Category: KB

MIL-OSI Global: Poor sleep and addiction go hand in hand − understanding how could lead to new treatments for opioid use disorder

Source: The Conversation – USA – By Ryan Logan, Professor of Psychiatry, UMass Chan Medical School

Whether sleep disorders worsen addiction or addiction worsens sleep disorders is unclear. Maria Korneeva/Moment via Getty Images

A good night’s sleep often sets the stage for a positive day. But for the nearly quarter of American adults struggling with mental illness, a good night’s rest is often elusive.

For patients with psychiatric conditions from addiction to mood disorders such as depression, disrupted sleep can often exacerbate symptoms and make it harder to stay on treatment.

Despite the important role circadian rhythms and sleep play in addiction, neuroscientists like me are only now beginning to understand the molecular mechanisms behind these effects.

Sleep and addictive drugs have an entangled relationship. Most addictive drugs can alter sleep-wake cycles, and sleep disorders in people using drugs are linked to addiction severity and relapse. While this poses a classic “chicken-or-egg” dilemma, it also presents an opportunity to understand how the sleep-addiction connection could unlock new treatments.

Circadian rhythms and health

At the center of the connection between sleep and mental health lies circadian rhythms: your body’s internal clock.

These rhythms align your bodily functions with your environment, synchronizing your body to day and night down to the molecular level. It does this through a series of proteins that interact in a feedback loop, turning genes on and off in regular patterns to support specific functions. Although your sleep-wake cycles are the most visible expression of circadian rhythms, these rhythms orchestrate most of your physiology.

If you have ever traveled across time zones, you have likely experienced a common form of circadian disruption called jet lag. This misalignment impairs your sleep and concentration, and can leave you feeling irritable.

While jet lag is a temporary nuisance, chronic circadian disruption such as frequent night shifts can lead to long-term health consequences, including an increased risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes.

Circadian rhythms, sleep and opioid use

A major focus of my lab is on opioid addiction, a disease that has claimed nearly 80,000 lives a year since 2021 in the U.S. and has limited treatment options.

People addicted to opioids often experience disruptions to circadian rhythms, such as in their sleep and their levels of corticotropin, a key hormone that regulates stress. These disruptions are associated with many negative health consequences. In the short term, these disruptions can impair cognitive functions such as attention and increase negative emotions. Over time this can worsen mental and physical health. Studies of opioid addiction in mice reveal similar disruptions in sleep and various hormonal rhythms.

Importantly, poor sleep is common throughout a person’s experience with opioid use disorder, from actively using to withdrawal from opioids, and even while on treatment. This complication can have profound consequences. Studies have linked sleep disruption to a 2.5-fold increased risk of relapse among those undergoing treatment.

Unlocking the clock for opioid addiction

Using brain tissue from deceased donors and experiments in mice, my team is identifying molecular changes associated with psychiatric disorders in people. We model these changes in mice to explore how they affect disease severity and behavior.

Through genetic sequencing and computer modeling, my lab is able to profile all the RNA molecules in a brain region and understand how their rhythmicity – the peaks and troughs of their activity across the day – changes due to opioids. This provides a complete snapshot of which genes change at what time, allowing my team to peer into the molecular mechanics that may drive opioid addiction.

Opioids can alter the activity of genes involved with sleep.
Robert Reader/Moment via Getty Images

For example, we looked at two brain regions strongly associated with addiction: the nucleus accumbens and the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. We found that patients with opioid addiction had completely different gene expression patterns in these brain regions compared with those without addiction. Some genes had adopted a completely different rhythm of activity, while others had lost their rhythmicity altogether.

Genes that lost rhythmicity included those involved in various components of the molecular clock and those linked to sleep duration. This further highlights how circadian disruption is a symptom of opioid use while beginning to uncover its underlying mechanisms.

In work that is pending peer review, my team focused on one major gene that lost rhythmicity in patients with opioid addiction: NPAS2. This component of the molecular clock is highly active in the nucleus accumbens and important for sleep and circadian regulation. We found that blocking functional NPAS2 formation led to increased fentanyl-seeking behavior in mice. Interestingly, we observed that female mice were willing to press a lever more times than male mice to obtain fentanyl, reflecting documented sex differences in opioid addiction among people. In another study, we also found that lack of NPAS2 exacerbated sleep disruption in mice that were administered fentanyl.

Together, our findings reinforce the role circadian rhythms play in addiction. Future work may clarify whether targeting NPAS2 could treat opioid addiction symptoms. Quality sleep isn’t just about waking up refreshed – it could also lead to reduced opioid use and fewer overdoses.

Ryan Logan receives funding from National Institutes of Health.

Mackenzie Gamble 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.

– ref. Poor sleep and addiction go hand in hand − understanding how could lead to new treatments for opioid use disorder – https://theconversation.com/poor-sleep-and-addiction-go-hand-in-hand-understanding-how-could-lead-to-new-treatments-for-opioid-use-disorder-242664

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

February 11, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: Russia’s shrinking world: The war in Ukraine and Moscow’s global reach

Source: The Conversation – USA – By Ronald H. Linden, Professor Emeritus of Political Science, University of Pittsburgh

Russia President Vladimir Putin sent a guarded message of congratulations to Donald Trump on inauguration day, but then held a long direct call with his “dear friend,” Chinese leader Xi Jinping.

From Putin’s perspective, this makes sense. Russia gets billions of dollars from energy sales to China and technology from Beijing, but from Washington, until recently, mostly sanctions and suspicion.

Moscow is hoping for a more positive relationship with the current White House occupant, who has made his desire for a “deal” to end the Ukraine war well known.

But talk of exit scenarios from this 3-year-old conflict should not mask the fact that since the invasion began, Putin has overseen one of the worst periods in Russian foreign policy since the end of the Cold War.

Transatlantic unity

The war in Ukraine has foreclosed on options and blunted Russian action around the world.

Unlike the annexation of Crimea in 2014, the 2022 invasion produced an unprecedented level of transatlantic unity, including the expansion of NATO and sanctions on Russian trade and finance. In the past year, both the U.S. and the European Union expanded their sanction packages.

And for the first time, the EU banned the re-export of Russian liquefied natural gas and ended support for a Russian LNG project in the Arctic.

EU-Russian trade, including European imports of energy, has dropped to a fraction of what it was before the war.

The two Nordstrom pipelines, designed to bring Russian gas to Germany without transiting East Europe, lie crippled and unused. Revenues from energy sales are roughly one-half of what they were two years ago.

At the same time, the West has sent billions in military and humanitarian aid to Ukraine, enabling a level of resilience for which Russia was unprepared. Meanwhile, global companies and technical experts and intellectuals have fled Russia in droves.

While Russia has evaded some restrictions with its “shadow fleet” – an aging group of tankers sailing under various administrative and technical evasions – the country’s main savior is now China. Trade between China and Russia has grown by nearly two-thirds since the end of 2021, and the U.S. cites Beijing as the main source of Russia’s “dual use” and other technologies needed to pursue its war.

Since the start of the war in Ukraine, Russia has moved from an energy-for-manufactured-goods trade relationship with the West to one of vassalage with China, as one Russia analyst termed it.

Hosting an October meeting of the BRICS countries – now counting 11 members, including the five original members: Brazil, Russia, India, China and South America – is unlikely to compensate for geopolitical losses elsewhere.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and China President Xi Jinping toast their friendship in March 2023.
Pavel Byrkin/AFP via Getty Images

Problems at home …

The Russian economy is deeply distorted by increased military spending, which represents 40% of the budget and 25% of all spending. The government now needs the equivalent of US$20 billion annually in order to pay for new recruits.

Russian leaders must find a way to keep at least some of the population satisfied, but persistent inflation and reserve currency shortages flowing directly from the war have made this task more difficult.

On the battlefield, the war itself has killed or wounded more than 600,000 Russian soldiers. Operations during 2024 were particularly deadly, producing more than 1,500 Russian casualties a day.

The leader who expected Kyiv’s capitulation in days now finds Russian territory around Kursk occupied, its naval forces in the Black Sea destroyed and withdrawn, and its own generals assassinated in Moscow.

But probably the greatest humiliation is that this putative great power with a population of 144 million must resort to importing North Korean troops to help liberate its own land.

… and in its backyard

Moscow’s dedication to the war has affected its ability to influence events elsewhere, even in its own neighborhood.

In the Caucasus, for example, Russia had long sided with Armenia in its running battle with Azerbaijan over boundaries and population after the collapse of the Soviet Union.

Moscow has brokered ceasefires at various points. But intermittent attacks and territorial gains for Azerbaijan continued despite the presence of some 2,000 Russian peacekeepers sent to protect the remaining Armenian population in parts of the disputed territory of Nagorno-Karabakh.

In September 2023, Azerbaijan’s forces abruptly took control of the rest of Nagorno-Karabakh. More than 100,000 Armenians fled in the largest ethnic cleansing episode since the end of the Balkan Wars. The peacekeepers did not intervene and later withdrew. The Russian military, absorbed in the bloody campaigns in Ukraine, could not back up or reinforce them.

The Azeris’ diplomatic and economic position has gained in recent years, aided by demand for its gas as a substitute for Russia’s and support from NATO member Turkey.

Feeling betrayed by Russia, the Armenian government has for the first time extended feelers toward the West — which is happy to entertain such overtures.

Losing influence and friends

Russia’s loss in the Caucasus has been dwarfed by the damage to its military position and influence in the Middle East. Russia supported the Syrian regime of Bashar al-Assad against the uprisings of the Arab Spring in 2011 and saved it with direct military intervention beginning in 2015.

Yet in December 2024, Assad was unexpectedly swept away by a mélange of rebel groups. The refuge extended to Assad by Moscow was the most it could provide with the war in Ukraine having drained Russia’s capacity to do more.

Russia’s possible withdrawal from the Syrian naval base at Tartus and the airbase at Khmeimim would remove assets that allowed it to cooperate with Iran, its key strategic partner in the region.

More recently, Russia’s reliability as an ally and reputation as an armory has been damaged by Israeli attacks not only on Hezbollah and other Iranian-backed forces in Lebanon and Syria, but on Iran itself.

Russia’s position in Africa would also be damaged by the loss of the Syrian bases, which are key launch points for extending Russian power, and by Moscow’s evident inability to make a difference on the ground across the Sahel region in north-central Africa.

Dirty tricks, diminishing returns

Stalemate in Ukraine and Russian strategic losses in Syria and elsewhere have prompted Moscow to rely increasingly on a variety of other means to try to gain influence.

Disinformation, election meddling and varied threats are not new and are part of Russia’s actions in Ukraine. But recent efforts in East Europe have not been very productive. Massive Russian funding and propaganda in Romania, for example, helped produce a narrow victory for an anti-NATO presidential candidate in December 2024, but the Romanian government moved quickly to expose these actions and the election was annulled.

Nearby Moldova has long been subject to Russian propaganda and threats, especially during recent presidential elections and a referendum on stipulating a “European course” in the constitution. The tiny country moved to reduce its dependency on Russian gas but remains territorially fragmented by the breakaway region of Transnistria that, until recently, provided most of the country’s electricity.

Despite these factors, the results were not what Moscow wanted. In both votes, a European direction was favored by the electorate. When the Transnistrian legislature in February 2024 appealed to Moscow for protection, none was forthcoming.

When Moldova thumbs its nose at you, it’s fair to say your power ranking has fallen.

Wounded but still dangerous

Not all recent developments have been negative for Moscow. State control of the economy has allowed for rapid rebuilding of a depleted military and support for its technology industry in the short term. With Chinese help and evasion of sanctions, sufficient machinery and energy allow the war in Ukraine to continue.

And the inauguration of Donald Trump is likely to favor Putin, despite some mixed signals. The U.S. president has threatened tariffs and more sanctions but also disbanded a Biden-era task force aimed a punishing Russian oligarchs who help Russia evade sanctions. In the White House now is someone who has openly admired Putin, expressed skepticism over U.S. support for Ukraine and rushed to bully America’s closest allies in Latin America, Canada and Europe.

Most importantly, Trump’s eagerness to make good on his pledge to end the war may provide the Russian leader with a deal he can call a “victory.”

The shrinking of Russia’s world has not necessarily made Russia less dangerous; it could be quite the opposite. Some Kremlin watchers argue that a more economically isolated Russia is less vulnerable to American economic pressure. A retreating Russia and an embattled Putin could also opt for even more reckless threats and actions – for example, on nuclear weapons – especially if reversing course in Ukraine would jeopardize his position. It is, after all, Putin’s war.

All observers would be wise to note that the famous dictum “Russia is never as strong as she looks … nor as weak as she looks” has been ominously rephrased by Putin himself: “Russia was never so strong as it wants to be and never so weak as it is thought to be.”

Ronald H. Linden has in the past received funding from Fulbright, DAAD, German Marshall Fund, National Council for Eurasian and East European Research, Woodrow Wilson Center, US Institute of Peace.

