BRATISLAVA, Slovakia, Jan. 31, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — ESET, a global leader in cybersecurity solutions, is proud to announce that ESET HOME Security Essential has been named AV-Comparatives’ Product of the Year for 2024. This prestigious award recognizes ESET HOME Security Essential for Windows for its outstanding performance and reliability in protecting consumers against a wide range of cyber threats.
In 2024, AV-Comparatives subjected 16 consumer security products for Windows to rigorous testing, evaluating their ability to protect against real-world Internet threats, identify recent malicious programs, defend against advanced targeted attacks, and provide protection without slowing down the PC. ESET HOME Security Essential emerged as the top performer, receiving the highest Advanced+ Award in all seven tests conducted throughout the year.
As stated in the AV-Comparatives’ Summary Report 2024, “Reviewers were impressed by the clean, intuitive user interface designed for non-expert users, as well as the extensive customization and scan options available for power users.”
Although the majority of vendors make auto-renewal mandatory, the report points out that, most commendably, ESET is among those vendors who do not impose auto-renewal on users. The report further highlights ESET HOME Security Essential as a well-designed and easy-to-use security product that provides safe default settings and essential features easily accessible to all users.
Andreas Clementi, founder and CEO of AV-Comparatives, commented on ESET’s recognition: “ESET’s performance throughout our 2024 tests has been consistently strong, earning high ratings across multiple categories. The awards reflect the product’s reliability in malware protection, usability, and system performance. ESET HOME Security Essential demonstrated a well-balanced approach, providing effective security without imposing a significant burden on the system, which many users will appreciate.”
“We are honored to be recognized as AV-Comparatives’ Product of the Year for 2024. This award is a testament to our commitment to providing high-performance, technologically advanced security solutions that protect digital lives of our customers without compromising their device performance. We will continue to innovate and enhance our products to address real-life cybersecurity and privacy needs of our users, so they can enjoy the full potential of themselves and their technology in a secure digital world,” said Viktória Ivanová, Vice President of Consumer and IoT Segment at ESET.
ESET HOME Security for Windows is designed to offer high-performance protection with low system impact, utilizing multilayered technologies that go beyond basic antivirus capabilities.
Discover more about ESET HOME Security solutions here.
About ESET
ESET® provides cutting-edge digital security to prevent attacks before they happen. By combining the power of AI and human expertise, ESET stays ahead of known and emerging cyberthreats — securing businesses, critical infrastructure, and individuals. Whether it’s endpoint, cloud, or mobile protection, our AI-native, cloud-first solutions and services remain highly effective and easy to use. ESET technology includes robust detection and response, ultra-secure encryption, and multifactor authentication. With 24/7 real-time defense and strong local support, we keep users safe and businesses running without interruption. An ever-evolving digital landscape demands a progressive approach to security: ESET is committed to world-class research and powerful threat intelligence, backed by R&D centers and a strong global partner network. For more information, visit www.eset.com or follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, and X.
Humans Group recorded significant growth across all key metrics: turnover, revenue, and customer numbers. The active user base of its super app ecosystem grew to over 2.3 million people by the end of 2024, a 28% year-on-year increase.
TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, Jan. 31, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The Humans Group of companies has published its final report on its activities in Uzbekistan for 2024. Turnover reached UZS 17,777 billion, and gross revenue totaled UZS 515.4 billion. Net revenue increased by 9.82% compared to the previous year.
Ecosystem Growth
The Humans super app provides unique, market-leading services for the Uzbek market. It combines mobile services, a fintech service called Humans Pay, Humans Yaxshi, a grocery delivery service from local markets, and Humans Market, a marketplace for buying everyday goods. The ecosystem also includes a cashback program.
The active customer base of the Humans ecosystem is steadily growing, providing a positive outlook for further market expansion. At the end of 2024, the customer base of the Humans ecosystem exceeded 2.3 million users, reflecting a 28.01% increase compared to 2023.
Customers are increasingly using the Humans app as a super app to meet their daily needs. As of December 2023, nearly 88% of customers active within the past 30 days used only mobile services. By September 2024, this share had decreased to 84.6%. Currently, more than 1.25 million customers are combining at least two services within the super app.
Vlad Dobrynin, CEO and founder of Humans Group, said: “The addition of new services to the ecosystem consistently leads to an increase in the number of active users and a rise in transaction frequency. In 2025, we plan to offer new convenient products to our customers, such as a ‘buy now, pay later’ service and a microloan service.”
“We will also launch a social platform for targeted peer-to-peer assistance to those in need. Further, we will continue to expand the range of products in the Humans Market marketplace and increase the Humans Yaxshi delivery area to 50 cities in Uzbekistan.”
Humans Pay: A Key Driver of Net Revenue Growth
Fintech remains one of the main drivers for the development of the Humans super app. Net revenue of the Humans Pay payment and transfer service reached UZS 133.1 billion in 2024, an increase of 59.98% compared to 2023. The number of unique clients of the Humans Pay service exceeded 701,410 in the first three quarters of 2024, a 21.27% increase compared to the same period in 2023.
Alongside user growth, there has been a corresponding increase in transactions. Clients are using the Humans Pay service more frequently, making more transactions, and transferring larger amounts of money. In the first three quarters of 2024, the total volume of card-to-card transfers increased by 151.6% year-on-year, while the number of transactions per active user rose by 62.15%.
Humans Mobile: Customers Choose Unlimited Internet
The telecom service is also reaching an increasingly larger share of the Uzbek population. The number of active telecom clients of Humans surpassed 1.56 million in 2024. Among them, 279,200 are already using unlimited internet packages, a 78.55% increase compared to last year.
“In 2024, Humans demonstrated double-digit growth in almost all key performance indicators. We significantly strengthened our position in the telecom business and confirmed the effectiveness of our strategy aimed at transitioning telecom service users to an ecosystem product,” addedVladimir Dobrynin.
Despite the impressive growth figures, the potential for growth in theHumans Payfintech service has been slowedby the unprecedented actions of the Central Bank of Uzbekistan and the biased, discriminatory policies of the regulator.The Humans team did everything possible to support the growth of the ecosystem and, most importantly, to continue driving development,” noted Vladimir Dobrynin.
Customer Support: AI Sets New Service Standards
The quality of customer service is a high priority for Humans. Today, 92% of user inquiries are resolved on the first contact with the call center by phone, and 91% on the first contact via chat. However, to deliver ever superior standards of customer care in 2024 Humans Group implemented an AI-based personalized offer system.
The platform selects the most relevant services for the customer based on their request, for example, mobile service plans. This ensures call center operators recommend only relevant and optimal services for customers, saving their time. As a result, the AI platform simultaneously improves communication efficiency and user satisfaction.
Team: The “Daily Pay” Project as an Element of Social Responsibility
Reflecting Humans Group dedication to corporate social responsibility and employee well-being, in 2024 the company introduced a ‘Daily Pay’ system for its customer support employees. This system rewards staff with bonuses the morning after they have hit daily targets.
The speed of this remuneration is unprecedented and provides team members with confidence in their financial planning, leading to increased motivation, engagement, and job satisfaction. The system had previously been trialled, with enormous success, across the Humans retail network among salespeople, supervisors, and couriers.
About Humans
Humans.uz is a super app that combines the fintech service Humans Pay, mobile communication services Humans Mobile, the grocery delivery service from bazaars Humans Yaxshi, and the product marketplace Humans Market. The project was launched in June 2020 in Uzbekistan as part of the Humans Group operations which also includes the employee search platform Humans.net in the USA. The group’s offices are located in the USA, Uzbekistan, Poland, Singapore, and Germany.
Disclaimer: This content is provided by the Humans. The statements, views, and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the content provider. The information shared in this press release is not a solicitation for investment, nor is it intended as investment, financial, or trading advice. It is strongly recommended that you conduct thorough research and consult with a professional financial advisor before making any investment or trading decisions. Please conduct your own research and invest at your own risk.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
The Chancellor has committed to going further and faster to put more money in working people’s pockets across Wales.
HM Treasury
Working people and businesses across Wales are to benefit from reforms to drive investment and get Britain building. The Chancellor has committed to going further and faster to put more money in working people’s pockets across Wales and deliver on the UK Government’s Plan for Change.
Below sets out specific benefits for Wales as a result of the Chancellor’s decisions today (29 January).
Wrexham and Flintshire Investment Zone
Having confirmed funding for the Investment Zones programme at Autumn Budget, the government can now confirm that the Wrexham and Flintshire Investment Zone (IZ) will focus on advanced manufacturing.
There are major international businesses in the region including JCB and Airbus, which the IZ will support, as well as the wider advanced manufacturing supply chain in the region. At present the IZ is expected to generate £1bn of private investment, creating up to 6000 new high quality jobs.
The IZ’s interventions will be focused around sites in:
Deeside and Deeside industrial estate which houses Tata Steel and Toyota;
Hawarden Airport, where Airbus are based;
Llay Industrial Estate – which houses a number of key aerospace businesses; and
Wrexham Industrial Estate – which houses a wide range of advanced manufacturing business, including JCB.
Sustainable Aviation Fuel
The UK government is investing £63m into the Advanced Fuels Fund in 2025-26 and has today set out the details of how it will deliver a Revenue Certainty Mechanism to encourage investment into this growing industry. These measures will encourage more investors to back production in the UK, bringing good, high-skilled jobs to areas like South Wales.
Inactivity Trailblazers
Getting more people back into work is crucial if we want a dynamic economy, and it is good for jobless people too. Over nine million people are inactive, of which a record 2.8 million people are out of work due to long-term sickness. The outdated employment support system is ill equipped to respond to this growing challenge.
We have committed £240m of investment towards 16 trailblazers including one for every MCA and one in Wales to tackle the root causes of inactivity, eight of which will be used to support the Youth Guarantee, the remaining eight will be focused on tackling health-related inactivity.
The Inactivity trailblazers will be delivered across Wales.
National Wealth Fund Support
The government remains committed to working in close partnership with the Welsh Government through the National Wealth Fund to maximise investment opportunities to deliver growth in all corners of the UK.
Welsh Secretary Jo Stevens said:
I’m delighted that we are moving forward with the Investment Zone for Wrexham and Flintshire with £160 million from the UK Government to drive economic growth in advanced manufacturing.
In December I met leaders from the advanced manufacturing sector at Toyota in Deeside and visited two hugely successful supply chain businesses. I saw the huge potential for growth and for building on the talent and expertise that already exists in this part of Wales.
This Investment Zone will super-charge economic growth, create up to 6000 new jobs and generate £1bn of private investment which will have a transformational impact for people living and working in northeast Wales.
The Chancellor is also reviewing the Treasury’s investment guidance in the Green Book to ensure it is being used to provide objective, transparent advice on public investment across the country, reporting at Phase 2 of the Spending Review.
