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  • MIL-OSI Africa: Anti-immigration policies: why harsh new rules put in place by Trump and other rich countries won’t last

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Alan Hirsch, Research Fellow New South Institute, Emeritus Professor at The Nelson Mandela School of Public Governance, University of Cape Town

    Donald Trump, America’s new president, has cut back massively on US commitments to asylum seekers, blocked all asylum processes and started to remove irregular immigrants.

    Trump’s new measures are far reaching. They include the suspension of the US refugee admissions programme. Flights booked for refugees to the US have been cancelled. Arrests and deportations have begun.

    Strongly anti-immigrant policies were also pursued under the Biden administration, though Trump’s dramatic steps take them much further. Other countries in the global north have also introduced tougher policies. The 2024 EU Pact on Migration and Asylum sets out tougher border controls, quicker assessment of asylum seekers and swifter removal of those who did not qualify. In the UK, Labour prime minister Keir Starmer has promised to bring down the net migration rate and treat people-smugglers like terrorists.

    Based on my research into migration over the past 30 years I believe that these measures are unlikely to last. There are two linked trends that make closing the borders of the global north impractical and destined for revision.

    The first is that populations in most of the global north are ageing fast (on average) and the fertility rate, or natural population growth rate, has plummeted. There are many more older people as a percentage of the population.

    Secondly, with a workforce shrinking and the dependency ratio (the proportion of non-working to working people) rising rapidly, closing borders to potential labourers from other countries, without any other change, would lead to declining living standards in the global north. Economic growth and government revenues would slow or stagnate, undermining infrastructure maintenance and social service provision.

    There are several possible strategies that could be alternatives to anti-immigration measures. Some older people could migrate south, robots and AI could do more work, workers in the global south could perform remote work for the north, and arrangements could be made to allow migrants into the north either permanently or as circulating migrants.

    All these strategies are already in use, if modestly. Their application would have to expand considerably.

    Misplaced panic

    The responses of governments in the global north are exaggerated. Governments putting in place tough anti-immigrant measures have done so on the back of a narrative that there’s been a significant rise in the number of migrants worldwide.

    This isn’t true. Some countries, such as the US, Germany and Colombia, have seen a spike in refugees and other migrants. But for the rest of the world the picture remains much the same as it has done for decades.

    Foreign-born residents (the most widely used definition of migrants) rose as a proportion of residents worldwide from 2.3% in 1970 to 3.6% in 2020. But in 1960 the number was over 3%, and in the late 1800s migrants made up somewhere between 3% and 5% of the global population.

    So, 3.6% is nothing new.

    As for refugees, in 2023 there were about 38 million, of whom 69% sought refuge in neighbouring countries and 75% in middle- and low-income countries.

    In general, therefore, rich countries have not been carrying the greatest burden.

    The real reason behind these tougher measures is that living standards have stagnated in many countries in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. The cost and availability of housing have worsened; inequality has grown since the 1980s; the quality and availability of public services have deteriorated since the global financial crisis of 2008 and COVID-19; and the quality of employment has shifted to precarious work and poorly paid service sector occupations.

    This has contributed to the rise of populism, including anti-foreigner sentiment and even xenophobia.

    Trump’s actions are the most extreme yet. They include an order to block “aliens involved in the invasion” using “appropriate measures” that give the security forces further powers. The prohibition of southern border asylum hearings in the US and the instruction to “remain in Mexico” means that prospective asylum seekers from third countries may not cross the border to make their applications at the port of entry. They must apply remotely.

    Trump has also ordered that birthright citizenship must be limited to the children of certain categories of residents, essentially citizens or those with residence rights in the form of a “green card”. This move has been temporarily blocked in some states by judges as unconstitutional.

    In addition, the acting head of the Homeland Security Department gave Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials the power to deport migrants admitted temporarily into the US under several programmes of the Biden administration, targeting refugees from Cuba, Nicaragua, Venezuela and Haiti, and possibly Afghan and Ukrainian refugees too.

    The very first bill to receive final approval from the US Congress under Trump’s second term, the Laken-Riley Act, would require the detention and deportation of migrants who enter the country without authorisation and are charged with certain crimes. This bill was passed with 263 votes and 156 votes against, meaning that 46 House Democrats supported the Republican bill.

    In contrast, in the global south, as I have discussed elsewhere, the trend has been in the opposite direction. South American regional communities liberalised migration most extensively in recent decades, but African regional communities have made progress too, as has the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

    The way forward

    Some alternative strategies are leading the way.

    In Canada, the Temporary Foreign Worker programme has expanded steadily since 1973, increasingly including long-term circulating migrating lower-skilled workers for key occupations like catering, care, construction and agriculture. Though it is currently under political scrutiny because of the panic in the north over migration, and because of housing shortages in Canada, it is likely to survive and evolve. Similar systems are emerging across the global north.

    In the EU, Talent Partnerships are now encouraged. Germany, for example, has talent partnerships with Kenya and Morocco, where they train health workers and IT technicians in those countries to work and live in Germany. Spain has various partnerships in Latin America and Africa. Prime minister Pedro Sanchez has chosen to be upfront on the choices. In October last year he told the Spanish people:

    Spain needs to choose between being an open and prosperous country or a closed off poor country.

    The current fashion for population protectionism in the global north is increasingly nasty, but it is unlikely to stand the test of time. Several constructive responses to the rising dependency ratio are feasible, but being open to more migration, possibly in new forms and through new channels. is an inevitable part of the solution.

    New formal pathways for working migrants and reasonable systems for asylum seekers, along with full enforcement of rules against irregular migrants, could be the combination that works politically and economically.

    – Anti-immigration policies: why harsh new rules put in place by Trump and other rich countries won’t last
    – https://theconversation.com/anti-immigration-policies-why-harsh-new-rules-put-in-place-by-trump-and-other-rich-countries-wont-last-248359

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Anti-immigration policies: why harsh new rules put in place by Trump and other rich countries won’t last

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Alan Hirsch, Research Fellow New South Institute, Emeritus Professor at The Nelson Mandela School of Public Governance, University of Cape Town

    Donald Trump, America’s new president, has cut back massively on US commitments to asylum seekers, blocked all asylum processes and started to remove irregular immigrants.

    Trump’s new measures are far reaching. They include the suspension of the US refugee admissions programme. Flights booked for refugees to the US have been cancelled. Arrests and deportations have begun.

    Strongly anti-immigrant policies were also pursued under the Biden administration, though Trump’s dramatic steps take them much further. Other countries in the global north have also introduced tougher policies. The 2024 EU Pact on Migration and Asylum sets out tougher border controls, quicker assessment of asylum seekers and swifter removal of those who did not qualify. In the UK, Labour prime minister Keir Starmer has promised to bring down the net migration rate and treat people-smugglers like terrorists.

    Based on my research into migration over the past 30 years I believe that these measures are unlikely to last. There are two linked trends that make closing the borders of the global north impractical and destined for revision.

    The first is that populations in most of the global north are ageing fast (on average) and the fertility rate, or natural population growth rate, has plummeted. There are many more older people as a percentage of the population.

    Secondly, with a workforce shrinking and the dependency ratio (the proportion of non-working to working people) rising rapidly, closing borders to potential labourers from other countries, without any other change, would lead to declining living standards in the global north. Economic growth and government revenues would slow or stagnate, undermining infrastructure maintenance and social service provision.

    There are several possible strategies that could be alternatives to anti-immigration measures. Some older people could migrate south, robots and AI could do more work, workers in the global south could perform remote work for the north, and arrangements could be made to allow migrants into the north either permanently or as circulating migrants.

    All these strategies are already in use, if modestly. Their application would have to expand considerably.

    Misplaced panic

    The responses of governments in the global north are exaggerated. Governments putting in place tough anti-immigrant measures have done so on the back of a narrative that there’s been a significant rise in the number of migrants worldwide.

    This isn’t true. Some countries, such as the US, Germany and Colombia, have seen a spike in refugees and other migrants. But for the rest of the world the picture remains much the same as it has done for decades.

    Foreign-born residents (the most widely used definition of migrants) rose as a proportion of residents worldwide from 2.3% in 1970 to 3.6% in 2020. But in 1960 the number was over 3%, and in the late 1800s migrants made up somewhere between 3% and 5% of the global population.

    So, 3.6% is nothing new.

    As for refugees, in 2023 there were about 38 million, of whom 69% sought refuge in neighbouring countries and 75% in middle- and low-income countries.

    In general, therefore, rich countries have not been carrying the greatest burden.

    The real reason behind these tougher measures is that living standards have stagnated in many countries in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. The cost and availability of housing have worsened; inequality has grown since the 1980s; the quality and availability of public services have deteriorated since the global financial crisis of 2008 and COVID-19; and the quality of employment has shifted to precarious work and poorly paid service sector occupations.

    This has contributed to the rise of populism, including anti-foreigner sentiment and even xenophobia.

    Trump’s actions are the most extreme yet. They include an order to block “aliens involved in the invasion” using “appropriate measures” that give the security forces further powers. The prohibition of southern border asylum hearings in the US and the instruction to “remain in Mexico” means that prospective asylum seekers from third countries may not cross the border to make their applications at the port of entry. They must apply remotely.

    Trump has also ordered that birthright citizenship must be limited to the children of certain categories of residents, essentially citizens or those with residence rights in the form of a “green card”. This move has been temporarily blocked in some states by judges as unconstitutional.

    In addition, the acting head of the Homeland Security Department gave Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials the power to deport migrants admitted temporarily into the US under several programmes of the Biden administration, targeting refugees from Cuba, Nicaragua, Venezuela and Haiti, and possibly Afghan and Ukrainian refugees too.

    The very first bill to receive final approval from the US Congress under Trump’s second term, the Laken-Riley Act, would require the detention and deportation of migrants who enter the country without authorisation and are charged with certain crimes. This bill was passed with 263 votes and 156 votes against, meaning that 46 House Democrats supported the Republican bill.

    In contrast, in the global south, as I have discussed elsewhere, the trend has been in the opposite direction. South American regional communities liberalised migration most extensively in recent decades, but African regional communities have made progress too, as has the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

    The way forward

    Some alternative strategies are leading the way.

    In Canada, the Temporary Foreign Worker programme has expanded steadily since 1973, increasingly including long-term circulating migrating lower-skilled workers for key occupations like catering, care, construction and agriculture. Though it is currently under political scrutiny because of the panic in the north over migration, and because of housing shortages in Canada, it is likely to survive and evolve. Similar systems are emerging across the global north.

    In the EU, Talent Partnerships are now encouraged. Germany, for example, has talent partnerships with Kenya and Morocco, where they train health workers and IT technicians in those countries to work and live in Germany. Spain has various partnerships in Latin America and Africa. Prime minister Pedro Sanchez has chosen to be upfront on the choices. In October last year he told the Spanish people:

    Spain needs to choose between being an open and prosperous country or a closed off poor country.

    The current fashion for population protectionism in the global north is increasingly nasty, but it is unlikely to stand the test of time. Several constructive responses to the rising dependency ratio are feasible, but being open to more migration, possibly in new forms and through new channels. is an inevitable part of the solution.

    New formal pathways for working migrants and reasonable systems for asylum seekers, along with full enforcement of rules against irregular migrants, could be the combination that works politically and economically.

    Alan Hirsch receives funding from the New South Institute for research and the University of Cape Town for advice and supervision.

    – ref. Anti-immigration policies: why harsh new rules put in place by Trump and other rich countries won’t last – https://theconversation.com/anti-immigration-policies-why-harsh-new-rules-put-in-place-by-trump-and-other-rich-countries-wont-last-248359

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: ‘Sustainable’ aviation fuel and other myths about green airport expansion debunked

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Jack Marley, Environment + Energy Editor, UK edition

    Taking off: emissions from the aviation sector. WildSnap/Shutterstock

    Environmentalists and locals have resisted a third runway at London’s Heathrow, Europe’s busiest airport, for more than two decades. Today, their efforts took a major setback.

    The UK government has announced it will give the green light to airport expansion. This is not guaranteed to increase growth in the national economy as Chancellor Rachel Reeves hopes. More flights and more emissions are certain, however, at a time when experts are practically screaming at governments to rein them in.

    This roundup of The Conversation’s climate coverage comes from our award-winning weekly climate action newsletter. Every Wednesday, The Conversation’s environment editor writes Imagine, a short email that goes a little deeper into just one climate issue. Join the 40,000+ readers who’ve subscribed.

    “No airport expansions should proceed” without a UK-wide plan to annually assess and control the sector’s climate impact said the government’s watchdog, the Climate Change Committee, in 2023. Aeroplanes are 8% of UK emissions and 2% of the world’s, but they also release gases that seed heat-trapping clouds in the upper atmosphere, which triples air travel’s greenhouse effect.

    While the government’s own advisers have effectively ruled out new runways for the sake of net zero, airport and airline bosses play a different tune. So what does the sector propose to manage its own pollution?

    Not enough cooking oil to save us

    Aviation is a notoriously difficult sector to decarbonise says Richard Sulley, a senior research fellow in sustainability policy at the University of Sheffield: “If electric or hydrogen-powered planes are possible, it won’t be for many years yet.”

    To justify air travel emissions ballooning in the meantime, the aviation sector has promised a mix of “supply-side” measures, like replacing kerosene with so-called “sustainable aviation fuel” (SAF), which Reeves described as “a game changer”, and making planes lighter and more fuel-efficient.

    Efficiency, in this context, is a slippery path to decarbonisation. When a high-emitting activity is reformed so that it consumes less energy, the efficiency savings are generally eclipsed by the increasing demand it drives.



    Read more:
    Expanding Heathrow is incompatible with net zero – here’s the evidence

    “Indeed, the sector’s own plans for growth will outstrip efforts to decarbonise through synthetic fuel, delivering a neutral effect at best,” Sulley says.

    Fuel consumption is the biggest emissions source in aviation.
    Sergey Ginak/Shutterstock

    “Demand-side” measures like fewer flights, taxes on frequent flying and domestic flight bans (see France) could cut emissions, he notes, but are seldom mentioned.

    The UK has set a target for airline fuel to be 10% SAF by 2030. So far we’re at 1.2% – and Sulley reports that the industry has not said how it will scale up in time.

    Even if airlines start taking their commitment to SAF seriously very soon, it’s a dubious solution to aviation’s climate impact according to political economists Gareth Dale (Brunel University) and Josh Moos (Leeds Beckett University).



    Read more:
    Why the world’s first flight powered entirely by sustainable aviation fuel is a green mirage

    Earlier SAF test flights burned coconut oil – 3 million coconuts to power a journey from London to Amsterdam, as Dale and Moos calculate it. At that rate, they argue Heathrow would exhaust the world’s entire crop in a few weeks (there are 18,000 commercial airports worldwide).