– ref. Russia’s shrinking world: The war in Ukraine and Moscow’s global reach – https://theconversation.com/russias-shrinking-world-the-war-in-ukraine-and-moscows-global-reach-247754

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

February 11, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: Are animals smart? From dolphin language to toolmaking crows, lots of species have obvious intelligence

Source: The Conversation – USA – By Leticia Fanucchi, Clinical Assistant Professor of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Oklahoma State University

Dolphins communicate using a sophisticated combination of clicks and whistles. Stephen Frink/The Image Bank via Getty Images

Curious Kids is a series for children of all ages. If you have a question you’d like an expert to answer, send it to curiouskidsus@theconversation.com.

Are animals smart? – Deron

It’s a fascinating question that intrigues millions of pet owners, animal lovers, veterinarians and scientists all over the world: Just how smart are animals?

Scientists once believed a brain with billions of neurons was a requirement for intelligence. After all, that’s why you’re able to think – neurons are the nerve cells in the brain that connect and transmit messages to each other.

For the record, the human brain has about 86 billion neurons. For comparison, dogs and cats have less than one billion.

Yet the more that scientists like me study animal emotion and cognition – the ability to learn through experiences and thinking – the more we find that humans are not very special at all. Many nonhuman species can do these things too.

Right now, there’s no agreement on how to decide whether a particular animal species is intelligent. But most scientists who study animal cognition have observed that many animals are able to solve problems, use tools, recall important information about their environment and recognize themselves in the mirror.

Measuring an animal’s intelligence is harder than you might think.

Toolmaking bears and crows

Memory is a marker of intelligence. Of all animals, humans possess the most accurate and sophisticated memory. But elephants can recognize as many as 30 traveling companions at a time. They also learn to migrate away from drought-prone areas, based on memories of earlier droughts.

That kind of recall – known as episodic memory – is the ability to remember an event, including when and where it occurred. Until recently, scientists thought only humans had it. But now researchers have learned that some birds, cats, rats, monkeys and dolphins have it too.

Crows are among the smartest of animals.
Santiago Urquijo/Moment via Getty Images

Animals may not remember every experience – neither do people – but they do recall things critical to their survival. For example, birds know where they stored food. Monkeys know the presence of a predator.

Scientists once thought tool use was an exclusively human ability, but that’s not so. Chimpanzees use sticks to catch termites and stones to crack nuts open. Crows can even manufacture tools. By bending a wire, they can make a hook to retrieve a food reward that’s otherwise out of reach.

Researchers presented eight captive brown bears with this food challenge: Three objects – a large log, a small log and a box – were placed in an outdoor enclosure. A food reward was suspended above them. Six of the eight bears were able to move the logs and box into positions that enabled them to fetch the reward. Essentially, they used the three objects as tools.

Chimps use gestures and facial expressions to communicate.

Dolphin, chimpanzee communication

Language is another measure of intelligence. People, of course, have enormously sophisticated communication skills. But dolphins have complex dialects in the form of crackles, squeaks and whistles. Many researchers say the noises are a language. Chimpanzees and gorillas have used sign language to express emotions and ask for things from people.

Self-awareness – the ability to recognize yourself as an individual – signals intelligence. Babies don’t recognize themselves in the mirror until they are about a year and a half old. Up until then, they probably think the mirror image they see is another baby.

Many other species, including dolphins, ravens and elephants, recognize themselves in the mirror. Researchers put a red dye mark on chimpanzees under anesthesia; once awake, the chimps saw their reflection in a mirror. Instead of touching the red mark on their reflection in the glass, they touched the red mark on themselves, indicating self-recognition.

Just because animals can’t do certain things, it doesn’t mean they’re unintelligent. After all, humans can’t fly like a bird or swim like a fish. Nor is there a need for us to have the incredible sense of smell a dog has. We’d be sniffing hundreds of different smells from miles away – the scents from perfumes and pollution, gardens and garbage. From an evolutionary standpoint, that wouldn’t help us much. Plus, we’d get sick of it very quickly.

But all animals, including humans, have developed a wide range of capabilities so they can succeed in the environment they live in. Put simply, we’re all using our brains. Now that’s intelligent.

Hello, curious kids! Do you have a question you’d like an expert to answer? Ask an adult to send your question to CuriousKidsUS@theconversation.com. Please tell us your name, age and the city where you live.

And since curiosity has no age limit – adults, let us know what you’re wondering, too. We won’t be able to answer every question, but we will do our best.

Leticia Fanucchi 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.

– ref. Are animals smart? From dolphin language to toolmaking crows, lots of species have obvious intelligence – https://theconversation.com/are-animals-smart-from-dolphin-language-to-toolmaking-crows-lots-of-species-have-obvious-intelligence-230378

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

February 11, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: Here’s how researchers are helping AIs get their facts straight

Source: The Conversation – USA – By Lu Wang, Associate Professor of Computer Science and Engineering, University of Michigan

AI chatbots need help learning to give accurate answers. CreativaImages/iStock via Getty Images

AI has made it easier than ever to find information: Ask ChatGPT almost anything, and the system swiftly delivers an answer. But the large language models that power popular tools like OpenAI’s ChatGPT or Anthropic’s Claude were not designed to be accurate or factual. They regularly “hallucinate” and offer up falsehoods as if they were hard facts.

Yet people are relying more and more on AI to answer their questions. Half of all people in the U.S. between the ages of 14 and 22 now use AI to get information, according to a 2024 Harvard study. An analysis by The Washington Post found that more than 17% of prompts on ChatGPT are requests for information.

One way researchers are attempting to improve the information AI systems give is to have the systems indicate how confident they are in the accuracy of their answers. I’m a computer scientist who studies natural language processing and machine learning. My lab at the University of Michigan has developed a new way of deriving confidence scores that improves the accuracy of AI chatbot answers. But confidence scores can only do so much.

Popular and problematic

Leading technology companies are increasingly integrating AI into search engines. Google now offers AI Overviews that appear as text summaries above the usual list of links in any search result. Other upstart search engines, such as Perplexity, are challenging traditional search engines with their own AI-generated summaries.

The convenience of these summaries has made these tools very popular. Why scour the contents of multiple websites when AI can provide the most pertinent information in a few seconds?

AI tools seem to offer a smoother, more expedient avenue to getting information. But they can also lead people astray or even expose them to harmful falsehoods. My lab has found that even the most accurate AI models hallucinate in 25% of claims. This hallucination rate is concerning because other research suggests AI can influence what people think.

It bears emphasizing: AI chatbots are designed to sound good, not give accurate information.

Language models hallucinate because they learn and operate on statistical patterns drawn from a massive amount of text data, much of which comes from the internet. This means that they are not necessarily grounded in real-world facts. They also lack other human competencies, like common sense and the ability to distinguish between serious expressions and sarcastic ones.

All this was on display last spring, when a user asked Google’s AI Overviews tool to suggest a way to keep cheese from sliding off a pizza. The tool promptly recommended mixing the cheese with glue. It then came to light that someone had once posted this obviously tongue-in-cheek recommendation on Reddit. Like most large language models, Google’s model had likely been trained with information scraped from myriad internet sources, including Reddit. It then mistakenly interpreted this user’s joke as a genuine suggestion.

While most users wouldn’t take the glue recommendation seriously, some hallucinated information can cause real harm. AI search engines and chatbots have repeatedly been caught citing debunked, racist pseudoscience as fact. Last year, Perplexity AI stated that a police officer in California was guilty of a crime that he did not commit.

Showing confidence

Building AI systems that prioritize veracity is challenging, but not impossible. One way AI developers are approaching this problem is to design models that communicate their confidence in their answers. This typically comes in the form of a confidence score – a number indicating how likely it is that a model is providing accurate information. But estimating a model’s confidence in the content it provides is also a complicated task.

How confidence scores work in machine learning.

One common approach to making this estimate involves asking the model to repeatedly respond to a given query. If the model is reliable, it should generate similar answers to the same query. If it can’t answer consistently, the AI is likely lacking the information it needs to answer accurately. Over time, the results of these tests become the AI’s confidence scores for specific subject areas.

Other approaches evaluate AI accuracy by directly prompting and training models to state how confident they are in their answers. But this offers no real accountability. Allowing an AI to evaluate its own confidence leaves room for the system to give itself a passing grade and continue to offer false or harmful information.

My lab has designed algorithms that assign confidence scores by breaking down a large language model’s responses into individual claims that can be automatically cross-referenced with Wikipedia. We assess the semantic equivalence between the AI model’s output and the referenced Wikipedia entries for the assertions. Our approach allows the AI to quickly evaluate the accuracy of all its statements. Of course, relying on Wikipedia articles, which are usually but not always accurate, also has its limitations.

Publishing confidence scores along with a model’s answers could help people to think more critically about the veracity of information that these tools provide. A language model can also be trained to withhold information if it earns a confidence score that falls below a set threshold. My lab has also shown that confidence scores can be used to help AI models generate more accurate answers.

Limits of confidence

There’s still a long way to go to ensure truly accurate AI. Most of these approaches assume that the information needed to correctly evaluate an AI’s accuracy can be found on Wikipedia and other online databases.

But when accurate information is just not that easy to come by, confidence estimates can be misleading. To account for cases like these, Google has developed special mechanisms for evaluating AI-generated statements. My lab has similarly compiled a benchmarking dataset of prompts that commonly cause hallucinations.

But all these approaches verify basic facts – there are no automated methods for evaluating other facets of long-form content, such as cause-and-effect relationships or an AI’s ability to reason over text consisting of more than one sentence.

Developing tools that improve these elements of AI are key steps toward making the technology a source of trustworthy information – and avoid the harms that misinformation can cause.

Lu Wang 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.

– ref. Here’s how researchers are helping AIs get their facts straight – https://theconversation.com/heres-how-researchers-are-helping-ais-get-their-facts-straight-245463

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

February 11, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: Financial news: The deposit auction of the Moscow Small Business Lending Assistance Fund will take place on 10.02.2025

Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

Source: Moscow Exchange – Moscow Exchange –

Parameters;

The date of the deposit auction is 10.02.2025. Placement currency is RUB. The maximum amount of funds placed (in the placement currency) is 150,000,000.00. Placement period, days 9. Date of depositing funds is 10.02.2025. Date of return of funds is 19.02.2025. Minimum placement interest rate, % per annum is 19.80. Terms of the conclusion, urgent or special (Urgent). The minimum amount of funds placed for one application (in the placement currency) is 150,000,000.00. The maximum number of applications from one Participant, pcs. 1. Auction form, open or closed (Open). Basis of the Agreement is the General Agreement. Schedule (Moscow time). Applications in preliminary mode from 12:00 to 12:10. Applications in competition mode from 12:10 to 12:15. Setting a cut-off percentage or declaring the auction invalid before 12:25.

Additional conditions – Placement of funds with the possibility of early withdrawal of the entire deposit amount and payment of interest accrued on the deposit amount at the rate established by the deposit transaction, in the event of non-compliance of the Bank with the requirements established by clause 2.1. of the Regulation “On the procedure for selecting banks for placing funds of the Moscow Small Business Lending Assistance Fund in deposits (deposits) under the GDS” (as amended on the date of the deposit transaction), early withdrawal at the “on demand” rate, payment of interest at the end of the term, without replenishment.

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

Please Note; This Information is Raw Content Directly from the Information Source. It is access to What the Source Is Stating and Does Not Reflect

HTTPS: //VVV. MOEX.K.Mom/N77521

MIL OSI Russia News –

February 11, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: Financial News: Recognition of Foreign Credit Rating Agencies in Russia

Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

Source: Central Bank of Russia –

The regulator has determined criteria, which a foreign credit rating agency (CRA) must comply with so that its ratings can be used in regulatory acts and other documents of the Bank of Russia. Recognition of foreign ratings will expand opportunities for the free movement of capital and services in the international financial market.

In order to receive approval from the Russian regulator, a foreign CRA must have at least 5 years of experience in the market and a capital of at least 50 million in ruble equivalent. Its methodology contains quantitative and qualitative assessments of creditworthiness, makes it possible to verify the reliability of credit ratings, including on the basis of historical data. Such an agency also adheres to the principles of corporate governance, complies with the conditions for disclosure of information and does not allow conflicts of interest. In total, the Bank of Russia has defined 19 criteria.

Ratings of foreign CRAs that meet these criteria may be used by the Bank of Russia in regulation only in relation to foreign objects rated on an international scale.