Pushing forwards with strategic infrastructure and investment across all four corners of the UK is key to delivering the UK Government’s Growth Mission. Bringing the productivity of major cities to the national average would deliver an extra £33bn in economic output, and measures set out today extend beyond this to kickstart a decade of national renewal.
This is just the start, and further regional growth announcements will follow through the year. The government is hardwiring plans for regional growth into the Spending Review, and into plans for infrastructure, investment and the industrial strategy. The UK Government is also working with the Welsh Government to ensure the benefits of growth can be felt across Wales, including by partnering on the Industrial Strategy to support Wales’s considerable sectoral strengths.
Tim Knowles, Founder and Managing Director of FI Real Estate Management, said:
As an investor in Wrexham for almost 20 years, we’re delighted to see the announcement that Wrexham and Flintshire will receive Advanced Manufacturing Investment Zone status, with three of our schemes on Wrexham Industrial Estate – Wrexham 1M, Wrexham 152, and Bridgeway Centre – forming part of the designated zone.
Across these sites, we’ll be investing £115m to create new, high-quality industrial accommodation, supporting the creation of over 1,000 new jobs and delivering an estimated economic value of £1.2bn in Wrexham over the next 10 years.
This is a significant milestone for North Wales, and we look forward to working in partnership with stakeholders to leverage this opportunity for strategic investment in the area, helping to supercharge the region’s advanced manufacturing sector.
In collaboration with local authorities and wider stakeholders, we need to ensure that we capitalise on all the opportunities this moment brings. We’ve long recognised the potential for North Wales to become a thriving hub for innovation, and we’re excited that our developments can play an important part in this next chapter.
Mark Turner, JCB’s Chief Operating Officer said:
JCB has been a prominent feature of the industrial and economic landscape in Wrexham and Flintshire for over 45 years. Innovation is the lifeblood of our business and we welcome the creation of an Investment Zone in North Wales and hope that it will attract many other businesses to the area. As an advanced manufacturer of precision engineering components, JCB Transmissions looks forward to other advanced manufacturing businesses coming to the area. This could go a long way towards building the supply chain resilience of existing manufacturing businesses in the area, such as JCB.
We place a lot of values on skills in our business and we look forward to the Investment Zone positively supporting skills development in the future. JCB continues to invest in our business in Wrexham and today’s IZ announcement bodes well for the economic development of the area in the future.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
​The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, London (London ETO), in collaboration with the China-Britain Business Council (CBBC), hosted the “Toast to the Snake” reception in Glasgow, the United Kingdom (UK), in the evening of January 30 (London time) to celebrate the Year of the Snake.
Speaking at the reception, the Director-General of the London ETO, Mr Gilford Law, highlighted Hong Kong’s unique advantages under “one country, two systems” including the common law regime, the free flow of capital, people and information, and policy support from the Mainland. Mr Law emphasised that those strengths did not go unnoticed. He said, “Hong Kong saw a record number of 9 960 non-local companies operating in the city last year, representing a 10 per cent year-on-year increase, with 720 of them coming from the UK. The International Monetary Fund had also reaffirmed Hong Kong’s position as an international financial centre and recognised the resilience of the city’s financial system.”
Around 270 guests from the business, academic and cultural sectors as well as the Chinese community attended the reception. Among the guests were the Minister for Business of the Scottish Government, the Lord Provost of the City of Glasgow, and the Consul General of the People’s Republic of China in Edinburgh.
In the morning of the same day, the London ETO and Invest Hong Kong sponsored CBBC’s China Consumer Scotland 2025 event, featuring among others a panel discussion on the opportunities arising from Hong Kong’s reduction of liquor duty as announced in “The Chief Executive’s 2024 Policy Address”. Mr Law highlighted in his welcome speech that various high value-added sectors, such as logistics and storage, tourism as well as food and beverage would also benefit from this new measure. He encouraged Scottish brands to grasp this opportunity.
Speaking at one of the panel discussions, the Head of Business and Talent Attraction/Investment Promotion of the InvestHK London Office, Ms Daisy Ip said, “Hong Kong boasts a thriving premium spirits market and a diverse range of high-end bars and dining establishments, making it a significant growth market for spirits. The city offers well-developed cold chain logistics services, robust logistics networks, and seamless connection with the Mainland and key Southeast Asian markets. Hong Kong can serve as Asia’s hub for liquor trade and distribution.”
The China Consumer Scotland 2025 event was attended by close to 50 business representatives who were related to the spirits industry or interested in the opportunities in the Chinese market.
This February the Tower Museum will be bringing the stories behind some famous art works to life as part of the Playful Museums Festival, which is supported by the Northern Ireland Museums Council, Derry City and Strabane District Council and funded by Art Fund.
As part of this programme a series of events will be held in the Tower Museum on February 12th and February 19th, aimed at children under five.
Led by the wonderfully creative MakeyUppers, the ‘Living Art – Stories behind the Art’ events will take a peep behind the frames of some well-known art pieces, to find out more about their history.
The aim of the festival is to nurture creativity in young children from an early age, by promoting better understanding of the work through story-telling and interactive activities.
Four sessions will take place in the Tower Museum’s learning space at 11am and 2pm on the 12th and 19th February and can be booked by families, carers and nurseries/ playschools.
Archivist with the Tower Museum, Bernadette Walsh, encouraged people to book early to avoid disappointment. “The Art UK’s ‘Superpower of Looking’ learning programme is the inspiration for this series and the museum team here want to find new ways to make art and history more accessible to a wider audience. The events will provide an opportunity for children – as well as their carers and teachers – to really engage with art and see how the selected pieces link to their emotions, as well as people, places and objects they are familiar with.
“Storytelling, based around the selected artworks, will allow the children to play, create and communicate. It’s a fun way to help equip children with the lifelong skill of visual literacy and nurture a love of not only viewing art but also making art. I would really advise booking ahead to ensure a space at the free events.”
Each session will include a craft-based activity, constructive play and, or, sensory sessions and children can take home their own piece of art to enjoy.
Fairley’s Flavours, the local artisan brand bringing the vibrant tastes of South Africa to Northern Ireland, is hosting exclusive cooking classes as part of this year’s LegenDerry Food Month.
The programme is delivered by the LegenDerry Food Network with support from Derry City and Strabane District Council, and the Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs Regional Food Programme.
It’s the third outing for the festival which has become a firm favourite among local foodies, bringing new and exciting experiences to a growing audience keen to find out more about the authentic flavours of the North West’s dynamic food scene.
The hands-on cookery classes will take place on Saturday, 15th February, at Eglinton Community Hall, offering couples a chance to dive into the rich, dynamic world of food, learning how to prepare dishes that highlight the best of both South African traditions and Derry’s exceptional local produce.
Known for its bold artisan hot sauces, South African-inspired street food, and private catering, Fairley’s Flavours celebrates the fusion of global flavours with local ingredients, creating a unique culinary experience that’s both exciting and authentic.
Two class times are available: 12pm–2.30pm and 3.30pm–6pm, with tickets priced at £120 per couple. Spaces are limited, so book now at fairleysflavours.co.uk.
Hannah Ramraj of Fairley’s Flavours says: “Our mission at Fairley’s Flavours is to bring the bold and vibrant tastes of South Africa to Northern Ireland, using the incredible local ingredients we’re so proud of here in Derry. These classes are a celebration of flavour, culture, and creativity – a chance to share our passion for great food in a fun and interactive way. We’re thrilled to be part of LegenDerry Food Month and can’t wait to welcome everyone to cook, learn, and enjoy with us.”
Guests will be greeted with a stunning cheeseboard featuring Dart Mountain Cheese, alongside soft drinks, tea, and coffee. At their cooking stations, participants will create their own sweet and savoury charcuterie boards, featuring a carefully curated selection of local and LegenDerry produce. Guests can take their finished boards home or enjoy them during the event.
The main event is a BBQ masterclass, where Chef Fairley will share tips on lighting a traditional charcoal BBQ (or “braai” as it’s known in South Africa) before guiding guests in cooking their choice of ribeye steak or Foyle Bia Mara mussels. The meal will be completed with a freshly prepared sauce, Broighter Gold Rapeseed Oil, freshly baked bread, and a crisp green salad.
To finish, guests will be treated to an indulgent dessert (soon to be revealed) that promises to leave a lasting impression.
Book Now to Secure Your Spot: Spaces for these exclusive cooking classes are limited, so don’t miss your chance to experience the unique fusion of South African and Northern Irish cuisine.
Tickets: £120 per couple
When: Saturday, 15th February (12pm–2.30pm and 3.30pm–6pm)
Following a ruling by a District Judge yesterday, a Council tenant has been evicted as his drink and drug-related activities and anti-social behaviour caused misery for his neighbours
The Council was granted a possession order by York County Court to end the tenancy of Dawon Belleh, aged 42 of 8 Oldman Court, Foxwood. Mr Belleh was evicted yesterday, Thursday 30 January 2025.
This follows reports from neighbours to the Council and police about drink and drug taking and dealing, loud noise and arguments at the apartment, and an endless succession of visitors. The anti-social behaviour in the property and area was a continual source of disruption and concerns for local people who were worried about its impact on their families.
City of York Council officers served a legal warning of eviction (a Notice of Intention to Seek Possession) on Mr Belleh, which he breached. This resulted in the Council being granted an eviction order (a Suspended Possession Order) by York County Court, to be activated only if further breaches were found.
Following complaints from neighbours and evidence of loud noise, drink and drug taking, numerous and anti-social visitors, the Council returned the case to York County Court where, after considering evidence, the Judge granted the Council permission to apply for a warrant of eviction.
Mr Belleh asked the court to suspend the warrant of eviction which was refused on 30 January by the District Judge. Council officers then evicted Mr Belleh, advising him where he could apply for new housing, should he need it.
Cllr Michael Pavlovic, Executive Member for Housing at City of York Council, said:
Our tenancy agreements specify that criminal or anti-social behaviour can result in tenancies being ended. Thanks to Mr Belleh’s neighbours co-operating with the Council and police, their evidence and reports ensured that we were able to stop the nuisance they experienced from this tenant. This case sends a clear message we will take action to protect neighbours and free homes to tenants who respect and abide by the tenancy agreements.”
Sergeant Charlotte Gregory of North Yorkshire Police, added:
Drug use and antisocial behaviour has a detrimental impact of the quality of life for local people. It’s unacceptable and we’ll use all the powers and resources available to us to take action against those who make other people’s lives a misery.
“This result is evidence of our joint working with City of York Council and my thanks go to them for their work that has culminated in this eviction. I hope local people are reassured that we will take action and will continue to do so, as part of Project Titan, a York-based operation to tackle drugs and the impact on our communities.”
Please report anti-social behaviour here or report it to the police on 101 if a non-emergency.