    Modern SAF is blended with waste products from farms and kitchens. But the pair argue that the market for used cooking oil is “notoriously unregulated”. SAF may in fact be relabelled palm oil from plantations that are erasing orangutan habitat in the tropics. Again, Dale and Moos argue there is not enough used cooking oil to meet existing, let alone future, demand.

    Transport for the rich, by the rich

    At least the hype around SAF addresses the main problem, albeit misleadingly. Policy experts David Howarth (University of Essex) and Steven Griggs (De Montfort University) marvel at how often “carbon-neutral airports” in aviation sustainability strategies simply mean terminals powered by renewable energy.

    “A terminal’s heating or lighting is, of course, largely irrelevant when its core business is as emissions-intensive as flying,” says Sulley.



    Read more:
    Heathrow 2.0: a ‘sustainable airport’ that pretends no one has to choose between planes and pollution

    Unfortunately for Rachel Reeves, a 2023 report by the New Economics Foundation found that any economic benefits of airport expansion will be largely confined to the airports themselves. Meanwhile, a wealthy subset of UK society can be expected to capture the biggest share of any new flight capacity. Each year, around half of British residents do not fly at all, Sulley points out.

    At the stratospheric heights of that subset are the private jet passengers who are served by “more or less dedicated airports” that are more obscure to the general public, says Raymond Woessner, a geographer at Sorbonne Université. A study published in November found that emissions from these flights rose by 46% between 2019 and 2023. The lead author described wealthy passengers using jets “like taxis”.



    Read more:
    L’insolent succès des jets privés, entre empreinte carbone et controverses

    “Discretion and anonymity” is what one airport nestled in the Oxfordshire countryside promises for “routine celebrity, head of state and royal visits”. Without state direction or regulation, it is these people who are setting the agenda for air travel.

    Woessner notes that the world’s richest man, Elon Musk, successfully lobbied to derail a high-speed rail project in California in 2013. Instead of an option that has shown its ability to cut flight demand, the US will be offered intercontinental rocket travel.



    Read more:
    With planning, high speed rail could reduce flight demand

    Musk’s company SpaceX says that rockets could ferry passengers between New York and Shanghai in under an hour. Rockets would burn “vastly more fuel per trip than conventional aircraft”, says aerospace engineer Angadh Nanjangud of Queen Mary University of London, but this might “drive critical research into carbon-neutral” methane-based rocket fuel.

    It would not be the first time an industry seeking to grow has used an as yet fantastical fuel to justify more carbon in Earth’s atmosphere.



    Read more:
    New York to Paris in 30 mins? How to achieve Elon Musk’s vision of rockets replacing long haul

    “There is the potential to create a good life for all within planetary boundaries,” say Dale and Moos.

    “But getting there requires clipping the wings of the aviation industry.”

    – ref. ‘Sustainable’ aviation fuel and other myths about green airport expansion debunked – https://theconversation.com/sustainable-aviation-fuel-and-other-myths-about-green-airport-expansion-debunked-248483

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Video: UK Baroness Hazarika: Lord Speaker’s Corner | House of Lords | Episode 25

    Source: United Kingdom UK House of Lords (video statements)

    From politics to comedy to campaigning against anti-social behaviour, broadcaster Ayesha Hazarika is the latest guest on Lord Speaker’s Corner.

    Baroness Hazarika grew up in Coatbridge, Scotland and is the first person of Indian Assamese heritage to join the House of Lords. She rose to become a senior adviser to Labour figures including Harriet Harman and Ed Miliband, playing a crucial role preparing them for PMQs:

    ‘I think Prime Minister’s Questions gets a very bad rap, because it does often become quite Punch and Judy, but I think it’s a really important function of our democracy. There are not many democracies around the world where the principal politician in the land is called to the same spot week in, week out, and faces questions on any topic from any Member of Parliament across the country.’

    In this episode, Baroness Hazarika talks about her unlikely career path from politics to stand-up comedy and broadcasting, and back to politics. She also explains to Lord McFall how she will use her new political platform to campaign against anti-social behaviour and crime:

    ‘I don’t like calling this low-level crime, because I don’t think it’s low-level crime. But I think this stuff is not easy, but the more we talk about it and the more we press government ministers, that puts the pressure on them to keep on keeping this a priority.’

    Finally, Baroness Hazarika tells Lord McFall about receiving the phone call to offer her a place in the Lords, explaining ‘I really couldn’t believe it, because if you’re somebody like me from my background and you’ve loved politics your whole life, it’s a real honour to be asked to join the House of Lords for the party that you have served and the party you love.’

    She shares that this wasn’t the first thought that went through her head though, saying ‘The person said, “I’m calling on behalf of Keir Starmer. This is really serious. Are you by yourself? I think you better sit down.” And the first thing I thought was, “Oh my goodness, what have I been saying on my social media? Am I about to get cancelled, or am I about to get suspended from the Labour Party? Have I said something terrible?’

    See more from the series https://www.parliament.uk/business/lords/house-of-lords-podcast/

    #HouseOfLords #UKParliament #LordSpeakersCorner #LordsMembers

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JlYFCKWBnCo

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Greens welcome Rosebank and jackdaw court ruling

    Source: Green Party of England and Wales

    Green Party co-leader Carla Denyer MP has welcomed a Scottish court ruling that government approval of the giant new Rosebank and Jackdaw developments was unlawful because it did not account for the significant emissions that would be caused by burning the fields’ oil and gas.

    Carla Denyer said: “This is a victory not just for the campaigners who have been fighting against new oil drilling at Rosebank and Jackdaw, but for common sense. The science is clear and the stakes are high: there can be no new oil and gas developments if we are to have a chance of staying within safe climate limits.

    “We’ve already seen the effects of at least 1.2°C degrees of global heating: from record-breaking heatwaves on almost every continent and deadly floods taking people’s lives and livelihoods across the world. In this context, it would be morally scandalous to allow fossil fuel companies like Equinor to start extracting from new fields – for the sake of their own profits and regardless of the consequences for the rest of us.

    “Aside from being a climate crime, opening new oil and gas fields like Rosebank goes entirely against what’s needed to strengthen the UK’s energy security, lower bills, and protect workers – which is to invest in a rapid and fair transition to renewable industries which have a long-term future.

    “If this government is serious about protecting us from the climate crisis and securing a liveable future for our children, it will revoke Rosebank’s license so that there is absolutely no question of this development going ahead. It must also refuse consent for the 13 other oil and gas drilling projects licensed by the previous government, and send a clear signal to the fossil fuel industry that they have no future in the UK.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Tuberculosis cases in England continued to increase in 2024

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    UK TB cases rise 12.9% in 2024, continuing upward trend.

    The latest provisional annual data from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) shows that reported notifications of tuberculosis (TB) in England increased by 12.9% compared to 2023, continuing the upward trend over the last few years.

    England remains a low-incidence country for TB, but the TB notification rate in England rose from 8.5 per 100,000 population in 2023 to 9.5 per 100,000 in 2024.

    81.5% of all TB notifications in 2024 were in people born outside the UK but there was an increase in both UK-born and non UK-born populations.

    Tuberculosis continues to be associated with deprivation and is more common in large urban areas. The largest increases in TB notifications in 2024 were recorded in London and West Midlands. Among UK-born individuals, TB is more common in those experiencing homelessness, drug or alcohol dependency, and contact with the criminal justice system.

    Dr Esther Robinson, Head of the TB Unit at UKHSA, said:

    TB remains a serious public health issue in England.

    The infection is preventable and curable. If you have moved to England from a country where TB is more common, please be aware of the symptoms of TB so you can get promptly tested and treated through your GP surgery.

    Not every persistent cough, along with a fever, is caused by flu or COVID-19. A cough that usually has mucus and lasts longer than 3 weeks can be caused by a range of other issues, including TB. Please speak to your GP if you think you could be at risk.

    TB is the world’s leading cause of death from a single infectious agent, having surpassed coronavirus (COVID-19). It is a bacterial infection that most frequently affects the lungs, which is when it is infectious.

    Symptoms of TB include:

    • a cough that lasts more than 3 weeks
    • high temperature
    • night sweats
    • loss of appetite
    • weight loss

    TB can also be found in other parts of the body besides the lungs, with symptoms including swollen glands and joints. More information on the symptoms of TB and what to do is available.

    TB can spread through close contact with people who have the infection and have symptoms (active TB). When someone with active TB coughs, they release small droplets containing the bacteria. You can catch TB if you regularly breathe in these droplets over a long period of time. It can be treated with a long course of antibiotics but can be serious, particularly if not treated.

    A TB test for infectious TB in the lungs is part of the visa requirements for anyone coming to stay in the UK for 6 months or more if they are coming from certain countries where TB is common. However, the bacterium that causes TB can also lie dormant for many years – something known as latent TB. To detect people with latent TB infection, a testing and treatment programme is in place in higher incidence areas of England for new arrivals from higher incidence countries.

    Updates to this page

    Published 30 January 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Polytechnic University Signs Agreement with Russian National Guard Military Academy

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

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

    On January 29, a cooperation agreement was signed between Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University and the Military Order of Zhukov Academy of the National Guard Troops of the Russian Federation. The universities plan to cooperate in the field of robotics, as well as in educational, scientific and other areas.

    The Polytechnic University and the Military Academy of the Russian Guard are going to cooperate in various areas. This includes the development and implementation of joint projects and events in the field of robotics; scientific and methodological assistance in the framework of research, educational and project work; involving cadets in the development and application of professional robotics; organizing robotics classes using methodological developments and consulting support; preparing for competitions; training and advanced training of specialists, etc.

    The agreement was signed by the rector of SPbPU Andrei Rudskoy and the head of the Military Academy of the Russian Guard Andrei Kiiko.

    Our efforts will be aimed at implementing joint projects and events in the field of robotics with the participation of cadets, providing assistance in servicing and repairing equipment, as well as preparing for all-Russian competitions in robotics areas. I would like to note separately that as part of the implementation of the agreement, we will pay special attention to methodological assistance and mentoring in research and project activities. I am confident that the synergistic effect of cooperation between the Polytechnic University and the Academy of the National Guard Troops will directly contribute to the security and defense capability of our country, – commented Andrey Rudskoy.

    The ceremony was attended by the Chairman of the Council of Rectors of Universities of St. Petersburg and the Leningrad Region, Rector of the St. Petersburg State University of Industrial Technology and Design Alexey Demidov, Rector of the Herzen State Pedagogical University of Russia Sergey Tarasov, Acting Rector of the Baltic State Technical University “Voenmech” named after D. F. Ustinov Alexander Shashurin, Chairman of the Public Chamber of the Leningrad Region Alexander Gabitov, and Special Representative of the Governor of St. Petersburg German Shirokov.

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Message of the Holy Father on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the death of Dom Prosper Guéranger

    Source: The Holy See

    Message of the Holy Father on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the death of Dom Prosper Guéranger, 30.01.2025
    The following is the Message sent by the Holy Father Francis to the Reverend Fr. Dom Geoffrey Kemlin, Abbot of Saint-Pierre de Solesmes and president of the Congregation of Solesmes OSB on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the death of Dom Prosper Guéranger:

    Message of the Holy Father
    To the Very Reverend Father Dom Geoffroy Kemlin
    Abbot of Saint-Pierre de Solesmes
    and President of the Congregation of Solesmes OSB
    As you celebrate this year the 150th anniversary of the death of your founder, Dom Prosper Guéranger, I am pleased to join in your thanksgiving. I wish to express my encouragement and my affectionate closeness to those who have committed their lives in the wake of this servant of the Church, or who are working to make his life and work better known. Benedic anima mea Domino. This verse from Psalm 102 was one of the last words he spoke before committing his soul to the hands of the Father on 30 January 1875.
    In evoking Dom Guéranger, my predecessors have underlined the various expressions of his charism received for the edification of the whole Church: his role as restorer of Benedictine monastic life in France, his liturgical knowledge placed at the service of the People of God, his ardent piety towards the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Virgin Mary, his work in support of the definition of the dogma of the Immaculate Conception and that of papal infallibility, his writings in defence of the freedom of the Church. I would also like to highlight two aspects of this charism that correspond to two current needs of the Church: fidelity to the Holy See and the Successor of Peter, particularly in the area of liturgy, and spiritual paternity.
    Dom Guéranger was undoubtedly one of the first architects of the Liturgy Movement, the fruit of which would be the Constitution Sacrosanctum Concilium of the Second Vatican Council. The historical, theological and ecclesiological rediscovery of the liturgy as the language of the Church and an expression of its faith was at the heart of his work, first as a diocesan priest and then as a Benedictine monk. This rediscovery inspired in particular his publications favouring the return of the dioceses of France to the unity of the Roman liturgy, and it was this rediscovery that prompted him to write the volumes of L’année liturgique in order to make available to priests and lay people the beauty and riches of the liturgy, which is “the first wellspring of Christian spirituality” (Apostolic Letter Desiderio desideravi, no. 61). He strongly affirmed that “the prayer of the Church is the most pleasing to the ear and heart of God, and therefore the most powerful. Happy, then, is he who prays with the Church” (Preface to L’année liturgique). May the example of Dom Guéranger inspire in the hearts of all the baptised not only love for Christ and his Bride, but also filial trust and docile collaboration cum Petro et sub Petro, so that the Church, faithful to her living Tradition, may continue to raise “one and the same prayer capable of expressing her unity” (Apostolic Letter Desiderio desideravi, no. 61).
    I would also like to evoke another aspect of the charism of Dom Guéranger: spiritual paternity. Attentive to the work of the Holy Spirit in souls, Dom Guéranger wanted only one thing: to help them in their search for God. Shaped by the Benedictine Rule and divine praise, his gentle and joyful confidence in God touched the hearts of the monks who came to gather around him, the nuns who benefited from his teachings, but also the men and women with responsibilities in the Church and society, and above all the fathers and mothers of families, the children, the little ones and the humble who sought his spiritual advice. In times of peace, as in times of adversity, they all found in him the strengthening or renewal of their faith, a taste for prayer and love of the Church. May his example of docility to the Holy Spirit and of service inspire and guide many of the faithful in the ways of the Lord, “meek and humble of heart” (Mt 11:29).
    I pray that the work of the Servant of God Dom Guéranger may never cease to produce fruits of holiness in all the faithful, and that it may also remain a living witness to the fruitfulness of monastic life at the heart of the Church.
    It is with this wish that I impart my Blessing to you, Reverend Father, and to your brothers of the Abbey of Saint-Pierre, to those of the Congregation of Solesmes, and to all those who will take part in the commemorations of the return to God of Dom Prosper Guéranger.
    From Saint John Lateran, 2 January 2025
    FRANCIS

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: expert reaction to observational study of COVID-19 infection and abnormal brain proteins

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    An observational study published in Nature Medicine looks at a link between abnormal brain proteins and COVID-19 infection.

