participation in the formulation of public policies. “In Guatemala, around 59 per cent of the population live in conditions of poverty, with significant differences in the rural and Indigenous areas,” she added. This has led the Government to promote policies for social protection, ensuring that the most vulnerable families have access to quality education, health services with a cultural perspective and opportunities for dignified employment. Concentrating on this is very important “to prevent everyone having to leave rural areas to go to urban areas”, she added. Guatemala is also seeking to promote a safe environment for investment and for entrepreneurship through generating trust in key sectors such as sustainable agriculture and the digitalization of services.
Mahdi Mohamed Djama, Director General of the Social Development Agency in Djibouti, highlighted the significant challenges faced by his country, which has a population of just over 1 million. These challenges include severe weather, desertification and a youth unemployment rate of 73 per cent for those under 25. While Djibouti’s economy has shown resilience — with gross domestic product (GDP) growth averaging 6 per cent from 2011 to 2021 and reaching 6.7 per cent in 2023 — it remains marked by inequality, with a Gini coefficient of 41.6 and an extreme poverty rate of 19.1 per cent. Djibouti Vision 2035 places human capital development and social infrastructure at its core. The Government has implemented social welfare programmes, job creation initiatives through vocational training, and support for small- and medium-sized enterprises. It has also launched efforts to promote solidarity and transparency. To address inequality and poverty, Djibouti is focused on diversifying its economy while strengthening its social and economic systems.
Over the past couple of years, the seemingly steady rightward drift of Elon Musk has culminated in actions and statements that have sparked broad controversy. Musk – visionary CEO of Tesla, SpaceX and founder of X Corp – is a man on a mission to get humanity to Mars. He is also the wealthiest person on the planet.
In January, sales of Tesla cars slumped across five European countries – the UK, France, Sweden, Norway and the Netherlands. Sales were down too in California – the US state with the largest car market. And according to at least one survey, Musk and his politics could be a significant part of the problem.
When CEOs are in the public eye, their personal brands and values, and those of the companies they represent, can be hard to separate. Our research has found that, often, human identity and reputation will influence the CEO’s brand identity and reputation – and vice versa. As a human being, Musk’s personal actions and statements directly affect the companies he represents. His high-profile persona makes it difficult to separate the two.
This is why Musk’s controversial comments and political endorsements have alienated some Tesla consumers, particularly in progressive markets such as Europe and California. In these places, Tesla has historically been popular with environmentally aware consumers. When the profiles of a CEO and his or her brand are not aligned, it’s a problem that can undermine the brand value of both the CEO and the company.
Artists, politicians, CEOs and other public figures tend to attract fans whose personal values can at times deviate from those of the figurehead. Where this happens, devoted fans might be left at an impasse on how to respond to these figures or the products of companies or businesses they are associated with.
A common misconception is that smitten fans are too obsessed to express their distaste. Instead, they are likely to follow blindly and defend the actions of their heroes. Intense actions of “fan armies” on social media platforms have not helped with these assumptions.
But in fact, our research has shown that devoted fans can be critical. We found they are more likely than less devoted consumers to respond in extreme opposition when they feel betrayed by the behaviour of personalities they identify with or hold in high regard.
In the case of personalities like Musk, whose companies produce physical products, loyal fans and consumers could respond in a number of ways. A few hardcore Tesla fans and Musk loyalists might dismiss critiques against his behaviour as attacks against free speech or their own beliefs. They are likely to continue buying Teslas regardless – and may even adjust their own beliefs to align with those of their “hero”.
Out of step
For other consumers, owning a Tesla may no longer signal purely their beliefs about sustainability. There may be a nod to political or ideological affiliations that do not align with their own.
Some consumers may want to dissociate with Tesla if Musk’s behaviour is seen as problematic in their social circle. However, as a purchase requiring high involvement and commitment, switching from Tesla to another EV might be difficult. The recent trend of Tesla owners placing apology stickers on their vehicles is a way of negotiating the tension between owning a Tesla and the behaviour of the CEO they do not agree with.
The stickers provide a means of separating themselves from Musk’s actions while managing the fear of being perceived negatively within their social groups. This is likely to result in a gradual brand erosion rather than an immediate sales drop.
On the other hand, customers of companies such as craft beer brand BrewDog – a firm that has in the past been accused of fostering a culture of fear – may be more responsive to bad CEO behaviour. They at least can switch to an alternative brand at little cost. (BrewDog, for its part, apologised and said it was “committed to doing better”.)
And if Remain voters dislike inventor James Dyson’s stance on Brexit, they might be annoyed but still able to justify keeping a mid-value item like a vacuum cleaner (that is used privately in the home after all) until it breaks, perhaps switching for future purchases rather than abandoning outright.
Consumers can respond in a variety of ways when a figurehead CEO disappoints them. But brands taking blind, uncritical loyalty as a given – even from devoted fans – do so at their peril.
The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Source: United States Senator for Illinois Dick Durbin
February 11, 2025
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement after President Donald Trump pardoned former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich, amid speculation that Blagojevich is in consideration for an ambassadorship. President Trump commuted Blagojevich’s 14-year prison sentence in February 2020.
“In a state with more than its fair share of public corruption, the Blagojevich chapter still looms as one of the worst. America and Serbia deserve better.”
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Source: United States Senator Tommy Tuberville (Alabama)
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) and U.S. Senator Rick Scott (R-FL) announced the reintroduction of the Denying Earnings to the Military Oligarchy in Cuba and Restricting Activities of the Cuban Intelligence Apparatus (DEMOCRACIA) Act to hold the illegitimate communist Cuban regime accountable through severe sanctions and unprecedented financial pressure.
“Thanks to President Trump, we have strength in the White House again,” said Sen. Tuberville. “The United States will not stand by while the Cuban communist regime commits heinous human rights abuses and takes political prisoners. If Cuba wants to continue committing these crimes, they should be sanctioned. I am proud to join my colleagues in standing up against this evil regime.”