Anti-social noise levels can be reported here or by calling 01904 551525 Monday-Friday 8:30am-5pm, or by calling the Noise Patrol 01904 551555 from 9pm Friday to 3am Saturday and between 9pm Saturday to 3am Sunday.
Liverpool City Council is creating a new plan to bring communities together and prevent future unrest following the widespread disorder last summer. We want local voluntary, community, and faith groups to join us in shaping this strategy.
As we prepare to develop this strategy, we have received £57,000 from HM Government to support local projects. We invite voluntary, community, and faith groups in Liverpool to apply for funding to run small projects in their communities.
Liverpool based VCF organisations can apply for a one-off grant up to a maximum of £2,500. Eligibility criteria and a list of project examples are provided within the Grant Specification available here.
Organisations will be required to feedback to us what has been delivered, and play an active role in shaping the cohesion strategy throughout 2025. This might be through a written submission, a survey, or an informal meeting/conversation, whichever suits your organisation and community.
We welcome involvement from both long-established and recently established groups across the city.
Helps communities to respond to periods of tension through initiatives that strengthen connections, promote unity and shared values.
Supports local partnerships in building stronger and more connected communities by funding projects in at-risk areas.
Equips communities to challenge extreme narratives and ideologies that create division.
Brings communities together to improve cohesion and reduce divisions in places facing extremism challenges.
Apply online here for the Communities Together Grant programme.
Earlier this month, the City Council had to close part of Everton Park Lifestyles Centre due to structural damage to the roof.
This means the dry-side facilities, like the sports hall, gym, and squash courts, are temporarily closed, and we’re asking members to use these facilities at an alternative Lifestyles Centre. The swimming pool at Everton Park Lifestyles remains open and operational as usual.
The City Council is working with a contractor to carry out a detailed assessment to inform recommendations on next steps. Once this is completed, there will be a tender and procurement process for the necessary remedial works.
Liverpool City Council’s Cabinet Member for Health, Wellbeing and Culture, Councillor Harry Doyle, said: “We understand the concerns raised by our Lifestyles members, community and gymnastic groups who use the centre, and will keep listening and working with you to address them.
“I am in regular contact with the City Council teams involved to ensure the issue will be resolved as soon as possible.
“We’d like to thank everyone for their understanding and patience, and we’ll provide a further update once plans are finalised.”
In relation to the Community Asset Transfer, discussions with Notre Dame Catholic Academy are ongoing, and the City Council remains committed to working together with them, to ensure the facilities have a sustainable future.
The programme is underpinned by behaviour change approaches following consultation with partners including the NHS, as well as the wider community. The aim is to support up to about 1,000 families and 2,000 adults in the first year.
Anyone can sign up for Liv Life Liverpool via the website, they do not have to be referred by a professional, but need to meet eligibility criteria before a personalised plan is developed.
Designed to support individuals, families and pregnant women, Liv Life Liverpool will also be aligned with the council’s Neighbourhood Model to ensure that services throughout Liverpool’s communities will be engaged.
Liv Life Liverpool plans last for 12 weeks and include:
One-to-one coaching, with sessions taking place either in person or virtually
Weigh-and-stay or weigh-and-go groups
Physical activity groups.
There will also be on-the-go support from the free Best-You app which can also help with reducing alcohol consumption and stopping smoking.
All the different elements of the programme have been tailored to support people to develop knowledge and practical skills around food and cooking and physical activity which will ensure a successful and sustainable journey towards achieving a healthy weight.
Almost two thirds of adults in Liverpool, 63 per cent, are overweight and about a quarter of children start primary school overweight, increasing to one in three children aged 11 being overweight or obese by the time they enter secondary school.
Liverpool City Council’s cabinet member for Culture, Health and Wellbeing Cllr Harry Doyle said: “Liv Life Liverpool is a brilliant toolbox for residents to use to support them to eat healthily and to get more active.
“Trying to achieve a healthy weight can be daunting for many people. The team at ICE Creates understands this so have developed an evidence-based programme that has plenty of support built in to make sure that change is not only sustainable but enjoyable.
“Whilst losing excess weight is important for reducing the likelihood of serious health conditions such as heart disease, high blood pressure and type-2 diabetes, Liv Life Liverpool is about more than just the numbers on a scale. It’s about building healthy habits that will last a lifetime.”
Matt Ashton, Liverpool’s Director of Public Health, said: “I am thrilled we are now offering the right support to create a healthy weight culture, that benefits everyone in Liverpool.
“We’re excited to be on this journey to improve the health and wellbeing outcomes with our residents, and working in multiple partnership including ICE Creates, Liverpool City Council’s Neighbourhood Managers, Food Active and Feeding Liverpool.”
ICE Creates’ Liv Life Liverpool’s service and engagement lead Jamie Prescott, said: “As service lead I am looking forward to engaging with the many excellent partners we have in this city, with the ultimate aim of helping people to make small but crucial changes. We want to help families and adults across Liverpool to improve their long-term health and believe this service can really make a difference.”
The Council’s Economy and Infrastructure Committee will next week be asked for approval to begin early engagement on the possibility of a Perth and Kinross Visitor Levy Scheme, with a view to allowing elected members to make a decision informed by local feedback at the end of this year.
The Visitor Levy (Scotland) Act 2024 grants local authorities the power to introduce a levy on overnight accommodation, with the funds raised reinvested locally to enhance the visitor experience.
While a scheme like this could create significant opportunities for local investment, Councillor Eric Drysdale, Convener of Economy and Infrastructure, explained the importance of first listening to residents and leaders in the tourism industry locally.
Councillor Drysdale said: “It’s really important to be clear that the question to committee next week is not about whether or not to introduce a Visitor Levy Scheme, it’s about getting the support to start speaking to those most affected about what would need to be taken into consideration. The feedback from this early engagement is essential to make sure that we are able to make an informed decision before committing to the approach in Perth and Kinross.”
Tourism is a significant part of the Perth and Kinross economy, but with high visitor numbers there is also an impact on our local communities.
Councillor Drysdale added: “While visitors bring significant benefits to our local economy, there are also associated costs. The Council introduced the Visitor Rangers service because we recognised that investment was needed to support responsible tourism, and minimise the impact of visitors on our year-round residents.
“With growing demands for critical services to protect health and social care, support pupils with additional support needs, and tackle poverty, we have a duty to explore any opportunities for additional sources of income which can be invested to support growing our visitor economy. That would then allow core funding to be focused on the services which are needed by the most vulnerable people in our communities.”
If approved by committee the early engagement process will last between 6 and 10 months. A full report from the feedback received, along with a draft Visitor Levy Scheme developed during the engagement, would then be presented to councillors in December 2025 to consider whether or not to proceed with introducing a scheme. If approved in December, a statutory consultation period of 12 weeks and then an 18-month implementation would follow. As a result, the earliest possible date for a scheme being introduced would be Summer 2027.
Police are concerned about the welfare of a 70-year old man from west London who has been missing for more than 10 weeks.
Detective Inspector Will Peel from Central West Missing Persons Unit says:
“We are very worried about the whereabouts of Anthony Davis, who goes by the name “Reggie”.
“He was last seen on Thursday, 21 November, although there was a possible sighting of him opposite Ladbroke Grove Tube Station on Thursday, 5 December.
“Anthony has dementia and diabetes so it’s hugely important we find him as he may require medication that he won’t have with him.
“We have been appealing on social media for help to trace Anthony since December, so, with his family’s support, who are extremely concerned, we are now extending the appeal in the hope of locating him.
“It’s very out-of-character for Anthony to go missing.
“He is usually seen using a cane to walk and is wearing a dark hoodie, tracksuit bottoms, a black coat, a black flat cap and sandals with no socks.
“Please get in touch with police as soon as possible if you have any idea where he might be.”
If anyone has seen Anthony, or has information on his whereabouts, please call 101 giving the reference 5679/06DEC or call Crimestoppers free of charge on 0800 555 111.
Assistant professor Frank Cackowski, left, and researcher Steven Zielske at Wayne State University in Detroit became suspicious of a paper on cancer research that was eventually retracted.Amy Sacka, CC BY-ND
Over the past decade, furtive commercial entities around the world have industrialized the production, sale and dissemination of bogus scholarly research. These paper mills are profiting by undermining the literature that everyone from doctors to engineers rely on to make decisions about human lives.
It is exceedingly difficult to get a handle on exactly how big the problem is. About 55,000 scholarly papers have been retracted to date, for a variety of reasons, but scientists and companies who screen the scientific literature for telltale signs of fraud estimate that there are many more fake papers circulating – possibly as many as several hundred thousand. This fake research can confound legitimate researchers who must wade through dense equations, evidence, images and methodologies, only to find that they were made up.
Even when bogus papers are spotted – usually by amateur sleuths on their own time – academic journals are often slow to retract the papers, allowing the articles to taint what many consider sacrosanct: the vast global library of scholarly work that introduces new ideas, reviews and other research and discusses findings.
These fake papers are slowing research that has helped millions of people with lifesaving medicine and therapies, from cancer to COVID-19. Analysts’ data shows that fields related to cancer and medicine are particularly hard-hit, while areas such as philosophy and art are less affected.
To better understand the scope, ramifications and potential solutions of this metastasizing assault on science, we – a contributing editor at Retraction Watch, a website that reports on retractions of scientific papers and related topics, and two computer scientists at France’s Université Toulouse III–Paul Sabatier and Université Grenoble Alpes who specialize in detecting bogus publications – spent six months investigating paper mills.
Frank Cackowski at Detroit’s Wayne State University was confused.
The oncologist was studying a sequence of chemical reactions in cells to see whether they could be a target for drugs against prostate cancer. A paper from 2018 in the American Journal of Cancer Research piqued his interest when he read that a little-known molecule called SNHG1 might interact with the chemical reactions he was exploring. He and fellow Wayne State researcher Steven Zielske began experiments but found no link.
Meanwhile, Zielske had grown suspicious of the paper. Two graphs showing results for different cell lines were identical, he noticed, which “would be like pouring water into two glasses with your eyes closed and the levels coming out exactly the same.” Another graph and a table in the article also inexplicably contained identical data.
Zielske described his misgivings in an anonymous post in 2020 at PubPeer, an online forum where many scientists report potential research misconduct, and also contacted the journal’s editor. The journal pulled the paper, citing “falsified materials and/or data.”
“Science is hard enough as it is if people are actually being genuine and trying to do real work,” said Cackowski, who also works at the Karmanos Cancer Institute in Michigan.
Wayne State scientists Cackowsi and Zielske carried out experiments based on a paper they later found to contain false data. Amy Sacka, CC BY-ND
Legitimate academic journals evaluate papers before publication by having other researchers in the field carefully read them over. But this peer review process is far from perfect. Reviewers volunteer their time, typically assume research is real and so don’t look for fraud.