    Prof Tara Spires-Jones, Director of the Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences at the University of Edinburgh, Group Leader in the UK Dementia Research Institute, and President of the British Neuroscience Association said:

    “This paper from Duff and colleagues examined blood samples from 626 people who had COVID-19 infection and 626 people who did not have COVID-19 for markers associated with Alzheimer’s disease-related brain changes. The scientists compared the levels of several Alzheimer’s-associated blood proteins before and after the pandemic and found that one of the markers had worsened more in people who had COVID-19 infections than in people who were not infected with COVID-19. This study was very well conducted and adds to the data suggesting that infections may play a role in initiating or accelerating neurodegenerative diseases. However, it is important to note that this type of study cannot conclusively prove that COVID-19 directly caused Alzheimer’s pathology in the brain. Further, the presence of amyloid pathology in the brain, which is hinted at by the blood results, is not a guarantee of future dementia symptoms as many people have amyloid pathology in their brains without experiencing symptoms.  While this is an important piece of research, more work is needed to understand links between infections like COVID-19 and Alzheimer’s disease.”

    ‘Plasma proteomic evidence for increased β-amyloid pathology after SARS-CoV-2 infection’ by Eugene P. Duff et al. was published in Nature Medicine at 10:00 UK time on Thursday 30th January. 

    DOI: 10.1038/s41591-024-03426-4

     

    Declared interests

    Prof Tara Spires-Jones: I have no direct conflicts with this study but I do work in the same National UK Dementia Research Institute as several of the authors and have received payments for consulting, scientific talks, or collaborative research over the past 10 years from AbbVie, Sanofi, Merck, Scottish Brain Sciences, Jay Therapeutics, Cognition Therapeutics, Ono, and Eisai. I am also Charity trustee for the British Neuroscience Association and the Guarantors of Brain and serve as scientific advisor to several charities and non-profit institutions.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI: Man Group PLC : Form 8.3 – Dowlais Group plc

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    FORM 8.3

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

    1.        KEY INFORMATION

    (a)   Full name of discloser: Man Group PLC
    (b)   Owner or controller of interests and short positions disclosed, if different from 1(a):
            The naming of nominee or vehicle companies is insufficient. For a trust, the trustee(s), settlor and beneficiaries must be named.    		  
    (c)   Name of offeror/offeree in relation to whose relevant securities this form relates:
            Use a separate form for each offeror/offeree    		 Dowlais Group plc
    (d)   If an exempt fund manager connected with an offeror/offeree, state this and specify identity of offeror/offeree:  
    (e)   Date position held/dealing undertaken:
            For an opening position disclosure, state the latest practicable date prior to the disclosure    		 29/01/2025
    (f)   In addition to the company in 1(c) above, is the discloser making disclosures in respect of any other party to the offer?
            If it is a cash offer or possible cash offer, state “N/A”    		 YES
    Offeror: American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings, Inc.

    2.        POSITIONS OF THE PERSON MAKING THE DISCLOSURE

    If there are positions or rights to subscribe to disclose in more than one class of relevant securities of the offeror or offeree named in 1(c), copy table 2(a) or (b) (as appropriate) for each additional class of relevant security.

    (a)      Interests and short positions in the relevant securities of the offeror or offeree to which the disclosure relates following the dealing (if any)

    Class of relevant security: 1p ordinary
      Interests Short positions
    Number % Number %
    (1)   Relevant securities owned and/or controlled: 8,022,027.00 0.60    
    (2)   Cash-settled derivatives: 6,074,557.00 0.45 824,839.00 0.06
    (3)   Stock-settled derivatives (including options) and agreements to purchase/sell:        

            TOTAL:

    		 14,096,584.00 1.05 824,839.00 0.06

    All interests and all short positions should be disclosed.

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

    (b)      Rights to subscribe for new securities (including directors’ and other employee options)

    Class of relevant security in relation to which subscription right exists:  
    Details, including nature of the rights concerned and relevant percentages:  

    3.        DEALINGS (IF ANY) BY THE PERSON MAKING THE DISCLOSURE

    Where there have been dealings in more than one class of relevant securities of the offeror or offeree named in 1(c), copy table 3(a), (b), (c) or (d) (as appropriate) for each additional class of relevant security dealt in.

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

    (a)        Purchases and sales

    Class of relevant security Purchase/sale Number of securities Price per unit
    1p ordinary Purchase 440,561 0.750 GBP
    1p ordinary Purchase 283,425 0.731 GBP

    (b)        Cash-settled derivative transactions

    Class of relevant security Product description
    e.g. CFD    		 Nature of dealing
    e.g. opening/closing a long/short position, increasing/reducing a long/short position    		 Number of reference securities Price per unit
    1p ordinary Equity Swap Increasing a short position 251 0.751 GBP
    1p ordinary Equity Swap Reducing a short position 12,419 0.734 GBP
    1p ordinary Equity Swap Reducing a long position 4,919 0.749 GBP
    1p ordinary Equity Swap Increasing a short position 15,558 0.747 GBP
    1p ordinary Equity Swap Reducing a short position 270,740 0.733 GBP
    1p ordinary Equity Swap Increasing a long position 78,108 0.750 GBP
    1p ordinary Equity Swap Increasing a long position 50,249 0.731 GBP
    1p ordinary Equity Swap Increasing a long position 756 0.750 GBP
    1p ordinary Equity Swap Increasing a long position 486 0.731 GBP
    1p ordinary Equity Swap Increasing a long position 257,784 0.750 GBP
    1p ordinary Equity Swap Increasing a long position 165,840 0.731 GBP

    (c)        Stock-settled derivative transactions (including options)

    (i)        Writing, selling, purchasing or varying

    Class of relevant security Product description e.g. call option Writing, purchasing, selling, varying etc. Number of securities to which option relates Exercise price per unit Type
    e.g. American, European etc.    		 Expiry date Option money paid/ received per unit

    (ii)        Exercise

    Class of relevant security Product description
    e.g. call option    		 Exercising/ exercised against Number of securities Exercise price per unit

    (d)        Other dealings (including subscribing for new securities)

    Class of relevant security Nature of dealing
    e.g. subscription, conversion    		 Details Price per unit (if applicable)

    4.        OTHER INFORMATION

    (a)        Indemnity and other dealing arrangements

    Details of any indemnity or option arrangement, or any agreement or understanding, formal or informal, relating to relevant securities which may be an inducement to deal or refrain from dealing entered into by the person making the disclosure and any party to the offer or any person acting in concert with a party to the offer:
    Irrevocable commitments and letters of intent should not be included. If there are no such agreements, arrangements or understandings, state “none”

    None

    (b)        Agreements, arrangements or understandings relating to options or derivatives

    Details of any agreement, arrangement or understanding, formal or informal, between the person making the disclosure and any other person relating to:
    (i)   the voting rights of any relevant securities under any option; or
    (ii)   the voting rights or future acquisition or disposal of any relevant securities to which any derivative is referenced:
    If there are no such agreements, arrangements or understandings, state “none”

    None

    (c)        Attachments

    Is a Supplemental Form 8 (Open Positions) attached? NO
    Date of disclosure: 30/01/2025
    Contact name: Mackenzie Terry
    Telephone number: +442071441555

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

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

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

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Man Group PLC : Form 8.3 – American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings Inc

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    FORM 8.3

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

    1.        KEY INFORMATION

    (a)   Full name of discloser: Man Group PLC
    (b)   Owner or controller of interests and short positions disclosed, if different from 1(a):
            The naming of nominee or vehicle companies is insufficient. For a trust, the trustee(s), settlor and beneficiaries must be named.    		  
    (c)   Name of offeror/offeree in relation to whose relevant securities this form relates:
            Use a separate form for each offeror/offeree    		 American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings, Inc.
    (d)   If an exempt fund manager connected with an offeror/offeree, state this and specify identity of offeror/offeree:  
    (e)   Date position held/dealing undertaken:
            For an opening position disclosure, state the latest practicable date prior to the disclosure    		 29/01/2025
    (f)   In addition to the company in 1(c) above, is the discloser making disclosures in respect of any other party to the offer?
            If it is a cash offer or possible cash offer, state “N/A”    		 YES
    Offeree: Dowlais Group plc

    2.        POSITIONS OF THE PERSON MAKING THE DISCLOSURE

    If there are positions or rights to subscribe to disclose in more than one class of relevant securities of the offeror or offeree named in 1(c), copy table 2(a) or (b) (as appropriate) for each additional class of relevant security.

    (a)      Interests and short positions in the relevant securities of the offeror or offeree to which the disclosure relates following the dealing (if any)

    Class of relevant security: USD 0.01 common
      Interests Short positions
    Number % Number %
    (1)   Relevant securities owned and/or controlled: 23,731.00 0.02    
    (2)   Cash-settled derivatives:        
    (3)   Stock-settled derivatives (including options) and agreements to purchase/sell:        

            TOTAL:

    		 23,731.00 0.02    

    All interests and all short positions should be disclosed.

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

    (b)      Rights to subscribe for new securities (including directors’ and other employee options)

    Class of relevant security in relation to which subscription right exists:  
    Details, including nature of the rights concerned and relevant percentages:  

    3.        DEALINGS (IF ANY) BY THE PERSON MAKING THE DISCLOSURE

    Where there have been dealings in more than one class of relevant securities of the offeror or offeree named in 1(c), copy table 3(a), (b), (c) or (d) (as appropriate) for each additional class of relevant security dealt in.

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

    (a)        Purchases and sales

    Class of relevant security Purchase/sale Number of securities Price per unit

    (b)        Cash-settled derivative transactions

    Class of relevant security Product description
    e.g. CFD    		 Nature of dealing
    e.g. opening/closing a long/short position, increasing/reducing a long/short position    		 Number of reference securities Price per unit

    (c)        Stock-settled derivative transactions (including options)

    (i)        Writing, selling, purchasing or varying

    Class of relevant security Product description e.g. call option Writing, purchasing, selling, varying etc. Number of securities to which option relates Exercise price per unit Type
    e.g. American, European etc.    		 Expiry date Option money paid/ received per unit

    (ii)        Exercise

    Class of relevant security Product description
    e.g. call option    		 Exercising/ exercised against Number of securities Exercise price per unit

    (d)        Other dealings (including subscribing for new securities)

    Class of relevant security Nature of dealing
    e.g. subscription, conversion    		 Details Price per unit (if applicable)

    4.        OTHER INFORMATION

    (a)        Indemnity and other dealing arrangements

    Details of any indemnity or option arrangement, or any agreement or understanding, formal or informal, relating to relevant securities which may be an inducement to deal or refrain from dealing entered into by the person making the disclosure and any party to the offer or any person acting in concert with a party to the offer:
    Irrevocable commitments and letters of intent should not be included. If there are no such agreements, arrangements or understandings, state “none”

    None

    (b)        Agreements, arrangements or understandings relating to options or derivatives

    Details of any agreement, arrangement or understanding, formal or informal, between the person making the disclosure and any other person relating to:
    (i)   the voting rights of any relevant securities under any option; or
    (ii)   the voting rights or future acquisition or disposal of any relevant securities to which any derivative is referenced:
    If there are no such agreements, arrangements or understandings, state “none”

    None

    (c)        Attachments

    Is a Supplemental Form 8 (Open Positions) attached? NO
    Date of disclosure: 30/01/2025
    Contact name: Mackenzie Terry
    Telephone number: +442071441555

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

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

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

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Banking: Authority raises funds for Alzheimer’s Society IOM

    Source: Isle of Man

    Staff at the Isle of Man Financial Services Authority continue to raise thousands of pounds each year for local charities.

    The Authority’s nominated Charity of the Year for 2024 was Alzheimer’s Society Isle of Man, which provides care and support to improve the lives of people living with dementia. The organisation also offers practical advice to help the family and friends of a person who has recently been diagnosed with dementia.

    A cheque for £3,000 was presented to Claire Cubberley, the Local Service Manager at Alzheimer’s Society Isle of Man, by members of the Authority’s Charity & Social Committee.

    The money was raised by colleagues taking part in a number of activities throughout the year including dress down days, bake sales, a raffle and the Santa Dash.

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Sweden and Colombia sign law enforcement agreement

    Source: Government of Sweden

    Sweden and Colombia sign law enforcement agreement – Government.se

    Please enable javascript in your browser

    Press release from Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Justice

    Published

    On 28 January, Sweden signed a bilateral law enforcement agreement with Colombia during Maria Malmer Stenergard’s visit to Colombia.

    On behalf of the Government, Minister for Foreign Affairs Maria Malmer Stenergard signed a bilateral law enforcement agreement at a ceremony in Bogotá on 28 January together with Colombia’s Minister of Justice Ángela María Buitrago and Minister of National Defence Iván Velásquez. 

    The agreement aims to increase cooperation between Sweden and Colombia in the fight against cross-border organised crime, terrorism, drug trafficking and cybercrime. It also paves the way for increased information exchange, cooperation on capacity building and the exchange of experiences. 

    “Organised crime is a cross-border problem that requires international cooperation with our partners around the world. The Government looks forward to working together with Colombia in this area of vital importance to both our countries,” says Ms Malmer Stenergard. 

    This cooperation agreement that we have now concluded with Colombia is essential to further strengthening our agencies’ efforts to combat serious crime. It’s widely acknowledged that drug smuggling, especially of cocaine, helps finance serious organised crime that severely undermines individuals’ sense of security and integrity, and which is also a systemic threat to our free and open society as a whole. Cross-border problems demand cross-border solutions, and this cooperation is a key part of that,” says Minister for Justice Gunnar Strömmer.

    The law enforcement agreement is part of the bilateral partnership agreement between Sweden and Colombia signed in June 2024 by Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and President of Colombia Gustavo Petro, during his visit to Sweden.

    Press contact

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Resistance and decisive action – Sweden’s national strategy against organised crime

    Source: Government of Sweden

    Resistance and decisive action – Sweden’s national strategy against organised crime – Government.se

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    Press release from Ministry of Justice

    Published

    The Swedish Government has adopted Sweden’s first comprehensive national strategy against organised crime. The strategy serves as a direction for the work against organised crime, with the purpose to reduce vulnerabilities exploited by criminals. The national strategy presents priorities and identifies central actors.

    Organised crime poses a serious threat to the Swedish society. The deadly violence and the criminal financial structures used by organised crime actors, and parallel social structures at local level, affect the safety and security of Swedish citizens. Also, the impact of organised crime damages citizens’ trust in public institutions. The national strategy against organised crime that the Swedish Government adopted on 1 February 2024 calls for resistance and action, and it highlights what is necessary in the fight against organised crime. 

    Sweden’s national strategy against organised crime targets five key areas: 

    • Criminal careers must be stopped. 
    • Criminals’ access to illegal firearms and explosives must decrease.
    • The criminal economy must be reduced. 
    • Society must be robust enough to resist the threat of criminal influence. 
    • The system related to identities and identification must be reliable, and government agencies’ possibilities to exchange information must be improved. 