Preview photo: Kirill Neiezhmakov / Shutterstock / Fotodom

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

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HTTPS: //vv. KBR.ru/Press/Event/? ID = 23359

MIL OSI Russia News –

February 11, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: Dmitry Chernyshenko: The creation of a network of advanced schools is a strategic step into the future of our country

Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

Source: Government of the Russian Federation – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

Dmitry Chernyshenko at a meeting of the Coordination Council under the Government for the creation of advanced general education organizations

February 10, 2025

Dmitry Chernyshenko at a meeting of the Coordination Council under the Government for the creation of advanced general education organizations

February 10, 2025

Minister of Education Sergey Kravtsov at a meeting of the Coordination Council under the Government for the creation of advanced general education organizations

February 10, 2025

Meeting of the Coordination Council under the Government on the creation of advanced general education organizations

February 10, 2025

Meeting of the Coordination Council under the Government on the creation of advanced general education organizations

February 10, 2025

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Dmitry Chernyshenko at a meeting of the Coordination Council under the Government for the creation of advanced general education organizations

A meeting of the Coordination Council under the Government for the creation of advanced general education organizations was held under the chairmanship of Deputy Chief of Staff of the Presidential Administration Maxim Oreshkin and Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko.

Maxim Oreshkin recalled that President Vladimir Putin in his Address to the Federal Assembly instructed that no less than 12 advanced schools be created by 2030.

“The creation of such schools is planned in each federal district under the national project “Youth and Children”. They will help prepare a personnel reserve for knowledge-intensive and high-tech sectors of the economy. This is not just a matter of building 12 more schools, it should be a strategic step into the future of our country. At a meeting of the Coordination Council under the Government of Russia, a decision was made to approve the presented concept of advanced general education organizations. It is important that within its framework, not only the scientific, educational and infrastructural component will be worked out, but also issues of educational work, teacher training and assessment of student success,” noted Dmitry Chernyshenko.

The implementation of such a large-scale project requires synchronization of efforts of all participants in the process: the state, society, educational institutions and business. The Ministry of Education, together with regions, universities and social partners, is already preparing mechanisms for these changes.

Education Minister Sergei Kravtsov announced that the first three flagship schools will open in the Novgorod, Ryazan and Pskov regions.

“The project to create flagship schools is not easy, but it is very important for our country. These will be schools for talented children in all federal districts. We plan to open the first three educational organizations on September 1, 2027. Graduates will develop domestic science and economics, and we set the goal of 100% employment of students in leading companies. These institutions will become methodological centers for schools in all federal districts and will disseminate the best pedagogical practices,” said Sergey Kravtsov.

Children will study in flagship schools from grades 7 to 11 and undergo annual knowledge assessment, and teachers will undergo qualification testing. Teachers will be provided with decent salaries. The creation of a network of schools involves mutual exchange between students and teachers from different regions.

First Deputy Minister of Construction and Housing and Communal Services Alexander Lomakin presented information on the progress of construction of advanced general education institutions in the Novgorod, Pskov and Ryazan regions. In addition, advanced schools are planned to be created in the Belgorod, Nizhny Novgorod regions and other regions.

The acting governor of the Novgorod region, Alexander Dronov, the governor of the Pskov region, Mikhail Vedernikov, and the governor of the Ryazan region, Pavel Malkov, also spoke in detail about the creation of schools.

The head of the educational foundation “Talent and Success” Elena Shmeleva noted the experience of “Sirius” in developing the federal territory around the educational center “Sirius”.

The meeting was also attended by Presidential Aide Vladimir Medinsky, Rector of the National Research University Higher School of Economics Nikita Anisimov, governors of the Belgorod, Omsk, Chelyabinsk, Murmansk regions, Krasnodar Krai, heads of the Republic of Crimea and the Karachay-Cherkess Republic, representatives of the Ministry of Construction, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Economic Development, the Ministry of Digital Development, and Rosobrnadzor.

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MIL OSI Russia News –

February 11, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: ICE Newark arrests Mexican national convicted for sex crimes against minor

Source: US Immigration and Customs Enforcement

NEWARK, N.J. – U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested Jorge Luis Sanchez-Luna, 45, a citizen of Mexico and registered sex offender, in Newark Feb. 4.

“Sanchez-Luna is a deviant criminal who has a record of repeat heinous offenses against a minor,” said ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Newark Deputy Field Office Director Arthur J. Wilson Jr. “ERO Newark considers this insidious child abuse a danger to our communities and seeks justice for the traumatized victim.”

ICE issued Sanchez-Luna a notice to appear before a Department of Justice immigration judge following his arrest.

Sanchez-Luna entered the United States on Oct. 29, 2015, at New York as lawful permanent resident.

The New Jersey Superior Court in Monmouth County found Sanchez-Luna guilty July 12, 2024, of endangering-sexual conduct with child by caretaker. He was sentenced to parole supervision for life and required to register as a sex offender under Megan’s Law.

Learn more about ICE’s mission to increase public safety in New Jersey communities on X: @ERONewark.

MIL OSI USA News –

February 11, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Salvadoran National Sentenced On Reentry Of Removed Aliens

Source: Office of United States Attorneys

SCRANTON – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Jose Carlos Vides-Torres, age 46, a native of El Salvador, was sentenced on February 7, 2025, to time-served, by United States District Court Chief Judge Matthew W. Brann for one count of reentry of removed aliens.

According to Acting United States Attorney John C. Gurganus, Vides-Torres was discovered on September 10, 2022, in Bradford County, having been arrested by the Pennsylvania State Police for driving under the influence of alcohol. Vides-Torres was previously removed from the United States in 2008, and twice in 2011, and had not sought or obtained permission to reenter the United States.

The case was investigated by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO). Assistant U.S. Attorney Luisa Honora Berti prosecuted the case.

# # #

MIL Security OSI –

February 11, 2025
MIL-OSI: ITS Logistics Unveils DropFleet to Serve Complex Drop Trailer and Trailer Pool Solutions
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

RENO, Nev., Feb. 10, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — ITS Logistics, one of the fastest-growing logistics companies in the United States, has unveiled DropFleet, a premium trailer pool and drop trailer solution. DropFleet delivers cost-effective dedicated capacity and flexible, on-demand transportation anywhere by combining power-only services with ITS trailers.

Tailor-made for businesses with complex and time-sensitive supply chains, DropFleet provides value for those in the ecommerce, automotive, retail, manufacturing, and technology sectors. As a leader in freight brokerage—ranked #19 nationally—ITS Logistics leverages its flexible and scalable hybrid capacity model to address some of the most pressing challenges in the logistics industry, including dramatic fluctuations in demand, peak season surges, asset visibility, and carrier management.

“Over 40% of our volume includes dense, complex drop trailer projects,” said Josh Allen, CCO of ITS Logistics. “We designed DropFleet as a dynamic, asset-smart solution that provides our customers with a reliable and universal service capable of meeting their unique supply chain needs.”

ITS has implemented the offering for some of its most demanding clients, including a top ten automotive manufacturer that employs a fleet of 200 specially-modified ITS trailers across 70 daily lanes. By leveraging an asset-lite approach to keep trailers on site, the company has resolved live loading challenges, streamlined operations, and achieved a 98% on-time delivery rate.

“Our reach extends beyond our owned equipment to that of our carrier partners, giving us massive flexibility and scale into every major U.S. market,” continued Allen.

With DropFleet, shippers can take advantage of several key benefits, including:
- Dedicated Capacity: Secure, reliable transportation assets when and where they are needed most
- Enhanced Visibility: Real-time tracking capabilities ensure precise asset management and shipment tracking
- Scalability and Flexibility: Adjust trailer usage seamlessly to accommodate peak seasons and inventory surges
- Fraud Protection: Robust fraud prevention measures and comprehensive carrier vetting that surpasses industry standards
“We’ve seen increasing demand from customers for these flexible solutions that provide them more control over their supply chain operations,” Allen continued. “DropFleet is a direct response to that demand. We’re excited to continue improving and scaling this offering with AI-driven technology, a highly vetted carrier network, a rapidly expanding footprint, and an experienced team to set a new standard for drop trailer and trailer pool services.”

For more information about DropFleet and ITS Logistics’ comprehensive service offerings, visit https://www.its4logistics.com/services.

About ITS Logistics

ITS Logistics is one of North America’s fastest-growing, asset-based modern 3PLs, providing solutions for the industry’s most complicated supply chain challenges. With a people-first culture committed to excellence, the company relentlessly strives to deliver unmatched value through best-in-class service, expertise, and innovation. The ITS Logistics portfolio features North America’s #19 asset-lite freight brokerage, the #12 drayage and intermodal solution, a top 50 dedicated fleet, an innovative cloud-based technology ecosystem, and a nationwide distribution and fulfillment network.

Media Contact
Amber Good
LeadCoverage
amber@leadcoverage.com

The MIL Network –
February 11, 2025
MIL-OSI: Thomas Kimsey, President and CEO of Thomas Financial Group Appointed as Associate Administrator for Capital Access, Small Business Administration

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

LAGRANGE, Ga., Feb. 10, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Community Bankshares, Inc. congratulates Thomas Kimsey, President and CEO of Thomas Financial Group, on his appointment by President Trump to the Small Business Administration (SBA) as Associate Administrator for the Office of Capital Access. Thomas Financial Group is a subsidiary of Community Bankshares, Inc.

During this distinguished assignment, Mr. Kimsey will take a leave of absence from his role as President and CEO of Thomas Financial Group to dedicate himself to this prestigious and impactful appointment. An interim president will be named shortly to ensure continuity and the ongoing success of the company during his absence.

“We are immensely proud of Thomas Kimsey’s commitment to serving his country in this critical role,” said Jeremy Gilpin, Chairman of the Board of Community Bankshares, Inc. “His extensive experience and passion for supporting small businesses make him uniquely qualified to improve the SBA’s ability to drive economic growth and create opportunities for entrepreneurs nationwide.”

“Thomas Kimsey has been a visionary leader at Thomas Financial Group, and while we will miss his daily leadership, we are honored to see him take on this national responsibility,” said Chris Hurn, President of Community Bankshares, Inc. “His commitment to improving the landscape for small businesses will leave a lasting impact on the SBA and the entrepreneurs it serves.”

Mr. Kimsey’s appointment reflects his unwavering dedication to strengthening the small business sector and empowering underserved communities. As Associate Administrator for Capital Access, he will work to enhance SBA programs and policies that support small businesses, ensuring they have the resources and access to capital needed to succeed in today’s competitive economy. The entire team at Community Bankshares, Inc. wishes him well in this important endeavor.

About Thomas Financial Group

Thomas Financial Group, based in Atlanta, Georgia, is now a subsidiary of Community Bankshares, Inc. and a nationally recognized leader in commercial lending solutions. Specializing in USDA and SBA programs, the company has a proven track record of empowering businesses, strengthening rural and underserved communities, and advancing government-guaranteed lending.

About Community Bankshares, Inc.

Headquartered in LaGrange, Georgia, Community Bankshares, Inc. is the parent company of Community Bank & Trust and a network of financial service subsidiaries. Phoenix Lender Services (PHX) is a subsidiary of Community Bankshares, Inc. whose mission is redefining the way lending capital is provided across America, in a manner that promotes business stability and encourages community prosperity. The company serves a diverse clientele across the nation, fostering growth, opportunity, and collaboration.

Media Contact:

Hannah Williams
Uproar by Moburst for Community Bankshares, Inc.
hannah.williams@moburst.com

The MIL Network –

February 11, 2025
MIL-OSI: Parker Announces Retirement of EMEA President Joachim Guhe, Appoints Thomas Ottawa as Successor

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

CLEVELAND, Feb. 10, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Parker Hannifin Corporation (NYSE: PH), the global leader in motion and control technologies, today announced that Joachim Guhe, President – Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) Group, will retire after 32 years of dedicated service. Mr. Guhe will step down from his current role on June 30, 2025, but continue with the company until August 31, 2025, to ensure a successful leadership transition.

The company has appointed Thomas Ottawa, currently Vice President of Operations – Motion Systems Group Europe, to succeed Mr. Guhe as President – Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) Group, effective July 1, 2025.

“In the more than three decades he spent with us, Joachim progressed from an entry level role to head of the critically important EMEA region, and then led EMEA through improvements that drove operational excellence and led to significant growth and margin expansion,” said Andy Ross, President and Chief Operating Officer. “In addition to his many contributions over the years, we thank Joachim for a career that exemplifies Parker leadership and wish him the very best in retirement.”

Mr. Guhe joined Parker in 1993 as a Product Cost Accountant in Bielefeld, Germany. He progressed through increasingly senior roles across Parker’s Fluid Connectors, Engineered Materials and Filtration Groups, including as division General Manager and Vice President of Operations. In his current role as EMEA President, he has been responsible for leading Parker’s sales companies and commercial operations in the region, as well as its HR, Finance, IT, Marketing and Supply Chain functions.

Commenting on Mr. Ottawa’s new role as President for the EMEA Region, Mr. Ross said, “Thomas will take on this important leadership role with nearly 30 years of Parker experience, a deep knowledge of our global operations and a proven record of success.” He added, “We are highly confident the EMEA region will continue to thrive under his guidance and are fortunate to have such a strong leader to drive our performance to even greater levels.”