It’s unclear when paper mills began to operate at scale. The earliest suspected paper mill article retracted was published in 2004, according to the Retraction Watch database, which details retractions and is operated by The Center for Scientific Integrity, the parent nonprofit of Retraction Watch.
An analysis of 53,000 papers submitted to six publishers – but not necessarily published – found 2% to 46% suspect submissions across journals. The American publisher Wiley, which has retracted more than 11,300 articles and closed 19 heavily affected journals in its erstwhile Hindawi division, said its new paper mill detection tool flags up to 1 in 7 submissions.
As many as 2% of the several million scientific works published in 2022 were milled, according to Adam Day, who directs Clear Skies, a company in London that develops tools to spot fake papers. Some fields are worse than others: biology and medicine are closer to 3%, and some subfields, such as cancer, may be much larger, Day said.
The paper mill problem is “absolutely huge,” said Sabina Alam, director of Publishing Ethics and Integrity at Taylor & Francis, a major academic publisher. In 2019, none of the 175 ethics cases escalated to her team was about paper mills, Alam said. Ethics cases include submissions and already published papers. “We had almost 4,000 cases” in 2023, she said. “And half of those were paper mills.”
The Cochrane Collaboration has a policy excluding suspect studies from its analyses of medical evidence and is developing a tool to spot problematic medical trials. And publishers have begun to share data and technologies among themselves to combat fraud, including image fraud.
Technology startups are also offering help. The website Argos, launched in September 2024 by Scitility, an alert service based in Sparks, Nevada, allows authors to check collaborators for retractions or misconduct. Morressier, a scientific conference and communications company in Berlin, offers research integrity tools. Paper-checking tools include Signals, by London-based Research Signals, and Clear Skies’ Papermill Alarm.
But Alam acknowledges that the fight against paper mills won’t be won as long as the booming demand for papers remains.
Today’s commercial publishing is part of the problem, Byrne said. Cleaning up the literature is a vast and expensive undertaking. “Either we have to monetize corrections such that publishers are paid for their work, or forget the publishers and do it ourselves,” she said.
There’s a fundamental bias in for-profit publishing: “We pay them for accepting papers,” said Bodo Stern, a former editor of the journal Cell and chief of Strategic Initiatives at Howard Hughes Medical Institute, a nonprofit research organization and funder in Chevy Chase, Maryland. With more than 50,000 journals on the market, bad papers shopped around long enough eventually find a home, Stern said.
To prevent this, we could stop paying journals for accepting papers and look at them as public utilities that serve a greater good. “We should pay for transparent and rigorous quality-control mechanisms,” he said.
Peer review, meanwhile, “should be recognized as a true scholarly product, just like the original article,” Stern said. And journals should make all peer-review reports publicly available, even for manuscripts they turn down.
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. This is a condensed version. To learn more about how fraudsters around the globe use paper mills to enrich themselves and harm scientific research, read the full version.
Labbé receives funding from the European Research Council.
He has also received funding from the French National Research Agency (ANR), and the U.S. Office of Research Integrity.
Labbé has been in touch with most of the major publishers and their integrity officers, offering pro-bono consulting regarding detection tools to various actors in the field including STM-Hub and Morressier.
Cabanac receives funding from the European Research Council (ERC) and the Institut Universitaire de France (IUF). He is the administrator of the Problematic Paper Screener, a public platform that uses metadata from Digital Science and PubPeer via no-cost agreements. Cabanac has been in touch with most of the major publishers and their integrity officers, offering pro bono consulting regarding detection tools to various actors in the field including ClearSkies, Morressier, River Valley, Signals, and STM.
Frederik Joelving 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.
Source: The Conversation – UK – By Ed Turner, Reader in Politics, Co-Director, Aston Centre for Europe, Aston University
A vote in Germany’s national parliament (Bundestag) has led to fears that the firewall supposedly separating mainstream political parties and the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) has been blown apart.
Until now, Germany’s largest parties, including the union of Christian democratic parties the CDU and CSU, and the social democrat SPD, have ruled out any form of cooperation with the AfD. Friedrich Merz, CDU leader and most likely chancellor following the election to be held on February 23, had previously said that decisions in the Bundestag should not be passed if they relied on AfD votes.
And while Merz’s commitment to the firewall had occasionally wavered in some interviews, the CDU had resisted any temptation to do deals with the AfD nationally or in state parliaments. There is some cooperation on a local level, but beyond a vote on local taxation in Thuringia in 2023, mainstream parties have eschewed any hint of state or national level cooperation.
That has now changed. Apparently in response to the AfD’s promising polling ahead of the election on February 23, the CDU has tacked dramatically to the right on immigration policy. Merz introduced a five-point plan into the Bundestag proposing a significant tightening of Germany’s immigration system.
Most radical among the proposals is the reintroduction of border controls at German borders and for migrants without permission to reside in Germany to be turned back. These measures would be questionable, at best, in their conformity with European law.
Merz made it plain he would put this plan to a vote, even if it could pass only with AfD support. This it did, by 348 to 345. The CDU and its sister party the CSU voted in favour, alongside the AfD and the Free Democratic Party (barring a handful of rebels). The SPD, Greens and Left party voted against while the anti-immigration “left populist” Sarah Wagenknecht Alliance abstained.
This was not a binding vote but Merz can now push for a more formal process to make his five-point plan law. It is also highly symbolic.
The AfD was gleeful, hailing a “turning point”, or Zeitenwende, in migration policy. It celebrated the “fall of the firewall” and a “great day for democracy”. The SPD and Greens were furious, with outgoing chancellor Olaf Scholz accusing Merz of breaking his word – and breaking with the tradition of former chancellors from Konrad Adenauer to Angela Merkel by relying on votes from the far right. Merkel subsequently underlined Scholz’s point by criticising Merz’s move.
The Greens talked of a “dark day for our democracy”. A Left Party parliamentarian called out “to the barricades”, and some spontaneous demonstrations occurred around the country. Merz said he “regretted” that the vote had only been possible with AfD support but added that “doing the right thing does not become wrong when the wrong people – the AfD – vote for it”.
An election ahead
Merz’s changed position on immigration and the AfD has come a few weeks ahead of an election that had initially got off to a slow start. The campaign is now suddenly polarised and angry on all sides.
The election is being held because the three-party governing coalition of social democratic SPD, Greens and liberal FDP collapsed in November over disputes on fiscal policy. Opinion polls have been quite stable, showing the CDU/CSU leading. However, Merz’s party would need a coalition partner.
The AfD has been consistently in second place but the firewall would prevent a coalition. This helps explain why reactions to the Bundestag vote have been so fierce.
And while the government collapsed because of disagreements over the economy, several high-profile stabbings by migrants have turned this into an election about immigration. Indeed, migration, asylum and security questions are now right at the top of the list of voters’ concerns.
The AfD has the wind in its sails and is basking in the glow of Elon Musk’s noisy endorsements. It has adopted an even more hardline manifesto than its previous offerings, proposing “remigration” as a policy – code for removing legal migrants who are no longer welcome.
However, it is important to note that with this vote, Merz has not declared open season for a coalition with the AfD. And if a coalition was formed with the SPD or Greens, there is no way it would survive Merz turning to the AfD for support on issues where the coalition partner disagreed.
Scholz has warned of the risk of events similar to Austria, where the CDU/CSU’s sister party, the ÖVP, initially ruled out going into government with the far-right FPÖ but changed its stance when negotiations with mainstream parties failed. Merz insists this won’t happen but moderate CDU/CSU voters may heed Scholz’s warnings and look elsewhere. Merz’s gamble is that such losses would be offset by voters who support a harder line on migration – and even that he will win voters back from the AfD.
These events highlight the debate being had ever more often across Europe. Are far-right parties weakened if their positions are, to a degree, accommodated by the political mainstream? Or does this in fact strengthen and embolden them?
That debate will continue but there are more immediate consequences in the wake of the Bundestag vote. Germany’s neighbours will look on uneasily, both because of the febrile political atmosphere in the largest EU member state at a time of substantial geopolitical pressure and because, if Germany were to be found to have set aside European law, that could trigger a total unravelling.
Ed Turner receives funding from the German Academic Exchange Service.
Headline: ICC announces new editorial board for Dispute Resolution Bulletin
The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) has appointed new co-editors-in-chief and editorial board members of the ICC Dispute Resolution Bulletin. The Bulletin is ICC’s flagship, triannual journal focused on arbitration and other methods of dispute resolution. Editorial board members are highly-regarded dispute resolution practitioners from around the world, with diverse backgrounds. With their involvement, the Bulletin will remain one of the most essential go-to resources on dispute prevention and resolution.
Since the first edition in 1990, the Bulletin has been at the forefront of providing up-to-date developments in international arbitration and commentaries on ICC dispute resolution and arbitral awards. The Bulletin offers legal updates, expert insights and studies, best practices and analysis of ICC awards. It also reports on ICC events and trainings, and features book reviews for dispute resolution practitioners.
Claudia Salomon, President of the ICC International Court of Arbitration, said:
“In line with the ICC Court pledge to drive thought leadership, the new co-editors in chief and editorial board members will ensure that the Bulletin continues to generate innovative ideas, and build capacity, offering readers a greater understanding of the arbitration and ADR process.”
Alexander G. Fessas, Director of ICC Dispute Resolution Services and Secretary General of the ICC Court, said:
“As the leading institution in dispute resolution, ICC plays a critical role in promoting access to justice and the rule of law. The Bulletin serves as a vital platform for analysis and debate, fostering the safeguard of the legitimacy of arbitration and ADR, and maximising the potential of all in the legal and business communities. We are confident that, with the new editorial board, the Bulletin’s relevance and reach will continue to grow exponentially.”
The Bulletin’s gender-balanced editorial board comprises 20 members based in Africa, Asia and the Pacific, Europe, Latin America, the Middle East and the United States.
The Bulletin is led by two co-editors-in-chief: Rafael Rincón, a partner at Rincón Castro Abogados in Colombia, and Sara Nadeau Seguin, a partner at Teynier Pic in France. Both were members of the board during the previous mandate. They succeed Julien Fouret and Yasmine Lahlou, who were appointed as members of the ICC Court in July 2024.