“Cuba is the root of instability in Latin America and a constant threat to the national security of the United States, only emboldened by the past four years of Biden-Harris appeasement policies,” said Sen. Scott.“The illegitimate, communist Castro/Díaz-Canel regime harbors terrorist groups, denies freedom and democracy to the Cuban people while providing a secret police force to Maduro to oppress the Venezuelan people, and hosts a Chinese Communist Party spy station 90 miles from Florida. The Cuban regime props up ruthless dictators and allows a foothold in Latin America for Russia, Iran and Communist China to spread their influence. President Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio have already taken action to hold the Cuban regime accountable, including reversing Biden’s dangerous decision to remove them from the State Sponsor of Terrorism List, but we must keep the pressure going. My DEMOCRACIA Act will build on their efforts by implementing severe sanctions against Communist Cuba and closes existing sanctions gaps. It will also authorize the president to provide unrestricted internet service to the people of Cuba that is not censored by the Cuban regime. The United States continues to stand with the Cuban people, and this bill will send a powerful message as we work to bring a new day of freedom and democracy to Cuba and the entire western hemisphere.”
Read full text of the legislation here.
BACKGROUND:
Authorizes the president to impose sanctions—blocking assets and denying entry into the United States—on a foreign person if the president determines that the person knowingly engages in an activity with Cuba’s defense sector, security sector, intelligence sector, or any other sector involved in carrying out human rights abuses or providing support for international terrorism.
A foreign person or senior official that provides significant financial, material or technological support to, or engages in a significant transaction with Cuba’s defense, security or intelligence sector or any entity or individual affiliated with that sector (including their immediate adult family member),
Any entities that are owned, directly or indirectly, 25% or more by one or more designated persons are also subject to sanctions,
Any foreign person that is a military contractor, mercenary or paramilitary force knowingly operating in a military, security, or intelligence capacity for or on behalf of the Cuban regime.
Authorizes the President to impose sanctions with respect to human rights abuse and corruption in Cuba including:
Members of the Communist Party of Cuba, to include the Office of Religious Affairs and members of the Politburo and the Central Committee,
Members of the Council of State and the Council of Ministers,
Ministry of the Interior of Cuba, to include, the National Revolutionary Police Force,
Members of the committee for the Defense of the Revolution,
The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Cuba,
Office of the President of Cuba,
Any official of the Cuban regime who works with the Ministry of Justice or the Office of the Attorney General and who violates due process rights of an individual in Cuba,
The spouse and children of any of these blocked individuals are also subject to these sanctions.
Authorizes the President to terminate these sanctions only if he certifies to Congress that the Government of Cuba:
Has released all political prisoners,
Legalized all political parties,
Establishes a free press, and
Free, fair, multiparty internationally observed elections are scheduled in a timely manner.
Authorizes the president to immediately use all means possible to provide unrestricted, reliable internet service to the people of Cuba that is not censored or blocked by the Cuban regime
Requires the President to establish a taskforce to develop long-term solutions for providing reliable internet service to the people of Cuba that is not censored or blocked by the Cuban regime
Senator Tommy Tuberville represents Alabama in the United States Senate and is a member of the Senate Armed Services, Agriculture, Veterans’ Affairs, HELP, and Aging Committees.
As the granddaughter of immigrants from Lithuania and Poland who spoke little English, I understand what it’s like to be treated as a stranger in America.
As a journalist, I covered stories of war and trauma in the 1990s, including the crushing of Chinese protests in Tiananmen Square and the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, followed by the Soviet Union’s collapse two years later. I covered the war between Iraq and Iran. I witnessed ethnic strife in South Africa and the toll poverty takes in Mexico.
And having worked in senior levels of the U.S. government for Presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama on international conflict resolution, I have learned that compassion is a key ingredient of peacemaking.
Perhaps that all explains my curiosity about a new study on the state of compassion in America – part of the glue that holds communities together.
Defining compassion
Sociologists define compassion as the human regard for the suffering of others, and the notion of using action to alleviate this pain.
The report that caught my eye was issued in January 2025 by the Muhammad Ali Center, which the late boxer co-founded 20 years ago in Louisville, Kentucky, to advance social justice.
As the Ali Center explains, compassion starts with the individual – self-care and personal wellness. It then radiates out to the wider community in the form of action and engagement.
You can see compassion at work in the actions of a Pasadena, California, girl, who started a donation hub for teens affected by fires that ripped through the Los Angeles region in early 2025. She began collecting sports bras, hair ties and fashionable sweaters – helping hundreds of her peers begin to recover from their losses in material and emotional ways.
It’s also visible in the estimated 6.8 million people in the U.S. who donate blood each year, according to the American Red Cross.
The researchers who worked on the Ali Center report interviewed more than 5,000 U.S. adults living in 12 cities in 2024 in order to learn more about the prevalence of compassionate behaviors such as charitable giving, volunteering and assisting others in their recovery from disasters.
They found that the desire to help others still animates many Americans despite the nation’s current polarization and divisive politics.
The center has created an index it calls the “net compassion score.” It approximates the degree to which Americans give their time and money to programs and activities that nurture and strengthen their communities.
Cities with high compassion scores have more community engagement and civic participation than those with low scores. A higher-scoring community performs better when it comes to things like public housing and mental health resources, for example. Its residents report more career opportunities, better communications between local government and citizens, more community programs and more optimism around economic development where they live.
The report provides some clues as to what drives compassionate behavior in a city: a sense of spirituality, good education, decent health care, resources for activities like sports, and opportunities to engage in local politics.
All told, Americans rate their country as a 9 on a scale that runs from minus 100 to 100.
The report also identified some troubling obstacles that stand in the way of what it calls “self-compassion” – meaning how volunteers and donors treat their own mental and physical health. Frequent struggles with self-care can lead to rising levels of isolation and loneliness.
Jeni Stepanek, left, chair of the Muhammad Ali Index; Lonnie Ali, co-founder and vice chair of the Muhammad Ali Center; and DeVone Holt, the center’s president and CEO, at the launch of the Muhammad Ali Index on Jan. 16, 2025. Bryan Bedder/Getty Images for Muhammad Ali Center
Doubting their own capacity
The 2025 Compassion Report’s findings show that many Americans still want to live in a compassionate country but also that Americans view the country as less compassionate today than four years ago.
The report delves into gaps in compassion. About one-third of those interviewed acknowledged that there are groups toward whom they feel less compassionate toward, such as people who have been convicted of crimes, immigrants living in the U.S. without authorization and the rich.