Mr. Ottawa joined Parker in 1995 as a Graduate Trainee with the Fluid Connectors Group Europe, where he held positions of increasing responsibility, including as division General Manager. He became General Manager of the Prädifa Technology Division in 2015. Mr. Ottawa was promoted to his current role as Vice President of Operations – Motion Systems Group EMEA in 2019 and has been instrumental in improving the group’s financial performance and driving profitable growth in the region. In his new role as EMEA President, he will oversee nearly 14,000 team members across 22 countries. He holds a Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Bochum in Germany.

About Parker Hannifin
Parker Hannifin is a Fortune 250 global leader in motion and control technologies. For more than a century the company has been enabling engineering breakthroughs that lead to a better tomorrow. Learn more at www.parker.com or @parkerhannifin.

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The MIL Network –

February 11, 2025
MIL-OSI: Imperial Petroleum Inc. Announces the Date for the Release of Fourth Quarter and Twelve Months 2024 Financial and Operating Results, Conference Call and Webcast

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

ATHENS, Greece, Feb. 10, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Imperial Petroleum Inc. is a ship-owning company providing petroleum products, crude oil and drybulk seaborne transportation services, announced today that it will release its fourth quarter and twelve months financial results for the period ended December 31, 2024 before the market opens in New York on February 13, 2025.

On February 13, 2025 at 10:00 am ET, the company’s management will host a conference call to discuss the results and the company’s operations and outlook.

Conference Call details:

Conference call participants should pre-register using the below link to receive the dial-in numbers and a personal PIN, which are required to access the conference call.

Online Registration:

https://register.vevent.com/register/BI127dcd86b3bd4efc8d71152e3b8a8800

Slides and audio webcast:

There will also be a live and then archived webcast of the conference call, through the IMPERIAL PETROLEUM INC. website (www.imperialpetro.com). Participants to the live webcast should register on the website approximately 10 minutes prior to the start of the webcast.

ABOUT IMPERIAL PETROLEUM INC.

IMPERIAL PETROLEUM INC. is a ship-owning company providing petroleum products, crude oil and drybulk seaborne transportation services. The Company owns a total of twelve vessels on the water – seven M.R. product tankers, two suezmax tankers and three handysize drybulk carriers – with a total capacity of 751,000 deadweight tons (dwt), and has contracted to acquire an additional seven drybulk carriers of 443,000 dwt aggregate capacity. Following these deliveries, the Company’s fleet will count a total of 19 vessels. IMPERIAL PETROLEUM INC.’s shares of common stock and 8.75% Series A Cumulative Redeemable Perpetual Preferred Stock are listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market and trade under the symbols “IMPP” and “IMPPP,” respectively.

Company Contact:
Fenia Sakellaris
IMPERIAL PETROLEUM INC.
info@imperialpetro.com

The MIL Network –

February 11, 2025
MIL-OSI Economics: Samsung To Feature Hylex™ in HVAC Lineup Showcased at AHR Expo

Source: Samsung

Samsung Electronics today announced it will showcase its comprehensive Heating, Ventilating and Air-Conditioning (HVAC) product lineup at the 2025 International Air-Conditioning, Heating, Refrigerating Exposition (AHR Expo) to be held Feb. 10-12 in Orlando, Florida. At booth 6043, the company will introduce key products — including Hylex universal inverter-driven heat pumps (premium and standard series), EHS Mono air-to-water heat pumps and R32-based DVM S2 variable refrigerant flow (VRF) systems — across four different zones (Featured Products, Light Commercial, Commercial and Residential / Controls / Compressor).

Held at the Orange County Convention Center, the AHR Expo is co-sponsored by the Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI) and the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE). Since its inception in 1930, the expo has been regarded as the industry’s biggest and best event for OEMs, engineers, contractors and other trade professionals, making it an ideal venue for the company to demonstrate its latest HVAC technologies and products.

“The AHR Expo serves as an annual bellwether for the industry, which is why we’ve decided to introduce cutting-edge products like the Hylex series of heat pumps at this event, said Hank Choi, Corporate VP and Head of Air Solution Business Team, Digital Appliances (DA) Business at Samsung Electronics. “We are confident that the newest iterations of Samsung’s innovative HVAC technology will help to uplift the user experience across consumer and commercial applications around the globe.”

Hylex Heat Pumps Are True Game Changers for Residential HVAC

As a universal inverter-driven heat pump, Hylex has been designed to revolutionize HVAC through seamless installation and high efficiency. Hylex systems can utilize existing refrigerant piping and provide different piping options for even greater installation flexibility during replacement applications. To further reduce installation costs, they can also use existing control wiring and are compatible with most 24VAC thermostats. Available in the Premium, Deluxe+, and Deluxe series, Hylex also offers built-in Wi-Fi for energy and unit monitoring through SmartThings.1

EHS Mono Brings Water Heating With Low Noise

Comprising a ClimateHub or Hydro indoor unit and one EHS Mono HT outdoor unit, Samsung’s EHS Mono is a water-heating solution with enhanced capabilities that caters to user needs, even at extreme outside temperatures. The combination of various advanced features allows it to achieve a hot water temperature of up to 158°F (70°C) with an operating range of -13°F to 95°F (-25°C to 35°C).

On the engineering level, the EHS Mono HT Quiet’s has a flash injection compressor that enhances heating performance at low temperatures through increased refrigerant mass flow. The heat pump also benefits from new noise-reducing technologies, which allow it to operate at noise levels as low as 35 dB(A) at three meters (10 feet) in low noise mode.

DVM S2 Offers Next-Gen Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) Performance

The DVM S2, which is the latest generation of Samsung’s Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) systems, has been designed to deliver energy efficiency along with excellent heating and cooling performance. The system optimizes heating cycles by analyzing fan motor currents and temperature data, reducing defrost duration and improving comfort. Additionally, high- and low-pressure control ensures precise system adjustments, automatically recognizing pipe lengths and optimizing pressure levels to reduce the energy used by the compressor by up to 15%.2

Furthermore, the DVM S2 uses data from various sensors to determine the ideal amount of refrigerant and detect refrigerant volume so that it can ensure improved performance3 and provide early warnings for maintenance. It also brings reduced liquid pipe diameters to lower the overall system charge by 28% on average,4 making the system more efficient and cost-effective.

To find out more about Samsung’s HVAC systems, visit https://www.samsunghvac.com/.

1 Available for download on the Google Play store and App Store®. A network connection is required. Samsung application account is necessary.3 Conditions apply. Refer to technical documents for more information.3 Requires an initial dedicated refrigerant check function during commissioning.4 Restrictions apply.

MIL OSI Economics –

February 11, 2025
MIL-OSI Video: USAR 2024: At HOME and ABROAD

Source: US Army (video statements)

: Have a look at the efforts of the U.S. Army Reserve’s work at home and abroad.

About the U.S. Army:
The Army Mission – our purpose – remains constant: To deploy, fight and win our nation’s wars by providing ready, prompt & sustained land dominance by Army forces across the full spectrum of conflict as part of the joint force.

Interested in joining the U.S. Army?
Visit: spr.ly/6001igl5L

Connect with the U.S. Army online:
Web: https://www.army.mil
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/USarmy/
X: https://www.twitter.com/USArmy
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/usarmy/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/us-army
#USArmy #Soldiers #Military #USAR

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

MIL OSI Video –

February 11, 2025

MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Change of His Majesty’s Ambassador to Liberia: Ameer Kotecha

Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

Mr Ameer Kotecha has been appointed His Majesty’s Ambassador to the Republic of Liberia.

Mr Ameer Kotecha has been appointed His Majesty’s Ambassador to the Republic of Liberia in succession to Mr Neil Bradley who will be transferring to another Diplomatic Service appointment. Mr Kotecha will take up his appointment during April 2025.

Curriculum vitae

Full name: Ameer Kotecha

Year	Role
2023 to present	Ekaterinburg, HM Consul General
2022 to 2023	FCDO, Full time language training (Russian)
2021 to 2022	FCDO, Head of Engagement and Programmes Team, Counter Daesh Communications Cell
2020 to 2021	Hong Kong, Vice Consul
2018 to 2020	FCO, Senior Desk Officer, West Africa Department
2017 to 2018	New York, Second Secretary Africa and Peacekeeping
2016 to 2017	FCO, Kidnaps and Incidents Case Manager, Counter Terrorism Department
2015 to 2016	FCO, Deputy Head Libya Team, North Africa Joint Unit
2015	Joined FCO
2013 to 2015	Financial Analyst, AgDevCo

Media enquiries

Email newsdesk@fcdo.gov.uk

Telephone 020 7008 3100

Contact the FCDO Communication Team via email (monitored 24 hours a day) in the first instance, and we will respond as soon as possible.

Published 10 February 2025

MIL OSI United Kingdom –

February 11, 2025

MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Stoke-on-Trent children’s services to exit Government intervention following significant transformation
Source: City of Stoke-on-Trent

Published: Monday, 10th February 2025
Stoke-on-Trent City Council’s Children and Families service will exit government intervention.

It comes after achieving substantial improvements in outcomes for children and families.

The Department for Education (DfE) has confirmed consistent progress and recommended lifting the intervention – which has been in place since 2019.

The intervention followed an Ofsted inspection that rated the service as ‘Inadequate’. A subsequent inspection in October 2022 saw the service rated as ‘Requires Improvement’, highlighting significant advancements. There were key improvements in services for individuals or professionals to report concerns or request support and in outcomes for children in care. Follow-up visits have demonstrated continued, sustained improvement.

The DfE review outlines several key achievements:

The number of children in care is at its lowest level in 18 months, with fewer children on Child Protection plans.

The quality of social work practice has remained strong, with an increasing number of audits rated ‘Good’.

Early support services are now more effective at preventing issues from escalating.

Stronger partnerships with local agencies are ensuring families receive the tailored support they need, with a clear focus on community-based solutions.

A robust leadership team continues to drive positive change and improvement.

The city council’s focus on early intervention and partnership working has been fundamental in reducing the number of children in care and making sure that families receive the right support at the right time.

Councillor Sarah Hill, cabinet member for children’s services at Stoke-on-Trent City Council, said: “This is a significant milestone for services for children and families in Stoke-on-Trent. We’ve made great progress, and we’re pleased to be moving forward without government intervention.

“The Family Matters programme has been central to this transformation, providing families with the early support they need to thrive.

“While we recognise there is still work to be done, I am confident that under the leadership of our incoming Corporate Director, Neil Macdonald, we will continue to build on this momentum, ensuring every child in Stoke-on-Trent gets the care and support they deserve.”
MIL OSI United Kingdom –
February 11, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: City’s latest young poets unveiled at major literature festival

Source: City of Wolverhampton

Young Poet Laurate Agneta Krieva, from Ormiston SWB Academy, and Primary Poet Champion Florence Ehigie, from SS Mary & John’s Primary Academy, were chosen from dozens of budding poets after winning a competition organised by Wolverhampton’s library service.

This year, children and young people are asked to write a poem about friendship entitled ‘Life is better with friends’.

Councillor Obaida Ahmed, the City of Wolverhampton Council’s Cabinet Member for Digital and Community, said: “For the past five years, our library service has been running this competition with local schools and each year the quality and presentation of the poems has been fantastic.

“This year was no exception, and I would like to congratulate Agneta and Florence on becoming our newest Young Poet Laureate and Primary Poet Champion respectively. They now have the chance to have their voices heard by thousands of people across the city.”

MIL OSI United Kingdom –

February 11, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: The iconic Austin 7 is back

Source: Anglia Ruskin University

By Tom Stacey, Anglia Ruskin University

In perhaps one of the greatest brand comeback stories in automotive since the Fiat 500 in 2007, British car company Austin announced the return of the Austin Arrow.

Its name is an unashamed reference to one of the most memorable Austin 7 models – first introduced in the 1920s the Arrow was the original “everyman sportscar”, before the muscle cars (think of the Dodge Challenger) of the US became popular in the 1960s. Now reimagined as an electric Vehicle (EV), the Arrow is designed and made in the UK and aims to be to 2020s consumers what the original was 90 years ago.

A number of cars are synonymous with the British car industry. In fact, as a small nation, Britain punches above its weight when it comes to classic automobile brands – The Mini, the Range Rover, London black cabs, James Bond’s Aston Martins, and even the London red bus. However, if one car can be credited for creating the dawn of the motor vehicle in the UK, it would be the diminutive Austin 7.

The car was created in the 1920s at the time when Austin was struggling. New laws were pushing manufacturers to produce smaller, less powerful cars. But Austin’s board of directors didn’t support a cheap, small car with low profit margins. Austin was known for its larger, luxury products.

However, Sir Herbert Austin and his 18-year-old apprentice Stanley Edge decided to secretly create a small car. Thank god they didn’t heed the board, because they ended up creating the greatest democratising automotive product Britain had ever seen (until they repeated it with the Austin Mini).