The 2025-2027 ICC Bulletin editorial board members are:
Sara Nadeau Seguin, Co-Editor in Chief, Partner, Teynier Pic, France
Rafael Rincón, Co-Editor in Chief, Partner, Rincón Castro Abogados, Colombia
Aysha Abdulla Mutaywea, Partner, MENA Chambers, Bahrain
Marie-Isabelle Delleur, Counsel, Clifford Chance, Brazil
*Farouk El-Hosseny, Senior Associate, Three Crowns, United Kingdom
*Ahmed Habib, Senior Associate, DWF, Qatar
*Imad Khan, Partner, Winston & Strawn, United States of America (Houston)
*Damien Nyer, Partner, White & Case, United States of America (New York)
*Olena Perepelynska, Partner and Head of International Arbitration, Integrites, Ukraine
*Sulabh Rewari, Partner, Keystone, India
*Michele Sabatini, Partner, Arblit, Italy
Mikaël Schinazi, Associate, Jones Day, France
Anna Secomb, Arbitrator, Singapore
*Leyou Tameru, Founder, I-Arb Africa, Ethiopia
Mireille Taok, International Arbitrator, Lawyer, and University Lecturer, United Arab Emirates
Monty Taylor, Barrister, Tenth Floor Chambers, Australia
Sylvia Tee, Partner, Ashurst, China
*Angeline Welsh, Barrister, Essex Chambers, United Kingdom
* Member during the previous mandate, which is renewable once.
The Bulletin is published three times a year with the next edition due in March 2025. The latest edition of the ICC Dispute Resolution Bulletin is freely available for download in the ICC Dispute Resolution Library.
Adrian Ramsay, Co-Leader of The Green Party of England and Wales, MP for Waveney Valley, welcomes the start of the consultation process for the Land Use Framework.
“Food security and nature restoration are essential for our very survival. They must not be seen as in competition – the government must step up its efforts on both.
“We have one of the most nature depleted countries on Earth, yet we need our soils, pollinators and wider environment to be in a healthy state in order to secure our food supply – and farmers are crying out for adequate funding for nature friendly farming and natural flood management.
“Climate breakdown is already threatening our ability to produce food, with droughts and flooding at different times of the year making life very hard for farmers.
“This Land Use Framework represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to address these critical issues and ensure our communities are more self-sufficient and resilient in our food supply. For this plan to work and deliver for communities, the Government must work to diversify what food we produce, which will strengthen our food security.”
“A new framework could – and should – support farmers to produce seasonal foods for local markets and tackle the power of the supermarkets who don’t give farmers a fair deal.”
“This happens throughout this country, with businesses like Hodmedods in Suffolk growing beans and pulses or Glebe Farm in Cambridgeshire producing homegrown oats. These examples show that we can diversify food production reducing our reliance on imports, ensuring food security for future generations.”
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
British businesses will benefit from a world-first cyber security standard which will protect AI systems from cyber-attacks, securing the digital economy.
British businesses will benefit from a world-first cyber security standard which will protect AI systems from cyber-attacks, securing the digital economy
Security measures will unlock AI’s potential to transform public services and boost productivity as part of the government’s Plan for Change
New global coalition to tackle worldwide cyber skills shortage and strengthen security expertise
Companies developing AI – from consumer apps to systems underpinning public services – will be able to better protect themselves from growing cyber security threats under steps set out by the UK government.
The steps announced today under a new Code of Practice will give businesses and public services the confidence they need to harness AI’s transformative potential safely – supporting the government’s Plan for Change as the technology drives forward improvements to public services, turbocharges productivity, and drives growth across the economy.
With cyber attacks or breaches affecting half of businesses in the last 12 months, safeguarding AI systems is crucial as adoption accelerates across the economy. The world leading Code of Practice pioneered by the UK, equips organisations with the tools they need to thrive in the age of AI. From securing AI systems against hacking and sabotage, to ensuring they are developed and deployed in a secure way, the Code will help developers build secure, innovative AI products that drive growth and fuel the Plan for Change.
It sets out how organisations using AI can protect themselves from a range of cyber threats such as AI attacks and system failures. This can include steps such as implementing cyber security training programmes which are focused on AI vulnerabilities, developing recovery plans following potential cyber incidents, and carrying out robust risk assessments.
The voluntary Code of Practice will form the basis of a new global standard for secure AI through the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) – a major step which cements the UK’s position as a world leader in safe innovation. With the UK AI sector generating £14.2 billion in revenue last year, these standards will help maintain growth while protecting critical infrastructure – building on the work of the AI Opportunities Action Plan.
Minister for Cyber Security Feryal Clark MP said:
The UK is leading the way in setting global benchmarks for secure innovation, ensuring AI is developed and deployed in an environment that protects critical systems and data which are central to delivering our Plan for Change.
This will not only create the opportunities for businesses to thrive, secure in the knowledge that they can be better protected than ever before but support them in delivering cutting-edge AI products that drive growth, improve public services, and put Britain at the forefront of the global AI economy.
The UK government has also published today an implementation guide for the Code, to support businesses as they shore up their cyber defences by providing a one-stop shop which brings together guidance and key steps to follow. AI represents a generation-defining technology which is central to the government’s Plan for Change – holding incredible potential to transform public services, boost productivity and rebuild our economy.
It is vital that we harness the transformative potential of AI securely so that our society can reap the benefits of new technologies without introducing avoidable vulnerabilities and cyber risks.
The new Code of Practice, which we have produced in collaboration with global partners, will not only help enhance the resilience of AI systems against malicious attacks but foster an environment in which UK AI innovation can thrive.
The UK is leading the way by establishing this security standard, fortifying our digital technologies, benefiting the global community and reinforcing our position as the safest place to live and work online.
Building on this position of global leadership in cyber security, the UK has also spearheaded the launch of a new International Coalition on Cyber Security Workforces (ICCSW), alongside founding partners including Japan, Singapore, and Canada. The coalition – which emerged from the UK-led Wilton Park Summit in September 2024 – will help countries work together to tackle cyber threats and address the global cyber skills gap.
This new partnership will strengthen international cooperation on cyber security, breaking down barriers to career progression and increasing diversity in the sector. Current estimates show that supporting cyber skills will boost the £11.9 billion cyber security industry which will in turn help to drive growth in the British economy.
The UK is moving full steam ahead with plans to bolster our online defences through a new Cyber Security and Resilience Bill which was unveiled in last summer’s King Speech. Ahead of that legislation’s introduction, the government is also publishing its response to the Cyber Governance Code of Practice of today. In its response, the government warns that despite the massive disruptions cyber incidents can cause, boards and senior leaders often struggle to engage in cyber issues due to a lack of understanding, training, or time – making it more pressing than ever to ensure all sectors of the UK economy have the tools they need to address cyber threats.
To address this problem, DSIT has developed the Cyber Governance Code of Practice in collaboration with the National Cyber Security Centre and industry experts. The Code provides clear actions for directors to manage cyber risks effectively, enabling businesses to harness new technologies while building resilience. The government’s response outlines improvements to the Code based on extensive feedback, with the updated version set to be published in early 2025.
The Code will be submitted into the European Telecommunications Standards Institute’s Securing AI Committee where it will be used to develop a global standard.
The government is working with industry and international counterparts to promote international alignment of security requirements for AI systems, including through monitoring the development of relevant standards in other standards development organisations.
The government will update the content of the Code and Implementation Guide to mirror the future ETSI global standard and guide once they are created. Read the full AI cyber security code of practice.
There will be an increased police presence in central London on Saturday with two protests due to take place.
A protest organised under the name ‘Stop the Isolation’ or ‘Unite the Kingdom’ in support of Stephen Yaxley-Lennon (Tommy Robinson), will form up in Sandell Street and Cornwall Road, off Waterloo Road outside Waterloo Station, from midday.
It will march from there to Whitehall via Westminster Bridge. A static assembly will then take place in Parliament Street, at the Parliament Square end of Whitehall.
A protest organised by Stand Up To Racism will form up in St James’s Street, south of Piccadilly Circus, from 11.30am.
It will march from there to Whitehall, via Piccadilly Circus and Haymarket. A static assembly will take place at the Trafalgar Square end of Whitehall.
Pedestrian access in the middle of Whitehall will be restricted with officers deployed to ensure both groups are kept apart. Anyone in the area, not involved in the protests, is encouraged to use other routes to go from Trafalgar Square to Parliament Square or vice versa.
Commander Louise Puddefoot, who is in charge of the policing operation, said: “We are well prepared for these protests, having been in discussions with both sets of organisers in recent weeks.
“We have officers deployed in significant numbers to provide reassurance to the wider community, and to give us the capability to intervene swiftly and decisively if incidents of crime or disorder occur.
“Decisions on our policing style at protests, including the types of uniform worn by officers and the protective equipment available to them, are taken on a case by case basis. It allows us to be ready to respond quickly and decisively where we need to.
“Our assessment for tomorrow’s protest, based on the information available to us, is that an additional level of preparedness is required.
“What our officers are wearing or the protective kit they are carrying doesn’t change their role at these events. They are there to ensure all involved can exercise their right to protest peacefully, without causing serious disruption to the life of the wider community and without risking the disorder that could take place if groups with opposing views come together.”
Details of conditions
Stop the Isolation/Unite the Kingdom protest
Participants must form up in the blue shaded area in the map below – Sandell Street, Cornwall Road and Wotton Street.
They must not then deviate from the route shown on the map below:
On arrival at the end of the march, they must only assemble in the area marked in blue on the map below:
All those in attendance must disperse by 17:30hrs.
Stand Up To Racism
Anyone taking part must form up in the area shaded in red on the map below:
They must not then deviate from the route shown on the map below:
On arrival at the end of the march, they must only assemble in the area marked in red on the map below:
All those in attendance must disperse by 17:30hrs.
Limassol, Cyprus, Jan. 31, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — UFarm.Digital, a decentralized finance asset management platform, has secured $500,000 in its early seed funding round. This milestone will support the company’s efforts to expand its platform capabilities, strengthen its market presence, and accelerate strategic development initiatives.
The funding will enable UFarm.Digital to implement key enhancements, including new features designed to improve user experience and bolster security measures. Planned developments include cross-chain integrations, the addition of new DeFi protocols, and an advanced asset management solution tailored for hedge funds. A portion of the funds will also be allocated to marketing efforts and community engagement to increase the platform’s visibility and reach
As part of its ongoing development, UFarm.Digital has made significant progress by launching its platform on the Arbitrum network. This strategic move enables the platform to leverage Arbitrum’s scalability and low transaction costs, providing users with faster, more efficient operations. At launch, UFarm.Digital offers a range of investment pools designed to cater to varying risk appetites and strategies, delivering flexibility to both institutional and private investors.
The platform offers non-custodial security, allowing investors to maintain full control over their funds and significantly reducing risks associated with traditional asset management. It emphasizes seamless integration with DeFi protocols, simplifying asset management while maintaining high security standards. Users have access to top-tier asset managers, who are vetted through a comprehensive, independent rating system that ensures transparency and reliability. The fee management process is secure and straightforward, making it easier to handle success and management fees charged by asset managers. The platform’s smart contracts have undergone rigorous audits by Decurity, with further audits by Hexens planned to uphold ongoing security.
“Our platform is designed to empower investors by combining robust security measures with a seamless user experience,” said Olga Tiagunova, CEO of UFarm.Digital. “These investments allow us to accelerate the implementation of new features and solutions in our product, enhancing the capabilities of our asset managers while reinforcing the security of our platform.”