Only 29% said they feel compassion toward everyone.
The report also identifies gender gaps. Despite expressing greater awareness of systemic challenges, the women surveyed reported less self-compassion than men.
It’s not the first compassion study ever done. But I believe that this one is unique due to its focus on specific cities, and how it assessed limits on the compassion some people feel toward certain groups.
Helping health and humanity
The Compassion Institute, another nonprofit, seeks to weave compassion training into health care education to “create a more caring and humanitarian world.” It cites the benefits of compassion for human beings, with everything from reducing stress to alleviating the effects of disease on the mind and body.
Academic institutions, including Stanford University, have conducted many studies on how teaching compassion can guide health care professionals to both treat patients better and achieve better outcomes.
A team of Emory University researchers examined how training people to express more compassion can reduce stress hormones levels, triggering positive brain responses that improve immune responses.
Offering an advantage
Although there are plenty of adorable videos of dogs and cats behaving kindly with each other or their human companions, historically compassion has differentiated humans from animals.
Human beings possess powers of emotional reasoning that give us an edge.
Scholars are still working to discover how much of human compassion is rooted in emotional reasoning. Another factor they’ve identified is the aftermath of trauma. Studies have found evidence that it can increase empathy later on.
You might imagine that in a world of hurt, there’s a deficit of compassion for others. But the Ali Center’s report keeps alive the notion that Americans remain compassionate people who want to help others.
My experiences around the world and within the U.S. have taught me that human beings both have the power to be violent and destructive. But despite it all, there is, within all of us, the innate ability and desire to be compassionate. That is a net positive for our country.
Tara Sonenshine does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
We inform you that, based on the letter of the Bank of Russia and in accordance with Part I. General Part and Part II. Stock Market Section of the Rules for Conducting Trading on the Stock Market, Deposit Market and Credit Market of Moscow Exchange PJSC, the order establishes the form, time, term and procedure for holding auctions for the placement and trading of the following federal loan bonds:
1.
Name of the Issuer
Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation
Name of security
federal loan bonds with constant coupon income
State registration number of the issue
26233RMFS from 02/14/2020
Date of the auction
February 12, 2025
Information about the placement (trading mode, placement form)
The placement of Bonds will be carried out in the Trading Mode “Placement: Auction” by holding an Auction to determine the placement price. BoardId: PACT (Settlements: Ruble)
Trade code
SE26233RMFS5
ISIN code
RO000A101F94
Calculation code
B01
Additional conditions of placement
The share of non-competitive bids in relation to the total volume of bids submitted by the Bidder may not exceed 90%.
Information about the placement (trading mode, placement form)
The placement of Bonds will be carried out in the Trading Mode “Placement: Auction” by holding an Auction to determine the placement price. BoardId: PACT (Settlements: Ruble)
Trade code
CO26248RMFS3
ISIN code
RO000A108EH4
Calculation code
B01
Additional conditions of placement
The share of non-competitive bids in relation to the total volume of bids submitted by the Bidder may not exceed 90%.
Contact information for media 7 (495) 363-3232Pr@moex.kom
Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
Please Note; This Information is Raw Content Directly from the Information Source. It is access to What the Source Is Stating and Does Not Reflect
We inform you about changes in the stock market system planned for implementation on March 1, 2025. The changes are intended to ensure technical readiness for the start of trading in experimental mode on the stock market during additional weekend trading sessions.
Changes in stock market trading reports
The mandatory attribute of the trading session date is added to the reports SEM02 “Extract from the register of orders”, SEM03 “Extract from the register of transactions with securities”, SEM21 “Stock market information” and SEM42 “Register of transactions of sponsored access identifiers”:
TradeSessionDate — date of the trading session.
Additionally, an additional value for the SessionNo attribute is added to the SEM02, SEM03, and SEM21 reports:
5 – Additional weekend session.
The SEM2T tabulated report also adds the TradeSessionDate field — the date of the trading session. The field is added last.
The updated specification of the formats of reports on the results of trades is posted on the exchange website: HTTPS: //FS. MOEX.K.MOMU/943.Updated files of schemes and styles for printed forms of reports are published on the exchange’s FTP server: HTTPS: //FTP. MEEX.K.Mom/pub/reports/eckot.
The following reports will be sent out on the days of the additional weekend session:
after 08:00 (morning report) — SEM42; after 19:00 — SEM02, SEM03, SEM21, as well as SEM80 “Daily report on the fulfillment of market makers’ obligations (for the market makers’ championship)” and SEM85 “Daily report on the fulfillment of market makers’ obligations”.
Changes in stock market clearing reports
The mandatory attribute of the trading session date is added to the reports EQM06, EQM06P, EQM06R, EQM6C, EQM6D and EQM63 “Extract from the register of transactions accepted for clearing”:
TradeSessionDate — date of the trading session.
The updated specification of the formats of reports on the results of clearing is posted on the exchange website: HTTPS: //FS. MOEX.K.MOM/951.Updated files of schemes and styles for printed forms of reports are published on the exchange’s FTP server: HTTPS: //FTP. MEEX.K.Mom/pub/reports/eckot.
On the days of the additional weekend session, clearing reports are not generated or sent. Separate report files for the results of the DSVD are not expected. Information on transactions concluded in the DSVD will be included in the reports that are sent after the Main Session:
EQM06/EQM06P/EQM06R “Extract from the register of transactions accepted for clearing”; EQM63 “Extract from the register of transactions accepted for clearing (for a Trading Participant)”; EQM6C “Extract from the register of transactions accepted for clearing (for client transactions)”; EQM6D “Extract from the register of transactions accepted for clearing (for nominal holders); EQM13 “Report on Total Net Obligations / Total Net Claims”; EQM15 “Report on Commission Fees”; EQM23 “Report on Obligations for T Transactions”.
New version of the gateway interface Broker53 and BrokerRisk53
Previously announced The interface update has expired. A new version will be released on March 1, 2025.