The reason why products such as the Austin 7 come to define their period is rarely due to their technical prowess or exhilarating performance – it’s because they bring to the masses a technology that is both useful and traditionally seen as out of reach.

The Austin 7 was a bit like the iPhone. There were smartphones that came before it, like the Sony Ericsson p800. However, these were considered expensive and out of reach for the average consumer. The Iphone did the same thing but at a cheaper price and so came to be the definitive smartphone.

With the Austin 7, Herbert Austin’s team applied the key lessons from Ford’s Model T – creating a simple, modestly powered car with just enough features for mass appeal while incorporating clever design elements that earned the respect of car enthusiasts.

When the Austin 7 was unveiled in July 1922, it was priced at just £165, when an Austin 20 was between £600 and £700. At a time when the average British worker earned around £5 per week, the only real affordable car had been Ford’s basic and utilitarian Model T at around £250.

The 7’s ingenious design was the key to its success. With a shared base frame for the car, it could be a four-seater family car, a stylish coupe, or even a racing car.

This cheap, tiny car not only was a legend in its own right and familiar around the world, but it influenced other legends too.

Colin Chapman, the founder of Lotus Cars, based his first Lotus 1 on the Austin 7. What is less known is that German car manufacturer BMW built Austin 7s under licence in the 1920s and 30s but called them “Dixis”. Nissan did the same in Japan in the pre-war period. Such licensing deals helped set up both manufacturers’ future success as the powerhouses they are today.

Austin 7s were produced all over Europe, Asia and even in Australia. The 7 was also produced in the US as the “American Bantam” and its design contributed to the “Willy’s Jeep”, one of the US’s most famous vehicles.

Ultimately, the beginning of the second world war marked the end of Austin 7 production as the Austin factory at Longbridge, near Birmingham, needed to be repurposed to produce munitions. When the war ended, tastes for vehicles had changed and factories started to produce more modern designs, and not those from the 1920s, marking the end of a British automotive icon in 1939.

Now it’s back, thanks to the engineer John Stubbs who bought the Austin brand after noticing the brand and trademarks were available. The rights to these had been owned by the Nanjing Automobile Group, which bought MG Rover when it collapsed in 2005. However, Nanjing had let these lapse and Stubbs bought them for £170 in 2015.

The new Essex-based Austin Motor Company aims to recreate this classic brand, tugging at the heartstrings of those looking nostalgically at Britain’s automotive heyday. The announcement featured images of fun, cheap (£31,000) and light cars driving around the B-roads of Britain, or perhaps being taken to a racetrack for an amateur competition, harking back to earlier days. However, this car is thoroughly modern, featuring an electric motor.

The new Austin Arrow is not meant to be the usable “everyman” car the original 7 was. For starters, to be compliant with quadricycle (a micro car with less than 6kW of power and an unladen mass no more than 425 kg) legislation it is limited to 60mph as a top speed and the range will be a maximum of 100 miles on one charge.

However, as that fun, racy, open-top car that it’s predecessors were, it very much captures the spirit of the original Austin 7 Arrow.

Tom Stacey, Deputy Head of the School of Economics, Finance and Law, Anglia Ruskin University

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

The opinions expressed in VIEWPOINT articles are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of ARU.

If you wish to republish this article, please follow these guidelines: https://theconversation.com/uk/republishing-guidelines

MIL OSI United Kingdom –

February 11, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: ARU studies the health benefits of herring eggs

Source: Anglia Ruskin University

Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) is partnering with Norwegian biotechnology company Arctic Bioscience to carry out the largest research project to date exploring how nutrients derived from fish eggs can support a healthy and active lifestyle across all ages.

Omega-3 fatty acids are essential nutrients that can play an important role in maintaining overall health. However, the general population typically consumes few foods that are rich in omega-3, such as oily fish.

The new three-year project, called Active Romega, is investigating the benefits of omega-3 phospholipid fish oil and proteins derived from herring roe, which are the eggs of the fish. Unlike other omega-3 supplements, herring roe omega-3 contains a higher concentration of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and specialised pro-resolving mediators (SPMs).

DHA and SPMs have been shown to have potent anti-inflammatory effects and are also believed to benefit muscle function, metabolism, and cognitive function, which are all key to supporting a healthy lifestyle.

The Active Romega project comprises two distinct research strands led by Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) PhD students Dani Dalmay and Jorge Pinto. These are exploring the effects of herring roe omega-3 on exercise metabolism and recovery, specifically focusing on active females, and how herring roe omega-3 can support the healthy ageing process in older adults.

The overall project is being led by Dr Sanjoy Deb, Associate Professor in Exercise and Nutritional Science at Anglia Ruskin University (ARU).

“The use of fish oils has shown promise across various health parameters, with emerging research indicating particular benefits for women and in supporting healthy ageing.

“This new partnership with Arctic Bioscience allows us to undertake robust research to explore the public health benefits of herring-derived omega-3, alongside exercise. This will be the first time this specific type of omega-3 has been tested to investigate its benefits in these areas.

“One of the reasons herring roe omega-3 is unique is its higher concentration of DHA [docosahexaenoic acid] compared to EPA [eicosapentaenoic acid] – most fish oils have more EPA than DHA – and the oil is naturally rich in the metabolites of DHA and EPA, namely specialised pro-resolving mediators such as resolvins, protectins and maresins. Herring roe omega-3 also has a phospholipid chemical structure, rather than a more typical triglyceride structure.

“Some studies suggest better absorption and improved health outcomes from marine-based phospholipids, although research is still in its infancy. Our Active Romega project should contribute significantly to this area of research.”

Dr Sanjoy Deb

“Arctic Bioscience is honoured to be a part of this project with Anglia Ruskin. We have been working with herring roe phospholipids and proteins for many years now, both in the nutraceutical and pharmaceutical field, and see many potential health benefits for their use in sports nutrition.”

Hogne Hallaråker, founder and Chief Science Officer of Arctic Bioscience

MIL OSI United Kingdom –

February 11, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Derby Libraries awarded grant by The National Lottery Heritage Fund

Source: City of Derby

Derby City Council’s Derby Libraries team will receive a £130,000 grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund.

The money will fund a two-year project at Derby Local Studies and Family History Library to encourage greater use of the library and create a fun way for young people to engage with their local heritage.

The exciting project will see young volunteers create a fantasy role-playing game, based on Dungeons and Dragons from Wizards of the Coast. They’ll work alongside library staff, a games-master and a range of professional creatives to uncover stories from the library’s collection and weave them into the game.

The two-year project, made possible thanks to National Lottery players, will include the production of video shorts and podcasts to introduce and follow the game, while the library will host a range of family-friendly activities and events that tie in too.

Eventually, people will be able to download a game pack to allow them to play themselves. There will also be a club at the library with support people to play the game, welcome new players and even research new characters, locations and adventures to expand the game world.

Councillor Sarah Chambers, Derby City Council Cabinet Member for Cost of Living, Equalities and Communities, said:

We are thrilled to have received this support from The National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Thanks to National Lottery players, we’ll be able to broaden access to the library’s collections, engage new audiences with their history and retell stories that would otherwise remain unheard.

The Local Studies library holds a unique and rich collection of paper materials on Derby and Derbyshire – its people, communities, topography, history and development.

Unpublished manuscripts, old newspapers, photographs, broadsides and antiquarian books sit alongside more recent publications and official information, forming an unmatched and irreplaceable record of our city’s heritage.

More details of the project and how to get involved will be available later this year. To stay updated, sign up for the Derby Libraries eNewsletter on the Derby Libraries website.

MIL OSI United Kingdom –

February 11, 2025
MIL-OSI United Nations: Gaza crisis: Amid winter storms, humanitarians appeal for full aid access

Source: United Nations 4

10 February 2025 Peace and Security

As the Israeli military completed its withdrawal at the weekend from a key security corridor in Gaza that had cut the enclave in two, UN humanitarians issued a fresh appeal for an end to all aid restrictions which continue to prevent the delivery of lifesaving relief.

“The health system is ruined. Malnutrition is rising. The risk of famine persists,” said Dr Hanan Balkhy, the UN World Health Organization (WHO)’s Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean. “We are ready to scale up our response – but we urgently need systematic and sustained access to the population across Gaza, and we need an end to restrictions on the entry of essential supplies.”

Three weeks since the ceasefire began between Hamas and Israel that has allowed further hostage and prisoner swaps, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) issued a new warning on Monday about life-threatening conditions across the enclave. Some 60 per cent of buildings lie in ruins after more than 15 months of constant Israeli bombardment.

Perishing cold

“There’s a winter storm ongoing, it’s incredibly cold,” UNICEF Communications Specialist Rosalia Bollen told UN News. “I have no clue how people can sleep at night in their makeshift tents. Lots of people who return to the north found their homes in rubble. They’ve put up some sort of improvised dwelling on top of their rubble, but it’s very, very cold.”

Soundcloud

Humanitarian teams continue to assess the impact of winter storms on shelters in different locations of Gaza. In northern Gaza, partners are also preparing to distribute 1,500 tents to returnees in the governorates of Gaza and North Gaza.

Although thousands of aid trucks have entered Gaza since the ceasefire began on 19 January – the World Food Programme (WFP) alone said that it had sent more than 15,000 tons of food into the Gaza Strip, reaching more than 525,000 people with food parcels, hot meals and cash – overall needs remain enormous.

“We’re doing all we can,” UNICEF’s Ms. Bollen insisted. “We’ve actually been able to scale up assistance considerably as the numbers are showing and we don’t hold on to items; as soon as we can, we do all we can to immediately push items out to families. I know that’s the case not just for UNICEF, but for others as well. But you know the needs are just skyrocketing.”

The UNICEF worker added: “We humanitarians aren’t magicians. We don’t have a magic wand that can help the suffering overnight.”

Sheltering under sacks

According to a situation update from the UN aid coordination office, OCHA, despite an increase in shelter support for vulnerable Gazans, nearly one million displaced Palestinians live in “substandard tents or makeshift shelters, with families resorting to sewing old rice sacks together for basic cover”.

Many more Gazans live in crowded shelters in unsafe conditions, according to the Protection Cluster – a network of nongovernmental organizations, international organizations and UN agencies who work together in emergency settings.

For Gazans continuing to return to their homes in the north past the newly reopened Netzarim corridor that separated the north from the south, many find themselves confronted by a lack of basic services, including clean water.

Latest damage assessments from the UN satellite service, UNOSAT, indicated that an estimated 69 per cent of all structures in Gaza have been impacted and more than 245,000 housing units.

“The governorates of North Gaza and Rafah have experienced the highest rise in damage compared to the 6 September 2024 analysis, with around 3,138 new structures damaged in North Gaza and around 3,054 in Rafah,” UNOSAT said in its last update based on preliminary analysis. “Within North Gaza, Jabaliya municipality had the highest number of newly damaged structures, totalling 1,339.”

MIL OSI United Nations News –

February 11, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: New Mexico State Council Rallies at Roundhouse for Workers’ Rights

Source: US GOIAM Union

The legislative building in Santa Fe, N.M., is known as the Roundhouse. Citizens can spend hours there going round and round with different lobbyists and interest groups trying to sway state politicians. This session, IAM members from New Mexico Locals 1635 (Albuquerque), 794 (Albuquerque), and 2515 (Alamogordo) –along with IAM International President Brian Bryant, Western Territory General Vice President Robert “Bobby” Martinez, General Secretary-Treasurer Dora Cervantes, and Resident General Vice President Jody Bennett–took matters into their own hands and scored some impressive wins.

“The reason we do this is because we fight for working people, and when we fight for working people – we win,” said IAM International President Brian Bryant. “And what you were able to do yesterday, by getting an anti-captive audience bill out of committee, that’s a win for working people!”

Bryant was speaking about the lobbying efforts of these IAM members to move the Employees Free Speech Act, sponsored by State Rep. Eleanor Chavez, which is aimed at preventing employers from monitoring employees’ political activities and from holding mandatory attendance, anti-union captive audience meetings.

“We believe that you don’t only fight for things at the bargaining table, you also have to simultaneously fight for things through legislative action and advocacy,” said IAM Local 794 President Ashley Long. “Secondly, we are advocating for paid family medical leave. We know that our members have needs. They’re caregivers to children, to their elders in their family, and we want to make sure this legislation is passed, so that it’s easier for us to codify it in our collective bargaining agreements”

“We are building people, to build power, to make significant change for our members in their work life and their communities,” said IAM Western Territory General Vice President Robert “Bobby” Martinez. That concept grows from legendary organizer of the United Farm Workers, Marshall Ganz. “Engaging our members will get us better contracts, win more elections, and we’re just going to win overall. Real change is made when we invest in people!

IAM members also gathered at a nearby conference center to install new officers to the state council and update their bylaws to reflect needed changes.