    “With this strategy, we are bringing together a broad range of actors at national, regional and local levels, as well as the private sector and civil society, to combat crime. We need to be proactive, and it is essential that all parts of society contribute – this is not a task for law enforcement only. The national strategy will further amplify the impact of the Government’s decisions and legislative reforms,” says Minister for Justice Gunnar Strömmer.  

    Press contact

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: New report published highlighting the value of seabed mapping

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    A new report reveals the significant economic and environmental benefit of seabed mapping within the UK Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

    The report, developed by Eunomia Research & Consulting (Eunomia) defines the cost benefit relationship of seabed mapping to the UK economy. It highlights the potential benefits of seabed mapping in environmental conservation, compliance with legislation, and in varying maritime sectors like shipping, offshore energy, and coastal leisure.

    The report estimates that the average total benefits of seabed mapping in the UK EEZ is around £8.9 billion, compared to an estimated annual investment of £103 million each year. This represents a remarkable average estimate of cost benefit ratio of £86 benefit for every £1 spent.

    The majority of the value derived from seabed mapping efforts are from market sectors such as offshore energy and shipping, trades, and ports, with the remainder stemming from non-market sectors, such as environmental protection and legislative compliance.

    The importance of seabed mapping

    Seabed mapping has the potential to drive growth and innovation across a range of maritime sectors by improving navigational safety, supporting job creation and facilitating economic development.

    This data is critical to a range of maritime sectors and their associated value. For example, accurate seabed mapping is essential for the development of navigational charts to enable the safe passage of vessels and support maritime trade. Elsewhere, such data is critical for sectors like offshore energy, fishing and aquaculture, defence, and telecommunications, by identifying and surveying suitable sites for development.

    Beyond market applications, seabed mapping also contributes to environmental protection and marine resource management. This data helps establish conservation areas to protect marine habitats, while also monitoring levels of erosion and seabed landslides. In tandem, it plays a vital role in helping the UK government to comply with various regulations and legislations.

    Thanks to collective initiatives such as the UK Centre for Seabed Mapping (UK CSM), the UK has a coordinated approach to the collection and management of bathymetric and marine data. However, advancements in seabed mapping technologies in recent decades have allowed for a more comprehensive and up-to-date understanding of the seafloor.

    Foundation data for maritime decisions

    With the maritime industry making up a vital part of the UK’s national infrastructure, the UKHO commissioned this project with the goal of improving the quality, access and coverage of seabed mapping data across the UK EEZ. This aligns with the UKHO’s goal to support maritime decision making and the safe passage of vessels at sea.

    David Parker, Head of Hydrographic Programmes, commented:

    Mapping the seabed isn’t just about uncovering what lies beneath our ocean’s surface – it is a foundation data set for supporting economic growth, protecting our vital ecosystems, and steering the maritime industry towards a safer, more sustainable future.

    We hope the findings of this report demonstrate the tangible value in having comprehensive, accurate mapping of the seabed for the many organisations in the UK that collect this data and rely upon it for responsible decision making.

    You can download and view the report using the link below:

    Cost Benefit Analysis of Seabed Mapping (PDF, 992 KB, 51 pages)

    Updates to this page

    Published 30 January 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Applications now open for OIT’s 2025 Policy Fellowship

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    The Open Innovation Team (OIT) is inviting applications for its 2025 Policy Fellowship programme, an academic mentoring scheme for civil servants grades SEO-G6.

    The OIT is a cross-government unit that works with experts to generate analysis and ideas for policy, helping colleagues review evidence, engage experts, develop policy and evaluate impact.

    Our Policy Fellowship is a bespoke, flexible, part-time mentoring programme that supports officials by providing help and expert insight to answer a specific policy question. Over the course of six months, civil servants will work under the supervision of an academic mentor in a relevant field to research and produce an output based on their policy area. Mentors are drawn from OIT partner institutions: Brunel University London, the University of Essex, Lancaster University, the University of Surrey and the University of York.

    What you’ll gain:

    • In-depth support and insight from leading academics
    • New contacts across academia and the civil service
    • Practical skills in data analysis and interpretation
    • Enhanced subject knowledge in your chosen field

    This is the third round of the Fellowship – in 2023/24, nine civil servants from five different departments were paired with academics from four universities. An example of one of their research outputs can be found here.

    This year’s programme offers an expanded range of research topics, including (but not limited to) education, health & social care, AI and digital, environment and sustainability, government, and business, work and employment.

    The Policy Fellowship was a really insightful experience – it gave us the chance to test our ideas with academics and structure our research effectively. Regular check-ins kept us on track, and we delivered an internal report that supported our department’s policy work.

    It was great to collaborate beyond government and gain fresh perspectives from academics, who were really understanding and supportive. I’d recommend the fellowship to policy officials looking to fill evidence gaps—or even map them out!

    Georgina Kaye, Policy Advisor Digital Strategy Division, Digital Data and Technology, Department for Education

    How to apply:

    • The application window opens on 30 January and closes 24 February.
    • Full details about the Fellowship and the application process can be found in our Q&A pack, and you can email fellowship@openinnovation.gov.uk if you have any questions.

    Key documents:

    • Q&A pack – in this document you can learn more about the OIT and the Fellowship, along with eligibility criteria and all the information you’ll need to apply: [link needed]
    • Open Innovation Fellowship Application Form

    Updates to this page

    Published 30 January 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Fire risk! City residents urged to dispose of batteries responsibly

    Source: City of Wolverhampton

    The council has seen an increase in the number of batteries put in household and recycling bins for collection and this can have dangerous consequences.

    Batteries can explode if damaged or crushed, causing fires which burn very quickly due to other waste in the bin and putting everything around them in danger.

    This can cause serious damage to bin lorries, delay collections and put the lives of those in the cab at risk.

    Batteries are found in a wide range of items including vapes, toothbrushes, toys, phones, laptops and even musical greeting cards.

    Residents across Wolverhampton are being urged to please dispose of their batteries correctly to avoid putting people in danger.

    The council’s Household Waste and Recycling Centres (Tips) at Shaw Road and Anchor Lane accept batteries, as do many supermarkets and shops.

    They can also be picked up for free under our small electricals collection service. Batteries need to be placed in a small clear plastic bag, such as a sandwich bag, and put on top of your household waste or recycling bin by 6.30am on your collection day. Bags need to be tied.

    Residents can find out about the service at Small electricals recycling.

    Councillor Bhupinder Gakhal, cabinet member for resident services at City of Wolverhampton Council, said: “This is a very serious issue for our waste crews and one that can be solved by people thinking before they dispose of their batteries, and other items which may contain them.

    “These types of battery fires spread rapidly and can damage refuse vehicles, but more importantly, can threaten the lives of our workers.

    “We need to send out a strong reminder to people of the importance of safe recycling. Please, please dispose of your batteries safely and think of the safety of others.”

    Figures released last year by the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) and the campaign group Recycle Your Electricals showed that battery fires in bin lorries and at waste sites in the UK had reached an all time high.

    More than 1,200 fires were recorded in 2023, an increase of 71% from 700 in 2022. Their research also stated that 6bn batteries were thrown away in the last year, over 3,000 a minute.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Security: New INTERPOL Regional Bureau for the Middle East and North Africa moves a step closer

    Source: Interpol (news and events)

    30 January 2025

    RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – The creation of a new INTERPOL Regional Bureau the Middle East  and North Africa (MENA) in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has taken an important step forward.

    The ‘Host Country Agreement’ was signed at a ceremony attended by Saudi Arabia’s Minister of the Interior, His Royal Highness Prince Abdulaziz Bin Saud Bin Naif bin Abdulaziz, INTERPOL President Ahmed Naser Al-Raisi and INTERPOL Secretary General Valdecy Urquiza.Aimed at strengthening INTERPOL’s engagement with the MENA region, the new Regional Bureau will serve as a hub for the Organization’s activities in supporting member countries in combating transnational crime and terrorism.

    It will also work closely with existing national and regional structures, such as the Arab Interiors Ministers’ Council, GCCPOL, and the Naif Arab University for Security Sciences to strengthen cooperation and information sharing.

    The establishment of the Regional Bureau was first proposed in 2016 at the INTERPOL Chiefs of Police Meeting for the MENA region. The plan was subsequently endorsed by INTERPOL’s General Assembly in Santiago, Chile, in 2019, with final approval for the Host Country Agreement from the Executive Committee in May 2024.

    The Agreement incorporates principles essential to ensuring the Regional Bureau’s proper functioning. The next steps in finalizing the creation and opening of the Regional Bureau will cover the financial, administrative, security and logistical aspects.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI China: Various events held to celebrate Spring Festival across China

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    Various events held to celebrate Spring Festival across China

    Updated: January 30, 2025 17:52 Xinhua
    Folk artists stage a dragon dance show in Tancheng County, east China’s Shandong Province, Jan. 29, 2025. People enjoy various activities to celebrate the Chinese New Year which fell on Jan. 29 this year. [Photo/Xinhua]
    A folk artist performs a face-changing show at a temple fair in Hengyang, central China’s Hunan Province, Jan. 29, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    A drone photo shows tourists visiting a tourism street in Leling County, east China’s Shandong Province, Jan. 29, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Tourists visit a cultural tourism area in Fengnan District of Tangshan City, north China’s Hebei Province, Jan. 29, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Tourists take photos of light installations in Datong, north China’s Shanxi Province, Jan. 29, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Folk artists stage a molten iron fireworks show at a temple fair in Luoyang, central China’s Henan Province, Jan. 29, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Tourists visit a cultural tourism area in Anshun City, southwest China’s Guizhou Province, Jan. 29, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    A drone photo shows folk artists performing a lion dance in the air in Tule Village of Yuxiang Town in Yongji City, north China’s Shanxi Province, Jan. 29, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Tourists walk on a road decorated with lanterns in Xuan’en County, central China’s Hubei Province, Jan. 29, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Tourists select creative cultural products in Wuxing District of Huzhou, east China’s Zhejiang Province, Jan. 29, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    An aerial drone photo taken on Jan. 29, 2025 shows people visiting the Fenghuang ancient town in Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, central China’s Hunan Province. [Photo/Xinhua]
    A drone photo shows tourists visiting the Hukou Waterfall on the Yellow River, in Jixian County, north China’s Shanxi Province on Jan. 29, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Tourists visit the Mingsha Mountain and Crescent Spring scenic spot in the city of Dunhuang, northwest China’s Gansu Province, Jan. 30, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    An aerial drone photo taken on Jan. 29, 2025 shows a view of Nanhu Park in Nanning, south China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. [Photo/Xinhua]

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Defense Ministry Spokesperson’s Remarks on Recent Media Queries Concerning the Military on January 17, 2025 2025-01-21 The Lai Ching-te administration, in collusion with foreign forces, has been making constant provocations for “Taiwan independence”.

    Source: People’s Republic of China – Ministry of National Defense 2

    On the morning of January 17, 2025, Senior Colonel Wu Qian, Director General of the Information Office of the Ministry of National Defense (MND) and Spokesperson for the MND, answered recent media queries concerning the military.

    Senior Colonel Wu Qian, spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense (MND) of the People’s Republic of China (PRC), answers recent media queries concerning the military on January 17, 2025. (mod.gov.cn/Photo by Li Xiaowei)

    (The following English text is for reference. In case of any divergence of interpretation, the Chinese text shall prevail.)

    I have one piece of information at the top.

    According to the cooperation plan between the Chinese and French militaries, General Wu Yanan, Commander of the PLA Southern Theatre Command and Rear Admiral Guillaume Pinget, Joint Commander of the French Armed Forces in the Asia-Pacific had a video phone call on the morning of January 17. They had an in-depth exchange of views on issues of common interest.

    Question: After an earthquake struck the city of Rikaze in Xizang, President Xi Jinping made important instructions. The PLA and the PAP are actively involved in rescue and disaster relief efforts. Please share more information on it.

    Wu Qian: On January 7, a 6.8-magnitude earthquake jolted Dingri County in the city of Rikaze in Xizang Autonomous Region and caused heavy casualties. President Xi Jinping attached great importance to the disaster relief work and gave important instructions. He emphasized that every effort be made to search for and rescue survivors, treat the injured, and minimize fatalities.

    Military organs and troops at all levels resolutely implemented the important instructions of President Xi and the CMC, making all out efforts to protect the safety of people’s lives and property and ensure social stability. The CMC Joint Operations Command Center promptly activated the emergency response mechanism and guided the PLA Western Theater Command and PAP troops to organize ground and air forces to effectively carry out rescue operations. As of January 15, the PLA and the PAP had all together deployed 2,055 service members and 869 militia personnel, 20 transport aircraft, helicopters, and unmanned aerial vehicles, as well as 297 sets of vehicles and engineering equipment. They have rescued 27 people, relocated 2,756 people, set up 21 field medical support stations, treated and provided medical service to 22,359 injured, constructed 2,812 tents or portable houses, provided more than 95,000 portions of hot meals, transported disaster relief supplies of over 4,300 tons, and cleared more than 4,700 cubic meters of debris.

    When the people are affected by disasters, the military will come to their rescue. When the military and the people unite, there is no challenge we cannot overcome. The Tibetan for “Hello, PLA” echoing through the earthquake-stricken area reflects the profound bond between the military and the people. Standing together with the people in earthquake-stricken areas, the people’s military put into practice the fundamental mission of serving the people wholeheartedly with concrete actions, and built an unbreakable great wall of steel to protect the people.

    Question: Since the beginning of 2025, the PLA and the PAP have commenced their annual military training, making an all out effort to meet the military’s centenary goal. Please provide more information about this.

    Wu Qian: In 2025, military training will focus on responding to real security threats, enhance training under real combat scenarios, strengthen exercises on joint operations system, and fully leverage the deterring and conflict-preventing functions of military training. We will implement the arrangements made at the on-site meeting on basic training and the on-site meeting on combined training, conduct training in accordance with the new basic training outline, and address challenging issues by extensively conducting cross-service mixed formations training. We will give priority to training on new equipment such as new-type fighter jets, vessels and missiles, actively explore training in emerging fields such as unmanned systems and intelligent technologies, and create new growth points for combat capabilities. We will use more “technology+” and “cyber+” methods to solve training problems and advance innovations in technology-enhanced training. We will continue to carry out joint exercises and training with the armed forces of relevant countries and regions on more subjects, expand the scale of forces, increase joint training time, actively participate in international military sports competitions, and promote in-depth and practical training exchanges and cooperation between China and foreign countries.

    Question: General Liu Zhenli, Chief of the Joint Staff Department of the CMC, led a delegation to visit Malaysia and Indonesia. Please brief us more on the bilateral military relations between China and these two countries.

    Wu Qian: General Liu Zhenli, member of the CMC and Chief of the Joint Staff Department of the CMC, visited Malaysia and Indonesia from January 6 to 12. During the visit, the two sides exchanged views on issues of mutual interest, such as the relations between the two countries and militaries, and international and regional situation. The visit aimed at implementing the important consensus reached between the leaders of China and these two countries, enhance strategic communication, deepen cooperation, and elevate the mil-to-mil relationship to new heights.