Changes in the broker’s gateway interfaces for connecting to trading and clearing systems:
The WEEKENDSESSION field is added to the SECURITIES, FIRMS and BANKACC tables, defining availability in the additional weekend session. The TRADEDATE field is added to the ALL_TRADES table, containing the calendar date of the transaction. The TRADESESSIONDATE field is added to the TESYSTIME and RESYSTIME tables — the date of the current trading session. The TRADESESSIONDATE field is added to the TRADES, ALL_TRADES and USTRADES tables — the date of the trading session in which the transaction was concluded. The ENTRYDATE fields are added to the ONEORDER, ORDERS and QUOTES tables — the calendar date of order registration, TRADESESSIONDATE — the date of the trading session in which the order was registered. The TRADESESSIONDATE field is added to the NEGDEALS and ONENEGDEALS tables — the date of the trading session in which the order was registered.
The following fields are added to the ALL_TRADES table: TRADESESSIONDATE — date of the current trading session, TRADEDATE — calendar date of the transaction. The WEEKENDSESSION field is added to the SECURITIES table, defining availability in the additional weekend session. The TRADESESSIONDATE field — date of the current trading session — is added to the TESYSTIME table.
The composition of FIX and TWIME trading protocol messages, FAST MarketData templates and SIMBA ASTS message schemas will not change.
The additional weekend trading session will be held from 09:50:00 to 18:59:59
During the days of the additional weekend session, the Trading and Clearing System will be available for connection via all protocols starting from 07:50 MSK. The end of availability is no earlier than 20:00 MSK.
Registration of end customers
The Single Client Registration Service will process all transaction types (A, U, L, R, M, D) on weekends for a client record that is registered or registered only on the stock market.
If a client sends an “A” type transaction for a record that is registered on multiple markets, the ERC service will register the participant on the stock market, but will not register on other markets – an error message will be sent for them.
For type “U” or “D” transactions, if the client entry is registered in addition to the stock on the FX and Futures markets, the message will be rejected completely with an error.
Possible actions of participants:
Register clients on the stock market, re-submit applications for the currency or futures market on Monday. Postpone registration and do not send files to the exchange during the additional weekend session, but send them on Monday.
Admission of participants to an additional weekend session
Moscow Exchange will admit participants to an additional weekend session at the start of trading on March 1, 2025, upon the participant’s application.
Contact information for media 7 (495) 363-3232Pr@moex.kom
Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
Please Note; This Information is Raw Content Directly from the Information Source. It is access to What the Source Is Stating and Does Not Reflect
US tariffs – both threatened and imposed – on trade partners including China, Canada, Mexico and the EU quickly set off waves of retaliatory measures. The latest commodities in the sights of president Donald Trump are steel and aluminium – with tariffs of 25% announced for all imports. But not only do these taxes disrupt well-established trade flows, they ignite concerns over the very future of globalisation.
Yet amid this uncertainty, it’s possible that there may be a silver lining. Trump may inadvertently be paving the way for a realignment of trade relationships and the emergence of new economic blocs. Such partnerships could foster more resilient and regionally focused economic cooperation.
Trump’s decision to levy tariffs on its major trading partners disrupts the fundamental tenets of the gravity model of trade. According to this theory, trade between two nations is largely determined by their economic size and proximity. For instance, introducing tariffs to the close economic relationship between the US and Canada, underpinned by their shared border, effectively increases the distance between the two by raising costs and reducing the volume of bilateral trade.
However, these disruptions can inadvertently encourage diversification of trade relationships. As companies and governments seek to mitigate the risks associated with tariffs, they may begin to explore new markets and alternative supply chains. This could ultimately lead to a more dispersed and – potentially – more stable global trade system.
Yet as Trump continues to test the limits of his power, he is learning it is not so easy to defy gravity. Already, the president has dialled down tariffs on Canada and Mexico, while China has struck back with retaliatory measures.
One positive spin-off of the trade war may be the reinforcement of regional alliances. With traditional trade flows disrupted, countries are increasingly incentivised to strengthen ties with neighbouring economies.
North American outlook
Canada and Mexico, long considered natural trading partners of the US, might pivot towards deepening their economic cooperation. They may also look to bilateral agreements with other partners as well as seeking new markets, strengthening ties with China and Japan.
The USMCA (United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement) provides a strong foundation for trade. But attempts to dismantle this arrangement could see Canada and Mexico accelerating efforts to build closer economic ties with other regions, reducing their exposure to the US market.
Trump reveals his plans for sweeping steel tariffs on “everybody”.
Trump’s planned tariffs on steel threaten to undermine the USMCA. After all, it is designed to foster integrated supply chains and low-tariff economic cooperation among the three countries. This is likely to escalate trade tensions across the bloc, forcing a reassessment of the trade agreement’s key terms and destabilising the established relationships.
European Union outlook
The imposition of tariffs on the EU could lead to deepening integration among its member states. Faced with new pressures from the US, the EU might accelerate initiatives aimed at consolidating internal trade, harmonising regulations and promoting intra-European supply chains.
Member states, with France at the forefront, are already advocating for a united response to counteract US protectionism. They hope to signal a strong political commitment to resist the pressures from Trump.
Asia-Pacific outlook
China, as the world’s second-largest economy behind the US, may seek to expand its trade relationships in the Asia-Pacific region and beyond. As China’s economic growth model is export-led, it may seek stronger partnerships with regional players and invest in new trade agreements. This could potentially give rise to an even more integrated Asian economic community.
A new economic order
Whatever else plays out, these tariff wars signal a reordering of the global economic landscape. Such disruptions, though painful in the short term, can create long-term changes that rebalance economic systems. The natural trading partner hypothesis reinforces this view by highlighting how countries with shared cultural, historical and geographical ties are likely to deepen their economic relationships in the face of external shocks.
Table of US trade
Source: US Bureau of Economic Analysis (2025) Author provided
In this new order, traditional superpowers may find themselves challenged by unified responses from other nations. By imposing tariffs, the US risks isolating itself from these emerging alliances, while its major trading partners may become united in their efforts to counterbalance rising American protectionism.
The ripple effects of the US tariff row extend well beyond the directly involved countries, with significant implications for global trade networks. For the UK, already coping with the aftermath of Brexit, this new environment offers both challenges and opportunities.
With US-led protectionism disrupting traditional trade channels, the UK could seize the opportunity to diversify its export markets by forging stronger ties with the EU and digging deeper into its Commonwealth alliances. It could reinforce its position as a hub for international commerce while continuing to cultivate its relationship with the US. Managing Trump is a delicate balancing act for prime minister Keir Starmer, as both are expected to be in office for four years.