New Mexico State Council President John Dyrcz noted that across the country, people are turning to organized labor to do things for workers that have long been ignored.

“You see states like Alaska, that are ruby red, but their voters are passing family medical leave because we all need it,” said Dyrcz. “We are going to continue to fight for laws that support workers because it’s the right thing to do. We are going to keep up the fight here in New Mexico.”

[ Council Meeting Photo Gallery]

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MIL OSI USA News –

February 11, 2025
MIL-OSI: MINILUXE ANNOUNCES STRONG PERFORMANCE TRENDS AND COMPLETION OF USD $6.98M (CDN $10M) IN CAPITAL-ENHANCING TRANSACTIONS THAT INCLUDE AN OVERSUBSCRIBED PRIVATE PLACEMENT AND DEBT CONVERSION
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWS WIRE SERVICES OR

FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES

Alongside its strong performance momentum, MiniLuxe successfully completes an oversubscribed private placement initially offered for up to $5M while contemporaneously satisfying the principal of USD $945,000 of convertible debt obligations.

Boston, MA, Feb. 10, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — MiniLuxe Holding Corp. (TSXV: MNLX) (“MiniLuxe” or the “Company”) today announces that it has completed a successful and final closing of an oversubscribed non-brokered private placement of Class A subordinate voting shares of the Company (the “Subordinate Voting Shares”). The Company first announced its intention for a non-brokered private placement on November 27, 2024, at a price of USD$0.55 per share for total proceeds up to $5.0M USD (the “Offering”). Since its announcement of the Offering, the Company has had strong investor demand reinforcing confidence in MiniLuxe’s continued performance and growth strategy.

Per the Company’s press release of January 2^nd, 2025, MiniLuxe did a first closing for approximately one-third of the anticipated maximum of the Offering. In this second and final closing, the Company is pleased to announce that it has raised incremental gross proceeds of USD $3,436,250 (resulting in the issuance of 6,247,717 Subordinate Voting Shares at a price of USD $0.55 or CDN $0.79 per Share). Together, the first and second and final closing of the Offering raised total new primary capital for the Company in the amount of USD $5.067M or (~CDN $7.26M). Additionally, the Company finalized the conversion of USD$945,000 million or ~CDN $1.35M in principal value of prior convertible notes through shares for debt agreements, with further details provided below.

“We are humbled by the recent oversubscribed investor interest level and quantum raised, but even more excited by the quality of this capital. This financing brings new participants who share aligned principles to our vision and who offer value-add strategic perspectives. The investment interest is also a reflection of the work and progress made by the team over the past year and investors’ conviction behind our future growth plans,” said Tony Tjan, CEO of MiniLuxe.

As previously shared, the company is focused on three key performance objectives:
1. Accelerating overall studio contribution growth
2. Increasing fixed cost leverage and SG&A efficiency
3. Focusing growth through operating and franchise partners and a focused set of innovative products
Overall same studio cash contribution grew materially in 2024, in concert with increased profitability trends of studios across all regions. The most critical factor for the success of our base business is the success the company has in recruiting, developing and retaining nail designer and other beauty service professional talent. The Company’s current retention rate of its talent base stands at its all-time record high at 87 percent. The Company remains focused on ways to reconfigure and create greater SG+A efficiency with year-over-year reduction trends north of 25% on corporate level SG+A. As a percent of revenue on a TTM (trailing twelve month) basis corporate SG+A as a percent of revenue has improved ~2x going from ~32% to ~16% demonstrating continued fixed cost leverage. From the standpoint of key internal cash management metrics, annualized and average monthly operating cash burn have been very materially reduced. While not an IFRS measurement, on a company-wide basis and on a preliminary unaudited basis, it is expected that YoY adjusted EBITDA improvement in 2024 to be over 50 percent. The Company’s focus on instilling an entrepreneurial culture and creating aligned performance incentives with its studio leaders and through operating partners (JVs or franchise partners) with shared ownership of studios have meaningfully contributed to these results.

The net proceeds from the Offering will be used to build momentum on these performance trends while investing behind a focused set of strategic growth investments including the expansion of new studios– especially through an expanded set of world-class operators who hold connection and conviction with the MiniLuxe brand and who seek to own or jointly own and operate a MiniLuxe studio. The Company also intends to be filing for an NCIB (New Course Issuer Bid) to have the option to buy back shares at times when it believes that the market price does not reflect the company’s intrinsic and future value.

Alongside the Offering, the Company has also finalized additional shares-for-debt agreements to satisfy an aggregate of USD$1,055,577 (~CDN$1.51 million) of outstanding debt related to the principal and accrued but unpaid interest on certain convertible debentures of the Company (the “Debentures”). This is in addition to USD$1,085,944 (~CDN$1.56 million) of Debentures converted in the first tranche. As part of this debt conversion, an aggregate of 2,294,731 Subordinate Voting Shares will be issued at a deemed price of USD$0.46 per share, with an effective conversion date of February 7, 2025. The Company offered existing Debenture holders participating in the Offering the opportunity to elect to receive Subordinate Voting Shares at a discounted conversion price relative to the original terms of the Debentures. All Debenture holders electing to convert are deemed to be at arm’s length from the Company. The issuance of these shares remains subject to TSX Venture Exchange approval. Similarly, completion of all tranches of the private placement Offering is subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions, including the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange. The securities issued pursuant to the initial closing of the Offering are subject to a hold period of four months and one day from the issuance date in accordance with applicable securities laws.

This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities described in this news release. Such securities have not been, and will not be, registered under the U.S. Securities Act, or any state securities laws, and, accordingly, may not be offered or sold within the United States, or to or for the account or benefit of persons in the United States or “U.S. Persons”, as such term is defined in Regulation S promulgated under the U.S. Securities Act, unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or pursuant to an exemption from such registration requirements.

About MiniLuxe

MiniLuxe, a Delaware corporation based in Boston, Massachusetts. MiniLuxe is a lifestyle brand and talent empowerment platform servicing the beauty and self-care industry. Through its company-owned and partner-operated studios, Company delivers high-quality nail care and esthetic services that incorporate the brand’s proprietary products. For over a decade, MiniLuxe has been elevating industry standards through healthier, ultra-hygienic services, modern design, ethical labor practices, and better-for-you, cleaner products. MiniLuxe’s vision is to radically transform the highly fragmented and under-regulated self-care and nail care industry through its brand, standards, and technology platform that together enable better talent and client experiences.

Towards building long-term durable value for its stakeholders, MiniLuxe is expanding its reach through franchising and operating JV partners seeking ownership and impact with a brand recognized as the best nail salon franchise. Through self-care and self-expression, MiniLuxe is empowering one of the largest hourly work forces through professional development, economic mobility, and equity ownership. Since its founding, MiniLuxe has performed over 4.5 million services.

For further information

Christine Mastrangelo
Investor Relations, MiniLuxe Holding Corp.
cmastrangelo@MiniLuxe.com
MiniLuxe.com

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward-looking statements

This press release contains “forward-looking information” and “forward-looking statements” (collectively, “forward-looking information”) concerning the Company and its subsidiaries within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking information may relate to the future financial outlook and anticipated events or results of the Company and may include information regarding the Company’s financial position, business strategy, growth strategies, acquisition prospects and plans, addressable markets, budgets, operations, financial results, taxes, dividend policy, plans and objectives. Particularly, information regarding the Company’s expectations of future results, performance, achievements, prospects or opportunities or the markets in which the Company operates is forward-looking information. In some cases, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “plans”, “targets”, “expects”, “budgets”, “scheduled”, “estimates”, “outlook”, “forecasts”, “projects”, “prospects”, “strategy”, “intends”, “anticipates”, “believes”, or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results “may”, “could”, “would”, “might”, or “will” occur. In addition, any statements that refer to expectations, intentions, projections or other characterizations of future events or circumstances contain forward-looking information. Statements containing forward-looking information are not historical facts but instead represent management’s expectations, estimates and projections regarding future events or circumstances.

Many factors could cause the Company’s actual results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance, or achievements that may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking information, including, without limitation, those listed in the “Risk Factors” section of the Company’s filing statement dated November 9, 2021. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should assumptions underlying the forward-looking statements prove incorrect, actual results, performance, or achievements could vary materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements contained in this press release.

Forward-looking information, by its nature, is based on the Company’s opinions, estimates and assumptions in light of management’s experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors that the Company currently believes are appropriate and reasonable in the circumstances. Those factors should not be construed as exhaustive. Despite a careful process to prepare and review forward-looking information, there can be no assurance that the underlying opinions, estimates and assumptions will prove to be correct. These factors should be considered carefully, and readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking information. Although the Company bases its forward-looking information on assumptions that it believes were reasonable when made, which include, but are not limited to, assumptions with respect to the Company’s future growth potential, results of operations, future prospects and opportunities, execution of the Company’s business strategy, there being no material variations in the current tax and regulatory environments, future levels of indebtedness and current economic conditions remaining unchanged, the Company cautions readers that forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and that our actual results of operations, financial condition and liquidity, and the development of the industry in which the Company operates may differ materially from the forward-looking statements contained in this press release. In addition, even if the Company’s results of operations, financial condition and liquidity, and the development of the industry in which it operates are consistent with the forward-looking information contained in this press release, those results or developments may not be indicative of results or developments in subsequent periods.

Although the Company has attempted to identify important risk factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other risk factors not presently known to the Company or that the Company presently believes are not material that could also cause actual results or future events to differ materially from those expressed in such forward-looking information. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information, which speaks only as of the date made (or as of the date they are otherwise stated to be made). Any forward-looking statement that is made in this press release speaks only as of the date of such statement.

The MIL Network –
February 11, 2025
MIL-OSI: Viridien: Information on the total number of voting rights and shares
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

Viridien

A French société anonyme
with a share capital of € 7,161,465
Registered office: 27 avenue Carnot, 91300 Massy, France
Evry Trade and Companies Register 969 202 241

Information on the total number of voting rights and shares

Pursuant to Article L. 233-8 II of the French Commercial Code and Article 223-16 of the General Regulation of the French Financial markets authority
(AMF- Autorité des Marchés Financiers)

Date of the information Total number of issued shares Number of actual voting rights* Number of theoretical voting rights**

January 31, 2025 7,161,465 7,186,734 7,186,983

* All of the Company shares have the same voting rights, except for treasury shares which do not have voting rights and registered shares held for more than two years, which have double voting rights.

** Pursuant to Article 223-11 of the General Regulation of the French Financial markets authority, the number of theoretical voting rights is calculated based on the shares having either single or double voting rights, including treasury shares which are deprived of voting rights.

Attachment
- 2025.01.31_information mensuelle AMF ENG
The MIL Network –
February 11, 2025
MIL-OSI: BRKZ closes $17M Series A to transform construction procurement as Saudi Arabia’s $3T project pipeline accelerates

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

Riyadh, Feb. 10, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — While the MENA region drives forward with $3 trillion in infrastructure and building projects, construction companies face a critical challenge: fragmented supply chains and inefficient procurement processes that delay projects and inflate costs. Today, BRKZ announced it has completed its Series A funding at $17M, bringing total funding to $22.5M, to scale its technology platform that’s revolutionizing how contractors source and purchase building materials.

The funding includes an $8M Series A2 round closed in January 2025, complemented by $1M in venture debt from Capifly, following the initial $8M Series A1 round from December 2023. All existing investors strongly recommitted, including BECO Capital, Aramco’s Waed, 9900 Capital, Better Tomorrow Ventures, RZM Investment, Class 5 Global, MISY Ventures, Knollwood Investment Advisory, and Fluent Ventures.

Founded in 2023 by Ibrahim Manna, serial entrepreneur and former Managing Director at Careem, BRKZ emerged from firsthand experience with construction industry inefficiencies. “Traditional procurement in construction is highly fragmented and manual, often requiring contractors to juggle multiple suppliers, long negotiations, and delayed payments,” said Ibrahim Manna, Founder and CEO of BRKZ. “This funding will help us double down on tech development, enhance our BNPL offering aligned with construction cash flow cycles, and expand into cross-border trading.”

The BRKZ team.

Unlike traditional procurement methods, BRKZ’s platform combines a tech-enabled marketplace with embedded financing solutions, transforming how contractors and suppliers interact. Through its digital platform, contractors can access over 7,000 SKUs from more than 1,100 local suppliers, receiving competitive quotes within 20 minutes. The platform’s built-in financing options align with construction cash flow cycles, addressing a critical pain point in the industry.

The platform’s rapid adoption validates its approach. Since launching its Series A1, BRKZ has grown revenue fourfold during 2024, now serving more than 850 unique contractors and factories across flagship projects like King Salman Park, Neom, and Red Sea. The company has expanded its delivery network to over 40 cities across Saudi Arabia, with offices in three major regions, while processing $350m (SAR 1.3 billion) in RFQs through its platform.