These planned features include a privacy-focused private layer, cross-chain support, and enhanced security infrastructure capable of detecting suspicious activities within the protocol to strengthen asset protection and further enhance overall security. Additionally, zero-knowledge proof (ZKP) technology for KYC verification is part of the company’s roadmap, aimed at maintaining regulatory compliance while safeguarding user privacy.
As UFarm.Digital welcomes its first institutional clients, the team is dedicated to expanding its services and continuing to innovate. Future developments include enhanced reporting tools and the rollout of a bug bounty program to further ensure platform integrity. The company’s user-first approach and focus on transparency position it as a trusted partner for investors navigating the decentralized finance landscape.
About UFarm.Digital
UFarm.Digital is a decentralized finance platform dedicated to simplifying digital asset management for institutional and private investors. The platform provides robust features such as private and public investment pools, customizable fees, secure cross-chain integration, and specialized solutions for hedge funds. In addition, it offers enhanced tools for data-driven performance tracking, operational transparency, and support for future interoperability across multiple blockchain networks. By fostering innovation and maintaining a user-centric focus, UFarm.Digital aims to reshape the digital asset management landscape and become a trusted partner for investors worldwide.
Nørresundby, Denmark, 31 January 2025 Announcement no. 04/2024
Today, 31 January 2025, RTX A/S held its Annual General Meeting at which the following decisions were made:
The annual report for the financial year 2023/24 was adopted (item 2).
The proposal not to distribute any dividend for the financial year 2023/24 was approved (item 3).
The Remuneration Report for 2023/24 was approved in the advisory vote (item 4).
The Remuneration Policy was adopted (item 5.1).
The remuneration of the Board of Directors for 2024/25 was adopted (item 5.2).
Henrik Schimmell, Jesper Mailind, Katja Millard and Mogens Vedel Hestbæk were re-elected and Gitte Schjøtz and Carsten Drachmann were newly elected to the Board of Directors for a one-year term (item 6).
KPMG Statsautoriseret Revisionspartnerselskab was re-appointed as the company’s auditors (item 7).
The below proposal from the Board of Directors was approved:
Authorization to attorney Henrik Møgelmose to inform the Danish Business Authority of the resolutions passed and to make any resulting changes to the Company’s Articles of Associations (item 8.1).
At a meeting of the Board immediately after the AGM, the Board constituted itself with Henrik Schimmell as Chair and Katja Millard as Deputy Chair. Further, Mogens Vedel Hestbæk was selected as Chair of the Audit Committee with Henrik Schimmell and Katja Millard as members of the Committee. Henrik Schimmell, Katja Millard and Jesper Mailind were selected as members of the Nomination & Remuneration Committee.
Thousands of children in Plymouth will once again enjoy healthy lunches and activities at free ‘Fit and Fed’ holiday clubs this year.
Plymouth City Council has welcomed the confirmation of funding from the Department for Education’s Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme for 2025, which means the popular Fit and Fed programme will return during the Easter, summer and Christmas holidays.
The HAF programme aims to support families with children that receive benefits-related free school meals. Eligible children and young people are given the opportunity to get active, try new activities and enjoy healthy, nutritious meals at free clubs during the school holidays.
In 2024, more than 30,000 holiday club places were provided to children aged between 5 and 16 years old with a huge range of activities on offer including football, dance and water sports.
More than 1,000 ‘Teen Taster’ activity sessions were also offered specifically to teenagers, with activities including trampolining, bowling, go karting and adventure golf.
At Christmas, new family activities were also offered with 700 activity sessions for parents and carers to enjoy with their children for free, which included ice skating, swimming sessions and trips to the National Marine Aquarium.
Each summer, Fit and Fed goes on tour to parks and green spaces across the city to provide free fun days that are open to all families. Last year 2,750 healthy lunches were handed out at the four events, which also saw a number of local organisations provide advice on a huge range of topics including road safety, dental hygiene, healthy relationships and the cost of living.
Mini golf at Fit and Fed on Tour in Central Park
Councillor Sue Dann, Cabinet Member for Customer Services, Sport, Leisure and HR and OD, said: “Fit and Fed is an incredibly important programme and we’re delighted to have received confirmation that the funding will continue this year because it offers vital support to families throughout the school holidays.
“Not only do children and young people receive a healthy lunch, they’re also given the opportunity to get physically active, meet new friends and make special memories and we know that this all has a hugely positive impact.”
One parent of a child who attended a Fit and Fed club last year commented: “I am extremely grateful that my daughter was given this opportunity. It has certainly helped to grow her confidence and self-esteem.”
Louise Kelley MBE, Head of Active Wellbeing and Sport at Plymouth Active Leisure, welcomed the news. She said: “This funding makes a really difference to families in Plymouth. We are all aware of the ongoing challenges many families in the city face with the cost of living, so having access to fun, enjoyable activities in a safe and supported environment are essential.”
More information about this year’s Fit and Fed programme will be shared on the Council’s website later this year: www.plymouth.gov.uk/fit-and-fed.
If any organisation or holiday club provider would like be involved in Fit and Fed this year, please contact the Active Lifestyles team at Plymouth Active on [email protected].
In recognition of World Cancer Day on Tuesday 4 February 2025, Islanders are invited to join the World Cancer Day, Closer to Home event, taking place from 10am to 3pm at the Jersey Library.
This event is an opportunity for anyone affected by cancer, as well as for healthcare professionals, to come together to access valuable resources and find out more about Jersey’s Cancer Strategy.
The following services will be attending the event:
Cancer.je
Jersey Hospice Care
Travel and Oversees Team (GoJ)
Improving the Cancer Journey Jersey (ICJJ)
ABC Jersey
Health Benefits – Work & Family Hub (GoJ)
Income Support and Impairment – Work & Family Hub (GoJ)
Jersey Cancer Relief
Help2Quit
Friends of Jersey Oncology
Viberts
LibertyBus
CLIC Sargent
Customer Experience Team (GoJ)
Live Life Fitness Coach.
Jersey Cancer Strategy Implementation Committee Chair, Dr Elizabet Gomes Dos Santos, said: “This year’s World Cancer Day theme, ‘United and Unique’, reminds us that every cancer journey is different. Still our strength lies in coming together to provide comprehensive and compassionate care.
“By collaborating with charities and community organisations, we can unite our efforts to address the unique needs of each patient, ensuring they feel supported at every step of their journey. Together, we can build a future where no one faces cancer alone.”
Attendees will have the chance to engage with various cancer charities, learn about support services and participate in a Q&A panel from 2pm to 3pm with those leading the strategy.
This interactive session will allow you to ask questions and gain insights from experts in the field, including:
Dr Elizabet Gomes Dos Santos, Strategy Lead
Kerry Le Crom, Lead for Improving the Cancer Journey Jersey
Sarah Evans, Primary and Preventative Care
Lorna Pirozzolo, Cancer.je, Voice of Cancer Patients
Susie Hazeldine, Travel Office Manager
Antonia Rubio, Cancer Advocate and Charity Ambassador.
Cancer Advocate and Charity Ambassador, Antonia Rubio, said: “It’s so important to recognise that each person’s cancer journey is unique. Having the Cancer Strategy in place ensures that each person’s individual needs are being catered for.
“Through my own personal experience with cancer, it has been so wonderful to see the feedback I have provided being taken onboard by the Network to review as areas for potential development.”
The benefits of the pavement parking ban have been praised by Guide Dogs Scotland and Living Streets Edinburgh.
The Council previously worked with these organisations to lobby for the introduction of controls in Scotland.
Earlier this week (January 29) marked a full year since enforcement began against parking on pavements, at dropped kerb crossing points and double parking.
We introduced these rules to make our streets safer for pedestrians and road users. Pavement parking particularly impacts people who use wheelchairs and mobility, those who are blind or partially sighted and people pushing prams or buggies. This practise also damages pavements, which are expensive to repair and become a trip hazard for everyone.
Parking attendants have the powers to issue Penalty Charge Notices (PCN) to vehicles parked on pavements, some verges, at crossing points or double parked. A parking ticket will be issued at the national level of £100 but reduced to £50 if paid within the first 14 days. This follows a similar process to existing parking tickets issued in Edinburgh.
You can find out more about these rules and report incorrectly parked vehicles on our website.
Up to 26 January 2025 there had been 5,153 PCNs issued for footway parking, 1,612 for dropped kerb parking and 1,629 for double parking.
Since enforcement began there has been an overall decreasing trend in PCN fines being issued for pavement parking – with the exception of the busier summer months.
Transport and Environment Convener, Councillor Stephen Jenkinson said:
Since we first introduced these changes one year ago, we’ve seen many residents and visitors modify their parking habits accordingly, with the problem of pavement parking disappearing in many streets across our city. The overall gradual decrease in PCN fines for pavement parking also shows we’re headed in the right direction, ultimately we want to see zero fines.
Every driver is responsible for parking their vehicle considerately, and where this would not cause an obstruction to the pavement or road. We brought the pavement parking ban in to provide a safe and accessible environment for everyone, especially those with sight impairments, mobility issues or pushing buggies. We’ve also heard from many people who really appreciate clearer, wider pavements and who no longer need to walk on the road as a result of the ban.
I’m proud that we took this decision to make our streets as safe and accessible as possible – and that local authorities across Scotland are now looking to Edinburgh’s lead and implementing schemes of their own.
Transport and Local Access Forum Convener, Councillor Kayleigh O’Neill said:
The pavement parking ban has been so well received in Edinburgh, and I am so grateful to everyone who has played a part in making that happen. Strong awareness, resident co-operation and Council enforcement has meant that disabled people, elderly people, those with buggies and prams, all have an easier time getting around.
So many streets that have been blighted in the past are now free and accessible for people who move around the city like me who uses a power wheelchair. Pavements are for people and the enforcement of this ban reinforces that. It is great to also see that Glasgow has followed us and are beginning enforcement on their city streets from January 29.
Policy and Campaigns Manager at Guide Dogs Scotland, Mike Moore said:
One year on from the enforcement of pavement parking restrictions in Edinburgh, people with sight loss say it has made a real difference. By keeping pavements clear, the new rules have helped to ensure that people in the capital can get out and about safely, without the fear of being forced on to the road by inconsiderate parking.
We welcome the start of enforcement in Glasgow this week, which marks an important step towards a consistent approach across Scotland. With both of Scotland’s largest cities now taking action, we hope to see continued progress by local authorities to make our streets safer and more accessible for all pedestrians.
Living Streets Edinburgh Group Convener, David Hunter said:
The City of Edinburgh Council deserves credit not only for being the first in Scotland to apply the national ban on pavement parking, but also for adopting a “no streets exempt” policy.
This been the most significant change to make Edinburgh a safer and more attractive city for pedestrians since the introduction of widespread 20mph speed limits.