A word of caution – negotiating international trade agreements is a complex and lengthy process. This is the hard lesson learned by the UK. Its trade with the EU (its most important commercial partner) shrank after Brexit, driving the quest for new trading partners and agreements. But these fruits are slow to materialise.
The UK formally requested accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) in February 2021, but only signed the accession protocol in July 2023.
And we should not forget that in 2024 the UK halted its trade talks with Canada after two years of negotiations, due to disagreements over the standards on some agricultural products.
Tariffs come with challenges, but they might also be the beginning of a slow and painful change towards a more balanced and robust global economic order.
The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Source: United Kingdom UK Parliament (video statements)
How is Government going to fix NHS dentistry?
The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) is examining the effectiveness of the Government’s plans to fix NHS dentistry.
The Committee will hear from senior officials at the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and NHS England (NHSE), including DHSC’s interim permanent secretary Sir Chris Whitty, and NHSE’s Chief Executive Amanda Pritchard.
Just under half of the population had seen an NHS dentist in the 24 months pre-pandemic. This had only recovered to 40% by March 2024. The previous Government published its Dental Recovery Plan in February 2024, aiming to expand access to NHS dentistry over the next year. Other challenges for NHS dental delivery include the current dental contract acting as a disincentive to provide NHS care, falling numbers of dentists providing such care, and falling real-terms spend on NHS dentistry.
The NAO found that as of November 2024, it was not clear that any additional courses of treatment had been delivered under the recovery plan; just one dentist appeared to have been appointed under its new ‘golden hello’ recruitment scheme; and fewer new patients appeared to have been seen following the introduction of the Government’s new patient premium. Ministers had also decided to leave the procurement of mobile dental vans to local commissioners.
Other likely topics to be explored at the session include:
• The current condition of NHS dentistry and the impact of the dental recovery plan, which has an ambition to deliver an additional 1.5m courses of treatment by the end of March 2025;
• Addressing regional inequalities in access to dentistry, and the barriers to securing access to NHS dentistry for more people in England; and
• Future plans to recover NHS dentistry.
Source: United Kingdom UK Parliament (video statements)
Will airports expansion drive regional economic growth?
Whether expanding airports in the south east of England can benefit the rest of the UK economy will be the focus of a Transport Committee evidence session.
MPs will question Aviation Minister Mike Kane MP and a senior Department for Transport official, following a panel with economists and industry experts.
It comes after the Government recently announced support for a third runway at Heathrow and proposed expansions at Gatwick, Luton and other airports.
Witnesses may be asked to consider economic factors linked to airport expansion such as: the tourism industry, tax revenues generated, the UK’s large aircraft manufacturing sector, increased capacity for air freight, and catalytic effects on other businesses.
The New Economics Foundation, which is represented among witnesses in this session, has said it has been “some time” since the Government has assessed the “marginal economic impact” that airports expansion may have. The think tank has also pointed to varying methods of calculating the net economic impact that increased air travel has on the UK economy. For example, whether greater outbound travel by Brits could see a larger proportion of consumer spending happen abroad rather than at home, and to what extent that is offset by money spent in the UK from international tourists.
Heathrow has itself previously said that expansion would mean growing its workforce of 28,600 people to over 100,000. The cross-party Committee will question a representative of Frontier Economics, a think tank commissioned by Heathrow Airport to look into the potential economic benefits of building a third runway.
There will also be questions about the capacity of airports around the UK, whether they are surpassing or failing to meet demand, forecasts on future demand, and the role that larger ‘hub’ airports could play with smaller regional ones – a ‘hub and spoke’ model.
The Minister and DfT will be asked to explain how airport expansion will fit into a wider national strategy for the aviation sector, and how air travel strategically links with other transport networks such as roads and railways.
Source: The Conversation – UK – By Sven Batke, Associate Head of Research and Knowledge Exchange – Reader in Plant Science, Edge Hill University
A tomato greenhouse in north-west England. Sven Batke, CC BY-NC-ND
When was the last time you walked into a supermarket and marvelled at the abundance of exotic fruits and vegetables, even in the dead of winter? This luxury, now an expectation, only became common in the mid-20th century, reaching the UK some decades later.
Not long ago, winter produce in UK supermarkets was limited; root vegetables like carrots, potatoes, and parsnips, alongside hardy greens such as kale and cabbage. Fruits were even scarcer, mostly apples and pears. Today’s variety owes much to advances in global trade and smarter greenhouses, which help extend growing seasons and bring once seasonal produce to shelves all year round.
Fast forward just one generation, and now supermarket shelves are stocked with dragon fruit, bananas, coconuts, avocados, and a variety of exotic nuts and vegetables. These items not only hail from the farthest reaches of the globe, but have also been bred to offer consumers unique sensory experiences or health benefits, such as higher concentrations of antioxidants. It’s no surprise that most of these exotic foods are often not grown locally or even within Europe.
According to the latest government figures from 2023, 53% of the vegetables consumed in the UK are imported, and only 17% of fruits are grown locally. The contrast is stark when you look at exports, which remain relatively small (about 100,000 tonnes in 2023).
UK food security could be improved by growing more produce inside smart greenhouses. Sven Batke, CC BY-NC-ND
How often do you eat a UK-grown strawberry or tomato outside summer? Many such vegetables come from the Netherlands, Morocco and Spain, while most fruit comes from Colombia, Costa Rica and Brazil. No surprise, given their warmer climates. The UK averages 9-12°C annually, compared to Morocco’s 18-20°C.
Increasing demand for exotic foods available year-round has made the UK’s food system vulnerable to external market fluctuations. Disruptions, such as trade barriers following Brexit or global hikes in energy prices due to the Ukraine war have placed supply chains under strain.
Empty supermarket shelves could become more common if we see disruptions in supply chains, putting further pressure on the undervalued domestic growing sector. But could the UK grow more of its own food and reduce reliance on volatile global markets?
Hi-tech solutions
Protected horticulture (specifically in the food sector, as opposed to ornamental plants) involves growing fruits and vegetables year-round in controlled environments, such as polytunnels, greenhouses and indoor vertical farms.