    Both Malaysia and Indonesia are friendly neighbors of China across the sea. Under the strategic guidance of President Xi Jinping and the leaders of these two countries, China-Malaysia and China-Indonesia relations have witnessed rapid and comprehensive growth, and started a new chapter of building a community with a shared future. As an important part of bilateral relationship, the mil-to-mil relations have also made positive progress. Sound exchanges and cooperation have been realized in high-level exchanges, joint training and exercises, maritime security, and multilateral coordination under the ASEAN framework. We stand ready to work together with the two militaries to further consolidate strategic mutual trust, strengthen personnel exchanges, extend substantive cooperation, jointly uphold international fairness and justice, work together to implement the Global Security Initiative (GSI) and make joint contributions to peace, stability and prosperity of the region and beyond.

    Question: The first Type 076 amphibious assault ship PLANS Sichuan had its launching and commissioning ceremony recently in Shanghai, which received wide media coverage around the world. According to media of the Taiwan region, the ship has astonishing capabilities for three-dimensional landing operations, and the deployment of the ship would be the most dangerous moment for Taiwan. Some foreign news outlets also claimed that the ship will break regional balance of military power and bring unstable factors. What’s your comment?

    Wu Qian: It is a common practice for countries around the world to develop weapons and equipment in accordance with their national defense requirements. China’s independent development and construction of the Type 076 amphibious assault ship is a normal arrangement consistent with China’s national security needs and the overall development of the PLA Navy. The goal is to safeguard national sovereignty, security and development interests and better protect peace and stability in the region and beyond. The vessel is a new-type amphibious assault ship independently developed by China. It applies electromagnetic catapult and arresting technology, and can carry fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters and amphibious equipment. The ship has strong capabilities for amphibious and far-seas operations. After its launching, the ship will conduct equipment adjustments, mooring trials and sea trials.

    China stays committed to the path of peaceful development and a defense policy that is defensive in nature. The launching of the ship is a normal arrangement in the development of the PLA Navy. It is not targeted at any specific entity, region or country.

    Question: According to media reports, China’s military exchanges with foreign countries witnessed solid progress with many highlights in the year 2024. Please brief us more information.

    Wu Qian: In 2024, officers, soldiers and civilian personnel engaged in military diplomacy carried forward our fine traditions and made innovative efforts in our undertaking, and continued to improve the quality and efficiency of international military cooperation. First, shaping a favorable strategic environment. Staying in line with the directions set by head-of-state diplomacy, the Chinese military maintained close and practical military cooperation with Russia; progressively restored strategic communications and institutionalized dialogues with the US; deepened strategic communications with European countries, and engaged in exchanges with defense authorities and militaries from dozens of other countries. Second, safeguarding national sovereignty and security. We lodged diplomatic representations and released information in a timely way to respond to provocations and violations made by certain countries on the Taiwan question and the South China Sea issue, refuting the wrong words and deeds of relevant parties. Third, expanding multilateral diplomacy. As the host, the Chinese military successfully held the 11th Beijing Xiangshan Forum and the West Pacific Naval Symposium. We also actively participated in multilateral events like the Shangri-La Dialogue and the Defense Ministers’ Meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization to make our voice heard on multilateral stages. Fourth, deepening cooperation on joint training and exercises. For the first time, our troops participated in Exercise Peace Unity in Africa and Exercise Formosa in Brazil, which contributed to regional peace and stability. Fifth, fulfilling the responsibilities of a major country. China’s Blue Helmets (peacekeepers) stayed on their combat posts in war zones; Channel 16 (of the PLAN vessel-protection task forces) remains a code for peace in the Gulf of Aden and waters off the coast of Somalia; the Ark Peace, the PLAN hospital ship provided medical services to people of 13 countries in Asia and Africa; and humanitarian demining courses were organized for Cambodia and Laos. The Chinese military has been taking concrete actions to deliver hope, warmth and strength.

    In the new year, staff for military diplomacy will continuously act on Xi Jinping Thought on Strengthening the Military and Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy in promoting military diplomacy. We will uphold the concept of building a community with a shared future for mankind and go all out to achieve the centenary goal of the PLA.

    Question: According to media reports, the Chinese military’s oxygen supply support system for plateau units has achieved initial results in recent years, effectively meeting the oxygen needs of troops stationed at high altitudes. Please provide more information about this.

    Wu Qian: President Xi and the CMC have always cared for the well-being and health of officers and soldiers stationed on the plateau regions, and have paid close attention to the issue of providing them with adequate oxygen supply. In recent years, we have developed a plateau oxygen supply support system covering large areas, establishing permanent storage points and a tiered distribution network. This system ensures that our troops on the plateau have access to oxygen during routine duties and can carry portable oxygen supplies during mobile operations. The transition from using oxygen solely for life-saving purposes to using it for improving health and conducting operations has significantly decreased the incidence of plateau-related diseases and acute altitude sickness among military personnel.

    First, we have constructed more permanent oxygen production and supply stations, and equipped more oxygen generators to high-altitude units, making oxygen supply available at the soldiers’ bedside. Second, mobile oxygen production facilities, like oxygen-generating cabins, have been deployed to mission areas, effectively overcoming the challenge of sustaining oxygen supply in remote locations. Third, portable individual oxygen supply devices have been issued to to troops, allowing for flexible utilization based on mission requirements. Fourth, we have intensified our efforts in technological innovation, initiating multiple projects for the development of new oxygen production and supply equipment.

    It is cold in the border areas, yet the troops there are full of passion. For a long time, border defense troops stationed on the plateau have guarded the borders in extremely harsh conditions, making great sacrifices for the country and the people. Their dedication to the country will never be forgotten, and their well-being always tugs at the heartstrings of the people.

    Question: It is reported that a naval vessel recently rescued a sick fisherman while performing a mission in the waters of Huangyan Dao. Could you please give us more details about it?

    Wu Qian: Recently, a Chinese fisherman on Qiongqionghai 03003, who was fishing near Huangyan Dao, suddenly suffered from gastric bleeding. The replenishment ship Qinghaihu of the PLA Navy, which was operating in the vicinity, promptly responded and transferred the ailing fisherman aboard for initial medical treatment. It then navigated to waters east of Yongxing Dao, where a rescue helicopter from the Sansha Maritime Search and Rescue Sub-center airlifted the fisherman to the People’s Hospital of Sansha City for further treatment. The fisherman has now been discharged from the hospital and is in stable condition. The Chinese military will continue to protect the safety of the people’s lives and property and contribute to peace and stability in the South China Sea.

    Question: According to the “Taiwan Central News Agency”, Lai Ching-te, leader of the Taiwan region recently said that countries like China and Russia threaten the rule-based international order and undermine peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region and beyond. Therefore, Taiwan needs to continue to raise “defense budget” and enhance “defense capabilities.” What’s your comment?

    Wu Qian: Lai Ching-te and his kind have betrayed their ancestors and what he said was far away from the truth. International documents including the Cairo Declaration and the Potsdam Proclamation have confirmed that the Taiwan region should be returned to China. Such fact is an important part of the post-WWII international order. The victory and outcome of the WWII must be respected and safeguarded. There is no other status of the Taiwan region in the international law than being a part of China.

    The Lai Ching-te administration, in collusion with foreign forces, has been making constant provocations for “Taiwan independence”. It is now the biggest source of chaos that undermines peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and the Asia Pacific. We warn the Lai Ching-te administration and separatists for “Taiwan independence” that any attempt to seek independence by force is just like holding back the tide with a broom, and will eventually lead to self-destruction. Those seeking “Taiwan independence” will never have a good end. The PLA will spare no effort to fight separatism and promote national reunification. We have full confidence that the Taiwan region will return to the motherland and will have a better future after its return.

    Wu Qian: The Chinese Spring Festival of the Year of the Snake is just around the corner. In Chinese tradition, the snake is a symbol of wisdom and vitality It also implies adapability and the conquering of the unyielding with the yielding. As families reunite to bid farewell to the past and embrace the future, I would like to extend warm New Year wishes to you all on behalf of my colleagues. Rest assured that the Chinese military will continue to stand by your side, offering warmth and protection. We will always be the sturdy support you can count on. May our country prosper and our people live in harmony.

    Senior Colonel Wu Qian, spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense (MND) of the People’s Republic of China (PRC), answers recent media queries concerning the military on January 17, 2025. (mod.gov.cn/Photo by Li Xiaowei)

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Youth Justice Statistics: record lows in custody and first time entrants

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    The Youth Justice Annual Statistics for 2023 to 2024 were published today. There are fewer first time entrants and children in custody, but court delays remain a concern.

    The Youth Justice Statistics for 2023 to 24.

    The Youth Justice Statistics for England and Wales reveal a mix of promising trends and areas requiring urgent attention.

    Key findings include:

    • the number of children entering the system for the first time (first-time entrants (FTE)) fell to its lowest level on record (8,300)
    • stop and searches of children by the police decreased by 4% (103,100)
    • court sentences outnumbered Youth Cautions for the first time – 55% of FTEs received a sentence at court compared with 48% in the previous year – this marks an increasing shift toward diversion and alternative approaches to youth justice
    • the numbers of children in custody has fallen by 3% against the previous year and is the lowest number on record (430)
    • the average time from offence to court completion rose to 225 days, the highest on record, highlighting an ongoing challenge for the justice system and victims
    • while there were encouraging decreases in the numbers and proportions of Black children at various stages in the system, the proportion of Mixed ethnicity children in custody has doubled over the last 10 years
    • almost two-thirds (62%) of children remanded to youth detention accommodation did not go on to receive a custodial sentence, this raises significant concerns
    • The proven reoffending rate for children increased to 32.5%, a 0.3 percentage point increase on the previous year, while the number of children and the number of children who reoffended both increased for the first time in the last 10 years.
    • There were reductions in knife and weapon offences, a fall of 6% compared with the previous year and the sixth consecutive year-on-year decrease.

    In addition to the above findings, arrests of children remained stable, even as adult arrests increased by 8%. Despite widespread media coverage and the consequential public perception that children are responsible for a disproportionate amount of criminal activity, arrests of children accounted for just 8% of total arrests.

    There were reductions in knife and weapon offences, a fall of 6% compared with the previous year and the sixth consecutive year-on-year decrease. Although 20% higher than 10 years ago, this shows that local efforts to bring down offences involving weapons are having an impact.

    Court timeliness

    The average time it takes from offence to court completion has not bounced back and is on average 4 days longer than what we saw during the pandemic when there were court closures.

    This is very troubling because delays place a significant strain on children and victims who are looking to move forward in their lives and potentially delaying justice and delaying them from accessing the right support at the right time.

     We believe that the court system needs major changes. We’re working with the Crown Prosecution Service and HM Courts and Tribunals Service to advocate for the Child First framework, which focuses on creating fair and efficient processes for children, cutting down delays, and achieving better results for everyone involved.

    Tackling over-representation

    There were encouraging improvements in reducing the over-representation of children from Black and Mixed ethnicities. However, we must be clear, any over-representation is unacceptable.

    It is of particular concern that the proportion of children with a Mixed ethnicity in custody has doubled over the last decade. This is a stark reminder of the need for systemic reform.  

    We will continue to build partnerships, promote good practice and provide targeted support in community-based solutions such as through the London Accommodation Pathfinder (the LAP). The LAP prioritises boys of Black or Mixed  heritage facing remand to custody and supports them in a more appropriate and effective community setting.

    We continue to have significant concerns about the high use of remand, which means that hundreds of children experience the negative effects of custody and then go on to receive a community sentence, or no sentence at all. This creates additional trauma and exposure to criminality for the children, and also leads to unnecessary risk and costs for the general public.

    Keith Fraser, Chair of the Youth Justice Board, said:

    There are many positives within this report. The numbers of stop and searches and children entering the system for the first time fell once again after increasing in the previous year. The numbers of children in custody continued to fall, knife and weapon offences have reduced for the sixth consecutive year, and arrests and youth cautions/sentences have remained stable at a time when adult arrests rose by 8%.

    We must continue to build on these trends. The evidence tells us that the best way to prevent prolonged offending is to prevent bringing children into the justice system in the first place. This is the route to positive child outcomes, less crime, fewer victims and safer communities.

    I want to express my gratitude to everyone in the youth justice sector for their dedication and hard work. These reductions show that change is possible. Together, we can build on this momentum to ensure better outcomes for all children.

    Youth Justice Board media enquiries

    Youth Justice Board for England and Wales
    Clive House
    70 Petty France
    London
    SW1H 9EX

    Email comms@yjb.gov.uk

    For out-of-hours press queries 020 3334 3536

    Ends

    Notes to editors

    1. These statistics look at data for the youth justice system in England and Wales for the year ending March 2024 (where available). The publication considers the number of children (those aged 10 to 17) in the system, the offences they committed, the outcomes they received, their demographics and the trends over time.
    2. Youth Custody Statistics also incorporate young adults who have remained in the youth estate,
    3. In addition to the report, there is a summary infographic which highlights the main findings.
    4. This release includes dashboards showing local level data. The YJB does not comment on regional data or localised themes as often there are contexts specific to areas and communities which provide more valuable insight into local youth justice. The relevant local authority would be best placed to respond to requests for comment.

    Updates to this page

    Published 30 January 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Poverty relief charity under investigation for ‘high risk’ handling of funds

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    The Charity Commission has launched a statutory inquiry into Iraqi Welfare Association.

    The charity regulator for England and Wales is investigating the Iraqi Welfare Association (IWA) about its use of ‘high-risk’ methods to transfer and spend funds. Wider serious concerns held by the regulator include possible unmanaged conflicts of interest, failing to file accounts on time, failure to adhere to the charity’s Governing Document and acting outside of the purposes the charity was registered with.

    The IWA was set up to relieve poverty amongst the Iraqi community, particularly through the provision of advice and interpreting services to Iraqi refugees. Its wider purposes include providing classes and training to the Iraqi community, to relieve sickness, and protect and preserve public health and provide facilities for recreation.

    The Commission started proactively engaging with the IWA to assess how the charity was managing risks associated with working in Iraq. Iraq is deemed a ‘high-risk’ country by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. Its engagement continued due to the charity’s failure to submit accounts for four consecutive years (FYE 2019, 2022, 2021 and 2022).

    The engagement has been escalated to a statutory inquiry after it found the charity was transferring funds overseas using a ‘Hawala’ system. The regulator also found the charity’s director was using his personal bank account to make payments on behalf of the charity. Using a personal bank account and transfer methods outside the formal banking system poses a risk to possible loss or misuse of funds.

    The inquiry will also investigate potential conflicts of interest regarding decisions around salary payments and a contract with a connected private company.

    The inquiry will:

    • Consider the conduct of the trustees and their compliance with their legal duties and responsibilities
    • Determine whether the charity’s funds have been expended solely for charitable purposes in line with the charity’s stated objects.
    • Assess the administration, governance and management of the charity by its trustees.