BRKZ marketplace and app.

Real-world applications demonstrate the platform’s transformative impact. A contractor working in KSA’s central region, awarded a project in the Western Region, used BRKZ to price and procure materials from local suppliers despite having no team in the project location. Similarly, a local cement block factory broke traditional geographical constraints by listing on BRKZ, expanding its customer base while sourcing raw materials through the platform.

AbdulRauf H. Al-Matar, AGM at AlRashed Building Materials commented: “Partnering with BRKZ has revolutionized how we connect with contractors and streamline our operations. Their innovative approach to digitizing the construction industry is setting a new standard for efficiency and growth.”

Tamer Salah, CEO at AlMimar AlAraby for General Contracting added: “Working with BRKZ has been a game-changer for us. Their focus on understanding contractors’ needs and delivering tailored solutions has made it easier to meet tight deadlines and exceed customer expectations. BRKZ’s highly advanced technology provides the best e-commerce platform, which makes it easy to manage my orders and get automated updates on their status.”

The construction market in MENA represents a massive opportunity, driven by mega-projects reshaping the region. Major developments like Neom, The Red Sea Project, King Salman Park, and upcoming events like Expo 2030 and FIFA World Cup in Saudi Arabia underscore the urgent need for innovative, tech-driven solutions to streamline procurement and enhance efficiency.

Dany Farha, co-founder and managing partner at BECO Capital, commented: “The construction industry is foundational to the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, and is ripe for technology and organizational optimization. The BRKZ team has executed its product and operational roadmap to drive efficiencies in this rapidly scaling sector, and we’re excited to continue supporting them in their next chapter. BRKZ’s financing product will complement their digitized procurement platform and address customer cash flow challenges. Having known Ibrahim and the team for years, we’ve seen firsthand their agility, prudence, and unique skill set that enable them to fulfill their promise of digitizing this industry.”

Looking ahead, BRKZ plans to establish offices in Saudi Arabia’s Northern and Southern regions during 2025 while expanding its supplier network into global markets, focusing on China and India. The company will continue enhancing its technology platform and financing solutions, positioning itself as the comprehensive solution for construction procurement in the MENA region.

Ends

Media images can be found here.

About BRKZ

BRKZ is a B2B managed marketplace transforming construction procurement in Saudi Arabia. By connecting contractors with suppliers through a tech-enabled platform, BRKZ provides access to thousands of SKUs, competitive pricing, and tailored financing solutions. With a focus on efficiency and transparency, BRKZ empowers MENA’s construction sector to meet the ambitious goals. For more information please visit https://brkz.com/en

About BECO Capital

BECO Capital is the largest non-government venture capital firm in the Gulf, managing over $500 million in AUM. Since its inception in 2012, BECO Capital has played a pivotal role in developing the regional tech ecosystem, helping it grow from its nascent stages to its current dynamism, and has been a notable investor behind many of the region’s success stories. These include Careem, the region’s ride-hailing service turned super-app, acquired by Uber for $3.1 billion, and Property Finder, the real estate marketplace that BECO exited at a $1 billion valuation in April 2024, alongside other prominent startups such as Kitopi and Fresha.

The MIL Network –

February 11, 2025
MIL-OSI: ASM named in CDP’s ‘A List’ for climate and water

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

Almere, the Netherlands
February 10, 2025

ASM has been awarded CDP’s prestigious ‘A List’ ranking for both climate and water reporting, recognizing its corporate sustainability leadership, performance, and transparency.

This is the first time ASM has achieved A List status with the global environmental non-profit, CDP, the organization that runs the world’s most recognized environmental disclosure system and sets the standard for environmental reporting. From over 22,000 annual reporting submissions this year, CDP has awarded its highest A List ranking to only a select group of companies demonstrating the strongest sustainability leadership.

ASM is among very few companies in the semiconductor industry to score an A in CDP’s 2024 assessment, with even fewer reaching the A List for both climate and water. This marks a significant milestone in our sustainability journey and is a testament to our continued commitment to environmental progress.

ASM has been reporting into CDP for thirteen consecutive years, consistently strengthening our environmental strategy and performance. In 2024, we reached 100% renewable electricity across our global operations, reinforcing our commitment to sustainable business practices.

Inclusion in CDP’s prestigious A List highlights the strides we have made in reducing our operational carbon footprint and exemplifies our focus on meaningful climate action. In addition to decarbonizing our own operations, we are investing in research and development to enhance the energy efficiency of our deposition equipment, enabling our customers to reduce their energy consumption while maintaining high-performance production capabilities. This ensures our technologies contribute to lower emissions in semiconductor manufacturing and the broader tech ecosystem.

In 2021, ASM published an ambitious target of reaching net zero by 2035. In 2023, ASM’s net zero target was approved by the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi), a first in the semiconductor industry. ASM’s Climate Transition Plan, released in early 2024, details how we target to achieve this goal by decarbonizing our products, optimizing our operations, and collaborating with our value chain to drive sustainability improvements to ensure ASM remains at the forefront of sustainable innovation.

As ASM expands, we are focused on achieving green standards such as LEED building certification, which rates buildings for energy efficiency and sustainability across multiple environmental aspects. Our new facility in Scottsdale, Arizona, which is currently in design, aims to reuse more than 80% of the water it consumes, significantly reducing ASM’s water footprint and supporting circular resource use.

John Golightly, ASM VP of Sustainability remarked: “We are honored to receive this recognition for our efforts in climate and water. CDP’s A List is the gold standard for environmental reporting, so our inclusion for the first time is a proud moment, for our company and everyone who worked so hard on our sustainability journey. Our resolute focus on transparently reporting our progress has led us to this point and we will continue to push the boundaries of sustainable semiconductor manufacturing, with cutting-edge innovation and collaborative partnerships to create a greener, more resilient future. Accelerating Sustainability is a strategic objective at ASM for good reason. We believe our products and operations enable positive impact for society and our planet.”

About ASM International

ASM International N.V., headquartered in Almere, the Netherlands, and its subsidiaries design and manufacture equipment and process solutions to produce semiconductor devices for wafer processing, and have facilities in the United States, Europe, and Asia. ASM International’s common stock trades on the Euronext Amsterdam Stock Exchange (symbol: ASM). For more information, visit ASM’s website at www.asm.com.

Contact

Investor and media relations

Victor Bareño
T: +31 88 100 8500
E: investor.relations@asm.com

Investor relations

Valentina Fantigrossi
T: +31 88 100 8502
E: investor.relations@asm.com

The MIL Network –

February 11, 2025
MIL-OSI: Diamond Equity Research Releases Update Note on Genius Group Ltd. (NYSE: GNS)
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

New York, Feb. 10, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Diamond Equity Research Releases Update Note on Genius Group Ltd. (NYSE: GNS)

New York, NY

Diamond Equity Research, a leading equity research firm with a focus on small capitalization public companies has released an update note on Genius Group Ltd. (NYSE: GNS). The update note includes information on Genius Group Ltd.’s recent developments, management commentary, future outlook, and risks.

The update note is available below.

Genius Group February 2025 Update Note

Highlights from the note include:
- Genius Group Launches $33 Million Rights Offering to Strengthen Its Bitcoin Treasury: Genius Group’s Board approved a rights offering aimed at raising up to $33 million to expand the company’s Bitcoin Treasury, with 100% of net proceeds dedicated to purchasing Bitcoin. The offering provides shareholders with the opportunity to acquire additional ordinary shares at a fixed subscription price, reinforcing the company’s commitment to its Bitcoin-first strategy. Key terms of the Rights Offering include:
  - Shareholder Rights Allocation: Each shareholder received one transferable right for every ordinary share held as of the record date on January 24, 2025, with the number rounded up to the nearest whole right. The company’s ordinary shares began trading ex-rights on January 24, 2025.
  - Subscription Details: Each right entitles the holder to purchase one ordinary share at a subscription price of $0.50. Shareholders fully exercising their basic subscription rights are eligible for an over-subscription privilege, which allows them to subscribe for additional ordinary shares on a pro rata basis. Rights holders may also choose to sell any rights they opt not to exercise.
- - Trading and Expiration Details: Rights trading commenced on a “when-issued” basis on January 23, 2025, under the symbol “GNS RTWI.” Regular trading of the rights began on January 27, 2025, under the symbol “GNS RT” and will continue until the close of trading on February 13, 2025. The offering expires at 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time on February 14, 2025, unless extended by the company. Registered shareholders received rights certificates based on the company’s stockholder registry, while those holding shares in “street name” will see the rights reflected in their brokerage accounts.
- - Additional Potential Funding: In addition to the $33 million rights offering, the company plans to pursue additional loan financings of up to approximately $22 million. If fully secured, this combined funding is expected to boost the Bitcoin Treasury from current levels, reported between $40 million and $45 million, to a range between $86 million and $100 million.
- - Management Participation: Complementing this initiative, Founder and CEO Roger Hamilton has completed his planned transactions, having acquired 500,000 shares under the pre-approved plan and subsequently purchasing an additional 500,000 shares on January 15, 2025, resulting in a holding of approximately 6.8 million shares. Mr. Hamilton has also notified the Company that he will fully subscribe to his rights under this Rights Offering, which will entitle him to acquire an additional 6.8 million shares on the same terms as all shareholders on the Record Date.
This rights issue follows Genius Group’s established Bitcoin treasury approach and can be positive for shareholders if Bitcoin’s momentum persists-currently trading above $96,000 and recently peaking at $108,000. However, should Bitcoin’s price fall, the impact on shareholders could be less favorable, as the benefits of this initiative are closely tied to Bitcoin’s continued upward performance, which some analyst reports suggest is likely to persist.
- Genius Group Expands Bitcoin Treasury to $42 Million Amid Strategic Financial Milestones: Genius Group has further advanced its Bitcoin-first strategy by acquiring an additional $12 million of Bitcoin, bringing its Bitcoin Treasury to 440 Bitcoin at a new average price of $95,519 per Bitcoin. This $42 million purchase, completed within three months of the November 12, 2024 announcement to allocate 90% or more of its current and future reserves to Bitcoin (with an initial target of $120 million), builds on an earlier milestone where the company secured 319.4 Bitcoin for $30 million at an average price of $93,919 per Bitcoin within two months. At an earlier date, as of Friday, January 31, 2025, Genius Group’s 440-Bitcoin holding was valued at $46 million, while the company’s market capitalization was $33.1 million (derived from 68.8 million issued shares trading at $0.48), resulting in a BTC/Price ratio of 139%, making Genius Group one of the highest among its peers. This ratio tells us that 139% of Genius Group’s market value is directly backed by its Bitcoin holdings, a stark contrast to the industry average of approximately 40% observed among other popular Bitcoin treasury companies, such as Microstrategy, Marathon Digital Holdings, and Riot Platforms. Funding for these purchases has been sourced from a mix of internal reserves, the use of its ATM facility, and debt financing from crypto-backed loan platform Arch Lending. In addition, the company has approved a Founder Compensation Plan with Founder and CEO Roger Hamilton that sets forth long-term milestones, including goals to reach a $1 billion market cap and to grow the Bitcoin Treasury’s net asset value to $1 billion within the next 10 years.
About Genius Group Limited

Genius Group Ltd. (NYSE: GNS) is a Bitcoin treasury company with an AI powered education platform engaged in providing AI training and AI tools to 5.4 million students in over 200 countries worldwide. It aims to develop an AI-powered lifelong learning curriculum and make its educational products accessible worldwide to all age groups.

For more information, visit https://www.geniusgroup.net/

About Diamond Equity Research

Diamond Equity Research is a leading equity research and corporate access firm focused on small capitalization companies. Diamond Equity Research is an approved sell-side provider on major institutional investor platforms.

For more information, visit https://www.diamondequityresearch.com.

Disclosures:

Diamond Equity Research LLC is being compensated by Genius Group Limited for producing research materials regarding Genius Group Limited, and its securities, which is meant to subsidize the high cost of creating the report and monitoring the security, however, the views in the report reflect that of Diamond Equity Research. All payments are received upfront and are billed for an annual or semi-annual research engagement. As of 02/10/2025, the issuer had paid us $81,000 for our research services, which commenced 04/16/2022 and was billed annually for the first year for $27,000 and after in equal installments of $13,500 for six-month semi-annual periods with $13,500 received in April 2023 for six-month terms. $27,000 was paid in May 2024 (payment was for two outstanding six-month payment terms of October 2023 and April 2024, allocated to the following six-month periods of research coverage in each respective period), and $13,500 received in November 2024 for the October 2024 six-month semi-annual period of coverage. Diamond Equity Research LLC may be compensated for non-research related services, including presenting at Diamond Equity Research investment conferences, press releases and other additional services. The non-research related service cost is dependent on the company, but usually do not exceed $5,000. The issuer has paid us for non-research related services as of 02/10/2025 consisting of $3,000 for presenting at a virtual investment conference and $2,000 for organizing an investment dinner. Issuers are not required to engage us for these additional services. Additional fees may have accrued since then. Although Diamond Equity Research company sponsored reports are based on publicly available information and although no investment recommendations are made within our company sponsored research reports, given the small capitalization nature of the companies we cover we have adopted an internal trading procedure around the public companies by whom we are engaged, with investors able to find such policy on our website public disclosures page. This report and press release do not consider individual circumstances and does not take into consideration individual investor preferences. Statements within this report may constitute forward-looking statements, these statements involve many risk factors and general uncertainties around the business, industry, and macroeconomic environment. Investors need to be aware of the high degree of risk in small capitalization equities including the complete loss of their investment. Investors can find various risk factors in the initiation report and in the respective financial filings for Genius Group Limited. Please consult the attached research report for disclosures.