These facilities regulate temperature, humidity and light, and in some cases, even atmospheric gases like CO₂. Water and nutrient inputs are also tightly controlled, reducing waste by up to 95% compared to traditional field-grown methods. This allows year-around protection from the elements. They are often overlooked despite holding the key to solving some of the current food security challenges.
As part of the Greenhouse Innovation Consortium, my team of biologists, geographers and I recently mapped over 12,000 greenhouses in Britain. Estimates suggest that around 70% of these structures are more than 40 years old.
So why haven’t we seen more UK-grown fruits and vegetables on supermarket shelves if we have the technology to produce them? One major reason is the high energy demand of indoor growing, especially in cold and cloudy weather – something we are all too familiar with in the UK. For example, 2024 has seen one of the worse years in total recorded sun hours.
The UK’s horticulture sector has also received very little government support over the years. There are few incentives for growers to adopt new technology or upgrade infrastructure. Many UK growers still have not adopted technologies like automatic harvest robots or AI-controlled systems, and even simple upgrades like LED growing lights could boost yield by over 50%. However, resource management in this sector requires experience and making these changes is a fine balancing act.
Most British greenhouses are more than 40 years old so investment is needed to upgrade them. Sven Batke, CC BY-NC-ND
But the future can be bright – if we choose to make it so. To grow more produce all year round without compromising on flavour, the sector needs more investment in local expertise and cutting-edge facilities.
From precision horticulture to advanced AI-controlled greenhouses, with the right drive and investment, the UK could move towards a more sustainable food production system. Sweden for example is currently investing over £700 million into horticulture.
While achieving 100% self-sufficiency may not be feasible due to other demands on land, such as housing, conservation, and industry, creating a more resilient and less dependent food sector would benefit everyone (not to mention reducing food miles).
The UK’s food future doesn’t have to rely on global markets. With investment and innovation, the country can build a resilient, sustainable food system. Year-round demand for exotic produce has exposed supply chain fragility, but fostering domestic growth and technology can change the narrative.
It’s not about turning back the clock, but about making the most of what the UK has while driving forward the solutions that make sense for the country’s future. The answer is not just more local food. It’s smarter, more resilient food systems that can weather whatever challenges lie ahead.
Don’t have time to read about climate change as much as you’d like?
Sven Batke works together with industry growers and manufactures in the horticulture industry. The work we are doing is part of the Greenhouse Innovation Consortium, which aims to support local growers in the UK.
Source: Government of the Russian Federation – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko spoke in the State Duma as part of a government hour dedicated to the development of the Education Development Strategy for the period up to 2036 with a perspective up to 2040.
Dmitry Chernyshenko thanked the Chairman of the State Duma Vyacheslav Volodin and the entire deputy corps for the productive dialogue and noted the effectiveness of the government hour format.
As part of the development of the Strategy for the Development of Education for the Period up to 2036 with a Prospect up to 2040, more than 1.5 thousand experts analyzed over 600 documents from the times of the Russian Empire to the present day.
In preparing the draft strategy, the systemic instructions of President Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin are taken into account.
For the first time, strategies for leading engineering universities are being developed at the Government level, and an institute of chief designers is being created.
The content of educational programs is synchronized with the tasks for the OGE and the USE. The child must receive all the knowledge to pass these exams at school.
A comprehensive plan of measures to improve the quality of mathematical and natural science education for the period up to 2030 has been approved.
A system of initial vocational education will be introduced in a pilot mode in a number of regions.
The strategy will state that artificial intelligence and digitalization will not replace live contact between student and teacher.
“It is important for us to increase the influx of young specialists, this is influenced by the reduction of the bureaucratic burden, and the number of children in the class, and the protection of teachers – their honor and dignity, wages, housing. We have already begun to fight the bureaucratic burden at the legislative level,” the Deputy Prime Minister said.
The strategy should provide opportunities for the participants of the SVO: obtaining a sought-after profession, employment and involving veterans in educational work in educational organizations.
The Deputy Prime Minister proposed:
• together with deputies, within the framework of the Education Development Strategy, consider the issue of transferring schools from the municipal to the regional level;
• The Ministry of Education should work out the issue of teachers completing additional professional education programs at state universities, regional institutes for advanced training, and leading educational centers (Sirius and Innopolis);
• Rosobrnadzor must ensure monitoring and quality of implementation of these programs.
In addition, the Ministry of Education and the Russian Academy of Education have been instructed to work on the issue of balancing the workload of students.
“On the instructions of President Vladimir Putin, the development of the strategy will continue throughout this year. The draft of this fundamental document should be considered by the Council for Science and Education under the President in the second half of the year,” said Dmitry Chernyshenko.
The event was also attended by the Minister of Education Sergey Kravtsov, the Minister of Science and Higher Education Valery Falkov, the head of Rosmolodezh Grigory Gurov, the head of Rosobrnadzor Anzor Muzaev, the president of the All-Russian public organization “Russian Union of Rectors” Viktor Sadovnichy, and the president of the Russian Academy of Education Olga Vasilyeva.
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.
(L-R) Tracy Rice (Southern Regional College & ABC LMP Chairperson); Councillor Sarah Duffy (Lord Mayor of Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon) and Alderman Paul Greenfield (Economic Development and Regeneration Committee Chair) at the launch of the Employability and Skills Conference.
The annual Employability and Skills Conference returns to Armagh City Hotel on Thursday 13 March! The event will focus on helping businesses to ‘get future ready’ by recruiting, retaining and reskilling a resilient and talented workforce to help secure the future growth of the local economy.
The ‘Get Future Ready: Employability and Skills’ series is part of the Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon Labour Market Partnership. Funded by the Department for Communities, Labour Market Partnerships create targeted employment action plans for council areas, allowing for collaboration at local and regional level to support people towards and into work.
Hosted by Mark Simpson, this event is open to all local employers, residents and community representatives as well as education and training providers and employment support agencies.
A host of keynote speakers will share their experience and insights, including Dr Eoin Magennis from Ulster University (‘The Future is Now – Setting the Scene’); Ann Watt from Pivotal (‘Tackling Economic Inactivity with Innovative Workforce Strategies’) and Kathleen O’Hare from Northern Ireland Skills Council (‘Crafting Tomorrow’s Talent: How NI is Shaping the Skills of the Future’). Elaine Leonard from The Appleby Trust will discuss the subject of Embracing Neurodiversity and Unlocking unique strengths for a Thriving Workforce.