    The Commission may extend the scope of the inquiry if additional regulatory issues emerge.

    It is the Commission’s policy, after it has concluded an inquiry, to publish a report detailing what issues the inquiry looked at, what actions were undertaken as part of the inquiry and what the outcomes were.   

    ENDS 

    Notes to editors:

    • The Charity Commission is the independent, non-ministerial government department that registers and regulates charities in England and Wales. Its ambition is to be an expert regulator that is fair, balanced, and independent so that charity can thrive. This ambition will help to create and sustain an environment where charities further build public trust and ultimately fulfil their essential role in enhancing lives and strengthening society.
    • On 17 January 2025, the Commission opened a statutory inquiry into Iraqi Welfare Association under section 46 of the Charities Act 2011.
    • A statutory inquiry is a legal power enabling the Commission to formally investigate matters of regulatory concern within a charity and to use protective powers for the benefit of the charity and its beneficiaries, assets, or reputation. An inquiry will investigate and establish the facts of the case so that the Commission can determine the extent of any misconduct and/or mismanagement; the extent of the risk to the charity, its work, property, beneficiaries, employees or volunteers; and decide what action is needed to resolve the concerns.
    • Hawala is a system for moving funds, or their equivalent value, to a third party (‘the Hawala agent’) in another geographic location, where there may be no formal banking facilities, or limited access to them, without necessarily involving the formal banking system.

    Press office

    Email pressenquiries@charitycommission.gov.uk

    Out of hours press office contact number: 07785 748787

    Updates to this page

    Published 30 January 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Patriotic action “Nevsky landing” started in Polytechnic

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

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

    A ceremonial assembly was held in the research building of Technopolis Polytech, where the youth patriotic campaign “Nevsky Desant” was launched. The guys performed bright numbers, received vouchers for the season and heard parting words.

    On behalf of the Chairman of the Legislative Assembly of St. Petersburg, Alexander Belsky, the student detachment fighters were greeted by his deputy, Pavel Itkin.

    It is gratifying that the student brigade movement is actively developing in the Northern capital. Participants of the youth patriotic action “Nevsky Desant” make a worthy contribution to the revival of this wonderful tradition. For ten years now, they have been inspiring young men and women of St. Petersburg with their example. And today we see how many caring young people live in our city. I sincerely thank you for your noble work and service to society, – Pavel Itkin read out the address.

    “Nevsky Landing” is a regional stage of the all-Russian patriotic action “Snow Landing”. This year the season of the action is called “Snow Landing of the RSO. Victory Landing” and is dedicated to the 80th anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War. Therefore, special attention will be paid to targeted assistance to WWII veterans, children of war and families of participants in the special military operation, as well as the improvement of memorials and memorable places.

    2025 is the year of the 80th anniversary of the Great Victory, a holiday associated with the movement of student brigades. Those who defended our country and returned home in 1945, already in 1947 went to the construction site as part of the first linear student brigades, which originated in our city, – noted Maxim Pasholikov, Vice-Rector for Youth Policy and Communication Technologies of SPbPU, at the assembly.

    The campaign is rapidly gaining momentum. This year, 29 teams of over 700 people will go to help in the settlements of the Leningrad Region and the Republic of Karelia. Five teams will represent the Polytechnic University. These are “Russian Knight”, “Peter the Great”, “Ilya Muromets”, “Prince Gagarin” and “Evpatiy Kolovrat”.

    From January 24 to February 16, students will conduct career guidance work with schoolchildren, help pensioners, veterans and those in need – remove snow and garbage, chop wood, repair houses. In addition, the fighters will hold creative evenings and concerts for everyone.

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: How to become the main hero of the Polytechnic? New rules for admission to the university have been issued

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

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

    The admission rules are the most important document for applicants. It reflects the calendar, the list of required documents for admission and the list of entrance examinations. This year, the document approved by the Academic Council of SPbPU was published on the university website on January 20. This year, 3,375 budget places have been allocated for full-time bachelor’s and specialist’s degree programs and 3,399 contract places (full-time, part-time, and correspondence forms of study). For future master’s students, 2,376 budget places have been offered for more than 170 educational programs.

    The new admission procedure regulated a fairly large number of points that largely affect the organizational issues of the admission campaign at the university. For our applicants, essentially nothing has changed. But at the same time, we emphasize that in some areas of training, the list of entrance examinations has changed, in connection with the release of a new order “On approval of the list of entrance examinations for admission to study in higher education programs – bachelor’s programs and specialist programs”. I would like to note that this year we unified the minimum passing subjects for the entire university and reduced the threshold for a number of subjects. This does not mean that it has become easier, it suggests even tougher competition for budget places. As the most important changes in the admission procedure, I would note the refusal to provide the original document on education and replacing it with consent for enrollment and, the second point, the establishment of control figures for admission to the contract form of education, which cannot change during the admission campaign, – commented on the new rules the responsible secretary of the admissions committee of SPbPU Vitaly Drobchik.

    The application period for admission in 2025 will begin on June 20, a date that remains unchanged.

    The list of individual achievements determines for what merits applicants can receive up to 10 points in addition to the sum of their USE or entrance examination scores. For example, a certificate with honors gives an applicant an additional 10 points to the USE score. This year, the list of individual achievements has been expanded with Olympiads, competitions, and educational programs. You can find out what you can get additional points for this year inRules in Appendix No. 4.

    And those who plan to enroll under the target quota will face an innovation. The participation of applicants in career guidance events of customers of target training or training in specialized classes of enterprises will be considered as an individual achievement and will serve as a reason for awarding an additional 5 points, which are added to the points for other individual achievements and with the points for exams.

    The number of areas in which one can simultaneously participate in the admissions competition has not changed – an applicant can choose up to 5 areas of training. Each selected area must be arranged in order of enrollment priority.

    Digitalization does not bypass admission to universities, so applicants from distant corners of Russia do not need to come to the university to submit documents to the Polytechnic. This year, as last year, future polytechnics will be able to submit documents using the super service “Online University Admission” on the State Services portal.

    Students entering the university after school this year are admitted based on the results of three Unified State Exams. Most areas of training offer the opportunity to choose a Unified State Exam subject: for example, when entering technical areas, applicants will need to pass either physics or computer science in addition to specialized mathematics and Russian language. The list of entrance examinations is published inRules in Appendix No. 1.

    The key change was the return of consents for enrollment. If previously applicants submitted consent to be enrolled in a university for a specific area, then this year the consent will become an analogue of an education document and will apply to the university as a whole. Consent can be submitted on the State Services portal as an electronic mark or to the university on paper.

    As for the Master’s program, there are no changes in the admission procedure this year. Students can enroll in the Master’s program in three ways: by winning a portfolio competition, becoming a winner or medalist of the All-Russian Olympiad “I am a Professional”, becoming a winner of the All-Russian engineering competition, or successfully passing an interdisciplinary exam. For the 2025 admissions campaign, 20 new Master’s programs have been developed, including the digital Master’s programs “Industrial and Civil Engineering” and “Russian as a Foreign Language and Intercultural Communication”, as well as the program for training teaching staff “Physics and Applied Mathematics in Science and Education”.

    To help applicants understand the admission rules, an online Open Day was held on January 26. The hosts of the live broadcast were the responsible secretary of the SPbPU Admissions Committee Vitaly Drobchik and a student of the Civil Engineering Institute Valeria Bublikova. Valeria introduced the viewers to the university and told them about the eventful student life. And Vitaly Viktorovich spoke about the changes in the admissions campaign in 2025 and answered questions from applicants.

    This year, the concept of the admission campaign of the Saint Petersburg Polytechnic University sounds like “You are the main character!” And the main character is our applicant, who then becomes a student of the university and creates a new history of the university with us.

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI: Forbes Lists Bitget Amongst The World’s Most Trustworthy Crypto Exchanges

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    VICTORIA, Seychelles, Jan. 30, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Bitget, the leading cryptocurrency exchange and Web3 company was announced in the list of Top 25 most trusted crypto exchanges by Forbes. Ranking eight on the list, Bitget has reported an influx of users in the last year along with a multitude of upgrades and collaborations which has supported its position in entering the club. With top players such as Coinbase, Binance and Robinhood, the list highlights crypto exchanges from all over the globe.

    Recently in its transparency report, Bitget recorded a 400% increase in its userbase surpassing 100M users in December and Spot trading volume increased from $160 billion in Q1 to $600 billion in Q4. Right from collaborating with Turkish national athletes, to legendary football league LALIGA to having new chiefs joining the company and the establishment of multiple licenses, Bitget has strengthened its position as a global leader, becoming the second largest crypto exchange ecosystem.

    Bitget is focusing in its expansion markets via localized marketing, partnerships, and educational initiatives. The exchange offers simplified onboarding, fiat gateways, and localized customer support to ease access. Bitget also invests in blockchain education, strategic sponsorships, and incentive programs to retain users in high-growth regions. With the joining of Hon NG, CLO at Bitget, the team is heavily invested in compliance. Recently, Bitget achieved UK approval, a BSP license in El Salvador and even opened a new exchange in Vietnam to run it as per local requirements.

    A recent report from CCData highlights Bitget’s success as the market share rose to 4.25%, surpassing its previous all-time high recorded in April 2024. Comparing the change in market share of the combined spot and derivatives market, Bitget, Coinbase and Crypto(dot)com were the biggest beneficiaries of 2024, increasing their market share by 4.05%, 3.89% and 3.39% to 10.5%, 5.43%, and 4.71% respectively.

    Previously, Bitget Token (BGB) was ranked as one of the top 10 best-performing cryptocurrencies by Forbes for H1 2024. Since then, BGB has surpassed all expectations with a surge of over 1000% last year. By reducing BGB’s supply, enhancing utility, and expanding real-world applications, Bitget plans to strengthen more functionalities and products in the Bitget ecosystem driving sustainable growth and long-term value for holders.

    Bitget’s debut on Forbes’ 2025 list of the world’s most trustworthy crypto exchanges highlights its remarkable growth and increasing credibility in the industry. With a strong BTC-ETH holding score and a focus on transparency, Bitget stands as one of the most secure crypto exchanges in the world. With transparent proof of reserves insuring 100% of its assets and a $600M Protection Fund safeguarding users, the exchange has accelerated its growth worldwide. The inclusion in the Forbes ranking list shows the exchange’s rising influence in the cryptospace.

    About Bitget

    Established in 2018, Bitget is the world’s leading cryptocurrency exchange and Web3 company. Serving over 100 million users in 150+ countries and regions, the Bitget exchange is committed to helping users trade smarter with its pioneering copy trading feature and other trading solutions, while offering real-time access to Bitcoin price, Ethereum price, and other cryptocurrency prices. Formerly known as BitKeep, Bitget Wallet is a world-class multi-chain crypto wallet that offers an array of comprehensive Web3 solutions and features including wallet functionality, token swap, NFT Marketplace, DApp browser, and more.

    Bitget is at the forefront of driving crypto adoption through strategic partnerships, such as its role as the Official Crypto Partner of the World’s Top Football League, LALIGA, in EASTERN, SEA and LATAM market, as well as a global partner of Turkish National athletes Buse Tosun Çavuşoğlu (Wrestling world champion), Samet Gümüş (Boxing gold medalist) and İlkin Aydın (Volleyball national team), to inspire the global community to embrace the future of cryptocurrency.

    For more information, visit: Website | Twitter | Telegram | LinkedIn | Discord | Bitget Wallet
    For media inquiries, please contact: media@bitget.com

    Risk Warning: Digital asset prices are subject to fluctuation and may experience significant volatility. Investors are advised to only allocate funds they can afford to lose. The value of any investment may be impacted, and there is a possibility that financial objectives may not be met, nor the principal investment recovered. Independent financial advice should always be sought, and personal financial experience and standing carefully considered. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results. Bitget accepts no liability for any potential losses incurred. Nothing contained herein should be construed as financial advice. For further information, please refer to our Terms of Use.

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/bbcc6417-899e-4a61-92b8-900a237e68f3

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Check Point Software Reports Fourth Quarter and 2024 Full Year Results

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    TEL AVIV, Israel, Jan. 30, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Check Point® Software Technologies Ltd. (NASDAQ: CHKP), today announced its financial results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2024.

    Fourth Quarter 2024 Highlights

    • Calculated Billings* reached $959 million, an 11 percent increase year over year
    • Remaining Performance Obligation (RPO)**: $2.5 billion, a 12 percent increase year over year
    • Total Revenues: $704 million, a 6 percent increase year over year
    • Product, License & Subscription Revenues: $463 million, a 9 percent increase year over year
    • GAAP Operating Income: $254 million, representing 36 percent of revenues
    • Non-GAAP Operating Income: $306 million, representing 44 percent of revenues
    • GAAP EPS: $2.30, a 7 percent increase year over year
    • Non-GAAP EPS: $2.70, a 5 percent increase year over year

    Full Year 2024 Highlights

    • Calculated Billings* reached $2,658 million, a 9 percent increase year over year
    • Total Revenues: $2,565 million, a 6 percent increase year over year
    • Security Subscriptions Revenues: $1,104 million, a 13 percent increase year over year
    • GAAP EPS: $7.46, a 5 percent increase year over year
    • Non-GAAP EPS: $9.16, a 9 percent increase year over year

    “We delivered exceptional fourth quarter results, a wonderful way to transition into my new Executive Chairman role. The success in the quarter was underscored by strong 8 percent revenue growth in our core Quantum Force appliance business, our industry leading Harmony E-mail solution, and expanded adoption of the Infinity platform,” said, Gil Shwed, Founder and Chairman of the Board of Check Point Software. “I would like to thank Check Point’s customers, partners, and the Global Check Point Team for their contributions to our continued success. I look forward to Check Point achieving new heights under the leadership of our new Chief Executive Officer, Nadav Zafrir,” concluded, Mr. Shwed.

    “I would like to thank Gil and the Board for the opportunity to lead such an exemplary organization. 2024 was a successful year and provides a great springboard for 2025 and beyond,” stated Nadav Zafrir, Chief Executive Officer of Check Point Software. “My first one hundred days are focused on meeting with customers and partners to understand the key challenges they face in today’s unprecedented threat environment. From my conversations so far, I have become increasingly confident that Check Point is uniquely positioned to address the cybersecurity demands of enterprises worldwide. Check Point’s future is bright, and we are focused on driving market share expansion and taking growth to the next levels,” stated Mr. Zafrir.

    “After a successful fourth quarter and 2024, we are starting 2025 with an expanded executive team to balance our corporate and Go-To-Market leadership roles, and bring even more attention to customer facing functions,” said Nadav Zafrir, CEO of Check Point Software. Among the new roles joining the executive team is that of Chief Revenue Officer. Itai Greenberg will serve in this role, driving our global top-line revenue across our platform worldwide. He brings more than two decades of experience in product management and sales roles, having most recently served as Check Point’s Chief Strategy Officer and head of the Cloud and SASE businesses. Replacing Itai in the role of Chief Strategy Officer, we welcome Roi Karo to Check Point. Roi brings more than two decades of expertise in security, AI, and big data with a focus on strategy and planning.