Prepare to be amazed as the NI Science Fair rolls into town
31 January 2025
Science buffs across Strabane should prepare to be amazed as the NI Science Fair visits the Alley Theatre for a series of exciting events.
Established in 2014, the NI Science Festival has grown to become the largest celebration of its kind on the island of Ireland, and one of the leading science festivals in Europe.
For its 11th edition, the festival will present more than 300 events across Northern Ireland, focusing on our rich and diverse natural environment, our engineering and manufacturing heritage, sustainability, technology, the mind and body, and much more.
The festival’s regional roadshow will touch down in Strabane with a series of events, including Chemistry & the Celts on Friday 14th February at The Alley Theatre. An immersive exploration into the world of the Irish Celts with Scientific Sue, this engaging show, supported by Almac, brings ancient traditions to life, blending the wonders of chemistry with the rich tapestry of Celtic history.
Also taking place at The Alley is Look Closer where little explorers embark on a fun-filled journey of discovery into nature’s wonders with screenings of BBC/CBeebies Tiny Wonders followed by hands-on experiments in Mini Lab Zones where the budding researchers will get to use real microscopes and take a closer look at fascinating little curiosities from nature.
NI Science Festival director Sarah Jones said: “The NI Science Festival is a celebration of science, creativity, and the world around us, designed to be engaging and enjoyable for everyone. Over 12 days, the festival will pop up in venues across Northern Ireland, showcasing the incredible work of local researchers and scientists alongside some well-known guest speakers. This year’s programme is packed with exciting events for all ages, offering something for everyone. It’s an opportunity to embrace the joy of discovery, explore the power of ideas, and celebrate the possibilities science brings to our everyday lives.”
Dr Frances Weldon, Associate Director STEM Outreach, Almac Group, said: “We are deeply committed to supporting STEM education at Almac and as such we’re delighted to partner with NI Science Festival in the Chemistry & the Celts show and to receive funding from the Arts & Business NI Investment Programme. Chemistry is a core discipline and career area at Almac. This collaborative project delivers entertaining chemistry content through arts and history, sparking children’s curiosity and stimulating them to think about chemistry as part of everyday life.”
Tickets are available from the Alley Theatre website: www.alley-theatre.com or call the Alley Theatre Box Office on 028 71 384444
UNESCO has chosen the city of Coventry and Warwick Business School (WBS) to participate in its global project to highlight the role of culture in building a sustainable future for the planet.
In a significant stride towards global cultural sustainability, Coventry City Council in collaboration with WBS, has been selected to participate in the prestigious UNESCO Culture 2030 Indicators initiative.
The UNESCO Culture 2030 Indicators project is a framework designed to monitor and evaluate the role of culture in sustainable development.
Coventry City Councillor Naeem Akhtar, Cabinet Member for Housing and the Communities, said: “We are honoured to be part of this ground-breaking initiative, along with Warwick Business School, to contribute to UNESCO’s global sustainability mission.
“Coventry is the home of many fantastic cultural organisations, artists, community groups and creatives, and we are delighted that UNESCO can see the value in working with Coventry as a city.
“This marks a major step forward in advancing global cultural sustainability, underscoring the essential role of culture in achieving the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.”
Mark Scott, Research Fellow at WBS who is a leading place and culture data expert with extensive experience of working with the local cultural sector and colleagues in Coventry City Council, said: “The UNESCO project encompasses a range of thematic indicators that assess various aspects of cultural impact, from heritage preservation to cultural participation and education.
“The inclusion of the city of Coventry and WBS in this project not only reinforces Coventry’s legacy as a City of Culture but also highlights Warwick Business School’s commitment to leveraging research and data to drive impactful global change.
“Being part of the UNESCO Culture 2030 Indicators project is a tremendous honour for WBS. This collaboration underscores our dedication to cultural sustainability and our role in shaping a better future through informed research and data-driven strategies.”
The collaboration between WBS, Coventry, and UNESCO is also supported by the UK Department for Culture, Media and Sport. This partnership aims to position the UK as a leader in cultural data management and sustainable development. By contributing to this ground-breaking project, WBS and Coventry are helping to shape policies and practices that will benefit communities worldwide.
Jonathan Neelands, Professor of Creative Education at WBS, said: “By contributing to this initiative, we are helping to position the UK as a leader in cultural data management and sustainable development, further cementing the School’s place on the international stage.”
Mark Scott and Professor Neelands were leads in the research and evaluation for Coventry UK City of Culture 2021 and continue to be involved in other Coventry data-led and evidence-based policy projects like the recent Coventry Cultural Place Profiler. Coventry City Council has a unique pool of cultural and other data that makes the partnership distinctive.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
Pembrokeshire has been identified as a key growth region for clean energy in Wales.
Secretary of State for Wales Jo Stevens at Dragon LNG accompanied by Simon Ames, Managing Director at Dragon LNG.
Welsh Secretary champions clean energy in West Wales and sees how the sector will provide the jobs of the future.
UK Government economic growth mission delivers for Wales with £26 million investment in Celtic Freeport.
Pembrokeshire identified as a key growth region for clean energy
Welsh Secretary Jo Stevens has told clean energy industry leaders that they will play a vital part in helping to grow the economy in Wales.
The discussion with key figures from the sector at RWE’s Pembroke Power Station today (30 January) was the latest in a series of round-table meetings chaired by the Welsh Secretary as part of her drive to deliver economic growth for Wales.
The UK Government is working with the Welsh Government and industry partners to develop floating offshore wind in the Celtic Sea. This would see wind turbines built on floating platforms which means they can take advantage of the wind direction.
The Welsh Secretary heard plans for how floating offshore wind could support up to 5,300 new jobs and generate up to £1.4bn for the UK economy.
The UK Government has identified Pembrokeshire as a pilot area to develop a skilled clean energy workforce, which could see funding for targeted measures such as training centres and courses to up-skill workers.
Ports will be vital for supporting floating offshore wind. The UK Government has announced a partnership between The Crown Estate and Great British Energy which has the potential to leverage up to £60 billion of private investment into ports and clean energy supply lines.
The UK Government has also committed £26 million for the Celtic Freeport in Milford Haven and Port Talbot. The Celtic Freeport will encourage growth and investment by creating tax and customs incentives for business.
Welsh Secretary Jo Stevens said:
My clear focus is on delivering the UK Government’s Plan for Change which will kickstart the economy and put more money in people’s pockets in Wales.
We have a world class clean energy sector in Wales, with abundant natural resources and the potential to be a powerhouse for economic growth.
I want to see a thriving industry which delivers both well-paid jobs and contributes to our mission to make the UK a clean energy superpower by 2030.
The Welsh Secretary’s discussion with industry leaders took place on Thursday 30 January at RWE’s Pembroke Power Station and is the latest in a series of round-table meetings chaired by her as part of her drive to deliver economic growth for Wales. Ms Stevens has already met leaders from the digital and tech industry, the creative sector, the advanced manufacturing sector and the life sciences industry in Wales.
At the end of 2024 the Welsh Secretary launched the Welsh Economic Growth Advisory Group to help shape UK Government efforts to boost growth and put more money in people’s pockets. The group is tasked with informing the UK Government’s new Industrial Strategy to boost key Welsh industries and shape Welsh priorities for the next Spending Review, both expected during Spring 2025.
As well as talking to industry leaders the Welsh Secretary visited Dragon LNG in Milford Haven where she learnt more about their innovative plans to support proposals to decarbonise Wales’s heavy industries.
Simon Ames Managing Director at Dragon LNG said:
It was a great honour to host the Secretary of State at Dragon and showcase the local talent at this fantastic facility.
We deliver 10% of UK’s gas, ensuring resilience and diversity of supply from all over the world.
Through the transition to green energy we hope to develop our joint project with RWE on CO2 capture, liquefaction and shipping so that they can provide low carbon on demand power into the UK”.
Ms Stevens also toured Ledwood Mechanical Engineering in Pembroke Dock. The company specialises in designing, making and installing complex machinery and structures for the energy industries. There she spoke to apprentices, who are gaining skills which will be valuable in the clean energy industry, about their future ambitions.
Nick Revell Managing Director of Ledwood Mechanical Engineering said:
There has been much discussion around the potential for the Welsh economy and local supply chain to capitalise on the potential of floating offshore wind and tidal power but the reality is that investors, developers and supply chain partners all have to have confidence that Governments in Westminster and Cardiff Bay will get behind this new industry.
It’s time to stop talking and start doing so that we can remove barriers and move forward. We welcome the engagement with the Welsh Secretary and looking forward to working with her and Welsh Government to help make this happen.
Albie Elliott, an apprentice with Ledwood Mechanical Engineering said:
The clean energy industry will provide a great long-term career pathway for apprentices like me who want to live and work locally.
It’s a real exciting time and I am proud to be working for a company like Ledwood that is based here in Pembroke and is at the forefront of the global energy processing sector.
Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Robert Botha, Research Fellow at the Impumelelo Economic Growth Lab. The Impumelelo Economic Growth Lab is a unit of the Bureau for Economic Research (BER), Stellenbosch University
South Africa’s fiscal trajectory paints a concerning picture. Public expenditure exceeds revenue. As a result sovereign debt is building up and interest on this debt is increasing.
This raises concerns over the South African government’s financial sustainability. The debt-to-GDP ratio has skyrocketed from 23.6% in 2008/09 to a projected 74.7% in 2024/25. The International Monetary Fund has recommended that, over the long term, South Africa should reduce its debt-to-GDP ratio to 60% of GDP, in line with that of peers.
Arguably more important than the debt level is how quickly debt has accumulated. Debt servicing costs, which consist of the interest on government debt and other costs directly associated with borrowing, have been the fastest-growing line item in the national budget. Rising interest payments have been crowding out critical expenditures on services such as health, education and infrastructure.
As I argue in a recently published report titled “A fiscal anchor for South Africa: Avoiding the mistakes of the past”, establishing a credible fiscal anchor (or fiscal rule) could be step towards avoiding a debt spiral and regaining fiscal sustainability and credibility.
Fiscal rules are constraints on fiscal policy, designed to impose numerical limits. For example, a limit on the allowable debt-to-GDP ratio, or the allowable balance after accounting for government expenditure and revenue. Fiscal rules are widely used – 105 countries have adopted them so far.
Failing to address the country’s fiscal challenges risks plunging South Africa into a debt trap. This happens when a country finds it difficult to escape a cycle of debt and has to borrow more to pay off old debt. If debt-servicing costs continue to rise, essential public services will come under even greater strain.
Several emerging markets have experienced the severe consequences of unchecked debt accumulation and debt servicing costs. Argentina is one example. Without a credible plan to stabilise and reduce debt and debt servicing costs, the risk of economic stagnation and financial instability grows quickly.