Lord Mayor of Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon, Councillor Sarah Duffy commented:
“The Employability and Skills Conference is a key event for local employers and job seekers to explore the economic developments and challenges and to address the skills and abilities that will be needed in the workplace going forward.
“I look forward to welcoming our keynote speakers and business representatives who will be encouraging businesses toadapt and evolve to remain competitive, be open to new ideas, take calculated risks, experiment with different approaches and capitalise on the business support available.
“Council is committed to working together with stakeholders to create a talented and motivated workforce to meet future challenges and to ensure everyone can benefit from a growing and vibranteconomy.”
The conference will also feature an insightful panel discussion on the evolving landscape of recruitment and training. Leading employers will share their perspectives on rethinking traditional hiring practices and upskilling strategies, highlighting innovative approaches that foster diversity, efficiency, and future-ready talent in the workplace.
Attendees will have the chance to connect with a diverse range of exhibitors, fostering opportunities to advance recruitment, retention and reskilling options for their business.
U.S. ENERGY INFORMATION ADMINISTRATION WASHINGTON DC 20585
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 11, 2025
The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) published its February Short-Term Energy Outlook (STEO), revising its forecast for 2025 average U.S. benchmark Henry Hub natural gas spot prices upward following a cold end to January.
U.S. energy market indicators
2024
2025
2026
Brent crude oil spot price (dollars per barrel)
$81
$74
$66
Retail gasoline price (dollars per gallon)
$3.30
$3.20
$3.10
U.S. crude oil production (million barrels per day)
13.2
13.6
13.7
Natural gas price at Henry Hub (dollars per million British thermal units)
$2.20
$3.80
$4.20
U.S. liquefied natural gas gross exports (billion cubic feet per day)
12
14
16
Shares of U.S. electricity generation
Natural gas
43%
40%
39%
Coal
16%
16%
15%
Renewables
23%
25%
27%
Nuclear
19%
19%
19%
U.S. GDP (percentage change)
2.8%
2.1%
2.0%
U.S. CO2 emissions (billion metric tons)
4.8
4.8
4.8
Data source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Short-Term Energy Outlook, February 2025
Some key highlights from the February STEO include:
Natural gas prices: Cold weather at the end of January increased demand for space heating and contributed to a 12% increase in U.S. natural gas consumption over the previous five-year average for the month. Higher natural gas consumption led to above-average inventory withdrawals, and EIA now expects the benchmark Henry Hub spot price to average $3.80 per million British thermal units in 2025, about 20% higher than previously forecast.
Crude oil production and prices: EIA continues to expect growth in global oil production and significant decreases in crude oil prices through 2026. EIA completed its January forecasts before additional sanctions against Russia’s oil and shipping sectors were announced, which created additional uncertainty in outlooks for crude oil supply. EIA does not expect the sanctions to have significant impact on global oil production or prices, although trade flows could be affected.
U.S. refinery operations: EIA expects U.S. production of refined petroleum products to decrease by about 190,000 barrels per day in 2025 and by 180,000 barrels per day in 2026 as two refineries close operations. LyondellBasell began closing its Houston refinery on January 27 and Phillips 66 plans to close its Los Angeles refinery at the end of the year. EIA expects that in 2026, the United States will begin importing more gasoline and jet fuel than it exports while remaining a net exporter of distillate fuel oil.
Residential electricity prices: EIA forecasts that retail electricity prices for the U.S. residential sector will grow by 2% in 2025, which would be the smallest annual increase in residential electricity prices since 2020. The modest price increase, similar to the expected rate of inflation growth, reflects relatively low natural gas prices over the past year offset by continuing expenses for improvements in grid infrastructure.
U.S. coal exports: EIA expects the United States to export about 100 million short tons of coal in both 2025 and 2026, about 2% less than EIA’s January forecast. EIA expects that China’s tariffs against the United States will affect U.S. coal exports, but exporters are likely to find customers in other markets, limiting the tariff’s impact.
The full February 2025 Short-Term Energy Outlook is available on the EIA website.
The product described in this press release was prepared by the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), the statistical and analytical agency within the U.S. Department of Energy. By law, EIA’s data, analysis, and forecasts are independent of approval by any other officer or employee of the U.S. government. The views in the product and this press release therefore should not be construed as representing those of the U.S. Department of Energy or other federal agencies.
EIA Program Contact: Tim Hess, STEO@eia.gov EIA Press Contact: Chris Higginbotham, EIAMedia@eia.gov
Source: US Energy Information Administration – EIA
Headline: EIA revises forecast for 2025 U.S. natural gas prices, leaves other forecasts largely unchanged
U.S. ENERGY INFORMATION ADMINISTRATION WASHINGTON DC 20585
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 11, 2025
The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) published its February Short-Term Energy Outlook (STEO), revising its forecast for 2025 average U.S. benchmark Henry Hub natural gas spot prices upward following a cold end to January.
U.S. energy market indicators
2024
2025
2026
Brent crude oil spot price (dollars per barrel)
$81
$74
$66
Retail gasoline price (dollars per gallon)
$3.30
$3.20
$3.10
U.S. crude oil production (million barrels per day)
13.2
13.6
13.7
Natural gas price at Henry Hub (dollars per million British thermal units)
$2.20
$3.80
$4.20
U.S. liquefied natural gas gross exports (billion cubic feet per day)
12
14
16
Shares of U.S. electricity generation
Natural gas
43%
40%
39%
Coal
16%
16%
15%
Renewables
23%
25%
27%
Nuclear
19%
19%
19%
U.S. GDP (percentage change)
2.8%
2.1%
2.0%
U.S. CO2 emissions (billion metric tons)
4.8
4.8
4.8
Data source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Short-Term Energy Outlook, February 2025
Some key highlights from the February STEO include:
Natural gas prices: Cold weather at the end of January increased demand for space heating and contributed to a 12% increase in U.S. natural gas consumption over the previous five-year average for the month. Higher natural gas consumption led to above-average inventory withdrawals, and EIA now expects the benchmark Henry Hub spot price to average $3.80 per million British thermal units in 2025, about 20% higher than previously forecast.