    In conclusion, after three successful years as Check Point’s President, Rupal Hollenbeck has chosen to conclude her tenure at the end of the first quarter and will remain available to support the smooth transition of the new executive team members. “I want to thank Rupal for her incredible work and dedication over the last three years during which the Go-To-Market organizations composition, reach, and focus was transformed all around the world. We wish her all the best in her future endeavors,” said Nadav Zafrir, CEO of Check Point Software. “We welcome Itai and Roi into their new executive team roles. I am excited about the opportunities before us, and I am more confident than ever that the best of Check Point is yet to come,” concluded, Mr. Zafrir.

    Financial Highlights Commentary

    • Cash Balances, Marketable Securities & Short-Term Deposits: $2,784 million as of December 31, 2024, compared to $2,960 million as of December 31, 2023. The decrease in cash is primarily a result of $186 million net of cash consideration utilized for Cyberint Ltd. acquisition in 2024.
    • Share Repurchase Program: During the fourth quarter of 2024, the company repurchased approximately 1.7 million shares at a total cost of approximately $325 million. During full year 2024, we repurchased approximately 7.7 million shares at a total cost of approximately $1,300 million.
    • Cash Flow: Cash flow from operations was $1,059, which included $18 million of costs related to our currency hedging transactions, and acquisition-related costs were insignificant. This compares to $1,035 million in 2023, which included $39 million of costs related to our currency hedging transactions and $25 million in costs related to acquisitions.

    For information regarding the non-GAAP financial measures discussed in this release, as well as a reconciliation of such non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures, please see “Use of Non-GAAP Financial Information” and “Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Financial Information.”

    Conference Call and Webcast Information
    Check Point will host a conference call with the investment community on January 30, 2025, at 8:30 AM ET/5:30 AM PT. To listen to the live webcast or replay, please visit the website www.checkpoint.com/ir.
    First Quarter 2025 Investor Conference Participation Schedule

    • Wolfe Research March Madness 1×1 Conference
      February 27, 2025, NY, NY – 1×1 meetings
    • Susquehanna Technology Conference
      February 27, 2025, NY, NY – 1×1 meetings
    • Raymond James 2025 Institutional Investor Conference
      March 3, 2025, Orlando, FL – Fireside & 1×1 meetings
    • Morgan Stanley 2025 Media, Telecommunications & Technology Conference
      March 4, 2025, SF, CA – Fireside & 1×1 meetings
    • Roth Capital Partners 37thAnnual Conference
      March 17-18, 2025, Dana Point, CA – 1×1 meetings

    Members of Check Point’s management team are expected to present at these conferences and discuss the latest company strategies and initiatives. Check Point’s conference presentations are expected to be available via webcast on the company’s web site. To hear these presentations and access the most updated information please visit the company’s web site at www.checkpoint.com/ir. The schedule is subject to change.

    Follow Check Point via:
    Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/checkpointsw
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/checkpointsoftware
    Blog: http://blog.checkpoint.com
    YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/CPGlobal
    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/check-point-software-technologies

    About Check Point Software Technologies Ltd.
    Check Point Software Technologies Ltd. (http://www.checkpoint.com) is a leading AI-powered, cloud-delivered cyber security platform provider protecting over 100,000 organizations worldwide. Check Point leverages the power of AI everywhere to enhance cyber security efficiency and accuracy through its Infinity Platform, with industry-leading catch rates enabling proactive threat anticipation and smarter, faster response times. The comprehensive platform includes cloud-delivered technologies consisting of Check Point Harmony to secure the workspace, Check Point CloudGuard to secure the cloud, Check Point Quantum to secure the network, and Check Point Infinity Core Services for collaborative security operations and services.

    Legal Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
    This press release contains forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements generally relate to future events or our future financial or operating performance. Forward-looking statements in this press release include, but are not limited to, statements related to our management transitions, expectations regarding our products and solutions, and our participation in investor conferences and Check Point Experience (CPX) events and other events during the first quarter of 2025. Our expectations and beliefs regarding these matters may not materialize, and actual results or events in the future are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those projected. These risks include our ability to continue to develop platform capabilities and solutions; customer acceptance and purchase of our existing solutions and new solutions; the market for IT security continuing to develop; competition from other products and services; appointments and departures of our executive officers; and general market, political, economic, and business conditions, including acts of terrorism or war. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are also subject to other risks and uncertainties, including those more fully described in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 2, 2024. The forward-looking statements in this press release are based on information available to Check Point as of the date hereof, and Check Point disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, except as required by law.

    Use of Non-GAAP Financial Information
    In addition to reporting financial results in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, or GAAP, Check Point uses non-GAAP measures of operating income, net income and earnings per diluted share, which are adjustments from results based on GAAP to exclude, as applicable, stock-based compensation expenses, amortization of intangible assets and acquisition related expenses and the related tax affects. Check Point’s management believes the non-GAAP financial information provided in this release is useful to investors’ understanding and assessment of Check Point’s ongoing core operations and prospects for the future. Historically, Check Point has also publicly presented these supplemental non-GAAP financial measures to assist the investment community to see the company “through the eyes of management,” and thereby enhance understanding of its operating performance. The presentation of this non-GAAP financial information is not intended to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for results prepared in accordance with GAAP. A reconciliation of the non-GAAP financial measures discussed in this press release to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures is included with the financial statements contained in this press release. Management uses both GAAP and non-GAAP information in evaluating and operating business internally and as such has determined that it is important to provide this information to investors.

    * Calculated Billings is a measure that we defined as total revenues recognized in accordance with GAAP plus the change in Total Deferred Revenues during the period

    ** Remaining Performance Obligation (RPO) is a measure that represents the total value of non-cancellable contracted products and/or services that are yet to be recognized as Revenue as of the period

     
    CHECK POINT SOFTWARE TECHNOLOGIES LTD.
    CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF INCOME
     
    (Unaudited, in millions, except per share amounts)
           
      Three Months Ended   Year Ended
      December 31,   December 31,
      2024   2023   2024   2023
    Revenues:              
    Products and licenses $ 170.6   $ 158.3   $ 507.9   $ 497.4
    Security subscriptions   292.2     265.8     1,104.2     981.2
    Total revenues from products and security subscriptions   462.8     424.1     1,612.1     1,478.6
    Software updates and maintenance   240.9     239.4     952.9     936.1
    Total revenues   703.7     663.5     2,565.0     2,414.7
                   
    Operating expenses:              
    Cost of products and licenses   29.6     28.0     97.8     99.3
    Cost of security subscriptions   19.7     17.2     72.6     57.0
    Total cost of products and security subscriptions   49.3     45.2     170.4     156.3
    Cost of Software updates and maintenance   33.4     30.5     123.9     112.3
    Amortization of technology   7.6     5.8     25.0     14.0
    Total cost of revenues   90.3     81.5     319.3     282.6
                   
    Research and development   101.1     100.0     394.9     368.9
    Selling and marketing   232.1     200.5     862.9     747.1
    General and administrative   25.9     29.7     111.9     117.0
    Total operating expenses   449.4     411.7     1,689.0     1,515.6
                   
    Operating income   254.3     251.8     876.0     899.1
    Financial income, net   24.5     18.4     96.1     76.5
    Income before taxes on income   278.8     270.2     972.1     975.6
    Taxes on income (tax benefit)   21.3     21.0     126.4     135.3
    Net income $ 257.5   $ 249.2   $ 845.7   $ 840.3
                           
    Basic earnings per share $ 2.36   $ 2.19   $ 7.65   $ 7.19
    Number of shares used in computing basic earnings per share   109.2     114.0     110.6     116.9
                           
    Diluted earnings per share $ 2.30   $ 2.15   $ 7.46   $ 7.10
    Number of shares used in computing diluted earnings per share   112.1     115.9     113.4     118.3
     
     
    CHECK POINT SOFTWARE TECHNOLOGIES LTD.
    SELECTED FINANCIAL METRICS
     (Unaudited, in millions, except per share amounts)
             
        Three Months Ended   Year Ended
        December 31,   December 31,
        2024   2023   2024   2023
                     
    Revenues   $ 703.7   $ 663.5   $ 2,565.0   $ 2,414.7
    Non-GAAP operating income     306.4     308.6     1,097.5     1,079.1
    Non-GAAP net income     303.2     298.5     1,039.1     997.1
    Diluted Non-GAAP Earnings per share   $ 2.70   $ 2.57   $ 9.16   $ 8.42
    Number of shares used in computing diluted Non-GAAP Earnings per share     112.1     115.9     113.4     118.3
                             
     
    CHECK POINT SOFTWARE TECHNOLOGIES LTD.
    RECONCILIATION OF GAAP TO NON-GAAP FINANCIAL INFORMATION
    (Unaudited, in millions, except per share amounts)
             
        Three Months Ended   Year Ended
        December 31,   December 31,
          2024       2023       2024       2023  
                     
    GAAP operating income   $ 254.3     $ 251.8     $ 876.0     $ 899.1  
    Stock-based compensation (1)     29.8       39.9       149.7       145.3  
    Amortization of intangible assets and acquisition related expenses (2)     22.3       16.9       71.8       34.7  
    Non-GAAP operating income   $ 306.4     $ 308.6     $ 1,097.5     $ 1,079.1  
                     
    GAAP net income   $ 257.5     $ 249.2     $ 845.7     $ 840.3  
    Stock-based compensation (1)     29.8       39.9       149.7       145.3  
    Amortization of intangible assets and acquisition related expenses (2)     22.3       16.9       71.8       34.7  
    Taxes on the above items (3)     (6.4 )     (7.5 )     (28.1 )     (23.2 )
                                     
    Non-GAAP net income   $ 303.2     $ 298.5     $ 1,039.1     $ 997.1  
                     
    Diluted GAAP Earnings per share   $ 2.30     $ 2.15     $ 7.46     $ 7.10  
    Stock-based compensation (1)     0.26       0.34       1.32       1.23  
    Amortization of intangible assets and acquisition related expenses (2)     0.20       0.15       0.63       0.29  
    Taxes on the above items (3)     (0.06 )     (0.07 )     (0.25 )     (0.20 )
    Diluted Non-GAAP Earnings per share   $ 2.70     $ 2.57     $ 9.16     $ 8.42  
                     
    Number of shares used in computing diluted Non-GAAP Earnings per share     112.1       115.9       113.4       118.3  
                     
    (1) Stock-based compensation:                
    Cost of products and licenses   $ 0.1     $ 0.1     $ 0.4     $ 0.4  
    Cost of software updates and maintenance     2.0       2.4       8.2       7.3  
    Research and development     10.8       14.2       53.1       48.7  
    Selling and marketing     12.0       15.2       58.2       56.3  
    General and administrative     4.9       8.0       29.8       32.6  
          29.8       39.9       149.7       145.3  
                     
    (2) Amortization of intangible assets and acquisition related expenses:                
    Amortization of technology-cost of revenues     7.6       5.8       25.0       14.0  
    Research and development     1.7       2.0       6.5       7.0  
    Selling and marketing     13.0       9.1       40.3       13.7  
          22.3       16.9       71.8       34.7  
    (3) Taxes on the above items     (6.4 )     (7.5 )     (28.1 )     (23.2 )
    Total, net   $ 45.7     $ 49.3     $ 193.4     $ 156.8  
     
     
    CHECK POINT SOFTWARE TECHNOLOGIES LTD.
    CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET DATA
     
    (In millions)
     
    ASSETS
               
          December 31,   December 31,
          2024
    (Unaudited)    		   2023
    (Audited)
    Current assets:          
    Cash and cash equivalents     $ 506.2   $ 537.7
    Marketable securities and short-term deposits       865.7     992.3
    Trade receivables, net       728.8     657.7
    Prepaid expenses and other current assets       92.7     70.0
    Total current assets       2,193.4     2,257.7
               
    Long-term assets:          
    Marketable securities       1,411.9     1,429.7
    Property and equipment, net       80.8     80.4
    Deferred tax asset, net       63.6     81.8
    Goodwill and other intangible assets, net       1,897.1     1,748.5
    Other assets       96.6     97.4
    Total long-term assets       3,550.0     3,437.8
               
    Total assets     $ 5,743.4   $ 5,695.5
     
               
    LIABILITIES AND
    SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
               
    Current liabilities:          
    Deferred revenues     $ 1,471.3     $ 1,413.8  
    Trade payables and other accrued liabilities       472.9       502.3  
    Total current liabilities       1,944.2       1,916.1  
               
    Long-term liabilities:          
    Long-term deferred revenues       529.0       493.9  
    Income tax accrual       448.5       436.1  
    Other long-term liabilities       32.3       28.4  
            1,009.8       958.4  
               
    Total liabilities       2,954.0       2,874.5  
               
    Shareholders’ equity:          
    Share capital       0.8       0.8  
    Additional paid-in capital       3,052.8       2,732.5  
    Treasury shares at cost       (14,267.7 )     (13,041.2 )
    Accumulated other comprehensive gain (loss)       (10.3 )     (39.2 )
    Retained earnings       14,013.8       13,168.1  
    Total shareholders’ equity       2,789.4       2,821.0  
                       
    Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity     $ 5,743.4     $ 5,695.5  
    Total cash and cash equivalents, marketable securities, and short-term deposits     $ 2,783.8     $ 2,959.7  
     
     
    CHECK POINT SOFTWARE TECHNOLOGIES LTD.
    SELECTED CONSOLIDATED CASH FLOW DATA
     
    (Unaudited, in millions)
     
      Three Months Ended   Year Ended
      December 31,   December 31,
        2024       2023       2024       2023  
    Cash flow from operating activities:              
    Net income $ 257.5     $ 249.2     $ 845.7     $ 840.3  
    Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:              
    Depreciation of property and equipment   6.3       5.7       24.0       23.1  
    Amortization of intangible assets   19.2       13.5       59.6       24.3  
    Stock-based compensation   29.8       39.9       149.7       145.3  
    Realized loss on marketable securities   –       –       –       6.7  
    Increase in trade and other receivables, net   (337.1 )     (324.3 )     (78.9 )     (61.0 )
    Increase in deferred revenues, trade payables and other accrued liabilities   273.0       270.6       59.7       65.5  
    Deferred income taxes, net   0.3       (18.8 )     (1.0 )     (9.5 )
    Net cash provided by operating activities   249.0       235.8       1,058.8       1,034.7  
                   
    Cash flow from investing activities:              
    Payment in conjunction with acquisitions, net of acquired cash   –       (3.8 )     (185.8 )     (458.8 )
    Investment in property and equipment   (6.5 )     (4.7 )     (24.2 )     (18.6 )
    Net cash used in investing activities   (6.5 )     (8.5 )     (210.0 )     (477.4 )
                   