Contact:

Diamond Equity Research
research@diamondequityresearch.com

Attachment
- Genius Group February 2025 Update Note
The MIL Network –
February 11, 2025
MIL-OSI: Obagi Medical Announces the Launch of Latest Innovations in The SUZANOBAGIMD® Collection
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

NEW YORK, Feb. 10, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Obagi Medical (“Obagi”), a leader in advanced skincare innovation and the originator of medical-grade skincare, proudly unveils the latest groundbreaking additions to its highly regarded SUZANOBAGIMD® collection. The new products – Super Antioxidant Serum and Moisture Restore Hydration Replenishing Cream – offer cutting-edge solutions to address common skincare concerns such as skin discoloration and brightening, oxidative stress, and skin hydration to maintain a healthy skin barrier function. Formulated to be safe and effective for all skin types—whether sensitive, oily, dry, or somewhere in between—Obagi’s inclusive approach ensures that everyone can experience the benefits of advanced skincare, no matter their unique needs or concerns.

Developed by Dr. Suzan Obagi, a distinguished dermatologist and the Chief Medical Director at Obagi, the powerhouse duo of skincare solutions reflects her extensive research and expertise in dermatologic surgery and skin health. Her expertise in formulation is drawn from her extensive experience treating thousands of patients each year, addressing a wide range of concerns. The most common issues she observes are hyperpigmentation and challenges with sensitive skin. Dr. Obagi’s groundbreaking work, especially in understanding the unique needs of skin of color and the needs of sensitive skin types, led her to identify the five key pathways essential for optimal skin health. These pathways include reducing pigment formation and visibly improving hyperpigmentation, calming redness and reducing skin irritation, combating oxidative stress, supporting cell turnover, and restoring the skin barrier. Dr. Obagi has created effective products that do not irritate the skin while delivering results you can see in as little as a few weeks in some cases.

Dr. Suzan Obagi, Chief Medical Director at Obagi, commented, “I am so excited to finally share these groundbreaking innovations with the world. These products are the culmination of years of research and patient testing, driven by my passion for helping patients unveil their naturally radiant skin without irritation. By incorporating cutting-edge ingredients like encapsulated silymarin to protect against oxidative stress and multi-weight hyaluronic acids for multi-layered hydration, we’ve developed solutions that truly push the envelope in skincare. I genuinely believe these novel formulations not only set a new standard but also reflect my unwavering commitment to treating skin holistically, ensuring health, resilience, and a luminous glow for every skin type.”

Drawing on this wealth of expertise in treating skin discoloration, Dr. Obagi formulated these latest additions to her namesake collection to transform skin health and deliver a radiant, brighter complexion. The collection includes the new Super Antioxidant Serum, providing medical-grade defense against oxidative stress for more resilient, radiant and youthful-looking skin. Super Antioxidant Serum is formulated with a potent blend of antioxidants, including encapsulated Silymarin and stabilized Vitamin C, to neutralize free radicals, combat oxidative stress, and brighten skin.

Moisture Restore Hydration Replenishing Cream is a medical-grade, multi-layered moisturizer which delivers intense, multi-layered hydration. With a blend of both low and high-molecular-weight Hyaluronic Acids this cream delivers moisture to different layers of the skin.

Delivering both immediate and long-lasting results, these products were clinically tested by Dr. Obagi and third party clinical graders. During testing of Super Antioxidant Serum and Moisture Restore Hydration Replenishing Cream, 94% of subjects felt their skin was refreshed and smoother immediately after a single application* and 97% of subjects observed an improvement in overall skin appearance after 2 weeks* including:
- Visible improvement in the appearance of fine lines
- Visible improvement in the appearance of hyperpigmentation
- Visibly calms irritation and boosts hydration
Justin Giouzepis, Chief Marketing Officer of Obagi, added, “We’re thrilled to partner with Dr. Suzan Obagi on bringing to market Super Antioxidant Serum and Moisture Restore, products designed to address the critical needs of both skin brightening and hydration. Obagi is the leader in innovating products that defend against environmental aggressors with our vitamin C collection and products that treat hyperpigmentation with the Obagi Nu-Derm® collection. Having Super Antioxidant Serum in the Obagi portfolio provides professionals with an additional oxidative stress fighting product to recommend to their patients who may have sensitive skin but don’t want to compromise on results. We know achieving radiant, healthy skin shouldn’t come at the cost of irritation, which is why we’ve prioritized gentle yet effective formulations suitable for even the most sensitive skin types. These launches represent our commitment to providing inclusive skincare solutions for everyone.”

The SUZANOBAGIMD® Super Antioxidant Serum, priced at $158, and the SUZANOBAGIMD^® Moisture Restore Hydration Replenishing Cream, priced at $78, are now available through partnering professional channels. They will be available for customers to purchase on Obagi.com on 2.24.2025.

*Results are based on a 2024 2-week clinical test, with subjects using SOMD Super Antioxidant Serum & Moisture Restore Replenishing Cream (if needed) daily within protocol.

About Obagi Medical
Obagi Medical is an industry-leading, advanced skincare line rooted in research and skin biology, refined with a legacy of 35 years’ experience. First known as leaders in the treatment of hyperpigmentation with the Obagi Nu-Derm^® System, Obagi products are designed to diminish the appearance of premature aging, photodamage, skin discoloration, acne, and sun damage. Backed by science and trusted by professionals, Obagi empowers individuals to achieve healthy, beautiful skin.

More information about Obagi is available on the brand’s website, https://www.obagi.com.

About Waldencast
Founded by Michel Brousset and Hind Sebti, Waldencast’s ambition is to build a global best-in-class beauty and wellness operating platform by developing, acquiring, accelerating, and scaling conscious, high-growth purpose-driven brands. Waldencast’s vision is fundamentally underpinned by its brand-led business model that ensures proximity to its customers, business agility, and market responsiveness, while maintaining each brand’s distinct DNA. The first step in realizing its vision was the business combination with Obagi Cosmeceuticals and Milk Makeup. As part of the Waldencast platform, its brands will benefit from the operational scale of a multi-brand platform; the expertise in managing global beauty brands at scale; a balanced portfolio to mitigate category fluctuations; asset-light efficiency; and the market responsiveness and speed of entrepreneurial indie brands. For more information please visit: https://ir.waldencast.com/.

Media Contact:
obagi@purplepr.com

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/2e3ff584-7c90-4039-9b0e-ab93ef0fcf5a

The MIL Network –
February 11, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: How rural English women used scrapbooks to commemorate the death of Winston Churchill

Source: The Conversation – UK – By Cherish Watton-Colbrook, Archives Assistant, University of Cambridge

Sixty years ago, on January 24, Britons gathered around their radios to listen to the sombre BBC announcement that Sir Winston Churchill had died at the age of 90. Others learned about the news at church, as they listened to prayers for the life of the former prime minister, admired by many for leading Britain through the second world war. Later that day, radio and television schedules were suspended to make way for the flood of tributes.

Around this time in villages around England and Wales, Women’s Institute (WI) members were just beginning a year-long scrapbooking project in honour of the WI’s golden jubilee year in 1965. A branch-based voluntary organisation,
founded in 1915, the WI was set up to bring country women together.

This scrapbook project was one way in which the organisation sought to foster a sense of community in rural areas. Members were invited to chronicle everything that happened in their village during that year. Although not every entry featured a tribute to Churchill, several WI members decided to mark the former leader’s death.

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Today, many of these scrapbooks survive in county record offices, while others remain cherished volumes kept by WIs in their branch archives. Some branches, along with local history societies, have digitised their scrapbooks and shared them online.

Scrapbooks are perhaps not what immediately spring to mind when we think about the 1960s. Traditionally, they conjure up images of brightly coloured printed clippings or pressed flowers, saved by Victorian women and children. But this is just one page in scrapbooking’s rich history.

In the 20th century, the rise of popular newspapers, magazines, domestic photography and television provided an array of material that could be transformed into personal archives. Scrapbooking proved a popular way for people to document what they found meaningful in their lives. Family, work, activism, stars of film, music and sport, royalty and even the weather were just some of the many topics covered.

In 1965, WI members in Woodford, the constituency Churchill represented for 40 years until 1964, decided to conclude their community scrapbook with a tribute to their former MP.

On a page of black sugar paper, members pasted a programme from a local memorial church service. Women also included a commemorative stamp, together with a photograph of floral tributes left at a bronze statue of Churchill on the village green, flanked by servicemen. Even though Churchill died at the beginning of the year, it was evidently the last thing Woodford Green’s WI members wanted their readers to encounter in their scrapbook.

Local and national newspapers published a plethora of obituaries and articles on Churchill’s life, providing scrapbookers, such as WI members in Stoke Ferry in Norfolk, with a wealth of visual material for their community volumes.

Local WI members crafted a photographic record of Churchill’s life, from childhood through to retirement, arranging the images in chronological order, mirroring the conventions associated with family photograph albums. They combined a series of press photographs and newspaper headlines with a handwritten note elaborating on what they felt was significant about Churchill’s death. WI women even went as far as to connect Churchill with their scrapbooking activities:

As we compile this Jubilee Scrap Book, we stop to wonder what life would have been like in this village in 1965 but for that great statesman and leader, Sir Winston Churchill. Would this book be the happy record of a free and thriving community?

On the following pages, they contrasted photographs from the funeral procession, with a shot of a bunch of pink tulips, given by a serviceman. In juxtaposing these images, they switched between ceremonial and more intimate forms of commemoration.

WI scrapbookers clearly felt strongly about recording the death of Churchill in their community volumes. The scrapbook genre allowed these women, at a significant moment in time, to shape the historical record in a way they found to be meaningful, with an eye to the future generations they expected to read their creations.

‘Cold lunches were the order of the day’

As relayed in many of these WI scrapbooks, Churchill was the first prime minister in the 20th century who was afforded a state funeral. It was broadcast around the world in a transmission of unparalleled significance – second only to the 1953 coronation of Queen Elizabeth II.

One woman in Whitchurch, Herefordshire, wrote a series of diary entries under the pseudonym of Ann Whitchurch for her WI’s competition entry. After an earlier entry (exploring the merits of new brightly coloured long johns) Whitchurch reflected on January 30:

Everyone seems to feel his loss as something that really matters. Whatever anyone’s politics are, he stood for England, especially for people of my generation who remember his great speeches during the War. It’s rather like the end of a chapter.

Whitchurch chose the more intimate format of the diary entry, as opposed to national newspaper coverage, to offer a personal tribute to Churchill. By declaring herself the spokeswoman for her generation, Whitchurch conveyed how she understood Churchill’s death as a moment of rupture and transition.

Over 100 miles away in the Cotswolds, a farmer’s wife in Chedworth shared what the day looked like from her rural farm:

Cold lunches were the order of the day, everyone was watching the funeral procession of Sir Winston Churchill – an unforgettable memory. Even the menfolk dashed in and out between essential jobs.

This WI member used her passage to show how the villagers’ commitment to watching the funeral upended their everyday routines at home and at work.

Sixty years on, browsing the pages of these community scrapbooks reveals more than just a reaction to Churchill’s death by a specific group of rural women. They provide a fascinating glimpse of how national mourning unfolded in English villages and the different ways in which country women documented this moment on behalf of their communities.

Cherish Watton-Colbrook works as an Archives Assistant for Churchill Archives Centre in Cambridge.

– ref. How rural English women used scrapbooks to commemorate the death of Winston Churchill – https://theconversation.com/how-rural-english-women-used-scrapbooks-to-commemorate-the-death-of-winston-churchill-248689

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

February 11, 2025

Date of the information	Total number of issued shares	Number of actual voting rights*	Number of theoretical voting rights**
January 31, 2025	7,161,465	7,186,734	7,186,983

Category: KB

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Dmitry Chernyshenko at a meeting of the Coordination Council under the Government for the creation of advanced general education organizations

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Meeting of the Coordination Council under the Government on the creation of advanced general education organizations

Meeting of the Coordination Council under the Government on the creation of advanced general education organizations

Curriculum vitae

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‘Cold lunches were the order of the day’