Crude oil production and prices: EIA continues to expect growth in global oil production and significant decreases in crude oil prices through 2026. EIA completed its January forecasts before additional sanctions against Russia’s oil and shipping sectors were announced, which created additional uncertainty in outlooks for crude oil supply. EIA does not expect the sanctions to have significant impact on global oil production or prices, although trade flows could be affected.
U.S. refinery operations: EIA expects U.S. production of refined petroleum products to decrease by about 190,000 barrels per day in 2025 and by 180,000 barrels per day in 2026 as two refineries close operations. LyondellBasell began closing its Houston refinery on January 27 and Phillips 66 plans to close its Los Angeles refinery at the end of the year. EIA expects that in 2026, the United States will begin importing more gasoline and jet fuel than it exports while remaining a net exporter of distillate fuel oil.
Residential electricity prices: EIA forecasts that retail electricity prices for the U.S. residential sector will grow by 2% in 2025, which would be the smallest annual increase in residential electricity prices since 2020. The modest price increase, similar to the expected rate of inflation growth, reflects relatively low natural gas prices over the past year offset by continuing expenses for improvements in grid infrastructure.
U.S. coal exports: EIA expects the United States to export about 100 million short tons of coal in both 2025 and 2026, about 2% less than EIA’s January forecast. EIA expects that China’s tariffs against the United States will affect U.S. coal exports, but exporters are likely to find customers in other markets, limiting the tariff’s impact.
The full February 2025 Short-Term Energy Outlook is available on the EIA website.
The product described in this press release was prepared by the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), the statistical and analytical agency within the U.S. Department of Energy. By law, EIA’s data, analysis, and forecasts are independent of approval by any other officer or employee of the U.S. government. The views in the product and this press release therefore should not be construed as representing those of the U.S. Department of Energy or other federal agencies.
How would that scenario play out? Looking at the sheer size of the American military, many people might believe that Trump would enjoy an easy victory.
That analysis is wrong. If Trump ever decides to use military force to annex Canada, the result would not be determined by a conventional military confrontation between the Canadian and American armies. Rather, a military invasion of Canada would trigger a decades-long violent resistance, which would ultimately destroy the United States.
But in this nightmare scenario, could Canadians successfully resist an American invasion? Absolutely. I know this because I have studied insurgenciesaround the world for more than two decades, and I have spent time with ordinary people who have fought against powerful invading armies.
The research on guerrilla wars clearly shows that weaker parties can use unconventional methods to cripple a more powerful enemy over many years. This approach treats waging war as a secret, part-time job that an ordinary person can do.
Guerrillas use ambushes, raids and surprise attacks to slowly bleed an invading army, and local communities support these fighters by giving them safe havens and material support. These supporting citizens can also engage in forms of “everyday resistance,” using millions of passive-aggressive episodes of sabotage to frustrate and drain the enemy.
Trump is delusional if he believes that 40 million Canadians will passively accept conquest without resistance. There is no political party or leader willing to relinquish Canadian sovereignty over “economic coercion,” and so if the U.S. wanted to annex Canada, it would have to invade.
That decision would set in motion an unstoppable cycle of violence. Even if we imagine a scenario in which the Canadian government unconditionally surrenders, a fight would ensue on the streets. A teenager might throw a rock at invading soldiers. That kid would get shot, and then there would be more rocks, and more gunfire. An insurgency would be inevitable.
The myth of Canadian ‘niceness’
This idea may shock Canadians today because they see themselves as friendly and affable people. However, Canada’s current self-image of “niceness” only exists because they’re at peace. War changes people very quickly, and Canadians are no more innately peaceful than any other human beings.
When your child is dying in your arms, you become capable of violence. Once you lose what you love, resistance becomes as natural as breathing.
Except for a few collaborators and kapos, my research suggests many Canadians would likely engage in various forms of everyday resistance against invading forces that could involve steal, lying, cutting wires and diverting funds.
Meanwhile, the insurgents would unleash physical devastation on American targets. Even if one per cent of all resisting Canadians engaged in armed insurrection, that would constitute a 400,000-person insurgency, nearly 10 times the size of Taliban at the start of the Afghan war. If a fraction of that number engaged in violent attacks, it would set fire to the entire continent.
Canada’s geography would make this insurgency difficult to defeat. With deep forests and rugged mountains, Canada’s northern terrain could not be conquered or controlled. That means loyalists from the Canadian Armed Forces could mobilize civilian recruits into decentralized fighting units that could strike, retreat into the wilderness and blend back into the local communities that support them.
The Canada-U.S. border is also easy to cross, which would give insurgents access to American critical infrastructure. It costs tens of billions of dollars to build an energy pipeline, and only a few thousand to blow one up.
What about American air strikes?
But wouldn’t the Americans crush the rebellion with missiles and drone strikes? They would try, but that approach to counterinsurgency won’t work.
In fact, it is a well-known booby trap of insurgent warfare. The harder more powerful nations strike, the larger and more fragmented the insurgency becomes, making it impossible to achieve either a military victory or negotiated agreement. Canada’s rugged terrain would protect insurgents from those types of attacks, while global outrage at the bombings would only boost support for the rebellion.
How could Canadians pay for this decades-long insurgency? The answer lies in everysinglehistoricalexample of the old adage: “The enemy of my enemy is my friend.”
The prospect of Americans becoming trapped by an insurgency on their own continent would delight Moscow and Beijing, which could easily establish covert northern passages to send weapons to the insurgency. Financing an insurgency is an effective way to ensnare and bankrupt a rival power, as counter-insurgency operations are exponentially more expensive than the price of a few arms shipments.
A chronic violent insurrection in North America could financially and militarily pin down the U.S. for decades, ultimately triggering economic and political collapse. Russia and China, meantime, would enjoy an uncontested rise to power.
Forewarned
This scenario would guarantee the destruction of both Canada and the United States. No one in their right mind would choose this gruesome future over a peaceful and mutually beneficial alliance with a friendly neighbour.
Nevertheless, if Trump is reckless enough to think the violent annexation of Canada is an achievable goal, then let it be known that all these horrifying outcomes were predictable well in advance, and that he was forewarned.
Aisha Ahmad has received funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.