    Cash flow from financing activities:              
    Proceeds from issuance of shares upon exercise of options   9.0       16.0       258.6       133.7  
    Purchase of treasury shares   (325.0 )     (313.2 )     (1,299.9 )     (1,287.6 )
    Payments related to shares withheld for taxes   (1.5 )     (1.2 )     (18.6 )     (11.0 )
    Net cash used in financing activities   (317.5 )     (298.4 )     (1,059.9 )     (1,164.9 )
                   
    Unrealized gain (loss) on marketable securities, net   (14.0 )     42.1       35.2       64.1  
                   
    Decrease in cash and cash equivalents, marketable securities, and short-term deposits   (89.0 )     (29.0 )     (175.9 )     (543.5 )
                   
    Cash and cash equivalents, marketable securities, and short-term deposits at the beginning of the period   2,872.8       2,988.7       2,959.7       3,503.2  
                   
    Cash and cash equivalents, marketable securities, and short-term deposits at the end of the period $ 2,783.8     $ 2,959.7     $ 2,783.8     $ 2,959.7  
     
       
    Investors: Kip E. Meintzer
    Check Point Software Technologies, Ltd.
    +1.650.628.2040
    ir@checkpoint.com    		 Media: Gil Messing
    Check Point Software Technologies, Ltd.
    +1.650.628.2260
    press@checkpoint.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Dimensional Fund Advisors Ltd. : Form 8.3 – AMERICAN AXLE & MFG HOLDINGS – Ordinary Shares

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    FORM 8.3

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

    1. KEY INFORMATION  
       
    (a) Full name of discloser: Dimensional Fund Advisors Ltd. in its capacity as investment advisor and on behalf its affiliates who are also investment advisors (”Dimensional”). Dimensional expressly disclaims beneficial ownership of the shares described in this form 8.3.  
    (b) Owner or controller of interests and short positions disclosed, if different from 1(a):
    The naming of nominee or vehicle companies is insufficient. For a trust, the trustee(s), settlor and beneficiaries must be named.    		    
    (c) Name of offeror/offeree in relation to whose relevant securities this form relates:
    Use a separate form for each offeror/offeree    		 American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings Inc  
    (d) If an exempt fund manager connected with an offeror/offeree, state this and specify identity of offeror/offeree:    
    (e) Date position held/dealing undertaken:
    For an opening position disclosure, state the latest practicable date prior to the disclosure    		 29 January 2025  
    (f) In addition to the company in 1(c) above, is the discloser making disclosures in respect of any other party to the offer?
    If it is a cash offer or possible cash offer, state “N/A”    		 YES
    Dowlais Group PLC    		  
       
    2. POSITIONS OF THE PERSON MAKING THE DISCLOSURE  
       
    If there are positions or rights to subscribe to disclose in more than one class of relevant securities of the offeror or offeree named in 1(c), copy table 2(a) or (b) (as appropriate) for each additional class of relevant security.  
    (a) Interests and short positions in the relevant securities of the offeror or offeree to which the disclosure relates following the dealing (if any)  
       
    Class of relevant security: USD 0.01 common (US0240611030)  
      Interests Short Positions  
      Number % Number %  
    (1) Relevant securities owned and/or controlled: 7,488,070 6.37 %      
    (2) Cash-settled derivatives:          
    (3) Stock-settled derivatives (including options) and agreements to purchase/sell:          
      Total 7,488,070 * 6.37 %      
    * Dimensional Fund Advisors LP and/or its affiliates do not have discretion regarding voting decisions in respect of 218,354 shares that are included in the total above.  
       
    All interests and all short positions should be disclosed.

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

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

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

    		  
    (a) Purchases and sales  
       
    Class of relevant security Purchase/sale Number of securities Price per unit  
    USD 0.01 common (US0240611030) Sale 4,009 5.6227 USD  
       
       
    (b) Cash-settled derivative transactions  
       
    Class of relevant security Product description e.g. CFD Nature of dealing e.g. opening/closing a long/short position, increasing/reducing a long/short position Number of reference securities Price per unit  
               
       
    (c) Stock-settled derivative transactions (including options)
     
    (i) Writing, selling, purchasing or varying
     
    Class of relevant security Product description e.g. call option Writing, purchasing, selling, varying etc. Number of securities to which option relates Exercise price per unit Type e.g. American, European etc. Expiry date Option money paid/ received per unit
                   
       
    (ii) Exercise  
       
    Class of relevant security Product description e.g. call option Exercising/ exercised against Number of securities Exercise price per unit  
               
       
    (d) Other dealings (including subscribing for new securities)  
                 
    Class of relevant security Nature of dealing e.g. subscription, conversion Details Price per unit (if applicable)  
             
       
    4. OTHER INFORMATION  
       
    (a) Indemnity and other dealing arrangements  
       
    Details of any indemnity or option arrangement, or any agreement or understanding, formal or informal, relating to relevant securities which may be an inducement to deal or refrain from dealing entered into by the person making the disclosure and any party to the offer or any person acting in concert with a party to the offer:
    Irrevocable commitments and letters of intent should not be included. If there are no such agreements, arrangements or understandings, state “none”    		  
    None  
       
    (b) Agreements, arrangements or understandings relating to options or derivatives  
       
    Details of any agreement, arrangement or understanding, formal or informal, between the person making the disclosure and any other person relating to:
    (i) the voting rights of any relevant securities under any option; or
    (ii) the voting rights or future acquisition or disposal of any relevant securities to which any derivative is referenced:
    If there are no such agreements, arrangements or understandings, state “none”    		  
    None  
       
    (c) Attachments  
       
    Is a Supplemental Form 8 (Open Positions) attached? NO  
       
    Date of disclosure 30 January 2025  
    Contact name Thomas Hone  
    Telephone number +44 20 3033 3419  
       

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

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

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

    The MIL Network –

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

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    FORM 8.3

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

    1. KEY INFORMATION  
       
    (a) Full name of discloser: Dimensional Fund Advisors Ltd. in its capacity as investment advisor and on behalf its affiliates who are also investment advisors (”Dimensional”). Dimensional expressly disclaims beneficial ownership of the shares described in this form 8.3.  
    (b) Owner or controller of interests and short positions disclosed, if different from 1(a):
    The naming of nominee or vehicle companies is insufficient. For a trust, the trustee(s), settlor and beneficiaries must be named.    		    
    (c) Name of offeror/offeree in relation to whose relevant securities this form relates:
    Use a separate form for each offeror/offeree    		 Dowlais Group PLC  
    (d) If an exempt fund manager connected with an offeror/offeree, state this and specify identity of offeror/offeree:    
    (e) Date position held/dealing undertaken:
    For an opening position disclosure, state the latest practicable date prior to the disclosure    		 29 January 2025  
    (f) In addition to the company in 1(c) above, is the discloser making disclosures in respect of any other party to the offer?
    If it is a cash offer or possible cash offer, state “N/A”    		 YES
    American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings Inc    		  
       
    2. POSITIONS OF THE PERSON MAKING THE DISCLOSURE  
       
    If there are positions or rights to subscribe to disclose in more than one class of relevant securities of the offeror or offeree named in 1(c), copy table 2(a) or (b) (as appropriate) for each additional class of relevant security.  
    (a) Interests and short positions in the relevant securities of the offeror or offeree to which the disclosure relates following the dealing (if any)  
       
    Class of relevant security: 1p ordinary (GB00BMWRZ071)  
      Interests Short Positions  
      Number % Number %  
    (1) Relevant securities owned and/or controlled: 13,745,479 1.02 %      
    (2) Cash-settled derivatives:          
    (3) Stock-settled derivatives (including options) and agreements to purchase/sell:          
      Total 13,745,479 * 1.02 %      
    * Dimensional Fund Advisors LP and/or its affiliates do not have discretion regarding voting decisions in respect of 60,499 shares that are included in the total above.  
       
    All interests and all short positions should be disclosed.

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

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

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

    		  
    (a) Purchases and sales  
       
    Class of relevant security Purchase/sale Number of securities Price per unit  
             
       
    (b) Cash-settled derivative transactions  
       
    Class of relevant security Product description e.g. CFD Nature of dealing e.g. opening/closing a long/short position, increasing/reducing a long/short position Number of reference securities Price per unit  
               
       
    (c) Stock-settled derivative transactions (including options)
     
    (i) Writing, selling, purchasing or varying
     
    Class of relevant security Product description e.g. call option Writing, purchasing, selling, varying etc. Number of securities to which option relates Exercise price per unit Type e.g. American, European etc. Expiry date Option money paid/ received per unit
                   
       
    (ii) Exercise  
       
    Class of relevant security Product description e.g. call option Exercising/ exercised against Number of securities Exercise price per unit  
               
       
    (d) Other dealings (including subscribing for new securities)  
                 
    Class of relevant security Nature of dealing e.g. subscription, conversion Details Price per unit (if applicable)  
             
       
    4. OTHER INFORMATION  
       
    (a) Indemnity and other dealing arrangements  
       
    Details of any indemnity or option arrangement, or any agreement or understanding, formal or informal, relating to relevant securities which may be an inducement to deal or refrain from dealing entered into by the person making the disclosure and any party to the offer or any person acting in concert with a party to the offer:
    Irrevocable commitments and letters of intent should not be included. If there are no such agreements, arrangements or understandings, state “none”    		  
    None  
       
    (b) Agreements, arrangements or understandings relating to options or derivatives  
       
    Details of any agreement, arrangement or understanding, formal or informal, between the person making the disclosure and any other person relating to:
    (i) the voting rights of any relevant securities under any option; or
    (ii) the voting rights or future acquisition or disposal of any relevant securities to which any derivative is referenced:
    If there are no such agreements, arrangements or understandings, state “none”    		  
    None  
       
    (c) Attachments  
       
    Is a Supplemental Form 8 (Open Positions) attached? NO  
       
    Date of disclosure 30 January 2025  
    Contact name Thomas Hone  
    Telephone number +44 20 3033 3419  
       

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

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

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

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: expert reaction to Cochrane review of the effectiveness of anti-depressants versus placebo for generalized anxiety disorder

    Source: United Kingdom – Science Media Centre

    A Cochrane review looks at the effectiveness of antidepressants for anxiety disorder. 

    Dr Gemma Lewis, Senior Research Associate in Psychiatric Epidemiology, University College London (UCL), said:

    “This is a high-quality piece of research, which combined data from 37 studies. This approach (meta-analysis) allows scientists to provide more precise estimates than just replying upon smaller individual studies. Meta-analyses are often considered the best way of informing guidelines for clinical practice. Importantly, the individual studies were generally of good quality too.

    “The authors only included Randomised placebo-controlled trials. This type of study is the best way of evaluating whether a treatment is effective. The randomised design eliminates the possibility of confounding.

    “One limitation of the data is that most studies only followed people for up to 12 weeks. In reality, we know that many people use antidepressants for much longer than this, often for several years. In the future, we need trials that follow people for longer periods. Another limitation of the data is that most studies only included people with a clinical diagnosis of anxiety, which is quite severe. In reality, many people are prescribed antidepressants in primary care for milder symptoms of anxiety as milder symptoms can still be debilitating.

    “GAD is the most common mental health problem, and it can be very debilitating. However, in research, and also perhaps clinically, it is often neglected, particularly when compared to depression. The antidepressants were generally well accepted by people who used them although some people of course experienced side effects, as is the case with most medications. These findings reinforce the usefulness of antidepressants for treating symptoms of anxiety as well as depression.”

    Prof Christiaan Vinkers, Department of Psychiatry and Anatomy and Neurosciences, Amsterdam UMC, said:

    “The Cochrane review confirms what science has long shown: antidepressants work for Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), with SSRIs and SNRIs consistently outperforming placebo. Their effects are meaningful, with a low number needed to treat (NNT), and dropout rates are comparable to placebo. However, antidepressants continue to face disproportionate skepticism, whether it is for GAD or depression. If these results were for heart disease or diabetes treatments, they’d be celebrated. Instead, antidepressants are often unfairly stigmatized, fueling misinformation which can deter people from seeking treatment that can have added value. Antidepressants aren’t a cure-all, but they are an essential, effective tool. Let’s shift the narrative from fear to facts: science should guide treatment, not stigma.”

     

    Prof Katharina Domschke, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Freiburg, Germany, said:

    “This is a comprehensive, long awaited update on the efficacy of antidepressants versus placebo in generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). 

    “SSRIs and SNRIs, the first line treatment options for anxiety disorders according to all international guidelines, were shown to have a significant benefit of a placebo. 

    “The study is methodologically strong, applied a conservative outcome measure (greater than 50% reduction in Hamilton Anxiety score), excluded regular benzodiazepine use and controlled for study quality. 

    “Limitations of the present study comprise its limitation to adult patients and the wide range of treatment duration (4 to 28 weeks). 

    “Interestingly and importantly, no difference in overall acceptability was discerned between antidepressants and placebo. 

    “The presently reported effect sizes are very convincing, particularly in light of a recent study by Bschor et al. in JAMA Psychiatry 2024 reporting very high pooled pre-post placebo effect sizes in pharmacological studies in GAD.

    “The present results are very important and ought to increase patients’ trust in the efficacy of pharmacological treatment of GAD. “

    Prof Peter Tyrer, Professor of Community Psychiatry, Imperial College London, said:

    “The findings of this review are unequivocal – antidepressants are effective in the treatment of generalised anxiety in the short-term.  But in responding to this evidence the long-term implications have to be considered also. Here the conclusions of efficacy have to be tempered. Long-term treatment, as noted in the review,  is often the norm,  and there is increasing concern that patients have difficulties in stopping antidepressants because of withdrawal problems. Bearing in mind that the main reason why antidepressants were preferred to benzodiazepines (drugs that are equally effective in treating generalised anxiety) was the dependence risk, we just seem to have shifted the problem of adverse effects from one class of drugs to another.  Brief resolution does not effect a cure”.

    ‘Antidepressants versus placebo for generalised anxiety disorder’ by Kopcalic et al. was published in Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews at 01:00 UK time on Thursday 30th January 2025.

    DOI: 10.1002.14651858.CD012942.pub2

    Declared interests:

    Prof Christiaan Vinkers “No COIs”

    Prof Katharina Domschke “None”

    Prof Peter Tyrer “None”

    For all other experts no response to or request for COIs was received

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI: Result of the auction of treasury bills on 30 January 2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Bids, sales, stop-rates and prices are presented in the table below:      

    ISIN Bid Mill. kr. (nominal) Sale Stop-rate (per cent) Pro-rata Price
    98 19740 DKT 03/03/25 I 320 – –   – –
    98 19823 DKT 02/06/25 II 340 240 2.150 100 % 99.2943
    Total 660 240      

    The sale will settle 3 February 2025.

    The MIL Network –