Fiscal erosion and credibility concerns
The roots of South Africa’s current predicament lie in years of mistakes. These include:
spending beyond its means
questionable political decisions like bailing out state-owned entities
poor governance and oversight at municipal and local government level, which led to inefficient public spending.
These factors were underpinned by an underperforming economy, unrealised forecasts and arguably weak institutional checks.
For the last 15 years South Africa’s National Treasury has undertaken to stabilise the country’s debt-to-GDP ratio. This would have required keeping the ratio constant. But these commitments have consistently been deferred. Debt stabilisation targets have been revised upwards 13 times, from 40% in 2015/16 to the current 75.5%. The stabilisation year has been pushed back 10 times, from the initial year of 2015/16 to the current target of 2025/26. This has created a perception of inconsistent policy.
Over-optimistic macroeconomic forecasting has undermined credibility. Over the last ten years, GDP growth projections have routinely overshot actual performance by an average of 0.5 percentage points in the first year of forecasts and even more in subsequent years. In defence of the National Treasury, the South African economy has performed worse than more forecasters expected in recent years.
Adding to the fiscal strain are rising social expenditures, the public sector wage bill and repeated bailouts of state-owned enterprises. This spending relieves short-term political and social pressures, but undermines the country’s long-term fiscal health.
Without credible mechanisms to constrain spending, South Africa’s fiscal framework lacks the discipline needed to ensure sustainability, and to restore credibility.
Why fiscal rules matter
Fiscal rules are there to promote discipline, ensure that debt can be paid and enhance credibility. The experience in the 105 countries that have adopted them suggests that strong, well-designed rules can signal a government’s commitment to fiscal prudence.
It’s difficult to establish whether there is a causal relationship between fiscal rules and fiscal performance. But there’s at least a correlation. As a practical example of enforcing fiscal rules, in November 2023, the German constitutional court overruled a budget that was passed in the Bundestag but breached Germany’s fiscal rules.
However, fiscal rules are not a panacea. Poorly designed or inadequately enforced rules can make the problems worse. For South Africa, this risk is acute.
Political commitment and strong institutional frameworks are needed too. Also, a shift in how fiscal policy is conceived and implemented.
Designing new rules
Drawing lessons from global best practices, South Africa’s fiscal rules must be enforceable, flexible and simple. A well-designed rule should:
stabilise and eventually reduce the debt-to-GDP ratio
target government spending as a share of GDP, emphasising consumption spending like salaries and goods and services, rather than capital expenditure
have political buy-in
be overseen independently
be legally binding and enforceable.
Context
South Africa’s low economic growth rate is a complication. Average interest rates on government debt are higher than the nominal GDP growth rate. But reining in spending too much could stifle growth, creating a vicious cycle.
That’s why stabilising debt first would make more sense than aiming to reduce debt too rapidly.
South Africa’s fiscal rules must also have some flexibility. For instance, they could allow for shocks such as natural disasters or global economic crises.
Fiscal rules could follow a phased approach to initially focus on stabilising debt, and then to move towards reducing debt. Both of these phases would entail expenditure rules to guide annual budget processes and to place limits on spending.
The benefits
Credible fiscal rules could have a number of benefits.
Firstly, they could improve South Africa’s credibility by signalling to markets and international institutions that South Africa is committed to fiscal discipline.
Secondly, fiscal credibility is associated with reduced sovereign risk premiums, which translates into lower debt-servicing costs. In turn this would free up resources for critical development priorities.
Third, they can foster a more stable economic environment for investment and growth.
Fourth, they would help coordinate policies. South Africa enjoys rule-based monetary policy in the form of inflation targeting but lacks the same for fiscal policy. This can lead to sub-optimal outcomes. For example, the central bank can keep interest rates too high, not necessarily because it thinks the treasury’s policies are inflationary, but because it cannot predict the treasury’s actions.
The way forward
Adopting fiscal rules in South Africa comes with risks. Weak institutional capacity, especially in oversight bodies like the Parliamentary Budget Office, could undermine rule enforcement.
To shield against these risks, South Africa should have stronger institutions. It could create an independent statutory fiscal council, possibly falling under Parliament, the National Treasury or as an independent constitutional advisory body.
Oversight bodies would also need to build their capacity.
– South Africa’s debt has skyrocketed – new rules are needed to manage it – https://theconversation.com/south-africas-debt-has-skyrocketed-new-rules-are-needed-to-manage-it-248355
First Minister John Swinney has welcomed the appointment of Scotland’s new Lord Justice Clerk by His Majesty the King.
The Rt. Hon Lord Beckett will succeed the Rt. Hon Lady Dorrian as Scotland’s second most senior judge after she retires on Monday 3 February. As Lord Justice Clerk, he will also hold the office of President of the Second Division of the Inner House of the Court of Session and serve as the Chair of the Scottish Sentencing Council.
A former Solicitor General, Lord Beckett was appointed as a Supreme Courts judge in May 2016, then elevated to the Inner House of the Court of Session in July 2023. He has been involved in work to review court procedures for sexual offence cases, improve trauma training for judges and simplify the guidance given to juries.
Lord Beckett was nominated for appointment by the First Minister based on the advice of a selection panel.
The First Minister said:
“I offer my warmest congratulations to Lord Beckett on his appointment as Lord Justice Clerk, reflecting a long and distinguished career of service in Scotland’s legal system.
“The Lord Justice Clerk is one of the Great Offices of State in Scotland and the second most senior figure in the judicial system, with a prominent role in the criminal appeals system. It is a significant appointment that requires careful consideration, so I am very grateful to the members of the selection panel for their advice before I nominated Lord Beckett.
“Lady Dorrian was the first woman appointed to such a senior judicial office in Scotland. Her legacy will be significant, not only for that reason but as a result of her advocacy for vulnerable victims and witnesses, and her commitment to making court proceedings more transparent. Lady Dorrian leaves office with my gratitude and best wishes for the future.”
Lord President Lord Carloway said:
“Lord Beckett is a very experienced judge who has presided over some of the highest profile trials in recent times. He has been a member of the judiciary, for over 17 years, first as a Sheriff then as a High Court Judge. He was appointed to the Inner House of the Court of Session in 2023. His extensive knowledge of criminal cases, together with his work on evidence on commission and on case management in the High Court makes him an excellent appointment as Lord Justice Clerk. I wish him well in this extremely important office.”
Lord Justice Clerk Lady Dorrian said:
“It has been a huge privilege to be Lord Justice Clerk and I am pleased to be handing over to Lord Beckett. He is passionate about improving the experience of complainers and witnesses in court. He was part of the working group which I chaired on the management of sexual offence cases which will stand him in good stead for the reforms which will be coming in over the next few years. His experience will also be valuable as he takes over as Chair of the Scottish Sentencing Council. As a former Chair of the Judicial Institute and someone who has been leading the way on trauma-informed training for the judiciary, he is ideally suited for this role.”
Background
Lord Beckett was admitted as a solicitor in 1986, working in private practice before being admitted to the Faculty of Advocates in 1993. In 2003, he was appointed as an advocate depute and he became a Queen’s Counsel in 2005. He served as Solicitor General for Scotland in 2006, became a sheriff in 2008 and was appointed as an appeal sheriff on the establishment of the Sheriff Appeal Court in 2015.
Process for selecting the Lord Justice Clerk is set out in the Judiciary and Courts (Scotland) Act 2008. In line with those provisions, the First Minister established a panel and invited recommendations for individuals suitable for appointment. The members of the panel were:
Lindsay Montgomery CBE, Lay Chairing Member of the Judicial Appointments Board for Scotland
The Rt. Hon Lord Carloway, the Lord President
The Rt Hon. Lord Matthews, Inner House Judge of the Court of Session
Elizabeth Burnley CBE, lay member of the Judicial Appointments Board for Scotland
Lord Beckett will be sworn in as the Lord Justice Clerk by Lord Pentland at a ceremony on Tuesday 4 February.
It is an opportunity for the public to take part in Come As You Really Are, the largest ever exhibition of the UK’s hobbies. From makers and modifiers to crafters and collectors, Wolverhampton Art Gallery are working alongside Artangel and award winning artist and Spiderman enthusiast Hetain Patel to invite audiences to exhibit their hobbies in an exhibition at the gallery from 12 July to 5 October, 2025.
The exhibition will bring together objects created, modified or collected by Midland based hobbyists, alongside contributions from people across the UK and a new artist film by Patel. Each hobby represents a decision to commit valuable time to living life on one’s own terms in a society dominated by consumerism. On display will be hundreds of unique hand crafted objects loaned by hobbyists of any discipline, such as costume and cosplay makers, crocheters and knitters, wood carvers and model makers, ceramicists, robotics engineers, origami specialists, augmented car enthusiasts and many more.
City of Wolverhampton Council Cabinet Member for City Development, Jobs and Skills, Councillor Chris Burden, said: “The joy of hobbies lies in their power to bring people together while celebrating individuality. Come As You Really Are is a unique opportunity to spotlight the incredible creativity and dedication of hobbyists in Wolverhampton, the Midlands and beyond. From cosplay to ceramics, every object tells a story of passion, perseverance, and self expression.
“We’re thrilled to collaborate with Hetain Patel and Artangel to showcase these hidden talents and invite the public to share their own creations in this celebration of living life on one’s own terms. This exhibition promises to be as diverse and inspiring as the communities it represents.”
Hetain Patel said: “I’ve always been obsessed by handmade things. Growing up in Bolton, in a working class culturally Indian household, we ate with our hands, and many of my relatives worked as part of the manual labour force in local factories. The empowering thing about hobbies is choice and doing something on our own terms. The creative act is really hopeful with huge benefits to us individually and something that connects us to others regardless of our differences.”
For the chance to be a part of the upcoming exhibition at Wolverhampton Art Gallery and to find out more information visit Wolverhampton Arts & Culture. It only takes a couple of minutes and all you need is a picture or two from your phone.
To be eligible, respondents must be based in the UK and self identify as a hobbyist. The Wolverhampton exhibition aims to showcase hobbies across the Midlands region. By hobbyist we mean someone who engages with an activity on an ongoing basis. This might be daily, weekly or a couple of times a year.
People may have many different ideas of what constitutes a hobby. On the form you will see a very comprehensive list of hobbies. Some are object based in that they result in the creation of an object e.g. knitting or woodworking. Others might be more ephemeral, such as skateboarding or gardening. All are eligible for the project. If a hobby is not on the list, respondents will be able to add it to the database by clicking, ‘my hobby isn’t in this list’ and typing it in when prompted.
Hobbyists have until 30 March, 2025 to submit their hobbies for a chance to be part of the exhibition. Come As Your Really Are will open from Saturday 12 July until Sunday 5 October, 2025. The exhibition is free to the public. Wolverhampton Art Gallery is open Monday to Saturday from 10.30am to 4.30pm and Sunday from 11am to 4pm. For more information, please visit Wolverhampton Arts & Culture.
